The Blood of Olympus

Chapter 26: Leo

Chapter 26! Yayyyyyyyyy! 

Chapter 26: Leo

The way Leo saw it, Annabeth should have been grateful. If Percy hadn't cushioned the water under her as she landed, she would have been squashed into an Anna-Pancake on impact. But instead, when she climbed onto the ship's deck, instead of hugging Percy and thanking Leo, Percy and Leo found that she was still screaming.

"Where is he?" Annabeth screeched, and Leo thought she almost looked deranged, "tell me where that...that...." she spluttered into silence, and Leo exchanged bewildered looks with Percy.

"Um...Annabeth? I'm right here...I mean, if you're talking about me." Percy asked cautiously, and Leo marveled at his nerve. To be honest, he'd rather fight a million evil hags than talk to Annabeth when she was mad.

Annabeth appeared to see Percy for the first time.

"Percy?" she asked, her face full of disbelief, "You're ok?" her eyes moved to the bandage on his shoulder, "Oh gods, I'm so sorry."

Percy frowned, "Hey, it's not like it was your fault."

Annabeth's angry look melted off, and she collapsed on the deck.

"Actually," she said, her voice muffled, "it kind of was."

"No it wasn't, you saved his life." a familiar voice said behind Leo. Leo turned, just in time to see a vulture transform into Frank.

"Hey Percy," Frank said with a smile, "glad to see you're not posessed anymore, thanks to- "

But Frank was cut off, because at that moment, Annabeth exploded, and it took all of Leo's courage not to cower.

"FRANK ZHANG!" Annabeth screamed, marching up to Frank, "WHAT KIND OF AN IDIOT ARE YOU?"

Frank's mouth opened slightly, his eyes wide.

"Annabeth...I - I  saved - you - what - " he spluttered, "I saved your life!"

"Yeah." Annabeth said, with awful sarcasm, "I'm sure swallowing me would count as saving me."

Frank's face went red, "What, could you have thought of a better idea on the spot? For Jupiter's sake, you were about to get crushed!"

Leo winced. One thing that he had learned to never, ever do, was ask a child of Athena if she had a better idea. Especially when her face was red from anger and her hand was on the hilt of her sword.

Annabeth swelled up until Leo thought she would burst - but finally she just glared at Frank and walked away, going down to the second deck, her heavy footfalls echoing.

Leo, Percy, and Frank stayed where they were for several seconds until Leo finally broke the silence,

"What the Hades was that?" he asked.

Percy shrugged, "I don't know. The last time she was so mad, I disappeared for six months."

Leo shook his head, "Geez, Frank. What did you do?"

Frank shrugged helplessly,"To be honest, I'm not sure. I mean I think I know, but it's a long story."He told them about how Percy, Piper, and Jason had been posessed, jumped overboard, how Annabeth had jumped in after them and been dragged in. How Frank had waited for her, then dived in after her.

Frank reached this point, and his voice stumbled.

"Then..." he cleared his throat, "then, after she stabbed Percy, obviously the magical protection went away, and I had to do something, so I...I..."