I know. Yell at me all you want. I deserve it. Sucky explanation at bottom of the chapter. Chapter 42.

Annabeth

Gods, I was happy.

I stared at Percy's sea green eyes as he sent a small wave at me, Piper and Thalia before turning and trotting after the group of Questers. I know I had a small smile stuck on my mouth, but I didn't care.

He came. He seems like he still cares for me. In a friendly way. But there were some moments where it seemed like there was something more than friendship between us.

The kiss was never brought up, so things hadn't become too awkward. I wanted to talk about it, though. I wanted to know if it was just a one time deal or... I don't know. I can see why we didn't talk about it now, for we hadn't seen each other in a while and I think it would be jumping into things too quickly. But I still found myself staring at Percy's lips sometimes when he was talking to someone, or remembering the feel of his gentle lips on mine, moving softly in delicate motion.

I shook the thoughts of that out of my mind. I didn't even know if he liked me in that way. I would have to draw up the tiny ounce of patience I have and attempt to use it to wait.

I realized I had been staring at the place where I had last seen Percy, and reluctantly yanked my gaze away. My gray orbs searched for my two best friends who were standing beside me. Thalia was eyeing a nymph walking by. More like she was eyeing the tray of food the nymph was carrying. Piper, however, was staring at the spot where the group had disappeared, a slightly dreamy look in her kaleidoscope eyes. I had noticed her and Jason frequently talking, and I suspected that Piper McLean, the daughter of Aphrodite who has never fallen for someone, has fallen hard. I smiled. Jason was a nice guy, and I believed he would be good for Piper. But I would still have to give him the "if you hurt my best friend, I will track you down and bring you your doom" lecture.

"Come on! Let's go get lunch, guys! I'm starving." Thalia's desperate and demanding plea jerked me out of my musing, and I remembered that we had met over lunchtime. I hadn't noticed, because before the meeting, I was too nervous to feel any of my physical needs, and during the meeting, I was too happy and giddy to even feel anything. Now that everything was over, though, I could hear my stomach begging for food.

I nodded, poking Piper's shoulder to get her attention, snapping her out of her daze. I smirked at her startled expression, then started following Thalia back to my room. We had thought ahead and asked the kitchen nymphs to bring food to my rooms so we could eat there. We wouldn't be dining with my mother or Drew today for the meeting had taken place during our usual mealtime with them.

Yes, I know. We had to eat lunch with Miss Snobby Drew as well as my uptight mother. My mom has invited her to lunch everyday, and everyday, Drew accepts the invitation. Athena is convinced that we are all the best of friends. She obviously doesn't see all the glares, pained looks, and scowls that went on between me and my best friends and Drew. I hated every minute of it, and I couldn't wait until the end of the Game, which would mean Drew's time at the temple would be over. Done. She'd be gone. Hopefully never to be seen again. It sounded like paradise.

But I didn't know what that meant for Percy. Was he just staying for the week? What was he doing after the Game? I shuddered inwardly at the thought of him leaving. Again.

Thinking of Percy made me think of the news that he had brought about this Luke character placing threats on me, the "Siren" (I had no idea why they called me that). It had also somehow transported me back into "life." I had spent most of my days saddened and groveling over the law that I had forgotten why we had the council in the first place. It was easy to forget, seeing as there has been nothing bad happening to me since the council. Well, that's if you don't count as being split from Percy bad. I certainly did. But the way I'm using "bad" means no more attempted assassinations on my life, or any other life threatening ordeals.

But the news that Percy brought made me cautious. When he had first said it, I wasn't fazed. I knew Athena was keeping a bigger watch on me ever since the assassination, and especially since she has heard Percy was in Athens. So I had no worries. But doubts had started to slip into my mind. Athens couldn't be totally guarded. Someone could probably sneak in, like Percy had said. Also, if the people threatening me were the ones who had broke into Mount Olympus before, then I bet breaking into Athens or even Athena's temple is a piece of cake for them compared to the home of the gods.

Then I started getting a little freaked out. Even just reviewing those thoughts, I felt like someone was watching me. I glanced back quickly, but of course, I found nothing. We were walking through a deserted hallway. A little shiver ran though me and I walked a little quicker, anxious to get back to my room.

We finally reached the door to my room, and I followed the other two girls in. Thalia made a beeline to the plates of food on a small portable table in the middle of the room. I was heading towards her when I felt Piper's soft hand on my shoulder, pausing me in my path to lunch. I looked at her curiously. She wore a questioning appearance, a tinge of concern also present in her eyes.

"Are you okay, Annabeth?" She asked. "You seem a little... jumpy."

