Chapter Seven

As we rode to Olympus in the camp van, I wonder who had wanted to see me. The only two people that I could think of were Odysseus and Thalia. I try to unsuccessfully ignore the pain in my back as the van bounced very painfully along the highway. Pretty soon we get to the Empire State Building. It's very embarrassing to have to take a wheelchair up, but I couldn't walk, so that was the only way to do it.

"Well, hello there Annabeth," Apollo greets me as we go into the throne room. He's the only one in there, besides Will and me. Apollo sits on his throne, reading a back issue of some magazine. I think he's trying to be funny; he's wearing yellow scrubs, the whole outfit.

I roll my eyes at him. Classic Apollo. "Well, shall we get started?" Apollo jumps off his throne, and pulls two yellow gloves out of his pocket, trying to be professional and snapping them on. Will fidgets behind me. How awkward this must be for him; his dad, the most immature god of Olympus.

"Please Apollo. You don't need any of that, and everyone here knows it." I say.

Apollo sulks. "Fine…" he changes into his usual outfit of a yellow Tee, jeans and yellow Converse.

"I'll only be a minute," he says. He waves his hand over my face, and I black out.

I wake up and the first thing I notice is that nothing hurts. I feel someone poke my side.

"Aunt Thalia, is she ever going to wake up?"

"Yes, hon, just be patient."

I open my eyes to look into two green ones.

"Mom!" Odysseus throws his arms around me.

I hug him back. "Hey baby, how're you?"

"Good! Mom, I made a new friend! His name is-" he's cut off by Thalia, who quickly places her hand over his mouth, her eyes wide

"Odysseus let your mother rest." She scolds, "You can tell her about your friend later, okay?"

Percy nods. "Okay, Aunt Thalia."

After Apollo comes in and "discharges me" Thalia drives Percy and I back home.

Percy jumps out of the van immediately and races off toward the beach. Go figure; he's always loved the water, just like his father.

Thalia studies me for a minute.

"You need something Thalia?" I ask, turning to her.

"Um, well, not exactly, but…"

"What is it?"

"Percy's new friend… don't freak out, okay?"

"O…kay?"

I wanted to ask her what she meant, but just then my son and another person came jogging up Half-Blood Hill. I turned to them, and it took me a minute to process who was standing in front of me.

"Odysseus, aren't you going to introduce me?" I ask.

"Yeah! Mom, this is-"

"Percy…." I say faintly.

GASP! Is Percy really back? Review to get more and find out! ~Ali