I always feel like this story is going by and being updated very slowly...I apologize if you think that too. At this moment, I am juggling four stories, including this one, so please be patient with me:)
I do not own anything of the Percy Jackson series. I'm just another fangirl who loves to read them. I don't own the exact quotes from the books.
Enjoy! :)
Percy's fingers curled into fists by his sides. Annabeth could feel his tightened knuckles graze hers as they approached the diner parking lot. She looked down at them and then lifted her head to meet eyes with him. But his gaze was focused on one target only: Ares—the god of war, the one who tricked them.
She couldn't stand this god either; he was probably the one god she hated. But that didn't mean she had to let him know that she abhorred him. Besides, he was from Olympus so he had to know about the books. She couldn't have Percy ruin her chance to find out answers about them.
Annabeth touched one of his fists and his glare immediately unlocked from Ares and averted to her. She could still see a green fire in them, like waves clashing and colliding with rage.
She sighed in slightly annoyance and then stopped, also stopping Percy by placing a hand on his shoulder. She made him turn to face her.
"What?" he snapped.
She wanted to slap him, but she knew it was just the presence of war around them. It made her heart churn, like she was ready for a fight, but she couldn't let it overwhelm her.
So all Annabeth did was squeeze his shoulder—but she can't say she did it lightly.
Percy winced.
"Will you get a hold of yourself?" She demanded to him.
"How?! That jerk is—"
"Yes, he's a jerk. He's the god of war, Percy. You don't want to get on his bad side, but knowing you, I have a feeling you're going to get on his worse bad side."
"What do you expect me to do? He tricked us and he told Poseidon that Hades had stolen the bolt to start a war!"
"It's in his nature! It is obvious he would be a traitor!"
Percy clenched his teeth and looked away from her, glaring at the ground.
She sighed again. This wasn't working as well as she thought it was going to be. "You're too hot-headed. You're the son of Poseidon, learn to cool down,"
"Oh, ha-ha, very funny, Wise Girl," he rolled his eyes.
She lightly punched him in the shoulder. "You know what I mean. Look, Percy. You may not like him—we don't, either. But he's a god. He's more than likely to have answers that we need and I will not let you blow off that chance."
She continued, "So even if you feel like he's an enemy and compare him to the others you hate, because that's what his powers do to people, just try to forget about them. They're not here. And you're a Big Three half-blood—you can do more than they ever could."
Percy finally met her eyes.
"Understood?"
He hesitated before saying, "Yeah,"
"Cooperate. Control how you act around him." Annabeth advised as she released her grip from his shoulder and they continued making their way to Grover and Ares. "That's how Ares finds pleasure: when he knows he's gotten to his victims. Don't let him see that or else you're already showing your flaws."
Percy nodded. "I know. I'll try,"
Annabeth gave him a small smile. "Good,"
Grover shot her a sideways look. She was confused at first, but then the weight of her backpack brought her back to her senses. The books. Was what she said right? She wasn't sure because this was the first time she didn't really care if they weren't.
"Well, well," Ares said, his arms crossed over his bulging chest. "You didn't get yourself killed."
"You knew it was a trap," Percy said beside Annabeth.
Ares grinned. "Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids. You looked good on TV."
Percy couldn't help himself. Hatred washed through his veins as easily as if it were water. He couldn't help that his fingers absentmindedly curled into fists when he was around this guy.
He shoved the large shield at Ares. "You're a jerk."
Oh, great, Annabeth was about to face-palm. Or worse—punch Percy. She didn't, but she can't believe Percy would blow off the entire pep talk she just gave him and insult Ares to his face! What was the point on trying to make him calm down?
She felt Grover catch his breath beside her.
But Ares didn't seem to realize it. He grabbed his shield and spun it, the large weapon morphing into a bulletproof vest in the air and he strapped it to his back when he caught it again. It was so swift, like something he'd done many times before, and Annabeth thought that for a second she might've blinked. The moment passed when Ares pointed past them.
"See that truck over there?"
She turned to find an eighteen-wheeler parked across the street. It had a sign on the back that read something about a Zoo transport. She wasn't sure due to her dyslexia.
"That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas."
Percy scoffed, "You're kidding,"
Ares snapped his fingers and the doors to the truck unlatched. "Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job." He tossed Percy a blue backpack and inside was money, clothes, and a bag of Oreos. They looked delicious.
