Percy and Annabeth-Their future

Deadly Deirdre's Demise

Percy, Thalia, and I set out that night. It was almost like old times, except I never would've been looking for my daughter... that would just be weird. But every step of the way, I thought of her. Taylor was my baby girl, and no one could mess with her like Gaea had. It just wasn't cool. 

We'd figured out that Gaea's new 'lair' was in Nantucket, a little island off the coast of Massachusetts. That was where Ancient Troy, and the Trojan War, were both located. It was also where Cassandra's ghost would've been. 

Cassandra was a princess of Troy during the Trojan War, and she had the power to see the future, like Rachel, and the old Oracle. If Gaea needed to see the outcome of things, that would be exactly hwere she'd go.

I had no idea what Gaea wanted Taylor for. I mean, she was a 6-year-old little girl with barely any power in the world. But that was probably why she'd been chosen; Cassandra had told Gaea the rest of the story. 

"Which way now?" Percy was driving the car down a dimly lit road. It was almost 2:00 a.m.

"Uh... turn left?" Thalia turned the map upside down, trying to align it with the direction, but it was no use. We couldn't use our phones either; no cell service.

Percy veered to the left, going straight through someone's backyard. A dozen lights flicked on, and off again, in a millisecond. 

We came out on a larger road, and I could hear waves. That was a good sign. Finally, we reached a small dock. Only a dingy and a raft floated in the dark waters. 

To be honest, I didn't want to go there by boat- not one bit. But apparently it was the safest way to go. So that was what happened.

Percy helped Thalia and I into the boat. I saw Thalia glance at a picture of Nico and Paige, and I knew she was missing them, and hoping she'd see them again. Percy's eyes were sad as he looked at her, but he tried his best to hide it. 

The night seemed to drag on for hours on end. Eventually, I saw a lighthouse, and I knew we were almost there. 

"Let's close up shop, Karen," an old man's voice said. 

"But I think I hear something!" An old woman's voice replied. I saw the two figures standing on the cliff's edge. 

"Karen, you're going insane. Now get in the car." 

"Well, no need to be so fussy, Ralph!" Karen answered, slamming the car door. 

"You haven't heard a thing in 25 years." I saw Ralph walk over to the car and close the door. We had begun our ascent. 

Climbing up a cliff over water is much different from climbing a climbing wall. If you fall, you die. If you miss a foothold, you die. If you sneeze, you pretty much... die. Every scenario I played in my head involved me dying in some horrifying way, and not being as cheery as Olaf was in Frozen when I get impaled.

"You okay, Wise Girl?" Percy handed me a rope fromt the top of the cliff. He'd already scampered up and was helping Thalia up. I nodded, easing my way up the cliff. 

By the time we were all at the top, it was 3 in the morning. We ran through multiple backyards, and avoided the ones with dogs. My mind blocked out all my other thoughts. I needed Taylor back. 

At around 4:15 am, we reached a large estate. It had a sort of green aura, and vines draped the front. Most of the windows were shattered, and the door hung open. It was too easy. Percy read my mind. He reached for my hand, and I grasped it tightly. It was the only thing I could do that didn't involve me ultimately letting go.

Thalia crept into the front parlor, and motioned for us to follow. Silently, I followed, my heart racing. The greenish aura spirled from under a closed door.