We Are Cursed (A Percy Jackson AU) || BOOK 2

Chapter 44 || Annabeth

Annabeth never thought awkward would be the word to describe their heartfelt moment. While Europa and Phoenix were embracing... they only had four days left. Apparently, time passed by way too fast because fate was just like that. Most of those four days would be Leo flying around with the Argo II and them staying at the Hyatt Hotel. Lovely.

"Phoenix feathers... right..." Phoenix winced but turned into a phoenix.

Europa seemed to understand and plucked three feathers off from her brother's wings. Phoenix flinched slightly before turning back into his human form. A small scratch was on his arm.

"Go," Phoenix boomed. "Go save your friend. But do me a favor."

"What?"

"Bring him over along with the rest of your friends for another visit someday. Until then, farewell, demigod heroes. You have done well."

Annabeth never thought she'd experience joy, but she practically skipped to the exit and dashed out to the streets.

"YEAH!" she screamed, catching some of the attention of the mortals passing by.

They were done. All they needed to do was relax at a nice hotel and wait for Leo to crash the party with his warship. Rushing into the Hyatt Hotel, she realized they must've smelled pretty bad from being out in the woods all day, and blood on shirts isn't something typically seen in hotel lobbies.

"Uh... h-hello, ladies and gentlemen?"

"Hi, we'd like one suite, please. Two rooms."

"Oh... uh... okay... We have one open."

She handed them a card, looking wary, but relaxed as the trio walked away.

"That was great," Annabeth muttered.

___

When they reached the hotel room, Annabeth just walked straight into the bathroom.

"Hey!" Frank and Nico's indignant cries filled her ear canals.

"Sorry! The ladies get to shower first. Lucky for you, there's only one lady and that is me," she sassed.

Giggling slightly at her attitude, she kept thinking about how Percy had rubbed off on her. Percy... How nice it'd be to see his beautiful sea-green eyes again. Sea-green to gray. That was the combination she needed. As the water hit her skin, she imagined it as Percy, giving her a warm hug.

After all, he told her to picture water as if it was him.

She did all the time. Annabeth could almost see a water form unfolding in front of her, like Percy was watching her. He winked, his glistening white teeth blinding her for a quick second before he gave her the most soothing kiss on the forehead. It was like the pool water on a hot summer day.

"Hey, Wise Girl..." he murmured before banging began on the bathroom door.

"ANNABETH! ANNABETH, ARE YOU DEAF?! HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE IN THE BATHROOM?! IT'S BEEN 30 MINUTES!"

"ANOTHER THIRTY MINUTES, NICO! I'M HAVING A MOMENT!" Annabeth yelled back before closing her eyes. She was back with Percy again.

___

"How nice of you to finally come out." Nico glared at her as she came out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her.

Her skin was pink and her fingers were pruny, but she was smiling. Nico looked confused and disgusted. "Why are you... smiling?"

"Don't act like you don't do it--wait, you don't..." Annabeth corrected herself before he walked into the bathroom, shutting the door before Frank could go in.

"HEY!" Frank whined.

"Turn away, Baby Panda," Annabeth shooed him away to the other room with her hand. "The lady's about to change and I wanna save myself for Percy, not you."

Frank pretended to be hurt before closing the door.

___

Annabeth was dreaming. She was in a horrid pit and the air was pungent and gross. Here she was, in some sort of cavern... at least that was how it was seeming.

"This is... scary," she muttered to herself.

In front of her was a boy. His shirt was still on, though it was barely even a shirt now. Just a few strands of orange. His pants were torn up and the only thing on his neck was his camp necklace. Annabeth was overjoyed when she realized that she could move in the dream so she rushed to his side. Percy. This was Percy. Tortured, battered, mauled Percy.

She caressed his cheek in her hand, afraid he could break with how fragile he looked. He was pale and bloody, but it didn't matter. He was still perfect to her.

"Percy..." she whispered.

Her fingers traced the long gashes along his back and his torso, almost like claws from a monster. Some of the cuts were oozing green from poison and a large hole in his stomach, so large that Annabeth could see two rib bones peeking out like reminders that he wasn't with her. She wasn't with him.

Some bones were bent out at awkward angles and bruises littered his body like trash littered the streets of New York. Blood was trickling out of the corner of his mouth at a steady pace and burns covered some parts of his body. Lines that were bloody for no apparent reason were stripped across his neck and abdomen.

His curse, Annabeth remembered.

She felt for a pulse on his wrist. None. She panicked and began to try and get him to start working.

"Come on, Percy!" she cried. "Work! Live! Breathe! Don't tell me it's too late..."

That's when a breeze passed through the room, a flower-smelling scent floating with it. As the breeze ruffled Percy's hair, he took a deep breath and disappeared. Annabeth stared, dumbfounded at the spot her boyfriend had just been in. A melodic voice sang, her voice echoing off the walls of the cell.

"Ωγυγιά, Ωγυγιά, Ωγυγιά! Ένας ήρωας με βρίσκει μέσα από τη θλίψη και τις οδυνηρές πληγές του. Ανεξάρτητα από το πού, ανεξάρτητα από το πότε, ακόμα κι αν βρίσκονται στην Αλάσκα. Θα τους θεραπεύσω, θα τους αγαπήσω, αλλά αυτοί!"

Who the f**k was this woman?

(NOTE: These are my original lyrics. Please do not copy. Also, they are not accurate if you are trying to write an accurate Greek story, so don't use it, again.

Translation: Ogygia, Ogygia, Ogygia! A hero finds me through his sorrow and his painful wounds. No matter where, no matter when, even if they're in Alaska. I will heal them, I will love them, but they always leave so soon!)