Authors note: So im gonna neglect my other stories to give this one some lovingthe
silence in the room was almost unbearable as everyone stared at her for a solid thirty seconds before reluctantly turning to each other to exchange glances and have silent conversations. They probably sounded something like. "oh what?" "I Know" "You Knew?" "What, no, did you?" "Of course not" Or something. Skye scanned their reactions while their eyes were off of her. Frank and Hazel Shared wary looks, Frank pulling her closer to him gently, Thalia looked intimidating, as usual, but no more so than she was used to. The red-haired girl's expression had gone from surprise to more of a malicious grin rather quickly. The kind you would expect to see before being eaten by a wolf or, well ax murdered I guess.
She glanced at Piper and Jason who wore matching looks of doubt, not hurtful doubt, more like the kind you see from parents when their child tells them a tall tale as an excuse for not doing chores. Annabeth had gotten up to grab some paper before dropping back into her seat, scribbling notes quickly. She passed over Derek, not wanting him to see her looking though she was disappointed to find him staring at his hands.
Leo and the blonde beside him were whispering animatedly, though it didn't sound like English as the girl raised her voice slightly when she gestured to Skye. leo gave her an apologetic look that said 'Women,' with a roll of the eye's that earned him a smack over the head.
She didn't look at Percy, rather taking a breath before continuing. Eye's shifting back to her in unison.
"She, The queen that is." Skye said. "She started manipulating my dreams shortly after i was claimed. No, sorry just before" She recalled.
"I had a lot of time to think when i was with her and im pretty sure thats when it started"
"Wait" Clarrise Said. "Are you just gonna gloss over the Child of an evil bitch thing?" Skye's words wouldn't work.
"Clarrise what did i say," Percy said "She will tell us everything" His tone was hard as he glared at the other girl.
"You didn't mention this, and you dont seem surprised" Clarrise argued.
"Let her speak Clarrise," Piper said, her soft voice a huge difference from Percy and Clarrise's words. "continue Skye"
"Oh uh." Her eyes drifted up to Derek's who was now watching her intently, his face unreadable. She glanced back at the group. "The first nightmare i had at camp was nothing huge, just a creepy voice pleading for help. It said something about 'come to me if you wish to die' before saying I couldn't stop it so dont try." Her eyes found her hands. "After that was, in the woods i think."
"Why were you in the woods?" The blonde beside Leo asked he elbowed her in the side and she glared at him.
"Derek was taking me to see the Pegasi." Skye answered. A few people turned to look t Derek in question, he nodded and they turned back, satisfied.
"it wasnt long after i had been claimed, we were just walking through the woods when something sort of overcame me." She explained, "I thought i ws back in the forest fighting the Drakon an apparently ran off screaming, Im not sure why but i feel like the queen had a hand in that."
They were nodding along, looking back at Derek to check the facts before turning back to her. she could see the questions in their eyes but continued on.
"Then there was the time when i flooded the cabin and you guys held me down. Sorry about that by the way." she said, "That was the one where i was being chased through a destroyed town. Actually, i think it might have been my home once but it was just wreckage. Um, someone was shooting at me with arrows and i heard Tramp cry and threw myself in his direction, the next thing i knew i was in a throne room, the Queens throne room."
Everyone seemed to be processing the information, Annabeth wrote down everything she said scribbling noted here and there.
"It was dark, the room I mean, black walls and dark red drapes. There was some sort of writing or symbols on them but i dont know what they were or what they said. The throne was silver with gems that shone like the sea, it had patterns like sand dollars and waves. The queen said," she froze, he had though about this while in the prison and once she got out but it was hard to admit. Stupid, she thought, for not realising it sooner.
"Cynthia said that it was mine and she urged me to take a seat, telling me we could rule together." Skye's eyes watered as the rest of the Dream came to her. She steeled herself. "I sat down" There was a gasp though she didnt see who released it. "It felt like the ocean, cool and comforting, i think she was whispering about being safe, letting go of my worries. I snapped out of it when i heard someone calling me, I saw images of my parents, home and friends as well as my life here but they turned darker, to images of the death and destruction of my home and family, and then i was back at camp." SHe had closed her eyes to stop her vision from blurring, there was still to much to tell, she couldnt cry yet.
