Chapter Text
Annabeth put away the millionth plan that she had to defeat Gaia. At this point her entire desk in the Athena cabin was overflowing with plans and backup plans.
Ever since coming back to camp from the Acropolis, things had really started to wind down. The gods appeared at the Acropolis along with the Giants. Together gods and demigods were able to send the giants back to Tartarus and seemingly end the war.
Seemingly was the key word. Annabeth wasn’t foolish enough to believe that however. She knew that the giants were only a front for Gaia and, and sooner or later the Earth mother would rise. That’s the reason that she had drawn up so many plans in the first place. She wanted to be prepared for when it happened.
She scrambled through her plans again. They all included some version of separating Gaia from her domain. Annabeth had gotten some wisdom from her mother telling her to think about the only time a primordial was able to be killed and the method used to kill him.
Before even the gods came into existence, Ouranos the personification of the sky was lured onto the Earth and chained to it. This effectively separated the primordial from his domain and allowed the titans to cut and throw his remains all across the world. She thought that part wouldn’t be too difficult. Gaia had to be separated from the Earth and then taken care off. She would either have to be thrown into the sky or drowned for the plans to work.
This second section however was an issue. The weapon that was used to kill Ouranous was Kronos Scythe, and as far as she knew, it no longer existed… Well it did exist now.
After Annabeth and Nico accosted Hades about sending Percy back to Tartarus, she learned that the weapon that was traded for her life was a replica of Kronos’ scythe. If there had ever been a time that Annabeth felt like punching a god and her boyfriend, it was definitely now.
Percy had traded his well being to create a sword to trade for her life. If Annabeth had been present she would have told him it was unwise, that they could figure out other ways, but she wasn’t present. She had been…dead after a drowning incident on their way to Greece and she was bought back when Percy went back into Tartarus.
That had been almost a month ago and there was still no sign of Percy. She had to pray and hope that Percy was alright and making his way back to camp one way or another. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if he had been harmed for her sake.
What was she saying? Of course he had been harmed. One doesn’t just go through Tartarus without facing all manners of threats and horrors. Nico had been quite informative in that front as he shared part of his experiences down in the pit.
She set her final plan down then looked to her side to her corkboard that held pictures from her time at camp. At eye level was a picture of Percy that she had taken right before Hera took him. He was giving her that sarcastic lopsided smirk that she had grown to love.
She sighed, trying to bat away the tears from her eyes. “Just wait a little longer Percy,” she told the picture. She had been drafting a secret plan to get Percy out of Tartarus.
Ever since she had come back to Camp she started drafting the plan. It just had been too long since the last time anyone saw him and she was worried. Nico gave her assurances everyday that he was still alive so that helped her mood, but Nico couldn’t tell Annabeth if Percy was alright.
There was a knock on the door and in came Nico Di Angelo. He looked more downcast than usual.
“Annabeth,” he sighed. He looked heartbroken. “I don’t know how to tell you, but maybe it’s not the best idea.”
She brushed him off. She didn’t need anyone’s help; she would do this by herself if needed. “Any update on Percy?”
“Annabeth listen to me,” he implored. “Percy wouldn’t have wanted you to go to Tarturus to rescue him. There’s so many untold horrors that you can’t even imagine.”
“He shouldn’t have been there in the first place!” She snapped. She saw Nico visibly flinch at her outburst. She tried to calm herself before she said something that she would really regret. “Listen Nico, I’m going to do this one way or another. I was the one that taunted Arachne, I was the one who’s pride got ahead of them and didn’t cut those webs. It’s my fault that Percy fell into Tarturus in the first place and I need to figure out some way to get him out of there!”
Nico looked tense and uncomfortable. In a whisper he responded. “I, I understand.” He took a breath before his next words. “If you’re truly serious about this plan, then you’ll need a guide.”
She shook her head. “Nico, I can’t ask you to go down there again. It’s too cruel.”
