Chapter 35: Unsettling Things Figured out

SAMMY'S P.O.V

I sigh as I wipe the sweat from my forehead before tightening my ponytail as I looked at what I created. The daggers were about ten inches long each with a leather grip and a strong glow with the one meant for Zoë being longer than mine. I spent all day working on them when I jumped hearing a whistle come from behind me.

I spun around with a fireball in my hand to see Renée standing with an impressed look on her face. "You made those," she asked as Leo came up next to her

I extinguished the flame that was in my hand and sighed, "Yeah."

"It looks like you need some rest," Leo said, "I usually take a day or two to create something like that. When I first started making tools and weapons I took more than that and this is your first time," I began to protest thinking about how they still need to be enchanted. "I'll take them to your grandfather you get some rest for school tomorrow," he interrupted

Holy Hades he's being responsible, Calypso said in my head and I snorted

"Zoë," I asked as Leo smiled

"She'll be safe here with her sisters and parents," Renée began, "she hasn't come out of the water since this morning but Annabeth's figuring that Poseidon's talking to them about something."

I sighed, "All right," I began as I looked around the bunker, "it's going to be weird going to school without her tomorrow."

"You've done it many times before you met her," Leo began, "I think you can go a couple of months without being with her."

I nodded as I remembered the times that I stood up to Brittany and James, "Right," I said. "Can I at least stop by the Athena cabin to say bye to Annabeth," I asked, "I think I do need to say goodbye to her considering she's been in my head too."

Renée chuckled before nodding, "I'll lead you to it."

I smiled as I walked with her out of the bunker after hugging my father goodbye, "In the short time that I've been here," I began as we made our way through the woods. "Here as in at camp or with you guys," I included with a smile, "I found a new family and made great connections."

"You're still shaken up from that aren't you," Renée asked and I looked at her, "I almost lost her twice in one year. You haven't been together for a full year yet and you almost lost someone who cared for you the way that they're supposed to."

My lips thinned into a line as I thought back to my fears and dreams that I had while she was in the two comas. Truth be told I was able to sleep at Renée's house but I was quickly woken up by maniacal laughter from an unknown being after I imagined myself alone in fights like the one at the Labyrinth. "I was afraid to be alone without her," I breathed as realization dawned on me. "When I was with that boyfriend I was fine with it because he had the same care about me as he did with the gang. He only needed me to satisfy his sexual needs which I kept denying him because I wasn't ready. She was the first person to show me how I should feel in friendship and a relationship."

"She had to relearn that as much as you did," Renée said as I realized that I stopped in the middle of the path. "When she first came she was frail and was as scared of us as a mouse is scared of a cat. She was hesitant to do anything with us because of what happened in the past. That's why Lin first invited Ric to hang out with us, he wasn't expecting the two to get that close so quickly. When he died we figured that it was going to be longer for her to heal and cling to others but we didn't know that she knew you and we didn't know that you went to the same school that I planned for her to go to. When I talked to the directors about one of you coming over to watch a rehearsal and possibly surprise her Mrs. Diamond suggested you because of your excitement of seeing her. I didn't know that you stayed with her at the hospital as she healed from the crash and I didn't know that you two had met before then. I was a little surprised at how quickly you two had gotten close but I realize that you're both still fighting your past and that's all right. We will be with you through every bit of your healing no matter how long it takes."

I looked up into Renée's eyes, her eyes shined with happiness and sorrow and something that I haven't seen in someone's eyes for a long time

Hope

I smiled as I felt a tear roll down my cheek and my knees buckle, "I just didn't know how to feel during that," I began. "I didn't see how she dealt with Ric's death but she's still here. I don't think I could pull through as she did almost a year ago, I almost killed myself the day I found out my biological parents died but she pried the knife from my hands telling me that it wouldn't help matters for anyone. I remember what she said during the shooting that night as I started to cry."

"What did she say?"

"She said that she didn't want to lose another friend in her life if she could help it," I answered as I kneeled. "After I remembered that I started crying because there I was about to kill myself thinking that I've lost everything in my life while she's here still living even though she hadn't seen any of her friends in years. She showed me that there was still something in the world even if I haven't seen it or felt it since I first got with that boyfriend. I thought I'd lost it until I met her and got to know her even more, I figured if she kept living through all that's happened to her why should I kill myself."

"What did you lose then," Renée asked as I felt the tears fall off my cheek

"Hope," I answered looking into her eyes once more, "I kept losing that each time one of the gang members took me into an alley to try and beat or rape me. When that first happened, I held onto the hope that my boyfriend would come and save me but I started losing it when he never came. One time I made it to school bloodied and bruised and asked him why he didn't give me a ride. He looked at me with a sneer and said that I should take care of myself if I'm supposed to be the queen of his gang. Right then I realized that he had the same care for me as he did for the rest of the gang."

