*Hey guys, I'm terribly sorry for delting the first chapter, I was having some problems with the format (still am actually). Hopefully I'll get it all sorted out. Anyway, here it is again. I also wanted to thankyou for following me (two followers in like two days it's insane), you don't know how much it means to me. I do hope you could find me again, I'd hate to loose you*
AUTHORS NOTE: Hey guys, it's Pheobe. This is my first story ever so I'm very excited! It's about the PJO and HOO fandom, and I will try to fit in as many characters as possible from it. Even though I will try to maintain their personalities as much as possible, they are not sons or daughters of gods and therefore don't have any powers. It takes place in the fictional city of Bagradàh (although I won't lie to you, I kind of imagined Aladdin's city because I have never been to an arabic one). I'm not a religious person and I only know the basics about the muslim culture, so if I make any mistakes related to that theme I'd be very happy if you could point them out for me so I could fix them. I will try to publish more as soon as I can, but school is starting again (:/) so I can't assure exaclty when I will upload. I promise I will finsih it, though! Anyway, enough talking –typing-, enjoy!
Her honey hair was like a whip into the air, lashing a hit after the other, moved by the wind and sand that had beaten them non-stop since last week. She turned her head slightly to avoid the flocks going into her mouth and eyes. Her face was red by the constant gust that felt at times like if it didn't let you breathe properly, pressuring the lungs until you were left panting before even running. The small grains of sand irritated her skin; they were barely visible, but stinged.
"She is so beautiful" he couldn't help thinking. Everything about her opened a door that flooded his mind with flowers: her nose, which was always so cold, no matter if it was antartica or a mid-summer heat wave; her chin, which she dug into his collarbone when she was sad; her hands, so smooth… Her whole body, roundish and curvy, soft and sweet, brought memories of secret nights running into the forest, afternoons in the palace gardens, mornings in the strawberry fields. He loved her. Deeply, totally. Their relation wasn't the easiest, but Travis loved a good challenge.
- - Stop it.
He froze, his hands stuck in mid-air.
- - I know you are behind me Travis. I really hope that when I turn around I don't find you holding that stupid invention of yours or I'll…
He pulled the object to his back, stood up straight and grinned.
She turned around and looked at him, her hands on her hips and a frowned expression.
- - What are you hiding behind your back?
- - Nothing. – He blurted, probably a little bit too fast.
- - I swear, if you were going to throw juice over me again…
Katie started walking towards him. When she was just four inches apart, he threw the object he was holding far away, behind his back, grabbed Katie around her wrist and lifted her up. At first she protested, trying to let go off his arms, bust she ended up laughing. Travis tickled her and to stop him, she kissed him.
They stood there for a while, the wind pulling Katie's long hair all over the place, as if it was a curtain. He could feel the sweet taste of chocolate on her lips, and she could feel him smiling under the kiss.
Suddenly, a stronger wave of sand and air hit them, and a guardian approached.
- - Princess Katherine, Prince Travis. We should get inside the tent. Our guide says a sand-storm is coming.
Katie threw a worried glanced at him and held his hand tighter, and then followed the guard. Travis looked around. The dunes were bathed in the gold sunlight of the afternoon, so perfect they looked more as if they had been sculpted rather than set by the treachurous mistrals. It seemed somehow unreal, like if they were only a mirage.
- - Prince Travis?
He woke up of his thoughts and drew towards the tent. He was about to go in when he stopped.
- - How long until we arrive?
- - We are expected to be there in two more days, your highness.
- - Thankyou, escourt.
{
The market was an explosion of smells, colours, soft cloths and strong spices. The infite shades of desert browns mixed with the lively pinks, greens, purples and golds of the saris and the sweet and sour taste of cinnamon, tumeric, cloves, nutmeg and coriander. There were fakirs eating fire and sybils telling futures, and there was a certain magic in the atmosphere, like the dust that dances supended in the air.
Two figures, covered from head to toe, moved around silently, trying to become unnoticed. They entered an alleyway behind the stucco houses.
- - Did you see any guards?
- - Barely.
- - There most be something cooking in palace.
- - Maybe the future queen has finally picked a suitor.
- - We would be hearing it all over the market in that case.
- - Probably. Did you get anything?
A tanned, rough hand emerged the tunic: it was holding an pomegranate.
The second figure lifted her head, seizing the fruit. Hard blue eyes looked from under the dark clothing. She said nothing, but her eyes read "Only?".
- - It was the only I could snatch before they noticed anything. – His voice sounded nervous, sad, apologetic.
The girl realized he felt bad for not being able to get more, and felt a pang in her heart.
- - It's great. – She smiled, and he looked up with a hopeful smile. He reminded her so much of a little boy in some things –movements, expressions, pouting faces─ although he was fourteen now, his marked jawline taking away his childish face. It had been seven years since she'd found him on the street, curled up in a ball and without any tears left.
They covered up again and looked carefully into the main street before walking out swiftly.
{
- - But you have to!
- - Well I WON'T!
