Sooo tired.


Chapter 21


She slammed the trophy room doors open with such raging passion that the knob smashed through the wall and was stuck fast. Rearing animals and bared teeth stared back at her as she scoped the room in a tempered fury. Everything was burning, tingling, racing with hatred and loss. Her cheeks were soaked with tears she couldn't feel, and the air felt like static on her skin. Nothing could top this knotting, jerking feeling possessing her.

"Something the matter Darling?" Octavian was smirking. Standing by with the window with a calm understanding as why she was there. His cold blue eyes held an obscure form of amusement as he placed his phone down on a nearby side table. "Lose something?"

Annabeth didn't even stop as she fell into the fluid motion of bounding forward and punching Octavian clean across his face with a satisfying crack. She saw his eyes widen for a hot second as he stumbled backwards, and her wings buzzed in excitement. She didn't even feel the punch in her hand.

"Where. Is. He." she uttered murderously as she stood over his crumpled form. Fisting her hands in preparation. She was expecting him to push off her demand, or worse; start a fight.

Instead, Octavian tested his jaw and then smiled, looking up at her with an impressed glint. "He's exactly where you think he is. A Government summer camp so to speak."

She couldn't resist. She kicked him as hard as she could in the gut, effectively ripping the arrogant look from his face. The sweet moan of agony that peeled through his lips was better than sliced bread.

"Good luck finding a wife," she managed to get through her clenched teeth. Ignoring the burning in her palms from the red crescents that were now evidently embedded in them as she started to turn to go.

Octavian chuckled into the persian carpet.

His confidence was making her uneasy. It would be so simple to just kick him in the head, give him something really amusing to chuckle at when he looked in the mirror every morning.

But she had to reign it in, she had to keep what was left of her senses. Percy was relying on it.

She turned on her heels and stormed out of the room and down the halls. Glaring at every server that dared to stare at her rumpled appearance with even a hint of judgement. She shoved a victorian potted plant off the veranda and watched it tumble down the hill for good measure before making her way around the house. Ideas, plans, thoughts, were scalding her mind as she desperately tried to come up with a way to get Percy back.

Piper would know. Piper could at least calm her down, help her think, help her form a plan. They were partners in crime after all. There had to be a way to locate Percy, and break him out.

There had to be.

However, she barely stepped out of the large wrought iron gates and onto the spreading country lane when a black car pulled up alongside her and the window slipped down.

It was flab face, looking smug and completely in control as he leant out the window with sinister intention.

"Annabeth Chase?" he questioned.

"No, freaking Queen Esmeralda of Yannerth." she said as she held back her fist that was eager to fly. His face was already so flat she doubted she could do any more damage.

"Well I'm sorry to inform you, but you can't leave here." Flab face grinned.

"What?"

"I said; You. Can't. Leave. Here."

"As if hell I can't." Annabeth snarled as she twisted around and stomped down the road.

She heard the car door pop open, and his footsteps following behind her in a quick light pace. By the time she swiveled to look he was on her, wrenching her arms behind her back and pushing her forcefully in the opposite direction of where she wanted to go.

"Stop!" She squirmed. "This is against the law!"

"I am the law."

"Stop it you monkey faced beetle intestined blood sucking-!"

She fought and wormed but flab face had a firm hold on her wrists. Forcefully, he dragged her back up the drive and into the house. Muttering warnings at her whenever she thrashed too violently. For a split second she broke free and slammed into a marble bust, it's ear popping shatter seized her mind for two seconds before his hands snatched her back again.

"First escape attempt." Flab face bellowed as he tossed her back into the trophy room nonchalantly. "I don't think it will be her last."

Octavian was situated cooly by the window again. Still rubbing his jaw, but looking more pleased with himself then ever.

"Thank you Ewin, that will be all."

"THIS IS ILLEGAL!" Annabeth shrieked in a hysteria as 'Ewin' closed the door behind him. She didn't even know what to think as she marched up to Octavian. Wings flapping in every direction with panic and hate. "YOU CAN'T KEEP ME HERE!"

"Oh?" Octavian raised an eyebrow. "But my dear, we are to be wed. You live here."

"You… you think I'm going to marry you after this? You think I'm going to just go through with it all?"

"Well of course." Octavian shrugged like there was no issue. "You have the ring, haven't you? You agreed to it, didn't you?"

Her hammering heart was raging against her ribcage. Every fiber of her being was telling her to throw him out the window, but she stayed planted where she was. She had to win against him, not overpower him. She had to break free of this and get to Piper, to find Percy.

To find Percy.

