Annabeth

The party wasn't like prom night and Ethan hadn't dressed like her prom date. He was wearing long loose black pants and a tight black buttoned down shirt beneath an open brown sweater. His hair was oiled and combed back in a so-last-century fashion which was kind of ironic as Annabeth was in the last century. Calypso had accompanied her in a glorious pink sundress and straw sandals. Her hair was down and she looked angelic. Annabeth had picked a long frilly shirt with buttons upfront tucked in a khaki. She had worn the brown boots Percy had given her and tied her hair up in a pony tail. She was going to be the odd one. She knew it from the moment they met up with Ethan outside the bakery. She could hear his thoughts of seeing her in a glittery feminine dress with her long hair (with princess curls) open and flying everywhere. She snorted and took in Ethan's disappointment with satisfaction.

He had called her pretty before! Now all he wanted to do was ogle Calypso! He must have thought of her as an idiot barbie. Annabeth had never had love for those hideous dolls and maybe that was the reason why Vera had a huge collection of those.

Annabeth glanced at Calypso as they passed the snow filled grounds of the school. The building appeared to be in a trance, ready to fall asleep. People were leaving the head-quarters, Annabeth had decided to call it that, and were heading to their respective squadrons. Annabeth had gathered all sorts of information about those. Apparently each squadron existed for a kind of special quality and the leaders were the supreme commanders and like ministers of these squadrons. And then their were the first three squadrons which dealt with the main forms of combat on air water and land. They were not very big but they were the jewels on the crown. And their leaders were even above law. Well... the law of the rebels were pretty harsh for captured nobles but they were not brutal. And then there was Bianca. With Chiron in campus she was just an anemic girl in wheel chair who was free to roam the squadrons and look around and report to him. But in his absence she became the acting instructor whose commands were eligible for the leader's vote. And then there was the director Mr. D. The only difference between him and the great three leaders was that they could only disobey law but Mr.D could also and was the only one who could change or make them.

They soon reached a heavily guarded bamboo barrier. The guards were all buff and carried sling guns around their shoulder.

Ethan looked back at the girls and grimaced for a split second.

"I don't see Larry here. He was supposed to be on duty. I guess he already left."

"We are late?" Calypso asked in dismay.

Ethan looked troubled. Great.

Annabeth stood there with all her weight on her good foot. She had been determined to show Percy that she was a woman of her own mind and now she couldn't get past a wall because her escort was bad at coordination. She looked at the patrolling guards carefully. All of them were ripped and bulky and wore tight tank tops (that's what the tops looked like to Annabeth) and fitting cargoes. All of them were sweating even in the cold and wearing fur shawls which were tied at their necks. One of them was particularly tall and buff and... familiar.

A huge smile crept over Annabeth's face as she confidently marched up to Tyson.

Ethan and Calypso hurriedly followed after her with frowns on their faces. They were just gonna love her after that.

The ground on which Annabeth walked was a scanty green and all the maple trees were almost bare. The sky was a dark shade of purple and death blue and a few stars could already be seen through the cloud less sky. Malcolm loved star gazing but in present day Kyte it was pretty hard to spot them. They lived in the capital and it was very polluted there but hundred years back that clearly wasn't the case.

"Hello Tyson!" Annabeth greeted with the beast friendly smile ever.

Tyson turned towards her with his shoulders tensed, ready to jump at any threat. As if a threat would greet him that sweetly.

On seeing Annabeth his posture relaxed and even a smile crept up to his good eye.

"Hello there Annabeth. Shouldn't you be in Percy's island right now? He'll be finishing with the eighth squadron soon I guess."

Annabeth hadn't talked to Tyson much but she knew exactly what to say.

"Have you heard about this party or feast that is taking place outside the campus?"

Tyson gave out a huge sigh and nodded. "Yes, I have."

Annabeth nodded in agreement to his sigh.

"We three are going to warn those people and ask them to come back. It's dangerous after all."

"Have you asked Percy?" Tyson sounded alarmed.

