The brown color contacts ridiculed me. The jet black hair taunted me. The face in the mirror stared back at me. What have I done?

Half a year ago I would've screamed at the sight of myself; hair so short, skin so tan, muscle build so... masculine. Why did I choose this?

Pretending to be a boy, disguising as one of the guys, lying to myself about who I truly was. How did this happen?

I ruffled my hair some more, making it look messy in its wavy mess. I checked my shirt twice, made sure it was baggy so my true figure wouldn't show beneath it. The skinny jeans I didn't worry so much about. In the United States it was acceptable for a boy to wear such tight pants. It was considered "hot" even.

"Victor!" I turned and saw my friend James at the door of the men's restroom, his own black hair covering his nervous eyes. "We're preforming in ten! Get out here man!"

"Alright, alright!" I nodded and rolled my eyes teasingly, muttering about how a guy needs his time to look good for the ladies. James gave me a weird look but then I brushed it off. Better to let them think I'm superficial and conceited than to let them know I'm really a girl. "I'll be there in five. Tops." I said.

He nodded and walked off, the bathroom door shut behind him. I finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to the mirror. Those brown contacts still mocked me. They screamed at me to take them off and jab them in the trash; Show off those true silvery-gold beauties, those orbs of metallic color. But I couldn't. If someone saw my real eye color they could recognize me and my cover would be blown. I couldn't risk it.

I remember when I used to be someone else. When I used to be a girl, not a boy who was too scared to tell people who he really is. Or was. If I could I would prance up to all my friends and announce my real name. I'd tell Ethan the truth, let Chris know what was going on, and even show all of my real powers to Luke. I would do that if I could, but I can't. If they knew who I really was, who I really, really, was, they'd treat me like a weapon. Not a demigod.

I can't let that happen. Not now, not ever.

My hands found their way to the sink where the running water splashed on my face, the cold liquid easing my nerves. I was due to preform guitar with the band Crying Cupid in a few minutes. I had to get in the zone, ready to put up a great show. I had to silence my wailing mind and focus on the songs we were going to sing. But how could I? It was my first performance, my first time on stage after joining the Dark Side recently. I was so damn nervous about accidentally getting exposed that I started shaking. Hyperventilating almost. But once I told myself to calm down, I did.

"Helia Selene Neoma." Chiron read my name off the form I had filled for him. He sat in his wheelchair wearing a coffee scented coat and square rimmed glasses. Part of me wondered if he really needed the reading glasses, or if they were just there for show. We were together inside the blue Big House, my own body sitting erect and tense on a couch while he loomed over papers on his desk. I felt like a mental kid being interviewed by the tedious therapist."It says here you ran away from an all girls orphanage in London at the age of nine." Chiron stared at me as if expecting a clearer explanation. I didn't give one to him so he read on."Before that you were found in a box in the middle of the Atlantic ocean at the age of three. I've found newspaper clippings on how you couldn't have survived for however long in that box with only enough food and water to last for a day. You were also all alone when you were found, passed out cold and severely dehydrated. Some people believe that your story is a hoax for media attention." Chiron narrowed his eyes on me and leaned forward far enough that I could smell the coffee in his breath. "Other's claim though that you're the daughter of a mermaid, "Ocean's Child" is what they call you back in England isn't it?"

I stayed silent.

He cleared his throat and scanned the papers I was asked to write for him. "You also say that you traveled here to the United States under the wing of a daughter of Hermes: Miss... Angela Morris." If Chiron had known Angela once, he didn't show it. My own body betrayed me though and trembled in grief and anger when I heard her name spoken out loud. Angela Morris. Angela. Messenger Angela. I clenched my teeth and blocked away the memories. Going on a plane to New York with Angela, having her hold me while I cried in her arms, being abandoned by her when she committed suicide by falling off the roof of an apartment building. I needed to forget about her.

"It also states here that you lived in the streets until-Justin Cook was it?- took you into his family and gave you a home. Yet the file still says that you were homeless the entire time. Please explain on that." Chiron took of his glasses and peered at me. It took all of my willpower to not shrink under his stare.

"Well um, you see... Justin was only fifteen years old when he took me in. He lived in an abandoned apartment building with four other demigods: Charles Beckendorf, Ethan Nakamura, Lee Fletcher, and Christopher Rodriguez. We ran and thieved ourselves through the streets, battling monsters and other street people. Eventually there was a point when there was six other people joining our family: Lucas Cashier, Malcolm Spades, Connor and Travis Stoll, Aly Parker, and Adam Parker. Including me we all made up a family of twelve half bloods living in one apartment building. The only reason why monsters didn't catch us until there were so many is because we lived in filthy human scents."

Chiron nodded like he understood, then he said, "You've only listed eleven names but said that twelve of you lived there. Who was the twelfth person?"

I bit my lip and fiddled with the golden chain around my neck. Obviously, I was uncomfortable."That would be my pet wolf Eclipse. He's my best friend."

"And is he here at Camp?"

Lie? No. "Yes, he traveled with me here." I paused to see if I would get a reaction, but when I didn't I went on defensively. "Look Eclipse is my best friend. If he's not aloud at Camp then I won't live here without-"

"Relax child, relax." Chiron wheeled himself closer until we were face to face. I felt like he could already read my secrets and judge me for everything that's not my fault."Eclipse the Wolf may stay, though he is personally your responsibility to feed and take care of."

I nodded. "Yes sir...I understand."

Chiron shuffled a few papers in his hands until coming to an official looking document. On the top, in Greek writing, was a title relating to parentage and godly interventions you've had in your life. Automatically I gulped and shifted in my seat.

