A/N: Once again, THIS STORY ISN'T MINE! I can't take credit for writing this masterpiece, I just copied and pasted it from tumblr so it can reach a larger audience! The writer of this story is tumblr user storiesoftheseven . Here's the link to the master post of Falling For the Devil : post/116271170930/fftd-master-post
Annabeth spent the rest of the weekend hiding out in her bedroom. She felt really horrible for lying to Percy on Saturday evening. Dinner with Luke had been a rather simple affair, the only thing they did was eat and then kiss. She wasn't ready to be intimate with him, they didn't even have a normal relationship for crying out loud.
On Monday morning she was anxious to see him. She woke up with a morbid sense of foreboding, Annabeth couldn't shake the feeling something bad was going to happen today. It scared her, especially since Percy had been silent throughout breakfast. She had tried to engage him in conversation but he… honestly just ignored her.
As she walked into her office building, the clouds dreary- fog everywhere, she knew that somethings were never meant to last. Somethings were just never meant to be. It scared her that she knew she and Luke probably wouldn't last much longer, but the hope she felt when she was with him was addicting.
She knew, though, that to protect him she needed to break things off with him before the wedding. Annabeth didn't really know what her plans were but she knew after the wedding she couldn't keep seeing Luke, as selfish as she wanted to be- his life was more important to her.
Annabeth set her stuff down in her office chair and walked out of the door. The walk to Luke's office was a short one. She was immediately brought up short when she opened the cracked door and found the office… empty.
There was nothing in there.
No computer, no files, no printer, no pens, no paper… nothing- absolutely nothing but a desk and an office chair.
Her heart accelerated as she walked toward his assistants desk.
"Where's Luke?" She asked, maybe he had just gotten a promotion over the weekend and had already switched offices.
The assistant looked up at her, her blue eyes filled with sympathy, "Quit, some movers came and packed up his stuff yesterday. The board is trying to find his replacement this week."
Annabeth felt really confused, surely he would have told her his decision to leave the company. That didn't make sense, though, because when she left his apartment Saturday he distinctly told her he'd see her at work on Monday.
She knew something else was going on, something that was out of her control.
"Thank you." She told his assistant as she walked back to her office, determined to find out.
She walked into her office, her mind so focused on getting her cell phone that she almost missed the bouquet of twenty four red roses sitting on her desk. She walked passed her purse and to the flowers, they were beautiful. Too beautiful.
She plucked the note from the flowers and felt her face pale and her body tense.
I know about Luke. Dinner isn't an option tonight, see you at four thirty, sharp. Do not be late.
Annabeth's stomach churned and bile rose in her throat, Percy knew about Luke. What if…. what if he… she couldn't process the thought as she darted to the bathroom and promptly lost her entire breakfast.
On the way back to her desk she thought about calling Percy and explaining or trying to find something out about Luke but she figured it would make matters worse. Percy Jackson was known for implanting fear in people and she directly defied him by being with Luke.
She was truly afraid of what he had planned this evening.
Annabeth did, however, send a text to her friends. A message just to say 'hi' but it was really to see if they were okay. They all responded back to her within minutes.
Work was futile, she gave up trying around lunch. When she kept expecting Luke to walk through her door. Annabeth wasn't afraid for herself… only for Luke. She knew Percy had something to do with his sudden disappearance.
She couldn't stop the guilt from settling on her shoulders because whatever happened to him would be her fault. Annabeth knew how Percy was, she knew how sadistic he was. She had brought this all on herself.
Whatever punishment this wrought… it was all her fault.
At four twenty five she was in the elevator, going down- wringing her hands together. Willing the awful case of butterflies to stop wreaking havoc on her stomach. She was scared, admittedly.
Annabeth had not one idea of how Percy was going to react towards her, but she knew he would get satisfaction watching her squirm. The car was waiting for her by the curb, Percy stepped out when he saw her come out of her building.
