A/N: I have a feeling you guys are going to be really happy with one of these scenes. You'll know what I'm talking about when you get there, trust me ;)

Disclaimer: All rights remain.

Annabeth

A mere passerby could have mistaken the man and the blonde to be strangers. She paid no attention to him, but his eyes were glued to her figure, standing boldly in front of the royal men. Standing in the middle of the royal court, Annabeth's temper only rose. Percy was off to the side somewhere, among the men in the stands, and yet, she, a Princess of this very land, Epresh, was not allowed up there, not even like the Calbourne enemy. Ridiculous.

"So this is all based off a feeling?" King Frederick inquired, and some of his royal court chuckled, not even bothering to hide their amusement. "You feel that Canada is powerful? The pathetic democracy?" Her cheeks burned pink. They were laughing at her, the fuckers. Fuck them.

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at the dark blonde man, pursing her lips delicately. Her eyebrows pinched down and Percy just knew she was about to say something they would all regret.

"Actually," she began indignantly, clearly offended, "I never said that. I'll have you know that-"

"-please excuse the Princess," Percy interrupted, his voice immediately commanding the room. Even Annabeth's own father, who was clearly enraged by his daughter's bold words, reconciled his horror to Percy's outburst. Annabeth whipped her head around to look at Perseus; her expression was confused at first, but quickly replaced with a murderous glare. He wouldn't dare.

"She received a nasty blow to the head this morning," he continued. "This seems to have made her delusional." Percy met her challenging glare with a stern gaze. "Clearly," he emphasized. Annabeth silently seethed to herself.

"She's overstepped her bounds and I would like to apologize on her behalf."

On her behalf?! The bastard!

"Thankfully the clumsy accident did not mar her flawless skin and radiant face, my Lord" Percy hastily covered up his lie when he saw the councilmen glance over her face apprehensively. The King of Epresh, seated at the center, seemed satisfied with Percy's response and nodded to himself once. Annabeth felt betrayed by her father; they had never been particularly close, but how could he accept her soon to be brother-in-law's statement over her own?

"Very well," the King began, understandingly. No longer did he seem like banishing his daughter from the kingdom, much to Percy's relief. At his approval, other members of the grand council relaxed and stared down at Percy expectantly. "She is excused this time, and please, have a servant fetch her some ice to medicate her injuries. We wouldn't want another scene, now would we?"

"No, my Lord," Percy acquiesced pleasantly. "In fact, I will be more than delighted to accompany her back to Jason, just to make sure she does not run into any more trouble," he assured the King, ignoring the dirty look on Annabeth's face.

"That would be very much appreciated. Thank you," he nodded, dismissing the both of them. Percy grabbed Annabeth by the arm, albeit harshly, and led her out of the hall. She did not offer much resistance, but he was not fooled. Surely, she would unleash her wrath on him once they escaped the scrutinizing gaze of the council.

Malcolm

Malcolm tugged at his hair in frustration. Annabeth had been a handful ever since they were kids, and though even as a child, she'd been a stubborn little thing, she'd had more sense back then.

Or maybe she was just growing up and he couldn't handle it. But she didn't listen as much anymore and she just ran around saying shit that could get her killed, could get her disowned, could make some big enemies. And Annabeth was strong, she was their mother's daughter after all, but some of these enemies could be stronger. And she'd never know until it was too late. This was his job. It always had been. It was his duty to protect her from the world, but when she ran around causing trouble, acting recklessly, he felt powerless. Strange. Malcolm would have never described himself as powerless in the past, but now he could recognize that this what it was. He was busy preparing for his coronation, for his wedding, for his time as a ruler, how could he spend his time babysitting his little sister, the girl who insisted on acting the same way as she had since she was ten?

"I can't believe she said that," Malcolm groaned, perching on the edge of his bed. He buried his face into his hands, clearly torn.

"I don't think it was that bad," Bianca consoled him, sitting down next to him. She offered a sweet smile.

"You're just saying that to be nice."

She hid a smile. "Maybe," she admitted. Malcolm pushed his floppy, blond hair out of his steel eyes. "Oh, don't beat yourself up too much. She's a little… unorthodox for a Princess and she's rather stubborn, but she has a good heart," Bianca tried to make it better.

"I know she does," Malcolm sighed. "But that's not the issue."

"Then what is?" Bianca inquired, tilting her head adorably at him.

"You- you know," he gestured vaguely.

"A King has to use his words," Bianca's eyes glimmered with mirth.

Malcolm sighed. "She's out of control. Athena's going to kill her," he shook his head. "There's so many eyes on her, you know?" Bianca was patient as he spoke. "She doesn't see it, but everyone's looking at her. Maybe more than any of us. She's House Ashington in House Calbourne territory. You know we've never gotten along well. And though she's not going to be Queen, she's marrying into a big territory. What with the Amazons changing people's minds, this rebellion on the brink of starting wars, she needs to show no sign of disagreeing with the monarchy. We need to display a proud, united front. If we're divided within ourselves, they'll tear us apart."

Bianca was quiet for a moment. "So you are worried that the Canadians and the Amazons will destroy us?" she said, but it was phrased like it was a statement, like she already knew the answer. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Of course! They're strong, stronger than my father is willing to admit, stronger than any of our parents will acknowledge, and if we're not careful, they'll wipe us out clean!"

"So why didn't you say that?"

"Excuse me?" Malcolm was at a lack for words.

"At the breakfast," Bianca clarified. "That's exactly what Princess Annabeth stated. That nobody should underestimate the Amazons and the Canadians, that they were stronger than anyone had bargained for. And yet, Crown Prince Perseus only further incensed her, and you said nothing. How can you be a good ruler if you're not willing to speak up when someone else is correct?"

Malcolm's lips parted in surprise.

She smiled at him, knowingly. "So you agree, right? Annabeth was right?"

He nodded, slowly, almost as if ashamed.

"So why didn't you say anything?"

He was silent, having no words.

"Is it because she's a girl?"

