Hey guys, I hope you all enjoy this chapter- and Carter gets the chance to say what he's thinking- something Sadie needed to hear.
Replies:
Jokergames1999: That is unsure at this stage- we shall have to wait and see. But I have counted your vote.
Ryan Fowler: I love to hear that! I'm glad you're enjoying.
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The Official Clarisse: Sorry about that! I probably wont write full replies because I am seriously getting so many reviews it's hard to keep up. But I will add votes. And yeah, Percy's powerful
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Guest: As always you'll have to wait and see what's going to happen- but I'm really, really hoping and thinking that you'll enjoy it- though I can tell you now there will be some big difference to how the PJO stuff starts.
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Guest: Well currently leading is Pipercabeth so I hope that makes you happy.
Futures: Cut the girl some slack! She's like nine, poor thing didn't stand a chance. And I've counted your vote.
ChildPercyisCute: Percy, Piper, Annabeth, and I have counted your vote.
Poll
Pipercabeth: 15
Percy/Apollo: 9
Perlia: 5
Pereynabeth: 5
Pipercy: 5
Percabeth: 5
Pereyna: 3
Percy/Bianca: 3
Perachelbeth: 2
Perlianca: 2
Pereylia: 2
Perlissse: 1
Pereyna: 1
Perachel: 0
Other: (Say who)
Percy hated feeling weak- though she was incredibly grateful to Amos- Carter had been struggling- racing down a set of narrow stairs carrying her had just about done him in- they'd done a lot of walking that day after all, even before the living nightmare at the museum, and Percy let herself slump in the mans arms as he carried her bridal style, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
Thankfully Amos managed to wave down a taxi and he bundled the three children in the back before sliding in himself, quietly talking to the driver before he pulled his coat off and carefully wrapped it around Percy's shoulders.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Sadie's voice was almost hesitant- worried.
"She'll be fine. She pushed herself too hard is all." Amos's voice was worried though, and he paused, gently grabbing Percy's left and and raising it, the skin was red, and Percy hissed softly.
"Burns-"
"She's burned?" Carter's voice was panicked, "How ba-"
"Not too badly- it will heal easily enough."
"The steam." Percy curled into the jacket, shifting so that she could see Sadie and Carter better, "It was the steam." now that the shock and the burst of energy that had come with the terror had worn off she felt beyond exhausted, and Amos must have noticed because he let out a breath.
"Sleep Percy. You did well. You got Carter and Sadie out safely." there was a hint of frustration in his voice- and as Percy closed her eyes she heard Carter hissing.
"Why would you say that! She's younger than Sadie and I- we should be the ones looking after her, not the other way around."
"I know." and Percy felt herself slipping completely after that, letting darkness swallow her.
...
Sadie would never admit that she was maybe a teensy bit worried about Percy. It wasn't because she liked the other girl- of course not. She hated her, almost as much as she hated her dads new wife. But- it was hard not to be worried after everything that had happened.
She was probably in shock too- the things they'd seen- they couldn't have been real- maybe there had been some gas or something and they'd hallucinated the fire guy and Percy using weird crazy powers with a boomerang and magic. Maybe she'd wake up in the morning and none of it would have ever happened.
But she didn't think so for some reason. And it was really, really hard to hate someone who had called her sister and stood between her and a fire monster. Which sucked because Sadie wanted to hate Percy.
The girl was stupidly lucky, she had everything Sadie had ever wanted- she got to grow up with Carter- and Sadie would deny wanting that but- she did. He was her brother, and stupid and annoying as he was- and she got to have their dad and a mum too- and Carter got a mum- he'd just replaced their mum with their dads new wife and it sucked. And it wasn't as if Sadie hadn't been willing to give them a chance- she'd been heartbroken when she'd been told that they'd held the wedding without her- without even giving her a date or time- especially after all the false promises. Realising how little they cared had hurt more than she could describe.
So yeah, she wanted to hate Percy, and the annoying girl wasn't making it easy for her.
