~ Hey Angels ~

So I know some of you are mad at me for the last chapter but I was being a realist. Life doesn't always got to plan. You can't always have happy chapters and Annabeth needed something to knock her out of her shell. I'm not throwing her character away, I'm not changing her for good, it was just a small stage she had to go through so please don't think she's gonna be like that from now on.

You'll see what I mean when you read this chapter.

Anyway, to everyone who liked the previous chapter - THANK YOU SO MUCH, I LOVE YOU! 3 3

KriKri - I know what you mean, Art is a very time-consuming subject and you can never really tick it off because there's always more you can do. But I do it anyway because it's what I'm good at and as much as I hate it sometimes, I really love it. So you're absolutely right about that. My favourite colour is light blue and thank you, music is my heart and soul.

The Malu - Aaaaaww thank you so much. It puts a smile on my face every time someone mentions my song tributes.

Jessica L xxx - Love you ;)

Dimitri Jinx - Don't worry, chica, Percy isn't going to jail. I'm bailing him out. Yes, I found another PLL sister! I'm so glad you liked the chapter because I'm sure loads of people hated it. Oh and tiny spoiler - Piper didn't call the cops ;) I replied to your PM, btw, sorry it was late, I feel awful about that. Lots of love, AWG xx

greekdemigodwannabe - Heheheh, I'm so so sooooo glad you liked the chappie my love! Piper didn't entirely call the cops btw, you'll see why very soon. Yay, you liked the black and white clip, I really loved writing it. For some reason it's more romantic 1940s style. Hahahha I do that all the time ;) Love you xoxo

Daughter of Heavan - Thank you! Oh, I love Spencer. She's got such an interesting character but I love Hanna too. She's probably my second fav.

Cinder Luna - OMG. It's such a relief to know that you really liked the last chapter. Thanks girl and I will definitely check out those songs. Love, AWG xx

Don'tDrinkThat - Of course I replied, I love your reviews! SUPER SUPER happy you liked the last chapter. I know that's exactly what I think Percy would be thinking in that moment. Yeah, the TS song was just so perfect for that scene.

This chapter is pretty much all rainbows, sunshine, and unicorns okay peeps!

See you on the other side ;)

Chapter 6

Into the Light

Annabeth POV

The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.

— Albert Camus

I slammed the front door behind me and just stood there for a moment. This house no longer felt like home. I'm not sure it had ever felt like home, to be honest.

Helen was busy thrashing around in the kitchen but I went straight upstairs to pack. I couldn't stay here anymore. On top of how she treats me and getting arrested for an addiction to Adderall, what Percy did for me – it was too much. I couldn't handle it. I just had to get out of here.

Why I had stayed for this long was already blowing my mind. But now I was done. Well and truly done.

I burst into my room, grabbing my suitcase and dumping it on the bed. I grabbed everything I could and stuffed it inside. It was small so I couldn't take much with me, only a few clothes, books and toiletries. Savings was the most important thing, I pulled out my secret jar from underneath my bed where I kept all my money from the Beach Café. There were a couple hundred in there and it was all I had to support myself out in the big city. It was going to have to do. The last thing to find was in my closet but when I opened it, I found that my memory box...was gone. I gasped, digging around inside desperately but there was no question about it, someone had taken it.

With an exasperated sigh, I gave up, shutting my suitcase and wheeling it downstairs. As I was reaching the front door, something made me stop. I set the case down and looked at the person standing in front of the lit fireplace in the living room. Helen stood with her back to me in her usual smart stylish clothes.

"Looking for this?" She called.

My heart skipped a beat.

Slowly, she turned to me and I saw that she was holding my wooden memory box in her hands and it was open. She picked up a photo, looking at it with a smirk. "There must be quite a story as to how you found this. Won't you tell me?" She smiled brightly but I knew she was toying with me.

"Helen..." I murmured. "Please understand...I can't stay here anymore. I've done all you have said all my life. I need to go my own way now."

