I had a dream the other night that felt like a memory. I was two or three years old, I believe. I'm sitting on the living room floor in front of my mother as she brushes my hair before French braiding it. I'm eating a cookie, giggling as she tells me stupid jokes. There's music playing in the background.
It's soft and makes me feel calm and happy. Just moments after Mom was done with my hair, the doorbell went off. I giggled and jumped up, running to the door with Mom trailing behind me. She opens the door for me, since I'm too small to reach it. A man is standing in the doorway. I never remember the man's face.
I never remember anything about the way he looks. But I know I loved seeing him. I know I loved the way he'd pick me up and spin me in circles. He kissed Moms cheek and hugs her. They take me into the living room and set me up with toys. I feel so happy because the man brought me a new toy.
They go into the kitchen, the next room over. Things must be okay because I hear Mom laugh. Her laugh is like the music; it makes me feel calm and happy. But things must not have been okay anymore because when Mom and the man come back Mom's eyes are red and puffy and she's hugging herself. The man picks me up again, kisses my forehead before he hugs me.
The man sets me down before he leaves. Mom picks me up then and hugs me to her chest. That was the last time for years we saw the man.
"AURORA WELCH! IF YOU DO NOT GET UP RIGHT THIS MINUTE I SWEAR TO THE GODS I WILL LET A HELLHOUND INTO YOUR CABIN!" Is what I am woken up with in the morning. I open my eyes but don't get out of bed. I see Gemma leaning against the wall, playing with my cheesy Zeus doll.
"Gemma Marie, what are you doing in my cabin? I will drown you," I reply, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"Drown me and I'll strike you down with lightning," Gemma replies. I can't help but smile at Gemma and she smiles back. "So, my dear daughter of Poseidon, what are you still doing in bed? Breakfast is in five minutes."
"I was trying to sleep, sweet daughter of Zeus. Why, we did just get back from a quest, you know," I reply, climbing out of bed. Gemma rolls her eyes continues to go through my random figurines as I get dressed in faded blue jean shorts and an orange Camp Half-Blood t shirt. I quickly brush through my hair blonde and grin when it falls over my shoulders in softly waves.
"Come on, Princess," Gemma says, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of the cabin with her. I smile at everyone we pass, saying hello to a few. Gemma isn't very good with people so she just runs her fingers through her beautiful brown hair and nods her head. I'm not very good with people either, just better than she is.
"We need to find Chiron," Gemma says to me when we reach Zeus' table. I nod my head and stand on the tips of my toes to try and get a better view over everyone who happen to all be somewhere between four and eight inches taller than me. I eventually find him talking to a rather tall boy with messy black hair. I can't see his face until he turns towards me. His eyes catch mine and I gasp. His eyes are such a dark shade of brown; they look black at first glance.
"Rory!" I tear my eyes away from the boy at the sound of a familiar voice calling my name. I turn and see Lucas walking towards me. He looks like he always looks; like some kind of Hollywood surfer dude. His slightly tan skin and beautiful sandy blonde hair draws attention to him. I try to smile at him, but I'm already trying to find the boy again. He's not with Chiron anymore, who is now walking towards us.
Lucas is a son of Aphrodite. It's almost obvious; no one could be like that without being the son of the goddess of love. Lucas hugs me and I can't help but smile. I've had the biggest crush on Lucas since he came to camp when he was thirteen. I've been at camp since I was ten and my mom and I got attacked my Cyclopes and she finally got back into contact with my dad and he told her this was the only place I could be safe.
I'm fifteen now, but I'll be sixteen in two weeks, on the winter solstice. "Hello, my two badass friends. Bet you two had a great time on your quest," Lucas says to Gemma and I. I smile and Gemma just nods her head. Gemma doesn't like Lucas very much. She thinks he's just all looks. But I know there's more to him.
"Thanks, Lucas. It was…exhausting. But we got everything done," I say as Chiron walks up to us. He smiles at Gemma and I and I notice the boy is standing beside him.
"Gemma, Aurora, it's so great to have you two back! I'm proud that you guys succeeded, if anyone could do it, you two could," Chiron says. Gemma and I can't help but smile at Chiron. "Oh, this is Nico di Angelo," he adds when he notices Lucas staring at Nico with distaste.
"Wait," I say, unable to help myself. "Nico di Angelo? The son of Hades?" Chiron nods his head. "I'm sorry, that was probably weird," I say to Nico. "But my brother has told me a lot about you. He told me about how much you and your dad helped during the second Titan's war." Nico gives me a confused look.
"Who is your brother?" he asks.
"Her brother is Percy Jackson, almighty demligod legend," Gemma jumps in, winking at me.
"Oh, I haven't heard from Percy for a while. I didn't know he had a sister," Nico replies.
I shrug my shoulders, "I'm just Aurora," I say. "No one really cares about me. I didn't do all the great stuff he did, I'm like, just his younger sister." Gemma rolls her eyes at me.
"Rory is great, just like Percy. The world is just much more at peace than it was when Percy was here. She hasn't had the same chances Percy had." Nico nods his head at Gemma and I.
"Oh, we should probably actually introduce ourselves," I say. "I'm Aurora Welch, daughter of Poseidon." I hold out my hand to Nico and he shakes it.
"Gemma Marie, daughter of Zeus," Gemma says, nodding her head at Nico. I look over at Lucas, expecting him to introduce himself, but instead he's talking to Amy, a very pretty girl from the Apollo cabin.
"Isn't this funny," Amy says. "One child from each of the Big Three altogether."
Nico shrugs his shoulders. "It's happened before. Percy, Thalia and Jason Grace and I all went on a quest together once." Nico turns his attention to me. For some reason I want to hid myself from him. The way he stares at me makes me feel insecure. "So, Aurora? Like the Disney princess?"
Gemma and I smile at each other; I get asked this question a lot. "Yeah, like the Disney princess, except I don't need to be saved by some prince."