And she found that easier to focus on than- that the nightmare of the fire monster and their dad being trapped inside of a freaky glowing coffin.
Still, it wasn't nice seeing the younger girl so pale and weak looking, and she didn't like the look on Carters face as he clearly fought the urge to fuss over the girl. It wasn't nice seeing him looking so distraught.
Which was why Sadie decided the best thing she could do was distract them both from the sleeping girl by focusing her gaze on Amos- the uncle who she felt like she should know- but she didn't. He was so familiar though, it was annoying. "What the hell's going on?" she demanded, "I don't understand any of this- what- what did dad do? And- Percy how did she- I mean she-"
"I will explain everything." Amos held up a hand, "But first we need to get to safety."
"But-"
"Sadie-" and she'd never heard Carter sound so defeated, so exhausted and weary, "You heard him, we'll talk about it when we're safe. I don't want to get chased an attacked again right now."
"I-" Sadie hesitated before scowling, her shoulders slumping, "Fine. Fine but I want answers when we're home. You hear me?"
"Of course." Amos nodded. "I don't blame you for being so upset, truly I don't. And I understand that you want answers- but you have to be patient."
"Yeah yeah." Sadie shook her head, turning to look out of the window as they drove.
As soon as the taxi stopped Sadie was almost flying out of it, glad for the fresh air- there had been something so stifling and uncomfortable about the quiet that had fallen during the taxi ride, and she glanced behind her, resisting the urge to roll her eyes as Carter pulled Percy out of the taxi, clearly ignoring their uncles offer to carry her.
She shook her head and rushed up the path, knocking on the door quickly- and when it was opened by her gramps Sadie felt a rush of relief- there were no police inside she decided as she peered around him, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw her- clearly taking in the state of her clothes, which were covered with soot and dust from the explosion.
"Sadie-" his gaze shifted and his eyes narrowed, his face reddening. "You!"
"Jonathan!" that was Grans voice, "What's going on-" she appeared behind him, and her eyes went wide with shock. "My goodness! Sadie what happened-" her eyes moved behind Sadie too- and Sadie glanced over her shoulder, Carter was stood behind her looking awkward, Percy cradled in his arms. And behind him was Amos.
"We need to get inside. Now." Amos' voice was firm, "Julius is... gone, and the children are in danger-"
"What happened?" Gramps demanded, though he stepped aside so that Sadie, Carter, Percy and Amos could come inside, "Is the girl okay?"
"She's sleeping." Amos shook his head, "She exhausted herself. Sadie, you need to go and pack a bag-"
"What?" Gran bristled at that, "You can't just- We had an agreement-"
"Julius threw that out of the window tonight." Amos' voice was sharp, "Sadie, pack some things-"
"But I don't want-"
"You have no choice- it's too dangerous to stay here. Or do you want to bring danger to your grandparents-" and Sadie flinched, her stomach churning horribly.
"I-"
And then Muffin was there, the fuzzy yellow and black cat sniffing at her legs, then she hissed, her tail puffing up like a bottle brush and she turned to look at Amos, and Sadie found herself thinking that the look was oddly accusing, and Amos gave a small shake of his head- and- was- was he communicating with her pet cat? Okay, Sadie was starting to get used to weird but that was pushing it.
"Carter." Amos' voice pulled Sadie's attention back to him, "You set Percy down on the couch and go and help your sister-"
"But-"
"She'll be perfectly safe." and Sadie met her brothers gaze, she saw him hesitate before he moved, heaving into the front room and set Percy down on the sofa.
Sadie quickly led him up to her bedroom, and once they were in her room she shut the door quickly, whirling around.
"What's going on Carter?"
"I don't know." Carter shook his head, "I- I wish I did but I don't Sadie. I don't know what's going on any more than you." he looked around, and Sadie let out a breath- had Carter ever seen her room? They never came inside for visitation so probably not.
"Ugh, you're useless you know that?" Sadie muttered the words as she moved, pulling a backpack from under her bed- it wouldn't carry much but it would
have to do give the short notice. "Where do you think we're even going?"
