"Arrrrgh!" I raked my fingers through my long blonde hair in frustration.

My damn Maths homework was driving me up the wall!

I still don't get how Percy can act so relaxed about his academics!

My father cautiously opened the door and inched across the room, scared that I would have another outburst.

"Annabeth, " My father's face was a mask of concern . "Why are you worrying about Maths homework that's due next week?"

Good question, Dad. Pity I actually can't answer that.

Why was I acting this tense and stressed, you may inquire.

It's all to do with what I found out during the summer holidays.

I use my school work to distract myself from my many worries. As crazy and nerdy as this may sound, the work is the only thing that calms me down.

My father took the "subtle" hint that he wasn't wanted here, and slowly backed away.

My father and I are currently in a rocky relationship, and it's all to do with that accursed Cheryl. I hated her the minute we met.

Last month, Fredrick Chase got remarried to an absolute cow with bronze highlights and purple snakeskin stilettos.

" Annabeth, honey? It's dinner!" Cheryl's nasal, unpleasant voice sung out to me through the bedroom door.

Speak of the devil...

She flung the door open and I was half expecting a flock of canaries to fly through and begin tweeting merrily with her.

Cheryl stopped abruptly at the hostile expression that seemed etched on my face whenever she entered my presence.

"Sweetie?" she inquired, her voice positively oozing with false sympathy, "Are you alright?" Um, Cheryl? Do I look like I'm alright?

Sensing my reluctance to answer, she sauntered out the door, banging it on the way out, her perkiness severely diminished.

"Yeah, I'm just fine." I murmured to the silent, cold room.

I packed up my Maths homework and headed down the stairs for dinner. Even though Cheryl was a cow she did make good lasagne.

"Annabeth! Come on! It's Family Circle Time!" My brother, Matthew shrieked from the kitchen.

Okay, let me first clear up that Family Circle Time was not my idea.

Cheryl thought that if we all got together on a Friday night, before dinner and sat in a circle to "discuss our personal worries and secrets" that we would grow together as a family.

I was not ready to spill all of my secrets to a total stranger.

I grudgingly settled myself down in my allocated chair and waited for the first round of torture to commence.

"Well, isn't this lovely! I just love us all being here together!" Cheryl clapped her hands enthusiastically and looked at Bobby and Matthew as if to say, come on! It's all great fun! On cue, Bobby and Matthew leapt into happy giggles.

"I'm going to the bathroom." I muttered my voice almost inaudible. I sounded bored and uninterested to even my own ears.

I dashed to the bathroom, dug a drachma out of my jeans pocket and created a rainbow with the prism I bought after the Labyrinth.

I tossed the drachma into the rainbow and said "O' Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering."

Chiron's face swam into view, through the mist.

"Annabeth?" Even though I kept in contact with Chiron every day, he was still surprised to hear from me at such a late hour.

"Would you mind if I came back to Camp Half-Blood tomorrow? I just can't bear living with Cheryl."

I spat her name out with a disgusted expression on my face. Getting away from Demon-Lady was only the first reason I was anxious to get back to Camp.

I wanted to check on Rachel – our camp's Oracle. I bit my lip as I remembered what happened...

*Flash back*

Percy and I were casually strolling down to the beach where we could go swimming.

The beach looked stunning in the sunset, the white sand gleaming and the water glimmering purplish- pink.

The day had seemed so perfect until Percy lifted me up, bridal style and promptly dumped me in the lake.

"Percy!" I spluttered and a pout slipped onto my face.

He dived-bombed into the clear, turquoise lake, splashing me again! Before I submerged myself in the water and into the air bubble he'd created for us, I swam up to take one last breath.

What I saw really shocked me.

"Annabeth, what's wro- " Percy cut his sentence short and gaped at Chiron.

"Annabeth, Percy quick! It's Rachel! She's been poisoned!" All the blood drained from my face and my mouth went slack. Percy just stared uncomprehendingly at Chiron. Meanwhile my mind was racing ahead... if Rachel dies... there will be no more prophecies!

"What do we do, Chiron?" Percy jumped out of the canoe lake and stood, poised for action.

"I don't know... this poison is unlike anything I have seen before... Apollo has been supplying temporary cures but it only slows the infection down. I don't know how much more Rachel can take of this." Chiron hung his head in grief and dismay.

Percy and I followed Chiron over to Rachel's cave, plagued with images of Rachel dying at a meagre 16. Percy was still staring into space like the Seaweed Brain he was.

Rachel lay on a white stretcher, surrounded by Apollo and his kids. Her face was eerily serene and peaceful, her red hair spread out on the pillow.

Then I really saw her. She was an unhealthy shiny, pink pallor and there were black shadows around her eyes.

Her lips were swollen and crimson. Her emerald eyes were puffy slits.

She reached a feeble hand out and croaked "Water, please more water..."

*End of Flashback*

I shook my head to clear the memories of Rachel from my mind.

As if sensing my thoughts, Chiron shook his head sadly and in a grave tone announced that she hadn't gotten any better.

My relationship with Rachel has improved since the Second Titan War, when I saved her from a crashing helicopter.

"The disease has increased at a rapid rate. Apollo has deemed the ailment incurable, but I do not believe that." Chiron was like a second father to me, I had faith in him.

"I'll be there as soon as possible." I was fretting about whether Rachel would be okay. What will Camp do without her?