It felt like she had slapped him. Bianca pursed her lips, folding her arms across her chest. "Of course not," he choked out. Annabeth had trained him well, teaching him to respect everyone despite what their parents tried to engrave in his mind. When he was eight and she was six, he'd underestimated her. He remembered it vividly, now one of his fondest memories of her. Needless to say, she'd kicked his ass, and he'd spent the rest of the day in the infirmary getting treatment for his endless scrapes and bruises.

"So why didn't you say anything?"

"I- I don't know," he admitted.

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe Annabeth wouldn't act out so much if people took her seriously? She's clearly intelligent, smart beyond her years, but no one will acknowledge her efforts. I would be angry, too. Angry at the world."

"I guess," Malcolm conceded. It must have been frustrating to constantly censor her words and filter her thoughts, to not say what she wanted to, to be overlooked all the time, Malcolm realized with a start. "But," he began, "Percy is a big military general, like me. We've trained our whole life, we've been preparing for this since we were born, Bianca," he looked her in the eye. Her gaze were gentle and he found comfort in her chocolate brown eyes. They were kind, something he wasn't used to in a life of cruel, ruthless royals. "I can't just go against him to defend my sister. He was right when he said that we're going to do our best to fight them. And though he does seem to underestimate them a bit, he's a skilled swordsman, an excellent marksman, and despite House Ashington being the House for intelligence and strategy, his military strategy is nothing like I've ever seen. If he says we're going to win, we will, I have no doubt."

"Maybe," Bianca shrugged. "But whether he's a good strategist or even correct is irrelevant."

"How?" Malcolm frowned. "That's why I had to take his side."

"No, it's irrelevant because you agreed with her first sentiment and even if you agreed with Percy's later words, you should have stood up for her when you knew she was right."

Malcolm hung his head in shame. "I suppose you're right."

"But?" Bianca pressed. Malcolm offered a weak smile. "There's always a 'but' with you," she teased and he shook his head, smiling to himself in a shy sort of way.

"But despite my mistakes, that doesn't eradicate the issue that Annabeth's wish to be heard is the sole cause of all these issues with her. Even if she believes that the Amazons are strong and that we should beware of them, and even if I agree with her- which I should have said," he glanced up at Bianca who nodded, pleased, "she can't say it out loud. She can't voice her opinions like this, especially not one involving the Amazons. If she doesn't keep her mouth shut, people are going to suspect her of being a traitor. She talks like she's one of them, Bianca."

"I know." The fair young woman looked crestfallen. "I don't want her to be accused of anything either. But she's old enough now to know what the consequences of her actions are," said Bianca wisely.

"So you're just saying we should let her die for her words?" Malcolm was appalled, alarmed.

"No!" Bianca quickly cut in. "I'm saying you've warned her all you can. You have to focus on your own duties now. She'll change her mind, and soon. Like you said, like Percy said, like she said herself, Canada practically declared war against us by allying themselves with the Amazons. When push comes to shove and we're in the midst of a war, Annabeth will realize who her true allies are, and her enemies. She'll realize the weight of her words and how to speak without sounding like she's supporting a terrorist group. She doesn't mean it, she's just young, Malcolm. She's two years younger than us, and you can't forget it, because it explains a lot, it shows."

He nodded obediently. "Maybe you're right."

"It'll all work out in the end, I promise. You'll see," she vowed, patting his shoulder comfortingly.

"Thanks, Bianca." He offered another shy smile.

She blushed pink in her cheeks, smiling in return. "Anytime, Your Highness," she winked, standing up. "Now. I have tea with your mother."

"I won't keep you," Malcolm stood up as well. She took his hands in hers and squeezed tightly. Malcolm kissed the back of her hand, unable to help himself from lingering a little too long. He couldn't help it; she was entrancing.

"I'll see you at dinner," Bianca promised and he nodded in agreement. "Until later," she bid him goodbye, brushing her lips across his cheek- effectively catching him off guard- before slipping out his door. She wasn't supposed to do things like that, she wasn't even supposed to be in his room, but it seemed that his little sister wasn't the only one bending a couple rules.

He grinned to himself, going the other direction. The royal council would be extremely angry if he was late to the next meeting. Striding into the grand council room, he concealed a tiny smile, his cheek still tingling from where she'd kissed him.

Annabeth

Percy wordlessly brought her to a nearby, unoccupied guest room. As soon as he'd shut the door, he was met face to face with two blazing, steel orbs. She whirled on him and slapped him hard across the face. His face stung, his cheek pink from the force. He didn't say much, accepting the blow as punishment for hauling her away from the council. He owed her that much, at least.

"You are the most infuriating son of a bitch I've ever met," she snapped; her cheeks were flushed pink and her eyes were bright and angry. Annabeth jerked her other arm away from him, escaping the iron grip he'd dragged her in here with. She felt humiliated by him, him and the rest of the council. And to think, she'd thought he was different. Well, until he'd opened his mouth, but she had thought that after he'd made fun of Drew that maybe it was just a cover, that maybe he really did understand. She felt naive and played.

Percy sharply sucked in a breath, his jaw clenched and his muscles tense. A shadow passed over his face and Annabeth felt she should have been afraid but strangely, his own fury only brought out her inner lioness. She bared her teeth, her feet planted firmly on the ground in front of him.

Percy's mouth pressed into a thin, hard line. He was not one to shout, instead the quiet kind of angry. Somehow, that was even scarier.

Annabeth was reminded of an old conversation between them:

"And your mother?" Annabeth sneered, her hatred for the cunning Queen displayed proudly over her heart like a burning tattoo.

"She's not my mother," he snapped, his voice cold. Annabeth's cruelty died in her throat at the look on his face. "She's Luke's." Annabeth opened her mouth, to apologize, to ask, she didn't quite know what.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," Percy said before she could say anything, glaring harshly at the floor.

And that look, it was the exact same as it was now. Except now, it was directed at her, not the stone floors.

"That's enough," he met her glare with an impassive expression, one Annabeth knew simply masked his temper. His voice was cold, sending involuntarily shivers down her spine and his gaze was frosty, diminishing the flame in hers. Annabeth clasped the chains attached to the stone wall behind her, damn near ready to wrench it out of the wall and smash his stupidly handsome face in with it. It left a white indent in the palm of her hand; she was squeezing it so tight.

The blonde could practically feel the tension between them. At his demand for her to stop, her emotions only flared up, causing her to retaliate, against her better common sense.

