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DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter fifteen
❛ 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎, 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚊. ❜

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     AMARA RAN BEHIND Percy and Annabeth as they reached the dock filled with different kind of ships all around. "Which one?" Annabeth asked, their breaths heaving together from their sprint while they awaited for the Jackson boy to pick a vessel.

"There," the son of Poseidon said, pointing at an old sailing vessel.

Amara frowned. "But—"

"I can make it work." He said.

Queen Anne's Revenge was the boat the older demigod had chosen. "Those scalawags are a-boarding me vessel!" Blackbeard yelled as the trio ran up the plank. "Get 'em, lads!"

Percy got to work on making the boat move while Amara and Annabeth dealt with the sailors, knocking them off the ship and into the water until the son of Poseidon finally managed to make the ship move a few knots out.

After they made it further into the open sea, the brunette made her way to the front of the ship where she sat on the ledge. Her back rested against the boat, watching the waves go past until the sound of footsteps reached her ears.

She turned her head to meet glances with Percy, who gave her an awkward smile. "You changed," he pointed out. She had changed from the white chiton she bore earlier and back into her clothes that Hermes had gifted them, her hair however, was still the same.

"And you've got eyes," she gave him a false smile before it dropped just as quickly, her eyes rolling.

"I owe you a thank you, for saving my butt twice today." A grin appeared as her eyes shined with mischief. "Don't worry," she said. "I'll make sure you owe me for those two times."

He arched a brow. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

It was quiet between the children of the Big Three as Percy debated whether to bring something up to the Grace girl, or let it stay un-talked about. "So," he started. "You ever going to talk about your deal with Tyson?"

Her eyes hardened at that mention of the cyclops, sucking in a deep breath she shook her head. "Nope,"

"Amara—"

"No," she swung her legs so she faced him, faces inches away. "You don't get to try and figure me out like some . . . some puzzle. Because guess what Jackson, I'm not a puzzle that you just get to piece back together when you deem it fit!"

He narrowed his eyes as his own anger began to grow. "Oh, I'm sorry for being the only person who's out of the loop this entire quest. I was only trying to be considerate because at the end of the day, we're stuck with each other until we get back to camp!"

"You don't know me, Percy. You don't understand anything. The only people who did, are gone. Both of them." She snapped, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets.

"Then let me know you," he expressed, slightly throwing his hands up causing her eyes to widened. "Not the tough daughter of Zeus act, let me to get know the real Amara Grace."

It was quiet between the two as they held a stare off, until Percy broke it. "Come on Amara," the boy pleaded.

"Just leave me alone," the brunette scoffed as she made her way below ship, lip caught between her teeth as she took a shaky breath to calm herself down.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It was sometime after midnight when Amara finally made her way back up to the deck after her talk with Percy, which resulted in her storming off. She was able to make out a smoking volcano in the background the closer she got to the children of Poseidon and Athena, the sea bubbling along the island shore. "A forge of Hephaestus," the brunette made her appearance known, startling the blonde and raven haired boy. "It's where he makes his monsters."

"Like the bronze bulls?" Percy asked.

"Go around," Annabeth claimed. "Far around."

The son of Poseidon steered the ship clear of the island, leaving it just a patch of bronze and red behind the trio. "So," he looked at the Grace and Chase girls. "The reason you both hate cyclops so much . . . how Thalia really died, what happened?"

Amara's expression went dark as her fingers dug into her palm, she knew that question was going to pop up sooner or later, especially since she dodged it earlier. After all, her tree was poisoned and they held a hatred towards cyclops. He was bound to get curious eventually and finally gather up the courage to ask the question that was itching at his mind. "Amara?" Annabeth questioned silently, and she knew that was the blonde's way of making sure it was okay.

She waved the older girl off. "I guess you deserve to know," Annabeth finally spoke after a moment. "Do I tell the story or—" the younger demigod pointed her finger at the older one, and the blonde got her answer.

"The night Grover was escorting us to camp, he got confused, and took some wrong turns. You remember he told you that once?"

Percy nodded.

"Well, the worst wrong turn was into a cyclops lair in Brooklyn."