I pondered quickly. Should I tell her what Percy told me? I probably should, and Percy wanted me too, but I didn't feel like repeating it all right now, so I thought of a cover up answer. "I'm just nervous about the Test tonight," I said, shrugging. It was true. I felt like my nerves were all partaking in a high-speed race whenever I thought about the Test. I had no idea what to expect in the Test, and being a child of Athena, I'm a planner. I don't rush into things with no sense of direction or guidance. I gathered information and sought to use it. I made a strategy, then went out into the problem, equipped with everything I'd need.

But I couldn't do that with this Test. I have no idea what's happening, therefore I can't make a strategy for it. I don't even know if it will be something violent, like slaying a ferocious monster, or something quiet, like taking a quiz about war strategies and whatnot.

So the uncertainty of the Test added a lot of weight to my nerves. I just tried to swallow it, and hopefully I could keep it in my stomach.

Piper released me, bobbing her head, looking partially convinced. She walked over to Thalia, who hadn't bothered to wait and was stuffing her face. I rolled my eyes at the ravenous hunter, then crossed the room to my plate, sitting beside my two friends.

"Annabeth! We've got to go!" Piper yelled.

I huffed as I shoved my foot into my leather boot. Hastily lacing it, I did the same to the other. I was running late because of Drew. She had sent a nymph to ask for my help. Well, demand more than ask. Unfortunately, I had to consent. The first and only time that I had refused, Athena herself had come storming into my room ten minutes later, yelling about how I was being a horrible host and that if I refused one more time to help our guest, I would be grounded for three months, forced to clean bathrooms, and a bunch of other things. I didn't really understand, because she had basically blown my eardrums out on the first sentence.

The gist of it was that I better not refuse Drew's demands if I wanted to live peacefully.

So I had to go, and Drew made my life a living hell. Today she was rambling about how she had heard Percy Jackson was competing in the Game, and that she was going to have a dinner with him sometime, an expensive and extravagant dinner because her "daddy" was going to set it up. I had to grit my teeth and glower at the wall the whole time that I was cleaning her bathroom and doing her laundry. She knew exactly where to hit me. Drew had knowledge that I couldn't see Percy, so she scheduled dinners that she would invite him to. I wanted to yell at her and tell her to stay away from Percy, but I couldn't risk getting into trouble. I was trying to stay in my mom's good books, trying to soften her hard outer shell. I couldn't make her mad at me again.

So I did my best to ignore Drew. I pictured my fist connecting with her pretty little face, and it made me satisfied for a bit before I wanted to do it again, but not just in my imagination this time.

Drew also knew the Test was to be taken at dusk, too. As a result, she kept finding small chores for me to do, smug smiles appearing on her face as she watched mine, which was struggling to keep a nonchalant expression. Drew kept me until ten minutes before dusk, exclaiming that she had forgotten about the Test, and was sorry she made me late. Yeah, right.

So I had to change and get my armor on super fast, sprinting around trying to find socks and my bracers.

Each contestant was only allowed to use a back plate, breast plate, greaves and bracers, and one choice weapon of celestial bronze for the Test. I strapped on my bracers while we jogged to the building where the Test would take place. Thalia and Piper were going to wait while I took the Test in the room.

Well, I'm guessing it was a room. I've never actually been in there, but I'm assuming that it is a room. There are thirty of those rooms at a building in Athens, and they were designed for the Test. There is one competitor per Testing room. Five doorways were stationed around the pentagon, brick building, and in each doorway there was a hallway with six doors, each leading to a Testing room.

Since there are more than thirty people participating, groups went in at different times. Thirty of the competitors when in the morning for a specific amount of time, and when they were done, thirty more contestants took their turn. Depending on how many people signed up was how early the Testing started, and how late it went. I was scheduled to be in the last group, and there had been four other groups before me. That means at least one hundred and twenty people had signed up. That was a higher number than normal, so that makes the chances of getting into the Game lower.

I wondered which group Percy, Jason, and Nico had been in, or if they were in the same group as mine. It wouldn't matter, because I wasn't allowed to see Percy. I bet Athena has people stationed around Athens to alert her if we it wouldn't help that we would be seeing each other in the middle of Athens, for someone would be bound to see us. It seemed as if everybody in Athens knew who Percy was, and that we weren't supposed to see each other. Also, I could be sure that Athena would overlook the schedule and organization of the Testing, and had put Percy in a different group than mine. He would be with other competitors. None that we had met of course, because both of us didn't go meet the contestants.

Earlier in the day, there was a meeting time that you could go to the place where we had signed up and meet other competitors, mostly just to calculate how skilled of an opponent they would be. But I hadn't gone, because it had been during the meeting time, and there was no way in Hades I would rather meet fellow competitors instead of Percy. Also, if I became a Hero, I would just meet them all on the battlefield. You couldn't really calculate one hundred and twenty other contestants, and you had no way of knowing who would become Heroes. And if I didn't become a Hero, I would have nothing to worry about.

