Published: August 7, 2021

Edited: May 26, 2022

'•'

Percy and I were in a state of shock. Even after everyone left the woods after capture the flag Percy and I stayed. We sat in the small creek, water soaking our legs and just thought. I thought over what this could mean for my future and what was going to happen next. Eventually the lights out horn was blown and it jolted me back to reality. I stood up and offered Percy my hand which he took gratefully. We started walking towards our cabins when I stopped and grabbed Percy's shoulder.

"Tomorrow we're probably going to have to move into the Poseidon Cabin." I told him. My voice was hoarse from not talking for so long. Percy glanced at the shadowy form of Cabin Three and nodded slowly.

"So I'll see you in the morning then?" He asked, his voice also scratchy. I nodded reluctantly but Percy didn't seem to see it. "What's that?" He asked me, pointing to the door of the Athena cabin.

I turned to look at the Athena cabin. Then I noticed something. Outside of the cabin door was a pile of stuff. Confused, Percy and I walked over to it. My stomach dropped when the light from the owl above the cabin door fell on a pile of clothes, soaps and on the very top, two glittering charm bracelets. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Lying in front of the pile were two pieces of paper. The first one was neatly folded and had nice handwriting. It had a small owl drawn on the front. I stumbled over and picked it up gingerly. I flipped it open.

'Dear Neridia Chase,

Due to your recent claiming we find that it would be inappropriate to allow you to continue residing in the Athena Cabin. We have taken the liberty of removing all personal items from your bunk. We also ask that you refrain from interacting with or trying to befriend us again. Your parentage has brought forth questions of your trustworthiness from many of us and so we have also removed any books or potential sources of knowledge that you have acquired from the camp and will return them properly. You are no longer an honorary Athena camper. We also hope that you would do us the service of keeping your volatile brother from causing further harm to the Ares cabin as it was unnecessary and extreme.

Sincerely, Cabin 6'

My entire body was shaking with rage. I wanted to break down the door and demand they return my books and let me talk to Annabeth but I forced myself to calm down. They really had the audacity to say that Percy was violent for defending himself against Clarisse. I stomped my foot and grit my teeth. I sniffled and mopped at the tears that I hadn't realized were flowing down my cheeks. Stupid Athena/Poseidon rivalry. Stupid Cabin Six. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Suddenly I felt a hand hesitantly patting my back. Percy was standing beside me. He looked so awkward trying to comfort a crying girl that I let out a watery chuckle.

"What does it say?" He asked quietly, still rubbing my back. I held out the letter to him.

Percy took the crumpled paper that I had clenched up in my fist and shook it out. His face grew increasingly sour as he read through the note. When he reached the end of the paper Percy paused, took his hand off my back and promptly tore the note into a thousand pieces. Then he threw them at the glowing owl lantern above the cabin door.

"They're all asses. I'm sorry that you had to go through that because of me." Percy said after he had done away with the paper. I sighed and went to go gather all of my things into my arms (seriously they didn't even have the decency to pack it away properly).

"It's alright Percy. I guess I'll just have to move into Cabin Three a bit earlier then expected." I murmured, trying to pick all of my clothes up at once. I kept failing and things dropped to the ground. Percy relented and picked up half of my things to help.

Together we walked to the Poseidon Cabin and put all of my stuff away. I thanked Percy and told him to hurry back to Cabin Eleven but he shook his head. Percy walked out of the cabin door and came back six minutes later with all of his things. We situated them in the trunk at the end of the bed for storage before we simultaneously called lights out as co-heads of our new cabin.

'•'

The next morning the full realization of my new life hit me. I didn't have to share a cabin with anybody but Percy, so I had plenty of room. We got to do anything we wanted to do, we sat at our own table to eat got to pick all of the activities, and I called lights out whenever I wanted to. I also didn't have listen to anybody else, I got to listen to myself. It was great being by (almost) myself but I felt miserable. Percy said very little to me and  I said very little to him. In one day I had gone from a family-less Athena misfit to a daughter of Poseidon with a brother. 

Nobody mentioned anything about the hell hound, but I got the feeling they were all talking about it behind my back. The attack scared everybody and it sent two messages: one, that we were the children of the Sea God Poseidon and two, Hades would stop at nothing to kill us. He could even come and invade this camp that had always been safe. I noticed that the campers started to become afraid of me. My former friends from the Athena cabin refused to talk to me and while I hoped that Annabeth and Eva would want to keep me company, the rivalry between Poseidon and Athena prevented it. Cabin eleven was too nervous to have sword class with Percy after what he'd done to the Ares cabin, so our cabin's sword fighting lessons became one-on-one with just Luke, Percy and I. 

