"Percy!" I yelped after him. I rushed out the doors of Olympus after him. Praying to a God that didn't exist. He stood over a cliff. His clothes changed to a good looking tux and his hair brushed out of his eyes. Tears seemed to be pooling in his eyes.
"Why are you coming after me?" He said his voice sounded choked and sad.
"Because you're my…my- my friend that's why." I said.
"You can't watch me suffer like this. You just looked so happy and secure in Phoenix's arms. It made me so…jealous of him. He had you and I didn't. I can't stand the fact of you growing old and never finding a person you love as much as I love Annabeth. But you have, and you had to watch me with her, so it's my turn." He took my hand.
"Percy, you can't dwell on what's already happened you can only look at what's in front of you…" I said repeating Phoenix's words.
"Percy there you are I've been looking all over for you! I was worried you gotten swallowed by the Sea of Life." Annabeth stood on the top of the stairs. She looked from me to Percy. She gave a small smile at me. Then jogged down the stairs to Percy, she grabbed his hand and she ran up the stairs leaving me alone. I felt my heart ache for Phoenix's arms and security. I ran up the stairs after Percy and Annabeth I found him standing on the balcony his hair and been run through a few times but he still looked to be in one piece. "Thought you would never come back…" He said turning around and looking at me.
"I'm sorry…I guess a little piece of me still longs for what may have been."
"You know Penelope, you can't chase after him. It's the boy's job to do that, if you do it then your wasting your time. Let the one who's actually trying to get your attention do it for you."
"I know but it's so hard not too…" I put my hands on the balcony rail. He wrapped his strong arms around me and spun me around so I was facing him, staring straight into his eyes.
"It's even harder not to want to do this." He leaned down once more and we kissed. His lips against mine, so special and the moment was my own.
The following morning, the half bloods had to leave, for camp was going to end soon. I said my good byes to Pearl, who was going to spend the rest of the year rebuilding Poseidon's underwater palace. Annabeth was going to start work in New York rebuilding the whole frekin city! Percy was the hardest to say good bye to, his mother was going to give birth a son in the coming months. Even though I wouldn't see him, he would always be on my mind. We settled for a passionate hug. Then they were off on Lilivinth. I watched from top of the mountain and felt an arm around my shoulder I turned and saw Phoenix standing there with me. He held me close, and we watched until the sea monster was gone. He led me back inside where we planned on starting with the search for my brother. Fiona had to die. It was so necessary she did. I wanted to start immediately but Phoenix said it was better if we acted as if I was dead. I would set off soon in early September, but it felt like that was going to be so long. But I could deal with it.
I was determined to see Lona once more. When the festival of the gods came a few weeks later, Hades came with both Lona and Persephone. I ran to her and we rejoiced by embracing. Lona finally let Demeter hug her. As much as she hated it she owed Demeter. I flitted around the palace trying to entertain myself, but failed to do that. I was a goddess for god's sake! I went to the room where the gods could keep tabs on all their children. I looked around for Percy and found him in a boring school room. I saw Annabeth in Saint Paul's Academy in Boston. Pearl rode on top of a humpback whale. Like she was a bull rider, she smiled at me like she knew I was watching.
I told Lona of Jake's troubled mind. She took my hand and told him that we would figure it out. But her eyes had shown the opposite of what she had said. I knew even if we did get to Jake he would never be the innocent poor little boy I had once known.
Phoenix and I plot out our next plan to overtake Fiona's growing power. But while doing it together we are slowly joining closer. I can't imagine now a day without Phoenix, it seems that being wrapped closely in his arms is the only comfort I take when I miss Jake terribly. When I had a life of normality I used to think the worst I could do was get a bad grade on my history test. Which makes me think back to the day where the whole world I once knew twisted and became something I never knew.
I visited the school where I once went to, the home where I once lived in, the place where I once lived a happy ordinary life for sixteen years. Now I couldn't even recall what my life is now. I walked into my home the kitchen was a natural disaster's headquarters the sink had moss growing in it. Carcasses of dead broshi's littered the ground. I couldn't help but wonder what the monsters could do. The walls of the once warm kitchen were littered with vines.
