LOYAL LEADER
Annabeth found herself crouched behind the stone wall near the front gates of Delphi.
Her plan got set in stone. After another half-day to retreat to Apollo's kingdom, she found herself getting used to all of the running. Her body was still sore. Her limbs ached with too much movement, but it wasn't as drastic as the other day.
Percy peeked his head back from around the entrance. "Reyna and Jason, take the left end of the castle. Invade from the storm shelters. Dakota and Gwen struggled there last time, but I know the two of you are capable."
Annabeth knew the storm shelters lead right into the dungeons of the castle. It was smart, Annabeth had to admit. Taking out the guards below the castle before they could alert the others on the main level was a good idea. The guards that heard the swords clashing would probably mistake it for another criminal. Annabeth knew the guards at her home would.
"Dakota and Gwen will take the right side of the castle-"
"But more guards were on the right side last time!"
"We could barely take on the lesser amount, is what he means," Gwen yanked on Dakota's arm, who came stumbling back to her side.
The princess saw Percy roll his eyes under his hood. "Yes, I know. With our attack being fairly recent, Apollo would probably set more guards up on the left side since you guys got through them quicker last time. Therefore, there will be fewer guards on the right side."
The two nodded in understanding, Dakota making an exaggerated, "Oh!" in the process.
Percy pointed at Malcolm and Hazel before bringing two of his fingers together. "The two of you will take the caboose. Once inside, take off for the safe. You should have a pretty clear path until you reach the safe."
The two nodded once.
Annabeth didn't expect Percy to be such a strategist. It wasn't that she thought Percy wasn't capable, but she would've expected Jason to be one. With how much he rebutted her, she thought he would be the one to make the plans, and Percy would just enforce them. Percy's the leader, and Jason was the strategist. It made sense.
But whatever it was, Jason just spite Annabeth for no reason. Whether he didn't like it or he somehow knew that she wasn't Bethanny, he always disagreed with her. Perhaps he wasn't used to her?
"And you, Bethanny," Percy pointedly stared at her. He studied the shadow of her face, the way it appeared under her hood. It was like something whispered her poison in his ear because he then quickly looked away. "Are coming with me."
Shit. She thought. She should've known something like this was going to happen. Why would they let her wander around? She was new for God's sake! Would Annabeth let someone she doesn't fully trust into a royal palace? Never.
Despite how Percy wasn't looking in her direction, she nodded. She already knew the extent she would go to. Even if they would rather kill, she will not. She will only knock out. There was no way in hell one of them would find her killing one of the guards. They were just doing their job. Not only that, but she couldn't fathom killing those people. Annabeth couldn't see herself killing anyone that didn't deserve it.
Percy clapped his hands together. "You guys know what to do."
Dakota got up, heading to the center of the large gates. He fiddled with the lock for a second, before taking a small knife out of his boot. He stuck the end in the lock, jangling it around a bit. With some frustrating mumbles from the one picking the lock, the chains dropped.
Everyone sat still, listening for any footsteps or voices. With none, Dakota cautiously pushed the gates open. Creaks and squeaks were imitated from the doors, but they were quiet enough that they didn't make much noise. He cracked the gates to where all of them could fit through. Receding front the door, a duo stood.
Jason and Reyna peered out from behind the stone wall. They nodded at each other before taking off. Annabeth just happened to notice them interlacing their fingers as they disappeared.
A few minutes later, Dakota and Gwen crept through the doors. The Princess of Athens saw them glance back and forth before hugging the right border wall.
Annabeth noticed how much bigger and better the houses were. She also took note of the roads. The sidewalks were smoother, and there wasn't grass growing in between the stones, causing them to crack. The lights were clean, the glass and pole sleek. The wood and stones on each of the buildings were smooth, not chipped, and falling apart.
Never before had Annabeth realized how much better the peasants got taken care of in Delphi. Being the richest kingdom, they got more money in general, but that wasn't the point. There was money spent by Apollo and Noami to help keep the place cleaned up. Maybe it wasn't for the peasants, but to keep the city looking nice, but still. The poor were in much better condition there than in Athens.
