Annabeth sat on the cold concrete step of the Malibu mansion with her knees to her chest. She checked her watch, it was 10:36. Her father should've been home twenty five minutes ago. Happy had dropped her off because Tony had forgotten to, again.

She knew where he was. She'd seen the pretty blond woman in stilettos. She hoped he would be back soon, it was cold and her nose was numb. She hated when her nose was cold, but not as much as she hated spiders.

It was like she was cursed to be followed by spiders. They followed her, woke her up, gave her nightmares. Her father thought it was her imagination but they were real.

Annabeth checked her watch again, only a minute had passed. She sighed, hoping he would be back soon, she was getting tired and wanted to sleep. A few more minutes passed and she decided to lean against the fancy wooden door. She yawned and curled against the wood, before she knew it she was asleep.

—*—

Tony got back late, he knew it. But the girl wouldn't stop flirting and he'd had too much wine to refuse. It was about 11:30, he was supposed to be home at ten so he could let Annabeth in. Oh god. Annabeth.

He hurried up to the front door and was relieved to see his daughter slumped against the fancy wooden door. He smiled softly and picked her up.

"Daddy?" The sweet six year old murmured.

"Don't worry. I'm here now." He promised. She promptly fell back asleep in his arms and he gently carried her inside. He couldn't believe himself. He was just as bad as Howard. "I'm sorry." The twenty-eight year old billionaire whispered.

—*—

The next morning, Annabeth hopped down the stairs and plopped down at the white marble kitchen counter. Tony passed a box of donuts towards her and she grinned.
"Thanks Daddy! I love them!"

Tony smiled, but it was a guilty smile. The donuts were his apology, they were her favorites.

Annabeth ate two of them before she was full and Tony drank three mugs of coffee in that time. Once she finished, He set down the mug.

"I'm sorry kid, but we got a convention tonight." He informed her.

Annabeth made a face, "Do i have to go?" She asked.

Tony grimaced, Pepper had made it very clear thar they both were expected to arrive in formal wear. "I'm afraid so."

Annabeth scowled, "Can i have another donut?" She asked.

Tony sighed, "Sure kid."

She took the jam filled one and plopped it on her mouth, the conversation was over.

—*—

Annabeth was miserable. The convention was boring, and she'd lost both her father and Pepper. Eventually, she gave up looking for them and decided to sit in the corner. She knew how it would go. Tony would drink, flirt with some women, go off, she'd get forgotten, Pepper would realize she was missing, come find her, and Tony would apologize once he was sober again.

She wasn't stupid, in fact she was a brilliant six year old, but some things did go over her head. Like how Happy and Pepper always looked so sadly at her, or how her father was not around enough.

Annabeth sighed, this party was irritating. She got up and began to wander, no one would miss her.

Somehow, she found her way towards the employees exit. She glanced back, but shrugged. Someone would come for her eventually, and until then she could do whatever she wanted.

Annabeth made her way down the alley sidewalk, skipping and singing the lullaby her father had made up when she was a baby. "And the little baby laughs as her daddy twirls her around, round, round and round…" She cut off, hearing the growl of an animal.

Annabeth nervously turned around and nearly shrieked. A massive black dog with flaming red eyes and sharp teeth melted out of the shadows before her.

Annabeth turned to run, but her fancy black dress caught on the ground and she fell. She tried to scoot away but the dog started to corner her.

Suddenly, a boy jumped between them holding a bronze knife. "HEY UGLY! PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE" He yelled.

The dog snarled and leapt, Annabeth screamed, but the boy stabbed the knife into the monster's ribs and it exploded into gold dust which covered them.

The boy turned to her, he had a kind face, blond hair and dark blue eyes. He held out his hand and helped her to her feet.

"What was that?" Annabeth asked.

"Hellhound. Nasty monsters, hate demigods." He answered.

"Demigods?"

He looked at her oddly, "You and me. They smell the god in us and attack."

"I dont understand." She murmured. His expression turned sorry.

"Oh." He was quiet for a bit, "The gods have kids sometimes, with mortals, us. If it came after you it must have smelled your godly parent." He explained.

"Oh." Annabeth said, it was like the world was spinning with this information, she didn't know how to take it in.

The boy set his hand on her shoulder gently, "I'm Luke."

"Annabeth." She replied.

He smiled and turned the knife, passing it to her. "Keep it. You'll need it, trust me."

Annabeth frowned, "What about you?"

He shrugged, "I bet Thalia has an extra." At her confused look he elaborated, "She's my friend, another demigod. She's getting food somewhere right now, I went to find a place to camp out."

"Oh." Annabeth said, she seemed to be saying that a lot. After a but of an awkward silence, she asked, "How do I make the monsters go away?"

Luke looked down, "You can't. Just fight them off, that's what the knife is for."

"What about my dad?" She asked in a small voice.

His face turned solemn. "The monsters don't stop coming, eventually…" He trailed off, thinking of his own mother. She was alive, but scarred forever.

Annabeth shivered, "I don't want my daddy to be hurt."

"Don't worry too much. You got you're knife now, how about I take you to him?" Luke suggested.

Annabeth glanced back at the building and looked down, "He won't notice." She whispered. It was true, Tony wouldn't notice her missing for several hours at least.

Luke hesitated, "Well, Thalia and I are going to this camp, it's safe for us. You can come with."

Annabeth looked back at the building and then down at her sparkly balck dress. It sounded like an adventure. She'd always wanted to go on an adventure, especially with friends.

"Really?" She asked.

Luke smiled, a real smile that lit up his innocent eight year old face. "Of course." He promised.

She suddenly wrapped him in a hug. "Thank you!" She said excitedly.

Luke laughed, "Let's go find Thalia." He took her hand and she skipped as they left the alley and out into the streets of the city.

—*—