Annabeth

I stood there, gaping at his name. Many thoughts were thrust into my mind. Why was he here? Could I see him? How would we be able to meet without my mom knowing? She's probably going to be on high alert for something like us attempting to see each other.

"Annabeth, come on. Let's get to your room," Piper said, grabbing my arm and gently tugging me away from the hallway. Thalia followed us, glaring at the people who stared. The sign up sheet stayed clutched in my hand as I walked towards my room, guided by Piper, because I wasn't focused at all and would've never been able to find my way to my room.

The trek to my room felt like it took ages, but we finally got there. Piper led me in, then sat me down on my bed. My eyes strayed to the ocean on the other side of my glass deck doors, and I watched the water glistening in the sun.

Piper sat down next to me, putting a comforting arm around my shoulders, murmuring consoling words in my ear. But the words went into my ear and out the other. Thalia was walking around, muttering to herself and throwing her hands up in the air in exasperation at whatever she was thinking.

Then the hunter turned to me. "Come on, Annabeth, you need to meet him!"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course I need to. The question is how." I bit my lower lip, trying and failing to think straightly. Seaweed Brain is in this city.

"Can't you do it under your mom's nose?" Thalia asked.

Piper nodded, "Yeah, there has to be a place where you can meet without Athena knowing."

All that pent up anger towards my mother fueled into my body, giving me an answer. "No," I said firmly. "I am not running away from my mother. I'm going to go up and ask her, straightforward, if I can meet Percy. And I'm not leaving without a 'yes' coming from her." I stood up and headed towards my door, determination growing with each step.

"Uh oh, this could turn out really bad," I heard Thalia mumble.

Piper shushed her and they both followed me out, heading towards the planning room. The planning room was where my mom plans all her things, which you probably could figure out given the name. She was no doubt in there, for she still had a lot of planning to do before the Test and the Game. I stormed through the halls, weaving in and out of nymphs, satyrs, and demigods. I ignored Drew Tanaka, who called out to me in a mocking voice, probably asking for more lotion for her feet. Bleh.

When I reached the two double doors, I pushed them open. Athena and Ares stood over a big table with papers spread out on it. A few demigods, mostly older children of Athena, were helping in the room, drawing and writing plans and assembling schedules.

Athena looked up at the sudden interruption, and when her eyes landed on me, they narrowed and grew suspicious.

She straightened up and looked me in the eye, her calm gray eyes meeting my stormy ones. "Yes, Annabeth?"

I stopped four feet from her, breathing heavily. I said in a low voice so only she could hear me, "Let me meet him."

Her gaze hardened and she shook her head, "Not happening."

"Athena!" I shouted, not caring. Everybody was watching us anyways. "This is just plain cruel!"

She turned and pretended to read a report on something, but her eyes weren't moving across the paper. Her ignoring me made me even madder, and I stomped up and ripped the paper out of her hand.

"Listen to me," I commanded.

She rolled her eyes, saying sardonically, "No, I'm listening to the wall."

I guess that's the side of my family that I got my sarcasm from.

"I'm serious, mother," I said. "Please, I need to meet him! You guys are banning me from him, and it's been at least a month, can't I see him one last time?"

"No!" Athena said, now yelling as well. "How many times do I have to say it! No, no, and no! That spawn is going to do nothing but bring you down. If you meet with him, you'll become worse, and won't be able to focus on anything."

My eyes traveled in a round journey going up and around. "Yeah, 'cause I'm focusing really well now. Percy-" I emphasized the word, implying that his name was Percy, not spawn "-is not going to bring me down! I swear it to all the gods, mother. Please. I just need to see him. Or else I'm going to go crazy."

"Oh, so now your sanity relies on the sea brat?" My mother snapped.

I sighed, "Mother, please."

"No."

"Ugh!" My frustrated yell echoed in the stillness around us. Ares was looking between me and Athena with wide eyes, the rest of the people in the room mirroring his actions. Thalia and Piper were watching anxiously, and Athena and I were sending death glares at each other. "Please, mom." I hated to beg, but I wanted to meet Percy so badly.

