Chapter 1
The next five years consisted of training and moving forward with their lives. Everything seemed so different. Alexandria was different. More bitter, even more guarded. While Anastasia tried to keep to the present, hoping to remain trusting and as open to others as she could.
Though they looked the same, they acted different. They could pass for the same person, if Alex hadn't decided that shorter hair was more practical than the long hair they both had when they first came to camp.
Their eyes still sent shocks through the camp, though neither understood why. It was their eyes, and they'd had the same unique blend of silver and gold since their birth. Or so they assumed.
They didn't remember much prior to their father's murder. That hurt more than either cared to admit. The only pictures they had, gifts from their mother, were one's where their eye color had been the same as it was now.
The last picture they had was the morning of their birthday. All three of them were carefree and goofy.
They had maybe two pictures of them with their father. The one mentioned above and one when they were newborns.
They couldn't forget the day they came to camp, even if they wanted to. The symbol of Hera was the same color as their eyes and neither were sure if that was their mother randomly creating one or if they were more closely tied to her in more than just biology.
Besides the color, a single lily flower is the image associated with Hera.
Some would assume that it was a peacock, for that is her sacred animal. But assuming things got people in trouble and after the twins had arrived there was quiet conversations about whether Hera had more demigods in the past and they hadn't been discovered yet, or if the twins were the first mortal heroes of Hera.
It put Zeus in a terrible mood for the next several months.
If anyone asked, which people rarely did, they'd begrudgingly say they were from Montana.
All the traveling they had done with Luke and Thalia, they could claim they were from wherever. The truth was a much easier thing to recall than a single lie they could get caught it. One lie would lead to another and another until neither could keep track.
The truth was just easier.
With the teen years came more training, as well as more power. The twins had become to show a vast difference in their abilities. Ana had been able to show a talent for warping the reality around her, but only with a massive amount of concentration. Chiron had once theorized that this had been what had happened on the day that Thalia had died, due to such an emotional state.
Her twin, however, had small visions of the future. While it wasn't like the Oracle's power, it also wasn't exactly like visions that a normal demigod would possess. More often than not, it would happen during the day. As the twins aged, these powers became more noticeable.
With the years, Ana became more and more skilled with shooting arrows. Having taken to practicing with the children of Apollo, and others whom favored archery, it was easier for her to fight without being too close to the fight. After all, she never fully became comfortable with the concept of harming others. While she was able to do so for her safety and the safety of those she cared for, it was hard for the daughter of Hera to think of what that meant for the other side of the battle.
It was different for Alex, who was more willing to take down a foe. The protective nature of hers was more aligned with fight before talking. Skilled in the style of sword fighting, that was more of her talent.
As she defended herself while practicing such talents, her head suddenly began to feel as though a ton of pressure was piling onto her. Holding her hand up, her opponent thankfully took the hint. "Hey, you okay?" The child of Demeter asked.
Nodding, that was the last thing Alex did before dropping her sword the vision came. A young boy, with jet black hair and sea green eyes. And with that, the headache was gone. Blinking slightly, she looked up at her former opponent. "I'm fine." She said, perhaps a bit too bluntly. A typical Alexandria tone, one that most had gotten used to by now. Her twin was not one among the most.
If fact, her twin often said she should be more open to the campers that were part of their home. Alex strongly disagreed, since forming close bonds would only end in pain. Besides, the campers that were there year-round, like her, Ana, Annie, and Luke, were the ones she felt wouldn't die on her anytime soon.
Excusing herself from her dueling partner, she went to look for her sister. It didn't take long to find the other brunette. Anastasia was talking to Luke, her smile as bright as ever. The two had started a real relationship last year. It had been the happiest that Alex had seen her sister since they had been little, and that was the main reason that she approved. Both of them trusted him, and that was the other reason for approval.
Walking up to the both of them, she waved in a minor attempt to get their attention. "Sia, can we talk real quick?" She called over. Alex was one of the few people who actually called Anastasia that, as Anastasia preferred Ana and Stacy for nicknames. Alex understood, she would hate to be called Lexie by anyone besides Ana.
Her sister and Luke looked over. Ana looked at Luke briefly with a soft smile and then stood up from the bench she was sitting at to meet her sister half way. "Hey Lexie, what's up?" She asked, slightly concern on her face at noticing the look on her face.
As the twins talked, Luke watched from where he sat. He had an idea as to what they were discussing, not that he knew exactly, but he figured that Alex had one of her premonitions and wanted to try and decipher it.
