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Who is this mystery person? I'm a junior hour myself and I read this and got confused and it takes a lot to get me confused –destiny . stiltner

GLAD you asked! That's the question I want people to start asking! Last chapter revealed a bit of the story's villain's actions. Sadly, this is a mystery, so I'll have to leave you guys to build up your various hypothesizes. Just know all the figure will be coming back! And he has plans to ruin everyone's day.


-Part One: Pressed-

Chapter 1: Annabeth

In the prologue, you met some of the more mysterious and psychological parts of the story. This one, I put some pointless romantic drama, because I was bored. Don't worry, stuff go back to normal next chappie.

This chapter starts of the morning after the events of the prologue.


"Sometimes Seaweed Brain, I seriously wonder how you're still in shape," Annabeth commented to a certain son of Poseidon as they strolled towards the Poseidon table, carrying their individual trays of breakfast. Ever since the war against the giants, Chiron had begun to allow campers to choose their own seating in the mornings.

Percy mock-pouted, causing his girlfriend to giggle at his horrible acting skills. They sat down.

"I save the world every day, Wise Girl! It's a bit of a chore," he boasted, winking. He can be so immature at times.

"That's a load of Minotaur dung, and you know it Percy," she corrected. In truth, Percy had helped saved the world twice already. But she wasn't going to admit it to him. Besides, she had been as much part of the action as he did.

He shrugged at her retort, before starting to stuff a load of pancakes into his mouth. Sometimes, she wondered where he even puts it all.

"So," Annabeth started, trying to find the best way to start this conversation. She had already planned out the whole conversation out in her head, but for the first time in weeks, her mind failed her.

"So?" he asked. He had the whole confused, yet arrogant look that made his sea green eyes sparkle. She found them distracting.

"So Percy…"

"Yes?" he asked again, smirking.

"Do you know what day it is?" She grinned.

This was the moment, after a year together, this was the moment!

She noticed a slight hesitation.

Did he forget? Did she just remind him?

Oh, Seaweed Brain.

"It's Friday Annabeth. Capture the Flag is tonight! You thought I would forget?"

She twitched. He outright forgot? AGAIN?!

She restrained herself from judo-flipping him. She took a breath, trying to calm herself. She relaxed her posture.

She started make explanations to herself. Maybe she read the calendar wrong? Maybe he had a surprise for her?

No. She would have noticed something if he was planning something for her.

This is Seaweed Brain, after all.

"Yes. Right, of course," She stammered. She tried suppressing her emotions, but in all honestly, it wasn't an Athena kids strengths. Their strength came from rational thoughts, and at that exact moment, she couldn't think over all the emotions and useless thoughts that were spinning around inside her.

At times like this, Annabeth envied Piper's skills in controlling her emotions. Normally, she would be able to put up a façade that would fool with just about anyone, but when it came with being with Percy, she had no clue.

It frustrated her how powerful love can be. It frustrated her how easily Piper would have handled with this situation.

"Have you decided which cabins you wanted?" She asked, changing the subject of the conversation. She decided that she'd wait until tonight to see if he would remembered. If he went the entire day without remembering, then she'll strangle him.

Today was their one-year anniversary. How couldn't he remember?

I then noticed he had stopped gorging down his food, reminding me that I hadn't even taken a bite of my own. I looked down at the freshly baked bagels and homemade jam. I sighed at myself, because I was about to waste perfectly good food. I wasn't hungry.

I looked back up. He hadn't yet answered my question.

"Percy, you there?" I said, interrupting the moment of silence.

"Sorry, I was thinking," he replied smoothly. Percy, thinking? Yeah, right.

"That, would be a first," I joked, trying to lighten up my own mood.

Percy didn't even flinch at the comment.

"You sure you don't know what today is?" I injected. Seriously, can Percy not take a hint?

"Erm…um…" he stammered. Apparently, he could take a hint. He just couldn't figure out what I was alluding too.

"Is it Saturday or something? Did I sleep through the game? Because that would be just like me…"

I sighed.

"Never mind," I grumbled, irritated. I noticed that he registered my obvious annoyance with him.

"So which cabins do you want on your team tonight?" I repeated from earlier. The other conversation was getting nowhere.

He quickly sprouted out his answers as if he was reading a script, "Zeus, Hades, Apollo, Hephaestus, Nike and Nemesis." I nodded at the combination, since it was the exact combination I had predicted that he would choose. Percy was so predictable sometimes.

