Chapter three

A.N. Thank you to my readers! Please keep reviewing and such! Rick owns it all! Except my part . Also, yes this is a Percabeth story for those concerned, patience my young apprentices.

The guard to my left squeezed harder on my arm as we turned the corner. These hallways were darker and I was too busy struggling to focus on where we were going. Soon we came to a thick door and one of the guards let go of my arm just enough to push me through it.

"Your attire is lying on the bed, get ready fast, the queen is waiting." Then the guard slammed the door shut behind him. As soon as I was alone I got an idea. Rushing into the bathroom, I turned on the shower and pulled the curtain open letting hot steam seep throughout the whole room. I pulled out a golden drachma and flipped into the steam, hoping the iris message would work underwater. Which reminded me, why did water nymphs need a shower? Couldn't they just step out of the castles bubble and get wet again? Then, a voice jarred me back to reality by asking me to say who I wanted to speak with.

"Annabeth Chase, Camp Half-Blood, uh… the Athena cabin." I figured that's where she would be. Suddenly the image shimmered and Annabeth's concentrated face looked up. She looked as if she had been reading an architecture book, or trying her best at least. I found myself watching her beautiful face for a moment as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear. Until she noticed me.

"Percy! You almost gave me a heart-attack! Where are you? Are you alright?" She asked me so many questions I couldn't possibly answer them. "I sure hope so because when you get back-" I cut her off.

"Annabeth seriously, I need your help."I told her. I knew her enough to know that she could go on scolding me forever. I reminded myself that it just meant she cared about me.

"What's up?" She asked, finally ready to listen.

"I am trapped in the underwater kingdom of the sea nymphs! I 'm being held hostage by their… ruler." I chose my words carefully, knowing Annabeth would flip if she knew that the queen was intended to marry me.

"Percy, I hate to break it to you but not all of us can breathe underwater. How do you expect me to come help you if I can't even get to you?" She had a point.

"I … well… I have no clue." I admitted.

"Wait," Annabeth protested, "Percy do you remember a few months ago when we were at the bottom of the lake?"

"Uh yeah…" I could feel myself blushing and hoped Annabeth couldn't tell through the misty image.

"Well you surrounded us in a bubble kind-of right?"

"Yeah…?" I still couldn't see what she was getting at.

"Well could you do that again? Would they let you outside the kingdom? Far enough so that you could see me if I were there?" She was brilliant, I would never doubt that.

"Yeah probably for the wedding we would be outside the palace." I answered, clearly not thinking.

"Wedding?" Annabeth asked, obviously more curious then she cared let on.

"You'll see. Hey wait, how are you supposed to know where to go?"

"Just tell me the coordinates and I'll handle the rest." I told her what instinctively knew, feeling hopelessly needy.

"Oh, and Annabeth, you might want to hurry, the wedding starts in like an hour." And with that, the image dissolved.

I decided I had better get dressed. Sitting on the plush bed was a silver pin-stripe suit that looked two sizes too big for me. Nevertheless, I put it on, thinking how ridiculous I would look in front of Annabeth.

Before I knew it another guard came to my room to get me. He opened the door and pulled me along. Past the numerous hallways and rooms we walked. I tried desperately to break free thinking of any way I could escape from this. Soon he led me out of the castle doorway and next the gates. I could see, not far away, a quaint little wedding set up with the fanciest of nymphs sitting in baby blue chairs. I saw the alter and the impatient queen dressed in a flowing white dress that trailed along the hill behind her. My heart sank. If Annabeth didn't get here fast I was doomed to be married to this insane woman. I had considered trying to reach my father but there would be no time, if Annabeth couldn't save me I would have to stay here forever.

As the guard pushed me up the aisle, I had to think fast. Queen Lieli smiled at me a brilliant smile.

"Everyone I have an announcement!" I shouted my voice echoed through their minds, I could feel it.

"I would like to um… sing a song! Yes, a song for my future bride!" The audience erupted into giggle fits and clapping. I cleared my throat a few times, stalling as best I could. I hummed a few bars as the nymphs all around me stared expectantly. This must be so very amusing for them.

"Can um I get a drink?" I knew it was a long shot but I was desperate.

"Get my love a drink Falios." The queen snapped.

"Yes your grace," her servant stammered. I was brought a strange smelling liquid. I drank it slowly. Their watchful eyes almost burned my flesh. Somebody yawned in the back and another yelled, "Get on with it!" Queen Lieli cringed as a very out of tune note resounded in all their minds. I figured maybe she would be so repulsed she wouldn't want me. I was not so lucky. I continued to sing my worst though. When my song was finished a few claps resounded but half-heartedly.

And then, to my dismay, the nymph standing at the altar began to speak, and my heart fell to the bottom of the ocean floor.

"And now the wedding of our beloved Queen Lieli and Perseus Jackson, son of the sea god!