Double Life? Make it Triple

Chapter 11

A/N

I'm seriously on a roll with updating. I'm also feeling good about myself because I'm helping out with a charity next month, so maybe my good mood'll keep me updating. That, and reviews. Reviews are good too. But here's the chapter, so;

Enjoy!

Percy's POV

The next day was...awkward, to say the least. I had class with Jason first up, which I was positive would be filled with smiles and conversations about unicorns. Um, no. So yeah, I was really looking forward to that. I'd actually gotten to school early today, because I had to get a ride in with Paul, my mom's husband and sophomore English teacher at Goode. I was the only one in the classroom.

Bored, I turned to the cat sitting on the teachers desk. Yeah, one of those golden ones that waves its paw at you. "How do you stand sitting there all day? I've been here for like ten minutes and I'm already bored as hell." It didn't reply. Which kinda disappointed me, because it would've broken the boredom. I tapped my foot, looking around the room. And then she walked in. I plastered a smirk onto my face.

"Well, well. Look who it is."

She sat down in a chair at the front of the room, as far away from me as possible. Because of course a delinquent like me sat at the back. "Cliché line. Way overused," was all I got in response. So I tried again, aiming for something that might shock her into talking. Besides, I liked messing with her. It was fun.

"So. Funny story, I met your pal Jason yesterday," I began casually. "Did you know he-"

"SPQR. Yeah, I know." She'd just given away vital information, and she spun around to face me when she realized this, her grey eyes frantic. I already knew, of course. But did she know that I already knew? No, no she did not. I grinned.

"Oh, really? How interesting," I drawled, raising my eyebrows. "Wonder how he'll feel when he finds out you told me." Her eyes widened a fraction, and I felt a twinge of guilt for blackmailing her. Then it disappeared, and I shrugged the weird emotion off. No need to worry about that now. I leaned forward on my elbows and continued my reign of terror. "Imagine how betrayed he'll feel."

"He'll understand," Annabeth replied slowly, as if trying to convince herself. I tutted.

"Ah, but he won't. He's been trying to keep it very secret. And now you've told the city's biggest bully who he really is." I mean, maybe the guy had fractured my elbow last night, but that didn't mean anything. "You never know what I might do," I added darkly.

She arched an eyebrow, which I thought was pretty brave considering who she was talking to. "You won't hurt him," she said confidently, tilting her chin upwards. I met her eyes.

"I recall I once beat you up. More than once, actually, so why would he be any different? But I have something else to add." I was about to be dubbed the biggest douche in the world. Although, I was probably already right up there. "Did it ever occur to you...that there might be a reason Jason didn't tell you he was in a gang?"

"He didn't want me to hate him. He told me himself," she said, jutting out her chin. Hmm. I might have to try a bit harder.

"Did you also know that he has a sister?" I questioned, leaning back in my seat and lacing my hands behind my head. "Or did he not trust you with that, either?" I saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes, before she blinked and it vanished.

"You're just trying to mess with me." Okay, maybe that was true, but...I was doing it as a kind of revenge, so it was different.

Don't look at me like that.

"Am I? I can mess with you in other ways without dragging Jason into it. Why would I be lying about this?" I mentally patted myself on the back. That was a pretty good lie. Nice one, Percy. "Believe me, I don't want to be on the wrong side of SPQR." Well, I was already on their bad side, but Zoe Nightshade was right; my own gang would probably murder me for failing my mission last night. Not even I could persuade Dionysus to let me off the hook for that. Unless...he'd given me 'til tonight to get whatever it was off of Hermes. That meant that he (or she, but I assumed it was probably a he) would probably be there afterschool. A lightbulb went off in the back of my brain. "But, if you do me a favour, I won't...let anything leak."

She internally debated whether believing me was a good idea (which it really wasn't), and finally came to a decision. "Fine. I'll help you out. What do you want me to do?" I tapped a finger to my chin.

"Ah, the possibilities. But you're in luck, there's a special job I'm supposed to pull off after school, but maybe you could do it for me."

"Can you hurry it up, people will be arriving soon," she said irritably, gesturing to the clock on the front wall of the room.

I nodded seriously. "Behind the Empire State building. The guy's name's Hermes, he'll give you something. Meet me in Central Park once you've got it."

"I...you know what, fine. You swear not to hurt Jason?"

"I swear it."

She shook her head. "On the River Styx, please." I swore in my head. That meant I wouldn't be able to do anything to him if he pulled anything against me. Swearing on the River Styx was a thing all the gangs did, an unbreakable vow. I chewed my lip.

"I swear not to tell anyone who he is," I tried, hoping it'd suffice. But noooo, Blondie shook her head again.

