Annabeth´s POV

It started to rain as Argus drove us to the Empire State Building. Thick raindrops fell down at the window and consigned loud splashes. Percy shifted uncomfortably next to me and looked a little worried.

"What´s wrong seaweed brain?" At first he didn´t notice that I talked to him, but then he jerked his head around and looked at me.

"Uh, nothing´s wrong. Why?"

"I see you´re lying. What is it?" He sighed and turned his whole body towards me.

"What is when Aphrodite doesn´t want to take off these things?" He held up our hands with the handcuffs and shook them.

"Then we have to kidnap her and beat the crap out of her, after that she´ll take them off for certain." I said sarcastically.

Percy let out a laugh, but it sounded like he choked on something. I sighed and turned my head to the window. From the corner of my left eye I saw that Argus was watching us. It´s quite intimidating when there´s a guy with hundred eyes on his body which were watching you all the time.

The white van stopped in front of the Empire State Building and Argus gestured us to get out of the car. I stepped out and closed the car door behind me, but I forgot that Percy was bound to me so I slammed the door at his head.

"Sorry Percy! I forgot that you have to get out on my side." He grumbled something I couldn´t understand and groaned.

"It´s okay."

We walked up the stairs and entered the dry foyer. I was quite wet because of the rain, and my hair stuck to my head. Percy was completely dry, of course. People gave him weird looks, apparently they wondered why this boy was dry, or they just thought we were freaks because of our little problem, called pink handcuffs. We tried to ignore the stares from the others and marched up to the counter where a bald man sat with an expensive looking tux and round glasses. His nameplate read Mr Andersen.

"600. Floor please." I said and waited for this man to look up from his stupid magazine.

"There´s no 600. Floor miss." He replied simply without looking up. Percy slammed his fist on the desk, obviously annoyed.

"Listen Andersen! We have to speak with Aphrodite because she has cursed us with this!" He held up our hands to show the man our problem. The man looked at us exasperatedly, but handed Percy a small key, which I knew would bring us to Olympus.

"Thanks."

We turned around and walked towards the elevator. Luckily nobody was inside so we didn´t need to wait till it was empty. Percy pushed the key into a small hole next to the other buttons and turned it three times. It clicked loudly and then the elevator was blasted upwards.

We fell backwards and had to hold on the walls that we didn´t fell again. Then the elevator stopped abruptly and the door opened with a cling! I think I was more often there then every other demigod, because of my re-designs for Olympus. And now it was done. I must admit that I was proud of myself. Percy stared at the buildings in awe. I had to snicker by that.

"Annabeth! That is amazing!" I blushed a bit and smiled warmly.

"Thanks Percy."

"Do you know where Aphrodite´s palace is?" He asked and looked at me, still with big eyes.

"Of course. I designed it! Just follow me."

"There´s no other choice wise girl." He sighed and began to walk.

"Yeah, right." I guided him towards a marble staircase with a golden balustrade. We walked up the stairs and reached a channel, who guided us to Aphrodite´s palace. Percy stared at Olympus like it was the most amazing thing he has ever seen.

"It is the most amazing thing I´ve ever seen." He said to me and smirked. Oh. I didn´t realize that I had said that out aloud. I blushed and Percy just laughed.

"Over there." I said and pointed at a building with pink walls, pink trees and flowers and statues of the goddess herself. I think it looked awful, but Aphrodite was ardent. Fortunately Percy didn´t make any comments. We entered the garden and looked into her palace carefully. Nobody was there. Then we heard angry voices behind the building. It sounded like two women who argued. I looked at Percy meaningfully and together we made our way around the palace.

I know, I haven´t updated for a few days, but I was too lazy. And I´ll only continue to write when I get AT LEAST 5 reviews. Otherwise I´ll not continue.