Disclaimer: Rick Riordan wrote something that inspired me to write. Thank you, Uncle Rick.

Author's Notes: 6/22/15 - Today is my son's preschool graduation. I will try my best not to cry, because my son is growing up, in Elementary this August. Dear Lord! By the way finally this story is going somewhere like 10th most viewed... Zero, read with your tablet near the ground and don't hate me. 6,410+ views

CH 37 "Bounding Time" (Aida)

I got back to Boston and my apartment before noon. As I was approaching to the door, I heard music inside my apartment and meant 2 things: thieves or my girlfriend. But Charlie was with her family, thought she hadn't called me yet. I drew out my sword from my magical bracelet just in case.

I opened the door ready to fight and I found my girlfriend at the table making a circuit with tiny precision tools and welder. She raised her eyes as she was wearing her glasses, the only use she had found them. I sighed relieved that she was fine, that nothing was wrong. She smiled at me saying "Hello, pretty girl."

I walked in taking out my long warm coat and sweater. It was hot in here. Probably Charlie moved the thermostat to feel she was on the south. I said "Hello, Char, I thought you were in Louisiana"

"And I thought you were in New York. I had to come back for the project" said Charlie and I walked to her. I kissed her softly. "I was lucky to find one of my teammates in the airport when Professor Tanaka called him. I never left town."

I sat on the corner of the table after moving gently some of the electronic parts and said "Why didn't you tell me?"

Charlie smiled as she took my hands. She kissed my palm before saying "I thought you weren't coming with everything happening in your house right now."

"You should have called me to let me know at least." I said slightly upset.

"Sorry. I didn't want to worry you if I told you that I was here alone," said Charlie and her pretty brown eyes looked like she really meant it.

Then something hit me. Charlotte Burns was more competitive by nature, more than me and this was the perfect opportunity to win. I said pitchy "Wait, you want to beat me, right? You honestly think your team will win?"

Charlie gave me her best confident smile and said shamelessly "We have been working nonstop for two days now and the simulation is running smoothly."

"Charlotte Burns, it's on" I said standing up "I will get back to the lab right now."

"Not now" said Charlie and took me in her arms. "You are mine for at least one hour before." She gave the sexiest smile ever and I felt like melting into a puddle.

"You will have to convince me" I said teasingly as I coiled my string of my hair flirtingly.

"I know exactly how" said Charlie and she kissed me hotly. She pushed me to our bed and I was hers for at least one hour.

For the next couple of days, we worked without rest barely talking or seeing at each other but having sex or eating when we managed to find each other in the apartment.

Without notice, tomorrow was the beginning of winter and my team was almost done. We were working around the clock and the pieces were working smoothly in place but we just needed to finish a detail with the running program. Charlie's team was almost done too. I was hopeful to return to New York by Christmas Eve and just in time for the fundraising gala, a Matthews's tradition.

I returned to my apartment just in time for dinner. Charlie and I made a deal of at least having dinner together every night at 8, no matter how busy we were. I brought Chinese this time and I opened the front door and Charlie was cooking in the kitchen. Now, I felt bad from bringing take out.

I walked to the kitchen and my girlfriend was wearing shorts and a tank top with the heating to the maximum. I hugged her for behind and I kissed her cheek saying "Hey, Char. Are you cooking?"

"Yes, I wanted to make tonight special" said Charlie and turned her head to the side to kiss me fully in the lips "Grandma Molly's special chili recipe"

"Oh, I brought Chinese" I said weakly.

"It's okay. I could take it to the guys if you want or save it for tomorrow" said Charlie as she stirred the pot. The smell was mouthwatering and I could hear my stomach rumbling impatiently.

"Maybe for tomorrow. What's the occasion by the way?" I asked.

I could feel Charlie's smile as she always smiled with her whole body. I was leaning my head on her shoulder as my arms were locked on her waist. She said "We are almost done and you will return immediately to New York and my grandma sent me a ticket to Louisiana for the 23rd. No excuses. This is probably out last night together."

"I guess you are right" I said and I kissed her shoulder tenderly "Thank you for making me dinner."

Charlie turned her head and kissed me hungrily. She turned to face me and I deepened the kiss. She moaned softly before pulling away. She said "I was wondering if we could try something new in bed tonight before returning to the lab."

"Like what?" I said with a large grin. I liked where this was going.

"Maybe really sexy lingerie and candles" said Charlie and kissed me softly "Or maybe tie you and have my way with you. I love to hear you plea as I tease you endlessly." She winked at me and I turned so red and hot, ready to explode.

I really liked her idea but I left everybody working alone without their families. My sense of duty was sometimes too annoying. I said "I don't know. I have to get back to the lab really quick. I just came so we could eat together, and maybe take a shower."

