Hey!
Sorry for the delay. My internet was down for a couple of days, so I haven't been able to put on another chapter.
But news for today: I actually went camping with my friend. It was awesome, except that there were like a million mosquitoes and I'm all itchy now. x)
Well, that's enough of me. The chapter is below. R&R!
Percy's POV
Argus left us on the nearest bus station. From there we took a bus to Neshanic Station, New Jersey. On our way, we crossed this bridge, which I supposed was really impressive, because Annabeth went all nuts and jumped up and down on her seat babbling something about the bridge's architecture. I was anxious during the ride – I wondered, when the first monsters would attack us. When we arrived at Neshanic Station, I was relieved. We'd come this far without any interference from nasties. Wohoo!
It was a short walk to Sourland Mountain from Neshanic Station. It took only about an hour. Since we'd never been there before, we decided to walk around and look for a cool place to set our camp.
While walking in the woods, Annabeth appeared back to my side and wrapped her arm around my waist. I answered the gesture by wrapping my arm around her shoulders.
"Hello there," I said and kissed her forehead. She looked at me, her beautiful gray eyes soft as ever.
"Hi," she said. "I'm so glad we're out of camp. It's much less irritating here," she mused and leaned her head on my shoulder. She sighed.
"Yeah..." I said.
I was a bit uneasy. Annabeth's head on my shoulder, her hair tickling my neck made me feel the same tugging feeling in my gut. It was more, than the same affection I'd had for her for years – it was something more powerful. And it frightened me a bit, because I had never felt like that before.
My pondering was interrupted by Rachel Elizabeth Dare, who came on the other side of me, the side without Annabeth.
"So, what have you been up to?" she asked. "I heard something about a riot on Olympus."
"Yeah, that's what we've been up to mostly," I said. I really hoped she wouldn't ask for any details, because I didn't want to tell Rachel about how I almost got killed and the stuff, that happened after it.
"I knew it!" Rachel said and then eyed both me and Annabeth. Uh-oh. Sometimes I hated the fact, that she was the new oracle.
"Oh, have you... errm... seen something?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"I saw something, all right," said Rachel, now staring only at Annabeth, who was looking ahead, away from her.
"May I ask what exactly?" I asked.
Suddenly Thalia came at Annabeth's side, took her hand and said, that she wanted to talk to her in private. Annabeth let go of me unwillingly and let Thalia tow her away. She glanced back at me. Her eyes were soft, the color of them smooth, like the silk banner she and her siblings carry when their cabin is in lead at 'Capture the flag'. My heart felt swollen, as I smiled at Annabeth. Swollen by all the emotion I held for her.
When Annabeth turned her head away, I looked at Rachel, who was gaping at me.
"Will you answer my question, Rachel?" I asked her.
"I saw you lying on a bed. First I thought you were asleep, but then there was Annabeth, who sat beside your bed with red eyes and I just knew you'd been hurt," she said, looking away of me.
I was interested on this subject, because I hadn't had any time to ask Annabeth, or anyone in that matter, about the time I was unconscious. Still, talking about it with Rachel Elizabeth Dare, made me feel uneasy. I knew she'd had a crush on me. I still wasn't sure if she'd gotten over it.
"So... you just saw Annabeth sitting there?" I asked, because even though I felt awkward, I wanted to know more.
"Mostly, yeah," Rachel said.
"Mostly? Was there something else?" I asked, suspicious. What had Rachel seen?
"She spoke to you, Annabeth," she said and looked at me again.
"Percy, you know I haven't been really good friends with Annabeth," said Rachel, her green eyes unsure. What was in her mind?
"Yeah..." I trailed. "What about it?"
"It's just, that I liked you very much and thought, that no one else could like you more, least of all Annabeth. I thought of her as a brainiac, with no ability to love anything more than books and stuff," she said slowly, turning her head away again.
"And?"
