︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter seventeen
❛ 𝚒'𝚖 𝚗𝚘t 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗. ❜

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

AMARA SPLASHED SALT water onto the raven haired boy, hoping to wake him in one attempt. It took her multiple tries before she was able to get him up and had the opportunity to take in the view. There was a sunset behind the city skyline, beachside highways were lined with palm trees while stores glowed red, neon blue, and the harbor was filled to the brim with sailboats and cruise ships.

"Miami, I think," Annabeth thought out loud, earning the brunette's attention. "That's where Chiron wanted us to go if we retrieved the Fleece."

"Plus," she continued. "The hippocampus are acting funny."

And the blonde was right, the sea creatures had been whinnying and swimming in circles since Amara had awoken. She attempted calming hers and Percy's down but it was futile, they were too freaked out.

"This is as far as they'll take us," Percy explained as he rested his hands on her shoulders to sit himself up right. "Too many humans with too much pollution. We'll have to swim to shore on our own."

"So we have to swim?" The brunette eyed the boy behind her. "Pretty much, but you can't use the winds with all these humans. So it's your call, what are you thinking?"

She wordlessly shrugged as he slipped off the sea creature and landed in the water. He had barely resurfaced when she slid off the hippocampus as well, his arms shot out immediately but she had positioned herself to land right besides him. Her arms wrapped around his neck while her legs went to his waist.

His eyes narrowed as she held back a laugh, instead a grin curled onto her lips as she adjusted herself on his back. "Don't do that," he scowled, her grin widening as they began swimming to shore.

"Why? That was fun, Seaweed Brain," but his narrowed eyes stayed alongside his lips pulled into a straight line. He said nothing the rest of the swim where they reached the shore in no time.

Annabeth helped Amara onto dry land as the satyr ran to the nearest newspaper stand, checking the date. "June eighteenth! We've been away from camp ten days!"

The once joyful grin that laced her lips was gone as her heart fell to her stomach.

"That's impossible!" Clarisse stated.

"Thalia's tree must be almost dead." Grover wailed, quickly sparring the Grace girl a look. "We have to get the Fleece back tonight."

The La Rue girl slumped to the pavement as her head landed in her hands. "How are we supposed to do that?" She questioned, gripping her hair. "We're hundred of miles away, no money and no ride. This is just like the Oracle said. It's your fault, Jackson! If you hadn't interfered—"

"Percy's fault?" Annabeth spat, standing her to feet while Amara felt a smirk form at her friend defending the Jackson boy. "Clarisse, how can you say that? You are the biggest—"

"Stop it!" Percy snapped, interrupting the daughters of Ares and Athena.

"Clarisse," he said earning the dirty blonde's attention. "What did the Oracle tell you exactly?"

"Two shall sail the iron ship with warriors of bone,
one shall be lost to the sea of unknown,
you shall find what you seek and make it your own,
but despair for your lives entombed with stone,
one fails without friends, to fly home alone."

"Ouch," Grover mumbled, letting out a visible wince.

"No, no," Percy searched his pockets endlessly before curses slipped when he found nothing. "Does anybody have any cash?"

The three demigods and satyrs shook their heads at the son of Poseidon. "Cash?" Tyson asked hesitantly, earning the campers's attention. "Like . . . green paper?"

"Yeah."

"Like the kind in the duffel bags?"

"Yeah, but we lost those days ag—"

He stopped himself halfway through his sentence when Tyson pulled out an airtight bag of cash. "T—Tyson!" Percy managed. "How did you—"

"Thought it was a food bag for Rainbow." He explained. "Found it floating in the sea, but only paper inside. Sorry."

A smile threatened to tug at Amara's lips as the son of Poseidon hurried to grab a taxi that was just letting a family out, beckoning the daughter of Ares over. But  the brunette wasn't paying attention as she admired the boy's readiness to help her sister's tree at all cost, something she respected about the boy. He was always there for his friends, and he seemed to always be there for her as well.