"You had no right, no right!" she spat. "I had it handled!"

"About to be chewed up and spit out by the entire council, sure, you had it handled," Percy dryly remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "For someone notorious for their intelligence, you can be so, so stupid sometimes," he growled in frustration, carding his fingers through his dark hair- a bad habit she found him indulging in only when he was anxious.

"So you agree with them then?" she accused bitterly, her words biting deeper into his skin than she'd intended.

"Of course I don't agree!" he argued hotly, pressing her back into the wall without thinking too much of it. He approached her like a predator stalking their prey. "But you needn't make the situation worse for yourself!" his words were icy in the pit of her stomach. Annabeth felt like from the first night she'd met him at that wretched ball, all their bickering, their subtle competitions, it was all leading up to this. Her stomach knotted, turning over and over. The tension was so tight, she could practically feel it. She felt like an errant child, scolded. She hated it.

"You didn't even have to stand up for me. All you had to do was stand there and keep your mouth shut!" Annabeth screamed, aware she was causing a ruckus, but unable to contain herself. She kicked her satin sangria surcoat up childishly.

"You would have been thrown out of the room! You never understand your limits, Annabeth, never!" No Princess, no formal title. Just Annabeth. "You are childish and seeing as you care so much about your status, one would think you would demonstrate more care with your reputation," his words cut deep. She staggered back a few steps. "Heaven forbid my father revoked your betrothal to my brother and war would break out across the lands. Your father, angry at you for not biting your tongue and at my father for causing a rift in the power between all the three kingdoms. My father, angry at me for not intervening sooner and at your father for not raising a docile, polite young lady," he chastised sharply.

Annabeth knew Percy was right; she could have started the next, bloodiest war of all history, claiming many innocent lives. She had selfishly only been thinking about herself. Still, she flared up at the last few comments.

"A dolice, polite young lady?" she repeated, a fire igniting in her soul. "So that's what you believe I should become?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he snapped. "That isn't you and I quite like you the way you are. You're witty, intelligent, absolutely stunning, stubborn, and strong, but they would castrate you for showing your stripes," Percy admitted, his tone still hard, but his words intimate. The anger in Annabeth dissipated immediately. She was caught off guard by his honest statement, clinging onto the first part of his sentence, the most important part, the best slice in the pie. I quite like you the way you are. Her lips parted slightly. Witty… intelligent… stunning… It was hard for her comprehend the words coming out of his mouth. He was supposed to be rude and easy to hate. How dare he make her question her judgement of him like that!

"I'm going to die spending my life married to a boring, snobby, polite bitch, but still I say nothing. You think I would've chosen her to be my queen if given a choice?" Percy raked his hand once more through his hair, clearly worked up, his tone still infuriated. Annabeth watched him in awe and silence. He wasn't happy with his betrothal. He doesn't like her. He wouldn't have chosen her. This was a new revelation to Annabeth. Though Percy occasionally made fun of Drew, she'd never figured that Drew sucked up all his energy like this. "I'm not going to pretend to like our situations any more than you, but I would like to prevent a cross-country battle if I can. We were born into this lifestyle, and it's not always pretty, but you are just going to have to sit and deal," he finished, running out of steam. Finally, he looked up to meet a very stunned Annabeth Chase.

All feelings of betrayal were forgotten. Percy shifted his weight to his other foot, clearly uncomfortable by her silence. She suspected he was the only person in the entire kingdom who preferred her screaming. Maybe her screaming was better than some damsel's weeping. The thought would have been amusing if she wasn't still caught on his first words.

"You think I'm… stunning?" she said it before she was thinking and immediately her eyes widened with embarrassment and regret. She'd even choked over the choice of words he'd used to describe her timeless beauty. Shit. Fucking hell. All sorts of suitors had raved of her beauty, but somehow it was different when he did. Maybe because he was a shit liar and his cards were always spread out for all to see.

"I think even 'stunning' falls short when describing you, my Lady," said Percy after a moment of silence and he didn't quite meet her eyes this time.

Annabeth really wished she could quit gaping at him, but she couldn't find it in her to tear her eyes away from him. She blatantly ignored the butterflies- no- the eagles soaring inside of her.

"Who would you have chosen to rule with you?" Again with the intrusive, regretful questions. Annabeth couldn't seem to stop herself; her hand was trembling slightly.

Percy swallowed noisily. "Someone with a fire inside of them, someone strong, someone with a mind of their own, someone to be my partner, my equal," he whispered, still staring at the stone floor, his voice taking on a softer feel.

Could he seriously surprise her with any more depth, more passion, more beauty? Shit, shit, shit. And the way he'd said her name, just her name… it unraveled something in her. She had been wrong about him in so many ways, and him her, in many more ways. Maybe it was because he would be leaving for war soon, commanding an entire army against the Canadians and the Amazons, raising hell as he'd been born to do. Maybe it was because he would be leaving and they both knew it, even though not one soul had dared say it out loud, not yet, not even the royal council, and he was leaving maybe to die. These last few weeks, they could very well be the last few of his life and they could be the last she laid eyes on him. And even if he survived the war that was sure to come, inevitable, he would be gone, out of her eyes, and out of touch, sitting on a cold throne, his heart hidden and his soul just as cold. Alone. And she would sit by Luke's side, listening to old men argue about arbitrary subjects, issues that would never change. Or maybe she would die in the war, because like hell she was going to sit around twiddling her thumbs. She would fight for the Amazons, maybe she would even be forced to fight him. Annabeth let her eyes flutter shut, if only for a moment, an image of stabbing him in the heart with a sword flickering on a painful loop in her mind. She would have to kill him when the time came if the Amazons told her to. It was her duty.

Maybe it was just a moment of weakness, or maybe she was unfortunately falling just as hard as he was, but she reached out, tilting his chin up to look at her with her index finger and then cupped his jaw. Her breath hitched and he stilled, his eyes trained on her very, very carefully. She waited for him to make the next move. He alone would determine their entire fate, he alone would decide what came next.

