Chapter 17: I make my choice

I walked over to a mirror and saw myself in my true power for the first time in a long time. My long black hair was shining with silver specks as if silver dust was covering it. My black robes were also shining with stars, when I moved; it was like the night sky of the different times of the year. My normal eyes were now pure silver; my skin was practically glowing while the lights were dimmed.

I sighed and turned back to the guys. "You should go back to camp, live your lives as best you can." Connor walked over to me, Travis following quickly behind. "Come with us." Connor whispered and I looked down. "I don't belong there, I can't be my true self there, and I will just go back to my old self of being alone." "That won't happen." Travis said and I looked at him.

"We won't let that happen." He said and Connor nodded. "You will never have to be alone again, just come back with us." I felt tears shining against my silver eyes and turned away, touching my hot cheeks. "You wish you return home don't you?" Zeus intruded on our private talk and I looked up at him. "Home, what home?"

"Your real home, the one you are so longing to see once more. The place where you belong." His voice spoke the last words with a tone that made me just agree without thinking. I slowly looked at the guys, then back at the gods. "You would allow me to finally return home?" I asked and he looked down at me and nodded. "It seems as if you really will never belong to me."

I smiled and bowed to him slightly. "You seem to have changed though; do you think you are ready to go home?" "I…am not sure." I looked at the guys, and then at my love, Poseidon, he looked conflicted. "You understand that you will not be allowed to return correct?" I nodded; I knew that because he had told me when he brought me down. "She can't leave!" Travis's voice rang out, Connor's soon followed. "She has to come back!" "Silence!" Zeus said and they looked angry, but said nothing else.

I turned to Hermes, who was smiling at me, it was one I now seen in his sons. "What should I do, Lord Hermes?" he blinked and stood up, then became my size and walked over to me, then looked at his sons. "I cannot make that choice for you, I know my sons are similar to myself and don't really understand why you seem to feel for them."

"What do you mean dad?" Travis asked and I smiled, "He means I chose another god to feel for instead of him, they are very different, so he doesn't understand why I would feel the same way toward his sons." They looked at me like I was just dumping them. "You chose a god and you feel toward him." I nodded slowly, hoping to ease them into this, after all it would be impossible for them to beat a god.

"Which one?" Connor said, his voice trembling. I turned and walked over to Poseidon's chair and touched it gently. "Percy's dad?" "Yes. I fell for his sweet ways and romance. He treated me differently than the others, he treated me as his equal, not his prize." I said looking into his sea-green eyes, which were filled with such loyalty and love. "What is your choice? No more explaining, no more delaying!" Zeus's voice rocked the room once again and I gritted my teeth, and then turned to him.

"Do not be jealous because I chose your brother." I said and saw lightning flash in his eyes. "CHOOSE!" he ordered and I felt a tremble go through me. I nodded and walked back to the guys. "You choose to go home then?" I didn't bother to answer him, but looked into their eyes. "You want to go home?" Connor whispered and I nodded. "You don't want to stay with us at camp?" Travis asked and I shook my head.

"I wish I could have known you two more, maybe we could have been friends." "We are friends." Travis said and gripped my hand firmly. I felt the gods moving in irritation, I knew Poseidon wasn't happy another guy was touching me, but I didn't care when his skin was against mine. "Look at me." he said and when I did, his lips brushed mine gently.

I was surprised by the fact I pressed my lips hard against his, letting my mind go blank as we kissed. I finally remembered what was going on and quickly pulled away, and backed away from him, he let my hand go in the kiss. I glanced behind me and saw Poseidon was out of his chair and heading toward me, slowly becoming our size. "What happened on the mission?" he asked and stood in front of me.

I looked at the guys and then stood on my toes to reach Poseidon's ear, then whispered, "I fell in love with two brothers." I knew the gods and goddesses heard, but the guys didn't. I pulled away from Poseidon, but he took my waist and pressed my body against his. "And you say we don't have the same weaknesses." He smiled and I let the tears pooling my eyes fall, they were silver as well.

"I love you my evening star, but you don't belong here." He said and kissed my forehead. "Go back with them if you truly feel you will find happiness there. If not, then you should return to your true home. I will not make you stay with me because you don't wish to hurt me." he wiped my tears away and twirled me in a circle so that I was facing the guys.

He pressed me against him once more, and whispered in my ear. "You must find your own place to belong, my love, you must find your own way." Then he let me go completely and I sighed, turning to the gods, who were now all back in their seats. I backed away from them until I was right in front of the guys. "I have made my choice." I said in a trembling voice, tears still falling.

"And?" Zeus asked and I locked eyes with him. "I choose to return to camp half-blood with Travis and Connor Stoll, sons of Hermes." I felt their hands slip into mine and we stood facing the gods and goddesses. "It is your choice, you may return." Poseidon said before Zeus could say anything and I silently thanked him. The flames roared back to light and my appearance slowly faded in the light.

"I am still the evening star and treasure to you all, I just choose to live with your children, to guide them and help them become the warriors they wish to be." I said and then we turned and walked out the throne room and I felt my power fade away completely, my vision blurred and I blacked out.

I opened my eyes after what seemed like forever and saw two familiar blurry faces smiling at me, although their eyes were filled with worry. I blinked until I could almost see them both perfectly, then my body was pressed against both of theirs in a tight warm hug. "What's wrong guys?" I croaked and realized that my voice was like I hadn't spoken in months.

"What happened to you?" I looked into their blue eyes and then looked down and saw I was still in my robes from the gods, I looked around, I was in the infirmary at camp half-blood. "I don't know, I just got weak when we left. How did we get back here?" I asked and they smiled at me. "Our dad." I sat up completely and looked around for the god, but we were almost alone, there was one other person in a bed.

"He left soon after we arrived." I sighed and nodded, I would have to thank him later. "So…" Travis started and I realized we were about to have our first serious talk about who I truly was. "Not here guys, let's take a walk or something." I said and went to get up, but my legs were feelings strange. "Let us help you up and get feeling back into your legs." Connor said and they each took my hands.