Malcolm...

No one knew how to react. It was like they had dropped a time bomb on camp- they were all destined to explode. Frozen in time; denying the facts. It's impossible my head screams. I can't take it anymore. I get up and run. I explode. I run and run through the woods- I feel like screaming and crying both at the same time. I collapse on a rock and cry. I can't handle it. She was my sister- my favorite sister. Leader of Cabin Six. Now she is in Tartarus. And Percy. I liked him too- he fell with her. For her. I don't want to believe it. I should have been a better brother- those long months when Percy was missing- help her through it. I can't handle it anymore. I fall asleep not even thinking about the minor detail that the woods are stocked.

When I awake my first notice is that I'm alive- despite laying at the mercy of monsters all night. Then I wonder why the hell I was sleeping in the- Ohh gods. Annabeth. My thoughts are so jumbled I can't even concentrate on my surroundings; which is really bad for a child of Athena- this is how Mom must feel I realized. Leaping from Athena to Minerva; from Greek to Roman. Can't concentrate. I can't feel bad for Athena though. I have no mercy for that woman now. Even if she is my mother- I still have my father and all my siblings.

Ugh- I can't even stand to think about her. She sent Annabeth on that stupid, stupid quest. Like she wasn't in enough danger already with the prophecy of seven. She made Annabeth face her worst fear- all our worst fears from the Athena cabin; spiders. She brought Annabeth pain and misery just so she could have her stupid statue back. I don't care what magical powers that thing has- it could cost Annabeth and Percy their lives.

Athena was my least favorite goddess right now, except maybe Hera. But that didn't matter now- both brought Annabeth misery and pain. And Aphrodite- without her Percy would have never fell and-and...

"Hey kid- chill."

I almost jumped out of my skin. Behind me Dustin chuckled. I glared. Dustin is the satyr who brought both MaryAnn and I to camp. Of course that was at least five years after each other but still. We have been friends ever since. Really good friends, in fact. It's a joke when he calls me 'kid'- he said my face when i found out how old he was, was priceless.

As soon as Dustin sees my face he knows something is wrong. "Dude, are you alright- what happened?"

"Where were you last night?"

"Out- you know I had that double date with Lilac and Grover with Juniper."

"Yeh, well we had some dinner entertainment."

"Better than when Percy saved Chiron's butt and Tantalus left?"

How could Dustin be so dense, I asked myself.

"Percy and Annabeth are in Tartarus- after my lovely mother sent her to mother spider to get her stupid statue the Athena Parthenos." I gave him the short version, because if I talk about it anymore I would lose it.

Dustin just stared. "Oh great gods Pan- Mal I didn't know- I ohh gods!"

"It's fine- I'm just," I couldn't find the right word.

"You should go back to camp, your cabin needs their leader, especially now."

I stare at him in shock. For a satyr Dustin really can't read emotions very well.

"Annabeth was- IS our leader and always will be- she might be out of commission for now but she's coming back."

"Mal- do you really believe that I mean sure she's great all but to survive Tartarus you need a special talent-"

I can't take it anymore. "Go. Save yourself from the truth. Annabeth is coming back."

"Oh gods, that's not how I meant it- really, just"

"Go- I don't care what you think. I need a friend now not someone like you."

Hurt and blurry eyed Dustin skittered back to the cabins to see everyone else.

I almost called him back- but I couldn't face him now. I came out here to be by myself. I recalled what Dustin said- To survive Tartarus you need a special talent. Maybe alone Annabeth didn't have it but with Percy- he had power, speed, and was a really good sword fighter. He also had that little talent to create hurricanes, and that power over water. And horses. Those might not seem like a lot alone. But with Annabeth's Athena powers it was perfect. She had intelligence, useful crafts like weaving- which Malcolm hadn't believed until he heard the Annabeth's story might actually be considered useful- and her fighting skills. And they had each other.

Not many people might like the idea of their older sister having a boyfriend; especially if he was your mother's rivals son- but I had always wanted the big dofus and my sister to get together. I actually thought they might get together before the second Titan War but surprisingly I was wrong.

After Percy went missing I became a year-rounder. Most Athena kids went home for the year except for MaryAnn and this year Annabeth and I. My dad lives in RI so every weekend drive home while Annabeth is out following some lead. On Monday we are both back. I tried so hard to understand her and make her feel better. She didn't want pity and I knew that so all I did was be there. That was all I did. Maybe I should have searched with her. Maybe together we could have found Camp Jupiter sooner.