If only he had the strength to walk away, perhaps they would be better off. She really, really hoped he wouldn't. When he didn't say anything, not even moving, she instantly questioned her decision to get this close to him, putting them in close, too close, proximity. Anxiously, she bit her lip, not anticipating how it would affect him. His face darkened, his sea green eyes swirling like a hurricane and darkening with desire.

"Oh hell," he muttered but before she could even ask, he closed the gap between them.

She tugged Percy closer, her tentative hands tangling in his hair, pulling him until she was sandwiched tightly between him and the cool wall. Inside the pit of her stomach, she felt the once rising tension splitting at the seams, fluttering and unraveling. Percy moved his right hand to cup the back of her head, protecting it with his knuckles while he groaned loudly against her mouth, causing her heart to stutter.

Annabeth would remember that sound and the way it vibrated against her lips, echoing into her mouth, for the rest of her life. She felt her blood coursing through her veins, hot and thick, as her skin bloomed under his touch. She had never wanted anything more than to feel his arms around her and his lips on hers. His fingers traveled to her back and ghosted across the surface of her skin and she moved up to cup his face.

"I…" Percy trailed off, murmuring against her mouth. "We can't," he gasped, pulling away only for a second, before she dragged his mouth back over hers. She felt a tremor run through him.

"How could this be wrong?" she whispered back, eyes clouded and desperate. Annabeth felt a stab of guilt envelop her, but buried it quickly and as best she could. She couldn't marry Luke, she just couldn't, she couldn't be some trophy wife; Perseus could never be with Drew, he'd admitted it himself. She wanted to be with him, and him her more than anything else in the entire world. He was a good distraction, he had a smart mouth. He set her body on fire, igniting a flame in her and she felt indestructible. She just hoped that flame wouldn't spread and consume them both. Percy kissed her again, leaving her breathless and her head grew light, a wave of euphoria washing over them both.

They were playing with fire, they both knew. And sooner or later, they were bound to be burned.

Annabeth

"Annabeth?"

Annabeth glanced up to see Luke catching up to her side. She frowned at him; excuse her for preferring her own company.

"Luke," she barely acknowledged him, folding her hands in front of her neatly and not slowing down.

"Where's the fire?" he teased, and at that, she allowed a tiny smile at him.

"At the capital, apparently." It was a dark joke: the Amazons had bombed Epresh's capital, sending all their archives into ash and flames.

Luke blinked, looking awkward.

"Relax," she shrugged, looking up at him with mirth. "I'm just messing with you."

He allowed a small smile in return. "I thought you'd be more upset about the capital."

"Me too," she lied. Of course she wasn't. She was an Amazon and though she hadn't known they were going to do that (Amazons operated only on need-to-know basis), she supported it. Now, seeing Luke, her earlier guilt caught up with her once more. Percy, Percy, Percy… How could she have kissed him? Percy would be Drew's in a month's time and she got Luke. That was just the way it was and she needed to come to terms with this rather than convincing herself of some delusional dream. It was a big pill to swallow, but Annabeth was a big girl now. She could handle it. She forced herself to push to green-eyed Prince, his kiss, his touch, all of it out of her mind.

"But seriously," Luke began. "I thought you would be done with all of today's activities by now."

"I am," Annabeth was curt. At his look, she allowed a few more details. "I'm going into town."

Luke could not disguise his surprise. "Where's Jason?" he glanced around.

"Alone," she clarified, pointedly.

"That's dangerous, you know," Luke pointed out. "The government isn't exactly on good terms with the people right now…" he was referring to the Amazons.

"I suppose. But I'm not about to sit in my tower, locked up and safe, if that's what you're suggesting."

"Hardly." He traded a smile with her and Annabeth felt her heart beat a little faster in her chest. Fuck Percy. He was so against the Amazons, against change, and so she was against him. Enemies until the very end.

"Would you like to join me?" Annabeth asked on impulse. She grinned a little, excited to show him her world. Luke seemed to want change and for a moment, Annabeth couldn't help but think that Luke would make a better ruler than Percy. But then she remembered that she wanted no ruler, that it was time for a democracy, and that's why she liked Luke in the first place.

Luke didn't hesitate. "Sure."

Grinning like the Cheshire Cat, she took his hand in hers and pulled him after her. "You're going to need plainer clothes first," she did a once-over of his outfit. He was dressed in royal attire, of course, he'd just come from another council meeting. Like Percy, he was allowed in, even when she wasn't. "My room, c'mon," she felt like a little kid, but she strung him behind her, leading him up to her sleeping chambers. He seemed amused, but allowed her to lead him back to her room. Once inside, she was careful to keep him away from her closet, not wanting him to see her gold jewelry. That would only raise questions.

"Here," she tossed him an extra grey, cotton cape- one similar to the one she was decked in. It would mute his colors nicely. "Now let's go." She opened her window easily. She hadn't ever shared this secret with anyone besides Jason, but there was something different about Luke. He, too, wanted to see this world change, and Annabeth was ready for the world to burn first. She could show him around town, introduce him to the common life of Epresh- a life she longed for so desperately.

"Out the window?" He seemed alarmed. At his expression, she laughed- a genuine, bubbly laugh. The corner of his mouth turned up at her amusement. "Do you do this often?"

Annabeth just winked and scaled out her window, her lithe body shimmying down the tall tree elegantly. Once on the ground, she peered up at her window and saw his blond hair, bright under the sun. "Hurry up!" she whisper-yelled, beaming up at him.

He descended the same tree, albeit slower, since he was not as sure of his footing as Annabeth was (she had done this too many times). "Are we walking?" he inquired.

"Of course. Commoners rarely have modes of transportation, only the handful of wealthy. We can't stand out, we've got to blend in," Annabeth explained, sneaking beside him out to the castle walls. They couldn't just walk out the drawbridge, they'd have to go underground. "Besides, I like walking." She glanced at him and was surprised to see his eyes on hers, attentive and curious. She smiled a little to herself, pleased.

Together, they plunged into the dark underground cellars, in search of the sunlight, in search of the humble, commoner life. In search of adventure.

…

The bustle of the market warmed Annabeth's heart. The sun was shining brightly, and she snuck about carefully, blending in flawlessly. Shopkeepers argued with customers, children ran around in dirty clothes, mud splattered everywhere, women inspected fresh produce.

