CHAPTER 1- THE BETRAYAL IG

Hubris. Suck a fickle thing. Ever changing. With the potential to be one's downfall. Or the downfall of those around them. There's a reason these precious little demons are called Fatal Flaws.

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Annabeth looked at the doors of the Empire State Building and paused, her hand hovering over the handles for a second. She shook her head clear of her thoughts and opened the door, asking for the key to the 600th floor.

Why would she call for me personally? There's no more quests. The gods swore to leave the seven alone for at least 2 years without any punishment OR requests. Regardless of speaking poorly about them. So it's not like she can be mad at me for cussing out Hera. So why?

" –ing, kid" Annabeth realized she had been zoning out and slid a hand down her face.

"I'm sorry, what did you say? I missed it."

"I said 'Only 102 floors. No such thing, kid'" the man at the desk shook his head and went back to reclining in his chair, magazine in hand.

"Okay–I'm paranoid out of my mind right now, so just let me up and I'll be out of your hair. My name is Annabeth Chase. Should be on some sort of list there. Figure it out, will you?" Annabeth replied. She held one of her hands out for the receptionist and slid her other in her pocket. The man had cocked an eyebrow as if to say 'sure you do'. To his surprise, he found her name and handed her the card, watching her enter the elevator.

The ride up to Olympus was relatively quiet–save for the subtle Hotel California lyrics playing in the background. It was hard for her to register anything other than the thoughts pounding against the sides of her head, screaming at her to let them out.

Annabeth's brain didn't even register her footsteps echoing across the pathways of Olympus. The gods and nymphs would go quiet and stare at her as she walked by. They had ever since the war ended. Despite that being months ago, they were fascinated every time they saw one of the "Mighty Heroes." Annabeth was just glad the stares and whispers weren't as extreme as when it was Percy passing by.

Pulled from the storm of worries and thoughts racking her brain, Annabeth stared at the doors to the Olympus throne room. They stood tall and proud. If only she was the one to design them. The walls around her seemed to buzz with potential. Every time she looked upon the golden city around her, she was filled with excitement.

The walls and stone would move just behind her eyes like invisible pieces gliding across a chess board of her making. Every surface screamed at her 'Design me. The glorious masterpieces that you could create. Design' 

The grand doors opened, swinging open in tandem with each other, pulling Annabeth from her thoughts. Looking in, the thrones stared down at her. Intimidating. Regal. There was one large figure among them.

"Mom," Annabeth said with her chin raised, "You asked for me." She said it as a flat statement. It was out of the ordinary for an Olympian, much less her mother, to call for a puny little demigod. Even if they did fight, win, and lead two wars for them.

"Yes. I did. And not without reason." Athena peered at Annabeth over her nose before shrinking down to a more appropriate size, looking Annabeth directly in the eye. "It's about that little boy you keep around you."

"That boy saved your godly ass a good couple of times as I recall it mother." Annabeth's mood had changed in an instant. Her anxiety was shoved to the back of her mind and replaced with anger and annoyance. Athena merely turned back towards the hearth at the center of the room and waved her hand dismissively.

"Correct. But that doesn't make him any less of a threat," Athena replied stonily. Her gaze turned towards Annabeth, hard and cold.

"His fatal flaw is loyalty. He would never do anything against Olympus and you know it."

"You are correct. But there are others close to him that could turn him against us," Athena began to pace the room, her arms crossed and her shoes clicking lifelessly against the hard marble floors. "For example, if that little goat were to turn against us, he might convince your precious boy toy to go against us. They are best friends after all–they even share an empathy link. Or if something were to happen to you on say... a God's given quest. The boy is unrealistically powerful. He has the powers of a god without the responsibility and restrictions of one. We know what happened in that horrid pit," Athena paused her pacing to lean against the armrest of a nearby throne, facing Annabeth. Annabeth clenched her jaw and ground her teeth, fists in balls at her side.

For a second, Annabeth closed her eyes. She knew exactly what Athena was talking about. And it scared her. Just like when he did it in that place, deep in the depths of the underworld, it shook her to her very core. Some powers were best left un-touched. Even though her rection was miniscule, and lasted only a second, her mother smirked. You can't hide from a god. 

"He has learned to control things outside of his element," Athena continued, "If the boy can use a god's own poison, their very own element of power, against them–driving them to their demise, then what else could he do if placed under just the right amount of pressure? Doing such things is out of even Poseidon's area of control. He could take down the Olympians themselves without a second thought, if he continues to progress at this pace."

"What are you getting at, mother?" Annabeth took a step closer, quirking a brow. She might have come to Percy's defense, but curiosity overcame her senses. Her protectiveness over Percy was fading to the back of her mind as she took another step towards her mother, gesturing for her to continue with that look in her eyes that Athena knew just too well. Athena smiled slyly and stood up, meeting Annabeth's piercing gaze once again.

"I want you to cut him down."

Annabeth blinked. She let the words register in her brain and then took a shocked step backwards. She didn't register it, but she was shaking. 

