The Mark of Athena,Heroes of Olympus, Book 3

Annabeth II


Annabeth's eyes scanned the crowd for her boyfriend-or any possible sign that he'd been there.

Well, she found a sign of his presence.

Parts of the beautiful city were in ruins, but the city looked oddly empty.

If I were them,Annabeth thought, I wouldn't be worrying about the Greek warship falling from the sky. I'd be rebuilding my home!

She looked at the crowd-most of which had weapons in their hands. Then, Annabeth spotted a Cyclops, dancing around with-was that a harpy?

Annabeth smiled. Tyson, she thought.

This sight gave Annabeth hope. She didn't think Tyson would be dancing around with a harpy of all things if his brother didn't know who he was. Annabeth continued searching the crowd, her eyes skimming right over a group of people in togas. However, a spot of color in the white caught her eye.

They must be the leaders.

Then, her heart skipped a beat.

One of the people wearing purple capes had caught her eye and was waving at her, his arms around two other teenagers. The boy had dark hair, like Percy's, but she didn't know if it was him. Why would anyone give him a position of power?

Then again, these were the Romans.

Barbarians, a voice inside her head whispered, heathens, uncivilized-

"Shut up!" Annabeth said aloud. She looked around to make sure nobody heard her.

Unfortunately, Leo did.

"Okay, that time, I didn't deserve it. We're landing now, and you'll be talking from up here, okay?"

"I know, idiot."

Annabeth was nervous as the Argo II landed. What would the Romans say to her? At least Athena-Minerva, whoever-was a respected goddess in Rome. Wasn't she?

"Who are you?" called a girl with long black hair. She was wearing a purple toga that looked just like the dark haired boy's.

"I am Annabeth Chase," I yelled down. "I'm the... er... substitute leader of Camp Half-Blood for the time being."

"What do you mean, 'substitute?'" called a boy near who Annabeth thought was Percy.

"Well, the original leader was Percy Jackson. Actually, he's at your camp right now."

The girl turned around and looked at the supposed Percy. Annabeth grinned at the boy, and he smiled back, telling something to a dark skinned girl and an Asian boy.

Annabeth's initial thought was, He's already got a girlfriend!

Annabeth tried to send him messages with her eyes, but she wasn't very good at it. Percy mouthed, talk to you later. Annabeth took a deep breath and continued.

"We are not here to fight you. We actually want to enlist you as allies to fight the giants."

"We're doing just fine on our own!" yelled a boy who was probably eighteen but could barely pass for twelve. "Last night, Percy here defeated Polybotes! We don't need you graecus!"

"Who are you?" Annabeth yelled back.

"I am Octavian! Augur of Camp Jupiter. You are most definitely not welcome here!" Octavian said with a smile on his face, as if he'd just said something pleasant.

"Yes, they are, Octavian. You should know that from your massacred teddy bears," Percy said.

Octavian was muttering something, jabbing his finger into Percy's chest. For some unknown mystery, Percy didn't look scared.

Percy could probably gut Octavian like a teddy bear. Annabeth laughed at the thought.

"Are you there, graecus?" Octavian called in mock politeness.

"I don't believe I was addressing you, Oracle of Idiocaty. I was addressing, um... what's your name?"

"Reyna," answered the girl Annabeth had been speaking to earlier.

Annabeth heard a gasp and she swiveled around to see who it was.

It was Jason.

"Do you by any chance know Jason Grace?" Annabeth asked Reyna.

"Where is he? What have you done with him, you-" Reyna began shouting. Annabeth wondered if this is how Jason, Piper, and Leo felt when she screamed at them .

"Nothing. I'm-I'm right here." Jason stepped forward.

Silence.

"Jason! You want this back?" yelled Percy, gesturing to his toga.

"Yeah, it'd be nice to have my house back." Annabeth tried not to crack up.

"Do you accept?" she called, her voice shaking from her contained laughter.

"Yes, we do! That boy, you know, he just put something on your shoulder!"announced Octavian. Annabeth turned her head and just about had a heart attack.

Large. Hairy. Spider.

"Ah!" Annabeth shrieked and brushed the spider of her shoulder, and found that it was fake.

"Leo!" she growled.

Leo was cracking up.

"I'll be in my room. Stay. Right. Here!" Leo nodded, cowering in a corner. When Annabeth came out, the Romans cracked up. Annabeth had grabbed her gun and was now pointing it at Leo. His scream gave her satisfaction she couldn't even describe.