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
There were some things Annabeth would never understand about her relationship with Percy. Like how she could be more in love with Percy today than she was a month ago. That she could love him even after everything he did to her. She guessed so much of it had to do with how much more she saw of him- how in the Maldives his real personality started leaking through.
Her honeymoon was when she officially started seeing him in a different light and her feelings hadn't let up since. Her hindsight over the last six months was astounding- every memory had different meaning, now that she knew who Percy really was.
Now that he had revealed all of his deepest secrets to her.
Annabeth walked down the hallway of her large home, her heels reverberating throughout the hallway. She had been shopping with Thalia for a gala dress all day and had finally picked one out while Thalia read up on her pregnancy all day.
Her best friend had been regaling her with all of the joys of pregnancy. Not that Annabeth would consider nausea, sore breasts, bloating and food aversions a joy. But none the less Thalia was excited and Annabeth was excited for her friend.
"I got my dress for the gala," She said walking into her husband's office, "and I also got your tux."
Percy looked from the bar and smiled at her, "I bet you look amazing in it."
Annabeth walked over to him and took the small glass of bourbon from his hand and took a sip, "You'll have to wait to find out."
He kissed her and took the glass back from her, "At least tell me what color it is?"
Annabeth shook her head as Percy walked around her toward his shut office door, "Not a chance, you have to wait until Saturday… speaking of the weekend and Friday."
Percy groaned and locked his office door, "You're not doing anything for my birthday, Annabeth."
Annabeth walked to his desk and leaned against it, "Why not?"
He shook his head as he walked back over to her, "I just… don't want a celebration of anything."
She reached out and pulled him toward her, "What if it's just you and I?"
Percy set his drink down, "Just us? Like dinner?"
Annabeth shrugged, "Maybe… maybe not… you will just have to trust your wife."
Percy rolled his eyes, "Fine, we can do something… nothing big. Just us." She kissed him and was about to pull away when her wrapped his arms around her waist and deepened the kiss. It took her by surprise.
Annabeth slid her arms into his jacket and up his chest, wondering exactly what had transpired while she was gone. She hadn't noticed it before but now she could see that something was wrong. His grip on her waist was just a little too tight, his kiss a little too demanding.
Percy lifted her up and set her on the desk, her dress riding up and her shoes slipping off her feet. Annabeth tugged on his shirt, pulling him further down to kiss her. What had happened? She wondered as he tugged her dress up around her waist.
Annabeth pushed his jacket down his shoulders as he kissed down her neck, pulling her hair away from her shoulder. She wanted to ask him what had happened, what was wrong but she could feel the desperation in his mouth as it moved down her neck.
He was upset about something.
She pulled his mouth back to hers and kissed him swiftly. Pulling his shirt out of his pants unbuttoning it so she could run her fingers up the bare skin of his chest. Percy caught her hands and put them around his neck then he was dragging her underwear over her thighs and down her legs.
This felt oddly reminiscent of the first time they'd ever had sex, their honeymoon. The control, the push and the pull of each other. She could feel his need for control seeping through and it scared her for a moment. Whatever had happened had caused the old Percy to rear his ugly head.
Annabeth knew that she needed to take control of this situation, it had too many variables. It had too many chances for the old Percy to come back and she didn't want him. She wanted her Percy, the one who made love to her and whispered words into her skin. The one who was too afraid to say I love you but wasn't afraid to show it in the way he cared for her.
His fingers skimmed up her thigh and then moved to circle her clit, she gasped at the roughness. She grasped a hold of his shirt as he slipped a finger inside of her, making her arch off the desk at the way her body flared with heat. Percy's mouth trying to move down her chest but the high neck of her dress blocking his lips.
His lips found her ear and she shivered as he spoke, "Always so wet, Mrs. Jackson."
Annabeth cried out and grasped his shirt again, "You," She breathed, "Just you." She couldn't even formulate a proper response to his ridiculous words and the effect they had on her.
He pulled back and moved his hand, Annabeth whimpered for a second but saw this as her chance to take control. She jumped off the table quickly and pushed him into the chair behind him. His face was priceless when she climbed into his lap.