"Then the deal's off."

I sighed loudly, but complied. "I promise on the River Styx that I won't hurt Jason. Now you, I want to make sure you get my package."

"I...I swear on the Styx that I'll get your package for you. Happy?" She asked fiercely. I nodded, glancing briefly towards the door as someone opened it. "Very."

Annabeth's POV

I couldn't believe I'd just agreed to do that. Running an errand for a gang could potentially initiate you into their ranks, which I did not want. But what choice did I have?

"I hate you, Percy Jackson," I muttered, dodging someone who was sprinting down the hallway like a maniac. "Wait, Leo?" The sprinter stopped, looked over his shoulder and frowned at me.

"Oh, uh, hey Annabeth. I'm really in a hurry right now, my class is on the opposite side of the school and starts in two minutes. Gotta go, bye!" I watched him curiously as he raced off down the corridor. His behaviour struck me as odd. Leo didn't care if he was late to class, hell, he'd prefer it. What was up with him? I also knew that on fifth period on Tuesdays, he had Chemistry, which was only a few halls down and wouldn't take long to walk there. Something was up.

"And I intend to find out."

Seventh period. I had a free, so I was in the library, studying for my next English exam. I was exploring the Elizabethan era when I felt a presence next to me. "Hey, Annabeth."

I glanced up at Jason. "Oh. Hi." His eyebrows furrowed.

"Are you okay? You look...conflicted."

"Oh, do I?" I barked, and I knew I was about to make a big mistake but I couldn't seem to shut my mouth. "I have a question, Jason. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Huh? What are you talking about, Annabeth?" He asked, obviously confused. Yeah, well, so was I.

"You have a sister and never told me?"

"That's what this is about? I thought you were genuinely mad at me. You had me going there, for a second," he half laughed, which angered me for some reason. I knew I should calm down, but it just wasn't happening. I'd finally snapped, and it was all being taken out on Jason, which I knew wasn't fair, but I could care less at that moment.

"I am mad, Jason! Not just at you, but...at everyone! But right now, it's mainly you. I thought I was your friend!"

His brown eyes widened. Eyes I knew weren't really brown. "Annie, I only found out last night. I came to tell you now. Why are you so angry about it?"

"I have to do a mission for the Half-Bloods because of you!" I finally exploded, then immediately covered my mouth, hoping no one had heard. Luckily, no one was staring in our direction. Jason tilted his head.

"What? Why?"

I sighed, bringing my knees up to my chest. "Per-uh, Jackson told me he knew who you were and he threatened to hurt you if I didn't do it. So, here I am, in this dumb situation."

"Oh my gods Annabeth. You know you could be initiated because of that?" I nodded grimly.

"I think that that was probably his plan. He's ruining my life!" I moaned, running my hands through my hair. "Just when things started going right, too."

"You really believed him over me?"

I raised my eyebrows. "How do you mean?"

"Well, you assumed that I was lying to you when he easily could've been the one making stuff up."

"Ugh!" I rubbed my face with my hands. "Everything's just so complicated right now, and I can't even begin to try and work it all out."

"I'm really sorry, Annabeth. I could come with you on the mission, but that might just make it worse than it already is."

I didn't feel like I needed to reply, so I just leaned my head back against the wall. I knew something would go wrong tonight. I had a strong feeling. And usually, my feelings weren't wrong.

I walked down the footpath, trying to appear casual. I was probably failing immensely. I had come straight from school, and was still wearing my stupid uniform. I normally liked uniforms, but the skirt was an inconvenience for fighting, and the gods only know how much I had to do that.

The sky was already starting to turn a darker shade of blue, and the mist was concealing everything further than two metres away from me. I had no idea where I was going, except I knew I was somewhere around the Empire State building. Hopefully behind it, like Percy had specified. The sinking feeling in my gut had multiplied since I'd left school, and I couldn't shake my uneasiness as I crept around the area, cautiously peering left and right. I felt like someone was going to jump me at any moment. I pulled my knife from the inside of my boot, and held it in front of me.

"Hey! You!" I jumped, and spun around, looking over the man in front of me. He had a mask on, so I couldn't see his face. My danger senses started screaming like crazy.

"Are you Hermes?" I asked warily, brandishing the knife in front of me. He chuckled.

"I go by that name, yes. I believe this package is for you. Although, you're late." Late? What was he talking about? Percy had only told me about it this morning. I couldn't have possibly got there much earlier.

