A/N: Hello, readers. Here I am again, updating. I don't have much to say, and I'm running out of time so I won't be posting any shoutouts in this chapter. Hope you guys understand. Just read and enjoy.

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"Your heart is broken more often by the people you love than by the people you hate. But you must still dare to love; the rewards are far more worth than the risks."

- Grace Cahill

(The 39 Clues: Into the Gauntlet)

WISE GIRL'S SEAWEED BRAIN 2.0:

DARKNESS ARISING

Chapter 16: BREAKING YOUR OWN HEART

LESTER

When I found out the truth about what the mark on me meant, I thought I would be terrified out of my mind. But I wasn't. Instead, I felt a dread so strong it almost consumed me. A voice at the back of my mind had been telling me that something like this would happen – a voice I had successfully ignored until that moment.

Who knew that in the midst of the people who were supposed to understand and protect me against outside threats, would I find the most dangerous of them all? When I joined Camp Half-Blood, I was supposed to have found a safe haven, where I would be able to train myself and the use my powers to the full extent without having to worry about getting killed. I was supposed to belong with the people like me, and have found a family to take me in. They did take me in, but was almost immediately kicked back out.

But could I really blame them? If I bore the symbol of the very enemy they were battling? They were supposed to back me up, however, and give me the chance to prove myself. But based on Annabeth's words, the moment the other campers see the mark on me, I would be executed on the spot.

I sighed and tried to accept the fact that even surrounded by the people like me, I was still an outsider. For some reason, a part of me felt glad that this happened, as I didn't think that I would actually fit in. I wouldn't get caught saying this but apart from Percy, Annabeth and Skylar, I still didn't trust others fully. But then again, there was this other part of me that just wanted to get accepted, a part that wanted to just belong somewhere.

I shook my head to momentarily distract myself from the thought of my mark. I watched as Skylar walk away. She was obviously hurt and pissed because of me. I mean, who wouldn't be, right? I was kind of sending mixed signals. Last night I said yes to her, saying that I would let her in, but earlier today, I was telling her that I couldn't do it. I was feeling especially down when Skylar didn't even turn around to bid me goodbye. But I guess I couldn't really blame her.

"Dude, where did that come from?" asked Percy.

I looked up as he sat down beside me. Even when we weren't off to a really good start, I was starting to genuinely like Percy. He was someone I've always wanted to be – popular, strong and good-looking (I guess, based on how girls look at him) – and me? Well, I wasn't any of those things.

"I don't know," I said truthfully. "It just slipped out of my mouth." I turned to him. "Aren't you curious why Chiron would team the two of us up and then set everyone against us? I sure as hell am."

"Of course I am," said Percy. "But I think Annabeth was right; I think Chiron was testing the extent of your powers."

"But he could easily just test me without having the entirety of Camp Half-Blood hunting me in the woods, trying to put me out of commission," I reasoned.

Percy was quiet for a moment. "Conjure black flames," he said.

I looked at him, frowning. "What?"

"Like what you did back when we were at your apartment?" he said. "Yeah. I want you to do that again. Here."

"For what reason?"

"Just do it, okay?"

I nodded and closed my eyes, trying desperately to feel the threat I felt back when I was at my apartment. Back then, I still had no idea of who I really was. All I felt was the looming danger and things just happened. I had no clue as to how I was able to do what I did.

I opened my eyes in frustration. "I can't," I admitted.

"Then that's the answer to your question," Percy said. "In the beginning we can't really summon our powers at will. Mostly, they come out when we feel threatened or scared. Emotions are useful in instances like this." He looked at me. "For someone as young and powerful as you, it would be hard to control what you can do. Chiron won't be able to fully help you until he knows the limitations of your abilities. I think that's why he put us in one team and put everyone else on the other."

"He does realize that I don't have any training, right?" I asked him. "I'm as good as dead this Saturday."

Percy grinned. "Why do you think he paired you up with me?" He stood up and dusted his jeans. "Come on, kid, first day of training."

I got up. "What kind of training?"

Percy uncapped his sword. "Weapons training. Now go unsheathe your sword and spar with me."

I drew my weapon and raised it but Percy struck immediately. The tip of his blade almost grazed the skin of my shoulder but I managed to raise mine just in time to block his attack. I stepped back from the force. "What the hell, Percy?!"

He grinned. "Sorry, dude. If we want to win, I have to push you hard." He parried and I sidestepped, but Percy anticipated my move and swept the flat of his blade at the back of my legs and I fell back on the ground. He placed the tip of his sword under my chin. "Boom, you're dead." He extended a hand and helped me up.

I dusted my jeans. "You could've been a little gentler on me; I have no training in handling weapons."

"That's why we're here. You have to learn how to use everything you have to win the match. Trust me, you'll have to figure out a way to." He raised his sword, grinning. "Ready?"

