Chapter Nine

Ready or Not, Here I Come

Annabeth POV

Life really sucks sometimes. That was the only logical conclusion I could, well, conclude. There was no reason, things just went bad. They just did. There was nothing we could do. I sighed. I had woken up in Andrew's arms. He was still asleep, but he stirred when I did.

"Mom?"

"Andrew, help me free my legs, now. No blood was coming out of my arms."

He gently tugged the Manticore thorns out. Unfortunately, unlike my wrists, my ankles bled profusely. I wish I would have taken the thorns last night, but I had fallen asleep. And, before you ask, yes, it was very uncomfortable

"Aw, dammit," I muttered when they were removed, tearing of the bottom of my shirt to act as a bandage.

"Uh, Mom, I thought-"

"Oh...shut up, Andrew. When you've been nearly killed as many times as I have, then you have permission to curse."

He pursed his lips, a faint smile dancing on them.

"Fair enough."

We didn't have much to say to each other, so we sat, feeling better just by being in each other's company. My other children continued to remain passed out. I decided to let them stay for the time being. I looked around for an exit, but I knew there wouldn't be one I could find. After time, our enemy appeared, ready to taunt us into submission. Gaea herself.

"Mm, Child of Athena! Your children are simply amazing!"

"I know, I raised them," I replied coldly.

Gaea stared in a reproaching manner and responded in a mocking tone.

"I see you haven't lost your spunk either. Nonetheless, I am done with you and Perseus. I have your children. I have no need for you anymore. You shall be properly terminated, even if I have to do it myself, and your children will supply my needs to rise to full power. Looks like this is one Prophecy you cannot fulfill."

She gave a nod in my direction.

"I want Athena's daughter killed, but torture her first, and deliver a video to her husband for his viewing pleasure."

Andrew stood defensively in front of me as the Manticore stepped from the shadows directing two skeleton Warriors to lead me away.

"Over my dead body!" He growled viciously.

The skeletons responded by stabbing him simultaneously before either of us could react.

"Andrew!" I cried. I lurched forward, crying out in pain. My feet burned. I slipped in a puddle of my own blood.

"Fools!" Gaea hissed. "Don't kill him now! I need them all! Kill the mother only!"

Andrew collapsed in a heap, and I was too weak to do anything as monsters dragged me to die. I wished Knights in Shining Amour were real.

Percy POV

Waiting was almost worse than death to a guy with ADHD. Only almost. I wanted to be the one to save my family, they were mine after all. However, in my present condition, it was best to stay put. I knew I had bad luck, but it seemed to get worse the longer I lived. I was propped up on a hospital bed, when a very familiar Satyr walked in.

"Percy!" He bleated. His fur smelled woodsy.

"Grover, it's been so long!"

He wrapped me in a giant hug. He had always been a bit touchy, but I didn't mind. I could use that hug about right now.

"What happened?" He questioned

"A false quest. Annabeth and the kids are...Zeus knows where. Lucas is trying to find them with Iris. But what happened to you? I haven't seen you in ages"

"I've been busy searching for…something. I-I'm onto something big, Percy, I can't say yet. You mean the goddess Iris?!"

He paced like he always did when he lied.

"Yes," I replied, "That Iris. Something's going down, and I don't know what, and I need to know."

Grover pursed his lips and frowned, pacing nervously beside my bed.

"Do you think it's a trick? Maybe an illusion?"

"No, I've seen her before. That was most definitely her."

"Okay, but anyway, I came back to let you know, uh, Juniper and I are having a baby."

He twiddled his fingers nervously and stared at the ground.

I grinned. "That's great, man! How far along?"

"Uh, two months."

I sighed, somewhat contented that there was something grand and happy going on.

"That really is good."

Grover studied me. He stomped his hoof and sighed.

"Ugh, you're not happy. You can't stop worrying, can you?"

I hate when he reads my emotions.

"No. But I am happy for you."

"I know, but you don't feel like it right now. They'll be fine though, Perce. They always are."

"I guess you're right."

My feeling of impending doom wouldn't go away.

LUCAS POV

No way in Hades was I fine. Lady Iris was showing me the entrance to Gaea's stronghold. There were more monsters than I had even heard of! Most of them I didn't even recognize. This mission was starting to look like an all-you-can-eat Lucas buffet

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked Iris.

"Wake Mother. The Prophecy this time is...more...vague than preferred. It gives little information on what actions to take. I believe you need to do this. Bring Gaea to attention. Awaken her."

Why did we always say wake Gaea? It never made sense to me. If she's up and taking with me, doesn't that mean that she's already awake?

"Why do we want to wake her?" I asked. "I thought we wanted her to be destroyed."

Iris cocked her head and scanned me. She seemed to be seeing into my soul.

"To be a demigod. You know little of what is most important. As with most Prophecies, the thing we wish would not happen, will. Gaea will rise. The Prophecy gives the option of what will happen after she rises. Someone has to be the one that lets her rise."

I bit the inside if my cheek. Why did it have to be me?

"So, I'll basically go down in history as the guy who got everyone killed?"

Iris smiled.

"If you wish to believe that. I find but one flaw with your thinking."

"What?"

"If everyone is killed, there will be no one left to write you into history."

It was pretty damn hard to argue with a goddess, so I led my army of one into battle.