Thank you, once again, to the-butterflyhouse for reading through this and making sure it isn't garbage.
Annabeth didn't really think her plan was the best one she'd ever had. But it was definitely her only one. Percy was her last hope.
That is if he could be trusted. She still wasn't sure.
She had gotten used to her mother, and could tell, mostly, what she was thinking, but Percy was different. She had never met a boy before, but she'd always read stories about handsome princes saving the beautiful princesses, so she knew they existed. Although Annabeth had never really liked the 'Damsel in Distress' theme of these stories, but they were always a fun read. Besides, she had nothing better to do stuck in this tower.
She just really wanted to see the floating lights; she was so sure that they were for her and it was all she's ever wanted. Which meant Percy was her ticket to getting what she had sought after most in the world. She really couldn't give up this opportunity. It couldn't be a coincidence that they happened to be there every year on her birthday, could it?
"Okay, I'm going to make you a deal," She tried to make sure she looked confident by holding her head high. She had used this trick on her mother a few times and she usually got what she wanted (as long as it wasn't leaving the tower, of course). She knew she could be intimidating if she wanted to, so she was using that to her advantage. "You want this crown, yes? It's important to you?"
He nodded his head slowly, encouraging her to elaborate.
"Well I want something too," Percy opened his mouth to interrupt, but she ploughed on, "I want you to take me to see the floating lights,"
"What do you mean, floating lights?"
"They appear in the sky every year, on my birthday. I want to see them," Annabeth saw that he looked doubtful, so she decided to up her game, "If you won't take me then you can't have the crown. That's the deal."
He looked at her intently, "Why do you want to see these lights so much?"
"No questions," Annabeth said sharply.
He looked a little startled. As he should, Annabeth thought haughtily.
"Okay fine. I'll take you. But I still don't actually know what they are?"
"Every year on the 12th of July, my birthday, they appear in the sky." She explained.
"Wait. You mean the lanterns they set off every year for the lost princess?" His eyes widened, "They come from near where I live,"
"You know them?" Annabeth said a little breathlessly as she felt her heart start to race in anticipation "Then you can take me."
"It's not that simple, wise girl," Annabeth was too fixed on getting her way to let the aggravating nickname bother her. "The palace guards don't exactly like me at the moment, I won't be able to get you all the way,"
Annabeth started to deflate slightly. She studied his facial expression and his body language to see whether she thought he was lying. She needed some hope.
The only reason she knew how people acted when they lie was because of her mother.
Once, when Annabeth was around 14, her mother had gone away for two weeks and she had told Annabeth that she was getting her some new paints. So, when her mother had returned without the paints, she'd asked where they were. Her mother had got flustered for the first time and her eyes had widened making her look like a rabbit in the headlights. She had stumbled over an explanation and her words were rushed because of, what Annabeth could only assume was, desperation. She'd also looked extremely uncomfortable and tried to change the subject countless times.
She had never found out where her mother went.
Annabeth looked for these signs in Percy now. He seemed to be thinking about something and he didn't look panicked or at all anxious. In fact, he looked a bit disappointed. She supposed he could just be a very good actor but she deduced that he was probably telling the truth.
Annabeth heaved a sigh, she really was never going to see these lanterns.
"But, if you wanted, I can take you to someone who can. In exchange for that crown of course." He continued.
Annabeth looked up, shocked. Her heart started to race again and her breath caught in her throat for a second.
Then, once she had pulled herself together, she asked, "So we have a deal?"
Percy nodded and tried to move his hand towards her, as if to shake hers, until he realised he was still trapped and couldn't. He smirked at her as he said, "You're going to have to take me out of your hair, though,"
Annabeth laughed slightly and started to untie him.
Just as she'd freed him she heard her mother shouting.
"Annabeth, let down your hair!"
Oh, gods.
What was she going to do?
She had a boy here. Not only that, she was planning to run away with him. She didn't think her mother would appreciate this at all.
Oh, gods. She had to hide him. Now.
Annabeth searched around the room frantically looking for somewhere, anywhere, to hide Percy. Her eyes landed back on him and she saw he was smiling. What on earth did he have to smile about?
"I actually know your name now,"
She glared at him, "You have to be the most infuriating person I've ever met! But you need to hide. Now."
She did another scan of the room and her eyes fell on the wardrobe in her bedroom.
"Come with me. No questions." She demanded and started to walk up the spiral staircase.
She heard her mother's voice drift through the window again "Annabeth? What's going on up there?"
Annabeth glared at Percy to tell him to hurry up. Intimidated, he got up off the chair and followed her up the stairs, tripping up over her hair on the way.
"Stupid hair." He muttered as Annabeth chortled.
Once they'd got to the wardrobe Percy looked as if he had doubts.
"It won't be for long, promise. Just until I get rid of her," She gazed up at him pleadingly.
"Fine." He sighed and resigned himself to hiding in the wardrobe. "But you owe me."
"No, I don't. I have what you want, remember?" She smirked smugly at him and went to shut the door, leaving him inside.
"Ouch!" Percy called out in pain.
"What now?" Annabeth said exasperatedly.
She opened the doors to see Percy clutching his hand in pain. Oh. She'd trapped his hand. With difficulty, she held back her laughter at the scrunched up look on his face and apologised.
"I can't get you to the town if I'm wounded." He gestured to his hand theatrically.
She snorted, " I think you'll live,"
Then she remembered why he was in there in the first place, and so she swiftly shut the wardrobe doors and prayed to all the deities she knew that her mother wouldn't find Percy.
Annabeth thought she was doing reasonably well until her mother wanted to go to her room. Then she might have freaked out a little. Only a little, of course.
"Mother! Wait!" Annabeth called out frantically when no other idea came to her.
She turned around midway on the stairs, eyebrow arched. "What is the matter with you, Annabeth? You're acting very odd."
Annabeth was frozen then, not quite sure what exactly to say to that. She immediately scolded herself for behaving weirdly, she was normally so good at lying.
What was she going to do?
She desperately looked around her. Searching for anything that could serve as a suitable distraction.
Nothing.
Her mother rolled her eyes at her and carried on to her bedroom.
"I want to show you what I'm going to get you for your birthday." She smiled, but Annabeth thought something seemed a little… off. Did she know already? The smile just seemed a bit… half- hearted? No… fake. It felt fake.
Ignoring her gut feeling that something wasn't quite right, Annabeth followed her mother up the stairs. If she really insisted on this, then Annabeth could at least make sure that her mother didn't stumble across Percy.