“Percy did it,” he muttered. “All I’m saying is that you’ll have better chances of finding him if I were to go with you.”
Annabeth prided herself in being able to read people, but right now she didn’t know how to evaluate Nico. She had heard that Nico could possibly have a crush on her so why would Nico willingly go back to Tartarus to rescue her boyfriend? If Percy were gone, shouldn't Nico be ecstatic of the prospect of him gone? Why was Nico so adamant about rescuing Percy for her? What would he stand to gain in the end?
“Why?” Was all she managed.
Nico rubbed one of his arms. “It’s…complicated.” Before Annabeth could get any more words out Nico continued. “If we’re doing this Annabeth, there needs to be someone here on the surface that can carry on your plans when we’re down there.”
“Already taken care of.” She had made arrangements with Reyna and Jason on how to implement the plans and she trusted the two of them would carry it out.
He nodded. “When are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning,” she whispered.
She looked about a blue wrapped box that Sally had sent to her two weeks ago. The box came with a notecard with a short message.
To: Annabeth
Hope everything and everyone is doing well. Wish him a Happy Birthday for us. We hope to see the two of you soon.
Love: Sally and Paul
It had been weeks since she had received the box. She hadn’t opened it. She wished for Percy to open it once he got home. She set it aside as she turned her gaze back to Nico.
He nodded. “Ok I’ll get to packing, and I’ll meet you in the Big House tomorrow morning.”
“Ok.”
With that Nico left Athena cabin and Annabeth was left with her thoughts. She was really about to go to Tartarus. Was it foolish? Perhaps. But at this point what other option did she have? Percy had been gone for over a month since the last time he was seen and the longer he stayed there, the worse his odds became. She couldn’t just leave him to rot in the Pit.
She quietly started going to her pack making sure she had everything. Food, water, ambrosia, nectar, medical supplies and some extra clothes. She pulled out Percy’s camp bag as well to make sure that he was packed as well. The last time anyone saw him they said he looked ‘bad’.
Jason said Percy looked pale, thin and covered in blood, sweat and dirt. She ran through his bag as well. She packed his jeans, shirt, his favorite blue hoodie and the same provisions as her bag.
“Just wait a little longer Percy. We’ll get you out.”
The following morning Annabeth made sure to double check her bags before heading out of her cabin. She hadn’t told her siblings her plan since they would all oppose her. The only ones that she told were those closest to her like Reyna and other members of the seven. They were the only ones that had seen Percy and understood the seriousness of her plan. She had made them swear that they wouldn’t tell anyone.
The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon when she spotted Nico sitting on the Big House steps. He had his own backpack strapped to his back.
“Good morning,” she offered. Nico didn’t respond but just merely nodded. “So what’s your plan to get us down there?”
Nico shuddered like he was having a flashback. “The same way that I went the first time. I’ll shadow travel us to the underworld and into the gates. And then we just… jump in.”
Annabeth didn’t like to think about her quest many years ago when Grover had almost been dragged into the pit. How the times change. She was now willingly going in.
“Sounds like a plan.”
Nico held out his hand for her to grab but right before she did, a terrible scream tore through the camp.
“CONNOR? HAS ANYONE SEEN CONNOR!?” She recognized the voice of Travis Stoll’s. She looked at Nico and he too looked dumbfounded.
They both ran to Travis’ side. “Calm down Travis,” she said. “What’s going on?”
Travis started crying hysterically. “I had this dream. Connor in the woods with a girl under a net. Then I don’t know,” he cried. “This monster-maybe-it looked human, killed the girl and began eating her while Connor cried out for help.”
“Hey, hey slow down Travis,” Annabeth whispered, trying to calm him down. She tried to get Travis’ hyperventilating slowed down before Ananbeth asked her next question. “Was there anything else you saw?”
Travis started crying again. “Oh gods, then the… thing started eating him. I- Annabeth please tell me you've seen Connor. PLEASE!” He begged.
