Chapter 8

All rights and Characters go to yours truly, dahdah DAAAHHHH! Rick Riordan Whoo! I should definitely thank him for writing the series. I've been reading it since 5th grade. It was my second favorite series, but only because Alex Rider was how I got into reading in the first place. So a little background history on me. Back to the story. Hopefully you guys are enjoying it.

Annabeth's POV:

I try to recall, as best I can, all the events that happened up until now. I know I am wisdom's daughter, but I'm still baffled at how this could all be. My mom is supposed to give me guidance, but I'm so lost. The only thing holding me so I don't float off into space is Percy. I talk about my abilities, then the hunger, which makes everybody sort of hold their breathe, and then I talk about the creature. I see Hazel is paying attention to everything I say about the creature.

"So yeah, that's all I can remember," I say.

"Oh gods that was you holding me down?" says Percy out of the blue. He's embarrassed. I didn't tell the other about how Percy got out of the little predicament. He's completely blushing. I look at him and he looks at me, a big sheepish grin on his face. "Oh man I can't believe I said that," he says. Oh the look on his face. I laugh for like the first time since my life went to Hades (no offense). I'm about to say something else when it hits. I hunch over and everybody freezes.

"What?" says Thalia leaning over the table. I look back up and everybody in the room tenses up. My eyes are red. They haven't seen me like this yet, and I'm sure it comes as a bit of a shock. The only person who is relaxed is Percy. But he shouldn't be. Right now his scent is really really good.

"Annabeth," says Piper, "maybe you should duck out for a second and uhh...eat." She uses her charm speak and suddenly I think yeah I do need to go. I need to eat, but I need to go first. I run out of the room, but within about 10 seconds I'm back.

Percy's POV:

I sit back as Annabeth tells the story. I cringe at some parts and duck my head at others because sometimes I'm embarrassed to even be a demigod, let alone of the big three. I couldn't even get Annabeth off me. Before this happened I was the one who was stronger, and don't get me wrong, she's a really cool gal, but being pinned to the ground and almost fed on wasn't something I wanted to do again, at least not without warning.

" Oh gods that was you holding me down?Oh man I can't believe I said that," I suddenly blert, and everybody looks my way. Oh man I can't believe I just blurted that out. I know I'm blushing hardcore. Aannabeth laughs, and it's the first time she's done that that I know of since this happened. It makes me smile, to see that she is actually enjoying herself. Everybody looks at me, and I see Annabeth's smug expression. Oh she is so going down next time we play capture the flag. Wow, I can't believe I'm thinking of that at a time like this. Wow, so many things that aren't to be believed. But all I know is I want my Annabeth back, and you know, not all bleh bleh sucking blood and shit.

Suddenly she hunches over, a pained expression on her face. Everybody tenses up but I look at her, wondering what it must feel like. I wish it were me so she wouldn't be going through this. I kinda pray to the Gods that it could be me instead of her. I hope, but nothing happens. God Dad what the heck. Suddenly Piper speaks up.

"Annabeth," says Piper, "maybe you should duck out for a second and uhh...eat." She's using her charm speak, and it's really powerful. I'm not even Annabeth, and I want to go out and have some blue french fries. In a flash, Annabeth is gone, but then like 5 seconds later she's right back where she was.

Thalia's POV:

I can't believe how fast Annabeth is. One second she is gone, the next she's back, and has some blood on the corner of her mouth.

"Uhh Ann, you got a little something, right there," I say kinda really awkwardly, while pointing to my mouth. She notices and wipesit away with a finger before putting the stuff in her mouth. It sends a shiver down my spine. I can't believe somebody, no something did this to her. Even Tartarus, that is way low. When I find him I am personally, gonna plunge an arrow up his-

"So guys, you had a plan?" asks Annabeth, shocking me out of my fantasy. We all look towards Reyna, who was the mastermind behind it. It's not really a plan, more like an idea.

"Ok so the idea is that you stay here, where it's relatively safe, and the rest of us split up and search for the beast who did this. We find him, catch him, maybe plunge a steak through him so he can't escape, and then question him, seeing if there is any way to reverse the curse. But, here's the part that I don't think you'll like. Thalia has been tracking this thing for months, but all of a sudden it vanishes from here. It may be back in Tartarus." She pauses, waiting to see Annabeth's expression. She's anxious, but I have a feeling when she hears the rest, it won't be a pretty sight. Reyna continues though.

"Ok, once we find out where the thing is, we have to fly back to Greece. there, you are going to wait...while the rest of us go into Tartarus..." Her voice trails off at the last bit so we can't hear her. But apparently Annabeth can. She tenses up and I can see the fear and anger in her eyes.

"No way!" she growls, showing off some fangs. She gets up and rushes over to Reyna. "No I'm not letting you do this. Please. You guys are my best friends. I couldn't stand it if something happened to you, or if you died," she says, eyeing Leo.

"Annabeth, please, if there is any way, we are going to need to do this," says Percy getting up from the table.

"Please, we want to help. That's why we are having this meeting.," I tell her, getting up and walking over. Soon there is an uproar and we are trying to convince Annabeth that this is a good idea. I can tell she's starting to lose control, what with everybody yelling. She runs out of the pavilion, and Percy starts after her. But I grab his arm, saying she needs some alone time, and that I'll go talk to her.

I find her sitting by the tree, wow so much revolves around this tree. Mainly the fact that I was turned into a weed then came back again, not a really pleasant adventure. I sit by her, and let her sort of sulk. I can't tell, but I think she's crying. I take off my coat and wrap it around her and get her in a big bear hug!

"Oh big bad daughter of Zeus got the daughter of Wisdom, whatcha gonna do about it! Huh?" I say, trying to lighten the mood. She's really not amused at first, but she comes to and next thing I know, we're wrestling. I know she's holding back but it's still fun, and it lets her get some of the pent up anger out. After awhile, we both sit in silence until I say something.

"You know that we all want you to be ok," I say, encouragingly, giving her the warmest smile I can. She looks up and is about to say something, but then decides against it. We both look up at the stars and I pray to my dad that Annabeth will make it through this, in one piece, and not end up a tree. I hope he hears me.

"You know, I hate the idea of people risking their lives for me, but it's not a bad idea. They just don't know what happened in Tartarus," She says, looking at me. I look back at her, amazed at how grown up she has become. I know I wasn't her mom, but it makes me proud to see that she has become so strong. Definitely stronger than I would ever become.

"then tell me what happened, " I say, barely above a whisper, "so we can know what we will be up against."

End of Chapter 8

Sorry not a lot of action in this one. But hopefully there will be some in the next one. As always give me a post, comment, review, and some constructive criticism and no haters. Also, I am planning on making Percy into a vampire, but that's not really a spoiler, I can tell you guys were wanting this. Unless you don't let me know because I enjoy feedback. I don't see why he shouldn't but any objections, I'm all ears. But I want it to be built up, not just spontaneous. Percy becoming a vampire would be like last resort type of thing. Anyway, I won't be uploading too many new chapters right now, because I will be going on vacation up in Pennsylvania to visit for the holidays, but once I'm back I will start cranking out some more chapters. No worries! Alright Peace!