Chapter Two: Empire State Building's Elevators

"They've searched everywhere," said Piper, rubbing her forehead. "Reyna is coming in a few hours, but no one has seen her in Camp Jupiter or New Rome."

The head counselors had made a reunion after the news in the morning. Percy was standing, walking around and pulling his hair from time to time, stress and concern clear in his face.

"I'm going to Olympus," he finally said after a quiet moment. Chiron didn't even seem strong enough to stop him; the look he gave Percy told him he had his support to do it.

"I'm going with you," Piper said way too fast, probably as worried as Percy. "Annabeth is my best friend, if something had happened, I need to know what it is."

"Okay," he knew it was stupid to tell Piper otherwise. "Jason," he said, getting the boy's attention. "You stay and talk with Reyna. Go ask Nico if he-" he cleaned his throat not ready to say those words just yet. "Go ask him."

Jason nodded, kissing Piper in the face and getting up, probably to go speak with Will Solace.

"I've asked the centaurs to search for her everywhere they can think of," jumped in Chiron, arms crossed and a grief expression on his eyes. "They're already looking for her in New York. If they don't find her, they'll start searching tomorrow by other states. If they find her, I'll let you know."

"Okay. Thanks, Chiron," Percy tried to smile, but he just couldn't. "Let's go, Piper."

"Floor 600th," said Piper the moment they were in the reception of the Empire State Building.

"There's no-"

The man closed his book when he saw who was in front of him. The seven demigods of the great prophecy had explicit permission to go visit Olympus after the war, so he quickly got a card out and didn't even managed to warm them to not let anyone else in the elevator before they were off.

Waiting for the elevator to reach its destination was painful. Percy kept walking around in circles while Piper just stood there, arms closed and a murderous look on her eyes.

"If this have something to do with the gods..." she didn't finish, but Percy understood her anyway. He stopped walking, realisation hitting him. If it was really the gods, he was going to murder them. He didn't knew how, but he would.

The ding took them out of they daydreaming. They looked at each other and nodded, walking side by side to the Hall of the Gods.

Only Aphrodite and Apollo were there talking. They stood in front of them, and waited for the two to realise two demigods were in front of them.

"We will like to have a small talk with all of you," said Percy after two minutes of just standing there.

Aphrodite gasped, and quickly turned into her human form to hug them both. "How nice seeing you," she kissed their cheeks, and Percy tried not to look into the goddess eyes because it was painful to see those gray eyes he loved so much. "What do you want? And where is Annabeth, Percy? I wanted her to see how my altar looked. She did a really good job."

Percy and Piper looked at each other. "We want to speak with you. All of you."

Apollo laughed, but closed his eyes. One by one, all of the gods appeared, looking at Apollo to know why they had been called.

Aphrodite went back to her godly form and sat down in her throne, looking at the two demigods with a smile.

"What do you want, Perceus and Piper?" said Zeus, sitting on his throne and looking bored.

"I smell a proposal," said Aphrodite, looking at Athena. The goddess quickly straightened her back, looking at Percy with fire in his eyes.

"No, no!" he told the goddess, at the same time Piper said: "Mom, not now!"

"What is it? I was uh- enjoying some time alone," Hera looked at Zeus, knowing perfectly what he meant.

"Thank us you called then, I couldn't stand having another little demigod of Zeus running around," she said, looking at her husband.

"Annabeth is missing," Percy said, succeeding in shutting them up. "Where is she?"

Athena got up. "What do you mean, she's missing? Since when?"

"Since last night. She, uh- left my apartment. I went to camp this morning but no one had seen her."

Athena shot a look at Hera, who looked as shocked as everyone. "What about Camp Jupiter?" Percy was surprised to see the goddess in such distress, but Annabeth was after all her daughter. "And her father's house?"

Piper stepped in. "We've contacted Camp Jupiter, but they haven't seen her. Sally spoke with Mr. Chase to ask but he didn't knew where she was or could be. I believe they're coming on Monday to help search for her," Athena nodded, indicating her to continue. "Jason is trying to contact Nico Di Angelo to see if she is in the underworld. Chiron has the centaurs looking for her all around New York, tomorrow they'll start to look in other states."