It made her sick thinking about where he could be, what state he could be in. She couldn't fill her head with that now, she couldn't fall into a mess when there was a fight to rage.

"You're insane." Annabeth said as she swooped down and scooped his phone off from the side table. She bolted from the room before he could even make a move. Pounding down the hall, and randomly selecting a lavish sitting room she jumped inside and quickly slammed the doors shut. Desperately, Annabeth threw a sofa against the wood of the doors before sinking into a corner and dialing the emergency number everyone had memorized at some point in their life. .

"Police, what's your emergency?" The calm voice asked soothingly over the phone.

Annabeth almost felt relieved to hear the lady. She almost let go of the knot in her chest.

"I'm being held captive!" She gasped. "I'm in the country and there are two men keeping me locked up against my will! One's named Ewin I think and the other-"

"Ma'am? Ma'am I need you to calm down and tell me what the address is."

"The address?" Annabeth's throat clenched as she looked around the victorian sitting room, hoping to find a scrap of mail to tell her exactly where her prison was.

Stupid, stupid stupid. Why didn't I ever find out? Why did I not bother to?

"I don't know it. Can't you track my call?"

"Yes, we can do that." The lady answered quickly, with a determined air. Her eager helpfulness helped calm that freaked side worming around in Annabeth. "Now I need you to tell me if they're armed. Okay?"

"There are guns here." Annabeth answered truthfully as her eyes flickered to the doors. "They don't have them on their person right now but…"

She could hear him coming. Walking down the hall with faint clicks of his heels against the floor. A calm, leisurely pace that drove scorching holes of panic through her mind. It was as if she were being stalked or hunted. She could just imagine herself as another stuffed trophy in that awful room.

Annabeth's wings shuttered.

"Alright hun, please tell me your name and age okay?"

"I'm Annabeth Chase, I'm seventeen years old." She whispered into the phone, hoping Octavian wouldn't find her. "Please. Please hurry."

The line was silent for a heart stopping moment.

Click, click. Click.

He was getting closer. He knew where she was.

"I'm sorry, did you say Annabeth Chase?" The lady repeated with a toneless voice.

"Yes!" Annabeth hissed. Her heart jumping into her throat as the door was tried, and met the sofa with a thump. Octavian's amused chuckle made a wash of cold hit her.

The line went dead.

The empty beeps that murmured over the phone filled her ears as everything went still inside of her save for a swollen bubble of confusion and shock that rose in Annabeth's throat as she stared at the call ended screen. Disbelief coursed through her body as she tried to fathom what just happened. Why it just happened.

She… she hung up.

She was being abandoned.

"I traded Perseus." Octavian gloated. Being a skinny switch, he had slipped through the crack in the door and was now standing behind her. "I gave the government a wanted man, and in return they gave me you. No court can divorce us without my say so, no police can take you away from me, and nobody will help you."

She turned, numb with shock. For a moment she saw his light smile before the side of her face erupted in pain. Octavian's fist had smashed into her temple and sent her sprawling to the ground.

She struggled to sit up, her head still spinning and her blood running icily cold in her veins. She felt like a robot, a machine. She felt like this couldn't be a reality, but senseless feelingless nightmare.

Octavian grabbed her chin and forced her face up to look into his malicious smiling one.

"Run away, they bring you back. Act out, and I get to discipline you as I please."

He was so proud of this. He was so self satisfied with the fact that he had entrapped her so completely.

"And if I kill myself?" she seethed hoarsely. It was the only escape she had left.

Octavian's grin grew as he gazed into her simmering eyes thoughtfully. "Then Piper Mclean might be my next project," he mused softly.

Everything inside Annabeth collapsed. Everything was cold and lost and so far away suddenly. She couldn't feel. She just couldn't.

She couldn't even feel when he smirked and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

-{:oOo:}-

Her mother sent over her things the next day. Of course none of them would be of any use when she was Mrs. Aresto, but it showed just how eager and delighted Athena was with the arrangement. Annabeth could just imagine her proudly telling all her friends and colleagues how her daughter was moved out at just the age of seventeen, and with such a suitable match.

She didn't know Annabeth was being held hostage, but Annabeth despised her all the same for the readiness of moving her only daughter out. Well despised her more then she already did.

She had come to the conclusion long ago that she would never speak to her mother again. Athena may of forced her into this life, but she was sure as hell not going to have any opportunity to enjoy it. Annabeth was intent on making sure she got the cold shoulder at her wedding.

Especially at her wedding.

The only people Annabeth wanted to see were Piper or Malcolm, preferably both and with schemes and ideas on how to get her out of this. Or even just a few comforting words would do, but that wasn't going to happen.

