Royally Screwed

Chapter 13

~Percy~

I wake up to a pounding headache, especially painful in my right temple. I pull my hands up to touch it. My fingers come away coated in red dust: dried blood.

My vision is still slightly fuzzy, and I have to blink a few times for everything to come into focus. I'm in a cell. Why am I in a cell?

I glance around me, seeing the dark stone walls and metal bars of my cell and many others. The floor is stone as well—nothing I'm not used to. The memory of the last time I was fully conscious came rushing back to me, causing the blood to pound in my ears. My throat tightened with worry.

Annabeth.

Last time I saw her, she had been held by a guard... she's probably at the palace, which means I'm probably in the dungeon. Great.

I sit up, still clutching my head to control the overwhelming dizziness. Black spots dance at the edge of my vision, but I will myself to stay conscious.

I heard a heavy door slam and feet pounding down a set of stairs. My head shot up, and I gazed through the bars, expecting to see some kind of guard to take me to my execution or something. I was quite relieved and surprised to see a familiar head of blonde curls and sparkling gray eyes.

Annabeth gasped when her eyes locked with mine, and she three herself against the bars, clutching them like a lifeline. "Percy!" She breathed, a tear slipping from her eye and trailing down her cheek. "You... you're injured."

I looked down at myself and realized I was covered in scratches and bruises. I smiled sheepishly at her, and brushed away a tear from her cheek by reaching through the bars.

"Percy," she choked out. "My... my mother wants to execute you." Her voice cracked when she said this. A bubble of fear expanded in my chest, making me swallow hard. I slipped my fingers through hers and pulled her close, squeezing her hand gently.

Execution. That's what I was facing.

"Annabeth, I love you, never forget that, okay?" I said gloomily, brushing a strand of honey blond hair behind her ear.

She stood up abruptly, brushing me off. "No! I won't let her kill you. I'll bust you out, somehow."

"Annabeth—" I tried to protest.

"No! I'll... I'll steal the keys to the cells or something, I just need help..." She trailed off, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.

I stood up and faced her, looking through the rusted metal bars of the cell. "Annabeth," I said firmly, getting her attention. "You have to promise me that even if I die, you'll go on without me."

Pain flashed in her stormy gray eyes, and she gripped the bars again, her knuckles turning white. "I can't promise something like that, Percy."

I knew it was unfair to ask that of her, when I could not promise anything like that either if Annabeth ever passed away. Tears were streaming down her cheeks now, her eyes red and puffy. She still looked like the most beautiful girl in the world to me.

She looked freshly washed, her hair shining in blond ringlets down her back. She wore a light white dress, unusually casual for a princess, though she was. I ran a hand through my hair, messing it up further but not caring in the least.

"I know, Annie." She glared at me through the bars, and I managed a small chuckle. "Annabeth," I corrected.

She smiled slightly, but tears still silently streamed down her face. "Come here," I commanded, and she approached immediately.

I grabbed both of her hands, intertwining our fingers, and pulled her forehead against mine, our breath mixing and our noses barely touching, being as close as we could with those damn bars between us. I wanted so badly to kiss her right then and there, but the thick metal bars prevented me from doing so.

"I will get you out of here, Percy," she promised, her voice straining. "Annabeth—" I began.

"No, I will. I'm not going to let you die on me!" She yelled softly. Next thing I knew, she was already disappearing up the stone steps, her footsteps echoing behind her.

~Annabeth~

Seeing Percy all battered up had almost caused me to break down, right in front of him.

But I couldn't. I have a plan.

I raced up the stone steps and pushed open the heavy wooden door, then ran down the hallway and burst into the throne room, finding it empty.

I sighed in momentary defeat. I needed to see my mother, and somehow find out where the keys to the dungeon cells are.

I'll have to find them later, I decided, as I could hear many sets of footsteps coming from down the hall.

The doors opened and in stepped my mother, father, Lord Hermes, and... Luke. I resisted the urge to recoil in disgust.

Luke bowed in front of me, taking my hand in his and kissing it. "It is nice to see you safe and healthy, princess." He commented coldly, his icy blue eyes gleaming.

"Annabeth, dear," said my mother. She looked as spoke as if she was trying not to shatter something extremely breakable. "Yours and Luke's wedding will take place in one week."

If I had been drinking, I would have had a spit take.

"What?!"

Oh snapdoodles! Annabeth's and Luke's wedding is in one week, and Percy's still in prison!

Random Question:

What's your favorite flavor of cake/cupcake?

Until Chapter 14, my peepz!

-Ms. PercyPotterPerfect