Ch31

Annabeth frowned as she watched Clarisse administer ambrosia to Chris Rodriguez. The son of Hermes twitched in his bed eyes wide just as those pictures from WW1 she saw in her father's office when she was younger.

I never knew she could be so gentle. Watching Clarisse take care of Chris made her rethink all she thought of the daughter of Ares. Yeah she was big, brutish, and violent. Yet here she was helping an enemy demigod.

Clarisse set the ambrosia to the side and stood up. "I swear whoever did this to him will pay. That damn labyrinth is evil."

I never knew they were so close.

There was a knock on the door and Lou Ellen came in. with a multi colored candle on a fancy candle stick. "Hey Clarisse we brough a soothing candle."

She frowned and was about to tell her to leave Clarisse alone but to her surprise the daughter of Ares nodded. "Thank you."

Lou Ellen placed the candle on the beside table and with a snap of her finger a green fire lit the candle. "He'll be in our prayers. The mind is a complex place even for our mother, let us know if there is anything we can do to help."

"Appreciate it," Clarisse said softly.

She watched Lou leave as she fought a bit of jealousy inside of her.

"Lou really did help us," Clarisse said. "Without her one of us would've died."

"You told me," she said softly.

The daughter of Ares got up and headed towards the door. "I'm going to guard the fist. I swear if anything comes out I'll kill it."

The venom in her voice made her wince. As soon as Clarisse left she looked down at Chris Rodriguez who shell shocked and half mad. Please wake up, for Clarisse's sake.

Since Percy and the others found the entrance to the labyrinth beneath Zeus' Fist the area had been cornered off and was watched by different campers each day. Mr. D and Chiron were busy making potential war plans and everyone was on edge.

How could they find it Just thinking of the son of Poseidon and his seaweed brained face made something stir inside of her. I could've done better. If I hadn't been caught by Luke it could've been me that found it.

It frustrated her to no end that on her first outing she got captured by Luke while Percy discovered the entrance to the camp with those children of minor gods. She frowned as she looked at Chris Rodriguez on the bed. I'll do better. When I get my quest I'll be sure to make my mother proud. She'd show Percy what he was missing in his life.

She was a daughter of Athena, it was natural for her to want to show that son of Poseidon who was better. Exiting the hospital the cool air brush past her as she walked through the camp. Many campers were practicing and preparing for any potential conflict.

Chiron immediately ordered the camp to prepare for conflict. The Hephaestus Cabin had been making weapons non stop while the Ares Cabin trained the campers. Whatever will happen this coming summer it will be big. As she made her way to the eating area she grabbed a plate and some scraps of food that hadn't been eaten and threw them into the flame.

Getting onto her knees she took a deep breath as she watched the flames consume the food. Mother please grant me a quest to save the camp, to save Luke. She knew the son of Hermes was out there somewhere, if she could she would save him. Also if you can help Chris Rodriguez wake up.

The flames flickered, she hoped her mother heard her prayers. She tried to go about her day but her gaze kept drifting towards the woods. Luke I know you're out there somewhere.

That night she found herself in a room with a familiar person. "Mother!"

The goddess of Athena sat at a table and acknowledged her with a nod. "Hello Annabeth."

"What's this about?" She asked.

Her mother studied her calmly her gaze betraying no emotion. "Annabeth dear I've heard your pleas for a quest."

Her eyes widened. "Please send me, I'll do my best! Luke I know he's down there I can-"

Athena raised her hand. "You'll have a quest but in the meantime there is something else we must discuss."

"What is it?"

Her mother's eyes seemed to pierce her vary soul. "At Olympus did you think your comments went unnoticed?"

There was a coldness that went down her spine. "Wh-What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Athena said sharply. "Nemesis and Hecate were honored guests and you openly mocked their children."

Her face reddened as she looked to the ground. She thought of what she could say but her mother's cold gaze made her freeze.

"Olympus is on the brink of conflict…No war is already on us," her mother said coldly. "Yet you dare mock a child in front of their divine parent? Had it not been Olympus they could've taken punished you."

"They aren't as great as you," She said softly.

Athena sighed and shook her head. "Hubris is a flaw of my children, it really did hurt that Percy Jackson chose Hecate's son for that quest. That he chooses to associate with her children and make sure they are noticed."

She clenched her fists as her mother's words hit home. Why did everyone care about them so much?

"A potential ally can also be a potential enemy and Hecate is a very powerful goddess," Athena said. "Who knows how many minor deities are considering adding the enemy due to their lack of recognition and how their children are treated at camp."

It took all her willpower to not cry as those memories flashed in her mind. It should've her quest and Percy should've chosen her. She was the capable not Alabaster, not Lou, or any other children of Hecate or Nemesis.

Her mother stood up casting a large shadow on the room. "Annabeth you have a lot to learn about tolerance. If you want a quest, you shall have it but mark you'll learn to either overcome your pride or perish by it."

