HEYYO GUYS!

First and foremost, I would just like to apologize for another long wait. Sorry if I kept some of you loyal readers out there waiting. I constantly read your reviews, just to let you know. I felt a little uninspired the past month or so (partially math's fault), but reading your reviews kinda gave me hope. So thanks guys! I swear upon the Styx I shall update again soon. JNot exceeding next week.

Chapter 33

"So," she said slowly. "For Percy to live… someone has to die?"

Rachel nodded grimly. "I would've sacrificed my own life force, but Apollo wouldn't allow it."

"Neither would I." The princess stated, determination flashing in her eyes. "Because if anyone is sacrificing their life for Percy, it's me."

The redheaded girl's eyes stared at her from under her hood. She seemed to contemplate her words. Finally, after a long while, she spoke.

"I came to you knowing that you'd know what to do." Rachel said. "I know that you are more capable than others to handle this."

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.

"You see, as I've told you, we need to take someone's life force in order to restore Percy's. I never said we'd have to kill someone else." She paused, drawing in a deep breath. "And you, Princess, your life force is stronger than most people. You are destined to live. There's a chance that you may survive healing Percy. Yes, you'll be extremely weak for the following days, but if you live you might just recover in time."

Annabeth frowned. "I don't like all these 'ifs'." She said. "But I'll do it. I'll sacrifice my life force. But don't… don't tell anybody. I don't want my parents to worry. At least not until I'm dead…"

Rachel stayed quiet for a long time, but Annabeth was patient. She waited silently for what the redheaded girl would say.

"I would've done it." She finally said. "But the laws… my stupid vow. Nico… he would've done it. But his life force is too fragile that it wouldn't be enough." She looked up at the princess. "You might have a better chance, but it's still a huge risk."

Annabeth only smiled. "Sometimes in life, you have to gamble to get the prize."

He didn't know how long he'd been in the dark. His consciousness faded in and out at times, so he caught only glimpses of what was happening around him. He knew he was in a tent with patched-up velvet walls, lying in a cot bed. But other than that, he didn't know exactly where he was.

First he glanced Chiron the doctor speaking as he stood above him. He seemed to be talking to a woman… his mother? Probably. And she seemed as if she was crying. Her wavy brown hair was tied up messily and her face was in her hands. From what Percy could tell, she was shaking. And then everything went dark.

Next he found someone sitting on a wooden chair at his bedside. From what Percy could tell with his blurry vision, this person seemed to be wearing all black and had roughly the same dark, shaggy hair he had.

"Wake up Perce," the boy said. Instantly, Percy recognized the voice of his cousin- Nico DiAngelo. "Don't let them do it…" before he could hear anything else, the darkness overtook his vision once more.

The third time he opened his eyes, he found a hooded figure standing over him, a glint of apple green watching him intently. Strands of red peaked out from the person's hood. Rachel Elizabeth Dare, most likely. He shifted his gaze to the right and found someone at the chair- but this time it wasn't Nico.

Familiar blond hair and beautiful grey eyes… Annabeth. Annabeth Chase. She was the only thing that made sense to him. He wanted to speak to her, oh so badly. But his voice wouldn't work, he could barely blink.

Then he noticed that they were speaking.

"-ow the risks," the princess was saying. She didn't seem to notice that Percy was, more or less, awake now. Her challenging gaze was fixed on Rachel who was still watching Percy carefully.

"I know you do," Rachel said, her eyes unmoving. Her voice was grim and quiet. "I just… I know you will take the chance, but would Percy let you?"

"I don't care whether or not he lets me." Annabeth said, determination evident in every word. "I'm doing this because I want to."

He could make out what they were saying, but their voices sounded slightly muffled. In fact, everything seemed to be dimmed. His vision was blurry, he couldn't feel his body, he couldn't catch a scent of anything. He felt invisible, except for Rachel's gaze on him.

"But not now, Annabeth." Rachel spoke again. "I need Nico to help out… and right here, right now? No, it can't be. I have to prepare. I need to have everything ready."

"Tomorrow, then?" Annabeth implied impatiently.

Rachel only shook her head, her hood falling back just a fraction. "You need to be ready too. It will take a great toll on you."

"I am ready, just-"

"No you're not." Rachel said firmly, her eyes flicking towards the princess. But Annabeth didn't waver. "Give yourself at least three days."

"Percy is dying." She stood abruptly from her seat, eyes flashing dangerously. "I will do what should be done to save him. It has to be tomorrow."

Percy wanted to stop them. A great toll on Annabeth? He can't let her take any risks. He didn't want his loved ones to go through any trouble for him. He forced his lips open and tried to say something, preferably shut up, but in that instant, his senses sharpened all at once.

His vision grew more focused, he could hear the screams of pain from outside, he could sniff out the faint scent of blood, he could taste it in his mouth.

Then pain shot up his body. His back went rigid and he cried out in pain, clutching his sternum. He felt warm liquid ooze through his fingers- blood. His wound, Kronos's sword, it all came back to him. Every detail of the battle made him want to scream again.

People flew in through the flap of the tent, hands immediately trying to restrain him. Bandages, medicine, meaningless words of encouragement- all flowing over him as the pain grew worse.

His throat closed up and all of a sudden he couldn't breathe.

He thought he was going to die right then and there, end of story. The world's stupidest hero dying right in front of all his friends. But then he felt a strange cool sensation spread across his chest- the same sensation he had felt when Rachel healed him, except now it was fainter. The pain was still there, but it was lessened.

He fell back onto his cot, the darkness starting to creep at the edges of his vision as things calmed down. The last thing he saw was Rachel leaving the tent. She turned, glaring at Annabeth. "Two days." She said. Then her expression softened as she walked away, leaving everyone exhausted and dumbfounded at the same time.