Dream, Send Me a Sign

I was cold and I really should've gone back to that little house and slept, but I wanted to think. I didn't want to think with other sleeping people around me.

I had two states of thinking. One was I paced while I thought, because my ADHD would kick into overdrive and I'd need to move or go crazy just sitting, trying to keep still. The other one was the complete opposite, where my ADHD seemed to disappear altogether or go on a short holiday, and I'd sit and stare at something, still as a statue while my mind raced.

There was no in between.

Right now was a pacing kind of night. I would've loved to continue to star gaze as I thought about what Apollo had told me, but my body was itching to move. That may have also been because without the heat from the lamp, my body felt too cold. I'd been doing okay before, but comparing the warm lamp and the cold night air, away from the braziers, there was a huge temperature difference. Now I was shivering.

So I paced back and forth in the semi-darkness, in front of the bench, thinking.

I locked away our conversation about my mother and my brother. It was too overwhelming to think about right at this moment, too personal. I needed time to build my walls back up again before I addressed those. Right now I felt too exposed, too vulnerable.

I could feel the tear stains on my cheeks, my eyes and nose were no doubt red. My nose was completely stuffed with mucus forcing me to breathe through my mouth. My hair was tangled from thrashing in my bed and my messing with it too much.

One thing was for sure, I wasn't going to be winning any beauty pageants any time soon.

Instead, I thought about the very last thing Apollo had sprung on me right before leaving. The last thing Mr. D had said to me, too.

Luke didn't love me. Luke was using me to spy on the camp.

I just couldn't believe this. My hand went up to touch my lips as I remembered our first kiss, the warmth of his body against mine, the gentleness of his hands cupping my face. I bit my lip and hugged myself even tighter. The cold seemed to have gotten colder.

It couldn't be true. He did love me. He did. Didn't he…?

I froze.

But two gods, two, had told me he didn't. One of them my own father, also the god of prophecies, had told me he didn't, that he was just using me.

I continued pacing.

Could they really be trusted? How was I supposed to know they weren't just saying that because they knew I was still helping Luke in some way and wanted to make sure I never helped him again? Or flush out whatever they thought I was hiding, catching me red-handed? Then again, if they knew I was helping him, why do this at all? Why not just punish me and be done with it?

I let out a harsh, quiet laugh. Maybe this was their punishment, making me re-live two of my most horrid memories to make my walls crumble before planting the seed of doubt.

They'd done a good job, because the doubt was growing, but instead of something new and vibrant, it was the exact opposite. It was a hole, right in my heart. I wanted to believe, so badly, that Luke did love me. That he wasn't just using me to get what he wanted. But at the same time… two gods. That had to mean something, didn't it? They'd even said the exact same thing!

And it wasn't like Kronos didn't have the power to convince people to trick other people, either. He wasn't nicknamed The Crooked One for nothing. If he could use demigods as pawns, who's to say he couldn't get those demigods to use other demigods as pawns. It'd not only make his little puppet feel in control, but it'd also help him accomplish his goals swiftly. Which meant there was a possibility Kronos convinced Luke to act like he loved me….

I gave up pacing with a defeated groan, and sat back down on the bench, throwing my head in my hands. I felt like sobbing again. I could feel the tears pooling in my eyes.

"That just won't do," a woman's voice came from my right. I sucked in a sharp breath and sat up straight, instantly turning to see who was there. And I could actually see her because the lamp behind me had been lit again. Though the light was much softer and didn't give off heat.

My throat closed, the tears that had formed streamed down my face when I blinked. The woman sitting next to me looked like my mother for a scary moment with the straight, dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and olive-toned skin. That moment passed too soon, but not soon enough, and then I was looking at my mom's favorite female singer, then my favorite female singer. And all these versions looked like they'd just come off the runway, or like they'd stepped right out of the cover of a magazine, air-brushed and perfect. My tears quickly stopped, confusion taking its place.

When I managed to tear my eyes away from her face, I noticed she was wearing a gorgeous crimson, silk dress. I wanted to tell her she was going to ruin that dress walking through this park and sitting on this bench, but then I remembered she'd said something to catch my attention in the first place.

My eyebrows furrowed and I tried to concentrate. "I'm sorry?" I asked.

The woman's beautifully plucked eyebrows puckered. "You look awful, honey." she told me straight up.

Now, I wasn't one to care much about appearances, not after being so badly scarred and also growing up at a camp where you were out in the woods all day, fighting, getting sweaty, wearing bulky armor, etc. However, when she told me this, I suddenly didn't want to show my face to her. I felt so inferior I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me just so she wouldn't have to see how awful I looked.

It finally dawned on me who this was and why I suddenly cared about what I looked like.

