No A/N

Percy 1st POV

The next few days were painful and uneventful to say the least. They mostly consisted of me adjusting myself to try and get some semblance of comfort while Clarisse looked after me. Most of the time we'd just sit around and talk. We'd talk about adventures we'd had in the mortal world, or tell ancient Greeks stories with our own twist, just something to make my days in the hospital wing better. By the time Will released me my legs were sore as hell and my whole body was stiff.

As Clarisse and I walked out of the big house we both squinted our eyes from the sun's glare. Neither of us had seen much natural sunlight for a few days, and boy did it show. Both are skin tones had paled and our eyes had dark circles around them. Chiron has excused Clarisse and I from activities for the rest of the week so I could fully recover and so she could watch over me. When we reached the cabin I opened the door and saw that it was the same way we had left it. Destroyed.

"Percy..." Clarisse didn't have to finish. She could tell I didn't really want to go into my cabin. My pool of blood has now dried onto the wooden floors leaving a nasty stain and small singe marks covered the wall from her spear.

"Let's go. I'll ask if I can stay somewhere else for now." I closed my eyes and tried not to remember all the things that had happened here. Annabeth said she did all of it out of love and I still believed her. Her methods were harsh but in the end I really felt like I deserved all the torture.

"Do you want to get anything out of here?"

"...no."

We said nothing as we stood in the doorway. Quite honestly I don't think there was anything we really could say. The cabin was a horrible reminder of my self loathing and I wanted to leave. On the way back to the Big House we passed by the Athena cabin. Some of its residents were sitting on the porch while others were sitting at desks and tables inside. As we passed, Malcom ran up to me. At first I recoiled back cause for a split second I thought it was Annabeth running towards me. It took everything I had not to curl up and wait for the blows, but thankfully when he saw me tense up he stopped and didn't try to move closer. After a few moments he walked close enough to be in talking distance.

"Percy. I don't know what exactly Ann- ...she did to you, but we all want to tell you that we don't support what she did. She doesn't represent the Athena cabin at all. We're all disgusted to call her our sister."

I gave the boy a small smile before responding. "It's ok Malcom. I know she was just trying to help me be better. I don't think she ever tried to seriously hurt me."

Hearing me, Clarisse and Malcom's faces turned to ones of shock and horror. 

"Perce, you can't honestly think that? She put you to the brink of critical condition!" Clarisse was clearly worried but I don't see why.

"It was an accident. She just went a little farther than normal. She was only trying to make me a better person."

At this point, I think both of them were getting scared of my answers. I really didn't see what the problem was. Sure Annabeth hurt me really bad but I know it was an accident. Right?

Malcom 1st POV

What Percy was saying was purely nonsensical! I couldn't possibly and truly believe that what that monster was doing was good for him?! It was insanity!

"Percy, she abused you! She savagely beat you and then claimed it was for your own good?! That's crazy!"

"Really it was just an accident though. She was just trying to toughen me up! Just like she normally does. She says if she didn't people'll walk all over me."

I almost fainted from shock. He actually thought what she was doing to him was good! I was sick to my stomach when I realized what Annabeth had done to Percy. She'd slowly been using Mind Speak on him for years to make him believe this. Mind Speak is a rare gift some children of Athena have that allows them to make whoever they use it on believe what they're saying is true. It was a horrible power and it was even more horrible the was she used it. I couldn't handle it anymore.

"Percy! Everything she told you was a lie! She's been using Mind Speak on you! She's been warping your brain!"

"That's not true Malcom! She's really been making me a better person! She has been for years! I'd be nothing without her help!"

Annabeth has really done a number on him, hadn't she? I knew I couldn't say anything to change his mind, no matter how wrong he was.

"Fine Percy. But do know I'm telling you the truth. Believe it or not." And with that I headed back to the Athena cabin.

Percy 1st POV

I couldn't believe what Malcom was saying! That Annabeth was using powers on my to warp my mind?! It was crazy! She'd never do that to me. She was my everything! She loved me!

"Percy-" Clarisse was going to say something but I cut her off.

"What! Are you going to tell me he's right and that I should listen?!"

"No, but you need to calm down." She pointed to the sky and I saw grey clouds swirling overhead.

