The Sea's Daughter: The Lightning Thief.
Chapter 8: Chiron Meets The Evans Temper.
The night before the wedding Melinda had a restless sleep. Her dreams were filled with taunting by the voice from the pit.
She kept waking up every few hours. He would taunt her with things she wanted, things the gods lacked and how she'd never done anything truly for herself.
How she'd always been saving people, but what about her wishes, her desires?
He even showed her, her brother, Annabeth and Grover, but something was wrong. They were in the woods, possibly the ones at camp but for the life of her she couldn't figure out why.
Chiron never recommended sleeping in the woods, not even to the few demigods claimed by a minor god or goddess that had nowhere but Hermes cabin to stay.
By the time she woke up from the taunting dreams the fourth time she could no longer sleep. That was fine with her, she had to get ready for Luna's Wedding and it was already four in the morning.
Luna was as odd as ever and was having the Wedding bright and early; 6 o'clock in the morning, early. Something about marrying by the light of the morning fairies being good luck for future happiness and fertility.
Melinda had blushed and let it go, Luna said strange things but she was always right. These creatures nine times out of ten did exist.
People just didn't realize Luna was a demigod and a child of Vör, she saw things differently from others around her.
"Mistress is up early!" Dobby exclaimed, his eyes going as wide as softballs.
His exclamation startled Kreacher who was setting the dinning table for one in a very elaborate yet nice way. He nearly dropped a spoon when he saw Melinda entering the dinning room ready for the days events.
She had changed into the silver, off the shoulders, floor length bridesmaid dress, and curled her already naturally waved-curled hair even more.
"Did Dobby not wake Mistress on time!?"Kreacher nearly screamed. "Dobby, did you not wake Mistress in time!"
Dobby looked at his fellow house elf in shock and offense, and Melinda sighed as the two began pushing one another and arguing like children who'd been caught with cookies before dinner.
Melinda put two fingers to her mouth and whistled sharply, making the two house elves break apart with shame written on their faces.
"No one was late waking me up. I asked to woken at five, if you'll notice it is four-thirty now," Melinda said, patiently.
Kreacher looked at Dobby and with a deep frown he spoke.
"Kreacher apologizes to Dobby, he was...thoughtless."
Dobby nodded, wringing his cream uniform – which was actually very similar to the Malfoy's only with the Potter crest on it.
Kreacher had one in ivory but with the Black family crest on it. Both were head house elves in their own rights, it had been the only way to stop the war between them.
"No, Kreacher was kind. Dobby was nearly late, it is four-fifty and Dobby had not thought to ready Mistresses breakfast or wake her. Dobby is a terrible house elf!" he blubbered, hiding his face in his uniform.
Melinda sighed and smiled when Kreacher actually reached over and patted Dobby on the back.
"No, not true," Kreacher urged. "Dobby is but a young house elf, he shall learn the ways from I, an older elf. You shall bring honor to the house of Potter...and Black!"
Melinda clapped her hands together and laughed.
"Wonderful," Melinda said. "Now, I really must be sitting down to breakfast soon. I must be at Malfoy Manor by ten til six."
Melinda shook her head in amusement as the two house elves shuffled around after escorting her to her seat at the head of the table.
xXx
"I'm so excited," Luna said as she stood in front of an old antique mirror in her soon to be mother-in-laws bed chambers.
Narcissa and Andromeda were busy helping her get the near floor length veil situated on her head, her long wavy blonde hair having been pulled up into a braided twist bun hairstyle.
Her dress was as extravagant as Luna liked, a silvery-gray-white color with what appeared to be a leaf like design on the make shift sleeves.
Melinda smiled from her place helping Bellona finish curl her hair and get into her flower girl dress, which was white and sort of puffy.
"Aunt Mel, are all dresses so puffy?" Bellona asked, trying to push the dress down some but it just puffed back out.
Melinda laughed.
"It's not that puffy, Bell," she said and turned to Hermione who wore the same dress all the bridesmaids did.
Hermione's different was her hair was pulled up into a bun and her hair was straighter from what could be seen. The nearly nineteen year old was grinning, happier then she'd seen her since their fourth year and she'd been dating Krum.
Ginny was standing with her, her hair was let down and wavy, a sparkly hair clip clipped some of the hair on the right side away from her face.
Daphne's hair was curled, and pulled into a low ponytail which was slung over her right shoulder. Beside her was Fleur Weasley, Bill's wife and a close friend.
