Okay (forthefirsttimeever) I looked at the poll and saw that you guys wanted me to update, and I was like 'Oi! I haven't updated in awhile!' so here! (:

Chapter 14

Percy,

I continued to lead Annabeth to the beach, noticing how my fingers tingled when we walked, the tips brushing against each other. I could feel the electricity gathering around us, the buzzing almost real. I looked over to her stormy gray eyes and smiled widely at her.

It wasn't her.

I could tell. I don't know how, which is weird, but I could. The light in her eyes was too overwhelming, the smile and carefree skip added to her steps. The way she let her hair fall loosely.

Don't get me wrong, she was still beautiful. So amazingly beautiful that it angered me even more to know that it wasn't even her.

"Who are you?" I growled, trying to seem intimidating. The thing inside Annabeth pouted, like all the fun was up, wringing her hands together before letting out a dramatic sigh.

"No fun Percy, I didn't even get to play!" She said childishly. Her voice seemed…girlier. Lighter and making her actually sound like a dumb blonde. I felt a shiver race down my back. Dumb Annabeth was too foreign.

"Who. Are. You?" I tried to ask again, tightlipped. Her eyes twinkled-in which case if it actually had been her, I would've thought beautiful-a cute giggle escaping her lips.

"Why I'm your Wise Girl, of course." She drawled, smiling innocently. I narrowed my eyes at her, thumbing Riptide in my pocket.

"You aren't Annabeth. Now tell me or I swear to Gods I'll-"

"You'll what, Percy? What exactly will you do? Enlighten me." A creepy smile came onto her face, her features seeming to cool and turn sinister. I felt another chill make it's way up my back, taking a step away from this dangerous…whatever it was.

"Oh Percy don't act like that, it hurts my feelings." She pouted, taking a step closer. She wrapped her arms around me, and for some reason her grip felt like she was clawing me. I pulled away quickly, narrowing my eyes at her.

"What-"

"Am I?" She finished my sentence for me. She clucked her tongue, one hand crossed under her chest while the other played with a blonde lock of hair, seemingly bored.

"Why Percy Jackson, I guess you'll find out." Her eyes darted to me, and the gold flashed again in her eyes, dominating the milky gray. Suddenly they turned almost cat-like, the pupils slits with a feral dash to it. She dropped her strand of hair, advancing forward.

"I can feel it in her. The pain, the loss, the sadness. She screams for help, and yet you can't even seen it." The thing tsked, a smirk on her once serious face. She reared back to stand a foot in front of me, leaning forward like she had an important secret to tell me.

"But luckily, I feed off of those emotions. She should be good for…about, eh, three weeks? Then I'll have to throw her away."

"Don't you hurt her." I growled, advancing. My hand itched to pull Riptide out after receiving it back from Annabeth. The evil spirit's eyes flickered up to meet mine before that insidious smile reappeared, making me feel uneasy.

"Oh? Do I make the great Percy Jackson…nervous?" Her head tilted side to side, a freaky laugh coming out of her mouth.

"What did you do to Annabeth!" I demanded, finally bringing out Riptide. Suddenly her face took on a look of sheer fear, bringing her hands up to protect herself.

"Percy!" She shrieked. I knew that voice anywhere. Without thinking I dropped Riptide, racing over to Annabeth as she stared ahead, wide eyed. Worriedly, I was about to wrap my arms around her when that creepy look washed over her again, a cackle erupting from the girl.

"Bahaha! 'Percy, help!' I bet I sounded just like her, ne?" She teased me. I felt my muscles bunching, tension coursing through me. She noticed and stopped laughing, a serious look coming to her face.

"She's so sad…it makes me…sad.." A shadowed expression overcame Annabeth's face, her eyes filled with so much despondent that my heart tightened. She rubbed her arm up and down the other, staring at the ground with a frown on her face.

"Sadness…that's all I ever feel…" She murmured quietly to herself. Something clicked in my head and I realized who she was.

"Oizys!" I exclaimed. She snapped her head up, scrutinizing me with her eyes.

"You're Oizys, Goddess of Misery." I said matter-of-factly, for once actually knowing something. Her eyes glittered appraisingly, like she honestly thought I wouldn't get that one.

