Some of you may be thinking right now why I prayed to Aphrodite. Well, I'll just say that my mind went through a lot of thinking in a short amount of time. First off, who helped Paris when he was about to die fighting Menelaus, Aphrodite did. She did it because she knew he had a special relationship that he and Helen shared. The same relationship she kept thinking me and Annabeth had going on. Who came to me last time Annabeth was in trouble trying to help? Aphrodite. Which god seemed to have a real liking towards both me and Annabeth (need I say it one more time)? Aphrodite. That's how when Annabeth seemed to be dying right next to me, she was the one god that I knew would help me.
"Oh please Aphrodite if you can hear me now come save Annabeth from whatever poison she has in her, please, please, please," I kept muttering under my breath as Grover started laying leaves to support her head. I turned back to Annabeth in despair. Combing her hair back from her head, I watched her skin grow paler and paler as if the life was getting sucked out of her. All I could do was hold her hand and wait…and pray…and dare to hope that somewhere someone had heard my prayer.
Then suddenly the most beautiful women in the world came out of the bushes swinging her hips in a provocative way. Behind her came an uncertain looking women garbed in leaved and vines. Aphrodite looked at Annabeth and then at me and smiled mischievously.
"Does seeing her like this hurt you, Percy?" Aphrodite asked, making me think of the way the many psychiatrists I was once recommended to acted; prying into my personal thoughts and feelings like they actually cared.
"Yes," I said shortly. She glanced at me and kept looking at me as if to say, 'Anything else'? "Very much," I added through gritted teeth.
"Hmmm," Aphrodite said walking over to me and pacing. "Why do you think that would be? And tell the truth, Percy dear. Her life is in your hands."
I gulped. "Well because she matters very much to me," I said in a small voice.
"Any other reason," she asked looking at me intently. I shook my head and then had an idea. I knew what she wanted me to say and I was going to twist that in my favor.
"I can't even begin to think what you will do without Annabeth here anymore," I sighed. She raised an eyebrow. "Well," I began again, speaking quickly, "I know you always wanted me and Annabeth to formulate a relationship that was more than friendship. It's so sad that we'll never get the chance since she's going to live such a short life." I pretended to tear up which was actually quite easy and suddenly I felt the overwhelming emotion to burst into tears. I didn't want to lose one of my best friends and I was playing a risky game.
Aphrodite looked at me and then at Annabeth and then at me again. I saw her take in my tearstained face and said, "This has made you upset right?" I nodded fiercely. She nodded, as if proud of herself. "I guess you have some more potential in you," she said motioning the women behind her closed to Annabeth. "Work your magic, Demeter," she said carelessly. Aphrodite moved in front of Demeter and Annabeth so I couldn't see what was going on.
"Demi owes me a favor from a few hundred years ago," Aphrodite said conversationally to me. "When she found this rare flower that cures all poisons, maybe about fifty years ago, I knew that would be how she repaid me someday."
"All done," said the goddess who must be Demeter, standing up. "You know I don't like showing favors Aphrodite so lets get out of here quickly."
"Fine Demi," Aphrodite said exasperated. "Let's roll. Toodles for now." With that, the goddesses were gone and Annabeth suddenly stirred on the ground. Grover and I leapt towards her. Grover backed off a little enough for me to pull her to her feet and hug her to me so close she started coughing. When I finally got done hugging her, I looked at her and said," I'm so sorry I didn't trust you in there."
She smiled weakly. "That's okay. I'm just glad I'm not dead. I had a feeling that food was poisoned. How did I survive?"
Glancing over at Grover quickly, I replied, "I don't know, luck I guess."
"Yeah," she agreed even though I could see she didn't trust what I was saying. "Luck." And just like that we continued on our way to California.