"I don't want your lousy—"
"Thank you, Lord Ares," Grover interrupted and shot Percy a look. "Thanks a lot."
Annabeth studied her gray eyes on Percy, who looked fuming like he was about to punch Ares. But she knew that he wouldn't.
Percy did feel that way. He was thinking about doing that. He thought about every other bully he knew and it angered him just like it would anger anyone else even if the god of war wasn't around them. He would so like to get rid of him, but Percy remembered what Annabeth had said: You're too hot-headed; so even if you feel like he's the enemy or compare him to the others you hate…forget about them. They're not here.
Annabeth was right, he decided.
As much as he hated to admit that, she was. She was smart and her advice was already making that raging water inside of him ease. But his eyes glanced over and he found that the waitress and cook were talking frantically, staring at them, and then took a picture of them. Another newspaper.
That anger came back but then he could feel Annabeth's glare on him, so he decided to clench his teeth but let his attitude rest.
"You owe me one more thing," he said. "You promised me information about my mother."
Ares was already climbing onto his motorcycle and he kick-started it. "You sure you can handle the news?"
Annabeth stood there, waiting for Ares to continue. But he didn't. He stopped talking as he stared at Percy and Grover. She blinked, still waiting, and suddenly realized it was like time had stopped. She looked over at her friends, and they, too looked like they were waiting. But they literally weren't moving.
She started to panic. What was happening?
"So, you want answers," Ares's voice said.
She looked back at him. He was still sitting on his bike, but it wasn't making a noise. Nothing was making a noise around them.
"What did you do?"
"I'm immortal. There are certain things I can do."
"I didn't think stopping time was one."
"For now it is, but we don't have much time. The books." He said.
She stared at him hard, trying to catch his bluff or his lie. But he didn't flinch. His red eyes kept blazing at her from behind his dark sunglasses. Her chest tightened. He really did know about them. And if he did, that means that the other gods knew, too.
"Are they really sent from the future?" she asked.
He pressed his lips firmly. "Yes. We, gods aren't affected by time. So when you suddenly sent us that package, we decided to oblige."
"I sent them? I really did?"
Ares nodded. "It was quite smart, I have to say. But you are a daughter of Athena, so it was also expected."
She felt pride and happiness burst through her system. "Why did I send them? What happened?"
He shrugged and picked at his nails with a dagger. "We don't know. They just appeared. We guess it has something to do with—" he stopped himself. "Well, you'll find out later. The thing that you need to know is that you have to keep this more of a secret. No one else can know about this."
"What!" Annabeth was mad. "I have been keeping it a secret!"
"Really, punk? Then how do you explain the goat?" he gestured the knife toward Grover.
"That wasn't my fault! Something about the time period, it's messing with my health!"
"It's your memories. The Olympians have already discussed this. Your memories are stuck in that time period when you left, making time stop and rewind for a second round. Your actions will be the same as you left off. Like when a person gets in a gruesome car crash and loses their memory, they still barely remember the thing they had been frantic about before the crash." Ares shrugged. "At least, that's what your mother kept babbling on about."
Annabeth blinked. "The headaches?"
"Your mom said it was since your brain isn't used to 'time travel', and it keeps trying to, but you haven't reached that time again to continue on."
"And the stomachaches…" she trailed off. "I must've gotten stabbed or something." Annabeth felt terror run through her. If she had gotten stabbed, then that means she would've been killed. And if that was the case, then she didn't want to go back at all.
But Ares had an unsettling frown deepen on his face. "No," he said, "it's far worse than getting stabbed."
Annabeth narrowed her eyes at him. "Then what was it?"
"Can't tell yah, punk," he grunted and continued picking at his nails.
He was trying to make her angry, she knew, and that made her glare at him a little bit. But then she saw that he was still frowning, hiding something not to have the pleasure of watching her squirm, but because there really was something seriously wrong. She had to take advantage of what he was giving her. This was rare for the god of war to be helping her with this much information. It surprised her.
"Is there anything I can do to skip all of this and go back to before I rewound time?" Saying that sentence made her brain wrap itself into a confused knot.
He shook his head. "You have to relive it. And trust me, kid, if you can do that, then you can do anything. And I would definitely be amazed,"
She straightened, another bubble of pride swelling up in her chest. She stared at him uncertainly. Was he really saying this? The thought was almost scaring her.
