Black Seas: a Percabeth Pirate au

Chapter 15

Annabeth paused a moment before opening the door to the tavern. She'd left Chiron and Dionysus's house that morning with a promise to visit them, and was filled with a new drive to get her ship back. And more importantly, find Charon's Ferry. But to do that, she needed help. Annabeth took a deep breath and pushed open Katoptris's door.

Piper was behind the counter cleaning glasses, and without turning said, "we're closed! Come back in a couple hours."

"That's the idea," Annabeth said. Piper whirled around to face her and something flashed across her face anger? fear? alarm? then she blinked and it was gone.

"Annabeth Chase!" Piper said, shaking her head. "Girl, where have you been? You look like hell."

Annabeth sighed and slumped down on a stool. "It's an incredibly long story I might tell you later."

Piper raised an eyebrow. "It's always is with you."

"Short version? I'm here for some information. Do you know of any available boats?" Annabeth lowered her voice. "And I'm not talking for sale."

Piper frowned, and there it was again. A flash of anger. Something was off. "I'll check in the back."

Annabeth knit her eyebrows. Since when did Piper have to check in the back to know what was in the harbor? Annabeth rose from her stool and crept after her.

Piper turned a corner down the hallway and into a room. Annabeth listened at the doorframe before peeking her head in. Piper was rummaging through some papers, muttering under her breath. Then her fingers closed on something. A knife. With a reflective triangular blade, it was a beautiful weapon and if Annabeth wasn't so disturbed by Piper's actions, she might have stopped to admire it. But nonetheless, Piper was holding a knife. That was probably meant for Annabeth.

Like a panther, she took two silent steps into the room and waited. As Piper turned to leave, Annabeth caught her wrist and slammed her against the wall. Piper let out a surprised cry that she quickly stifled when Annabeth pressed her blade to Piper's neck.

"What," Annabeth said, deadly calm, "is going on."

A surprising fire grew in Piper's eyes. "I know what you did," she hissed, squirming between Annabeth and the wall. Annabeth increased the pressure on Piper's wrist until she was forced to drop the weapon.

"I would choose my next words very carefully."

A small flicker of fear shown in Piper's eyes. "You aren't my only friend around here. I hear things."

"Really." Annabeth pressed her knife tighter, but not quite enough to draw blood. "And what exactly do you hear?"

Piper swallowed and her eyes flicked to something behind them.

"Probably how you broke an alliance and left someone to die," said a voice. As Annabeth turned to look, something cold and hard pricked her neck. A sword. Annabeth froze in place. How could she let someone sneak up on her? The owner of the sword walked around her, careful to keep their blade at Annabeth's neck.

"Let her go," they said. Annabeth narrowed her eyes. Piper glanced from the stranger to Annabeth. Annabeth couldn't win this one.

"Ok," she said. She let go of Piper's wrist and gingerly took the knife away from Piper's neck.

"Drop it."

Cursing herself, Annabeth let the knife fall. Annabeth carefully turned her head around and registered sea green eyes and black hair. She couldn't contain her startled gasp. It was Percy Jackson.

"What! How-" The pressure on her neck increased, forcing her to stop.

"I'm asking the questions," Percy said. Piper finally moved from the wall and placed Annabeth's knife on a table.