Three gods in one night? That had to be some kind of record. Or a bad omen.

"Lady Aphrodite," I greeted politely. She smiled. So lovely. I blinked and mentally shook myself.

"I can fix that for you," she said before flicking her finger at me. I felt something pull through my hair, in a gentle soothing way—it reminded me of when my mom would brush my hair when I was little, before I went to bed or to calm me down—all at once as the puffiness of my eyes went away and my stuffed nose became instantly clear. A compact mirror appeared in Aphrodite's hand and she held it out for me. I reluctantly took it and examined myself.

My hair had been combed through, no more knots, no more rat's nest. It even looked… shinier. I ran my fingers through it, silkier, softer. My eyes were no longer red, puffy or blood-shot, and my nose wasn't red, either. My smudged and tear-stained face had been cleaned. My skin seemed to glow, though that could've just been the lamp light.

I closed the mirror and handed it back to her.

"Thank you," I managed to stutter out. She smiled again, stunning me for a moment. I severely hoped every demigod, male or female, she talked to, reacted to her like this, that way I didn't have to feel like a complete fool.

"It was really no problem at all," she said, making the mirror disappear into thin air. Her nails were long, perfect and painted the same red as her dress. Her lipstick was a shade darker.

"Um… no offense, but why are you talking to me?" I finally asked, trying to look at her but not get caught up with how gorgeous she looked.

Aphrodite laughed. Gods, it was so musical. I blinked again and snapped myself out of it.

"I've been keeping an eye on you, Miss Victoria Williams," she answered with a secretive smile. "I've taken personal interest in your little love story with our favorite traitor, Luke Castellan." Her ever-changing eyes turned almost rueful.

"You've what?" I asked despite how dry my mouth felt. My heart thumped oddly in my chest.

"Oh, it just warms my heart," she exclaimed, taking a deep breath and putting both hands on her chest where her heart was before bringing them back into her lap. "Good and evil, falling in love!"

Being as coherent has I was, I asked, "Um… what?"

"Don't you listen to Dionysus or your father, dear," Aphrodite went on. "They're just saying things—nonsense things!—to rattle you. Luke most certainly loves you. And I can tell, you really love him, don't you?" She smiled. I blushed. But her smile suddenly changed to a small pout as her eyebrows puckered again. "Oh, but they've already gotten into your head haven't they?" I looked away, down at the ground. "What pests." She sounded annoyed. "But that's why I'm here, to reassure you, darling."

I looked back up at her, trying not to feel too hopeful. Then again, Aphrodite was the goddess of love, if she was telling me that Luke did actually love me….

"I don't understand," I told her truthfully, focusing on a different part of the conversation. "Luke is trying to stop you—all of the Olympians by raising the titan lord."

"Yes?" she asked in a tone that said, What's your point?

"Well… I mean, that's kind of bad for you, isn't it?"

"Yes, it would be, if you were helping him. But you're not. You've said so yourself, haven't you?" One of her eyebrows arched while one side of her lips quirked up in a half-smirk.

"Yes," I answered too quickly. "I mean, no." I blinked hard. "I mean, yes, I've said so myself. No, I'm not helping him." My voice cracked and I looked away from Aphrodite.

"What are you trying to do?" she asked gently. I slowly lifted my eyes to look at her again. Her own eyes seemed to draw an answer from me that I wouldn't have told anyone else about.

"I want to save him," I said softly.

Aphrodite grinned, looking absolutely elated at my answer.

"Oh," she exclaimed like she'd been holding her breath. "It's so romantic! I do so love a good tragic love story."

My mood plummeted lower than it had already been and my confidence about my plans went with it.

Tragic?

"It reminds me of Romeo and Juliet," the love goddess continued.

"They both die in the end," I protested.

"Oh, I know!" she exclaimed. "It's it wonderful?" My stomach dropped alongside my mood and my confidence.

"Not from where I stand," I told her truthfully.

"Don't fret, my dear, too much about what my brothers have told you," Aphrodite said, ignoring my quip. "I assure you, Luke loves you very much." She paused. "More than I think he realizes, even." She was looking out the corners of her eyes but they were distant, like she was having a vision or watching something play out in her head. A small smile formed on her lips.

"What is that even supposed to mean?" I questioned, exasperated, bringing her attention back to me. I was starting to feel the cold and exhaustion seep into my bones. Even her aura that made me feel inferior to her beauty seemed to no longer affect me. Or I was too tired to care anymore.

Aphrodite stood. "Your father was right about one thing, however, you should rest now." I should've expected her to ignore my question.

I thought for sure she was going to snap her fingers and I'd end up back in my bunk, half-asleep. Instead she shimmered and disappeared, leaving behind the scent of a perfume that reminded me of my mom.

