Another taste of Sadie Kane's thoughts, I do hope you enjoy- and remember- yes she's starting to see through the Fausts and she's not quite so angry, but Sadie is still a twelve year old who understandably feels incredibly abandoned by her family and she does still feel like she was replaced- which again I personally think is understandable if not fully fair. She's gonna be struggling with how she feels towards Percy especially because Percy has everything Sadie's ever wanted, but they are both so chaotic so she's there like 'For fuck sake I don't want to care about her or like her' but I will say that by the end of this fic that will be sorted- and there will be a very cute scene to cement that.
Replies:
SteamPoweredStereo: Your vote's been counted, I hope you enjoy.
Undeath9087: It'll take her time to figure things out but as I said, it's understandable. And they will sort things out.
JjlovesPJO: I'm glad you enjoyed, and yeah, I mean they lost their dad, but at least they're heading somewhere somewhat safe.
Ryan Fowler: Poor Sadie honestly, she deserves better. They all do really- even Percy- after all Julius was a good dad but he did put too much pressure on her.
The Official Clarisse: I love the reviews and I love replying, I'm just willing to admit a few might slip through the cracks. And honestly, Sadie has a lot to process- she needs to make sense of it all.
MagicalR2D2: Your vote's been counted.
Guest: Why thank you, and I'll add your vote.
Guest: It's a start- Sadie does sort of care she just doesn't want to admit it and she is still understandably jealous. I'd be jealous if I was her. But she will get there, and I'm afraid there will be no renewal of vows for Sally and Julius- sorry not sorry.
PJ Fan 285: I'll keep counting votes until I've decided, and I'm glad you're enjoying.
Guest: Sadie will come around, and I've counted your votes.
Commodore: You have to feel sorry for her. And your vote is counted.

Poll
Pipercabeth: 20
Percy/Apollo: 9
Percabeth: 7
Perlia: 5
Pereynabeth: 5
Pipercy: 5
Pereyna: 3
Percy/Bianca: 3
Perachelbeth: 2
Perlianca: 2
Pereylia: 2
Perlissse: 1
Pereyna: 1
Perachel: 0
Other: (Say who)

Sadie took several moments to calm down as she finished packing, carefully tucking the photo into her bag.

Then she took a deep breath, casting a glance around her bedroom- it wasn't anything that special, but it had been home. She got the feeling that it wouldn't be home anymore after this. Especially given what might happen when she went down the stairs.

Then she exhaled and moved, taking the steps two at a time, until she was at the bottom of the steps, and she could hear hushed voices coming from the front room.

She swallowed hard before she straightened her shoulders and gripped her pack tightly as she marched through the hall into the room.

The voices went silent at her arrival. Gran and Gramps were stood awkwardly, Amos had taken the free chair and Carter had squeezed onto the sofa, Percy's head resting in his lap- Sadie felt a familiar rush of jealousy at that sight. It wasn't fair. Percy wasn't even related to Carter, but she knew that if he had to chose Carter would chose Percy any day. It sucked, though, to be fair Percy did look terrible, now that Sadie could see Percy's hands properly- it had been too dark in the taxi, she could see how red they were- and someone had rolled up her sleeves and the redness went up her arms.

But then she had been caught in a wall of steam, it did make sense that it would burn.

Sadie looked away, focusing on her grandparents - and her gran opened her mouth to speak but Sadie held up her hand, her eyes narrowing. "Don't. I have a question."

"What- Sadie-" Gramps was frowning, "What do you-"

"The wedding. Did- is what Carter said true?"

"What-" Gran's expression turned panicked, "What did Carter say I don't know-"

"So it is." because that panic, the only reason she'd panic like that was if Carter had been telling the truth. And Sadie felt a rush of anger.

Sure it didn't mean she wanted to know her stupid step mum but- she'd been so hurt, felt so abandoned when they'd told her that they'd had the wedding without her. And she wasn't sure how she wasn't screaming at them, at the sheer unfairness of it all.

"Sadie- we- it wasn't right-" Gramps started to protest but Sadie shook her head sharply.

"Oh go stuff it up your ass Gramps I don't wanna hear it right now-" and Carter's mouth dropped open in shock and he choked out a laugh at that, and Amos looked away, clearly trying to keep his expression from showing any sign of amusement.

