Welcome everyone to chapter 10!
Hey everyone I am so sorry it's been so long since my last update. I've been working double jobs and sometimes even double shifts! But I still remember you guys and I'm still here to feed you my stories.
Just a note beforehand, I know one character's gonna seem a bit OOC (out-of-character) at the end of this chapter but just think of what they must be feeling and thinking themselves at that moment and ho9pefully it's not too crazy OOC.
Also!
Get finally get to learn a certain someone's backstory here! To be honest I kinda made it a bit secretly obvious so hopefully you already had a theory and if so, awesome!
I hope you enjoy and let's get right into this!
Lauren breathed out slowly, staring at her only hand.
The raven-haired mortal was sitting on the beach of Long Island Sound watching the sun reflect off the waves. After The Seven and Jakob had bombarded her with questions for several days, she decided that she was going to take some time to be by herself and think. And just like her sister-by-heart, she found herself at the beach to do so.
Lauren sighed yet again when she saw the mark on her hand staring back; it had been so long since she got it yet the day she received it was as clear in her mind as the sun was in the sky.
"Hey Lauren. You look like you need some company. Mind if I fill in?"
Lauren looked up from her place on the sand to see Percy walking over. She placed a small smile on her lips and rested her hand on her lap.
"Hey Perc. Sure, I was just thinking." She told her friend. The son of Poseidon smiled and he moved to sit beside her. A while passed before Percy finally spoke.
"Can I ask you something?" He asked her. Lauren nodded, curious as his voice held an emotion she wasn't used to hearing from the spunky dark-haired demigod. "I know you're getting tired of the questions and I'm sorry but… I just couldn't help but think… The other day, when you showed Jake your memory? You said that that guy made that ink mark on your chest, right?"
As he spoke, Percy gestured to the black Serpent's symbol that was still visible on the mortal's chest. She nodded.
"Well, you said he made that mark to stop you from helping Makayla get better when he hurt her, right?" Again, Lauren nodded. Percy ran a hand through his dark hair. "Sorry I just- what I'm trying to say is… How were you healing her? You're just a mortal, you shouldn't have any powers."
Lauren felt her heart drop and she sighed.
"Percy, I wish I could tell you but it's a secret I've kept to myself for years. The only person that ever knew was Ganabranth. Not even Makayla knows." She explained, eyes locked on Long Island Sound's horizon. "I'm sorry but I can't tell you how. At least, not right now. Maybe later I'll tell everyone."
"I guess that's understandable… Can you at least tell me about whatever powers you have?" Percy asked, sea-green eyes locked on the young adult beside him. Lauren thought for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Yesss… But only if you don't tell anyone. Okay?" She decided. Percy nodded and promised to stay quiet. His friend took in a slow breath, leaning back against the sand, her one hand lacing behind her head. "Well… I was taught a long time ago by an old friend. I can use my powers to cast spells to attack and protect, I can control elements, cast and break curses, um… I can heal, as you've already figured out, cast wards to prevent eavesdropping or spying, mess with people's senses, place blessings and curses, uh… I can convert matter into energy and I can teleport things, though both are really dangerous and I can't teleport myself."
Percy nodded slowly, not saying anything for a good minute.
"Lauren, where are you from?" He then asked, surprising Lauren as she hadn't expected the question.
What do you mean?" She tried to stall, feeling herself grow nervous.
"Where were you born? You never really told us anything about your past, we kinda just went with whatever Makayla said." Percy then seemed to notice her growing nerves and quickly apologized, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Gods I'm sorry, I- I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
"No, I'm fine. I just- this whole situation lately has me all shaky and anxious." His friend explained vaguely. Percy nodded and wrapped an arm around her shoulder in a side-hug.
"It's alright. You've got me and the others and everyone at both camps to protect you now. Nothing's gonna happen to you, I promise." He assured her with his contagious smile. Lauren couldn't help but return the smile, feeling her heart swell in her chest.
The two sat on the beach for several more minutes before Percy stood with a small groan. He turned to leave then paused, turning back to Lauren.
"Y'know… it's okay to miss your homeland, Lauren. Alagaesia's a really pretty place after all." He told his friend quietly. Lauren nodded slowly, having figured that he'd piece together her secret. "I don't know if you want to go back or not, but if you do... I promise we'll find a way to get you home."
Then with that, Percy turned to leave the former Alagaesian sitting alone on the sandy beach.
Two days later
Leo groaned in frustration as his hands clenched to fists.
"Ugh! Why! Won't! You! Work?!" He growled, slamming the warped piece of machinery against his tool bench in anger.
Groaning in defeat, Leo dropped the failed project to the floor and slumped in his chair. He had been trying for days to distract his mind from his missing sister but every project he tried distracting himself with only ended as a failed mess.
"Holy-! What happened in here?!" A voice, surprised at the sight of the dozens of failed projects littering the floor, startled the mechanic as it suddenly spoke.
