Forbidden Quests

Chapter 50

Percy

In the end, we had decided that Annabeth, Hazel, Leo and I would go to Athena's temple to retrieve the weapons.

I had told the Questers the story, leaving out some parts like me and Annabeth making up (don't really think they needed to know we were mad at each other in the first place) or how I had been getting somewhat jealous of Adrian (hey, he was flirting with Annabeth. My Annabeth). Anyways, once Annabeth and I had explained the predicament to the group, their faces had fallen.

"Well, that stinks," Mark piped up, his eyes downcast.

"Yeah. Stinks as bad as Hades underwear," Leo said soberly. Hazel rolled her eyes, but then she looked at us.

"If they need weapons and we don't have them," she started, "why do you two look so happy?"

I let the grin spread across my face. My eyes drifted to Annabeth, "Annabeth found a way we could get weapons," I said proudly. She smiled sheepishly, a small smile that I found adorable. Again, I went back to talking. I told them how we needed to get back to Athena's temple, and that we could probably get Thalia and Piper. Jason looked considerably happy when I announced that.

"We just need to go really soon," I said. "Lord Caspion gave us a deadline, and if we want to make it in time, we have to hurry."

"I'll go with to help get Piper!" Jason said excitedly. He immediately turned tomato red, and tried to cover up his words with stutters. "I- I mean, I'll, uh, I'll go with to get the weapons. Not because of- yeah- Piper. I mean! I want to get Piper, but not, you know- yeah, I- never mind." He stared at his shuffling feet while the Questers around him rolled their eyes, looking amused.

I shook my head, smirking, but I had to turn him down. "I'm sorry, but no, Jason. You're one of my second-in-commands, I need you and Nico to stay here and help with the Questers. I want you guys to start heading down south so we can start on our journey to Antikythera. You and Nico need to help with the moving and everything."

"Well, I know I have to go," Annabeth said. I nodded.

"I'm going, too," I said. I saw Travis mutter something to his brother, and I caught most of what he was saying: "-no better than Jason. They're so lovesick it's disgusting." He snickered, his brother following his actions. I glared at them, and they bit their lips, struggling to stop their chortling.

"I'm going because I'm the captain and I need to help with getting the weapons," I said dangerously, directing my words to them. "No other reason."

"Right," Travis said between snorts.

Connor added his words, "Of course,"

I gave them one last look before turning back to the rest of the group. My eyes landed on Hazel.

"You should probably be one to come, Hazel," I said, addressing the daughter of Hades. "Since the daggers are celestial bronze, maybe you could help us get them out with your powers."

"I can make a sack that will hold all the weapons," Leo suggested. "Without it breaking, too."

I nodded, "Then maybe we can take a few extra pegasi to help us bring them back. That sounds like a full group: Annabeth, Hazel, Leo and I. Good?" I looked around for affirmation. Not that anybody was really going to object, seeing as I made the decision and I'm the captain. I once again was reminded of Chris Rodriguez as my eyes didn't find him. It hurt to know that he betrayed us, his family, but I accepted it grimly and moved on. I couldn't afford to let that stop me, especially since I knew that his betrayal probably wouldn't be the only incident that hurts me in the near future.