Annabeth's POV:

"So, I was thinking that we could have two weddings. One for our friends and family, and a more formal wedding for the High Houses," I say once we're inside one of the empty meeting rooms.

"Sounds great," Percy responds, taking a seat at the table in the middle of the room. "That way my mom can still attend."

I pull out the chair next to him and take a seat. "Actually, Thanases asked to meet the woman who raised you, so your mom and Paul are invited to the formal wedding as well."

"So, I can tell my mom about what's happening? Because Elara made it seem like I couldn't tell her."

"Yes, my father's providing her and Paul residence in one of the apartments outside of White Fire Palace," I explain. "Elara is going to allow you to send letters to your mom, but security will be high to make sure that no one can get hold of the letters. And, of course, you can always send her an Iris Message."

Thirty minutes later we had settled on having a beach wedding for family and friends and the formal wedding would take place in Caesar's Square, like all royal weddings. We were trying to figure out where we wanted to have the wedding with family and friends when the sound of knocking echoed through the room.

Both of us freeze, staring at the door, hoping that it was just a servant who would let themselves in. Alas, the knocking continued, this time more urgently. I slowly make my way to the door, subconsciously reaching for the celestial bronze dagger secured in my waistband. Percy stood as well, uncapping Riptide.

The chances of a monster being on the other side of the door were slim, monsters wouldn't knock. So, taking a breath, I open the door with Percy close behind me.

On the other side is a tall, lean man with ice blue eyes.

"What's with the sword?" Maven asks, looking past me at Percy, who is now capping Riptide.

"You can see it?" Percy asks.

"Yes. You're demigods, right?" Maven made his way over to the table.

My grip on my dagger tightens. "How do you know that?" I close the door, making sure to lock it, before going over to the table to join who is hopefully my half brother.

"A friend of mine, Thomas Beckendorf, was a demigod. He died two years ago at the war front." Percy and I glance at each other. We both knew that Thomas had been to the Lakelander war front, but we also knew that he survived since he was still at camp. Who had told Maven that Thomas was dead? "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about Thomas," Maven continued, rubbing his temples as if he was developing a headache.

"What about him?" I asked as innocently as possible.

"I overheard your conversation in the salon yesterday," he says. "Specific-"

"Which part?" Percy interrupts.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone if you leave."

"What about your mother," I inquire.

"Uh-I'll do my best to keep that information from her," Maven explains. "Anyways, as I was saying, I specifically overheard the part where you said that Beckendorf would come to get you with Blackjack. I don't know who Blackjack is - nor do I care - but you spoke about Thomas as if he were still alive. I know that some demigods have abilities that correlate with their godly parent's domains, and I also know that there is a camp where you demigods go to. So, assuming that either of you two have gone to this camp in the past two years, what I want to know is if Thomas is still alive and if he is at this camp. 

"If he is, can you tell me the location of the camp?"

"Actually, we were talking about his twin brother, Charles Beckendorf." Percy states.

The hope in Maven's eyes seems to shatter, and when he speaks, his voice is heavy with grief. "So, Thomas really is dead?"

"No," I answer, glaring at Percy for not mentioning this. "Thomas is at camp."

Maven exhales in relief. "Where's the camp?" He sounds like a child about to be handed candy.

"We can't tell you where Camp Half-Blood is, it's hidden from the mortal world," I say. "But, next time we're at camp, we'll tell him that you want to talk and he can contact you with an Iris Message."

"What's an Iris Message?" Maven asks.

"It's basically like FaceTime but for demigods," I explain. "Supposedly, since you can see through the mist, you'll be able to see the Iris Message."

"The mist?"

"It's what shields our world from the eyes of mortals, though, occasionally there are a few mortals that can see through it."

We sit there, awkwardly, for a few minutes before Maven speaks again. "So, who's your parent?"

"What?" I ask, slightly taken aback by his question.

"Your godly parent, who is she?"

"Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare," I answer.

"So, that's why you're really smart," Maven observes. "What about you, Perseus, who's your godly parent?"

"Call me Percy, and my godly parent is Poseidon, god of the sea."

"I guess that explains your water abilities, but what about the earthquakes and hurricanes? Is your father also the god of those too?" Maven asks.

"Yep. He's also the father of horses."

We talk for a few more minutes before Lucas comes to escort Percy back to his lessons. Maven and I talk for a bit longer before walking to training together. Our footsteps echo as we walk through the halls and down the stairs to the first floor.

"So, Annabeth, were you at this demigod camp for the 8 years that you were gone?" Maven asks, glancing to his left to look at me.

"Camp Half-Blood, and yes, for the most part," I answer.

Maven frowns, perplexed. "'For the most part'?"

"Well, recently, during the school year I went to a mortal school, and sometimes during the summers I got sent on quests."

"Quests?"

"Maven." I hesitate, trying to figure out how best to explain the difficulties of being a half-blood to him. "Something you should know about half-bloods is that we tend to die young. Monsters are attracted to our scent, so we go to Camp Half-Blood for safety and to train to defend ourselves against them. The camp is surrounded by a magical barrier that keeps the monsters out. Sometimes the gods need us to complete tasks for them, so we see the Oracle to receive a prophecy before going on a quest in the real world, beyond the camp's borders, to complete the task."

"Sounds like a shitty lifestyle," my half brother comments.

My laughter rings through the hall. "That's one way to put it," I say finally.

"It sounds like you and Thomas were more than friends," I comment after a while.

Maven stops, grabs my wrist, and pulls me into a servant's corridor. "You can't tell anyone. Please."

"Wasn't planning to," I say, freeing my wrist from his grip and walking back into the main hall that we were walking down earlier. "Come on, we should get to training. We're already late."

~oOo~

Maven's POV:

How did she figure it out? I never mentioned anything about a romantic relationship with him. Did Thomas say something to her at their camp? These are all thoughts that pass through my head as I follow Annabeth to training.

"You're late," Lord Arven announces as we enter the training room, his voice barely a whisper.

"Sorry, sir, I was with Percy planning our wedding and Maven had offered to accompany me to training," Annabeth explains flawlessly.

"I see. Laps," our instructor says. Annabeth and I quickly take our places at the back of Cal's line.

Soon we're running at a steady pace. That's when Lord Provos starts moving the walls to form barriers. Annabeth, already used to the obstacles, avoids them with ease, quickly passing Cal.

By the time we finish laps, Cal and Annabeth are the only ones who haven't broken a sweat. Even Evangeline and Mareena look ragged. My own breath comes in heavy pants.

Lord Arven surveys us for a moment, his eyes lingering on Annabeth, before turning to Lord Provos. "Targets please, Theo," he says, again barely a whisper. Lord Provos waves a hand, sliding away a section of the floor, revealing a cylinder.

"Princess Annabeth," Lord Arven murmurs, calling her up for target practice. "You may start now."

On cue, a ball flies through the air towards Annabeth, who responds by throwing a ball of eerie green flames at the target. It hits the target, sending the ball crashing to the ground in a beautiful display of destruction and mystery.

I stare in awe. No matter how many times I witness it, her flames always manage to amaze me.

Lord Arven, however, is not as impressed. He simply looks over her, to the rest of us. "Next."

A/N:

Hey guys, sorry for the late update. The week after I uploaded my last update, my school decided to start actually counting our assignments for a grade, so I was swamped with homework. Hopefully, now that I'm on summer vacation I can update more regularly.

Hope you're all staying safe during this pandemic.

XOXO, HamiltonFanGirl1508