Somewhere in Time

Chapter 11-Decisions

A/N nothing much to say. Just the disappointment taste left by three days in a row without ONE single review. THREE DAYS! :,(

Chapter 11- Decisions

"Step away from the boy, Annabeth." A booming female voice said.

Our heads jerked up to see my mother standing in our midst, her aura emanating rage. Oh, this could not, under any circumstance, be good. Well, thank you, Miss Obvious! I snapped at myself. Blame my ADHD, but I was starting to wonder why I even bothered on bickering with my own thoughts. Never mind, that would be a question for later. I pulled myself away from Percy and stepped back, looking at Athena.

"In all my years, I never thought a daughter of mine would disgrace me this badly." She spoke slowly, her voice low and very dangerous.

"Mother, I-" I began but of course she cut me off with a glare that reminded me a lot of my own. It surprised me how much we were alike, so much so, even at the point when we were pissed. And if I knew myself just the tiniest bit, then I also would know when to step back and hide behind something before she could blast me to pieces. Or worse, blast Percy.

After all the trouble I'd been through to get him back, I would really not appreciate it if she killed him. It seemed illogical now, fooling myself. That was obviously not the real reason why I didn't want Percy dead. A few months ago, I would've said, Of course I don't want him dead. That would really suck for him, and well, he's my friend. Now would be completely different, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to admit that to myself just yet. I mean, on some unconscious level I knew it. My heart knew it, but my brain wouldn't admit it. Why? I wasn't sure. Maybe I was still afraid, or maybe I just needed some time. Whichever the reason, my feelings were still upset, and I realized that I hadn't been battling my mind but my heart. Brain vs. Heart, which was the epic battle that children of Athena faced every day. But my feelings were now practically screaming at me.

You had him there! And you wouldn't admit it! He died, and you regretted not telling him! And now, he's here, and you didn't say a thing! You wasted yet another perfect opportunity, are you stupid?!

I quieted them down with my mind.

"Do not talk back to me, child." My mother's voice broke my focus. Or more like, made me regain my focus. Whichever way you want to look at it. That actually made me wonder what was most important to me.
"The damage is done. I understood your sorrow, but how dare you run off on an unauthorized quest –withoutconsulting the Oracle, might I add-, betray your best friend, insult a dead friend's memory, put yourself at an unimaginable risk, and disgrace your mother by making a deal like so with such a deity as Kronos! I cannot believe this, Annabeth. You have disappointed me beyond measure. And all this was to save a mere son of Poseidon!" she yelled at me.

Her piercing words hurt mebeyond measure. I could feel my heart being torn out of my body and it almost made me long for the "shocking" treatment Kronos had given me. My hurt slowly turned into anger as she mentioned Percy. I could not believe she was blaming him after he had saved my life countless times. Sure, I made a deal with a Titan, but I only did it to save the boy who would save Olympus! And to get my best friend back, but of course that was besides the point.

Or was it? Was I really that selfish as to risk leaving my Camp without a strategist and their best fighter just to see if I could get him back? Was there a limit to how far I would go to save a friend? Or even worse, not to save a friend (that would be more like Percy) but to prove that I could save someone. Yes, that would be more like me. My fatal flaw was something much more worse than that of Percy and I began to wonder the real reason why I had saved him.

No, I had saved Percy out of grief. Possibly personal gain too because I missed him so much, but never to prove myself. At least not with Percy involved.

I decided to save the guilt trip and the chew-myself-out part for later. I'd had more than enough for a day that was about to get worse. No need to start the self-hatred sooner than it had to be started. But judging by my mother's voice, this would be the only chance I'd be getting to do so.

Crap.

I reminded myself that I had an answer to deliver.

"The son of Poseidon that would fulfill the prophecy, Mother!" I reminded her. "I'm sorry I did all those things. I know it wasn't right, or sensible, or wise, but I just thought I could bring him back and I did!"