"You're good at this," Luke noted, following her lead. He caught on quickly, and he too ducked his head perfectly, keeping his eyes straight ahead of him. Annabeth flushed under his praise. She prayed he'd think it was because of the scorching heat.

Thank you. "I know," she said instead, and he grinned- all charming, as per usual. Unfortunately, it only made her blush more. "Look at all this," she gestured to the big town, her pride obvious. "They've done so much, gotten so smart without our help." They both watched as a young boy used a makeshift pulley system to transport goods across the main market.

"I suppose," Luke surveyed their surroundings. "This is… surreal," he chose his words carefully.

"But this isn't where I wanted to go. I wanted to show you what it's like here, why I want change so badly. Where we're going, you're going to have to be very careful," Annabeth warned, her tone unsteady and unsure.

Luke's forehead crinkled in confusion. "Where are we going?" Annabeth glanced around, making sure to keep her voice down.

"The black market."

…

The black market was dark and the sun didn't even touch the area. Large men with big knives shuffled past Annabeth and the blonde scooted over to make room. She wasn't here to pick a fight. Years of practice on her, Annabeth had become smooth, slick, and smart, like the best thieves of Epresh. Her motions were like liquid, graceful and calculated. She watched her back, creeped around, and didn't make a sound. Here, she was like another person entirely.

Luke was careful to be quiet, following her lead, and Annabeth remembered what Percy had said. You're both very smart. You know people, you understand them, you see through them. She sucked in a sharp breath. Percy was in the past, alongside his dated thinking. This was the present day, and she was alive here, her heart beating loudly in her chest, her senses alert, and her skin on fire. They passed a starving child, his eyes too big for his face. Annabeth swallowed and looked the other direction. Across from them, a woman decked in fake jewels with long, black fingernails was convincing this young girl to buy a green-eyed pendant. It was easier not to look, Annabeth knew, but she didn't want to be like every other royal.

Beside them, a man ran into another, bigger, beefier dude. Annabeth winced: she knew what was coming. She said nothing as the little guy slipped a wallet out of the other man's jacket pocket without anyone noticing. But she noticed. She always did. For the smaller guy's sake, she wished he'd keep his mouth shut. Luke traded a glance with her.

"Hey!" he growled. "Watch it, punk!"

"You watch it!" the smaller guy retaliated. And then he hit him.

Annabeth flinched, but much to her surprise, Luke didn't move. A soldier. Wordlessly, he pulled her away from the brawling men. They needn't get caught up in the fight. A few spectators had surrounded them, jeering at them and cheering them on, trading crumpled bills- stained with dirt, sweat, and blood, and Annabeth felt sick at the blood plastered across the cracked cement, curling into the craters of the ground. Tugged out of the black market, out in the shadier slums, but not the tense market, Annabeth allowed herself to breathe. She'd only ever been in there a few times and it was always hard, but she'd learned a lot. She knew when to fight and when she'd lost. She'd learned to slip through the cracks and not care. She'd learned to not be herself.

"You see?" Annabeth panted, the exhaustion of that wretched place catching up with her. Luke looked pale in this dark part of town. "It's so messed up." That was the understatement of the year.

"I don't disagree with you." He paused, squeezing her hand in his. It helped her wildly palpitating heart calm down a little. "You're not alone, Annabeth."

She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Change is coming," he promised and the blonde was taken off guard by his uncanny ability to read her mind. "And you're not the only one eager."

Annabeth's breath hitched. Was he trying to tell her something? Was he in this with her? But when push came to shove, whose side would he fight for? Would he fight for his own, make his own path? Luke was anything but predictable. "We'd better get back to the castle before someone notices we're missing. Wouldn't want rumors spreading like wildfire," Annabeth whispered and Luke looked sort of disappointed. But Annabeth wasn't sure yet if he was telling the truth. Everything pointed to that, everything he'd done, but why wouldn't he fight for his brother's side, for his father's, for the monarchy? What was his game, his angle? What was his motivation.

Ducking past drunk commoners with scratchy beards and glossy eyes, Annabeth slipped through the crowd, gripping Luke's fingers tight, almost as if she was afraid to let go.

Annabeth

"A letter, my Lady," Jason's voice cut through Annabeth's daydreams and she sat up straight, turning to face him expectantly. He held out a silver plate and true to his word, there was a letter, neatly folded and sealed in an envelope. The seal was gold, and though there was no indentation in it, probably so that it didn't stand out as much, Annabeth immediately recognized who it was from. By the uneasy look on Jason's face, he probably had gathered the same.

She plucked the parchment off the tray and Jason turned, stalking out of her bedroom, leaving her to her own privacy. Quickly, her eyes flew across the paper, soaking in the knowledge. And then she read it once more for good measure.

Sucking in a sharp breath, she stood and walked over to her fireplace. Thrusting the paper in the fire, Annabeth watched it burn, the paper curling and shriveling up as the flames danced, roaring brighter at the new visitor. She would not dare leave a paper trail behind, not dare give anyone a reason to believe her loyalties had swayed. That very day, late in the darkness of night, protected by the blanket of the moon and the stars, the Amazons would come. They knew Annabeth couldn't keep sneaking out to their town enough, especially because their base was in such a remote area, and so they would come to her. She had joined and now she had to prove herself; it was time for the first plan.

…

Finally, night had fallen upon them and as instructed, Annabeth covered herself in her dark cape, sneaking out her window to the courtyard. Hugging the outside castle walls, she kept hidden, only stepping out near a rose bush to alert them of her presence. She'd been careful not to be followed, but the paranoia still gnawed away at her, unsettling her. She felt particularly jumpy, afraid to be caught. She'd grown rather fond of her head and she wasn't sure she wanted her body separated from it.

"Excuse me if I don't curtsy," a voice said. A dark figure stepped out from behind tall trees and for a second, Annabeth nearly pierced them in the heart with her dagger, but stopped when she realized who it was. The woman's chocolate brown eyes reflected the moon, glowing in the dark with a cold fire. Reyna had a real talent for theatrics.