Octavian was firm in his resolution in Annabeth never seeing Piper again. Piper probably had no idea Annabeth was locked up in this hell hole either. She was under the impression that Annabeth had made a break for the mountains with Percy. She probably believed that Annabeth was safe and okay somewhere far away.

As for Malcolm, Octavian had his father keep him busy at a hospital as the newest resident. She would see him at her wedding, but not unchaperoned, and she definitely wouldn't get a moment alone with him. He would be confused and most certainly furious at her 'decision' to marry Octavian, but she'd never be able to tell him the truth.

She left her phone in the woods, along with her bag of packed clothes she had intended to use in the mountains. She had nothing to communicate with the outside world, and was being monitored and watched every moment.

All Annabeth could do was sit in the room she had been given and stare at her compass. Twirling in slow circles as she watched the needle move gracefully from under the glass. Her empty eyes drinking every aspect of its beautiful handiwork over and over again. It was a blessing to find it in her pocket, and felt like she'd been given a sliver of her identity back. She'd hold it tightly in one hand as she was forced to dine with Octavian every morning and every evening. Reminding herself that she wasn't completely lost. Not yet.

However, every other part of her reality felt numb.

That ladylike mask she had held to her face for so long was suddenly who she was. Octavian made sure of it. Any form of disrespect, or dispute and he would 'discipline' her. She'd fall farther into the mask to get away from it.

She couldn't even cry at night anymore because ladies don't cry. Instead she'd imagine she was back in the treehouse on that warm spring night. The soft lullaby of hundreds of happy crickets, and the tender rocking of the tree house as it swayed to the rhythm of the wind filling her chest and making her feel safe. Pretending Percy's wings were around her as they had slept soundly in that ragged old sleeping bag that night when he was still burning from a fever. When she thought things were so complicated oh so long ago.

And you believed it would be okay. Annabeth thought emptily as she clutched the compass to her chest. You said everything would be fine.

-{:oOo:}-

"Oh Annabeth, you look like a goddess!" Athena clasped her hands together and stepped back in admiration. Tears were twinkling in her grey eyes.

Annabeth had tears in her eyes too, but not for the same reason. She felt as if she was going to be sick, in fact she might've been if her stomach wasn't empty.

Like a goddess. The words echoed in her mind.

Sure. She decided mellowly. I look like a goddess maybe, but I feel like a worm stuck on asphalt.

Mrs. Aresto's beauty tribe had outdown themselves for a second time. They found a way to make the corset impossibly tighter, and to add even more product into Annabeth's hair woven up hair. Not to mention she had been painted with liquid gold on her snowy wings, shoulders and collar and that her greek styled wedding dress was just glowing with some kind of fine glitter that wasn't there in her fitting. When she saw herself in the mirror, she looked exactly as she was; Octavian's bride. Glowing, perfect, stunning, poised and totally miserable.

"Yes dear, you truly are the most beautiful bride. My boy is very lucky indeed!" Mrs. Aresto smoothed down her veil one more time before stepping back to admire next to Athena.

Mutely, Annabeth nodded. That's all they ever needed, a signal to let them know that Annabeth was listening to them jabber.

"Five minutes to aisle, are you ready dear?" Mrs. Aresto was practically exploding with excitement. Annabeth could barely take in her outrageously feathered hat and hot pink dress, no less her bubbly attitude. She was too tired for this, but she nodded again regardless.

"Line up the bridesmaids Isla, the bridesmaids!" Mrs Aresto waved her hands frantically at the already frazzled wedding planner who promptly scurried off snapping her fingers and tapping her clipboard.

The stone archway hall right outside the basilicas interior was already echoing with the bridesmaids silly headed giggles and girlish squeals as they grabbed their groomsmen. Sixteen in total, too much of a wedding party if you asked Annabeth but nobody had. All these vapid faces and stupid grins belonged to people Octavian knew.

"Well dear," Mrs. Aresto's smile grew fond. "We need to get seated now. See you after the celebration my soon-to-be daughter in law." she squeezed Annabeth's arm with total glee.

Annabeth's empty stomach rolled. She twisted the waterfall bouquet of peonies and lilies in her hands as if to relieve the tremendous stress she felt pressing into her heart.

"Annabeth…" Her mother looked on the verge of tears. She was looking at Annabeth so lovingly, so filled with content satisfiction that Annabeth felt like spitting in her face.

"I'm so proud of you." she said as she grabbed Annabeth's shoulder. Ready to pull her into a hug.

