Chapter Nine
Piper applied some medicine to Marie's wounds as she slept in her bed. Jason was looking out the window as they sailed through a thick fog. Marie sighed and then slowly opened her eyes.
"Good morning, you slept the whole day," Piper giggled. She handed Marie her eye patch and helped her sit up. Marie saw Jason and then she growled. "He is only here because of me. Try to be nice to him for me."
"Where are Percy and Annabeth?" Marie asked.
"On deck with Leo, they are trying to learn Saphir's language to get her directions," Jason said. Marie got to her feet and ran to the deck. Saphir was sitting in the front of the boat. She turned with smile for Marie.
"Saphir, no one hurt you right?" Marie asked. Saphir shook her head and then she hugged Marie.
'Your brother showed me that he was a friend and then told me you were going to be alright,' Saphir said. Marie laughed and then she ran her fingers through Saphir's red hair.
"You know how to make friends really quick now. Tell me, where did he tell you to take us?" Marie said.
'To where we first met,' Saphir said. Marie stiffened as she looked around her. She saw a light house that was had not been used in centuries and then the boat hit shore. Marie looked out to the shore and saw an old boat in the sand.
Eight Years Ago
Marie opened the sails to her new boat and then she set out on her own. A small brown haired girl held onto the mast as Marie got the waters to move them.
"Marie, stop making the water move us away from shore! I am scared now," the girl shouted.
"Come on, you were excited before you got on! Tashi, I need it to sail for a little bit before I put it up for the season," Marie giggled. The wind caught the sail. Tashira, the daughter of a Japanese business man and Athena, ran to hold onto Marie.
"You said that you knew what you were doing!" Tashira cried. Marie patted her friend's head and then she turned the wheel on the boat.
Present Day
A brown haired girl with a messenger bag came onto the beach and walked to the boat. Marie looked to the girl and then a young man with olive colored skin and blonde hair came up behind her. Leo took Marie's hand and she looked to him. The others got off the boat and they stopped by Leo and Marie. The blonde boy and brown haired girl looked to the group.
"Who are you?" the girl asked.
"You are Tashira Mori, daughter of the famous Japanese business man. As a child, your best friend called you Tashi," Marie said. Tashira walked closer and then she looked to Marie.
"How do you know that? My friend is dead and gone. She died eight years ago in a boating accident on her way to the states," Tashira said. Marie walked closer and she looked to Tashira.
'Sweet and peaceful, little Tashi hated the water and she never liked going out onto the boat. She always hung onto my waist or my leg and she cried until she got onto the shore. Her father would scold me for tricking his only daughter,' Marie said in Japanese. Tashira smiled at Marie.
'My father was wrong, you did survive. Look at you, a man at your side and I see two others,' Tashira said. Marie laughed and squeezed Leo's hand.
'This one is the only one for me at the moment. We need to get to the camp and I do not remember how to get there. Could you show us the way there?' Marie asked.
'Sure, this is my boyfriend Alexander, he can help you guys carry your stuff to camp,' Tashira said. Alexander glared at Marie as he walked past her.
"That girl has a dark aura around her. You had better watch her carefully," Alexander said to the others.
The group entered an old camp with only a handful of campers. Marie saw them with angry faces. She did not see many faces that she recognized from her last stay. Tashira lead them to a large tent that had an opening for a large fire. Sitting by the fire was a young man with white hair and chocolate colored skin. Alexander tapped the man's shoulder and he looked to the group.
"Welcome to our abandoned camp for half bloods. We found this place not too long ago and it is home to us now. Please make yourself at home," the man said. Tashira got them some tea and snacks as Alexander closed the tent door. "I am Brent and I am the camp leader. Let's go from left to right on the names."
Each person said their name and who they were related to. Marie kept an eye on Alexander as he kept staring at her. Brent looked at Marie to say her name. She remained quiet for five minutes.
"That is my twin sister, her name is Marie Jackson," Percy said.
"I know who she is. She is the one who saved the mermaid. Everyone said you died from that storm and then you died from losing an eye. Obviously you are not dead, but, did you really lose an eye to get that eye patch?" Brent asked. Marie removed her patch and showed them her eye. "So, it is true that the gods can grant a child a piece of them or someone else. Tell me, what is it like to have two different eyes?"
"The same as having one eye, Brent. You have different arms. What difference does my arm make?" Marie asked.
"Still a stuck up brat after all these years of being in America," Brent chuckled. He withdrew his sword to Marie throat. Marie swung her necklace, knocked Brent's out her way, and reached to his chest.
"Give me the map and we will be on our way," Marie said. Brent snapped his fingers and Alexander gave Jason a map. "Tashira, pack your things and go with Piper to the boat. Alexander, gather the camp for a battle. I am going to put this man whore in his place."