Annabeth took a deep breath, releasing her iron grip on the hilt of her dagger. "General," she dipped her head out of respect. The dark-haired girl nodded in acknowledgement. Behind her, a few other figures stepped out of the plants, revealing themselves. Annabeth only recognized the bright blue eyes of the lieutenant, Thalia. Thalia's face was grim.

Reyna was dressed in dark clothing, concealing the gold underneath. A gold sword glinted wickedly against her side and a black bandana hid her nose and mouth. There was a new scar running down her right arm, her sword arm, and Annabeth realized that Reyna had been busy since she'd last seen her. Of course, Annabeth already knew this, she'd seen the news flashing across the screens, clips of buildings crumbling played on endless loops. Recently, the Amazons had bombed the capital of Epresh's archives- something that should have angered Annabeth (she loved books), but when she thought of all the stupid words expressed by the patriarchy and monarchy documented there, she shared Reyna's satisfaction.

Reyna didn't nod back, but then, Annabeth didn't expect her to. All business. "And the other one?" she murmured. Other one?

"Phoebe's bringing him," Thalia sounded breathless, excited even, about whoever they were waiting for. Even Reyna's eyes shone. Annabeth recognized the name of Phoebe as a servant of the castle. She had known that there were Amazon supporters within her own castle, but it hadn't quite occurred to her that someone else in the castle had recently joined. She figured now that she was an Amazon herself, Reyna would inform of any newcomers. Clearly that wasn't the case.

"What is it? Who else joined up?" They didn't answer her, exchanging glances instead. A few names ran through her head, servants and guards who would support the cause.

But the person who joined them was no servant. He wasn't even a commoner.

"Luke."

Annabeth didn't know whether to scream or run when she saw her betrothed appear from the shadows. He was a Prince, he was a man, he was a prominent figure of the monarchy, he was the enemy, and yet, here he was, standing with one of the leaders of the Amazons. His companion Phoebe, a young lady, a servant who appeared to be a bit older than Annabeth, seemed to swell with pride.

"I told you, you're not alone, Annabeth," Luke said, but he didn't smile. A hand twitched at his side- he was all nerves. Reyna scared him.

And Annabeth could see why. Reyna stepped towards both of them, sword now in hand, but she was just as nervous as he was. Still, her voice did not shake. "I want to hear it from your lips, little Prince. Tell me what you told her," she said, tipping her head towards Phoebe.

Luke sneered at "little Prince," his lips curving in distaste, but he didn't snap at her. "I want to join the Amazons," he said, his voice full of conviction.

Reyna moved quickly, holding her sword out and Thalia moved swiftly too, aiming her bow and arrow in the same motion. Annabeth's heart seemed to stop when she pressed the blade to his neck, but Luke didn't flinch. "Why?" she hissed.

"Because this is wrong," Luke began. "Because it isn't right that Annabeth can't even be on the royal council despite working in Epresh's politics for a decade now, since she was seven." Annabeth flushed with pride, despite herself. She didn't know he knew. "Because it isn't fair that the Queen has less power than the King. Because it isn't fair that women can't start up their businesses, own their own property, live for themselves. Because it isn't fair that they are expected to be married off like a royal, even if they're a commoner." Annabeth felt warm inside, trusting. He really had meant it, he really did want change, he really had meant that she was alone in this battle for a new life, a new dawn. How could she have ever trusted Percy like this? Luke may have been hidden in his brother's shadow to everyone else, but to her, he stood out in the spotlight, the real spark.

Reyna's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "So this is all your… what… love for feminism?" she scoffed. "We're very careful with the men we let join, so I'm going to need more than that."

"I've been raised to love the monarchy, but if it must fall for a revolution, then I will gladly watch it burn." Luke was convincing and Annabeth's prior fear faded away.

"But what's in it for you?" Thalia spoke up, not quite convinced yet.

Luke swiveled his head to look at her now and Annabeth saw Reyna's grip on the sword loosen, if only by a little. She let out a small breath she didn't know she'd been holding in. Luke was different. He'd proved it time and time again, but now, she could not make his case for him. Luke would have to prove himself and Annabeth's words would have no effect in Reyna's decision.

"When I was barely eight, I was training, losing of course against my brother," he sounded a bit bitter. "I watched this young girl, Iris, around my age, step in to help with the wounds. A servant, nobody important to my brother or my father. My mother was watching, of course, but nobody stopped anyone. And suddenly, a shot was fired. It was accidental and I'm still not sure, to this day, who fired it in the middle of training, for god's sake, but the bullet lodged itself in none other than this girl. My parents, unsure of my brother's and my own safety, ushered away while guards assessed the damage. And she was just there, bleeding all over the ground, but nobody did anything. They told me my life was worth more than hers, that our safe exit was more important than seeing to her care and recovery."

Reyna was listening carefully and Annabeth found herself leaning in, anticipating her next words. She knew what was going to happen, but she couldn't help herself.

"She died."

There was a sharp intake of breath from somewhere behind Reyna and Annabeth's throat felt tight all of a sudden.

"I believe that my life is worth the same as yours," Luke gestured to Reyna, and then to Thalia. "I believe that change is worth it all the blood that will be shed, and I'm ready to lay down my life for this cause." He was ernest and relief enveloped Annabeth's senses.

"Touching story. But I don't need some jealous little boy in my army," Reyna sneered, referring to the Crown Prince of Thasite. "What do you bring to the Amazons?"

"I sit in the royal council, I know all the battle plans and I have all the intelligence you'll need to take down the royals."

The General fell silent for a moment, considering his words. Seemingly coming to a decision, she sniffed and glared at him straight in the eye. "Swear on it. Swear on your title," Reyna pressured him, pursing her lips. The skin around her mouth hardened. Annabeth was holding her breath once more.

Luke didn't hesitate. "I pledge myself and my blood of House Calbourne to the Amazons." It resembled his wedding 'invitation' (it hadn't been a choice, really), but Annabeth knew this carried much more weight, was ten times more important.

"Very well. Welcome to the Amazons," Reyna pulled the bandana down, revealing her face. She didn't grin like most would to get a Prince's alliance, but she seemed pleased nonetheless.

"Now what?" Annabeth found her own voice. "Where do we go from here?"

"Now we spark a revolution. And you two, you will do nicely," Reyna nodded.

