Hey guys! After much debating, I finally have chapter 15 written, with more coming soon! But for now, here's chapter 15, enjoy.
Reyna's POV:
My eyes open.
Instantly, I feel the warm, moist sand squish in between my toes and the gentle ocean breeze hitting my cheeks. Beads of sweat form on my forehead as the sun's rays beam down on my face. And then I feel something shifting underneath my left palm.
My head snaps to the source, and I find a figure standing next to me, their hand interlaced with my own. Their sea-green eyes lock with mine, jet black hair falling to cover their eyes as they look at me. Percy smiles warmly and says, "Hey, Reyna."
A smile grows on my face. "Hello, Percy." I say, and I turn to look at the endless sand as we walk forward along the beach.
Moments of silence pass between us, and I shift nervously in Percy's hand. I'm not one for small talk. And now that he knows my secret, what will we say? I know it's not really him— I can feel it— but I can't help feeling awkward. "Reyna?"
I turn to look at Percy, saying a quiet "Hmm?" as I do. I jerk back immediately, scowling in disgust and eyeing the figure with horror.
Instead of the calming sea-green eyes I've come to know, I'm staring at electrifying blue eyes. "You," I hiss, backing away, all traces of astonishment wiped from me completely. "What are you doing here?"
Jason takes a step towards me, outstretching his hand, his eyes wary. "Reyna? I just need to—"
I slap his hand away. "Don't touch me," I growl, clenching my fists.
I blink. Now, I'm standing in front of Percy, his face contorted in agony. His brows furrow and his eyes gleam with tears. "I'm sorry," he murmurs, his voice cracking.
I'm beside him in seconds, embracing him tightly. "Percy? No, I didn't mean that. I thought you were…someone else." I whisper in his ear. Percy pulls back and searches my eyes for a moment. Afterwards, he mumbles, "I love you."
My breath catches. The face is changing into Jason again, and instead I see him mumble "I love you," to me. I bite my tongue before I say something mean again. It's just Percy, I think, he's not really Jason.
Someone behind me laughs. I spin around, almost knocking Percy/Jason to the ground. No one is behind me, but the laughter continues. Percy, who has turned back to himself, is oblivious to all of this. He gives me a confused look.
I turn and narrow my eyes at the sky. My heart is mysteriously racing, and I don't know why. The laughter gets louder and louder, to the point where the ground shakes. I stretch my arms out for balance as the ground rumbles. I turn and sneak a glance at Percy who is still giving me a confused look.
"Reyna," a voice hisses. The blood in my veins suddenly freezes to ice, choking the air in my lungs. Fear creeps up underneath me, slipping me off my feet. My knees lock, and I land on the floor on them. "Reyna!" a voice behind me yells. It belongs to Jason, and it's the exact same one he used that night. It sounds guarded, distant.
I cup my hands to my ears, screaming, "Stop!" The cold laughter from the sky gets louder and louder, making the waves on the sea rise inch by inch every time. I feel a hand at my back, a touch so delicate and warming, that I know it belongs to Percy.
I turn to look at him, lock eyes with him, to get some kind of relief. He looks concerned. "Gods, Reyna, are you all right?" I nod slowly, rising to hug him again. His arms wrap around my waist at the same time, pulling me closer. I snuggle into his chest, hoping his beating heart will calm my own.
Percy kisses the top of my head, murmuring something I don't understand. When we pull away, his hand cups my chin, and tilts my head towards his. "Reyna, I'm sorry—about everything." he says, his deep, emerald eyes unwavering.
My heart flutters against my ribcage. I open my mouth, to say the words I've wanted to say since he left…and then his face changes and I'm hugging Jason, his blue eyes staring into mine.
"I really am sorry," he says, with the same firmness Percy did.
My breath catches and I stop the words from slipping past my lips just in time. "Of course you cannot forgive one and not the other, daughter of Bellona," the voice behind me chuckles, making my skin crawl. "Your ego is much too big for that. Either you forgive both, or you forgive neither."
I grit my teeth. I can forgive Percy, I think in my head, somehow knowing the voice will hear me. The voice laughs again, and another large wave crashes far out into the ocean. "Oh, but my dear, I know you better than you do, and trust me when I say you cannot." the voice replies with a cold humor. "If you do, you would break."
"Reyna?" My eyes shift to Percy now, and I notice his green eyes are desperate now. He's waiting for me to say the words. Say them, Reyna, I think, prove her wrong. Wait—her? The voice laughs again. "Yes, I am who you think I am. And there it is, child, your fatal flaw—your ego." she crackles.
"No!" I scream, furious. "I can—will—do it!"
"Please, Reyna," Percy pleads. I turn to him, and look into his eyes firmly. I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. I try again, and again. Percy looks at me, worried, and finally I see what I don't want to see—ever.
I see him break.
His eyes turn cold, emotionless, as he untangles himself from my arms. The sound of rushing water fills my ears, but it sounds distant and fuzzy compared to the sound of my heart racing in my ears. "Percy!" I find myself yelling, although I don't know why. "Percy, wait! I can forgive you, I—"
He says nothing, and the sound of rushing water suddenly becomes crystal clear, like the source is right next to me. Gaea's laughter is booming all around me, I also hear the sizzling of electricity and lightning striking the ground, and I turn to see just in time the giant wave—the one Percy made—consume us whole.
And then everything goes dark.
I wake screaming into my principia, until my throat burns and I cannot scream no more. My chest rises and falls rapidly, and I'm afraid I might stop breathing all together. My nails are digging into my bed sheets, and my palms feel clammy. My Camp Jupiter t-shirt clings to my back with sweat, and I lay back down my bed gently, concentrating on slowing my breathing.
"And there it is, child, your fatal flaw—your ego."
I quickly bite my hand from screaming again, as tears roll down my cheeks. I shake my head. No, this can't be, I think. My ego cannot be my fatal flaw. Do I really think I'm better than everyone else, is that the reason I cannot forgive anyone?
Yes, I answer myself, because if you forgave, that would make you seem weak. And Reyna is never weak.
My shoulders sag at the horrible truth and then tense as I suddenly get a feeling of defiance. No, I think, I will change that, I will forgive. I have to.
With my new goal set, I close my eyes and try to fall asleep again. But my heart speeds up as I think that maybe I'll have the same horrible dream again.
So sleep never came.
Thanks for reading! Please review!
-The TimeMachine
