Star froze. Memories of my past family's filtered through my head, how each one was destroyed by the eraser in front of her. Growling she gently took Amanda off of her shoulders and set her next to Percy.
"I see you still have that scar on your fugly mug. Maybe I should give you another one on the other side. Then you'll understand that my familie (family) is off limits." The eraser's smirk sent chills down my spine. Suddenly I looked up and thought *Ce dracu? De când radierele au aripi nenorocitele de? CĂCAT CĂCAT CĂCAT !* (WHAT THE FUCK? SINCE WHEN DO ERASERS HAVE FUCKING WINGS? SHIT SHIT SHIT!) Star felt a hand on her shoulder, and a small cylinder was placed in my palm. Then she felt words being written on the length of her arm.
'My sword Riptide. I can use a dagger that Annabeth gave me earlier. Uncap the pen to use it.'
*Okkk. Why would Percy give me a pen? I mean I know that the pen is mightier than the sword, but come ON! That's just being ridiculous. But even if you are an idiot I'll still trust you.* Bringing the pen out in front of her she uncapped it and suddenly a beautiful bronze sword was in her hands and on the hilt of the blade was the word Anaklusmos *Riptide… now I see Percy. I'm never doubting you again.* Star twirled her brother's sword in her hand, remembering the lessons that she was taught with a katana. *Well a broadsword is a whole lot different than a training katana. But I think the movement should be the same. I just hope that I can do this without revealing my wings. Percy just accepts me, but if he ever found out how much of a freak I truly am… I will never know peace.* Closing her eyes for a moment, so that she could deeply breathe in and out, then opened her eyes. She never knew till Percy told her after the battle, but her eyes glowed with power. A power she never knew that she had till she was facing the one that single-handedly destroyed her life. With a fierce battle cry, she ran to the erasers. No longer afraid, because she knew that when it came down to it Star had the support of her older brother, his best friend, and the little blond haired girl. With the bright gray eyes, who she swore on her life to make sure that they would never dim. That the light would never fade completely from her eyes.
Amanda never took her eyes off of the ravenette. The way she was fighting the erasers with the sword was in one word, beautiful. *Does she know? Can't she see that she can totally be powerful if she wished to be.* Then at first she thought it was a trick of the light, but it happened again. A shimmering form was surrounding Star. Not knowing what it was Amanda looked to Annabeth and got her attention.
"What is it, Amanda?" Amanda pointed to Star and tried to convey with her eyes.
'What is surrounding her sis?' She knows that Annabeth got what she was saying because she gasped. Muttering to herself, Amanda heard her saying,
"No way… I thought that it was a myth… Poseidon never… Oh, my gods … Amanda…" Now that Amanda was sure that she was being spoken to she turned her head toward her sister. "Amanda, Star sure must be special to her dad. Because the shimmering that is around her… that is the blessing of Poseidon. Never before in demigod history has a child of Poseidon been blessed by him but, Star… wow…" Percy turned to look at Annabeth and Amanda, smiling this wide dopey smile.
"I told you that she was special, Annie. I told you that she is so very special."
"Alright, Percy you were right… this time. But we are going to help her? Right?"
Percy smiled and looked at Amanda.
"Say 'manda ever heard of the game 'get the greek'?" Amanda raised an eyebrow. If possible Percy's grin got wider. "Mrs. O'Leary." He pointed at the flying creatures and said, "GET THE GREEK!" She barked and ran and snatched a bird/wolf/ human/ thing out of the air and whipped it around like a gigantic chew toy. Star just continued to fight like she didn't hear her brother,
*But judging by the way that she is fighting she did. She knows that she has helped, maybe not by her father but by her family.* Amanda looked at the man that Star was fighting and froze. * He's losing ground, so why is his smirking like he… NO, IT'S A TRAP!* Grabbing Percy's arm she wrote with her finger hoping that her shaking won't mess up the words she wrote,
'He is leading her into a trap. Percy YELL at her tells her, please! She doesn't have long!' Percy suddenly turned cold and yelled at the top of his voice,
"STAR IT'S A TRAP! HE IS GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Star heard the words that Percy yelled and was about to jump away when a chasm appeared sucking both her and Asshole in.
*Nu, nu acum. Nu atunci când familia mea veghează.* (No, not now. Not when my family is watching.) Closing her eyes is she heard the Eraser neck snapping when he tried to escape. *I'm so sorry Percy… I'm sorry that you have a winged freak as a sister. I just hope that he will give me kindness that I do not deserve. Rea Lenuța, Nu există nici un fel în iad că el îți va da bunătate pe care ai nevoie atât. Esti un ciudat, și ciudați nu primesc nimic, dar ura* (Bad Lenuța, There is no way in hell that he will give you kindness that you so need. You are a freak, and freaks never get anything but hate.) With that cynical, poisonous thought, Star's black wings unfurled and with one pump stopped her descent. And with another pump of her wings shot out of the chasm and into the open sky, praying that it won't end like her mind was telling her that it would. After making sure that the erasers fled when the chasm open, Star landed next to it, but far enough away so that her big brother won't be hurt by chasing her off.
