I'm not really sure what to say about this chapter. I hope you enjoy it. I'm aiming for about five or six more chapters, but don't take my word for it.
Disclaimer, I do not own Percy Jackson all rights belong to Rick Riordan.
Annabeth was sure that splitting up was the best strategy. More ground would be covered in a short amount of time. Time was so limited for them. She was hoping that they'd be able to find Percy more quickly. Jason and Hazel walked next to her in the opposite direction that Piper, Leo, and Frank went.
She knew that they were going in blind. It was a completely unwise tactic, but she knew that it couldn't wait. The wedding was going to be soon and she wanted to make Percy lucid before he said 'I do'.
"So are we going to keep patrolling the beach or..." Jason began as he flipped his sword in his hand. "Cause I doubt we're going to find him by exploring the perimeter of the island."
Annabeth clenched her hand around the dagger she had grabbed from Argo II's weaponry. It was different from the one Luke had given her, slightly heaver. She was adaptable, especially when she imagined running it through Gaea's smug face. Jason obviously still felt uneasy about the whole group splitting up, but Annabeth stood fast by her decision. This was better to cover more ground rather than go area by area.
Annabeth was an inpatient girl.
"How long do you think we have?" Hazel asked softly. "I mean what if we're too late."
The daughter of Athena bared her teeth, "We wont be."
"I didn't mean to upset you Annabeth." the younger teen said softly.
Wisdom's daughter said nothing as she let her eyes cast to the horizon in front of her. Calypso's island was beautiful, although Annabeth didn't have a chance to enjoy it. The way the water seemed to fit so well to the beach made her think this was so close to seeming like Elysium. She knew Percy would love a place like this if he was given a chance to enjoy it. He loved the beach and being by the water.
"Hey what's that up there?" Hazel asked as she pointed to a rocky out cropping.
Annabeth's instinct went into overdrive. She pulled the others to the side and watched. A monster strutted out of the cave and stretched his arms above his head. His claws curved like hooks grappling for the sky. The monster had a body covered in shaggy fur.
"Enjoying the view?" A voice hissed behind them.
The three teens yelped and turned around. Behind them were four additional monsters were flanking them. These guys were huge! Annabeth cursed herself for not noticing sooner. They were out matched.
"Drop your weapons!" The one in the center ordered as he held up his own sword.
All three demigods reluctantly tossed their weapons to the sand. The man on the left quickly collected them into his purple and scaly arms. The one who seemed to be the leader pushed the tip of his weapon to Annabeth's neck. She felt her blood go cold. It made her sick to think she had failed to save the one she loved the most.
He sneered at her. "Get walking. To that cave now."
Jason, Hazel, and Annabeth began walking to the rock structure they had been admiring that had gotten them captured. Annabeth's feet dragged in the sand. A hot lump formed in her throat. She swallowed hard and tried to think of an escape plan. As they neared the cave the monster who they had been watching turned and saw them.
"More prisoners." He grinned widely. "That's great. More snacks."
"The mortal woman is not to eat." The one to the teens' glared. "And these three have to answer to Gaea first."
"Get in." The leader growled as he opened the cell door.
All three teens trudged into the cavern slowly. Annabeth noticed a still figure leaning against the wall. With a start she realized that the mortal was Sally Jackson. The older woman had yet to look up or even take notice of them. Her dark hair was a mess, the red shirt she wore was at a disarray, and her hand was caked with dirt.
"You wont get away with this!" Jason declared.
The monsters laughed at him and walked away muttering something about the wedding. Annabeth wanted to brake out and strangle them. She screamed curses in ancient Greek and kicked up sand. Once she had calmed herself, Annabeth turned her attention to Sally. The mortal didn't seem to be coherent as she rested her head against the wall.
Annabeth knelt down. "Sally?"
