Percy: Forgiveness

With that I cut the connection when I heard a rustle behind me.

I turned around and faced the bush where the rustle took place. I saw it split apart and saw a figure with blond princess curls coming out. The figure picked her head and I saw an all familiar face of the girl that I once loved. All her features were the same as before but her grey eyes were filled with tears.

I gasped and muttered, "Annabeth."

Her head snapped up and she froze when she saw me. I stumbled back, and she walked forwards to help me stable myself. I raised my arms signalling her to stop.

She halted and looked at me with a bit of hope.

I began, "Annabeth," she flinched at her name, "What do you want?"

She seemed to think about it before she replied, "Forgiveness?"

"For what?"

"For betraying your trust. I wanted to break up with you, but I still wanted to be your best friend. I honestly did not think that you would catch me snogging Matthew. I am sorry. Please forgive me."

By the end she was in tears. I wanted to comfort her, but her words reopened the old wounds that I buried deep inside me. I could feel hurt and betrayal come back to the surface but this time I had it in control. The only evidence that I was hurt was the expression on my face.

I tried shaking the feeling by clutching my head and trying to concentrate on Artemis, Thalia, Aly, Brook and even Sophie. But the memory of Annabeth kissing Matthew turned into Artemis kissing Matthew and I felt my heart break, but I knew that it was just a kind of dream and that she would never do this… right?

I turned to Annabeth and said, "Honestly, I had buried all the feelings that your betrayal and you cheating had caused and tried to move on, but I guess that I will never be able to move on without forgiving you. So, I guess, we can go back to being friends, but the position of best friend is taken by Thalia."

Her sobs reduced, and her expression became clear. She looked at me and managed a weak, watery smile. I returned the smile and she unexpectedly jumped up and hugged. The momentum sent me down the cliff (which had magically appeared) and my instinct told me to hold on to her.

We kept falling till Annabeth screamed, "PERCY, DON'T YOU HAVE WINGS?" Realization dawned on my face and I expanded my wings and slowed the fall. I kept flapping till we were steady right 5 metres above the rocks. I flapped the wings harder and brought us up to the edge of the cliff.

The shock seemed to have sent Annabeth unconscious as she was as limp as a dead person. I placed her on the ground when an arrow landed right next to her. I looked up and saw that it was a silver arrow. It must be a hunter.

I slowly looked up to see a furious Artemis. Scratch that, Artemis was not just furious, she was fuming. I tried for a grin, but she glared right at me. This was a glare that meant a certain death.

I walked backwards while she walked towards me like a predator chasing a prey. I tried saying something, but the words failed me. I started walking faster and she seemed to follow me.

I rapidly turned around and sprinted as fast as I could. I materialised my sword in case I needed to defend myself from her. I kept running and I did not realise that I was in the forest till I crashed into a tree.

I fell back on my butt and immediately, I was pinned against the ground with a knife on my throat. I looked from the corner of my eye that Artemis was standing on me.

She hissed, "How dare you, Perseus? I thought you were different, but you were just like the other males who defile innocent maidens."

I felt a little hurt but I calmly said, "Milady, I apologise if you thought that I was trying to defile her. I had just finished my conversation with Chaos when she stumbled into my area-"

"So you defile her?"

"Milady, please let me finish. Anyways, she stumbled in my clearing and when she noticed me, she begged for forgiveness of her betrayal. Her words re-opened old wounds and I was forced to forgive her. Then, she jumped at me and we both fell off the cliff. I held on to her on instinct and flapped my wings such that I was steady right 5 metres above the ground. I flew harder till I reached the cliff. I was exhausted so I put her on the ground and then you came and started shooting at me. I tried escaping but my exhaustion refused me to go far and in my semi-consciousness I crashed into the tree and here we are."

Just when I finished, I felt water droplets fall on the back of my head. Before I could react, I was in a warm embrace. I hugged back and grinned that the misunderstanding was over.

I got up and almost stumbled back down but I kept my exhaustion away and started walking. Artemis helped me and pecked my cheek. Right after she did, there was a gasp.

I snapped my head around and saw the last person I wanted to see Artemis and me like that.

Annabeth.

A/N: That is Chapter 24. A bit short, I know but I had to end there. The battle is going to come soon. Maybe after Percy proposes to Artemis considering I will do it. I might not and make them break up. Keep reviewing and I will decide later. Anyways, drop a review and favourite/follow my book.