The House of Hades (Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Annabeth           

“What did Ariadne say?” Percy pleaded. He grabbed Annabeth’s hand and focused his intense green eyes on her.

After a long time of begging, Annabeth had not uttered a single word. She had polished enough food for a meal fit for a king. Percy had not been able to help himself; he had eaten enough food to keep an elephant busy for a week. Then he had insisted that Ariadne was just like her husband, had tried to throw up the food, failed, and then went into his panicked begging mode.

He pulled out his puppy eyes again, and Annabeth groaned. “She’s watching us,” she said quietly. “And… and now I can see through the Mist like Ariadne had.”

His eyes widened. “Is anything… different?” he asked in a cool murmur. He was in shock, it was obvious.

Annabeth’s eyes wandered the ugly sight of Tartarus. Her senses were heightened by a fraction. Even by the slightest thing she could see so much more. As her eyes traced the ground, she noticed a nearly invisible mist clinging in a trail. It was a black vapor.

“Yes.” Annabeth reached for the last sandwich. Percy eyed it hungrily. She sighed and ripped it in half. She gobbled it down and her stomach protested. She was still hungry.

She looked over and saw Percy looking at her. He smiled a little, and a line of the prophecy flashed in her mind. An oath to keep with a final breath… What if it was Percy’s final breath?

Then she saw his eyelids were drooping like he was struggling to stay awake. He yawned and sat up.

“Go to sleep,” she ordered. “I’ll take first watch.”

He began to protest but couldn’t finish. Annabeth barely blinked when two sleeping bags popped next to her. She sent a silent thanks to Ariadne as Percy drifted to sleep.

The silence of it all was clawing at Annabeth’s mind. She reached in her pocket and turned the silver coin in her fingers. The Mark of Athena was the only reason why she sat in Tartarus with Percy. Not that having Percy with her wasn’t great. He had decided to come with her. He could have- should have let go, but he didn’t. He allowed himself to be pulled to the worst place imaginable. She realized with a few tears that he couldn’t let her go just like she couldn’t let him go. She goes, he goes. He goes, she goes. Despite the fact Tartarus was like a death sentence, she was glad she was with Percy. There wasn’t another person she would rather be with in this situation.

And something in side of her snapped. She found herself clutching her torso like she was trying to hold herself together. Sobbing, she tried covering her mouth to muffle the cries. She was insane. Something inside of her was broken.

Do not despair, Gaea whispered smoothly. It will all be over soon. That insufferable goddess of labyrinths cannot save you for long.

Annabeth felt her eyes glaze over. She was trying not to listen, but her mind was completely under Gaea’s spell.

There was a shifting in the voices. Annabeth, don’t listen to Gaea, Ariadne insisted. I can’t do anything unless you listen!

Pain was filling Annabeth’s mind. She clutched the sides of her head. The two goddesses were both trying to urge Annabeth to do something. What should she pick?

You’ll just die down here, Gaea purred. Sweet, sweet Annabeth Chase, you could be used for so much more. You’re just another player in a board game for the gods.

“I’m not just a player,” Annabeth growled. “I’d rather be a major player than a major pawn for you.”

Gaea just chuckled softly. It’ll take some more work to sway you. Since you’re under my protection, your other friends are not.