The House of Hades

Annabeth 14

Disclaimer: all to rick. I hope you guys like Cliffhangers:) but there is a surprise in the chapter coming up

XIV

Annabeth

Annabeth was living her worst nightmare. She was trapped in Tartarus and she had just watched as her boyfriend died protecting her. Her head hurt from crying so much, so she just sat there staring at the broken form of Percy Jackson.

In the recess of her mind, there was her common sense telling her that more monsters would be coming and that she had to hurry and get to the doors. But the other 95% of her mind was telling her that he was just asleep, and he WOULD wake up. She had to wait here until he did.

“Who are you kidding Annabeth?” Gaea said in her mind, “Daughter of Wisdom? You couldn’t even save him. Now he is dead. But there is still hope for you Annabeth dear, just join me. You know that it is pointless. Camps are attacking each other, the gods will be overthrown, and I will be the complete ruler. All I need is your help. You can redesign the world, build it to the way that YOU want it to be. All I need is a little of you and your boyfriend’s blood to rise.”

That last sentence snapped Annabeth back to reality. “Wait, why do you need OUR blood to rise?” but Dirtface had gone silent. “Mom, please I need your help. I know that you aren’t supposed to, but just once it would be nice.”

The space next to Annabeth simmered, and there was a faint projection of her mother sitting next to her.

 “Annabeth, I know that you are grieving, but you need to keep moving and get to the doors. Gaea won’t hold her monsters back forever. She needs the blood of a male and female demigod to rise, though she would be more than happy to have Percy. She hates him more than Ares.”

“Well it doesn’t matter, now that he is dead.” Annabeth retorted.

“Watch your tone young lady. And not all hope is lost. I can’t stay long, or offer much help but I can tell you this. To reach the Doors, you must go past the pit of Tartarus.”

Annabeth felt the blood drain from her face. “But the center, that’s the worst part isn’t it?” she hated the tremble of fear in her voice, but she was terrified.  Athena’s face was grim but she replied,

“Yes Annabeth, the center is where the oldest of monsters live and the evil power is the strongest. Be warned, Tartarus has a way of knowing your worst fears and becoming them. Hallucinations so real that you believe they are actually happening. That is how it torments you, drives you crazy. You can’t tell what’s real or not after a while. Only the strongest can make it out.”

The strongest of us is dead, Annabeth couldn’t help but think. “How will I find my way?”

“When the time comes, the way will be revealed.” Athena replied. Thunder faintly rumbled above. She sighed, “I must leave now, be brave my daughter, and you will prevail. Now rest.”

And with that Athena was gone and Annabeth was left alone to think about what her mother had said. Gaea needs blood to rise so she will be hunting me relentlessly. What did my mother mean when she said the way will be revealed? Did she mean the Mark of Athena? Would it even work down here? No matter how much she tried to think about her plans, she kept coming back to one fatal factor, Percy was dead and she would have to brave the depths alone.

Athena said to rest and Annabeth didn’t see how that could be possible, but soon her eyes began to droop, and she had one of the worst dreams in all of her demigod years.