"Then do you think the gods could help me?"
"We already are." Ares stood from his bike. "Hephaestus has holed himself up in his workshop, building some toys you can use."
Annabeth's eyes widened. "Why are you helping me?"
"We take pity on those we know are going to die."
She frowned. That did not sound good at all.
"Like with Zeus and that punk girl."
"Thalia," Annabeth said.
"Yeah, her,"
"How selfish of you. Do you really think I won't make it? I am a daughter of Athena; I don't need your pathetic pity."
He gave her a look, and it wasn't full of anger. Although that red fire was still blazing, it was solemn in a way. "Trust me when I say you're going to want it. You don't know what you're up against, Annabeth Chase. Your quests are dangerous, especially when hanging around that Percy kid. Things are only going to get worse from here."
She swallowed.
"So when a god tells you that all of Olympians are out to help you, you better be glad. This doesn't happen all the time."
"Then why is it happening now?"
"I told you, it's getting worse. Since your little run-in with that Fury on the bus, word's gotten around Tartarus and the Underworld about your books. Every monster is in on it. Every enemy that you thought you had just met the first time, is now going to be worse this second time."
Her shoulders sunk forward. "That's why all the monsters are acting quicker. Because they know." Annabeth started to talk slow as the thought began to dawn on her. "Because they're also immortal. So they aren't affected to time difference like gods, so they already know what's happening."
"That's half true. They get rebirth in Tartarus. They may be trapped behind the Doors of Death, but they basically restart. Some of them don't remember everything, but enough to know that they hate you."
"Wonderful," Annabeth rubbed her eyes.
"Don't sweat it, kid. That's not the worst thing you have to worry about at this moment."
"Stop trying to cheer me up. It's not working."
"You have this quest to worry about. They're both tied together. If those books are affecting your enemies, then that means that the quest is going to get harder."
Annabeth opened her mouth to say something, but then Ares sat back on his bike and started it again.
"I'd love to stay and chat, punk, but we're out of time. Just don't tell Percy, here. He can't know—not until the end."
"I thought you said the gods were going to help me with tools?"
"Later. When you're really going to need them."
"Wait one last question. Why am I the only one that can see the words, but Grover can't?"
"Every favor for the gods comes with a price," he responded in a threatening tone, but then added on, "and with this one, the books can only be seen when they are most needed to be. Your friend could only see it that one time because you were desperate to not be alone. It won't always be like that."
She tried to take this time to gather all of her thoughts. Everything is so confusing, like a dream in a dream in a dream and the impossible is now happening in front of her eyes. She wondered if she also felt like this the first time. There's a lingering feeling in her stomach that tells her that she had, but she knows that this time is going to be more difficult. The impossible of the impossible is happening—and that means something in Greek mythology.
She sighed. Why was it that her life was always complicated—even for demigod standards?
Before Annabeth could answer her own question, she felt something shift around her, like a wind that continued its breeze. The cars around her started moving again and people chewed on their food in the diner. Ares had started up time again.
"She's not dead." Ares continued.
Annabeth had to think about where they left off. Then she remembered about the information he agreed to tell Percy.
"She's being kept somewhere as a hostage." He said.
Annabeth studied the god. The muscle in his jaw was twitching. She should've known. So much help he's giving, she should've known that he'd have a limit before he started getting irritated by it. His eyes look like he's bloodthirsty to see something gruesome, like he can't stand all this help any longer.
"What? Why?" Percy asked. All the color had drained from his face, like his world was spinning at that fact. He almost looked like he's about to puke.
Ares sighed in annoyance. "A hostage is used to get control over someone."
"Nobody's controlling me." Percy had his hands balled up into fists and his glare set on the god again.
But Ares threw his head back and laughs heartily. Evilly. It had a chill rattling down Annabeth's spine. She felt like he's about to do something horrible to them. But he doesn't. He said, "Oh yeah? See you around, kid."
Percy opened his mouth, ready to throw back a retort, but Annabeth clamped a hand on his shoulder. The action hurts her—that's how she knew she shouldn't have done that—and Ares throws her a look.
"You're pretty smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues." Percy sneered.