"It wasn't really camp though, i was still in the dream and the camp was overrun by monsters, the grass was soaked in blood, the ocean was red and everyone was dead or dying." She said, putting it bluntly, "She put a spear in Derek's chest and made me watch as the life drained from his eyes. Then she turned to me with a smile and told me not to fear to touch my cheek before i woke." She could feel that touch now, brushing her skin ever so lightly, she shivered keeping her gaze firmly on her lap.
"So, you saw her then?" Leo asked earning an elbow in the ribs and a smirk from the blonde.
"Yes but she was only a blur, nothing i could describe apart from her dark blonde hair" Skye replied. Annabeth gave Him a look and he said.
"Hey she kicked me after that, i deserve to ask at least one question." Annabeth shook her head then turned back to Skye, urging her to continue.
"i had those images appearing at random for a while after that, about a week later i told Piper about the town i came from, though i assume you guys already know that" Skye said, looking at them knowingly. Piper looked guilts as did a few others.
"It's okay, i felt a lot better after finally telling someone," Skye explained though Pipers guilty look didn't change. She swallowed hard before continuing, dreading the next memory. "I had another nightmare that night, basically the same as the last but i kind of snapped at the queen this time, she kept telling me to join her to prevent the deaths of my friends, She acted as if it were my fault you had all died even as she held a spear coated in your blood" She began rubbing her knuckles, glaring at them.
"I saw you all dead in a different way and her telling me i could prevent it, if i join her" She spat the words. "She told me id learn why she wanted me eventually, but only if i joined her. She told me i had one more chance. I said no, well i think i yelled it. She threatened everyone again and i called her out, told her she wouldn't because she didn't have the power or else she would have already made a move." The tears welled in her eyes at the memory of her mistake.
"Hey" Percy said, rubbing her shoulder. "Do you want to take a break?" He asked, voice soft and full of concern, She shook her head.
"she said she didnt plan to hurt me physically then turned around, she told me i had two days to consider then stuck her spear through Derek's chest for a second time. When i woke up and heard screaming i ran to the Apollo cabin and found Derek being held down by Nico and Will with a Wound in His chest."
There it was again, the silent conversations they had whenever she stopped.
"i think the monster attack was that night," Skye said, drawing their attention back to her. She hears a familiar song play in her mind as she tried to remember the details of what happened next.
"so the night you left?" Thalia asked, "is that what convinced you to leave?" Skye nodded.
"First she Injured Derek and then she broke through the Barrier, she promised she would call off the attack and leave you all alone if i went to her."
"So, wait" Piper said. "Were you going to leave before the attack or did you leave because of the attack?" Skye bit the inside of her cheek as she remembered the events of that day.
"i was thinking about leaving that night, once everyone was asleep but then Carly and Emma talked me into going to the party at the Aphrodite cabin and i figured it'd be nice to have fun before walking into the wolfs den. I was going to leave a note explaining why id left and what the Queen had been doing but i didnt get a chance, once the attack started..." She drifted off.
"Okay" Annabeth said after a pause. "So you helped with the fighting, and then left when everyone was busy with the wreckage?"
"Well Derek and i grabbed weapons and went back to fight, but we were attacked by the Minotaur, wait no" Skye said, correcting herself. "Derek ran off to help take down a monster while I shot from a distance. I got a massive headache and heard the Queens voice in my head, She said ' you know what i want, you know how to stop this, you better decide fast'. Then she was gone and the minotaur was there and we somehow managed to defeat it its kind of-" A blur, thats what she was gonna say but as she looked to Derek he had a strange look on his face and she couldn't lie again, with a huff she continued.
"The minotaur tried to attack Derek from the side while he was distracted, I saw it coming and felt like my dreams were playing out in front of me, i ran forward and pushed him aside out of its path. I got cut by the horn of the beast on the way down," A few of them looked curious so she stood up and turned around, lifting the back of her shirt to show them the damage, revealing a few more scars she had acquired after that event. She wouldn't look at Derek.
"Derek tried to take me to the Medic tent after we killed it but he only knew about a cut on my leg." Derek cleared his throat.