"You left me with Ares on purpose, didn't you?" I noted. He laughed.

"Of course, I'd thought you would like challenge, right?" he taunted with the most stupid, charming grin I've ever seen. He leaned in to peek at my left cheek, causing me to become flustered.

"Fine, I'll deal with having Ares on my team. But you shouldn't have left me with Piper!" I countered.

"Oh no," he replied, with fake fear. Was he underestimating me?

"You can change your mind if you want to," I suggested. It wouldn't matter what he chose, he was still going to lose.

"No." he answered, surprising me. "I've already made my choice. I think I should stand by my decisions."

I looked at him with uncertainty. It wasn't his response that was surprising. It was his aura. Normally, Percy had this calm, carefree sea breeze aura. For a second, it felt like a presence had engulfed the pavilion. Something familiar, but I couldn't place it.

Dread spread over me.

"Percy?" I asked uncertainly. The presence had subsided, but I stayed alert. Something was here.

"Yes?" he gulped. Why did he gulp? Did he feel it too?

"Are you sure you're not forgetting anything?" I asked carefully. I had to be careful what I said. If someone was watching us…

I started to get up from the table, hoping that we could continue to have this discussion in a more secure location. That presence…

"You don't remember, do you?" I crossed my arms, trying to act natural. It was pretty normal that I would be mad at him.

Percy took a second to respond.

"This will be our last weekend at camp!" he yelled to himself, hitting himself on the side of the head. "I should start to packing!"

I heard myself sigh at my forgetful boyfriend.

"Percy, today is—" The camp horn blared, interrupting me. It was time to for the first lessons of the day.

"Sorry Annabeth, I've got to go," Percy said quickly, before turning away.

He didn't even let me respond.

"I promised I'd help Jade find a new sword today. We'll talk later." He winked and started jogging down towards the arena, no doubt going to find the new daughter of Hecate that had arrived yesterday afternoon.

I decided that I would punish him later, and instead comprehend on what I had felt at the pavilion. I calmed myself and closed my eyes, thinking. Sometimes, I would stare into space in thought, but when I'm trying to remember something I like to close my eyes.

The presence had felt familiar, but I couldn't place it. But whatever it was, it wasn't friendly.

I breathed, and looked back up to see Percy wandering on the gravel path along the lake as it wandered towards the arena and forges.

I sighed once more, thinking how I was going to deal with Percy.

I'll have to deal with him later, I thought. I would have to deal with him later.

First, I had to find Chiron.

LINEBREAKHERE!

As it turned out, Percy and I didn't end up talking later.

To my annoyance, I found myself swarmed with different responsibilities and tasks.

Immediately after breakfast Percy left to help Jade, I went to the Big House to privately discuss the presence I had felt with Chiron.

Chiron seemed deeply worried, since he had failed to sense any threatening presence himself, but told me he would look into it himself and that I should continue my day as normal. He didn't want to bring the camp in mass panic, again.

I ended up arguing against him over the matter, wasting both his and my time. I told him that after both the Titan War, and Gaea, the camp wouldn't instantly go into panic, just because of a presence.

To my frustration, he didn't budge.

While I had been arguing with Chiron with the proper course of action, my second in command, Malcolm had tripped whilst climbing the lava wall.

Luckily, he had only fallen when he was only two feet of the ground, but unfortunately, he had gotten quite a big bruise on his head.

Although Malcolm claimed he was perfectly fine after eating a chunk of ambrosia, Will Solace diagnosed a mild concussion, and forced Malcolm to spend the day resting. Malcolm looked like he wanted to argue, but Will started to rant about how he should have worn safety equipment while on the wall, and soon, Malcolm relented. Yes, Athena kids could be ranted at too, we admittedly aren't perfect.

Usually, I had Malcolm lead the Athena cabin through the daily activities, but without him, I was required to attend to my siblings myself. Honestly, I thought the Athena cabin was capable to lead itself into any battle, much less camp activities but yet again, Chiron worked against me.

Gratefully, nothing even mildly exciting happened for the rest of the morning, which greatly improved my mood. Sadly, I couldn't seem to find Percy anywhere. I mean, he's his own cabin, which gives him great flexibility in choosing his schedule, and I wouldn't be surprised if he skipped some of his normal activities.

