Hello! I apologise for the quality of this chapter, I'm experiencing majjjooorrr writer's block. Thank you, thank you everyone for your kind reviews, they really make my day. Enjoy!:)
DISCLAIMER.
I do not own PJO or MR, however much I wish I did. They belong firmly with James Patterson and Rick Riordan. I do, however own the characters not mentioned in the series, e.g. James and Sofia. They are entirely works of my fabulous (:L) imagination. Any resemblance to any other fictional character in existence is entirely coincidental.
That was, until some beautiful blonde babe with large, cold blue eyes and the most squeaky, irritating voice in the world stood up and shrieked,
"But, we haven't decided on who'll be going on the quest yet! I, as counsellor for the Aphrodite cabin, believe that I should..." Her voice trailed off as she was met with steely glares all around, especially from the one and only moi.
"Are you freaking stupid?" Sofia asked, her powerful, Argentinean voice dripping with anger and malice. "Of course you're not coming, you idiotic Barbie doll. The seven 'lucky' Demigods will be Nudge, James, Niamh, Chandler, Eleri, Alfie and I. Isn't that totally obvious? I-" She was cut short by a glare from Chiron.
That was the longest speech I'd ever heard her make. I definitely sensed a strong and deep-rooted rivalry there.
The Aphrodite chick squealed like a small spoilt child. "But you simply can't go on such a massive and important quest like this!"
"Why ever not? Please enlighten me dear." Sofia asked, subtle sarcasm weaving its way into her powerful voice.
"Because, you moron, you're not important enough. You're only a daughter of Nemesis, where as my mother earned her rightful place among the Twelve Olympians. You're just some silly, unimportant-"
"THAT IS ENOUGH."
The interruption was so loud I almost jumped out of my skin (and feathers). I span around and, to my utmost surprise, it was Percy on his feet, face burning and hands shaking. I thought that Poseidon was a really important and major God? Maybe I got it wrong, I thought to myself.
He lowered his voice to an eerie whisper.
"I thought we'd all agreed that EVERYONE here is equal."
"Oh come on. No one really believes that nonsense." Alyssa squeaked in her ear-splitting, girlish voice.
"Shut up, you fake, moronic air-head," Niamh sneered.
" James, back me up here!" Alyssa whined, her voice infuriating.
"Why would I, Alyssa? You and I are long over. You know your childish drivel about us children of Olympians being much more important is total bullcrap. You need to get over me and much more importantly, you need to get over yourself. Just leave me alone." James replied with added spite. Alyssa almost burst into tears, and I had the strong desire to say 'oooooooooohhhh', though I didn't think it appropriate in the solemn situation. I shot James a reassuring smile, which I think tipped poor Alyssa over the edge. She burst into tears and stormed furiously out of the room.
Despite the situation, I had to suppress a giggle.
Sofia stood up fiercely, her deep green eyes swimming with hatred.
"Does anyone else have a problem with Niamh or I participating in this quest?" She barked.
I don't think anyone moved a muscle.
"Good." She snarled, and strode quickly and confidently out of the long, tense room.
Later that morning, after much deliberation, I made the decision to visit Sofia and thank her. I found her in her cabin, which was painted dark purple and covered with black roses and tentatively knocked the door. She answered quickly, taken aback at first yet soon invited me inside.
Her cabin contained just one bed. I frowned, opened my mouth to ask but she silenced me with a wave of her hand.
"I am the only current daughter of Nemesis of Camp Half-Blood age. I have a few older siblings, though," She told me, her strong voice thick with something I couldn't quite identify. "You see, my mother's love for my father was so strong, that when he died she vanished. She was completely distraught. She has only recently reappeared, and reclaimed her place at Olympus. She will tell no one, not even I where she went. She has never had another child."
"I'm so sorry. It's pretty lonely, being all by yourself." I mumbled, looking at the floor. My eyes stung as I remembered my family, the flock.
"Do you have any siblings?" Sofia asked me.
"Long story," I replied, my voice shaking with the mere memories of them.
"We have time," She told me, and motioned for me to sit down on her bed.
At first, I'll admit I was waaaay cautious about telling her. I mean, I hadn't told anyone my life story, ever, yet as I got deeper into my past everything came gushing out, like a barricade I'd put up blocking all the memories collapsed, and out came the flood. I described every moment from the cages and the needles to the day I left home. I described each of the flock to her. I told her how Angel is my youngest sister; how she's seven but acts as though she's thirty. I described her beautiful blonde curls and innocent blue eyes, but explained how they're just a façade, how she's really scary and can read and control minds, breathe underwater and heck knows what else. I told her how Gazzy is her biological brother, making them the only biological siblings in the flock. How alike they look, yet his big blue eyes really are innocent. I laughed as I recalled his amazing ability to mimic voices, his ability to make a bomb out of almost anything, along with his partner in crime, Iggy.
Iggy. His name caught in my throat as I recalled his perfectly windswept strawberry blond hair. His sightless eyes, the doorway to all of his emotions. His amazing ears which can hear the tiniest pin drop. His wonderful ability to make me feel better whenever I was worried.
The look in his useless eyes whenever he talked to Ella.
I quickly changed the subject, onto Fang. Oh, I missed him so much. I told Sofia about how I always thought him and Max would get married, have children, run the world. I explained about how his stern features softened whenever he looked at her. She seemed to have that effect on guys.
Max, Max, Max. My mother figure. My hero. The one person in this whole freaking that made my heart ache every time I thought of her. I fantasised about how if she were, I'd beat Hera for sure.
I had to stop talking about my family. It hurt way too much.
I think I must have sat there for an hour, pouring out my heart and soul to this practical stranger.
Max would have been so disappointed in me.