"Are you forgetting the part where you continued to fire arrows at other monsters after the minotaur was gone, with that tear in your back?" He asked she felt that insecurity again as she sat down.
"I didnt think it was necessary to the story" Skye replied sternly, he scoffed. "The Queen appeared next to me and everything seemed to slow down, she told me she warned me, that she gave me my chance and that she wasn't a patient women. She said if i wanted the rest of you to live.." She took another deep breath, knowing how hurt some people had been that she had left so abruptly.
"I told Derek i was going to fetch Will and he went to check on Emma, I left as quickly as i Could and passed out once i was far enough away from camp. When i woke up there was some medic stitching me up" She stopped there, giving them time to process what she had said so far. A few looked like they wanted to ask questions but thought better.
"I was taken to see the Queen after i nagged a guard for a while. She greeted me as darling she was overly sweet and avoided my questions, said she liked obedience and offered me tea. She wanted to see me experiment with my powers, offered up monsters and soldiers for me to fight, i refused. She left me in my room to heal, i refused to use any of the fancy things in the room, the bath the clothes the food, though i did use the bed cause that was unbelievably comfortable." she said, remembering how sickly she had looked after that first week alone. I ate the bare minimum and felt like shit, i gave in a week or so later, feeling filthy, after that i lost track of time."
"Didnt you think to try escape?" Jason asked curiously.
"I did," Skye replied taking a quick sip of her cold tea then screwing up her face at the taste. "But" she coughed. "Then i remembered that the Queen would destroy the camp and kill all of you and decided against it."
Jason nodded to her answer and motioned for her to continue. Derek went around and grabbed empty cups, she avoided his eyes.
"a while later the queen took me to a training room and told me she wanted me to lead her armies" She continued before they could question her. "She told me the longer i survived training the more information id get. She explained to me that she wasnt always evil" Eye rolls around the room "That she was in love with a god one and he had left her, and taken their child. She said she had temper issues because her grandfather was Hades."
"Dont look at me" Nico said as eyes fell on him. "Dad doesn't tell me about all his, exploits."
"She told me the medic was her son. Damien son of Apollo, she said. but i doubt that, i think he is just a demigod she captured and forced into working for her."
"How can you be sure?" Percy asked.
"Anytime i did anything vaguely dangerous he cursed at me and said if anything happens to me the Queen will kill him, Now i know she's psycho but i don't know if she would kill her own son." She explained. "shortly after that she tried testing me, sending monsters for me to fight, i tried not to use my powers to limit her knowledge. She did set me against soldiers first but i guess she thought i was strong enough to face the beasts instead." Her throat closed up.
"What happened?" She wasn't sure who said it but she replied.
"She set three soldiers against me in a dark room, i was caught off guard and i kept knowing them back but they refused to stay down, i knocked two out and killed the third. She tried to sway me between fights. Avril and Jasper tried to rescue me but i wouldn't go." Derek handed her another mug of tea at the perfect drinking temperature she took a sip before continuing. "She tried to woo me with candies and stories but i broke and ended up screaming at her, i had been playing the willing victim to get information but she wouldn't tell me anything truly substantial so i said i would never fight or kill in her name" 'you already have' the words hung in the air but Skye carried on. "She made me sleep in the dungeon after that."
She took another sip, relishing the warmth.
"She made you sleep in the dungeon?" Piper asked her. Skye nodded.
"She had me fighting again a few days later, still sent Damien to stitch me up afterward. It was just that for a while on repeat the fighting grounds changed a few times, all water at the beginning then a sort of park scenery, one room was just concrete and rocks with some chunks of metal here and there. That was it until she sent me on a mission with her army. "
"she just sent you off?" Jason asked, leaning forward in his seat.
"Well, yeah. I had been winning in most of the fights, i started using the water when i was fighting." She explained, "I thought that if i gave in and showed her a little of what i could do that she would maybe let her guard down" Jason nodded.
"And it was that easy?" Clarrise said, her tone less harsh than earlier but still carrying an edge.