Percy pursed his lips but she smiled as she kissed his neck and unbuttoned the buttons on his shirt, "You don't think I know what you're doing," She whispered against his throat, "You need control of something."
She pulled back and pulled on his belt buckle, "It's not going to be me, Percy."
He groaned as she pulled on his pants, his hands found her hips and gripped them tight. She shook her head and placed them on the armrest of the chair, "Don't move them."
Percy looked at her in disbelief before he clenched his hands around the armrest of the leather chair. Annabeth smiled and went back to pulling his pants down, he lifted his hips and she finally got them around his thighs.
Minutes later she was gripping the back of the chair looking down at Percy. Watching him keep his hands on the armrest, watching him submit to her whims and wishes. It had a high she had never felt before running through her veins.
His eyes were closed as she moved above him, rocking her hips, grinding down on him. Percy's chest was rising and falling rapidly, his hands making a fist about the ends of the arm rest. He had a pink flush spread across his cheeks and down his neck, his shirt half unbuttoned and skewed from where she had pushed it open to kiss his chest.
She had never seen him this undone before, seen him this willing. It was a testament to how much he had changed- how he could go from needing the control to handing it over to her in a second. It made her smile and slow down her movements, he opened his eyes as she moved her hips in a slow circle.
Annabeth leaned down and kissed him lazily, still keeping the slow roll of her hips. She loved that he was listening to her, even though he was the who initiated it. He was still giving her the control, letting her teach him how to handle his qualms.
She pulled back from their kiss, "You're going to tell me what happened as soon as we're done here." She felt his body tense as the words left her tongue.
"Annabeth," He breathed, it was pained… like whatever had happened had to do with her.
She shook her head and kissed him again, rolling her hips- getting a proper rhythm going. It didn't take long for him to bring his hands back to her hips. She couldn't resist his hands on her body for long- especially now that he seemed more loose and less in need of control.
As soon as he gripped her hips he stood up with her, she fumbled to grab ahold of his shirt. He set her on the desk again, his hands dragging her to the end of it as she set back on her palms. Percy slid into her again. Her focus narrowed on how different this position was. When he started driving into her, a rhythm that was both desperate and heady, she couldn't stop asking for more- her moans and pleas filling the office.
Annabeth came first, bliss filling her limbs and making her whole body turn pliant under Percy's fingertips. Her husband wasn't too far behind her. He pulled her face to his and kissed her hard as his whole body tensed and then relaxed completely. When he pulled his mouth away she leaned back up and held onto his arms.
"What happened?" She asked breathlessly, his hands rubbing circles into her thighs. Her legs still bracketing his hips.
Percy chuckled lightly, "Straight to the point."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, "I know when something is wrong, Percy."
He sighed and kissed her again, "Go get cleaned up, we'll talk afterwards."
That was how she found herself sipping on a cup of tea on the terrace, watching the last traces of summer skirt by. Percy was beside her, holding her hand. Annabeth had changed out of her dress and put on something a lot more comfortable- as did Percy.
"Tell me, Percy." She turned to him, her mug warm in her hand.
Percy looked at her, "There was a threat made against your safety."
Annabeth looked confused, "Hasn't there already been one? When we were attacked all those weeks ago?"
Percy nodded, "Yeah… but this was a new one… in the form of an invitation."
Annabeth set her mug down, "I need more than that, Percy."
His jaw flexed and he ran a hand through his hair, "It was sitting on my desk when I came back from lunch. It was the invitation to your mothers gala, on the back of the invitation there was something written… about you."
Annabeth looked away at the sunset, would something always be standing in their way? Would they never get to lead a normal life? She made the decision right then that as soon as this Kronos business was dealt with she would convince Percy to leave New York- run away with her.
"Who put it there." She asked turning back to him.
Percy stood up there, irritation clear on his face, "I don't know, the surveillance videos from this afternoon are missing."
Annabeth stood up with him, "The mole?"
Percy looked at her, "Yeah, it has to be… whoever it was had access to my office and knew that I wouldn't be around… there aren't that many people who know my schedule… and I've been keeping my best guys with you… So, I didn't have anyone standing by my door."
Annabeth shivered, someone had infiltrated their home.