Marie dragged Brent outside the tent and threw him into a puddle of mud. A crowd began to form around them. Leo and the others shoved their way to the front.
"Do not kill me, Marie, we had good times together," Brent said. Marie smacked him with her flat side.
"You abuse women, haunt their dreams, and rape them. I am not going to let it continue. From this day forward, you are to be out of the light of the gods and you shall no longer receive your parent's guidance. It is a shame that the only child of Dionysus has to go through all this" Marie said. She swung her sword and was shot with an arrow. Brent stabbed her with his sword. Marie coughed and then cut his head off before she fell over. Tashira ran over and caught Marie.
Chapter Ten
Months later
Tashira entered the Japanese house with a few bags of groceries. Alexander closed the door behind them and they went to the kitchen. Tashira dropped the bags off and went to a bedroom with the sound of the ocean waves. She opened the door and saw that Marie was still asleep in the bed. Tashira went in and opened the window. Marie was hooked up to machines that beeped really softly. Leo and the others went on their journey and were to return today. Tashira went to change the medicine bag.
"Marie, you need to wake up already. Leo is coming back to see you and see how well you have healed," Tashira whispered. Alexander knocked the door and let Leo and Percy in. Jason and Piper and Annabeth stayed at the door and watched. Leo kissed Marie's forehead as he went to sit next to her. Another girl came in and helped Tashira change Marie's bandages. Annabeth kept looking away from the girl.
"Everyone, you have met Annabeth's twin sister, right? Her name is Laurette," Tashira said. Laurette looked at everyone and gave a quick nod to them.
"You never mentioned that you had a twin sister," Piper said.
"She and I just met not too long ago. She is friends with Jason and Marie from the other camp," Annabeth said. Laurette left the room with the used bandages and then came back with tea and some snacks.
"When is Marie to wake up from this coma?" Percy asked. Marie gave out a sigh and then went silent.
"She is showing signs of waking up soon. But, I am not sure on when she will truly wake up," Tashira said. Leo ran his fingers over Marie's cheek and stared at her gentle, sleeping face.
Laurette was putting the laundry out to dry as Jason came out. He was reading a book in Latin from the library. Laurette was listening to her professor's lecture from earlier that day. Jason looked up from his book and smiled as he watched the sun make Laurette glow.
"There she stands under the sun as it radiates her and makes her glow like the gods. She stands as if she does not know how much she makes the men swoon," Jason said. Laurette took out an ear bud as she turned and smiled at Jason.
"Still a lady's man like your father, I see. That will never change," Laurette giggled. Jason sat on the fountain edge and then he smiled up at Laurette.
"I am different from my father in many ways. I have only been with two ladies. The first was Marie and the current girl is Piper. What about you, daughter of Minerva?" Jason asked.
"I am still the smart girl and have not really dated any men. I saw one guy at the Greek camp and he was really cute," Laurette said as she sat with Jason.
"Good, the bookworm needs to get out and explore the world," Jason teased. Laurette laughed as she lightly punched Jason in the arm. "Ouch, you got stronger since the last time we were together."
"Thank you, it is all in my training with Lupa. She has me doing different things for exercise," Laurette said.
"How is everyone back at home, anyways? Any of them miss Marie and me?" Jason asked.
"Some people miss you and Marie. They remember you two being inseparable. But, they do not miss the tag team battles," Laurette said. She handed Jason a picture of the campers at the Roman camp. Everyone was holding up their special weapons and making faces to the camera. "Life is still the same without you two. Nothing has changed and Lupa likes it that way."
"I would think so. She never was one for changing how camp was to be run," Jason said. Leo and Piper ran to Marie's room. They entered and found Marie sitting up against the window. She had her hair in a loose braid and was trying drinking tea.
"MARIE!" Leo and Piper exclaimed. Marie smiled as they ran to give her hugs. Laurette and Jason entered the room with a smile.
"Hello everyone, it is nice to see all the happy faces. Laurette, you look good," Marie said. Laurette and Jason sat next to her as Leo and Piper went to tell the others. "How is everyone at the camp doing?"
"They are doing great and there are some people who miss you and Jason. I am actually here to help you two with whatever you need," Laurette said.
"The sweet daughter of Minerva does not seem excited to go into battle with her old team mates," Jason said.
"It is alright, you are with your pals, the daughter of Neptune and the son of Jupiter. Everything will go back to the way it once was," Marie giggled. She, Jason and Laurette reminisced on their past and told stories of what happened away from camp. Percy ran in and attacked Marie with brotherly love.
"THANK THE GODS YOU ARE ALIVE AND AWAKE! I HAVE BEEN WORRIED FOR WEEKS ABOUT YOU! NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!" Percy shouted. Laurette giggled as she watched the siblings interact together and get along really well. She looked over to her sister to see that Annabeth was smiling at her.