"Sadie!" Gran tried to protest but Sadie snorted loudly, "What part of stuff it don't you get." she gripped her bag tighter as she slung it over her shoulder, "I still don't like the fact that dad replaced mum and me with-" she paused- she usually just called Sally the replacement or her, but- well- using her name didn't have to mean she liked her. "With Sally and Percy, but at least he only lied to avoid hurting me even more." She turned her gaze to Amos and Carter, blinking rapidly to stop herself from crying. "I'm ready to go."

"Good, that seems like perfect timing to me." Amos spoke, tilting his head, "I think I can hear sirens coming this way."

And Sadie paused, listening- and he was right, they were faint in the distance for now but she could hear police sirens.

"Right." Sadie swallowed hard, "How do we get out of here though?"

"Well-" Amos was moving towards the patio doors at that, and he looked out at the river, tracing something in the condensation on the glass. And Sadie blinked- it was a hieroglyph- or she was pretty sure it was. Carter and Percy would know better she was sure- but- Sadie blinked.

"Boat."

And Amos' gaze shot towards her, and she could see his eyebrows raised over the top of his glasses. "Now that's interesting."

"I- I mean it looks like a boat- but that can't be what you mean that's ridi-"

"Is it now?" Amos looked amused- and Carter was lurching to his feet, and Sadie noticed that he had their dads workbag- Amos must have carried it in from the taxi and
Carter had clearly claimed it when he came back downstairs- and he was pointing out of the window.

"Look!"

And Sadie darted towards the doors, peering down at the quayside- and her mouth dropped open in shock because sure enough a boat was docked, not a regular boat but an Egyptian reed boat, with two torches burning in the front, and a big rudder in the back. A figure in a black trench coat and hat—possibly Amos's—stood at the tiller.

Sadie gaped, "That wasn't there-"

"Now now." Amos winked, "All will be clear soon children. Sadie it would be best to say any goodbyes you want to-"

"I don't." Sadie snapped the words, which made her Gran flinch, and her Gramps look away uncomfortably but she didn't even care. They'd made her hate her dad, made her blame him for things that weren't his fault. And now he was gone and she was allowed to be angry.

"Don't forget your cat." Amos prompted- and as if she'd been waiting for her cue Muffin appeared almost out of nowhere, leaping up into Sadie's arms- which she never did.
"Where are we even going?" Carter clutched their dads workbag tighter as Amos carefully slipped his arms under Percy's back and legs and picked up the sleeping nine year old.

"The family mansion of course."

"We have a family mansion?" Sadie blinked, "But-"

"Oh yes." Amos grinned, "It's not much but it's home." he looked amused, and then he turned and they headed towards the doors- and Sadie glanced back as she stepped outside, hugging Muffin close and clutching the strap of her backpack.

A part of her wondered if she should stop, if she should go back and say goodbye but- no. No they hadn't earned that from her after what they'd done.

So she turned to look ahead, and together the four of them made their way down to the weird looking boat docked at the quayside.

When they reached it Amos stepped aboard the boat.

The boat itself was woven together from coils of plant fibre—like a giant floating rug. At the back, the tiller was manned by a little guy wearing Amos's black trench coat and hat. The hat was shoved down on his head so they couldn't see his face. His hands and feet were lost in the folds of the coat.

In the middle of the boat was a hut made from woven mats, and Amos carefully stepped into the hut, setting down Percy inside.

Sadie shrugged after a moment and jumped onto the boat.

And it was weird, as soon as she was on the boat she felt warmer- as if the torchlight was casting a protective glow over them.

She hesitated, shifting her grip on Muffin as her gaze moved to Carter, who didn't look happy as he eyed the boat.

"How does this thing even move? There's no sail."

"That's not a problem." Amos held out his hand, and Carter hesitated before he took it and stepped on board.

"At least Percy's here."

"What?" Sadie blinked, "Why?"

"I don't like being on boats without her." Carter muttered the words, and his face flushed slightly, "I dunno what is, it's probably just me but the water always seems calmer when she's with me-"

"That is sickeningly sweet." Sadie rolled her eyes, trying not to feel jealous again. But really it wasn't fair that Percy's mere presence made Carter feel better about stuff.

