AN: Hi! Ahhh! I was wondering how to do this chapter, so i just did it anyway. Its a bit shorter so hope you still all like it!
To .water: I just realised that i spelt your name wrong in the last update! Annd then i tried to change it and it didn't work! Eeek! soory... thank you so much for reviewing! I seriously hope you like this chapter, since I've made sure its got drama in! lol!
To verapaige01: Wow...that was an awesome review! Plus! I've got loads more drama to pack into this story, which actualy might be really hard to write - :O ! Plus! Nothing is as it seems...just wanted to mention that. Thanks for reviewing!
To PercabethLoverForLife: haha! Your review was sooo funny! Do you want me to carry on being evil or not? Hmm...that's tricky. Thanks so sos os os so so so much for reveiwing!
To prince of seas: its so cool how you're so consistant at reviewing! thanks so much!
I will hopefully write a bigger chappie next time - see you then!
*Waiting for christmas to actually come*
"The war starts now," the king commanded, putting down his quill pen. "The peace treaty is to be forgotten – we are not going to make peace with tyrants and murderers."
"My lord, isn't this too rushed?" one of the knights asked. "The Atlantian army is far larger and stronger than ours; we do not have the resources or money to wage war against them."
The king glared at the knight, his eyes flashed with menace.
"We cannot let this pass us by, as if we do not care about the killing of our people. Athane shall stand and triumph or we shall fall with honour on the battlefield. Send word to the people of all the villages and towns; I want every man in my kingdom to fight for the glory of our country. If any refuse, I give you permission to kill them. Am I understood?"
"Yes, my lord," the knight said hurriedly.
"Then go, take a hundred men with you," the King of Athane ordered sharply, leaving no room for debate. "I want it done as quickly as possible, since King Poseidon may issue a surprise attack."
The knights bowed formally and marched out of the room, leaving the nobles, dukes and commanders sitting around the long rectangular table in the grand hall.
The king turned back to the rest of the meeting.
"Captain Francis, I want your division on the eastern flank, Calvary up front and archers at the back. Make sure every one of your infantry men are fully trained with their magic pushed to their full potential. Punishments should be not too harsh, but enough to make a point."
"Yes, my lord," Francis replied, ducking his head into a bow, his brown curls bouncing underneath his helmet.
"General Malcolm, have you prepared your spies? If so, I need them in Atlantia by tomorrow morning."
"They are already in Atlantia, posing as servants and waiters," Malcolm said proudly.
The king nodded in appreciation. "Good...now Annabeth..."
Annabeth looked up nervously at her father.
"Yes?"
"Stay at home in the palace and help with the war effort, I don't want you anywhere near the battlefield, is that clear?"
"Yes father," Annabeth answered with relief. At least she wouldn't have to experience all the blood and horror of the war.
Her baby would be safe as well. Even though the life inside her was half of Prince Triton, she still loved him or her with all her heart.
She only hoped that when he was born, he wouldn't be anything like the arrogant prince. But would father be angry at her if he found out that it was Triton's baby?
Anytime soon, the bump would start to show and then he would start asking questions. If the worst came to the worst, she would have to run away.
"I don't know what to do about Charlie," Silena said quietly, her features looked distant and sad. "He hasn't forgiven me...and the wedding was supposed to be yesterday. I heard he signed up for the army, I guess he's gotten over me now."
Annabeth didn't know what to say, she was always so hopeless at comforting friends.
"Don't worry about it Silena," though she mentally kicked herself for saying that. Of course Silena was going to worry about it – scratch that, she'd probably be crying in her sleep about it.
Silena sighed, staring out of the inn window at the few elves below. The snow had gotten thicker overnight, covering the slush with a heavy white blanket.
"I'll have to get over it," she muttered to herself. "If he can, I will."
Annabeth averted her eyes away from her face, feeling slightly awkward sitting here at this moment. She wished that she could go back in time and undo all of the bad times so Silena would still be with Charlie, Thalia still would be alive and she wouldn't be pregnant.
At least the wedding was off, which was the only one good thing that had happened to her in a long time. However it still wasn't enough to make her smile or laugh. Nothing could now...not properly laugh anyway.
"I'm going for a walk," Silena said, standing up from the bed.
"Shall I join you?" Annabeth asked, although Silena might want some time on her own. Just like Annabeth did.
"No...Its fine," Silena replied, not surprisingly.
Annabeth gave her a small smile and pulled her fur winters coat on and departed the inn with Silena, before turning in the opposite direction towards the castle.
The snow crunched and soaked into her shoes as she went down the deserted streets. They were dark and empty, devoid of life and movement.
"Stop looking so miserable! It's only snow, seriously, cheer up!"
Annabeth's eyes shot open wide, she knew that voice. There was no mistaking to who it belonged to.
"Thalia?" she whispered, but no one was there. There were no footprints beside her...nothing.
