Disclaimer: I don't own the PJO characters

Chapter Twelve

Luke was waiting by the entrance of the museum. To Annabeth's surprise, he gave her a brilliant smile when she approached. The moon was high in the sky tonight and he almost looked like he was glowing in the moonlight. He wore a formal tuxedo with his hair swept to the side, a bouquet of flowers in his hands. Luke seemed confident, too. His shoulders were squared and there wasn't an ounce of doubt in his movement as he neared her.

Annabeth saw him and stopped a couple feet away from where he stood. Luke walked the way to her, offering her the bouquet of flowers. She stared at him, beyond confused. A small part of her wondered if Luke truly did like her back and this whole thing was a ploy to take her on a date. But then she met Luke's eyes, saw the malice shining underneath, and turned away in distaste. This was no ploy. His eyes showed no mercy.

What he did next made Annabeth sick to her stomach.

"Take the flowers, Annabeth. I picked them out specifically for you."

Annabeth took the flowers, fingers trembling.

Luke motioned towards a small park next to the museum. Through a few trees, Annabeth could see a small pond with a picnic laid out in front.

"We need to talk," Luke said. His voice was nothing like it was on the phone. It was delicate now. Fragile. He moved towards the picnic set up in front of the pond and Annabeth followed wordlessly.

Luke settled on the picnic mat, motioning Annabeth to sit next to him. Her crutch fell on the grass next to her. She was grateful to sit, her legs needed a break after all, but if any of Luke's friends came barrelling towards her, Annabeth wouldn't be able to run.

Then again, she couldn't run even if she were standing.

"What is all this, Luke? Over the phone, you wanted me dead."

"Isn't this what you wanted from me?" Luke asked her. "Don't you want me to take your hand, tell you that you're beautiful, and kiss you soundless until you can't remember your own name? Tell me this isn't what you've been dreaming about."

A shudder made its way up Annabeth's spine. She surveyed the candles lining the basket. The entire scene of a picnic in front of a pond hidden in the trees seemed awfully romantic. "Maybe at one point."

"Now no more? What a shame. What is it that repelled you from me, Annabeth?"

She stared at him in disbelief. What was he doing? Where were his friends?

"I'm giving you what you want," Luke said. "As a last meal. Take this from me and at least one of your many dreams will come true before you die."

"And what exactly have I done to deserve death?"

"You attacked my friend when you walked into the trap we set. He still hasn't woken up. I don't know what you used on him. I know he wasn't using his magic to his greatest capability. After all, he was dealing with what he thought was a puny human. But it confuses all of us you were able to put him to sleep that even to this day, he hasn't woken up. It wasn't hard to guess what happened when I realised there was Annabeth Chase running from the fire, and she couldn't walk. My friend must've tried cursing you. But you stopped the curse halfway through. Makes me wonder how."

"You've got it all wrong. I didn't attack anyone. I followed you into the museum and that's when your friend tried cursing me."

"You're a spy for the authorities, Annabeth. A spy who got too far. I know about your kind. I know you don't have a genie of your own because spies are never given a lamp."

Annabeth's mouth dropped open. They didn't know about Percy. If the genie in the trap never woke up, there was no one to tell Luke to watch out for Percy. "You're wrong. You have it all wrong. I have a —"

Luke narrowed his eyes at her, cutting her off. "May I offer you some chocolate balls?"

Annabeth blinked, taken back. She hugged her backpack.

"Oh, I insist. These chocolate balls," Luke continued. "Are straight from Belgium." He reached forward to lift the picnic basket. Instead of chocolate balls, he came out with a wicked, sharp blade and laid it across his lap.

Annabeth's heartbeat jumped to her throat.

"I truly despise liars, Annabeth." Luke ran a finger down the blade and left a line of blood down his path. "Now take a chocolate ball from inside the picnic basket and put it in your mouth. Savour the test while I slit your throat. Look at how kind I've been. I've honoured your dream by taking you on a date. I'm offering chocolate before you go. I might even give you a kiss."

Before this moment, Annabeth had never known fear like she understood it now. Cold drafts waved up and down her body. She had to stop the urge to turn around and empty her stomach out on the grass. Luke was teasing her. He was mocking her and he was loving it.

Annabeth felt something vibrate against her hand. Her heartbeat sped up as she unzipped her backpack in a hurry and grabbed Percy's lamp, slamming it down between herself and Luke. "If spies don't have genie lamps, why do I have one?"

Luke went cross-eyed at the genie lamp. "You stole that from somewhere."

"No. Inside there is my genie. I've been trying to help him get out of the lamp and that's why I followed you. Because I knew you were a genie who was out and I wanted to know how. He's the one who fought back against your friend in the genie trap. I'm no spy."

Luke's lip curled. "I should kill you right now."