"Well, i guess, aside from the constant monster fights and vs soldiers every other day, yeah it was that easy," Skye answered, trying not to let any snark show in her words. Clarrise glared at her. She waited for another Question, taking a sip of her tea and putting her feet on the couch to get more comfortable.
"Alright, so She had you fighting monsters, Testing your strengths and weaknesses for the majority of the time you were there?" Annabeth questioned, looking over her notes. She had pulled her hair back into a ponytail at some point and had another pencil tucked behind her ear.
"Correct" Skye answered, still trying to get comfy.
"And you were in the Dungeon for about half that time?" Annabeth continued, scribbled on the paper.
"Yeah, I was allowed back in my old room the day before i left with the army."
"And what were you told before you left, what were your orders?" Annabeth continued, looking at her expectantly.
"Cynthia told me the day before that she has a uniform made for me and id be leaving in the morning," Skye recalled. Remembering how good she had felt when she was finally able to sink into a hot bath. " She didn't tell me anything else and i didn't ask" She finally settled, feet tucked underneath herself as she leaned to the side of the couch, she swept her hair out of her face before wrapping her hands back around the warm mug.
"it wasn't until we had been riding for a while, the next day, that the Commander or officer, whatever he went by. He told me that the queen wanted me integrated into the top ranks of her army because of my skills. he was a douchbag to say the least."
"Where were you heading?" Hazel asked, they all seemed pretty entranced by the story and the feeling of all eyes on her suddenly made her nervous.
"uh, i wasnt told anything about the mission till a few days later, something about collecting taxes from some town," Skye said. " The queen interrupted my dreams a few times before that though." She had a foul taste in her mouth so she took another sip of tea. "She started talking about my mother, well the one that raised me that is. She used to tell me stories of demigods and monsters. She told me they were about the people i was trying to protect, you guys." Skye paused to scan the room equal looks of shock and embarrassment.
"so she was right?" Skye asked, "You guys are the same people from the stories?"
"Well" Percy said, "Thats, its complicated, were not sure how-" Skye Cut him off.
"Cynthia told me," she said, getting their attention again, "she said the camp was suck in a loop, since the gods couldn't freeze time the changed it, putting the camp in a bubble and hiding it from the rest of the world. The Gods pooled their power to do it, so that their strongest heroes would be safe and ready when the next great evil showed up."
"Wait" Percy said, the first t speak. "Your telling us the Gods trapped us here so we could fight their battles again?" He said, his tone somewhere between disbelief and resentment. he scoffed.
"They Froze us here?" Jason asked, "but, the rest of the world is basically destroyed already, why bring us to it now?"
"Apparently they used up to much power saving you guys that when the evil finally did pop up, there was no one to stop them from taking over"
She heard Percy laugh beside her and caught Annabeth's eye, she had put down the paper and was watching Percy with concern.
"They locked us away to save the world, and in doing so let it get destroyed." He stated, grinding his teeth. Annabeth sighed from her spot on the couch. Skye was unsure whether or not to continue, Percy had his fists balled beside her, her sight drifted to Derek again, he looked concerned.
"Percy" Annabeth said, her tone light, controlled. "we already knew most of this"
"I know, its just," he exhaled deeply, flexing his fingers. "I know, Dont worry" There was a heavy silence in the room, Derek's eyes found her and she didnt look away. Someone cleared their throat.
"You okay to continue?" Piper asked her, she nodded.
"After that it was just riding all day then camping overnight. I was told they planned to take the taxes by force if this town didnt agree to pay. Even if that means burning it down to the ground. I had had a dream a few nights before that, of the town and people in running for their lives. they werent fighters so they didnt stand a chance." She felt that familiar pain well in her chest. "I couldn't let that happen so i snuck out of the camp and made my way to Stonebrook."
They gave her a questioning look. "The town they wanted to destroy" she clarified. "We had camped pretty close, just beyond a hill so we wouldnt be detected."
"You ran away from the Queens army?" Clarrise questioned, doubt evident in her voice.
"Yes, i did."
"But doesnt that mean you were breaking your deal with the Queen?"
Skye hesitated, "Avril and Jasper had told me that you guys had probably figured out a way to protect yourselves from her"
"Then why not leave with them when they told you that" Clarrise Asked, looking smug.