"It looks like a tornado happened." A second voice agreed in equal shock.
"Uh, a tornado of awesome maybe!" Leo fake-joked in answer, forcing out a laugh. "Watch your step, mi amigos, for you tread on the mind of a genius!"
He held back a wince; judging from the look on his friend's face, he doubted they bought his facade.
"We know you miss your sister, Leo. But you can't just lock yourself down here in your little Leo Cave and work on projects for days without end." Piper told him sternly.
"You need to at least eat something, get a little sun." Jason added. "You've been down here for days; you need to come out for a while."
Leo sighed and slumped further in his chair, giving up his act.
"I just don't wanna see anyone right now. I just want to be by myself." He told them honestly. Piper shook her head.
"That's when you need to be with people, Leo. And how do you think Makayla would react, seeing you like this?" She pointed out.
Leo winced. She'd probably whoop his butt and drag him outside by his ear.
"She'd beat your bony butt and drag you outside to spend time with us." Jason voiced his thoughts. "C'mon. You need to eat then Lauren wants to talk to us all."
Sighing, Leo relented and stood, following his friends outside, wincing as the sun momentarily blinded him. He followed as Jason and Piper led him to the kitchens, sneaking a snack for the fire-user, then to the Zeus Cabin where he saw the rest of their friends already waiting.
"You actually managed to find him." Percy joked as a greeting when the three entered.
Leo made a face at his friend in response before noticing that he, Annabeth, Hazel and Frank (who had arrived from Camp Jupiter after they were told what was happening), Lauren, Nico, and Jakob were all there seemingly waiting.
"A party just for me? Aww, guys! You shouldn't have!" He fake-sniffed, wiping away an imaginary tear. His friends rolled their eyes but smiled.
"Okay. Now that we're all here, I have something I need to tell everyone," Lauren announced, standing to allow Leo to claim her previous spot.
"I swear, if you tell me this whole thing was just a prank between you and Kayla, I will not be a happy camper." Jakob interrupted, crossing his arms. Lauren frowned.
"No, it's not a prank; Kayla really is in Alagaesia and he really might come back." She told him, not saying Ganabranth's name. Her alto voice shook slightly, a sign she was nervous about something.
"Lauren, are you alright? Is there something wrong?" Frank asked her worriedly.
"Actually… there is." Lauren confessed, eyes down. She took a deep breath before continuing. "See, there's something I need to tell you all. It's something I should have told you when all this first started happening."
She closed her upturned eyes for a moment, fiddling with her slightly longer than shoulder-length black hair. Her caramel skin looked paler than normal and her only hand was shaking, causing her friends to wonder what was wrong. She continued.
"It's something Percy already figured out and that was when I realized that it was probably time I told you. *breath in* You've all probably been wondering how I know so much about everything that's happening right now. Well, that's because I… I…" Lauren paused, gulping, before taking another breath. "Because I'm not from here, from Earth: I was born in Alagaesia."
Shocked looks were clear all throughout the cabin at Lauren's confession.
"Wait, what? But that would mean that you're a…" Hazel trailed off and Lauren nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear. Her skin began to shift like a fading illusion before it cleared and they were all able to see that her ears were pointed.
"Yeah. I, Lauren Jeferns, am an Alagaesian elf. I was born in the elf-kingdom Ellesméra and lived there for most of my life before I was taken from my world and brought here to Earth."
The seven demigods all stared in shock at their friend. Now that it was in the clear, it was really obvious and made quite a bit of sense. The eight (minus Percy) couldn't help but wonder how they hadn't guessed it before.
"But if that's true then how are you here?" Jason asked confusedly. "I thought only the gods could bring people between worlds? And you said you didn't know about the gods before Makayla."
Lauren shrugged weakly.
"I didn't know about them. And I still don't know how it happened." She confessed. "It's been a little less than nine years since I was taken from my homeland but I was never able to figure out how. True, I didn't always know about your guys' gods and mythology and all that but Chiron and I talked several times and we agreed that the gods couldn't have brought me here. Before your friend a couple years ago, the gods didn't even know about my world."
"What about Gan- I mean, your former captor? Could he have been strong enough to do something like that?" Annabeth suggested thoughtfully. Lauren pursed her lips for a moment then shook her head with a shrug.
"You can say his name, it's alright. But I don't know. Ganabranth was a powerful man, stronger than anyone I've ever even heard of, but I don't know what all his abilities were."
"Well it had to have been someone. You couldn't have just randomly teleported through worlds." Nico pointed out. Then he paused. "I mean... unless you can do that?"
Lauren gave the barest hint of a laugh.
"No, I can't teleport. As an elf, I have the ability to work magic, which is how I would heal Makayla when we were captives, but I can't travel between worlds. That's actually why he took my arm." As she spoke, Lauren gestured to what used to be her left arm, now just a sump ending above her elbow. "He didn't like that I was healing her so he took the arm that had my Gedwëy Insignia on it, thinking it would take away my magic too. But my mark just switched hands because magic isn't something that you can just take away."
