Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HoO
Annabeth was surprised by Evelyn's silence.
It had been exactly three weeks since the formation of the opposing force known as the Demigods. They were a force to be reckoned with. Their reason for greatness, the main cause as to why they were chosen for the damned project in the first place, had emerged and was amplified to the highest limit. It was only in working with them as an organization that Annabeth realized that her companions were not just individuals. They were geniuses.
Percy and Jason were chosen as the official leaders. Being the heirs to billion-dollar corporations, they have been trained since childhood to care for hundreds of workers. While they were definitely far from being a hundred people, this only meant that the two of them could be more meticulous in dealing with the inner workings of their followers.
Annabeth played a vital role in her organization. Alongside being Head Engineer, a title she shared with Leo Valdez, for the development of Briares, she was also declared as the Lead Strategist in dealing with the forces beyond their own. She had been spending most of her time in creating multiple plans for Evelyn's eventual attack against them.
However, Evelyn hasn't done anything. She had disappeared from view, absent in all functions she was usually present in. Most of the participants under their care had said that she was hiding in fear from what is to come. Annabeth believes otherwise. In the nearly half a year she had spent observing the inner workings of the she-devil that put them through their hell, she knows that Evelyn was everything but a coward. She must have been preparing for something. Annabeth hated how she did not know what it was.
Evelyn's silence only meant that the internal war waging within the facility grew and became more violent. The Rogues had recovered from their initial shock from the Demigods' existence and began deploying their forces more strategically. Not one Demigod knew who their leader was but they were sure that it was one of those declared clinically insane and isolated.
It was straightforward, Annabeth realized. Dealing with physical embodiments of evil and chaos was better than coping with the constant state of stress and fear she developed since her kidnapping. It was easier to punch and kick and fight than to suffer from nightmares of terror-filled streets and destroyed buildings and death. She wasn't just a victim anymore. She was saving lives.
Yet, that did not mean her inner turmoil had evaporated.
She was growing increasingly more frustrated with herself for being unable to make love to Percy Jackson. She hated seeing the flash of disappointment in his gorgeous sea-green eyes because another man's face flashed in the forefronts of her consciousness whenever he touched her intimately. She hated having to stop passionate sessions because she could not shake away the memories of the damned hallway and ice blue eyes. He was so patient, so damn patient, that she felt so unworthy of being with him.
Her heart constricted in her chest when she placed a steady palm above his heart, stopping his ministrations on her neck. At the action, he had easily detached himself from her, gaze sad yet understanding. She hoped that she would get better. She honestly believed that she would get better, but she didn't.
While no such chasm appeared between them, Annabeth could not help but feel that her conflicts with herself had made him hesitant on showing the slightest bit of affection. In fact, their intimacy at that very moment had been the first in days. While their involvement in the Demigods had been the main reason as to why they barely spend time alone anymore, when they do manage to find the few moments in the quiet of their suite, he preferred keeping his distance until she gives him permission.
He untangled their limbs and sat up, running a hand through his hair. There was a smile on his lips yet she could see the strain in his handsome features as he tried his damndest to keep his hands to himself. Annabeth's body had unconsciously followed his movements, hand still extended slightly as if reaching out to him. He sighed, and held it, intertwining their fingers together.
"When you're ready," He said softly, taking his time to adjust her clothing for her. His touch was soft and soothing, enough that Annabeth barely felt the guilt that welled in the pit of her stomach at his sadness.
She nodded, unable to say anything in response. She felt overwhelmed by his kindness, as she always was. If anyone deserved all the love in the world, it would be Percy Jackson.
With a sigh, he stood from the bed and stretched his arms up. She watched unabashedly as his muscles flexed and contracted with his every movement, the bare skin of his back doing things to her insides she could no longer deny. She had the privilege of seeing the most desired man in such a state of undress yet she could not even bring it upon herself to act on her urges, on their urges.
Annabeth shook the thought from her head and followed his lead. She, too, began gathering the few articles of clothing littering the floor and disposing them on the hamper. The day ahead of them was filled with uncertainties. While she had planned ahead for most of them, there was definitely one or two surprises that would keep her on her feet.
While Percy was in the bathroom, she took her time to examine herself in the mirror. She had seen how the war and the ghouls had affected the survivors residing beyond the facility. Their faces were gaunt with hunger and sorrow, eyes sunken from exhaustion and terror. The living seemed like the dead as they fled and hid from bombs and soldiers and the undead. Infants were not given a chance to live, not when there was nothing beyond the warfare. The population continued to decrease exponentially.