"When I had the vision about Annabeth talking to you..." she trailed. "It changed the way I saw her. What she said to you, when you were lying there was so... It can't be described in words. You've found a beautiful heart there, Percy."
I was thunderstruck. What could Annabeth have said, that was so awesome, that it made Rachel wordless? I so wanted to know.
"What did she say?"
Then we almost ran into Thalia and Annabeth, who had stopped abruptly.
"Hey! Why did you two st... AAGH!" Rachel yelped and stumbled backwards.
There was a very good reason, why they'd stopped: a few meters away, curled under a big oak tree was the Hydra.
Now, a few things about the Hydra.
The Hydra is very easy to recognize by its heads. There are at least seven of them, all snakelike diamond shape, with rows of teeth like a shark's. Its body is about the size of a rhino. Oh and by the way, don't try to cut off its heads, because when you do, it will sprout two more and soon you'll have an angry, twenty-headed monster with an 'I'M A MONSTER DOUGHNUT KID!' plastic bib under each of its necks. I can tell you, the Hydra is some serious shit.
Annabeth and I had already met the Hydra once, when we were on a quest to save Grover from getting married to an ugly Cyclops (long story, I'll tell you someday). Then, we were saved by Clarisse, who'd come to help us with the quest with an ironclad named CSS Birmingham, which had a crew of Confederate army zombies. Now, I just hoped we could walk past the Hydra without waking it up, because there would be no one to save us now.
Thalia waved us to follow her. We crept past the Hydra. Unfortunately the path we were walking was covered with twigs. There was a big 'SNAP' as ten twigs snapped in two under my foot and we all gasped. The Hydra opened its eyes immediately. At least seven pairs of yellow, vile eyes were looking at us.
"RAWWWR!" the Hydra bellowed as it stood up and ran toward us. I uncapped Riptide, though I knew, that I wouldn't be much help in a battle. Annabeth drew her knife.
'Woosh!' an arrow flew at the Hydra and hit one of its eyes. The monster screamed in pain and one of its heads snapped at Thalia, who had put her bow down and drawn her spear. Thalia parried the Hydra's attack and the tip of her spear sank into the Hydra's flesh. In another wail of agony, three Hydra heads attacked together, throwing Thalia off balance. She fell to the ground.
"Hey! Ugly-ass!" I yelled at the monster and half its heads turned to glare at me.
"RAWWR!" the Hydra thundered and lunged at me. I would've been Hydra chow if Rachel hadn't tackled me to the ground and out of the monster's way. I landed on the ground with Rachel on top of me.
"Errm... Thanks," I said. I felt slightly awkward.
"When have you lost your mad battling skills?" Rachel asked.
I wasn't able to answer, because I heard Annabeth yell:
"Percy, watch out!"
The Hydra lunged at me and Rachel. I did the only thing I was capable of thinking about – I rolled to the right, ending on top of Rachel for a change. Next to us, two Hydra heads pounded to the ground.
"Do you mind letting me go, Percy?" she asked. I could tell she felt awkward. But not half as awkward as I. I jumped up and turned to see what the others were doing. The Hydra had somehow taken interest on Thalia again. She was slashing frantically with her spear. Annabeth glared at me. Like I have said before, she is adorable, when she's jealous. I wanted to take her in my arms right then, kiss her like never before and tell her how much I felt for her, but this was hardly the time or place.
I charged at the Hydra, wanting to help Thalia, who was cornered against a large rock, with a raving mad monster trying to rip her head off. I heard Annabeth run after me. I had no clue what we were going to do. Annabeth and I sucked at fighting nowadays, so we would probably get ourselves killed. If I had had any faith on my father's help, I would've prayed to him now, but it seemed like only one of the Olympians was really on our side – Aphrodite. She wouldn't be much help. But then I had an idea.
"O Hestia, Goddess of family and hearth! I could use some help over here!" I yelled at the sky.
As soon as I'd said that, a little girl, about nine years old, appeared with a flash of flames. That didn't bother the Hydra, though. It continued to harass Thalia. It snapped its jaws at her and she tried to block its attack with her Aegis.