"They've got cyclops in Brooklyn?" The raven haired boy asked.

"You wouldn't believe have many, but that's not the point." The daughter of Athena continued while Amara turned her gaze to the water. "This cyclops, he tricked us. He managed to split us up inside this maze of corridors in an old house in Flatbush."

Her fingers dug further in her palm as she attempted to not allow the memories to run wild through her mind. "And he could sound like anyone, Percy. Just like the way Tyson did aboard the Princess Andromeda. He lured us, one at a time. Thalia thought she was running to save Amara, Luke thought he heard me scream for help. Amara and I . . . we were alone in the dark. We were six and seven years old and couldn't even find the exit.

"I remember finding the main room. There were bones all over the floor, and there was Thalia, Luke and Grover, tied up and gagged, hanging from the ceiling like smoked hams. The cyclops was starting a fire in the middle of the floor. I drew my dagger and Amara had a knife at the time, but he heard us.

"He turned and smiled. He spoke and somehow he knew my dads voice. I guess he just plucked it out of my mind. He said, 'Now, Annabeth. Don't you worry, I love you. You can stay here with me. You can stay forever."

"What did you do?" Percy asked while letting out a shiver.

"Amara pierced through his foot with her knife."

The raven haired boy glanced at the brunette in question, she looked like she would rather be anywhere than having this conversation. "Are you kidding," a small smile appeared of his lips as he met glances with the girl. "You were only six years old and stabbed a grown cyclops in the foot?"

She shrugged as a ghost of a smirk curled onto her lips. "It was the only thing to do, gave Annabeth enough time to free Thalia. She took it from there."

"Yeah, but still. That was pretty brave of you guys."

Annabeth shook her head. "We barely got out alive, I still have nightmares Percy. The way that cyclops talked in my fathers voice, it was his fault we took so long getting to camp. All the monsters who'd been chasing us had time to catch up, that's why Thalia died. If it hadn't been for that cyclops, she'd still be alive today."

Amara lowered herself to the floor, feeling like if she didn't her legs would give out on her. That story hadn't been spoken for six years, everyone at camp who was important to her knew the story. And the newcomers who came around yearly, all they knew was Thalia had sacrificed herself and she left it at that.

It was quiet between the three until Percy spoke. "Go below," he said. "You need some rest." The blonde nodded, sparing a look towards the brunette before making her way below.

"I didn't know," Percy spoke so softly she barely heard him. He had crouched down in front of her so they were the same height, electric blue meeting sea green for a moment.

"No one knew," she said back just as softly. Her eyes were redirected to the night sky as she attempted to keep her emotions under control.

"Beckendorf?"

She nodded, "only after a couple years. I don't . . . I don't talk about her."

"I'm sorry,"

"Percy—"

"No," his tone was stern as he shook his head. "I'm sorry, I should've told you about our plans, about everything. You were right, she's your sister and you deserved to know."

"Then I'm sorry too," his brow shot up as a surprise look crossed his features. "Tyson . . . he wasn't like the other cyclops, I let my anger and fear for what happened to my sister consume me. I shouldn't have, I'm sorry."

A smile twitched on the corner of his lips as he sat himself next to her, staring at the night sky as they remained in a comfortable silence.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Standing in between Percy and Annabeth, her gaze was locked on an island in the distance. A nervous breath escaped Annabeth before she spoke. "I want you to do me a favor," the blonde said. "The Sirens, we'll be in range of their singing soon."

"No problem," Percy reassured her. "We can just stop up our ears. There's a big tub of candle wax below deck—"

"I want to hear them."

Amara blinked. "Why?"

"They say the Sirens sing the truth about what you desire. They tell you things about yourself you didn't even realize. That's what's so enchanting. If you survive . . . you become wiser. I want to hear them, how often will I get that chance?"

"She has a point." The Grace girl pointed out, moving her ring back and forth between her fingers. "She won't get this chance again."

The Jackson boy looked at her with a shocked expression. "You too? But how will we—"

"We'll tie her up." She said. "And I'll keep an eye on her, to make sure she doesn't try anything. And if she does, then I'll try to stop her."