Ares's eyes glowed. It was so furious, so warm, so full of hatred and violence, that that was how Annabeth knew that that's what Ares had been waiting for. He wanted an insult, something to hurt him because that's his domain: threats and something to kill, hurt, suffer. Whether he was helpful with information just this once, it didn't matter. He will always be the god of war. He will always be up to no good.
This frightened Annabeth just a little bit, because she was certain that they would meet Ares again later.
She was certain that all this good information was strange for the god. He must've done something evil, behind it all.
He smirked like he knew something they didn't. "We'll meet again, Percy Jackson. Next time you're in a fight, watch your back."
Annabeth had a strange feeling about what was to come. A lot of pressure was taken off her chest, and she breathed deeply, though it still felt like something was making her throat tight. She finally got answers…but also more questions. What was the danger?
Then before she knew it, she was face-to-face with wild animals.
Immediately when she thought that, she took it back. They weren't wild animals; they were in need of help. Their nature had been abused by the driver's of the truck. She could see this by the golden light shining off of Percy's sword.
When she looked at that pen turn into a sword, she knew it's his signature weapon, but wondered if it could also be a pen? Greek mythology does come in many ways, but she decided not to ask him about it just yet because they have other problems to deal with at the problem.
They tried to calm down all the animals in the truck—including Grover, who was mad about the animal abuse. They helped the animals and gave them what they needed. It wasn't much, but enough difference apart from the humans that did it to them. Seriously, who gives an antelope a balloon? Ridiculous.
The truck rattled beneath them as they sat in the corner on the feed sacks. It wasn't the most comfortable, but it was enough to get by. The only thing that bothered Annabeth was that she could focus on the tiny print of the book. Percy still had his sword out and its glow was her only light source. She knew she was taking a risk reading right in front of him, but she had no choice. Every now and then she'll glance over where he can't see and find that he isn't even looking in her direction.
But Grover is looking. He glared at the pages, straining to see it. Soon, he gives up and Annabeth gives him a silent look before he goes to sleep. She thought back to what Ares had said and guessed now wasn't the most needed time for it. She felt a little scared that she might not be able to remember the important things to tell him. But then another half of her is so relieved because now she doesn't have to worry about Percy seeing them.
But then again…if he caught her buried into and frantic about a book with blank pages, he'll lose trust in her, thinking she's insane.
That relieved feeling is gone. It didn't change much knowing it can only be read when needed to be.
Annabeth couldn't help but have a little fun with it.
"Hey, I'm sorry for freaking out back at the water park, Percy," She read out loud.
"That's okay." Percy responded, and Annabeth feels a weight come off her chest when she matched it to his response in the book.
"It's just…spiders." She shuddered at that thought.
"Because of the Arachne story," he said.
Annabeth nodded. "If there's a spider within a mile of me, it'll find me. I hate the creepy little things. Anyway, I owe you."
She knew it was a little bit wrong to do this, almost playing with Percy, since she was really just reading from the book, but, hey, it appeared in a moment of need, didn't it?
"We're a team, remember?" He said, "Besides, Grover did the fancy flying."
Grover gave a small smile even though Annabeth had believed he was asleep. "I was pretty amazing, wasn't i?"
She and Percy laughed. It had been a while since she'd done that, what with all this pain and terror of the monsters and aches. Mostly, she'd just been screaming and crying and running. Never was it laughing. That's why it felt good, almost like curing her stomach.
Annabeth took an Oreo from the box and gave Percy half. She glanced back down at the book, and almost startled out of her skin when she did the exact movements. "In the Iris message…did Luke really say nothing?"
It was hard for her to say this because she did know what Luke said. She knew Percy was lying just to make her feel better. She wasn't sure if she was proud of that decision of his, or if she wanted to glare at him for it.
"Luke said you and he go way back." Percy explained as he bit off the cookie part. "He also said Grover wouldn't fail this time. Nobody would turn into a pine tree."
Annabeth had heard those words come out of his mouth before she read it, since it traveled on to the other page. Tears gathered in the corner of her eyes as she recognized what Luke had referred to. They were talking about Thalia. But Percy doesn't know that. And it was weird because of how much Percy seemed like Thalia.
She met Grover's gaze, though it was slightly difficult in the dim light. He said in a trembling voice, "I should've told you the truth from the beginning. I thought if you knew what a failure I was, you wouldn't want me along."
