The Demigods

Fredrick Chase

I rushed around the house, making sure everything was ready for the arrival of my daughter. It had been months since I had seen Annabeth. I had thought that we were doing well until she stopped responding to any of my calls. It was like she had dropped off the face of the earth.

"Helen," I asked, realizing that there something off about the table," why did you set an extra place at the table?"

"Annabeth's friend is coming," she answered, annoyed," remember?"

"Right," I said," and Helen, please try to be nice."

She nodded her head slightly, then went back to preparing the meal.

I heard the ring of the doorbell that announced Annabeth's arrival. I adjusted my jacket and walked to the door.

It opened to reveal my beautiful daughter. She looked at me as if she was unsure what to do next. My daughter was never uncertain. She always had a plan, what happened to her?

I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind as I embraced my daughter. I felt her arms wrap around me, and it felt right. I knew my daughter didn't need protecting, but in that moment I felt as if she did.

I pulled away and looked into Annabeth's eyes, they were broken. It looked as if someone had taken all hope and joy from her.

"Dad," she said, pulling me out my thoughts," this is Percy."

I glanced behind her to see a young man with black hair and sea green eyes. Her friend was a boy?

"Sir," he said, holding out his hand.

I took it and shook it. I recognized the boy, from where I did not know.

"Why don't you come on in?" I invited.

"Annabeth!" Bobbi and Mathew shouted when they saw her.

They ran up and hugged her. She seemed reluctant at first but soon hugged the boys back.

"Annabeth," my wife spoke coldly.

"Helen," Annabeth said, forcing a smile to her face," it's lovely to see you again."

She held the smile, but it didn't go to her eyes.

I saw Percy place a hand on her shoulder, and it was like she was rebuilding herself. Her smile now reached her eyes, and they didn't look so broken.

"Where do you want the bag?" he asked.

Annabeth looked at me questioningly.

"You can stay in your room, Annabeth," I told them," and Percy can stay in the guest room."

Annabeth looked as if she wanted to say something until Percy placed a hand on her shoulder, urging her forward. When they left the room Helen approached me.

"Do they really get to stay here?" she asked," what if they bring monsters?"

"It doesn't matter," I told her firmly," she's my daughter, and the least I could do is give her a room to sleep in."

"What about the boy?" she asked," Are you really going to let a teenage boy that we don't know, stay under our roof?"

"I know who he is," I said, remembering a time long ago," he is the boy who saved Annabeth's life."

Helen just turned around and entered the kitchen.

I decided to check on Annabeth and walked up the stairway. I was about to knock on her door when I heard voices.

"What about the nightmares, Percy?" Annabeth asked.

"You'll be fine," Percy comforted her," I'm right down the hall."