Silence drifted between us as I cried remembering my past and how it hurt me just as much as Zoë's past hurt her. Then I felt a hand on my shoulders as I looked up at Renée for the third time, the sorrow in her eyes had deepened into one that I haven't seen since the hospital. "You will be safe with us," she began as her hand went to my lap where my hands laid. "Lin has already reported the letters to the police and they are looking into it. We'll keep you safe from them, you'll stay with Alexis and me until they are gone and if they aren't gone by the summer you'll stay here where they won't even find you."

Once she finished a grinned, "Thanks Renée," I sniffed as she grinned back

"Let's get you to the Athena cabin to say goodbye to Annabeth then let's get you home, you must be exhausted," she said as I stood up

"Only a little," I said with a tired smile

"Promise you won't sneak out this time," Renée said with a glare

"I promise," I said with a smirk, "I wasn't planning on it last time but when I went to talk to Annabeth about something but she didn't answer so I ran to the hospital."

"You ran to the hospital," a voice said as we got to the Athena cabin and Renée rose her eyebrows at me

"Hey Annabeth," I said, "yes I did. I wanted to make sure everything was okay and I didn't want to take any chances of getting into a car with a gang member."

The two women's glare disappeared once they thought about what I said, "She's right," Annabeth said then looked at me. "Did your mother yell at you for doing that," she asked as I shook my head

"She's the one to suggest I do it," I replied nonchalantly as the two mothers widened their eyes

"Is that true Cal," Renée asked as I sighed and thought to her

You have the permission to answer her and tell them everything, I said as I heard her chuckle

I miss having my own body, she said as she took control, "What Sammy is saying is true. She went out to the porch after a nightmare to get some fresh air and tried to talk to you Annabeth. Once she realized that you weren't in her head with me I suggested that she go to the hospital. She started freaking out about waking Renée and Alexis to get there and didn't want to try her luck with getting in a car so I told her to run there. I told her to run and keep running no matter what, if she got tired I would take over for her so she didn't run into anyone."

Annabeth and Renée looked at each other, "Why did you tell her to run instead of waking up Renée?"

"I told her to run because I had the same fear and anticipation as she did, I didn't know whether you weren't in her head because she had died or because she was alive. I wanted to be as sure as her," Calypso answered

"You didn't want to come back with me being dead," Annabeth began, "and you didn't want to deal with a grieving daughter."

Calypso nodded, "That was my thinking," she said as she sighed, "I'm going to give Samantha control of her body so she can wish you goodbye and get some rest."

Annabeth nodded, "Goodbye Cal, hope we can find your body soon."

As she said that I looked at her with a smile, "You and me both Annabeth," I began. "I hope you take care and tell Zoë I said bye when she gets back from under the sea," I said the joke making Renée snort

"About that," Annabeth said shifting her stance, "she's back and needs to talk to you about something Poseidon and Athena were talking to her about. If Renée wouldn't mind you staying a little longer, it seems urgent I was just going to find Percy to ask him what it was about when you two came."

I looked at Renée who nodded, "By how Sammy and Leo looked it seemed like Hephaestus had told them something. I'll wait by the Athena cabin for her to get out so I can take her home but I think she'd like to talk to Zoë first."

I nodded once the two ladies looked at me, "I would," I began, "I don't know if I can tell you two but I'm pretty sure you'll be told either by Percy or Athena herself if it's along the lines of what I'm thinking."

Annabeth sighed dejectedly, "All right, follow me," she said before turning on her heels and leading me into the cabin. "She hasn't told me anything other than she needs to talk to you about it, something about being nervous about her life changing again."

"Do Bianca and Thalia know," I asked as she shrugged

"I don't know," Annabeth began, "I didn't see them come up with Zoë and Percy. I think they're training their water powers," she explained before stopping in front of a door. "She's in here," Annabeth said, "now if you excuse me I'll resume looking for my husband."

I chuckled, "Thanks Annabeth," I said as she grinned before walking back down the hall. I knocked on the door before turning the handle, letting myself in, "I was told that you needed to talk to me."

Zoë turned around and the look in her eyes made me think that she was having another PTSD attack. "Sammy," she said before charging me with a hug, "I'm so scared," she said as I heard a sniff coming from her

I rubbed circles on her back as she sank to my feet, "Me too Zoë," I began, I was calmer about it than she was because as I was making those daggers I had time to think about my dreams. She probably had to talk with both of her grandparents about it along with training. "Me too," I said as I remember the images of the pulsing tunnels, the maniacal laughter, and the thing that scared me most of all. "Let's sit down," I offered, "I think some cuddles are overdue and if we stand by the door some people may try to listen in."

Zoë was still crying at my knees as I was saying this, why do I have to be so gods damned calm about this while she's crying at my feet? What did Athena and Poseidon tell her that has her like this? I then looked to where she sat and saw books upon books scattered all over the place. I then thought of all the possibilities and what she was thinking before I left with Leo. Did she find anything out in those books? The answer to her question? The cure to an uncontrollable virus?

