Chapter 10

It had been days since Annabeth had last seen the masked renegade.

She hoped very much that he was safe. When the boy had asked her to stay in his hiding place, she on instinct went down the stairs after him. She had seen the painting that probably led to another area of living.

While the officers were talking, she also caught the name he went by— Percy.

There must be a million Percy's in this nation, but somehow the name seemed oddly familiar to her. It seemed like a name she read about in some article, somewhere. It was on the tip of her tongue.

Did she see it in a book? magazine maybe?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Rachel bringing in a tray with tea and some Madeleines.

Rachel and her had gotten along really well over the past few days.

She kept Annabeth company since Annabeth mostly stayed in her room, not wanting to communicate even in the slightest bit with her father.

Rachel set the tray down and Annabeth thanked her.

Annabeth was sketching out some blueprints for an architecture design she was working on. She had always wanted to be an architect, but her future was already set out in front of her by the king.

"How's it coming along?" Rachel asked.

"Great, I'm almost done."

Rachel smiled, "Here's your tea, and I also came to tell you that your father wants to speak with you. He says it's important."

Annabeth's face turned stone cold.

Rachel laid a hand on her arm, "You can't avoid him forever, Annabeth. He's still your father"

"Fine" Annabeth said dangerously quietly.

She turned to Rachel and smiled, "Thanks, Rachel, you can go now."

"Wow, I feel so loved." Rachel said leaving.

Annabeth smiled as she took a sip of her tea. What could her father want from her?

She walked down the stairs and through the ballroom and dining room til she got to the king's office.

Annabeth walked into the office and saw her father writing things down at his desk.

He looked up to see her and was almost fearful.

The only people who could make him afraid or happy were his wife and Annabeth.

She walked with her cold grey eyes locked on her father. Annabeth didn't even bother to sit down in the chair.

"You called me?" She said coldheartedly.

The king's heart broke—she used to always come around his desk jumping and hug him around his neck.

"I wa-wanted to tell you that you need to go to Luke's before your wedding ceremony." The king said losing his poise.

"Is that all?" She said with a calm face that was a façade for the boiling resentment inside her.

The king looked up at her, flustered, "Yes, you leave in the morning."

"Great, I finally get to leave this place." She said spitefully.

The king rose from his chair and placed his hands on his desk.

"You will treat me with respect, Annabeth! I am still your father and your king!"

Annabeth also slammed her palms on his desk and glared furiously at the king. Her glare was ten times more hurtful than any words that she could have said to him at that moment.

She turned swiftly and stormed out of the room.

Before leaving out the door she turned her head to him, "Goodbye father." And with that, she left his office, leaving the king despondent.

The next morning Annabeth casually threw on a pair of fitting jeans, a white v-neck, a cardigan, and some white vans.

She let her honey golden hair flow around her shoulders and left her room with Rachel.

Her father was in the throne room with his advisors lined up before him, with their heads bowed.

Annabeth scoffed at the scene and walked up to his throne, ignoring the stares she was getting from the advisors.

"Bye, your majesty." She said with mock respect.

She bowed her head slightly and left out of the palace doors with palace guards surrounding her.

The king looked furiously after his daughter's disappearing figure, then his eyes turned sad, almost as sad as when his wife died.

Annabeth walked in between the open lawns, carved in mazes and walked out the opened palace gates.

Time to marry my fiancé, Annabeth thought.