Annabeth still taught us Greek in the mornings, but she seemed distracted, because every time I tried to say something she would turn away from me. Then after the Greek lessons, she would walk away muttering to herself, almost like she had a lot in her mind. One thing that was really surprising was that even Clarisse kept her distance too. But her evil looks made it clear that she wanted to kill me and Percy or something similar. I know somebody at camp that made me mad though, because one night when I came into my cabin while Percy was in the shower (did I mention Poseidon cabin has it's own showers?) I found a mortal news paper dropped inside the doorway. It was talking about the car crash that involved Percy and his mom. The article took me almost an hour to read, because it made me really angry. I may have just met Percy but I could tell he was a good person and he was, after all, my brother. The article was an interview with Percy's stepfather Gabe and the entire thing painted Percy as a criminal who had killed his mom on purpose. There was a hotline number listed at the bottom for people to call if the saw 'the dangerous delinquent Percy Jackson'. Whoever had delivered the paper (I would have bet all my drachmas that it was the Ares cabin) had circled and underlined the number in red ink. I heard the shower turn off in the next room and panicked. Then I remembered what Percy had done with the note from the Athena cabin. I stalked out the front door and stopped in front of the Ares cabin. There I tore up the newspaper as small as I could and threw it onto the fresh coat of wet, red paint on the cabin wall where it stuck. Then for good measure I picked up a loose piece of barbed wire from the ground and stuck it into a spot in the ground where I knew one of the landmines was. I ran off before it detonated.

'•'

That night I had another demigod dream. I materialized in a huge open room that I recognized as the Olympian throne room. As I took in the scenery I realized that there was yelling and arguing going on. I looked to the center of the room and my stomach dropped. A woman in full battle armor with long black hair and big gray eyes was shouting at a man in a Hawaiian shirt and kaki fishermen's shorts. Athena and Poseidon were fighting. Normally that wouldn't be a cause for alarm. According to Chiron the two fought regularly for centuries. The thing that was unusual was what they were fighting over. I couldn't catch many of their words between the yelling and the rapid fire ancient Greek but I could understand a few things.

"YOUR DAUGHTER- BLESSED HER- ALL A PLOY! DISGUSTING SEA SCUM- MY DAUGHTER! LET ME THINK-"

"NOT MY FAULT- COULDN'T CLAIM. YOUR DECISION- DON'T HURT-"

All of the blood drained out of my face. They were fighting over me...  Athena was angry she'd blessed me, the daughter of her worst enemy. I watched Athena scream at Poseidon with such hatred that my eyes started to tear up. I'd thought of Athena as almost like my godly parent, even Cabin Six had told me that I was as good as an Athena child. Now I'd lost her and my friends. I started to cry, tears splashing onto the throne room floor, even the goddess I'd referred to as my honorary godly parent hated me. All because of who my father was. Suddenly thunder boomed and I sat up straight in bed, my cheeks wet with real tears. 

I looked around and noticed that storm clouds were gathering over camp, though I knew that the weather couldn't reach us here. I rubbed my eyes and groggily ran a hand through my hair. Percy was still sleeping despite the clashing thunder and the aggressive pounding on the door. Someone was knocking and they seemed pretty peeved if the force of the knocking indicated anything.

"Come in!" I screamed at the trembling door. Grover busted into the room and Percy fell out of bed in shock. 

Grover told us both to get dressed because Mr. D wanted to speak with Percy and I. I quickly shooed Grover away so he was standing outside and ran into the bathroom. I brushed out my hair and pulled on a camp t-shirt with jean shorts. Then I brushed my teeth and let Percy have his turn in the bathroom. Once Percy was ready we joined Grover outside. We all headed to The Big House and onto the porch where Mr. D was playing Pinochle with Chiron. Dionysus saw us and immediately went on a tangent about turning Percy and I into dolphins which I tuned out until he vanished into thin air, leaving only the smell of grapes and his pinochle cards behind. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief that the cranky god was gone. Then Chiron dropped his own hand of cards and turned to Percy and I.

"Will you accept your quest?" Chiron asked matter-of-factly, like we had no other option then to say yes. A week ago I would have jumped at the chance, but now I wasn't so sure. For one thing, Annabeth wasn't here. For another Chiron had given us no details on what this quest entailed. Percy seemed to be following my train of thought because he raised an eyebrow at Chiron.

"But we never got any details." Percy argued, looking unsure.