The blonde flinched when Hazel and Malcolm shifted. They pushed themselves off the ground, double-checking their boot laces. Hazel picked at her tights, loosening them up by the thighs. Malcolm secured the clasps on his hood, yanking on it to be sure it covered his face enough to be unrecognizable. Seconds later, Hazel and Malcolm crept away. They both went to the right, moving far faster than what the previous two did. They almost ran across the brick pathways.
Once they were out of sight, Percy waited for the count of three. "Get up, Bethanny."
Annabeth stood up, following his commands. He watched her for a minute, before checking out for a clear coast. He motioned with his hand before slipping through the doors, not waiting for her. Taking a deep breath, Annabeth ran in.
She followed the leader, letting Percy boss her around. She didn't like not being in charge but now was an exception. She stayed silent, observing the bustling citizens. She understood how they didn't hear or notice the ajar door. Laughs and mediocre voices lifted into the air. Chickens clucking and cows mooing caught Annabeth's attention.
When Percy ran across the alley, Annabeth copied. They went unnoticed, being sure to keep the border in sight. When screams erupted in the air, Annabeth knew the fight began. Just as she and Percy arrived at the line of guards, she already saw a smaller group fighting Dakota and Gwen. The larger group was on their side.
"Do your best. I've seen what you can do and I believe in you. Don't let me down."
Annabeth unsheathed her dagger and dashed forwards alongside Percy. The alert guards quickly noticed them, yelling battle cries and circling them. Swords met swords as the two assassins fought against the knights. Bodies soon littered the ground.
The princess slashed, ducked, rolled, and kicked. At this point, she didn't care if she wasn't slacking with her dagger. Percy trusted and believed in her. She needed to prove that he didn't need to watch her back. She needed to show him that she could make her way through the castle herself. Little did he know that she already knew where she was going. That made her job easier.
She grunted and stumbled when one of the soldiers kicked her in the back. The others stepped back as the one took all their places. Annabeth's hands caught her fall, soon pushing herself around and onto her elbows. She couldn't make out a face with the helmet over the guard's head. She saw the guard slowly creeping up on her.
She didn't have her dagger, but she still had her bow and arrows on her back. Some had fallen out in her fall, so she grabbed one in either hand. Before she could get up, the guard kicked at her gut, making her crumble to the ground.
Annabeth didn't let that take her down. She knew that arrows wouldn't do much damage without a bow, so she took to another tactic. Just as the guard began to strike down with his sword, Annabeth lifted her leg. Her foot jammed right between the guard's legs. He groaned, dropping his sword and clutching at his gut.
The princess decided not to worry about her dagger. She shoved herself off the ground, snatching her bow off her back. She knocked an arrow, shooting at the guards closing in. After shooting the first arrow, she continued. She made sure to aim at the guards, but not somewhere that could seriously injure them. Annabeth didn't want a murder on her hands.
Shoulders, arms, legs, feet, and everything in between were her targets. Although, it was hard to aim perfectly while they moved. Annabeth had practiced moving targets many times before this, but a bow wasn't her go-to weapon. Her dagger was, but she didn't have that on her. She had to make do with what she had, and that wasn't much.
The next time she reached for an arrow, she grabbed at the air. A slight jolt of panic ran down her spine, but she stared at the guards closing in. She slung her bow across her back, taking steps back. She subtly glanced at the stone, not seeing the iron weapon. She assumed it must have been behind her, so she took that theory to heart.
After a few steps, she pretended to trip. She fell onto her behind, reaching her arms out behind her as if to catch her fall. Her hands found a sword, but not for much longer. Soon her hands lost their grip as it raised, the metal pressing against the back of her neck. Sitting with her helpless ass on the pavement was not what Annabeth planned. She had been correct when predicting that the sword from the soldier that she kicked in the soft spot would be on the ground. She hadn't thought about how quickly he would recover.
As the sword pushed harder against her neck, Annabeth's heart raced.
She couldn't die. She had to tell the guard that it was her somehow. She had to inform him that she was Annabeth Chase, not Bethanny Grey. Well, they didn't know she was Bethanny Grey either, but that wasn't the point. She couldn't let the guard kill her. He would be punished greatly for his crime when he was doing his job.
"Feisty are you?" The voice of the guard was in her right ear. His breath was hot, but it made Annabeth freeze. "Oh what a laugh it would be to hear that a woman joined a team of males in assassinating. That's not where you belong."