I nodded and raised my blade.

For some time we sparred, and I lost every time. I didn't mind, as from what I've heard, Percy was the best swordsman at Camp. What Id o mind was the fact that mind was starting to hurt and that my arms were growing numb from over-exertion. But I persevered. In knew that in order for me to save my parents, I'd have to learn how to fight and defend myself first.

I was knocked off my feet for what seemed like the hundredth time and Percy was, once again, pointing his sword to my throat. But I didn't let him this time. I knocked his blade aside and swung my legs upwards. My right foot lashed out and hit him squarely on the chest and he flew into the air a few meters back. He rolled on the ground and came up kneeling, brandishing his weapon, poised to attack.

I didn't let him, though, as I made a swing of my own, my blade creating a deadly arch over his head. Percy ducked, barely avoiding my weapon. My ADHD was kicking in, and I was finally beginning to understand what Skylar meant when she told me that in battles, this supposed condition we demigods have would be the one to keep us alive. My brain was working overtime as I searched for any patterns in Percy's attacks. What I did learn was: Percy was mostly just winging it. Most of his attacks were spontaneous, unplanned and he would go from there. Skylar told me last night when she was giving me insights about the other demigods at Camp that Percy likes to play dumb and that I shouldn't let him fool me as he was smarter than he let on. I didn't know whether he was doing his attacks on purpose so I'd lower my guard, or it was just the way he really fights. For me to beat him, I'd have to be a chess player – seemingly random moves to throw him off guard until I pull my last move.

When he made a jab, I faked a feint and leaned to the direction the blade, making Percy raise his eyebrows. Percy took the chance and twisted his blade to hit my side. But not before I tapped into the feeling of being threatened I'd been keeping at bay. Instantly, my vision got tinted with red. Percy furrowed his eyebrows, wondering what I was doing as he kept on trying to hit me with the flat of his blade but an invisible force field was blocking him. And I tapped deeper into my chest and Percy's hand caught fire. Black fire, very much like what I conjured the last time I felt totally threatened.

Percy stepped back. "Stop this, Lester," he said, trying to put the fire out.

I tried to, but it won't. "I-I can't," I said in horror. I tried again, still no reaction.

Percy's face was turning red."Whatever you're doing stop it!" he said, still trying to swat the flames out. "Ow! Ow! Stop it, Lester!"

I tried once again in vain, but I was distracted by Percy's cried of pain. I vaguely remembered that he was a son of Poseidon and he could control water. For a while, I thought why he wasn't doing so, but then I realized he was too focus trying to put out the flames to actually remember what he could do.

I looked back at the beach and my eyes fell onto the water. Water. Percy needs water.

Then before my very eyes, a ball of water floated and mad its way to where Percy was kneeling, rolling his arm on the ground to stop the flames. He looked up and when he saw the ball of water, his pained expression morphed into a confused one. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I-I don't know."

I knew Percy would've asked more questions if it wasn't for the fact that he was being burned. He stood up and manipulated water to him, putting the fire out. Looking back at it, we were both kind of stupid. We panicked too easily, which was understandable, I guess since I was still getting used to who I was.

"I'll need some nectar and ambrosia," said Percy, wincing.

"Sorry, dude," I apologized. "I have no clue what I was doing. I don't have any control over myself."

Percy groaned. "Yeah. Good to know you're a ticking time bomb."

I ducked my head and noticed something. Water from the beach was floating towards us, swirling in a miniature water sprout. "What are you doing, Percy?" I asked.

"I'm not doing anything," he said, looking up. He frowned and noticed what I was looking at. He stared at me in confusion. "It's not me. What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Nothing!" I insisted.

"Then who's doing this?"

"I don't know!"

Then the water sprout grew and surrounded me, a swirling mass of power and element. Droplets of water hit me, leaving my shirt with dark, wet spots. I looked at Percy for explanation. "Dude, I said I'm sorry. Now can you please stop whatever you're doing?"

"I swear I'm not doing this!" Percy insisted. He took a step forward and the ground before him exploded in a shower of dust, rocks and black flame. In a matter of seconds, Percy was surrounded by black fire, circling him. "Now you're doing something."

"I'm not!"

"This isn't me I'm te – " he stopped himself. His face considerably paled. "Gods, no."

"What?"

"Jackson! Fleming! Stop that right now!" a voice yelled behind us. I looked back and saw Annabeth sauntering to us with a fierce expression on her face. "Stop it!" she screamed. Her voice seemed to break whatever was happening. The fire surrounding Percy died down and the water around me fell back to the ground, dousing my sneakers. She looked at me, then to Percy, then back to me. "Skylar did this?" she asked.

"What?" Percy asked.

I immediately understood what she meant, and I wondered how she found out about it. "Skylar didn't do a thing," I said, defending her.