However, Annabeth felt the same as she always did. She seemed thinner, but only slightly so. It must have been from the healthy diet and the extraneous physical activity she had partaken in since the beginning of her kidnapping. Her skin seemed paler, as a result of her inability to actually leave her prison. Evelyn had provided them with the best living conditions that currently existed yet it was far from the lap of luxury her companions were used to.
Annabeth traced the healing slice on her thigh. It had been from training earlier that week. She had been sparring with Thalia and, well, sparring sessions with either Grace sibling meant expecting unforgiving blows and unavoidable wounds. Annabeth had a slight misstep, a result of her fatigue at that time, and had all but walked into the sharp blade of her friend's knife. It wasn't a wound that was particularly painful but it led to four stitches by Will Solace and a long lecture courtesy of Annabeth's beloved.
The door creaked open and steam wafted into their bedroom. Percy greeted her with a kiss on the lips before he proceeded to their dresser. Annabeth averted her eyes as he dressed and walked into the shower.
The day continued as what was considered normal in the past week. They had left for breakfast and continued on into training. Members of the Guard had taken their posts throughout the facility while Percy, Jason, and Nico facilitated the sparring sessions. Annabeth separated with Leo and Charles to proceed to Engineering where Briares was currently held.
"Evelyn's going to speak up sometime soon," Leo said, breaking the comfortable silence they settled on.
Annabeth lifted her head slightly from the blueprints, "She should. Knowing Evelyn Rose, she wouldn't be too pleased with how badly her precious project is running. Question is, when?"
Beckendorf shrugged, adjusting the scrap metal he had previously been carrying to a more stable pile. "Not too long. The longer she spends thinking about what she should do, the more dangerous things get in here."
The intellectual remained silent, deep in thought. Charlie was right. Now that the Demigods have complete control over most of the resources, the leaders of the Rogues become more and more desperate with each passing day. Percy and Jason were forced to take shifts since the members of the Guard were spread thin constantly.
"I don't take Evelyn's words for shit but if she's the only hope we have to stay alive, then we have no choice but to do what she wants," Leo muttered, not quite believing that he had just uttered those vile words.
They tested Briares in silence. The facility seemed more empty now that a portion of its residents refuses to leave their section unless to harass the majority. With two people officially dead, another with an unknown status, fifteen diagnosed as clinically insane, and another five worshipping the ground under the feet of psychopaths, no one casually littered the halls anymore. Fear remained as the strongest emotion that resonated within all of them but they were stronger together, at least.
At around lunchtime, Jason entered the warehouse to take his post as the guard. What Annabeth noticed about the young man is that he was a very disciplined individual. His every task was conducted with precision and finesse, the way he held himself presented a kind of strength that but a few people possess.
"We have another pregnant girl." The blonde male mentioned casually as he sat on a plastic chair, folding his arms over his chest as he observed.
"This is going to end up being a huge problem sooner or later," Leo muttered under his breath, not wanting to sound offensive with Charles Beckendorf in the same room. "This isn't exactly the place to raise children."
Annabeth eyed the African-American man with concern. Beck wasn't much for being expressive but he was as good a friend as any. She knew of his concerns regarding his unborn child and what future lay ahead of the small family he had. He felt more than guilty for even putting Silena in such a dire situation.
"Who is it?" The intellectual asked instead, opting to redirect the conversation. "Is it one of ours?"
Jason shifted his electric blue gaze to Annabeth's direction and nodded solemnly, "Katie Gardner. She told Percy just a while ago, explaining that she had just found out."
"I'm assuming Travis knows?" She queried.
Another nod, "They've scheduled a session with Chiron. I've asked Clarisse to escort them."
At this, Charlie lifted his head from his work. "Clarisse? You convinced Clarisse La Rue to leave Silena's side? Even I can't do that."
Jason managed a small chuckle, "Percy did most of the talking. It's only temporary. Clarisse would return to being Silena's unofficial bodyguard after the session. We're still looking for someone for Katie as of now."
"Maybe Lou Ellen? Isn't she doing really well during training?" She suggested. "She's ready to take on a bigger responsibility."
They were desperate for as many capable individuals as they can get, especially when the conflict was worsening over time. With Katie pregnant, five months from now, Miranda will be taking the brunt of the responsibility in tending to the farm. Annabeth needed a plan for that loss immediately. She hoped that another birth will not be detrimental to what counts as a stable society.
