Chapter 10

Here's another chapter. Sorry for the delay. Hope you guys are enjoying the holidays!

The moment that Owen Johnson stepped onto that beach, Piper knew that Annabeth was going to crack. It didn't take a daughter of Aphrodite to figure that much.

Still, she'd never thought Annabeth would take it so hard.

Piper walks to the Big House, wanting to talk to Chiron about her suspicions about Owen. She freezes outside its entrance.

Muffled sobs seep beneath the crack of the door, reaching Piper's ears.

The daughter of Aphrodite can only hear snatches of the conversation, but it's enough to know that no matter what facade Annabeth had originally put up, she had never truly gotten over Percy's death.

Then again, none of them really have.

When Annabeth walks out the door with puffy red eyes and streaks of tears down her face, Piper, genuinely concerned, asks, "Annabeth, are you okay?"

"No, but I-I will be," Annabeth replies in a soft voice. She doesn't sound so sure of herself. With that, Annabeth bites her lip and turns around, walking in the direction of the ocean.

Piper watches her retreating form with worried eyes, already making up her mind.

There's only one person who can make her feel better right now.

Piper walks into the training arena to find Jason practically pulverizing the dummies with his Imperial Gold sword. She takes a moment to admire his form.

Jason stops, his back facing Piper, breathing heavily, sword hanging by his side.

"How long are you going to stand there watching me, Piper?" he asks.

"How did you know it was me?" Piper questions.

Jason turns around and shrugs, piercing her with those bright blue eyes. "I will always know when you are there."

The Aphrodite in Piper can't help but squeal a little at how romantic Jason can be. Although some people may find that creepy, Piper just finds it charming.

Jason walks up to Piper and brushes a hair out of her cheek, concerned. "Something's worrying you. What is it?" he asks.

Despite the gravity of what she's about to tell him, a smile tugs at the edge of her mouth. "You know me too well," she whispers, kissing him softly on the lips.

She pulls back. "It's about Annabeth. I'm worried," she says. Piper explains what she heard in the Big House.

Jason frowns. "I know. I am, too. I don't think she's been the same since Percy died."

Piper nods. "She says she's okay, but...ever since Owen returned, I think she's gotten a sense of false hope. Like she thinks Owen's Percy with amnesia." Piper looks carefully at her boyfriend. "Speaking of...do you think that's possible? I mean...it happened to you."

Jason hesitates. "That was different," he finally replies. "I got flashbacks. I remembered how to fight, that I was a demigod. Owen...Owen was totally clueless on all this stuff."

The daughter of Aphrodite sighs. "I just don't want to think that Percy's dead," she says quietly.

"It's like Nico," Jason muses. "He didn't believe Percy was dead either."

"Where has Nico been?" Piper asks. "After Percy died, he just freaked out and left us…"

Jason closes his eyes in thought. "Maybe he knows something we don't."

Piper nods, agreeing with him. "I'm going to go IM him, ask him if he had any hunches on Percy. After all, he was insisting that Percy wasn't dead..."

Jason leans in and kisses her on the cheek. "You've always been the smart one," he murmurs.

"And you've always been the strong one," Piper replies, a small smile gracing her delicate features.

Back in the Aphrodite cabin, Piper offers the goddess of rainbows a drachma, saying, "Show me Nico Di Angelo."

When the IM forms in midair, Nico is asleep, laying on a bed of leaves. Piper doesn't fail to notice how frail he looks, what with his gaunt figure, pale skin, and sunken cheeks.

Torn between waking him up and leaving him to get the rest he obviously needs, Piper decides that having a second Percy is a more pressing issue than Nico's sleep cycle. Besides, in the many times the remaining members of the Seven have tried to contact the black-haired teen, he'd not once answered. If there was one thing the boy was good at, it was vanishing without a trace.

"Nico!" she whisper-shouts. The son of Hades jolts awake, eyes panicked and flickering before they rest on her.

"Piper?" he exclaims.

She smiles. "Hey. Look, something's come up at camp-"

Nico interrupts her, eyes darting around nervously, as though waiting for someone to overhear their conversation. "This isn't really a great time," he says, but Piper is determined.

"Percy's back," she replies quickly. Nico freezes.