Annabeth lunged forward, rubbing at the side of the lamp urgently. A whoosh of sparkles later, Percy was sitting next to her. He met her eyes first, his green eyes storming and his hair sticking out in every direction. His shirt was crumpled and some white powder was evident on his jeans. Percy was barefoot as always. He grabbed her hand and immediately Annabeth slumped in relief for some familiarity and security.

Percy refused to look at Luke for a second. Then he finally did. Luke gripped the blade in his lap with white knuckles. He looked like someone drove a tractor over him and left him him to rot on the streets alone. A figure approached them from behind Luke but Luke barked one order, eyes wild and livid, and the figure retracted. Annabeth's throat constricted. Luke's friend. He probably had more friends, hiding in the shadows and watching Annabeth and Percy right now.

"Luke."

"Jackson. I should've known you were involved. It sounds like something you'd do."

Percy's grip on Annabeth's hand tightened. "I would've thought you already knew I was involved. After all, I see no Silverbane chains on you."

Luke's gaze dropped to the Silverbane chains holding Percy down. "There are limitations to what magic I allow myself because there are spies everywhere and I can't risk getting caught. Humans have no mercy for genies. On the other hand, if you want a demonstration of my capabilities, I'm happy to make an example out of you."

Percy faltered. "Aren't we on the same side? I'm a genie who wants to escape the lamp. You've already escaped the lamp."

"We're not," Luke hissed. "on the same side."

"But you won't hurt me. I know you won't. You practically raised me. Just tell me how you got out and we'll be gone."

For a moment, all was still. As Luke and Percy glared at each other, an odd thought struck Annabeth. She was following everything Percy was telling her but how did she know Percy was right? Something foreign bubbled in her. Did Percy use her to get to Luke? The way Percy was talking to Luke right now wasn't defensive. It was as if he wanted to befriend Luke. But Luke wanted Annabeth dead for hurting his friend and knowing the truth about his identity as a genie. And Percy… Percy wanted to be free and the only person who could help him with that was Luke. Annabeth was only a messenger. A vessel.

"It was you in the genie lair," Luke gritted his teeth. "You hurt Kronos."

Percy's expression clouded over. "That name…"

"You don't remember Kronos. Oh, this is gold. Percy Jackson forgot Kronos. What else don't you remember? Clearly you remember me but what about the events that took place the day I left? You had blood running down from your forehead and onto the ground. I saw the humans when they put you in chains for the first time and you came home crying."

"Stop it!" Percy yelled out suddenly.

Annabeth jerked in surprise, her elbow digging into her backpack.

"Just tell me how you got your memories back," Percy said. "And how you got out of your lamp. I want to be free, Luke, you understand that."

Luke shrugged nonchalantly. He lifted his knife. "Annabeth Chase serves as a barrier to me right now. She knows my secret. She needs to die. I will spare you, however. I do hold some sentiment for you, I'll admit. I taught you everything you know, after all."

"No," Annabeth whimpered. She tried again and her voice came out stronger. "I'm not a spy. I promise not to tell anyone your secret. Percy and I will leave immediately."

"I want to know how—"

"I'm not telling you how," Luke roared. He lunged forward, blade following his path and struck the ground next to Percy. "I'm done with you. You don't remember what you did but I do and I can never forgive you for it. Ever. We are not fighting on the same side."

"What side am I on then? The moral side that wants freedom?"

"You don't even know—" Luke's face contorted. "I pity you, Jackson. Maybe if Annabeth made her ninth wish, you'd return home and learn about what is happening. Instead, you're stuck in your lamp for the rest of your life because Annabeth isn't leaving alive."

Luke took the blade out of the dirt, calmly cleaning off the grime. Then, he turned his eyes on Annabeth. She scrambled, pulling herself backwards but the grass underneath her shot up, curling themselves around her arms and legs like ropes. A bundle of grass dived into her mouth and she coughed, gagging at the blades of grass tickled the bottom of her throat.

She gurgled, unable to scream. Annabeth struggled against the grass holding her down.

"Luke," Percy screamed from the side. Some of Luke's friends were standing behind him, hands outstretched as a blast of hair hit them.

"Put him back in his lamp and block the spout," Luke ordered.

"If you hurt Annabeth, you hurt me. I can't get out of my lamp without her."

Luke's grip on the knife tightened.

"Annabeth and I will leave today. We keep your secret and you promise me a way out of this lamp the next time we meet. I need you, Luke. I wouldn't rat you out. No, I don't remember specifics but I remember your promise. You said you'd watch out for me. You said we were family. And I need Annabeth to get out of the lamp."

Luke scoffed. "Don't forget you're the one begging and I'm the one with power."

His friends dropped their hands the grass loosened. Annabeth turned onto her stomach and promptly threw up, dizzy with fear and pain. The smell only made it worse. Her whole body burned.