Athena looked at Hera again. "If you have something to do with this, Hera, I will not hesitate on making you pay for it," she said firmly. "You may had to do what you had to do to help with the prophecy of the seven, but you shall not touch my daughter without consequences."

Hera got up as well, crossing her arms. "I have nothing to do with that arrogant daughter of yours, Athena. I don't know where she is, but I will try and see if I can find her. I do believe some higher power has something to do with all this, otherwise the centaurs would have found her already."

With that, she disappeared with a puf. Zeus nodded. "If someone can find her, that's Hera."

Athena still looked concerned. "Father," she said. "I do believe this has something to do with..." she threw Percy and Piper a quick look. "We'll talk later," Zeus nodded. Athena turned to look at the two demigods. "If you find her or some clue to where she might be, please do let me know. Goodbye."

Percy blinked after Athena left. "Have something to do with what?"

Poseidon finally spoke. "Son, do not worry. Hera will find Annabeth soon enough. However, I will suggest you contact Artemis and her hunters to see if they have seen something, just in case."

Percy swallowed loudly. What if Annabeth was so angry she had gone and joined the hunters? No, she would never do such thing, even as angry as she was. At least that's what Percy hoped.

"I hope you have nothing to do with this, or else," he warned, looking at the remaining gods.

Piper nodded her head next to him. "I hope so as well. After we have futher news about Annabeth, don't consider Camp Half-Blood or Jupiter for any help."

With that, she grabbed Percy's hand and pushed him back to the elevator. Percy had entered in a state of shock, unable to do anything other than stand still thinking of Annabeth. Annabeth and her beautiful eyes, Annabeth and all the memories they shared together... Annabeth, all the time, like a broken record.

"Let's go back, Percy. Maybe someone had found something." He simply nodded.

Of course, they were wrong. When they passed the barriers, everyone went to them, asking if they knew something about Annabeth yet. Piper shook her head, pushing Percy to the Big House. Chiron was standing there, talking to someone via I.M. When he heard them enter, he said a quick goodbye and walked to them.

He looked awful. For someone immortal who had lived thousands of years, he looked like he had put on five years in just a day. His wise and calm face had been replaced by concern and messy hair from passing his hand through it way too many times.

Percy could only guess he looked way worse. He still was wearing the shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up and uneven, sweat probably visible in his armpits. But he didn't care at all; Annabeth was more important.

"I was talking with one of my cousins," Percy allowed himself a few seconds of hope, but the look on the centaur's face told him there was no good news. "They'll start searching again at the first light."

"Apparently the gods know nothing. Hera is looking for her. After hiding someone for how-many-months, I bet she knows the best places."

Chiron seem to relax a little. "If Hera is looking for her, be have more opportunities to find Annabeth earlier."

Someone knocked on the door, and Jason's voice came through. "Hey, I heard you were back."

"How were things with Nico?"

"He hadn't feel her death nor has Hazel. Nico had asked his father to make sure she wasn't there or in Tar-" a slap in the shoulder made him shut his mouth. "To make sure she's okay and not down there."

Percy felt like he was going to throw up, even if he hadn't eaten nothing after breakfast this morning. He put his hand on his knee, his other one covering his mouth. Just the thought of Annabeth alone was sickening, but thinking she might be in that place again, completely alone...

It was all his fault. Had he not started to scream at her because he was stressed over college, she would still be there, in his arms.

"I'm going to throw up," he declared finally, and had enough time to run to the bathroom before pushing all his food out. He had tears in his face, and all he could think of was how much he wished Annabeth was there to calm him down. She always calmed him down, no matter what the situation was.

Percy could hear Piper telling Jason off for being tactless, and he could almost see the son of Jupiter holding his neck, looking ashamed of what he had caused. Percy wanted to tell him it was alright, that it wasn't no one's fault but his, but when he opened his mouth to speak, more food came out.

He closed his eyes, feeling suddenly dizzy. The next moment, he was standing in the Hall of the Gods, were all of them were reunited and talking. Percy gasped. This had to meant something.