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The Loss of a Hero: Chapter Thirteen

Annabeth POV

"Annabeth? Are you awake?"

I groaned and stretched. "Am now… ugh." I winced at the light from the open door. I looked at the one who'd woke me up, and my eyes widened as she came into focus. "Kairi?!"

She smiled. "Yep, that's me."

I got up quickly. Or, rather, I tried to. With my legs wrapped up in the blanket, I half-fell out of bed, my legs still stuck, and caught myself with my hands. I mentally facepalmed. Brilliant.

Kairi laughed gently. "Need a hand?"

I mumbled a few curses in Ancient Greek as I attempted to extract myself from my blankets unsuccessfully. I sighed and gave up. "Sure, thanks."

Smiling, Kairi pulled me the rest of the way out of bed onto the floor, where I managed to get my legs out. I kicked the blankets aside. "Well, that made me look dignified."

"Absolutely," Kairi said, smiling.

I grinned and hugged her tightly. "You scared me! Don't ever do that again!"

"Okay, I'll avoid having my core sucked out unwillingly."

"Was that sarcasm? Who are you and what have you done with Kairi?"

"I think I sucked her heart out and moved in."

"Very funny."

"Who said I was joking?"

I stared at Kairi for a few seconds, my brain still waking up, and she laughed again. "I'm kidding."

"You'd better be," I mumbled. "What happened, anyway?"

Kairi sat down on my blanketless bunk, and I joined her. "I'm not really sure. I was just eating with you at the dining pavilion, then I felt a cold shock, followed by a draining sensation. After that, I woke up, feeling fine, just a half-hour ago."

A groan made Kairi jump. "Ugh… why did they invent mornings…?!" Chloe groaned, pushing herself up. "Really, they shouldn'ta bothered, afternoons are waayy better." She looked around groggily. "Where… Where am I?" She blinked sleepily a few times. "More importantly… is there room service?"

I chuckled. "That would be nice, but no, sorry."

Chloe groaned and flopped back down. "Wake me in five hours," she mumbled through the pillow.

"I'll do that." I grinned, then turned back to Kairi.

"Who's that?" she asked.

"That's Chloe. She's the one who saved you. Some Nemesis-Hecate power thing that cut you off from the draining powers, 'restoring balance', or something."

"Oh," she said. "When she wakes up, I'll be sure to thank her."

"Agreed," I said. I stretched again. "Mmm… Ready for some breakfast?"

Kairi nodded. "Yep, I'm really hungry."

I chuckled. "I bet you are. C'mon."

We got up and headed for the dining pavilion. Halfway there, I smelled bacon, and I started running. "C'mon, Kairi, there's bacon!"

Kairi smiled and ran alongside me.

Percy POV

An explosion threw me forward, and I fell and hit the ground. The air turned colder, and I turned around. What I saw chilled my blood. A limp figure was falling from the dark pillar, which was now moving in my direction. Oh, crud. Nico must have finished off his adversary, and was now coming for me. I knew he would have sensed a presence when I got close. And now he'd locked onto it, it being mine, and was coming to destroy it. I couldn't shadow-travel, but I felt the tugging forces ease, and I went off in a sprint. I only knew one place where I could get help.

I poured on the speed, using the moisture in the air to propel me. My arm hurt where I had fallen, it was bleeding lightly. I pulled a little water in and used it to heal the cut as I ran. I went faster than I had ever gone before, but it wasn't enough. The pillar of darkness gained on me with increasing speed. I closed my eyes as it drew near. I guess this is it. I'm sorry, Annabeth.

"No dying on me, now, Percy."

"Huh?" I looked around, and my mouth dropped open. In front of me was Sierra, and she was flying. Big, black wings propelled her along in front of me as I ran.

"I said, no dying. I'll hold this off as long as I can, I'll try to open up a line for you to shadow-travel. Get away as fast as you can, get help. Got it?

"S-sierra? Where… how did you…"

"Percy! There are more important things to worry about right now. Go! I've cleared you for shadow-travel, but it won't last long, go!"