Annabeth felt uneasy all of a sudden. "For what?" she inquired.

"For the faces of our revolution, of course," Thalia piped up. "What will the people think? Two royals turned against their own blood for the cause." She grinned and it was infectious. Reyna shared the same smile.

"We've already drawn attention to ourselves by bombing the capital," Reyna stated. "Now that we have everyone's eyes on us, it's time to put on a show."

"Put on a show?" Annabeth's voice felt small, even to herself. Luke glanced at her reassuringly. She held her chin up. "What kind of show?" she rephrased, bolder this time.

"They think they've won. Let us show that we are stronger than they think," Thalia shifted her weight onto her left foot.

Luke caught on quicker than Annabeth, understanding all of a sudden. "You want blood," he said and it wasn't a question.

"Blood?" Annabeth knew that every revolution required sacrifices, but this was finally going to be blood on her hands. She felt weirdly sick.

This time, it wasn't Reyna who tried to convince Annabeth, but Luke, much to her surprise. "Annabeth, Percy will be a just ruler, but he does not want change. He does not want a revolution and though he is more progressive than our father, he has never been able to make decisions. He has never been able to pick anything over the crown. Blood will be necessary. Unless.. do you really want Percy to rule?"

That, at least, was a simple question. "No," she said with certainty.

"Excellent. Then blood it is."

Annabeth nodded slowly, but it still felt like there was something stuck in her throat. Something she couldn't quite swallow, couldn't process. This was a lot to take in, even for her.

"Indeed," Reyna nodded at the Prince. "Who do you suggest we use to send our message?"

"You're going to pick out people?" Annabeth could not disguise her surprise.

"Well, we're not about to bomb the entire place and maybe destroy some of our own. Besides, we're only trying to send a message, not cause a mass murder. We need survivors to carry the message," Reyna pointed out. She turned to Luke. "Who do you suggest?" Luke would know all the traitors, all the shady royals who could turn at any moment. He would know all enemies of the Amazons. Well- the biggest ones.

"Duke Atlas of House Raya- he's going to be the first to oppose the Amazons. General Ares of House Langen- he's a bloodthirsty beast, and King Minos of the Southern Isles," said Luke without missing a beat.

"No royal children?" It fell out of Annabeth's mouth before she could process it. She was immediately horrified, an image of Nico and Bianca flashing through her mind. She would spare them, if she could. They were too good.

Luke offered a crooked smile. "Eager, I see." The Princess blanched, about to refuse his accusation, but he continued before she could. "Patience, Annabeth. All will get what they deserve in time." His eyes flashed coldly and for a moment, Annabeth felt another stab of guilt. The royal children were all innocent, even Drew, even if the most royal thing about her was that she was a royal pain in the ass.

"Excellent," Reyna acknowledged the names. "They'll serve our purpose perfectly. There's going to be another ball soon, I presume? A show requires an audience."

"My parents are holding another ball, this time for the celebration of Malcolm's engagement." His name in her mouth felt like a sin here, here while they discussed who would die at that very ball. But Reyna looked pleased, so for once, Annabeth felt like she'd done something right.

"Great. I'll be touch with the details. We cannot mess this up."

Thalia looked Luke over once more, pursing her lips carefully. "You better pray that your information is accurate, little Prince. Or it'll be your head on the chopping block instead."

Luke did not rise to her challenge, remaining civil. It was yet another difference between him and Annabeth. Whereas the Princess was a bit more hotheaded, he was calm, tactful, powerful. She needed to learn to reign in her temper. It could only lead to bad things. "Of course, Lieutenant," he mocked in return.

"Take them back, Phoebe. It's getting to be suspiciously long, this meeting," Reyna ordered and Phoebe ushered the royal children back to the castle, but not before Annabeth could glance back at Reyna, the future uncertain and her faith in this plan wavering.

Reyna just nodded at her in affirmation before disappearing out of sight, gone like the wind.

Annabeth

"Annabeth," Malcolm's mouth fell open. He was quite appalled, that much was clear.

The tips of Annabeth's ears turned pink. "You can't tell anyone." She had come to talk to him, explain her poor behavior at that breakfast, but instead he had walked on her inspecting some gold jewelry. Naturally, he'd been confused. House Ashington only had silver jewelry considering it was a House color. Annabeth couldn't lie to him. Every time she saw him, she remembered the ten year old boy looking out for her, loving her, being there.

Then Malcolm glared, his expression morphing into a much scarier, stricter one. It snapped Annabeth out of her reverie. "How can you ask me to do something like that?" His voice was quiet, but deadly. Annabeth's face felt hot all of a sudden, embarrassed. How stupid was she, truly? Of course he couldn't keep secrets like this, it would be treason. Treason… like her joining the Amazons in the first place. He was bound to be King in a few weeks, he could be executed for withholding information. Suddenly, her mouth felt very dry. Her brother's life was on the line too, now, along with herself and Luke. But she had not told him about the Calbourne Prince.

"Fuck," she whispered, eyes wide with fear.

"What were you thinking?" he hissed, his glare stony, like charcoal. To anyone else, they would have mistaken his cool demeanor for calmness. Annabeth was not nearly that foolish for she knew too, that blue flames had always burned hotter than red. Annabeth practically shrunk under his gaze. "And even if you weren't thinking, which you clearly weren't, why on Earth would you think it's good idea to let me know? It's a conflict of interest!" he snapped darkly. Annabeth swallowed hard, feeling like a young adolescent being scolded by a mother in public. Malcolm had not made her feel like a petulant child in so long, not since he was twelve and she was ten, not since they were young.

Malcolm was nineteen now. The thought made her blood freeze, her nerves going numb. He was an adult, he was to be crowned King shortly, and still, try as she might, she could not catch with him. She could not be smart like him, not responsible like him, not inherently good like him. Despite herself, Annabeth felt a burning sensation behind her eyes and she knew with certainty that she was going to cry soon. Only Malcolm could truly make her laugh, but only he could make her cry too. It went both ways. And all because she loved him, held him closest to her heart, he held this power over her, this unflappable iron grip.

"Malcolm, I-"

He held up his hand impatiently. "I don't want to hear it, Miss Chase. You are dismissed."