"Then explain to me how you two were able to do what you just did." She looked at me. "You were controlling water the same way Percy does." Annabeth turned to Percy. "And you were inside a circle of black fire, very much like what happened back in Bronx."

"Annabeth, I swear, Skylar didn't do anything," I reasoned.

"There's no other possible way you two could've done what you were doing if Skylar didn't created a connection between you two," Annabeth insisted. "She was talking to me and claimed that she wasn't going to do it, and yet she still did."

"Annabeth," Percy said quietly. "She didn't do anything. I promise. Skylar didn't connect me with Lester."

"But – "

"Annabeth," I said, cutting her off. "I believe you know how something like that works." She nodded. "Then you do know that in order for Skylar to cast the incantation, she needs our mortal parents. I don't exactly understand how that works, but from what I learned from Skylar, she needs at least my Dad, or Percy's mother to complete it." My throat felt tight with what I was about to say. "My parents are both missing and I didn't think your mother is at Camp," I said to Percy.

He nodded. "She's back in our apartment."

"So there's no possible way Skylar could've done that," I pointed out to Annabeth.

"Then how – "

"I was controlling water and Lester was the one controlling the flames," Percy lied to her. I could sense that he hated lying to his girlfriend, and I didn't get why he was doing it for me but I was grateful in the meantime. I wanted to find out what was going on. It had obviously something to do with both Percy and I so I figured we had to find out about it ourselves. He gave me a knowing glance and I nodded at him.

Annabeth looked at me, then at Percy, her eyebrows scrunched up. "Fine," she finally said, but the tone of her voice told me that she didn't fully believe us. Right then, I realized how dangerous Annabeth could be. She might be even more dangerous than Percy.

She walked towards him and grabbed his burned arm. I looked away in shame. "What happened to this?" she asked in concern.

"I'm sorry," I said.

Annabeth nodded knowingly, while Percy said, "It's fine."

"Come on, I'll take you to the infirmary," she said to him. Percy nodded and capped his sword, the weapon magically shrinking back into its pen state.

"Wait, what about training?" I asked him.

"I think we've had enough for today," Percy said. "Do whatever you want. We'll continue tomorrow."

"Okay."

Annabeth gave me one more suspicious look that almost made me shudder before walking away with her hand on Percy's arm.

I sighed, picked up my sword and followed them.

I saw the other team planning in front of the Athena Cabin. They quickly covered their plans when they saw me. I rolled my eyes, looking for Skylar. She wasn't there. "Where's Skye?" I asked no one I particular.

"Wallowing by herself," said Clarissed. "It has something to do with a bronze-haired, blue-eyed douchey dirtball sending mixed signals to her."

"Where?" I asked again.

Lou Ellen nodded her head to the direction of the forest. I gave her a thankful glance and headed off to look for her. I found Skylar sitting at a log with her knees to her chest. She had her back turned to me. "Skye," I called softly. She didn't pay me attention. My chest felt heavy. "Skye," I said again. Still no reaction.

I took another step forward and saw why. She had her earphones on. I remembered her saying that there was a time when demigods had to steer clear off of gadgets, as they send signals to monsters. But, thanks to the Hecate Cabin, they sorted that problem out. I sighed and sat beside her the opposite way. She had her eyes closed, her head bobbing slowly with whatever music she was listening to. I was about to open my mouth to speak when she started singing. I didn't know the title of the song, but it got to me like no other.

Shaking your head like it's all wrong
Before you're here you're already gone
And even with the light all around you
You're all alone in the dark.

You're breaking your own heart
Taking it too far down the lonely road
You say you just want love
But when it's close enough you just let it go

I stopped short, the lyrics speaking to me. Was that what I had been doing? Breaking my own heart? Even without thinking about it, I knew it was true. All my life all I wanted was to have someone care for me, to have someone genuinely love me, but when Skylar came into my life to do just that, I was shutting her out.

The very thing you've been the most afraid of
You've been doing it from the start, breaking your own heart.

Too many tears, too many falls
It's easier here behind these walls
But you don't have to walk in the shadows
Life is so hard.

That was my reason. I found it easier to deal with what I was feeling alone. Isolating myself was my form of coping. I knew it was selfish, but after everything that had ever happened to me, I guess I couldn't really be blamed with what I was doing all these years.

It's not too late, I'm still right here.
If only you let go of your fears.

I felt my throat tighten unbearably. Skylar was here, saying that she was still with me, even after I did everything to shut her out, she was still trying to get inside my walls. I closed my eyes as I felt the tears coming. No one, apart from my Mom, had ever shown this kind of love to me. It was kind of hard to believe and I was having trouble grasping the fact that a girl was here, doing everything that she can to help me.

I was torn. I could feel my personality being polarized. Two people with completely different opinions.

