First new chapter after picking this up again, and I'm super excited! Let's just get right to it!

Side Note: When I uploaded this the first time I accidentally poster chapter nine again instead of this one, sorry :^)

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO

Percy

The princess stared at me in disbelief, her jaw on the floor and her eyes wide with shock. I could tell she recognized me immediately, but how could she not? She had just seen me face to face hours ago, which meant there was no chance of talking my way out of this, no way to convince her I was somebody else. Even if she hadn't seen me so close earlier, she seemed much too smart to fool with a clumsy lie. Torn between running away and trying to bluff my way out, I realized I was no longer wearing my mask, and people were starting to look our way. I guess ripping off someones mask wasn't considered very lady-like at one of these parties. Without thinking, I stepped towards Annabeth and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. She let out a surprised little squeak as I buried my face in her golden curls, but didn't try to push me away; now that would have caused a scene.

"Please princess, no one can see me here. I need that mask" I whispered in her ear desperately.

"O-oh, of-of course." she stuttered, slipping the mask back into my hand.

I quickly backed away and replaced the mask on my face, tying the thing silk ribbon tightly behind my head.

Annabeth grabbed my arm and pulled me through the crowds of people, down hallways, and up two flights of stairs before throwing me into a room and closing the door quietly behind us. We appeared to be in a study, and a very lavishly furnished one at that. A massive desk the size of my jail cell sat against one wall, and a full set of elegantly carved wooden chairs and couches in front of a wide stone fireplace on the other. Moonlight shone through several tall slender windows and a pair of shimmering glass doors which lead to a balcony.

Before I had any chance to appreciate how much everything in the room must have costs(let alone the castle the room was a part of), Annabeth crossed her arms and levelled her stormy grey eyes at me.

"Explain."

Her voice was as steady and intimidating as her gaze, but I thought her cheeks looked rosy beneath her owl mask. Was that from the mad dash we made up here or from the sudden hug I'd given her? Well, time to ponder that mystery later, if I get out of this alive.

So I set to explaining the events leading up to now. Discovering the loose grate in my new cell, crawling through the storm drain, chancing upon Travis in that nobles house, his crazy idea to steal clothes and come to the party. When I described where the house we broke into was the corners of her mouth rose but she let me finish, and once I did, she giggled.

"I knew your clothes looked familiar, these are Luke's" she said, laughing.

"Who?"

"My uh, fiance." she said, a little quietly.

That one word sunk about two hundred ships full of daydreams that hand been sailing around in my head since I'd first seen her in the street. Fiance. Darn. Realistically all she had done was blow me a kiss, but come on, what guy doesn't day dream of marrying a beautiful princess? Ah well, at least I got to dance with her.

"I'm uh, I'm sorry. If I had anything else to wear I'd give them back right now, I had no idea that was the princess's boyfriend's house."

"He is NOT, my boyfriend." Annabeth spat, an angry look on her face. "He's my fiance, I never said I liked him."

"Wait, you don't even like the guy you're going to marry?" I asked, eyebrows rising.

"'Don't like' is an understatement..."

Annabeth explained to me her situation, and it turned out I didn't like Luke either. I couldn't imagine being forced to marry someone like that, whether it was for money or power or anything. She started to tell me about the other parts of her life; how her mother had passed away when she was young, and how her father always brought her to the colosseum against her will. When she shared those things with me I opened up to her about my life. I told her of the farm back home, about my father going away, about joining the army to find him, watching him die, and then everything after. As I told her about the day my mother was killed, my eyes started to sting. I had tried not to think about it the past few days, knowing that being distracted during a fight could mean my own death. And bringing it up now hurt. It made me realize just how real all of this was. I'm never getting my mother back. She's gone, just like father. I'm completely alone in the world, and now a slave to top it all of.

Annabeth reached out and took both of my hands in hers. "Oh Percy, this is all so terrible. I can't believe this happened to you." Tears had started to well up in her eyes as well. "I wish I could simply set you free, but if anyone finds out you escaped they'll just kill you. There has to be some way I can help."

I wiped my eyes and smiled at her. "Thank you Annabeth, but I'm going to win my freedom on my own. Two more of these challenges and your father will grant it to me. I've just got to stay alive"

She still frowned at that.

"Come on, cheer up." I said lightly, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze. "I've been mopping the floor with everyone they throw at me, and besides, now I've got you to hang out with when I sneak out at night."

"What makes you think I'd want to spend my time with an escaped prisoner?" she teased, grey eyes sparkling behind her mask.

I laughed and so did she, and I couldn't resist the urge to take off her mask and see her pretty face up close again. My hands reach out and the tips of my fingers brushed her cheek. She looked deep into my eyes as I pulled loose the ribbon keeping her mask in place; not the hard, intimidating glare from earlier but a calmer, more tender look. I let her mask fall away and my breath caught for a second as I saw her again, her features glowing in the pale light of the moon.

"Annabeth, I-"

I was interrupted by someone pounding on the door.

Uh oh, who could that beeeeee? :) Sorry this ones kind of short but I wanted to get it out of the way, next one will be up soon!

R&R please if you liked the chapter, next one up soon!