She remained stubborn, though. "No, Annabeth. Now, go before you say something you regret."

I threw my hands up in aggravation. "Athena, if you don't let me, I'm leaving this temple."

That got her.

My sentence rang about the room, it seemed to be making sure everybody heard. My siblings in the room were all glancing worriedly at each other, but I was serious. I was done with Athena. If she doesn't let me at least meet him, then I'm leaving. I don't know where. Maybe I could join Percy's group and defy the Forbiddance Law. I didn't really care at the moment. I just wanted to get away from my mother.

If she consented, however, I will know that she does feel a little bit bad about it, and will be more lenient. Even if it is only a tiny bit more lenient, it's better than nothing. This one small gesture to me would tell me what Athena felt about all of this.

Athena's eyes were slits. "You wouldn't." Her voice was uncertain, as if she were trying to convince herself.

I glowered at her, a rebellious look in my eyes and words, "Yes, I would. If you don't let me, I'm leaving. If you try to stop me, that will jut get me even more determined to get out of this hell I'm living in. I'll go find Percy, or join some group, or something. But I know I won't come back."

She chewed her lip, thinking furiously. As much as everybody thinks it, Athena doesn't totally hate her children. She actually loves them very much, but everybody has a way of showing their love. Athena's way was just hard to read. But I knew she hated the idea of me leaving, and I felt like maybe I shouldn't have threatened her so badly. I know, she has basically taken away my happiness, but she is also my mother, no matter how many times I wish it were otherwise.

I softened my glare, and dulled the biting tone in my voice, "Mom. Please. Just once. Please."

Athena looked up at me, and I tried to find any emotions in her gray orbs, but was met with nothing. Athena could hide her emotions very well, and so could her children. Usually it was nice to be able to make ourselves devoid of emotion on the outside, but I wanted desperately to see what she was feeling.

Then she sighed, defeated. "Fine. Only half of an hour. Tomorrow at noon. And it's going to be in the temple where people will be surrounding you so you can't think of planning anything. If I hear of anything suspicious, I'm coming straight to where you are at. But I definitely don't want to be there." She shuddered, no doubt at the thought of the "sea spawn."

She had barely finished when I squealed with happiness, lunging forward and wrapping my mother in a hug. "Thank you so much, mom!" I leaned back from our embrace to find her a little shocked at the sudden affection, but a tiny bit pleased as well.

I beamed at her, then turned around and grinned at Thalia and Piper. Piper was beaming back at me, and Thalia was shaking her head with a small smile, as if thinking you are so lucky you aren't incinerated.

Behind me, I heard Ares snicker, "Good thing Athena doesn't know what happened at the end of your time with the sea dude, Annie. You know, that thing that happened between you two."

I spun around, looking at him with alarmed eyes. Ares was snickering, and Athena was looking curiously at him. "What happened?" My mother asked. Ares sneered at me, and I stared back. Did he know about the kiss? Even if he didn't, he obviously found something very funny and thought it would be bad for my mother to hear, and I didn't want anything changing her mind about the decision she just made.

"Nothing!" I said quickly. Ares smirked at me, but didn't say anything, even when Athena pestered him more.

I gave one last glare at Ares then turned to my mother who had started talking to me. "Well, goodbye Annabeth. I can't believe I just let her go meet that thing." She added that last part with an eye roll on the side and a large sigh after.

"Bye, mom!" I said, hurrying out with Piper and Thalia by my side. Once I was out, Piper practically jumped on me, giving me a fierce hug.

"Yes, Annabeth! You can meet him!" She shrieked.

I laughed and hugged her back, then turned to Thalia as a thought struck me. "Thalia, can you find Percy for me and tell him about it? Please?"

Thalia rolled her eyes. "Oh, of course, Annie. Why don't you ask me to polish your nails and bring you cold milk every morning."

I pleaded with my eyes, saying, "Please, Thals?"

She scowled at me for a moment, then said, "Fine! Whatever. But you owe me."

I grinned and quick hugged her before she stalked off, muttering about lovesick people and idiots. No doubt putting the two together, but I didn't care. I was gonna meet my Seaweed Brain!

