A thousand I'm sorrys...:( high school sucks. So... I feel this story slipping through my fingers, falling to its end. I thought it might be longer than my other PJO stories, but now I'm feeling it near its end.. I failed you:(

"Hey, Wise Girl?" Percy said from a few feet away.

"Yes, Percy?" I asked, not turning from my book.

"This is awful." He muttered quietly.

"Yes. It is." My face was mournful.

"The young ones won't know what to do." His voice was low.

"Do you?" I finally turned to him, slipping my finger in the book to hold my place.

His face was dark, shadowed. "I hope I'm wrong."

"Percy. What are you thinking?" I asked, slipping beside him.

"I am thinking we have to get rid of this one before it turns someone else. We can't let what happened last time happen to them." He mumbled, looking around the room with a deep frown on his face. The older kids had heard what was happening and knew what it meant. Most of them were slumped over the furniture, thinking nothing could be done. They were going to die. Their eyes glowed with the painful message. The younger ones didn't understand what was going on, they huddled around the older campers. They seemed clueless, afraid because they didn't know why everyone was scarred to death-yes, that was the word. DEATH.

"How can we prevent it?" It was a foolish question, I knew the answer, but I wanted to hear him say it.

"We have to burn him..somehow. We have to burn him alive."

"How?" My voice quivered.

"I have no idea... but I don't want you to be there." He told me, so low it was nearly under his breath.

"Percy, we have talked about this. We can't be apart." I took his hand, weaving my fingers through his. "This is when we're strongest. When we're together."

"Annabeth I can't have you there. I'm sorry, but when I kill him I can't have you standing beside me. I love you, Annabeth and anything could happen. I would die if anything happened to you. I can't take the risk."

"But, Percy." I pleaded, feeling a single tear well up in my eyes. "I love you, too, and how can I wait behind? Wondering if you're even alive! Percy, I'd loose my mind with worry."

"I'm sorry, Annabeth. I'm not asking." He stood up, walking a few feet before turning back to me. "You stay here with Katie and the others. Stay here and take care of the little kids. Don't let them worry."

I stood up, practically running to him. I threw my arms around his neck. "So, now? You are going to try to kill a vampire, right now?" I felt like sobbing.

He nodded solemnly. "Yes."

I hid my face in the crook of his neck for a moment and then attacked his lips with mine, hands on his face. "I love you, Percy."

He looked at me, lovingly and twisted the ring on my finger. "I love you, Annabeth." Then he kissed my forehead and walked away.

"They going?" Katie asked just as Jake, the Strolls, and a small essembly of boys walked out the door behind Percy.

"Yes." My voice was barely audible.

"They'll be fine, Annabeth. I promise you." She told me, smiling lovingly, but I could see the worry behind her bright eyes.

"Yes. They'll be fine." I said, slipping down onto the couch were Percy had been sitting.

Lilly ran up with a few other little girls and sat down on the couch beside me, curling her legs under her body and beaming at me. She smiled and gestured with her finger for me to come closer. I leaned down to her and she whispered in my ear, "Annabeth, show them your pretty ring." I laughed at her simple request.. in the light of the events presently happening her action was sweet, but it didn't fit the mood of the room as she pulled my hand out from under my leg and flipped it over for her friends to see. They ooed and ahhed in a funny exited way.

"So, Ms. Annabeth, you're getting married?" Lilly's friend, Anna, asked, brown eyes bright. She had red hair and freckles across her nose.

I laughed shakily under my breath. "Yes." It was simpler to say that then explain to the eight year olds that I might not be getting married because my future husband has gone to go hunt down a vampire and might not come out alive.

"Can we be your bridesmaids?" Isabell asked, green eyes wide with innocence. She had dark brown hair, cut to fall in short ringlets around her face.

"You can be my flower girls, okay? You'll get to wear pretty dresses and throw flower petals at people." I told them, nodding excitedly.

They all laughed happily and ran away with huge grins on their faces. "That's nice Annabeth." Katie said, plopping down on the couch beside me, throwing her legs over the side and letting them dangle there. "They'll love that."

I choked back a quiet sob. "If I get married." My voice shook with sadness as I said it.

"I told you everything will be okay, Annabeth. Believe me. My mom won't let anything get in the way of you and Percy now that you're so close. You know that you two are her favorite couple... ever." She nodded, laughing.

"I guess you are right." I said, standing up.

"Where are you going?" She asked me, confused.

"Lets go make cookies. We'll have everyone help." She looked confused, but I nodded eagerly. "It'll keep their minds off it."

"Ah! What's that smell?" Jake yelled, banging the door against the wall. My heart stopped. Everyone who was standing in the kitchen ran to the entryway. Katie's body slammed into Jake's, throwing her arms around his neck. "Seriously. What's the smell? Gods, is that cookies? Yum!"

The others walked in, looking tired, less exited. I frowned deeply. "Where is Percy?"

hm... I think I am going to stop here. Yep. Right here. HEHE. So. What'd you think? Review... I am guessing maybe 2 more chapters and an epilogue. Yep.. that's what I'm thinking... i love you? I'll tell you whether I do if you review:)