"I don't know- uh-" Sadie glanced back at him at that- he was stood awkwardly by the door and she rolled her eyes.
"Just sit on the bed Carter." and Carter looked relieved as he moved and sat down, watching as Sadie started shoving clothes into her bag- she paused when she heard him sucking in a sharp breath and she turned her head, eyes narrowing.
"What?"
"You shouldn't pack like that- your clothes will get all creased-"
"Sorry for not being an expert on packing." Sadie's voice was sharp, "I don't travel around like you do. I'm lucky to get to go to somewhere like Cornwall or Devon on holiday-"
"Sadie-" Carter winced slightly, "I-"
"Oh shut up." Sadie scowled as she shoved the clothes into the bag with more force, "I don't wanna hear it Carter."
"Sorry." and Sadie almost felt guilty at how Carter wilted. Which was probably why she stopped, breathing out and turning her head to look at her idiot of a brother. "You really don't know where he's going to take us? Should we even be going with him? I-" her brows furrowed, "I mean I believe he's our uncle-"
"I think I can remember him now." Carter said after a moment, "From your birthday-"
Sadie paused, her eyes widening, "Wait- you're right I remember now. I think anyway." it was distant but she could remember it. Then she shook her head,
"That doesn't change anything though. Not really."
"I don't think we have much of a choice." Carter admitted, "The police won't believe our story, they'll think dad did something wrong and they'll arrest us too. We can't stay here- I wish we could go to mom though-"
"Oh sod off." Sadie whirled around, tossing the socks she was holding at him- and Carter blinked owlishly, his eyes wide as the socks hit him in the face.
"What the hell Sadie?!"
"She's not your mum!"
"Yes she-"
"No! No mums dead! I- you and dad just replaced her-"
"Sadie that's not what happened!"
"Yes it is!" Sadie glared, and she hated the fact that her eyes were stinging. "You replaced mum with dads stupid new wife and you replaced me with Percy-"
"Sadie!" Carter lurched to his feet, "It was never like that- dad wanted you, he always did but he wasn't allowed to see you more, and it's not like mom never made an effort to get to know you-"
"She met me once and she convinced me to give her a chance and then they got married without me! I missed my own dads wedding because they didn't want me there and you're saying that you didn't replace me and mom?"
"They sent the invites, they sent dress information- dad even sent the money for your dress but the Faust's lied to you!" Carter's voice was sharper than Sadie had ever heard it. "They did everything and they waited on the day for you to come but you never showed up so dad called and called and then he came here and demanded answers but they'd sent you to a friends for the day! Mom actually told dad to delay the wedding, it was dad who decided against it because he knew our stupid grandparents wouldn't ever let you go. Mom cried after Sadie. Dad and Percy didn't see it because he was dancing with Percy but she cried because she wanted to make you feel like you belonged with us and they took that from all of us. So don't you dare say anything bad about mom or
Percy. There was never any replacing you. The only reason you weren't there was the two old asses sitting downstairs! Dad didn't tell you because he didn't want to drive a wedge between you and them."
And Sadie reeled back, a stunned look on her face, her chest suddenly felt painfully tight. "Y-you're lying. You're lying."
"Believe what you want to believe." and Sadie had never heard such disgust in her brothers voice. "But I won't listen to you badmouth a woman who has never been anything but kind to me- who only ever wanted what was best for all of us. He shook his head, "Honestly, mom would have loved her, and I think she'd have been ashamed of you right now." and then he was turning around and storming out of the room, and Sadie stared after him, her mouth hanging open in shock.
Then she turned around, moving towards her desk, and she yanked the drawer open, hands shaking as she shoved aside her old magazines, her stash of sweets, a stack of maths homework she'd forgotten to hand in, and a few pictures of her and her mates Liz and Emma trying on ridiculous hats in Camden Market. And there at the bottom of it all was what she'd been searching for, and she stared at it as she pulled it out of the drawer, and she brushed her fingers over the only picture she had of her mother.