The pressure behind her eyes increased and she choked down a sob. Nodding at the ground, she turned quickly and walked away, the disappointment of him branding her, burning her deep. She was so stupid, and now she'd let down the only person who really cared about her. Well, besides Luke. But even the Prince didn't compare to her brother. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Malcolm would never turn her in, she knew as much. If he did, she would die, and as angry as he was, she knew he'd never let that happen. Deep down, he loved her too much.

And for his love, he would die. Her big, wonderful brother would die for her crimes.

Annabeth couldn't help it. She sobbed, her body wracking as she briskly stepped into her room and threw herself against the door, effectively slamming it. It felt dramatic, she'd never wept like this, but this was her big brother. She sniffled pathetically. There was only one thing she could do. She couldn't let Malcolm die, and if one of their corpses had to be left behind, then so be it.

Annabeth had to turn herself in.

A/N: So… a lot happened. Percabeth had a moment. And now they're both guilty bastards, engaged to other people, but kissing someone else when nobody's looking. And then Malcolm knows about Annabeth's treachery and so he, too, shares her crime of treason against Epresh. Plus Annabeth might kinda like Luke more now, more because she knows she can't like Percy, more because Luke also wants change, more because he joined the Amazons. That's some serious soap opera shit. Lmao. Until next time~

Fangirl xx

PS: Thank you for blowing up the reviews. I'm over here sneaking my phone under my desk during school hours to read them haha and they're all incredibly sweet. Also, I want you all to know that just because review responses get longer doesn't mean that my chapters will be shorter. Before I post a chapter, I always count the words excluding review replies and A/Ns.

Junebug: Aw, thanks. XP

Mitsuha Miyamizi: Oh, of course. Piper always knows what's going in the books, so why would it be any different here? :) I swear, TDA was already killer enough. We both know imma be sobbing when TWP finishes. I'm going to miss these books so much.

BethnPercy (Review for Ch. 4): Piper and Nico? Assuming that all the engagements are definitely going to get married, then that would be kinda incestual, would it not? Lol. Because with all these engagements, the Calbourne family, the Ashingtons, the Pevanshires, and the Rayas are kind of all tied together. But yes, if Drew is getting married, Piper's marriage is just over the horizon- and for Nico, we all know Persephone is pushing hard what with the coronation quickly approaching.

(Ch. 5): Yes! I'm so glad you like the whole Amazon thing. I was so nervous when I released, so unsure that people would think this is a cringy, SJW story because of the Amazons, but I couldn't think of a better Greek reference for a rebellion. That's such a relief, honestly. Okay, okay, for the Percabeth thing, the reason I don't want to promise anything anymore is because even though I have a list of who's going to die by the end and how (a list that gets changed constantly, mind you), sometimes I kill or add plot twists on a whim. Like in my last story, the whole thing with Thalia and Annabeth's tie was completely based on an in the moment thing. I don't want to promise they'll both make it out alive because that's not fair to you guys. Exactly! Some characters add so much to the story when they're dead. I'm not saying they're for sure not going to happen, but I'm not promising they will either. I hope you understand. :)

(Ch. 6): Thank you so much! Though I don't really write to get attention or appreciation, I'm not going to lie and be all annoying like 'numbers don't matter and I do this ONLY for myself *bitchy tone*' because I really do love these thoughtful reviews that people like you leave for me. I started FF to give myself another nice escape and to practice my skills, but I think I got much more than I bargained for. I do my best to stick to original personalities and it's probably my biggest fear, so I'm glad you think my portrayal is fairly accurate. Don't worry about it! I wrote a lot of these scenes ahead of time whenever I get hit by inspiration, so that's probably the only reason I could finish this chapter in time. My school is ending in a week, so I totally get the stress with finals and everything. Thank you for taking the time to review everything, it means a lot to me, you don't even understand. And yes, I've always pictured Percabeth as rather competitive, so I love to include little bantering, childish scenes between them. Hopefully there'll be more in the future. :)

Reader: Annabeth putting people in their place is also one of my fav things. Me too haha. Percabeth dissing her always brings me joy. Yes, it does! I really wanted Annabeth and Luke to have this understanding and I'm glad it's coming off that way and that you can easily see their similarities. To address your question, as we saw in the chapter, Medusa's not exactly happy with her husband constantly overruling her. Like when Medusa said that Luke and Percy shouldn't walk Drew and Annabeth back to their respective rooms and Poseidon told her to let them, so she was forced to. It seems like she resents the power her husband has over her as a married couple, and she resents the power the King has over her as a royal. It's probably causing this rift in their relationship and so they sleep in their own rooms. But yes, this is definitely different from the norm. Annabeth's parents don't really have that issue. But, (as you'll find out later on), Medusa and Poseidon's marriage wasn't exactly formed out of only true love… BUT THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. I'm not about to start dropping a fuckton of spoilers haha. Thanks for reading!

Meli2020: Thank you! No worries about your grammar. It's nice to know that people out of the USA read this story. :)

Annie285: Np! It's awesome to see other people who enjoy Aria's works as much as I do. My favorite thing right now is definitely the whole Amazon thing, so I'm just as excited as you. :) Thanks for reading!

11saphira11: You have no idea how much of a relief that is to me! With all these subplots (I haven't even introduced all of them yet :P), I definitely feel way in over my head sometimes and I'm trying my best not to fuck it all up and confuse you all with plot holes and unclear writing, so reassurance like yours helps give me peace of mind. In all honesty, I haven't seen too many Royal AUs done very well, not like other AUs, so writing this was nerve wracking, and for this reason I, like you, tend to stray from Royal AUs. I'm glad you're enjoying mine. :)

Vanilla: YES, THANK YOU! Haha, I'm actually a huge history nerd, which not a lot of people know. So obvi I loved Hamilton. When I was writing the letter for Percy, I was relistening to Broadway Music, in particular Your Obedient Servant, and it kind of served as my inspiration. It was a very common, formal way to end letters in that time period, but I actually used the closing of Heath instead. In a letter from William Heath to Washington in...1780 if I'm not mistaken, Heath closed with "I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Your Excellency's Most obedient Servt." :)