So sorry for the slow updates! But I've just started adapting to high school. Also my school's production of Annie had auditions this week. Sorry!
Disclaimer

Christine's POV

The Saturday we returned to Sally's house was the day I started teaching Percy my language. He caught on relatively well at first. At first I taught him what each hieroglyph represented. How a reed leaf represented an 'I' and so on. It was three weeks later, when we got to sounds he got confused and frustrated.

"Why can't it just be the letter it means? Why does it have to be so confusing?"

I rolled my eyes. "Percy when I speak, do you hear me saying the letter's sound in English or do you hear something else."

We were stuck on the owl hieroglyph. The owl was the m sound but represented, according to Cambridge scholars, B2 but also G17. And they weren't wrong. Depending on the word and meanings or spells and et cetera, we used the same glyph for words. But that made the language special.

"Percy, when I say or spell 'the words of the gods' I don't say the words of the gods. I say medou netjer. Also I warned you it might be difficult and you insisted to learn! This is your doing," I said.

Percy scowled and took his notebook to his room, slamming the door as he did so. I sighed and shook my head. Sally came from the kitchen to check what happened.

"What happened?"

"He got frustrated. I knew he would. I told him learning a language that was considered dead would be tedious," I said-slash-explained.

Sally shook her head and told me to be patient.

"He always comes through."

Weeks went by and I didn't teach Percy one thing more about my language. I knew he'd give up eventually. Egyptian was a difficult language. Soon it was a holiday late in December. Percy called it Christmas.

"It's where we celebrate the birth of Christ. I'm just in it for the food and presents," Percy explained.

Being Egyptian, I didn't understand as to why one would celebrate a mans birthday. But if that was what people believed in, I wasn't going to stop them. I was raised differently. I would be hurt if people discredited my holidays and festivals, so I wasn't going to judge. On Christmas Eve Sally allowed us to open one present each. Horus opened his and got something I never thought he'd want.

"A skateboard! Thank you Sally," he said, giving Sally a hug.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Call me mom," Sally reminded for the twentieth time that week.

Percy opened his and got a hat he called a snapback. I didn't open mine. Sally and Paul insisted I open it, but I said I'd wait. Besides, I was still getting over Shay's death. He had died in October and it was now the end of December, but his death was still fresh.

"Chrissy, just open the damn thing," Percy grumbled.

I glared at him. Things between me and Percy were rocky. At least we were talking to each other.

"I don't want to Perseus. And you will respect my decision," I said.

"Why? Cause you're a princess?"

"No. Because I'm your sister and family respects one another," I said.

Sally shook her head in slight annoyance and disappointment. Paul shrugged his shoulders. I excused myself and went to Percy's room. I didn't have a room of my own, but I was happy sleeping on the floor. It was probably an hour when I heard Sally say, "Off to bed now. Or Santa won't come."

I rolled my eyes. Santa was a figure adults created for children. There was no proof of his existence. I looked at Percy's clock and saw it was ten thirty. I was already ready for bed so I put my book down and fell asleep. I heard my brothers come in, but I didn't hear Shay's silent walk. I never would again.

The next morning I woke up to see Percy and Horus's beds empty. I shot up out of bed, thinking they had been kidnapped. I threw on some jeans and a white t-shirt and ran out. It was seven in the morning. They were never up this early. Yet they were. I saw them sitting in the living room with Sally and Paul, still in their pajamas. I sighed in relief and went to join them.

"Christine! Good morning and Merry Christmas," Sally greeted.

"Good morning Sally. Paul. I never thought I'd see you two boys up before noon," I said.

Horus shrugged and went back to his presents. Percy casted a small glare my way before returning his attention to his presents. I rolled my eyes and sat down. Sally handed me a small blue box. I smiled and opened it. I felt my eyes widen a titch and a small gasp came from my mouth.

"Oh Sally. It's beautiful," I whispered.

It was a silver heart shaped locket that came just above my bosom. I opened the locket to find a picture of my brothers on one side and my mother and Calla on the other. Now I could gaze upon my loved ones all the time.

"How did you-"?

"Find a picture of your mother? I found a modern one, that one, in one of the scrolls you showed me. I took it and found one of Calla," Percy said, without any grimace.

I smiled and put it on. Horus handed me an envelope with my name in hieroglyphs. I became a little nervous but opened it. Instead of the familiar writing of a visor, I saw a very different handwriting. I read it with a little difficulty for the writer's hand was a bit messy.

Christine,

I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. But I wanted this to be a surprise. But I guess this could've a surprise without the hostility. I think you're going to like the present I got you.

Percy.

I smiled at my brother. He had a smug smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes. I was proud of him none of the less. He learned my language on paper on his own. Horus opened his last present and then Percy. Then it was I. I opened a small box. It had an apple with a bit taken out. It was a small box with buttons on it.

"It's an IPhone 5S. I already got you some contacts and music you might like on there. And I put your number as a contact," Percy explained.

