ALL RIGHTS TO THE CHARACTERS (except Celeste, she's mine.) BELONG TO THE AMAZING RICK RIORDAN. I DO NOT OWN THE PJO/HoO SERIES!!!

Chapter 18 - Celeste

Her nightmare came again. However, it was slightly different. This time, she was hanging over the cliff, holding the edge with a death grip.

Percy was standing above her, a disappointed look on his face.

"You lied to me." He said.

Celeste began to cry. "I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!"

Percy kneeled and grabbed Celeste's hands, pulling her up.

"If you ever loved me as a brother, then you would've told me the truth." He said.

Celeste gripped his hands tight. "I do love you. I've missed you so much. I spent every day with you, wishing I could talk to you."

"And when you eventually talked to me, you never thought to tell me what was happening? That you were my sister? That you were cursed!? How can I trust you!?" He screamed.

Celeste's head throbbed as Percy's nails dug into her hands, making her golden blood drizzle out.

"Percy." She said through tears.

"No Celeste. Goodbye." Percy said.

And he let go of her hands, letting her fall into the abyss below.

"PERCY!!" Celeste screamed as she snapped awake. She was sweating uncontrollably.

On the bed beside her, Percy bolted awake. He turned towards her, concern all over his face.

"Celeste!?" He said, jumping out of bed and sitting next to her. He wrapped his arms around her as she shook hard.

His warmth made her feel safer, even though her nightmare was about him killing her.

No, Percy would never hurt her. The nightmare wasn't true. She knew Percy.

"What's wrong?" He asked her.

"Just a nightmare." She mumbled into his shoulder.

He held her closer. "Well you're alright now. I promise." He said.

Celeste caught a glimpse of Annabeth who was asleep on a bed.

"Percy? Do you remember what I told you?" She said.

Percy gave her a concerned look. "Of course I remember. You're my sister. My actual blood-related sister."

She smiled at him. "Yeah. Well, that's not everything."

"What else?" Percy asked, curious.

Celeste explained to him her curse and everything that had happened so far.

Her powers that were supposedly better than the gods and her golden blood, she explained as well.

When she was done, Percy was staring at her, wide-eyed.

"Stop staring at me like that." Celeste said.

Percy smiled apologetically. "Sorry. That's just-wow."

"I know. I'm surprised Poseidon still hasn't killed me now that I've told you." Celeste said.

Percy's smile melted. "Kill you!? Why?" He asked.

"He never told me why I couldn't tell you, he just threatened me if I did tell you. And to make sure no one ever found out about me or my "special abilities", he placed the curse on me. I have no idea why the curse has risen or why he hasn't come storming in demanding my head on his trident." Celeste explained.

"That doesn't sound like him. I've met him, he doesn't act like you explain him." Percy said.

Images flashed through Celeste's mind.

She remembered when she was invisible and Poseidon's voice had rang through her mind. He had told her that because her powers were so similar to the gods, she could also create a "true form". But it would drain almost all of her energy.

"Everything that happened on the beach Percy...that was me, NOT him." Celeste said.

Percy blinked.

"Who do you think looked out for you the most? All those things you thought Poseidon did for you over the years, that was me. NOT him. The gods aren't very kind, neither are they forgiving.
You don't know him like I do. You have no idea." Celeste said.

"Celeste. I don't know what to say." Percy said, fumbling with his fingers and not making eye contact with her.

"It's fine. Just go back to sleep. I don't want you fussing over me anyways. I'll be fine." Celeste said, seeing the tiredness in Percy's eyes.

Percy yawned and nodded, sulking back to his bed. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

"Goodnight." Celeste said as she let her eyes close as well.

By the time morning came, Celeste was the last one to wake up.

Everyone was gathered around the room, talking. Percy however, was sitting on the end of Celeste's bed, his back turned to her. He was watching everyone else talk.

No one had noticed that she had woken up. She quietly slid out of bed and plopped herself next to Percy. He turned towards her.