Slowly the woman's gaze turned up to her. Annabeth didn't expect to sea tears forming in the older woman's eyes. Sally cupped her hands around the blond teens face, as if to make sure she was actually seeing the daughter of Athena. More tears began streaming down the woman's face. Sally fiercely pulled Annabeth in for a tight hug.
"Annabeth." She almost sobbed. "They told us you were...we thought."
"What happened Sally? Why did they bring you to the island."
Sally looked down. "I don't know why they brought Paul and I here, I was locked up because I could give my son a kiss on the forehead and he'd be free. Oh Annabeth, he's in so much pain."
"They're hurting him?" Hazel growled. "I really, really do despise Gaea."
Jason gave the bars to the cage a shove and grunted, "We'd all like to knock her down a peg or eight."
"Annabeth." Sally whispered and looked up. "We thought you were dead. Percy he...he..."
Wisdom's daughter looked at the mortal woman. Sally looked almost deathly sick as she let her voice trail off into silence. Annabeth wondered what had happened that had made the woman so scared. Annabeth grabbed Sally's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Since Percy's disappearance the two had gotten closer.
Almost like mother and daughter.
"What did Percy do?" Annabeth asked gently.
Sally's blue eyes wouldn't meet the teen's grey ones, "He almost killed himself."
Those four words knocked the air from her lungs. Annabeth felt as if her world had been turned upside down. Percy had nearly ended his life. She almost couldn't believe it, that boy had been through so much in his life. Why would he try to end it at that moment?
Of course it was a horrible situation he was in, but she would never have thought he would resort to ending it all. Hazel gasped, her hand hovering over her mouth in shock. Jason had paled at the idea of his cousin dying at his own hand. Annabeth swallowed and tried not to picture Percy dead. She shook her head.
"Why?"
"I told him that you were dead." Sally whispered. "I really thought you were. He ran off and then I found him..."
Annabeth didn't push for more out of the older woman. Just reliving the moment seemed to bring the distraught mother to shake in fear. The blond teen said nothing as she hugged Sally again. After a long time the daughter of Athena casted her glance up to her friends.
"We need to start planning an escape."
A pale faced Jason looked out at the guard in front of their cell. "I hate this plan."
"You'll be fine." Annabeth quietly assured him with a roll of her eyes. "Just entice the monster to open the cell to get you. I'll swipe his weapon and than bam we're out and finding the wedding."
Hazel gave Jason an encouraging nod and took a step back. Sally was looking at Annabeth with complete confidence. The daughter of Athena knew it was a crazy plan. It was pretty much 'Seaweed Brain crazy' worthy. Although it helped that their target had already made a reference of trying to eat them. Annabeth felt proud of her decision to take the two children of the big three with her.
The monster would be more tempted.
With a swallow Jason eyed the monster just out side of the cell. "You know I bet I taste amazing."
The monster's ear twitched slightly. Annabeth gave Hazel a nod for her que. The daughter of Pluto took a step forward. Both demigods were far from the front of the cage, but close enough that they could continue to tempt the hairy beast. Annabeth prayed to Athena that the plan would work.
"No as good as me Grace." Hazel challenged. "I bet that one bite of me and it would be like ambrosia to any monster."
"I'm a son of Jupiter." he shot back. "I'd be better than 'ambrosia', I'd taste so good they'd rather die then eat anything else."
Now the monster was half facing them. He growled, "Shut up in there!"
"Oh look," Hazel smiled tightly. "An Expert. He'd know."
Jason eyed the monster, "Who'd be tastier? A son of Jupiter or a daughter of Pluto?"
"The son of Poseidon would taste better, but he's off limits." the monster muttered ruefully.
Sally stiffened where she sat and clenched her fist. Annabeth had to bite her lip to keep from making a harsh comment about where she wanted to stick her foot in his anatomy. Jason and Hazel didn't know what to do from there. Suddenly an idea hit Annabeth. She whispered into Hazel's ear.
Hazel swallowed. "Well if you had to choose between the two of us?"
"I don't know." There was a familiar gleam in the monster's eyes. "I don't know. I'd have to smell ya."
