I DO NOT OWN THE PJO/HoO SERIES!!! ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO RICK RIORDAN!!!

Chapter 24 - Annabeth

Struggling against Nico, Annabeth desperately tried to get back to Percy.

After awhile, she realized how immature she was being and convinced Nico to stop dragging her.

He listened and they continued their trek to Camp Half-Blood.

When they arrived, they gasped in horror.

Demigods were scattered everywhere, unconscious.

Immediately, Nico and Annabeth got to work on waking them up.

It took awhile, but finally everyone was awake and ready to fight.

Jason and Piper had Iris-messaged Reyna to find that Camp Jupiter was ready to fight as well.

Annabeth wondered how Frank and Hazel had gotten to California so fast, but she figured Frank had probably changed into a dragon or something.

Annabeth saw Grover with his reed pipes, looking dangerous, Rachel, now healed from her recent Oracle of Delphi scene, and even Tyson, hand in hand with Ella the harpy, ready to defend.

After a brief explanation of what had happened, the camp met up with the Romans and the Egyptians.

They stormed their way towards the Empire State Building, Annabeth, Nico, Hazel, Frank, Jason, Leo, Piper, Zia, and Reyna leading the way.

Annabeth learned that Zia had left Carter to heal from his injuries and to watch the younger initiates, but Annabeth knew he was probably disappointed.

They marched until they finally reached Olympus.

Of course, they couldn't all fit in the elevator, so the 9 leaders entered and told the others to stay behind and guard in case anything happened.

The elevator ride was brief and everyone, except Zia, nearly fainted at the state at which Olympus was in.

"This isn't right...something's terribly wrong." Annabeth said.

"We should hurry; Percy, Sadie, Celeste, and Walt need our help." Leo said.

They all nodded and drew weapons.

Together, the group made their way to the gods throne room.

When they arrived, the first thing Annabeth saw was Percy on the wall, grasping his ankle and watching with a pale-face at something in the darkness.

That was when she saw the battle between Celeste and her clone. Except her clone didn't look much like her anymore.

Sadie saw the group and yelled at them to get away.

She was too late.

Celeste's no-longer clone turned and snarled, sending a blast of dark smoke at them.

"Scatter!" Jason called.

Everyone dove out of the way as the smoke bounced around the room like it was in a pinball machine.

It whirled around and around and Celeste and no-clone continued to fight again.

Annabeth saw Leo, Reyna, and Zia run up to the duel to aid Celeste but some strange, invisible force knocked them backwards and left them dazed.

Sadie called out for the others to back away, but they couldn't leave Celeste undefended. One wrong move and a sword would be driven through her heart.

Even though she's an immortal goddess now, both girls are powerful to kill one another now, just like Celeste killed Gaea.

Both swords clanged together as Celeste and no-clone pushed against each other.

Wind and rain was being scattered everywhere, which was strange since they were inside.

Annabeth felt her hair blown back by the wind and almost lost her footing as several gusts blew by her.

She couldn't help gazing anxiously at the shadow cloud bouncing around with no exact chosen location.

It could hit anyone.

And Annabeth had a feeling it wouldn't just trap them in their minds this time...it would kill them.

Leo, Reyna, and Zia were still recovering from the dizziness that no-clone had shot at them.

Jason, Piper, and Nico were helping them stand and ushering them towards Sadie, Percy, and Walt.

It took Annabeth a few moments to realize Hazel and Frank were tugging on her arms, trying to get her away from the duel.

Annabeth blinked and realized she was only a few feet from the clanking swords. Celeste kept sending the Daughter of Athena worried glances as she continued to fight for her life.

Listening to Hazel and Frank's pleas, Annabeth backed away from the fight and made her way towards the others.

She tried to drown out the sound of fighting, and Celeste's cries of protest as she kneeled by Percy's side.

He was pale and was gripping his ankle tightly. His teeth were ground together in pain, but Annabeth knew it was nothing that couldn't be fixed.

She rubbed his shoulder and put her hand through his soft black hair as she leaned down to kiss him.

He looked up at her miserably, looking extremely worried. "Celeste..." He croaked.

"I know. It's okay Percy, I know." Annabeth soothed.

Percy sighed, winced, and then leaned his head into Annabeth's shoulder. He wouldn't look at the fight.

Annabeth looked up to see Leo wide-eyed and panicking on the side as he watched his girlfriend fight to the death.

Sadie and Zia were leaning over Walt, trying to coax him into sitting up. He was still dazed and his eyes were drooping. Anubis, the godly host inside of him, was still dying.

Which meant Walt was still dying.

Jason and Piper were standing by Leo, trying to soothe him, but still trying to convince themselves everything would be alright.

Reyna, Nico, Hazel, and Frank were just milling around, trying to help anyone they could.

It was a lost cause.

With a glimpse over at the duel, Celeste seemed bone-tired as she wielded her sword in deadly arcs.

Her not-clone deflected them like they were nothing. However, those sword moves had disarmed and left many campers begging for mercy during sword practice at Camp Half-Blood.

If Celeste, their best swordsman, couldn't beat not-clone, then who could?

