Chapter 11: With Loss and Victory Part 2

Piper's POV:

The guard led us through the palace, we took a lot of rights and lefts I thought he was secretly escorting us the the dungeons. We came in front of a huge door where two guards stood at each side of it. The guard that led us knocked then opened the door.

It was another throne room but light from outside came in unlike the other one it had no windows. A huge crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling, small candles were placed on it but instead of normal fire burning in it, it was the green Greek fire. Greek fire was extremely destructive; didn't they care about safety around here?

A red long narrow red carpet was placed from the beginning of the throne room to where the throne was placed. Unlike the other black one this throne was made out of gold, Percy was seated on it. Atlanta was kneeling before him, they were both talking, they sounded like they were arguing.

Me and Nico walked to the end and knelt. Percy noticed us and waved the guard who led us away. "Atlanta we'll speak of this later," he said obviously wanting her gone.

"But you said- '' she began but she was shut down when Percy glared at her; challenging him. She didn't argue.

In the drop of a hat, Atlanta bowed and rushed out of the throne room, glaring at us as she walked by.

Me and Nico stood up and faced him. "Why do I have a feeling that I already know why you're here?" he asked, grinning.

"If you happen to know then just agree on it." Nico stated looking deadly serious.

Percy laughed. "I'm not giving you Frank nor Annabeth forget it. Frank will be released tomorrow night; three days is three days. I'm a man of my word."

Nico laughed in return. "Man of your word. Sure. Frank you can release tomorrow night. Annabeth, she did nothing, release her."

"Why would I do that?" Percy asked.

"Why shouldn't you?" I asked him.

"This is none of your business, both of you. Me and Annabeth have something old to settle," he said glaring at us.

"I would like to remind you Annabeth's our friend; that does make it our business. Maybe you should get some friends for a change." Nico snapped.

"Nico," I warned. I knew Nico might lose it and burst any second, he had to be careful around Percy. If Percy got out of control, hell would break loose.

"No Piper! I'm sick of him! You can't go around locking and torturing people because you like it!" Nico yelled.

"It's my kingdom. My laws and my people. I get to do what I want!" Percy yelled. His eyes were turning from green to black; getting darker every minute.

"Percy please. Release Annabeth." I begged. I hated acting weak and begging but Annabeth might be in a life or death situation right now and I didn't want to push Percy to the breaking point where he might kill someone.

"I'll end her punishment," Percy said, "but you go fetch her. Not me."

"Excuse me!" Nico asked.

"Stop it Nico! What do you mean go fetch her ourselves?"

"Annabeth's somewhere in the woods. Locked up somewhere. You simply have to go find her and free her. Simple." Percy said.

"Yeah," Nico sniggered, "simple."

"We'll go with it!" I said before Nico decided to add another comment that may start World War III. "We'll find her. Come on Nico." I bowed and turned to leave, Nico following behind me.

Once we were outside the throne room I turned to face Nico, "if you continued with that attitude towards him back there you would've gotten both of us killed." I said. I was mad at Nico, we were here trying to save our friends, survive and not let war arise. And he was busy being rude to the king.

"Nico this is serious. You know Percy when he gets mad."

Nico shrugged, "listen Piper I don't care this is how I do things. And plus I'm not afraid of Percy."

I looked into his eyes, no he was lying he was afraid of Percy. The only reason he would joke around him was because of fear, he was masking it. I should've noticed before, the way he stood every time someone mentioned Percy he would stand up straight and fear would be recognizable in his eyes. Even his words and voice shock and hesitated when he spoke.

"Piper why are you starring at me?" He asked. I forgot I was literally looking straight at him.

I shook my head, "it's nothing. Come on we should go tell the others so we can find Annabeth before nightfall." I grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the castle.

"Piper you do realize I know how to walk by myself!" Nico yelled as I dragged him through the camp. We got some strange looks from the campers but I didn't care I didn't want to waste time.

"I know you know how to walk. But your slow. Even a zombie is faster than you!"

"I'm not slow! I'll show you!" He pulled away and zoomed past me as he ran towards our cabin that was located at the edge of the camp.

