A/N: Hey guys, just a tiny little author's note. There is no Faye in Greek Mythology, but I just made up the tale, have fun with it-F.H
"Do something worth remembering."-Elvis Presley
I awoke with a burning sensation in my arm; I looked and saw the words that had been engraved in my arm were burning into it. I howled in pain, and then turned and saw the cracks of light were surfacing from the darkened sky. I got up and shook my head and stood by the window, my expression slipped into one of brooding. I had been at this camp for a month and the only thing I had learned was that I was lost and yearning for my friend's warmth and prosperity. I looked to see Arion once more practicing his sword movements on the beach, often I would join him, but today I didn't want to. Ignia sat with a circle of friends around a tree working with their books open and papers strapped down by rocks. I knew the two were in love but Ignia couldn't love Arion, for she was in love with Jarg.
But in the mean time I had been longing for a good salad, I went to go look for one. I stumbled around till I found the kitchen of the Sanctuary, as the demigods called it, and found some lettuce. I knew where fresh berries grew, so I decided to go ahead and look for them. Maybe I'd get lucky and find some dandelion leaves along the way. As I headed out of the Sanctuary, Leah stopped me. Her face was lined with worry, she held out the phone to me. I grasped it and echoed into the receiver,
"Hello?"
"Oh my goodness, Penelope sweetums are you alright!" I heard my mother's voice answer over the receiver, I smiled.
"Yes Mum, I'm quite fine. But listen talking to you isn't really a smart idea, I need to hang up." I heard her sigh and then I could actually picture the sadness that lined her face,
"It's over, Penelope. Greeks never can win against the Romans; you have to get back to them, or else…"
"What! Mom, I can't believe that… It's…it's…it can't be. Chiron's quick witted he'll get them out of it. I know him. And they got the best fighters."
"Better then Reyna?" I looked aghast,
"How do you know Reyna?"
"Her mother and I aren't always on good terms." Then a light bulb clicked in on my head, and that's why I'm so dumbstruck over Phoenix and Percy. I rolled my eyes and scowled into the phone, thanks mom. "But dear that has nothing to do with you," Oh sure, no it has absolutely everything to do with me. "But of course she might be a little vengeful towards you," Oh really? She might tear my heart out of my chest, like ten million times! "It is Venus, after all." You don't say…
"Well Mom, I have to hang up I can't hear you. Sorry, no, I really have to go! Ok, Loveyoubye!" Running the last three words together, then giving it back to Leah she smiled I turned and walked out the door. I walked to a spot overlooking Lover's Point, as the half-bloods called it. It was like a scene right out of a movie, where all the teenagers drove their crappy cars up above a beautiful cliff point, and made out with their girlfriends. I smirked at the thought, and then got down on all fours and picked a few strawberries that were growing up the cliff face. I picked them and then walked through the dense forest and found the clearing where the only female satyr I knew rested. She was actually quite pretty, long curly blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
"Everlent, do you have any raspberries?" She whipped back her hair and then her glimmering eyes shifted to a pair of admirers, even demigods could be seen looking at her. She shooed them away and then shook her head,
"No my goddess, I'm very sorry. Perhaps I could give you this instead." She held out a small but beautiful flower, it shimmered around a chain and I smiled at her fondly,
"Thank you, I'll take it for sure." I took the flower from her and placed it with my other numerous chains. I walked to the edge of the forest spotting some dandelions growing in clumps around the Sanctuary's drive. I pulled them out quickly and walked into the kitchen, washing my findings, thoroughly, then cutting and, finally dumping them into the large bowl. I grabbed it off the counter then walked to the edge of the property and to the pegasi stables. They were very large and beautiful, but so different then any I had ever seen. I finished my salad and then walked through the long brick tunnels of the stables. I reached the one where my favorite Pegasus rested.
"Lux, come here sweetling." The large beautiful Pegasus rose and walked to me. His coat was a beautiful golden palomino color, and his eyes showed the color of an understanding mischievous brown, and the light in them showed perception. His ears flickered quickly to a note that had been released from a near by girl. She whistled while she worked the shimmering glow around her showed she was a daughter of Artemis. I patted Lux's shimmering coat and then opened the iron gate, he stepped through, his muzzle bent down and nuzzled my cheek. I laughed as his large cheek brushed against my face, I climbed on his back and with a joyful jump he lunged into the air and soared through the open roof left for the pegasi to soar through. Even though I could fly, it was still fun to fly through the air upon a flying horse. As I soared through the clouds my hair whipped back behind me, and I laughed with a magical feel, I felt exuberant. I felt like I was god, for once I did. I reached an astonishing sight when I reached a tip of land; Florida glimmered in the beating sunlight. I was somewhere near Florida then, or was I? The land was aimless and untamed, I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere, Lux reared into the air. I held onto his neck, "What's wrong boy?"
