A/N: Thanks for the continued support. The response has been far greater than I had expected. To my anonymous reviewer who asked if this was a Percy chapter, all I can do is apologise. But don't worry, the next one is Percy-centric and also has a surprise you'll all love. (Cue Evil Laughter)

I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. More to come soon.

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or its characters. All rights go to Rick Riordan.

Chapter 8

The Beauty in Life

Annabeth

Annabeth was stuffing supplies into her satchel when she heard on knock on her window. It was Chloe, rocking back and forth on her heels and chewing her lower lip. She'd expected Chloe to be overjoyed after last night, not worried. But then again, Damian had been awfully quiet at the library.

Annabeth signaled to meet out front and double-checked the contents of her satchel. This was her first real quest. And if anything were to go wrong it better damn well not be due to a lack of preparation. That she would not accept or forgive.

A quick prayer later, she found Chloe at the foot of the stairs, still looking unsettled. Annabeth flew down the stairs and pulled Chloe into her arms. She did not protest.

"What's this for?" Annabeth could hear her smile. Good. They would always be there for each other. It was their silent vow.

"Can't I hold you just for the sake of it." Annabeth's tone playful.

"You're worried about me, aren't you?" Chloe raised her brows as she pulled back. "It should be me who's worried."

"I'd agree if you weren't acting strange. What's wrong?" Annabeth's question gentle, like her voice.

"Nothing,"

It was Annabeth's turn to raise her brows. "You're not fooling me."

Chloe let out a tired sigh. She'd been overworking herself, more so than usual. It was a wonder that she herself had not wound up in the infirmary. Annabeth would have advised her to rest if she hadn't known that it would have fallen on deaf ears.

"It's just that…" Chloe's voice trailed off.

"It's just that what?"

"Damian," Annabeth stole a glimpse at Chloe's hands. Her fingers were bare—that oaf. She'd give him a piece of her mind alright.

"What about him?" she asked innocently.

"He was acting strange. And no, not like I am now. Whatever it is that was on his mind was far deeper than worry. I'd never seen him like that before. He lied to me, Annabeth." Chloe's voice carrying just a tinge of hurt.

Annabeth would make Damian pay for putting her into this situation. For putting Chloe into this situation.

"He was just worried about leaving you behind." Annabeth said with full confidence, though it was guilt that filled her. Guilt for lying to her and guilt for separating them. "Worried you'd overwork yourself without him there to stop you. You know how you can be sometimes."

"Oh my god, you're right."

"I am?"

"Gosh, I've been so selfish. He's the one who's going to put his life on the line, not me, and here I am making everything revolve around me."

Not the point Annabeth had tried to subtly get across to her friend. Selfish. More like the exact opposite.

With that issue resolved, they made their way to the stables, where they had agreed to meet. The walked quietly for a time, consumed by their own thoughts.

"I'm sorry," Annabeth eyed Chloe wearily.

"For?" Chloe asked turning to her.

"I know how much you wanted to go on the quest with him. It was typical of me really. I was so absorbed in the planning of it all, I immediately volunteered myself without considering the repercussions-" Annabeth would've have rambled on if she hadn't been interrupted.

"Annabeth,"

"Yes?" she asked, catching a breath.

"Stop. There is nothing to forgive." Chloe insisted. "You couldn't have known that Damian and I would have volunteered too."

"That's a lie and you know it." Annabeth gave Chloe a knowing smile. "When has Damian ever not nominated himself for a task. And when have you ever not followed his lead."

"He is quite brave, isn't he?" Chloe's cheeks reddened and her eyes had a faraway look to them.

"I get it. You're in loveee." Annabeth teased, eliciting a bout of nervous laughter on Chloe's part.

They arrived at the stables. A racetrack carved into the earth lay in front of the large wooden barn. It was painted teal, like the sea and drawn upon one side was a mural depicting the creation of horses. Poseidon arms raised, trident glowing, a tidal wave morphing into a row of horses.