Besides her, Nico looked frozen in time. His eyes were wide. “Annabeth…” he whispered.
Travis’ screams had prompted many demigods outside. Rachel had come out of her cave to see what was going on. The oracle stepped next to her, she looked as pale as paper.
“Annabeth… I had a dream last night,” Rachel said.
Was everyone at camp plagued by bad dreams last night? “What did you see Rachel?”
Rachel was starting to shake. “I’m not sure. But I think it might have been Percy.”
That got Annabeth’s attention. She quickly stood up and took Rachel by the shoulders. “What did you see? Tell me. Tell me now!”
“I-uh-he.”
By this point the sun had fully risen over the horizon and the entire camp was shook by a massive earthquake. All the campers, Greek and Roman stumbled off their feet as the earthquake continued.
Annabeth was familiar with Earthquakes. She lived in California where Earthquakes were a regular occurrence but this something completely new. She had never felt an earthquake this powerful. It was as if the ground had liquified undoing the foundations of the Earth. Multiple buildings crumbled while just as many trees were uprooted.
The shockwaves calmed down after a moment and she took inspection of the damage. The amphitheater had crumbled, a couple of cabins of the minor gods had crumbled as well. Worst of all, the Poseidon cabin crumbled into rubble.
Chiron was also assessing the damage done by the earthquake. With all the commotion around her she barely heard Rachel gasp next to her. “Percy…”
Annabeth turned to look at the direction Rachel was looking at. From this distance she could barely see a discernible figure in the aftermath. The figure looked human and red, as if covered in blood.
"Did Rachel say that was Percy?" Hazel asked.
Rachel nodded.
Multiple campers started cheering, calling out Percy's name. They started running in his direction with Annabeth, Rachel, Nico and the rest of the seven behind them.
Oh gods. Oh gods, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Percy was back, he got out of Tartarus. She wanted nothing more than to run up to him, hug him and kiss him. Tell him how much she loved him.
As the group of demigods approached and formed a semicircle around Percy, she knew that something was wrong. He looked fidgety and was covered from head to toe in blood.
Rachel was the first to approach him and she called his name. Percy locked eyes with her and in an instant Riptide appeared in his right hand. Before Annabeth could even process it, Riptide slashed Rachel.
“Rachel move!” Annabeth cried. To her surprise and relief the celestial bronze sword went right through the oracle like a hand through smoke. Oh right, Rachel was mortal, celestial bronze weapons would go right through her.
Annabeth pulled her gold sworn out of its sheath ready to combat whoever this was. This wasn’t Percy. The Percy she knew wouldn’t harm his friends. This had to be some form of imposter that had his sword.
“Percy?” Rachel asked. “What was that?”
“Why did you not die?” He asked. His voice was low and rough like he had swallowed grabble. That wasn't Percy's voice, more proof that wasn't him.
All around her, demigods drew their swords. Annabeth leveled her sword at the figure. Rachel's earlier comments about this being Percy could have been misguided. She was going to get to the bottom of this. She would take whoever this is and get information from them. “What are you!?”
His stomach growled. “Hungry!”
Nico stepped closer, sword drawn up as well. “Percy…whose blood is this?”
Percy furrowed his brow before he lashed out at Nico with Riptide. Nico barely had time to intercept the blade with his own. Percy continued slashing at Nico while Nico barely managed to parry his strikes. All around her, campers cried in outrage.
Chiron stepped up to whoever this was and whinnied, shocking him and forcing him to step back a couple of steps. “Percy, what’s wrong? What are you doing?” Chiron asked desperately.
Behind them a low feminine voice was heard. A voice that she was all too familiar with. “He’s doing as he’s told.”
Gaia smirked as she stepped closer and everyone made way for her.
“No! Piper cried. “She isn’t meant to rise yet.”
At this Gaia laughed as if she had been told the funniest joke in her life. “The sacrifices have been made.” She used her hand to gesture to the person. “Courtesy of Perseus here.”
