𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 (Annabeth X Malereader)

[20] The stars are beautiful tonight

Glimpse of Us - Joji
0:37 ━❍━━━━━ 3:01
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THEY LANDED AT CRISSY FIELD AFTER NIGHTFALL.

As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug. "Dad! You flew... you shot... oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

Her father blushed. "Well, not bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."

"But the celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"

"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you... left."

Annabeth looked down, embarrassed. Y/N noticed Dr. Chase was very careful not to say ran away.

"I decided to try melting some down to make bullet casings," he continued. "Just a little experiment."

He said it like it was no big deal, but he had a gleam in his eye. Y/N could understand why Athena, Goddess of Crafts and Wisdom, had taken a liking to him. He was an excellent mad scientist at heart.

"Dad..." Annabeth faltered.

"Guys." Thalia interrupted. Her voice was urgent. She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoe's side, binding the huntress's wounds.

Annabeth, Y/N and Percy ran over to help, but there wasn't much they could do. There was no ambrosia or nectar, and no regular medicine would help. It was dark, but Y/N could see that Zoe didn't look good. She was shivering, and the faint glow that usually hung around her was fading.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Y/N said to Artemis. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoe whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoe's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

But in that moment, Y/N knew it wasn't just the poison that was killing her. It was her father's final blow. Zoe had known all along that the Oracle's prophecy was about her: she would die by a parent's hand. And yet she'd taken the quest anyway.

She saw Thalia and took her hand.

"I am sorry we argued," Zoe said. "We could have been sisters."

"It's my fault," Thalia said, blinking hard. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, about everything..."

"Perhaps not all heroes," Zoe murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy and Y/N. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

He couldn't speak, but he brought out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly. "You are different, Percy Jackson. You are fiercely loyal and honest. I am happy to have fought alongside you on this quest. You are nothing like... like Hercules. I am honoured that you carry this sword."

A shudder ran through her body.

"Zoe—" Percy choked.

"And Y/N." She turned to the demigod, who was blinking back tears. "You are brave and fierce, and nothing like the other men I have encountered. Both you and Percy have proven that. I'm sorry-" She wheezed out a cough. "I'm sorry we fought."