"You always were an ungrateful little wretch." She snarled, making me flinch. "Where did you get this?" She scraped a sharp nail along the box. "Did you steal it?" She said in a low, harsh voice.

"No." I whispered, fidgeting nervously as I gasped for air. "It was given to me...by my mother." I said softly. That much I knew.

"Given to you." Helen scoffed. "Nothing is ever given to you. Nothing is free in this world."

"No but that's not true." I whispered, smiling a little now. "Kindness is free. Love is free."

"Love is not free." She said in a low voice as if she knew all too well, standing up now. "Now, here is how you will pay me; you will end your romantic interests with Percy and any future plans you have together."

My heart shattered—I'd already done that.

"Then, I shall marry the rich and wealthy Poseidon. Condemning you as sister to the boy you love will be a fine price for everything you've wrecked in my life."

I gasped, shaking my head. I couldn't imagine anything worse. "You'll be married off to somebody rich of course so you can bring in some income, it's the only thing that pretty little face will ever be good for."

I hated it when she said things like that.

"And I shall manage that boy."

"But he's not a boy." I whispered. Percy was anything but a boy. He was mature for his age. He looked older than eighteen and his way with words would make you think he was wise beyond his years.

"And who are you?" She scoffed. "Best to leave it to me...that way we all get what we want." She said, walking over to the fire to gaze upon the flickering flames.

"No." I said steadily and confidently as I held my head up high.

She stopped suddenly. "No?" She turned to me slowly.

"I was not able to protect my father from you but I will protect Percy...no matter what becomes of me." I said softly but confidently, still holding my head high.

"Well...that is a mistake." She glared at me and then she did probably the worst thing she could have ever done to me. She took the box and tipped the contents into the fire before throwing the box in with it.

"No!" I cried, stumbling forward a little with a tear in my eye. "W-why...why are you so cruel?" I asked in a breathy high-pitched voice. "I don't understand it. I've tried to be kind to you."

"You...kind to me?" She scoffed.

"Yes, and n-no one deserves to be treated as you have treated me. Why do you do it?" I asked. "Why?" I said a little louder.

"Why?" She glared. "Because you are young and innocent and...good...and I..." She stopped herself, gulping a little, and that's when it all fell into place. Helen hadn't been cruel for the sake of it all this time, she had been jealous. Then she gave me a menacing look and I backed up, stumbling against my suitcase. I grabbed the handle and yanked the door open.

Song Tribute: [Chasing the Sun –Sara Bareilles] - (this is kinda pefect for the moment)

"Come back here!" She yelled but I was already out the door. "Just remember who you are you wretch!" She called as I ran down the front steps and broke away, shattering the wall of glass that has kept me, prisoner, here.

And then I was away. Away, away.

For so many years, I thought there had been no hope of rescue for me but somehow, I, and I alone, had found a way to light the fire inside me. A flame so magnificent that it blinded the darkness lurking in my heart. Then I was set free. Free from the confining thick brambles and deadly thorns which I planted for myself. I was free from an evil so thick, I couldn't control it.

And I was never going back there. Never would I set myself in her icy control again. I had eaten enough of her poisoned apples and pricked my finger on enough of her spinning wheels. This time—this time I was gone for good.

A wistfulness past over me and I looked back at the house. I took in every board and every tile to the last detail, trying to remember it. I don't know why but it had been my dad's house and I guess I still had some love for it. It wasn't the house itself, just the memory of him.

With a heavy heart, I turned back around and marched away—determined to cut away all the strings tethering me to the ground.

Speed-walking brought me to the main road pretty quickly and I called for a bright yellow taxi. When he asked, 'where to', I blurted out an address so quickly, I shocked even myself. It was an address I hadn't said out loud for years and I'd never even considered retreating there until now. But it was all I could think of. I had nowhere else to go.

I had left everything for freedom.