Percy sighed, "As much as I want to get you out of here that would look more suspicious than anything else. I'm going to end this with Kronos," He grabbed her shoulders, pulling her to him, hugging her tight, "Very soon."
Annabeth wrapped her arms around him, "I wish we could escape this." Percy kissed her hair but didn't say anything.
When they finally pulled away from one another he kissed her lips firmly, "When all of this is over with we'll escape," Hope roared in her chest, "For a while."
And deflated just like that.
Annabeth kissed him again, "Okay."
0-0-0-0-0
"Percy!" Annabeth called and then coughed, walking into her bedroom. Her husband emerged from the shower- a towel thrown around his waist.
He looked at her and frowned, "Are you sick?" Annabeth glared, her nose was stuffy and her head felt like it was about to burst.
"No!" She said a little too quickly.
Percy laughed and walked over to her, he placed a hand on her head, "You feel warm."
Annabeth pushed his hands away, "I'm fine… it's just allergies."
Percy rolled his eyes, "You're running a fever, Annabeth… lay down." Annabeth shook her head.
"I took some medicine earlier, I'll be fine…. I want to show you something." She said with a huge smile.
Percy stepped back, "Okay, let me put some clothes on."
He stepped into her closet and pulled some of his clothes out and slipped them on. Five minutes later she was pulling him up the stairs and toward the master bedroom. Percy was laughing at her because despite the fact that she felt like crap the master suite was finished and furnished.
She sneezed and coughed three more times before they even made it to the master suite. The look on Percy's face meant that he wanted to pull her back downstairs and put her to bed straightaway. She ignored him.
Annabeth stood in front of the wooden doors and looked at him, "You ready?"
He smiled at her and kissed her temple, "More than." She rolled her eyes but smiled anyways as she opened the door. She let Percy walk in first, she walked in behind him and shut the door. Percy walked to the bed and looked around.
Annabeth looked around with him, proud of her design. The four poster bed the centerpiece of the room. The exposed beams on the ceiling, the sitting area in front of the bed, the cool calming colors of the room.
"It's perfect." He said, turning to her. She walked over to him and was about to kiss him but had to turn away as she sneezed.
Percy pursed his lips, "Alright, you're going to bed and I'm calling a doctor."
Annabeth groaned, "I'm fine, really."
Percy shook his head, "You're not."
"There is still so much to do… we still have to move our stuff into this room."
Percy stepped up to the bed and pulled the covers back, "Get in the bed, Annabeth. I'll have the maids bring up some soup and get someone to take care of moving us in," He paused and looked around, "Where is the TV?"
Annabeth smiled and walked around him, there was large remote control that controlled everything in the room sitting on the end table beside the bed. She pressed a button and the TV rose from the end of the bed, she pressed another button and the lights dimmed down.
Percy looked at her and kissed her nose, "Stay here, I don't want to see you out of this bed unless it's an emergency." Annabeth sighed and got into the bed. It felt wrong, him not getting in the bed with her. It was the first day in their new room, it wasn't exactly going how she had planned this to go.
Percy pulled his phone out of his pocket as he walked down the stairs probably to call the doctor. He turned to when he reached the door, "Call me, if you need something." Annabeth frowned at him and felt her eyes fall, she really was tired and this stupid sickness had come out of no where. She had been perfectly fine yesterday and she had plans for Percy's birthday.
She couldn't be sick, not right now.
Two hours and one house call from the doctor later Annabeth had an antibiotic hanging out on her nightstand and an order to stay in bed until at least Friday. After Percy had let the doctor out of the house he came back up to their room to check on her and she was stubbornly sitting up in bed.
"You're suppose to be resting."
She snorted but then sneezed, "I can't stay in bed until Friday, Percy… I have too much to do and it's your birthday… plus the gala."
He chuckled, "I don't expect you to, just lay in bed for the rest of the day and take your medicine. I'm sure you'll be fine enough to do some light work tomorrow… and don't worry about my birthday… we can celebrate when you're better."
Annabeth smiled over at him, happy that he seemed to know her so well, "I…. guess I can do that."
Percy kissed her cheek, "I've got some work to do but I'll see you at dinner… I'll get the maids to send it up here," He smiled wide and kissed her again, "To our room."