"You were the satyr who tried to rescue Thalia," Percy had pieced it together. "And the other two half-bloods…that was you and Luke, wasn't it?" She could feel his eyes on her. She knew it was time for him to know about her and Grover's past.
When they were done conversing about what had happened that night when Thalia took her last stand on Half-Blood Hill, a pine tree marking her place—but also guarding a border and the tallest point showing Zeus's pity for his daughter. How she and Luke and Grover had to continue into camp, even though they had lost someone they loved.
Annabeth could remember that night like it happened yesterday instead of five years ago. She remembered feeling as though a hole had stabbed into her heart, how the world seemed to get darker without her electric blue eyes lighting the way. The feeling of desperation had run through her, wanting to save Thalia, wanting to not leave her side. But Luke and Grover were already dragging her, whom was kicking and screaming.
She could remember watching as that pine tree grew where Thalia had fallen. She hated that tree, because it could never be her best friend.
No, not her best friend—her sister. She had never had a sibling, only step-siblings, and she hated those more than she hated her stepmom. Thalia was her only sister, one older and Annabeth looked up to her throughout their entire time on the run.
Now she was gone.
That feeling of loss still sunk in her stomach.
Grover's snoring slowly brought her back into the world and she remembered that they were sitting in a truck next to rare Zoo animals. She remembered Percy was sitting next to her and that books that were sent from the future were resting on her lap.
"How does he do that?" Percy asked, his voice reaching higher in astonishment.
"I don't know but that was a really nice thing you told him."
"I meant it."
There was silence, and she wiped a silent tear from her cheek and flipped the page in the book, continuing reading.
Percy asked, "Seriously, what is up with you and that book? You hold onto it like it's your lifeline."
She suddenly noticed how hard she was gripping it like she was afraid someone would take it from her. Ever since Ares had told her that monsters in Tartarus and the Underworld were interested in the gift that had been sent to her, she'd felt more alert. Almost as if she thought one of them would burst into the floor of the truck, take it from her, then get swallowed by the ground again and read all of their dirty little secrets in Hades's palace.
Annabeth stared at the floor.
Thankfully, no monsters showed up.
"I just like reading. Is that hard for you to understand?" Annabeth asked, though it came out harsher than she meant it.
Percy shrugged. "I was just wondering," he mumbled. "I wouldn't think that even a daughter of Athena would find the time to read when we're on a quest."
She sighed and her hand absentmindedly went to her necklace. "Well I guess you could say it helps me focus on what we really have to do."
"That pine tree bead," he said, "Is that from your first year?"
Her fingers stopped moving the bead. She could feel its clay and warmth. "Yeah, every August, the counselors pick the most important event from the summer for each bead. I got her pine tree, a Greek trireme on fire, a centaur in a prom dress—now that was a weird summer…"
"And the college ring is your father's?"
"Yeah," she said.
She glanced at the book. Different words, different tone; she should've snapped at him first. Why didn't she? Then, at that point, she realized something else as well. She was comfortable, and glad to be there. Had she already warmed up to Percy? Even though he could be a pain, a Seaweed Brain, and hot-headed, she was still proud to be his friend.
She wondered if she was this fond of him before, and that is why she has grown on him so quickly now. Because she has already been used to him for however many years to come.
"You don't have to tell me." Percy said, bringing her back once again.
She explained that he sent it to her; it was his last piece of Athena, besides her being the goddess's daughter. How, in the letter, he'd apologized for being a jerk and that he missed her. How much he wanted her to come back home.
"That doesn't sound so bad," Percy said in a soft voice.
"The problem was that I believed him," her voice was heavy. "I tried going back to school but my stepmom was the same as ever. She didn't want her kids put in danger by living with a freak. Monsters attacked, we argued, monsters attacked, we argued. I didn't even make it to winter break. I called Chiron and came right back to camp."
He waited a beat. "You think you'll ever try living with your dad again?"
"Please. I'm not into self-inflicted pain." That was a lie.
"You shouldn't give up. You should write him a letter or something."
"Thanks for the advice, but my father's made his choice about who he wants to live with."
Her eyes trailed after the words. It was weird, because it was exactly the way she felt now. She would've thought her stepmom or her dad or even herself would've changed about this. But, according to this life, things shouldn't ever change.
Percy didn't respond to that.
Annabeth waited for him to continue, though.