"Oh, Lady Hestia, please help us!" I pleaded as Annabeth ran to the Hydra, apparently in order to distract it. Hestia looked at me.
"The Olympians are not allowed to help heroes with their quests," she said. I knew that, but I was desperate as hades.
"But, since you were thoughtful enough to ask me, I'm more than willing to make an exception."
"Thank you, my lady!" I said.
Now here comes the most awesome part of the fight: Lady Hestia looked at the Hydra, said something in Ancient Greek, which sounded to me like 'You have caused enough trouble to these young ones. Be gone!' and the Hydra erupted into flames. Have you ever hear a burning Hydra cry in pain? I tell you, you're a happy fella if you haven't. Thalia, who was just a feet away of the monster yelped and ran to us. Annabeth followed and ran straight to me.
You know how Hestia's fire works? That it's heat and color reflects the emotions around it. I don't actually know what happened. I was a bit confused. And I don't mean I didn't like what came next, but it happened so fast I didn't realize what was happening. Annabeth ran to me, threw her arms around my neck and pulled my face to hers. Remember what I said about wanting to kiss Annabeth like never before? Well, Annabeth took the matter in her own hands, as usual. Her lips crushed against mine with intensity. Her hands pulled my hair in order to get my face even closer to hers. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer. I didn't remember the horror caused by the Hydra. I wasn't aware of our friends and Hestia watching. Because all I could sense was Annabeth. The only thing I could feel, hear, smell, taste – she was everywhere. My breath came in as a wild gasp. Annabeth's lips parted and her tongue trailed along my lower lip. It was so Annabeth-ish – like in everything she did, she was in charge. I wasn't one to tell her off, so I let her tongue enter my mouth. I felt like I was on fire. It might have been the way Hestia's fire was burning, but I know it was all my emotions for Annabeth, that scorched my skin, insides, everything. Annabeth's tongue explored my mouth and wrestled with mine.
I could have stayed there forever, just kissing Annabeth. But I don't have that much luck.
"Ahem!" I heard a familiar voice. It seemed to come from far away, but somehow I knew it was something to react to.
Annabeth let out a quiet whimper as I slowly and reluctantly pulled back from the greatest kiss of all time.
"And about time too!" I heard Thalia say. I didn't see her. My eyes were locked with Annabeth's.
It's time, Seaweed Brain! Tell her you love her! You know you want to, I heard a little voice in my head say. But this wasn't the place. I wanted it to be somewhere more private.
She leaned closer to me again and touched my lips with hers again, much more softly this time. Then she pulled away and turned to look at the others. I followed her example. Thalia was grinning widely, her arms crossed on her chest. Hestia looked at us calmly with a slight smile on her face. Rachel... Well, Rachel was looking away from us. She seemed really interested in a rock the size of my fist on the ground. I realized I owed a thank you to someone.
"Lady Hestia, I'm so, so grateful!" I said. "Thank you for everything."
"You're welcome, Percy. I'm glad you remembered me in distress," Hestia said and smiled. "I suppose you've learned something."
That was true. I had learned the importance of little things, without which living wouldn't be so important – home, family... Both of which I had two. I had a home with my mother, who was my family, too. But I also considered Camp Half-Blood my home. And the people there were like family to me, even though we had a huge family crisis at the moment. And perhaps... Well, I hoped I would get another version of family someday. With my Wise Girl.
Annabeth's POV
I had been so, so scared. But it was over now. I stared at the Hydra, that was wailing in agony as Hestia's flames burned its hide. The heat was unbelievable. It burned my face. I looked at Percy. His clothes were ragged and torn, his face was all muddy and there were leaves and stuff in his hair. Then I remembered the little incident with him and Rachel earlier. Rolling on the ground on top of each other. I'd been, and still was, jealous as hades.
