Ok people, I'm back and I'd like to thank everyone who had reviewed. But first of all, what kind of writer would I be if I didn't tell all of you now, ANNABETH'S ISN'T GONNA DIE. I mean, how could I let her die?! I'm sorry for creating some misunderstanding if any of you might have thought she died. Once again, NOT GONNA HAPPEN. This story's gonna have a happy ending dearies. :D Thanks to my awesomely wonderful beta, Venillashiz.
Time seemed to slow as Percy paced back and forth in front of the Big House. His heart thumped in time to the second hand on the old wooden clock on the wall behind him, as each minute that passed seemed like eternity. His head pounded with a headache from constant and pressing questions from campers, while his heart ached with a pulsing need to see Annabeth.
Suddenly, the door swung open and revealed a very grim-looking Chiron. His sorrowful expression made Percy's hope falter even more. "Percy, I'm so sorry. We tried every thing, but all we could do was to clean her wound as much as possible." He looked away, "The poison has spread throughout her body. It will not be long until it reaches her heart. It…it is too late."
Percy felt the world around him fade, Chiron's words ringing in his head. No, it can't be, she…Chiron had to be lying. Percy growled, "Tell me the truth! Tell me she's fine!" He rushed forward, Annabeth's celestial bronze knife in his quivering hand, it's tip at Chiron's chest.
Chiron's eyes were downcast. "I am sorry, Percy. I suggest you make the best of your time together."
Percy choked, looking away as the knife clattered to the floor. He turned and sprinted into the room Chiron had just exited. He flung the door open and was met with a dark room. Flicking on the lights, he felt his heart contract in pain when he saw Annabeth lying on the bed in the centre, unmoving and pale.
His felt his feet shuffle forward, coming to a stop at her bedside. He knelt down, his arms falling helplessly at his side. He could hear her shallow breathing and leaned his head down, laying it on her chest, a dry sob tearing at him when he hears it's slow beating and it's continuous faltering.
He looks at her, hoping for her to wake up and to forget everything that has happened. He should have been the one hurt, not her. It should have been him who was lying on that bed, on the verge of death, and not her. He held her in one arm, stroking her face with the other. He winced at her ice-cold skin, wrapping his arms tighter around her, as if hoping that the heat from his body might revive her.
As a warm trickle of tears began to pour down his cheeks, he felt her heart slow to an even more impossible pace - time was running out. He kissed her shakily and pressed his forehead to hers.
Suddenly, there was a burst of bright light. It flooded the room and pierced through his eyelids. Percy opened his eyes and gasped at the two pairs of footsteps approaching the bed. He could feel a different presence fill the room. A warm hand on his shoulder gently turned him round. He stared into the golden orbs of Apollo himself. Behind him, stood the goddess Athena, her back stiff and her cold grey eyes fixed on the lifeless body of her daughter.
Apollo gently unlatched Percy from Annabeth and pulled him off the bed. Percy stood hesitantly and moved away to allow Apollo to work his magic. The god stood above Annabeth's frail body and closed his eyes. He settled his hands over her chest, just where her barely beating heart lay. His hands glowed as he muttered something under his breath. Annabeth's breathing quickened and her body lifted up, floating over the bed.
Percy watched, wide-eyed as Annabeth hovered above them, her arms eagle-spread and her hair falling back in a shower of gold. She glowed for a second, when the glow concentrated on her stomach and then receded. She sank back onto the bed and her breathing slowed into a steady hum.
Apollo turned back to Percy and smiled slightly, his expression mixed with anxiety. "I'm sorry, there was only so much I could do. I couldn't remove all the poison, though I could only slow down the process a little bit. I have it concentrated in her abdomen, so it will take a longer time to spread to her heart. I am sorry to say that only the cure itself can save her and that will come from the monster that did this to her."
He placed a hand on Percy's quivering shoulder, "Percy, I'm afraid it will be entirely up to you whether she lives or not. You have to find the cure, I have bought you about 2 weeks, no more. Do what you can or she will die." He walked away in one sweeping motion, leaving a shocked Percy alone with Athena - someone he really wanted to avoid.
Percy tried to stifle the shiver that ran down his spine when he felt Athena's deadly, cold glare prickling into his back. He felt a slight draft of wind signaling her movement. She came to stand in front of him and Percy blinked, looking her straight in the eye. Athena regarded him for a moment before she spoke, her tone soft and controlled.
"I'm not going to pretend that I don't think even a little that this isn't your fault. You could have saved her Percy Jackson, and you know it. However, I am not going to condemn you as you might have done her, I will give you another chance to save her life."
Athena walked towards the door and looked back, whispering so softly that he almost could not hear her, "Please, do not fail." The composed look on her face slipped for a second and suddenly Percy could see the turmoil, hurt and torment inside her, but it left as quickly as it came. Athena slipped out the door, shutting it quietly.
He could hear hushed voices speaking on the other side of the door as he went back to holding Annabeth. He rocked her back and forth and smoothed her hair back as he kissed her forehead. Chiron trotted in and he looked up. His old mentor seemed at a loss for words as he simply looked at Percy sadly.
Percy sighed as another minute passed between them, "I know Chiron, I'll be going soon." He gently lay Annabeth back down and lifted the covers up to her chin. He looked down longingly at her and bent slightly to press a soft kiss to her lips.
Standing up, her looked at Chiron and hung his head slightly, "I'm sorry Chiron, I didn't mean to…"
Chiron nodded, "It's quite alright Percy." He held open the door for them. "I believe you have a quest ahead of you?"
Percy felt a sense of sudden responsibility and determination wash over him as he stepped out of the room.
"Yeah."
"Well then, I believe a visit to Miss Dare would be appropriate?" Chiron tilted his head in the direction of the cabins.
Percy squared his shoulder and walked towards a small cabin next to his. It was decorated in skulls and colored black. He knocked on the door and an anxious-looking Rachel Dare opened. Her eyes widened at the sight of Percy and she hugged him while pulling him into the cabin. Percy nodded at the other members. Thalia, Nico and Grover rushed to his side as he sat down on one of the beds in the room.
He pursed his lips and spoke, "She has two weeks to live." Rachel's gasp shook him and he turned to see her glow. The familiar green mist curled around her and her eyes flashed green. Her mouth opened as the eerie words tumbled out of it.
"The chosen three will answer the call,
To storm and march down hell's hall,
Only one shall stand to make the journey,
For his love may perish eternally,
The ring shall hold all,
And without it all will fall.
The lost prophecy resides in the west,
And to it, he must surpass the test."
The green mist was sucked back into her body and Rachel gasped, her body slumping before she straightened up. She shook her head slightly, clearing her face of it's dazed look. The rest gaped at her before Nico spoke up, "Well, I better be one of the three or I'm gonna summon some dead people!"
They laughed before a serious atmosphere settled over them - the prophecy had yet to be
deciphered.
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Thanks for reading! This time how bout let's try 15 reviews? I would like so much to update as soon as I have again. :D