Melinda and Fleur had both been in the Triwizard Tournament during her fourth year.
Fleur was Luna's matron of honor, being the only one currently married and the oldest. Her hair was curled and part of it was pinned back with a rose diamond hair clip.
"You know, you'd probably be the first bride not to be nervous?" Narcissa said, and The bridesmaids all came to circle around the bride and the two older woman.
Bellona had squeezed through to stand closer to her adopted mother – Luna – and Melinda was holding Teddy in her arms.
Teddy had gotten big over the time she'd been gone, so big she nearly hadn't recognized her godson. It was only when his oddly yellow eyes and turquoise hair had turned dark brown and bright green that she knew who the baby in Andromeda's arms was.
She hadn't been able to keep in as much contact as she'd wanted, and she still wanted to visit Primrose before returning to America.
Her cousins daughter was coming more into her abilities with bouts of accidental magic from the few letters Kingsley had forded from Petunia. She'd replied with the advice she could but Petunia could only do so much being a Muggle.
Melinda would admit she was thankful her aunt was actually trying with Primrose. The little girl deserved a better upbringing then she'd received under Petunia's care.
"Why be nervous? I'm going to marry Draco today, I'm happy," Luna said, grinning widely.
"It is a happy day," Andromeda said, smiling sadly. "I remember my wedding. It was small, but it was happy. I do wish others had been there though."
Andromeda's gray eyes landed on her youngest sister who had a regretful look cross her face before both shook of the memories from their past.
"Now, everything ready?" Fleur asked, her accent making her stand out among them.
"Looks that way," Ginny said. "Something old."
Luna touched a heavy locket in the shape of a crescent moon, a keepsake from her adopted mother, Selene Lovegood.
"Something new," Melinda said, handing Luna a bracelet with real sea pearls.
Luna grinned and hooked it onto her left wrist happily.
"Something borrowed," Hermione said, and gave Luna diamond headband which had sapphire as well.
Luna placed the headband on and Daphne smiled.
"It looks like it can double as your something blue as well," Daphne said.
"You know what I don't get..." Melinda suddenly said. "Isn't this a Muggle tradition?"
The Purebloods in the room laughed.
"Oh, honey," Narcissa said. "Where do you think the Muggles got it from? It's an old tradition from back in the founders time. It was supposed to bring the goddesses Nike and Tyche blessings for a victorious and lucky wedding and marriage."
Melinda made a sound sort of like a snort and nodded, bouncing Teddy a bit on her hip.
"Should have known," she said.
"Well, I think it's time," Daphne said and soon after Xenophilius Lovegood came into to escort Luna down the isle.
The wedding music played as the bridesmaids and their escorts, walked down the isle and where Draco was waiting.
Soon as the sun rose high in the sky Luna began her walk down the isle and the marriage of two to of the most unlikely in Hogwarts began.
xXx
It was late evening on June 19th, the same day Luna and Draco had married that she left England with her round trip international Portkey.
She couldn't shake the feeling she was needed elsewhere. Then there was the fact the Summer Solstice was two days away, well a day if you didn't count the twenty-first itself.
She would admit the dreams the night before had something to do with her choice to leave the same day as the wedding.
She had to know why the voice from the pit had showed her the scene of her brother and friends camping in the woods. Or what appeared to be camping. Thinking on it, she recalled seeing Sesha wrapped around Percy like a security blanket.
He'd appeared to be talking to Grover before she'd woken up from the taunting dream.
She'd left the wedding around noon and headed for the house Petunia and Primrose resided in after the attack on Privet Drive.
Having seen Petunia again months after her uncle and cousins death allowed her to see how different Petunia was. She wasn't as depressed it seemed, and she was getting used to caring for a witch the proper way.
She hadn't stayed long, but she was sure Petunia wasn't hurt by her leaving only thirty minutes after arriving. After that she'd made a pit stop at some graves.
Her parents, and those on Hogwarts grounds who'd died in the war. She laid a fresh wreath of flowers at the large memorial for those lost in the second war and said once last goodbye to Fred.
"I'm proud of you," a almost echoing voice said behind her.
Melinda jumped and turned, startled by the shade like vision of her deceased boyfriend. He was grinning and Melinda's hand flew too the ring on her left middle finger where a golden ring with a old dark stone – the Resurrection Stone.
"Fred," she said. "Did I..."
"Summon me?" Fred asked, smiling mischievously. "Of course, you are the Mistress of death, aren't you?"