Annabeth laughed, "I think you like the sound of that."
Percy nodded, "Just a little bit."
She pushed him off the bed, "Go away, I'm supposed to be resting and you're distracting me."
Percy rolled his eyes but got off the bed, "The room looks amazing by the way… so much better than my imagination."
Annabeth beamed at him, happy that he liked her work, "Thank you husband." Percy smiled a bit wider at her as he opened the bedroom door and then disappeared into the hallway.
0-0-0-0-0
The gala was packed, bodies pressed in close together. Of course it would be though, since Athena Olympia was the host with her daughter as the guest of honor. Everyone in extravagant formal gowns, masks concealing their identity. Champagne was being carted in on silver trays by waiters in all black and simple black masks. Annabeth had to admire her mother's vision.
She gripped her husband's waist a bit tighter as they passed person after person with intricate masks. She was happy she had chose something a bit different than a mask.
Earlier when she had been getting dressed, the feathers on her mask kept making her sneeze. So, instead of the mask her makeup artist had darkened her eye makeup considerably and then drawn an intricate design around her eyelids and down her cheeks.
It was beautiful, mystical and completely different from anything else anyone had on. Percy had instantly taken a liking to it declaring that it was perfect since she was the new CEO.
Annabeth turned to her husband, his own mask- simple and black- like most of the men in the room. His hand wrapped securely around her waist, she had a feeling the only way he'd let her go tonight was if someone pried his hand away. He had been tense since she walked out of their bedroom.
Charles, Travis and Connor were keeping a close on on everything surrounding them. Annabeth had a sneaking suspicion that Luke would be here tonight. So, she wasn't too adverse to the idea that Percy be clingy. In fact, she welcomed it tonight.
They weaved their way through the crowds of people to find Athena, she was near the small stage set up at the end of the room. Annabeth found her mother hunched over a notebook with Malcolm.
"Mother."
Athena looked up at the same time Malcolm did, "Annabeth, right on time." She smiled and almost rolled her eyes but she didn't Malcolm came over to hug his sister and shake Percy's hand.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Malcolm asked quietly. Annabeth looked over at her brother, she hadn't told him her real plan. The one that would leave him as the CEO of Olympic Industries.
Annabeth smiled as Percy clutched her a bit closer, "She didn't exactly give me a choice… but don't worry I know what I'm doing." Malcolm eyed her like he use to do when they were children, when she had something up her sleeve- something that would no doubt get them in trouble with the nanny watching them.
Finally, Malcolm turned back to their mother. Annabeth grabbed the nearest champagne flutes and handed one to Percy. She downed hers and turned to her husband.
"I would so much rather be somewhere for your birthday than here."
Percy chuckled at her but kept his gaze on the maze of bodies around them, "Me too."
Annabeth choked on her champagne a little and looked up at him, "What happened to the man who didn't want to celebrate his birthday."
He looked at her for a second, "I would rather you be out of danger." Annabeth nodded and took another sip of her champagne, it was always about her.
She reached up and wrapped her hand around the lapels of his jacket, "Loosen up a bit, moms got this locked down. Did you see the metal detectors when we walked in?" They had come through a side entrance but the main entrance had everyone going under metal detectors as a precaution.
Percy shook his head, "You have no idea how easy it is to get around something like that." She tensed up, it threw her off when he muttered things like that. When he made her question the way she had seen the world growing up. How he made it seem how easy crime was. She sighed, he wasn't going to loosen up. Not after all of the things he had done and seen.
Annabeth turned back around to her mother, waiting for her to issue a command, tell her what to do- how to do it. The way she had done her entire life. Less than fifteen minutes later Athena was calling the entire banquet hall to attention.
It had Annabeth tensing in Percy's arms, she didn't want to be CEO. She didn't want to be recognized. Percy held her closer and started rubbing his fingers over her waist. It helped that he was here and he was so supportive of what she wanted to do.
The speech was short and to the point. Athena didn't waste anytime announcing her resignation from Olympic Industries at the end of this quarter, proclaiming her time was up and she was ready to relax. Annabeth almost rolled her eyes, the only reason she was giving up OI was because she had too. When Athena announced her replacement Annabeth forced a smile and kept her eyes trained on her mother even though people were staring at her.
