Heroes with Wands

Chapter 39

Annabeth

My heart raced in my chest. It didn't seem possible. I really couldn't believe it. I was actually leaving for my quest.

It was the end of March, and we were supposed to reach Epirus by the first of August. I hoped we had enough time to close the Doors and find the horcruxes and make our way back to Hogwarts before the wars began.

I mean, we'd discussed motives and plans for ages, but never really thought about actually going. I was nervous and kind of freaked out, but I was ready.

And I knew I had back-up. I was so thankful for our coach. He was honestly a life saver. Besides Grover, he was the best satyr protector I'd ever met.

That day, after breakfast, I packed my backpack. I'd had my knife, my laptop, my Yankees cap, ambrosia, nectar, a flashlight, and rope. I wore a camp t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, and my hair up in a pony tail.

What if I found something I couldn't face? What if I had to complete a task I couldn't complete? No, Annabeth. Stop thinking that way.

You're a child of Athena, I reminded myself. You're stronger than you think. You can do this. You've got this. You can do it.

Wisdom's daughter walks alone,

The Mark of Athena burns through her home.

A recovery depends on a last breath,

And shall suffer in vain an endless death.

The enemy's bane stands gold and pale,

Won through pain from a woven jail.

I kept replaying the prophecy back in my head. I was wisdom's daughter, completing a quest by myself. I'd seen the Mark of Athena guiding me through the steps. I had to recover the statue, obviously with last breath. Apparently I suffered an endless death. The enemy's bane was obviously my mother's statue. And I still couldn't get that last line.

"Knock knock." I turned to see Percy standing in my doorway. "Hey."

"Hey," I said, walking up to him. I wrapped my arms around his middle. "What's up?"

I remembered when we were younger, I was taller than he was. Now, I had to get up on my tippy-toes to kiss him. He was so much less skilled than I was, but some people would say we'd been training the same amount of years.

"I just..." his eyes were sad. "I'm scared for you, Wise Girl. Doing this all alone...you have no idea what's waiting for you."

Pulling away, I crossed my arms and glared. "You doubting me, Seaweed Brain?"

"I'd be stupid if I did."

"So you are?"

"You're a smart mouth, you know that?" We laughed. "Annabeth, it's dangerous. And if something happens....the whole prophecy could be thrown off. And I would never forgive myself."

My lower lip trembled. "We're going to get through this," I assured him. "I'll be fine, Percy. Trust me on this."

He kissed me. I grabbed my backpack and we walked hand-in-hand from my cabin. We'd had a long day of school work, and after I left everyone was going to see Dumbledore.

It was after hours, and in a few minutes I would be off, risking my life for something my mother couldn't do.

We walked into the mess hall, where everybody was gathered. "Well," I said softly, "this is it."

Thalia was the first to give me a hug. "I believe in you," she said. "You're the only person I believe could do something like this."

I tightened my arms around her and then let go. Piper and Hazel hugged me, sniffling and wishing me good luck. Piper was a word off from sobbing. Hazel was so nervous, silverware was slamming into the walls.