"Well, Lou Ellen and Katie are as good friends as you can get in our situation." The blonde man responded, deep in thought, "I'll assign her immediately. Thanks, Annabeth."
Annabeth hid a smile as pride swelled in her chest at the praise. Her mind was elsewhere as her hands continued operating on Briares' tenth arm. Her expertise lay in design and strategy, not in practical application thus she was slow as compared to the expert movements of both Leo and Charlie. They appreciated the help that she offered. They were, after all, the only three people working on such an important project.
By the end of the day, Annabeth followed Jason out of the warehouse. Leo had wanted to spend more time tweaking with Briares that she knew if she had stayed longer, she would only be a nuisance. The Hispanic man often gets lost in his projects and only his mate could truly bring him out of it.
Jason Grace fell in step with her as they walked towards the Dining Hall. He seemed deep in thought yet calm, a sight she had been seeing more frequently since the establishment of the Demigods. The hallway was silent, save for their footsteps and the sound of metalwork from beyond the workshop doors.
"I don't know what I'm more scared of," He stated softly, eyes downcast as he fiddled with the handle of his baton, "Evelyn and what she would do or the Rogues." She noticed how he did not say the outside. At that moment, the war-ravaged world cannot touch them.
She spared him a glance before moving her gaze forward, folding her arms over her stomach. "Evelyn won't hurt us." She replied with certainty, "She needs us for the Project."
"Not physically." He argued, shaking his head, "No, she's not going to hurt us but she has control over the broadcasts, over the facility. For all we know, since her Project failed so miserably, she might as well open the doors and let the ghouls in."
She bit her lip and stopped mid-stride, "Then we have to be ready if it happens. The Rogues are getting unpredictable. Just last week they tried to raid the pantry. Michael and Malcolm are still recovering from their injuries."
"Percy's worried that some of our people are spies. While we have some of the worshippers on our watch list, we can never be so sure." He ran a hand through his hair and bit his thumb, "He already asked Nico and me to look into some people." He did not elaborate further on their names.
Annabeth slowed as they approached the Dining Hall doors. She leaned against the nearest wall, "I've been trying to look for patterns, for anything that could help me see what we're dealing with. They attack when they want without reason. They want chaos, destruction."
"They've lost hope that we'd ever get out of here." He said in reply, "Or that if we do, there's nothing to come back to. They've lost their inhibition just as much as they've lost their minds."
The memory of her near-rape flashed before her eyes, the wild expression on Luke's handsome face forever imprinted in her mind. Maybe if they had met beyond their circumstances, when all was peaceful, she believed in the possibility of befriending him. Yet the despair of the world had forced him into a position he could not refuse. She will never hate Luke for his sins against her.
"Thalia tells me you have a knack for design." She chose to change the subject instead. She had noticed that all of her conversations with the blonde heir comprised of either their circumstance or of their past. She wishes for a time where speaking with her peers about simple things was not a strange occurrence.
Annabeth so very nearly missed the blush that tinted his cheeks. "I wouldn't say I'm very good at it. I dabble." He paused, "I never have time to take it up seriously but I've always wanted to if I wasn't my father's son."
She looked at him, tilting her head to the side. She and Jason had so much in common. "My experience with architecture and design are all self-taught. My mother guided me when she had the time, until she got arrested. I took classes with civil engineering students and architecture majors. I'm not the best but I can teach you? Maybe you can join us with Briares."
Jason's electric blue eyes lit with excitement. "I will. I'll like that very much." At that, they entered the Dining Hall where their friends were gathered and waiting for them.
It took but one night to break her completely.
The sinking feeling of dread she had gotten used to had been what woke her up from what could comprise as a peaceful sleep. She did not know what it was but it was as painful as it was strange. She threw her legs off the bed, her heart leaping out of her chest. As a woman born of logic, it was easy to dismiss supernatural experiences or encounters that could not be explained with a thorough scientific foundation. That night, it was exactly that which had caused her to leave the comfort of Percy's warmth.
She decided within a span of ten seconds to have him accompany her in her nonsensical search. There was something wrong, she knew that there was something wrong. She could not, for the life of her, fathom what it could possibly be and why she was feeling such a thing.
He did not protest as she walked out of their suite door, allowing her instincts to guide her through the bleak white hallways dimly lit by a ghostly white light. She felt terrible and she knew that if at the end of her search, she found nothing of significance, she would feel more relief than annoyance.