Finally, he did, saying, "So if the gods fight, will things line up the way they did with the Trojan War? Will it be Athena versus Poseidon?"
Annabeth decided to close the book from there, her own eyelids drooping in agreement when it said she would sleep. She rested her head against the backpack from Ares. "I don't know what my mom will do. I just know I'll fight next to you."
"Why?"
"Because you're my friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?"
Annabeth didn't have to read some line in some strange book. She didn't need that book to tell her what to say, that that was her choice that she had made the first time. She didn't have to be told that that was what she thought, because she already knew it. She already knew she would always—whatever the danger—fight right next to him. All the time.
And she meant it.
That was how she drifted off to sleep.
Unfortunately, sleep still brought nightmares.
Percy wasn't the only one who was dreaming of Thalia.
The scary thing, to Annabeth, about nightmares was that they always felt so real. Thalia stood in front of her, her hair still short and spiky, and those stormy blue-green eyes shining. Her eyeliner and mascara was still heavy, the freckles still dark on her pale skin. Still, black clothes and leather jacket.
Annabeth missed this.
Thalia raised something in front of her face. Annabeth had to take a while to register what it was, and realized that it was The Lightning Thief.
"Give it back!" Annabeth laughed as she reached out to take the book back.
Thalia let the book down, and her face wasn't laughing. Something worse is coming, she told her. Something far, far worse!
"What is it?" Annabeth asked her as her laughter died.
What are you waiting for? You need me! I can help you!
"You're gone, Thalia!" Annabeth cried, and suddenly tears were streaking her cheeks. "You can't help me!"
She didn't answer, though. Then her stormy eyes widened and her pupils dilated as they focused on something behind Annabeth. She felt her muscles tighten and she whirled around, expecting to find a monster wanting the books.
All she saw was darkness.
Hurry up, Annie. I thought you were smart. That punk, Percy, may be a Kelp Head, but time is getting tired.
"What are you talking about?!" Annabeth said in distraught and she turned back around to look at Thalia.
But her friend—sister—was gone.
"Annabeth, over here!" Another voice called out from behind her. It was recognizable, and something she knew she had just heard a few minutes ago, not a few years ago.
She turned around to face him—Grover.
"Wh-what? Did you see her, too?"
"No," he furrowed his eyebrows. "Who?"
She shook her head. "Never mind. How are you here?"
"I told you," he said, approaching her, "Empathy link. We don't have much time, though."
That's what she told me, Annabeth thought.
"What happens next?"
Annabeth thought. She had fallen asleep before she could read the rest. She guessed that was when they would get out of the truck. Or at least, they couldn't be that far away.
Grover groaned.
"I'm sorry!" She said. "I didn't—"
"No, not you," he said, "the link is already weak. I've got to grow on it some more…"
"What does that mean?"
"It means we have to wake up now."
"But—"
There were loud banging noises thumping into the dream. Something harsh, like metal-on-metal, and it made the dream cut off with a snap!
Annabeth woke up, startled, and found Percy still asleep, but Grover trying to wake him.
"They're coming to check up on the animals." Grover said, and Annabeth figured he could hear the voices of the animals.
They met eye contact. Annabeth thought about her dream, seeing Thalia, who was warning her, like she was impatient. Like she thought she was alive.
A sliver of hope crawled through her. She was reminded of how real her dream was, how much she did miss her friend, how much that empathy link seemed so strong, when really, it was weak.
There was pounding against the metal doors of the truck, and even the animals looked frightened. She guessed that the driver's were opening up the truck. They knew that sound too well.
It made her sick, but not the kind that pained her abdomen. Suddenly, Percy sat straight up and was breathing heavily, though awake. She could see the terror in his eyes. The mark from his nightmare. She wondered what it was, and almost grabbed for her book, but then Grover cut them off:
"The truck's stopped. We think they're coming to check on the animals."
Annabeth's brain suddenly lurched forward, knowing what to do, and she grabbed her cap. "Hide!" Soon, she was invisible.
At the last second, Grover and Percy jumped behind the feed sacks. As they were out of sight, the doors opened, and the truck was filled with light. It hurt her eyes how the difference changed so quickly.
Annabeth didn't know what to do. She felt exposed. They couldn't run out with him still there. They surely couldn't leave these animals here.
Especially not with them feeding them a Happy Meal bag and leaving them with a stupid magician.