The address wasn't hard to remember. It was on the outer outskirts of the city, the nice area where only wealthy people lived. Soon we were flying away and the memory of both that house and Helen disappeared behind me. They became nothing more than fuzzy remembrances.

~xXx~

We pulled up in front of a tall, black iron gate with swirling patterns that framed the colossal estate behind it. I paid the driver, pulling my suitcase out of the boot and walking up to it slowly with my heart hammering against my chest. He drove away before I could cower and back out.

It was exactly as I had left it with its white stone walls that glistened like many shards of glass in the summer sun and its grey slate roof. Pillars surged from the ground like skyscrapers and a huge set of white marble steps climbed up before splitting two ways around a terrace balcony to the front entrance. The whole structure seemed to rise from the ground like a sculpture made out of pure snow.

It was glorious.

This was the mansion that had haunted my dreams for so many lost years like a distant calling—a yearning to return once again. A palace, ornate in its architecture and splendid in its gardens.

It stood where it needed to be, separate, apart, superior, untouchable.

I took a shaky breath and wheeled my suitcase over to the speaker by the gate. Then, with hesitance, lifted my finger to the button but before I could press it, the doors were already beginning to open. I gasped, stepping back a little and looking inside to see if anyone was leaving but there was no one in sight.

Slowly, I walked in—before I lost what confidence I had left in my trembling heart and made my way towards the wonderous and somewhat intimidating estate.

The driveway itself was massive with a large spread of luscious green grass, stretching across, like an island, to the house; perfectly kept as if it was mown every fortnight by the groundskeeper. It took a good few minutes to actually walk along it, but I suppose I was wandering a little.

At the very farthest end, stood the delicate marble fountain, the soft gurgling of the clear water melodic as it resonated in the surrounding silence. A statue of a Greek goddess stood tall and proud in the centre, her beauty radiating throughout everything in the colourful garden.

The great statue of Athena.

I remembered it well. I remembered her well. All the summer mornings I'd spent sitting at the edge, smoothing my tiny fingers over the glistening liquid surface and admiring the stone carving. Secretly dipping my toes in when no one was watching and playing in the water. The statue's lovely eyes watching over me as if to ensure I would always be safe and her soft smile would always be there whenever I looked up.

That was so long ago now...

A moment passed before I realised I was staring at the fountain rather longingly—longing for those earlier days where I was just an innocent little girl. Longing for those days when my mother still loved me.

And now, after all these long, heavy years, I was here; outside her house, so close to her and yet—I was utterly terrified.

"You alright sweetheart?" An old man asked to my left. He wore dirty clothes and gardening gloves and he was carrying a wheel barrow full of weeds. I guessed he was the gardener or one of them. This place was so huge, they probably had multiple staff working to keep it perfectly pristine.

"Um...is this, um...Miss Chase' house?" I asked shyly, not knowing if she even kept that name or not.

"Indeed. Are you here for a staff interview because she's probably just about to head off to work." He asked nicely, setting down his wheel barrow.

"Uh, no...I'm her...her..." I took a deep breath. "My name is Annabeth...I'm her daughter." His eyes widened a little and he smiled.

"Go on up there. I'm sure she'll be delighted to see you." He smiled but I wasn't convinced. I gave him a nod and a smile before I started wheeling my suitcase up the rest of the driveway.

I was just reaching the huge set of steps out front, when I heard the front door open and two women appeared. The staircase was so long that it was difficult to see them until they had rounded one of the curved sides and stopped at the centre island where it then descended vertically.

There she was, I recognised her in a heartbeat. She looked even more beautiful than I remembered, and she looked strong like she meant business. She wore a tight fitted white dress which reached her knees and a black blazer over the top with black heels. She carried an expensive looking Prada bag in her arm and she had stylish sunglasses on since it was sunny out, still cold but quite sunny. Her make-up and long brown wavy hair was curled perfectly and she walked with such elegance and poise, it was more like a glide or a dance than a walk. Just looking at her, you could tell she had the world in the palm of her hands and nothing could stop her.