Annabeth hissed as he shoved the sword harder against her neck, drawing a bit of blood. "I do believe I put up a good fight."
Before she knew it, the knight hesitated. "Anna‒"
The princess bit her tongue as the sword cut into her neck. The weapon slipped against her skin before clattering to the ground. The guard crashed to the ground, getting knocked out cold. Fast as lightning a black blur fought the guards. She knew it was Percy immediately.
He fought like a god against the knights. His level of skill was much higher than the guards; so much that they didn't stand a chance. Even with a dozen attacking at once, Percy managed to dodge one swipe, just as he knocked out another. He ducked, jabbed, stabbed, swiped, rolled, and jumped. Everything was down swiftly as if he had been doing this his entire life. He moved without mistake.
Whenever a guard managed to cut a swipe, Percy would move so fast they'd leave as much as a small scrape. She couldn't take her eyes off him. He was like a hurricane, moving fast and without hesitation. His boots clapped against the pavement with each step, but Annabeth heard the sound like a resounding boom in her ears. Percy almost fought with grace, with how well he battled against the guards.
Annabeth was mesmerized by the sheer skill. He was levels above the others. Annabeth found it amazing how well he persevered, never dipping his arm in fatigue. His hand didn't shake, and his arm stayed raised and flexed. Annabeth couldn't see his face with his hood up, but she could almost imagine his eyes searching his opponents. She could picture the bright green seeing every next move.
Shaking her head, Annabeth snapped out of her imagination. This was no time to get distracted. She had a mission to complete. If she didn't finish this one mission, her whole plan would fail. She would end up with the sword on her neck again, just like she had been moments before. Except, this time, she wouldn't be saved by Percy; or anyone for that matter.
Using three senses, she saw the bloodied sword on the ground. She picked it up, thrusting herself off the ground. Annabeth didn't normally use a sword, so the weapon was heavy and unfamiliar in her hand. She didn't let that stop her, deciding to hop into the battle with Percy. She jabbed at one of the guards, getting his attention.
Soon enough, more guards had surrounded them. Annabeth found that it was easier for the both of them if they just fought back to back. If Percy dove to his right, Annabeth followed on the left side. She kept herself aware of her surroundings, glancing up at the guards coming their way.
Annabeth needed to get inside of that castle. If she didn't, her whole plan would go down the drain. She needed to hustle up and defeat the guards. She didn't know how much time she had either. How far were Jason and Reyna into the castle? How close were Dakota and Gwen? Had Hazel and Malcolm made it to the back of the palace? All she knew was that she needed to keep her head in the game.
In the back of her mind, she felt her neck sticking to the cloth of the hood, but she ignored it. She was going to sweat. It was blazing hot outside, and she was wearing winter gear. Annabeth didn't want to stop to see if something was wrong, even if she had been held at knifepoint. She didn't have time. Or maybe she did.
Annabeth didn't know. She despised not arrogance.
"Go!"
"What?" Annabeth yelled, dodging another stab. She found Percy's back and pushed herself up against it. She heard him grunt, reminding herself that she had an empty quiver and bow on her back.
"Get inside the castle!"
Over the clashing of the swords and screams around them, it was hard to hear him.
Annabeth glanced behind her, seeing Percy playing offense for once. She snatched his arm and clenched her fingers. He tugged on her grip, but she was relentless. She half faced him. "Hey."
"Hello, sweetheart," He breathed, only a tad bit out of breath.
She gave him a pointed look, even though he probably didn't see it. "I'm not leaving you to fend for yourself."
"I trust you. I believe in you. You don't need me, Bethanny."
"If you hadn't swooped in to save me, I would be headless!" As much as she hated to admit it, he had saved her life. She couldn't just leave him with a large possibility of his life. "Just let me help you out!"
"I can handle myself!"
"I'm not leaving you out here to die when you saved me!"
"I won't die!"
"You don't know that!" She cried.
She didn't know why she was so urgent. Didn't she just watch him take out a large group of soldiers while she gaped? Didn't she note how much more experienced he was? Why was she not listening to him? Wouldn't it be for her benefit if he died?
"Go!"
She didn't retaliate.
"Oh my God!" Percy gasped, pointing at the sun in the sky. "What is that?"