No, no… no, NO! NO! NO! This couldn’t be happening. That couldn’t possibly be Percy could it? For the love of the gods, please tell her it wasn’t. And he had helped Gaia rise? Gaia had to be messing with them. He would never do that… would he?
But Gaia had pretty much confirmed the identity of the figure.
Annabeth took a closer look. The figure was Percy's height and even though he was covered in blood, she could vaguely trace his Legion Tattoo on his left forearm. There was also the fact that he was using Riptide and he looked like he had been dragged through hell that all the pieces came together.
As much as she would like to deny it, this person in front of them was Percy.
Oh gods. What did they do to him?
Out of the ground a demigod popped up. He was blindfolded and tied. Annabeth couldn’t tell who it was.
Gaia then gestured to Percy and back to the demigod. “Come Perseus,” she said smugly.“Dinnertime!”
Percy approached the demigod and sat at Gaia’s feet. He grabbed the demigod and bit into him all while everyone screamed in horror.
She wanted to cry out that this wasn’t him, for him to stop, that he was safe here on the surface, that she would help him but all her words died in her throat. All around her, demigods were yelling and leveling their weapons at him.
Annabeth tried her best to look away but she couldn’t. This was the first time she had seen him in two months and he looked awful. Practically every part of him was covered in blood, he looked unnaturally thin as if he had been starving for months. She could see his hip bones through what remained of his clothes. He was nearly naked, wearing to what amounted as a filthy loincloth that barely covered his groin. His ribs were protruding and his stomach was concave. She could see his shoulder blades and his arms and legs were near stick thin. His feet were bare, scarred and calloused beyond recognition. She saw multiple gray strands of hair where it wasn’t covered in blood.
He looked like a walking corpse.
Three bright flashes of light appeared around him. Out of the flashes materialized Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. The three gods looked at the scene in front of them in horror. Poseidon looked like he was about to break down.
“Dionysus!” Zeus yelled. Mr. D shortly materialized in front of the gods.
“Perseus,” another old and feminine voice spoke from behind the trees. Annabeth had never seen her before but if she had to guess it was likely Nyx. She looked at the scene with disappointment. The new goddess stepped next to Gaia. “Sister. This has gone far enough. You have committed atrocities today. Talk with me.”
“About what?” Gaia asked disdainfully. Nyx pulled Gaia away as a battle started occurring between shadow and dirt. All the while, Percy continued eating. The demigods around him slowly approached but kept their distance. Annabeth stepped the closest and was about to reach out a hand for his back.
Her hand was slapped away by Mr. D. “It’s too dangerous girl,” he warned her.
Percy finally spoke up again, not looking up as he ate. “Are you banishing me back to the Pit again?”
“...No,” Zeus spoke.
“Again?” Hades asked. “What do you mean again?”
At this Percy laughed, bloody teeth on display for everyone to see. “I threatened you. You cast me into the Pit. The gods killed the demigods and replaced them with impostors. Gaia saved me. I will serve.”
Annabeth couldn’t think straight. So much was going on. The gods didn’t banish Percy to the Pit? Did they? Well Hades did send him back but she wasn’t sure if that should count as vanishing. Perhaps in Percy’s eyes that didn’t matter. The gods had effectively banished him. But what was this about the gods killing the demigods and replacing them with imposters? He also said that Gaia saved him down there...? What were they doing to him where Gaia stepped up and saved him that he now owes his allegiance to her?
Mr. D knelt in front of him. He poked Percy in the forehead and was met with a first to the face, sending the god to the ground. Mr. D looked unbothered as he got up and dusted himself off.
“Oh insane. Absolutely insane. Tortured into insanity, at a guess,” he told the gods.
That was nearing the last straw. She wasn’t sure how long she could stay like this. All around her, other campers such as Piper began sobbing and others murmured under their breath.
Annabeth stepped closer. “How many demigods has he…” She didn’t dare utter the last word.
