Shattered

Jealous

Annabeth was rather surprised when she witnessed the interaction between the huntress and her best friend Percy. The two broke away from the rest and conversed with each other to the point where the hunters ideology of being a biased male hating feminist was thrown out of the window. They spoke as if they had known each for ever.

In all honesty Annabeth was highly suspicious of Artemis' lieutenant. Whilst Percy was definitely special and different in comparison to other guys, but it was hard to understand how he had managed to befriend the hunter, but not just any hunter, one of the oldest hunters who led the band of dangerous women.

Annabeth was slightly jealous of Zoe and couldn't deny it. Zoe had simply swooped in and Percy had seemingly fallen for her. Annabeth rubbed her temples of her head and sighed. Thalia looked at her funny, but Annabeth ignored her.

They had been on the road for several hours and decided to take a break at a quiet little cafe. They all ordered a beverage of choice, and once again Zoe had kidnapped Percy, which had of course miffed Annabeth. Her mind began wondering as to what they may have been conversing about. She was wanting to put on her cap, turn invisible and listen in on their conversation, and decided it would't be the best course of action, leaving their privacy to the two.

Thalia simply silently sipped at her chocolaty drink and stared at Annabeth with amusement shining in her electric blue eyes."Someone's feeling jealous." Thalia smirked at the girl, her voice heavy with her usual teasing tone.

Annabeth of course vehemently denied the claim, almost knocking Bianca over, who had taken to simply enjoy her donut on the sidelines. A few more moments were spent like that, and the uncanny group decided to bid farewell to the kind cafe owner. It was the huntress' turn to drive. Thalia took her usual jab at her, claiming that the girl barely looked to be fourteen. The huntress simply rebuked with the fact that she was in fact thousands of years old and had driven motorcars since their creation. That seemed to shut the feisty daughter of Zeus up for a bit.

Zoe climbed aboard the driver's seat and Percy took shotgun. The three remaining girls took the back. It hardly took five minutes for the son of Poseidon to be knocked out cold.

Zoe had informed them not long afterwords that they were heading to the Smithsonian. While Annabeth couldn't help but be exited at their destination, she couldn't help but address the elephant in the room.

"Why?"

Zoe froze, almost like she had been hoping the question wouldn't be asked. Annabeth narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "My Lady has informed me that there is something we must do over there. It involves the Titans general."

Annabeth nodded, it was a plausible scenario, but Zoe's first reaction still made her wary.

The detour towards the museum was long. Annabeth gave up on consciousness a hundred miles into the drive. At least she would get two additional hours of much needed sleep...

Ω

When Annabeth awoke from her sleep, she was greeted with the Potomac River. The van was crossing into central Washington. Zoe parked the van a few blocks away from the Washington Monument.

The five got off the van, and stretched their sore limbs. As they began walking Percy spoke out.

"Zoe, I've left my drink in the van, pass the keys please." Zoe simply nodded and threw the keys back to him which Percy easily caught it. Annabeth wondered if Zoe realized that Percy didn't really have a drink with him when he boarded the van...

Annabeth slowed down and began to wait for Percy, it took a moment and she saw how he was no longer at the van. She looked around in worry but calmed down once she spotted him. He was moving towards the museum of natural history, and then she noticed why. There was a black sedan, and a group had evidently just left the car. There was a man she recognised instantly. He was wearing dark shades, had gray hair in a military buzz cut, and had a heavy overcoat, he spoke in a phone and too, was walking to the museum. It was Dr. Thorn. She put her invisibility cap, and simply began following Percy.