Chapter 19

A week had passed and still nothing, Annabeth still did her training duties but everyone could see she was not the same, sure she smiled and joked but it never reached her grey eyes.

"She just needs time Percy" Chiron stood on the dock as Percy dangled his feet in the water

"Yer, I know… it's just I didn't realise how much she cared for him" he mumbled "She barely knew him, I know Annabeth cares about people but I never expected this" he looked out across the calm water

Chiron thought for a moment "How are you feeling about Annabeth"

Percy dropped his head slightly "She's my friend and I'm good with that, I just want her to be happy" he fidgeted "But I don't know what to do, she is not herself"

"Give her time Percy, Miss Chase is a strong young lady" the centaur took his leave, Percy sighed and leaned back staring up at the sky

"Yer time" he muttered to himself

"Come on guys, push yourselves" called Annabeth, facing the ten Demi-Gods who were duelling each other in pairs "Careful not to lose your footing, lose it and you dead" All the Demi-Gods focused, swords clattering together

"Okay, that's a good job everybody session over" she said, the group dispersed a few saying farewell to Annabeth as they walked away, Annabeth looked out across the lake, her eyes as they often did wandered to the Cabin on the mountain across the water, high up where she had last spoken to Markos. She stood there for a moment enjoying the sunlight on her face, it had been raining for the past week and it had meant that training had to be done soaking wet and it brought everybody's mood down.

The training day was over and everyone was heading to the feast pavilion, Percy was probably waiting there for her, saving her the seat beside him. With that sweet smile that he saved only for her, why couldn't she fall for him, someone without major issues.

She didn't feel like sitting in the noisy halls and decided to head back to her cabin, she turned coming to a stop. There 20 feet in front of her dressed in a dark blue button down shirt and jeans stood Markos, his hair a little longer than last she saw, the stubble on his chin now growing into a small beard.

He watched her, as if not knowing how to proceed, Annabeth mind ran, she had believed that he was alive but had no idea where he was or what state he was in or if he was even coming back, she didn't even know if she should believe her own eyes.

"Hi" he breathed but without making any sort of movement

"Hey" replied Annabeth

Markos glanced down at Annabeth's hand which was now clenched around the hilt of her sword, she released it when she realised what she was doing.

"You're here" she breathed, Markos nodded "Why?" she asked before she could stop herself

Markos faltered slightly, he looked around the open space, most of the Demi-Gods had wandered off but it wasn't really the place for a conversation

"Can we go somewhere?" he asked making a slight gesture, Annabeth was still in a little shock at seeing him here, but she nodded and together they started to walk, not in any particular direction.

The air was cooler under the cover of the trees that surrounded the lake, but neither of them noticed, They had not spoken for about 5 minutes and neither of them knew how to start

"Where did you go?" Annabeth blurted out, hating the silence "After… After everything"

Markos thought for a moment before replying "I don't exactly know, I just followed my father's voice" he could see the confusion on her face "Hades disappeared and I saw you on the ground just lying there, I manage to get to your side, you were breathing, then I just heard him"

"Your father… Ares" she added when he went quiet

"I've only ever heard his voice once before, when my mother died" Markos paused obviously reliving a memory, he shook his head continuing "He told me Percy would find you, told me he wanted to see me talk to me, I walked for a long time, all I knew was that I was heading north"

"My father was not as I had imagined, he looked a lot like me actually, tall, dark hair, I was half expecting him to be dressed in ancient Greek armour but he was in a black jacket and dark jeans. We talked for a long time, he gave me this" Markos pulled a pendant from under his shirt, it bared the symbol of Ares, but it was old, a relic from Greece perhaps

"It was his" Markos tucked it back into his shirt, wincing slightly as he did "He gave me a change of clothes and he was gone, I haven't heard from him since"

Annabeth glanced at his bare forearms, they still bore the scars from that day, deep claw marks from the fire wolves

"I've been trying to find my way back ever since" he added coming to a halt, watching Annabeth.

They had stopped at the edge of the lake, silence filling the air once more, she watched him for a long moment taking in all his features, a pulse of energy took over her and she lunged forward grabbing his face, their lips meeting.

Markos wrapped his arms around her holding her close, both melting into each others embrace, one of Annabeth's hands tangled his hair as they continued their kiss, the other grasping the collar of his shirt. Markos broke it first, he looked deep into Annabeth's beautiful grey eyes, a smile on her lips, he felt something warm on his stomach, they both glanced down to see a dark stain spreading on his shirt

"Oh Damn" Markos muttered "My wounds must have reopened"

Worry crossed Annabeth's face, her hands going to Markos's abdomen

"Let's get you fixed" she said taking him by the hand and leading him back towards the main cabins, Markos followed silently, he kept his eyes on her, she was perfect, everything about her, he started to feel something he hadn't felt for a long time, not since Cassie. But Annabeth wasn't Cassie, Annabeth was strong and a fierce warrior.