A.N Another chappie for you guys but really people please leave some reviews I know people looked at it but not one single review. Honestly it makes me wonder if it was any good and whether to spend more time on this story. I'm not trying to be rude but no feedback leaves me gnawing at my fingernails wondering if it was terrible. Anyway now that that rant is done with as usual I own nothing Disney/Hyperion/Riordan own it all.

Ch.21 (Occurs simultaneously with last chapter starting after Annabeth Hugs her mom)

Athena stiffened when Annabeth hugged her something was off about her daughter she felt colder than any mortal she had felt before. Being the goddess of wisdom and knowledge that she was finding out what this unknown condition her daughter had gained her full undivided attention. Looking into Annabeth's eyes with concern she projected her thoughts to her daughters mind

Are you all right daughter? You feel different now, colder. What happened down there?

Annabeth glared at her mother in response for the invasion of her minds privacy but gestured with a nod of her head towards the palace. Nodding Athena started to move towards the Palace and froze her mind catching up to her. Annabeth's eyes were all wrong they weren't grey anymore like before now they were a crimson red. Athena could have sworn she had seen those eyes somewhere else before as her mind attempted to coalesce a coherent idea as to what change her daughter could have undergone. Lost in thought she forgot to keep moving with Annabeth so she was shocked when her arm was grabbed roughly and she was yanked forward.

"Who dares…O daughter sorry I was just thinking."

"I bet you were now get inside before you figure out what I need to tell you."

"Fine fine but I want a full explanation understand?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes "Yes yes yes lets get this show on the road people are starting to stare."

Athena glanced over her shoulder only to see Hecate staring at her daughter intently as she was engaged in conversation with Percy.

Percy.

Percy.

That was where she had seen those eyes before her mind racing. Percy had had those eyes when he was the champion of Hecate and Nemesis back when he had changed into a monster.

Annabeth sighed as she saw her mother's face go blank again as her brow furrowed in thought as she was reaching forward to pull her mother again she saw her face morph from one of intense concentration to one of understanding as she figured something out. Annabeth latched onto her mother's arm intending to rush them both into the palace before she could ask anything. The moment her hand came into contact with her mother's arm she felt a flash of light and both of them were in the palace in what she assumed was her mother's quarters here.

"Talk." Athena commanded gesturing with her arm imperiously.

"What do you need to hear? You've already figured out what happened to me I saw your face."

"What I need to hear daughter is why this happened to you. I need to know what happened down there, I need to know if you're alright with this change, I need to know in short everything that has occurred since you were released from Tartarus."

"There's a lot that happened and it's not exactly easy to describe its convoluted."

Athena's eyebrows rose for Annabeth to admit that something was too complicated to explain was unheard of. A trait she shared with herself. Athena thought for a few seconds before gesturing to Annabeth's face "May I?"

Annabeth stared at her blankly for a few seconds then figured out what she was asking permission for before nodding in permission. Athena stepped forward and placed her hands one on either side of Annabeth's head then closed her eyes casting her conscious into the depths of Annabeth's mind. The images were a jumble as Athena searched seeing flashes of unimaginable horrors before they were replaced with brief glimpses of what she was looking for the thoughts taunting her. Finally she managed to grab hold of the memories she was seeking and started sifting through them. Her initial fear and grief about what her daughter had endured tripled as she saw what her daughter had looked like directly after being freed. She saw Tartarus restore her to full health for seemingly nothing the memory itself was wreathed in a nimbus of dark power which she assumed was Tartarus. her daughter had learned something down there but what was it? What had she learned that was vital enough for him to cloak that specific memory in shadows? Putting that thought aside for later she delved through the rest of the memories her daughter had giving them a cursory examination before shelving the facts away for further study. Slowly to not damage her daughter's mind she extricated herself before reentering her own body.

Athena's eyes shot open as her consciousness returned. "I am sorry my daughter, for everything."

"Wasn't exactly your fault Mom the Romans wouldn't have listened to you anyway you know since they hate us Greeks."

"There's one question I didn't have answered my daughter I believe it best if you answered it yourself instead of me finding it in your memories."

"Which is?" Annabeth asked curious.

"How you feel about this.' Athena said gesturing up and down Annabeth's body' about no longer being human, about being a monster now."

"Is that how you feel about me? A monster?" Annabeth said her voice a low whisper.

"No! Not at all my daughter! I simply was saying what class you're considered a part of now. You may not be mortal anymore my daughter but I shall never abandon you." Athena said her voice firm leaving no room for doubt as to her sincerity.

Annabeth gave a sigh of relief before she looked back up at her mother. "I…I feel less whole as if a part of me is missing. I haven't wanted any food for days and the only thing I did drink was a couple drops of my own blood.' Annabeth shivered in revulsion' it repels me because when I think about that memory all I can remember is how good it tasted…it feels so wrong to think of it that way even now. I mean I know I still have my morals and stuff but what happens when I get the urge to have a snack I doubt I'll be calling out for pizza unless I want the delivery boy.' Annabeth took a breath steadying herself' I never wanted to be a monster mother, all my life I've wanted to grow up be an architect, maybe save the world once or twice, and more recently have a happily ever after with Percy. I can never be an architect now not in any large visible way, how can I save the world when I am what heroes hunt? And how…how could I be with Percy now? After the things I've seen him commit? Do in my name? I mean in the pit it was easy to dismiss all that he showed me since he was the only familiar thing there…but now with time to think I honestly don't know how I feel about him. Even if we did get together have kids and all that what am I going to tell them? That their father went half mad butchered dozens, caused a civil war amongst the gods, and then possibly the collapse of western civilization all for me?" By the end of her speech Annabeth's voice had risen and was laced with sarcasm.