That—that was what I strived to be like.

A woman walked behind her in cheaper but still nice-looking work clothes. I guessed she was her assistant because she had an iPad in her hands and was listening to my mother analytically.

"I need you to set up the meeting with Mr Finch for Friday. Make sure we have the designs by then and have Mike call me before, so we can discuss due dates for the final project." She said in a posh but kind voice as her assistant rigorously typed on the iPad and nodded like a robot.

It was the sound of a leader's voice, just like Percy's. Damn it, don't think about him!

"Then I need you to set up a dinner with the board sometime next week. They've been pestering me the past week about my plans, so I need to reassure them before they cut us off again, the imbeciles. I need you to call Karon to organise this week's meeting for the new skyscraper designs. Oh..." She stopped, turning to her as they reached the island. "And can you have Joe pick up Bobbie and Matthew from school again? This afternoon's meetings might over run—" She stopped abruptly, and I realised she was looking down at me now.

Her assistant looked up in confusion and after a moment, she noticed me. I shifted nervously in my spot, unable to open my mouth to even say hello. I was literally stuck. I couldn't speak, I couldn't move, I couldn't even really breathe properly. My mother's lips parted in what I thought was shock and slowly but surely, she peeled off her sunglasses and I saw her eyes for the first time in forever. They were stormy grey and intense. They were shocking, and they were mine. They were my eyes.

"Are you lost young lady?" The assistant asked kindly but my mother cut her off with a hand held up in the air.

She seemed to struggle to find words for a moment before finally speaking.

"Annabeth?" She breathed and a sudden jet of warmth flowed through me. She remembered my name at least and though she hadn't seen me in years, she recognised me instantly.

"Mother?" I whispered but my voice shook a little and I felt tears flood my eyes. Her face fell in absolute emotion and she gracefully descended the staircase. I gulped when she reached me, not sure what to say or even do.

"My baby girl…oh how much you have grown." She murmured, slowly reaching up to touch my cheek as if to check that I was real.

A tear slipped down my cheek and I saw her own eyes begin to blur. We were both smiling now and soon she was pulling me into an embrace that I had long been waiting for since the day we fell out of contact. I sunk into her arms, heavy like a stone and clung to her like she was all I had left in this world.

I can't even begin to describe how good it felt to be in her arms again. I felt love...real love. Something I hadn't experienced in what felt like forever. And for that perfect moment, she just held me, rocking me in her arms and stroking my head.

She kissed my temple and pulled back a little after a few minutes. "I'm so glad you finally came. Come inside you must tell me everything." She smiled stroking my cheek once more and taking my hand as we walked up the staircase together.

"Angela, call the office and tell them I won't be in today. I'm spending the whole day with my darling daughter." She beamed at me as we walked past her assistant.

Together, we climbed the fairy-tale staircase up to the palace above. A doorman took my suitcase for me instantly, while someone took my pink jacket and hung it up in a large coat cupboard by the door. People waited upon me hand and foot. It freaked me out a little to have people doing things for me for once in my life and not have it the other way around.

From the moment I stepped into the vast hallway, I was completely under the palace's spell. I'd lived here from the age of 4 until I was 10 years old and yet, I hadn't realised how much detail I'd forgotten. It was like stepping into a completely new house apart from the odd feature bringing back waves of nostalgia.

The floor was a sheen of white marble and it lay as podium to the grand staircase in the centre. It was wide with white marble steps and long streaks of light grey streaming through the stone, but the star of the show was the glass handrail with swirling patterns carved halfway into the sides. It shone like ice. Two huge palms guarded the bottom in glossy black pots and the lush green colour was striking against so much black and white.

I tilted my head back to admire the biggest diamond chandelier I'd ever seen, hanging from the ceiling, each gem stone twinkling like stars in the night sky. Family portraits were painted in oils and hung in white frames. Furniture was all handmade by master craftsmen. I knew this from when I was a child. Nothing ever got dirty. I had never seen dust in my 6 years of life here. The air had been scented with fresh flowers every day of the year, yet I had never seen a flower ever die or wilt.

