A/N: Hi guys! This is my first story on Fanfiction. Thanks for deciding to read it!
English isn't my first language and I'm not from the US, so I'm really sorry if you find any mistakes in this. I try my best to correct them by rereading and editing as much as I can but I can't promise to avoid them all. If you'd like to tell me anything about my stories please tell me in a review or pm me, and I'll respond as soon as I can.
Also, a huge shoutout to secrethalfblood, who patiently proofread this story and gave great advice. Check her stories out, she's really awesome!
I hope you enjoy! :D
-Starry Midnight
Disclaimer: The PJO universe belongs to our beloved troll, Uncle Rick. I own nothing more than Felicity's green eyes and Dennis's smile.
Chapter 1
Felicity's P.O.V.
I closed my eyes, concentrating, trying my best to prevent the swing under me from creaking as it drifted forward and back.
I'd always loved the night. Granted, I enjoyed being in the outdoors in general, but there was just something oddly comforting about the way the night breeze ruffled my long dark hair, and how the moonlight fell gracefully on my surroundings, shrouding everything in a silver hue. About the way I could feel completely alone, without feeling the eyes and cameras that always seemed to be trained on me…
I shuddered at the thought. Those eyes were hostile. I hated them, but Father insisted I smiled, and I hated Father's punishments even more.
'It's okay, nobody's looking at you now. You can stop being professional.' I thought with a sense of relief. Or whatever it was that they had said...
Unfortunately, having no-one around me also meant that I was sneaking into my family's garden, in the middle of the night, which I'd been strictly told not to do. Not that I regretted it. I rarely got caught anyways.
A flash of light caught my attention and I looked up to see a few fireflies hovering over my head, their soft glow illuminating the night sky like tiny bulbs. I smiled and reached for them, but they were too high up.
It would be nice if the fireflies could glow with different colors…
Without really thinking about it, I kicked the ground, pushing the swing even higher, then jumped into the air, launching myself above treetops. The insects scattered, but I managed to grab one, and held on to it as my body flew in an arc across the sky. I felt something flow through me, familiar and euphoric, as I tried to slow my descent. I floated slowly towards the ground, and landed lightly on my feet.
I panted and pressed my free hand on my forehead, which was beaded with sweat. That was tiring, but I couldn't focus on it now. I quickly knelt, and carefully opened my palm. The tiny creature looked scared, buzzing and twitching its wings.
"It's alright, little one," I said grinning, my eyes closed and fingertips already glowing purple. "I'm not going to hurt you."
After a few moments of concentration, I opened my eyes to see that it worked. The firefly's body, which a minute ago had been warm and golden, was now a bright shade of blue.
I couldn't help giggling as I tried again and again, colors flashing from one to another, pastel pink, light green until slowly, it faded to a dark brown...
"Félicité!"
I jumped in surprise, hastily letting the firefly go as I spun around, spotting my little sister Aurélie standing at the balcony on the second floor of our family's villa.
She was short, with the same tan skin as mine. Her straight black hair was tied back in an elegant French braid that she, somehow, managed to not mess up while sleeping. Her arms were crossed, and although I couldn't see her face clearly in the dark, I was sure that her light brown eyes, which were far too intelligent for a seven-year-old, were narrowed at me in disapproval.
That expression was very familiar to me.
"Yes, Auri?"
"Qu'est - ce que tu as dans la main?"
"Speak English, will you?" I said, rolling my eyes. "You're in Los Angeles now, not Paris."
"Fine." She said tersely. "What's in your 'and? I saw you 'olding something."
"Nothing." I replied innocently, showing her my empty hands. Well, technically it was the truth. However, I suddenly felt very self-conscious as a firefly zipped by, its body flashing painfully bright with all the colors of the spectrum.
Clearly, Auri didn't miss that, judging by the way her glare intensified.
"You're doing freaky things again."
"I…"
"Mother warned you not to do 'dat!"
"I don't care what Isabelle thinks." I stood up, feeling resentment swell inside me despite my efforts to contain it.
"Mais c'est notre mère!" She argued, looking offended.
"She's your mère," I reminded her, "not mine."
Although Aurélie and I shared the same father, we had different mothers. Her mother was an actress who Father met in Hollywood. Tall and insanely gorgeous, with blonde hair and deep, expressive blue eyes that drove the audience wild, she was exactly the sort of woman Jacques de Beauvouvre, world-famous producer, would marry.