"Then go ahead." Jason told him. "We're stuck here."
With the monster's sight off her Annabeth began to inch her way closer to the entrance of the cage. There was a rattling of keys and suddenly the door was open. An eager grin was plastered onto his face as he walked towards Hazel and Jason. Annabeth spotted the monster's weapon and made a quick grab for it. The monster was still focused onto the children of the big three.
He was too distracted to realize before it was too late. He was dead.
"Finally." Jason huffed out and grabbed his knees. "You had us worried."
Annabeth flipped the weapon in her hand and smiled, "I couldn't let you die, Piper and Frank woulda killed me."
"Let's get out of here." Sally smiled softly as she stood. "We have to save my boys."
"You're staying on the beach." Annabeth told her as she gave the mortal the dead monster's blade. "We'll save Percy and then come for you."
The mortal woman shook her head, "I'm coming Annabeth. I need to find Percy and Paul."
The daughter of Athena knew that it was useless to argue with Sally Jackson. Especially when it came to Percy's health. With a defeated sigh Annabeth nodded and the four left the cave and into the sun. They collected their weapons that had been dissuaded by the monsters. All three immediately plunged into the forest with Sally guiding them to the wedding. Annabeth was trembling with anticipation to see her Seaweed Brain.
"We shouldn't be too far now." Sally whispered. "Oh, I hope my boys are alright."
"Percy's one of the strongest demigods." Hazel smiled. Jason flinched. "I'm sure he'll be..."
"Percy please tell us what's wrong!" Piper's frantic voice screamed.
Annabeth felt her heart drop to her stomach. She bolted in the direction of the voice. When she saw the wedding set up in the clearing she could feel envy in her heart. This was supposed to be her wedding in the years to come. Her wedding with Percy.
Her eyes fell to the group of teens huddled on the ground. Annabeth saw Percy and felt the familiar tickle all over her body that made her long to hold him in her arms. The problem was he was writhing on the ground in pain. Red surrounded him like a morbid sheet. His mouth was open in an 'o' shape, sweat rolled down his face, and airy gasps for air escaped him.
He was suffering.
"Percy." She gasped as she came to her knees and cradled his head in her arms. "I...I'm here now. You're going to be okay."
His red eyes came to look at her face. Annabeth wanted the beautiful green color back. Another gasp of air hiccupped from his lungs as he slowly reached up to touch her cheek. Tears trailed down the daughter of Athena's face as she clasped her hand to his. She ran her free hand through his hair.
"Ann...ah...betttth." Percy wheezed. Annabeth touched her forehead to his.
She softly croaked, "Yeah, it's me Seaweed Brain."
"I...I..."
Suddenly Annabeth felt herself being wrenched away by something. She screamed and tried to hold onto Percy, but Cupid came and pulled Percy to his feet. The son of Poseidon was still dazed as he stuttered next to the Roman god of love. The force that held Annabeth pulled her into one of the many chairs arraigned around the area. She struggled as she was tied into place.
"That was a touching reunion," Gaea smiled as she came into view. "No really I think I might shed a tear."
"YOU!" Annabeth howled as she kicked out, but it was no use, she was stuck.
"Seems we now have more guest." Cupid taunted and pushed Percy towards the alter. "Where's the son of Hephaestus? Did he not come?"
Annabeth let her eyes subtly wonder around the group. Leo was not there. He must have wondered away while she had been with Percy. That could be an advantage and they could still have a chance to save Percy from Gaea.
"It hurt him too much to even think about Calypso." Annabeth told him. "Let alone look at her."
The god of love smiled darkly, "Too bad."
Annabeth scowled as all attention was returned to the alter where Percy stood as if in a trance. Cupid snapped his fingers and Percy's outfit was instantly cleaned up.
"In moments the plan will be complete." Gaea smiled.
Leo is no where to be found. Wonder what's up? Anyway I'll try to update soon.