I blinked out of my daze and looked around. The park was quiet and dark once again, the lamp having gone out after Aphrodite left. I sat there for a moment thinking about all that'd happened to me in the past few hours. Then I jumped from my seat and sprinted all the way back to the small Greek house afraid another god might decide to have a little chat with me.

I wouldn't put it past Hermes to come visit, seeing how he was Luke's father. And apparently Aphrodite was keeping an eye on me and Luke. I wondered if gods gossiped then immediately banished that thought from my mind as soon as it had formed. Too mortifying to think about. Meeting your boyfriend's or girlfriend's parents was awkward and uncomfortable enough. Having one of them be a god, well that was down-right terrifying.

Oh, but I'm sure we demigods were oh-so entertaining for them to watch, and meddle with if they felt up to it.

I was panting when I got back, but reigned them in before I stepped inside. Without hesitation, I slipped back onto my bunk, pulling the sheets from the floor, where I'd left them, and over me, up to my neck.

I dreamt more, as all demigods did. Thankfully, it didn't involve mental hospitals, grape vines, or a certain wine god. This time.

I still hadn't been claimed.

It'd been a few days since our trip to Mount Olympus. I'd thrown myself into my activities to keep my mind off of what had happened during that trip. The feeling of those creepy-crawling vines still dominated my memories. I found myself avoiding the strawberry fields, Mr. D, and flinching whenever anything brushed against my skin.

Exactly four days passed before the words of all three gods finally got to me so much so I couldn't sleep at all. When I could, my dreams were filled with a rocking feeling like I was out at sea, the sounds of many monsters, and always ended with grape vines trying to strangle me while both Mr. D's and Apollo's voices kept telling me Luke didn't love me. I didn't understand what the first two meant, but one thing was certain, I needed to speak to Luke. Immediately.

I went down the beach in the middle of the night. I sat down on the sand far enough away from the water that I wouldn't get wet and pulled the necklace out of my pocket. I still couldn't get myself to actually wear it.

Grasping the charm in my hand and trying not to be self-conscious, because there weren't any other people around, I spoke.

"Luke," I asked, letting the charm rest in my palm as I stared at it. I pulled my legs against my chest and bit my lip. "Luke, if you can't hear me, please… answer." I felt absolutely stupid when nothing happened. Just the sound of the waves as they gently crashed against the shore and the light sea breeze, blowing loose strands of my hair around.

"Luke," I tried one more time, closing my eyes, letting the charm slip from my palm and gripping the chain. "Please. Just… let me hear your voice. We don't need to have a whole conversation. I mean, I'd like to, but—" I broke off and sighed sharply. This was ridiculous.

Anger swelled up inside me. My eyes snapped open to stare at the dangling scythe before throwing the necklace off to my side, not caring where it ended up, if it got buried in the sand, if the tide came in and washed it away.

Maybe Apollo and Mr. D were right. Maybe… maybe he didn't really care about me. Maybe he had been lying to me so I'd do this for him. Was our whole friendship just a big lie, then?

But then there was Aphrodite. She'd told me Luke did love me. One goddess against two gods, but she was the goddess of love. I should take her word seriously. Still….

Folding my arms over my knees and resting my chin on my arms, I stared out across the Sound. I felt guilty just doubting Luke. But I just couldn't shake the feeling that, though one had basically tortured me and I hated the other with a deep passion, Mr. D and Apollo had a point—

Someone put a hand on my left shoulder. My own hand instinctively grabbed the person's wrist as I spun and stood up, my free hand shooting out to grab my attacker's neck. Only, they knew this was coming and grabbed my hand before I could get to their neck. He'd learned from his previous experience, then.

In his other hand, the hand that was connected to the wrist I was grasping tightly, he held the chain to my necklace. The scythe charm hung from it.

"Luke," I greeted, letting go of his wrist. His other hand kept mine, lacing our fingers together. He smiled softly. "You came." I stated, confusion swept over me, dousing my anger for now, when something occurred to me. How had he even gotten here?

"Of course," he said. "You, um… you called." He held up the necklace.

At this point, all my worries and fears flooded through my head. Unwanted tears flooded my eyes. I took a deep breath and blinked rapidly, turning away from him.

"I didn't realize—" I broke off. I wasn't really quite sure what I was going to say. "How did you get here?" My voice wavered as I turned back to face him.

"You're upset," Luke noticed, ignoring my question.

I unconsciously brought my arms up to hug myself and turned away from him again. "It's why I called." I admitted quietly. There was no reason to avoid it. I wanted answers, after all. This was just going to be a painful conversation.