The cool winters breeze whipped around her face, teasingly. Like the wind was laughing in mock glee...
Annabeth gritted her teeth together; the time for crying was over. She seriously needed to get over Thalia's death and actually start doing something worth while...like killing Percy.
But she hadn't been able to kill him, why couldn't Thalia see that. Was she purposely trying to torture her? What would it achieve to kill Percy? Annabeth didn't want to kill him without a reason; it would be too hard to kill him anyway. There was no blade that could kill elves, apart from the mermaid forged blade that King Poseidon wielded.
Poison was the only option...
"Miaow..."
A pure black cat scampered around her feet and then sat directly in her path, staring up at her with big violet eyes. The colour didn't look natural for a cat...violet eyes? She had never seen one of those before on a cat.
Annabeth tried to move her feet, but she couldn't move them. Some force was holding them back...the cat continued to stare at her, its form started shifting creepily...getting bigger and bigger...
Frantically, she tilted her head to the side, trying to see if anyone could help her. But no one was there, only the screeching crows circling the tower.
"I always knew that you were trouble from the first time I saw you."
Annabeth blinked at the sound of the voice.
A woman stood calmly in front of her, a metres gap between them. Her hands were protected by fur gloves and she wore a frayed well used black cloak. Stunning red hair flowed down her back and she had the scariest eyes Annabeth had ever seen. And that was saying a lot.
"Who a-are you?" she whispered. Her feet still wouldn't budge, and if she struggled to hard she would most likely fall over.
The woman huffed in exasperation; she waved a hand in the air beside her, making it ripple and form glowing images in the air.
"Who are you?" A blonde haired girl asked.
"A soothsayer, no one knows my real name but I tell everyone it's 'Rachel'" the woman said, her violet eyes glowing slightly. "I'll let you go if you can complete the task I have set for you."
"Remember now?" the soothsayer said impatiently.
Annabeth did remember, although she didn't want to.
"Yes..." she looked even more desperately around her.
"Don't bother," Rachel said. "No one will come past this way and no one can hear either of us."
"Why are you here?" Annabeth demanded, straining her feet to get free from the invisible grip. "To kill me like you meant to do all those years ago?"
Rachel glowered at Annabeth darkly.
"That was the intention. But it's not about that – it's about you. I know your thoughts and I know of the baby that you long to keep a secret."
"It's none of your business," Annabeth blurted out, though it probably wasn't a wise choice.
"That's what you think, you know nothing. Absolutely nothing of the real world – hell, you don't even know the child inside your womb."
"Look stop going on about this," Annabeth spat angrily. Who was she to meddle in these matters? What was she supposed to mean that she didn't know her own child? Of course she didn't know him, he wasn't even born yet.
Rachel ignored her.
"You'll pay for even getting yourself into things that don't concern you," she hissed, her fingers started to steam with thick grey smoke.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Annabeth said defiantly.
"Don't lie to me," Rachel replied. "You have no idea what I'm capable of..."
"I don't even know what I've done –"
"Yes you do. But I know more – I know the different pathways that you will choose in the future, I know you even more than you. I know that you plan to kill Persues Jackson."
Annabeth's blood ran cold. How could Rachel possibly know? She hadn't told anyone about Thalia's last request.
"So you're going to kill me for things I haven't done?"
Rachel hesitated in thought.
"Hmm...maybe not. But there are many worse things than death, I assure you. I can take the happiness from you, your friends, your family-"
"Leave them alone," Annabeth commanded. "Leave them alone, you can't just hurt innocent people."
Rachel smirked, picking the dirt out of nails with the tip of her dagger.
"I'm hardly going to hurt them...merely send them to – hmm, how should I put it? ...a better place."
"If you dare lay a finger on them, I'll-"
"You'll do what?" Rachel sneered, sheathing her dagger. "You can't do anything. I want revenge, for something that hasn't happened yet...but I want it now."
"Tell me what I'm going to do!" Annabeth pleaded, hiding her terror and frustration. "Then I can change the future, you won't have to punish me."
Rachel shook her head slowly.
"The future is the future and it must stay there."
"Why does it? Why can't you just tell me?" Annabeth insisted loudly.
An elf walked past, but he didn't notice them. In fact he stepped right through them as if they were made of mist.
"The truth will destroy you," Rachel said pitifully, as if there was nothing worse than that. "And as my first punishment...I'll think I'll start with one of your closet friends...what's she called?"
Annabeth felt something cold inside of her mind and then it quickly withdrew.
"Ahh...that's it. Silena. She's in a bit of a mess right now, isn't she? The break up, the marriage being cancelled – such a shame."
"No! Please don't hurt her!" Annabeth cried. "Take anything else you want – just not her. Please, don't harm her."
"Too late, oops!" Rachel giggled. "Oh, look at the time! My frog stew should be boiling by now – got to go."