We stopped, panting, before the door of the big building. When I say big, I mean really big. After all, it did have to fit thirty probably fairly large rooms in it. It was solid brick, no windows or anything. Just the one door in front of me. Door number two. The door that led to my Testing room. Along the other walls of the building there were four other doors that held more Testing rooms. I didn't see any other competitors around, and I bet that I was the last one to enter, thanks to Drew.

"Well, good luck, Annabeth. Go kick some Test butt." Thalia gave me a high five. Piper wished me luck as well, giving me a hug. I put my hand on the doors, not knowing what to expect. Only the hosts and staff of the Game were allowed to go inside other than the competitors. The people that go in aren't allowed to tell others that haven't what it looks like, so all the information I get about it is from listening to bits of stories told by competitors to fellow competitors. You'll be surprised how much you can eavesdrop on a conversation before the people realize you're there and stop talking. But they don't go into great detail about the rooms, so I've only picked up that it is basically a small arena. I just had to wait and see for myself.

I took a deep breath and started forward. My friends gave me small smiles, trying to encourage me. I attempted to return them, but a grimace was the best I could put together.

I shoved open the doors and trudged in. The door shut behind me of it's own accord, and I looked ahead, doing my best to ignore my jitters. I was in a corridor that had six doors stationed on the walls. My door was number five. I walked past door number one, door number two, number three, and number four. My footsteps sounded like loud booms against the eerie silence. My hand was clenching the hilt of my dagger so tightly my knuckles had lost all of their blood. I tried to keep my breathing quiet and even as I studied the plaque that read "FIVE" above the fifth door. I stood for a moment, gathering my courage. Then I took a deep breath, opened the door, and stepped in as confidently as I could managed.

When I was in, I realized what I had heard was correct. It was like a small arena, except that all the arena equipment had been pushed up against the far wall, leaving the room mostly empty.

The only lighting in the dark room was a torch that was hanging from the ceiling. The greek fire cast an eerie green glow on the room, enabling me to see the center of the room, above which it was hanging, and barely the walls of the room. The floor was bare, just wood planking, and I saw nothing except for the arena objects on the side. It was silent and still in here too, and I wondered for the billionth time what the Test would be.

My ragged breaths sounded like horns blaring in my ears. I could basically hear my heartbeat thundering in my chest. I was confused. What's going on?

I probably jumped ten feet into the air and almost had a heart attack when a loud voice boomed through the air, slicing through the silence like a sharp, biting knife.

"Welcome to the Annual War Game. I am Phobos, god of terror and fear. I know your worst nightmares and your deepest horrors." His voice was like a snake, slithering and sending shivers up my spine. I had no doubt that the god of fears did know my fears. I suppressed the urge to cringe and curl up into a tight ball. Instead, I stood upright, shoulders back. I had to clench my fists to stop them from trembling.

"This years Test consists of a Test of bravery. I have summoned one of your physical fears, and they will come to you. Your job is to overcome and defeat the fear. You might permanently overcome the fear, or it may stay. But for now, you will just have to vanquish it. The competitors with the fastest time of conquering their fears will become Heroes. Good luck, and may bravery stand by your side."

The voice faded off, and I still had no idea where it had come from. It seemed to have been produced by the walls surrounding me themselves. The remainder of the last sentence bounced off the walls, coming back to my ears.

"May bravery stand by your side."

My breaths were now loud and ragged, and I didn't try to quiet them. I had so many fears, everybody does. One of them being that I wouldn't live up to my mother's standard, or that loved ones around me will die. But I guess those aren't necessarily "physical" fears. I mean, how could Phobos make those fears real and bring them to me without my mother showing up or killing one of my friends? They wouldn't do those fears. They better not.

But my number one physical fear… I now what it would be. I would rather face the minotaur instead of those things. They are most definitely my worst physical fear. They were-

My thinking cut off abruptly. I just heard something. So quiet it might've been my imagination. Nevertheless, I tried to still my loud inhales and exhales, straining for a sign. I waited, my head jerking around to try and spot something- anything- to kill this creepy stillness. I felt as if my heart would pound its way out of my throat, which was where it was currently residing.

For about ten seconds, I was left to be tormented by the eerie tranquility. Just when I thought I would die of it, I heard something again.

A small scuttle coming from my right. My head whipped around, searching in the limited light for the fear that was crawling towards me.

A hushed hiss from my left tore my head to that side of the room. I couldn't breathe.

Not this fear. Please not this fear.

Unfortunately, the Fates were not lenient. As I thought those pleas, there was a visible movement on the left-hand side of the room.

A furry black spider, roughly the size of one of my wide eyes, stepped into the light. I backed up so fast I'm surprised I didn't trip over my own feet in the process. My dagger was in my palm before I even knew it, but it didn't give me the sense of security it usually did. I felt nothing but unease.