"Listen," Luke started in a quiet voice, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder and turning me toward him. "I can't stay long"—as he was saying this, he put the necklace on me; his hands brushing the sides of my neck, making my heart race and tingles shoot down my spine—"so we have to make this quick."

Tears stung my eyes once again and my bottom lip quivered. I tried to turn away, but Luke didn't miss this and pulled me back to face him.

"Tori, Tori, it's all right," Luke assured quietly, cradling my face with both his hands. "Listen, I'm sorry I kept so many things from you, I didn't want you to be punished." His hands moved from my face to my shoulders. "I knew the gods would question you, but now that that's over you won't be questioned again. I would explain everything if I had time, but I don't. And I need you here, so I can keep tabs on the camp—"

"It's not…" I interrupted. They had questioned me. I felt like I'd been punished anyway. I ignored these thoughts and continued. "It's not that. Not… not exactly. I am angry at you for keeping this from me for so long. And that you won't tell me where you are—"

"Then what's gotten you so upset?" he asked, his eyes full of questions, concern. He must care, certainly if he was worried about me, right?

Nevertheless, I asked, "Do you love me?" a tear squeezing its way out of the corner of my eye.

Luke reached up to wipe it away with his thumb, while stroking my cheek, but looking confused at my question. "You should know the answer, Tori. Why would you ask something like that?"

I slapped his hands away and stepped back.

"Yes or no, Luke. Do you love me?" I snapped, my voice stronger than before.

Luke followed me, taking a step forward. "Of course, yes, I love you, Tori. Why are you asking me this?" His voice had also gotten stronger, a little louder.

More tears formed in my eyes and I felt the guilt build inside me. I hated questioning him, but I was so unsure, so insecure.

"Well, you were right, the gods did question me," I mumbled, looking down at the sand. "They also…" I took a deep breath. "They also told me some… things. About… you." I continued averting my gaze but stopped there, knowing he would figure out what I meant and not wanting to see his face when he did. But he didn't say anything. It was quiet for so long I had to look up again. His eyes were hurt, betrayed. And angry. "Say something," I begged.

"So, what?" Luke spat. "After all we've been through, a few words from the gods and you suddenly don't trust me anymore? Is that it? Does my word mean so little to you, you don't believe what I say—"

"That's not it!" I gasped "You don't understand, I'm just confused, Luke. I'm so confused. You didn't tell me anything. Not about the bolt or the helm, not about your plan to kill Percy, not about where you are or what you're doing while gone. Not why you need me to spy on the camp! And they… they wore me down." I looked away, one of my hands grasping my other wrist. My stomach rolled at the memory of the vines encasing my body. My chest tightened from the memory of being unable to breathe.

I took a deep breath to remind myself I could breathe. Pressing the memories back as best I could because I wasn't finished speaking yet. I looked back up at Luke. "Do you not trust me enough to tell me what you were doing? That you were working with a titan? That you were having dreams? When did they start? When did you start hating the gods so much? Why didn't you tell me about… any of this? I thought you knew you could come to me for anything."

"I told you," Luke said gently, taking another step closer to me, putting his hands on my upper forearms, all his anger gone. "I was doing it to protect you. I knew that because of our past and the fact that my betrayal was going to become public at some point, the gods would go after any leads to get to me. I wanted to make sure you'd be safe. If you didn't know about any of this, you couldn't be punished. Even the gods know punishing you for something you didn't even know about is wrong." He sneered the last line.

His face softened. "I promise, promise, to tell you everything as soon as I find another spy. No more secrets."

I reached up to wipe away some stray tears.

"Thank you," I finally said quietly.

"You don't need to thank me," Luke responded, caressing my face, while pulling me closer to him with his other hand. He held my gaze, solemnly. "I'm telling you that they were lying. They're just trying to get you help them, because they don't want to admit their mistakes. I'm telling you that I love you."

I couldn't help the smile that pulled at the edges of my lips. "I love you, too." I told him before stretching up on my tip-toes to press my lips to his.

Well, I don't think it's the best I've ever written, but I've hit this weird place where I think anything I write is terrible, so…. Also, I wanted to get this chapter to you on time. I'd written most of this chapter already, it just doesn't feel like my best.

Title is a lyric taken from the song "Brand New Day" by Ryan Star.

Anyway, as always, I hope you enjoyed.

To FadedSunset: Well, looks like Apollo didn't claim her in this chapter… who knows with the chapters to come? ;) And, yes, I was super excited and just devoured BoO. I don't think I've ever read something so quickly like that before. I'm hoping that he'll do a crossover like he did with the Annabeth and Sadie, with the new Norse gods. But I think your right, I think that he's pretty much done with Percy and the Greek and Roman gods. One can always hope, though. ;)

Thank you for reading,
TheBrightestNight