Ch32
The journey back to Hephaestus and back to camp was a blur to her. Annabeth felt tears fall down her cheeks and did all that she could to not break down as she heard and felt the volcano erupt. Three is a sacred number there are consequences for breaking it Chiron's voice chimed in her head.
If only I had listened to him this wouldn't have happened she thought as she let out a sob. She was back in camp and in on her bed crying. No one dared to disturb her though occasionally Chiron or some other campers would come on in and check up on her.
She felt hallow, as she laid in bed and stared at the ceiling. Magnus you were my closest family member and now you are gone. She felt a pit in her stomach as she thought of her cousin. They had been through everything together since her dad adopted her and now he was possible gone from her life. Dad she realized as her eyes shot wide open. How will I explain this to him? Her dad had promised her aunt to keep Magnus safe and now that he was gone well I failed him too I guess.
Then her mind turned to Percy and she felt a pain in her chest. Percy if you are alive please come back and bring Magnus with you. She had prayed to her mother for wisdom and guidance but so far nothing had come up. I can only hope that the gods save and protect them.
She thought of the kiss she had with Percy; the kiss was something that she could not explain but she knew she wanted it. Her feelings for the son of Poseidon were complicated as she still had some feelings for Luke. She remembered the first kiss; it was short and sweet. But the second one she remembered how she realized her cousin was watching them kiss and she didn't know why something possessed her to kiss Percy again.
But Percy pushed me away the memory pained her more than anything else. Yeah she was a little more forceful during the second kiss and monsters were on their way but still, the way Percy pushed her away hurt her even if it was a small push to let her know that they should get going. Was it because Magnus was watching? Or does he just not see me in that way?
The thought had crept into her head, she saw that he looked when they first kissed. It was a mixture of shock and disbelief. She felt something in her chest that she never had thought she could feel towards her cousin. It was a desire to one-up him and frankly, she felt a little bad about it. Magnus had always been the only person from her father's side of the family she actually cared about and she never had the desire to one-up him until recently. She knew that Magnus and Percy were friends and that they were close but still something inside of her has been different lately. She couldn't explain it but she felt a bit annoyed by their friendship.
But they are friends why do I even care if Magnus is Percy's best friend yet no matter how many times she tried to deny it deep down she knew she had always felt a bit of jealousy about her cousin's friendship with Percy. The way they hung out outside of camp, how Percy and Magnus seemed close and confided in each other things that they would not confide in her. How lately they have been getting closer over something she did not know of. She knew that they were keeping something from her and she didn't know why she cared so much.
I don't even know why I am feeling this way she thought as she rolled in her bed. She looked at her wall as she rested in her bed. Yet no matter what she still felt a bit betrayed that they were keeping something from her. Not that they were not obligated to their personal privacy it was just that she knew it was something important and they were both keeping it a secret from her. I thought we were close but what are they keeping a secret and why won't they tell me?
Maybe because you know that Percy prefers being with him instead of you a small sinister voice in her head said. She shook her head and turned around to get rid of the thought but it came back. He was Percy's first choice to go retrieve Zeus's lightning bolt, he wanted to take Magnus to the Sea of Monsters instead of you, they traveled across the US to save you and made many friends along the way. Who knows maybe they are together on some secret island having fun because they would prefer to get away from you. Magnus has Percy and other people now too and he no longer needs you. Face it, even your own father prefers him over you. He swore to protect him and only paid so much attention to you because you both were an item.
She shook her head and she forced herself to think of anything else, she didn't know why or where these thoughts were coming to her they were like sinister whispers in her head almost like a negative conscious. "No Percy still values me and Magnus to he just is growing up," she muttered as she forced herself out of bed. She grabbed her towel and decided to get ready for bed since she was not in the mood to eat or even hungry for that matter.
She took a nice long shower and made sure to scrub herself down well. When she finished showering she got dressed and saw back down on her bed. She still felt hollow and did not feel like doing anything else so she decided she might as well go to sleep. "Percy Magnus please be safe wherever you are," she muttered as she stared at the ceiling of her cabin and slowly felt herself fall asleep in her bed.
