Blue. Everything is blue. The shapes swirl above my head, mixing with distorted sunlight. I look around at the stone room around me. A fish swims through the window, its brilliant red and black and white colors startling me. I sit up slowly, my hair floating around in the water. Where am I? I stand, my feet bouncing off the floor. Everything is quiet, and as I walk towards the door, I float two inches off the ground everytime I step forward. The door slides open easily, and I walk into the blue hallway. Don't ask me how, but I can hear voices down the hallway, speaking in hushed tones. I hear my name once or twice, and the words, "ungrateful brat" I slowly walk towards the sounds, my heart pounding in my chest. Up ahead, a tall tan man with a long muscular fish tail, holds a triton, floating. A pretty red haired mermaid hovers next to him, her arms crossed over her chest, a scowl breaking her pretty features. I step lightly into the light, and clear my throat, looking at the man. His hair is dark like mine, and when he turns around, he has percy's eyes. He smiles at me.
"Avery!" he holds out an arm, and I walk closer. He tugs me into a tight hug. I peek over his shoulder, watching as the mermaid shimmers and disappears. The man doesn't say anything, just keeps hugging me.
"Dad?"
"yes sweetheart. I should have written to you a long time ago. I'm sorry."
"Yeah." he seems to be bracing himself, and I stare up at him in confusion. In response, he gives a nervous laugh.
"I'm used to seeing you blow up at things like this. I've been watching." he admits. I smile.
"Yeah. I have a tendency to do that. Um, where am I?"
"My kingdom." he says simply, and looks down at me.
"Where are my friends?"
"On their way back to utah. I believe their over florida still."
"Where are we?"
"somewhere in the gulf of mexico. They're picking you up in new orleans." I blink.
"You talked to them?"
"Well, needed to talk to you, so I might have messed with Leo's things a touch, and sent him off the coast of florida." Does the god of the sea look sheepish?
"So, you sent them almost the the bermuda triangle, aka the sea of monsters, and sent them on their way after saying I was in your custody, probably freaking out half of them, just so you could talk to me?" he nods. "I feel special." my dad grins.
"Now, I need to tell you about this girl in orem. She's, interesting. Just, don't be judgmental when you find out who her parent is. Zeus is only letting me tell you this, because, if percy does something rash, the world will end."
"oh." I look down at my hands. My side is bandaged, and I can see blue light peeking out from the cloth. Dad catches me looking.
"Healing salve. My son Triton, makes them well. It'll glow for a few days more. When it's faded, you can take the bandages off." he places her hand on my cheek, smiling.
"And now my darling girl, your sword is in your pocket, and you need to go." I hug him tightly, and he sighs.
"I've missed you so much."
"Me too." I feel tears breaking down my cheeks, and hastily wipe them away. I look down to a see a bulge in my pocket. A small cell phone, blue, with a shell design on the cover.
"press the volume button." dad advises, and as I do, it grows into my silver sword. I smile.
"Thank you. I'll miss you." he smiles, then places his hands on my shoulders, closing his eyes. I wait, and can feel my mind slipping away.
Water laps at my body, the waves thrusting me onto the shore. I stand, running up the soggy sand, looking for the Argo II. Poseidon said they would meet me in New Orleans, and I can only hope this is it. I rush by someone in the street. They yell, using french cuss words, and I run faster. Something large, flashes bronze in the sun. I squint. To the naked eye, it looks like a bronze pen in the clasped hand. I look closer, seeing percy's sword. I look up at the head to make sure. Dark hair, sea green eyes, and a blonde girl next to him. Is that leo? I think hard, about to call out his name. But then I realize that might attract unwanted attention from monsters. I do the next best thing.
"Annie!" I yell. Annabeth's head swivels, eyes storming. Her gaze flicks through the crowd, then she finds me. Her eyes soften. Cutting through three lines at cafe's she races over to me, and grins.
"We thought you were dead." I smile.
"yeah. Everyone says that." she grins, ruffling my hair. I duck. Into the arms of Leo.
"Hey princess. I missed you." his voice is soft in my ear as he squeezes me tight. He pulls back, folding his arms over his chest, grinning. Percy's arms wrap around me, holding me tighter than anyone.
"Don't ever do that again." he murmurs. "Don't you dare scare me like that. I was so worried."
"I was fine."
"We were literally two meters away from the Sea of Monsters. What if you weren't?"
"Well, I was. Don't worry. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" he pulls back, gripping my shoulders, and worriedly searching my face.
"Percy, stop worrying." I say, shrugging him off. "I just need to get something to eat." Annabeth puts a hand on percy's arm, and he relaxes almost instantly.
