AN: Alright, so I know I have a shit-ton of stories already up here, but this idea hit me as I was working on The Queen, and has consumed a bit of my time.
I have also been recovering from an accident so that's another reason I haven't been updating often. In any case, before anyone asks all stories I am focusing on are listed on my profile. This will be the last new story I upload for a while, since I want to focus on my current stories, such as Tomorrow, The Queen, Ultranumb to name a few which I am currently focusing on. This one included.
I'll update as soon as I can, and I hope you enjoy the first chapter. Also, all information on my stories is as always on my website, linked on my profile.
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Watery Shadows.
Chapter 1: The Sea's Daughter.
London, England;
August 28th, 2008:
"Persephone, oh it's so good to see you dear," an older woman said, pulling the teenager into a hug, and Persephone – commonly known as Percy or Sephie – chuckled while returning it. "How's your mother?"
Persephone Jackson smiled as she pulled out of the hug, and answered, "It's good to see you too grandma. Mom is fine, she's sorry she couldn't come as well."
Truthfully, Percy or Sephie – depending on who preferred to use either nickname – wasn't sure if her mother really was sorry or not. Since Sally used the surname Jackson and no longer had her once thick British accent, many assumed Laura Jackson and her husband were Sally's parents.
It helped that Sally resembled Laura with her ocean blue eyes, but the truth was that Laura was only Sally's maternal Aunt. Sally Jackson was really Sally Faust, younger daughter of Catherine and Jackson Faust.
From what Percy knew there had been issues with Sally and her parents, and she commonly spent a lot of time with Laura, Mrs. Faust's older sister. When they died Sally was heart broken, and though she had a stable bond with her sister, Sally left home for America soon after graduating.
Eventually Sally met Percy's father, the Greek God – though this fact was not known to anyone but Sally and Percy – Poseidon, and the rest is history.
What Sally had never revealed to Poseidon was the fact she was from a very powerful Magician family. The Egyptians and other Pantheons normally did not mix. Persephone was an exception, probably the only demigod who could claim to be a Magician, and of the Blood of the Pharaohs. A mix-blood her mother had once joked.
Catherine Faust, an older woman with curly gray hair, watery blue eyes, and a skittish look about her surveyed her eldest granddaughter.
Persephone did take quite a bit after Sally, though Mrs. Faust expertly picked up on the resemblance between her eldest daughter, Ruby, and Percy. Completely ignoring the fact Sally and Ruby where only eleven months apart, and had greatly resembled one another. So much so, many had mistaken them for twins growing up.
Persephone was petite, and rather short for her age. She was fifteen, older than Sadie by a few years. She was slender but still had an athletic build. She was much tanner than Mrs. Faust, or Sally for that matter, but it was clearly natural.
She had high cheekbones, an upturned nose, and while she had Sally's smile and eye shape her facial shape was sharper, but still similar to Ruby. Her hair was black with dark auburn-brown highlights. Her eyes were the most unique and bright shade of sea green that Mrs. Faust had ever seen before.
"How is Japan?" she asked as the woman ushered her granddaughter to the car. "The last letter Sally sent said you'd moved away from Egypt."
Persephone blinked, and sighed mentally. Of course her mother hadn't let gran know. She was probably one of the only demigods, other than children of Hecate or Aphrodite, to pick up another language relatively well. Though she would admit she wasn't quite fluent in Japanese yet.
When she was about two her mother married a repulsive man, Gabe Ugliano, so his smell would hide her scent from monsters. When Percy was four Sally came home early and witnessed a drunk Gabe hit Percy for tripping and knocking his beer over. Sally was horrified, and unsure if it had happened before or not, but she took no chances and quickly divorced Gabe.
After that Sally decided to move back to London. At least until she could get the money to move them somewhere even further. There were many places where monsters frequented less.
When Persephone was nearly nine they moved to Egypt. It was nice there, beautiful in many ways, but took some getting use to at first. Sally had been teaching her Egyptian since she was younger so Percy picked the language up almost as well as she did Ancient Greek. Then again, she'd always had an instant talent for not only modern Egyptian, but Ancient Egyptian.
Sally had finished her education, thanks to the loan of Percy's grandparents, as quickly as she could. Over time Sally earned the money through book-sales. They'd lived in Egypt for three years before they moved to Japan for a year. They still owned the small house in Egypt, but they had moved into an apartment while living in Japan.
Sally knew she'd have to go to camp soon, considering the reason they'd moved from Egypt was because of rising numbers in monsters finding them. So they only got an apartment while in Japan, knowing they'd only be there for a year or two.
Even though she'd had to uproot her life every time she moved, Percy loved all the exotic places they'd lived, or visited briefly. It was obvious Sally had as well. She was an adventurer at heart.
When Percy was twelve, nearly thirteen, they suddenly left Japan for New York. Persephone hadn't minded, she could always return some day if she chose to. She also got to spend a lot of time at sea, since she and her mother couldn't get on a plane for fear of Zeus blasting them out of the sky. He was a lot more likely to notice who she was if they'd taken a plane into his domain.
She did like New York, but it was one place they'd always avoided like the plague because of it being the flame of the west, and the abundance of monsters. She had weapons, created for her by her mother with the celestial bronze she'd prayed to Poseidon for. Persephone was also quite good with her powers at that point.