"What do you mean, Mother?" Annabeth cocked an eyebrow. She loved Percy and she would never betray him. Never. But that did nothing to ease the growing curiosity that she tried to shove down.

"That Perseus Jackson loves you. With everything that he is, despite your and his lineage, he adores you. If you were to crush that love underfoot, he would have nothing left to fight for. Sure he has his friends like the Hazel or Frank kids, or especially that Grover boy, but none of them come close to the bond that you two have. He wouldn't want to do anything against Olympus. It comes down to the fact that he will be so broken inside that he wouldn't even use his powers or come to camp again. It would get rid of the threat that he poses.

"Plus if anything were to happen, he would never go against Olympus because he would never risk hurting you or his past friends. He would no longer be a threat," Athena grew to her full size and sat in her throne again, propping an elbow up on her armrest and leaning her head onto it. She gazed down at Annabeth, making eye contact.

"No! I would never, and you know it. Percy is a good man, and anyone could see it. I love him more than anything you know!" At this point, Annabeth was fuming all of her anger and annoyance rising to the surface once again. "If you have nothing else to say, mother, I will be going home," she turned on her heel, storming towards the great, ornate doors towering above her. "Like you said. Percy is stronger than any of other demigods to come before him. 'Take down the gods,' you say? Just hope that I don't tell him about this conversation. Then he just might."

"Oh, but you won't tell him," Athena said. She remained calm and collect, leaning against her thrones armrest with utter poise. Something that radiated confidence–something that she shouldn't have in this situation. Annabeth knew that she should keep walking. Walk straight out that door and leave. Go back to Percy. Her Percy. Kiss him. Hug him. But despite that all, she stopped.

Her hand resting on the embellished golden handles leading her to freedom–beckoning her to leave.  But still, she whipped back around to face her mother and glared, "What makes you say that? What makes you so sure that I won't turn around right now and walk out these doors. Tell everyone what you just tried to do?" Her gaze was still cold as she made eye contact with that goddess.

"Because, Annabeth, I know your fatal flaw. I gave it to you, didn't I? Quite common amongst demigods. Mine especially. But by me, my dearest child, it is not a flaw in my eyes. I know that it drives my children to perfection. They produce only the finest quality works. You especially. My prized daughter," Annabeth shouldn't have taken it to heart, but her mother's word meant something to her. "I have a proposition for you, Annabeth. I knew that you would never turn against that glorified sardine you call a love interest under normal pretences. So I have prepared something for you in return."

Annabeth was intrigued now. She would never turn against Percy, she knew that, but she might as well listen to her mother's desperate attempts to convince her. Why not? All of her efforts would be futile in the end anyways... of course they would?

"I see how you look at Olympus," Athena was leaning forward now, elbows propped up on her knees, hands interlocked below her chin. "I know how you strive to reinvent it. Mold it to your design. And I know you can do wondrous things. I've seen your blueprints, your ideas. You have what it takes to be Olympus' very own senior architect. People under your every command. Building. Rising to meet your standards. Your creations. Your designs. Of course, as a mortal, you could never do much for long. Maybe one or two buildings. Not to your full potential. But you would no longer be mortal–you would become a god. And stand my my side."

"I– it's a generous offer, truly, but I-," Annabeth paused. She wouldn't hurt Percy like that for this... would she? Athena looked smug. Like she knew she already won.

"I know what you saw with the sirens, my dearest," Athena continued, "I know that you saw us as a family. We were together, laughing and chatting away. Intellectuals enjoying each other's presence and talking about architecture, craft, everything that mattered. We could have it all. I know what this means to you. What this means to me. We could be together for eternity," Athena's gaze softened, "I know that we could do great things, my daughter. I know that you can, with the right guidance. I also know that you'll make the right choice. You always do–you are my smartest child after all." She leaned back in her seat, a twinkle in her eye.

Annabeth was stuck in her place. She had wanted this her whole life. She could be famous. She could be immortal. Everyone would know her name. And more importantly, she would be able to completely redesign Olympus as the immortal architect–renowned and loved by all. But was Percy worth that?

"You have a lot to think about. You are officially dismissed. I will know your answer when that sea spawn is gone." With one wave of her hand, the doors to the throne room, in all their glory, swung open for Annabeth. Maybe one day she could do that herself.

The decision was supposed to be an easy one. Zero question, go home and be happy with the one she loves. 'You have been through so much together' it resonated through her when she made her way towards the exit. But in the back of her mind, there was always that sad, lone voice saying 'you have been through too much together.' It was supposed to be an easy decision. 

And it was. 

And as she walked out of the throne room, she knew her decision. And she wouldn't regret it, right? Annabeth Chase would do what any sensible person would do.

He would understand.

It's all for the best.

WORDS: 2130

(You don't have to read this A/N)

Hello there, peoples. This doesn't really have much importance, but It's just explaining that the chapters are not linear or in order. It's skipping around and y'all will have to figure out the timelines yourselves as you read

May the odds be ever in you favor- peace out,

-CallMeLieutenant