"Rather beautiful isn't it?" My mother smiled at me. We weren't holding hands anymore as I span around, trying to take it all in.

"Oh it's wonderful mother." I breathed.

"Do you remember…" She trailed off, somewhat sorrowfully.

"I remember some of it."

Shaking her head, she smiled brightly as if to forget her thoughts. "Well, come sit."

She guided me off to the left, into the living room. Okay, if I thought the hallway was large, then this was massive. It had lavish sofas and expensive carpets with a total of four chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. A giant open fire stood in the centre of the room with glorious marble carvings and the most humungous mirror above it.

My mother sat in a posh armchair and I sat in the corner of the sofa, perpendicular to her. She tucked her ankles together elegantly and placed her hands neatly on her lap. Gods everything she did was just so fascinatingly beautiful and stylish it was like she was from another world.

"Amara, would you be so kind as to make us some tea?" She asked a maid who was organising some newspapers on a far table. She looked Latino with tanned skin and her going-grey hair was pulled back into a bun. I smiled, though my mother and I were living in New York, we both still enjoyed simple English treats.

"Of course, my lady." She bowed, disappearing out of the room with a smile on her face. The way she looked at my mother was with such respect and admiration as though she was a real goddess in person.

My mother sighed. "I can't get her to stop calling me that." She smiled and I couldn't help but love her even more at that moment.

She was one of the richest, most successful business woman in the wold. There were people out there who adored her—considered her as royalty—and yet, she was the most humble person you'll ever meet.

She was a bit like Percy in that way…

"She's lovely, Amara. Came all the way from Brazil with her three children."

"That's amazing." I smiled.

"So how are you darling? I've missed you terribly. And how's Frederick?" She smiled brightly

Even the mention of his name made my heart sank and my smile fade. Her face dropped at my expression and, instead, filled with concern.

"Dad's gone." I whispered. "He was in a car crash."

Her eyes filled with tears at that moment and she covered her mouth in shock. "Oh, not Freddie." She whispered, breathing unsteadily now.

Her emotions were real, and I could tell she still loved him. I suppose you never really forget the person you nearly spent the rest of your life with. "Oh, my darling." She smiled softly taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. She wiped a tear from my eye and did the same to herself. "The world is a cruel place...we must simply have courage and be kind."

I smiled weakly and nodded. She gave me a soft smile and stroked my cheek. "My brave little girl. I wish I could've taken you away from that place years ago." She whispered and I frowned in confusion. I got the idea she knew all about Helen and that confused me. If she knew...then why didn't she come and get me?

"Why didn't you?" I whispered weakly.

She sighed and her eyes fell a little. "I wanted to, my darling, but...when your father was looking after you, his wife, Helen, became very possessive. She thought that having you was still linking Frederick and I together. She was scared he would come back to me if I kept coming to visit you, so she made up a number of stories and filed a restraining order against me. I wasn't allowed to come within fifty metres of you."

I gasped. "How could she?" I whispered.

"Some people are just cruel honey. The world is full of people like that and that is why we must stay strong and not let others change who we are. I am so proud you haven't changed, even when you lived with such a woman." She stroked my cheek and I smiled at her.

My heart skidded because that wasn't so true. I had changed. I had turned into a completely different person, but I guess that being here with my mother—I just hoped that I could somehow reach the old Annabeth.

"I wish I'd left that place months ago." I whispered.

"You're here now...that's all that matters." She smiled. "Would you like to stay, honey? I have a room all set up for you."

"You do?" I asked in shock.

"I always kept it just in case you came to see me." She smiled and that made me giggle through my happy tears.

"I'd love too." I murmured and then Amara brought in the tea and we fell into a casual conversation. She asked me about home, school, grades and everything in between. We took in turns to question each other and by the end of it, it seemed she knew me better than I knew myself.

