Daughter of Madness
AN: Hey guys thanks for reading this, and if you've read the previous chapters then I hope you've all enjoyed them. So I'm thinking since its the weekend I may just do some posting sprees, let me know if any of you would enjoy that?
Also should I make an OC for Ophelia or just use a character from the book, I'm considering will solace if I'm honest, but the thrill if creating a new person is strong.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson or the plot, I only own my OC Ophelia.
Chapter 4: Those haunting eyes.
The best flowers are violets.
Confession time: I ditched Grover as soon as we got to the bus terminal.
I know, I know. It was rude. But Grover was freaking me out, looking at me like I was a dead man, muttering "Why does this always happen?" and "Why does it always have to be sixth grade?"
Besides the point, Percy was off to his place and I'm sure my grandmother is picking me up somewhere around here, I can never understand the street knowledge in New York.
Whenever he got upset, Grover's bladder acted up, so I wasn't surprised when, as soon as we got off the bus, he made me promise to wait for him, then made a beeline for the restroom. Instead of waiting, I got my suitcase, slipped outside, and caught the first taxi uptown.
" Percy, can you see my nan anywhere?" I asked him searching around for her quickly, and in my head all I can hear is Cindy Lou from the Grinch singing 'Where are you Christmas?' but instead the lyrics are 'Where are you Eirlys?'
I'm slightly theatrical.
Percy looked at me in amusement " really Ophelia? where are you Eirlys" he sniggered at me.
I just gave him the blankest look ever.
"Come to mine, I remember her saying she's picking you up from there" he told me, whilst trying not to flinch away from my violet eyes.
Violet eyes rule.
A word about my Percy mother, before you meet her.
Her name is Sally Jackson and she's the best person in the world, which just proves my theory that the best people have the rottenest luck. Her own parents died in a plane crash when she was five, and she was raised by an uncle who didn't care much about her. She wanted to be a novelist, so she spent high school working to save enough money for a college with a good creative-writing program. Then her uncle got cancer, and she had to quit school her senior year to take care of him. After he died, she was left with no money, no family, and no diploma.
The only good break she ever got was having Percy. But then again I'm biased.
She worked odd jobs, took night classes to get her high school diploma, and raised Percy on her own. She never complained or got mad. Not even once. But I knew Percy wasn't an easy kid.
He was just like me.
I walked into Percy's little apartment, he was hoping that his mom would be home from work. Instead, some smelly man was in the living room, playing poker with his buddies. The television blared ESPN. Chips and beer cans were strewn all over the carpet.
this must be Gabe.
ew.
Hardly looking up, he said around his cigar, "So, you're home." not even noticing me.
"Where's my mom?" Percy asked.
"Working," he said. "You got any cash?"
That was it. No Welcome back. Good to see you. How has your life been the last six months? hoe the hell can Percy put up with this is beyond me.
The man called Gabe was heavy. He looked like a tusk less walrus in thrift-store clothes. He had about three hairs on his head, all combed over his bald scalp, as if that made him handsome or something. and from a girls input definitely not.
"I don't have any cash," Percy told him.
He raised a greasy eyebrow.
He turned around finally noticing me he looked me up and down with an ugly grin on his face and he said " hey there sweet thing, are you little Percy's girlfriend by there?"
o m g. Ew no, that has made me feel more sick that I did by his odour.
" No sir" I spat him. what a vile man
" Watch your tongue girl" he said standing up and glaring at me slowly coming over.
" hey leave Ophelia alone" Percy ever the loyal one has come over and stood protectively in front of me.
"Ophelia ay? pretty name for a pretty girl" he said finally sitting down grumbling in his seat.
I am scarred for life.
Gabe could sniff out money like a bloodhound, which was surprising, since his own smell should've covered up everything else.
"You took a taxi from the bus station," he said. Probably paid with a twenty. Got six, seven bucks in change. Somebody expects to live under this roof, he ought to carry his own weight. Am I right, Eddie?"
Eddie, the super of the apartment building, looked at Percy with a twinge of sympathy. "Come on, Gabe," he said. "The kid just got here."
"Am I right?" Gabe repeated.
Eddie scowled into his bowl of pretzels. The other two guys passed gas in harmony.
