For the next hour or so, Percy kept a close eye on Allister. He asks the palace guards for any peice of information they have on him, and they all know little about the guy, and apparently most of them have never seen him around. Percy even talked to Allister's chef friend, and in fact, he was a chef. They hadn't even told a lie. Not one.
It was infuriating that they seemed so suspicious- but were innocent. But that meant being safe, and safe was good. No bad more bad distractions, also good. And since Percy heard the incident with Annabeth and the other girls, he couldn't help but be guilty. How could he let all that slip? Percy felt so useless. Of course, Annabeth insisted she was fine, and she could handle it. That didn't mean she had to handle it. He was definitely going to get rid of Drew and Kimberly, sooner or later. Scratch that. As soon as possible.
"Percy," Sally said to him as he passed by in the hallways. "I'm sure its nothing to worry about."
Earlier, Percy had told Sally, along with Paul about Allister and friends. Now, Sally is a very caution woman. Almost nothing gets past her, and with Paul, the kingdom was at its best. Which it hadn't been in years. And if she was sure about it, then Percy had no other option than to trust her.
"Yeah, I know," Percy replied, looking at the carpeted floor. But did he really?
The next day passed, not a worry in his mind. Well, other than the crushing anxiety and stress of the Selection, that is! Surprisingly Percy was in a good mood. His favourite breakfast, (Blue waffles) and being able to have a nice call with Annabeth was the reason for his current state. But her voice, which was usualy clear and loud, was a bit stuffy and weak.
"I'm sick."
"What?"
"A cold, seaweed brain. I'm sick." Annabeth paused for a moment, a cough being heard from the other side of the line. "So i'm betting you wont see me at the selection for a while."
Percy visibly frowned and shifted in his bed which he was currently perched upon. "Oh. Do you want me to come over?"
"Usualy I would ask you, but... People's suspicions would raise. And I definitely don't want to get an earful from the maids. Besides. I'm not at my place- I'm staying in the infirmary." That was true. The maids; Dana, Elizabeth and Julia had spent most of the early morning fussing about whether the honey coughdrops were better or the cherry ones. In Annabeth's opinion, the lemon ones were the best.
"I see." Percy sighed and floped back down into the silk sheets of his bed. "Well, I have a few girls I have my eye on in the selection."
Annabeth tensed up. "Really? Thats-" She coughed. "That's great. Who are they?"
"Well, theres Rachel. The one you reccomeded for the date? She's great! And there's Calypso..."
Annabeth's mouth formed into a fine line at Calypso's name. No, why did she do that? Calypso was great. A great choice. Percy seemed pretty sure of that answer, and Annabeth had zero problems with it whatsoever.
"And believe it or not, I actualy thought that Drew was pretty good too." He laughed, and quieted down a bit when he heard no reply from the girl on the other side of the phone. She hummed in response.
"I-I'm... Sorry."
Annabeth tilted her head, which was aching badly. "For what?"
"I should've done something earlier. Im sorry."
"Is the cocky, stuck-up prince actually apologizing?" Annabeth mocked, but she was genuinely surprised a bit.
"Take it or leave it, loser."
"Okay, okay! Geez, i'll take what I can get." Annabeth backed off. She laughed it off, but immediately regretted it when she felt her throat grow dry and scratchy. "But you don't have to apologize. I should have told you earlier. But gods, my head is pounding!"
"I don't know, that sounds like a you problem."
"On second thought, you can come over. I'll make sure to give you a good beating."
"Ooh, scary. But seriously. I'll make sure to send some aspirin and tea for your little dilemma. The royal family special!" Percy pumped his fist proudly, thinking about the tea Will Solace, a doctor at the royal infirmary, made that cured his fever in an instant. He was seriously good at that stuff; treating people and their wounds. That was his job after all, even though he was a few years younger than Percy himself.
"I look forward to it." With that, Annabeth hung up. The plain white walls of the institue made the whole place a little depressing. The fact that she was the only one there made her a little down too. But Will seemed to lighten the mood a bit.
"Oh, i'm sure you'll be fine in a day or two. Your immune system is very strong and healthy, you know." He assured, placing yet another glass of water on her bedside table.
"Thanks, I guess?" Annabeth giggled. Was that supposed to be a compliment? "But I want to be up and at it as soon as possible."
"I thought so. Oh, would you look at that. Nico!" Will waved politely to the short, dark-haired boy standing in the large doorway of the room. Nico was carrying a brown bag in his left hand, and some fries in his right. His mouth was stuffed with the delicious food. He nodded in greeting. Nico was a rather gloomy boy, but whenever he was around will, his mood was better and a ghost of a smile was always strewn across his lips.
His attire consited of a oversized aviator jacket with dark, ripped jeans and a whole collection of rings on his pale hands. Annabeth knew him when he was a more happy person, when he dressed more light. Though the switch of personallities was surprising, Nico still remained good hearted. In fact, she thought the look suited Nico quite well.
"You ready?" He asked, fiddling with the bag in his hand.
"Hold on." Will turned to Annabeth, wearing a concerned look. "I have plans with Nico, but I can cancel them if you feel really sick right now. Are you okay for me to leave?"
"Totally! I'll be fine, just have fun with him." Annabeth smiled, pulling her thin blanket up to her chest. She shut her eyes as Will bidded goodbye and went off with Nico.
