Btw guys, some of the info in my story may be outdated because I started this before BoO came out, i'm just going to continue it the way it is.

I do not own the Percy Jackson or Kane Chronicles series.

Chapter 21: Let the training begin

Sadie's POV:

Annabeth didn't look my way. She avoided our group completely actually. The boy beside her said something to her, and she shook her head. He headed over to us and shook Amos and Carter's hand.

I watched Amos's face to see his reaction to Annabeth, but his face showed nothing. Walt's as well. Carter on the other hand, was just as shocked as I was. He turned to ask Walt something, but Walt just casually shrugged.

So this is what he's been hiding from me.

Annabeth's POV:

My heart was beating frantically. I could just feel their eyes boring into me. I haven't figured out what I was supposed to say to them yet. Or I could just not say anything to them at all and give them the silent treatment, but that didn't seem very mature at all.

Percy had walked over to introduce himself, and I felt myself tense as he stood so close to Walt.

The Romans hadn't bothered to say "Hi", why should I have to?

I knew I was being completely foolish about this, but I had nothing to say to them. Plus, I had to lead these Greek warriors into battle. I don't need distractions.

Sadie's POV:

After the leaders had a few minutes to chat, Amos returned to us. "There's a different building for each group to have as their living quarters. Ours, is that building forty feet behind us." I turned around. It was a ginormous building, with beautiful murals of our gods painted on all the walls as tribute to them.

"Where we're standing is the main field. By tomorrow morning it will be filled with training equipment. For the next few weeks you will be training on your own as well as with the others to help us prepare for the war. Go settle in."

As everyone turned to leave, he added, "and please be nice."

Everyone entered the building. There were two bunk beds to each room. Jaz, Cleo, Zia and I all decided to share a room.

While the others unpacked, all I did was plop down on my bed and close my eyes.

Then Jaz's voice ruined the silence. "Tired already Sadie? We haven't even begun our training yet." I sighed. "Yeah I know. I was just thinking."

"About Annabeth?" Zia's voice was quiet. Cleo and Jaz had their heads down.

"I don't understand," whispered Cleo, "how is she…why didn't she tell us?"

Everyone was quiet, then Zia spoke. "Can you blame her? If you were secretly a Greek as well, would you have told anybody? It would be completely foolish and dangerous. I'm not saying I approve of what she did, but I understand it."

I got up. "I'm going to go find Walt."

I found Walt helping set up some of the training equipment. He stopped at the sight of me. "Hey Sadie."

I leaned against a giant rock. I didn't say anything. He sighed. "Sadie, it wasn't my secret to tell." I raised an eyebrow. "None of it was Sadie, we were bound to secrecy by a blood oath."

I took a deep breath. "How strong are they?" Walt looked confused. "Who?"

"The bad guys," I said quietly, "how strong are they?"

He looked at me. "I don't know."

"Are we all going to die?"

"I don't know."

I closed my eyes. "You're not even going to bother lying to me?"

"I promised I'd never do that."

I got up from the rock, and gave Walt a peck on the cheek. Then, I turned to find Annabeth.

Annabeth's POV:

So far I've managed to avoid the Egyptians. I was wandering around the island absorbing it all in. I was running my finger along the edge of a golden blade, when I turned around and ran straight into somebody.

"Sorry!"I managed to say with a mouthful of the other person's hair in my mouth.

"Completely my fault," Sadie replied with her arms crossed.

I turned away, and started walking for the other corner of the island. Sadie followed. I turned back around.

"Do you need something?" I asked as kindly as I could manage.

"Yeah, an explanation."

"Well, you might as well leave now 'cause you're not getting one." I didn't mean to be rude, I was over my head with stress, and Sadie following me around asking questions that I'd much rather play with a spider than answer was not helping.

"Ouch. Wow. Even your nice personality was a charade."

"Look, I didn't mean to lie to you guys. I was just trying to look out for myself. I thought, that if you had known, you would have killed me. Last I checked, the gods didn't tell us about each other for a reason. Is that not a good enough reason to lie?"

Sadie raised an eyebrow. "Annabeth, we wouldn't have laid a finger on you. Sure, we would've been shocked, and horribly confused, but we'd never hurt someone."

I looked up then, at Sadie's hopeful, adorable face, and gave a sigh.

" When we found out about the Romans, it wasn't pretty. It was a blood bath. People got hurt Sadie. My people. My family. I didn't want that to happen again, don't you understand?"

I heard the desperation in my own voice. I usually hid that pretty well.

"I'm sorry, okay?" I said quietly.

"We're still here for you Annabeth, we're your family too. Remember that."

"Wow, way to make me feel like a complete jerk."

Sadie gave a small smile. "Let's be honest here, you are kind of being a jerk," she lifted her thumb and index finger, and put them parallel to each other, creating a small space between them, "just a tiny bit."

I laughed then, and so did she.

"Okay, okay, maybe a little."

We were silent for a moment.

"I wasn't a spy, you know? I just wanted to learn new things, to finally be able to connect with my father."

"Yeah, I know. Anubis can be a little, ah, over protective at times."

"ANNIE!"

We both whipped our heads around to find the source of the yelling.

It was Travis. "Annabeth," he said breathing heavily, "Chiron needs you to help set up the plans."

I bit my lip. "Travis, kinda busy in the moment," I muttered, gesturing to Sadie.

Sadie's fingers gave a little wave.

"Tell Malcom to do it."

"Annie, you're the only one anyone listens to. It has to be you."

I closed my eyes and pushed the hair out of my face. "Fine, I'll meet you there."

He grinned, and took off.

I turned to Sadie. "Look, I've gotta go."

I took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I really am sorry Sadie, I hope you know that."

I turned and walked in the direction Travis disappeared towards.

Sadie's POV:

Once back in my room, my roommates surrounded me.

"Okay spill," Cleo said with a raised eyebrow.

I sighed.

"She didn't mean to be so secretive. She was just trying to protect her people."

Zia threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "I said that! Why doesn't anybody listen to me?!"

She muttered a bunch of other unintelligible words and plopped down on her bed.

"She seemed to play a big role in their group though. Some guy came up to us, and he mentioned that everybody only listens to her."

"What guy?" Jaz inquired.

"Uhh, I don't know. He was kinda hot."

Jaz rolled her eyes. "They're all hot. I want one."

Zia sat up so fast she hit her head on the top bunk, and Cleo squealed.

"Jaz!"

She laughed. "What? Come on you gotta admit. They're pretty freaking cute."

We all rolled our eyes.

Suddenly, there was a knock on our door. Cleo skipped over, and just as she was about to throw open the door, she stopped. "What if it's one of them?" she whispered.

Zia rolled her eyes. "Trust me, no one is suicidal enough to enter a building filled to capacity of magicians on the first day."

Cleo shrugged and opened the door.

Carter and Julian stood grinning.

"Hey girls," Julian said, "You guys up for some sparring? The weapons outside are wicked."

Zia grinned back.

"Let the training begin."

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