Annabeth felt a bit irritated even though the way Tyson pronounced the syllables was quite funny. Percy was her guardian that she knew and one time he had saved her from getting abused but that wasn't completely her fault either. Percy could have been sweeter with his words.

"Of course! He asked Ethan to come with us just in case."

Tyson looked over at an uncomfortable one eyed Ethan and nodded in understanding.

"You are under the seventh unit in our squadron right?" Tyson asked Ethan.

"Yes Sir." Ethan replied in a highly guarded voice.

"Calypso." Tyson regarded.

"Hello Tyson" Calypso chimed cheerfully while easily playing along with Annabeth's excuse.

"Then you may pass. Take care of the ladies Nakamura."

Ethan gave another solemn nod.

"Open up a crack Hog!" Tyson gestured to another buff guy.

There was a tiny creaking sound and a hair line gap was made between two bamboo junction.

Annabeth's stomach jostled with excitement and a tinge of fear. She was stepping out of the rebel's campus for the first time and that too with her friends! She was going to the party and now no one was going to stop her. Little butterflies scurried excitedly in her almost empty stomach as the three of them stepped out of the small gap one by one. And finally they were out.

Annabeth noticed that the forest had trees other that the maple one which still bore leaves. The ground was white with snow and they were falling down from branches of the trees occasionally. Even the air smelled cold and Annabeth wrapped her hands around her self and rubbed her upper arms and stared up at the darkening sky. She looked around for the place where she had landed but couldn't pin point it anywhere. Well now that was only normal as she was having a major break down at that point

"I'll lead the way." Ethan murmured and just as they were about to get going Tyson barked.

"Nakamura!"

Annabeth stilled in her tracks as Calypso grasped her hand. What now? Did Tyson suspect them?

Heavy footsteps marched up to them, "Are you carrying your gun?"

From the corner of her eye Annabeth watched Ethan turn with wide eyes. He shook his head in denial. Annabeth and Calypso had also shifted to face the boys. Tyson's eyes were narrowed with suspicion. Oh boy!

"Why is that?" He asked sharply.

Exactly. Ethan was a rebel. Shouldn't he take his gun to his sleep?

"We are not going to fire on our fellow rebels." Annabeth managed a horrified voice.

Tyson snorted and unstrapped his own gun and handed it over to Ethan.

"There could be more than a rebel. Have a safe trip."

With that he was gone inside the compound. With another tiny creak the gap between the bamboos closed.

This was the last chance for Annabeth to run. It would be too late afterwards. This was the last chance to do the right thing.

Annabeth took a deep breath and placed a hand over a dumbfounded Ethan's shoulder who was staring at the gun.

"I can't believe you pulled this off." He whispered.

Annabeth gave him a dazzling smile and said, "Let's move."

Annabeth stood beside the wooden shack with an untouched glass of fruit punch in her hand. She watched as the rebels got drunk and started dancing around the fire to the maddeningly loud beats of drum. Were these people trying to call the nobles to their location? Annabeth had to compliment them about their choice of location. The area was thickly covered with trees and just a few kilometers away from the camp. Most of the sound was being absorbed hopefully and it also provided some amount of camouflage. But the fire... it could cause a disastrous forest fire or could give away their location due to it's brightness.

"Hey noble bitch."

Annabeth turned around to see Octavian coming towards her with his sidekicks surrounding him.

"Like the dance?" He asked while jutting his skinny thumb towards the mayhem.

Annabeth stared at him, her lips not moving.

"My guys here were wondering who has sent you to spy on us?" He took the glass of fruit punch from her hand casually and took a sip.

Annabeth rolled her eyes without saying a word. She was about to turn around and walk away when Octavian grabbed her hand and pulled her. She contemplated kicking him where the sun doesn't shine but the wisp of his drunk breath on her ear startled her.

"I'll find out and when I do I swear that you'll be burnt and no one would object the death of a traitor... not even your lover."

Her lover... her had to mean him. The thought of Percy voting to burn her made her eyes open wide.

