I Learn About My Past

Have you ever had a dream that was so vivid, so real it hurt? I had one of those my first night in the Athena cabin.

I was standing in a dark cold cave. I was alone, or at least I thought I was. Suddenly I heard a voice, a woman.

"Artemis, it was not wise of you to break your oath, but as long as you need me I will help."

Artemis and the woman, who I assume is the one that spoke, stepped into the light. Artemis looked older than when I saw her, about 25. She carried a bundle of golden cloth in her hands. The woman beside her looked just as old. She carried an owl on her shoulder and radiated power.

"Athena, I'm so worried! If my brother finds out about the baby, she won't… she…" Artemis broke down into sobs.

"I know, I will claim her as my own when she gets to camp." Athena assured Artemis.

Just then, the bundle started squirming and whimpering.

"Hush Natalie, he'll hear you."

Instantly the baby quieted.

"Take Natalie to her father and make sure Apollo never finds out. She has the potential to be very dangerous with both your blood and mine." Artemis commanded.

"You should have never fallen for a half- blood Artemis, it was not wise." Athena scolded.

Suddenly both goddesses stiffened.

"He's here! Go!"

Artemis thrust the baby into Athena's arms and they both went there separate ways..

Then, I woke up to the most annoying beeping sound known to man. I put my head under my pillow and felt around for that stupid piece of electronic garbage. I smile as I felt my fingers brush against the alarm clock. I picked it up and chucked it towards the wall.

"OW! That was my head!" Annabeth yelled.

I got up. "Sorry." I muttered as I wiped the sleep from my eyes.

"Get ready, it's time for breakfast." She said rubbing the spot where the alarm clock hit her.

I pulled on a pair of jean shorts and a t-shirt and started out the door. I was pulling my hair into a ponytail when Percy came up behind me.

"Sleep well?" he asked.

"Hardly, I had the weirdest dream." I answered.

"Oh yeah. What about?"

"Okay, do you promise not to laugh?"

"Promise."

"Well, I… um…" I couldn't tell Percy about Artemis. She hid me for a reason. I couldn't betray her like that. "I had dream about you and Annabeth dating. Isn't that the weirdest thing?"

Percy blushed a little before he said, "Uh, yeah, that is weird."

"Yeah, because you don't like her like that, do you?"

"Sure."

I hadn't realized we had already gotten to the dining pavilion. Percy and I separated ways, he went to table 3, while I went to table 6, although I did want to sit at table 8 just to see everyone's reaction.

"Hey." Annabeth said when I sat down next to her.

"Hey." I answered glumly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just dreams."

I stared into the plate of breakfast the Harpies had just served and picked at it. Then a voice filled my head, the voice sounded cold and cruel.

"Give in Natalie. She doesn't care about you, none of them do. Especially your mom."

"Shut up!" I told it. Everyone at the table looked at me funny then went back to their breakfast.

"Come, join me and we'll care for you."

"No!" I shouted. This time the whole camp looked at me.

I managed a weak smile and turned back to my food. I wasn't hungry anymore because of my embarrassment, so I just moved the food around my plate half- heartedly.

"Natalie, are you okay?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind that's all." I answered.

Suddenly, I could feel the crescent moon necklace around my neck. I touched to see why it felt that way. I gasped when I saw my whole life flash before my eyes and I was thrust forward. My vision went fuzzy and I could feel the air thickening around me. I gasped for breath, but to no avail, the air was just too thick to be breathable. I saw stars swimming above my head. I was starting to black out when a bright light flashed and I was pushed into a large body of salt water.

I came up and spit out a mouthful of the nasty water and nearly gagged. I started swimming towards the beach where I saw a large crowd had gathered. The strange thing about these people was they were all dressed in ancient Greek chitons.

"I don't think I'm in Camp Half- Blood anymore."

I climbed out of the water and somebody gasped. I heard whispers all around me.

"What is she wearing?"

"Scandalous!"

"Does she have no self respect?"

And a few others that shouldn't be repeated.

I walked up to a couple that was finely dressed and had a group of servants around them. I figured that they should know what was going on.

"Excuse me; do you know what is going on?" I asked.

The lady let out an unladylike snort. "Of course, our daughter Andromeda is to be sacrificed to the sea monster sent by Poseidon."
I nodded. I recognized the story, but I just couldn't put a name on it. "Where are we?"

"Ethiopia." She answered.

Now I knew the story. It was of Princess Andromeda. I looked out to the sea where the princess was indeed chained to a rock. The sea began to bubble and a giant monster broke the surface. He slowly made his way to the rock where the poor Andromeda was screaming her pretty little head off.

Then out from the sky came a man wearing winged sandals, I knew all too well to be Perseus. I watched as he killed the monster just as he was about to eat Andromeda. The monster of course turned into dust.

The crowd cheered. Some guards ran up to Andromeda and took away her chains. I could see the relief wash over the queen's face. She ran to her daughter's side and crushed her in a hug. She then turned to Perseus.

"For this, you will be rewarded. I'll give you my daughter's hand in marriage."

I didn't really need to listen because I knew the story. Perseus and Andromeda will live happily among the gods. I touched the crescent moon around my neck, hoping it would send me back, and it did.

I felt the familiar sensation of the air thickening, and the dizziness. Just like the last time, it ended quickly. When I opened my eyes I could see I was in the same room I had woken up in when I first arrived at camp.

"What just happened?" I muttered to myself.

"You saw what the gods did to Andromeda. They wanted her killed. They are cruel beings, you have chosen the wrong side Natalie." Said that same cruel voice.

"" I said surprised I actually said that. How did I know to do that? Well, whatever I did, it worked.

Just then, Percy walked into the room and closed the door quietly behind him.

"Oh, good, you're up." He said as he walked up to my bed.

"Yeah, I need to see Chiron." I answered, but I instantly felt bad when I saw the hurt flash across Percy's face. "Percy, I didn't mean I didn't want to see you, it's just, I need to tell him something." Percy nodded and walked back out the door.

I waited a couple minutes until Chiron came into the room, in wheel chair form.

"Hello Natalie, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, Chiron, I… do you know anything about a magic item that would send you back in time?"

"Actually there was a necklace like that, belonging to Artemis, but she would never give it up."

"Uh, yeah, so I guess I'll go now." I said climbing out of the bed.

"Natalie, be careful, you might not be completely-"but I was already out the door.

I was walking out of the Big House when I noticed Annabeth and Percy by the volleyball courts holding hands. I smiled to myself. So she had actually done it. Annabeth Chase told Percy Jackson she likes him. I had told her to do this, so why wasn't I happy for her? In the back of my mind I knew what it was, but I would never say it out loud. Maybe, I was Jealous. Maybe, I wished that could be me. Maybe, just maybe, I too, was in love with Percy Jackson

I felt a single tear run down my cheek, and I brushed it aside. I was sad, and confused, but most of all, I was angry, angry at Percy for not knowing I was in love with him, angry at Annabeth for taking him, angry at my mom for… I don't know why, I just all of the sudden resented her, and angry at myself for telling Annabeth to tell Percy.