"Amara," Clarisse called, drawing the girl from her thoughts as she stood by the cab with the fleece in hand. "You can count on me, I won't fail."

Her once threatening to be seen smile turned into a smirk. "Not failing would be good." And with those words the cab took off.

"Percy," Annabeth began, "that was so—"

"Generous?" Grover offered.

"Insane," she corrected. "You're betting the lives of everybody at camp that Clarisse will get the Fleece safely back by tonight?"

"It's her quest," he shrugged. "She deserves a chance."

"Percy is nice." Tyson said.

"You know Jackson," Amara spoke, earning the boys attention as her next words caused a smile to curl onto his lips. "You're not bad after all."

Annabeth and Grover exchanged confused looks as the two joined one another's side. "Come on," Percy called to the children of Athena, Poseidon, and the Wild, while sparring the daughter of Zeus another smile. "Let's find another way home."

The raven haired boy spun around, only to be met with a sword directed at his throat.

"Hey, cuz." Luke spoke with a smile as his head titled slightly to the side. "Welcome back to the States."

Oreius, one of the older boys henchmen appeared from the side as he grabbed Annabeth and Grover by their t-shirt collars. Amara was next to be grabbed by her arms as she was jerked back into the creature, before it attempted to grab Tyson as well. The cyclops knocked his arm away, nearly smashing into the Grace girl's head with his fist.

"Percy," Luke let out a sigh. "Tell your giant to back down or, I'll have Oreius bash your friends heads together and break Amara's arms."

The monster grinned manically as he lifted the blonde and curly haired boy off the ground, their feet kicking and grabbing onto his hands as they attempted to loosen his grip. The brunette was the next to be tormented as her arms were twisted, resulting in her back to arch backwards.

"What do you want, Luke?" Percy growled.

The Castellan boy's lips turned upright into a wicked smile, his scar rippling on the side of his face. He gestured towards the end of the dock where the Princess Andromeda was ported.

"Why, Percy." Luke said. "I want to extend my hospitality, of course."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Amara's head was slammed into the wooden deck of the Princess Andromeda, a growl escaping her lips as she pulled upright by Oreius. She was spared a sympathetic look by Grover and Annabeth, who unfortunately, shared the same hospitality she had been given. "And so, the Fleece," Luke mused as he looked them over, prodding Grover with the tip of his sword. "Where is it?"

"Hey!" The protector yelled, trying to inch away from the sword as the son of Hermes poked his jeans. "That's real goat fur under there!"

"Sorry, old friend." The follower of Kronos smiled as Amara shot him a glare. "Just give me the Fleece and I'll leave you to return to your, ah, little nature quest."

"Blaa—ha—ha!" The Underwood boy protested. "Some old friend!"

"Maybe you didn't hear me." Luke's voice became dangerously calm. "Where—is—the—Fleece?"

"Not here." Percy spoke, a smug tone hinting in his voice. "We sent it on ahead of us. You messed up."

Luke's eyes narrowed. "You're lying, you couldn't have . . ." His face reddened as realization hit. "Clarisse?"

Amara nodded as the blond seemed to fully realize what they had done. "You trusted . . . you gave . . . Agrius!"

The older bear twin flinched. "Y—yes?"

"Get below and prepare my steed. Bring it to the deck. I need to fly to Miami Airport, fast!"

"But, Boss—"

"Do it!" Luke screamed while her amusement grew, she had never seen the boy so freaked out before. "Or I'll feed you to the Drakon!"

The henchmen quickly fled down the stairs, nearly tripping over himself while doing so. The son of Hermes continued to pace in front of the pool while cursing in ancient greek that translated perfectly in the brunette's mind. But she welcomed his distress, it was giving her time to warm up the blue electricity currently flickering between her fingertips.

"You've been toying with us all along." Percy broke the silence, earning a side look from the electric blue eyed girl only to get shrugged off in the end. "You wanted us to bring you the Fleece and save you the trouble of getting it."

