Hey, so no reviews, but for some reason I don't care. Hmm.

-Where were we? Oh yes.-

July 12, 2010

Camp Half-Blood:
Athena Cabin

I stood hopelessly over her and bit my lip. Her blonde curls were sprawled across the pillow and with her mouth slightly open, I couldn't do it. I knew I had to, but something held me back. I knew exactly what it was. She was my best friend. I couldn't just… take her away from everyone.

My hands stretched out over her, where they hovered. My eyes burned and my vision blanked as I felt energy draining from her. Only a little at a time. I had witnessed firsthand that if I just tore away the soul, it could evaporate or destroy itself. It seeped into my hand slowly. She stirred in her sleep as her breathing began to slow and I realized that I had to stop. If she woke up, I'd have serious issues completing my task.

I almost pulled my hands away when a cold shimmer of Celestial Bronze touched down across my neck. I cursed and turned silently to look at whoever had stopped me. Malcolm stood calmly, glaring at me, nostrils flaring. I felt relieved that he had just saved Annabeth's life.

The Laws of the Thieves clearly stated that if we were caught in an act of 'treachery' we could choose battle or escape. And looking at Malcolm, I had an easy chance defeating him. Looking at Annabeth, I had an even easier chance of just giving in.

"Back away from her," he growled, pressing the sword down into the shadow cage I had built over the years.

I did as told and kept glancing at Annabeth. She was fine. She turned over in her sleep and murmured something about me. Malcolm didn't even glance at her and I realized that it probably happened every night. "Malcolm, I—"

He lunged out at me and I pulled back, avoiding the blade. I really had to be careful. If he did manage to hit my shadow armor, then that soul—wherever it was—would vanish. It would cease to exist.

"Malcolm," I tried again. I didn't have any hopes that he would recognize my steely voice, but if I could just get him to listen to me…

"Stop that!" He growled, trying to remain as quiet as possible. Other campers stirred slowly and muttered something incomprehensible.

"It's me," I whispered to him. I opened my mouth to reveal my name, but for some reason, the name got caught on the tip of my tongue. What was that name? Who was I?

"Me who?" he asked cautiously, making a point to keep his sword up to me.

"I—I can't remember," I mumbled.

A little girl sat up and rubbed her eyes. She yawned and stretched, and glanced from me to Malcolm. She smiled and waved at me, grinning like mad. She stared at Annabeth for a while before crawling out of bed.

"Dacey, go back to bed," Malcolm warned her, glaring at me with intense grey eyes. I looked at the girl, hoping with all of my being that she knew my name. She had to. She was innocent.

There was just something about innocent kids. They could see through my veil and knew my name in an instant. It was a curious idea, and yet, there it was. It had never happened for other Thieves. I looked at her hopefully.

She ran up to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Souls parted for her; as if afraid they could break her frail, young body. Malcolm tried to yank her away but she slapped his hand back. "Mine," she mumbled into my t-shirt.

I waited anxiously. Say the name. Say it.

"Perce," she whispered to just me. Perce? Was that my name?

"Dacey, stop," Malcolm ordered, trying to avoid aiming his weapon at her. I knelt down to her level, ignoring him. "Hey!"

I looked into her big silver eyes and put my hands on her shoulders. "I'll see you in the morning?" I asked her, knowing full well what was going to happen. I had failed to take Annabeth quietly. This would require force now.

She nodded. I think she might've understood, too, that I was going to have to make my surprise appearance at Camp Half-Blood in the morning. Without my cage, I'd know everything about myself. I'd feel the emotions that I'd missed so much. I'd see the people I'd loved.

Malcolm couldn't control his anger any longer. His ADHD consumed him, and in vengeance for his two sisters, he lunged at me. I winked at the little girl and vanished into a silvery mist.

Dacey waved goodbye the whole time.

~:*:~

I stared down at my tanned hands. There were no shadows consuming them. I felt my face slowly and breathed in the scent of sea salt that lingered around my old form. Black hair draped in front of my eyes and I caught a glance at the one silver streak. Painful memories came back to me and I stroked the strand gently.

Percy Jackson was back.

Oooh-kay. This… was unfortunately not planned. But I think I can come up with ideas easily.