Disclaimer – I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

BETRAYAL

Chiron stomped his hooves, the sound echoing against the marble floor and ceiling. We fell silent, giving Chiron our attention. The smell of breakfast wafted through the dining hall, but we fought the desire to dig in.

"Campers, I have a very exciting announcement. As you know, we have a small welcome back party to the campers who went on quests. Caleb, from Apollo's cabin, has contacted us and is returning now. He shall be back in a week's time. When he returns, instead of having a party, we shall have a dance. Alex is still on his quest, and we have no news of how it is going. Until then, enjoy your breakfast."

Every table in the mess hall broke into excited chatter. A dance! Percy grinned at me from his table, and the message was obvious. I shrugged, and he nodded solemnly.

"Are you going to go with Percy, Annabeth?" a girl from Aphrodite's cabin yelled at me, and the table exploded into giggles. "'Cause if you aren't, I will," she finished, loud enough the whole camp heard her. My face turned red, and I glared at her. She smiled at me sweetly. Percy looked horrified.

Disgusted, I stood up and gave my plate to the nymphs.

Once I was out of the mess hall, I started toward the lake. Behind me, the mess hall erupted in laughter. Was I going to go to the dance with Percy? Laughter. I didn't exactly want him to go with the Aphrodite girl. Laughter. But he was acting really weird lately. Did I want to go with him? Laughter.

I sat down next to the water, twirling a finger through the shallows. A new dock sat a few yards from me, looking inviting. Quickly, I took off my socks and shoes and ran down the length of the dock. The jump was exhilarating, but short lived. Water engulfed me as I sunk a few feet. I kicked and surfaced. Letting my body take over, I started the breast stroke. Quickly, I reached the opposite side and started on the way back. Soon, though, my arms grew tired, and I was stuck treading water in a middle of the lake.

Suddenly, a slimy hand grabbed my ankle. Before I could scream, it had dragged me down with surprising strength into the depths of the lake. I kicked with all might, thrashing. My lungs felt like they were about to burst. With a final burst of strength, I kick out and the hand released. I shot up, breaking the surface.

By the time I reached the shore, I was shaking and my whole body ached. What was that thing?

Nymphs were known to inhabit that lake, but no nymph is that hostile. They wouldn't attack without warning.

I stumbled, streaming water, down the path.

The campers were leaving the mess hall, on their way to the first activity of the day. The people closest to me gave me strange looks, but I pushed through them. I tripped over someone's leg and sprawled to the ground. Percy and Grover spotted me and rushed over. I sat up a little. Percy tried to take me in his arms, but I pulled away. I stood up and stumbled toward the Big House.

"Chiron!" I yelled when I cleared the hill and the Big House came into sight. "Chiron!"

He came around from the back porch, a light smile on his face. But when he saw me, dripping wet and scared, it fell off his face.

"Annabeth, what on earth happened?"

"Something's in the lake. Something bad."

"Come in, child. Tell me what happened."

He ushered me into the Big House, handing me a blanket and starting a fire. I wrapped the blanket around me.

"What happened, child?"

I told him about my experience in the lake.

Chiron pursed his lips. "Yes, well. I'll discuss this with Mr. D. You should go back to your cabin and get dried off."

"That's it? I nearly drown and all you say is get dried off? You can't be serious!" I got up, and dropped the blanket on the couch.

He looked at me sternly. "Sit down, Annabeth." I sat. Chiron sighed and rubbed his beard. "I was afraid this would happen."

"What?"

His cool gaze settled on me with a startling clarity. I drew back, shivering in my wet clothes. "You have to promise me you won't speak of this to anyone. Annabeth. Promise me."

Shakily, I promised. After a moment, I asked, "Chiron… What was that thing?"

Chiron stares past me at something I couldn't see. "I believe it was a water nymph," he said thoughtfully. I opened my mouth to protest my disbelief, but he cut me off. " I'm trusting you with this information, child. This is between you and me. Am I right in trusting you?"

"Yes, of course."

He nodded. "Good, good. Now, go get dry. I'll excuse from first activity to collect yourself."

"Thank you, Chiron." I stood up and started toward the door. Halfway, I stopped and turned back. "Is it mandatory? To, you know, go to the dance?"

"No, but I expect all of you to be there. Why do ask?"

"No reason. Thanks. Good night."

My wet clothes stuck to my body, giving me an uncomfortable feeling. The walk had never been so long.

Percy stood outside my cabin.

"Annabeth! What happened?"

"I slipped off the dock," I tell him, remembering my conversation with Chiron. "I'm really tired."

"Oh, okay. Can we talk later?"

"Sure," I sigh, groaning inwardly.

"Great."

Once inside, I took a shower and got in to fresh clothes, then collapsed onto my bed. Dreams of slimy hands haunted me as I fell into a heavy sleep.

… Two Hours Later ….

I woke up from my dream, startled. As the memories came flooding back, I ran my fingers through my hair. The hand, Percy's strange behavior, and the fact that girls are starting to like him… they all came swarming back.

Fixing my clothes, I left the cabin in search of Percy.

Finally I found him in the arena, slashing at dummies with Riptide. My throat tightened.

"Percy!"

Percy whipped around. His face visibly brightened when he saw me.

"Hey! Let's sit down."

He led me to the benches set up around the arena and we sat on opposite ends of one. After a few moments of awkward silence, Percy turned to me, serious. His steady gaze made me nervous, so I fiddled with the hem of my shirt.

"About the dance…"

"What about it?" I answered. All my anxiousness from the announcement that morning bubbled up.

"I was- Well… Uh. Do you have a date?"

"We've only known about it for like, four hours. I don't think anyone has had the chance to ask anyone."

"Right," he said, his confidence battered slightly, a blush appearing on his cheeks.

"Yeah. Is that all?"

"I guess…"

My stomach twisted in guilt. Here he was, trying to ask me to the dance, and I was being nasty. I started to apologize, but Percy was already turned away. In defeat, I left Percy to ravage the dummies.

"Hey, Annabeth," a clear voice spoke from behind me. I turned and saw Nick, a boy about my age from Apollo's cabin.

"Hey, Nick."

A crooked smile came onto his face. He had shaggy blonde hair, which was cut just above his clear blue eyes.

"Do have a date to the dance?"

Instantly, I thought about Percy, but he wasn't my date, and Nick was very cute...

"No, I don't."

The smile got bigger. "Would you like to go with me?"

"Sure," I said, feeling a smile forming on my own face.

"Great!"

I bit my lip as guilt grew in my stomach.

"Okay, well I'll see you later," I said awkwardly, and tried to resist running all the way to my second activity.

Had I betrayed Percy?