I DO NOT OWN THE PJO/HoO SERIES, RICK RIORDAN DOES!! THIS IS JUST A FANFIC!!!

Chapter 12

Another nightmare.

They were starting to get annoying at this point.

Celeste was standing alone in front of a place she had never been before.

There were a bunch of cabins, so she assumed it was some sort of camp.

Staring down at her clothes, she was wearing a orange t-shirt. The words were faded and she couldn't read it.

She was also wearing jeans and faded blue converse.

She looked up and found a mirror standing in front of her.

Gasping, Celeste took in her reflection.

She was older, probably about 16 years at the most.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the mirror. She was the spitting image of Celeste, except she was her 6-year old self, her normal self, and draped in black robes.

Her smile was devilish and her eyes were pitch black.

"Hello Celeste. I see we have more work to do. Telling Poseidon about me, not a great move." The clone-voice girl said, shaking her head.

Celeste found her voice. "What do you want from me? What did I do to you?"

The clone snapped up. Her black eyes flared with a fiery hatred. "What did you do to me!? Hah! You did everything to me! You are the reason my own mother...nevermind. It's none of your business anyways."

Celeste blinked. "Fine. Where am I?"

"Somewhere from your future. Well, our future. We're going to be together for quite a while aren't we? Telling Poseidon will not stop me, Celeste. I hope you know that."

Celeste shook her head. "Stop you from what? What even is your goal?"

Her clone rolled her eyes as if explaining her plan was something she had to do constantly.

"You of course. Once I'm done with you, I'll have power over all the gods and show my mother and my father, who abandoned me, that I am powerful. That I am capable! That I can rule!" The clone practically screamed.

Thunder crashed and it began to rain.

Celeste looked around, trying to take in the setting. That's when she noticed the blood staining the grass.

"What happened here? What's in my future that involves blood?" Celeste asked.

"I'm no oracle, but there is lots of blood in your future. Friends, family, brothers maybe..." The clone smirked.

Celeste felt the anger radiate in her. She lunged out in pure hot rage, surprised to see a dagger appear in her hand.

The blade went right through the clone. "Oh Celeste. Celestial bronze won't work on me. Or you, in this case. We're bound, you and I. I will win and you will lose everything."

Celeste panted heavily. "Leave me alone, leave Percy alone! I don't know what I did to you, I don't even know you, but I swear, I will stop you."

The clone narrowed her eyes. "Well then. I guess we'll just have to speed up the process. Use that anger Celeste. Let it drive you. You are powerful and you can kill whomever you please! Take that to your advantage!"

"I will not kill for you!" Celeste screamed.

The clone smiled. "We'll see about that."

Celeste was about to protest when a hand touched her shoulder. She spun to see Percy...

With a sword stuck through his chest.

Celeste barely had time to scream before she woke up.

•••

"Celeste! CELESTE!" Nora cried, shaking the young demigod girl.

Celeste bolted upright after her mini-seizure.

Nora sighed. "Thank the gods."

"What happened?" Celeste slurred.

She barely noticed Poseidon standing at the edge of her bed, looking down at her with concern.

"What was it about this time?" He asked.

Celeste sighed. "The voice. Well, she was a clone of me. And we talked about my future and how she was going to defeat me."

It all flowed out of her before she could stop it.

She remembered her clone telling her that telling would get her nowhere, but she had to try.

Poseidon lowered his head.

Nora blinked. "Wait, what!? What voice? Celeste, what haven't you been telling me?"

Celeste closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I didn't want to worry you..."

Nora sighed and rubbed a hand down her face. "Goodness, kid. You've got to start trusting me. I'm only here to help."

Celeste nodded. "I know. But I don't think anyone can help with this."

She glanced up at her dad and saw hesitance on his face. Confused, Celeste just ignored it.

He could get rid of this clone. Wouldn't he?

"Celeste, I think you should stay in your room for the day." Poseidon said in a low voice.