Annabeth's grip on her bouquet tightened. Something shattered inside of her as the sentence replayed itself over and over itself in her mind.

Proud. Annabeth thought bitterly. Proud.

Wasn't it ironic that only a few months ago that would've been the highest form of a compliment she could've gotten from her mother? Now, now it just felt empty and rotten and so sour that the tears doubled in Annabeth's eyes, and her vision swam.

"I. Hate. You." Annabeth said with pure rage. Her hurt, seething eyes bore into Athena as she glared every emotion she was feeling into her mother. Trying to completely and genuinely show her how she felt in as little spoken word as possible.

Athena's happy expression instantly fell into confusion, and a touch of perturbed offence.

"One minute to walk everyone!" Isla hissed from the side. "One minute!"

Annabeth stormed to her place in line and left her baffled mother to the side of the hall. She didn't care how she reacted to her little release of anger. She didn't care about anything anymore.

The music started, the bridesmaids started their walks. Their heels were clicking sharply against the rustic marble floor, and somehow that's all Annabeth could register.

Not the pews packed full of guests, or the white marble walls arching stories high, or the glittering stained glass windows streaming with light and life. Not the long stretching aisle that led her to her prison, or the way the clump of guests was plagued by frequent and obnoxious feathered hats.

Click, click, click.

She wished the noise wasn't so sharp, she was getting a headache. She wished this was all over and she was stuck in her room again so she could look at her compass and just sit. She could feel her compass now, between the fabric of her bra and her chest. Her last piece of identity.

The wedding march played and Annabeth started her way down the aisle. Eyes dead ahead and heart empty as she counted out the beats the way she was supposed to. As she walked with her head held high and her shoulders back the way she was supposed to.

Suddenly, a faint electric whir caught her attention. She slightly shifted her head to the left and felt her throat clench tightly.

Mr. Chiron was repositioning his wheelchair to get a better look at the bride. He caught her gaze and smiled sadly at her in an understanding way. The softness of his look almost made her stumble. The one familiar face there for her started the tears up again, but Annabeth patted them down.

Ladies don't cry.

She bit the inside of her cheek and tried to keep her hands steady as she braved forward. She wouldn't want Mr. Chiron to worry.

But then, out of the blue, her eyes latched onto another familiar face, and Annabeth nearly crumbled into sobs right there, in the middle of the aisle.

Piper.

Standing dutifully next to Jason as his plus one, with tears glistening down her cheeks, and her eyes already red and puffy from crying. Looking pretty in her purple dress with her hair spun up in a chignon but almost as miserable as Annabeth felt.

'I've always got your back.' she mouthed. Her hand reaching out as if to grab Annabeth and pluck her off the aisle before she gripped her trembling hands together. She was trying to keep it together enough to not cause a scene. Trying.

'Love you Beth.'

A wave of grief and pain swept over Annabeth for a paralyzing moment. A few tears broke the barricades and cut down her cheeks in jagged lines as she lost sight of Piper and kept moving forward. Forward, forward, always forward. It now felt like someone was pressing a knife to her back, forcing her forward.

Piper… pipes…

She plastered a fake smile on, but inside she was dying and she was sure Octavian could see it. His eyes were gleaming with power and triumph.

"Dearly beloved-"

Everything drowned out in a matter of seconds. The ceremony was drifting, and gone. All Annabeth could think about was Piper and Percy. Where was Percy? How could she get to him? How could she get to Piper? Could she talk to her? Could she escape with Piper beside her?

If I grab Piper, if I can escape with her… Then Octavian's last piece of blackmail he was hanging over her head would be gone. She could run away with her, find Percy and take the both of them somewhere far away. So far away from Octavian that the name Aresto would be unknown to anyone.

Annabeth tried to glance behind her at Piper, but there was a sea of people in her way. She wished she could just see her best friend. It would give her the comfort she'd been lacking for the past few weeks.

It would make everything better.

"Annabeth?" The servicer was giving her an odd look.

"Hmm?" Annabeth snapped back to attention. Octavian's scowl deepening at her obvious dismissive behavior. She was going to feel that later.

"Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"...Oh." Annabeth whispered softly. Her heart was hammering against her compass. "I do."

"Well I now pronounce you man and wife! You may now kiss the bride."

Octavian's scowl did a three sixty, and he tugged Annabeth into him as the crowd howled and cheered.

"Well." he growled with a dark grin. "Kiss me Mrs. Aresto."


Someone commented awhile back saying 'please don't make Annabeth marry Octavian!'. Well that thought never occurred to me before the reviewer struck. So moral of the story is don't tell me what to do, I suck at following orders.