The Child of the Dead Sea (a Percy Jackson fanfic)

7. An Unexpected Delay

JASON

"Wake up Sparky, its quest day!" I felt a light weight jumping on my back.

"Get off of me Repair Boy, i know what day it is." I sat up rubbing my eyes.

I got dressed and followed Leo to the hill where the Argo II waited. We had already boarded our bags the night before and everyone was already on deck except for Percy, Kate, and Annabeth. I was about to ask Piper about them when Percy came running on board.

"Have any of you seen Kate or Annabeth?" He asked out of breath.

We all shook our heads. "Why? What happened?" Hazel asked.

"They're gone." He panted. "At first i thought Kate was just out for a run but then she didn't come back. So i went to go find Annabeth but her siblings said that they thought she had stayed with me last night. And Kate didn't sleep in her bed last night either." He talked fast and was starting to become frantic.

"Calm down dude they're around. Frank will you do a quick search?" I said. Frank nodded and took off in the form of an eagle.

He came back not a minute later with three things in his claws. Turning back human he handed me the three items. One was Annabeth's dagger, the second item was one Kate's silver bracelets and the third was a note. I read it outloud.

Dear demigod scum. I know about the quest and i don't want you to go on it as much as i'm sure you do. So i will make a deal. I have two lovely girls here and i am willing to trade. See i have a problem. The demigod by the name of Percy Jackson has a sister. And i do believe that she is one of the girls now in my possession. And she has caused some problems for me in the past. I have sent some friends of mine to keep her out of the picture, the second girl was just... insurance, if you will. Now here's the deal. If no one goes on this quest of yours, than these two girls live to see another sunrise. But if that quest is even attempted, well i think you get the picture. But if you have other ideas i would be pleased to have a talk with you. But not really. All in all i hope you understand. If the quest goes uncompleted by the summer solstice, in ten days, the blonde girl will be returned, unharmed. But the other stays, as i have other plans. Sorry for the inconvenience, but it's better than nothing. Sincerely, Acmal.

"That's the giant that Kate said killed her mother." Hazel whispered. We all nodded and Percy snatched the note out of my hand reading it himself.

"No." He said.

"What do you mean?" Frank asked.

"We are going to find them, and then we are completing this quest." He said.

"I need to see the Oracle." He finished and walked off.

"Poor Percy." Piper mumbled just loud enough for us to hear.

ANNABETH

I woke up laying on the floor of a concrete room. It was a little cold but that lessened when i sat up. Kate was still unconscious next to me and i shook her awake.

She woke up slowly at first and looked around the room her eyes settling on the wall behind me. I followed her gaze to see a symbol of the letter A shaped out of an axe, sword, and arrow.

"No. No no no no no. NO! This can not be happening. This is just a dream. It's a dream." Kate was franticly running around the room trying to find a door or some way of escape. She was talking to herself as she went. "The is so not happening. Really? REALLY! AGAIN!" She was screaming at the wall.

"Kate calm down." I tried to calm her but she turned on me.

"Calm? CALM! Don't you understand? That means the end of the line for me! Im dead now!" She screamed pointing to the symbol. Then she grabbed her wrist. Her silver bracelets were replaced with a metal cuff that pulsed green.