It did not take her long before she realized that the hallway had been the one leading to the warehouse. It was a familiar path for her, as someone who spends the majority of her hours tending to Briares more than she takes care of herself. The project had been almost a solace for her, a peaceful escape from the chaos of the apocalypse. The problems she encountered as she built the Hundred-Handed One, as dubbed by Leo, was straightforward and could be solved with enough grit, patience, and intellect. It was better than her constant planning for her battles with and inside Eden.
Percy placed a hand on her shoulder before they rounded the corner. He had been forced into a light jog just to catch up to her quickened pace. If anything had happened to Briares, she did not know what she would do. He seemed apprehensive, eyeing his surroundings carefully. While Annabeth was very much capable of defending herself, that did not mean that she was ready to face whatever was out of their sight. If her gut-wrenching feeling was indeed pointing to something dangerous, she should not launch herself head first into unknown territory.
"Anna, please," He muttered softly, placing a palm on her cheek to soften her features. "Together, remember?"
Annabeth's breath hitched in her throat and nodded. She hoped against all hope that it was nothing. "Together," She assured, taking his hand in hers. He nodded, satisfied yet worried and followed her lead.
Since the tension between the participants began and the Rogues began their retaliation, Percy and Jason had assigned for guards to be stationed on their more valuable assets, namely the laboratory, the warehouse, and the farms. Three guards, she remembered: a man named Castor, another named Lee Fletcher, and Ethan Nakamura.
What Annabeth spotted first was deep, crimson blood splattered on what once had been a pure white wall. The double door made of industrial steel was battered, as if forced open by an army of very strong, very capable men. A small, nearly inaudible whimper escaped her lips as her eyes wandered downwards, to the source of the blood.
On the floor, just a few feet from where they stood, were unmoving lumps of red-stained flesh. The pool of blood that surrounded them had stained the white tiled floor and seeped through the cracks, leaving a vibrant red line in its tracks. The one nearest her was a blonde man, Castor, once vibrant violet eyes remained dull and lifeless and expression contorted to shock at his own death. A single slit on the throat had been what killed him.
Annabeth could barely look at the body of Lee Fletcher. He sat upright against the wall, torso slumping forward slightly at the weight. His hands were open, palms to the ceiling. Unlike Castor, Lee seemed peaceful. One would assume he was asleep if it had not been for the multiple stab wounds present on his abdomen.
They were dead. Two men they had trusted had been killed while protecting an inanimate object. Annabeth would never trade the lives of individuals, whether or not they were the best in their own field, with a machine like Briares. They should never have died defending it. It was too late now.
She swallowed the bile rising in her throat, stumbling back to prevent the blood from reaching her bare feet. Percy's grip on her bicep was firm but not painful, tugging her backwards into his arms. Her expression was blank, unable to comprehend the sight of corpses. She had vomited at the first victim. Here were two more.
The stench was overwhelming and nauseating. Her tears were staining her vision, her mate's touch doing nothing to soothe her. An indescribable fury welled in her chest. Ethan had done this, of course, he had. How could she have been so blind to allow a worshipper in their midst?
She felt Percy tug her back around the corner, placing a kiss on her forehead. At the loss of his touch, she finally lifted her gaze. "Where are you going?" She demanded, not meaning to sound desperate but the gravity of the situation forced her into a weakened state.
He smiled at her kindly, though she could see his grief and rage hidden behind the comfort. "I'll check inside the warehouse." He stated firmly, urging her to stay where she was.
"No." She argued, hands shaking. "I'm going with you. I have to see… I need to know why they did this."
Percy looked at her and conceded, holding her hand tightly as he guided her through the dead bodies of Lee and Castor. She choked back a sob, wiping at the tears on her cheeks frantically. She ignored the blood on her feet, staining the hem of her pajama pants. She ignored the smell of iron in the air or the bits of debris when the door was forced open. She needed to know what two good men died for.
Annabeth winced when a stray steel beam sliced her ankle. Percy, once again, asked if she was willing to see inside the warehouse. She remained firm in her decision.
Beyond the door and piles of debris was a vast, dimly lit room divided into smaller sections for different purposes. On the far left side held larger mechanical equipment used by other engineers. Briares, as important a project as he was, had a dedicated section for himself. She had spent so much time in the open room that it felt almost home to her.