Luke turned, scowled at the younger demigod. "Of course, you idiot! And you've messed everything up!"

"Traitor!" The son of Poseidon threw a drachma at Luke, but the older boy dodged it easily. "You tricked all of us! Even Dionysus at Camp Half-Blood!"

Behind the blond, the pool had begun to shimmer and Amara figured out what his plan was. He was going to clear Chiron's name, reveal the truth to Dionysus, and let them know Clarisse was on the way. It was a good plan, one she would've thought impossible for the boy. But this quest he seemed to like turning her world upside down when it came to him.

The sound of a sword unsheathing brought her from her thoughts. "This is no time for heroics, Percy," Luke sneered at the sea green eyed boy. "Drop your puny little sword or I'll have you killed sooner rather than later."

"Who poisoned Thalia's tree, Luke?" Percy asked, already executing his plan.

"I did, of course," Luke snarled, like he was proud of what he had done while Amara's fingers dug into the palm of her hand. "I already told you that. I used elder python venom, straight from the depths of Tartarus."

"Chiron had nothing to do with it?"

"Ha! You of all people should know he would never do that. The old fool wouldn't have the guts."

Percy frowned as the Grace girl's anger began growing. "You call it guts? Betraying your friends? Endangering the whole camp?"

Luke raised his sword, pointing at the younger demigod. "You don't understand the half of it. I was going to let you take the Fleece . . . once I was done with it."

"You were going to heal Kronos." Amara snapped, unknowingly drawing certain campers eyes towards her through the Iris-Message.

"Yes! The Fleece's magic would've sped his mending process by tenfold. But you haven't stopped us, only slowed us down a little."

"And so you poisoned the tree, you betrayed Thalia, you set us up — all to help Kronos destroy the gods."

Luke gritted his teeth as his frustration grew. "You know that! Why do you keep asking me?"

"We had to give the audience what they want." Annabeth answered.

"What audience?"

The son of Hermes spun around as his goons did the same, each gasping and stumbling back. With his back to the brunette, she couldn't hold back anymore. Her anger got the best of her the more the blond proudly explained to them step by step how he planned to resurrect the titan lord and how easily he killed her sister's tree. A growl escaped from her throat as she attempted to lung forward, dragging the henchman with her a step as lightning struck near the boat.

Luke spun around at the sudden weather change, his bright blue eyes landing on the girl he once claimed as his younger sister. "Ah, ah," he clicked his tongue at her actions lightly. "Come now Amara, you can be more civilized than that. I know I raised you better."

Electricity shocked the henchmen's hands as she attempted to lung forward again, her eyes flashing between two colors as her anger continued to grow. "You never raised me, Charles and Jada did," she spat back at the older demigod.

"Well." Dionysus said dryly, ignoring the scene in front of him. "Some unplanned dinner entertainment."

"Mr. D, you heard him." Percy spat. "You all heard Luke. The poisoning of Thalia's tree wasn't Chiron's fault."

The god sighed. "I suppose not."

"The Iris-message could be a trick." Tantalus suggested, his attention directed to the cheeseburger he was attempting to grab.

"I fear not." Mr. D said, looking at Tantalus in distaste. "It appears I shall have to reinstate Chiron as activities director. I suppose I do miss the old horse's pinochle games."

Tantalus grabbed the cheeseburger, barely able to lift it from his plate for the first time. "I got it!" The former punished cackled.

"We are no longer in need of your services, Tantalus." The god of wine announced.

Tantalus looked stunned. "What? But—"

"You may return to the Underworld. You are dismissed."

Luke bellowed with anger, slashing his sword through the fountain and interrupting the campers happy cheers before turning towards Percy with a murderous look twisted onto his features.

"Kronos was right, Percy." He snarled. "You're an unreliable weapon and need to be replaced." With those last words, he spared Amara a glance as she shot him a glare.