Percy squeezed her waist and kissed her hair, seeming the very picture of the perfect husband. Annabeth heard the clicking of cameras and knew that the paparazzi Athena had invited inside for the announcement were taking pictures of them. They hadn't been in the headlines for a while, not since their wedding.
When Athena finished her speech the music began again. Her mother greeted her and kissed her cheek, she didn't say anything but Annabeth saw the sharp look in her eyes.
Don't embarrass me.
Annabeth rolled her eyes and turned into Percy, he kissed her cheek just as people started coming up to her and congratulating her on such a prestigious position. The rest of the night passed in this same fashion- fake smiles, fake happiness, hugging people, handshakes, introducing themselves. She was so consumed with the commotion of greeting people that she didn't even have time to think about Luke or Kronos or about the threat made against her safety.
"I need a break," Annabeth said, pulling away from Percy, "I'm going to the bathroom."
Percy looked at her and then looked around the room for Charles. He spotted him and gestured for him to follow Annabeth, she took that as he cue to go to the bathroom.
He kissed her cheek as she walked off to the side of the large banquet hall. A few more people captured her attention on the way to the restroom. She smiled and accepted their well wishes. It wasn't until she was safely locked in a bathroom stall that she slumped against it and tried to gather her bearings.
She never wanted this.
Annabeth never wanted to be CEO of Olympic Industries but if she hadn't already thought of a way out of it the night would have seemed bleak and hopeless. This time next year Annabeth wouldn't be in charge of the multi billion dollar corporation, Malcolm would be. The thought made her smile as she quickly used the restroom and then washed up.
When she was exiting the bathroom someone caught her by the arm, she turned expecting Percy but was stunned to the spot as she looked at Luke.
"It's been a while, Annabeth."
She smiled and looked around for Charles, "Luke, what are you doing here?"
He chuckled, "I came with my Dad, since he was invited."
Annabeth nodded and looked at him. He wasn't the same gentle Luke as before, there was malice in his eyes. A hatred she had only ever seen in one person, Percy.
"Well, it was good to see you… I need to get back." She tried, pulling away from him.
He let her arm go and trailed his hand down her forearm to grab her wrist, "Annabeth… we have one chance to help you escape from Percy and it's tonight… come with me."
Annabeth looked at Luke as he turned, she yanked her wrist back, "I'm not going anywhere." She blurted out.
He looked at her stunned, "What do you mean? I'm trying to help you, Annabeth."
Annabeth shook her head, "You don't understand, Luke… I can't… go with you."
He looked at her and noticed the way her fingers were playing with her wedding rings, "You're in love with him."
Annabeth opened her mouth to deny it because she was sure her own safety depended on this but she couldn't deny Percy. She loved him.
"Yeah, I am… he's not the person everyone thinks he is."
Luke scoffed and looked at her like she had lost her mind, "He is exactly the person everyone thinks he is… or did you forget what he made you do… did you forget he forced you into marrying him… that he forced you to shoot me because you wanted some semblance of happiness."
Annabeth closed her eyes, because she hadn't forgotten- she could never forget that day in the warehouse but now that she knew Percy- knew what went through his mind. She could see that day in entirely different way.
"No, I didn't forget Luke," She whispered.
Luke gripped her shoulders, "But you're trying to save him?" He asked, "People like him can't be saved, Annabeth." She thought back over the last month, over his gentle caresses, his loving embraces, his kisses, the words repeated into her skin, and shook her head vehemently.
"Yes he can, Luke… he already is a different person." She said, looking around for Charles again.
Luke laughed, "No, he isn't… he's playing you, Annabeth… playing on your sympathy because he's a manipulative son of a bitch. Can't you see that? He is manipulating you into loving him… he just wants your company… and now that he has it… he'll throw you to the side… just like he did with Calypso."
She stepped back, anger burning in her chest, "You have no idea what you're talking about… that may have been what he wanted to do in the beginning but things have changed… we have changed."
Luke smirked, "That's what he wants you to believe… Did you know that Calypso was pregnant with his child and he forced her to get an abortion?" Annabeth felt chills run down her spine, his words that day in the cemetery repeating in her head.