Smiling, he said, "You're awake."

"You should win an award for stating the obvious." Celeste said with a smile.

Percy laughed. It was good to make him smile.

"So, what's everyone talking about?" Celeste asked.

"I'm not really sure. Probably about some plan to go defeat Gaea and the giants." Percy said.

Celeste shook her head. "No. We can't face Gaea. Not yet. We're not ready."

Percy nodded. "I know. I've been trying to explain that. I think the only one who actually thinks I'm right is Leo. The others seem to think we're ready to take on Gaea."

Leo. She had almost forgotten about the sweet little repair boy that she secretly had a crush on. Her eyes looked over to him, and she saw that he was talking to Hazel, his fingers playing with screws from his tool belt and his hand constantly running through his hair as if he was nervous.

He looked as handsome as ever. His brown hair and beautiful brown eyes.

His tan skin with oil smeared on it. His smile and the crinkly lines by his eyes.

Celeste knew that look. He smiled to hide his pain. Celeste was good at detecting pain. She had lived through pain. However, she didn't know why Leo was pained. She knew nothing about him.

"Celeste?" Percy said, snapping his fingers in front of her face.

She snapped back to reality. Percy was smiling at her, but his eyes showed that he was worried.

"What were you looking at?" He asked.

"Nothing." Celeste said quickly.

Percy nodded. He probably knew she was hiding something, but was kind enough not to push her for it. She loved him for that.

Just then, Annabeth walked over to them.

"Hey." She said.

She leaned over and kissed Percy right before plopping down next to him.

"We heard from Nico through an Iris-message. They arrived at Camp Half-Blood. They had some difficulties, but they're alright. Actually, Nico said he'll be on his way soon." Annabeth explained.

Percy started to talk to Annabeth more about Nico, but Celeste let her thoughts drift off aimlessly.

Her eyes first settled on Piper who was talking to Jason in the corner. Celeste realized she hadn't really talked to anyone much except for Leo, Percy, and Hazel. She felt as if she should try to start a conversation with someone, but she didn't know what to talk about.

"Hey! I'm the girl who randomly appeared on the ship and attacked Poseidon! Nice to meet you!"

Yeah right.

Anyways, Celeste could tell immediately that Jason and Piper were dating. They had that look in their eyes.

Then, she looked over at Hazel and Leo. Frank was standing near them, listening in to the conversation as if he would be ready to clobber Leo if Leo said anything wrong. Celeste thought it was sweet. Not the clobbering part, the protecting part.

Then, Celeste looked back over at Percy who was still talking to Annabeth. He had his hand interlocked with Annabeth's hand and his eyes seemed to shine brighter whenever he looked at her. Celeste thought Annabeth was perfect for Percy. She couldn't ask for anyone better for her brother.

Sighing, Celeste stood up, still letting her thoughts drift, and walked to the door of the room. She saw Percy look back at her, worry all over his face, but she kept walking.

When she exited the room, a lady was standing there, a wide smile on her face.

Celeste didn't know the lady, but she knew her friends (if you can call them friends) had asked the woman to stay the night in this hut while Celeste was unconscious.

"Aren't I a great help?" Celeste thought. Being unconscious wasn't going to help anybody. She was a burden and she ruined everything. But she didn't want to think about that at the moment.

"Hi." Celeste said hoarsely to the woman. The woman's smile broadened.

"Good to see you feeling better dear." The woman said.

Celeste nodded, trying for a smile. "Oh yes. Thank you."

"Follow me. I have a surprise for you. A...get-well present so to say." The woman said, beckoning towards a set of stairs.

Celeste hesitated. "No, I really shouldn't-"

The woman then put her hand on Celeste's arm. "I insist." She said.

Celeste blinked. She felt light and dazed. Then, she suddenly found herself following the woman. She tried to call out to Percy, but the words wouldn't come out.

Celeste then noticed the woman's golden eyes. An Eidolon. Great. Just great.