/Author's Note - Sorry for the delay, my cat went to kitty heaven this week so it's been rough. Publishing schedule should resume as normal now. Hope you are enjoying!
Chapter 28 - Time to Say Goodbye
I gathered Frank, Leo and Hazel to go discuss what we should do. I pulled them all into my cabin. It was a tight fit, but with the other snake people on the deck, I wanted to be somewhere quiet. I sat on my bed, Hazel beside me. Frank took my desk chair and Leo sat on the floor.
"Ok. First things first. Leo, does everyone here know your plan?"
"Uh…" He looked at the group. "Yeah. Yeah this is it."
I nodded. "Anything you need us to do to help?"
He shook his head.
"Ok. Then I'm going to admit something to you all. Since Leo's already trusted you with his part of the prophecy. I don't think….. Well -" I took a deep breath. "Percy and I were allowed back into this world to stop Gaea. We've talked it over and, between everyone wanting to spill our blood and it being fated and what not….. We don't think either of us will be coming back from this one."
I held up a hand as the three of them started to protest. "I've heard enough prophecies to know there's no sure thing. But I also know that fighting against it typically only gets more people killed. We'll be ok. We've got friends in the Underworld. In fact, I'm going to see if Hades will let me borrow Cerberus on the weekends. The dude needs a break and enjoys red rubber balls."
"Uh….." Frank said, looking confused.
"Doesn't matter. If you've agreed to help Leo, I'm guessing you'll both agree to help me. If we kill the Giants, get back to New York. Stop the war if you can. Try to save Camp Half-Blood. I know neither of you have been there, but it's been home for -" My voice caught. "For a lot of demigods. Get the crew home - no matter what."
Leo looked like he was ready to cry. "Last night, you were trying to comfort me. But you didn't say you thought you'd die before me."
I shrugged. "I'm not certain about anything, Leo. I want you to keep the Cure. If there's only enough for one person and Percy and I are both killed, well…. Let us go. Ok? That's an order."
Silence filled the room and all three faces looked like they wanted to cry.
"Annabeth -" Hazel whispered, sounding distraught. "I-I don't want to lose you. We just got you back -"
"I know." I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close. She smelled like cinnamon.
Frank took a deep breath. "O-Ok. I don't like it, but I guess if you were willing to go to Tartarus together, well, you'd be willing to go to the Underworld together too."
I smiled at him. He and Leo joined our group hug.
When Leo pulled away, I could tell her was fiddling with something in his hands. "Ah…. a letter." He handed the small folded square to Hazel. "For Calypso. If I don't make it. So she knows…. I tried."
"Calypso," I said, remembering Leo's request of me. "Do what you can for her. Free her, or ask the gods to. I trust you to do your best, both of you." It was strange, trusting these two so much. I had started this journey not wanting to trust the Romans, feeling resentment about the fact that they had shared a quest with Percy - that was usually my job. But now? I adored these two, just as much as my friends back at Camp. And I trusted them to carry on my mission, even if I couldn't.
I took a deep breath. "Now. Let's discuss strategy."
After everything was set, we went above deck. Piper was keeping our snakes under guard with music.
I went to Jason and gave him a big hug. I knew this might be our last chance to talk, and I felt like I had a million things I wanted to tell him, but none of them would come. "I…. thank you, for being such a good friend."
"Be careful. And good luck." He whispered back. He gave my arm a squeeze as I pulled away. I turned and looked at Frank.
"You're a natural leader, Frank. It's been good getting to know -" He yanked me into a bear hug.
"I know we only spent a few weeks together." He whispered. "But I'll admire you as a leader the rest of my life."
I pulled away, tears in my eyes.
"Thank you."
I turned to Hazel, standing behind him. As I wrapped her in a hug, I whispered, "Thank you. For everything. You've been such a good friend. You're stronger than you know, Hazel. Always remember that."
I felt her nod against me. "I promise, I'll save Camp Half-Blood. I'll tell your story, and Bob, and Damasen. I'll make sure the Legion knows your stories."
Lastly, I turned to Leo. Before I could say anything, I felt his body ram into me. "You've been the best sister I could've asked for." He whispered, and I could tell he was holding back tears. "I love you Annabeth."
I kissed him on the head. "I love you too, little brother." I ruffled his hair for a last time, then turned and slipped my hand into Percy's. We turned, and looked at our crew, assembled for the last time.