"Fine," Percy said. He dug a wad of dollars out of his pocket and threw the money on the table. "I hope you lose."
"Your report card came, brain boy!" he shouted after him. "I wouldn't act so snooty!"
I could hear a beep from outside and I told Percy it was my nan, I left as quickly as I could making sure that I tipped Gabe his drink accidently on him whilst glaring at him. When he looked me in they eyes it looked as if he was going insane, it's as if he is seeing everything bad that has happened in his past, present and future.
Violet eyes rule.
I saw my nan outside in her BMW I ran over to it ignoring the people shouting at me as I ran into them ignoring their rude calls and dirty looks. Sucks for you guys because that wouldn't of bothered me anyway. I saw my nan grinning at me from the drivers seat I knew then that once that I see her I'm finally on my way home. the only place I can feel comfortable enough to be myself.
We slowly drove through New York finally coming to our large town house. Home sweet home. I wet inside and saw my grandfather he looked at me and gave me a grin whilst reading his newspapers and a cup of coffee. Preferably I prefer tea.
I dropped my suitcase on the bed. Home sweet home.
I went up and went to do trivial things such as put my clothes away, and listen to music. I was just coming out of the bathroom whilst I noticed the mirror, I decided to compare myself from last year and see what's changed.
As I gazed into the mirror I no longer see a child like little girl with chubby cheeks and an easy going smile. I noticed a young woman finally growing into herself, 12 I may be. but I'm slowly looking much older I look roughly between 13 and 14. When I look in the mirror I see a girl at about 5 foot, unfortunately my grandmother said I wont grow anymore due to the women in the family generally being short. I see a small haughty face, with high cheekbones a small button noise and full red lips. My most striking features would be my big doe violet eyes which are hauntingly beautiful and my long flowing golden hair .A curvy body and long lean legs due to my British and French ancestry. I look so much like my mother that its unbelievable.
Then I heard my nans voice. "Ophelia?"
She opened the bedroom door, and my smile returned.
My Grandmother can make me feel good just by walking into the room. Her eyes sparkle and her smile just makes you want to beam just like her. Her smile is as warm as a quilt. She's got light blonde hair cut into a stylish bob with some brown and grey streaks, but I never think of her as old. When she looks at me, it's like she's seeing all the good things about me, none of the bad. I've never heard her raise her voice or say an unkind word to anyone. In my eyes she's an angel. A rarity in the world, she loves and she loves fiercely, she's a strong woman.
she is my hero.
"Oh, Ophelia." She hugged me tight. "I can't believe it. You've grown since Christmas!"
" Nan " I whined in adoration.
" I'm serious little lady" she mocked me " how was school darling" she said to me softly
" Ehh it was school" I said with an unconvincing smile " I don't think ill be going back but still, ill get to see Grover and Percy again and that's the main thing" I told her with a little grin.
We sat together on the edge of the bed. While I ate my grapes happily, she ran her hand through my hair and demanded to know everything I hadn't put in my letters. She didn't mention anything about me getting expelled. She didn't seem to care about that. But was I okay? Was her little grandchild doing all right?
I told her she was smothering me, and to lay off and all that, but secretly, I was really, really glad to see her. she smiled at me in amusement, knowing that I was faking.
So I bravely asked her.
" Nan can you tell me about dad"
She looked startled, she looked like a trapped animal not knowing what to do. Mamma has sussed you out Eirlys.
" I cant tell you about him sweet pea" she said in a lulling voice.
I gritted my teeth.
My grandmother is the nicest lady in the world. She should've had the most kindest grandchild in the world, not to some sarcastic brat like me.
" Why nan?" I asked her in an accusing voice, she never keeps secrets from me, I'm a little pissed at the moment.
"Ophelia please don't be mad at me" she pleaded, I looked away to not forgive her easily by her award winning puppy look. I will not fall for it.
"Fine" she breathed in defeat. I currently feel guilty, but I'm itching to know.
" He was a sarcastic man" she started off with a fond smile and she looked at me like i was the carbon copy of him.
" You have his violet eyes" she drifted off
"Same personalities as well, your almost like twins" "Well your mother met him at this big party he was hosting, he was known for his partying ways and the rare wine he has" she drifted off.
So I coughed to grab her attention.