Percy opened his mouth to argue, but Amara stopped him by raising her brow. Finally, he held up his hands in surrender.

"I'll go get the candles then." Annabeth said as she flew down the ships ladder to find old wax.

"What do you think she'll see?" Percy asked.

The brunette shrugged her shoulders as her hands went into her jeans pocket. "I have no idea."

Once Annabeth made it back up, Amara and Percy tied one of the ropes around her waist, tying her to the foremast. "Don't untie me." Annabeth said meeting eyes with the younger demigod. "No matter what happens or how much I plead, don't. I'll go straight over the edge and drown myself."

"Are you trying to tempt me?" Percy joked, but neither girl gave him a reaction. The Big Three children stuffed their ears with wax as they got closer to the island, and then Annabeth's face broke out into excruciating pain and discomfort as she pleaded and screamed. Amara watched as the Chase girl looked overboard and squinted really hard at something in particular, tears streaming down her face, and it was just enough to peak the former's curiosity. She turned around only to see a barren island covered in lush greenery.

Shaking her head, she turned back around only to find a big heap of rope on the ground. Her eyes widened as she looked down to the raging water with a slightly panicked look, and then her gaze landed on Annabeth.

The blonde was being carried away by the ocean waves, the dark almost midnight blue, mighty waves that was splashing harshly against the boat. A deep breath escaped Amara's lips as she spared the son of Poseidon a look out of the corner of her eye. His black hair was swept from his face, his sea green eyes were bright against the ocean waves. He was completely clueless as to what was happening.

She turned her attention back to Annabeth, who was slowly getting further and further away. "She so owes me for this," she mumbled. Amara let out a groan as she hastily put her hair up in a ponytail, rolled her shoulders back, and felt the familiar feeling of power over the wind coursing through her arms and then throughout her body.

Sparing one last look behind her, she summoned a wind that was closest to her, and took off. Percy finally noticed what was happening when he looked to where he thought the girls were, only to see Amara taking off and Annabeth in the water. At first, he wasn't worried and knew the brunette could take care of herself, until he remembered that they were in the middle of the ocean. And that Amara Grace couldn't swim.

He screamed the electric blue eyed girls name, but it was too late, she was too far, the wind too loud, and her earplugs were still in. Instead, he focused on moving the ship to follow behind the duo in hopes he could catch up to them before anything happened.

Amara made sure to keep her eyes locked on Annabeth's figure and Annabeth's only, she wasn't a fan of the stuff surrounding the blonde and didn't plan on going near it anymore than she had to. Her eyes began to flashed between their normal color and teal. Swiping her hand in a swift motion, wind engulfed the daughter of Athena in a barrier as the brunette began pushing her towards the ship.

Annabeth moved around in panic, her mouth open and Amara figured she was screaming. The Grace girl moved her hands in a pushing motion as she fought against the waves, whenever she pushed forward, they pushed back. Until she realized it was the sirens she was fighting against to get the blonde back to the ship.

She didn't know when it happened, but at one point, Annabeth wasn't silently screaming anymore. Instead, she was able to hear the daughter of Athena's screams of pain, her heartbroken sobs reaching the daughter of Zeus's ears. "Amara, let me go, please!" The blonde pleaded, but she ignored her, and kept pushing her towards the boat.

"Amara!" Her eyes were directed to the son of Poseidon standing at the edge of the boat. "Come on, bring her to me. I'll help you!"

Nodding, she noticed the water around Annabeth began to swirl. Soon enough, she was able to get the blonde's body to go up and fully out of the water. Once she was out, Amara used the wind surrounding Annabeth to launch her essentially onto the ship, where Percy made sure she was balanced once she landed on her feet.

"Amara," a voice called out that made the brunette freeze. She turned her head slowly towards the voice, only for her eyes to widened upon seeing Beryl Grace for the first time in six years. The mother had a smile on her face that resembled Amara's somewhat whenever she gave out a fake smile. Except she knew the older woman's was genuine.