The next few hours were just her messing around. Doing a few laps around the infirmary, singing at the top of her lungs despite her body beeging her to stop, and just playing around with a few medical materials. At the end, she was left panting on her bed out of breath. A nurse came by at one point, carrying a basket with medicine, comfort food, clothes, and the promised 'royal family special' tea that Percy said he would bring. And he was right. The tea had completely cleared her sinuses. That being said. Her head was a tad bit stuffy and the heat from her body had gone down only by a little bit. In the basket, Percy had also brought in some cookies. Annabeth happily munched on them. With the clarity and gift of being to breathe clearly, she couldn't help but think of how she got sick.
The cold was most likely brought up from the... Well, cold. Annabeth left one of her huge windows in her room open one too many times. More than she'd like to admit. Or maybe was it from something she ate? Possibly. But she didn't dwell on the details.
Not to soon, the moon replaced the sun in the sky, bringing the cold summer air. Annabeth shivered in what she was wearing. Grey pajama pants paired with a slightly oversized and loose T-shirt, provided by the nurses. The shirt didn't fit her because apparently they didn't have her size. But Annabeth didn't mind much. With a clouded but awake mind, she shoved the blanket that did nothing whatsoever for the cold off her and sat on the edge of her bed.
On the bedside table, her phone rang. Annabeth picked it up.
Luke
Hey, Annabeth! Are you feeling any better yet? I heard you were sick.
Annabeth
I'm feeling much better, now. Thanks. :) But out of curiosity, how'd you know i wasn't feeling well ?
Luke
Ha, I was just around the palace bcz i was checking out some artifacts. They have some really cool stuff. And i wanted to visit, and a nurse told me you were in the infirmary. lol
Annabeth
Oh! :0
Luke
Want me to get you anything?
Annabeth
No, no
Its fine. Percy got me some stuff already, and the people here are great.
Luke
Percy, as in the prince?
Annabeth
Yep thats him.
Luke
I dunno Annabeth, the prince seems a little weird to me.
Annabeth
?
What do you mean?
Luke
Like, he acts all friendly around you. Don't you think thats a little...Weird?
Annabeth
Didn't i tell you already? Iv'e known him since I was a kid, ha ha. But he's not weird, i swear. Well he is. But not in a bad way.
Luke
:O Seriously? sorry, i didn't remember. Thats really.. Interesting! Good to know.
And are you going to be staying in the infirmary for a few more days?
Annabeth
Well, only until this cold comes down. Why?
Luke
Er, its nothing. Get well soon! And good luck with the selection, too!
Annabeth
Yeah, i'll talk to you soon! Good luck with ur conference as well :))
Sent, 9:26 PM
Annabeth smiled at his texts. Luke had been pretty busy with work, but usualy made time for Ananbeth. Annabeth cherished the moments, mostly because those moments never seemed to last.
She layed back down, hair tangled around her head like a halo. She shut her eyes, thinking of nothing in particullar and was about to fall alseep. Lately, the girl had been experiencing no dreams whatsoever. That was a little weird, but Annabeth didn't bat an eye at it. That was a good thing after all. But tonight, this dream was a little unsettling.
Darkness. Pitch black. She couldn't see herself, (Though when she had dreams Annabeth usualy could) or anyone within her eyesight. Not to mention Annabeth was pratically frozen in spot, only seeing in front of her.
'Don't interfere,' Was all she could here. A cold, harsh, whisper. But loud.
A chill ran Annabeth's spine, even though in her dream, she didn't have one. Or a body, for that matter. Don't interfere. And with what exactly? The selection?
'A dream. Dreams are scenarios and images your brain creates on its own, its not real. Its a mere projection of some sort.' Annabeth subconsiously announced to herself. She repeated that every time a dream slightly scared her or shook her. Ananbeth said it more and more like a mantra. Believe it or not, dreams usualy only take a couple of seconds to finish. That dream and every other dream she had felt like hours.
'Don't mess things up.'
Then a slight jolt, and then refreshing light to end the strange dream. When Annabeth opened her eyes, she expected some morning daylight to appear. Perhaps some birds chirping in the distance too, the smell of dew and dust. Not the sound of high pitched ringing of a bell.
'What the...' Annabeth thought. An alarm? Techinically, yes. But not the one you set on purpose to wake you up. And it wasn't even morning quite yet. The dead of the night, the dark still showing through the windows.
'Is the place on fire or something?' She sat up, a headache waiting for her as she did so. Annabeth groaned, looking at her surroundings. In the halls through her white door, nurses were standing, confused. Annabeth could relate with them on another level. Will Solace burst into her room, a look of frenzy glued to his usually calm and relaxed face.
"Intruders." He said, ushering her out of the oh so comftorable bed. "This infirmary is connected to the palace, so the alarms are connected too. Some sort of break in, I heard."
"I- Wait, what?" Annabeth was tounge tied. "Isn't it 2 in the moring, though?"
"That doesn't automatically mean crime stops when it reaches 8, though I wish it did. Come on. It's a safety precaution, but we have to head downstairs. I assume your feeling a bit better?"
"Definitely. A bit dizzy, but better. And wait!" Annabeth now stood, phone in hand and barefoot. "So the inturders aren't here yet?"
"At the palace. Not here. If safety's what you're worried about, then we're in good hands. Guards are on their way, as well as-"
"No! Percy! Is he- Is he alright?"
Will went silent, earning a worried expression on Annabeth. He didn't answer, which did nothing to calm Annabeth's confused and worried nerves. "Don't worry. Lets just go now."