“In his eyes? None. But at a guess?...I have no idea. More than a few I’m guessing.”
“Fix him,” she implored. Dionysus was the god of insanity and madness. He could fix this right? The wine god had turned people insane in ancient times and he helped out campers dealing with madness.
“It’s more complicated than that.”
“If he’s insane, then you fix him! That’s how you work!” She argued, not wanting to hear anything the god had to say.
The god rolled his eyes. “Annabel, there’s a good chance that removing his insanity could cause him to go insane again at the memories-” he trailed off. He clasped a hand behind Percy’s head and was almost immediately met with teeth biting onto his hand and drawing Ichor. The god yelped and retreated.
“Yep,” Dionysus said. “Pure insanity. Tortured for a long time. Kampê had reformed just for him. I recognize her poison. Works very well in slowly depleting the brain. And I think some kind of closed captivity. There’s a kind of claustrophobia, fear of light type thing. My guess is to make him an animal, they treated him like one. Kill or starve.”
“Gods…” Poseidon murmured.
“Fix him!” She commanded again, her hands balling into fists next to her.
Dionysus pointed his finger at Percy’s head. “Fine. Your funeral. You want your cannibal boyfriend to gain the ability to think. You get what you get. Bada bing, bada boom.”
She was about to yell at the god to not call Percy a cannibal but then she noticed that Percy stopped eating. He looked down, unmoving as if taking in his surroundings. He breathed in and then out slowly.
Annabeth stepped closer to get a closer look. He lifted his head and she locked eyes with him for the first time. His usual bright green eyes were dull and lifeless. She almost cried on the spot.
“Annabeth…” he whispered. He then looked around, noticing his hands covered in blood. “What-?” He then continued looking around as his hands began to shake. “Oh gods,” he cried.
He looked at the partially stripped body before turning to his side and throwing up. Everything that came out was red as if he was throwing up blood with chunks of meat.
“What have I done?” He choked out between retches.
Annabeth stepped closer kneeling down in front of him and started telling him that it's not his fault. That he was driven insane and that it was Gaia’s fault. That they would make her pay.
But he wasn’t listening to her as he continued shaking his head. He didn’t look at her, instead he turned to Dionysus.
“Kill me,” Percy cried. “Kill me or make me insane again.”
“No!” Jason and Annabeth yelled in unison.
Dionysus shook his head. “I should have never taken it away. It was needlessly cruel. No one should have to cope with those memories. Let alone you, Jackson.” Dionysis raised his hand to Percy’s forehead.
“Wait!” Screamed Ananbeth.
“Stop!” Hazel and Frank yelled.
But it was too late. Percy’s eyes dulled further, and she saw the exact moment in which life left him. The last she saw of his eyes they were broken like shattered glass, unseeing as he slumped forward. Annabeth managed to catch him before he fell to the ground.
She wrapped her arms around his body and held him tight. She felt around for a pulse, for a sign of life… but she received none...
He was truly and utterly gone.
The dam that had been holding her emotions finally broke. She rested his head on her chest, not caring that he was covered in filth or smelled like a corpse. She hugged him for dear life and she cried. She cried like she never had before, like her very soul was being ripped apart from the inside of her body.
Large tears ran down her cheeks as she sobbed for the boy that she loved.
The boy that she had sworn to protect.
The boy that she had sworn would see his mother again.
The boy she had lost to insanity.
The boy she had lost to the Pit.
The boy that she no longer had a future with.
She screamed out to him, calling out his name, begging him to come back, that it wasn’t his fault to please, please, please come back.
All around her other campers were sobbing.
Hazel and Nico stepped forward, hugging Percy as well and they cried. Frank stood behind Hazel putting his hands on her shoulders as he too cried. Annabeth could vaguely notice Piper and Leo crying into Jason’s chest while Reyna and Thalia looked like they were holding back tears.
Some Apollo campers bought a sheet to drape over the person Percy had been... and took it away.