To Annabeth's utter surprise, the blade in Luke's disappeared. He was breathing hard, staring Percy down on the ground. Then as if he was in a trance, he leaned down, hissed one last warning, stood, and walked away. Annabeth's eyes widened. Black shadows flew in from the trees, solidifying into genies that followed Luke who was walking away. She watched his retreating figure disappear somewhere in the distance.

She lay still. What. The Hell. He walked away?

Percy hurried to Annabeth's side. He undid the grass still holding her down and Annabeth sat up, scooting away from her pile of vomit in the dirt.

"Are you okay?" He asked. "I think they're gone now."

"He walked away. Luke wanted to kill me."

Percy bowed his head. "Luke is crazy but he and I go a long way. I knew if I showed myself, he wouldn't hurt you. Because if you're dead, I have no way of escaping the lamp."

Annabeth bit her lip. She fought against the tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks. "And you couldn't tell me this before? I was freaking out on the way here."

"I'm sorry."

"You're keeping things from me."

Percy's eyebrows knitted. "I tell you everything."

"Not enough to understand what the hell just happened."

Percy searched the ground. "I'll explain on the way home. Where's your crutch?"

"I don't know."

He sighed, reaching forward to put one arm under her knees and one supporting her back. Annabeth clung to him, startled, as he lifted her bridal-style and began walking. Percy only got a foot away when his chains yanked him back to his lamp laying on the ground.

"Damn lamp," Percy cursed. Annabeth reached over her shoulder to grab the lamp and backpack before settling into his arms again.

"Okay," Percy said. "What do you want to know?"

"What history do you and Luke have?"

Percy's shoulders heaved. "I met him back in my first year of genie school. He signalled me out, saying I had potential to do a lot more than what they taught at school. For a while, we were great friends. Things went downhill when he started acting strange. He got obsessed with dark magic. Something happened. Then he got taken to be stuffed in a lamp. The end."

Annabeth peered at him. Her anger was bursting hot but she saw the layer of hurt over Percy's expression and forced down her anger. He looked like a lost puppy, trying to find a leash to attach himself to. "You really don't remember anything else, do you?"

Percy nodded glumly. "I don't know who Luke was talking about half the time. This Kronos guy is completely alien to me. I don't know what side Luke is on. I just knew he wouldn't hurt me the way you know your mom loves you even if she doesn't say it."

"My mom? You mean Athena?"

"Okay. Wrong comparison. Helen. She doesn't always tell you that she loves you but she does. The same way, I just knew Luke still cared about me."

"So you were running on gut feelings?"

"Yeah."

Annabeth arched her back to reach up and slap Percy. He jumped, almost dropping her.

"What was that for?"

"Your gut feelings."

aoaoaoaoaoaoao

It took Annabeth two hours to run from Helen and her dad. Athena, too, was fuming. Percy dropped Annabeth on her doorstep and disappeared into his lamp. She reached up to ring the bell and sat there miserably as Helen opened it. The police were called, Annabeth was told. Something wrong with her these days, Athena seethed. It took a while for Annabeth to make up some excuse that they believed: Piper was in trouble and needed Annabeth's help immediately.

"So why couldn't you walk out the main door?" Her dad demanded.

Annabeth opened and closed her mouth like a fish. "I… like jumping out of windows. I secretly dream of being an acrobat."

By the time Annabeth made her way back to her room, it was one in the morning. Percy and Jason were on her bed. Percy was describing everything that happened, his hands roaming in wide gestures.

"One thing's for sure," Percy said. "Luke basically told me that when Annabeth's makes the ninth wish, I don't die. We genies go back to our homeland."

Jason grinned. "I can see my family again."

"And Grover! I wonder if he's there."

"You know, I genuinely think I'll be home soon," Jason said, biting his lip. "Frank is going through his wishes like you go through Hershey's kisses chocolates. The ninth one isn't far."

Annabeth glared at them from where she leaned heavily on the closed door. She crossed the room and fell into her bed. "Now what, Percy, you want me to make my nine wishes so you can go?" Selfishly, Annabeth wanted time to make her wishes. At the end of the day, Percy was still a genie, and he was meant to grant her these.

Percy's smile turned upside-down. "It's just something else we've learned. Another clue into how to get out of the lamp."

"I thought it was simple," Jason said. "Genies against humans. But Luke doesn't think you're on the same side. Then there's the spies all around who are looking for free genies. Yet seventeen-year-olds still get their own genies all over the world. What's happening?"

"Is it…" Percy paused. "A rebellion?"

Annabeth sucked in a breath. "That would be bad."

"We don't even know where home is," Jason frowned. "And the genies back at home don't know where we are. The mass population has no clue how to cross between our two worlds unless it's through a lamp. Besides, a rebellion has two sides. Genies and humans. What's this third side Luke is on?"