Annabeth tugged at the heavy metal rings and pulled the double-doors ajar, the wood groaning. Shortly after, her ears were filled with a chorus of whinnies. The horses weren't too pleased—it had been weeks since some of them were last set free. They were used to the rigorous schedule of monthly chariot and horse races; the exercise and freedom having kept them strong and healthy.

Alas, the state of the country forced the Aeropagus to call off the races. All resources were redirected to keeping the city safe and preparing for imminent war. Against what she did not know. But after all, that was the point of her quest—to learn what the darkness that crept over this land was.

Annabeth walked up and down the stables scrutinizing every mare. If they were to succeed, they would require the finest of the bunch. There was no telling what awaited them in the forest. Years had passed since anyone had tried crossing through it

Moments later, Annabeth and Chloe held three horses between them by the reigns. Beautiful creatures they were.

As the left the stables, they spotted a figure plodding towards them. He was fumbling with his satchel, still stuffing items into it. She'd recognise that gait anywhere.

"Look who's finally decided to show up." Annabeth mused.

"It's not like him to be late." Chloe said. "Something is bothering him. I know it." Chloe reached for her hand and squeezed it; eyes dark with worry. "Promise me," she squeezed harder. "Promise me you'll keep an eye out for him. I hate the thought of him going into battle distracted."

"I always have."

"You're right-"

"But I'll do everything in my power. You have my word"

"What are you gals talking about?" Damian asked by way of greeting—slinging his satchel over his shoulder. He was looking at Chloe as if it was the first time he was seeing her. A nervous wreck.

Annabeth would have glared at him, but he was paying her no heed. She'd wait till they were alone. An awkward silence passed as the two stared at each other, both lips moving, trying to form the words their hearts sang.

"We have our horses." Annabeth said, breaking the tension. "Let's ride on. The farewell party should already be gathered at the Northern Gate."

They climbed onto their horses.

"Anybody up for a race?" Damian challenged.

"Oh, it's on." Annabeth replied. "We'll hug the coast and then turn towards the gate."

"Agreed," Chloe smiled.

At the count of three, they urged their horses into a gallop. Chloe, being the lightest, had the advantage, especially since these horses were bred for pulling chariots. She leaned her lithe figure forward, chest pressed against her mare's mane and shot forward, sending sand flying their way.

Damian and Annabeth did the same, slowly gaining back the ground they had lost.

As they turned along the coast, Annabeth pulled ahead, her curls billowing behind her, threatening to escape her ponytail. She could not hide the grin that found its way on her lips. It was everything she loved: riding, the sea, spending time with her friends and winning.

Gods it felt good to win. She had almost forgotten the feeling from sparring almost exclusively against Damian for the past month. Yet, she would do it again. The only way to get better was to challenge the best. Heck she was ready to spar against Thaddeus when he got back.

Annabeth threw back her head, enjoying the feel of the wind blowing through her hair. The weather was perfect. Perhaps the gods had blessed their quest.

They were fast approaching the Necropolis—where all fallen Hemitheopolians were buried. At least those whose bodies were brought back. She shot past the Temple of Hades built just beside it and lost control of her mount as it went into a frenzy.

Had it not been for her years of training, Annabeth might have broken her neck. She landed in a roll and caught the horse by the reigns. She approached the creature carefully, its eyes wide as it retreated.

"It's okay." Annabeth whispered, patting its muzzle. "Shhh. It's okay. We all fear death." She knew she did. Even the thought of the word brought too many images to mind.

"You alright?" Damian asked, riding up next to her, struggling to keep control of his horse, who too was acting up.

"I'm good," Annabeth nodded, as she got back into her saddle. "Where's Chloe?"

"Over there," he pointed forward—squinting his eyes.

Somehow or rather, Chloe's horse had not been affected. Perhaps her calming aura worked on animals too.

"Let's get on then!" she urged her horse forward, Damian following close behind.

They arrived to find that Chloe had parted the crowd which had gathered to send them off. She was handing the reigns of her horse over to Dorian—Hector beside them holding the scepter of the Archon Proper, silver crown atop his head. A rare sight reserved for official events.