My mom?
Well, she'd never bothered to show up. Through my nine years of life, I 'd never met her. Not even once.
I knew practically nothing about her, except for the fact that she was "une femme horrible", which I wholeheartedly agreed with. Every time I brought it up to Father, he'd get mad and shout or throw things. Apparently, my green eyes, that according to Isabelle was "the color of pond scum", were the same shade as hers.
I felt my fingers glow purple again, reacting to my anger, and I curled them up in a fist to conceal it.
Auri and I glared at each other for a few more moments, before she surprised me with a sigh and put her face in her hands.
"Look, you know you can't keep doing 'dis, Liccy." She spoke through her hands. "Why can't you just be normal?"
"It's not like I have a choice!" I retorted furiously.
She ignored me.
"You remember what happened two weeks ago? When you freaked out and almost pushed Kevin and Ariel off a building? Or the time you blew up 'dat Ferrari and turned all the trees along the road into giant bears?"
I winced at the memories. Of course I remembered. Father had made sure of it.
"You're lucky no one got 'urt." She frowned. "Though I'm not sure that'll be the case if you keep 'dis up."
She gestured to my fists, which were completely engulfed in purple flames now, and I frantically shook my hands, trying to put it out with little success.
Auri sighed again and gave me a look of concern, which somehow made me feel even worse.
"I wish I could 'elp you."
"At least you can see what I'm doing." I muttered dejectedly, having finally managed to rid my hands of the fire.
I've tried to tell others about my strange abilities and the awful creatures that just wouldn't leave me alone, and all they do is stare at me like I've grown a third arm, or shake their heads and say something along the lines of" imaginative children". I'd been confused at first, wondering if they were lying to me, before I realized the reason why.
It was because they couldn't see the things I saw at all.
If not for Aurélie, who saw them and believed me, I might have willingly locked myself in a mental hospital already.
"Hey! Gorgeous!"
I jerked awake, instinctively springing up and taking a battle stance, my Celestial Bronze dagger fully materialized and against the attacker's throat, effectively pinning him on the wall of the alley.
The guy's eyes widened. "Whoa, calm down, girl!"
He looked about my age, maybe slightly older, around sixteen or seventeen years old. His auburn hair was tousled, and his bright gray eyes reminded me of an incoming storm. Upon closer inspection, I could see a slight bit of freckles on his nose, and a light crinkle next to his lips that indicated he smiled a lot. He was extremely attractive, which unfortunately most monsters in disguise usually are.
"What do you want?"
He raised his arms in surrender. "Look, I'm not going to hurt you."
I narrowed my eyes. "That's not an answer."
"I'm not a monster-"
"Go to Tartarus."
I expected him to be intimidated, or at least flinch at my hostility, but to my great surprise, he grinned.
"You know what, you look kinda cute when you're angry."
I stared at him in disbelief.
Was he seriously trying to flirt with me when I had him at knifepoint?
"I don't know what the hell is wrong with you, but if I were you, I'd turn around and run for my life now." I glared at him, making sure that I had him firmly pinned, and pressed my dagger harder against his neck. "Before I change my mind and decide to drive this blade into your throat."
He rolled his eyes. "Well, that's not gonna happen."
"Oh yeah? Try me."
"If you insist." He replied with a smirk that I didn't trust for a second.
For a moment nothing happened, and I watched his face warily, trying to determine what he was planning to do next. Then, without warning, a strong blast of wind knocked my dagger out of my grip and into the air, which he then easily caught.
"HEY!" I yelled indignantly, trying to grab it back, but he held it high up and out of my reach. "Give that back, you son of a- "
"Language, darling." He cut me off, looking amused, and I was horrified to feel myself blush in embarrassment. "And nope, I don't think I'm going to give it back, this is way too much fun."
Furious, I gritted my teeth and concentrated. With a purple flash, my weapon was back in my hand again. However, I quickly dropped it in surprise as a shocking feeling traveled up my fingers, numbing my arms. With a jolt, I realized that the dagger had been charged with electricity.
I took a step backwards and considered the boy in front of me, an eyebrow raised.
"What are you?"
He flashed me a charismatic smile that I decided to just ignore.
"I'm Dennis. Dennis Ranger, son of Zeus. And I'm taking you to Camp Half-Blood."