I felt my arm tug as I let Zoë drag me to where she sat not too long ago, "Let's start with the talk that I had with my grandparents," she said glancing at the books. "Then I'll tell you why I broke down," she added and with a sigh, she began to explain. She talked about the same thing that Hephaestus had told Leo and me, she also mentioned something about some training that she went through that I would soon go through if we were to be married. "Even if we weren't to be married," Zoë said with a sigh, "you'd still need to go through power training with how much power increases when someone becomes a god."

I rested my hand on hers as she gazed at the bookshelf in one of the corners of the room. "Zoë," I began and her head snapped so we were looking into each other's eyes. "Hephaestus told Leo and me the same thing about the gods losing their powers. I will most likely be taken for power training by him after we finish looking for Cal's body. Now tell me," I said glancing at the books, "what here had you breaking down?"

Zoë took a shuddering breath as she picked up a book and handed it to me, "Read the part about End right," she paused looking for the passage, "here."

I took the book in my hands and started reading the passage

'End is the primordial of destruction the brother of Chaos the creator of everything. If Chaos is the creator of everything then End is the person to destroy every living thing. End has been erased from any Greek or Roman records because Chaos had trapped him in the void since he destroyed everything that she created within weeks of its creation. His domain encompasses everything to ruin the life of the world or its people up to and including world domination.'

The book dropped from my hands after I finished the last sentence, "Bianca and Thalia told me that you were talking to Chaos who was male," I said in shock. "He has control of everything," I breathed, "how are we supposed to defeat a primordial that Chaos only trapped in the Void?"

I blinked as tears began to roll down my cheek once more, "I don't know," Zoë began. "I have yet to tell mom and everyone in camp about this considering the last time I was a part of a counselor's meeting," she said as I started to cry. "I didn't mean this to frighten you," she said as I shook my head

"It's not you," I sobbed the dreams coming to the forefront of my mind, "I've had these dreams ranging from us in this pulsing tunnel, a man's evil laughter and you dying along with everyone in this camp. After reading that passage all of that makes so much sense because I saw so much destruction."

"I saw those too," Zoë said as she brought me into her arms, "I have to get you back to Renée so you can get some rest tomorrow, you look exhausted."

I clung to her once she said that, "Those dreams are so frightening I don't want to sleep without you," I blurted the guilt instantly creeping up inside my gut, "sorry."

"There's no need to be sorry," she said rubbing my back, "I'll take you back to Renée and talk to mom and see what I can do," she said, lifting my head affectionately. "I can't be a hundred percent sure that they'll let me out of the camp since I'm still supposed to be healing and you need your rest, I don't know what you were doing but it looked exhausting," she said and I chuckled remembering the number of times I slammed the hammer on my finger

"Okay but you should be back if I wake up," I said as I felt exhaustion creep on my and Zoë chuckle

"I promise," she said with a smile as she led me through the cabin and out the door where Renée was waiting for me. "Where's mom," Renée asked after the adoptive mother hugged her.

Renée tilted her head to the Poseidon cabin as she told Zoë to be careful about approaching the arguing parents. "Are you going to talk to your mother about why you took so long," she asked and Zoë nodded

"Yep," she said, "and I have the proof for it," she said lifting the book in her hands

Without question Renée had nodded while wishing Zoë good luck before turning to leave, "Before I go," I said tugging on Zoë's arm. She turned around with a lopsided grin right before I rose on my toes and kissed her, "Don't sign your death warrant Smart Guppy," I said with a smirk as she grinned

"I don't plan on it," she said before turning on her heels and running to cabin three that had yelling coming from it.

I then turned to Renée with a smile, "Are you ready to go now," she said mimicking my smile

"Yep," I said before walking to the borders

"Good because I'm putting you on bed rest after this," she said, catching up to me as I sighed. "No objections Miranda," she said as a car with its windows open passed by

"Fine," I said with a sigh as I got into the car and threw myself in the backseat. Once we got home I was sent straight to the bedroom being told that I could be a hermit in there for the rest of the day. I didn't start feeling tired until the sun had started setting on the horizon. I looked to the door as I heard footsteps approaching the door

"Hey," Renée began, "get enough sleep, I'm sorry Zoë couldn't come but if you need Alexis and I please wake us up."

I nodded, "I will," I said tiredly as she smiled while turning off the lights, I sighed as I turned on my alarm for school tomorrow before turning off the bedside lamp. I then sat there for a minute looking out at the night sky as I could faintly pick out the huntress constellation. Before I layed on my side I saw the visual of the moon moving by a chariot being pulled by golden deer. "I hope you have a good rotation of the moon Lady Artemis," I whispered as I layed on my side and closed my eyes. Before I fell asleep a smile curled on my lips as I felt the other side of the bed dip as arms wrapped me in a hug.

I slept peacefully that night