"And what if you had not? What then? You will argue with me no more. We have decided to impart a punishment on both of you. I never believed it would be you of all people who did this. I am so disappointed in you, Annabeth." She repeated. "We will now go to Olympus." Her eyes flashed as she turned to a frozen Percy. "The other members of the Council wish to impart the punishment and your father wants a word with you."

"What are they going to do with us?" Percy asked impulsively. I glared at him, making my point clear that this wasn't the time to ask, though I was pretty curious and scared myself.

My mother barely looked at him.

"I wouldn't be so unwise as to rip this further, boy. If my daughter hadn't been so corrupted by your impulsive and reckless nature, you might still be dead. So I would suggest you quiet your mouth, young man, and learn some respect while you're at it."

She turned, and in a flash we were in the throne room of Mount Olympus. The gods were all human-size, standing messily in the room. They all stared at us, their faces expressionless. By now, I was terrified, which was somewhat ironic because I should've been terrified a while ago. Unthinkingly, I gripped Percy's hand. My face must've made it clear that I was freaking out, because he didn't pull it back as I half expected he would.

Zeus spoke up, making me jump slightly. Percy squeezed my hand.

"Well, as you know, Annabeth, you have broken the rules and your loyalty although you returned my brother's son and he is grateful to you for that. No one here denies your plan included bravery and wits, but by doing so, you may have mislead the Great Prophecy. And so, we must impart the punishment to attempt to fix it, so say your goodbyes." His tone was final.

Goodbyes? Again? I started panicking.

"Wait, we don't even get a say in this? It wasn't her fault! She did what all of you were too scared to do!" Percy blurted once more.

"This is a punishment, not a prize. You don't get to say anything about it, Johansson. Now zip it!" Dionysus snapped.

Percy glared at everyone. I mean glare as in taking the saying "if looks could kill" literally. Too bad they were immortal.

"Besides, if it wasn't for this girl, the Great Prophecy wouldn't have come true." Hera put in, saying my name as if it were the most disgracing thing since cattle sacrifice.

"How do you know? Maybe this was meant to happen. Prophecies always come true! If you don't believe me, ask Thalia! Pan said-"

"Percy, that is enough. You don't know how hard you are making this for me. The Council has agreed upon this. It's for the best." Poseidon said with deep wistfulness, and I knew that if he of all gods, was agreeing with my mother, then it must be a lost cause.

Percy realized it too.

He turned to me, and his figure was blurry because my eyes were dripping with salty tears. I didn't think and gave him a hug, somehow knowing I wouldn't see him now. But he was alive and I had succeeded, so, in a sick, twisted way…It was alright.

"I'm so sorry; I never should have let you out of my sight in the first place." Percy whispered and the feeling of déjà vu toppled over me. He was apologizing yet again.

"Bye, Seaweed Brain. Don't mess up." I said, trying to sound playful and smiled halfheartedly. I had no idea what they would do to us but I knew it couldn't be something where we stayed close to each other.

He was on his own now.

I stared into his sea-green eyes, and I knew that no matter what, I would keep this memory with me. He managed a weak laugh. It was wonderful to hear again after so much I had missed him. I memorized his features, his hair, his eyes, his lips, his smile, his laugh. Everything about him, and locked all these pictures away in the deepest part of my mind; the unreachable part. I would keep him with me, because as I had already proved, I needed him. As much as he needed moi, his rational side.

For the first time in my life, I had learned to depend on someone else but me. I knew I could trust Percy with my own life. He had proved that to me. But like everything else in my life, it was being taken away from me.

I'd always known it would only be a matter of time before outside forces drifted us apart. Just like they did with my family, just like they did with Thalia, just like they did with Luke. It was the story of my life. Always trying to hold on to something tangible, something real. Something to keep with me when the rest of the world moved so fast and came and went as an upper power pleased. Trying to build something permanent, but never quite succeeding.

With one last glimpse of his face, everything went utterly black.

And that is the last thing I remember…

REVIEW. STILL DISAPPOINTED. CAN´T BELIEVE IT YOU GUYS. THANK YOU OF COURSE TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED.
Anna ;:(