"I was expecting someone yesterday. But they got caught up with something, so I was told to...give out some repercussions," he said gleefully, and pulled a lethal-looking knife out of his jacket. "Would you rather a quick or painful death?" I backed up a step, looking around frantically for back up. Of course, no one was there, so I swallowed hard and held my own knife in front of me. Had Percy intentionally sent me into a death trap, or hadn't he known? I'd like to think that no human could be evil enough to set someone else up for death, but I wasn't stupid. I knew it was very possible, but it also kindled another question. Who wanted Percy dead? I mean, he probably wasn't what anyone would call well liked, but I didn't think anyone would have the guts to try take him out.

"I'm not who you want to kill. I'll hurt you," I threatened, but my voice cracked on the last words. The guy chuckled.

"They did say it would be a boy, but seeing as you're the one that's here..." he trailed off, moving closer to me. I didn't move back, because then I'd be up against a wall, and I didn't need that.

I tried for innocent. Since, you know, I was. "A boy told me to come here! I'm delivering it to him later." Apparently, he didn't want to bargain, because it was that moment he chose to lunge towards me.

"Hey! I don't want to fight!" I exclaimed as I parried his knife away. "I told you, I'm not the one you want!"

He slashed forward, barely missing my shoulder. "See, I'm on strict orders, and negotiating wasn't an option." I ducked right, then feinted upwards with my blade. As he blocked it, I aimed a kick to his knee. My toe just caught him, but it wasn't powerful enough to do any damage. I knew then that I was badly outmatched, and I was destined to lose if I didn't escape.

"So, do you actually have the package?" I asked conversationally, blocking and dodging his strikes skilfully.

"Oh, it's in my pocket. But you won't be needing it." I spun to avoid getting a knife lodged in my eye socket, but that proved to be a bad idea, because he took the opportunity to s***h at my side. I stifled a cry of pain as I felt my skin slice open. I didn't dare look to see how bad it was, but I could feel the blood dripping down my leg. My uniform was ruined. I ducked his next blow, which would've knocked me out cold, and jabbed at his stomach. Of course, it missed. I was losing too much blood. Eventually, I ended up in a choke hold, trying to fight the urge to just let go and slip into unconsciousness.

"So, little girl, are you ready to die?" He asked, dragging his knife across my face. I jolted, but didn't scream. I didn't have the energy to scream.

I knew I had to escape. I couldn't, wouldn't, die in a secluded alley with no witnesses to fight for me. It occurred to me that Percy had said something similar, with me dying in front of a crowd. It slightly disturbed me that I was thinking in the same way as him. It disturbed me even more that I was even thinking about him at a time like this.

In an act of desperation, I tensed my arm at my side, hoping this 'Hermes' wouldn't notice. "Not. Yet. Jerk!" My elbow went flying into his gut, with as much force as I could muster. He fell back in shock, and I landed a quick kick to his temple, effectively paralyzing him. I leaned down and grabbed the small package from the inside of his jacket.

"I'll be taking this," I whispered, and hobbled out into the street, towards Central Park.

Since no one in their right mind would come to the park at ten at night (yes, it had taken me a while to walk here), it was easy to spot Percy, even in the dark with my blurring vision.

"Did you get it?" He asked, and sighed in obvious relief when he saw it in my hand. I reached out a shaky arm to pass it to him.

"No...problem..." I slurred, my eyesight tunnelling. His eyes narrowed, and he c****d his head to one side.

"Are you drunk or something, Chase? Why are you-" His eyes dropped to my side and he examined me for the first time. I didn't even care at this point. "s**t, what happened?"

My eyes fluttered shut, and I stumbled forward, right into Percy, who caught me and shook me slightly, trying to keep me awake. "Hermes...'twas a trap...got me instead..."

My world flipped, and I felt my knees knuckle beneath me, but I was already past the pain as my mind slipped into a void of darkness.

So that's that! And I'm slowly turning into Rick Riordan, because I'm starting to think of more and more cliffhangers...plus it takes practically a year for me to update, so you poor guys reading this have to suffer. I'm sorry. Honestly. Yup.

So, to my reviewers:

Ra-ra : Thanks, I'll do my best. I've actually been pretty good with updating lately. That's a pretty good idea. I'll probably incorporate it in future chapters. That can be the more informal way of addressing her

Cinder Luna : I was thinking basically exactly that before I updated, but I wanted to have some exciting stuff, so I just thought to hell with it, I'll just update this and not flesh it out. Fleshing out isn't exactly my strong point. But I'm glad you love it anyway

Thanks for reviewing, and reading, because I really appreciate it, and yeah.

Question of the chapter: How do you think I could incorporate the fact that Annabeth owes SPQR into the story? I'm kinda stumped.

Until next time,

HV