She walked toward him, clutching her purse. He smirked and kissed her on the lips, taking her a bit by surprise. He ushered her into the car and he got in after her, she set her purse on her lap as the driver started driving. She kept glancing at him out of the corner of her eye but he kept his gaze forward and his face unreadable.
The buildings started to thin and the warehouse district came into view. Her heart started beating a bit faster as she felt like a caged animal. She wanted to bolt the first chance the doors opened.
The car stopped in front of a deserted warehouse and Percy got out, he walked over to her side and opened her door. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her from the car- dragging her to the entrance of the abandoned warehouse.
Annabeth tried to find her usual bravado but it was cowering in the corner, along with her smart ass mouth.
"Nothing to say?" Percy mused as he glanced over at her.
Annabeth swallowed and looked straight forward as he pulled her through the door. The warehouse was huge and she really couldn't tell where they were going.
Until she saw something in the center of the huge room. It became more clear the closer they walked.
Luke was sitting…. no tied to a chair.
Bruises and scrapes marring his face. She felt her blood turn ice cold as she wrenched her arm from Percy's grasp.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She asked, her bravado returning full force at the sight of Luke, hurt.
Percy faced her, "Teaching you what happens when you deliberately defy me."
Annabeth stepped forward, getting in his face, "You're full of double standards… you know. You can whore around with your sluts but I can't have one person?"
Percy's face turned steely, "You're mine."
Annabeth gritted her teeth, "Like hell I am."
Percy broke out in a wide smile, "We'll see about that."
Annabeth watched as Percy signaled one of his guys, they walked over and pulled out a gun. She gasped as they handed it to Percy.
"You're not going to kill him are you?" She asked.
Percy looked over at her, "That, my dear fiance… is entirely up to you."
She paled, "What do you mean?"
Percy grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to Luke, who was watching the whole thing warily. Too exhausted to try and do anything but lift his head. Tears stung her eyes as she momentarily got lost in his expression.
Percy stopped them about thirty feet from Luke.
"Take the gun, Annabeth." He said turning to her.
Annabeth shook her head, there was no way she would touch that thing.
Percy looked over at one of his guys. She watched as he hit Luke again and again. She cried out, "Stop!"
She turned to Percy, "Make them stop!"
He held the gun out to her, "Take the gun and they will."
She looked at the gun and then at Luke, who had more blood pouring from his nose. She cried, tears coming down her face as she grasped the gun in her hand.
"What do you want me to do?" She asked as one of his guys stopped hitting Luke.
"Shoot him."
Annabeth looked at him with wide eyes, "No!"
Percy looked back over to another guy, who stepped up. They pushed the barrel of their gun into Luke's temple.
"If you don't shoot Luke, my guys will kill him." He said as a matter of fact, "I have no problem ending his life."
Annabeth cried as Percy circled her, his hands trailing down her body. She felt disgusting. He stopped when her back was against his chest. The gun still in her hands as Percy moved her hair to the side of her neck.
"If you try to make any kind of move with that gun Travis will kill Luke on the spot… don't do anything stupid, Annabeth." Percy said, his nose skimming down her neck.
She knew he was doing this only for Luke, to stake his claim.
"Shoot him, Annabeth." Percy demanded.
Annabeth shook her head as Percy settled his hands on her waist, holding her tight against him, "Should I put a clock on it? If you don't shoot him in the next thirty seconds my guys will do something much worse."
Her vision blurred as Percy kissed her neck, sucking a bruise into her skin.
"I'd love nothing more than for Travis to kill the son of a bitch but because Hermes is loyal to me I'm giving you the option, Annabeth. His life is on your hands." Percy murmured into her skin.
More tears streamed down her face, she had no idea what to do. She didn't think she could pull that trigger even if her own life depended on it. Which, honestly- it probably did.
"Fifteen seconds, Annabeth."
14
13
12
11
"Ten seconds." Percy said as his hands started moving up her waist, over her stomach. She cried louder as she took aim to Luke's left leg and closed her eyes.