Percy had been the one to open the light. They were tracking blood on the cold concrete floor and the slice on her ankle did not help the cause. The factory lights overhead were nearly blinding as they buzzed to life, illuminating the large open space with ease. At first glance, everything seemed as it should be. The left side of the warehouse seemed untouched, except for a large discarded piece of ply wood near the door of the chemistry laboratory. The right side was the most damaged.
As predicted, they had been targeting Briares. Pieces Annabeth recognized were scattered on the floor, creating a trail of destruction leading to where the Hundred-Handed One was stationed. She picked up a severed hand from the ground, torn from its arm, and held it to her chest. Percy was ahead of her, stance prepared to defend at any cost.
Annabeth could almost picture how the room had been but a few hours ago, when she left it for the night. What she saw now was chaos. Tables were overturned and tools were scattered on the stone floor. She was careful not to step on any more debris as she continued to pick up the remnants of her beloved machine. The plans she designed so meticulously were torn to shreds near the corner. A disgustingly familiar odor kept her away from the bigger lump of machine parts and wiring.
"They're provoking us," Percy said through grit teeth, holding his arm up to keep her from coming any closer.
She recognized the smell immediately. The Rogues had defecated and urinated on Briares, to prevent them from rebuilding the once beautifully crafted invention. Annabeth had finally realized what they were dealing with at that moment, not when she had so very nearly been raped, not at the murder of an innocent woman, not at their every attempt of murder. They had taken away what kept Annabeth and Leo and Charlie sane.
She rushed out of the room, only to vomit on the concrete. She wretched and sobbed as Percy rubbed her back in comfort. She knew how badly it was affecting him too. He had been the one who assigned Lee Fletcher and Castor with Ethan Nakamura. He believed that he had been the cause of their deaths, that he allowed for this to happen. She could not find the strength to prove him wrong and tell him otherwise. All she saw was darkness, the ache in her heart and the sick feeling in her gut forcing her dinner out of her. Everything ached but she didn't care. Let the pain come. It was nothing compared to the rage building inside of her.
Once she emptied the contents of her stomach, she hauled herself up to her feet. She had not predicted how weak her legs were, thus she nearly crumbled back down had it not been for Percy holding her up by her shoulders. He began taking her with him away from the scene of the horrendous crime. She was surprised by how her feet were so quick to follow in her footsteps without her mind guiding them. Everything was too overwhelming.
Halfway into their journey towards their suite, Percy opted on carrying her instead. She loathed her own weakness but her strength was in her mind and at that moment, her brain could barely separate their reality of white hallway and the destruction of her warehouse. She could feel her own mind breaking under the pressure of the Eden Project and its participants. The Demigods needed to escape.
"Don't leave me." She said, though her voice was weak and laced with fear.
He looked at her and she could truly see the pain he felt at the incident. This would only add to his hellish nightmares. "Sleep, Wise Girl. I'll be back before you know it."
"You know I can't sleep. Not after that." She hissed back, all the emotions she was forced to feel in one night flooding back to her like a tsunami. "Don't leave me, Percy Jackson."
He shook his head, adamant to have her stay. He did not seem too ready to change his mind, not like before. "Jason and I… we need to talk about what happened." He looked at her once more, his gaze lingering on the wound by her feet. "I'll take you to Will. I think it's best if you sleep with Thalia for tonight, until we figure this out. It's not safe in our room."
She knew he was right but the mere thought of being separated from him, after everything they had been through together, was unfathomable. She took a breath and held his hands, forcing him to look her in the eye. "Percy, I'm meant to be your strategist." Her voice was as steady as she could make it but there was a certainty in her tone that he could not deny, "I need to be there while you and your cousin make big decisions to make sure that none of you fuck it up."
His expression softened, "How am I ever going to win against you?" He mumbled sorrowfully.
"You're not." She replied, "Remember, Percy, together. We're doing this together. I know you're trying to protect me and I love you for that but I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. If anything happens, I want to be by your side."
He nodded, "Okay. I'll take you to Will first. Go to Jason's room when you're done but I don't want you going alone. I know you can protect yourself but after what happened with Luke, I'm not going to take any chances. Take Nico and Thalia with you. They need to know what's happening."
She knew that it was the best she could get out of him, considering the situation, thus she agreed. "This is hell." He breathed in response to her silence.
"And we're going to get out of it, all of us." She replied and it was enough to keep them together until everything fell apart again.