The Half-Blood Project

43- Invasion Of The Sleeping Mortals

Annabeth Chase 

"Where is he?" I grumbled, pacing back and forth on the sweat-stained grass, flattening against the slight heel of my boot, that props my height up a little. The boots are the ones I wear when I go to battle, the ones that are uncomfortable yet comfortable all at once, squishing my toes but freeing the heels and ankles. 

"Annabeth, let's just go, we need to set up a parameter around the Empire Building and now." Malcolm stresses, holding his lance with both hands like he's ready to maim someone. Malcolm is too smart to maim anyone. 

"No, without Percy, we can't just storm up there and demand answers." 

Malcolm knows I'm right. Without Percy, we can't storm up to Mount Olympus and demand answers because Percy was our leader, and he was willing to be struck down for a sarcastic comment. 

Malcolm shakes his curly mop of brownish-gold hair, the curls were like little springs, that fell around his face and into his greyish blue eyes that were like the calm at sea. My brother, who may be smart was still a rather large idiot. He didn't understand that the god's where pushier than anyone
"Fine." Malcolm puts his hands up in mock surrender. "If the sea-clogged moron isn't here in an hour, we leave." 

I shake my brother's hand and press a nail into his skin, making him pull back his hand. "Deal, and he's my sea-clogged moron." Malcolm just gives me a wary look before I turn away and towards my two other friends, Piper and Leo. 

Leo is stressed out, tinkering with some metal screws and copper wires. Piper is too, fiddling with her fingers. 

"Look, I know the both of you probably want to be out there, but we need some people here, defending Camp-Half-Blood." 

Piper's face creases into a frown. "Only the two of us?" 

I shake my head. "No, you'll be our eyes and ears too, Percy might not understand...but just listen please." So I began to explain what I needed them to do, they may not understand in the long run, but they need to get her and get her back here safely, even if she was just a mortal. Rachel Dare was important, I had a gut feeling about her and I always relied on my gut. 

"We understand, and thanks, Annie." Piper gives me a tight, hug, wrapping her arms around me, I return the hug too because I don't know if either of us will come out of this war alive. 

In just a couple of hours, we'll be up in Olympus, facing the god and starting to form protections against the planned invasion of Mount Olympus and soon the world. It made me wonder what was going on back in California with Project Jupiter, Jason, Hazel, Frank, and Ryn. All f them may be fighting right now. All would come to an end on the eighteenth, one way or another. 

"Face it, Annie, your boyfriend chickened out," Malcolm said to be as the hour came close to an end. I was about to open my mouth when a crashing sound came from the forest. Our weapons were drawn in a matter of seconds as Percy came toppling out of the forest, stumbling over his own two feet. 

"I'm here!" He gasps for breath and I just shake my head in disappointment. The world is about to end and he almost shows up late. He looks like he just bathed in his blood, his skin is a deep scarlet color. And he looks like he just woke up from a long nap. 

We are so screwed. 

---

"Where did you go?!" I demand, shoving him back as he tries to stand. His hair is plastered to his forehead with sweat, his armor crooked and his skin the color of dried blood. 

"Oh, just around." He says vaguely, not even trying to give a straight answer. 

I know I'm not going to get an answer out of him right now so I just relax my shoulders. "When we get the chance, you're explaining, or I'll kill you."  I pat my dagger that rests on its sheath.