A small golden ball of light opened to me, as a figure appeared out of it. I saw from the tall figure it was Hermes, he smiled kindly at me and waved.
"Penelope got a message for you." Yes dear we've been looking forward to seeing you! It's been such a long time. Martha whispered from Hermes's staff. I smiled and reached my hand out for the golden letter he gave to me, within it was a letter. In the writing of a small scrawl of a child, but the golden lettering was of one I knew of.
Dear Penelope,
Please forgive me for interrupting your duties with my sister's and cousin's children. But if you could be very kind and not tell Zeus of what you know, I convinced him Nevleon had failed, so he was killed… Strictly speaking it is not our fault that our children came, we wanted to be loved just like you do, my dear. Please to do not breathe of this to Zeus, he'll kill us. I beg of you, we are at your mercy.
Sincerely,
Hestia
I looked at the writing with disgust. I threw down the letter to the Earth, but realized I shouldn't have made that move. I sent Lux down in a spiral dive, as we reached the fluttering letter I grabbed it up and stuffed it into my short's pocket. As I reached the rocky Earth I felt a trembling and realized I stood upon a thunderous volcano. I looked out into the distance the line of islands below me. I must have landed on Hawaii. I kicked off into the air once more and arose and flew over the vast ocean. I reached the site before I knew of what I was doing. The sky seemed to have touched the ground with a bloody red. I traced my steps to bodies of demigods. Masses of murders surrounded me. Lux reared with freight, his golden body seemed to be the only source of light to the blackened camp.
"Penelope…is…is it really you?" I heard a raspy voice croak, I leapt from Lux and jumped to the dirty ground, my feet giving on a deafening crunch. I turned and saw Annabeth sprawled upon the ground, she tried to get herself up, but she couldn't she was weak. I helped her up, and hugged her.
"Where is everyone?" I asked, she coughed and shook her head. Dry tears coming out of her dull grey eyes,
"Their gone, I haven't seen any of them… They could be dead for all I know." Dread and fear combined in the pit of my stomach. Dead… Any of them could be dead… The Romans had unlimited gold… He could be dead too… I whistled and Lux came, I pulled out the parchment of paper and wrote in my scribbled writing to Ignia, to take care of Annabeth. I gently set her down on Lux, she gripped my hand and for a fleeting second I saw her smile at me sadly. "Thank you… We need you… More then ever."
"That's why I came; Lux will take you to safety. Ignia will take care of you, I have unfinished business to do. I'll make sure Percy is brought back to you, I promise. Even if it is the last thing I do." She wiped away a tear and then waved to me as Lux leapt into the air. I turned and walked over the red stained meadow. The sky seemed to be dyed to the color of blood, from the blood of my fellow heros.
I walked through the silent camp, and found Leo and Piper. Piper was unconscious but breathing, Leo not in the best state of mind. But he realized who I was, "Penelope!" He croaked, I picked them both up with my arms, and carried on till I found Chiron and all my doubts were relived. Chiron bustled about the makeshift informatory. He looked at me greatly,
"Penelope, my dear!" He hugged me then saw Leo and Piper. He helped Leo over to a table and scooped Piper up, and laid her down on a bed, He nodded to me, as I gestured for the door. He smiled and waved, then turned back to his patients and Will. I looked back at one more time and grew my wings and shot into the sky, I overlooked the camp but spotted nothing from above. I flew down and found Pearl was safe and sound with Tyson and Carlina. Tyson ran at me and hugged me tightly; I felt the breath in my lungs get knocked out of me. Pearl piled on too and Carlina did not hug, but looked mystified at the thought of me dead.
"Penelope? Why were you gone?" Pearl asked quietly, her eyes sorrowful and her silvery legs that looked scabbed and cut glimmered in the bloody sun. I shook my head, my voice was gone it seemed. Carlina's eyes glimmered with sidelined tears, her face scarred and burnt. Her bravery and dignity gone it seemed, I looked at her with concern.
"I saw war…" She whispered, "With innocent children…" Her voice was gravely and ancient. I felt my heart throb for her, but if I hadn't been through so much I would have hugged her right there.