"Wh-What do you mean?" She asked her voice barely a croak. What did I do to disappoint you? Tears formed in her eyes, she would do anything for her mother why was she being treated like this?

"I spoke to Nemesis and Hecate and they were very cordial," Athena said her gaze as cold as ice. "Our discussion was frank and we agreed you need to learn about to be more tolerant."

"Tolerant?" She looked at mother confused.

"Heroes come in all forms Annabeth and you must learn to accept that," Athena said as the dream ended. "Do not fail me."

Alabaster watched with a smug expression on his face as his mistform Pan knocked the Cloven Council to the ground.

"You dare insult my chosen successor?" Pan said coldly as Grover knelt respectively by his side

The old saytrs quickly scrambled to their knees. "N-No Lord Pan we dare not. We just-"

"Questioned my logic?" Pan said as he kicked one of them so hard he flew to a tree. "I won't repeat myself, Grover Underwood shall be my successor and you all shall listen to him as he proclaims my passing and preserves the bits of nature left." The satyr then cracked his knuckles and flexed his biceps while the Cloven Council shook in fear. "If I hear one negative thing from him or if you mistreat him in anyway you'll regret being born."

The members of the Cloven Council quickly got on their knees and pressed their heads to the ground. "We dare not question your command."

Grover gripped his pipes without saying a word, the council had ripped him to shreds and had it not been for Pan he doubted they would've believed him. Meanwhile, Chiron and Dionysus watched in amusement.

"Good." Pan then turned to him. "Alright I'm done here."

He raised his card and Pan's form quickly turned to mist as he returned to the card. "Well that was that." His arm shook as he looked at Pan's card, summoning a mistform god wasn't easy and took a lot of energy.

Dionysus nodded. "Quite the show." The god had watched the entire thing from the side his gaze neutral.

He bowed politely. "I'll have Pan assist the camp when needed."

The god eyed him up and down his gaze calm. "A war is coming, we'll need all the help we can get."

"I'm aware of that," he said as he met the god's gaze. "Don't worry we'll fight for the camp for our mother's glory."

Chiron stepped forward. "We appreciate all that your family has done so far."

He nodded and took a deep breath. "You my siblings and I have been talking we have an idea we want to run by both of you."

Dionysus snorted. "If it involves a human sacrifice the answer is no."

"Oh not it's not anything like that," he said quickly. He looked at them both. "The camp could use all the help it can get. If pressed we could convince my older sister Circe and Aunt Medea to help with the defenses."

His heart raced in his chest. It was a gamble and he knew that both Medea and Circe weren't the most liked around here. But if it improves our mother's standing they'll do it.

The mood tensed as Chiron shifted. "Well any help would be grateful but of course the camp director would have to approve."

Dionysus frowned. "I let her in to assist building your cabin but I don't know how I would explain it to the gods if I let them in. They make like your family but other members of Olympus may not like it so much."

"Surely you have heard of their power," He said. "Make them take an oath to not harm any subjects of Olympus, if an invasion force does come we'll need all the help we can get to minimize casualties and defeat the enemy. Trust me, they are willing to help defend my mother's name as I am."

Dionysus looked at him with a calculating gaze. "I'll consider it. Talk to your mother but mark my words if they harm any campers there will be consequences."

"Don't worry they love our mother just as much as we do," He said firmly. "They wouldn't be foolish enough to do anything to make my mother lose face."

Dionysus sighed and turned to look up at the sky. "Olympus is a shit show right now. They're already having me do tasks left and right, frankly we could use all the help we can get." The god shook his head and disappeared in a flash of light leaving a faint smell of wine.

Grover gripped his pipes. "Thanks Alabaster."

He smiled at the satyr. "If you ever want to see Pan let me know."

"I'm sure you'll to your best to honor pan," Chiron said. "Mr. Torrington if you have updates from your mother let us know."

"Of course," he said.

That night as he slept he found himself in his mother's halls. "Mother!"

Hecate smiled at him. "Hello Alabaster." She waved her hands over the flames. "The paths are narrowing. How is the camp?"

Taking a deep breath he told her about his idea to help the camp. "Mother war is coming can Aunt Medea and Circe help?"

His mother stared at the flames calmly. "It won't be easy, they aren't trusted in Olympus." The flames flickered as did his mother's gaze. "But I'll see what I can do. Many of my subjects are on standby."

"Luke and them are still down there," he said. "They're planning on destroying the camp and will then march on Olympus."

"No plan is ever easy," His mother said calmly. "Alabaster before this next coming summer you will run a few errands for me."

"What is it?" he asked.

"Just lending a helping hand to those who need it," Hecate said as the flames flickered in her eyes. "Times are changing you must all be prepared for what is to come."

AN: The next few chapters will be more of an interquel then the events corresponding with book 4 will happen