So, I'll spare you the dedtails of my little "visit" with Luke. All you need to know was it hurt- a lot. And I managed not to tell him about my "mind control". And, I was still in a chair, chains around my legs and ankles.

I thought back to what had happened in the last week. Yes, a week. Luke told me that while I was "out" (unconcious) they had lot's of time to (eew) study me. I hope that means my eyes and stuff. And hopefully surgery. Even that is better than, like, a full body check-up.

So... I'm the child of a banished Godess? Wow. I actually feel bad for him. He must have a mental issue. But... if mind control is real, who is to say that gods aren't? No. GODS WEREN'T REAL.

I thought about Derek. I felt a mix of emotions- hurt, angry, betrayed. But most of all- love.

I loved him.

I still did. I actually believed he was sorry, but that doesn't mean I trusted him. I felt bad- I shouldn't be loving him. It would just lead to my doom. But no matter how hard I tried, I knew I loved him. It didn't make sense. He was evil, for goodness sake. I couldn't- no, I wouldn't love him. But I knew that wasn't true. I did love him.

A noise to my left makes my head spin around, distracting me from my thoughts. Wow. That hurt. I'm gonna get a bruise tommorrow.

Someone's climbing through the window.

"Hey!"

I freeze. The figure had green eyes that glow in the dark.

"Hey!" He hissed again. It sounds like a boy. "Are you Leah?"

"Stay away from me!" I stammer. "Get away!"

"Relax. I'm here to help."

"Sure, that's what the last person said, and look where it got me!"

"Well, you can trust me. I'm Percy."

He pulled the mask he was wearing off his head. He sure was cute- but that didn't mean I trusted him.

"No!" I shreiked. I was hysterical. I didn't want to go with anyone, and get hurt. I just wanted to be back at the orphanage, no matter how terrible it was.

Percy's POV

The girl -Leah, I think Chiron told me- looked terrible. Her eyes were wild, and she was chained to the chair. Her leg was tilted at a funny angle, and she had a swelled cheek and nose. There were cuts all over her body, and her clothing was ripped. Therer were worse injuries I don't want to describe. I felt hatred fill my heart. I couldn't believe Luke had done this.

I heard an "oof!" behind me and turned to see Annabeth fall through the window. Unlike me, she was soaked.

"How come you get to stay dry?" She complained in a teasing tone, but when I turned my bdy so she could get a clear viewe of Leah, her expression blanked. I could see her heart going out in sympathy for the poor girl. She had obviously been hurt -tortured, even,- and from what I could tell, she would trust no one now.

"O.K.- Leah?" I asked.

"What do you want from me? O.K., I'll do it!" She was hysterical.

"No, no, it's not that- first, I'm Percy. Second, do you know mythology? Greek mythology?"

She groaned. "Oh, not another one!"

I had no clue what she was talking about, but Annabeth helpfully put in, "Well, the gods are-"

"I know, they're real, yadda yadda yadda. Just how many people are there that believe in this? Is it a religion or something?"

I was stunned. Just one look at Annabeth's face told me she felt the same way. How did she know? Oh. Luke.

"It's not a religion," I hissed, "It's real."

She started laughing. Her cheeks were hollow- she hadn't had food in a couple of days, obviously. She had had water, I observed- but not alot. How do I know? Duh. Son of Posiedon here. I can tell when someone's dehydrated or something. And she is very dehydrated. She'd had just enough water to keep her awake and alive- for questioning, I guess.

She started crying. I moved closer and uncapped Riptide. She started crying harder.

"No..." she croaked, "Please... don't hurt me... not again..."

My heart went out to her. I crouched to her level. "Hey," I said, "I'm gonna help you. but you have to hld still so I can cut the chains, O.K.?"

She looked me in the eye for the first time. "Help me, huh? That's what he said. So I went. And now... my leg... and my eye... my... my... myself..." and she started crying again. I waited, and eventually she looked up. "O.K.," She said, "I'll go with you. But it's gonna be a mistake." And with that, she stood stock still.

I cut her chains and helped her to her feet. For the first time, I noticed how beautiful she was. Her raven hair was tangled and dirty, but it still fell across her face naturally, covering her eyes. And her eyes... I could see them under her hair, they were a maroonish brown. Her face was heart-shaped, and she was pale as the moon. I turned, holding her elbow, when I realised that Nico had entered the room. (For those of you who have read BOTL, a hero can only have two companions. Unlike Annabeth's mistake.) He was gaping at me.

"Wow," he muttered. "Wow... I knew she was hurt, but I didn't think that..." his voice trailed off. He didn't need to finish the sentence. We were all thinking it. He couldn't believe how hurt she was.

"O.K.," I said to Annabeth, "Lete's get her out of-" Annabeth's look told me something was wrong. I slowly helped the girl to Annabeth, who started crying in her jacket, and turned.

In the doorway was Luke.

Leah's POV

I saw Luke in the doorway. I noticed Derek behind him, looking ashamed and unhappy. I gave an angry hiss. Percy's eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth to talk, but Luke cut him off.

"Now, now," he said, "I wouldn't be doing that if you don't want to face the wrath of Luke Castellan, general of Kronos!"

I snarled weakly, "Is that the name for the local garbage dump? Oh, sorry... It's your name."

Luke hissed. "Well, well. The birdies free. I guess I'll have to punish you for trying to escape again." He turned his wrist towards me, and whispered something that I couldn't understand. Magic.

I was lifted off the ground in a ray of red light. It was pure torture. I was on fire, I was burning up. I couldn't go on. I couldn't live.

"It's new. It's got different levels," he smirked. "Blue is the lightest, red is the middle, and yellow... well, it can kill you."

I collapsed on the floor. I was panting heavily. Annabeth and Percy looked horrified. "Is this what he's been ddoing to you?" Asked Annabeth.

"Well, more with the swords and the smacking, and less with the rays, but pretty much, yes." I agreed.

"We have to get her out of here," Percy said. Unfortunately, Luke heard.

"No, you don't," He said.

I was so angry. it filled me up. I'd felt this before... I was controling.

I lifted off the ground in an energy ball. I glared at Luke. A horrible, raspy voice filled my mouth.

"You will let us go," I glared at Luke. "We are leaving."

"I will let you go," He replied. "You are leaving."

And as we scampereed out the window, The last thing I remember was cliimbing into a little boat before falling asleep.