A dozen warriors began pouring out from the deck doors that had been flung open, making a circle around the Camp Half-Blood campers. The blond smiled as his head tilted once more, "You'll never leave this boat alive."

"One on one," Percy challenged, a cocky grin slipping onto his features "What are you afraid of?"

Luke's lip curled, but was luckily saved by Agrius racing onto the top deck leading the most beautiful pure black pegasus Amara had ever seen. "Sir!" The henchman called as he dodged the pegasus' attacking hoof. "Your steed is ready!"

But his bright blue eyes were too focused on Percy. "I told you last summer," he explained. "You can't bait me into a fight."

"The Luke I knew," Amara called out, earning both boy's attention. "Would never back down from a fight, no matter how hard or simple it was. You told me I was the same, let's see how much you really changed."

Percy's grin widened at her words as Luke's bottom lip became caught in between his teeth, a nervous habit he did whenever he was forced to make a decision. It was a bad habit she had picked up from him while growing up, but it always helped her know what he was thinking. Whenever he fell back into that habit, especially when it came to her, he usually ended up doing what she asked of him.

"I'll kill you quickly," the son of Hermes decided as he spun his weapon around his figure, something he picked up from Amara. She could feel her heart saddened momentarily, he hadn't changed all that much. He still used his habits, her moves, and listened to her.

She quickly shook away the thoughts before she could become overwhelmed by them, joining the action at hand as Luke was thrown a shield.

"Luke," she called out, earning the blond's attention who raised a brow. "At least give him a shield."

His brow arched as he glanced between the two with a flash of confusion. Last time he seen them on his boat, the children of the Big Three despised one another and wanted nothing to do with each other. But now, he had heard the younger girl tell him he wasn't that bad and she just asked him to give the son of Poseidon a shield. He couldn't wrap his head around how much could change in a short period of time.

"Sorry, Ara," he shrugged, as if killing Percy was the easiest thing on his to do list. "You bring your own equipment to this party."

The follower of Kronos quickly lunged, almost killing the raven haired boy on the spot by slicing his shirt and grazing his ribs. Percy immediately jumped back, pulling a counterattack with his own sword but Luke had slammed away the attack with his shield.

"My, Percy." Luke chided as his grin grew. "You're out of practice."

He lunged again with a swipe to Percy's head, but the younger demigod had parried and returned the favor with a thrust. The blond step sided with ease before striking once more, but his sword hit air as the son of Poseidon stepped backwards in the pool. A smirk curled onto the brunette's lips as she watched Percy be a master in his element, creating a funnel cloud that blasted at Luke.

The Jackson boy used the water to boost him out as the Castellan boy hit the ground with a thud, but the former couldn't get an attack in before Luke was back on his feet. Percy lunged towards the blond, slicing off the edge of his shield. But Amara knew that wouldn't faze Luke, its when he dropped the shield that his opponent needed to be worried. And she was right, the son of Hermes ditched the shield and jabbed at Percy's legs, successfully getting a cut in.

He continued his onslaught of attacks as the younger boy rolled behind a deck chair, turning the battle into a game of cat and mouse.

"Perrrrcy!" Grover bleated.

"Annabeth," the Grace girl hissed earning the girl's attention, tearing her attention away from the battle at hand. "Rip my necklace."

"What?"

"Just do it!"

Luckily, Oreius wasn't that smart. Despite keeping Amara's arms behind her back and Annabeth held by her collar bone, the girls were still in arms reach of one another.

"Right now?"

"Beth!"

"Okay!" The blonde hurried and reached over, grabbing the lightning bolt shaped necklace and ripping it free from Amara's neck. A gasp escaped from Oreius as he watched in amazement the necklace morphed into a sword, loosening his grip on the girl's arms just enough for her to wrench them away from him.

The electricity around her fingertips prevailed, the moment her sword landed in her grip the weapon had been surrounded by her energy. "Oreius!" Argius snapped, disappointment clear in his tone.