The shot rang loud and echoed off the wall of the warehouse as Luke cried out a few seconds after she pulled the trigger. Annabeth collapsed slightly against Percy as he pulled the gun out of her hand.
"Good choice," Percy said kissing her neck, then her hair, "Take him to Hermes." Percy called to one of his guys. Annabeth felt stunned to the spot as she watched two guys begin to untie Luke. She wanted to yell out to him, to tell him how 'sorry' she was but Percy grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the warehouse.
Annabeth felt nausea rolling off of her, she felt cold- bone deep.
Percy really was sadistic.
She wanted to hurl the worst insults she could think of at him but her mouth wouldn't work. He had truly scared her this time. Which was, no doubt, his plan.
He all but shoved her into the car, he slid in. Her hands shaking as she tried to keep her body from going into an anxiety attack. How was she suppose to do this? How was she suppose to be married to a guy like this?
More tears flowed down her face as Charles, Percy's main bodyguard, started driving away from the warehouse district. She wanted to see Luke, she wanted so badly to see how he was doing. To apologize for shooting him, to apologize for all of this.
She felt something on her lap and looked down to find a handkerchief, "Clean yourself up, we're still going to dinner."
She gaped at him, "Still?" Percy looked at her and nodded.
Annabeth tried wiping her tears but more still flowed down her face as they drove back into the city. Finally, she was able to stop the tears and somewhat fix her face. There was only so much powder could do to cover her swollen and red eyes.
Dinner was silent, Annabeth didn't speak as Percy ate. She just pushed her food around her plate. All she could think about was Luke getting hit, Luke looking at her with his bloody face. She abruptly lost her appetite.
"Just be happy that it wasn't Thalia or Jason or Nico." Percy says taking a sip of his wine. As she looked at him, anger sparked in her. How could he be so normal about it? Like it was something he did everyday.
She realized then that this was something he did everyday. This was how he became so powerful, this was how he instilled fear in people. She just looked at him and leaned back in her seat, waiting for him to be finished with his meal.
Annabeth showered when she got home, trying to rid the cold feeling spreading slowly through her body. Trying to clean herself of the disgust she felt. It was hopeless, though. She thought that the hopeless feeling would never go away.
As she climbed into bed Annabeth heard the unmistakable moans of one of Percy's whores echoing through the hallway. It pissed her off, how dare he do what he did today and then bring one of his girls here.
It was like he was throwing it in her face that he could do whatever the hell he wanted to but she couldn't. She was his.
The thought brought on a whole round of sobs. Angry, heart wretched sobs.
As she fell into an exhausted sleep, she vowed to herself that she would find a way to make Percy pay for what he did. She would find a way to make him feel exactly the way he had made her feel.
0-0-0-0-0
The next morning she ignored her alarm. She turned her phone off and tossed it across the room. She promptly fell back asleep, when she woke again she had no idea what time it was. But judging from the amount of sunlight in her room it was late morning. She eased herself up, Percy would probably be pissed she missed breakfast but she didn't give a shit.
He could eat breakfast by himself for the rest of his life.
It was a childish thought but she didn't care. She hated Percy. After weeks of fretting of her changing feelings for him it was nice to know where her feelings stood now. She hated him, hated him with a passion. He couldn't be saved, he was too far gone.
A knock on her door made her tense up. The door opened and in walked Percy holding a tray of food for her. He was alone. She watched him warily. What was he doing? Why was he bringing her breakfast.
He sat the tray on the end of her bed and leaned against her railing.
"I will excuse your absence this morning because I understand that you need some time to yourself after yesterday." She just stared at him as he pushed the tray toward her.
"Eat, we have some things to discuss." He commanded.
She pushed the covers back a bit, "Give me a second." She walked to the bathroom, emptying her bladder, throwing her hair up, splashing cold water in her face and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Annabeth climbed back into the bed, more alert and ready to face whatever he threw at her.
She grabbed the coffee first, sipping on it gingerly as he started talking.