My powers have always been connected to my emotions and this time was no different. After a few minutes I calmed down and the clouds disappeared. I said nothing to Clarisse and we continued on our way to the Big House. Clarisse stopped at the Ares cabin saying she needed to check on it and that she'd see me later. I only nodded and continued towards the house. I was still pissed off when I got there and I think Chiron knew it.

"My boy, what's wrong?" I knew the old centaur meant well but I didn't really feel like talking about it.

"It's nothing Chiron, just feeling a little tired"

"I won't press you because I trust your judgment, but if you need anything I'm always here for you." I gave him a half-hearted smile and walked into the Big House. I know my old mentor was always trying to lookout for me but he really didn't need to this time. Annabeth just took it a little to far this time, that's all. The floorboards creaked as I walked over them towards the rec room. It hadn't changed much since the last time I was in here, except for a couple of extra scratches on the ping pong table. I sat down on the couch and tosses a couple sausages to Seymour who ate them and purred slightly. I was exhausted after not use using my powers for so long that the small storm I'd made drained me. Annabeth has said that I couldn't use my powers or I'd become even more weak then I already am. I couldn't use them as a crutch.

"Uhhhhhhgggg." I voiced my frustration. "Why does everyone say that what Annabeth did to me was wrong? All she's ever done is help me be better! I mean look at all our quests together. She's always been there for me. She cares about me!"

I couldn't understand why everyone was reacting the way they were. Sure her methods were harsh, but they were at least effective. I kept thinking about what everyone was saying. Was she really a monster? Was she only using me? I couldn't seem to come to a conclusion, but the crack of a diet soda can made me jump. I looked up and saw Mr. D standing to the left of me looking at Seymour. We both stayed quiet for a minute before he finally spoke, not taking his eyes off the leopard.

"Rough couple of days Perry?" I knew he only called me that to annoy me, but it always worked.

"Yeah. Everyone keeps telling me that Annabeth is bad for me but she's done nothing but help and support me." I clenched my fists at the thought that she could possibly be bad.

"Look kid, I don't know much about this stuff and probably shouldn't be giving you advice, but I've seen abusive relationships across the millennia. Your girlfriend is abusing you wether you admit it or not. That Mind Speak crap might be a part of this, but you also feel deep down that you deserve the pain." I was about to ask him how he knew that, but he raised his hand at me. "I'm the god of alcohol Percy, I know what people think when they drink. You have that aura surrounding you. You don't drink, but I can still tell. All heroes have a version of survivors guilt, you're no different."

I stayed silent. Did I feel like I deserved the pain? "What do you think I should do?" This time he looked me in the eyes and I could see the purple in them.

"That's for you to decide."

With that said he left the room in a plume of wine scented purple smoke. I kept thinking about what he said and slowly drifted off to sleep

Annabeth 1st POV (Surprise!)

I groaned when I came to in Percy and I's cabin. For a fraction of a second I had no clue where I was or just I was on the floor, but it vanished when I saw the cut on my arm

"Clarisse." I growled under my breath. That bitch interfered with Percy's punishment. She had no right! Who the hell does she think she is, coming into my home, stealing Percy, and attacking me? I couldn't worry about that right now as I could feel a large lump forming on my forehead.

I slowly limped towards the Big House, making it to the front door before knocking. I heard heavy footsteps behind the door and saw Mr. D when it opened. He checked me up and down before giving a grunt and gesturing his head inside. I nodded before walking to the infirmary. Inside I saw Chiron and Will treating Percy on a medical cot. All of my hard work crushing him physically was going down the drain. I was tempted to walk in there and yell at the two but I saw that damn spawn of Ares standing in the corner and ultimately decided against it.

Instead, I walked into the next med room and tended to my forehead and looked at the cut I got from Clarisse's spear. It wasn't deep, but it hurt like Hades because of the cauterization. I took a swig of nectar and laid down on the cot while thinking of a way to get my revenge. Hurting her physically would be too easy and wouldn't have much payoff, but she does care for Percy a lot... maybe I can use this against her. My plan started to form in my head while I drifted off.

A/N

Yeah, I know. Six months of not uploading and then suddenly bam. All I can say is I'm sorry it took so long. I don't really have any great excuses, but I promise I'll let all of you know when another hiatus like this'll happen. This one took my by surprise, but I'm trying to get back on track to writing this. The next chapter will be up way sooner and will continue the story. That's all I have for you today, so I'll see you all in the next chapter. 13, out