Annabeth slid of her horse, ready to take her place beside them when a blur rushed past her—it was Damian. He lifted Chloe by the waist and spun her around, holding on tight.

"You won!" he smiled, gently lowering her to her feet. Chloe was trying her best to contain her laughter.

"What-"

He interrupted her question with a kiss, pulling her into his arms, melting into her lips.

Of all things, Annabeth never saw that coming. They had never even kissed in front of her. It lasted longer than Annabeth expected—longer than anyone expected. An awkward silence followed when their lips finally parted. They were both breathless.

"Quest members," Hector broke the silence with and amused smile. "Take your places."

Chloe still flustered, rushed over to Annabeth, and nudged her forward while whispering, "Good luck."

Annabeth joined Damian and Dorian at the center of the crowd—only now realizing how large it was. The people must have known the significance of this quest. It could signal the end of these trying times, bringing back the age of peace that preceded it. The hope she saw on all those faces fueled her with renewed belief. Things would get better—and if she were to push her luck—all the pieces of the puzzle would fall into place.

"We are gathered here today to bless this quest. To lend them our strength. Let us pray that it will be a fruitful one…" Hector paused for dramatic effect. "A safe one. They carry the hopes of our people—our nation."

Annabeth knelt first, followed by Dorian and Damian. Hector took his place in front of her and tapped either shoulder with his scepter, muttering under his breath. An ancient blessing, dating back to the creation of Hemitheopolis. He continued down the line, repeating it on the other two.

"Arise," Hector ordered, firm but not unkind.

The crowd begin to chant, "Speech! Speech! Speech!"

Dorian silenced the crowd with a wave of his arms. "If it's a speech you want, it's a speech you'll get." The declaration was met with an uproar. "But not from me. Let us perk our ears up for the one and only…" Dorian dragged Damian forward. "Our prodigal son."

The crowd burst into cheers, all eyes landing on him. Damian straightened his posture, his features hardening. There it was again—the other side of Damian—the born leader. Someone who could inspire the people. He took one step forward, making it look like the sun itself was his crown.

"Hemitheopolis will not fall! Greece will not fall! Our brothers and sisters are out there… all of them ready to lay their lives on the line. They have answered the call. Now it's our turn. Enough playing defence…" Damian raised his sword-arm and pointed it towards the gates, "Today we take the fight to them!"

This was of course followed by a series of wild cheers.

At Hector's signal, the crowd formed a queue and walked past the quest members as custom bid. Some gave blessings, others offered well-wishes. Hector was last in line, shaking her hand and pulling her close. "You have always been one of the brightest. It is why I elected you when you were still so young. Take care of my him, will you?"

"I will." It was the second time she'd been asked to look out for Damian. She did not know if it was pride or jealousy that filled her. She hoped it was the former.

Hector moved to Dorian then, both trying to keep their faces straight. An inside joke shared by old friends. Finally, he stopped at Damian. Instead of clasping hands, Hector pulled him into a strong embrace.

"You have made me proud, son. You have made us all proud." Hector turned to the crowd, who responded in a series of nods.

Annabeth could see tentative smile on Damian's lips. A nervous one. A confused one. He was not used to being showered with affection from his father. Hector was always too busy being Archon and because of it, they had never been very close.

"Of course, I would be prouder if you picked a more suitable weapon," Hector joked. "A descendant of Apollo wielding a blade. I wonder what the Lord of Archery would say about that." he joked.

"I'm good, aren't I?" Damian challenged half seriously.

"The best, my boy." Hector replied. "Now go… time waits for no demigod."

They mounted their horses and waved their goodbyes as Hector signaled the guards with his scepter. The guards turned the giant wheel which opened the Northern Gates—a set of giant golden doors emblazoned with the symbol of Hemitheopolis. The letter "H" surrounded by the symbols of the Olympian gods. As the doors swung open, the air shimmered with colour and a blast of wind shot outwards. The magical barrier of Hemitheopolis momentarily deactivating.

"Ride on… don't look back," Hector instructed. "For Hemitheopolis!". The crowd echoed his chant as the quest members rode off with singular focus.

