νεκρός || Annabeth Chase x Fem!OC

Vol. 2.5-17: Annabeth and I have a pretty big fight

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I enjoyed the walk home.

Yeah, I guess that's right. Home. I felt more attached to the Chase household than I did to Camp Half-Blood. I think I just feel more attached to Annabeth Chase more than anything else. When you reside somewhere for five months or so, and you're ridiculously in love with one of the house members, you'll likely call that place home.

I had some cayenne seasoning in a bag from the store, plus some Skittles to split with the boys when they got home from school. I had my hands tucked in my pockets as I walked back to the house, a spring breeze blowing by and carrying the scent of wildflowers.

In my pocket, my seashell from Aphrodite rested. I often touched it, reminding myself that I wasn't entirely alone in this. Aphrodite, surprisingly enough, was there for me. At least she knew what it was like. Only two people in this world knew both of my secrets (the fact that I'm a dead lesbian). One is the goddess of love. The other one is a traumatized eleven-year-old son of Hades.

I guess it makes sense that both of them know.

Over the past few months, I'd been feeling a lot more connected to Nico. Sometimes, I'd make a quick trip to the Underworld to meet up with him, but I never stayed for very long. I didn't want to disappear for a month like I had last time (I swear, it didn't even feel like a month!), because Annabeth's face when I came back was really terrible to see. But I tried to keep in touch with the boy. He was, unfortunately, a mini version of... well, me. He lost his whole family, felt estranged from himself, didn't know how to interact with others, didn't understand his powers, was from a totally different time period, and he was automatically going to be labeled an outcast. It's terrifying to see your trauma happen to someone else.

So... I tried to lessen it. When I hung out with him, I taught him things like math and reading, because I don't want him to stagnate. I helped him learn how to swing a sword (I tried to make him use a sixty pound battle axe, but he refused), because I don't want him to be defenseless. I made sure he was eating and drinking water. He had clothes that I bought for him. But most of all, I just tried to talk to him. I didn't want Nico to close up into himself entirely and retreat from the outside world. I needed him to know that- unlike me- Nico had someone to guide him through everything.

I pulled my house key out of my pocket and sighed, inserting it in the lock. I opened the door, setting the keys and leftover cash on the entryway table. "Hey, Anne! My food didn't burn, did it?"

No answer. I frowned, kicking the door closed behind me and setting my grocery bag down on the table. I heard quiet talking from the kitchen, one voice distinctly male, so I had hoped that Dr. Chase came home from his conference early.

I tilted my head. "Annabeth? Wha-"

I entered the kitchen, and saw Annabeth sitting at the table and crying, her hand wrapped tightly around her knife. A tall, young man with sandy hair and pale skin stiffened, and when he turned to look at me, the scar on his face seemed to gleam white. His blue eyes widened with recognition and surprise as I lurched forward, knocking him to the floor before anyone could stop me.

"Tempest, stop!" Annabeth yelped as my fist connected with Luke's nose.

I pinned my hand around his throat, holding him in place as I stood over him. I turned to Annabeth in disbelief. "What the hell is he doing in here?!"