"But-" Celeste began to protest.

Poseidon held up a hand. "Now is not the time to argue Celeste. This is a serious threat and I need to handle it."

Celeste narrowed her eyes. "So what, are you gonna kill me then?"

"Celeste!" Nora yelled in shock.

"No, Nora, it's alright. She's entitled to her opinion." Poseidon said, placing his hand on the mergirl's shoulder.

"Celeste, that wasn't what I was going to do. You need to trust me. Just stay here for the day, please."

Celeste slumped into her bed, anger radiating through her.

"Use your anger to an advantage..." The voice whispered.

Celeste groaned and pulled her covers over head and shut out the outside world.

"Come, let's leave her for now." She heard Poseidon say.

The sound of the door closing and locking made Celeste lower her covers.

She looked around her room for something to pick a lock, even though she wasn't sure she'd be able to pick anyways.

A stray bobby pin lying on her vanity table caught her eye and she snatched it up. Stretching it out, Celeste went to her door and began trying her best.

When a clicking sound echoed throughout her silent room, she fought the urge to cheer.

Quietly, she pulled the door open and scanned the hallway. There was no one in sight.

Tiptoeing, she made her way down the hall and towards the palace entrance.

She opened it and looked out at the vast ocean. This would be her second time running away, but this time she wouldn't come back until she had some answers.

•••

"Lord Poseidon, can you please explain to me what is happening?" Nora asked as they made their way down the hall.

"It really is none of your concern, Nora." Poseidon said as he entered his throne room.

"But sir, Celeste has become something like a sister to me, I don't want to see her get hurt." Nora protested.

"And she won't. I'll make sure of that. Daniel!" Poseidon called to a merguard by his throne.

The merman jerked his head up in immediate response.

"Yes, Lord Poseidon?"

"If you don't mind, would you guard my daughter's door and make sure she doesn't leave?"

"Of course sir." The merman, Daniel swam off quickly.

Nora sighed. "Well, about this clone thing, are we planning to fix it?"

"Nora, I'm trying my best, but this is something larger than I expected with Celeste's powers." Poseidon said turning to face her.

"Well, why don't you consult the other gods? I'm sure whatever the threat is, they can help you fix it." Nora said.

Poseidon sighed. "The other gods don't know about Celeste."

"What?" Nora exclaimed.

"Nora, please. I need to think. This problem gets worse everyday and I need to-"

"What about her brother, Percy? Do they know about him?" Nora exclaimed, forgetting her formality.

"No...no, they don't." Poseidon said glumly.

Nora scoffed. "Why not!? I thought...I thought you were the great sea god, the one who never fails and protects the ocean! Not a scared, lying man!"

Poseidon dialed down his anger before he could strangle the girl.

"I am! The gods will kill both Celeste and Percy the moment they find out about them. They aren't supposed to be alive. The great prophecy, the deal I made not to have children...I would be shamed." Poseidon said.

"Forget shaming! Protect your daughter! Be a better father! I know your duties as a god, but you people ignore too many of your children! You need to help her! That's what the gods do, they help the unhelpable. Prove that to me. Prove that to her. Then, maybe you'll gain her trust." Nora shouted.

Poseidon stared at the mergirl for a few seconds. The bravery it took to yell at a god like that, he found himself in awe.

"You're right." He said softly.

"You bet I'm right! So get off your lazy butt and fix Celeste!" Nora yelled.

Poseidon tried not to chuckle and the young girl telling him off.

"Alright. But I'll need your help. There aren't many good ways to solve this problem. All the help, the positive help that is, will help greatly." Poseidon said.

"Well you have me. I won't break your trust, I promise. I want to help Celeste." Nora said.

Poseidon was about to say more when the guard, Daniel, came rushing in.

"Lord Poseidon!" He said breathlessly.

"What? What is it? Has something happened?" Poseidon asked.

"It's Celeste. She's gone."