I know that's not true- Hera had blocked it from our vision, no way around it. And I know if Fates want something to happen then it will- no way around that either. Percy and Annabeth would have fallen into Tartarus anyhow. She wouldn't want me to be this gloomy.

I pick myself up- ever so slowly and walk aimlessly through the woods trying to find a familiar landmark. Ohh gods. A son of Athena lost. Son of Athena. That means nothing to me anymore. She is just another worthless piece of junk- waiting to be thrown out of the council. If she is mean enough to but her favorite daughter's life in danger- I feel ashamed to be related to her. Let alone be her son. When Annabeth had been struggling to find Percy- who had been there for her? Sure, MaryAnn, Chiron, her dad and me had been there for her. But also Sally Jackson-Blofis. Not even her own mother. I knew that Athena hated Percy and would probably find a way to blame it all on him. She is the wisdom goddess. Sometimes I think that even I am smarter than her. First lesson ever child of Athena learns, 'Mother is the smartest- no one is better'. I wonder what she is like in Roman form. Kinder, more of a heart perhaps, but truly I don't care.

She takes up too much of my time as it is- that, that; evil little witch. And now she steals my thoughts over Annabeth and Percy. She doesn't deserve my time and anger. All I should be concentrating on is getting Perce and Annie back.

Determined I look up and see Zeus's fist looming over me. I feel a faint smile appear on my lips and I head back to camp. As I walk away an arrow wrapped in vines impales itself in the ground next to me.

"Wait! Wait- please wait!"

I yank out my sword and whirl around and find myself facing a dryad- with their elfish features and green tinted skin they are pretty hard to miss. "Hi?"

"Please- tell me what is happening. Oh and out that sword down, now- and err sorry- I needed to catch your attention. I'm Juniper by the way- last night the forest wept so many tears it almost caused a flood, and, and Argus made the lake rise a foot- and then Grover hasn't come back yet, and Chiron was shooting the monsters all last night. And now you- son of Athena spend a night in the woods. Please tell me- I'm strong."

She talks in a fast, squeaky voice that takes me awhile to understand. Chiron- shooting? Forest weeping? All I really understand is that this is Grover's girlfriend and she doesn't know yet. "I'm no son of Athena any more," I blurt out, "And Grover might need you now- or need some alone time. Percy and Annabeth fell into Tartarus after Annabeth found the Athena Parthenos."

She just stares. She pats my arm and then 'poof' she's gone. I realize this isn't only hard for me- yet for the whole camp. We had all hoped that we would have Percy again yet he escaped us again. And of course Annabeth was my closest sister. She was always someone to look up to- except for the entire best friend and then way more with a son of Poseidon thing. If mother- no Athena- had any more children dating different children of the Sea god- ha just to think of it, she would kill herself. Over and over again.

But now is not the time to get angry at my mother- Annabeth needs me. At the mess hall (which is deserted) some platter of food sit around and I realie I'm not the only one taking this hard. I sigh and pick a doughnut- Annabeth's favorite I can't help thinking. I split it in half and toss a portion in the flames. For Annabeth and Percy. Let them survive. I pray to all the gods- mostly Poseidon(who should care most, I think), Hestia (who is the kindest), Apollo, Artemis and as the others. Except my mother. And Tyche. I even pray to their Roman forms.

"It wasn't her fault, Malcolm. Don't blame your mother." Chiron trots up behind me and pats my back. I always thought Chiron could read minds and now I believe I have proved my theory, not that I really care anymore. Absently I nod and Chiron sighs and walks away muttering, "Horribly depressing-but never boring."

I know it's not my moms fault deep down- but it will take a while to forgive her. But luckily I've already forgiven Percy and Annie; already moved on.

Ok! Thanks for all the feedback and following/favoriting happening now- it really makes me keep writing. I said my new story would be up today, but that will simply have to wait. I'll aim for tomorrow. I hope you like this chapter, it's one of my favorites so far. Up next errr, lets see, maybe Grover or Chiron or Juniper. Chiron will be telling the gods and mortals and Lupa (who will tell Camp Jupiter) but all this could take a while so this story's end is still a long way off. Thanks, Read on Review- WaterMimi23