Hey guys! So here is finally the continuation. I'm sorry, but I'm still deciding weather to make you guys squeal in delight or rip your hair out in frustration...

Let's just see how this goes...

Chapter 25

A small knock from outside the door snapped Annabeth out if her trance. She looked up from her sitting position on the grand bed to see the knob twist, opening just a crack to reveal the face of none other than Prince Luke. His face twisted in confusion as he saw the princess, eyes rimmed red and skin pale.

"May I come in, princess?" Luke asked with great care in his voice.

Annabeth hesitated, but eventually nodded.

"You hesitated." Luke stated, stepping inside, nevertheless. "What's wrong?" He tilted his head to the side.

"Nothing." Annabeth lied, her voice was shaky and weak. She honestly didn't want him here right now. Luke came forward, walking across the room. "May I?" He asked, gesturing to the empty space on the bed beside Annabeth. She said nothing, made no move. But the prince sat down anyway.

A few moments of silence passed until Luke decided to press the matter. "Tell me, what happened? I know I have no right to bardge into your private life like this, but maybe I can help." He said.

Annabeth pondered this for a bit. She didn't know what to feel anymore. She didn't know what to do. She felt like everything was closing in on her, suffocating her slowly, drowning her in the darkness. She felt like she was stuck in a maze, no way to get out. But then, what was there to loose if she asked for advice?

"Have you ever..." Annabeth breathed out. "Betrayed someone? Did something unspeakable? " she closed her eyes. "And wanting that someone to forgive you even if you know what you've done is unforgivable."

"Actually, yes." Luke said, his voice almost a whisper. "I broke a promise to a girl once. I tried desperately to earn her forgiveness, but eventually gave up." Annabeth looked up at him, seeing a grieving expression on his face. "That was my mistake. I shrugged it off, thinking we'd make up sooner or later. But we didn't. I shouldn't of gave up on her, I should've done everything. I thought I have, but now I realized I didn't. And now it's way too late to fix things." He looked at Annabeth directly, a serious expression on his face. "Do not make the same mistake as I did, Annabeth. Regret nothing."

Annabeth nodded. "Thank you." She said. Luke gave her a warm smile and stood up. She watched as he walked to the door and left the room. His words replayed over and over in her mind.

Regret nothing.

...

Thalia walked across the hall, carfully balancing the tray of cookies in both hands. She was making her way to Annabeth's room to deliver her favorite treats. That is, until she got a haunt from her past.

"Thalia...?" A disbelieving whisper was heard infront of her. A young man dressed in a white coat, had blond hair, familiar blue eyes and a scar running from his jaw to his eye stood there, a meer four feet away.

"Luke...?" Thalia was so surprised she almost dropped the silver tray in her hands. Her expression quickly hardened, her electric blue eyes narrowing into an accusing glare. "Forgive me, my prince." She said coldly. "I will be on my way." She tried to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks.

She stared strait ahead, keeping her glare.

"Thalia, please. I need to tell you that I'm sorry." The prince pleaded. "I-I never meant to-"

"Save me the excuses, Luke." Thalia spat his name as if it were poison in her mouth. "As you said, your betreyal wasn't your fault." She freed her arm roughly from his grasp and kept walking forward. "Trator." She muttered just loud enough for him to hear.

Luke sighed. "Thalia..."

...

"Listen up!" Clarisse spoke infront of the assembly of knights gathered before her, sword being swung back and forth as she paced the floor. "The annual royal ball will be held in two days, and we need a few escorts for the royal family's grand entrance!" She announced. "The ball will be held in the Southern Kingdom, and of course, Reyna and I will come. Lord Ares will be training the soldiers remaining here. And so, I conclude we will need ten more companions."

"And so," Reyna spoke as she came to stand next to Clarisse. "We will be choosing the top ten best soldiers for the job." She whispered something into Clarisse's ear for a while and the other girl nodded.

"Michael Yew," Reyna called out. "Jason Grace, Charles Beckendorf and Mark LaRue. You will be guarding the chariot of the king and queen. Grace will escort the Queen and Yew will escort the king. LaRue and Beckendorf will drive the chariot."

"Castor and Pollux Dione, and Percy Jackson." Clarisse called, snapping Percy to attention. "You will guard the Princess's chariot. Diones drive, and Jackson escorts."

Percy's eyes widened, but he was smart enough not to show reaction. Seriously?! He's assigned to guard the one person he's trying to avoid?!

"Wallows, Zhang, and Levesque. You guard the perimiter along side us." Reyna stated. "Is that clear? Dismissed!" She said and left, her metalic dogs at her heals.

Jason nudged his elbow againts Percy's side, grinning. "Hey, hey, hey! Look who gets to escort the princess!" He exclaimed. Percy, obviously irritated, simply pushed past him and left the arena to find some food for this break.

And maybe find a way to disguise his identity before the ball.

...

"Another ball?" Annabeth groaned.

"Yes." Frederick said. "And you are required to wear a gown." Annabeth groaned in protest.

"Are the boys coming?" She asked. Frederick shook his head with a small smile. Annabeth groaned again. Without Matthew and Bobby messing around, no ball is fun.

"And your escort for the dance...?" He asked. "Luke?"

"No." Annabeth shook her head. "Whoever escorts me out of the chariot, I suppose. I'll take my chances." She said, too frustrated to think of any other options.

The king nodded approvingly. "According to the reports of General Ares, your escort is... um, Jackson, was it?"

Annabeth's eyes lit up. "Well, escort it is then!"

...

Well this was shorter than expected...

Thanks to all the people who gave me ideas but I am currently thinking of a new plot twist...

And more Percabeth later...

Also, tell me if you want some Thaluke! :)

And still considering the make-up chapter... or a non-make up chapter...

~Apollo'sAwesomePirateDaughter