CHAPTER 2 - dunes

Annabeth slowly made her way through the woods, replaying the recent encounter with Silena in her head, and trying to come up with an easy way out of the deal. At the moment, there was nothing she could do apart from keeping her distance with the girl and hoping that it would be enough. Fortunately, they hadn't any common friends nor did they share much classes together. However, knowing the daughter of Aphrodite, Annabeth was sure that it would take a lot more in order to stop her.

Upon reaching the climbing wall surrounded by young demigods, she was so lost in thoughts that she collided with a toned body, losing balance and almost falling to the ground, had it not been for the hand holding hers.

"Watch where you're going, Wise Girl!" laughed her friend, Percy Jackson, while helping her up.

His charming dimples, dark hair, green ocean eyes and athletic body were making him quite the popular boy among the camp, though it never affected her. Annabeth never really payed attention to rumors, especially those about her and Percy being secretly in love with each other. Not that she didn't thought about it once or twice, but rather because she couldn't think of him as a lover.

"Hey Seaweed, enjoyed the beach?" Annabeth asked him.

"Yes, but next time you have to come with us! And I won't accept any kind of excuse from you, okay?"

"You do know that I actually have to take some time away from you, because otherwise I would just end up murdering you, don't you?"

"Hey!" he exclaimed, feigning hurt, "And to think that I was about to ask you if you wanted to do something fun with me."

"Something fun?" Annabeth repeated while raising an eyebrow doubtfully.

"How about sparring?", and then added, "In the sand." his eyes gleaming with barely concealed mischief.

"I don't see why not. Come on then, let's get going or we won't be finished by dinner."

Unbeknownst to him, Percy offered her the perfect opportunity to forget everything that happened by the waterfall, if only for a few hours. They put on their armors and took place, facing each other, sword in hand.


They sparred for about 2 hours, taking breaks in between, before getting tired, all messy and sweaty from the exercise.

"I'm done for the day." announced Percy, falling dramatically to the ground, "Oh mighty daughter of Athena, please put me out of misery and end me once and for all!" he shouted, raising his fist and dropping his sword.

Annabeth approached him, offering her hand, but then got pulled in the sand, with no weapons and Percy standing over her.

"Any last words?" he asked, his eyes shimmering with amusement.

"That's cheating, you fucking loser!" she shouted, while glaring at him.

"Well, too bad it worked then!" he winked, using his power over the water, as the son of Poseidon, to send her a jet of water in the face before catching her in a vice and holding her above the ocean.

No matter how hard Annabeth struggled, the water just wouldn't let her go, which, coupled with Percy's laughter, annoyed her more than anything.

"Percy, I swear by the gods that if you don't release me very soon you're a dead man!" she shouted at him, with a murderous glare.

"Fine, as you wish Wise Girl."

He then let go of the water without any warning, causing Annabeth to fall head first into the ocean. As soon as she emerged on the surface, sputtering and coughing water, Percy started running for his life, climbing dunes and laughing all the way to the camp.


Neither of them saw the girl hidden behind a large dune, having witnessed the scene with an arrogant smirk, already scheming her next move. 'No', she thought as she kept walking, 'Percy Jackson would most certainly not be the reason I lose the bet'. All she had to do now was find a way to ensure that he wouldn't be a problem to her.