In her sleep she felt herself fall into a dream. She was at a mall full of people shopping and doing their business. She passed by many people who were laughing and having fun as she walked down the aisles of shops full of people. She then passed by a building it appeared to be some sort of bowling alley full of people around her age.
She heard the music play around her and the sound of the pins fall and people having fun in the arcade next door. She walked around and that was when she saw them. Percy and Magnus were sitting on a table next to a bowling lane they were accompanied by a group of other people who appeared to be their friends. She felt her heart race as she saw Percy stand up, a big smile on his face as he picked up a bowling ball and threw it down the lane.
"Good job dude," Magnus said as he got up and patted his back while their other friends cheered and congratulated Percy.
She felt her heart rate increase as she watched her cousin and Percy have fun. "Percy Magnus!" she called out and attempted to run towards them. It felt as if she were running through a hall that kept on getting longer. She called out to them again but they both appeared to not hear her or were ignoring her. She tried to run towards them faster but they were out of reach. "Guys don't leave me!" She yelled but they did not hear her as they sat back down with their friends appearing as if they were having an amazing day and did not want to be bothered.
"Guys!" She yelled out one more time but as she ran the dream shifted and she saw what appeared to be a beach. She saw it from afar and saw a blonde girl sitting on a table while a familiar person sat with her.
She focused on the person and realized that it was Percy, "Percy!" She called out but he did not hear her. What is this island? The island gave off a peaceful vibe and for a second she forgot that she was in a dream. She felt that this dream had more meaning to it, she looked around but saw no sign of Magnus only Percy talking with the girl. He appeared conflicted and looked sad as if he had lost something precious. Percy placed his face in his hands and she could tell that he was distraught at something. He was speaking to the girl but she could not hear what they were saying but she could tell that she was comforting him. The girl placed a hand on his shoulder and said some comforting words as Percy appeared to cry in his hands. Percy seemed to relax a bit but she could tell he was still distraught.
She could hear Percy say only one thing, "How can I face her. What have I done, he is gone." before breaking down and being comforted by the girl.
She tried to call out to him but he did not hear her as the dream slowly faded. She woke up and it was still too early for breakfast. It was just a dream they wouldn't ignore me like that. They will be back I know it she told herself over and over as she got up and stretched. But still the last part of the dream felt a bit too real and she had a pang of sadness in her stomach. She still felt tired as she looked at her siblings sleep. She headed to where she kept her personal belongings and started digging through them.
She didn't know why she wanted to see the small box that contained the ring of Magnus's mother but before she knew it she had the small box in her hand. It had been years since her cousin had trusted her with the ring and she still kept it in a safe place. She took the box to a private corner of the cabin that had some light and opened it.
She took out the small ring and felt a lump in her throat. This is the last thing I have now that connects me to Magnus she thought as she fought the tears in her eyes. She took a deep breath as she cleared her throat and held the ring in her hand. The bright stone in the middle had some kind of rune on it. Her father said her aunt was into that kind of stuff and had the symbol all over her house. She held the ring close to her heart as she reached out to her mother. "Mom please bring them home," she said softly.
She looked one more time at the ring and put it back into the box before putting it back in with her other precious items. She went back to her bead as she looked up at the ceiling. I wonder if his father is looking after him, she knew that her cousin didn't care about getting claimed and now that he hung out with Percy in the Poseidon cabin he was more than content since he didn't like being around a lot of people.
She had thought of her cousin's parentage but knew that probably he was some minor got who forgot him. It happens that's why the Hermes cabin is full of them along with the children of minor deities.
But Magnus was happy where he was and for that she was glad. Also, I am glad he did not just run from the camp and leave it like so many of the other unclaimed children. She and Chiron had both privately hoped that Magnus being unclaimed would encourage others in a similar situation to stay at camp since he went on an important quest and all. However, while some did stay a lot became kind of resentful to him. They saw him being in the Poseidon cabin and felt jealous that he still was not claimed but got to stay with Percy. Many viewed his situation as him getting rewarded just because he is Percy's friend. She remembered how she would overhear things from some campers that were not claimed; they resented her cousin but of course, would never say it to her or his face.