I pressed a button and it turned on to reveal a picture. There was something saying 'slide here' so I did. It unlocked the phone and I went to the icon that said music. I smiled to see quite a bit of theatre music, as well as other genre. I was open to music genre. The phone came with a cord, to charge it I assumed, and these things Percy stuck into my ear.

"They're called earphones. You listen to your music without anyone hearing it."

"I love it. Thank you Percy," I said.

As it turned out, I rarely used my phone. Except for music. Percy created this account for me on a thing called ITunes. He had more experience with it than I did. But we resumed our lessons on weekends. Since Percy knew how to write, it was time to teach him how to speak. I showed him five hieroglyphs that spelt music.

"Now say it with me Percy. Htti-s-i-sw. Come on," I encouraged.

He slowly sounded it out, using the notes he wrote and I gave him. He was doing well once again. He would be a natural, fluent speaker in no time.

Time flew by and soon we were packing for camp. I spoke small words here and there to see if Percy understood me. He'd reply hesitantly but correctly. I smiled to see that my instructions were paying off. I realized during the school year, I tend to switch from Egyptian to English rapidly. One day, just weeks before finals, I was heading towards Percy when a girl blocked my way.

"Excuse me. I have to get to my brother," I said calmly.

"Oh sure. Of course. Get to your brother. Or should I say, my boyfriend?" she screamed.

I looked at her skeptically. The girl had brown hair, not blonde, she couldn't understand simple math equations, and she didn't have gray eyes like Annabeth.

"Are you trying to fool me? Cause you don't look like Percy's girlfriend," I said with a hint of condescension. Not that she'd notice anyway.

"No I'm his girlfriend and I think you're trying to steal him. We've been together for years. Since grade nine! He loves me."

I busted out laughing. I couldn't catch my breath. Percy noticed and came over. He raised an eyebrow and watched me laughed my ass off.

"Christine? Are you okay?" he asked.

"No. This chick here thinks you're her boyfriend! She said you love her!" I wheezed.

"Hey Percy."

"Hey Audrey. You know I have a girlfriend and it's not you right?"

Audrey's face fell. I heard the doors open and I saw Annabeth. She had finished school early and came to visit. Percy kissed Annabeth hello and Annabeth said hi. Audrey looked ready to cry.

"You said you loved me! How could you lie to me?" Audrey whimpered.

I started laughing again. Annabeth smiled and me and shot Percy a look of pity for the girl. I doubled over in giggles. I couldn't control how silly the girl acted.

"Honey, let's walk," Annabeth said to Audrey. They went off the girl's bathroom. We waited and after a minute Annabeth came out. Audrey came out and glared at me.

"You are SUCH a KNOW-IT-ALL! You are the most selfish person in the world Christine! You can't let a girl dream! Can't let her live in her bubble of love!"

I raised an eyebrow in annoyance. Lunch was going to end soon. I looked over at Annabeth and Percy. They looked so happy together. How could anyone want to separate them?

"Look, Audrey is it? Audrey, see how happy they are? Their bond is strong and secure. Nothing is coming between them. I made sure of that. Also, from my own experience, living a life of delusions gets you nowhere but Hurtville. And from the sounds of it, you're the MAYOR of Sad and Lonely City. Get a life," I said.

Later that day, Audrey cheated from my test. The teacher noticed and Audrey blamed me. I got sent to the principles office for cheating. I took the subway home and slammed the door. Sally looked up from her book, Percy and Horus their work.

"Bad day at school, sweetie?" Sally asked.

I started yelling, switching from English to Egyptian. Sally looked at me blankly and went back to her book. Horus picked up his books and went to Percy's room. Percy stayed where he was and listened.

"Slow down. So let me see if I got this. Audrey cheated on your physics exam and blamed you, so you were sent to the office and was given a warning about higher expectations? But you're the best student in the whole school. You have A+ on all your classes."

I glared at him. "Tell that to Principle Johnson. He said I was a better student that this. Said that I was a great disappointment for a well and good student. Do you know how I felt when he said that?"

"Exactly how you felt when you were living with Pharaoh," Percy stated.

I sat down. I didn't feel like crying, I just felt angry. I was so pissed off that I couldn't think straight.

Lost in my memories, I forgot about packing. Percy flicked my temple with his fingers.

"Ow," I stated. It didn't hurt.

"You were daydreaming again. So how long until you have to go back to that gods awful place?"

I counted months in my head. Shay had been in the House of Anubis for nearly six months being prepared for the afterlife. He had three months left.

"Well in three months he'll be ready but I don't think I can go back," I said.

Percy looked confused for a moment but clarity shone in his eyes soon enough. I was considered a murderer. I killed the man who caused my family and me pain but I also killed Pharaoh. That was a crime punishable by death. Horus was going back for the memorial as well as his coronation. I felt old then. My baby brother was gone and now my brother was going to be king.

"Hey. He's going to be a better king than the one before him," Percy consoled.

"I know," I said, "I'm just worried about him. Like any sister would be."

With that we finished packing at left for camp. I wasn't aware but I knew deep in my heart, I was excited to see Erik again.

Please review! Let me know if you ship Erik/Christine.