"Well, That's the hard part." Chiron started, scratching his chin. "Zeus's lighting bolt has been stolen."

"By who?" I asked quickly. This must have been what Annabeth had overheard the satyrs talking about. Zeus' lightning bolt had been stolen!

"By you two." Chiron said like it should have been obvious. I was shocked into silence. "At least that's what Zeus thinks. He thinks Poseidon sent one or both of you to steal the master bolt so that Poseidon could usurp his position."

"That's ridiculous!" Percy burst out, looking infuriated. "I've never even been to Olympus!"

"No you haven't" Chiron agreed sadly, turning his gaze to me, "But your sister has. Zeus has issued Poseidon an ultimatum. Either he returns the master bolt by the summer solstice or Zeus will declare war but Poseidon firmly denies having the weapon.  We need you both to find it and return it to Zeus before war breaks out. So do you-"

"Hold the Hades up!" I interrupted angrily, "I get claimed as a child of one of the big three! You call me by his-" I pointed at Percy accusingly who blinked in confusion. "last name and I've probably lost my sister! Now you're offering Percy the quest Annabeth and I've wanted since we were eight and YOU HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING! TELL ME WHATS GOING ON!" I screamed derisively, my eyes filled with tears. Chiron looked slightly shocked at my outburst and disappointed for some reason. I stared hard at Chiron when I heard something move behind me.

"You haven't." 

"What?" I mumbled, still looking at my feet.

"You haven't lost me. If you and Percy are going on the quest, I'm coming." I turned around. Annabeth was standing behind me, holding her Yankee's cap. Just the fact she was there, telling me she wouldn't leave me made me start crying. I flung myself at her and Annabeth held me in a hug while I hiccupped and cried. Not really my finest moment.

'•'

 Chiron sent Percy to go up in the attic and speak to the oracle. He came back down about ten minutes later, looking shaken and confused. 

"What did the Oracle say Percy?" Grover asked. "The wording is very important!" Percy gulped.

"It said I would retrieve what was taken." He recalled, fidgeting with his fingers.

"That's great!" I said, having stopped crying a while ago.

"What else." Chiron prompted gently.

"She said I would go west and face the god who has turned. And um yeah." I could tell he wasn't telling us everything but I didn't want to push it. Percy side eyed me warily. "It asked for Neridia."

"Me? But I-" I protested. It was Percy's quest, why would I need to talk to the oracle?

"Go." Chiron said firmly, looking grave. I sighed and pushed my chair away from the table.

 I climbed up to the attic and there was the old mummy in the corner of the room. Her black hair was limp and her dirty tye-dye dress was ripped. Then it's eyes glowed green and the corpse spoke in a voice that sounded like a bunch of snakes were speaking at once.

 "I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker and ask." The mummy informed me. I took a deep breath and I asked it my question.

"What is my destiny?" I said firmly, trying to keep my voice from trembling. All of a sudden, green mist poured from the body's eyes and mouth. It swirled thickly until it became clearer, it formed into a misty version of me.

 It was definitely me but I looked older, maybe seventeen. She turned towards me and began to chant.

"Sea and sister are one on the quest, learn to lead as you go west." She said, in the same voice as the Oracle.  "Family so close, all this time, Your brother and sister, true love's chime." As she finished, the green smoke seemed to be sucked back into the mummy, who's eyes glowed green. Without its mouth moving in the slightest, it finished the prophecy. 

"Spy for us, on the Andromeda sail. Fear not Neridia, you will not fail." The mummy's eyes stopped glowing at the word 'fail', and I knew my audience with the Oracle was over. The mist faded away and I hurried out of the attic. 

'•'

"Well child?" Chiron asked as I sat down on the couch next to Annabeth. 

"Sh-she said that sea and sister would be one on the quest." I started, wondering how much it was wise to share.

"Great! You get to come with us" Annabeth smiled at me. 

"Keep going 'Dia" Grover prompted.

"And um.. learn to lead as I go west." I paused.  "Uhm... yeah. Chiron do...did. Why did you call me Neridia Jackson when I was claimed?"

"Nothing child, a mistake. Why do you ask?" Chiron looked politely puzzled but his eyes were dark.

"Something the oracle said just made me think...well. Maybe Percy and I have the same mother..." I said tentatively, looking imploringly at Chiron. I needed him to tell me.

"Had." Percy corrected quietly, his face forlorn.

"Right." I muttered. Chiron sighed.

