The Mark of Athena,Heroes of Olympus, Book 3

Annabeth XXXIV


When Annabeth woke up the next morning, she nearly fainted.

The night before, she'd broken her pencil trying to write another journal entry. Not the led, the actual pencil. When she tried to continue with another pen (a fountain pen), she held it so hard the nib screwed off and the ink refill snapped, causing an even bigger mess than two nights ago.

But, none of it had gotten on her shoulder, and there was no way that it had landed in the shape of an owl with an olive branch in its beak.

"The mark of..." whispered Annabeth. She couldn't bring herself to say the last word. Annabeth grabbed that stupid notebook, which was black leather, and had a soft leather string keeping it closed. She grabbed her jacket and threw it on, covering the mark. She stormed outside, in just her jacket, shorts, and tank top. The air was cool and foggy, and there was a slight mist coming down.

She held the notebook in her hand, then raised it over her head. Then, the notebook slipped out of her hand. Annabeth turned around to pick it up, and she saw Leo, holding her book, his eyebrows slightly raised. A devilish smile was on his face. He dashed through the boat, ending at the control room. He ran inside and locked the door. Leo opened the window, and began to untie the string slowly.

Annabeth ran out to the top deck again.

"-get to spend three whole weeks with Percy!" Leo cried animatedly, holding the book out the window. "The only thing that can ruin this now is-ooh, I didn't know you could cuss like that, Annabeth-beeeeep-Hera." Annabeth glared at him, knowing that that was the end of that entry. Oh, crap. Leo was getting to personal stuff. "December 14th, 2010. Congratulations, Seaweed Brain. You have succeeded in possibly getting yourself killed and ruining the best mood I'd been in since the end of the summer. Oh, who am I kidding. I can't be angry with him if my life depended on it! I love the boy, for gods' sakes! Why must my love life be so... weird? Ooh, Annabeth! I'm loving the novel. Keep it up! December 17th, 2010! Well, Hera lied, again! She told me I would find my answer at the grand canyon, and look what I get for listening. An amnesiac son of Zeus, a very suspicious daughter of Aphrodite, and a psychotic son of Hephaestus! A psychotic son of Poseidon I'd be okay with, but this? No. Hera has gone too far this time. Where are you, Seaweed Brain?" Leo laughed. "God, Annabeth! You got a soap opera of a life!"

Annabeth spotted a rock on the deck. She threw it at Leo, and he dropped the book. Annabeth ran back inside and caught Leo in a headlock. Percy walked out and raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, Styx. Someone's going to die today," he muttered.