"Before you came here to Camp," Chiron started, "Lee Fletcher told me that you've communicated with Apollo correct?"

I nodded, remembering the time when Lee, Justin, and I had tried to use our powers to heal Malcolm when he was badly injured. We had called on Apollo for help when he had spoken to me. "The sun god told me that I wasn't his daughter. That we're not directly related that way."

"Yes, I understand that you're unclaimed, or under determined as we say here at Camp." Chiron peered down at me through his thick glasses, brown eyes digging into my silvery-gold ones. "Have you had any other godly interventions before or after that?"

I looked away, lacing my hair behind my ear like I always do when I'm nervous. "I'd like use the john right now if you don't mind."

Chiron tilted his head but leaned back, crossing his arms in front of his chest and reminding me of the school teacher that tries (and fails) to figure out the students behavior. "Miss Neoma you do understand that here at Camp Half Blood we have to regulate the students about any godly activity they encounter? Everything is critical to know from the smallest sign to the greatest communication anyone has with the gods. It could lead to helping the war we're facing. And as you can see throughout the campers, every little piece of help is critical."

I didn't respond, I was too busy debating the decision about whether or not if I should tell him my secrets. I was lost in my choices.

"There are also many holes in your story child. Like how you got here to Camp and how you ended up in that coffin in the middle of the ocean. And how you managed to survive that long." Chiron let the papers in his hands fall to his lap, my gaze not meeting his. Its like we see eye to eye, but we're both blind. He just wouldn't understand what really happened to me if I told him. He wouldn't believe me. No one would.

"Helia," he called me by my first name, something nobody does. I always go by my middle name: Selene. "You can tell me whatever you want, anything that you want to get off your chest or just talk about. I am always here to talk and listen. Do you understand me?"

I nodded, pressing my lips together in a thin line. "May I now use the john please?"

Chiron hesitated, but he let me go. I was excused then and I ran outside to the Big House porch, where my entire family was anxiously waiting for me. Chris, Ethan, Aly, Lucas, Connor, Travis, all of them. Silently, without needing any words, they all embraced me in a giant hug where I struggled not to cry. Whether it was from heartache of what I went through on my journey to Camp, or just being damn relieved to finally be with my family, I didn't know. All I knew was that I was carrying an even bigger burden then I was before.

Thanks a lot Poseidon. I hope you got what you wanted out of me.

The water dripped from my hair on to my face and clothes, the wild look in my eyes now back. I looked like a homeless kid all over again. Instead this time I'm a boy named Victor Wolfbane. A boy who had a mysterious past who was hiding from his friends. And family.

"Victor!" James yelled. "Get out here!"

I took one last deep breath and stalked out on to stage, the crowd roaring out my name. I picked out a few people hidden in the dark of the auditorium: Chris sunken in the far east corner, Ethan leaning on the wall by the emergency exit, even Luke was among the party people. I hid my smirk and proceeded to slip under my guitar strap and into the position of base player. With the loudest voice I could manged, I yelled, "Hello Time Lord's Army!"

They went absolutely crazy, girls screaming my name and yelling out love words. I winked at one just for show. She clinched a faint. At least I think it was fake.

From center stage, James Walsh clicked on his microphone and shared looks with every one of us in the band: twin backup singers Molly and Mary Rodriguez, drummer Jolene Jinx, breathless singer and rock star guitar player Lucn Rays, and finally me: base player Victor Wolfbane. James winked at us to see if we were okay. We all nodded back reassuringly. Finally taking a deep breath with his smooth, soothing voice, James tapped into his mic. "Alright Princess, I'm going to start off with a little bit of a slow song tonight." He turned his head in my direction and pointed at me. I stepped back, confused. "This song is dedicated to our newest member of the band: Victor the Wolf." He smiled and turned back to the crowd, flipping his black hair back while at it. "We are so psyched to have this new addition to our band and army. Let's give it up for the Wolf!"

The crowd roared out my name, everyone pumped up and ready to dance and rock out. Going with the flow, I pounded up two fists and yelled out to the night sky. There, I hit the first few strums on my electric guitar and Crying Cupid started off going crazy with our instruments. Not even playing appropriately more like just making random noises. Finally, after seconds of some head bashing noise and reckless yelling, we decided to start the song.

Something about it though made me think too much about my old life going into the new:

"I can hardly remember,

the days when I felt free

Never searching,

cause it all made sense to me

I will always remember,

that point when I found out

All my own plans may never come around

Still we go on, never asking why..."

Chiron kept staring at me. He wouldn't let go. When I first entered his office he had leaned forward in his chair and looked at me skeptically. He asked me why I came to Camp Half Blood in the first place. Feeling the blood rush to my head, I struggled to answer:

"I can feel this strange life, /leading to a great life. /Where everything begins, /where everything makes sense. /So everything begins, /so everything makes sense /And nothing ever... ends." I slouched back in the couch with arms spread out, my head leaning back on my shoulder. "Because of everything I've learned in my years of experience... Its that life goes on. You pull the brakes on life but the wheels still turn. No matter how many times you crash and burn."

The song in this chapter is called Strange Life by Tickle Me Pink. I own none of the Percy Jackson Characters except my own and am not Rick Riodan. The prequel of this story is called Sun's New Moon, you can find it on my profile under My Stories. So... the little blue button? Please? For those of you who have read the previous story, you get to find out Selene's/Victor's parentage in this one... ;)

-Emmarina Aniramme