The next moments were too fast for regular humans to comprehend, so it was lucky everyone surrounding the campers were demigods or monsters. Lightning flashed, blinding their eyes as Amara lunged to her capturer with a wicked grin lacing her lips as she buried her sword deep into the monster's chest. When the lightning disappeared, Annabeth and Grover had been dropped to the ground. Electricity flickered about the brunette and the bear twin who had began wailing in agony.

"Amara, don't!" Luke snapped, taking a step toward the duo. But his words only encouraged her further as her grin widened, causing her to look truly like her father for a moment. "Have fun in Tartarus," she lightly sang, digging the sword deeper until it went through his body fully.

The ship was quiet for a moment as electricity coming from Amara blinded them, only for their visions to clear and see a pile of ash formed at the girl's feet.

"No!" Luke shouted, his eyes narrowed at the daughter of Zeus who swung her sword onto her shoulder blades.

"Oops," she shrugged, her grin turning into a smirk.

"Brother!" Agrius wailed, momentarily letting the pegasus's reins go long enough for the black creature to kick him in the head and fly away free. For a moment, the ship was deadly calm as the crew seemed to realize what just happened.

At least, until a chorus of war cries and thundering hooves filled the air. "Ponies!" Tyson cried with delight as their attention was pulled to the dock.

The daughters of Athena and Zeus quickly pulled the satyr and cyclops to the side as centaurs stormed the deck, Chiron leading the charge among his relatives. For a moment, even the followers of Kronos were stunned by their arrival until Luke snapped out of it first.

The blond raised his sword, but was met with an arrow costumed made with a boxing glove smacking him into the pool. Amara's smirk widened at the scene as the followers of Kronos began scattering. "Come get some!" A party pony yelled as he chased after a warrior.

While his brethren let loose with paintball guns against Luke's warrior, Chiron had made his way to his campers and quickly placed Annabeth and Grover on his back.

But the brunette shook her head, refusing the directors hand. "Amara?" He questioned, his voice slightly dropping as his mind raced to think why she would be refusing. "Not without Percy," she explained before quickly running off into the battle. The centaur smiled at her fading figure, warmth swelling within his chest as he watched the girl who refused to make new friends race off to find the boy she had met only a year ago.

Amara had managed to move around pretty well, side stepping and dodging Kronos's men who stood in her way. But the centaurs also played a hand, whenever someone appeared in her way she would only have to dodge before they took care of them. When the Jackson boy came into view, he was in the same place she had last seen him. Across the deck and grabbing onto lawn chairs to try pulling himself up, a smirk slipped onto her lips as she slid onto her knees.

"Hey Seaweed Brain," she greeted, grabbing the boys arm and wrapping it around her neck as she grabbed onto his torso.

"Hi, Stormy," he replied back with a dazed look in his eyes. Their interaction was short lived as Luke finally made his way out of the pool and began ordering his men. "Attack, you fools!" He bellowed, an alarm bell thrumming throughout the ship at his words.

"We better go,"

"Couldn't have agreed more."

The pair took off in the direction of Chiron, but much slower compared to Amara's previous speed as Percy stumbled with every step they took. "Withdraw, my brethren!" The centaur's voice was clearly heard over all the fighting, only angering Luke further.

"You won't get away with this, Chiron!" Luke shouted, his sword raised as he prepared to take off in the direction of the centaur. But he was shot by another boxing glove, sending him backwards into a deck chair that flipped upon impact. Laughter escaped from the brunette as the raven haired boy sent a smile her way, and they continued to walk past the son of Hermes.

"Here," a centaur called out as it ran up besides the children of the Big Three. His back legs was lowered slightly as Amara made Percy get on first, before she was pulled up by the help of the centaur.

"Dude," another centaur called as the one the duo was riding stood to his full height. "Get your big friend!"

"Tyson!" Percy yelled. "Come on!"

The cyclops looked disappointed as he dropped the two warriors he held, quickly jumping onto the centaur's back who made Percy call him. "Dude!" the half man half horse groaned at Tyson's weight. "Do the words 'low-carb diet' mean anything to you?"