Well, you probably gave him a heart attack. But on the other hand, at least you got his attention.

Piper backpedals. "Not back, exactly. It's just - Jason and I found this guy on the beach, and he looks exactly like Percy. And sounds like him, too. It's like they're the same person. But this guy - he says his name is Owen - has no memories. None at all."

Nico frowns. "You're sure this isn't just some ordinary demigod?"

"You haven't seen him, Nico. They could be twins. He's a son of Poseidon, too. And unnaturally good at fighting. Anyways, most demigods are found before they're fifteen. He's like, seventeen, and being a son of Poseidon, don't you think he would've attracted enough monsters to alert the satyrs at camp?"

Nico looks lost in thought. He mutters something about the Fates and a prophecy. "Alright, I'll come back to Camp Half-Blood to meet him. But it'll take me about a day to make it. I'm kind of far from Manhattan right now."

Piper wants to ask him where he is, and what he's doing so far from camp, but before she can, the sound of roars and crashes interrupt their conversation. "I have to go," Nico says quickly, and swipes a hand across the IM, severing their connection.

"Wait! Nico!" Piper says, but he is already gone.

That went well.

Piper thinks that she had better IM Frank and Hazel, too. Especially since they don't even know that there's some sort of a Percy clone at camp. They were part of the Seven, they deserve to know.

Yet again, she offers the goddess of the rainbow a drachma and calls for Frank Zhang, praetor of Camp Jupiter.

Frank is sitting on a couch with his arm around Hazel. The two are sitting together in silence, enjoying each other's company. The Aphrodite inside Piper squeals at how cute the couple is, and she can't hold back a smile.

"Hey guys!" Piper waves her hand. Frank and Hazel jump apart, and both of their faces turning red with embarrassment. Piper giggles as Frank runs a flustered hand through his short black hair.

"Uh, hi Piper!" Frank says, face still a bright shade of crimson. Piper grins. No matter how much Frank's looks have changed, or how long he has been the praetor of Camp Jupiter, he's still the same old Frank.

"What's up?" Hazel asks, the tips of her ears red.

"Sorry to interrupt you!" Piper wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, and Hazel's face only gets brighter and brighter. The daughter of Pluto waves her hands frantically in a no-that's-not-it gesture.

"It wasn't like that! I swear!" She fans her face.

"Anyways…" Piper will never get tired of embarrassing Frank and Hazel. "There's a new demigod that's shown up at camp."

Hazel's eyebrows furrow, clearly wondering what this has to do with the couple. Piper continues her explanation. "This guy...he looks exactly like Percy. He shows up with no memories and crazy fighting skills and I'm sure it can't be a coincidence."

Frank gives her a sad frown. "Are you sure you're not just...you know, imagining things because you're missing him?"

"You don't understand!" Piper feels like she's repeating herself. "This guy - he's pretty much Percy, but with no memories and a different name! He looks the same, acts the same, sounds the same….it's like seeing a ghost," she finishes quietly.

"Could it be like before?" Hazel asks. "Percy's shown up at our camp with practically no memories...same with Jason at Camp Half-Blood."

Piper shakes her head. "I talked to Jason about it...he thinks this is something different."

Frank opens his mouth, then closes it, then opens it again. "How's Annabeth?"

Piper pauses, and takes a deep breath. "She puts up a good front, but she's pretty broken up about it."

Hazel nods, deep in thought.

"Maybe you guys should come over here, just to make sure. I-I have a feeling this is important," Piper says hesitantly.

Frank and Hazel share a look.

"I'll ask Reyna and check with the Senate, but I don't think she'll have a problem with it. I'm sure we could come for a few days," Frank replies confidently.

Piper nods, relieved. "Thanks so much guys, really."

"It's no problem," Hazel says with a smile. The image flickers, reminding the trio their five minutes are up.

"Well, I'll see you guys in a few days," Piper says, returning Hazel's grin.

"Can't wait," Frank replies as the image fades.

Piper flops back onto her bed, covering her face with her hands. She hopes her hunch about Owen is correct.

If not, she'll have to say goodbye all over again.

And this time, Piper's not so sure she'll make it.

I hope you guys have a Happy New Year! Please review - tell me what you think!