Personally, I think it's really fucking rude to threaten the author with death threats when you don't like what happened. Just saying. ;)
I am sorry for the abrupt changes of POV. Personally, I don't believe in telling the readers who's narrating. Published authors don't do it, and I won't either.
In the apartment block, Kronos looked on to the spectacle. There was the pathetic girl, sobbing on the floor, his children and his grand-children, always thinking that they're so high and mighty. But this time, Kronos will be the one that wins.
He smiled, and closed the connection.
"Percy," he said, "I have news for you."
My world collapsed. Again. Of course, I had suspected they would try to vote for this, for the killing of him—they always did. But never, ever, did I actually imagined it would pass voting. I lay there on the cold stone floor, as above me words were yelled and the almighty gods squabbled amongst themselves about Kronos' most important weapon, and the first man I had ever loved.
I loved Brad. That much was true. But then, I loved Percy too. And if I were forced to choose, then I don't know which one I would. Percy had always made me happy. Brad had too. I was having a child with Brad. But the only reason I could was because Percy was gone. There were so many good points about both, and I couldn't make a decision. Maybe it was better than I would never have the opportunity to do so.
No. That's selfish. And Percy doesn't deserve to die, just because I can't make a decision between them, because he's been forced to do something that he would never, ever do willingly. I was fairly certain he was the one who fired the bullet into Brad. But then, I was also certain that I was the target. And if I was, then something at the last second made him deflect . My thoughts were so confused, but I knew one thing: He was going to die anyway. The council had voted, and they're decision would not be changed. Unless...
"Give me one day," I said, standing up, though my small voice was lost in the roar of the Council as they bickered like two-year-olds.
"That's enough," I said, slightly louder. "I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH!"
The Council fell silent, most of its members glaring at me.
"Give me twenty-four hours," I said. "I'll bring him in, and you can interrogate him. Just... don't kill him. Please." The last word was a whisper.
Most of the gods looked doubtful, but Poseidon was staring at me with something akin to pride.
"Twenty-four hours," I said, looking desperately at Zeus, who was the real decision maker. "Starting when you make the decision. I'll get him back here, and if I don't, you can incinerate him, or whatever else you want to do." My voice was bitter.
He pursed his lip, nodding. "The truth is, the boy has done us a great deal of service. I believe that we should give this girl-" He looked at me.
"Annabeth," I whispered.
"I think we should give this girl, Annabeth, the chance to capture Perseus. And as such, this is what I am allowing her to do."
There was another round of protests, but Zeus held up his hand, barely-concealed malice playing around his face. "My decision is final, and no arguments will be entered into."
"Father," said Hermes, snapping the phone shut for once. It immediately started buzzing again, but he ignored it. "The boy is gone from the rubble. He cannot have gone far, but we need to act now."
Zeus nodded.
"Poseidon, you are to help... Annabeth, in her task," he said to his brother. Poseidon nodded in assent. "The rest of you shall go about your normal business. And in twenty-four hours, all shall be decided."
He sat back on the throne, and just like that, the meeting was over. There was babble within the hall once more, but I ignored it. I instead picked myself up from the ground and walked over to the door, letting myself out of the building.
Day had dawned, throwing brilliant light along the colonnades, palaces and gardens that made up the coronet of Mt Olympus, anchored to the sky above the Empire State Building. There were Muses already strumming their musical instruments, minor gods, goddesses and other assorted mythical being strolling around, street vendors trying to sell their various goods, laughter and happiness everywhere.
I hated it. Hated the fact that they were so happy, hated the fact that I had to find Percy in twenty-four—I glanced at my watch—make that twenty-three and a half hours or he'd be dead, and I'd be alone again.
And all of a sudden I crouched over and vomited on the pavement, so suddenly it shocked even me.
"Are you all right?" asked a male voice behind me. I turned. Poseidon was standing next to me, in human form, looking concerned.
"Yes, it's just morning sickness." I'd forgotten all about my baby, but now that came back, too.
"I see. Are you okay?" he asked me.
"I'll be fine," I muttered. "So, how are we going to catch him?"
Poseidon pursed his lips. "It's not going to be easy," he said. "He's very powerful, and well under Kronos' control. I think though, you may be able to get close enough. There will be certain danger to you, but if all goes well, you should be fine. Will you do it?"
"Of course."
"Okay, then. Here's my plan..."
More soon. :D