Things had changed between me and Percy after our parents' visit. He hadn't kissed me since. Not really. And I had grown impatient. Every time he'd touched me had sent an electric current through my body. I yearned to feel his arms around me, telling me how much I meant to him. And when he did tell me, I wished I could be with him freely and not have to be sneaky. I wanted our parents' blessing. I wanted to be truly his. I loved him. I heard Thalia yelp and she stumbled on her feet and ran to the others. I was right behind her. I ran straight to Percy. I'd been so afraid for his safety and that, mixed with all the frustration and love and need for him, caused me to do the last thing I'd ever thought I would do: as soon as I was close enough to touch him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his lips to mine. If I couldn't say it out loud, in case someone would hear, I could use my body language to tell him how much I loved him. I wanted him to know, that he was my everything. I pulled his face closer to mine, my fingers twisting in his hair. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. The heat, that radiated from Hestia's fire was nothing compared to this – Percy's arms around my waist, kissing me back with same force, as if he wanted to let me feel his emotions too. Every part of me was burning with emotion. Emotion I held only for him. I parted my lips and felt Percy's breath in my mouth. I shivered. I trailed the shape of his lower lip with my tongue, begging for entrance in his mouth. Percy's lips parted and my tongue met his. His arms held me even tighter. My hands were tugging his hair. I couldn't remember my own name. My heart beat frantically and the only thing I could hear was the sound of my heart, which turned into a small voice, that chanted 'Percy, Percy'. I heard someone clear her throat. Screw them. This was paradise. Even Isles of the Blest couldn't compare to this.
Percy seemed to have heard the voice of one of our viewers and he, ever so softly started to pull away. I let out a small whimper. Please, give me another minute. I looked into his eyes. They were the most beautiful sea green. I could've literally drowned into them. And I would've drowned with pleasure.
"And about time, too!" Thalia said. Oh, she'd been waiting for this to come?
I gave Percy another peck on his lips and turned. Thalia was watching us, amused. Hestia was smiling politely. I guess she'd seen stuff like this enough for her to be so calm. Rachel was looking away. Hah! Take that, you pretty red-haired girl! Okay, I might be a bit mean, but come on, you just can tell she'd want to be kissing Percy. The thought made me jealous as ever. But I loved him and I had a feeling, that he might feel the same way.
Percy thanked lady Hestia.
"You're welcome, Percy. I'm glad you remembered me in distress," Hestia said and smiled at Percy. "I suppose you've learned something."
Percy was silent. His arm wrapped itself around my waist and he looked at me and then back at Hestia again. Hestia nodded slightly.
"Now I need to go. Just remember what is the most important," she said and disappeared. Her fire, that had burned the Hydra into ashes was still burning.
"Now that was something you don't see every day," Thalia smirked. "Eh, Rachel?"
Sometimes I wonder what goes on in Thalia's mind.
Rachel turned to look at us.
"Huh?" she asked. She obviously hadn't got a clue.
"Never mind," Thalia said and smiled.
"You know what, guys?" she asked and looked around.
"What, Pinecone Face?" Percy asked. I had a feeling he didn't like Thalia's comment to Rachel. Everyone could see Rachel was feeling awkward.
"Now that we have that awesome fire here, we could put our camp up here."
And so we did. Thalia had her magical tent, which she put up in a couple of minutes. It was late, almost 10 pm. We all realized we were starving. Thalia had taken some hot dogs with, which we grilled, when the fire went into coals (which took a long time. We must've made the fire go frantic with our kissing and stuff). We sat on some old logs, which we all had carried from the woods. The atmosphere was relaxed. Even Rachel had recovered from my assault on Percy. She was perfectly normal. And, I was glad to see, that Thalia seemed much happier here in the forest. In the moonlight I could see the blessing of Artemis glow around her. I'd remembered it to be a bit brighter glow though. I supposed it was the light from the coals, that made the silvery glow fainter. I sat right next to Percy. After we were done with eating, I rested my head against his shoulder, just the way I'd done when we were walking in the woods earlier. I sighed. I was content. Percy shifted slightly and kissed my hair. It sent a shiver down my spine. Thalia yawned.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm most certainly going to bed."
