The Mark of Athena (Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 21- Annabeth

Chapter 21

Annabeth

     Annabeth felt the energy surging into her body from the mark. And when she sensed danger, her senses suddenly were sharpened. She could smell baking bread somewhere in the city. The smell of cherry blossoms and fresh grass filled her nose. She could hear the ticking of a clock. She could feel the vibrations in the earth from the soles of her feet. She could taste the sweet flowers in the air. And she heard Gaea.

     Piper McLean, do you really think those demigods care? They have to put up with you because you complete the seven. Jason Grace has been lying to you the whole time. He really wants a girl like Reyna. You are the weak link in the seven. You have no great powers. You are useless to them, simply a pawn. They want to get rid of you.

     Seeing Piper running towards them was the most devastating thing ever. Knowing that she was a great fighter with a knife with a true heart made the situation worse. And Piper thought nobody cared for her.

     She swung her knife at Jason first. He easily sidestepped, but the look on his face made it simple that he couldn’t fight her. He grabbed her wrist, and the knife clattered out of her hand and echoed off the cobblestones. She began to thrash, punching him and crying out. She twisted around and managed to twist Jason’s wrist around. He winced but grabbed her waist so she couldn’t attack.

     “Listen to me,” Jason said, grunting from her efforts. “I would never think that! Look at yourself!”

     “No!” Piper yelled. “Gaea said you want a girl like Reyna! I’m just not as good as her!”

     Jason’s face filled with pain. He grabbed her shoulders and made her face him. “No. I want only you! You really have no clue what a fighter you are?"

     She stopped thrashing. She looked up at him for one second, and her eyes became wondering. She was still teary-eyed, but now she looked awed. “What?”

     Annabeth was watching with disbelief. How could Gration and Gaea twist their minds around so much?

     Piper’s knife clattered out of her hand. “But… Gaea said…”

     “How could you listen to Gaea?” Jason grabbed her arms and shook her slightly. “Piper, she’s been lying to you! She’s been lying to all of us! Just because she knows what you think doesn’t mean she’s telling the truth! Listen to the person you really believe!”

     She nearly slumped over, but he caught her. Her face dawned on awareness as she muttered, “I’m so stupid.”

     “You’ll never be together after this!” Gration yelled, jabbing his knife down into the cobblestones. Annabeth’s ADHD caught every breathtaking moment.

     Jason stumbled back, but Piper wasn’t so lucky. With one slash, she was lying on her back, a large cut running down her arm. Her eyes were rolled to the back of her head, and her face was as white as a sheet.

     “There,” Gration said, sounding pleased. “How do you like that?” He laughed, his fangs sparkling. “How do you like that, son of Jupiter?” He looked at Jason’s frozen form.

     “Help her!” Annabeth yelled, pointing at Jason. “We can take him!” She rushed the giant, her dagger raised. She could feel her mother’s presence. Athena was there.

     Annabeth smashed her knife into the giant’s foot. Before he could even yell, she was dancing away, trying to cause a distraction.

     “Hey, ugly!” she yelled, a few yards away from Piper. “I bet all you fight with is that stupid little knife! What else can you do?”