Something tickled my arm where it was unprotected by my sleeve. Without thinking, I shrieked loudly, swinging my arm around and around to try and dislodge whatever it was. The "something" flew up into the air and landed at my feet, which scrambled back once more as fast as they could move. I looked down and saw a hairy spider twice as big as the first.

That was on my arm. I shuddered, my whole body shaking. I couldn't even bring myself to go and step on it I was so scared.

The spider hissed and scampered toward me. I flipped out, running backwards. As I did so, I caught a glimpse of a brown spider on my dark grey boots. Yelping, I kicked out my leg, throwing it off and backing up more.

All of a sudden there were tens of spiders as large as my hand on the floor of the Testing room. They all moved as one big, hairy mass in the direction of me. I'm pretty sure I screamed, but I couldn't hear anything over the thumping in my ears. I wanted to keep moving backwards, but my limbs were frozen. I can't do this. I can't do it.

More spiders were joining the first group as they advanced on me. It was hopeless. I couldn't do anything. Panic overtook my body. My brain was overloaded with fear. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I forced my legs to move more, but I was stopped by the wall, the door behind me. I tried to wrench it open, but it wouldn't budge. My hands yanked again and again with all the strength I could muster, but to no avail. I yelled in frustration, turning and flattening myself against the door, chest rising and falling rapidly with my breaths. The eight-legged arachnids had reached my legs, and no matter how much I screamed and shoved and kicked, more just replaced the ones I had succeeded in removing.

I hated feeling their legs crawling up mine. I hated this Test. I hated the War Games. I hated spiders. I hated stupid Phobos, god of stupid fears. I hated his slimy face even though I had never seen him. I hated his voice that explained the Test.

As I thought of that, I heard his words in my head. "The competitors with the fastest time of conquering their fears will become Heroes." I had to become a Hero. But there was no way I could face my fears. I couldn't even move my muscles. I was lost and hopeless. I might as well just sit down and let fear overwhelm me and wait for it all to be over. I would go home in shame.

"Are you serious, Annabeth?" That voice in my head made me a little awake. Made me look up. Made me want to hear more.

"Come on. You can do this. Just pick up your dagger and win this fight. I'll always be by your side, with you, no matter what, Wise Girl." Percy's voice brought a life into me. Just thinking about Percy made me feel safe. I can do this. For Percy. I knew I had imagined that voice, but it still helped.

A surge of bravery coursed through me, filling my brain and blocking out some panic. I grabbed my blade that I had dropped because of shaking hands. The spiders had reached my waist now and were climbing higher. They would be over my head within seconds, and I would drown in a wave of my fears.

I took a deep breath, then willed my body into action. I pushed myself off the door quickly. Some spiders fell off, but not all. I spun in a circle. More spiders were dispatched.

I flipped my dagger in my hand, then brought it straight at the wall. A spider as big as my palm sat on the wall, its pincers clacking and its eight eyes glittering.

My dagger plunged into the back of the arachnid, going all the way through and stopping at the wall behind it.

A satisfying crunch emitted from the back of the spider as I pierced its body. It made a weak hiss and its legs shook. Then it was still.

I pulled my knife out and shook off the deceased spider stuck to it. The other spiders had momentarily paused, watching their companion fall to the ground and stay still.

I let out a triumphant smirk. Yes, that was only one spider, and there were hundreds more, but I had killed one. I had never thought of them as invincible, but I also never killed one. Someone else always killed them for me. I was usually too horrified to move, much less move close enough to kill it.

But now I had. In a way, it made spiders less… scary, I guess. I knew now I could kill them. Don't get me wrong, I still and and will always be absolutely terrified of spiders. Later, if I get out of this and encounter a spider, this incident will probably bring back memories of the Test and make the spider seem even scarier than normal. But, for now, I would fight back.

The remaining spiders all hissed in anger and started forward. Instead of being a little more cautious because I had killed one of them, they just seemed mad.

I braced myself for the terror that would come, and advanced on the spiders as well. With one swing of my dagger, four spiders were gone. Shudders racked my body, but I did my best to ignore it and continue. I pictured Percy grinning and cheering me on like I knew he would. My trail of thoughts drifted to Percy, of the fact that he was here and that my plan to make us meet without my mother knowing would probably be successful. It filled me with energy, made me feel alive. Percy got me up again and fighting, therefore for Percy I would endure this.

I sliced, chopped, and stabbed so many spiders I lost count. I didn't care about my time, I just cared about getting out of here and into a spider-free zone.

My dagger was coated in spider grime, as was my hand. I just clenched my jaw and moved forward, persevering, prevailing.

Whenever I got panicked or tired, I just remembered Percy. Him urging me on, helping me. I would pick up the fight again. I would win.

