LI.

LI.

1 Year Later (Seventeen Years Ago)

Leo-Rapha ran across an open field and hid behind the Chief of Maids, Annabeth's green skirt. He had never seen her before but for some reason he felt he could be safe there.

"Dear me," she muttered whipping her head to the left. She gasped. A boy of about five years old stood in her prescence. His dark hair was rough and filled with mud. Blood was all over his clothes and she saw that there was a huge gash on his left arm, and at the centre of his had, blood was also trickling. She saw one of the older servant boys with a big stick soaked in blood.

The servant boy stopped in his tracks as soon as saw Madame Annabeth. "Madame," H ebowed shakily.

"Are you the reason he is like thsi?" she demanded angrily.

"Madame... I can..."

She slapped him hard. "You could have killed him!"

"I..."

"Be quiet! He has done nothing to deserve this brutality. Even if he had wronged you, why could you not report it."