"I knew I could make him go faster." I whispered to myself as I ran after him.

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"So basically Percy said we can go look for Annabeth in the woods and Frank will be released tomorrow night?" Jason asked, "is it only me or did he let us off to easily. Something must be up."

"Jason we don't have a choice," Hazel said, "we have to go with the plan. I don't think Percy knows about our escape plan. We checked if there are any cameras in the cabin or anyone spying on us. No one."

"Hazel I would like to remind you that Percy can do many things now that he is immortal. What if he can listen in on anyone and watch over them." Nico suggested.

"He's not a god." Leo said.

"True, he isn't. But who knows what he's capable of."

"Okay enough arguing on wither Percy has power to listen in on anyone or not. I say we start looking for Annabeth at nightfall that way we can find her and maybe try to take a glimpse of the docks on the other side of the island. Who knows maybe Annabeth is trapped there somewhere," Jason suggested, "I know it's a bit risky but it's all we've got."

"What do we do in the mean time?" Piper asked.

"I don't know about you guys but I was thinking me and Nico should go to the library." Hazel said.

"Hazel maybe I should be clear with you. I hate reading! What would you possibly want us to go to the library at a time like this?!"

"To try to learn more about this island's geography idiot! I'm sure they have a book about the island in there. They might have a map; it'll help us in our search."

"Hazel great idea." Jason said. "You and Nico go. Piper, Leo and I will try to just hang around camp to try to fit in. I don't want anyone to think were up to something."

"Come on Nico." Hazel said as she grabbed his arm and walked out of the cabin.

"For the love of the gods! Stop grabbing my hand people!" We heard Nico shout from outside. I burst out laughing at that.

"What's funny?" Leo asked, "I could use a good laugh now."

"I think Nico has issues with people grabbing his arm. I'll tell you later."

Hazel's POV:

"Why is everyone constantly grabbing my arm!" Nico grumbled as we made our way to the library.

"Because your slow."

"For the last time I'm not slow!" He yelled.

"Shhh! Keep your voice down and try not to draw attention." I said, "your both slow and noisy which is weird because your quiet most of the time."

He rolled his eyes at that comment. We reached the library that was built next to the river. It was an old Greek building. The once white columns were not brown and half way in ruins.

"It's a wonder this thing is even standing." Nico muttered as we climbed the steps and walked in.

The building might have looked ugly and old from the outside but it was amazing from the inside.

The library was built to represent a maze, the walls of the maze were made out of bookshelves and a huge hallway was cut in the middle of the maze from the center till the entrance door, in the middle of the maze a huge bonfire burned and around it couches and chairs were spread out.

"I don't like the library or reading. But this is pretty cool." Nico said, I nodded in agreement.

"How in the world will we find a book about the Forest of Blood in here? This will take all day and all night." I said.

"Maybe that thing over there can help us." Nico pointed to the bonfire, floating next to it in midair was a huge blue ball of light that showed a map of the maze.

"Let's check it out." We walked down the hallway that cut through the maze till the center.

Up close the blue ball looked even bigger.

"How is it going to help us if we don't even know how to tell it." Nico said, "and no ones here to help. Not like they will but still."

"Maybe we just have to ask it." I said, I walked closer to it and said, "A book about the forest of blood."

"Hazel I honestly don't think that's going to work- "

The blue ball suddenly moved away and started to travel deeper into the maze. "Never mind follow it!" Nico shouted.

Nico and I raced behind the blue ball that kept zooming from left to right and taking many twists and turns.

The blue ball finally came to a rest in a dead end, it stopped and floated in midair in front of an ancient looking book.

Nico took the book of the shelf and opened it, he flipped through the pages until he came across two pages that showed a map of the island.

"Hazel I think this plan might just work."

Authors note:

Okayyyy next chapter is when they save Annabeth and the next one where the important plan kicks in. Guys I apologize again for not updating, its killing me. Exams are coming up and Im scared and I don't even know if I will be able to update until their over but I'll try my best to get you guys a chapter before exams. Thanks for your votes and comments they keep me going!!!