True Love

Broken Elysian

"Annabeth Chase." one of the Fates said. "Put the glass down."

I didn't want to but I did. The Fates nodded at the goddesses. They quickly left. Even immortals would listen to the Fates. I stood up and walked over to the Fates.

"A beautiful baby." she muttered. "Poor thing. Cursed."

"You have to help me." I said.

"Of course. This is a tricky curse but I know how we can prevent it. Have your husband in the room."

As if Percy heard, he entered the room.

"Hey Annabeth." he saw the Fates and his face turned pale. Percy was scared of the Fates. He had every right to be. They were terrifying. 

"Perseus Jackson, we have much to discuss. Come with me."

We followed them through the halls of Olympus, down deeper into the Underworld through a path I didn't even know existed. As soon as we were in the Underworld, the Fates had us sit down.

"This curse is tricky because it was cast by a goddess but not even Hera can fool us." she explained. "Are you familiar with the concept of an eye for an eye?"

Percy shuddered a little. He was thinking about Ethan Nakamura.

"To protect your child, you will have to give something in return. Something of equal value." she explained.

"What would that be?"

"Something of equal value." she said. "To gain a loved one you must lose a loved one. To protect your child, you must lose each other."

"No, we can't do that!" I exclaimed defensively. The entire idea was ludicrous. There had to be another way. 

"Hera has cursed your child for 13 years so for 13 years you must stay apart. No contact with the other. Only then will the child be able to live a full life."

"There has to be another way!" I exclaimed.

"Unfortunately, there is no other way."

I turned to Percy. He was looking down at his lap, completely silent. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

He turned to me and looked at the Fates. What could he possibly be thinking about? Why wasn't he saying anything? Say something. Say something. 

"Percy." I said. "Percy, say something."

He looked at the Fates. I was confident he would argue with them. Percy held my hand. And then what he said broke me.

"I'll do it."

"What?" I yelled. I grabbed Percy and took him to the side. "What are you doing?"

"What other choice do we have Annabeth? You heard them, there's nothing else we can do." he said. "I promised to protect our kid and I'm going to do just that."

"13 years? You're willing to spend 13 years apart?"

"I'm only willing to spend it apart because I know nothing will change." Percy said. "We won't fall in love with someone else because we're dedicated to each other. I have faith in us Annabeth."

I stared into his eyes unable to fathom how much he loved me. It was selfish but I wanted to spend my life with him. Percy hugged me.

"We're going to be okay." he muttered. 

I turned to the Fates holding Percy's hand. 

"What are the conditions?"

"No contact for 13 years.  And only two people can know about the curse. The child has to remain a secret from people from your past. After 13 years, you may meet on the child's 13th birthday."

"13 years." I muttered.

"And only two people can know?" Percy asked.

"Yes."

I immediately thought of Sally. I could tell Percy was thinking the exact same thing. The Fates also knew who we were thinking of.

"No one who is directly related to the either of you can know. You have two days."

"I understand." Percy said painfully. "Come on Annabeth, let's go."

We walked out of the Underworld and out of Olympus. I could see Athena glare at me as I walked out. Percy shot a look at everyone as we left. Percy gave the key to the manager on the way out and we got into a taxi. The car ride home was silent. I looked out the window.

13 years

13 years

13 years

Was I angry? Was I upset? Was I happy? Nothing made sense. I glanced at Percy and he was staring out the window just like me. It was difficult for the both us. This situation. Hera was cruel.  And I was so mad at her. I was so mad everyone. I held my stomach. I loved the baby and I hadn't even met them. My eyes teared up. And I looked at Percy again.

Percy POV:

I had no choice but to agree. I wanted to disagree. I wanted to yell, scream at the gods. Do anything I could to get them to remove the curse. And I know Annabeth was upset. I was upset too. But the only thing I could think of was Luke. 

"Do not let the gods win."

I would not let them win. I would not let Hera take my kid. I wouldn't let Annabeth go through that. 

Annabeth.

I would do anything for her and it's like the gods were trying to test what I would do for her. As much as I didn't want to, I was willing to spend 13 years away from her if it meant she could spend it with our kid.

I glanced at her. She hadn't eaten all day and she looked miserable.

"Can you stop here?" I asked the driver. 

He stopped and we went into a coffee shop to get some food. Annabeth stayed in the car so I got her a sandwich. When I handed it to her, she gave a quick smile and stared at her food. We couldn't eat. 

The car ride home was slow and emotionally draining. The silence made it worse. Occasionally the driver would talk to us but we would give very quick responses. I saw our apartment close by. Was it weird that I wanted the car ride to be longer? Once we got home, all the big decisions would have to happen. I wanted to drive away to Camp Half-Blood and live like a kid again. 

"That'll be 5 dollars." The driver said.

I handed him the money and walked out of the car with Annabeth. But we didn't go home just yet. We sat at the fountain and stared at the water.

"Do not let the gods win."