Finally, Luke's warriors senses had come together and began organizing themselves despite the chaos. But they had been too late, the party ponies had already galloped to the edge of the deck and jumped. When the centaurs hit the asphalt with no casualties, they took off down the streets of Miami as they cheered and taunted the followers of Kronos.

The buildings and streets blurred as the centaur picked up speed. "Is this what it's like for you?" Percy quietly asked the brunette who sat besides him, her hand settling on top his shoulder. But she had a grin laced upon her lips as the wind dashed past them, her free hand reached out as wind spirits surrounded her palm. Smaller ones played with her fingers while larger ones stayed behind her in the case she fell.

Percy couldn't help the smile that graced his lips at the seen, before turning back around and watching as the city began to fly by.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It had only been a few moments since they returned, and the group had gotten quite the welcome. Campers had thrown themselves at Chiron with wide smiles and some tearful eyes as the old centaur patted as much heads as he could while keeping his balance upright.

Annabeth's younger siblings had launched themselves at the blonde, successfully knocking her down while Malcolm stood over with her a soft smile. He was the last to hug her but was by far the one who did it for the longest. Amara figured Annabeth didn't have the heart to let go either despite what they'd just been through.

Percy didn't have any siblings like Annabeth did, but his camper friends had given the boy a high five and fist bump upon his return. They threw their arm around his shoulder and began asking all kinds of questions about the quest.

And as for Amara, she was greeted by a certain daughter of Aphrodite. "You . . ." Silena started, her face turned upright in a scowl while the younger girl stuffed her hands into her jeans pockets as she awaited the lecture. Instead, a sigh escaped from the girl as she grabbed the daughter of Zeus's arm and began dragging her near the camp border.

A certain sea green eyed boy watched the interaction with a slight interest, before jogging behind the duo to see where they were heading. Soon, two figures came into sight. A dark skinned boy with his sword planted in the ground as he watched his surroundings, and the other an older dark skinned women who was pacing back and forth in her steps.

"Oh no," Amara attempted to go backwards but was met with Percy's hands grabbing her arms and walking her towards the family. "No running away, Mara."

"I hate you," she mouthed to the boy as she was turned around, meeting eyes with the Beckendorf family.

If Jada hadn't been so infuriated at the girl standing in front of her, she would've questioned the boy standing besides the girl she came to know as Silena. "Amara Grace!" The engineer snapped as she made her way to the demigods side.

She awaited the lecture she knew was coming from the mother, but instead she was met with arms wrapping themselves around her body as tear drops fell onto the girls shirt. She froze, not quite understanding what was happening only to meet eyes with Charles who offered a nod.

"You . . ." Jada started, running her fingers through the girls hair like a mother who had just seen her daughter for the first time in years. But Amara wasn't stupid, she wasn't Jada's daughter and the women would never grow to think of her that way. Despite what her head was telling her, she returned the hug. She gripped onto the older women tightly as her chin rested on the engineer's shoulder.

"You were right to tell that Luke boy he didn't raise you," she started off softly. Her electric blue eyes widened as she glanced at Charles, a soft smile was laced upon his lips like he knew what was happening. "You . . . you are my daughter, I don't care if you have a different last name. You will always be a Beckendorf, never forget that."

Tears began welling up in the corner of her eyes, but she buried her head deep within the older women's hair as she attempted to calm herself down. Unknowingly, the hug earned herself soft smiles from Silena, and Percy, who had stayed to watch the scene that just unfolded in front of him.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It had only been a few nights since they returned, Jada was staying in a hotel not far from camp as Amara and Beckendorf were going to leave to go home with her for the year school. At least, that had been the plan until tonight.

The cabins had been alerted to a disturbance on the hill from the Fleece, but the brunette was the last to be alerted and only knew due to Beckendorf and Silena waking her up from a decent night's sleep. Once she was up, Silena left the cabin while Charles took a seat next to the girl. "Amara," he spoke once he noticed she was fully awake. "We need to go to your sisters tree."