All of the guards stopped and looked at the spot Percy was pointing at. They immediately groaned and shielded their eyes from the sun. Percy glanced back at her while the knights were distracted. She nodded at him, and he repeated. She stared at him a moment more before breaking through the circle of guards.
She sprinted, even with the heavy sword in her hand. The cuts on her body burned in the humid air, but she did not let that stop her. She didn't even notice at the moment when arguing with Percy, but this was her opportunity. She could get inside of the palace and alert Apollo. Luckily, her job was made that much easier.
The drawbridge was down. No guards surrounded the area, which meant most of the backup guards were off busy with Percy. That meant she could get to the castle with little to no problem.
Quickly glancing back and forth, she dashed into the castle. Her boots drummed against the wooden bridge, but she paid no attention. She was so damn close. She could taste the checkmark over Delphi on her tongue.
The foyer of the castle was empty. Charis got tipped over, and books got scattered on the ground, but there wasn't that much damage. The marble floors were clean of blood, and all the halls were empty. Each little step she took echoed in the large entrance.
Everything in the room glittered gold. Delphi was the richest kingdom, and it truly showed. Not only in the town, but in the palace. Of course, Annabeth didn't take much time to look around. She had been in the palace before, and even though it was magnificent, she didn't have time to look around.
Annabeth wasn't sure where the safe rooms were. What she did know was that the maids worked under the ground floor of the palace. She knew that if she wrote something, one of the maids would alert Apollo. If she signed it as Annabeth, the chances were smaller than they'd give it to him. Well, most likely. If she signed it as ransom, then there may be a chance? Either way, one of the notes had to go to the maid's chambers.
The princess closed her eyes, imagining the layout of the castle inside her head. The golden walls and large halls appeared in her mind. She traced her way to the kitchen, thinking that there may be a way downstairs from there.
She whipped around the corner, her cape flowing behind her. When she entered, she found the place in disarray. Pots and pans sat on the floor, tools littered the floors and counters. She figured the rest of her group must be leaving a surprise for when the royals get back up. Only causing the kitchen more wreckage, Annabeth dug through the cabinets. She tripped over the utensils on the floor many times, but it never seemed to alert anyone.
"Shit." Discarding the kitchen, Annabeth dashed back to the foyer. There wasn't even an entrance through the pantry like there was in her castle. Why did the designs have to be so different?
Annabeth didn't know how much time she had left. She had to leave a note or else her whole plan would go down the drain. Looking up at the tall and wide staircase, she sighed deeply. Her arm ached from all the running, and her legs soon followed as she proceeded up the staircase. She sped through the maze of a castle, looking for Apollo's office. She had no idea where to look, and she was running out of time.
As if a miracle had occurred, she found a room with the door wide open. The space wasn't gigantic but wasn't small by any means. There was a desk in the corner of the room, and the windows got covered by curtains. The desk was a mess, papers and ink scattered everywhere.
The princess rushed into the room and dove into the desk's chair. She set her sword carefully on the table, not wanting to mess up any of the few organized pictures. Annabeth's eyes searched for anything to use to write. There was plenty of paper to choose from, but there was no quill on the table.
So, she dug around in the drawers and found one. The tip was a bit messed up, but it would do. She quickly snatched a random paper from the surface, laying it down in front of her. Annabeth quickly wrote down her plan in her neatest cursive. Cursive was something many without higher education couldn't read. So, if someone else were to see the sign, specifically others in the crew, they most likely wouldn't be able to read it.
Your Majesty,
Athena always has a plan. I always have a plan.
After the assassins and I escape from Delphi, we will soon move on to a self-governed village between here and Meteora. It will take anywhere from a few days to a week, but we will arrive soon. I need you to prepare King Zeus for our arrival. Anyone that can fight needs to be ready, we will need all the help we can get. Tell Zeus to get a few cells ready as well. We'll need to get these guys to talk.
I don't have much time, and neither do you. Please, the fate of Greece is in our hands.
Signed,
Princess Annabeth Chase of Athens, Greece
Annabeth slammed the quill down, ignoring the few splotches of ink. She sighed and set the paper on top of her sword. It would be impossible for Apollo to miss it. Although, she was nervous that he wouldn't fully understand. She hoped he would, considering it was crucial to her plan.