"You will have two bodyguards with you at all times." Annabeth opened her mouth to protest but he held his hand up, she grit her teeth, "Breakfast and dinner times are mandatory from now on. Unless, I am unable to make it or I approve of the reason you need to miss."
He paused, watching her expression, "Are you barring my windows too? Keeping me prisoner while you flaunt your fucked up double standards?"
Percy smirked, "Your fire is coming back… I thought it would take a while before your colorful insults started flying again."
Annabeth wanted to growl at him, she almost did. Her teeth grinding together, her jaw flexing in anger.
"You will also resign from you work position as soon as possible. Today preferably."
Annabeth laughed out loud, "Like hell I am, that's my job… my sanity… you cannot take that away too, after you've taken everything else away from me."
Percy walked forward and perched himself on the side of her bed, his hand resting on her knee, "You know nothing of having everything taken away from you, so don't sit here and act like I've ruined your life."
She looked at him and saw a lingering sadness in his eyes before he spoke, "You will quit your job today, Annabeth. I do not have time for you to throw a fit… there are things to do. You have a meeting with Katie today and then this weekend there's the bridal tea your mother is hosting."
Annabeth scrubbed a hand over her face as she leaned back against the headboard. She was so fucking over this.
"I gave you a chance, Annabeth. I gave you a chance to live a semi-normal life but you messed that up by going behind my back… By fucking Luke behind my back. You're lucky Hermes was his father. Had he been a regular guy, he would be dead at the bottom of the East River."
Annabeth huffed out a laugh, "Shows how much you know. I didn't fuck him, asshole."
Percy seemed taken aback, slightly, his ever present mask still in place, "In that case I might ease up on your security detail."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, her bravado returning in full force, "I hate you, you know."
Percy squeezed her knee, "I know… and I'm still really upset with you." Annabeth didn't say anything as she started sipping at her coffee again.
"Eat and then get dressed. You have a lot to do today." Percy said getting up and walked toward the door. Annabeth slumped against the headboard of her bed, that didn't go half as bad as she thought it would.
"Percy." She called as he opened her door.
He looked back at her, she hesitated, "Is Luke going to be okay?"
She watched his jaw clench but then relaxed, "He'll live."
Annabeth nodded as he walked out the door, all but slamming the door shut. Maybe she should have waited to ask that question but she really did need to know. She ate what she could and got dressed for the day. She turned her phone on and found several messages from Katie.
Apparently they had to finalize the linens for the tables for the wedding, which was a week and four days away. Saturday she would have to endure being with mom and her friends all day, celebrating her wedding to Percy. She'd have to pretend to be happy, pretend that he hadn't just tortured Luke just to prove something to her.
The only thing it proved was how far Percy was willing to go to keep the things he thought were his. She wasn't a possession. Annabeth was a person and he needed to realize that, he needed to realize he couldn't control everything.
That afternoon she quit her job under Percy's careful supervision. As she ended the phone call she couldn't help the glare she aimed at him. The hate and bitterness building in her chest the longer she looked at him.
"Happy now?" She asked.
Percy regarded her with a steely gaze, "Immensely so. You're dismissed, don't be late for dinner."
Annabeth clenched her hands together before she chucked her phone across the room, aiming for him. She missed but her phone broke into several pieces as it hit the wall. Percy got up from his desk chair slowly, stalking toward her. She held her stance in the middle of the room.
She wouldn't let him intimidate her any longer.
"You're pushing your limits, Annabeth." He said, standing in front of her.
Annabeth looked at him as he gazed back down at her. His achingly beautiful face looking at her. It was so hard for her to understand how someone this good looking could be so sadistic. His eyes piercing her, watching her.
"You need to get yourself together." He said taking hold of her arms. Annabeth closed her eyes. She hated how right he was, she needed to get a grip on her emotions. Growing up she learned to hide her feelings and push them down deep. Athena always told her to not act on what you feel.
She was allowing her emotions to reign over her. If she was going to make him pay for what he did to her, to Luke, then she need to get a damn grip over herself.
