"Annabeth? Where have you been? I was so worried about you!"
The shrill voice of her mother met her ears and instantly made her freeze in her tracks. Her reflexes caused her arm to reach out and grab the back of Zachariah's shirt for comfort and support. The shaking of her body could be seen by anyone within the store that glanced in her direction and it was enough to make Zachariah quickly turn around to find the problem.
Standing in front of him was a woman who looked to be in her mid fifties and had similar facial features as Annabeth. It was also blatantly apparent that Annabeth was absolutely terrified of this woman whom he concluded to be her mother. A shaking intake of breath from Annabeth snapped him out of his thoughts.
"He-hello Mo-Mother."
The effort it took Annabeth the utter those two words made her feel weaker and more exhausted than she did while wandering the forest.
"I don't think you have to call me that anymore after what you did to me!"
The sharp high pitch shrill that flew from this woman's lips made everyone in the entire grocery store flinch while their ears began to ring. It was clear as day that this woman had no idea how to be discreet and she didn't seem to care. In fact it almost seemed as if she was out to embarrass poor Annabeth as much as possible.
"What exactly did she do to you ma'am?" Zachariah's deep voice soothed Annabeth's fear and slowly her shaking began to subside. He didn't need to raise his voice to intimate anyone near him, they could tell by the tone when he was being deathly serious.
"Exactly who are you? Are you the new boy my daughter is rolling in the sheets with?" Her mother demanded with smirk placed proudly on her face.
Annabeth instantly paled and began to hyperventilate. She had never done anything like that in her life, she was not that kind of woman! How could the woman who raised her and carried her in the womb for nine months abhor her as much as her mother did? Annabeth began to wonder what she ever did to earn her mother's hatred. The pain of hearing those words was all she could seem to focus on.
Zachariah noticed this and he slowly began to rub her back in a circular motion to relax her before addressing this disgusting woman.
"I may not know your daughter well, but I do know that Snow is not that kind of woman. By the look of things it appears you are what she was running away from the night I found her in my little cottage. I can't say I blame her. It is disgusting seeing someone turn on their child in such a way and for what? You have your own daughter believing she needs to starve while a man eats, that she has to go without things she wants, that all she needs is the basics because her wants and needs don't truly matter. You honestly should be ashamed of yourself."
At the end of his rant Zachariah was panting, he had never in his life felt such rage. He felt his anger grow when her smirk grew.
"Well what I am sure my dear daughter didn't tell you, is that she is engaged. Her betrothed is a wealthy man of standard, unlike yourself and would have set me up to life. I made her learn to put her husband first so she could be the perfect wife for this man. Seems I didn't do a good enough job."
The icy glare she gave Annabeth caused her to sink even further into Zachariah. She felt like her throat was frozen since she wanted to speak up and defend herself but couldnt.
"Her betrothed is very broken up about her disappearance. He will be thrilled to know she's back and I am sure he will reward you handsomely for her return."
Annabeth's pleading eyes met Zachariah's while she shook her head, silently pleading with him not to return her. She new he was a good man but after the picture her mother just painted she didn't know what Zachariah was going to do.
"Pl-please. I ca-can't go b-back."
Zachariah sighed heavily before he spoke.