Reyna was loosing her temper. Just when she had thought that everything would be okay, that she'd finally be happy. She was two weeks away from her official coronation in front of her people. She would finally be the queen of Bagradà now they wanted to make her marry someone.
- - But, please, your majesty, you must understand…
- - Of course I undertand: I am too weak to rule our beautiful country, so I need a man – There was so much hatred in the way she spit that word – to help me.
- - No, your majesty, it's not…
- - Save it. Don't you start reciting all of the rules and decrees. As you may seem to have forgotten, I've spent the last eighteen years learning them. Alongside with seven languages and all the sciences and arts of my kingdom. And the law that forced a women to marry before taking the throne was cancelled, exactly four years eight months and three days ago. You have been telling me it's for my own good, sending me to see princes from all over the world since I was eleven. And I never found one that was right. We agreed then I could proceed alone; the council approved. Why do I have to go through this when I am so close to becoming queen? Is the council scared that if I am left to rule alone I'll change their stupid, antiquated laws? Because nothing is going to stop me from that, not even getting married to an old-fashioned pedant prince.
- - But…
- - That is it. I don't want to hear anymore. Please retire yourself this instant from my chambers. If you do not so immediately I will send my personal escourt to acompany you outside.
Piper saw how Reyna held her chin up high until the councelor disappeared, and how then she crumbled; her poker face vanished, her wall of security and strenght to pieces. She let herself fall onto her bed, and contained a sob. Piper drew closer and, after doubting for a few seconds, sat down beside her. A servant was typically not allowed to do anything without permission, but Piper had been Reyna's maiden since they were little, and the future queen trusted no one so much as she trusted her. She took her hair and untangled her braid to put it up in a bun, taking it away from her face. Her almond eyes were closed, and there were violet bags under them. She removed all jewelry and fancy dressings, slowly and carefully so she didn't move her. She opened the window to let fresh air come into the room, and then left silently. She knew her majesty more than anyone, and although Reyna was strong and fearless, tireless and a great leader, sometimes the pressure of palace was too much for her. But she never would have accepted pity, that is why Piper left, closing the door with key, instead of talking to her. She just looked up and prayed to the gods that her queen stood tall over all.
{
The night was dark and cold, and no one who hadn't spent their life in Bagradàh would have believed that the burning gold sun that bathed the city during the day set in the horizon to allow an iced veil cover the city. Everything was dark, only illuminated by the faint light of a million stars and a candle behind the windows here and there.
Everything seemed to sleep, not only the people. There was so much life during the day, it seemed impossible for it to die down. All the colours disappeared, like if they had been coated with ashes; even the smells vanished, and Percy could only feel darkness and the burnt smell of the oil lamp that spread dim light.
He felt someone approache from behind and little after a hand ruffling his dark, messy hair. He turned around and smiled. Thalia's face was only half lit, the small flame causing shadows on her face. Although she was trying to hide it, she looked tired. Percy knew her too well: her coal, shiny hair that looked as if it had blue streaks, extremely short – She always said she didn't have time to grow long hair, and that it might tangle and bother her during their "excursions" (as she called them)─ ; her sun freckles all over her nose and cheeks; her immensely deep azur eyes; her smirk; the way she always gave him the bigger piece when they cut something in half; the way she gave the blankets to him when the cold became unbearable, saying they bothered her; the way she insisted in standind guard even when she was exhausted; the fierce, nearly scary, look she gave the palace guards; the way she talked about the palace and the royal family, with mock and hate. Percy had lived with her since he was seven, when she had picked him up from the streets. Thalia was like a sister for him. He would go to the end of the world for her, he would do anything for her. Well, almost anything…
- - Tomorrow will be better. – Thalia must have seen the worry in his eyes. – I know these days haven't been the best, but we'll have better luck soon.
Percy felt a pinch of guilt. It was his fault they had only eaten a pomegranate today. "It was important" he told himself, to calm his conscience.
He closed his eyes and saw her.
Percy looked behind him: he could hear Thalia in her sweet voice. She was such a good actress. His job was to take some food from the stand while she distracted the keeper. But his eye got caught by a fortune-teller that stood nearby. Glancing at Thalia, he headed towards the girl's table. She was looking down, and only lifted her gaze when he spoke. A few blonde streaks escaped the silk scarf wrapped tighlty around her head and covering her mouth, leaving only her striking silver eyes at view.
- - What do you want for a close future? – Percy whispered.
- - Only your smile. You will find gold strings at midnight in the moon's bath. – Even though he couldn't see her mouth, he could feel her eyes smiling. He grinned quickly and then turned away.
When he got closer, he realized Thalia was about to finish her "performance". He looked around and quickly snatched some fruit from the tent, but they slipped and fell. He clumsily started to pick them up, but he had already gotten the attention of the shopkeeper. He silently slid one piece into his vest, and put the rest back on their place.
- - Please excuse me, honorable merchant. I am so graceless. Have a good day.
He stepped away and kept walking slowly until he was far away. He then looked back, and when he checked that the man was no longer looking at him, Percy started running untill he found the alleyway, where Thalia was already waiting for him.