On one end was where the darker part resides. It kept on telling me that I had made it this far without anyone, so why should I change that fact? It was whispering doubts in my ear, supplying me with the possibilities on how it could turn if Skylar and I go there – ruined friendship and our effort to start something bigger an utter failure. My friendship with Skylar was the best thing I had going on for a very long time and this part of me was saying that I should just stick with it as to not to destroy whatever was going on. I knew that a good friendship could end in a long-time relationship, and an amazing relationship might lead into an untimely destruction of friendship. While Skyalr and I fell into the first category – just the friends thing – I wondered if we would find half the happiness Percy and Annabeth found if we gave it a shot, or would we tragically end up as one of those ex-couples who couldn't even bear to look at each other? It wasn't something I was willing to risk. In the events of my finding out about who I really was, and losing my parents, Skylar was the only bright spot. Starting a relationship with her gave me a deep sense of foreboding.

On the other part was where I kept the more hopeful part of me – the one kept on looking at the brighter side of everything. It kept its argument simple: I had let my guard completely down once back when I kissed her in the cinema. I was reminded of how ridiculously happy I felt that one special moment. Wouldn't I want to experience it once again? That part of me said that love is always accompanied with pain and I couldn't very well love without having the danger of getting hurt looming over me. I knew he had a point. Loving doesn't always mean I'll be happy, somewhere down the rough road I'll experience pain and misery but that was what gives people something worth fighting for. If letting Skylar deeper into my life meant that I have to live with the constant fear of getting hurt, was it something I'd be willing to pay?

In the midst of all of these, however, I couldn't just let go of her. That's what frustrated me – I'd never needed anyone before and now suddenly, a certain daughter of the goddess of magic made her way into my life and made me realize how incomplete and empty I was. Every strand of logic I had undoubtedly pointed that being with Skylar would only cause, not only me but also her, pain, because that was my reality – everywhere I go, hurt and pain follow.

What was I supposed to do?

This cycle continued endlessly in a dizzying pace. Neither one wanted to surrender. Neither one gained strength or grew weak. They were on equal footing as they kept smashing each other. I only wished that they would end up simultaneously destroying each other, so I could finally be me – the real me.

I opened my eyes as I felt tears running down my cheeks, only to find Skylar looking at me. "Hey," she said, removing one of her earphones.

I didn't answer. I held out my hand, asking for her iPod. "May I?"

Skylar frowned but handed me her listening device. I scrolled down through her playlist, grateful that she had the song I was looking for. I pressed play and took the other end of her earphone and put it on. The song started playing.

I'm not a stranger
No I am yours
With crippled anger
And tears that still drip sore

A fragile flame aged
Is misery
And when our hearts meet
I know you see

I do not want to be afraid
I do not want to die inside just to breathe in
I'm tired of feeling so numb
Relief exists I find it when
I am cut

I saw Skylar's expression softening as we listened to the song. I thought it was perfect – a message for her, exposing my deepest fears, but at the same time, asking for her help. I wanted to change for her. I wanted to feel loved and love others without being scared. I wanted to experience emotions I thought had long since expired.

I may seem crazy
Or painfully shy
And these scars wouldn't be so hidden
If you would just look me in the eye
I feel alone here and cold here
Though I don't want to die
But the only anesthetic that makes me feel anything kills inside

I do not want to be afraid
I do not want to die inside just to breathe in
I'm tired of feeling so numb
Relief exists I find it when
I am cut
Pain
I am not alone
I am not alone

I closed my eyes, afraid of what her reaction was going to be. Would she be disgusted with me? Would she even accept me now that I was throwing everything against the wind? Would she even feel the same way – the same way I knew I had been feeling or her from the very beginning but had been too scared to actually face it?

I felt a hand touch mine and I opened my eyelids. Skylar was leaning close to me, our faces an inch apart. We were so close I could feel her eyelashes touch mine. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I never wanted to hurt you."

Tears pooled in her eyes as she nodded. "I know," she said softly. That moment, the walls around me fell apart, collapsing into a thousand pieces and falling into heaps of useless rubbles. The walls I had built all these years to protect myself now lay ruined beneath my feet. But the feeling wasn't entirely welcome. For once in my Life, I told myself, I didn't have to be scared anymore.

I reached out and grabbed Skylar's face and kissed her. I was never the one to initiate a kiss between the two of us. Sure, I'd kiss her first once, but that was because she asked me to. This time it was me, because I wanted it. I needed it. More likely, I needed her.

Our lips danced in perfect synchronization, like they were made for each other. While our lips were glued, I let go of the remaining fears inside me and I was met by a feeling of emptiness, an emptiness that was quickly filled by Skylar.

And for the very first time in my life, I felt undeniably and utterly alive.

[Next - Chapter 17: WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

This will be another explosive chapter. :D ]