All throughout, the same words echoed through her head.
Over and over again.
She had failed him.
Eventually the tears turned dry but the emotions remained. Hazel and Nico had split apart earlier and most of the crowd left except the remaining of the seven and Reyna. Annabeth for her part, kelp holding on to Percy’s limp body. Hoping that maybe, against all odds he would come back.
Was it selfish of her to hope he came back? Shouldn’t he deserve to rest and be free from the life of a demigod?
Oh how she wished she had fallen into the Pit with him. Maybe then both of them would have died together and faced the afterlife or maybe they would have gotten out. All of this began when she didn’t cut the web from Arachne.
Poseidon was the only god that remained after the others had left. He gently put a hand on Annabeth’s shoulder.
“Let’s get him cleaned up and ready…” he murmured through his broken voice.
“Why didn’t you help him?” She asked the god.
“I…I don’t have a good answer.”
“Why? Why? Why is it always demigods dying for the sake of the gods? We are just children and yet you have us fight your fights. Percy didn’t deserve this, neither did any of the others. So tell me. Why?”
“It’s just the way it is,” he whispered.
If Annabeth hadn’t been grieving she would have stood up and slapped the sea god across the face. The emotional part of her was telling her to go ahead but the rational part told her to follow his orders.
She knew she couldn’t grieve too long, they still had a war on their shoulders. The best she could do for now is set the bodies aside and grieve later.
Piper kneeled down next to Annabeth. “Annabeth what do we do?”
Annabeth kept holding onto Percy as she squared her shoulders. “Easy, we make that bitch pay for everything she’s done.” She stood up and wrapped one of his arms around her. She almost cried again. He was way too light.
“Please, allow me to carry my son,” Poseidon spoke.
She almost sneered at the god until she noticed the god’s eyes. The same sea green that once belonged to her boyfriend. In his eyes, she didn’t see the eyes of an all powerful god, instead she saw the eyes of a grieving father mourning the death of his child. Annabeth merely nodded before Posiedon scooped up his son, bridal style.
“We should get him to his cabin…” she trailed off when she remembered that the Poseidon cabin had collapsed.
The god gently shook his head. “I’ll take him into the sea-”
“You’re not taking him away!” Annabeth cut him off.
“You misunderstand. I’m going to clean him up in the sea in preparation…” Poseidon looked around. Many of the people that were there earlier had left.
“Jason,” Annabeth called. “I need you and Piper to head to the infirmary and help identify the body.” She then turned to Hazel Leo and Frank. “I need the three of you to go into the woods and find any bodies that could be there. Bring them back to the infirmary as well for identification.” She then turned to Nico and Reyna. “Nico and Reyna I need the two of you gather the head counselors and your centurions for a war council. We will figure out a plan to destroy Gaia.”
Annabeth put a steely look into her eyes before she spoke again. “Percy is not a monster. He would never willingly do what he did. He was driven insane by Kampê and Gaia. He closed the Doors of Death and returned to Tartarus for my life. He died a Hero.” If she couldn’t protect Percy in life, the least she could do was protect his legacy. “You have your assignments. Once you’re done, meet me in the Big House and we will hold a war council.”
They all nodded and went their separate way for the tasks. She then looked back at the sea god. “Lead the way Lord Poseidon.”
The god nodded and began walking to the sea. During her short walk, she had to ponder the many possibilities there were to defeat Gaia. She couldn’t break down right now; she was the camp’s leader and she was responsible for its fate. After Gaia was defeated she could mourn all she wanted but right now she was going to get Percy cleaned up and then head to the Big House to make a plan.
They reached the beach shortly after. She looked at the horizon where dark clouds were gathering. There seemed to be a storm coming. The usually calm waters were dark and choppy as if to reflect the sea god’s mood.