Her cousin was oblivious to it but she often caught various unclaimed kids glaring at him and saying how he only got to leave the Hermes Cabin because he was friends with Percy. Most of those people left camp for Luke and those that stayed usually kept their opinions to themselves or saw Magnus as an example that they were worth something at the camp.
She sighed as she got ready for the day, forcing herself to get out of bed and get ready with her other siblings. Her siblings asked if she was ok as they ate breakfast. She told them she was well as she offered some of her food as a sacrifice to her mother. Mom please bring them back she said as she watched the food go up in flames.
She passed through the day doing various things while trying to distract her from her pain. Her siblings tried to keep her spirits high but she could not make herself feel better. Clarisse would often come to comfort her but they were both preoccupied as Chris Rodriguez's condition worsened.
The days passed by one by one and still there were no signs from either Percy or Magnus. As the days passed by her spirits worsened as she slowly started to lose hope that they would return. Chiron would try to uplift her but he had heard nothing from either of them as well.
She was sitting by her lake one afternoon as she looked out at the water. Percy loved the water maybe his father is looking for him too she thought as she resisted the urge to cry. She had cried herself to sleep often as each day passed and there was no sign of Percy or Magnus.
"Yeah it is too bad they haven't returned," said a female voice not far from her. Annabeth looked to the bushes to the sound of a group of females who were talking was on the other side.
"Yeah they were both cute," another girl said.
"Maybe they are just hiding together," a girl said.
"Who knows I mean after all Mother Aphrodite said that they were great friends and all," a female said. "And we all know how close they are," she said as a bunch of girls giggled.
Annabeth gripped her fists as she recognized the voices. It was Drew Tanaka and some other girls from the Aphrodite cabin, one of the main gossip groups at camp. She did not know what possessed her to get up and walk towards the group of girls but she was not in the mood to have them gossip about Percy and Annabeth.
Drew's back was facing her as her cabinmates did not notice her. "I mean after all him and Percy are both attractive. I would go out with them both and have lots of fun," Drew said with a laugh.
Annabeth stared above her, Drew had not noticed her but her cabinmates did and none of them were laughing as they looked up at her with fear.
"And what do you mean by that Drew," she said icily.
Drew shot up her usual calm and cocky demeanor replaced by nervousness and fear. "Oh um Annabeth I just meant that they are good friends and are super attractive and." She said smiling at her but Annabeth glared at her with her stone face. "I mean they are always helping out other people and I would like to reward them one day if possible," she said with a nervous smile.
Drew turned to her other cabinmates for support but they only weakly nodded and refused to look her in the eyes. "Drew I don't know what you and your siblings are insinuating but I am not in a good mood," she said as she took a step towards drew who looked like she was terrified of what was about to happen. "Magnus my only family on my dad's side is gone and Percy as well. So if you or your siblings continue to say or spread such rumors about my cousin and Percy again my actions will result in something that not even your mother's blessing can fix," she said sounding much more intimidating than she intended.
She saw Drew's face nodded the fear was visible in her eyes. She looked at the other children of Aphrodite and they were also nodding; they were more terrified of her than Drew. "In fact, if I so much as hear such things about them I will sure that when I am done with them your mom will probably mistake them for a child of Hephaestus do I make myself clear?" She said icily.
Drew nodded nervously. "I-I do Annabeth we were just joking we would never spread rumors about your cousin or Percy right girls?" She asked turning desperately to her siblings.
"Y-Yeah," one of them said as they all nodded in agreement.
"Good now leave here I wish to be in peace," she said. Drew and her friends nodded as they ran off and headed back to some other part of camp.
When they were gone she went back to thinking about Percy and Magnus. The rest of the day went on as usual, without a word from either Percy or Magnus. As the days passed by Chiron said that they should have a funeral and that she should lead it since Magnus was her cousin and Percy her best friend. She only nodded; this was her fault after all, she broke a sacred rule and brought more than two companions and now they were gone. She still had not told her dad yet but she knew that he would take it just as hard. She sat on her bed and cried at that thought of never seeing her cousin or Percy again.