Chapter 16: Annabeth
Annabeth landed on harsh stone ground, grazing her skin. She found herself in a cave of sorts. Dim sconces illuminated the walls, with ornate carvings serving as decorations. Towards the back of the cave lay three stone sarcophaguses, embedded into the walls. Annabeth walked towards them, blades drawn.
"Greetings." Annabeth turned around to see a hooded figure. The figure was hunched and covered in a black robe. It reminded Annabeth of a dementor.
"Who are you?" she responded, raising her daggers.
"Why my child do you not see?" the figure replied.
"All I see is a cloak. Who are you?" The anger in Annabeth's voice was increasing.
"You really have no clue, do you? For a daughter of Athena I'm disappointed, especially one with the fame of Annabeth Chase." The figure rose from a hunch into a stand. Towering over Annabeth it shed its cloak. Before her stood a swirling vortex of darkness, only held together by the steel armour it was glad in. From behind the helmet two red eyes glowed.
"I am Erebus." Annabeth shuddered. At that point her attention was diverted to the wall behind Erebus. Chained to the wall was a blond haired man. He wore battered Athenian armour. Two white wings protruded from his back. They were dirty and the left one was crooked, as if it was broken. Erebus noticed Annabeth's interest.
"Ah," the god of darkness said, "you've seen my brother Æther."
"What have you done to him?" shouted Annabeth through gritted teeth.
"I have simply relieved him of his duty. But whilst I would love to argue the merits of my actions with you I have other matters to attend to." Erebus raised his arm, sending Annabeth flying to the cave wall.
"You see I have always been in your life, Annabeth Chase. I watched you defend Olympus from the Titans, I saw you escape my brother, Tartarus, and destroy my sister Gaia." Annabeth heard a slam behind her. She turned to see that the central sarcophagus had opened.
"Instead of killing you myself, I will watch you die at the hands of the three warriors I cursed when they bathed in the Styx."
"You created the Curse of Achilles?"
"Indeed. I wanted to see what happens when a mortal receives the power of an elder god. Sadly all three so-called heroes failed. Two died and one gave up the power." A cold feeling passed through Annabeth as she realised who Erebus was talking about. A figure, dressed in the armour of a Myrmidon, emerged from the stone coffin.
"Achilles." Growled Annabeth.
"Yes! The greatest warrior of all Greece." Responding Erebus with a demonic chuckle. "Luckily he isn't alone." The other two sarcophaguses opened. Two warriors emerged, one dressed in the armour of the Titan Kronos and the other equipped with armour of Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth struggled to hold back the tears as she faced the shadows of Luke Castellan and Percy Jackson. Luke's skin was burned from where he'd sacrificed himself on Olympus. Without thinking Annabeth attacked.