Annabeth acted without thinking. She reached over and knocked on the side of the truck.
The one trucker that was there, threatening the animals, yelled, "What do you want, Eddie?"
A voice—must've been Eddie's—shouted back, "Maurice? What'd ya say?"
"What are you banging for?"
Annabeth held her breath. If it didn't work…she knocked again.
Eddie yelled again, "What banging?"
The one man that she could see and not just hear rolled his eyes and went out of the truck. She could hear him cursing at his friend, Eddie.
She released her breath. She took off her cap next to Percy. "This transport business can't be legal."
"No kidding," Grover said. Then he paused, most likely listening to the animals. "The lion says these guys are animal smugglers! We've got to free them!"
Annabeth and he looked at Percy. It was up to him. He was the leader. She always knew it, even if no one said it. She also knew this because it was his point-of-view in the book. He was the main character.
He looked at them, Annabeth feeling a nostalgic warmth on her arms when he met her eyes, and then at the animals. He studied the zebra, and she wondered that, because of him being Poseidon's son, maybe he could hear that horse as well. Suddenly, Percy stood and uncapped his pen, turning into Riptide, and he slashed the lock off of the zebra's cage.
The animal burst out and the strangest thing happened. It bowed to Percy. She concluded that he could, in fact, talk to zebras. What a weird boy.
It leaped over him and clopped down the street, running as fast as it could. She felt a sense of pride for it, that it could finally be free, but then she just realized—they had released a zebra into Las Vegas. That couldn't end well, either.
The two idiots that drove the truck here ran after the zebra, a few policemen following them and screaming at them.
"Now would be a good time to leave," Annabeth said.
"The other animals first," Grover insisted.
Percy immediately turned around and cut off the rest of the locks. Grover gave a goat blessing to them as well.
"Good luck," Percy told the animals.
Yep, Annabeth thought. He really is the weirdest boy I've ever met.
The animals, though, did just as the zebra did. They ran down the street. She wondered how long it had been since they've run.
Her thoughts were cut off by screams. She poked her head out of the truck and found that it came from some people, while others took pictures.
"Will the animals be okay?" She heard Percy say behind her to Grover. "I mean, the desert and all—"
"Don't worry," Grover cut him off. "I placed a satyr's sanctuary on them."
She looked over her shoulder at him. Annabeth wondered how many satyr magic tricks Grover had in those hooves. First, the empathy link, now the sanctuary, and the sense to talk to animals. And to sense Pan, but that was another story.
"Meaning?" Percy looked confused.
"Meaning they'll reach the wild safely. They'll find water, food, shade, whatever they need until they find a safe place to live."
"Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" Percy asked.
"It only works on wild animals."
"So it would only affect Percy," Annabeth smirked.
Who could blame her? She saw her chance and she took it.
"Hey!" Percy gave her a look.
"Kidding," she grinned. "Come on let's get out of this filthy truck."
Beep
Beep
Beep-Beep
Bonk
Honk
Bang!
Annabeth narrowed her eyes, studying the 3-D screen in front of her. The building was slowly rising from the ground, and her eyes concentrated on the screen, building and planning, building and planning. She knew exactly what she wanted to be one day. An architect.
This game was perfect for her.
Her fingers glided across the board, making directions, building, making, creating, inventing. It was wonderful. She could almost feel the blueprint beneath the pads of her fingers. She could actually feel like she did this for a living.
This made her brain pause, but her fingers kept moving.
How long had she been here?
It only felt like a couple hours that she had been building, but she also couldn't remember the time difference of when they had first entered the Lotus Hotel and Casino.
She remembered one thing happening in particular, though. One thing that kept nagging at her brain this entire time. It was like she was trying to pull a memory, but it wouldn't come out loose enough.
When she first walked around, looking at all the games to play, she had walked past a shooting game. Two kids were playing on it—a girl with dark hair and olive skin, and a small boy with the same features. They must've been brother and sister.
She stared at them for what seemed like the longest time. They looked so familiar.
Annabeth had gotten a glance at the screen. There were dancing skeletons in old armor, like they were in a battle, fighting a war. Like they had been an army raised from the dead.
"Yeah!" The little boy jumped and grinned. "Kill 'em!"
The girl, his sister, grinned as well, but continued playing.