Her dark brown hair fell over her shoulders with half up in a messy bun. She was wearing the clothes she often wore when she come home from work, a dazzling skirt with a green tank top and a black cover up paired with it. Her green high heels were dazzled out and matched her handbag. 

"My daughter, it's been so long. You ran away and never came back, I've been worried sick." Amara felt her lips become chap as she stared at the figure, a gentle and motherly look on her face. The first time she's really seen her mother like that. "Amara," another voice scolded her lightly.

"You shouldn't have worried your mother like that." Zeus stood besides the movie star, his arm wrapped around the older women. "I understand the circumstances were . . . not the greatest. But you should have gone back, to check up on her."

She swallowed harshly as her parents nodded their heads. "I mean after all, your sister did." She felt like was going to fall onto her knees. The sight of Thalia, no longer twelve, but eighteen, made her way besides their father. A smile rested on her sisters face, their father's arm wrapping around her.

"Come on Ara, if you join us, then we can all catch up. You can form a relationship with mom, you always wanted one. And dad, he'll stick around more he promised. We can be a family again, look, even Jason's here."

Her blood ran cold at the sight of her younger brother. If her memory serves, which it does, he would be eleven. He was around her same height, his hair was military cropped with it being blonde, his light electric blue eyes that matched the others, and the stapler scar on his lip.

She could distinctly make out writing on his arm, but she didn't have a clue for what it said. He smiled at her, "It's been awhile, Ara."

She felt ready to pass out upon him talking to her. He held his hand for her to take, his head nudging towards it. "Come on, let's be a family again. You've been alone for too long, suffering from everyone's decision, mom, dad, and Thalia's." He took a step closer. "You don't deserve the pain and suffering you've had to deal with. But, we can take it all away."

She shook her head as she attempted to step back, forgetting she was still in the air. However instead of her shoe meeting nothing, she felt the tip meet water. "Amara, it's inevitable," Jason stepped closer. "Join us, and everything goes away."

Her final straw was Luke appearing besides Thalia, a smile resting on his face as he rested an arm on the midnight haired girl's shoulder. His scar was gone from his face. Amara took another step back, her foot more in the water, but she figured it was her imagination.

"This isn't real," she stammered. "Of course it is, Ara." Luke spoke with a sickening smile. "All you have to do is join us."

Amara shook her head repeatedly, murmuring no's underneath her breath while her fake family attempted to call her over. "Amara,"

"Amara."

"Ara,"

"Come on, it's an easy choice."

"I said, no!" The brunette snapped, swiping her arm towards the illusion. Wind rushed towards the people she held close, and soon their image was spilt in half. Her breathing came out uneven as her vision shifted back to reality, and so did her hearing.

"Get ahold of yourself, Amara! Use the wind, use anything!"

She blinked repeatedly noticing she wasn't as high up as she was before and her shoe being in the water, wasn't her imagination. Her eyes widened as she attempted to gain control over the wind, but it was too late, she had lost it, and there was no way the wind spirits could be fast enough to save her.

"Amara!" Her name being screamed in a heart wrenching tone was the last thing she heard as she was engulfed by the sea of water.

She supposed this was her karma, after how rude and ruthless she had been to both Percy and Tyson, this was the least she deserved. And of course, their came the fact she had been overusing her powers way to much as of late, they were bound to give up on her at some point. It just choose to at the worst moment possible.

At first, she panicked. She flung around her arms and legs in an attempt to swim to the surface despite not knowing how to swim. She made sure to keep what little breaths she had left, but no matter how much she tried, she couldn't move. Ringing in her ear started as she began feeling like her chest was on fire and it was about to explode. Without meaning too, her breath went out in a rush, replacing her oxygen with heavy water. The minute she saw the bubbles rise, she knew she was done for.

She could feel her eyelids going heavy as she continued sinking, no longer feeling the energy to move her arms and legs. Amara couldn't believe it, she had always joked water would be the death of her, but now it really would be. Part of her felt relieved, she would no longer be alone, she would be with her siblings again.

She knew there a chance she would never see her father again. But, if he really wanted too, he would go to the Underworld. She couldn't help her eyes rolling at the thought she just had, she was going to die drowning while a quest to save her sister's tree nonetheless.

