I don't own PJO
Chapter 9
Zoey's POV
"Gr…greetings Lord Apollo." I managed to stutter. "Austin." I nodded at him feeling a pang of sorrow in my heart. "Would you like to come in?" I asked holding the door open for them to enter.
"No thanks kid." Apollo said pushing his sunglasses on top of his head. "Take care son." He said clapping Austin on the shoulder. We both turned away as he disappeared in a green flash.
We stood there awkwardly for a moment, and the thought of sending him back flashed through my head. I quickly discarded it. I had made a commitment and I would stick to it. "Well I suppose you should probably come in and get settled." I said stepping inside so that he could enter behind me. I shut the door as he stood in the entryway glancing around the small room with a door leading into the bookstore and stairs leading up into the apartment. I started up the stairs and Austin followed quickly behind me. I showed him around the apartment, and left him in his room to go order take-out.
Dinner was extremely silent at least up until the end, "I really am sorry Zoey." Austin said between bits of noodles. I just nodded and concentrated on my chicken and rice. "I'll make it up to you somehow." He vowed.
"Just stop." I said looking up trying to keep my memories and my motions submerged in the subconscious part if my mind. "What's done is done and there's no going back." I stood no longer wanting to finish my food. "Why are you even here anyways? What could you have that was so bad you had to leave?"
"I supposedly put paint in the Aphrodite girls makeup." He said looking at me with sad blue eyes. I refused to look into them for more that a few seconds because I knew I would take him back in a New York minute.
"Humph."
"I was framed by Leah and her sisters because of what happened the day you left. I followed you instead of staying with her, and asking her out. It's all really stupid but long story shot Aphrodite is now out to get me."
I froze at the sink, "Your not going out with her?" I asked surprised.
"Of course not." He said quietly coming up behind me, "I haven't felt anything for anyone but you." I shut my eyes and tried to block out his voice, his smell, the way I could sense his body only inches from mine.
"I can't do this Austin." I whispered as I watched the already shattered pieces of my heart begin to splinter even smaller. "I can't lose you again. Not like that."
I dried my hands and ran into my room with his gaze never leaving my retreating body. I began to shake as soon as I closed my door, and tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I just couldn't take him back now. Not after I had already lost him once. Even if what he said was true… I quickly wiped all thoughts of Austin and Leah together out of my head, and began to get ready for bed just to occupy myself. A few moments after all the lights in my room were out I heard Austin getting ready for bed as well.
I tossed and turned during the first part of my fitful sleep, and once I finally drifted off into a deeper slumber the nightmares began.
I was walking in the woods behind our old house when I was younger. I was wearing my street clothes and my hair was dirty and pulled up away from my face. The only light visible was the sun filtering between the leaves of the trees. All was quiet.
I was walking down one of the trails that ran back there, when a goddess stepped out into my path from behind a small grove of saplings. She was wearing a strapless white dress, with no shoes, and her long black hair was down close to the middle of her back. I suddenly felt ashamed of the way I looked and I began to turn away from her and head back the way I had come.
"Zoey," she seemed to sing she began to walk towards me gracefully, "please wait. I wish to speak with you." she sang. I knew this strange goddess, but I couldn't place where I had seen her before. I waited as she came closer. "I am the goddess of song, Melody. You will soon be taking my place. I chose you Zoey Marie Jackson to be the next Song of the Half Bloods."
"Me?" I asked, "Why me goddess? I am not worthy of your song." I said looking away from her probing eyes.
"I am fading fast dear Zoey. You alone are worthy to carry my powers. You will be the next Song of the Half Bloods."
"But how can I be worthy?" I asked suddenly afraid.
Melody smiled, "Why it's your own personal song that decides your fate. The way you sing has also assured me that I have chosen correctly. I was so very happy when you began to sing again. You have a most wonderful voice."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw something move towards Melody. I gasped when I saw it was my mother. Melody turned around just as Athena stabbed the goddess with a cestelic bronze knife. The goddess shimmered and then was gone gold dust filling the place where she had just been standing. "Remember Zoey." She sang. Her voice seeming to fill the entire forest, "I give you all my powers, use them wisely." And she was gone.
I took in a sharp breath as I noticed that my clothes were no longer torn and my hair was no longer dirty. I was wearing exactly what Melody had been wearing. I could hear notes coming from different things, and they all seemed to blend together to form and beautiful symphony. I realized that I could also pinpoint a song and that each song was slightly different from the last as I focused on one thing to another.
Athena turned her steely gaze on me and began to advance with her dagger in hand. She grabbed my arm and I screamed.
I awoke to Austin shaking my arms with both hands. I franticly searched the room with my eyes while trying to move away. "Zoey, calm down, it's ok. It was just a dream."
I focused on him blue eyes and tried to process his words. "Just a dream." I whispered, and suddenly I remembered where I had seen the goddess before.
Another cliffy! Well sorta... anyways so yeah you know the deal where I beg and still get no reviews =( which saddens me greatly look my smily face is crying ='( see what you did? Review to make it happy again! Thanks for reading anyways. ~chocoyum4~