He stepped into the water until the water reached up to his chest. Annabeth's own fear of the water kept her from following behind him. Instead, she opted to look as the sea god gently lowered Percy onto the water, submerging him under a couple of inches. The water started glowing a soft blue as it started stripping away all the blood, dirt and sweat from his body. The water around him turned red and black by the sheer amount of material that was stripped away.
All the while Poseidon hummed an old sea shanty. She wondered if it was a song of healing.
Annabeth couldn't see exactly what was going on until Poseidon lifted Percy back onto his arms and began walking back to the shore. Under the new conditions, she could see just what they had done to him. Almost every inch of his torso was covered in scars. His once tan skin was as white as paper. His hair, free from all the blood and grime had turned completely gray, not a single strand of black remained. His face was thin and bony with a short gray beard.
Poseidon stepped out the sea and looked at Annabeth. “We should get him some clothes. Can’t send him to the underworld wearing these rags.”
“We should take him to the infirmary,” she suggested. "I have some clothes in his bag."
Poseidon snapped his fingers and they were all in the infirmary. The remainder of the seven were talking to Will and the other Apollo healers as bodies were bought in. She noticed Travis Stoll kneeling next to a bed with a body covered in a white sheet. He was crying his eyes out. Her worst suspicion had been answered.
Poseidon gently set Percy on a cot. “I’ll cast an enchantment on the infirmary,” he said. “It will protect it and preserve the bodies until it’s time for burial.”
Annabeth kneeled down next to Percy. She started rummaging through his bag and pulled out some clothes. She handed them to Poseidon who snapped his fingers and dressed him in boxers, jeans and a CHB shirt.
She knelt down next to the cot and took his hand. She gave his forehead a kiss and whispered, “I love you, and I’m sorry that I couldn't protect you,” before she covered him in a white sheet.
She had work to do. She was going to make Gaia pay for everything that she put everyone through. She was about to step out of the infirmary when she heard Poseidon call out to her.
“Daughter of Athena?” She turned to look back at him. He was still standing next to the cot. “Avenge him,” he began. He stepped closer to Annabeth, his sea green eyes storming with rage. “Get Gaia into the sea and the sea will answer.”
With that he popped out of existence, leaving an ocean breeze in his wake.
Annabeth wiped her eyes before she stepped outside and went to her cabin to gather her plans.
"I take it you're Perseus' lover?" A cold, ancient voice called from her cabin door.
Annabeth turned around to see the same women that left with Gaia. Her pale skin contrasted with the long black dress she was wearing.
"What is to you?" She said, barely paying the goddess any attention as she rummaged through her desk to gather her plans. The rational side of her brain told her it wasn't a good idea to antagonize a powerful god, but the emotional side told her that she had business to take care of.
"We have similar interests."
"And what would those be?"
Nyx stepped into the cabin. "I don't wish to see my sister rise. I tasked Perseus with preventing her rise, but instead he assisted her."
Annabeth quickly turned around about to draw her sword. "Don't you dare-"
Nyx's hand raise prompted Annabeth to bite her tongue. The room started getting colder by the second.
"Yes, my sister told me of the atrocities that lead him to that point," the goddess sighed. "It doesn't change the fact he didn't prevent my sister's rise, so I come to you with a proposition."
Annabeth nodded.
"My children, Aether and Hemera are keeping Gaia occupied for the moment. I'll keep her occupied during the night so you can gather your forces." Nyx looked down at Annabeth's desk. From this proximity she could feel the goddess of the night radiating unfathomable power. Annabeth's skin prickled with goosebumps from being so close. "That's all that I will grant you. By tomorrow morning she will have fully risen. See to it that my sister is taken care of."
Annabeth swallowed uneasy like her throat was as dry as desert.
Nyx for the first time came face with Annabeth. She could see her eyes, dark as the night and as powerful as quasars. "Think of my brother Ouranos for your task and... my condolences."
The goddess turned into a shadow and left the cabin, leaving Annabeth by herself.
She gathered the remaining of her plans and headed to the Big House.
Gaia won’t know what hit her.