"Star where are you?" Hearing Percy's voiced with concern, almost made her feel better. Almost. Trying to steel her words, she yelled
"I'm over here Percy!" Using her 'super' hearing she could hear four footsteps, but one was panting real heavy so she assumed that it was the dog. Sighing she sat down and started to weave her hand through her left wing, an old habit that stuck with her over the ages. Looking up Star could see Amanda running to her, having already known about her wings, looked worried. But became relieved when she saw that Star was unharmed. Star looked passed her and into her brother's eyes, and flinched. She quickly looked down and placed Riptide far in front of her so that if… no, when they attacked she won't be tempted to fight back. Bowing her head again, she tightens up as she felt them getting closer.
*Why aren't they slowing down? Aren't they scared? I mean I know Amanda's not because apparently, I look like an 'angel'. Well that is a fat lie. I am no angel.* She involuntarily flinched as arms wrap around her in a hug.
*wha… why… aren't they…?* Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at her big brother.
Percy felt relieved when he heard Star answer him, as he was running towards his sister that is when he saw her, midnight black wings with the four longest feathers 'dipped' in silver. Wondering why she wasn't coming to them, he then saw her tense and quickly brought out Riptide in front of her always. Frowning as she then bowed her head and stayed that way even as they got closer. His frown got deeper as she continued to tense up as closer they got.
* Why is she acting like we'll attack… oh… she really thinks that we will attack her for having wings? Shit… when was the last time she had any positive contact with… oh Star… my precious little sister. I can see it. You never had anyone act positively about your wings have you.*
Quickly Percy swept her in his arms in a tight hug. That when the answer to his question came. Yes, Star never had anyone hug her after finding out about her wings. But when she looked up at him, her sea green eyes that shone with power a few moments ago, now was filled with fear. And not just fear, unshed tears were in her eyes and that when it was the easiest for Percy to see. She was drowning in her hatred of herself. And the fear of being called a freak, or a monster, by her family.
"Oh sis, you don't have to be scared or terrified. You are my sister. I LOVE you no matter if you have wings." And that all it took to have the the tears slide down her face and to have her wrap her arms around him and cry. He couldn't hear it, but the dampness of his shirt, he could. Looking up at Annabeth, she looked at Percy confused. So he mouthed,
'No one treated her with kindness after finding out about her wings. She thought that we would attack her for being a…' Percy saw that Chiron walking toward them with…
*Oh Amanda you knew didn't you* Amanda walking in front of her with a dagger and a sword much like Riptide.
"Percy, what.." feelling Star tense up again he looked to Annabeth, and started to whispered caring words in Star's ear and started to pet her gorgeous wings as Annabeth explained what happened and why the newest daughter of Poseidon had wings and was currently having a mental breakdown in her brother's arms.
Star could not believe it. It just wasn't possible. Percy loved her.
*He… he… actually l...loves me. He didn't hit me. No he h.. h.. hug me.* The knowledge that Percy or Annabeth were not going to hit her for being a freak show, broke Star. Silent tears cascaded down her face. Ever hurt that happen to her after she got recaptured by the erasers at ten years old, every hit, every bruise, every insult that they spewed at her on the ride there.
"Percy, what.." Star tensed up unwilling. Then she felt a soft hand caress her wings. And Percy's voice started to cut through the static in her head. Slowly but surely she began to calm down and managed to look in Percy's eyes, soft ocean green eyes were looking at her with kindness and compassion. But a large part of her that will most likely always be there, whispered faintly
"Percy face tu spui? Face tu de fapt, mă iubești? Un monstru ca mine nu …" (Percy do you mean it? Do you actually love me? A freak like me doesn't…) In the same tone of voice he replied
"Nu ești, și nu a fost niciodată un ciudat. Sunteți unul dintre cele mai puternice pe care persoana l-am întâlnit. Te iubesc atat de mult. Star, Vreau să fiu fratele tău mai mare, dar trebuie să mă lași pe sora. Te rog lasă-mă să te protejez sora mai mică. Te iubesc." (You are not, and never was a freak. You are one of the strongest person that I had met. I love you so much. Star, I want to be your big brother, but you have to let me sister. Please let me protect you little sister. I love you.) Star looked into his eyes to see any degree of lying but there was none. And Star never remembered a day when she smile that big or the breathless words pouring out of her mouth. All meaning the same thing that Percy knew
" Da, desigur!" (Yes, of course!) Percy then stood up and let his hand out to help Star up.
"Then I believe that we have a war to win right little sister?"
"Yes, WE do Per… Big brother.