Forbidden Quests

Chapter 40

Annabeth

I stood there, gaping at his name. Many thoughts were thrust into my mind. Why was he here? Could I see him? How would we be able to meet without my mom knowing? She's probably going to be on high alert for something like us attempting to see each other.

"Annabeth, come on. Let's get to your room," Piper said, grabbing my arm and gently tugging me away from the hallway. Thalia followed us, glaring at the people who stared. The sign up sheet stayed clutched in my hand as I walked towards my room, guided by Piper, because I wasn't focused at all and would've never been able to find my way to my room.

The trek to my room felt like it took ages, but we finally got there. Piper led me in, then sat me down on my bed. My eyes strayed to the ocean on the other side of my glass deck doors, and I watched the water glistening in the sun.

Piper sat down next to me, putting a comforting arm around my shoulders, murmuring consoling words in my ear. But the words went into my ear and out the other. Thalia was walking around, muttering to herself and throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation at whatever she was thinking.

Then the hunter turned to me. "Come on, Annabeth, you need to meet him!"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course I need to. The question is how." I bit my lower lip, trying and failing to think straightly. Seaweed Brain is in this city. 

"Can't you do it under your mom's nose?" Thalia asked.

Piper nodded, "Yeah, there has to be a place where you can meet without Athena knowing."

All that pent up anger towards my mother fueled into my body, giving me an answer. "No," I said firmly. "I am not running away from my mother. I'm going to go up and ask her, straightforward, if I can meet Percy. And I'm not leaving without a 'yes' coming from her." I stood up and headed towards my door, determination growing with each step.

"Uh oh, this could turn out really bad," I heard Thalia mumble.

Piper shushed her and they both followed me out, heading towards the planning room. The planning room was where my mom plans all her things, which you probably could figure out given the name. She was no doubt in there, for she still had a lot of planning to do before the Test and the Game. I stormed through the halls, weaving in and out of nymphs, satyrs, and demigods. I ignored Drew Tanaka, who called out to me in a mocking voice, probably asking for more lotion for her feet. Bleh.

When I reached the two double doors, I pushed them open. Athena and Ares stood over a big table with papers spread out on it. A few demigods, mostly older children of Athena, were helping in the room, drawing and writing plans and assembling schedules.

Athena looked up at the sudden interruption, and when her eyes landed on me, they narrowed and grew suspicious.

She straightened up and looked me in the eye, her calm gray eyes meeting my stormy ones. "Yes, Annabeth?"

I stopped four feet from her, breathing heavily. I said in a low voice so only she could hear me, "Let me meet him."

Her gaze hardened and she shook her head, "Not happening."

"Athena!" I shouted, not caring. Everybody was watching us anyways. "This is just plain cruel!"

She turned and pretended to read a report on something, but her eyes weren't moving across the paper. Her ignoring me made me even madder, and I stomped up and ripped the paper out of her hand.

"Listen to me," I commanded.

She rolled her eyes, saying sardonically, "No, I'm listening to the wall."