Chapter 1

Perseus Jackson was heartbroken.

As he lay on his knees he couldn't prevent the sobs from shaking his body as he bowed over the body in his arms. The body of the one he had loved. The one who had risked her life countless times for him and he for she.

The war had ended, the last of the giants gone and Gaea defeated, thrust into such a deep slumber it would take millennia for her to awaken.

But Percy didn't care. The one thing that had kept him anchored to mortal world was gone, gone to join his many friends that had fallen in the last 6 years in the world below.

Finally, the shock of her death ended and he realized what a bliss it had been to be immobile, unable to accept the fact, the world telling the truth and the mind living in denial.

He let loose a primal cry, the cry of wolf when it loses it's pack, a mother loses her cub. It was a cry of agony, grief, and loneliness. To any bystanders it was horrible to hear. What could cause such pain to a poor teenage boy who hadn't even reached 18?

"She's gone" he whispered. A sob racked his body and he buried his face in what had once been her lush blonde hair.

He felt someone touch his shoulder. His sobs were stifled and he slowly looked up, his bloodshot eyes wet with tears.

It was as if he was staring at a reflection of him 30 years into the future. But no, this was his saddened father, Poseidon.

He didn't say anything. Poseidon knew how it felt to lose a loved one. How many had he lost over the millennia? He knew from experience that being there was better than saying anything. So he let his eyes do the talking and decided to be there for his son.

Percy turned back to his fallen love. He cradled her head as he hugged her close, her body limp in his arms.

"Percy."

He looked up to see a grief stricken Athena. Her face was firm, her movements strong. The only difference that you could tell about the wisdom goddess were the bloodshot, grey eyes that stared down at the son of Poseidon.

"You must let her go."

He knew what she meant. He would not allow her body to rot. He knew what they would do. So, he held her close, softly rocking her body for the time it took for the gods to construct the pyres for the fallen. Nico, Grover, Frank and Hazel who had died together, Leo who went missing after being thrown into the air by Gaea's last attempt at survival, almost a third of the Hunters of Artemis, several campers from both camps, and of course Annabeth.

"It is time my friends" he heard Zeus say. He saw the bodies being layed on the pyres, the gods conjuring shrouds for each one. His eyes crinkled when he saw Frank and Hazel together on a pyre holding hands. But he still held on to his love.

"Percy, it is time."

Again he saw the wisdom goddess staring down at him solemnly and he cradled her head once again while he carefully removed her bead necklace. Upon it were 16 beads plus two rings; her Dad's college ring and Percy's promise ring. The ring was given to her as a promise that they would always stay together.

He hugged her again and carefully laid her atop the pyre. He stood there for a while, he didn't know how long. At one point Apollo joined him and waved his hand over her and all her wounds faded leaving nothing but scars. "I know you two," Apollo had said to him. "And I know that she would have thought the scars showed she was strong."

Percy gave him a small grateful smile as Apollo left him standing there. Her face was peaceful. Her lips lush and her tan and blonde hair making her a picture perfect California girl. But he knew those eyes had defined her from the typical tan, blonde and blue eyes California girls. Her eyes were grey, and they held so much wisdom and life. He had lost himself in those eyes and he smiled sadly as he remembered how they would light up whenever she talked about architecture.

He kissed her forehead and lingered for a second before leaving her and rejoining his grieving friends. He swallowed difficulty when he saw the gods place drachmas on her eyes and lighting the pyres.

Had you looked at Perseus at the moment, you would have seen a stoic young man. His arms covered in dry blood, his raven black hair swept to the side from the wind and his shirt ripped in several places. But had you looked in his eyes, you would have seen grief, despair, and acceptance. Yes, he had accepted that she was dead, but he didn't let go as you could see a single tear trail slowly down his right cheek, leaving a tear stain as he saw his friends and love go up in flames to the realm of the dead.

After that he left. No one saw him at the celebration of victory over Gaea.

Finally, after three days of Percy's absence with rumors of him staying in his cabin, it had taken Jason Grace and the conviction of Piper McLean to see what he was up to.

The two ventured into his cabin and what they saw was just sad. Percy lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling, his eyes empty, his arm resting on his sweaty forehead. Jason and Piper shared a look and advanced towards the broken demigod.

"Percy," Jason said.

Percy didn't respond.

Jason sighed. "C'mon Perce. You can't go on like this. Would Annabeth want you staying here like this?"

Percy sat up, his once dull sea green eyes now flashing with anger. "Who are you to say what Annabeth would want or wouldn't want?"

"I'm just saying that she-"

"No, I don't care. I want to join her. I want to die too!"

"Percy how dare you!" Piper yelled pushing Jason out of the way.

The son of the sea's eyes didn't stop their angry glow but the daughter of Aphrodite was not to be deterred.

"How dare you dishonor Annabeth's memory by lying here and letting yourself waste away?"

Percy shook his head.

Piper sighed in frustration. She didn't like charmspeaking but desperate times call for desperate measures. "Percy, let her go. She loved you. She would want you to move on."

Percy's eyes glazed over for a moment and he shook his head again. "I'm going for a walk," he said, leaving Jason and Piper in the Poseidon cabin demanding his return.

He walked aimlessly and he soon found himself in the forest. He stopped when he got to the creek and what he saw horrified him.

His eyes were hollow, darkened with grief, the usual bright sea green now a dull dark green. His hair stuck up in random places while his cheeks were hollow from not eating for three days. His clothes hung off him loosely and a pocket was sticking out of his jeans.

He growled and continued on, considering throwing himself in the middle of the ant hill and let himself be taken by the gigantic insects.

"I wouldn't do that."

Percy whirled around to see a woman in a black dress covered in white dots.

"Who are you?" he asked warily.

"Your salvation," she answered and the last thing Percy saw was her hand waving.

Author's Note: I don't know why but I was feeling particularly angsty today. Anyway, don't kill me for killing Annabeth. *buys shield* Thanks for reading! PLEASE REVIEW!