Even after she was taken to Camp Half-Blood she'd decided, as had her mother, that the fact she was a magician should be hidden for as long as possible. Three years later she'd succeeded in keeping her secret from most, though Chiron had caught on.
"... sephone...Persephone!" Gran looked at Percy in concern. "Are you alright, dear? You spaced out there for a few moments."
Percy shook her head and nodded.
"Oh I'm sorry, Gran," she replied, her soft hard to place accent coming through more. Having lived in multiple places since a young age her accent had become kind of mix-mash of American, British, and Egyptian. More so the later of the three. "Japan's nice, but we've been living back in New York for a while now. Mom's been busy so I'm not surprised she hasn't been able to write to you or Gramps."
Gran frowned as they finished putting Percy's bags in the trunk. It was obvious to Percy that her grandmother didn't like being left out of the loop. As they pulled out and headed towards home, she decided to keep Paul to herself for now.
Her grandparents had always been disappointed in Sally's choices in life, especially when it came to men. As far as they knew Persephone's father had left Sally pregnant, and Gabe was someone they had never agreed about – not that Percy or Sally could blame them for that.
After her last quest into the labyrinth, Percy and her mother had discussed her moving in with her grandparents and younger cousin for the school year. Percy hadn't wanted to complicate things for Paul after what had happened at orientation.
"I hope you'll like your time here, Persephone," Gran said as they pulled up in front of the flat. "Who knows, maybe you would like to finish your education here."
Percy smiled, somewhat amused by her grandmothers hints, thinly veiled as they were. Though Percy didn't mind London and enjoyed seeing her grandparents and cousin, she couldn't live there year round. She couldn't afford to be so far away from camp, or Brooklyn for that matter.
Getting her bags out of the trunk they entered the flat, and were greeted by her cousin who came to meet them at the door. Sadie Kane was Persephone's younger cousin by three years.
She was tanned, a shade or two lighter than Percy. She had loose caramel hair, not truly blonde but not brown either. Her eyes were a deep but light blue, just like Ruby's and similar to Sally's. Compared to the few times Percy had seen Carter, who was just a year younger than her, Sadie could have passed for Ruby at the age of twelve. Except for a few differences, and the red streaks in her hair.
"Sephie, you're here... finally," Sadie said, and the two girls exchange hugs.
It wasn't hard seeing as Sadie and Persephone were about the same height. Percy was just barely 5'1, which was unbearably short in her mind though at times it did give her the advantage in battle, while Sadie was about 5'2.
It was kind of unfair, when Percy was twelve she'd been only 4'10. Neither of her parents were short, so Percy was at a loss as to why she was so petite.
"I missed you too, Sadie. How are you?" she asked.
"Why don't you and Persephone get everything settled in the guestroom," Mr. Faust said, interrupting anything the younger girl was going to say. "We'll call you down when lunch is ready."
"Sure Gramps," Sadie said, taking two of Percy's bags. "I can't wait to hear how you and Aunt Sally have been..."
Sadie's words cut off as they ascended the stairs.
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Percy spent a few days getting settled in, and reconnecting with her grandparents and cousin. She was enrolled into a public school, the same one Sadie was. She'd been to both privet and public schools before, but for most of her life she'd been Home Schooled.
Two weeks after arriving she was able to find time to Iris-message her mom.
"So, have your grandparents driven you crazy yet?" Sally asked, smiling. "Mom and Dad mean well, but they can be a bit over bearing."
Percy laughed, and answered, "Gran and Gramps aren't that bad, though they've dropped plenty of hints."
"To move in with them and Sadie, I take it?" Sally questioned, though she already knew the answer. "How are you doing with school? You can come home anytime you want, Sephie, Paul was able to get you into Goode High."
"Mom, you're worse than Gran at dropping hints," she said, smirking. "Actually, I'm enjoying my time here. It's relatively calm without all the monsters... eventually one will find me but for now I'm enjoying the break from it."
Sally smiled, almost sadly. She'd known her daughter's destiny was going to be great, but she had hoped that she'd be one of the few with a happy ending. The Greeks had unfortunately created tragedy, and Sally never knew when Percy's luck would run out.
It was her worst fear, loosing her only child and the possibility was always there. She felt better knowing there weren't as many monsters in England.
"I just worry for you Percy, you're my only child," she said, and Percy smiled.
"I know mom, but I'm fine here. You know, you could always have another child with Paul... I've always wanted a little brother or sister." She smirked mischievously, and Sally seemed startled for a moment before her cheeks were tented pink.
With a shake of her head she said, "Maybe, but I think it's kind of soon to be thinking of something like that."
Percy looked behind her at the knocking on the door, and she turned back to the sink and homemade rainbow – which wasn't as easy as it sounded, but since she had control over water as a daughter of Poseidon and magician she could momentarily cause a rainbow in the right setting.
"I've got to go, Mom. I'll IM you when I get a chance," she said, and Sally nodded before Percy phased her hand through the message, cutting the connection.
"Sephie, are you done in there yet?" Sadie asked from the other side of the door, and Percy turned off the sink faucet.
"I'll be right out!" she called back.
Running a brush through her long hair twice, Percy set the brush back down and turned to leave the room.
