Silver Tears - Ethan Nakamura

Forty-nine: I learn there's another bitch trying to rise from the dead

WE FOUND DAEDALUS, TURNS OUT WE FOUND HIM FOR FUCKING NOTHING! BUT NICO IS THE GHOST KING WOOOO

Annabeth, Rachel, Percy and I were so exhausted we made camp right there in the huge room. Percy found some scrap wood and I lit a fire.

Shadows danced off the columns rising around us like trees. "Something was wrong with Luke," Annabeth muttered, poking at the fire with her knife. "Did you notice the way he was acting?"

I had noticed how he was acting, he was nervous as hell. I noticed the way he kept moving around, something I had learned he did when he was nervous as hell. Maybe that's why I forced him to sleep, I mean he was being annoying but it's like something pulled in my gut.

The only thing was, that I fear I may have given Annabeth false hope that Luke was actually good by showing her that memory. I just wanted to show that I did try, but I think I may have brought your hopes up.

"He looked pretty pleased to me," Percy said. "Like he'd spent a nice day torturing heroes."

Percy wasn't wrong. As nervous as Luke seemed he seemed pleased.

"That's not true! There was something wrong with him. He looked...nervous. He told his monsters to spare me. He wanted to tell me something."

"Probably, 'Hi, Annabeth! Sit here with me and watch while I tear your friends apart. It'll be fun!'"

"You're impossible," Annabeth grumbled. She sheathed her dagger and looked at Rachel. "So which way now, Sacagawea?"

Rachel didn't respond right away. She'd become quieter since the arena. Now, whenever Annabeth made a sarcastic comment, Rachel hardly bothered to answer. She'd burned the tip of a stick in the fire and was using it to draw ash figures on the floor, images of the monsters we'd seen.

With a few strokes, she caught the likeness of a dracaena perfectly. "We'll follow the path," she said. "The brightness on the floor."

"The brightness that led us straight into a trap?" Annabeth asked.

"Lay off her, Annabeth," Percy said. "She's doing the best she can."

Annabeth stood. "The fire's getting low. I'll go look for some more scraps while you guys talk strategy." I got up and followed her. She marched off into the shadows.

"Hey, Annie," I said grabbing her arm. I turned her around and noticed her eyes were glossy. I pulled her into me and wrapped my arms around her.

"Why? Why, can't he notice me? Why did I have to fall for him? Why not someone else?" She whispered, her face buried in the crook of my neck. I rubbed her back, "he's stupid, that's why. You're beautiful, Annabeth, if he doesn't see that then fuck him."

Oh but I knew Percy had yet to realize his feelings for Annabeth, I knew they were there. Just by the way I caught him staring at her when she wasn't looking. But that's not what she want's to hear, so I didn't say it.