Annabeth rode at the front of the party, beside Dorian. Damian brought up the rear. They had been in the forest for the better part of the day. It had been quiet so far…too quiet. The last hour or so had been difficult, having to slow down due to the thick underbrush. The darkness didn't help—only the rare beam of sunlight sneaking through the densely-packed oak trees.

Annabeth had given him enough time to sort his thoughts. Now she'd confront him. She slowed her pace, so that he'd catch up to her.

"What's wrong?" Damian asked. "Go ahead I'll be right behind you guys"

She shot him a glare and shoved his shoulder, nearly sending him flying off his horse.

"Hey!" Damian yelped. "What was that for? What's wrong-"

"What's wrong? Your what's wrong." Annabeth scolded, maintaining her glare. "What has gotten into you? I saw Chloe's hands. Why are they still bare Damian?" she continued leaving him no time to explain.

She had never seen him look so crushed as when he apologised. Those blue eyes heavy with defeat.

"You should be apologizing to Chloe. Not me." Annabeth advised. "She deserves better… you of all people should know that."

"I do—I know. It's just…" Damian seemed to hesitate, as if the next words were poison to him. "I'm scared, Annabeth."

"You didn't seem scared when you pulled her into your arms and kissed her in front of the entire city." Perhaps she was being harsh. But he had to hear the truth. "It's not fair to her—sending mixed signals. She has enough to deal with as it is."

"You're right. I was caught in the moment." Damian said, looking more crushed than before. Gods help her.

"When am I not?" She said smugly, trying to elicit any reaction that wasn't a pout. Nothing.

"It's not that I'm afraid of loving her. It's that I'm afraid of losing her. And I know how stupid that sounds."

"Very stupid," Annabeth agreed. "But it's also very sweet. Yet if you choose not to love, you have already lost. There's no changing how you feel about her."

"This life," Damian's voice cracked. "It isn't cut out for love. We demigods drop like flies—that's not even taking into account our average lifespan. We've seen it time and time again."

Annabeth heard it then. The despair in his voice. The desperate cry. He was speaking from experience.

She knew the stories. Of the dark period after the Battle of Corinth. Hemitheopolis needed rebuilding. Not the city but its people—its spirit. Being one of the few survivors and leaders that had survived, Hector had been elected Archon. But he had not taken the death of his wife—Damian's mother—well.

He'd holed himself in the throne room, refusing to speak to anyone for months, to lead his people, to face his home and the son within it—a broken shell of a once great man.

It must have been hard for Damian, losing both his parents in such a short span of time. He'd barely been two years old. The world would have been a dark and lonely place. Terrifyingly so. Annabeth only knew it too well. But at least she had Chloe when she had lost her world.

Annabeth took a deep breath and found the words he needed to hear. "Like many things in this life, death is certain. Love is not. Do not throw it away."

"Even if I was brave enough to face the loss, you know Chloe." His eyes lighting up at the thought of her. "No one loves like she does—No one. How can I ever let this thing between us solidify? I am not willing to inflict upon her that kind of pain. What if I die-"

"You won't," Annabeth insisted, grabbing hold of his hand, forcing him to hold her gaze. "I promised Chloe I'll bring you home safe. So that's what I'm gonna do for however long you need me."

"I know you'll be there for me. You always have. But what if-"

"Damian," Annabeth warned. "We do not deal in ifs. That is not where the beauty in life lies. And you speak of how Chloe loves. The undying strength of it. That is exactly why you must cherish her. She has already fallen for you as you have for her. Married or not, she will never love anyone as she does you. And no matter what happens she will feel your loss like part of her soul."

Oh. She had gone on one of her rambles, hadn't she?

Damian stared at her in disbelief. To be fair, that was a lot of information to digest. "You really think so?" he asked.

"Of course, you idiot." Annabeth joked. "Have I ever said anything that isn't the truth."

He tilted his head to the sky, hands fiddling with the ring in his pocket, as he took in a deep breath. One, then two then three.