" as soon as he placed eyes on your mother he fell in love, for them it was love at first sight, he treasured her, he worshipped the grounds he walked on" she trailed off.
"they were drunk in each others love, but what most people didn't know was that your father had sanity issues, he wasn't insane but he could make you insane if you understand me. And he already married. But he was young and in love, neither of this mattered to them"
"your mother was the one to break it off with him and this quote has always been in my head since that day whilst I stared at his face "The loneliest moment in someone's life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly." He was broken on the inside"
"she never heard from him again, He doesn't know about you" she finally finished.
" wow" I breathed out, what this what I finally wanted to know.
"Who am I most like?" I asked her in a small baby voice
she looked at me, she looks as if she's aged 100 year " your dad sweet pea, your most like your dad"
I felt a lump in my throat but I nodded at her in reassurance.
So she asked me more about school and she was nodding at me like she was pleased until I told her about the whacky trip to the museum not mentioning Mrs Dodds turning into some demon bird.
"What?" my grandmother asked. Her eyes tugged at my conscience, trying to pull out the secrets. "Did something scare you?"
"No, Nan." i told her in my play it cool voice.
I felt bad lying. I wanted to tell her about Mrs. Dodds and the three old ladies with the yarn, but I thought it would sound stupid.
She pursed her lips. She knew I was holding back, but she didn't push me.
"I have a surprise for you," she said. " You're going to the beach with Percy and his mother." she told me in excitement."
"Really" I asked in a deadpan voice. not that I'm ungrateful, I just know that this is the time where Percy and his mum really bond together. I felt like an intruder.
"When?"
She smiled. "As soon as I get changed."
After a long , long car ride we finally arrived my grandmother saw me walking to the cabin so she smiled at me in relief then drove off.
Percy's rental cabin was on the south shore, way out at the tip of Long Island. It was a little pastel box with faded curtains, half sunken into the dunes. There was always sand in the sheets and spiders in the cabinets, and most of the time the sea was too cold to swim in.
The place looked quite nice, I'm not a sea lady but hey I'd rather the ocean than the mountain. so I ventured off and found Sally and Percy by the fire roasting marshmallows. she was telling Percy stories about him as a kid then she noticed me walking over to them then she smiled at me and told Percy she has got him a present and he turned around and he spotted me. He ran over like an excited puppy and knocked me over into the sand.
"Hey Ophelia" he said in an excited voice and he gestured me over to the fire where I could smell the best thing in existence. Marshmallows flavoured like grapes. People are so clever for creating this.
Percy started asking about his dad and I saw Sally's eyes misting up so I claimed that I saw an interesting sea shell quite a while back, as I was walking away I heard a mans whisper in the wind saying thank you. that's it Ophelia you've got to stop watching horror films. I started to walk back over to the fire when I heard Percy ask Sally.
"My father wanted me to go to a special school?"
"Not a school," she said softly. "A summer camp, Ophelia your grandmother wants you to go back there to" I just looked at her in bemusement.
Yeah sure Sally me in a camp with a bunch of loud teens. sounds like paradise my thoughts spoke sarcastically. but on the inside I was confused, why did my grandmother want me to go to a camp?
That night I had a vivid dream.
It was storming on the beach, and three beautiful animals were attacking each other, a white horse ,golden eagle and a Snow leopard with violet eyes. They were trying to kill each other at the edge of the surf. The eagle swooped down and slashed the horse's muzzle with its huge talons. The horse reared up and kicked at the eagles wings.
And the leopard was sitting back in the distance glaring at them all as if daring him to intervene or fight with him, the ground rumbled, and a monstrous voice chuck-led somewhere beneath the earth, goading the animals to fight harder.
I ran toward them, knowing I had to stop them from killing each other, but I was running in slow motion. I knew I would be too late. I saw the eagle dive down, its beak aimed at the horse's wide eyes, and I screamed, No!
I woke with a start.
Outside, it really was storming, the kind of storm that cracks trees and blows down houses. There was no horse or eagle on the beach, just lightning making false daylight, and twenty foot waves were pounding the rocks.
Those haunting violet eyes. The same as mine.
AN: Hi guys thanks for reading this, ive also included a great gatsby quote in this, and during this chapter I was listening to lana del rey, oh yeah and let me know about the male OC or possibly using a character.