All's Fair in Love and War
The Lightning Thief: Complete
The Sea of Monsters: Complete
The Titans Curse: Complete
The Battle of the Labyrinth: Complete
The Last Olympian: Complete
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Warren wasn't sure how long she stood there, alone, outside the Big House. She felt utterly lost, like she was drifting in uncharted waters. She didn't know where to go...she just knew that she had to keep swimming. So Warren's feet led her to the only place that she had left: the Athena cabin.
She didn't bother to knock. She just marched straight inside. A dozen sets of grey eyes swiveled to look at her. They glanced up from behind thick books and dusty scrolls. Annabeth was seated at a drafting table near the back of the cabin.
"Unless your name is Annabeth Chase," Warren said, her voice low and dangerously sharp, "you have five seconds to get out."
The Athena kids glanced warily at her, then each other. A few scoffed and returned to their books. Malcolm, one of Annabeth's younger half-brothers, looked at Warren defiantly. "Why should we-"
"One," Warren said.
"But-" Jules, another young blonde, began to protest.
"TWO," Warren shouted. The air went hot and dry.
It didn't take Athena-level wisdom to read the room. It was clear in Warren's eyes- she was a woman treacherously close to the edge, and they didn't want to be anywhere nearby when she went over. Everyone quickly scrambled to their feet and darted for the door, making sure to give her a wide berth in the process.
Once the door was shut and only Annabeth remained, Warren took an unsteady breath.
"Warren? Is everything okay?"
She opened her mouth to reply, but no sound came out. She tried again, but only managed to shake her head and fight back tears.
Annabeth got to her feet. "What happened?"
Warren clutched the black pearl necklace around her throat. For a moment it seemed like she was going to rip it off and cast it aside, but she just gripped it until her knuckles turned white.
"Percy," she began. "I...we...we're..." A sob wracked her body. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let the tears fall. Crying would make it too real- she and Percy were over. Done. Finished.
"Oh no," Annabeth gasped, rushing to wrap her in a hug. Warren held her back tightly, burying her face in her shoulder.
"What's wrong with me?" she choked out.
"Nothing," Annabeth assured her. "Why would you think that?"
"Because! I hold things too tight until they break. So I try to let go, but people still get hurt. I just wanted to help...I can't get anything right!"
"You're trying your best. We're all under so much stress right now. Whatever happened, I'm sure Percy will understand eventually."
"It's all my fault," Warren muttered. "I've been picking fights and treating him like-"