Soon I stood in the middle of scores of spider bodies. About a third of the original number was left, but compared to the fight before, this seemed like nothing.

I swung my dagger around, catching a spider that was rushing behind me on the wall. It didn't stand a chance against the celestial bronze and dropped like a rock when my dagger hit it.

After what seemed like an eternity, every spider was gone. Dead. Killed by me.

I was breathing hard, from the exertion of fighting for so long or from the fears that clouded my lungs and made breathing hard, I didn't know. But I was done. I didn't care if I wasn't fast enough to become a Hero or not. I could get out of this cursed room.

I stood in the middle of the mini arena, arachnid corpses surrounding me, unsure of what to do next. So I waited, dagger in hand and catching my breath, until I heard Phobos' voice ring loud in the room.

"Thank you for participating."

That's all? I waited to see if he would dismiss me or something, but nothing came.

I started walking tentatively towards the door, trying not to step on any spiders. A piece of cloth was on the ground, and I stopped to clean my dagger and hand off. Then I put a hand on the door, and it swung open easily, showing me the hallway. Nobody was out yet, so they had either finished way before me or they weren't done yet.

Once I was in the hallway, relief hit me like a brick thrown at my stomach. I'm done. No more spiders. I exhaled largely, rushing to the exit door and eagerly stepping into the warm and welcoming sun outside.

"Annabeth! That was quick!" Thalia exclaimed, pushing herself off of the wall she had been leaning on. I remembered stepping away from the wall, dagger held tight, facing the hundreds of spiders. I shook myself slightly, as if shaking off the bad memories.

"It was? It felt like it took forever," I said, putting away my dagger that I had been holding. Piper stood up from her seat on the ground, coming over to me.

"So, how was it? What was it?" She asked.

"Uh," I started. I really didn't feel like reliving the Test. "I'll tell you guys later. There's also something else that Percy told me, and I'm supposed to tell you the news too, but not here. Lets go to my room where it's private."

Thalia snapped her fingers. "I know what the news is."

"You do?" Piper asked doubtfully.

"Yep!" The hunter replied, nodding vigorously. "Percy proposed to her. Congratulations, Annie."

I rolled my eyes. "That is not the news, Thalia. And Percy definitely did not propose to me. I mean, seriously! I've known Percy for a month or so, and out of that month, I've only been face to face with him for about a week. I barely know anything about him." I frowned at the ground. It was true. I didn't really know Percy. But I wanted to know him.

We had started walking back to the temple, and were about to round a corner, making the Testing building disappear from sight, when the door behind us opened. I glanced over my shoulder, still walking, to see a fellow competitor step out of the building.

The competitor was a girl. A massive one. She wasn't fat, but just big and beefy. A scowl was painted on her face, and it seemed as if it never went away. Brown hair was held back by a red bandana, and the armor she had on was also blood red. She met my eyes for a moment, then looked away, trudging in the opposite direction. There was a spear strapped to her back, and it looked deadly. She would be an opponent to be wary of, I bet.

I wondered if she was the last one out. I asked Piper if I was the second-to-last competitor to finish, and she looked at me, surprised.

"Of course you weren't! You were the first one out."

I raised an eyebrow, getting excited.

Woah, there, I told myself. Don't get your hopes up. There was still at least one hundred if not more that had already taken the Test. My chances of getting into the Game were still pretty slim. But I still hoped I could get in. I knew if what Percy said was true, about the threats and all, it was probably safer to not get in the Game because I would be more protected. But I've wanted and wished to be in the Games since I was little. I wasn't about to just let a chance like this go by. I had to do this.

I'd just have to wait for tomorrow to find out the Test results.

We reached the temple, and as we stepped inside, Thalia whined, "Can't you just tell us what the Test was?"

"Thalia, I really don't want to go over details right now," I sighed. "But later, I will. I'll just say it wasn't pretty, and I would definitely not want to do it again ever."

"Well," Piper said, "I'm just happy you're out."

I smiled at her. "Me too."

Thalia huffed. "I would be happier with a full stomach."

"Are you ever not hungry?" I questioned after my annual eye roll.

"Why would you even ask that?" Piper said tiredly, shaking her head.

We crossed over to my room. Upon walking inside, we found Silena Beaureguard at my desk, her back to us. She was rifling through things there, looking as if she were in a hurry. I frowned. What was she doing here? I didn't ask for anything, and she usually never came by at night. Actually, she should be in her room. She's off her work at dinner. So why was she here?

I stopped short, as did Piper and Thalia. "Silena?" I asked hesitantly.

The servant jumped, whirling around at the voice behind her. Her eyes were wide with alarm. I could practically hear her heartbeat pick up by seeing her face, which had an expression similar to mine during the beginning of the Test.

