Chapter 15

Annabeth sighed as she traced the pattern on her locket with her finger for the millionth time. She was trying to memorize everything about it, every swirl, every scratch, every turn. She didn't even flinch as another clap of thunder rang throughout the mansion. Storms didn't bother her now as much as they used to, but they still brought back memories that she'd rather forget. "Annabeth!" She heard a tap on her window.

She lifted the window to reveal Percy standing there in the pouring rain, shivering. "What are you doing? Come on, get inside!" she instructed, helping him climb through the window.

"Annabeth," he gasped, out of breath. "I have... to show you something."

He took off his jacket and revealed a bundle that was wrapped in cloth from underneath it. "Now," he said, shaking the water droplets from his hair. "You have to promise not to freak out."

"I can't promise anything when you're talking like that," she said unsurely.

Percy sighed. "Alright. Just… give me your locket."

Annabeth stiffened, but didn't hesitate to remove the locket from her neck and hand it over. If there's anyone I can trust, it's Percy, she reminded herself. Slowly, he began to unwrap the bundle and pulled out a picture frame. Then he turned it to face Annabeth.

"You see that?" he said. "That's my dad." He held up the necklace so that the locket dangled right next to the picture frame.

"What does-" Annabeth stopped short. She looked from the picture to her necklace, them back to the picture. "Your… your dad's uniform!" she gasped.

"The patch and the locket are exactly the same," confirmed Percy.

"But… I didn't think that was the Navy seal!" protested Annabeth.

"It's not."

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I looked it up online, and this is not even close to the Navy seal," said Percy.

"So what is it?" questioned Annabeth.

"That's the thing," started Percy. "I scanned the photo into the computer and cropped it to the patch, but there's nothing on the internet that matched it."

Annabeth's eyes widened. "Nothing?"

Percy shook his head. "Nope. But I..." He ducked his head.

"What?" she said

"I kind of went into my mom's office. She has boxes of papers and files that used to be Dad's. I was able to find the name of this guy... Zeus. He was one of my dad's old comrades. He lives in New York now. I think we should go talk to him."

Annabeth blinked. "Go to New York?"

Percy ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah. I mean, you don't have to come. I just thought you'd want to figure out your connection with all of this. Why your necklace is the same as my dad's uniform. Zeus... I think he would know."

Annabeth took a deep breath and nodded. "I do. Of course I do. I've never been to New York before, so it should be interesting. But what are you going to tell your mom? You can't exactly go up to her and declare that you're going to New York to find out where your dad really worked."

Percy grinned. "Well, that was my idea. I'll just tell her I'm going to New York to visit Rachael."

Annabeth stiffened slightly. "Ah. Your... girlfriend."

Percy snorted. "Ex-girlfriend."

Annabeth had to restrain herself from breaking out into a grin. "Oh, well... I'm sorry."

Percy laughed. "I'm not. Don't worry about it."

"But where's the logic in telling your mother that you're going to New York to visit your ex?" said Annabeth.

"As far as Mom is concerned, Rachael and I are making the long-distance relationship work," pointed out Percy. "But I was thinking... She wouldn't buy you wanting to go visit my girlfriend, so..."

Annabeth's eyes lit up. "The library! That's my excuse. I've always wanted to see the library in New York City! It has some of the oldest architecture in the whole state!"

Percy nodded. "Yeah, and maybe while we're there, we can look for stuff about my dad."

Annabeth smiled. "When do we leave?"

"Three days. I'll get Paul to drive us to the bus station in Millton early that morning. We'll just take a bus down to New York. I'll find out exactly where Zeus is living." He moved to open the window and began climbing out. Just before he ran away, he turned to her.

"Annabeth, you've gotta promise me that if you're coming, you'll be careful."

Annabeth nodded. "I've been careful my entire life. I'm not going to stop now."

He grinned, then turned and sprinted back to his own house through the rain. Annabeth watched him the whole time, and she couldn't help thinking how glad she was that he no longer had a girlfriend.

The next chapter will be longer, I swear.

Today's theme song is for all of the demigods and the world they live in!

Life in Technicolor II by Coldplay

Special thanks to Mystica Tempest for this theme song!

Thanks for all your reviews and stuff. This story has over twelve thousand hits... I'm freaking out. :D

-Rebel