The other half of her didn't want to go, she wanted to see how the prophecy with Percy played out. She wanted to stay by Annabeth's side and keep teasing Percy. She wanted to go back home with Charles and spend the school year with him and Jada Beckendorf once more. She could feel her eyes watering, if possible.

And then, she could've sworn she was seeing things. The brunette thought she saw Percy Jackson, swimming his way towards her. Both his arms were outstretched as he had a serious, but also worried some look on his face. And upon seeing him, whether it was real or an hallucination, he was a reminder to the daughter of Zeus that she needed to live.

If she could've, she would've stretched her arms out to him, but her body felt so heavy she couldn't move anything. All she could do was stare, watching the son of Poseidon — hallucination or not — make his way towards her. Until suddenly, he grabbed onto her arms and pulled her into him.

At first, he didn't make any attempts to swim them up or command the water around them. Instead he held her, and when she needed a breath again, she found herself coughing violently as her coughs racked her body. She was getting out whatever water was left in her throat, becoming aware of the bubble Percy had put around them.

But she wasn't aware of the tears that were heavily falling from her eyes, until a deep sob racked her chest as she began letting everything out. Percy had a shocked look on his face, before it melted into a frown as he wrapped his arms around her. She was pulled into his chest as his arms went around her torso, hands rubbing up and down her back as she sobbed into the crook of his neck.

"It's okay," the sea green eyed boy mumbled as he tightened his grip. "I got you, it's okay."

She gripped tightly onto his shirt, fearing if she let go he would disappear. "I'm not going anywhere, Mara."

Her eyes widened slightly at the nickname he used, no one ever called her that. But for some reason, it had a nice ring to it when it rolled off his tongue. "My mom . . . Thalia . . ."

A broken sob escaped her lips as one of Percy's hands went to her hair, holding her head gently. "Is that what you seen? Is that why you lost control?"

She nodded against his hand, and he seemed to understand. "Jason . . ."

His eyes widened slightly at the mention of the name, not knowing who it was, but taking a silent note of the fact that he affected Amara.

"Luke . . . my dad . . ."

He said nothing once more, twirling a piece of her hair around as he noticed she was calming down slowly.

"Thalia's tree . . ."

Her sentences were broken, but he knew so was she. She had everything bottled up inside her for so long, he was surprised it took her six years before she broke. He also knew, everything she was telling him, was stuff she's needed to let out. She was finally letting everything she's bottled up out, at least her sadness anyway, and she didn't even realize it

"Being alone . . . always being left out . . ."

His heart slightly broke at that one, he knew him and Annabeth left her out when it came to the quest. But he didn't think it would affect her that badly. A shuttered breath escaped her as she leaned her cheek against his shoulder.

"Drowning . . ."

Percy pulled back at this, and she moved back as well. Her eyes were bloodshot and tear strains ran down her cheeks, her nose was red and her eyes were beginning to look puffy.

"Hey," he took his hand away from her hair, instead he hesitantly hovered it over her hand. When he didn't see her trying to move it, he gently set his atop of it, and then did the same to the other. "I'm gonna make you a promise, okay?"

She nodded, sniffing. "I'm never, ever, going to let anything like this happened to you near water again, okay? This was my fault, I never should have let you gone out there,"

A frown appeared on her face, and she went to open her mouth to speak, but Percy didn't let her. "So, I'm going to promise you, as long as I'm here, nothing bad will ever happen to you in or near water. Because—"

She interrupted him by wrapping her arms back around him, burying her head under his. A flustered appeared on his face as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close in a tight embrace before regaining his cool. "Because, I will always be right by your side. I swear it, from now, until forever."

A grin made its way onto her lips as she closed her eyes, letting out one more shuttering breath. "Thank you, Seaweed Brain."

He smiled, glancing down at her slightly to see she looked peaceful and content. "You're welcome, Mara."

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6-15-23

hello hello ! when i say i am so proud of this chapter i mean i couldn't stop reading it when going through my proof reading. anyway, i hope you all enjoyed this chapter and i'll see you next tuesday for the next chapter release :) <3