She dissolved into a whiff of smoke and grey dust.
As soon as she was gone, Annabeth sprinted towards the stables. The snow kicked up into the air off her shoes as she ran up to a dark brown horse and saddled it.
Travis watched her in confusion as she flung herself on the horse and galloped off into the distance.
Annabeth's heart beat rapidly, not from the exhaustion but from the dread of soothsayers words.
The snow was falling thicker, reminding her of Thalia's death.
No, don't think about that, she scolded herself.
The trees raced past her and her surroundings were a blur of white and black.
Footprints were sunk into the snow, winding through the trees, deeper into the woods.
The sky was getting darker; it was hard to see the branches that were scattered in the way.
The footprints carried on, the snow was getting thinner and the black soil tarnished the pure white colour.
Silena, please be alright. I can't lose you as well...
The trees were getting less frequent, sunlight was streaming through them. The snow had stopped falling.
A crystal lake...
The beautiful bulrushes that trimmed the edge...
A lone wooden fishing rod...
"Silena!" Annabeth shouted.
But the footprints had stopped at the side of the lake.
Two figures...
The claws...the fangs...
Glowing feral green eyes...
Black hair that she knew so well...
The claws...the fangs...
"He's dangerous Annabeth-" Triton had said.
"It doesn't matter who he is..."
"Hold on that thought," the menacing whisper was right.
She stopped breathing.
She stopped moving.
"He's dangerous," Thalia had said."The first time I saw him in the Mellay...there was something about him...something different."
"What do you mean?"
"There's just this sense of...of something evil around him – don't trust him Annabeth, I mean it, he's dangerous."
This was the reason.
This was the reason all along.
"He's evil, Annabeth..."
Jason was right.
They all were right.
He was evil.
"I'll always be here for you."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"You monster," she whispered, the words barely coming out of her throat.
She leapt off the horse.
Her sword was drawn.
They were by the side of the lake, surrounded by the frozen lily pads.
Silena's body was barely breathing.
Blood trickled from her head.
The monster snapped his head up towards Annabeth.
Such hatred in his green eyes.
Such menace.
Where did this all come from?
The claws...the fangs...
Fury clouded her mind.
Annabeth swung her sword at him, but he was too fast and shot a beam of light at her before she could dodge.
She hit a tree heavily. Spots appeared in her vision.
The monster stalked towards her, his mouth twisted up in a cruel smile.
He raised his dagger...
The one that Annabeth had given him.
The golden blade...
Her once most prized possession.
"You promised," Annabeth whispered. "You promised..."
"It was all a trick – a lie," the monster hissed, through blood stained fangs. "I don't care for you – I never will..."
Annabeth shook her head.
"You were so much more than this...Percy. This isn't the real you..."
Percy bristled in anger, the dagger hovered over her.
The point was directly over her heart.
The blade was tarnished...
Something black dripped down the sides...
As if it had been dunked in poison.
"This is the real me," he placed the dagger at her neck.
"No it's not," Annabeth said determinedly.
Her own dagger cut into her neck, but she didn't wince.
Not even for a second.
Instead she grabbed hold of it suddenly and ripped it out of his grip.
"You were never destined to be a killer," Annabeth took hold of his hand.
He stared into her eyes, suddenly calm.
She leant in slowly.
Capturing his lips on hers.
Percy didn't struggle, but she felt him relax almost immediately.
Here's your prize, Thalia, she thought.
The hilt of the dagger was soaked with the water of the lake...
The brown leather was cool inside the palm of her hand.
She moved her hand to his stomach.
The metal slid in easily and the hot red blood spilt on her hands.
There was a cry and suddenly her lips were empty.
He deserved it.
She ignored the torn expression on his angelic face.
She ignored the fact that he didn't have hatred in his eyes anymore.
He had lied to her...he had murdered the life of her her closest friend...
So this was how it worked...
An eye for an eye...
A tooth for a tooth...
A life for a life...
He ripped the dagger out, it disappeared somewhere in the snow.
"Annabeth..." he shuddered. But she didn't listen to him.
"Go," she told him.
He crawled back into the lake, making the water turn red.
They were right...
Oh, gods...they were all right.
How stupid was she?
She took hold of Silena's hand as she died. Just like she had done with Thalia.
I hope you're happy now, Thalia. Annabeth thought bitterly.
"Annabeth," Silena whispered, her face was ashen grey.
"I'm here, Silena. I'm here."
Silena smiled, taking one last look at the lilies that floated serenely on the surface of the lake, their petals open, even in winter. Frozen ice glimmered on the long leaves around them...
A cold silence filled the air.
The bulrushes started to disintegrate in the breeze and vanished into the white clouds above.
"I'll miss you," she told her. But she knew that Silena didn't hear.
And she never would again.
Not in this life anyway.