She stood up and went into the tent. Rachel looked at us. I could tell she had something in her mind.
"Annabeth?" she said hesitantly.
"Yeah?"
"Would you mind if I talked to Percy for a while, please?"
Oh, yes. I really would, because I know what you're up to. Boy, oh boy, I know what you are trying to do.
I sat up straight and looked at Percy. He nodded and mouthed: 'It's okay.'
"Sure, Rachel," I said, stood up and went to join Thalia in the tent. Before crawling in, I took the last glance at Percy. Rachel had moved to sit by his side. Grr... My spot! Mine! I knew I'd probably attack her if I wouldn't go into the tent right away, so I clambered in. Thalia was sitting on her sleeping bag.
"Where did you leave Percy, Love Girl?" she asked. I glowered at her and her wide grin turned into an expression that screamed 'Red alert! Red alert!'
"What's wrong, Annabeth?" she asked, concern coloring her voice. I shook my head.
"It's nothing."
"Yes there is something wrong and I know it. Now spit it out or I'll have Percy to get it out of you," said Thalia.
"Really, Thalia..."
"No. Now speak."
Now don't understand me wrong. I would've wanted to tell Thalia. But how could I possibly explain everything I felt to her, when I couldn't even explain it to myself? The new, intense feeling toward Percy, which I was almost 100% sure was called 'love', all the jealousy I felt when Rachel was around him, the fact, that everyone else hated us at camp and that our parents wanted to kill us. I was also worried about the prophecy Rachel had given us and about Thalia, who had to make a tough decision between Grover and Artemis.
Thalia looked almost furious now.
"Come on! You're freaking me out! Speak! Really, you should look at yourself. You've looked awful for the past week! I thought it was getting better but you look the same again. Tell me," she pleaded, "Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't explain it," I said. My voice broke in the end.
"Try, please. I hate to see you like this. Tell me, who makes you that miserable and I'll go and punch that punk straight into Tartarus."
"I've already told you. I hate it, that everyone hates us at camp. I'm worried about you. You have a tough choice to make. Now, I'm also jealous of Rachel. The worst thing is, that our parents want to kill us. Right now, when I'm absolutely sure, that I can't ever leave Percy. I love him, Thalia." My eyes were filling with tears. My voice was cracking.
"Oh, Annabeth," Thalia whispered and pulled me into a tight, comforting hug. She rocked me there slightly.
"I'm sorry I snapped like that. It's just that I've been so worried about you. You have looked the same for the last week as you were those two days when Percy was unconscious. Don't you be worried about me. I can handle it. I look healthy. You don't. And for Percy – it's going to be okay. I know you love him. After today, there's no questioning that."
I don't know how long I let her hold me there. I just cried. Minutes passed. Then someone opened the door zipper.
"Oh, did I interrupt something?"
Hades, I hate Rachel Elizabeth Dare.
I pulled away from Thalia. I looked at her. For a flickering moment I could see annoyance on her face, but it soon turned back into comfort as she glanced at me.
"No. I'm fine," I said. The last sentence was addressed to Thalia, to convince her I was okay.
"Where's Percy?" she asked Rachel.
"He's outside. He asked me to get Annabeth," Rachel said. She looked at me.
"He wants to talk."
I rushed outside. Percy was still sitting by the coals. I went to sit by his side.
"Hi." I touched his hand and he looked at me.
"Hi," he said. "You know, Rachel told me about a vision she'd had. About you sitting beside my bed while I was unconscious."
Oh? What had she seen?
"Anything interesting?" I asked.
"I think so," Percy said and smiled. "There was this thing you said about nightmares, that made me think."
Oh, now I remember. The time I fed him ambrosia.
"What about it?"