Annabeth approached as the girl, about her age—maybe a little younger—controlled the undead army to attack. She slashed with a flick of her wrist on the joystick and laughed manically.
"I wanna try!" The little boy reached forward, his eyes clouded with excitement.
"Wait!" the girl laughed as she continued playing.
"Bianca!" The boy dragged on her name. "Let me play!"
"Okay, okay—" The girl—Bianca—cut herself off as Annabeth stood next to them, watching. She hadn't said anything to them yet. "Hi, you want to play?" Bianca asked her.
Before Annabeth could answer, the boy frowned. "But I asked first!"
"Nico, don't be rude!" Bianca said.
Annabeth looked at the boy, and then her eye had caught on the architecture game. "No, thanks," she said as if she were in a trance and then she had trailed off to the game.
This game. The one she's still playing now.
Bianca. Nico.
The names felt so known in her head. She didn't know why; it was strange. Had she met them before? She didn't think so. She had never been to Las Vegas before this. Maybe they lived here.
She wanted to look over her shoulder and see if they were still there, but she couldn't risk a glance with this game. It tested her.
"Come on, we've got to get out of here."
And she was so close to building the most magnificent building ever—
Something shook her, making her fingers slip. Anger and fury ran through her system and she looked up, glaring at whoever the culprit was for interrupting her. She found Percy, and the glare deepened into annoyance. "What?" she snapped.
"We need to leave."
She turned back to her game. She had to do this. She'd spent so much time on the towers that she wasn't going to give up on it now.
"Leave? What are you talking about? I've just got the towers—"
"This place is a trap." He tried to insist to her, but she didn't feel the need to care. She had this game to worry about.
Annabeth carefully placed up the tower again, the blocks, the squares. It would be better than anyone had ever seen—
Percy shook her again.
She pursed her lips. "What?"
"Listen." His tone was sounding agitated, urgent. "The Underworld. Our quest!"
Oh, right. That.
"Oh, come on, Percy. Just a few more minutes." She complained. She didn't want to leave. She had to finish this!
"Annabeth, there are people here from 1977. Kids who never aged. You check in, and you stay forever."
The thought of Nico and Bianca came into her head. How long had they been here? They didn't look like they had aged if they've been here since 1977. She wondered how much longer they would stay in here…Lucky them, the thought slipped into her brain so easily.
"So?" Annabeth asked. "Can you imagine a better place?"
Just one last flick of the wrist and—
Percy grabbed her wrist and pulled her away from the board.
That wasn't a flick! The whole tower toppled over!
"Hey!" She screamed and she slapped him in the face.
Percy made a face, but didn't let it affect him; like he was determined to ruin her life by taking her away from the game. His grip tightened on her wrists and he pulled her close.
He looked right into her eyes, seeing how clear his sea green eyes were. How they seemed so familiar…
"Spiders." He said. "Large, hairy spiders."
Annabeth widened her eyes, the thought hitting her like a lightning bolt. Everything about being in the hotel was forgotten, except for wondering how long she had been in here, brainwashed!
But most importantly—Percy. The thought of him here led her to the thought of the books. Everything came rushing back, along with the surge of panic.
"Oh my gods," she said, "How long have we—"
"I don't know, but we've got to find Grover."
There was a shine in his eyes, like he was relieved to have her back and not still frustrated about the game. She glanced back at it, but it didn't seem as tempting anymore. She had bigger, greater, and worse problems. A part of her seemed to scream out to the game, knowing that it would be so simple to just stay here and play…instead of having to deal with vicious and curious monsters.
But she couldn't.
Because she promised she would always fight next to Percy and Grover.
Annabeth turned and followed Percy through the Lotus Casino.
This chapter was a lot of fun to write(: I hope it helped cleared some things up with the affects of the time-rewinding.
If any of you have read my new story (shipping Jasper), then don't worry I'm working on the second chapter tomorrow. If you haven't, and are a Jasper shipper, I suggest you go check it out. It's called Dreams Make Miracles and I am just as excited to be writing that story as I am for this one.
HALLOWEEN IS TOMORROW! xD so excited. I am being one of my own characters from my book I'm [trying] to write. He's a guy who resembles a rabbit so I'll be...I guess you could say a gender-bender rabbit? Anyways, what are you being? I want to know! :) (Not in a stalker-ish way).
Until the next chapter. :D