"See you on the Acropolis." Percy told them casually.
"Be as safe as you can be. And remember your instructions." I told them all. "It's been an honor, sailing with all of you. Fighting with all of you. You are all true heroes."
Then, Piper, Percy and I descended from the ship, our snakely guests in front of us.
We entered a sewer grate and followed our snake guides towards the Acropolis. Within seconds, I could feel panic rising up inside me. It took me a minute to figure out why - these sewers looked far too much like the catacombs under Rome. I tried to take some deep breaths and steady myself. This wasn't a suicide quest under Rome. I wasn't alone. And I was, probably, not heading back to Tartarus. We made our way to the snakes' lair, which wreaked of rotting fish. I was about ready to run back to the ship, my panic was so bad.
"I don't like this place." I muttered to the others. Piper had somehow managed to sing the entire way here, stopping only for a breath or a sip of water here and there. "Reminds me of when I was underneath Rome."
"Our domain is much older. Much Older." Kekrops hissed to me.
I wanted to tell him, "Yeah, I don't care about age, does your domain have giant spiders? Or a mortal enemy of my mom's? Or an entrance to Tartarus?"
I slipped my free hand into Percy's for support. My other hand gripped the hilt of my sword, ready to fight at any second.
As we walked further into the tunnels more snake people came out to see what was happening. They all fell entranced with Piper's song. They followed us like a very somber parade. Perhaps a funeral march, which made me shudder. We passed through chamber after chamber, many filled with bones, reminding me of the Labyrinth, and of that temple room I had found under Rome, the one where so many of my siblings had perished. Every child of Athena before me had died on that quest. I'd survived, but I wondered if the curse followed me even now. I hadn't finished my mission - I'd passed the baton, or statue, to Reyna. Reyna, who may have gotten killed on that island with Thalia. I wondered how many of my friends would die because of my decisions.
Thalia on Half-Blood Hill. Bob, Damasen. I shook my head, trying to clear it, focus on the here and now. Every time I felt panic rise up and threaten to overwhelm me I'd squeeze Percy's hand. He'd squeeze back and I'd focus on that. Or I'd remind myself of all the things I was grateful for these last few days since coming back from Tartarus. Every experience I got to have before I died. The smell of the salty air, running on the beach in Pylos. Seeing the great architecture in Mykonos. Playing simple games with my friends. Breathing. Showers. Gelato. And last night, of course.
We would get to slopes so high we had to help each other up or we'd lose our footing. Piper had a hard time, since she had to sing and climb. Percy and I had a hard time since our bodies still hadn't fully recovered since our return to the mortal world. We stumbled more than a few times. Once, we passed a room full of snake eggs, which scared me big time. What if they hatched at the sound of Piper's singing? As we went, more and more Gemini joined our parade to hear Piper's song. I desperately hoped she could keep it up, since if they turned on us, it was roughly three against, oh, five- or seven- hundred? Not great odds. Again, potentially possible odds. But not great.
A steady heart-beat sound echoed through the chambers. It reminded me of the cave where the statue of Ares had sat. I pushed back those memories before they could swamp me.
"I awake." A woman's voice, clear as day, came from the stones all around us. It felt like my heart was ready to burst with fear.
"That's not good." I managed. Yeah, super helpful statements from Annabeth time.
"It's like Tartarus." Percy said, sounding as scared as I felt. "You remember? His heartbeat? When he appeared -"
"Don't. Just don't." I was trying desperately to keep those memories and fears at bay. We needed to do this, to save our friends, to save the world. We couldn't stop now.
"Sorry." Percy murmured.
His face looked scared, frightened, terrified. Mine probably looked much the same. The grip on my hand tightened and I tightened my hold back.
"At last." Came Gaea's voice again. Piper's song faltered. A wave of fear crashed over us, like at the Spartan temple. Complete, total fear. I wanted to run, but three things stopped me. First, we were literally surrounded. Second, I had no idea how to get out of here. Third, my friends were here. They needed me. I swallowed the fear and noticed that Piper's voice was stronger. How the heck was she doing this?
We made our way up a steep slope and found an exit covered in green snake goo. Kekrops turned to face us.
"Beyond this camouflage is the Acropolis. You must remain here. I will check that your way is clear." He said.