Melinda sighed, shaking her head.
"I don't want to be," she said and Fred laughed, coming up to stand beside her.
She shivered a little when Fred's hand ghosted through hers, though it was not the feeling of a ghost, it was more solid if that made sense.
Like she was only a breaths away from being able to feel his touch, but the barrier between life and death was still there, even for the Mistress of Death.
"I'm proud of you, you know. You've moved on, like I wanted," he said and she looked at him in confusion.
"What?" she asked. "I haven't moved on to anyone, Fred."
Fred smirked.
"No, but you're willing too. You can love again when the time comes and that's what I want for you."
Melinda smiled and rubbed the ring which held the hallow.
"I'll always love you, Fred," Melinda muttered, smiling. "But you're right. I can't keep myself closed off from others. Thank you."
Fred smiled once more as he faded back to wherever it was he was in the realm of the dead. Taking a deep breath Melinda pulled the international Portkey from her robe and activated it.
xXx
By the time she had arrived in New York and gotten back to Camp and past the borders she could already sense the tension in the air.
It was around dinner time when she arrived and after stopping in her cabin – which was empty, oddly enough – she began unpacking and changing into some black skinny jeans, a dark blue tank top and black ankle boots.
"Helios, Sesha?" she called out, but got no response.
Helios was probably at the dinner pavilion, he tended to hang out there at dinner time to get scraps and steal food from plates when he could.
As for Sesha, she got this strange feeling that she would find her familiar when she found her brother.
Looking around walked over to her potions station and checked on the brewing Cruciatus Cure and from the corner of her eyes noticed a few of her finished potions were gone.
Nothing special, though there was one that worried her. It was a prototype, one of the very first attempts at the Cruciatus Cure.
It had failed miserably, and had been brewed on the full moon instead of the new moon as was needed.
In the end it had too much Belladonna, and lacked the Phoenix tears, Grape vine and had one less unicorn hair than it needed.
It had turned out a deadly poison instead of a cure for anything. One sip would make a person deathly ill, and drinking more would kill them painfully.
She'd only held onto it because she wanted to find a way to bond the potion with her bone dagger, even if it was at a diluted dosage.
Not to mention during the war it had come in handy at Malfoy Manor – she'd taken her chance to take out a handful of Voldemort's Death Eaters with the help of the Malfoy house elf (not Dobby, but another who was loyal to Narcissa and Draco, Tabby).
"Shit," Melinda muttered.
She turned on the spot and grabbed her bag back from under her bed, making sure her bone dagger, clothes and Invisibility Cloak was inside before sliding a few healing potions into her bag and a couple exploding and smoke bombs as well.
She could only think of a handful of people who could have the botched potion – Chiron, Luke, Annabeth, Sam or gods forbid, her brother.
Something in her gut told her when she arrived at the big house – the end of dinner bell having rung a few minutes before – she wouldn't find Percy safe or sound.
"Please be here," she muttered as she stormed out of her cabin.
She banged on the big house door thrice before grabbing the door knob and storming inside, her eyes locking on Chiron and Mr. D soon after.
The two were in the living area playing a card game of some sort, not Pinocle she noticed, but nothing she recognized off the top of her head.
"Ah, the prodigal daughter returns," Mr. D said, looking from her back to his cards. "What's got your panties in a twist, Linda?"
Melinda would usually roll her eyes and correct the wine god, but right now she had more important things to deal with and he'd gotten her name sort of right, so why bother?
"Where's Percy?" she asked.
Mr. D began to chortle almost darkly and Chiron's eyes turned older and darker and she thought she saw regret.
"Melinda, you should sit down," Chiron began.
Melinda shook her head, glaring coldly at the old centaur.
"I don't have time to sit down, Chiron!" she exclaimed. "Who has been inside my cabin recently?"
Chiron blinked and shook his head.
"No one but Percy, Annabeth and Grover, my dear," he answered, still unsure what she was getting at.
"Where are they?" she asked, deadly calm yet cold.
Chiron could tell that he couldn't get out of telling her, and he felt she deserved the truth anyways.
"They were given a quest to get the Master Bolt and return it before Midnight on the Summer Solstice."
Melinda's glare intensified.
"When?" she demanded.
"Bossy isn't she?" Mr. D muttered, ignoring the icy, nearly glowing dark green glare that was now focused on him.
Chiron sighed, but he would admit he'd never seen Melinda so angry before.
