Fated To Fall: PJO

Reunions at the wrong time

"What was that back there?" Theo questioned as Annabeth shoved them into a tram. He took off his bag, setting it down beside him.

"Did you hear something?" Percy asked, albeit weakly.

Annabeth stayed silent, which told Grover everything.

"She said something to you. What did she say?"

The sound of growling took Theo's attention, "Is that the chimera?"

"I think that's the chimera."

Theo closed his eyes and let out a groan.

"Woah, hold on," Percy interjected, "I thought you said this was a sanctuary. That monsters couldn't get in."

"I said they couldn't get in without permission."

"But the only person who could let it in was..." Percy's eyes widened as the implication set in. Theo's eyes shot open as they set in for him too.

"Your mom let her in," Theo whispered.

"Fuck," Grover let out and Percy realized how stressed Theo must have been to not react at the language.

Annabeth nodded, her eyes glassy, "She said that my impertinence had wounded her pride. And that it would be my doom."

Theo felt his vision beginning to blur, she was supposed to be her mother. What kind of mother lets a monster in to kill her child?

"Impertinence?" Percy questioned, "What kind of--"

"Medusa's head," Theo answered.

"But... I'm the one who sent the head to Olympus. I signed the note."

"And I went along with it," Annabeth shot back, "I embarrassed her. Now she's angry."

"What are we gonna do now?" Grover asked, placing a hand on Annabeth's shoulder, "We know that Athena's not going to help us heal Percy at the top, but what about the monsters? They're going to be right behind us."

Annabeth let out a sigh, looking far older than she was, "They're going to be up here any minute, if my mother's not going to help them we're just going to have to fight it out up there."

Percy let out a groan as his face went paler.

"Then we need to get everyone out of here," Grover stated.

Annabeth looked at Theo as his eyes brightened, "Theo's got that part."

"Gods of Olympus!" Annabeth exclaimed as Theo popped up behind her with a sharp grin ignoring the alarms blaring.

"Here's the plan, you and Grover are going to take Percy to the bottom, I'll keep the monsters occupied," Theo said, face sobering.

"Absolutely not," Percy said immediately.

"Percy's right. No splitting up," Grover agreed.

"G, come on," Theo tried, "Annabeth, we won't all make it, the Chimera is the demigod killer. You need Percy alive a lot more than you need me."

Annabeth shook her head fervently, "Absolutely not. I am not letting you die."

Theo clenched his jaw, he hated this more than any of them did. He didn't want to die without knowing who he was, but the fact was Percy was more important.

"Annabeth," he whispered, "Please."

Annabeth shook her head, "Help me get him to the stairs, then get him to the river, do you understand me?"

"No. You are needed more on this quest than I am."

Annabeth wouldn't-- no, she couldn't let Theo walk to his death. Not when she just got him back. She shook her head once more, tapping on her thigh as she opened her mouth to speak.