Without further ado, she hurried out of the room. She trampled down the stairs, never stopping to glance anywhere else. Sounds, people, and colors flew past her, but she didn't care. She had to get back to the assassins. Annabeth ran as fast as her feet could carry her, which was fast. It was a plus that she wasn't running with a ball gown on. Running with her gear on felt as if she were flying.
Instantly, she regretted being so focused on finding the rebels. She ran into a heavy object, almost falling from the impact if it wasn't for the arm around her. Annabeth blinked, seeing a hooded face above her. She had the perfect angle to see his glowing green eyes though; she immediately knew it was Percy.
They sucked at the air as if they were downing. In a second, Percy chuckled.
"You might want to watch where you're going, sweetheart."
She gaped at him before her defenses went up. "I was busy looking for you!"
"Me?"
"The group!"
"Oh? Are you sure?" He grinned, and Annabeth could hear the tease in his tone. She could tell by looking at him that he was holding back laughter.
Annabeth gave him a pointed look.
He put his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay."
"Did the others make it out safely?"
Percy nodded before glancing around. He grabbed her arm, turned around, and began to run. Behind her, Annabeth could hear battle cries and boots slapping against the pavement. Either the other guards had recovered, or a new round of royals were coming after them.
Annabeth gripped Percy's forearm right away, not wanting to let go. She didn't have a weapon, and by the looks of it, neither did Percy. They ran as fast as their feet could take them. They weaved through houses and businesses, not being able to tell the difference between the two. By now, the townspeople had mostly deserted the streets, leaving a straight path to the gates.
"Hurry! They're gaining!" Annabeth called out to Percy, who was just right in front of her. Right than with the adrenaline rush, it didn't seem like Annabeth had sore limbs. Without her heavy sword in hand, her arms felt a lot better. Although, all the running and walking for the few previous days still impacted her legs. They were killing her.
The blonde almost breathed a sigh of relief when they made it out of the gates. Unfortunately, the guards didn't stop chasing after them, even as the hills began. Thank God they were sprinting down the hill and not up to it.
Annabeth's lungs burned for air, and the taste of blood vaguely rested in the back of her mouth. The taste made her nose crinkle, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. Soon, after what felt like miles of running, the guards finally turned back around.
They both breathed rapidly, but Annabeth's legs gave out underneath her. This time, Percy didn't catch her as her ass hit the ground. Her chest heaved up and down, and she was so glad she didn't have her quiver full of arrows.
"Where are the others?" The princess gasped, her eyes widening.
"Further down." Her leader breathed. "I told them to keep going even if I didn't come back."
Something clicked in the back of Annabeth's head. If she and Percy had collided, it was because they were going in opposite directions. If Annabeth had been running out of town, then he had been running in. Then, if he wasn't lying, he and the others had gotten to safety. He told them to keep going even if he didn't come back. Come back from coming to get me.
"You came back for me?"
He glanced at her. "Of course I did. You're a part of my team, and as the leader, it's my job."
"But you could've been killed! You've already risked yourself so much for me today! Back in that cluster of guards, and then you come back for me! Why are you always putting yourself into constant danger?"
"You are on this team! You are just as important as the rest of them are," He pointed to the valley a few dozen feet below them. "Even if it doesn't seem like it all of the time! Understand?"
She nodded, wanting to run back inside the castle and rip the paper she wrote for Apollo to shreds. Guilt settled inside her heart, and she wasn't sure it was ever going to go away. She was sending herself and these kind-hearted, loyal people into a Hellhole.
Words: 4, 428
Hey, y'all! Sorry for the VERY long wait on this chapter. I've been busy and working on other things right now! I'm also sorry for how this chapter got a bit slow 3 quarters of the way through, but I still love it! Annabeth's plan should now take action!
THANKS FOR THE 13 REVIEWS, 30 FAVORITES, AND 57 FOLLOWERS! I LOVE Y'ALL SOOOO MUCH!
Not including A/Ns, I officially have 57,569 words on this story. I am in shock. Half of this wouldn't have happened without all of you guys. And for that, I thank you!
[ANY RECOGNIZABLE CHARACTERS GO TO RICK RIORDAN]
-Bookworm-2026