"It's something you learn." Hazel finished, remembering what Amira had told her so many years ago. Lauren looked surprised.
"Yeah, exactly. How'd you know?" She wondered.
"A few years ago, a girl named Amira was brought here to Earth from your world. She told us all about Alagaesia and its magic." The curly-haired demigod explained, thinking of her old friend. Looking around her, she guessed the others (minus Jakob) were as well.
"It's been what, two, three years since we last saw Amira?" Jason estimated.
"Just about, yeah." Percy nodded. "But that means it's only been about a year for her since Alagaesia's time moves half our speed."
"Percy, what happened when you were sent to my world?" Lauren wondered curiously, sitting on the bunk beside Jakob.
"I keep forgetting you weren't around when Amira was here." The son of the sea chuckled.
"Why not retell the story?" Jakob suggested with a shrug, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall. "Fill her in. Who knows, maybe recapping will help you remember some old detail we need?"
So with the input of Hazel and the others, Percy did just that and told the story of Amira Moraow's journey to Earth. He told the Alagaesian about how she had appeared in the woods during Capture the Flag and how they discovered that Tartarus had gained control of the Underworld. He told how he had been sent to Alagaesia accidentally through Eragon's portal and how he had helped defeat the giant Polybotes and close the gap between worlds.
Hazel then took over and told the story from Earth's point of view, explaining how and why Amira had sworn herself to the primordial and how she and Amira had faked her death to trick him. Annabeth then took over and explained how Murtagh had been brought to Earth by the gods to help and how Amira had sacrificed herself to kill Tartarus, eventually ending with how the gods had returned her life to her and sent the two back to their homeland.
By the time the story was finished, nearly an hour had passed but Lauren felt as though she had a clearer understanding. The two exchanged looks before turning back to the small group.
"Y'know, it really seems like you seven always end up being the target of Earth's issues," Jakob said finally as a joke.
"Ugh, tell me about it. It's getting sooo old!" Percy groaned, falling to his back on the bunk he was on. "Like c'mon! Amira was cool and all and going to Alagaesia was pretty dam awesome! But we just wanted a break. Y'know, live life like regular people."
"First the two wars, then Amira, then all that stuff with Makayla, and now this with her again." Annabeth agreed, sounding equally bothered. Jason and the others nodded their agreement but Leo couldn't but frown at his friend's complaint.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize my sister's kidnappings were such an inconvenience." He huffed sarcastically, crossing his arms. "We'll make sure to consult with you next time before she's stolen from her world or threatened by a murderer."
"Woah, calm down. That was not what she meant." Percy immediately protested, sitting up.
"Of course not. You're just tired of being dragged into your friend's problems. It's not like they need your help or anything." The Latino retorted sarcastically. He shook his head. "Some friend you are."
"Leo!" Piper gasped, eyes wide and jaw dropped. Face contorted into a scowl, Leo got to his feet and looked angrily at the small group.
"Y'know Makayla never asked for your guys' help! You offered to help her." He close to growled. "I helped her because she's my little sister but you didn't even know who she was at first! You didn't have to help! It was your own dam fault for getting involved so stop complaining!"
"Leo! What's gotten into you?!" Annabeth exclaimed, surprised by their usually-upbeat friend's outburst. Leo turned to her and the daughter of Athena couldn't help but be surprised by the fire in the older Valdez's eyes.
"What's gotten into all of you?!" He repeated angrily. "You all claim to be Makayla's friend but now you're talking trash behind her back, calling her an inconvenience? Real friends would be trying to help her!"
"Leo, that's what we're doing." Jason argued.
"Well it sure doesn't look like you're trying to help! You're all just sitting on your butt talking! The only other one who I see actually wanting to do anything is Jakob!"
"Leo, we all want to help Makayla but there's nothing we can do right now without the gods." Lauren tried to calm him. "All we can do right now is talk and plan. We can't travel between worlds without your gods and the gods in Alagaesia are powerless, they can't intervene in the world like yours can."
"So what, do I just sit on my butt and wait for Ganabranth to come back and kill her?" Leo demanded.
"Of course not. But we can't help her from Earth so we-"
"You what, Lauren?" Leo snapped. "Kick back and relax here at camp? Watch from afar? No! No, there is no way I am going to sit back and watch as my little sister is tormented by that psychopath again! You do what you want but one way or another, I am getting her home. I get that you guys want a break but we're demigods; it's not gonna happen so just get over it!"
Leo turned on his heel and left, leaving his friend to stare in shock as the door slammed shut behind him.
And that concludes the tenth chapter of our crossover!
Thank you all for reading and I hope you continue.
Please leave a review because I love receiving your guys' criticism, advice, complaints, and/or compliments!
Have a good one and I'll see you soon!