The Battle for Olympus

Annabeth

"But she's your friend, right?" Reyna smirked down at her hostage. "That makes her part of this. Do what I tell you to or she dies." Reyna turned to Leo. "And that goes for you too. I here you're quite the genius, Leo Valdez. I think the Roman defenses could use some new technology."

Leo's eyes widened. "I-you can't- Jason would never let you hurt us!"

"Jason," Reyna snarled, "isn't here. I am." She pressed the knife a little harder into Piper's neck, making her cry out. Annabeth struggled against the guards, but it was no use. She couldn't see a way out of this one. Reyna was hurting and angry, and Annabeth couldn't let Piper die.

"Please Reyna," Piper said, her voice reverberating throughout the room. "Let us go."

Reyna eyebrows furrowed and her grip slackened. Annabeth thought Piper might have actually pulled it off. Reyna licked her lips. "Maybe..." then her eyes cleared and grip tightened. "No. You can charmspeak, huh? Now that is interesting. Next time you speak I'll slit your throat."

Piper grit her teeth but said nothing. Ananbeth glanced over at Leo, who had a small flame dancing on his palm behind his back. She shook her head at him. They couldn't fight their way out of this one.

"Fine!" Annabeth said. "We'll do it. Just don't hurt Piper."

Reyna let Piper fall from her arms. "I'm glad we have an agreement. Take Annabeth and Leo upstairs," she said to her guards. "Keep Piper down here. If I give the word, kill her."

The guards nodded assent, one grabbing Leo's arm and hauling him after Annabeth up the stairs. Annabeth twisted in their grip to catch Piper's eye before the door closed behind them.

Annabeth and Leo were taken up to a large room, stone walls and stained glass windows with a large conference table in the center of the room. It took Annabeth a second to identify the map of New Rome spread out on it, she'd only really seen it from the air on the Argo II.

Reyna stood across the table from them, her hands on the back of a chair. A few other people stood around the table, if Annabeth had to guess they were probably her generals and advisors. Jason was nowhere to be seen.

"Take Leo to the armory," Reyna said. "He can meet his brothers and sisters and help them out. And Leo, please remember your friend is downstairs alone if you decide not to cooperate."

Leo glared at her. "Yeah, I got it."

"Great. Take him, and Annabeth and I will discuss business." Annabeth tried to shoot Leo an encouraging glance, but even she wouldn't believe it. "Jason's information about your camp was limited," Reyna continued, "unsurprising since he was only there in the winter and from what I know it's summer camp. What kind of numbers are we talking?" Reyna held up a hand. "And before you answer, keep in mind my dogs will know if you're lying."

Ananbeth swallowed. There went her last chance to get out of this. "Honestly? There's more every year. Ever since Percy-" Annabeth's voice caught- "ever since Percy made the gods recognize their kids they've come to camp in numbers we've never seen."

Reyna raised an eyebrow. "Again, what's your best estimate?"

Ananbeth let the air out of her nose. "My guess is around 300."

"Only 300? This might be easier than I think."

Ananwbth grit her teeth. "You shouldn't underestimate us."

"And why is that?"

"From what I can see, you train soldiers," Annabeth said. "You're an army, and a good one too. But these soldiers aren't thinkers or planners, they do what they're told, nothing more. You're strong but not smart."

Reyna squeezed her chair tighter. "You're arrogant. That's your downfall, you know that?"

"My downfall was trusting a Roman. Yours will be too."

Reyna's eyes narrowed. "I didn't come here for this. What other children of the big three do you have?"

The question surprised Annabeth, though she supposed it shouldn't have. "A son of Hades and..." would Thalia be on their side? Annabeth could only hope. "A daughter of Zeus," Annabeth continued. "Basically, there was this Greek prophecy about a child of the big three turning 16, so they didn't have a lot of children."

"A son of Hades," Reyna mused. "What's his name?"

"Nico? Why is that relevant?"

Reyna rubbed the side of her face. "Wonderful. I knew something was off with that kid."

Annabeth's head spun. "Wait, you know him?"

"He called himself the ambassador of Pluto or some shit. Doesn't matter. If you were in charge of the camp half-blood army, how would you attack?"

Ananbeth squinted at the map in front of her. "I obviously wouldn't try a frontal assault, that would be suicide. Even a diversion wouldn't work. Honestly? I'd use Percy to flood the Little Tiber and in the ensuing chaos unleash my army." Annabeth couldn't let herself think too hard, because as long as she didn't focus she wouldn't think of a good strategy. That way, she wasn't lying.

"Huh. Percy does pose a massive problem. All the more reason to find him," Reyna said, turning to her advisors. "Annabeth, you're going to go with my two military experts. I need exact numbers and abilities of your demigods."

Ananbeth shook her head. "Look, I told you I don't know exactly!"

"You've been there since you were seven," Reyna said. "I find that very hard to believe." She turned to her guards. "Take her and leave me alone. I have... things to attend to."

It was incredibly subtle, but Annabeth picked up a quiver in her voice. To the average listener there was nothing off. But Annabeth was trained to read people. She's barely keeping it together, Annabeth realized. Then the guards grabbed her arms and escorted her out of the room.