I'd learned that she had two sons called Bobbie and Matthew but the father was out of the picture. By the looks of it, he didn't need to be in it, she was doing amazing all by herself. They were both four years old and twins. I couldn't believe that Helen had kept me from my own mother and my two step-brothers. She had kept me from this wonderful life and restricted me to that horrible one. I don't know why I didn't at least investigate why my mother had suddenly disappeared from my life. I mean, it was still within my right to see her, especially now that I'm 16 and can make my own decisions.

My mother had told me how excited my brothers were to see me one day. Apparently, they had wanted a big sister since they were very young, and my mother had shown them pictures of me as a child. When they drew pictures at school they would draw the whole family, including me and Dad and that made me smile. I'd never been so nervous but excited to meet two little boys in my life.

We talked about her work and how I still wanted to become an architect. She'd smiled brightly when I'd told her that and promised to take me to Athena Associates this week and show me around. She'd even told me that I could come work for her one day if I liked. I'd never been so excited in my entire life to go to work.

"So, you're still friends with Silena?" She smiled brightly. "I remember her. Lovely girl."

"Yeah, she's great. Although...our friendship is a little confusing...it's a long story." I murmured.

"Well I have plenty of time." She smiled and I sighed.

"Well...you could say I was never really the 'popular' girl in that school. Silena's in the popular group and so to start with we didn't really talk too much because I asked her not to."

"Why?"

"I don't like being noticed in that school. It's full of obnoxious bullies and I never really liked being in the spotlight and being friends with her...well you know..."

She nodded. "My, how you've changed." She smiled and I felt like I was disappointing her at that moment. "Oh, honey, don't fret, shyness is nothing to be ashamed of. I love that about you." She smiled as if reading my thoughts and I relaxed instantly with a smile. "It's just a shame that it stopped you from reconnecting with her."

"It wasn't always like that..." I smiled nervously thinking about how Percy was the one who brought me into that world. I think I was blushing.

"Ooooh." She smiled knowingly. "So who's the lucky guy?"

I giggled, blushing even more now. It's like my face was an open book to her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You will tell me right now, young lady." She scowled at me sarcastically and I laughed even more.

"Okay okay...um...well you know him already actually..." I started nervously.

"Percy?" She sighed with contentment as she placed a hand to her heart in an 'aw' motion. I managed a nod and she smiled at me. "He was always rather charming." She smiled. "So how long have you two—"

"It's not like that." I waved her off. "We're just friends...at least we were just friends." I sighed. "It's complicated..." I sighed but after a while I confessed. I told her about how we met and everything we did together. I told her about our arguments and about how I didn't remember him but he kept that from me. I told her everything up to the moment I finally remembered and walked away and arrived here. By the end of the story she was sighing in sadness.

"It's a shame..." She murmured. "I always liked that one. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm."

"Mother..." I sighed. "He lied to me for weeks. He manipulated me all this time and I let him!" I buried my head in my hands. "The more I think about it the more stupid I feel." I lurched up then, walking around the coffee table. "God! I mean, there must have been signs. How did I miss them?"

She half smiled. "Sometimes the mind sees what it wants to."

There were tears in my eyes now, a lot of them. "This doesn't feel like it's ever gonna go away."

"Sweetie, it will." She reached for me and I came to sit back down with her so she could take my hand. "It will." She said firmly.

I gave her a half-hearted smile before taking another sip from my tea. At that moment, I felt like I was finally at home. After all these years, I had finally found my place in the world. Maybe there was still that aching feeling in my heart for Percy, but for now, I was happy.

Later that day, after spending wonderful moments with my mother, I was walking with her outside. We had eaten lunch out on the terrace where men in suits had waited on us hand and foot. I'd never felt so well cared for in my entire life. And we just let the day escape from us over lunch time chit-chat and tuneful laughs. Chatting with her felt so natural. I could do it forever.

After that, we'd left for a stroll through the grounds. It was all so stunningly beautiful, even the tiniest detail could take my breath away.