She raised a brow at the boy. "Why, did something happen?"

But he didn't answer, instead taking her hand within his own as he gently led her out of the cabin and to the top of Camp Half-Blood Hill. But once they reached the crest of the hill, she sent the older boy a confused look. Everything was intact, the fleece still secured to her sister's tree, but he continued guiding her forward until they were by the base of the tree.

A girl caught her eye, she was covered in pine needles and moss as she laid at the root of the tree. Her eyes were shut tight like she was having a bad dream, but her chest was still rising up and down. "I don't get it," she mumbled softly as she analyzed the girl, making her way to the front along with Charles.

Annabeth was kneeled next to the new girl. Her stormy grey eyes shined with sadness but upon seeing Amara, it was like that sadness increased. "Curse the Titan lord," Chiron announced once he made his way to the tree. "He's tricked us again, given himself another chance to control the prophecy."

"What do you mean?" Percy's voice sounded as he joined the daughter of Athena near the girl.

"The Fleece did its work too well," Chiron's voice was ragged as his eyes flickered over to the youngest daughter of Zeus. "It healed the tree, but the poison was not the only thing it purged."

And then the realization hit Amara, her breath hitched as she stumbled a few feet back. But Beckendorf wrapped an arm around her shoulders and refused to let her go back anymore. "That's not—it can't be—"

"Hey, Am, it's okay." Charles tried to make his voice heard but it was useless. It was like the air had vanished to the brunette, there wasn't enough to fill her lungs again. Blood thundered in her ears as she clutched her shirt and she lowered herself to the ground.

Tears began to fill her eyes, her once shaking hand spreading to the rest of her now pale body. Her mind couldn't keep up what was happening to her body as she desperately tried to get the air she desired. How was it she was breathing but the air felt deprived of the oxygen her body needed? She felt like she was back in the sea of monsters, drowning all over again expect this time she didn't think there was anyone to help.

Beckendorf was quick to appear in her line of sight once more, a candy in his hand as his mouth moved but no words came out. At least, until Silena appeared besides the dark skinned boy who had wrapped his arms around the brunette like a child. "It's okay," she whispered softly. "Just take deep breaths and take a bite from the chocolate," the charmspeak flowed through her body like before.

Unwillingly, she took a bite from the chocolate bar Charles had uncovered for her. The stimulation from the candy successfully diverted the girl's attention from needing to breath to the sweet taste in her mouth. Breaths came more natural to her the more bites she took, and soon her hearing came back.

"I'm Percy Jackson, you're safe now," was the first thing she heard as her attention turned to her sister and the Jackson boy.

"Strangest dream . . ." Thalia began slowly getting to her feet, grabbing onto the tree for support.

"It's okay." Percy followed her up, his arms out in case she fell.

"Dying." Thalia was fully stood up now, her dark electric blue eyes wide as she took in her surroundings.

"No," Percy was quick to assure. "You're okay. What's your name?"

"I am Thalia," Amara's older sister stated her name like it was the simplest thing in the world. "Daughter of Zeus."

Sea green eyes were directed to Amara, who was still held by Charles arms as she gripped tightly onto them. Tears threatened to spill but she managed to keep them in by biting down on her bottom lip.

"Annabeth . . . Grover," the eldest Grace acknowledged her old friends while the satyr let out a laugh of relief. "I can't believe you're alive . . . again,"

"Thalia," the blonde spoke up directing the former tree's attention to her. "Are you okay? Maybe you should stay down and wait a couple minutes."

But the raven haired girl shrugged, her eyes looking over the campers as she tried to find a familiar brunette. Based off how grown Annabeth had gotten, she assumed Amara had gotten taller and matured as well. She just didn't know how much.

"Annabeth," the elder sister called once she couldn't find Amara. "Where's Amara?"