They almost always came true, even if it was in weird or unexpected ways. Alex had tried to warn him before his quest a few years back that something terrible was going to happen. It wasn't that her powers were secret or unknown, but he'd ignored her warning.
Luke had, stupidly, assume that it was due to the fact that none of them had left the camp since they had arrived. He knew that Alex rarely gave out warnings to people.
Nothing too terrible had happened on the quest; it was more to do with what happened after his botched attempt to retrieve a golden apple. Not that it mattered; one of them had been stolen centuries prior and if there's one thing Luke absolutely knew, from his own experiences, it was that reenacting quests could never lead anywhere good.
He knew that Ana and Alex still held a grudge towards Zeus for something the Sky God had done eight years ago. He was sure they still felt the same way towards their mother.
Of course, he knew where he stood in regards to the God's, and it sucked. The only reason he hadn't left this world of Gods behind him, assuming he could, was because of Ana, Alex, and Annie.
He was happy. As happy as he could be, with everything he had done and all that he was planning to do. Though he was bitter towards the Gods, he could never tell Ana. It had taken nearly a year after his quest to convince her that if they became a couple, it wouldn't unravel their little makeshift family.
They didn't have long, all demigods usually died young, he knew that him nearing nineteen was almost unheard of, and they shouldn't waste what time they had left. The coming war, which only the ignorant ignored the signs, would only cut their time in half - maybe more.
Part of him did wonder how Ana would react to all of this. Despite her bright personality, she was sensitive. He never would want to hurt her, he wanted to protect her. If anything happened to her… he wouldn't let anything happen, he kept telling himself that. Shielding her from the more… troublesome parts of all of this was how she would get through it all.
Smiling at her as she looked to him, her semi-permanent smile seemed to brighten even the darkest of souls. He would always wonder what made him so lucky. Lucky someone so bright could ever love him.
Ana walked over once more, Alex in tow. "What was that all about?" He asked. While Anastasia sat next to him, Alexandria sat on the other side of her twin.
"Lexie had a vision. It was of a boy." She said, a hint of a knowing smile on her lips. Instantly, he could hear the scoff come from the other side of his girlfriend.
Leaning forward, Alex shook her head slightly as she gazed at the both of them. "And my sister thinks it's a sign of my 'future love'. Unpopular opinion, I think it's a bad sign." She muttered, met with a groan from Ana.
As always, the twins consisted of pessimistic and an optimistic opinions. "Whether either of you are right or wrong, it is a sign of something. As always, us demigods should be prepared for anything." Luke responded to the both of them. This was met with two pairs of eyes showing mixed emotions.
Before any more words can be said, there was a loud roar from the border. "Seems like someone new is joining." Alex mumbled as they all got to their feet and ran for the hill just in time to stop and see a boy collapse in front of Chiron and Annie. "That's him." Alex gasped softly, causing her sister to glance at her with slight worry.
Anastasia walks up first, before her sister and boyfriend fully snap out of their previous shock. Looking at Grover, she raised a questioning eyebrow. "Who is he?" She asked softly, kneeling down beside the boy.
Grover watched the boy with worry. "He's a demigod, a powerful one. And my friend." He said hurriedly. The worry was quite understandable. Anastasia nodded sympathetically.
Percy Jackson was sent to the infirmary after that, unclaimed for now. It sounded as though he had been through a long day. Alex seemed eager to help Annabeth look out for him while he healed. She wanted answers, wanted to know what made him important enough to be part of one of her visions. Said visions were often more negative than positive.
As an unclaimed, it meant that he would be crammed in with the rest of cabin eleven. Luke was busy trying to help the others figure out how to find space for a new member of their little home.
With the rest of her little family having their hands full, Anastasia had decided to clean the cabin that she and her twin had to themselves. What had once been empty and cold had become as warm and welcoming as she could make it over the years of their stay.
Two beds had been the first items of furniture that had been added. It had taken weeks to make it perfect for both girls. And still Anastasia always wanted to make sure it looked perfect. Habit for the daughter of Hera.
It seemed like so long ago since the girls had lived in a proper room before camp. Back when their father was alive. A reminder of their loss came once a year, on their birthday, the day their father died. The day was fast approaching, only a few days away. A blunt reminder of their loss. All because of Zeus.
Ana sighed softly as the memory flashed in and out of her mind. Sitting on her bed, she looked around quietly. "Well daddy, another year is passing by." She stated softly. In all of her hopes, her biggest one was that he would be proud.