Her forehead leaned against his chest, sighing in defeat, "You're right… but you need to give me more than a day."
Percy let her arms go, stepping away from her. She looked up at him, "Sometimes you don't get anytime to recover."
Annabeth went to turn around, he stopped her, "But you can have the rest of the day to yourself. I'll have dinner brought up to your room."
She nodded and resumed her exit from the room. Percy made good on his promise. Letting her have the rest of the day to herself. She spent the rest of the day working out and then crashing in her bed, watching movies and eating whatever she wanted from the kitchen. At six o'clock dinner was brought to her room.
And like the night before she fell asleep to the sound of moans coming from Percy's room.
0-0-0-0-0
The rest of the week passed by in a blur of too much Percy and reigning her emotions in. Every time she had to be in his presence she tried her hardest to find her happy place. Her happy place just so happened to be with Luke. She imagined she was actually able to be with him for real, no Percy.
It was nice, in her head.
During the week Percy had no problem flaunting an array of girls around the mansion. Kissing them in the hallway as she walked by them on her way to breakfast or her office. On one occasion Rachel Elizabeth Dare joined them for breakfast. Percy couldn't wipe the damn smirk off his face the whole time watching her discomfort.
Rachel was more than happy to indulge Percy whenever. Annabeth wanted to scream at Rachel, burst her bubble and tell her she wasn't the only girl the sadistic asshole was with. Rachel honestly wouldn't believe her, though- as infatuated as she was with him.
Annabeth had become used to the moans and pleas that resonated through the mansion late at night. All it did was fuel her resolve to make Percy pay for what he did. To make him see how wrong he was, how messed up his life was.
She was determined make him view life in a different way.
Besides that, wedding planning was finished. She and Katie had finalized everything. Her wedding dress was sitting in her closet with only a week to spare before the big day. Annabeth was sure she didn't feel the way you were supposed to feel before your wedding. She only felt dread and a sick feeling sticking to the bottom of her stomach.
"Annabeth, you're so quiet today." Her mother commented as they walked into the restaurant where her small bridal tea was being held.
She smiled over at her mother, "Just letting it all sink in, this time next week… I'll be a married woman."
Athena eyed her like she didn't believe a word she said. Annabeth rolled her eyes, "Trust me, mother… It's just nerves." Her mother nodded as they walked through the restaurant to a private room.
It was nice to be around her friends and women that she had known growing up. For a couple hours her life felt almost normal but no longer was she pretending that she was marrying someone she loved. No longer was she okay with letting her mind dream that up.
Now, she was holding onto her anger, keeping the visions of what Percy did to Luke in the back of her mind. It kept her in line whenever she was with Percy. Not that she really needed to be kept in line because he wasn't trying to be cordial to her. He was just trying to rub it in her face he could do whatever he wanted.
And she couldn't.
Annabeth had to practically beg him to not send two body guards with her today. She only had Travis, who was driving the car waiting on her outside.
The eating, drinking and chatting portion of the tea lasted for far longer than the time planned. But everyone wanted to know all about the elusive Percy Jackson. Annabeth had to reach deep down into her happy place to talk nicely of him. She answered all of their questions and then finally they asked her about wedding planning.
It was a welcome change. She could talk about flowers and linens all day long but she could only say nice things about her psycho fiance for so long.
Finally, when the food was cleared and more tea was poured, presents were pulled out from under tables. Annabeth was partially taken aback until she saw the smirk planted on Thalia's face. It had her automatically cringing.
"I wasn't aware presents would be apart of this." She said aloud.
Thalia laughed, "Of course they would, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't at least get you a little something."
Annabeth took the present Thalia was holding cautiously. Thalia howled in laughter, "Don't be so juvenile, Annabeth."
She rolled her eyes and started opening the package. It was exactly what Annabeth expected it to be.
Lingerie.
Very lingereish lingerie.