Percy

Well, I can't exactly say it was a nice trip to Athens. We had about two weeks to get there, which gave us plenty of time. That was fortunate, because we were delayed just about every day.

Most of the time it was just monster attacks, but once it was a god.

The Questers had just reached the crest of a hill, only two miles from Athens, when a bright light appeared. People gasped, covering their eyes to protect them from the growing brightness. When the light disappeared, a handsome man stood in its place.

He was tall, blonde, and athletic. For a moment, I thought it was Luke, and a surge of hatred came upon me, but then I realized that this guy had no scar, and didn't look as haughty or cruel. It was Apollo, god of the sun, music, and medicine.

I dropped to one knee, muttering, "Lord Apollo." The others followed my actions, and I heard Harley behind me whisper to Nyssa in an awed voice, "Is that really Apollo?"

When we rose together, Apollo approached us, his face bearing nothing but stoniness.

"Captain Jackson, it has been a long time." His voice was grave, as if he were giving a speech at a funeral.

I frowned, "Didn't I see you less than a month ago at the council?"

Apollo's face split into a wide grin, every ounce of the grim behavior he had before was vanished, replaced with a cheery playfulness. "Yep!" He exclaimed happily. "But a month is a long time, and inside that month, many things can be accomplished. Wait." He half shouted, holding up a hand to signal silence. Nobody had been making any noise, so we just continued staring at him.

"A haiku has come upon me!" He said. Apollo took a deep breath, then continued in a deep voice.

"A month flashes by,

Things are so magnificent.

I'm really handsome."

He stopped and looked at us, beaming.

None of us said anything, then I pursed my lips. "Well. That was... interesting."

"I know!" His voice was joyful, but then he dropped his smile and merriness, becoming solemn. "But enough with the fun. I did not come here to make incredible haikus and lavish them upon you, as much as I'm sure you want me to. I mean, who wouldn't want to hear my haikus and poems, huh?"

I quickly nodded. "I have no idea why people wouldn't."

"Good," he said, satisfied. "Now, to the business. Why, exactly, are you traveling to Athens, my dear captain?"

I sighed. I knew a god would come to intercept me on my journey, so I had tried my best to prepare a decent argument that would hopefully be successful. If not, then I would still continue on to Athens. Nothing would stop me from going to protect Annabeth.

But I had just opened my mouth when Apollo spoke, his voice carrying a hint of amusement, "And don't say this is a part of your most recent quest, because I know that quest is done. Also, I know that this isn't your way home."

My mouth shut with an audible "plop." Well, there goes my argument. Too bad, because I had big words that Hazel helped me to understand in my well prepared, argumentative/persuasive speech, like "please" and "thank you." Just kidding. But I did have some new words I was excited to use. But now I couldn't. Darn.

"Um, I wasn't going to say that," I said, my voice sounding extremely unconvincing, even to me.

Apollo's eyebrows rose. "Yeah, right. So then, why are you headed to Athens, where we all know a certain someone who you are not allowed to see lives?"

"I- uh... well. You see... Oh, come on! Can't I just go? This is for Annabeth's safety, nothing else. Don't you want to keep her safe?" I said urgently.

"Well, of course. But what, precisely, is the reason she needs you to keep her safe? What new danger has arisen, aiming for Miss Chase?"

I took a deep breath, then launched into it, "Well, Luke Castellan, who we figured out was the leader, was going to try and capture Annabeth, who they call the "Siren," no idea why, at the Game! We heard him say that in Aegium. Annabeth's not playing, though, is she?" I hope she isn't, because if she didn't partake in the Game, it would be harder to capture her. If Annabeth partook in the Game, became a Hero, which I had no doubt she would, for she was probably on of the most capable, skilled, and intelligent fighters I knew, there would be many instances where they could get her alone. Especially if the Heroes are always alone in their cabins or their arenas. Those places can't exactly be totally safe from other people. I'm sure someone could sneak in and do, well, whatever. I had to make sure she stayed safe.

Apollo tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. I see. Well, she is playing, but I'm sure Athena will protect her. Why do you need to go?" It didn't sound like a insignificant question, it was like he was testing me, waiting for my answer, then he would calculate upon that.