I go upstairs to my bedroom, the dead broshi I had killed when I came to rescue Jake lay. My bed covers still unmade, everything as I left it. The light was still on, my mirror cracked but something caught me off guard. My reflection…a girl stood there with rippling brown hair and a powerful look was twisted in her face. Her features beautiful and alert, she had pretty flowers that dotted her dress. Her hair intertwined with twigs and flowers. This was me, I looked down at a picture with Ashes and I, another girl in that picture. She was totally different then I.
I grabbed the picture; I would put it with the other one. Right now I was on a mission. I came out of the house and went to Ashes house. Her colonial house with great pillars and a metal structure, it had started to decay already. I went inside and found the rooms torn apart. I went upstairs to Ashes room, it was completely empty. But a message lay across the wall. Gone with Fleen, we are the last survivors! If you are out there, if anyone is out there, come and find us. We have food; we have clean drinkable water, and can provide shelter. We are located in a place deep in an isolated place. I have left a map in the drawler of one of the dressers. Find it and you may be able to find us. But heed the warning, I have hidden numerous maps, anyone of them could be the one.
I read the message over and over and over again until my vision started to blur. Ashes still couldn't have been alive. Fleen wasn't that smart, and Ashes gave her everything to him. Sadly. I left the room and went downstairs. The remains of the house began to crumble, and I ran out of it. Jumping out just in time before the whole foundation crumbled and the metal frames of the once great house stood just alone. I went to the water's edge not feeling like traveling to Olympus just yet I dove into the water. Then I dove in from the harbor, boats were at the bottom remains of grills and anchors were left sitting at the bottom. The scene made me sad, imagining how everything used to be so happy.
I swam deeper into the water and found a few killer whales swimming through the water. Something wasn't right many fish floated at the top of the water's surface. Something wasn't right at all. Since I had become the replacement of Pan I usually spent the day on top of Mount Logan, helping reboot the once powerful force of nature that had been on Earth so long ago. But I thought by now after about a month the changes would be showing but it wasn't. What was going on? Then I saw an orca thrashing around writhing in pain. I swam to help it. I placed my hand on its cardiovascular area. Then radiated that healing heat through my body and the water around the orca cleared and the orca snickered at me. I kissed its lovable snout and rubbed its large nose. It swam away with its friends and I tried to keep it in eye sight but I couldn't.
I reached the surface and closed my eyes and pictured the olive tree on Mount Olympus and then flashed right in front of it. Laying on my back, my hair still dripping wet. I got up and ran to Phoenix who sat in the library flipping through some old book.
"Phoenix! It's not over! It's not ending…I think Fiona has something to do with it." I threw my arms around him sobbing into his neck. After everything! Everything with trying to become Pan it still wasn't working. Things were still dieing, everything, that I had worked for was crumbling down around me. One thing at a time…I was really going to kill Fiona.
"What's wrong?" He asked whispering into my ear.
"She's…killing…s-sstill!" I cried fresh tears running down my cheeks.
"Who is?"
"Fiona…she's still alive, still out trying to kill."
"Penelope, shh, it's alright, calm down. It's ok I gotcha." He held me and soon I felt warm enough to stop shaking. I looked up at him, he kissed my forehead. "Penelope you know she's never going to stop…she's getting more powerful. She's trying to raise another war, is my guess. Listen you can't cry about it now, you have to keep going. We can't worry about it you have to look…"
"At what's standing in front of you." We finished together. He took my hand,
"Don't worry, we'll get her." He smiled.
"I'm just so worried about Jake…if she were to do something to him I…I- don't know what I would do…" I started to cry. He held me once more; I felt more like a cry baby then a goddess. Crybaby Goddess was what I was. But it was hard not to cry when all your hard work is for nothing.