"I don't think I've ever seen something so beautiful in my life." I smiled, picking a daisy from the grass and twiddling it in my fingers. Our arms were linked as we walked through the garden under a tunnel of trees and flowers beds. The sunlight shone down through the grass green leaves and warmed my sun kissed skin. We had taken off our shoes and were now walking bare foot through the soft freshly moan grass.

"I can think of one thing." She smiled at me, pulling my head towards her as she planted a soft kiss to my crown. I smiled up at her.

"I missed you, mother."

"Oh, I missed you too honey. I missed you so much." She pulled me a little closer as we reached the back of the house and began to climb the stone steps up to the terrace.

"Bobbie and Matthew are here, my lady." Amara smiled and my mother's eyes lit up excitedly. I could tell she loved them dearly.

She smiled down at me. "Ready to meet your brothers?" She asked and I gave her a nod with a genuine smile and together we walked inside.

I couldn't help smiling when I first saw them coming through the door. They were squabbling about soccer, I think, with each other, something to do with one of them cheating and scoring a goal. They both had short blonde hair, bright blue eyes and wore dirt-stained school uniform. I figured my mother had difficulty controlling these too. They reminded me of young Stoll's, to be honest, and that made me smile inwardly.

"Bobbie...Matthew...darlings, won't you two stop squabbling and come see your sister?" She smiled and they both looked up in shock at me. I managed a shy smile and gave them a little wave.

"Annie!" They both cried simultaneously running over too me and I laughed as they wrapped their arms around my legs and smiled up at me. I didn't even mind them calling me Annie. For the first time, I'd heard someone call me Annie and not cringed uncomfortably.

"Hello." I smiled kneeling down to their level. "Now you must be..." I looked at the one with slightly messier hair. "Matthew?" He grinned giving me a nod and then I looked at Bobbie with neatly cut hair. "And you're Bobbie." He jumped up and down excitedly giving me a huge grin.

"Mommy, is Annie staying?" Bobbie looked up at her and she smiled down at him, stroking his head affectionately.

"Annabeth's staying with us as long as she likes, honey." She smiled and they both grinned excitedly.

"Come on, we'll show you around." Matthew grinned taking my hand and pulling me with him impatiently. I smiled standing up and Bobbie shyly took my other hand.

My mother laughed to herself as they dragged me away and I felt a rush of emotions flourishing through my heart.

These two were my brothers. My real brothers. My family.

They spent the whole day showing me every nook and cranny in this huge mansion, including their twin bedroom which was any kids dream with toys and games galore. Afterward, we went outside and played soccer which, turns out, I'm not totally awful at.

We explored every secret den they'd made in the garden and their favourite trees to climb. We played tag and took pictures with Snapchat filters. I hadn't realised, until now, how amazing it was to have siblings, being alone for most of my life just made me love them even more.

Bobbie and Matthew were teaching me how to ride a penny board out in the drive way when a member of staff called us in for dinner. We all grinned racing each other inside. I totally beat them and they seemed to admire how fast I could run. I smiled, sitting down at the end of the long table, opposite mother while Bobbie and Matthew sat opposite one another at the sides. Waiters brought the food in on posh china, setting it down in front of me neatly. The roast chicken, vegetables and potatoes looked absolutely delicious and were arranged on the plate in a certain way that would make even the poshest of restaurants jealous.

We spent that meal chatting about our days and how yummy the food was. Near the end of the meal, mother told me that she'd teach me to drive sometime which I couldn't have been more excited for. Bobbie and Matthew were seriously jealous.

I moved to start clearing away my plates but Amara came over and stopped me.

"Not to worry pet, I've got it." She smiled at me, taking my plate.

I smiled up at her. "Oh, thank you." I said politely. I will never get used to not having to tidy my own plate away.