"Wait." Piper ordered him, then turned to face the crowd. "There is only death above. You will be safer in the tunnels. Hurry back. Forget you saw us. Protect yourselves." Piper ordered them in charmspeak. I wasn't sure how Piper managed to make sure Kekrops, Percy and I weren't caught in the order, but she had. As one, the snake people except Kekrops turned and slithered back to their homes.
"Kekrops, you're planning to betray us as soon as you step through that goo?" Piper asked him.
"Yes. I will alert the Giants. They will destroy you. Why did I tell you that?" Kekrops asked, confused. Have I mentioned how much I loved charmspeak? Still my top power if I ever get to choose.
"Listen to the heartbeat of Gaea. You can sense her rage, can't you?" Piper asked. I wasn't sure whether she was charm-speaking or not.
"I can, yes. She is angry." He agreed.
"She'll destroy everything. She'll reduce the Acropolis to a smoking crater. Athens - your city - will be utterly destroyed, your people along with it. You believe me, don't you?" Piper asked him calmly.
"I…. d-do." Kekrops agreed. I wasn't sure he really did or if it was the charmspeak talking.
"Whatever hatred you have for humans, for demigods, for Athena, we are the only chance to stop Gaea. So you will not betray us. For your own sake and your people. You will scout the territory and make sure the way is clear. You will say nothing to the Giants. Then you will return." Piper ordered. The charmspeak was so strong I could almost feel it thickening the air.
"That is…. What I'll do." Kekrops said, begrudgingly. Then he turned and disappeared through the goo.
I shook my head in amazement. "Piper, that was incredible." I told my friend.
"We'll see if it works." She admitted, then sat down on the floor. I figured that the magic probably left her exhausted. I didn't have magic, but it was probably a very tiring exertion, especially with that many snake people. Percy and I squatted next to her. I was going to offer her a water bottle, but Percy did before I could. Piper took a long drink and handed the bottle back to Percy.
"Thanks."
"You think the charm will last?" He asked her.
"I'm not sure." Piper admitted. "If Kekrops comes back in two minutes with an army of Giants, then, no."
The heartbeat of Gaea continued to beat through the stones. I could feel it vibrating beneath my feet, filling the silence as we sat there, waiting. I wanted to say something to Piper, tell her goodbye. But I wasn't sure what to say. She had been such a good friend to me.
She had supported me in the long months that Percy was missing. She had listened when I talked about him and kept my spirits up when I felt discouraged. She had never even met the guy but was still willing to talk about him and listen to my feelings. She had kept us alive in that temple in Sparta, even when I was totally incapacitated by fear. She was one of the bravest people I had ever met in my life. She was nothing like the scared teenager I had rescued from the Grand Canyon less than a year ago. She had found herself. Or at least, part of herself. And she had grown into it. She was a warrior, a leader, and a true friend.
"Do you guys ever think about your families?" Piper broke the silence. I looked at her in surprise.
Percy looked like he was ready to cry. "My… mom. I haven't seen her since Hera made me disappear. I called her from Alaska. I gave Coach Hedge some letters to deliver to her. I -" His voice broke. "She's all I've got. Her, and my step-dad, Paul."
"And Tyson." I reminded him. "And Grover. And -"
"Yeah. Of course. Thanks. I feel much better."
But I could tell he didn't. Piper laughed. It was a nervous laugh, but a laugh all the same.
"What about you, Annabeth?" She asked me.
"My dad. My step-mom and step-brothers. After all I've been through in the past year, it seems stupid that I resented them for so long." I turned my sword over in my lap, needing somewhere to put all my nervous energy. "And my dad's relatives. I haven't thought about them in years. I have an uncle and cousin in Boston."
Percy gave me a shocked look. I realized I had never mentioned my extended family to him.
"You? With the Yankees cap? You've got family in Red Sox country?"
I tried to smile at the joke, but it was a pretty weak smile. "I never see them. My dad and my uncle don't get along. Some old rivalry. I don't know. It's stupid, what keeps people apart."
We sat in silence for a while, until the green goo rippled. Percy, Piper and I grabbed our weapons and rose, ready for a fight.
Kekrops returned, alone. Piper had done it. She had truly done it. "The way is clear." Kekrops said, before I could celebrate. "But hurry - the ceremony is almost complete."