"because it wasnt enough of an assurance then." Skye explained, biting back her words. "But it was either believe you guys could hold your own or watch an innocent town get destroyed in front of me"
"You risked out lives to save some people you dont even know?" Clarrise said staring right at Skye.
"I trusted you guys stood a better chance than they did"
"Okay enough," Piper said, "Do not make me charm speak you again Clarrise." Clarrise snarled at her but shut up.
"When i finally got into the town i saw that they were in fact just regular people, they had shovels and pitchforks for weapons. I told them who i was and they accepted my help. They had statues of the gods everywhere, their leader, she told me that the gods had been protecting them because they housed demigods. Their defenses were weakened a few months before because the gods had temporarily withdrawn their power, that gave the Queen time to find them."
Their were guilty looks around the room, everyone moving their focus to something else, a hand, the floor etc.
"What?" Skye asked, "What am i missing?"
"We will explain that once your done" Annabeth said, urging her to continue. Her eyes lingered on the group before continuing.
"okay, well their leader, Maisy, she was a daughter of Apollo, she had small premonitions occasionally. The Queen was after Demigods and they had Five of them, hence her desperation to attack the town."
"You said was?" Will pointed out, Skye looked to him sadly.
"She was killed when the kids were taken, during the Battle, she died trying to protect them," Skye told them sadly, remembering the older woman with blood on her lips. Will nodded slowly before sitting back in his seat.
"she made a plan for me to sneak off with the kids when the fight started but i swore to protect the town and convinced her to let me at least try." She skipped the part about her town and jumped to th fighting.
"They attacked that morning, We had knocked a few statues down to barricade the gates but they only delayed the take for a short time."
"You knocked the god's statues down?" Hazel asked in shock.
"Only a few" Skye felt a smirk grow as she looked at Percy. "The Are's one was the most useful." Percy Smiled, holding in a laugh as Clarrise growled.
"Anyway, the people put up a good fight but they didn't stand much of a chance, it didnt take too long for them to be outmatched and i realized i needed to get the kids out, i was to late so i ran out in search for them. They were a short distance from camp, being dragged by some soldier i had met while in their army. We thought and i managed to fight them off."
"We went back afterward, some people seemed to have escaped through a hole in the back wall but otherwise" She shook her head. "we got a few miles away before i Passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up Derek, Emma and the others were there, they had stitched up my wounds and taken care of the kids while i was out. After that, i gave them a brief story of what had happened and we headed back to camp" Her eyes were back in her lap, the silence for those last few days haunting her, her friends avoiding her after her confession.
"uh, we ran into problems at the border and split up but we got back in one piece so, thats good." She didnt know what else to say, she'd covered the important parts, told the full story.
They all nodded along, sharing looks and mumbling comments to each other.
"Thank you, Skye," Annabeth Said, "I know that must of been hard but we appreciate your honesty."
"Assuming that was the truth," Clarrise said, crossing her arms over her chest. Skye rolled her eyes and everyone else in the room groaned.
"What about that sounded fake to you?" Percy asked defensively.
"I dont know, all of it" Clarrise replied snarkily. Skye chewed her lip. "She has no proof of what she says, how many people do you know that could go against a different monster every day of the week and survive, by themselves."
"Pretty much everyone in this room, you included if you had to" Percy said, generously.
"Right, but we have had, what, centuries of practice, she has had like five years"
"She's been training since she was old enough to hold a blade" Piper corrected. "or, did Your little protegy not tell you how she got her ass kicked by Skye when she was injured and weaponless."
Clarrise flushed, "That doesn't prove anything."
"look, muscle man" Skye snapped. "Unless you want me to demonstrate on you just what im capable of," She growled, leaning forward in her seat. "i suggest you stuff it."
"Okay," Derek interrupted, clapping his hands together firmly before stepping into the middle of the group. "Who wants another drink?" Piper and Hazel got up to help him, bringing out the sandwiches she and Percy had made earlier as well. Skye grabbed one, Picking at it while she waited to see where the conversation lead. Derek Dropped down into Percy's seat, Percy being in the Kitchen goinAnnabethnabeths notes with her.
