A New Order of Chaos

Game Changers

Annabeth offered herself to make the first guard.

She wasn't feeling good with the sudden appearance of Leo and Calypso (or 'Caleo', as Piper's inner Aphrodite was shouting to call them). She needed time to think, to think what this change meant.

"If you think any harder, your brain will melt" Annabeth hid a smirk after hearing those words. She glanced over her shoulder to see her boyfriend, who sat next to her, close enough so she could lean on him.

"It has been some crazy weeks..." she admitted to Percy, trying to focus in everything.

"I know what you're thinking about" he stated. Annabeth raised an eyebrow and turned to see him.

"I really wanna hear this" she sounded amused, looking at him.

"You're thinking about how Calypso's freedom is gonna change the game" Annabeth paled a little bit. Am I so easy to read?

"A-are you sure?" she managed to say, her grey eyes burning into his sea green.

"Your hesitation just confirmed it" Annabeth groaned and leaned her head on the closest tree "Wise Girl, you have nothing to fear-"

"We don't know that! You don't know that!" she jumped to him "What if this was a plot from Aphrodite or from Hera, or-"

"You're overthinking" Percy cut her, smirking. Annabeth was marveled at how he was not fussed over the apparition of someone who offered him a chance to stay with her, forgetting her "I always seem to remind you my fatal flaw..."

"Don't" Annabeth suggested him, glaring at him. If glares could kill, Percy Jackson was buried deeper than the Pit.

"Give me one real reason of why she's better than you" Percy invited her to speak. But Annabeth's brain was blank. Well, not necessarily blank, but her thought were all over the place but on what Percy asked her "See? You can't"

"I can't help to hate her..." she finally admitted, whispering "I mean, I'm glad Leo saved her, and that he found someone for him, but..." She gave him a cracked face "We've been through so much..."

"And, it's because of that, that I'll never leave you again, OK?" Percy reassured her "Never again, remember?" He kissed her forehead and leaned her on his chest "I'll take the guard, you go to sleep"

"Like Hades I'll leave you guarding here alone, Seaweed Brain" she stated, between serious and joking. Percy chuckled softly and nodded, letting her hide her face in his neck's crook.

~oOo~

Annabeth woke up with the noises.

"Can't you be more careful?" Someone close to the campfire hissed. It sounded like a man's voice.

"I'd be if Zeta didn't step on my feet!" A girl's voice replied. Soundless, Annabeth woke up, fearing Percy fall asleep while guarding. But, to her surprise, Percy was wide awake and pulling out Riptide from his pocket. He motioned to keep quiet and they both went to wake up the rest of his friends. Soon, the Seven (plus one, Annabeth added in her head) were ready for the battle.

"I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness" Another girl mocked someone "I knew I should had accepted the offer"

"Quiet, Zeta. Or you'll wake everyone up" A deep man's stopped the argument.

"Whatever, Eta" the second girl's voice answered.

Annabeth walked closer to the bushes and noticed a group of at least 12 people. They all were wearing long capes with hoods that covered their faces. But, by their bodies, she could made out five girls and seven guys. Annabeth glanced at her friends and all if them had the same look in their faces: attack if they attack us.

"Don't you think is time we wake the couples up?" A third guy was seated around a dim fire that he was feeding.

"Hey, I know half of them and, most likely, they'll gut us open!" Another girl screeched "We'll never get closer enough to talk-"

"No need, Theta" One of the guys turned to the place were Annabeth and the rest were hidden. The hood of his cape didn't hide his smirk "We know you're spying on us" he claimed, outloud. Neither of the demigods dared to move. Who knows what will happened? "Alright, I don't have time for this" Annabeth noticed the man snapped his fingers and disappeared.

"Where did he go?" Hazel whispered, worried.

"Right behind you, sweetie" the same voice stated. Faster than lighting, Annabeth had been turned around, Percy covering her back. She also noticed all the guys did the same.

"Bad move, everyone..." One of the girls smirked at them. She moved in a very peculiar way, like if she was taunting a prey "The more are here..."

"Take it easy, Psi" One guy, wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her back.

"Who are you?!" Annabeth demanded. Apparently, she was the only one that remembered to speak while glaring.

"We can't tell you our names" Another guy, a tall one, said. A short girl elbowed him in the guts "Ouch! Mu!"

"She was asking if we were monsters and stuff, Nu" The tall guy gasped and nodded, before turning to them again.

"You'll find out very soon"

Annabeth's ADHD's brain started to work overtime. She needed a plan that will allow the eight of them to escape. It was obvious these guys were dangerous, maybe even crazy. One if them was giving his back to the fire, like he didn't want the light to show what wasn't hidden under the hood. But, one small part of her brain recognized the names. Zeta, Eta, Theta, Psi, Mu, Nu... All of those were Greek alphabet letters.

"What do you want from us?" Piper took the opportunity, using the smallest amount of charmspeaking. Annabeth felt it in her body. She wanted to answer that question.

"Wow, you're getting better with it..." The girl who answered to Theta celebrated at Piper "Congrats!"

"Excuse me?!" Piper snapped, confused.

"Look, I know you're confused, but our Master will be here shortly to explain you all..." the guy who teleported announced.

"Who is your Master?" Jason demanded to know, his sword ready to save his life.

"That would be me, Jason Grace" A deeper, ancient voice appeared. Quickly, the hooded guys bowed at the voice, who belonged to a man with a really strong presence. Said man was walking with a young guy, who looked kind of lost "Well, now that we're all here... Let's start, shall we?"