*So excited! After this chapter, I'll post Benna's birth and Reyna's wedding and then we get on to when Ladea is older... :) Sorry haven't posted in forever. Been super busy, but I'll promise to post at least 2 more chapters by the end of Christmas! Keep up the reviews! :D*
Annabeth
"Mommy? Where is Daddy?" Ladea asks, her teddy bear in one hand.
"He's working," I fibbed.
"I thought he no work twoday," she frowned.
"He does, honey." I felt horrid lying again.
"Huh," she sighed.
"Yea, go figure," I mumble under my breath. I hope Percy his safe. I promise myself that if he does not make it out alive, I will live in sorrow and despair. He meant the world - universe - to me. I have no point living without him.
"He been gone 3 day aready," she pursed her lips.
"I know," I gazed out the window, "I know."
Percy
"Harintok," my voice came out shattered.
"Perseus Jackson of Poseidon - of the Big Three," Harintok bellowed evilly.
"What's it to you?" I scowl.
"Your kin. You and your wife is in my way. But, you should understand. If you let me take your life, I will prevent your wife's death. But, of course, she is completely seductive. She'll be mine, immortal. But she will stay alive," Harintok laughed, which sounded like icicles writing on chalkboard.
I loved Annabeth more than anything in the world. If she could stay alive . . . I'd be okay. But he was distracting me. For once, I was intelligent. "It's been 20 seconds. Your head start has passed." I lunged and slashed with my sword.
He was caught by obvious surprise, for his eyes were amused. He blocked and went on defense. I tried hitting him. I countered his attack and put the Styx Ivory blade into his eye. He yelped in pain, purple blood dribbling down. I lashed and struck, but he healed. It could have been 3 minutes, or 3 days.
We would tire, and rest forn o more than 2 seconds. We were in full combat, swords and blood, gore and war. He would thrash a wound at me, melting through my armor. He would always go at different places, but hardly any armor was left. The next strike may be my doorway to death. His sword would flicker into a normal iron one every now and then, which gave me painful wounds - at least my soul wasn't out of existence.
"No . . . no, no, no," I grumbled. Then, I realized, he was healing himself with gorgon blood. That could heal anything. I lashed it out of his hands and it showered over my gashes.
"PERSEUS!" he wailed as he crumbled to a puddle of vapor.
I was back. The gorgon blood healed my sprained ankle, concussion, broken ribs, gashes, and wounds. My dad looked at me.
"You . . . survived?" he gasped. "No. He disappeared in ichor or vapor?"
"Vapor," I said broadly.
"He is gone for now. Like a monster. But he is strong. He'll come back soon. But. This time your children face it and not you. You will be left in great peril, and weak. They are your only hope," he grabbed my arm, "Train them."
I nodded, and I was transported to my house, with Annabeth sobbing into Ladea's hair.
When they saw me, they leapt up happily and lunged into me. Annabeth peppered my face with kisses and Ladea squealed, hopping up and down.
"Why are you guys so surprised?" I smirked.
"Percy, damn you, it's been more than 3 MONTHS! Are you kidding?" Annabeth laughs and hugs me.
"Well . . . WHAT? It's been probably 3 hours!" I protest.
"You are back. All that matters." she bursts out.
"You back," Ladea repeats, grinning.