"Percy, I am fine now," Marie said. "We should head back home and then try to get some things done there. We need to finish up some school over there too."
Chapter Eleven
Marie and Laurette walked up the steps to one of the schools that they were attending. Percy and Annabeth were attending school in upper New York City with Piper. Jason, Laurette, Marie and Leo were attending school in midtown New York City. Marie saw the statue of Poseidon in the art department. She went up to it and put her hand close to it.
"You are not allowed to touch that," Jason said. Marie spun around and stuck her tongue at him. Jason laughed and he led Marie to their mythology class. Laurette was already seated with a few empty seats next to her. Leo joined them as the professor was walking into the room.
"Welcome to Mythology class 101. I am your teacher, Mr. Watanabe. I just moved to New York from Japan and have been a teacher for ten years. I am fluent in English and have lived her in America before," the teacher said. Marie opened her notebook and began to draw symbols of the gods. Jason looked over and wrote something on her paper.
'My dad said that you are being annoying with bothering your dad about be able to see him.'
'Maybe your dad should be nice and let my family see him before I leave to camp to help with the new people coming in.'
'Marie, be nice and leave your dad alone. He is not even supposed to talking to you after he gave you your new eye.'
'I am sorry, Jason, he is just never there for me.'
'None of our parents are there for us.'
"Might I ask what seems to be very important that has been keeping your attention?" Watanabe asked. The students snickered around the room. Marie removed her notebook from sight and then smiled.
"My friend and I were discussing how the Romans took the Greek gods as their own and changed their names. Is it true that the gods started to become two different people?" Marie said.
"That is what was told, yes. People during the time period believed that the gods were beginning to become more Roman than they were Greek. This made the people think that the Greek gods were becoming two people or as we call today, bipolar," Watanabe said. Marie looked at Jason with a large smile. Laurette shook her head and then she looked over her book.
Marie walked into the apartment with bags of groceries in her hands. Laurette and Jason helped her get them into the kitchen and they heard the televisions on. Jason looked to see Piper, Leo and Nico. Nico wore a Three Days Grace shirt, black skinny jeans, Vans, and his black hair was combed back out of his face. Laurette blushed once she saw him and she tried to run out the room. Jason grabbed her and flung her at Nico. Nico caught her and they stared at each other as they blushed.
"What are you guys doing here?" Marie exclaimed as she ran to sit on Leo's lap. They shared a quick kiss and smiled.
"We wanted to see how everyone was doing," Piper said. Marie gave her a hug and the girls shared a long laugh. Jason walked over to Laurette and Nico.
"So, this is the lucky guy that caught our little Laurette's heart! You are a very lucky man to catch this lady," Jason said. Marie shook her head as she went over to Jason.
"Jase, she is falling in love for the first time. Let her be, man," Marie said. She put her arm around Jason's shoulder and then he laughed. Laurette smacked Jason and Marie's abdomen and they went to make dinner. Leo followed Marie and he pulled her to her bedroom. It was full of pictures of the ocean and beaches.
"Marie, I have wanted to do this for a very long time now. I love you, Charitomene Jackson, with all my heart. This is a big step for the both of us and it should be a lot harder for me to do this. Will you, Charitomene Jackson, marry me?" Leo asked. He dropped to one knee and pulled out a fire opal ring with a little sapphire. Marie gasped as Leo slid the ring over her ring finger.
"Yes, I will marry you, on the beach as the sun sets. We can get a house not far from the beach and own a garage together," Marie said. Leo stood up and they kissed each other. "I love you, Leo, never leave me."
"I promise to never leave you," Leo whispered into Marie's hair. They went into the kitchen and Piper came running out.
"Jason proposed to me!" Piper squealed. Marie squealed as the two showed their rings. Laurette and Nico came in with big smiles.
Marie heard the phone ring and Jason's large feet, clomp to the phone. He answered it and then it was quiet. Marie pulled the covers over her head and then tried to settle deep into her covers. Jason came into her room and then he sat on her bed.
"Marie, get up, the call is for you," Jason said. Marie took the phone and she sat up.
"Hello, this Marie," she said.
"Hello, this is Detective Gerber and I am calling on behalf of your brother and your boyfriend. They were reported missing earlier this morning by a Piper and Annabeth. Once I hung up, a few hours later, Piper went missing," the caller said. Marie dropped the phone and she covered her mouth. Jason picked it up and then heard the news. Laurette ran in and then hugged Marie. Nico was standing at the door with his eyes to the floor. Marie cried into Laurette's shoulder and she held onto her. Jason returned and he hugged the girls.
"I am so sorry, Marie, we will find them. I promise to you that we will find them," Laurette said.