"It's also quite understandable." Amos looked thoughtful, "It is her element of course- but- I'm not sure how much her presence will help us now. You may wish to take a seat inside, the trip might be a little rough."

"I think I'll stand thanks." Sadie shifted her grip on Muffin, who was sniffling the air. "Who's your driver?" she asked after a moment, nodding at the little guy in the back.

Amos acted as if he hadn't heard the question. "Hang on, everyone!" He nodded to the steersman, and the boat lurched forward.

The feeling was hard to describe. It was like know that tingle in the pit of your stomach when you're on a roller coaster and it goes into free fall? It was kind of like that, except they weren't falling, and the feeling didn't go away. The boat moved with astounding speed. The lights of the city blurred, then were swallowed in a thick fog. Strange sounds echoed in the dark: slithering and hissing, distant screams, voices whispering in languages that Sadie didn't understand.

The tingling turned to nausea, the sounds got louder and Sadie wished that she could cover her ears- she felt like screaming- and she could see movement from inside of the little hut, Percy lurching up so that she was sat up, her eyes wide and shocked for a brief second.

Then suddenly the boat slowed, the noises stopped and the fog dissipated. City lights came back brighter than before.

Above them loomed a bridge, much taller than any bridge in London. Sadie felt shock rush through her as she looked around. To the left she saw tall buildings- ones she could only ever remember seeing on tv and in moves- she could see the Chrysler building, the Empire State building.

"That's impossible." Carter's voice was stunned too. "That's New York."

"It can't be." Sadie breathed the words- and she stepped back slightly because Percy was scrambling out of the hut, her eyes wide and her mouth dropping open.

"Oh wow!" Her eyes were glued to the Empire State building.

"Percy!" Carter was there in a second, grabbing her arm and pulling her up quickly, "Are you okay?"

"Uh-" Percy shook herself slightly, "I think so- still tired and my arms kinda sting-"

"You look like crap." Sadie said bluntly- and she was telling the truth- Percy looked ashen, like she hadn't slept in a week, and she could see that Percy was leaning against
Carter. Whatever it was she'd done in the museum had clearly taken it out of her.

"Gee, thanks." Percy poked her tongue out- and Sadie had to stop herself from snickering- she'd probably do the same in Percy's place.

"Now now children." Amos looked briefly amused, "Percy will be fine with some more rest."

"Of course." Percy nodded, looking around again, "We're really back."

"It's been like, three years since we last came to New York." Carter's voice was thoughtful.

"What's so special about New York? And uh- how did we get here so fast?"

"Magic." Percy grinned, and Amos laughed, reaching out to ruffle her hair- which made Percy yelp and duck her head.

"New York is where we met Percy and Sally." Carter informed Sadie after a moment, "Not right here obviously but-"

"I didn't know that." Sadie felt like an outsider again, Carter and Percy looked happy- like this place had fond memories for them, but- Sadie hadn't been there.

A little voice in the back of her head whispered, You keep saying that Percy isn't a part of the family but that's not true. You're the one who isn't their family anymore. And Sadie pushed it down as hard as she could, curling her fingers into fists and taking a shaky breath, looking away from her brother and his sister as they sailed up the river, under a large bridge.

Amos must have noticed the look on her face because he moved to her side, laying a hand on her shoulder, "We're on the East River you know. That bridge is the Williamsburg bri-"

"I did not!" and they turned their heads back to Percy and Carter- who were grinning, and Percy was waving her hand at Carter, "That is totally wrong and you're a stinky smelly loser for saying I did-"

"You did!" Carter was laughing, "I remember it! You blew up the toilets! I don't know how you did it but dad told you off-"

"Slander and lies Carter Kane!" Percy was giggling, and Carter shoved her shoulder lightly.

Percy stumbled slightly at the push- and Sadie lunged, and she was just fast enough to catch Percy by the sleeve of her sweater, yanking her forward, away from the edge of the boat, crashing into Sadie and almost sending them both to the floor of the boat- but Amos managed to steady them both with a faintly amused smile.

"Careful children. I doubt even you want to swim in the river Percy- it's not exactly the cleanest-"

"It's gross is what it is." Percy scrunched up her nose as she peered over the edge of the boat, "There's all that trash in it."

"Alas people often dump their rubbish in it I believe- it's not right but there's little we can do." Amos shook his head, "Now let us get home shall we?"