Annabeth stared down at the skimpy piece of clothing in horror. Her face flush and her mind completely blank. Thalia and all of the other women laughed. She felt like a virgin on her wedding night. Which she was not- at all.
She leveled a glare at her best friend, "I cannot believe you got me lingerie."
Thalia smiled, "My best friend is getting married, of course I'm going to get you lingerie. I would've thrown you a kickass bachelorette party but you wouldn't even let me do that." Annabeth threw her look for cursing in front of her mom and the other women. Thalia just shrugged, she didn't care.
The rest of the women got her something a bit similar but more modest. Which, Annabeth was thankful for. Honestly, though it didn't matter because all of these were going to the back of her closet the moment she got back to the mansion.
Percy would never see them or know about them…. well, he would probably know because he was nosey like that.
But there was no damn way he'd see her parading around in them.
Annabeth was relieved when they were getting ready to leave. She thanked all of the ladies and her friends for attending. When everybody left it was just her mother and Thalia sitting in the private room.
"Thank you, mother." Annabeth said as she turned to Athena. She kissed her daughter's cheek as they gathered up the presents. Athena left as soon as the presents were loaded into the car Annabeth had rode in.
"Do you have anywhere else to be?" Thalia asked.
Annabeth bit her lip, it was late afternoon and Percy was still being a dick about breakfast and dinner time, "Not really but… let me call Percy and make sure he didn't make dinner reservations."
Thalia nodded, "Yeah, I want to go shopping."
Annabeth pulled her phone, "I need to as well, we're going to the Maldives for our honeymoon and I haven't had a chance to get anything."
She hit her speed dial on the new phone Percy had given her after she destroyed the other trying to hit him with it.
He answered on the second ring, "Annabeth." He greeted.
"Hey darling," Annabeth said dripping with as much fake affection as possible, he chuckled on the other end.
"I was calling to see if you had made dinner reservations… Thalia wants to go shopping and I need to pick some things for the Maldives."
Annabeth chewed on her nails, "Is Travis still with you?" He asked.
"Yeah, he's sitting in the car."
"That's fine just keep him close, I'll be calling to check in with him. Will you be back by dinner or should I meet you?"
Annabeth cursed inwardly, he wouldn't let her miss dinner, "Why don't you meet me, later than our usual time. Around eight?"
"That's fine, I have some things I need to attend to in the city. So, it works out perfectly."
"Okay, I'll see you then," Annabeth glanced over at Thalia, "Love you." She said, the words tasting bitter on her tongue.
Percy laughed, "Oh, Ms. Chase you're really playing this phone call up."
She gritted her teeth and walked forward slightly so that her best friend couldn't hear, "Thalia is standing next to me."
"I figured as much, see you at eight. Answer your phone when I call you."
"Whatever." Annabeth said, rolling her eyes- even though he couldn't see.
Percy chuckled, "Bye."
Annabeth hung the phone up and turned to Thalia, "Let's go! We can take the car and make Travis hold all of our shopping bags." Thalia laughed as Travis held the door open for them. He was almost as hard to break as Percy was. His face stayed in a perpetual frown.
When they were inside they chatted about the things that Annabeth use to think were important. Now, they just seemed so trivial.
But she indulged Thalia. Eventually, she started getting more into the conversations they had. Remembering what her life had been like three months ago.
Three months she had been with Percy.
Three months seemed like a lifetime to Annabeth. It wasn't, though. It was a small speck in the long run. She wondered how long it would take for her to figure out what he really wanted from her. Annabeth thought that if she could figure out his real plans then she could use it against him.
And then she wouldn't have to spend another three months in this miserable excuse of a marriage. She could be with whomever she wanted, she could love whomever she wanted.
Luke briefly crossed her mind. Other than asking Percy if he was okay she had no other way of knowing. If she were being honest with herself she had tried not to think about Luke because it made her upset. It made her want to throw all caution to the wind and find him.
But she had to be careful, she had to go about everything she did now in a stealth like manor. Acting like Percy had won this round, which he had.
Next round though… she would win.