"I suppose I do have to tell you." He relented, "Yes Neridia, your mother was Sally Jackson. Poseidon took you from her when you were a baby because it was the will of the Fates that you meet Annabeth at a young age. I swore to myself to never tell you unless your brother made it to camp. I think she believed you to be dead, she has had no way of knowing all these years." Chiron explained gravely.

 I was shaking. I had never been unwanted... I had been taken, kidnapped. I had a mother and a brother. The little orphan girl inside me beamed with joy. Then it crashed down around me. Percy's mom was dead. MY mom. My real mom, not Helen, was dead. And I never knew her. I could have had a family, a mother. Everything I ever knew about my life seemed to be crumbling and crashing down.

"And if Percy never came you never would have told me." I guessed, my voice quavering. Chiron closed his eyes and looked away from me. "You, you... YOU KNEW FOR FIVE YEARS THAT I HAD A MOTHER AND BROTHER AND SAID NOTHING? YOU LET ME CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP THINKING THAT I HAD NO-ONE BUT ANNABETH FOR FIVE YEARS!? Five. Five years I could have known my mother and- and... and she's dead now. She never even got to see me, to know I was alive. I-" My voice lost its heat as a single tear slid down my cheek.

"Neridia-" Chiron started, looking concerned.

"No." I choked out. "Don't talk to me Chiron." I ran out of the big house, determined not to cry any more. I ran out of the big house and across the green to the Poseidon cabin. I flopped on my blue covered bed and hugged my pillow to my chest. Then the tears came, hot and flowing down my face. I sobbed for what felt like hours but was probably only ten minutes before I heard the door to the cabin open. 

"Hey Neri?" asked a tentative voice. I sniffled.

"Go away." I muttered into my pillow, thinking it was Grover or Annabeth.

"Aww.." the voice said, more teasing now. I felt a weight near my legs and I knew whoever it was had sat down on my bed. "that's no way to speak to your twin is it?" 

"Percy?" I asked, I hiccupping myself into a sitting position. Percy was looking at my sadly, his arms wide. I collapsed into his arms and my crying resumed.

"Who else?" My brother asked gently, wrapping his arms around me and rocking me back and forth. "Look. I- I know this is a lot to take but I had this idea." Percy ventured. "About my- our, mom." Percy seemed to be waiting for me to say something but I just hyperventilated myself into silence. "Well you know how in the old myths, heroes would try to bring people back from the underworld?" Percy prompted.

"Mhm"

"Well I just thought maybe we could get her back...and-and we could become a proper family."

"Do you really think we could?" I asked shakily, still breathing quickly. Percy nodded slowly.

"I think we can try, besides, there's no way I'm going on this quest to help Poseidon, I don't even know the guy." Percy finished. I huffed and rubbed my eyes.

"He waited for five years to claim me and took me away from you and our mom. He doesn't deserve our help." I muttered angrily.

"I know Dia. I know." I sat up and hugged Percy tight. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me back. We stayed like that for a while before I got the courage to ask what had been on my mind for a while.

"Who is the ugly man?" I asked my brother quietly, my voice muffled by his shoulder.

"W-what?" Percy's voice wavered and his body stiffened.

"I h-had dreams when I was younger. About you and there was an ugly man. He was fat and had a bald patch. He h-hurt you...I - was it real?" I pulled away from the hug as I was talking, looking at the sea green eyes that were so similar to my own. Percy dropped his gaze.

"I- his name was Gabe. He's my, well I guess now, our stepdad. He, well he isn't the nicest. To be honest I'm not sure why mom stays with him." 

"Oh."

"Well" Percy heaved himself off the bed, a forced cheerfulness in his voice. "We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow. It's best we go to sleep!"

"Right! Night new brother!" I responded, with just as much fake cheer.

"G'night Neridia."

 The lights flicked off. As I listened to Percy's breathing slow into snores, I thought of the lines of prophecy I hadn't shared with the group. 

'Spy for us, on the Andromeda sail.' was confusing, I didn't know an Andromeda. But the spying thing... I thought of the trident bracelets I had gotten in that dream. It was only a few days ago but it seemed like a different life time. I was almost positive that they were from Poseidon, and I was supposed to give one to Percy. I thought of the other line. 'Your brother and sister, true loves' chime.' My brother was obviously Percy, but a sister. I didn't technically have a sister. Then the idea popped up in my head. Of course! Annabeth! Then I almost busted out laughing. The prophecy was saying they were going to fall in love! Holy Aphrodite! I don't know exactly when I fell asleep but it sure took me a while after that thought.

'•'

Word Count: 3798