May, 30th 2011

I don't own any of the characters, so hail Rick Riordan! :D

Beta for this Chapter: Carter Lee Grace

A/N: Hey there, guys and girls!

Why're you doing this to me? T_T I only got so little reviews on the last chapter...was it that bad? :( As a "punishment" you get a shorter chapter now...

No, it's just concidence that it's short...really XD

Still, I want my reviews! *puppy eyes* It's depressing to see how many reviews other stories get. Is my story that bad? What do you want me to change about it? Or do you like it? Do you? REALLY?

Then freaking TELL ME! T_T Please?

Chapter XII

Annabeth

Annabeth didn't show up for supper. She wasn't really hungry, and besides, she had important matters to discuss with Rachel. And of course, sitting on Percy's bed gave her another reason to stay right where she was. She'd been here several times since his disappearance, but sometimes the door wouldn't open. When the cabin did cooperate with her, she would just sit here and think, crying sometimes, though she'd never admit it, unsure of when she would see her boyfriend again. Heck, she didn't know if he was even alive. But by now, the situation was different. She was pretty confident that he was still alive, since Grover hadn't been thrown into a coma through the empathy link. And ignoring the fact that Gaea was rising, Percy was somewhere safe, even if there still was this memory thing, and the whole fact that Romans aren't known for niceness…

"So, have you had any visions about him? I know you joined us for a reason." Annabeth broke the silence, which had been lying upon Cabin Three ever since the others left. Rachel had examined the photos on the wall, the ones which Annabeth had stared at so many times that the blonde girl could recall every detail perfectly.

"Oh, right, I had a vision. Percy was lying on the floor in a broken down mansion, unconscious, when a big she-wolf with brown glowing fur leaned over him, and then he leaped up. She gave him nectar before they vanished. They could've been anywhere, but then the vision shifted somewhere else." She paused and looked up, her green eyes looking somewhere behind Annabeth.

"When the scene changed, he sat in a dark room similar to this cabin, with the whole 'sea' vibe, wearing a purple shirt, staring at his necklace, Riptide and an orange camp shirt. I guess it must've been at Roman camp, considering the purple shirt…" She trailed off, and Annabeth let the message sink in for a moment. So he really was at Roman Camp; he had met Lupa, the she-wolf. Annabeth knew that Rachel's visions weren't always about the future, ranging from any point in time, so this might not have happened yet, for all she knew. It was hard to tell, just like demigod dreams.

But why did the daughter of Athena feel that Rachel was hiding something from her? The redhead was biting her lip, fingering a smudge of paint on her hand. She must've been painting something, which she usually did when a particularly important vision passed by. And what Rachel had said so far didn't seem crucial enough for her to look for Annabeth…

"What are you hiding?" she asked into the silence, her grey, sharp eyes narrowing as she watched Rachel's every move, prepared to analyze her reaction. The Oracle cringed and stopped rubbing her hand, but she didn't answer her friend's question, cursing in her head. Damn. She had forgotten about Annabeth's talent for reading her movements, expressions and actions. It was impressive in a scary way, and really not helping Rachel at the moment.

"You painted something, right? Show it to me!" As Annabeth spoke, she grabbed Rachel's arms and forced her to turn in her direction, to look her in the eyes. If the Oracle had had a vision about Percy that she was hesitating to show her…what could it be? Would something happen to him? Damn, she had to know!

"I-I can't show you, Annabeth. There were strict instructions that you're not supposed to know about it, let alone see it! I didn't think that you would all be in the cabin when I came here to…" She stopped, green eyes looking to the side, an unexplainable and clearly sad expression on her face. But Annabeth wasn't giving in to some instructions within a vision. If Rachel knew about something big enough that she wasn't allowed to see…what if Percy-

"Look, I have to know what was in that painting! You know that visions can be interpreted in multiple ways, and we have to look at it like a prophecy! Rachel, please, I have to know…at least show me." Annabeth's gaze changed into a desperate, pleading look, her voice cracking on the last word. Hades, what could possibly be in that painting? But before Annabeth could ask anything else, Rachel stood up abruptly, her green eyes locked to the ground like she was fighting with herself to make the decision.

"No, Annabeth. Trust me, this one was obvious." She stroked her hand over Percy's bedding, and took a last glance at the pictures on the wall, which included one of Rachel and Percy. Then she turned her back on the blonde demigod, leaving the cabin without another word.

Annabeth stared after her with wide, grey eyes. So it was what she feared…well, at least one of her Percy-related fears. He could've become someone else, groomed by the Roman camp to be ruthless and evil. She couldn't bear to lose another precious person that way. Or, he might like the Roman camp better, and wouldn't even try to get his memories back; he finds a girlfriend, settles down with her, forgetting about everyone at Camp Half-Blood. Third, a personal fear that Rachel wouldn't have any reason to worry about, that he falls in love with someone else, leaving her alone (much like the second). And the last one, the worst possible outcome – he died.

That was one thought that she couldn't deal with, even if he wasn't lost at the Roman camp. And now, if he died without his memory, without remembering her, it would be just…unbearable. Her lips began quivering again, though she had been completely calm a few minutes ago, the tears threatening to burst out of her eyes.

But she stopped herself from letting tears flow down her cheeks by inhaling and exhaling slowly. Okay, she had to find out what Rachel had been seeing. It wasn't going to be easy; after all, she was the Oracle – she could see the future. But Annabeth was the daughter of Athena, and she wasn't going down that easily.

So she stood up, following Rachel's example, and took a last glance at the pictures on the wall. She had visited Percy in his cabin all the time during the summers they had spent together. Plus, those pictures held memories of him, including that Minotaur horn hanging on the wall. She could practically see him in front of her, how he looked as he collapsed at the camp borders. An untrained, twelve-year-old demigod, defeating the Minotaur – even then, he was impressive, though she wouldn't have admitted it.

The demigod jogged outside, avoiding the dining pavilion where everyone was eating. No one would notice her as she snuck into Rachel's cave, but as a safety precaution, she pulled out her Yankees cap and put it on. Immediately, her whole body disappeared, turning transparent, but hopefully, Rachel wouldn't be able to see her in any visions. Annabeth hadn't really thought about it before, but her mother's powers on this gift were certainly strong enough to protect against the Oracle's.

With quick glances over her shoulder, she crept up to the cave, pulling aside the purple curtains…

Er yes, something with Annabeth again. And she's being really curious...well, she should be. Because what she discovers is...no, I won't say it, you'll have to wait *muhaha*
What do you think of the chapter? PLEASE REVIEEEEEW! :)