"Pen, listen to me, we won't let your little brother die because of Fiona. Have you seen me? Do you know what I can do? I am the con artist if ever there was. You know that I can track down pretty much anything, you saw me at St. Clair's."
"I know Phoenix but it's a matter of how much time it is till, well its to late…that's what I'm worried about."
"Hey love birds we got one angry Zeus running around stay calm it should die down, but Penelope, I'd duck down…" Hermes flew into the room. He flew and pressed a button on the side of the wall. Several chairs of the gods appeared Phoenix took his seat next to Apollo's then gestured toward mine by Demeter's. Demeter appeared and stood tall. She then walked to her chair anger creasing her old forehead. She took a seat next to mine. I studied the chair I sat in, it was much larger then I thought necessary but that was ok. It was golden, much like the medallion I wore it had the symbol of Pan engraved in it. Vines grew up the side of it. Flowers sided up the left of the chair and a weird type of moss grew on the other side. Miscellaneous animals played at the feet of chair.
Demeter took my hand and smiled.
"Just stay calm and you'll be fine…" After the gods gathered, I waited in agitation for Zeus to finally lay down the hammer and come raging through the doors. But it wasn't like that at all Zeus came in with a smirk on his face.
"Idiot's think they can just march in and solicit, well I'll show them. Hah! Think I'm stupid; think they can trick a god!" He pulled out a sliver blackberry and started to furiously click buttons. I furrowed my brow.
"Sir, no luck on the boy." A sergeant came in, he had shiny medal on and a lightening bolt painted across it.
"AHHHHHHH!" Zeus shouted with anguish. The doors leading to the balcony flew open and lightening cracked. "Fine, Nevleon, go and find Fiona bring her to me and then I'll have her powers taken away."
"Sir, I'm willing to go on the quest to find her." I stood up and with determination sparking in my blood. All eyes turned to my direction. Demeter grabbed my hand, I glanced to my mother she held my gaze. I ignored them. Their opinions meant nothing to me. Zeus gave me a raised eye brow. Hera laughed her laugh was tingly and cute, like she was the head cheerleader trying to impress a jock.
"Hera, shut up!" Zeus silenced her, "You Penelope, but you've only been a god for so long are you sure you want to do it?"
"With all due respect sir, this daughter of yours, she has caused me a lot of pain. The world is dieing because of her. My little brother is only ten, he's lost and lonely and I need to find him. He's the one thing that keeps me whole, besides the other little factors in my life. He's so young to be who he is…You have to let me go, lord. Please." I begged to him.
"You have tremendous courage Miss. Rondervin. I say it once more…"
"Thank you sir, I am not ordinary."
"I never assumed you were." He smiled slyly. Then looked to the sargent, Nevleon. "Nevleon, you will take this goddess and you will let her lead you to Fiona. Let her take whoever she desires, she may be your last chance."
"Yes sir." He walked out of the room and into another part of the palace. Phoenix rose and went to my chair.
"Please let me come…I can't afford to see her kill you."
"Phoenix this is my battle, I must face it on my own. For the fate of the world rests on my own shoulders."
"I'll track her, I'll do anything just please don't leave me here wondering, what the hell happened to you…"
"I-Phoenix- I can't let you…Fiona's waiting for me, some where out there. I have to find her myself. If anyone else does, she may launch an attack on Olympus."
"I understand… I love you Penelope Rondervin, it only took me a month to realize it. I mean like real love…I've never loved anyone like I have you." He kissed me passionately on the lips.
"I love you too, Phoenix." I hugged him, rose and followed to where Nevleon had gone. I found him the Pegasus stables setting two up.
"I have one question madam, Zeus said you name is Penelope, but you don't appear to be a god…are you?" He asked politely.
"I'm a lot of things, Nevleon, but there is something you must know about me, I'm not like other gods. My father is not Zeus, my father is gone. But you know what I am? I am the Daughter of the Lost god… That's who I am." Nevleon nodded and bowed and he continued to go on with the ropes.
End of Book 1