He didnt say anything, he just handed her a hot chocolate, overfilled with marshmallows, she couldnt help her smile as she thanked him. She glanced over to him but quickly looked away when she caught his eyes on her, she straightened in her seat.
"Okay, is there anything else?" Jason asked as everyone shuffled back to their seats. She went over what she had already explained, trying to remember anything she might have missed. She shook her head distracted by thoughts.
"I dont think so"
"I dont think so isn't good enough sea-" Clarrise cut herself off, realizing she was about to use Percys nickname. She felt Derek lean her way and almost jumped. he turned hs head to the side and whispered close to her ear. She tried to ignore the looks they were getting.
"What about what you told me, with The Queens grandmother, the little girl." She felt her eyes go wide his words, completely forgetting anything about that.
"Shit" she cursed. "Yeah, thanks, id Forgotten," she said with the slightest smile, he gave her a soft smile back as he relaxed in his seat, biting back whatever else he had to say.
"um, I had a few more dreams, mostly on the way back i think." She explained, turning back to the group, her eyes lingering on Dereks for a few seconds before addressing everyone else. She leaned forward. "I dont think the Queen was showing me them though, They were images of the Queen when she was younger, when her grandmother was in charge. She seemed like a vile woman, worse than the Queen" Skye added "um, she was pleading for her grandmothers help, i think it was after the god she loved had taken the child away, She was willing to do anything"
"The grandmother was reluctant at first, said she had forsaken the family and left but the Queen offered to do whatever it took and the woman agreed, sent out search parties while the Queen was put to work. Once Cynthia was gone the Queen made plans to get rid of the child before it was old enough to fight against her." She tried to pull up more details but found them blurry. "ah, they found the child, she was given back to the Queen on the condition that she continue to work as she had promised. She failed her duties a few times, when her daughter was sick."
"I thought the Queen had a son" Clarrise corrected her.
"The queen told me she had a son but in the dreams, i got it was a daughter with hair like her own." Skye replied, challenging the other girl to speak again. she didnt.
"The queen caught me in that dream, she asked me who was showing me these scenes and i asked her if she had a daughter. She looked surprised and disappeared. then dropped me in a scene where everyone around me had been killed, I thought Derek was a soldier and stabbed him in the throat, she made me watch him bleed out, Emma Carly and Avril were already dead. The younger version was there, she said she was sorry and that she had to do it to get her daughter back. I think that was the last i heard from her."
"And thats why you think she's your mother," Hazel asked, her voice soft and concerned.
"It makes sense right?" Skye asked, feeling self-conscious, she leaned back in the seat, pulling away from the group thinking she may have been seeing invisible connections.
"It's actually plausible," Annabeth said, flipping through her notes. "It would explain why the Queen wanted you so bad"
She was chewing her lip when she felt Dereks hand grab her own, pulling it between them as he squeezed it reassuringly.
" im mean, you dont need to know you for long to know your stubborn so shed have to know there were easier demigods to turn. But, How did she lose you in the first place?"
"Oh!" Skye said, scolding herself for forgetting details. "when she missed her duties because her daughter was sick the Grandmother sent her out on a mission and told her she would have her doctors see to her. She sent her bodyguard to take her, the daughter away once the queen left, she was going to kill her but he convinced her to tell the Queen that the gods had Taken her back or something, i cant remember or i dont think i found out what really happened."
"That detail slip you mind?" Clarrise snarked from her corner.
" You try recalling every detail of every day for the last six months, or have you already forgotten what you did yesterday?" Skye replied, Percy didnt hide his smirk but Derek tugged on her hand.
"Making it so that her anger is directed at the gods" Annabeth said, continuing as if they hadnt spoken. "All signs point to you, she wanted her daughter to lead her Army, she wants revenge on the Gods, but whats her goal after that?"
Skye shrugged, in case her question was directed at her, there were confused looks all around but nobody really knew what to say.
Authors note AAAAnd BRAKE. Okay, i think i covered everything next chapter will have a little bit of Skye learning what she missed while she was gone and maybe a little bit of fluff... who knows right haha. anyway, hope you enjoyed I'm going to try to get a few more chapters out asap to make up for the brake. Dont forget to review.