"Please? Come on. You aren't afraid of me, are you?" said Charlie pouting "You make me sound like the big bad wolf seducing Little Red Riding Hood… We deserve a break. I'm not going to hurt you."

She was right. I sighed saying "Promise?"

"Promise" said Charlie and she kissed me again making my insides boiled "I think we should skip dinner."

I nodded as I wanted the same. I said "Okay, just let me text my team that I am getting back later than expected."

"Sure" said Charlie "I will turn off the stove, put away the take out and I see you in the bedroom."

I walked outside the kitchen to the living room where my phone was over the coffee table. Suddenly, I felt a rag on my mouth and nose. I fought my way out but she or he had a tight grip on me. We were in danger and I knew I should not inhale it but I couldn't avoid it. As soon as the substance hit my lungs, I collapsed on the arms of this person.

I woke up tied up in bed like a worm. There was no room to untie myself and in the corner, I saw Charlie wearing black clothes only, even gloves, and her normally down hair was tied in a sleek ponytail. I saw the black blade on her waist. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Charlie couldn't be the killer.

Charlie said as she walked to the bed "Hi." I couldn't talk as I had grey tape over my mouth. I wanted to yell for help. "Promise me, you won't scream and we will talk civilize." I nodded and Charlie pulled the tape making my skin red and raw. I whispered her name.

"Sorry for the inconvenience… I know you know" said Charlie honestly "I really hope you didn't. I really don't want to do this but you leave me no choice. I would love for you to follow me, but I know you won't. I know you too well. "

"I don't know what you are talking about" I lied. I needed to buy me some time to figure it out my way out of this situation.

Charlie smiled as she saw right through me. She touched my cheek and said "Babe, I can read you really well and I caught you searching in my things weeks ago"

I sighed and I will deny it publicly but I was really afraid. I whispered "Who are you?" because my reality had been just shattered. She couldn't be my girlfriend, the one who I loved with all my heart.

Charlie kissed my lips strangely familiar and I felt like crying. She said "The same girl you fell in love with, nothing has changed. I love you."

I had to understand, so I asked at front "Why are you killing demigods?"

"It's fun. One has to have a hobby" said Charlie with a chuckled and I saw a different smile in her face, something I had never seen before, wickedness. That smiled made my blood turned colder than arctic ice.

My lips trembled as my whole body shivered. My mouth was completely dry and my voice weak and unsure when I said "Hobby? You call that a hobby. You almost killed Em"

"Damn Theodore! He had to be nearby to spoil my fun" said Charlie with a giggle.

I stared at her and I really didn't know what to think or say. I was in shock. I whispered to myself "Why didn't I see it before?"

"You love me and trust me… Athena is right, you know? Percy has polluted your common sense. Any descendant of her could have seen it and you didn't. Alice knew but she died before she could do something about it. I didn't kill her if you are remotely thinking that. I loved my sister" said Charlie with a teasing sarcastic pout. I felt so foolish. I reached to that conclusion weeks ago but I dismissed because like she said, I loved her. You have to trust the people you love, right? "And I gave you something in your tea" The last part hit me hard and I felt my lungs without air.

"You drugged me to love you?" I said and I never thought betray could taste any more bitter in my mouth that in this moment.

"To love me? No. You did that all by yourself" said Charlie and her fingers touched my hair, brushing it away of my forehead "The tea was just to make sure you didn't suspect of me."

"You use me" I said.

Charlie looked half hurt by my statement. She sighed before saying "I meant to get close to you and kill you and your family, but I never meant to care about you. I never used you like I intended to do at first. I love you"

I wanted to believe her words, her perfect Charlie's words but I couldn't. People I knew and loved were hurt by her. Surely, betray and shock turned into anger. I accused "You killed my grandma"

Charlie rolled her eyes and said teasingly "Come on. You didn't even like her that much. Don't deny I did you a favor. Besides, I didn't kill her. I just scared her to death. Her weak black heart did the rest"

I looked down and whispered "She was right, wasn't she? You are a monster"

"No, I'm just a bored mortal with skills" said Charlie honestly and I knew I wouldn't get out of here alive.

I said "What are you going to do with me?"

Charlie bit her lips looking up and down to me. Then she said "Well, you won't come with me and I can't let you go now that you know."

"Are you going to kill me?" I said unafraid, but I was.

"Not me. I can't do it. I love you. Besides I promised you not to hurt you" said Charlie and she kissed me softly. I wanted to bite her lips or do something mean but my love for her still ringed in my heart and my body betrayed me. This felt like the last kiss, a Judas kiss.

As we pulled away, I whispered "Then who?"

