Annabeth's mind was spinning, once she was out of sight from the others she collapsed against a wall, she inhaled deeply. She looked up, there in the clearing dust stood a figure, his back was to her, but she knew who stood 15 feet in front of her. She could just about see the blood that was still dripping from his unmoving form.

"Markos?" her voice was quiet but she was sure he would be able to hear her, her heart was pounding against her ribcage, he didn't respond.

She slowly stepped forward and called his name again with the same response, she was cautious but she wanted to hold him in her arms and never let him go, too many times had she been close to losing him, her pace quickened with her heart, her mind clouding with the need to touch him. She reached out, fingers brushing his shoulder

He spun quickly, facing her, his eyes cold and dark.

Annabeth gasped as his blade pierced her stomach, it's smooth, sharp metal slid easily through her skin, her hands gripped his ruined top as her knees began to buckle.

"ANNABETH!" screamed Percy, he had seen everything and it was though it had been played in slow motion, he had seen how Markos without remorse turned and ran Annabeth through with his blade, even now when she clung to him, life bleeding out of her he stood with no ounce of emotion on his face. Percy charged towards her as she began to fall, no strength to keep her upright, he caught her before she hit the floor, cold sweat covered her skin as she shivered.

"Annabeth.. no, please… no" Percy held her close, looking into her eyes, she was paling fast.

Clarisse had sprinted towards her brother, dagger in hand. Markos didn't seem to look at her but block her attacks, his body remained quite still but his blade moved swiftly. Again and again he matched her attacks.

Grover applied pressure on Annabeth's abdomen, but still red liquid leaked through his fingers, he looked to Percy for answers but the son of Poseidon just watched as the life began to drain from her blue eyes, she began to cough up blood, her body convulsing. Before going still. Percy gently brushed hair from her pale face before closing her eyes with his fingers, he bowed his head for a moment of sorrow as he held back the tears. He stood silently his fists clenched, his pained eyes found the cause of his best friends death, Markos pushed Clarisse away and advanced on the blonde, Percy roared to life, he swung his blade at the Son of Ares who leaned out of the way just enough to miss getting sliced. Percy put all of his strength into his attacks, he had never fought out of rage before, but the white hot pain in his heart pushed him to fight sloppily. He faltered slightly and it was enough for Markos to trip him and shove him up against the nearby wall, a pained noise escaped Percy's throat. the tip of a sword touched his chest, he looked up to see Markos staring coldly at him

"You killed her" he whispered

Markos didn't respond

"The girl you supposedly love" Percy's voice was getting louder

Markos just kept staring blankly

"LOOK AT HER!" he yelled "LOOK AT ANNABETH!"

At the sound of Annabeth's name something seemed to click, Percy saw it in his eyes as they returned to their normal colour. Markos shook his head, blinking several times, slowly he lowered his sword almost as though he didn't know how he came to be almost stabbing Percy through the chest.

For Markos the next few seconds happened in slow motion, he turned, his green eyes falling on the motionless body on the floor, his eyes made their way to her face and finally to the blood staining her clothing. He fell to his knees, the breath gone from his lungs, his limbs went cold as he saw Annabeth lying there, dead, because of him. He wanted to reach out, to hold her but his limbs failed to move. This was all his fault, everything that had happened it was all on him, the destruction of Camp Half-Blood the death of all those Demi-Gods, the death of the girl he loved, all the blame was his to bear.

The four remained silent, none knowing what to do, they were still trapped in the Underworld, Hades could summon a thousand more undead soldiers before they could even make it to the entrance. Markos stood abruptly, picking up a few of the dropped weapons that surrounded them, he strapped two short blades to his back and a few throwing knives to his hip, he did not look at the others but instead lifted Annabeth's cold lifeless body into his arms and began to walk further into the corridors leading to Hades lair

"Where are you going" demanded Percy and Clarisse at the same time, they moved to stop him, but when they saw the look in his eyes they stopped in their tracks

"Get out of here, I will distract them" Markos's voice was cold and emotionless, reflecting in his eyes as well.

Percy grabbed his wrist not allowing him to take another step

"Where are you taking her?"

"Step back Jackson, you are not the one I intend to kill unless you don't get out of my way" Markos's body shook slightly, Annabeth's cold body still in his arms, the two boys stared at each other for a moment. Percy didn't want to leave her in this desolate place surrounded by the evils of Hades, she deserved to be buried where the sunlight would illuminate her resting place every day. Percy looked into Markos's eyes and saw for the first time not the anger but the sorrow of a man who had lost everything. Slowly Percy nodded understanding what Markos needed to do, he stepped aside. He watched as the two of them disappeared round the corner.

"Percy… what are we going to do?" Grover voice was cracked, emotion clear on his face

Percy began to stalk in the opposite direction Markos had taken Annabeth

"We get out of this hell hole"

"Wait, what about Annabeth?" he asked

"She's dead Grover, there is nothing left to do" he replied bluntly, Grover and Clarisse shared a pained look but followed the Son of Poseidon.