I was having mixed emotions. I was happy that we knew who my father was. I was sad that I had to move out of my cabin before I could even sleep a night in it. But one emotion overpowered the rest. When Percy had flirted with me, he said he was the son of Poseidon. That's why he freaked out! But that means... it gives me shivers.
Vanessa, Thalia and I moved my stuff (which basically was just a sleeping bag and some extra clothes) to the Poseidon cabin, number 3. Percy was too overwhelmed with shock to help, and to be honest, I did very little for the same reason.
I went out and sat on a bench, watching the Apollo cabin do late-night archery. I heard that Percy was doing the same oon the other side of camp, but I really did NOT want to interact with him right now.
Everyone went in about 20 minutes later, and I saw Percy for the first time since the river thing. He went straight to his bed, and pretended that he fell right to sleep. I could tell he was awake because his breathing patterns were off. I did the same, making sure I didn't also do his mistake.
After about a half hour, Percy moved. He got a golden coin out from under his bunk, filled a spray bottle with water, and shine a flashlight away from me. I really must be a good actress, because he never would have done something like this if I was awake.
Percy sprayed a mist into the flashlight, creating a rainbow. I saw him throw in the coin, and whispered, "Oh goddess, accept my offering."
The mist shimmered, and Percy said, a little bit louder, "Sally Jackson, 104th street," The shimmer then transformed into a screen of light, ending with a view of a woman. The quality was like, HD times 10. As if she was really here.
"Percy!" The woman exclaimed. My guess was that she was his mother.
"Shhh! Mom, whisper!" Percy cast a nervous glance in my direction, as if afraid I would wake up. Little did he know, I was already awake.
"Who I'd that? Percy, did you get a sister? How awesome! Where is she from? Does her and her mom live in New York? Wait, wait, wait. What's her name?" Mrs. Jackson pelted questions at Percy at a million miles per hour.
"Calm down, mom. I have some questions for you, too. Her name is Mary Ann, and she lives in Southern California. Not New York at all. The earlier today, she was shivering when it was only 43! But anyway, she lives alone. Her mother died when she was little, and she's been living in a box."
"Shouldn't she have a foster home?"
"She did, but it was so horrible that she ran away. Kind of like Annie, but without the adoption part. And it is in California. So now it's my turn. Did you have a step-sister, by chance?"
"Ok, it's time you knew. My mother died giving birth to me. My father remarried, and she had a daughter. The entire family took on the name Jackson. Then, they both died in a plane crash. I thought her daughter, Emily, had died also,considering Emily was only 6. Why?"
"Mary Ann, her last name. It's Jackson," was all it took for Mrs. Jackson to gasp.
"Emily had a daughter? With Poseidon? Small world. Where has Mary Ann lived?"
"Well, she said she was in a foster home from age 1 to 5, but it was so horrible she ran away. It was so bad, she compared the streets to the home and liked the streets better. She has lived there, by herself, since then," Percy summed it up perfectly. That's exactly what happened.
"Why doesn't Mary Ann live with her mom? I can live with you. Barely." Mrs. Jackson teased.
"Mom, Emily is well known throughout the Greek mythology world for her battle skills. But not everyone's skills can save them," he was obviously trying to avoid using the word died to Mrs. Jackson, who had apparently cared a lot for my mom.
"Oh. Well, do you like her? Does she look like you?"
"We could be twins. She has dad's eyes, hair, skin tone, everything. But her ears are different. They're kinda pointed, like an elf's," I knew my ears were pointed, but I had never actually seen Poseidon, so I had no idea what qualities I'd inherited. Then again, I had never seen my mom, either.
"My, my, Emily's ears. I remember those. They made her want to be one of the elves at the mall. Now my other question- do you like her?" I realized that he had been stalling on that question. He had never even acknowledged it.
"Um, I..." he trailed off, making me nervous. "You know what, it's late. We should probably be heading off to bed. Good night!"
"Perseus Jackson, answer me," commanded Mrs. Jackson. Despite her kind nature, she can be real stern when she wants to be.
Percy finally caved. "Fine. I guess it's no use hiding it. Mary Ann's great and all, but I totally got teased after she was claimed. Ares cabin was the worst. People were saying, 'Ooh, look, Percy has a royal sister!' and, 'Behold, Percy, brother of the supreme! Should we shine your shoes, or draw your bath?' Then they would run off off laughing. She's ruining my life!"
I wish he never said that. I felt like a problem, like an interference. I didn't want to let Percy down, but apparently I had. I could never live with myself if Percy didn't want me around at all. And to think, yesterday I couldn't care less what he thought. I didn't even know him yesterday.
"Perceus! How could you say that? She's not ruining your life, she's just adapting. How would you feel if you had been introduced to all this stuff and been claimed all in . the same day? Not to mention, that you were literally better than everyone! She needs time. Promise me you'll give her a chance, please?" Mrs. Jackson made me realize that that's exactly what happened. I also realized that my love for her made sense- she was my aunt. Great. Another relationship to Percy. Because that's just what I needed.
"Fine mom. I promise to give her a chance. She just is making my social life go down the drain. I don't know how much longer I can handle being 'the supreme's brother'."
I understood Percy's anguish. I only had the sea breeze for comfort, but now I know why. He has a sister that's killing his reputation. I had to leave; getting out of his life would at least make him popular again.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Like I promised, new day, new chapter! I may not post as often anymore, maybe once a week, due to school and family matters (lol I made a joke on accident). I swear on the River Styx to post as often as I can :)
