Hey guys! So I know you probably thought it would continue in the underworld, but Annabeth didn't go. . Trust me I really wanted to write that but I had to continue the pattern, so the next chapter will be in the underworld! . Thank you all for reviewing, I wish even more of you would. I hope you enjoy! Please review!

Annabeth POV

Annabeth was getting worried. Percy should have been out by now. She has tried to Iris Message him several times but they all failed. Piper also seemed nervous about Leo. They were best friends. Annabeth wanted to go down into the underworld and find him but she knew her place. She had to protect Rome. It was already getting dark. The group had set up camp in a forest not too far from the Coliseum luckily Chiron placed a few tents onto the ship before they left. They made a small fire, and Frank was the farthest away. Piper and Jason sat together with a sleeping bag wrapped around them. Jason comforted her, and told her that Leo and Percy will be fine. Annabeth wished Percy was here to do that to her. How could she let him go like that? She should've told him that he goes they all go. She should have never left him. Annabeth couldn't stop thinking about what she should've done.

"Annabeth, I'm sure they are fine," Jason reassured. Annabeth nodded blankly. She just couldn't imagine Percy being gone. She just had him back, and now he is slipping away again. She held back tears; she didn't want to look weak in front of group. She was the leader after all. If she couldn't stay strong… she didn't want to think of the outcome. Then she heard a low rumble and felt the ground shake. They entire group turned to find a line of monsters pouring out of a cavern. Piper was about to scream but Jason quickly covered her mouth. They watched as a plethora of beasts continued before their eyes. It seemed as if there was an endless supply of them. Annabeth's spine tingled. Now she was terrified about Percy. What if he really was dead? Annabeth took deep breaths trying to stay calm. No one spoke. They knew if they did that I could lead to their possible down fall. They just watched the never ending line of monsters. Jason held Piper close as she buried her head into the sleeping bag. She, like the others, didn't want to see this. It was scary, no doubt about it. Luckily they were hidden behind a wall of trees.

Suddenly, the group felt a chill. They all exchanged nervous glances. Suddenly a girl with jet black hair and super pale skin stood before them. She had cold brown eyes and a sinister smile upon her face. Khione. No one spoke.

"What a warm welcome!" Khione exclaimed sarcastically. Everyone's' eyes turned urgent. Her yelling could get the monsters attention. Piper sat up from Jason's lap.

"Leave," Piper demanded.

"Oh, I see your little Barbie here has healed from that last time we met," Piper stood up. Her kaleidoscope eyes blazing.

"Now," Piper commanded. She wasn't charmspeaking. She didn't feel the need to. She knew Khione was immune to it, and that it would do no good.

"Piper!" Jason whispered. "Sit down." She looked at him and shook her head.

"I'm not backing down this time. We are going to end this, right here, right now," Piper explained. "Jason, give me your sword."

"What? No! I won't let you do this," Jason said protectively. Piper gave him a sharp look. Her eyes were filled with rage and agony.

"Jason," Piper pleaded desperately, "I'm tired of running. I need to do this. One way or another I will. Please Jason." Jason looked at her with hurt eyes, but he understood. He unleashed his sword and handed it to her. She gave him a genuine smile and mouthed the words thank you. Piper turned to Khione. Khione held out her hand and a sword made of ice formed in her hand. She gripped it tightly. She did they first move. She swung her sword at Piper, and Piper intersected it with hers. The grinding noise of the two swords sounded like nails on a chalkboard. When the swords separated she jabbed toward Khione. Khione blocked it and knocked Piper backwards. Piper fell to the ground. She quickly got up clenching her teeth and holding her left arm. She picked up her sword and ran towards Khione. Khione dodged and the sword was jammed into a tree. Khione quickly froze the blade to the tree and Piper's hands to the handle. She was unable to move. She was in serious trouble. Jason stood in fear. Khione walked toward Piper. Suddenly Khione froze time. The only ones not frozen were Piper and Khione. Piper's eyes began to fill with fear. She looked at all of her frozen friends and back at Khione.

"You don't know how much I want to kill you right now, but I have specific orders. We planned for you to die long before now, but we found you have a greater use," Khione explained.

"Who is 'we'?" Piper asked.

"You'll find out soon enough," Khione snickered coldly. Suddenly the world went black.

When color seeped its way into vision, time had been unfrozen. Jason was standing. He looked around, but Piper was gone. His eyes grew wide with fear. His blonde hair rose on his head. Then it lowered when he saw the tree. He walked to it. An icicle held a note to the tree. It read:

Care to see your princess again?

You will soon enough.

She isn't dead,

Yet

Yours Truly,

Khione

Jason's face went grave. Annabeth began to panic.

"Jason, what is going on?" Annabeth demanded. Jason's eyes were filled with fear, sorrow, anger, and guilt.

"Khione took Piper." He managed. Hazel and Frank stood automatically.

"What?" They demanded simultaneously. Jason picked up his sword from the ground right below the tree. He lifted it into the air and summoned a bolt to strike it. Then he jabbed it into the ground and collapsed.

"This is my entire fault," Jason accused. Hazel walked to him.

"No it's not. You did the right thing," Hazel comforted. Jason just starred at the ground.

"I'm so stupid!" Jason yelled. Annabeth stood.

"No you are not! Jason we need you to lead this team, not groan over Piper! We will get her back, I promise. But right now we need to focus on the problem at hand, Gaea. Piper would want you to do the same, and you know it," Annabeth reprimanded. Jason looked up. He nodded.

"You're right." He blurted, but she could tell he didn't mean it. He pulled the sword from the ground with one powerful yank of it. He flung it over his shoulder. "Let's go smash some rock!"