Of New Life

Chapter 23

HAPPY GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!!! Happy day in my house. For my few Greek readers, Ελπίζω να έχετε μια καταπληκτική μέρα, να πιείτε πολύ για μένα :) Anyways, enjoy! 

Not mine.

Annabeth's POV:

Annabeth sat at the end of her bed, panicking.

This can't be happening. Not now.

Annabeth rocked herself back and forth, freaking out. She knew panicking wasn't going to get her anywhere, but she could mentally not do this today.

She ran from her room down the stairs and outside. It was a mid-April morning and the flowers all around were in full bloom. Percy had taken Silena and Luke both out of the house to get fresh air. Where he had gone, Annabeth didn't know.

I don't need him right now, I want Thalia.

She ran from the streets of New Greece down towards the cabins. Of course with her luck, she ran right into someone.

"Sorry," she mumbled, trying to keep moving. A pair of strong hands grabbed her arms, but not in a forceful way. She looked up to find none other than Jason Grace.

"Woah, slow down. What's wrong?" he asked.

Annabeth blinked and shook her head. "Nothing, where's your sister?"

"I think she's with some of her hunters, a few Apollo kids, and Frank at archery."

"Great, thanks." She sprinted off before she could get an answer.

She kept running as fast as she could. Her chest burned from the humidity, lungs on fire like the Phlegathon. She didn't tie her hair up before this, so it swung back and forth in her face. To her annoyance, the archery range was across on the other side of camp from where she currently was. Annabeth ran past the Big House and not so conveniently ran into Chiron.

He stopped her and gently rubbed her shoulders. "What is it, child?"

"Nothing, just looking for Thalia," Annabeth swallowed hard, trying hard not to cry.

Chiron gave her a look. They had a lot of those that only they understood. This one in particular, was a skeptical look. "Annabeth dear, you look like you are going to be sick, tell me what's wrong," he chided.

I might be sick, she thought.

Annabeth forced a smile. "Nothing is wrong, I'm just looking for Thalia," she repeated.

"Where is your husband? Did something happen with him?"

"He's with the twins and no- well... kind of but not really. Actually, yes but- you know what he's fine," she said.

Chiron frowned, "If you insist. If there is anything wrong you can always tell me, alright?"

Annabeth nodded, "Yes, Chiron."

"Now run along." Annabeth didn't hesitate to do so. She sprinted away and off to the archery range.

Right when she was outside, she ran into Will, who was leaving. Her knees buckled the second she hit him, and he caught her before she could fall too hard.

"Annabeth, you're hyperventilating, what's wrong?" Will asked urgently.

Annabeth hadn't realized how hard she had been panting. She was indeed, hyperventilating. "Where's Thalia?" she said quickly.

"She's behind us doing something with Frank, seriously what's wrong?"

Annabeth squeezed her eyes shut tight before opening them again. "I'm fine... I just want Thalia."