We walk quickly towards the argo ii, which is resting on hill overlooking the city. People give us uneasy glances as we walk by. I start when I see a stripe of purple hair, thinking its sadie. The woman walks past, her frame much to large to be sadies. We reach the ship, and hastily ascend the rope ladder. As soon as leo gets the ship off the ground, I walk to my cabin, collapsing on the soft bed? I dim the lights, hoping to fall asleep. Im on the edge of sleep when someone knocks quietly. I grumble to myself, standing up, and opening the door, running a hand through my already messy hair.
"What is it?" I ask groggily. Who knew I was so tired? Piper stands the in the doorway, her body language reading unsure, and wary. I straighten up slightly.
"Can we talk? Inside?" her smooth voice washes over me, and i'm about to let her inside when something sparks in my memory. I raise an eyebrow at her suspiciously.
"Are you charming me?" I say hoarsely. She laughs, raises her eyes to the ceiling.
"No. Just want to talk." I relax, opening the door wider for her. After we're situated with me on the bed,n and her on the armchair, she asks me a question.
"How are you?"
I let out a long breath. "I'm fine."
"Emotionally, I mean." oh. Totally different story.
"I... I don't know." her eyes soften, and her lips curve into a beautiful gently smile.
"I'm sorry if I seem... intruding. It's just, you've been kind of touchy lately. Do you want to talk about it?"
"i don't know. I don't know if it's what I need right now."
"Usually it is. You didn't have to. But you also don't havE to do this alone. There are people here for you." I look down at my hands, not realizing that i'm pouring out my worries and thoughts and emotions to her. Not realizing the tears sliding down my face. Not realizing how my body shakes like a wet leaf. Suddenly she's sitting next to me, her arms around me, and she stroking my face, brushing away repairing tears, and cooing to me.
"Sh. It's okay. You're fine. I promise." I can tell she's tempted to charmspeak me. I almost want her to.
"Go ahead." I choke out through heavy tears.
"Sleep. You'll be fine." my eyelids grow heavy under the influence of her voice, and I fall back onto my pillows. I make out Piper's smiling face before i drift. When I open my eyes, it's dark, and quiet. The ship hums, swaying slightly. I slip off of the mattress, grabbing the small throw blanket, and wrapping it around my shoulders. I numbly walk down the hallway, not really sure where i'm going. When I come to my senses, I realize i'm at the door to the stables. I open it, soft moonlight reflecting off the surface of a lake below the clear surface I stand on. Grunts, and sighs of frustration and small tinkering sounds come from the engine room, and walking around to be able to see, I spot Leo's legs sticking out from under something. He sighs, rolling out, and standing wiping his hands on his greasy oil cloth. Tucking it into his toolbelt, he looks up, then notices me. His eyes widen.
"Hey. You okay?" I shrug, not sure how to answer.
"Here," he guides me over to the center of the floor, where we look down on the small world below. He wraps an arm around my shoulder, leaning my head against him, and says, "Talk to me."
"I feel so confused right now."
"Understandable." he motions calmly with his hand to keep going.
"I feel torn up inside. I don't know why, it's just, maybe it would have been better for me to just have stayed with carter and sadie. Maybe we wouldn't hate each other now."
"Maybe. But then you wouldn't be able to kick her sorry butt at the cat fight. Pain makes you strong." he kisses the top of my head, hugging my shoulder.
"But how much pain can I take before I break? If i'm not already broken."
"Hmm. I guess that depends on you, and your maker. Whoever made you made you with a certain tolerance, like a machine. How long you last depends on what your creator decided. If you break before then, there are people here who can fix you." he grins for a moment, running a hand through his curly hair. "You know, I specialize in fixing things."
"I do know." He laughs softly, the vibration bouncing around in his warm chest. I sigh, curling into him more, and letting him hold me.
"Leo," I whisper.
"Yes?"
"I think i'm broken. Fix me?"
"You are the one thing I could not stand to be broken." he places his hand under my chin, raising me up to his lips. They are soft, warm, and gentle. as he pulls back, i can feel his hot breath on my cheek.
"Gods," i murmur. "Leo,"
"I love you, avery." then he presses his lips to mine again, and my eyes slide closed.
AN: awwww! if you got the feelz from that, please comment/review or PM me.
anyway, thank you for sticking with me, the next chapter will be part two, so we'll go from there.
if you have any ideas for me, just comment in the review space, or PM. i'm looking for good ideas because i am suffering from writers block. :(
please please please review!
i'm trying to reach at lease fifteen at this point. tell me what you liked your emotions, etc, and i'll give out names at the top of the next chapter.
thanks you lovelies!
blueladybug1
