Hey guysgues who's back yup MEEEEEEEEE sorry for the long wait i was in Kenya, Africa visiting family. just wanted to tell you guys that i do read all of your reviews and they make me HAPPY :) :) so thank you and i have been trying to do longer chapters and some of you have requested but that mean cliffhangers on mostly every chapter and i dont want that like a certain someone we all know *cough-RICK RIORDAN-cough*
and now the next chapter in APLHA: CHAOS" COMMANDER
I stretched out across my bed knowing I should get some sleep knowing I had a long day ahead of me. I set the alarm to 6:30, and before I knew it I had fallen asleep. Instead of a wakeless night, like I had hoped, I was swallowed into a nightmare.
I opened my eyes to find that I was not in my bedroom. Last time I checked, my room didn't have a seemingly endless, dark ceiling and glass shard sand on the floor. I couldn't see much, because of the darkness, but in front of me I could make out ranks of monsters. This place seemed awfully familiar… Then it hit me. I seriously wanted to facepalm. I was in Tartarus!
"I will aid you in this war, learn to use your abilities I am gifting you with. Do not fail me!" I said. Except, it wasn't me. The voice was more feminine and sounded ancient, it seemed to echo across the room.
"Step up Minotaur." I said.
My old enemy stepped forward, trembling in fear. Who was I? When the bull was an arms length away, I closed the distance between us and firmly pressed a pale hand against his chest. Dark shadows spiraled around him and sunk into his skin. He fell to his knees as he writhed in pain. The monsters who were closest to him scrambled back in fear.
Throughout the process, he had his eyes squeezed shut. Now, they snapped open revealing cold, pitch-black eyes.
-Annabeth-
I peeked into the Zeus cabin to find it neat and tidy as always. 5 of 5, I scribbled onto my inspection sheet. I was inspecting cabins around camp. I felt the hot sunlight burn against my exposed skin. I almost wished Dionysus was here controlling the weather. I realized I hadn't thought about Mr. D in ages! It's been exactly 100 years and 6 days since our war with Gaea, meaning Dionysus has been relieved of his position as camp director.
The seven (and a few others) were granted partial immortality for their assistance during the war. Chiron, Jason, Reyna, and I elected leaders for the combined camps. I continued to walk but I stopped abruptly in front of the Poseidon cabin, remembering a certain demigod who had once lived in it.
I fought a lump in my throat as I tried to hold back tears. I bit my lip. I had to be strong, for the sake of camp. I'm their leader, I have to appear strong and confident.
I stuck my head into the Poseidon cabin door instantly feeling a cool beach breeze blow gently against my face. I sighed sadly walking over to the bunk where Percy used to sleep. I could tell it was his because a minotaur horn hung dejectedly on the wall next to it.
The Harpys cleaned the cabins every summer, but I bet if they didn't, Percy's bunk would've been untidy, with candy wrappers littering the floor.
I lifted his baby blue pillow pressing it against my face, hoping to catch a glimpse of his sweet ocean scent. Surprisingly, it was still there-stale, yes, but still there. I breathed in, treasuring the smell. My heart ached. I missed him so much. I missed his dumb comments, his eyes, his smile—everything about him.
It was like I was missing a piece of myself.
Where was he? Percy left without a trace. He wasn't in the Underworld… Nico confirmed that. He wasn't in the "overworld" either. It was like the time Hera kidnapped him! Except this time, I know he isn't dead. It's driving me over the edge. I looked and looked, yet found no trace after 70 years. I finally gave up, putting my main focus on being a good camp leader.
The unfairness of it all is that Percy was exiled for no reason, whatsoever. I closed my eyes. I shouldn't have left for that quest my mother gave me. I should've been the to comfort, defend, or even run away with him! I wasn't there when Percy needed me most…
-Flashback-
I had just come back from my quest for my mother, Athena. A demigod supposedly kidnapped her sacred owl. It took a whole week to rescue the huge, 2-foot owl (I had to restrain myself from punching it) but it was surprisingly easy to complete my mission, giving me an uneasy feeling.
I walked into camp (after returning the owl to my mother) to find out who else had been murdered "by Percy". I knew, I just knew, Percy did not commit the crime. I was worried about my Seaweed Brain. How was he holding up? As I strolled around camp I couldn't find Percy though I was greeted by several other campers. The sun was shining and the grass was green as always, but I felt unknown tension in the air.
I walked past the lush strawberry fields to find Thalia dashing towards me. I grinned "Hey, Thalia!" She hugged me tightly. "How have you been holding up with Percy gone?" Thalia asked me concerned.
I tensed. "What?"
Her eyes widened. "You haven't heard the news?" I shook my head confused..
Thalia told me of Percy's exile from the beginning. I clenched my fists angrily. "The other campers are okay with this?!" I hissed.
She nodded sadly. "Everyone thinks Percy murdered those campers. The only people who think Percy is innocent is you, Nico, Reyna, Grover, Chiron, and I."
"Frank and Hazel?"
"Oh! Them, too, they're on Percy's side!"
"How about Jason and Piper?"
"Well, Piper thinks Percy is guilty, and Jason… he's constantly shifting between camps, so he's taking Piper's word for it.."
"We are going to Olympus. Now."
She grinned, "I'll drive."
"No need." Chiron interjected, trotting towards us. "The gods are holding a meeting to discuss a new threat… "
I blinked in surprise. "They're coming… here? To Camp Half-Blood?" I paused. "A new threat…? Can't we just get a break?!"
"Yes, child, now come we do not want to miss the meeting. It is being held in the big house."
I noticed he didn't answer my last two questions.
Thalia and I sprinted to the Big house, so by the time we arrived we were out of breath and panting. All of the cabin counselors were already seated and most were noisily talking. Thalia and and I quickly took our seats.
The gods were at the front, seated in the same formation they sat in at Mt. Olympus.