I opened, then closed my mouth. I knew why I had to go, but it was just hard to put into sensible words. "Well, I guess I don't exactly. But I do. I don't know, it's just that... I guess I just want to know that someone will be there who would be willing to give up everything for her. That someone wouldn't have any hesitations in keeping her safe. I know I wouldn't have any hesitations, therefore if she is in danger, I will do everything I can to protect her," I finished, hoping I had gotten my point through.

Apollo didn't do anything for a moment, he just stared at me, a strange look upon his face. Then he nodded, a slight smile on his countenance. "Percy Jackson, my sister told me what you said about Annabeth. At first I didn't believe someone could care that much about a person after only knowing them for a small amount of time. But it seems you have proven me wrong. You have a good heart, Percy. Now, continue your journey, I will do my best to stop the other gods from knowing your intentions. Though, even if you do make it to Athens, I wouldn't be surprised if Athena attempts to throw you out and refuse to let you participate in the Game. And that's a nice way of describing it. A little knowledge for you, though. If you put your name on the sign up sheet, it can't be undone. That rule was made a long time ago to make sure people who signed up had to take part in the Game. As a result, if you put your name on there, you will surely be able to participate. Keep yourself safe. Good luck, and may the Fates favor you."

I exhaled in relief. "Thank you so much, Lord Apollo. If you ever need anything, call me, for I'm in your debt."

Apollo smiled grimly. "Keep Annabeth safe for me. We are coming upon hard and perilous times, and I want her protected, for she is basically my sister. I trust you will do your best to keep her out of harms way?"

I nodded vigorously, "Of course."

"Good," Apollo said, content.

"Thank you again, Lord Apollo," I dipped my head.

"You're most welcome. Make no mention of it, captain. But seriously," Apollo's voice dropped, "don't mention it. Zeus wouldn't be too happy, and I don't want to get on that guy's bad side." He winked at me, then started to glow.

"Cover your eyes, everybody," he said, the light getting increasingly brighter.

We did as he said, and when we opened our eyes a few seconds later, he was gone.

I sighed, glad we could go on without a fight. "Come on, guys, sign up is today." I looked at the sky. It was a quarter to eleven in the morning, and eleven was the earliest you could sign up. I wanted to sign up as soon as possible, then get to an inn. Hopefully we could get in, sign up, and get out of there quietly without too many people noticing. My far fetched wish was that maybe we could sneak around Athena, so no trouble would arise. Unfortunately, that probably wouldn't happen, but we could try.

Athens came into view in less than ten minutes. It was a colossal city with many well designed buildings, columns, and beautiful and artistic decorations. It was an architect's Elysium. I guess having the goddess of wisdom and architecture as the patron of your city had it's perks.

At the first step into the city, I felt out of place, like I shouldn't be in this city. I knew it was only because my father and Athena were archenemies, but I still didn't like it. I felt like I was being watched, and it had me constantly looking over my shoulder because I had a feeling something hostile was watching me, or following me. But whenever I did glance behind myself nervously, I found nothing out of the ordinary or suspicious. Whatever enchantment Athena had put on her city to keep anything that had to do with Poseidon out sure knew how to unsettle a person. I shuddered at the eerie feelings and did my best to ignore them. I wondered if Annabeth felt like this when she was stuck in the ocean when we were fighting that drakon to get teleported. I bet if she had, she was sensible enough to know not to let them get to her head.

The streets of Athena were busy. No surprise there, seeing as it was Game week. My group and I shouldered out way through the throng, heading to a portable tent in the street that held information about the Game. We waited for the person who was currently getting information, then stepped forward once he had left.

"Hello. Do you know where the sign up tent is?" I asked the guy. He was older, with graying hair and a scar on his throat.

"Go up the hill to the yard in front of the temple entrance hall. There's a tent with the sheet. Anything else?" His tone was flat and bored, as if he had been saying this all day.

"No, thank you," I said, proceeding to herd my group out of the way so the next person would have access to the information tent. I paused in the street, shielding my eyes from the sun and peering up at the temple atop the hill that the man had just pointed at.