"Annabeth!" She almost shouted in a shocked tone. "I thought- I mean are you- have you- I'm- you've finished the Test!" Her stutter almost proved she was guilty of something if the panic she was obviously displaying didn't.

At the mention of the Test, however, I could feel the spiders crawling up my arms and legs. I shuddered slightly, rubbing my hands over my arms. I tried to forget about it, though, and focused on the matter at hand.

Thalia next to me was glaring suspiciously at Silena. Piper was just staring at her half-sister, her eyes searching for an explanation.

"What are you doing here?" Thalia demanded.

I put an arm on the hunter's shoulder. Thalia jumped to conclusions fast. I, on the other hand, was fond of and trusted Silena. I hoped there was a good reason for this, one that would clear Silena of all suspicions.

"I'm- uh- I was… searching for something. I needed, uh," she paused. "A pencil. And paper! Yeah. I needed to write a letter, but I didn't have the supplies. I was going to ask you, but you were at the Test, so I'm hoping you don't mind me searching for a paper and a pen, Annabeth."

I noted that she never looked at me as she talked. She either spoke to her feet or to the pocket of space right beside my head. Something was very weird here. I could understand why she would need the writing supplies right away, seeing as the mail delivering children of Hermes only come at night every other day to Athens. If Silena wanted to get the letter to her family or whoever she was sending it to soon, she would need to finish it in at least a half of an hour, because that's when the children of Hermes would come today. What puzzled me was that she sounded alarmed and scared, like I had caught her doing something. But she should know that I wouldn't care if she borrowed writing supplies. Also, Silena organized my room all the time (when it needed it. I usually kept my room pretty clean unless I was designing something. Then stuff is thrown everywhere). She knew where everything was, so she had to know that all my writing supplies were kept in my art closet. Everybody knew that's where I kept all my tools. My desk was where I kept documents, like my drawings, designs, and… my schedule.

My mind was racing. Percy had said that this Luke demigod mentioned a spy in Athena's temple that was giving him information about me. What if Silena wanted to get my schedule to see where I was going to be and when so someone could plan to kidnap or ambush me. What if Silena was the… no. She couldn't be. I've known Silena since I was a little girl. We've been pretty good friends for a long time. She wouldn't do that to me. Would she?

I frowned, but tried to keep a level expression. "No, I don't mind. You can use my writing supplies whenever you want, Silena. But I think you'll have more success in finding them if you look in the art closet." I tried to keep my voice light, but it was kind of pointed and cautious.

"Right," Silena said, flustered. "The art closet. I forgot, sorry."

"It's fine." I watched her walk on shaky feet to the art closet, which was next to my clothes wardrobe. She opened the door and went inside the large, walk-in supply closet. After she had disappeared, Piper, Thalia and I exchanged confused glances. I heard her in the closet, finding the things she needed. A second later, there was a crash and a scatter, sounding like she had dropped a pencil box or something. I raised an eyebrow. As nice as Silena was, I wouldn't take it very kindly if she broke or damaged my writing and drawing tools.

"Oh!" Silena yelped. I heard frantic footsteps as she rushed about inside the closet to clean it up. I walked over to the entrance of the art storage room, seeing the black haired daughter of Aphrodite running around, picking up pens that had flown across the room when she dropped the pen pack. "I-I'm sorry! I'll clean it up!" She was lucky none of the pens had broken, seeing as they were my mother's that I was borrowing, and my mom was very fond of them.

"It's okay, Silena. You can just leave it, we'll get it clean later," I said slowly and softly, as if I were speaking to a toddler.

Silena nodded, but the agitated look remained. She hugged the writing tools to her chest, coming back to the closet door. Her black hair fluttered around her pretty and nervous face, and her bright blue eyes were wide and anxious.

"I'm sorry," Silena murmured again.

I made a placating gesture, "It's all right, Silena. You better start writing your letter now."

"Uh, right. The letter. Sorry. Um, bye. Sorry."

My two best friends and I all watched curiously and suspiciously as Silena departed the room. Her fast pace got her to the door quickly, and she left with one last muttered apology, closing the door behind her.

We stared at the door for a few more seconds, then Thalia stated, "That was weird. I'm gonna follow her for a little bit and see where she goes."

I grunted in agreement, then stalked over to my desk as Piper went to clean up the pens on the ground. When I approached my desk, I noticed all the drawers were open and had been messed with. Everything was out of place. "What were you doing, Silena?" I said under my breath, talking to myself. I checked to see if I still had everything, and it looked like I did. I put the things back into place, organizing it. I finished right as Piper walked out of the closet, still frowning. I remembered Percy's warnings. He needed to know about this. I also wanted to know how he did on the Test. I needed to start my plan. My hands found some paper, and I asked Piper to get me a pen. She jogged back to get one, bringing it to me. After I thanked her, I sat in the chair at my desk, letting the pen fall onto the paper. I jotted down a few sentences, then the door to my room opened up, Thalia appearing inside. She looked confused as she shut the door and trudged over to me. Piper had sat down at the foot of my bed and was waiting for the hunter to speak.

