Happy Birthday, to me! Happy Birthday, to me! Happy Birthday, to meeeeeeee... Happy Birthday, to me! Yup, my birthday's on Father's Day.
And a very Happy Father's day to my dad and to all of your dads, too!
Okay, back to business.
Just a shorty short chapter for ya'll today. I would have updated sooner, but I was out of town.
This chapter is kinda sad. A rather emotional time for Annabeth, but she's been going through a lot.
The Aetos Kaukasios, or Caucasian Eagle, I found out, was the thing that attacked us. When I left Blackjack to get some rest, I wandered over to the remains of the automaton, hoping to find my knife still intact.
As I kicked through pieces of scrap metal, I saw the symbol of Hephaestus on one of the larger chunks. A flaming hammer. That's what let me know what it was that attacked us.
I finally managed to find my knife, which had remained untouched. Maybe it was a little extra from Apollo when I prayed to him. Maybe I was just lucky.
When I picked it up, I almost dropped it. Blood was on the tip of the knife where it had stabbed Blackjack. Guilt welled up in me, and I almost started crying again. I felt horrible. I knew that he had forgiven me, but guilt still clawed its way into my heart, settling next to the black void that opened up when Percy went missing.
My heart was taking a lot of damage lately.
I quickly wiped the knife in a patch of grass that managed to grow through the cracks in the rock, making sure that it was completely clean before walking back over to Blackjack.
I checked his flank, making sure that things were healing smoothly. All that was left was a small pink scar. I guessed that it would be stiff, but he would be able to start flying again soon.
I sat down next to him. The Caucasian Eagle confused me. What was it doing attacking us? It was supposed to be in the Underworld with Prometheus.
I shuddered, thinking about the Titan War. Prometheus was set free, but as far as I knew, he'd been chained back up and returned to the Eagle.
The closest I could guess is that the Eagle knew I had started a fire. Since Prometheus gave mankind fire, I guessed that the Eagle would react to something like that. Plus, I'm a demigod, so that would give it another reason to come after us.
I sat in the sun with Blackjack for a few hours, wanting him to rest as much as possible. I felt bad that I had pushed him so far. It was selfish of me, and I didn't really think about how he was.
Another wave of guilt washed over me. I felt like I was doing everything wrong. Blackjack had saved my skin too many times to count, and I repaid him by getting him stabbed by my freaking knife. While he was saving me.
I put my face in my hands, groaning, feeling tears come to my eyes. I let them out, not holding them back. I had been put through trial after trial, and I was done. Just done. I was tired to pretending that everything was okay, and that I knew what I was doing. I was tired of leading camp while everyone was so depressed. I was tired of my heart aching every time I thought of Percy or someone mentioned his name. I was tired of holding back my tears when I just wanted to cry.
I don't know how long I cried. I knew that Blackjack woke up, because he leaned his nose against me as comfort.
Suddenly, I heard someone clear their throat awkwardly.
My hand flew to my dagger and I jerked my head up, tears still running down my face. I pointed my dagger at a surprised-looking, floating head of Butch.
"Butch!" I cried wetly, wiping my face.
"Um...hi, Annabeth," he said, looking uncomfortable. "Are you...okay?"
"I'm fine," I said thickly. "What is it?"
He looked at me, his awkward expression changing softly. "What happened?"
"I just...I'm-"
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I don't mind," he said gently.
I nodded. "Is everything okay at camp?"
He looked at me a bit more before saying, "They're back."
Weyell, it looks like Jason, Piper, and Leo are back from their quest!
Consider this chapter a birthday present from me to you :) Even if it is...sad.
I'll see ya'll next time!
OKAY BYE.
P.S. I might update again today, but I'm not sure. No promises.