- - Aren't you going to sleep? – Thalia's voice returned him to the present.
- - Yeah, don't worry, I just want to admire the night a bit. It's so beautiful.
- - You are so weird. – She affirmed, while yawning and turning round to face the wall.
He went over to his carpet. They had been living in this abandoned house since the guards had raided and casted them out of the old mill. It was the closest Percy had become to consider a place home. The walls were torn and broken, the ground was full of rubble and rocks. Everything was stained and grimed, and some days they found rats. But it was their home. It had a giant terrace –surrounded by old faded curtains, with two carpets on the floor and a hole were they kept the food they could scavenge and some of their few belongings─ which you could see most of the city from, and a room that hadn't ben demolished and filled with ruin, in which they slept during the coldest nights. And it had Thalia. That was all Percy needed, and he was mostly happy.
He lay down pretending to go to sleep, and waited until he felt her breath steady itself. Then, he got up. Thalia had the lightest sleep, and the smallest noise could wake her up. He gathered his dark cape and swung it over his shoulders, as he tiptoed towards the edge of the terrace. He looked back while he tucked the cloth to cover nearly all his face. With one last sorry look at his partner, he jumped.
{
Annabeth's foot tapped furiosly against the floor. She looked towards her left several times. In front of her the arabic pond glimmered in the moonlight, colourful fish swimming carefree. She pulled a gold strand out of her ponytail and tucked it in again, biting her lip. What if he didn't get it? Or if he didn't recognise? Her brain was going crazy. No, she said to herself. He'll come.
She suddenly heard a rustle behind her and was turning around when a hand grabbed her around her wrist and another covered her mouth. She was lifted and carried, and she found herself sitting in a small stone bench, behind a column and a giant philodendron. In the darkness she noticed the glare of two sea green eyes. Then, Percy took off his tunic. She swung her arms around him and rested her head or his collarbone. All she could think about was him, his smell, his laugh…
- - I was starting to become scared you hadn't recognised me back at the market.
- Who else has storm silver eyes and fair hair, here, in Bagradàh? – He made his voice deeper in the last two words, while taking off dramatically the headscarf. Annabeth rolled her eyes.
Suddenly, his stomach rumbled.
- - Oh, Percy!
- - It's okay! I have eaten today!
She looked at him sceptically.
- - What did you eat?
- - Eer… - Percy couldn't lie to her even if he tried. – Half a pommegranate. – He muttered. Suddenly the ground had become very interesting.
She put her head in her hands, and Percy lifted it gently.
- - It's okay. I've had worse days.
- - Is that what you were doing at the market? – She suddenly stopped – Oh my gods! It was my fault! You came over to me and wasted the time Thalia was buying you! It's completely my fault!
- - No! Annabeth stop saying that, it's not your fault!
Her grey eyes were stormy. Percy loved those eyes so much; he loved counting the silver streaks in between the grey ones and he loved how they changed shade depending on her mood, and how Annabeth smiled with them and not with her mouth, and how they lit up when she had an idea, and how they swirled when she was thinking or reading, and how they looked at him as if no one else existed…
- - You shouldn't risk your life like that… I could bring you food, or money or…
- - Annabeth – His voice was soft but firm – We have had this conversation too many times. I could not accept it. I couldn't. If I ever was so desperate to have to accept pity from you I'd… - His voice broke.
- - But I don't need any of it, I have too many.
- - I don't care how rich your family is. The only thing I want is you.
- She looked at him, worry in her eyes.
- - But if the guards ever caught you…
- - They can't. I disappear in thin air. I vanish in front of their eyes. – He started moving his fingers like waves in front of his eyes, making Annabeth giggle - I am the fastest, the bravest, the…
- - Most modest.
- - Certainly. – He bowed his head jokingly. Annabeth smiled. – And I have the brightest woman of Bagradàh by my side…
- - You flatter me.
- - …Thalia!
She opened her mouth and pushed him, pretending to feel offended.
- - And of course, the brightest woman of all the world: Annabeth Chase. How did you come up with the idea of the fortune teller?
She laughed and put her hands on his chest, as he leaned in. Annabeth felt happy and free, like there was nothing else in the world. Like she only felt when she was with him.
After a while, neither the daughter of the royal vizier nor the thief could have said how long, there was a sound of footsteps. Annabeth and Percy jolted apart and froze. The sound passed by, echoing through the large arch corridor.
He peeked out of the little compartment, hidden behind the pedestal of a statue. He turned back to the girl he loved.
- - We better go.
- - But… - Annabeth knew they had no choice, but she didn't want it to end. They had so little time together.
- - What if your dad decided to look in your room? Or what if the guard heard something and checked in here? – There was pain in his eyes.
She opened her mouth and closed it, and bit her lip.
- - Don't do that. – He said, and gave her one last kiss. It was soft and short, and then he disappeared into the night.
Annabeth waited for a while, sitting, with her eyes closed and the ghost of his kiss still on her lips. She got up and headed outside. She gave one last look at the pond, and walked away quickly. At midnight in the moon's bath.