The Mark of Athena

Chapter 18

To make up for my bad uploading skills, I'm doing two chapters! I didn't think I would be so busy during this summer…oh well. Enjoy and COMMENT.

Disclaimer: Rick Riordan owns everything except plot line.

Annabeth

Annabeth had mixed emotions at that moment. On the bright side Percy was finally back. On the down side Thalia, her best friend, and Jason were both gone to the dark side basically.

Percy coming back was one burden released from her shoulders. The scene was a little traumatic and disturbing but she brushed it off.

"Now." That was all Annabeth heard before the monster army came out.

She didn't even think twice as she slashed all around hoping not to attack any of her friends. Everything was happening quickly and it was impossible to tell who or what she was killing. She managed to catch a quick glimpse at the others and the scene was already heinous.

Nico was even trying to help although he was extremely weak. Her heart broke at the sight of Thalia and Jason trapped and protected by Gaea. All that evil thing wanted was to kill them so she couldn't be defeated.

"Annabeth turn around!" Percy yelled and she finished off the monster. It had to be 30 minutes tops and she was wiped out. There was a shield on the ground from a fallen soldier and when she peered in, the reflection was horrifying. Annabeth's hair was all over the place as if she just woke up.

Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from her tears and just her being plain tired. She was pale and hollow with dirt and blood smeared across her face and arms with multiple holes and tears in her clothes. Nobody, not even Piper, looked good at that point. They were either similar or worse. Percy seemed as if he wasn't going to be able to hold on much longer.

It all ends here.

That was all Annabeth could think of. They were outnumbered by far and she knew it wasn't going to end well. She knew all that, so Annabeth gave it all she had. Her life without Thalia or anyone else especially Percy (she's gone through it, what? A million times now?) would be unbearable.

She heard screams similar to Thalia's but there were too many monsters so she had no choice but to keep on fighting. There were more and more screams.

Leo was telling her something he couldn't make out. She shrugged it off.

The monsters loved her apparently as she could see that there were tons around her and barely any with Percy. She started to notice small things from the others and she was ready to explode at them for distracting her.

Hazel was crying and desperately trying to get near her. She shrugged it off.

A monster almost chopped off her head. Cursing under her breath, Annabeth kept going. Again, they interfered and it was making her madder by the second.

Frank was yelling her name over and over again but she was busy. C.

She almost slipped and flicked his forehead. Annabeth scurried away from him occupying herself with her new "friends". Yet another disturbance came her way.

Piper yanked on her ponytail making Annabeth screech and glare at her for a few seconds but still, She shrugged it off.

She wondered what their problem was and before Percy could even make as much as a sound she shoved him away not in the mood for their games. She finally sat down in a secluded area.

Pain was all that she could feel. The only thing that could make her snap now would be another childish gesture from the seven. Of course, that's what she got.

Thalia kept frantically waving at her and she was getting annoyed as she stormed and stomped her way over to finish this. She stood in front of the barely opaque wall and her eyes found their way to Thalia. Wait where was Jason?

At that moment Annabeth finally understood why everyone was being so antsy. They were trying to tell her that Jason, the guy who she was in reach of that entire time, was almost dying. He was right next her the entire time. She couldn't get that out of her head. One of Gaea's henchman had been slowly cutting into his throat.

Guilt washed over her.

She could have saved him. Now he was going to die; all because of her. Annabeth turned towards Thalia hoping she would understand just how sorry she was. The poor girl was collapsing in sobs. Gaea did this to them. They weren't even going to make it to Greece.

Many things came into her mind all at once. Images flashed through her mind at lightning speed. Athena's plan was unraveling piece by piece and realization dawned on her. She shrugged off the sleeve of her shirt a little to reveal the Mark still present on her shoulder. There was only one way she could possibly save everyone including Jason. She didn't even know what to do but all she had to do was ask her mother.

Annabeth wasn't sure if it would help at all. It was taking a chance. She didn't know if it was the right time. She didn't know if Jason should just die; if it was his destiny. A small voice, probably a god, told her that he had something bigger in store for him. She decided to take the chance and called on her mom.

A weird sensation filled her. It burned lightly at first then it grew gradually. She somehow managed to withstand it. Flames erupted around her. The last thing she heard before it officially started was Percy calling, "Annabeth?"

Silence filled her mind. He concentrated on the Mark. It had the power to injure Gaea and wipe out all the monsters. Nico knew what to do and Percy would help him. They would close the doors while Annabeth let the Mark burn through Rome. She had to do this all alone. She would die trying and Percy would eventually save her…she let the thought go and the owl in fire was the only thing she could see. It was complete. The Mark was burning and then she died.

Do not fret she did not really die and keep on reading to my next upload to see the twist?