~xXx~

It was the end of the perfect day and I lay in my new bed staring in awe at my huge bedroom and when I say huge...I mean huge. I had a balcony, a double bed with white chiffon curtains at all four posts, a huge wooden wardrobe with floor length mirrors on the front that opened up into a walk-in closet and an ensuite. I had it all. I felt like I didn't deserve all this, but I was still so grateful that I had finally, after all these years, come home.

I closed my eyes smiling happily but as usual he found his way into my mind and a sudden panic came over me like a blow to the gut. Percy had been arrested! In my place! My whole body began to shake in fear. I was terrified of the idea of him being in there, alone, messed up and suffering on my behalf. As much as I hated his guts, I still loved him.

In one swift motion, I snatched up my phone, sitting up in bed and going to my contacts. I hesitated for a moment, wondering who to call. I couldn't call Percy. Yes I wanted to know he was safe but I didn't want to talk to him, not now, not ever. I couldn't call Silena, she'd start begging me to come back and I cave in to everything she asks of me. I couldn't call Piper or she'd go and tell Percy everything I said the second I hung up. I couldn't call Grover or one of the guys for the same reason either. So, who did that leave?

Sally! I thought instantly. I didn't have her number but I had Percy's home number. Hopefully she would pick up and not Percy, at least…that's if he's even at home. I gulped at the thought. He had to be. If he really had been arrested, I don't know what I'd do. He could be in there for a whole year because of my stupid mistake. I would never forgive myself.

I pressed on Percy's name and took particular care in selecting his home number, not his mobile. With every ring of the phone, I breathed harder and harder. I was tapping my finger on my knee over the duvet impatiently. The desperation to know that he was okay was overwhelmingly strong, like nothing I'd ever felt before.

"Hello?" Sally's voice came and I let out a sigh of relief because it wasn't Percy before panicking over whether that was because he was in jail instead of being at home.

"Sally, it's Annabeth." I said.

"Annabeth." She said brightly. "How lovely of you to call."

"Is Per—" my voice cut off, "is he okay? Is he home? Is he safe?"

"Is this about the Adderall?" Her voice came, soft and cautious.

"Please…tell me he's alright."

"He's okay, sweetie." She told me and I felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders as I sighed in relief. "They let him off because of his ADHD."

"I'm so sorry, Sally." I murmured. "I never meant for him to get caught up in this, I was just in a very bad place."

"It's quite alright, sweetie." She said in a comforting, motherly tone. "No one blames you. Do you want me to pass you on to Percy? He's in his room and I think he would want to talk to you."

"No!" I said a little too hastily. "I'm sorry, I can't talk to him right now. I have to go."

"Are you sure?"

"Quite sure. Thank you for letting me know. Bye." And then I hung up just like that, collapsing back in bed.

I went to sleep feeling lonely again. I missed Percy. I wanted to see him. I wanted him to hold me again but maybe that would never happen. Maybe that would never happen ever again. At least he was safe. That's what mattered.

That's all that would ever matter to me.

~xXx~

Urgh, I loved writing this chapter! It was such a relief after all that sad, dramatic, heartbreaking stuff.

Okay, I love my mum but I just love Athena in this story - she is the ultimate mum! The cool, stylish, caring, awesome mother that everyone wants. And her house - OH MY GOD I wanna live there. I was going to add in the link of the house I had in mind from google images but then I thought it would be best to leave it to you guys' imagination.

This chapter was the introduction to how Annabeth's character is going to be for the rest of the story and this is why she needed to go through the Adderall stage. If she hadn't, she would never have left home and gone to see her mother. They pushed her onto the right path. Okay people, so calm and trust in AWG xx ;)

In case no one noticed (I'm sure you did) there were a lot of references to the Cinderella movie in the first part of this chapter. Mainly because Lily James reminds me of Annabeth so much, in the way she portrays Cinderella (not her appearance). I hope that's okay, I just loved the scene in the movie and wanted to weave it into Dreams.

See you on Wednesday or Sunday. Sorry this is so loose, my schedule is just crazy right now.

Lots of love,

~ AWG xx