But normally, he would skip to hang with me. I even tried to find Piper to ask her advice with my conundrum, but as same as Percy, I couldn't seem to find her.

Just when our free session came around along with lunch, Grover stumbled through the woods with a ragged new demigod.

Although I was happy to both see my best friend for 11 years, and help show Blake around camp, I would have rather spent the time with Percy.

Over the course of the day, it seemed that fate itself wanted me and Percy apart (which being a Greek demigod, I knew was a sure possibility). Various variables continued to drive me or Percy away.

Even at dinner, when I was sure I would get the time to chat with him, Percy stopped by while I was leading my cabin and quickly explained he had to go help some sea creatures of the a few miles of the coast about some kind of net-wielding goddess.

He would miss dinner.

"I'll be back in time for Capture the Flag," he promised, kissing me softly on the forehead, before running off towards the beach. I sighed in frustration, before leading the rest of the Athena kids to the pavilion.

I mindlessly grabbed a platter of smoked brisket and mashed potatoes. A classic Camp Half Blood specialty, it was one of my most favorite meals they served. After sacrificing the proper tribute to my mother, I sat at the end of the Athena table, mindlessly chewing. When I realized I had forgotten to grab some brisket for Malcolm, I got up. It was Malcolm's favorite dish, and he had made me promise to him to bring him some dinner in bed.

I cursed at myself for my forgetfulness and quickly finished my meal. I quickly grabbed one of the last platters of brisket for Malcolm and sprinted down towards the Cabin Six.

Blame my very keen eye for detail, but as I jogged by Percy's cabin, I noticed the lights were still on. I thought to myself if Percy had just forgotten to turn off his lights while in a rush, or if Tyson had decided to visit.

Either way, my instincts told me to check it out. If Percy had left on his lights again (it's not the first time, Seaweed Brain can be very forgetful), I could tease him for his incompetence right after I yelled at him for forgetting what today was.

I had already decided to forgive him for forgetting. I mean, if he doesn't even remember today was his own birthday, then I guess I shouldn't expect him to remember the one-year anniversary of the most important day of his life, right?

I quietly walked up the steps and was about to knock, when I heard hushed voices speak. I knew instantly who they were.

"Percy, you've got to tell her soon, you can't keep delaying it!" Piper demanded in a hushed tone. Piper? Why was Piper in Percy's cabin?

"Piper! We just need to keep it on the low down for a little longer," Percy responded. Then, I realized I almost hadn't seen both Piper and Percy for almost the entire day.

What was going on?

"I don't like this, Perce. You can't wait any longer from telling Annabeth what you've and I've been doing. I'm already surprised she hasn't found out–" There was a pause. "You need to listen to me, you have to tell her as soon as possible. Trust me, my mom's the love goddess, I know these things. You have to act before she gets suspicious and discovers-" My mind spun around with hundreds of scenarios of what could possibly be happening. None of them looked good.

"I know this is Annabeth we're hiding this from, but I'm sure she doesn't know," Percy interrupted again, becoming louder. "I've already chosen the perfect time to announce it to the entire camp our–"

I backed away from the door, not wanting to hear the rest of this conversation. This wasn't happening. This. Was. Not. Happening.

I stumbled back, almost tripping down the stairs. I had almost exposed myself.

But luckily, Malcolm's heavy plate of brisket was enough of a counterweight to cancel out my momentum. Barely.

If this conversation was about what I thought, it was about….

I couldn't think. For the first time since the visit to the Temple of Phobos and Deimos, I was too overwhelmed with frustrating emotions that blocked my more logical sides of my mind.

I hated emotions. They were always the uncontrollable variable. The one thing I could never fully rely on to be my side.

Come on, Annabeth, I thought to myself. Keep. It. Together.

But I couldn't. Barely containing my tears and crushed thoughts, I rushed to my cabin, in fear and shame of what I had just heard.


Yeah… I was bored. I hate this ending, but I'm too lazy to change it. Oh well. This isn't a romance story tho, and no more pointless drama. Promise.

Best wishes, from a Junior Scribe of Camp Half-Blood,

~VCRx


A Beta Note from SoulHorse:

Chapter has finally been betaed! Dam, your grammar and spelling VCRx! XDDD Did this while watching anime (Erased QwQ Anyone seen it?). Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!

Yours in demigoddishness, SoulHorse

[Last Edit: 4.18.2017]