Octavian chuckled crudely, "Yes, he can and he will. Just imagine your sweet-sweet love burning your flesh and bones and hair and hearing you scream from pain until you can't feel anything anymore and then-"

Firm calloused fingers dug in her waist and yanked her away from Octavian's hold. Annabeth's back hit a wall of strong muscles and she was forced to crane her neck and see who the newcomer was. Percy was dressed in complete black with his jacket's sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his hair was hanging in a beautiful mess.

"I think you need to leave my lover alone." His eyes were like green sea storms threatening to drown Octavian.

Annabeth's cheeks heated up. Percy had called her his lover even if his tone had made it clear that she wasn't but still... just thought of kissing him like Luke used to kiss her made her skin burn and she was already burning from the way he was gripping her waist. It hurt her and she realized that he was angry and at that moment was feeling very protective of her. This epiphany somehow made her happy and she relaxed against his chest and concentrated. Yes,... she could her his heart... racing ahead of itself and trying to compete with hers.

"You'll kill her someday Percy. Why waste time? Let's end this now." Octavian said stubbornly even though his sidekicks looked very uncertain at the sight of Percy.

"Touch her and I'll kill you for sure." Percy replied coolly as if saying that was the same thing as drinking a glass of chilled water.

"She is a spy. She'll be the death of you!" Octavian pressed.

Percy smiled his cold smile and looked down at Octavian who was considerably shorter than him, "You say I'll kill her and that she would be the death of me. So if I were somehow to be destroyed... that should be beneficial for you... right?"

Percy's low voice made Octavian gulp.

"Hit a low beat!"

Someone shouted from the crowd.

"No go faster!"

Shouted another one.

But all theses voices seemed to get muted by the intense showdown of stares between Percy and Octavian. Annabeth recalled how Percy had lunged at Octavian before and from the tightening of Octavian's throat she confirmed that Octavian remembered it too but refused to except the fact that he would loose in a fight against Percy. But Annabeth could see that it would not be much of a fight. Octavian was unhealthily skinny and short and from the fact that last time he was pinned to the floor disgracefully... he was slow.

Annabeth fidgeted with her ponytail and bit her bottom lip. She had to stop them or there would soon be a few broken bones here and drops of blood there.

She tentatively placed her fingers on Percy's hand while trying hard to act cool and friendly and nothing more. But she had to suck in a sharp shard of breath when a ting of heat mixed with overpowering electricity passed through her body. She felt Percy's frame go rigid behind her back. She snapped her head and looked above her to see that his eyes had left Octavian and were now staring down at her.

Maybe it was because of the wild bonfire or the wild beats of drum or the wild dancing going on around them or maybe it was a trick of light or rather Annabeth's imagination. Percy was looking down at her with the wildest swilling eyes ever. His fingers had dug further in her waist and his whole body exuded a kind of wild energy which made Annabeth shuddered. His eyes were hungry... hungry for what they saw and what they saw was... her.

"Until next time." Annabeth heard Percy murmur as he pulled her away from Octavian and his sidekicks.

He was gripping Annabeth's wrist in a tight frenzy and was taking her a bit deeper into the forest. Annabeth looked at his broad back and her stomach knotted on itself. His footsteps were big and he was too quick. She wondered how she had affected him with the slightest of tentative touch. She was sure he was angry at her. What if her touching him had made him angrier? What if... What if... What if...

He pushed her back hard against a tree and Annabeth stumbled.

"I'm -"

Annabeth couldn't finish.

Percy's mouth was on hers before she could. Her eyes opened wide. Her heart beat soared up as she realized that he was kissing her, his one hand resting on her neck and the other loosely wrapped around her waist. Heat coursed through her entire body making her more sensitive and alive than she had ever been. On impulse she kissed him back hard to match his intensity. His lips tasted like slat and water. She decided that she liked that taste. Her hands snaked around his shoulder and wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer, kissing him harder. His hand tightened around her waist and with a jerk she was stuck to him. Her chest to his. A low moan escaped her lips and Percy ceased that opportunity to push his tongue in Annabeth' s mouth... making her knees week as he artfully explored her mouth taking in her taste. His hands went up to her cheeks and then slipped to her shoulders to her waist where he pushed her shirt out of her pants and touched her bare hips.