I opened my mouth to protest, but Sierra leaned in and kissed me. "I said go. Got it? I'll buy you as much time as I can. I might survive if you get help quick enough, but it doesn't matter. I've been blessed by Thanatos, and I now serve under him. He'll bring me back if I die."

I gaped at her.

She rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Percy. Go! We're okay now. That kiss is our last. It's fine now. But you gotta go now, okay?"

I closed my mouth and nodded, unable to speak. I reached into the darkness, picturing my home. The one place that I might find help. I took a last look at Sierra, who had stopped, and was flying toward the pillar. I turned back, and melted into the shadows.

I emerged on the beach. I quickly made sure that I was still invisible. I glanced around. It looked to be about lunchtime. I smelled the air, and I nearly started drooling. Barbeque. The true food of the gods.

I shook my head. Focus. Sierra is out there buying you time. Use it. Figure out how to match Nico's power, anything that could tip the scales in our favor. I started running toward the Big House, maybe I could do something to tell Chiron without revealing myself. On the way, I passed the dining pavilion, and I couldn't help but go in and snag a plate. Luckily, the plate disappeared as soon as I picked it up. I walked over to the bronze brazier in the center and, with a bit of difficulty, dropped a slice in. It was visible as soon as it dropped off the plate, but I glanced around and didn't see anyone looking at it. My heart stopped. Annabeth was there. I nearly dropped the plate, but I turned back and quickly said, "For Poseidon," in a whisper.

I turned away, and started walking off, when I realized that I didn't have a fork or anything. I looked around and saw Annabeth gesturing with one in her hand as she talked with another girl. I smiled mischievously. I walked over and snatched it out of her hand, and it turned invisible instantly. Annabeth whirled around, ready to tell someone off, but saw no one. Her expression turned so perplexed, I almost burst out laughing. I backed up as she swiped her hand through the air, and headed out of the pavilion toward the Big House again. I ate the barbeque as I walked, which was a bit difficult, as I couldn't see it, but I enjoyed every bite. I left the plate and fork on the railing of the Big House, visible as soon as I put them down, and walked in.

I found my way to Chiron's office, which was thankfully empty. I found some paper and a pen, and was about to start writing, but they became invisible. "That's not gonna work…" I said. I looked behind me, nobody was there. I figured that Chiron was at his archery lesson. I turned off my invisibility, and the paper and pen reappeared. I glanced back over my shoulder once more, and started writing.

"Chiron, there is a big problem. Nico has been consumed by anger and darkness, and has lost all control. He is headed this way. We need something to subdue him, something to tip the scales our way and see if we can stop him. I can't reveal who I am, but I need your help. If there's anything that can be done, or anyone that can help, have them or it at the beach in an hour. Thanks.

"There you are. Geez, do you have any idea how hard it is to find someone that's both invisible and moving around?"

I jumped about twenty feet in the air. I whirled around, and a girl in lavender pajamas was standing in the doorway, blinking sleepily. "Heya, name's Chloe, daughter of Nemesis, granddaughter of Hecate, I resolve imbalances, and it is way too early for me to be up."

I was speechless for a moment. "Umm… Hi…?"

Chloe yawned. "I heard the "tip the scales" thing, so I had to follow ya and figure out what I can do." She looked past me at the note. "Huh… Okay, I guess I'll be on the beach in an hour." She turned around and walked away, leaving me standing there, very confused.

End of Chapter 13

Hey! Sorry, guys, I didn't mean to be away this long, but apparently I'm further behind in school than I thought… sorry .-.

Anyway, I decided to take today off after a long weekend of workin and stuff, and I decided to spend some time writing.

So, ArcusIgnium, sorry, but you didn't reply. I now gotta choose another winner… lemme go do that.

…Aaand the new winner is..! my fandom is better than yours! Gratz! You have until Friday to PM me about your prize, or I'll choose someone else. Mkay?

77WiseGirl77 has chosen to be put into the story! Apologies, but she won't be entering until the thing with Nico is resolved, for better or worse. There's no room yet, if that makes any sense. The plot is full. It'll be open enough once the Nico thing is over, tho.

Remember, the polls for pairings are still open! Submit votes by poll or by review! Thanks to all of you!

Read and review!

~Ben