Opposites: The Staff of Light [Book One]

21. Annabeth Takes the Blame

Alice

"Who started this mayhem?" Mistress Demetria snapped for the first time. After slashing off monsters—paper monsters and saving the camp—that was certainly not something I wanted in return. Sure, it'd been total chaos, but the campers enjoyed, ignoring the fact that some of them got poked in the eye with airplanes (don't ask). And I've gotta admit, I so enjoyed that battle. I was like an ice archer! I've never taken up archery before, but I never realized it was that exciting. After I knocked one, I couldn't stop. My shots were epic—and this isn't even bragging! It was so true!

The campers had been filed in lines by cohort. Mistress Demetria and Professor Frank stood up in front—behind them were three more teachers I couldn't name. Campers looked strangely different after the event. And all I remembered: Colton barges into the room, recruits us, we fight, the end. It was pretty awesome, though. Of course, the campers won.

Colton looked awfully guilty after the fight. It had been around three in the afternoon the next day. Before he could raise his hand and admit it was his fault, Annabeth from the front straightened, raised her hand and said, "Mistress Demetria, I started this mess." There had been complaints among the rest of the campers: What—she did it? I thought she were a teacher's pet! "I wasn't able to hold down my temper and I've brought the notebook pages to life, extending into origami creatures—all my fault. I'm sorry."

Mistress Demetria's face softened when she locked eyes with Annabeth. "Come with us, dear," she said softly.

"Yes, ma'am," Annabeth replied, her voice cracked. Colton held her off to stop her, but she only turned and mouthed something: I'll be back.

* * *

The door flew open and Annabeth stepped out. Her face was pale, like the talk in the office was a horrible experience. Colton leapt to his feet and went towards Annabeth first. "Annabeth," he said with his voice full of concern. "W-why did you do that? You know I started the whole thing! It was my power and it was my notebook. Though I don't know what had happened at first, I knew it was my fault. It wasn't yours. How could you? That was so not smart."

Annabeth's bottom lip trembled. "You had nothing to do with this," she said in a soft tone. "Arthur wanted to get back on you. I didn't have any other choice. I had to take the blame. You've got a better life worth living for and me? I don't even know. You deserved nothing I went through inside that office. Excuse me. I've got something else to do." She brushed past us and head down the lobby.

Colton hadn't changed or shifted from his position. He stood his ground, as if he froze. "It wasn't her fault," he muttered. "Why'd she have to take the blame?" His fists clenched, but he shook his head in regret. He rested his shoulders. Throughout the wait, he'd been tensing for no reason at all—anger, fear, jealousy (who'd get jealous of taking faults?)—but that time he forced himself to relax.

"Annabeth's in a bad mood," Alex mumbled. "That's not a good sign."

"Well, what do you think?" I scowled. My brother stepped back. "'Course she'd been in a bad mood. Wake up, Alex. Who wouldn't be in a bad mood?"

Georgia cleared her voice, her eyes focusing on both of us. "Enough, both of you, you're siblings. You've got a relationship to spare. We'll talk of this later. Right now, I think it's time for us to talk with Annabeth for reason. Well, you two said it yourselves. We can't blame her."

Annabeth

I made my way towards the cafeteria, trying not to draw any attention to myself. I turned to see if anyone was following me and luckily there wasn't. I fished out a key from my pocket and opened the door to the library. The books hadn't changed and it was dark. The door closed behind me as I hit the hearth with a fireball. The magic firewood blazed upon my fire and the room was lit bright enough for me.