Chapter 14

Annabeth's POV

I woke up in the morning so sore. I rolled onto my back and a pain shot up my back. I winced in pain.

"You okay?" Thalia asked.

"Why do I feel so drained?" I asked. The room started spinning.

"Jason! Get in here!" Thalia yelled.

"What?" Jason asked half asleep.

"Go get Percy and Chiron, quickly!" Thalia ordered. Jason scurried out of the room.

"Thalia, I think it's important for you to know the room is spinning." I said.

"Annabeth, relax and whatever you do, do no close your eyes." she said. I nodded me head. I let the muscles in my body relax. Another shot of pain went up my back, but this time it went out to my limbs and I winced again. Thalia put her hands on my shoulders and held me down. I could sense myself channeling my powers on and off and on and off.

"What's going on?" Chiron asked.

"I don't know." Thalia told him.

"Annabeth, how do you feel?" he asked me. I winced again in pain and tensed.

"What's happening?" Thalia asked Chiron.

"What was the name of the thing you found her in?" he asked.

"The power jail."

"Oh no, Thalia this means that Gaea did complete what she had wanted."

"What do you mean?"

"The power jail drains someone of their powers, but when the person regains his or her energy, the person who ordered them in there has control over that person." he explained.

"Is there a way to break the curse?" Thalia asked.

"One, but it has never been done." he said. Just then, Percy ran in followed by Kaylee and Zach.

"Is she okay?" he asked walking towards me.

"Sorry Percy, but I can't let the seven of you near her." Chiron said.

"The seven of us? Then why are you stopping Kaylee and not Zach?" Percy asked confused.

"Zach is the son of Apollo and therefore Annabeth is not a threat. To Thalia, Jason, Nico, Bianca, Hazel, Kaylee, and you, she poses a great threat." Chiron finished. The pain stopped and I looked at everyone. I groaned and rubbed my head.

"Annabeth?" Percy choked. Just then everyone else ran into the room. Chiron stopped Jason, Nico, Bianca, and Hazel from coming any further. Rachel stumbled in fuming green smoke. She didn't say anything however and just collapsed into Percy and Jason's arms, but then regained consciousness. Chiron explained the situation to everyone.

"That's it!" Piper exclaimed.

"What's it?" Leo asked.

"The prophecy Rachel said in the Roman camp." Piper added.

"What about it?" Frank asked.

"Leo and I. The forge and the dove shall save them all." Piper finished reciting the prophecy. Everyone looked unsatisfied with this conclusion.

"Well, until this is solved. Annabeth, stay away from the children of the Big Three." Chiron said. I shot up and walked out the back door. It wasn't fair. Percy is my boyfriend and Thalia is my best friend. I can't talk to them or be near them. I sat in the woods and cried for a while. I knew that Percy would try to come find me once Chiron put his guard down so I needed to find somewhere to hide. I want to see him, I just don't want to hurt him.

"My child, I'm so sorry." my mom said startling me.

"Mom, what am I going to do?" I asked.

"There is only one way to break a curse like this." she said.

"How? I'll do anything!" I pleaded.

"Chiron thinks he knows how to break it, but the reason it has never worked is because he doesn't have the right curse breaker."

"What is the real one?"

"Only six people know."

"Who?"

"The original six."

"You mean Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia?"

"Yes, they all have a piece of the curse breaker. But in order to get their piece, you must first earn their trust." with that little piece of advice she was gone. A few minutes later Chiron galloped over.

"What do you want?" I asked him.

"I know you're angry with me, but I know your mom also told you something."

"Yes, she told me how to actually break the curse."

"Really?"

"Yes." I said. I explained what my mother had told me. He nodded his head and began to think.

"Perhaps we can do this, but I don't want to let you leave." Chiron said.

"I don't think I'll need to, but if you'll let me do this on my own?" I asked.

"Sure, but I'm going to have Piper with you. Maybe she can help a little." Chiron said. I agreed and he left. I slowly made my way to the water. I stopped because Percy and Kaylee were sitting on the beach. This time my powers just shot into me, before I could do anything, I ran. Finally, I reached the stream where Percy and I had first met. I put my hands in the water and splashed my face. When I looked up Poseidon was sitting across the river from me.

"I believe you wanted to talk." he said.

"Yes, about your part of the curse breaker." I said.

"What do you think?"

"I know I have to earn your trust and as a daughter of Athena you don't quite trust me. All I ask is for a chance to prove it to you."

"But you already have."

"What do you mean?"

"Annabeth, you proved that I can trust you when you switched places with my daughter, not knowing what was on the other side. You always are protecting Percy, just like back at the Roman camp."

"But I did that not for you, but for him."

"I know, but if you hadn't listened to me, well, who knows what would have happened? I trust you enough to leave the lives of my children in your hands."

"Thank you."

"So in all fairness, I shall give you my piece." he said. He handed me two things. One was a picture of Percy and Kaylee when they were little and the other was a necklace with two puzzle pieces shaped like a horse and a dolphin.

"Thank you!" I started, but when I looked up he was gone. I smiled and splashed my face with water and rubbed my eyes just to be sure it was real. I put the picture in my pocket and the necklace on. I got up and walked back towards camp. It was time for dinner. Piper walked towards me with food for her and myself in her hands.

"Oh my gods, what is that?" she asked pointing to my necklace.

"Just Poseidon's piece of the curse breaker." I said.

"Well, that was fast." she commented. I nodded my head and snatched the food from her hand. I sat against a tree and began to eat. We sat in silence just eating.

"I think I'm going to try to get Demeter's piece next." I said. I got up and started to walk. Piper followed me into the clearing I was aiming for. I sat on the rock in the clearing and waited.

"What's supposed to happen?" Piper asked. I shushed her.

"Demeter, goddess of fertility, grain and harvest, I ask for your help. Please except my offering." I placed a bag of seeds on the rock.

"Oh my, these are rare flower seeds, thank you, I was really running low." Demeter said.

"Demeter, as I'm sure you know, Gaea has placed a curse on me and I believe you have a part of the curse breaker." I said.

"Yes, indeed I do. But how do I know I can trust you?" the goddess asked.

"I'm asking you to give me a chance to prove myself for the sake of the world. I understand if you don't want to give it to me, but I'm begging you. I don't want to hurt the people I love. Chiron says that if it isn't fixed soon, I will be a threat to everyone in this camp, in the Roman camp, and the entire world eventually."

"Sweetie, don't cry. I see the pain you go through is much like that of my daughter's. Persephone doesn't wish to spend her life with Hades, but she does wish to spend it with me. You don't wish to spend your life with Gaea, you wish to spend it with your family and friends. So because of that I will give you my piece." Demeter said. She handed me a necklace with a pig and snake charm on it.

"Thank you Demeter!" I said. She nodded her head and then was gone. It was getting late so I sent Piper to go run and get me some pillows and blankets. She came back in a matter of minutes and helped me set up. We shared our goodnights and she went back to her cabin.