"You see, I know, what's the worst nightmare I've ever had. Eurus, he east wind, took you back to your mother. You were taken away from me and I could do nothing, because I was tied with ropes made of seaweed. Now I understand it. Our parents want to pull us apart. But I won't let them."
His eyes were gleaming with the light coming from the coals.
"I swore upon the river Styx. Now I have another oath to take," he said and took my hand.
"What is it?" I whispered.
"Annabeth, I... I love you." My heart skipped a beat. Oh my gods, I love you, Aphrodite!
"I swear upon the river Styx, that come what may, I always will. Until the end of time."
I wanted to answer. I wanted to tell him the same things, but his lips silenced me. They pressed on mine softly, lovingly. His hand, that was holding mine, guided my hand to his neck and then he placed his hand in my hair. His other arm wrapped around my waist. My head was spinning. I loved this boy. My tongue was trailing along his lip again. He parted his lips, letting out a small groan. Woah, the sound of his groan made the butterflies in my stomach go wild. There was something tugging in my gut. I had a sudden urge to straddle him, but, just this once, I held back. I wanted this to be a beautiful exchange of 'I love you''s, rather than a making-out session.
As much as I would've wanted to kiss Percy the whole night, there was still something I had to say. I slowly started to pull away, but Percy held my face to his and pulled me even closer to him by my waist.
"Percy," I whispered in his mouth. Now it was his turn to pull away. He let go of my waist and hair and cupped my face with both of his hands. Then he pulled my face away from his.
"What, Wise Girl?" he asked huskily. Wow. The sound of his voice, so filled with emotion made me want to cry. I didn't deserve him. He was too good for me. I fought the lump in my throat and said:
"First of all, when have you learned how to be all gooey and romantic? Secondly: I love you too, Seaweed Brain, from the bottom of my heart and I swear upon the river Styx, that my love will last forever."
Percy pulled me in a tight embrace and kissed the top of my head.
"I can be romantic. I just haven't had many chances to show it yet," he said. I could feel him grinning against my head.
"You don't know how long I've waited to hear you say you love me," I mumbled in his chest. "But I wonder what our parents will do to us now. I suppose they've been watching us the whole time via Channel Hephaestus."
"Let them be. I won't let them come between us anymore," said Percy.
I wished it would be enough. That Percy could keep his promise, that nothing would come between us anymore. I looked at him. He pressed his lips on mine once and stroked my face. Again the feeling of crying hit me. He was so kind, loving and cute, that there was no way I could ever be worthy of his love. A single tear fell down my cheek. Percy caught it with his index finger.
"Why are you crying?" he asked.
"You're so good to me. I'm not worth of you," I told him and a few other tears fell.
"Oh, Annabeth. How could you say that?" Percy asked and pulled me into another hug.
"You're so absurd sometimes. You're the most beautiful, smart and lovely person there is. I am so not worth of you," he said, rubbing my back.
"Maybe we're both wrong?" I pulled back and smiled at Percy.
"That would be the first time you're wrong, eh?" he asked.
"No..."
"Well when have you ever been wrong? And when did you start admitting you're wrong?"
"When I thought you were an asshole. I've never been more wrong," I said and snuggled closer to him again. "And that's something I'm glad of being wrong about."
Then I heard a voice coming from the tent:
"Hey, guys! Wanna join us now? I thought we could teach Rachel how to play Pinochle. Mr. D.'ll love her!"
In that moment, even Rachel's name was like the most beautiful music to me. That kind of music, that Percy sang to me. That kind of music, that woke Percy from his almost-coma.
The promise we'd both made each other rang in my ears as we rose and joined Thalia and Rachel in the tent:
"Come what may, come what may,
I will love you until my dying day."
What did you think? Did I go overboard with the googoo-stuff? Share your thoughts with me and help me get this the way you guys like it! After all, you are my critics here. I hope you liked it. Athena's cabin wishes you a very happy day indeed (or night, depends...).
Until next time
Peace, love, PJO!
Luv,
AC