He turned back to her; a hopeful smile plastered on his face. It may have been tentative. But she'd take it over his pouts any day. "Alright…I'll propose to her when we're back from the quest. If we succ-"

"When we succeed." Annabeth corrected.

"When we succeed, everything will go back to normal. Bye-bye doomsday and hello age of peace"

"That's the spirit." Annabeth felt something large slam into her, throwing her off her horse and out of consciousness…

Damian

Damian thought he'd heard the rustling of leaves.

Idiot.

He should have been more aware of his surroundings. Now Annabeth was hurt, her limp body at the feet of a…

He did not know what it is he was looking at. Twice his height and vaguely humanoid, it almost reminded him of a gorilla, but not as hairy and far more muscular. Its limbs as thick as tree trunks.

Soon enough, Damian and Dorian too found themselves on the ground, their horses having fled in panic. Damian rolled and watched as the creature raised a club, ready to crush Annabeth. His heart dropped, along with whatever hope that had filled him from her words.

There was no stopping it. He hadn't even gotten to his feet—

The creature froze, large brown eyes turning a milky-white. Slowly, it lowered its arms and chucked aside its weapon. Damian ran towards her.

She would survive. Thank the—

The creature shot forward abruptly, both hands grabbing the sides of her head, lifting her. She was so small compared to it—so delicate. He needed to get to her, even if it meant scaling the creature.

Annabeth screamed. Strange seeing that she had been knocked out cold. She screamed again. A horrible sound that tore into him—into his will. Her eyes shot open, no longer the grey he knew so well but the white of the creature.

Before Damian's blade sank into the creature's flesh, Dorian was already there, axe slicing through the creature's knee. Not a clean cut but enough to send it crashing down, releasing Annabeth.

Damian slid to his knees and caught her before she hit her head. Too close—it had been too close. But she was still alive. He could feel a pulse, beating in tandem with the racing of his heart.

Damian would have laid Annabeth down on the soft loam and assisted Dorian, but the Polemarch had it covered. He was atop the creature's chest, swinging his axe repeatedly at its neck severing the beastly head from its body.

The stories were true. Dorian was a demon in combat. Unmatched skill, aggression, and experience.

Damian rose to his feet, Annabeth still in his arms, her head resting against his chest.

"Dorian, we have to go now. How far is Megara?"

"Not that far," Dorian replied. "Ifwe are lucky, we'll be out of the forest within the hour which leaves us with another hour's ride to Megara."

"The horses went that way," Damian nodded towards the clearing just south of them. "They shouldn't have gotten far."

"Probably find them grazing," Dorian said mildly annoyed. "Damned animals! We better hurry." His gaze falling upon Annabeth, his expression softening. "She'll need a healer. No doubt she has a few cracked ribs."

As expected, they found the horses grazing in the small clearing. Dorian was not amused. Then again, Dorian was rarely amused.

Damian tried to wake Annabeth with his voice. It didn't work. He tried shaking her gently-

Her eyes shot open, and she screamed again, her back arching violently. If Damian had not been hell-bent on being as careful as possible, he probably would have dropped her. Such was the intensity of her quivering.

It was then he noticed her eyes were their usual color. That hope he had felt not so long ago returned. He found her gaze, holding it.

"Hey, Annabeth. Don't panic. We'll get you to a healer as soon as possible." She nodded slightly; pain too intense for her to speak.

"She'll have to ride with you," Dorian instructed. "She's in no condition to ride on her own. I'll bring up the rear and protect us from any attacks."

"Agreed. Help me lift her onto the horse."

And so, they did as gently as possible. Though, that didn't stop Annabeth from screaming and cursing. Damian sat behind; arms stretched around her to grab on to the reigns. That way, Annabeth would have support for her back and his arms would keep her from careening of the mare if she did fade out of consciousness.

"Chloe will never forgive me." Damian whispered under his breath.

"She will," Annabeth replied.

"You weren't supposed to hear that." Damian said laughing nervously.

"Well…I did. So enough with the brooding and get us to our destination." She chided. "Let this quest be over and done with. We have a marriage to attend". Damian couldn't help but smile.

I hope you like my take on Annabeth and my two OCs

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