"Good deducting Jackson." She nodded her head. I noticed Riptide on the ground and I quickly scooped it up, turning to point it at her.

"Get out of Annabeth. Now." I threatened, my sword flashing in the sunlight. She mocked a scared look, smirking.

"No can do, I was forced into this, too. But what can you do, really? Kill me? Not without hurting your precious girlfriend."

I felt the sinking feeling of realization. She was right. There was nothing I could do without cutting Annabeth up in the process. I was hopeless.

"Finally realized it, Jackson? Don't worry though, it'll all work out. After all, she's just another stupid blonde. There's more out there, no?" She smiled, her eyes dancing with amusement.

And I realized that she was actually being serious.

She seriously said that to me.

My face hardened and I swore the moment she left Annabeth's body that I would kill the stupid Goddess.

"Get out of her!" I barked. She rose her eyebrows in surprise, crossing her arms. The dominant frown was back onto her face, as if that was her automatic expression.

"Be careful, or I might just share a few…secrets." Her eyes flickered to mine, a certain glint to her eyes. She seemed uncomfortable for a moment, like she wasn't enjoying this anymore. I ground my teeth, not realizing it until the ache grew immense. I felt powerless and utterly terrified.

Why was I so scared?

"P-Percy?" A scared voice called out. I redirected my attention to see Annabeth looking around, her eyes full of fear and confusion.

"Percy!?" She called out again. I opened my mouth only to watch her skim over me like I wasn't even there.

"I'm right here, it's okay." A voice answered her. Both of our heads turned to see another me standing there a soft smile on his lips.

I gawked at myself. Never had I thought I'd actually see myself…in third person!

Relief washed over her features. She ran over to him and jumped into his arms, her whole body shaking.

"Idiot! I…I thought you…" I realized with a start that she was crying. I watched as the other me rubbed her back, comforting her as best as he could. She stopped crying and he pulled back, cupping her face in his hands.

"Shh, I'll never leave you. I love you, Wise Girl." He cooed to her. And the thing was, I could actually see from here that he meant it. His eyes were filled with so much passion and love that I felt something stir in my stomach. I could tell she was blushing as she tried to wipe her eyes but he did instead with his thumb, making her smile slightly.

"Promise?" She asked shakily, still getting over the tears. Other me smiled softly before nodding, planting a kiss on her lips. He pulled back to grin goofily at her, making her smile back.

"We beat Gaea." Annabeth whispered, smiling. Percy grinned in response, pulling her to him and hugging her. I just noticed how banged up they were, cuts all over them but nothing really major.

"Maybe I should just give up." A voice brought me back to Earth, my head spinning slightly. I looked to see Annabeth with her eyebrows scrunched together in worry, talking thoughtfully.

"He'll never remember me. He doesn't love me anymore, it's over. It's over." She whispered to herself. I felt something drop in my stomach as her eyes met with mine.

"He'll never love me again. It's hopeless. First I let him get killed, and then when he comes back he doesn't even remember me. I guess I deserve it though, it's all my fault. "She hung her head miserably before picking it back up, a sympathetic look on her face now.

"These are her thoughts. Her thoughts that draw me to her. She's really down, and it's not just because of you. She quit the Hunters, problems back at home with her dad, and school… she's about to collapse." The Goddess confined in me. She seemed actually concerned, as if she weren't sucking the life force out of Annabeth.

"You saw something important, yes? I do hope so, I want to go home soon. Do you remember?"

"Remember what?" I blinked, wondering why she seemed grave. She sighed, running a hand over Annabeth's face.

"The curse won't lift unless you will it too, Percy."

"I'm trying!"

"But you don't try with your heart." She answered coolly. "No matter how cheesy it sounds, it will work. But you don't believe 100%, and so Annabeth suffers for it."

I hung my head in shame. Was this true? I guess I wasn't fully into it. I was so distracted with everything else and hey I was dead for 6 years!

"Thanks Oizys, you aren't that bad…" She smiled bitter sweetly, that mournful veneer coming back.

"As well, Percy Jackson. As well."