But the demigod and satyr wasn't any help to the eldest Grace as they looked around the crowd as well, trying to spot where the brunette had gone. But their actions weren't that clear to Thalia as her jaw clenched, and her mind immediately thought the worse.

"You," she turned on Percy who had been looking at Amara the entire time, a sad look on his features at the girl who was holding back a breakdown. "Where is my sister." Thalia growled, earning the boy's attention.

"Come on Miel," Silena said the nickname softly as Beckendorf brought them to their feet. "I think it's a long overdue sister reunion, don't you agree?"

But Amara couldn't form words, scared if she did the tears she had been holding back would spill and she would lose control. "It's going to be okay, Am." Charles spoke as he kept his arm around the girl, slowly dropping the other to allow her to grab his hand and squeeze. "I won't leave your side."

At this point, Thalia had grabbed the Jackson boy by his collar and lifted him up into the air. A glare was seen in her eyes as Percy attempted to wrench her hand away.

"Thalia," Amara called out, her voice wavering as her older sister froze in place. Slowly, she turned and dropped the son of Poseidon upon seeing her younger sister.

At first, she thought her mind was playing tricks on her. The version of a six year old Amara kept flashing back and forth between the new version, the sight alone almost made her sank to her knees.

Her sisters once short, chin length curly brown hair had grown out and reached her mid back. Her teeth had straightened out and were no longer gaped, crooked, nor missing any. She had lost the baby fat she once shown, only to now have a set jaw line forming with a perfectly round face. She had grown as well, roughly the same height as Thalia if not a little shorter.

Her outfit was no longer the overall shorts and random t-shirt she was always seen about it, instead she had grown into pants with a t-shirt. The sun treated her skin well, a nice tan replaced her previous pale one. Freckles danced across her cheeks and nose as her electric blue eyes shined against the moonlight.

"Look at you," Thalia said softly as Charles unwrapped his arm from around her. "You grew Ara," a disbelief laugh escaped the eldest Grace as Beckendorf fully let go of the younger Grace. "Older, taller, prettier and . . . and I missed it all."

With those words, Amara lunged at her sister. Thalia accepted the hug as she wrapped her arms around her younger sister, gripping tightly onto the t-shirt as the girl began breaking down. Tears rolled down her cheeks endlessly as uneven sobs escaped her throat, her grip tight on Thalia which indicated she wouldn't let go for awhile.

"So that's Thalia," Jada Beckendorf breathed out from her spot besides the centaur. Beckendorf, who had made his way to his mom's side smiled. "It is."

Upon seeing the fleece had done much more than heal the tree, Chiron had sent Agrius to get Jada Beckendorf right away. The mother had arrived just in time to witness the girl she viewed as her daughter lunging at her older sister and being wrapped into a hug.

Another sob escaped Amara as Thalia's own tears began to roll down her cheeks. "You've been alone too long, petite soeur," the older girl mumbled into the younger's ears. "Never again," she promised. "I'm not leaving you again."

It had been seven long years since Amara was able to be in Thalia's arms again, something she didn't think would happen until the afterlife. But here she was, stood on Half-Blood Hill wrapped in her sisters arms again all thanks to a certain demigod. She turned her head to face the Jackson boy, a smile lacing his lips as she offered a small grin.

"Thank you," she mouthed to the boy. Not only for sneaking off to go on the quest himself, but for saving her back to back when it came to the water despite her giving up and ready to go to the underworld. Now, she was grateful the son of Poseidon was there everytime she needed him without realizing it. The children of Zeus and Poseidon's gazes stayed locked on one another for awhile. One feeling joy swell within him at the scene in front of him, and the other thinking how lucky she was to call Percy Jackson her friend.

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6-22-23

     hello hello ! i hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as i enjoyed writing it, and this officially marks the end of part two. now, we're moving onto the titans curse which i am in the middle of rewriting but i'll try getting as much done before tuesday. anyway, thank you all so much for the support and i'll see you in part three <3