"You'll see soon" she said looking to the door like she was waiting for somebody to come in immediately.

In that moment, my phone ringed. I could hear it in the living room where I left it. It ringed like 5 times before it went straight to voice mail. She said "You have to listen to your messages, you never know. It might be really important." She left the room and returned with my phone tapping here and there.

Then she put the phone close to my ear and I heard my mom saying 'Aida, we are going to Camp. It's going to be under attack. Come as fast as you can, bring Charlie with you. We might need her'

Charlie hit the replay bottom and heard the message herself and said "It's nice to see that your mom wants me to fight. I might take her offer. I would love to see Camp again… They won't see me coming." Her smile was cruel and full of promise. She was right. She could walk right into Camp and killed my parents and siblings and there was nothing I could do.

I wanted to be brave and yell that she wasn't getting away with it, but I was so worry for my family that I pleaded "Please, don't."

For the door, I heard a voice saying "That's new, Athena's bloodline pleading. Charlotte, you really are a miracle worker."

I stared at the new comer and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He was taller and bigger than the last photo of him at Camp. He was wearing black clothes matching my girlfriend. I said in disbelief "Ewan McCoy?"

"Hello, blondie" said Ewan waving at me and coming to the bed.

I stared at both to them, my girlfriend smiling large and he looked confident. I said "You are with Charlie."

Ewan chuckled and said "Not exactly. She is not my type. I'm not into serial killers, though she is hot, really hot"

"Thanks for the compliment" said Charlie and she laughed carefree like she had just listened to the funniest joke.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why indeed. Zeus is a fool, a tool also. We need new management" said Ewan like it was the easiest explanation ever.

I was about to say 'Why?' again when Charlie said "Did you bring her?"

"She was exactly where you said" said Ewan nodding and walked out "I will get her"

Seconds later, Ewan returned with a girl tied just like me in his arms. She looked no older of 9 years old and she was scared and crying. I said loudly and bravely "Let her go!"

"Gladly!" said Charlie walking to them. I saw the black sword rising, the girl too. She struggled in Ewan's arms like a worm out of the dirt but there was no point. Then the girl was stabbed on the chest. The little girl electric blue eyes stared at me in shock, pleading for help and finally feeling sorry for me, I was next, then she died. I watched the whole scene with horror but I didn't allow them the satisfaction of seeing me screaming.

Ewan carried the girl and dropped her in a loud thump next to me in the bed. Her blood was tainting my sheets as her dead electric blue eyes focused on nothing.

I was petrified. I think I had never been more scared in my life but I didn't allow myself to let them know. I stared at them defiantly and asked "Why did you kill her?"

"You did. Well, the Gods will believe you did, the blood on Zeus' daughter in your hands. You family will be framed" said Charlie.

I looked at them and defended myself saying "Poseidon will defend us… Also Athena"

Ewan laughed and said "I hope it happens. I need Zeus to call for war"

"It's a lousy plan" I said quickly "He won't start it just because of one dead daughter."

"Maybe, you are right" said Ewan teasingly "However, we need your parents busy and everybody against them, so they won't spoil our plans."

I gasped as I realized their plans. I said "That explains why you were using a dagger. You knew someone would make the connection to my brother." Charlie opened her mouth to talk but Ewan shook his head, not letting her answer me.

"It's time" said Ewan somberly and I knew he didn't mean tea time.

Charlie kissed me lightly and her thumb touched my lower lip. She said seductively and evil "Come on, baby. I want to hear you plea. You sound so sexy when you do it" I shook my head. I wasn't going to give her that last satisfaction.

Ewan groaned and said "I will just kill her"

Charlie glared at Ewan and said "You spoil the fun. I'm not about the corpses but what we do before." I saw a wicked bloodthirsty smile. I stared at my girlfriend and I was terrified of her, she was brutal.

"No wonder demigods fear you. You are crazy" said Ewan smiling teasingly "I will cut her head off and get done with this."

Charlie pouted saying "And miss how she bleeds out? I love her too much to miss her last breath."

"It's getting late" said Ewan rolling his eyes pointing to his wrist, to an invisible watch, "We have to get to Camp"

"Alright, alright… I love you" said Charlie giving a final sweet goodbye kiss. She gave a sad smile "Sorry, you will miss how we kill everyone you care. We cannot let the loyal ones alive."

Before I could answer, Ewan took his sword, simple celestial bronze, and buried it on my chest. It felt like when Mer hurt me, the same depravation of air and my heart beating twice as fast. I saw them leaving and I sobbed. I had to warn my family but this was Charlie's final joke on me. I knew and there was nothing I could do to save them. My chest filled with despair, leaking blood and pain. Finally, everything turned black.