Annabeth lifted the covers, burying herself in the sheets. "Okay. I'm crazy tired. I have to go to school tomorrow and already so rattled that I don't think I can sleep. So please. Back to your lamps. You can have bromance time when I'm at school."

While Jason went back to his lamp, Percy only crawled up to Annabeth further. "I'm sorry."

"No. Go away, Percy."

"But I told you everything I know. You're still mad at me?"

Annabeth scoffed. "I wanted to help you get out of your lamp. You barely told me what I was getting into. Percy, I'll admit the first time I walked into the genie trap was my fault. But we could've avoided what happened today. You used me as a way to talk to Luke. You have magic to protect yourself but as I was laying there in the grass…. I've never felt more powerless before."

Percy's eyes bore into her. "I'm really sorry."

"I don't know if I wanted to go on with this. I need time. My legs aren't fully healed and it's killing me everyday. I thought genies were supposed to be our best friends. My life was supposed to get better. I'm supposed to be walking around with gorgeous hair, confidence to rival anyone, and a loving mother."

"Are those your wishes?"

Annabeth glanced at him. "I had a whole list of things I wanted granted before I met you. I knew I would take my time with them. But… I never thought I'd end up in this mess. Luke won't leave me alone now. Especially not when you're my genie. Not to mention, I'm terrified the authorities will realise how many rules I've broken."

Percy's face was only inches away from her. He lifted a hand to brush a curl out of her face. "You're the best thing that's happened to me in forever, you know that? No genie is as lucky as I am knowing there's someone who would go through all that for me. You've broken all the rules for me. I'll grant you all the wishes you want. I promise. I'll make it up to you, angel."

Annabeth sighed. "I don't want my wishes granted right now. Honestly, it's come to the point where all I want is some peace and safety. I want to feel protected."

"I'll be there to protect you. No matter what genie wants you taken down. No more running around. I promise. We'll figure it out as it comes."

Annabeth shrugged, pulling her covers to her chin. "I won't be able to sleep tonight."

"I'm sorry, angel. You know I don't want to see you hurt."

She swallowed. Percy was something strange. He was starting to grow on her. He knew as much about her as Leo did even though they barely met a month and a half ago. Ever since Percy saved her from the genie trap, Annabeth had been leaning to him more and more for safety and comfort. And yes, she was hurt today. Physically and emotionally. Percy used her to get to Luke. But then Annabeth remembered how Percy refused to let Annabeth make a wish the night Athena slapped her. She remembered how he thanked her when she stole Jason's lamp for him. Or how he carried her all the way home from the park next to the museum with his chains in full display to the world, and didn't complain even once.

Percy truly didn't mean to hurt her. He was chained. A glorified slave. Annabeth had to give him that benefit of the doubt. She couldn't hold it against him in his vulnerable state. Besides, Luke would never have called her if she hadn't walked into that genie trap all that time ago. So whose fault was this mess really?

A wave of guilt washed over Annabeth.

"My mom used to sing to me when I couldn't sleep," Percy said. His eyes were half-closed. "It was my grandma who wrote the song and my mom's been singing it to me since. It's really personal; no one else knows the song."

"Hm?"

"I'll sing it to you." Percy played with her curls laying in the area between them. He had a thing for her hair. Percy was always touching it. He said, "Maybe it'll put you to sleep."

Annabeth shifted closer to him and let her head fall on his shoulder. He was surprised at first before he turned and put an arm around her, pulling her closer to his chest. His warmth was addicting. She closed her eyes.

"There's a world out there we all want to see."

Annabeth smiled. He wasn't bad.

"But only the lucky can go. We're miles away, it makes me wonder, could I be that lucky one? They say you know the answer. They say you know my dreams. So be the one. Take me there. Take me to where I want to be."

Annabeth didn't really understand the song but she put it aside to some genie culture it was probably based on. A legend? Superstition? Percy went on singing, the ball in his throat bobbing. She could feel it against her forehead where she nuzzled into him.

The chorus came.

"I followed the stars to a place I don't know. I landed the moon on the sun."

Annabeth's eyes snapped open. She knew those words. She had heard them before.

"I can't tell why but I can't tell us apart."

Her heart slammed against her ribcage and sweat tricked down Annabeth's forehead. Her mind whirred. This was not happening. Percy said that no one else knew the song. It was impossible.

Annabeth couldn't find the song when she typed the lyrics into her phone. Because it was a genie song. All this time, it had been a song that Percy's grandma, a genie, wrote. That girl was crazy. That girl had probably made her nine wishes already. That girl was an absolute wreck. That girl… no way. How?

"If only you'd just tell me how."

Rachel.

okay, so that wasn't my proudest chapter. it really wasn't that great. I did meet the sat. deadline though soooo yay?

leave me a review though? :)))