She gasped at the sudden jolt that attacked her body and pulled at his hair. She could smell him, taste him, feel him. He hitched a knee between her legs and pushed her against the tree again and trailed fiery wild kisses from her jaw down south. She felt his teeth on her neck and gave out an undignified low noise and pushed his head deeper. He hastily pulled the sleeve of Annabeth's shirt and continued his maddening trail. Annabeth closed her eyes and tilted her head to help him burn her nerve endings with his wildness.

Even though she had had a boyfriend before she'd never felt this raw, this sensitive... this much attracted before.

A strangled grunt escaped Percy's soft lips as he nipped her collarbone. Her back arched to him instinctively. She knew where this little moment of heat was going and she shocked herself as she realized she didn't want to stop. Somehow she had ended up desiring him, craving him, needing in a way that she had always felt rather afraid to feel around Luke.

Percy's muscles were grinding her body beneath him as he was kissing her shoulder. Annabeth wanted the tables to turn. She wanted to crush him under her and savor and bite him as he was doing to her.

"She'll be the death of you."

Octavian's cold voice stilled her body, leaving her mouth open and hungry for more. She regretted thinking about it the moment she realized it was too late. Percy was already pulling away from her. He took a shaky step back and looked at her. She couldn't guess what he saw but she sure loved the sight of his unruly hair, this time because of her, disheveled clothes and swollen lip.

A blush crept up her cheeks as she realized she must have bitten him there.

They were a few inches away, their noses barely touching and vapors from their heavy breaths mixing together in the cold night air.

"I-I asked you not to come." Percy said quietly while straightening and moving a step further back.

"I don't like to be ordered around." Annabeth replied.

Percy shoot her a glare and hissed, "Don't be naive! Anything can happen here! They have started a big bad fire! It would lure the nobles in and then everyone will be slaughtered!"

Annabeth already knew that but yet she had come. Somehow after that heated kiss she couldn't feel bad about it.

"Why are you here then?" She relaxed completely against the tree trunk and looked him in the eye.

She glanced at his lips for a heartbeat and then quickly shifted her gaze back to his eyes.

His eyes had lingering traces of wildness which made her wonder how many girls he must have kissed? Reyna perhaps. Now Annabeth could guess why she might have fallen for him.

"I'm not afraid of nobles and-" he hesitated, "I'm here for you... as you were stupid enough to disobey me earlier." He looked away room Annabeth and pointed his gaze at the ground at the second half of his statement.

Annabeth stared at him baffled. He had come here for her? Did he care that much about her? Then why had he not contradicted Octavian when he had said they would destroy each other? She couldn't possibly ever hurt him and even though he was rough and outright rude sometimes he wasn't... tyrant. Then why?

And why was he making her feel on edge... she had never felt that way, never with Luke. Why just now had she been ready to give in to him while she had been hesitating and running away from Luke all those long years? What was with him?

All these questions were driving her mad and she knew that Percy wouldn't have the right answers either. So how was she going to-

A loud bang wrecked the air as a shrill cry made Annabeth cover her ears. She knew that voice. The owner of that voice had bought her a star bread and had invited her to this party. A serge of panic rose up in her chest and she searched Percy's face frantically to say that the scream was a part of some stupid stunt.

"Ethan!" A girl screamed.

"Run! The nobles! Don't lead them to the compound!"

Percy's fingers slipped through hers as he tugged at her.

"Come on Annabeth!"

"Wha- whats going to happen?" She asked as she let Percy pull her into the depths of the forest to god knew where.

"Some would be lucky enough to escape. But most of them..."

"What?" She choked.

"The luckier ones will be shot dead there the others would be captured and tortured."

Percy had a finality to his voice which made the situation sink in deeper. As shrill cries and gun shots rang out Annabeth realized for the first time that she was really stuck in the age of Kytian rebellion.

I know I'm late but lately I have to go to classes morning and evening and to driving school and I also have to cook and clean (my house maid migrated). And I have to study! It's so hectic! Please tell me how this chapter was!