At Mercy to the Sea ［Rewriting］

[UNEDITED] XXI-I don't know where that man went

Percy POV

I lead Annabeth through the castle corridors. I know there is something off with her today, I just don't understand what. I look back at her and she gives me a sweet sugary smile.

I shudder, this is definitely not Annabeth.

"Annabeth, seriously, are you ok?" I asked her concerned.

She just shrugs and keeps walking.

I take her to my room, my boots clicking on the floor. I swing open my door, my bed was still unmade, probably because of all the maids where busy preparing for the ball today.

I motion her to come over to me, as I walk over to my balcony. There were carvings along the walls.

"Annabeth," I tell her pointing them out. "if we climb up the carvings on the wall, we can get up to the roof."

"That's fine with me."

I let her go first, as I climb up following her. She stops occasionally admiring the carvings, running her hand along them. She pulled herself up the newly polished walls, her hands unraveling, slipping, as she falls down.

I reach my hand out barely catching her with my fingertips. The weight of both of us combined stressing my other arm.

She kicked her legs as she grabs on to the ledge. "I could have caught myself." She tells me.

I laugh "Oh really, Annabeth, you would have gone splat"

"Oh really, Perseus," She says mocking me, "We're barely fifteen feet off the ground."

I ignore her climbing up, not wanting to continue this. I got up I sat by the edge waiting for her, sticking out my arm attempting to help her up. She just ignored me and kept climbing.

"Seriously Annabeth, what's wrong with you today? Your too sweet and then you turn salty."

"I don't engage in mental combat with the unarmed." She fires back.

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Exactly."

She looked away from me as she looked out to the rooftop, you could see layers and layers of trees towards one side of the horizon and rooftops lining up across from each other on the other. Usually, if you look out it would be darker but today the cities where bustling with energy.

"Annabeth," I attempt, trying to start a conversation. She still looks away as I continue. "the stars are beautiful tonight."

"Yeah, they are, aren't they."

I smile, yes she's talking. "But, not as beautiful as you."

Silence rippled through the air, as she just sits there swinging her legs over the edge. If cheesy pick-up lines don't make her talk, I know what will, more cheesy pick-up lines.

"You know Annabeth, the future stopped looking so bleak the second I laid eyes on you."

Nothing serious, I smirk, I more of those up my sleeves.

"When I'm with you, my heart's at risk of exploding."

"Our relationship is the only team I ever want to be on."

That one got her to turn around, her eyes were on fire, penetrating everything in her way.

"Really Percy, you want to talk about that right now? What about Rachel how much of these pick-up lines have you used on her."

Crap.

"I wrote a song for you," I started-she cuts me off.

"No. You know what my dad told me before he left." She spits out, " Never let a fool kiss you, or let a kiss fool you. You know what happened, a fool kissed me, and that kiss fooled me probably the same thing happened to thousands of other girls you find on the street. What's your purpose with them? I don't know probably to sleep in your bed with you."

"Annabeth no, it's not like that."

"Oh, now you're trying to hide it."

"What no, your the only one for me," I tried swaying her, "You know what, I think I loved you before I even knew you."

"Words mean nothing without action."

There is no way I was going to win a fight with her. I leaned in suddenly and kissed her on the lips pressing my face against hers. She pulled away tears streaking down her face.

"You know what your majesty, I loved a man with a great sense of humor and who is intelligent - a man who has a great smile. He always made me laugh. I loved that man who is very ambitious and driven and who had a good heart and made me feel safe. I liked a man who is very strong and independent and confident - that is very sexy - but at the same time, I thought he was very kind to people. I don't know where that man went."

She turned away climbing down the roof, not wanting to look at me.

What have I done, I must have drunk too much. I don't know. What have I done?

I sit on the roof not knowing what to do, about anything, anything at all, nothing. I don't know how long, but the wind rustled my hair, it wasn't cold but it sent shivers down my spine.

"Percy? Are you here?"

"No, go away."

"Come on Percy, your father told me to come to find you. He has an announcement to make."

"Not now."

The person climbed up the walls towards the roof. I curse myself, I should have just remained silent.

A head pokes out from under the rooftops, "Seriously Percy, we have to go."

I look at them their blonde hair swept to one side. "What do you want Jason."

"I told you your father has an announcement and he wants you to be there."

I sigh as I climb down the rooftop with him. We walk down the hallways in silence as we make our way to the ballroom. We split at the hallway where I would enter in the top, above everyone else.

I stairs leading there was older than most on the castle, I guess looks don't matter when you only use the staircase a couple times a year. As I emerge at the top my parents are up there waiting for me.

"Perseus, what took you so long?" My dad questions me impertinently.

"Well," I started to explain as he cuts me off.

"I don't need your explanation you wasted enough of our time already."

Seriously, you're the one that asked.

My mom gives me a small smile as she straitens my collar, "You are going to be great, don't be nervous."

"Mom, I've done this almost a million times, I'm not nervous to stand in front of everyone, I'm not every doing the talking."

"I know but-"

My dad chimes in, "but it's time to go now we don't want to keep them waiting."

He hooks his arms with mom as they walk out the fancy doors when their names are called. Everyone gives them a formal clap.

"Everyone give a welcome to the crown prince, the future of our kingdom, Perseus Jackson."

I smile to the crowd as I walk out of the room.

As the crowd dies my dad clears his throat starting his speech. "It's been a tradition in our kingdom for our beloved crown prince to have an equal princess, through our great searches throughout our kingdom and many others, we have come today to welcome our princess. Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Princess of Delphi. We must welcome her with open hands and accepted her as our next queen."

Everyone went salient as Rachel walked out the door, smiling.

"DOWN WITH CROWN!" Someone screams from the crown, as the chant echoes through the castle.

The windows smashed open as rocks flung through landing on the crowd as all Tartarus breaks out.

Rebels, not now, my dad has done everything he could to hide them from the people. Now the people are hiding from them.

As the screams raise through the crowd, massacre after massacre, the only thing I could think of is I must get Annabeth to safety.