Athena sat there listening to her daughter feeling pity for her as she lay bare her darkest fears and demons. Knowing there was nothing to say to allay her claims about everything she had said.

"You don't have to be a monster daughter…"Athena started but was interrupted by Annabeth.

"Well unless you can convince Tartarus to undo what he's done I think I am a monster." Annabeth retorted angrily.

"No I don't mean changing you back, that is beyond all of our means as you know, I mean by your choices. You can help demigods with their quests you can still save the world like you wanted to. You are what you choose to be my daughter."

Annabeth was silent for a moment as she took in her mother's words absorbing her meaning.

"Thanks mom…I guess I've just hit my breaking point right now and it feels hopeless."

"Anytime daughter anytime…O Apollo told us something when he defected to our side' Athena said her eyes watching her daughters reaction' he said the prophecy that was made about the world falling to storm or fire any positive outcome was dependent on you."

Athena smirked as Annabeth's jaw dropped open in astonishment.

"He said that?" Annabeth asked hope filling her voice.

"He did indeed, so you see daughter you are still the hero just different from before."

"Your right as always when do you want me to rejoin the others then? On the Argo two?" Annabeth was bouncing in step practically with pent up energy.

"Whenever you feel like it daughter…."Athena hadn't even finished her sentence when she was squeezed by Annabeth who murmured a thank you into her ear and dashed off down the corridors.

Athena smiled for a second and then froze…Reyna's trial was today. Her eyes widened if Annabeth was even near that courtroom when he pronounced sentence with how emotional she had just been…her mind shut off as she ran off after her daughter hoping to reach her and divert her from the throne room. She was almost to the throne room's corridor when she heard a shriek of pain and loathing. Athena turned the corner and saw Annabeth staring into the throne room and shout the word "Monster!" at Percy before turning and running back the way she came as she looked up and saw her mother she dove into the alcove where the torch was and disappeared.

Athena stared openmouthed at the spot where her daughter had been just a moment before.

"She shadow traveled…" Athena murmured to herself.

Percy ran up to her his eyes running everywhere looking for her "Did you see her where did she go? Honestly I didn't want to kill Reyna what did she expect me to do? At least this way she can live her life a bit more before dying."

"She's gone Percy. She shadow traveled somehow, she could be anywhere.' Looking past Percy to where Reyna was at behind him she added 'and you are wrong Perseus about her living her life to the fullest before dying."

Reyna's head and Percy's jerked up in her direction at the same time "What do you mean?" Percy demanded shaken out of his angst of losing Annabeth again by shock.

Athena walked past him and reached forward touching the torc around Reyna's neck "I imagine you know what this is?"

Reyna just stared at her not responding.

Sighing she turned to Percy "Give her permission to speak and act freely."

"Why does she need my permission she has a will of her own?"

"Because Perseus she doesn't have a choice, not anymore. She subjected herself to Roman law and that law is magically binding. She will serve you and nothing else the only reason she can breathe without your order is because she has to to survive. She is in the eyes of both Roman and Greek law a slave. That's what the torc signifies it tells others who see her of her status and whom she belongs to."

Percy felt a gush of air rush out of him as the full implication of what he had done sunk in. Yes he knew she would be a slave but he had thought she would maintain her anonymity to a large extent.

"I give you permission to speak and act freely Reyna."

It appeared as if a great weight came off of Reyna as she stretched her limbs and inhaled loudly.

"Gods that was annoying." Reyna said rubbing the torc about her neck.

"So I'll ask you again Reyna…do you know what that torc is?"

"As you said it's a symbol of my status as a slave nothing more." Reyna replied her fingers momentarily clenching on the torc.

"O it is much more than that Reyna much more.' Athena said her fingers tapping the torc a few times to emphasize her words' The problem with the law you used is that it was designed for demigods murdering fellow demigods, not for a case between a god and demigod. Albeit you had to since he was a demigod at the time of Rome's crime. No when he declared the sentence of servitude did nothing happen that was different from what you had read about this ceremony?"

Reyna closed her eyes thinking hard " I remember a dark light shooting from him entering my body, it formed the torc as well."

Athena nodded "That light was part of Perseus' very essence. By invoking his right to claim you both your essences were bound together in part. Normally it would just keep the wrongdoer bound to do the other demigods will but since Perseus is a god…it had some other effects the bond that was created. The bond was designed to make the perfect servant out of the offender and that's what you are now, not just bound to his will but to this life. He is never going to die any servant he has would have to be capable of weathering the ages with him. You are now immortal as well Reyna daughter of Bellona slave of Perseus and you shall serve him for all time death shall not break the bond you will simply reform and be drawn to him again."

Reyna's breathing stopped as the implications hit her.

Overwhelmed by this Percy fainted and fell over backward toppling onto the floor in an unconscious heap.