"She just went back to her room." Thalia furrowed her eyebrows. "I listened outside of her door for a little while, and I heard her talking to someone, but their voices were too muffled to make anything they said intelligible to me. But I'm almost positive she doesn't room with anybody, and I didn't see anybody when she opened up her door to her room. So who was she talking to?"

"I don't know," I admitted. I hated this not knowing and being baffled. If I see a problem, I like to solve it. But it seemed impossible to know what was happening in this bewildering situation. I didn't like that. "But I need Percy to know." The two girls in front of me raised their eyebrows in question, so I started retelling the story Percy had told me. Piper and Thalia's eyebrows got deeper and deeper as they listened. I began voicing my suspicions and fears once I was finished, and they were nodding along, concurring with me.

I just ended relaying my hesitant doubts about Silena's loyalty when Piper said, "But it doesn't make sense!" She bit her lip, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "I mean, Silena- we've known her for a long time. She's my sister, and she's been a good friend to you since you were young, Annabeth. She wouldn't- she can't just do that!"

I sighed. "I have known her for a long time, yes, Piper. But I haven't known her very well. She could have a whole other layer of herself that I don't know about."

"I'm just going to keep an eye on her, okay?" Thalia stated, grabbing some food from the tray. "You schedule a meeting with your significant other, I'll watch Silena, and Piper will be the lookout for anything else that's weird."

"'Significant other'? Really, Thals?" I asked, eyebrows high. She smirked, then brought her attention back to the plate in front of her. Piper nodded, agreeing with Thalia's plan. I looked back at my briefly ignored letter, twirling the pen in my hand. I thought for a moment, then placed a few more sentences on the smooth paper. I reread it, dipped my head in satisfaction, then folded it up and sealed it.

I started one more letter, this one for Percy. I tried not to be too specific, just in case the letter fell into the wrong hands. Upon finishing it, I turned to Piper, who was watching me write curiously,

"Do you know of any way I could get this to Percy without anybody knowing?" I said to the daughter of Aphrodite.

She nodded emphatically. "Yeah, I can bring it. I'm going to see them tomorrow." I bobbed my head in gratitude, handing her Percy's letter. She took it with a smile, bringing it over to the table by her bed.

"Why are you going to see them?" Thalia questioned, eyes narrowed.

Piper shrugged. "Just to see how they're doing," Piper replied nonchalantly. Almost too nonchalantly.

One of Thalia's eyebrows went higher than the other as she stated, "Uh huh. You're not just going to see them because of my little brother, right?"

"Of course not!" Piper's answer was indignant.

"So Jason isn't any of the reason that you're going?"

"Well," Piper started uncertainly, "I would like to see him as well…" Thalia rolled her eyes, and Piper turned away front the hunter, looking at me instead. I could see a hint of red in her cheeks, and a smirk grew on my face.

"Yeah, whatever. Knock yourself out," Thalia said with her mouth full of food, rolling her eyes. She flopped back onto her bed. "As much as I hate couples and love and mushiness…" Thalia shuddered at those seeming horrifying words, and it was my turn to roll my eyes. The hunter recovered and finished her sentence, "you two are a good match."

Piper grinned, more blush appearing on her face.

I smiled at the daughter of Aphrodite, then said, "Well, I've got another letter to deliver. I can't really do it myself, seeing as it involves going out of the castle and mom wouldn't like that, if she would even allow it, with Percy in town and all. And Piper is already bringing one letter for me, so…" I trailed off and looked expectantly at Thalia, Piper doing the same. For a second, the hunter was completely oblivious to the stares she was receiving. But soon she turned, noticing my pleading yet also thanking look, for I was sure she would say yes.

Thalia sighed, sitting up. Her plate of now half gone food never left her hands. "Really? I'm already watching Silena for you!"

I smiled a little, sheepishly asking, "Please?"

"Fine," Thalia said, exhaling loudly and rolling her blue eyes. "Only, after I finish my food." She started shoveling some more beans into her mouth.

My cheeks dimpled as I beamed at her, "Thanks, Thals! Remember, all you have to do is throw it into the ocean. I'm hoping he'll get it from there."

"Yeah, I know, Annie!" Thalia said exasperatedly. "It's not like you haven't said the plan fifty times."

My gray eyes rolled. I did that so much it's as if my eyes do that automatically without me even noticing.

"Well, you need to know it. You better hurry, too, before it gets too dark. Piper, could you go earlier in the morning so Percy knows as soon as possible? Because I was hoping we could meet tomorrow before the Test results come out."