"The day you left for England," Chiron muttered.
Melinda was silent for a minute, and it was the longest minute Chiron had ever endured.
"YOU SENT MY BROTHER ON A QUEST WITHOUT ME! KNOWING I WAS GOING TO BE GONE?" she yelled,, and both Chiron and Mr. D flinched at the sound.
The ground shook a little but Melinda seemed to be in control of it.
"Melinda, please calm down," Chiron said, knowing out of her abilities inherited from Poseidon, Melinda had the most difficulties controlling the earthquakes she generated.
Melinda took a deep breath, and gritted her teeth.
"I can't believe this, I told you I didn't want him going on any quest alone," Melinda snapped, sneering.
"He isn't alone, he has Annabeth and Grover with him," Chiron reminded.
The earth had stopped shaking and Melinda shook her head.
"Great, a girl with little experience outside of camp and a Satyr with confidence issues. I adore Anna and Grover, Chiron, I do, but my brother has two weeks of training. You knew I wanted to be there with him."
"You can't always be there to protect him Melinda, he has to learn somehow. He has to learn to fight his own battles."
"You don't think I know that?" Melinda asked. "I know I can't be there forever, but you sent him on the quest without even telling me. You let me leave camp knowing you were going to send him on a quest to gods know where."
"The Underworld," Mr. D supplied, and Melinda's eyes widened.
"FUCKING HELL, CHIRON! THE UNDERWORLD, YOU SENT MY BROTHER TO THE UNDERWORLD!"
Chiron flinched back at the screaming and Mr. D did the same, but snickered under his breath before reaching over and sneaking a peak at Chiron's forgotten cards.
"Melinda, I had no choice. Hades..."
Melinda shook her head.
"No, you had a choice. Chiron, I could have gotten them into the Underworld easily, but this is a suicide mission. Only two, maybe three heroes have ever done it and come back alive."
Chiron sighed.
"I know, but it is what the Oracle said, and we can not change a prophecy."
Melinda's face became even more cold and bitter.
"Can't we?" she asked.
Chiron looked at Melinda for a moment and then with furrowed brow he asked, "I wonder, what you meant by being able to get into the Underworld easily?"
Melinda looked at him and sighed.
"You ever heard of the Deathly Hallows?" she asked.
It was almost instant that Mr. D's eyes widened and he jerked to look at her.
"You...can't be," he said and Melinda nodded.
"I am, you can tell Chiron the story. I have to go catch up with my brother and the others before they get themselves killed."
"You have such little faith in them?" Chiron asked.
Melinda laughed bitterly.
"I have faith in my brother and his friends and my friends as well, but one of them got into my potions stores," she said, worry now filling her eyes instead of rage. "I figure it was Annabeth, and I label most in Latin. Some look the same appearance wise."
Chiron's eyes widened.
"What do you mean? What did they take?" he asked.
"A few pepper ups, a few smoke bombs, a healing salve...and a very deadly poison," Melinda said, shrugging.
"Perfect for going on a quest, though I'm pretty sure they didn't take the poison on purpose, unless they planed a mass suicide or homicide. It was labeled in Latin, I doubt Annabeth could read it right."
"What are you doing with a deadly poison, girl?" Mr. D asked, choking on his diet coke.
Melinda snorted.
"It was a potion I created on accident, trying to find a cure for a curse which caused insanity and comatose vegetative states when applied too long. I finally perfected it but the first batch was a poison. It came in handy during the war, but I wanted to run some test with it and learn what I could so I kept a vial of it in my stores."
"I apologize Melinda, for not telling you and allowing you to go to England knowing you would have no idea," Chiron said and Melinda nodded.
"I'll let you know how it goes when I get back. Any idea where they'd be."
"The Underworld is in Los Angeles. They were headed west."
Melinda nodded.
"Right," she said. "I'll see you, hopefully."
With that Melinda turned and left the big house, leaving the borders and apparating away after a minute.
When she left Chiron slumped forward some and Mr. D smirked.
"I win," Mr. D said, showing his cards.
Chiron looked at him and then his own cards and shook his head.
"I'll be damned," Chiron muttered, showing his own cards which were the loosing hand. "That's a first."
Mr. D cackled.
"Now, what exactly did Melinda mean about the Deathly Hallows. As far as I know they are simply a bedtime story for the Wizarding World Hecate created," Chiron inquired.
Mr. D sighed, and launched into the story of the three brothers, the hallows and the one master or mistress of death.