Finally, Celeste stabbed forward only to have not-clone whirl, parry, and then jab her iron sword straight into Celeste's shoulder.

Celeste screamed and the world fell silent.

Percy jerked up beneath Annabeth's calming embrace and all color drained from his already pale face.

Celeste dropped to her knees, desperately trying to grasp the sword protruding from her shoulder.

Not-clone laughed maliciously and turned to the others.

Those who weren't injured jumped to their feet and pulled out weapons.

Annabeth noticed with dismay that they couldn't kill not-clone. Stabbing her wasn't powerful enough unless they were Celeste, and killing her would just kill Celeste, which was what they were trying to avoid.

Annabeth remembered being in the infirmary at Camp Half-Blood and hearing Celeste mutter two words, "Kill me."

Annabeth glanced back at Percy, who was trembling and trying to draw his sword. His ankle kept betraying him, however, and he remained in his position on the wall.

Not-clone chuckled and walked forward, twirling her hand to show a small dark shadow cloud forming at her fingers.

"Who would like to die first?" Not-clone asked.

Celeste called out something weakly from the corner, but no one understood her.

In the nick of time, Annabeth found out what she said..."Duck!"

"Get down!" Annabeth screamed to her friends.

They obeyed blindly, not bothering to question why.

Annabeth saw the shadow cloud buzz over her head as fast as lightning and looked up just in time to see it strike not-clone.

She gasped, her eyes wide in astonishment.

For a minute, her eyes were no longer obsidian black, they were warm brown, and she looked like a normal girl, not a raging psychopath.

Then, she leaned her head back and screamed as the dark cloud consumed her from the inside.

Her eyes rolled in her head and a brand new person took her place, collapsing to the ground.

There was no time for questions as everyone bolted to their feet and sprinted towards Celeste.

Her breathing was labored but she managed to get her voice out. "Percy...take me...to...P-Percy."

"Help me get her up." Annabeth said.

Jason walked over and grabbed under Celeste's right arm while Annabeth grabbed under her left.

They both lifted her up, practically dragging her as she tried to use her legs.

When they reached Percy, Celeste broke out into a weak grin. "Percy..." Celeste squeaked, falling to her knees.

The others rushed to help her but she waved them off.

Blood was staining Celeste's Camp Half-Blood t-shirt where the sword had run through.

Annabeth was pretty sure it wasn't a fatal blow, but it had to hurt a lot.

A tear slid down Percy's cheek as he cried out in relief and tackled Celeste in a weird stretch of limbs that awkwardly counted as a hug.

Leo ran up behind them and got Percy's permission to break the scene.

When Celeste saw her boyfriend, she grabbed his head and pushed her dirty lips to his.

It was a warm, desperate kiss that Leo tried to make last long.

When they broke, Celeste grinned.

Annabeth knelt down and took Percy, kissing him as well.

"We...we need to find out..w-what's wrong with...m-my c-c-clone." Celeste stuttered.

Her black hair was pasted all over her forehead and dirt and dust was smudged all over her face.

"Isn't she dead?" Piper asked.

Celeste shook her head.

"No. Cause then I would be. I didn't kill her." Celeste said.

"Well, technically she killed herself." Leo said. "The shadow cloud thing was hers and it backfired against her. Right?"

Celeste shook her head sadly. "I wish."

"Well then kill her! We can end this!" Jason cried.

Celeste looked up at the son of Jupiter and shook her head. "No. I will not kill her because she is not evil."

That shut everyone up.

Frank spoke first. "What do you mean she's not evil? She just tried to kill all of us."

"She was evil. But something happened. Another secret from my father. I sensed it as soon as she stabbed me." Celeste said.

"Wait, more secrets!? How many secrets is dad going to keep?" Percy exclaimed.

"I'll keep as many as I want to, Percy." A voice said.

They all whirled to see Poseidon and all the other gods sitting at their normal spots.

They didn't look to be dying anymore, and Olympus looked like it had just been power-washed.

Beside them, Walt groaned, sitting up and looking healthy again.

Sadie cried out in relief and literally tackled him to the ground. His head hit a the floor and he moaned. "Ow, Sadie."

Sadie squeezed him tight and kissed him, not caring about the audience of 10-foot godly beings surrounding her.

"Celeste. You are right. There is one more secret I have kept from you, but this time for good reason." Poseidon said.

"Really? Cause you had a wonderful reason to separate me from Percy?" Celeste said annoyingly, seeming like all her weakness had just vanished.

Poseidon narrowed his eyes at his daughter.

Annabeth suppressed a laugh when she saw Zeus crack a small smile.

It took a lot to get that guy to smile.

Annabeth saw her mother, Athena, looking at her with great pride.

Annabeth smiled and helped Percy to his feet, as he was still wobbling with his ankle.

"Now...if you all please may leave me alone with Percy and Celeste. I have some explaining to do." Poseidon said.

The rest of the Olympian gods looked annoyed, but left the room.

Annabeth kissed a goodbye on Percy's cheek and left with the others, looking at the children of Poseidon and wondering what secret could be this big.

Not-clone twitched on the floor, and the doors to the godly throne room closed with a slam.