But then she remembered that Calypso was just as sick as Percy use to be.
"You do realize she's probably just playing on your hatred of him… how do you know she's telling the truth? She was all over Percy right after we came back from our honeymoon… wasn't she sleeping with you then?"
She saw him flex his jaw, hands curling into fists.. She took this opportunity to try and talk some sense into him, "You're the one getting played Luke… Kronos and Calypso are playing on your anger to get back at Percy… they want to take him down…. and when your purpose is finished they'll toss you aside."
Annabeth took a chance and touched his shoulder, "Get out while you still can, Luke… don't let them manipulate you… don't let Kronos dictate who you are."
Luke looked at her and for a moment she saw the old Luke… the one she liked… the one she fell for. Then his gaze hardened, "The only person getting played is you, Annabeth."
She pulled her hand back just as he smirked and stepped back, "Tell Percy his time is coming to an end… and if you're with him then you're going down as well."
Annabeth watched Luke turn and walk away from her, she felt chills run down her back as she stood there- stunned. She couldn't believe what had just happened. This was how Percy found her moments later, his warm hands bringing her back to life.
"What happened? Charles came to find me because he said you disappeared."
Annabeth shook her head and looked at her husband, "Luke was here… he… he tried to get me to come with him."
Percy pursed his lips, anger quickly replacing the look of panic in his eyes, "What did he say?"
Annabeth looked around again, "Can we leave? I really want to leave. We can talk about this at the hotel." Since they were an hour from home they were staying at a hotel in the city tonight. Annabeth had thought they would be here until well into the early morning hours. It was just after ten and the party was still going strong.
Percy cupped her cheeks and kissed her, hard.
He pulled back a moment later, "Tell your mother we're leaving, I'll have Travis get the car." Annabeth nodded as he pulled his phone out. Percy following behind her through the crowd as she looked for her mother.
When Annabeth walked through the doors of the large suite, her bags already sitting on the large bed, she felt tears prick her eyes. She never wanted to be in a middle of war and that was exactly what all of this felt like. She felt like the pawn but honestly she was just the excuse.
Kronos had wanted Percy's empire and Annabeth was the excuse- Luke was the pawn. He was the most easily moved- he was the one with the vendetta against Percy. He was the one who could get to Annabeth.
She felt sick as she walked into the bathroom to change, all the champagne she had drank rising into her throat. Percy was in the living room of the suite on the phone, probably with Reyna. The only person he really trusted besides Annabeth.
And somedays that trust felt limited.
Tears started pricking her eyes as she washed her face, she felt vulnerable and sacred. So scared that she had made the wrong decision in loving Percy- in choosing to be with him and staying with him. Annabeth fumbled with the door knob on the bathroom door, her dress a puddle at her feet. Her night shirt haphazardly thrown over her head.
She needed to feel his reassurance.
He was standing in the living room as she walked toward him, he turned just as she wrapped her arms in a vice around his neck. He fumbled with the phone for a minute before he dropped it on the couch and returned her hug. His lips whispering into her skin.
She felt his heart thumping unevenly against her chest and knew it was because he was scared. He wanted to keep her safe and he had no idea how to do that.
"I love you so much Percy." She whispered into his white button down shirt.
"It's okay, Annabeth… I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He said, hugging her tighter.
"We're in this together, Percy… you can't make decisions about my safety without informing me…. I can help you…. let me help you."
Percy nodded and pressed a kiss to her throat, then to her cheek before pulling back completely, "You are the most amazing women I have ever met… and I do not deserve you at all… but you're right… I'm going to need your cooperation if we're going to defeat Kronos."
Annabeth nodded and kissed him, "You have it."
He kissed her again. Annabeth tangled her hands into his hair and pushed him into the couch. Her earlier panic giving way to the desperate need to feel his skin against hers. To feel his body trying to merge with her own.
Annabeth couldn't help but feel like this was the calm before the storm, like this was the last moment of peace they would get before the chaos started. She didn't know how this war would end but she knew it would soon. Whatever Kronos was planning was on the horizon… and they were going to be ready for it.