It seemed like the word "Percy" was a signal, telling the butterflies to pick up again. Every time I just said that name, the butterflies erupted in my stomach, fluttering around with the ferocity of a tsunami. It took a long time to get them to calm down again. I had to try to keep my expression casual as I said the name of that demigod, which was way easier said than done.

Piper nodded, reassuring me that she would go earlier. Thalia, after some gentle pushing, got to her feet and took the letter nicely, albeit the constant grumbling and complaining and scowls that she had acquired while getting her act together.

"Thanks, Thals, for helping me and Percy out. Percy will be thankful towards you, I'm sure. I'll repay you for the favor sometime," I said truthfully. I'm not the type of girl to have something done for her and just let it be.

"If you could just shut up about your gods damned lover, that would be spectacular," Thalia called dryly as she left the room.

"Language, Thalia," Piper reprimanded without looking over her shoulder. Thalia grumbled something inaudible, but I would bet all my drachmas that I owned that she said a few more colorful curse words that probably shouldn't be heard by kids under sixteen. My eyes once again rolled without me totally noticing that they did. I had a smile on my face, and I waited for it to fade.

But it didn't. It just sat there on my face. An ever-present smile. I wondered why it was there. Ever since the council and the decreeing of the Forbiddance Law, smiles had been rare on my face. I just didn't have something to be happy about.

But since Percy got here, some of my happiness had been restored. Even the prospect of just seeing Percy tomorrow created a small and content smile that glued itself to my countenance. Percy made me happy when he was around, and miserable when he wasn't. Some might say Percy is bad for me, making me emotional and dependent on him and such, but I begged to differ.

Percy has helped me in many ways. He brings out the best in me when he was around, and made me happy and joyful. Sure, I was a wreck when he left, but that taught me how to shoulder my burden of sorrow and carry on throughout the day. I learned from all the grief how to be strong and continue on, even if I never forgot, which I didn't.

Percy made me strong. He probably didn't know how much I relied on him. He most likely didn't need me as much as I needed him, either, but I just wanted him to at least still care for me.

For now, I waited, hoping that someday I'll be able to help Percy with something. Like I said, I wasn't the type of girl to just accept things people give to me and then do nothing in return. If Percy was helping me this much, then I just wanted to do the same for him.

Ok, guys, I'm sorry. I seriously am. It's been a hectic two (or has it been three?) weeks. It's just… I don't know. Well, I'll just say you probably don't envy me right now. But I guess all life has it's troubles. I just need a Percy to make me strong. :⎞

Anyways, I need some input. Do you want the next chapter to be Annabeth's POV, so they'll meet and talk about Percy's Test, or do you want to hear about Percy's Test from his POV on the next chapter? If you picked Percy's POV, then it would be kinda repetitive, so you could pick that, but I don't know if you'll like it as much. But if you picked Annabeth, we'll definitely hear about Percy's Test, so it's not like we'll skip out on that Test. But please review and tell me. When I know, I'll start writing the next chapter, so please let me know soon. Also, I still need more name suggestions for the group of bad people.

Thanks to damnant quod non intelligunt, Mandy0817, ILIKETHICKBOOKS, Goddess of Stories, Son of Dragon, AnnabethChase712, IIII Winter Wolf IIII, FanaticPJ2003, Amber-Raven-Cahill, I Need To Change My Name, 123, percabeth4eva, krazy. khik. noelle, Percabeth12-7, ICECREAMROCKS don't dis me, Sky Girl, Sperry, Turquoise Crystal, and the guests for reviewing since the last chapter was put up. :)

Q&A and chatty stuff.

Mandy0817 : You're welcome for the edit, and of course I won't tell you what the ending will be like! Unless you want a big spoiler! ;) Well, I guess it all depends on if people want a sequel or not.

AnnabethChase712 : Girl, I absolutely love reading your reviews. Just had to say that. Keep it up, and thank you sooo much! :)

III Winter Wolf IIII : Well, Annabeth isn't just gonna let a chance like the Games go by because of possibly empty threats. So she still wants to participate in the Game. And Annabeth did threaten to leave, in the chapter before this. It's what she used to get her mother to consent to let her and Percy meet. :)

FanaticPJ2003 : Good name suggestion! I'll keep it in mind, thanks!

krazy. khik. noelle : I like that name too. Question, though: If "mal" is evil, then whats the "endors" mean?

ICECREAMROCKS don't dis me : Sometime, yes Athena will find out about the kiss. Or she may even witness a kiss, then she won't have to figure it out. ;)

Again, sorry for the delay. I'll try and do better. I just want you all to know that I have so much fun reading each and every review! Each one makes my day. No matter how many times I say that, it's true. :)