"Let's go…" I trailed off; I led the way through the quiet empty battle field. I found him… I breathed in relief. He sat there his back arched to me, but he looked like he was sleeping. Dirt covered his face, and his face had one long scar that ran through his eye. But I saw he was healing already. For he lay in water, a creek nourishing him, his breathing was deep and slow. Pearl screamed and tears filled her eyes, Percy leapt to his feet. But then saw it was only Pearl, she ran to him and threw her arms around him. Crying heavily, "I thought you were dead… Don't you ever scare me like that again, Percy Jackson."
He hugged her back, and then Tyson let out a cry. Percy looked up at him his crooked smile glowing with happiness. He turned to Carlina and gave her a terse nod. She gravely nodded back; I sensed something had happened to her innocence. Her fun loving personality was shown through her eyes but they were dotted with sadness and sorrow. Her face portrayed a woebegone characteristic. Percy turned to me; nothing could have made my heart leap with happiness the way his smile shined through me. I didn't know what happened; I was in his arms the next thing I knew. We hugged each other tightly; everything was with us that minute. It was the only thing that kept us together, that moment was like something you could never forget. My arms wrapped tightly around him, my fear of letting go of him kept me from releasing. He smiled at me, I smiled back we stepped back realizing there was one thing keeping us away from doing the one thing we both wanted to do.
Tyson eagerly helped Percy to his feet and they followed after me. I wasn't sure who was still missing I counted off my fingers. Jason, Rodney, Grover, Thalia, Jake, Markus, Jordyn, and Phoenix… I didn't have to search long for long to find Rodney and Grover. When they saw me they smiled and ran, Percy high fived Grover, and Rodney leaned up and kissed my cheek. "Thanks for saying hi, Miss. Big Shot." I kissed him back, and then laughed.
"Sure thing." When as we were heading into the forest a golden sword was thrown through the air. We looked up; a silhouette of a boy came into from the now darkening sky. His eyes tired and lit by one thing, rage. As he walked, the sky seemed to darken with anger. He saw me and his furiousness seemed to empty. His blue eyes flashed dangerously, Pearl looked at him with concern.
"Jason what happened?" He shook his head roughly, pulled his sword from the dirt, in which he had pierced it in. His movements were angered and hotly tempered. I reached out for his arm, but pulled back with an instant shock. He turned to me, and nodded slightly. Then I heard the running of feet, he nodded toward the dark forest. There stood the tower where I had first seen Grey Stone. It was lit up in the thunderous night air, a figure stood on the balcony glaring down or looking at us… Either way it made me paranoid.
"Their watching still, it's far from being over." He said gruffly, then we followed him across the hill and over to the beach. Fires were lit numerous demigods were Romans, some were Greek. I didn't see the faces that well in the weak flickering fire light. He sat down next to a boy, who I realized suddenly was Jake.
"Jake!" I screamed, all of them "SHHHHHH"ed me. He looked up and smiled bravely, the little girl that I had left with him was nestled down in a blanket. "What's her name?" I asked him,
"She won't answer, I've tried breaking into her heart, but she won't let me. She's got it guarded, she's like locked in a trance. I tried to ask her, her brother's name but she refused to tell me. But I'm probably the only person she's nice to; she's very sour to everyone else. She looks around seven don't you think, right around Jordyn's age." I nodded, and then sat down next to her.
"Hi, I'm Penelope." The little girl gave me a tiny dirty stare, and then looked into the flames. "Listen I know your hurting really badly, it hurts to lose somebody? Doesn't it? You don't have to talk to me, but I'll figure out who you are. You can't fool a god, only Jupiter." She giggled softly at this, but then bit her lip and looked at me. A soft word broke from her lips,
"Faye." Her blue eyes glimmered in the firelight. Then it all made sense, Apollo had once told me up in Olympus. Faye was a water nymph he had met, falling deeply in love with her he did everything he could to make her happy. Apollo often did extravagant things for the women he fell in love with. So Faye gave birth to a son, Exborus. Then Exborus raised his own godly family, and soon enough he met a dark nymph, the follower of Kronos. Faye was born; this must have been the child then. She wasn't really a half-blood but close enough, she fit the terms. As I looked at Faye, the fact that Markus, Jordyn, Thalia, and Phoenix were all still out there, and for the first time in a long time I felt scared. I wanted to be back up with the gods, but I wasn't like them, I wasn't like them at all.