Twilight and Dawn

Chapter Eight

Rhea couldn’t sleep that night, which wasn’t unusual, she fought in two wars. Finding out the Gods were real, well, there have been event after event that have done a number on her mental health.

She couldn’t go see anyone about the sights that never leave her alone.

Now she couldn’t get Jacob’s stories out of her head, stories that he told her and Bella since they asked him the reason his tribe didn’t like the Cullen’s and refused to see him at the hospital.

More so since Rhea didn’t have any problems with him.

“Men are idiots,” Rhea groaned.

Zeus more so, he might not like the underword, but it suited Hades just fine. Even if he was a bit more sulky without Perspehone around.

Rhea didn’t want to wake anyone up because of her nightmares; she just didn’t want to explain to Bella what her nightmare was about.

“No!.. Jaconb... Edward,” Bella shouted.

Rhea bolting off her bed and pulling Bella into her arms without a second thought.

Bella had barely pushed herself up at the point, but she was crying into her shoulder.

“Bella, it’s okat. Just a dream... nothing more than a horrid nightmare,” Rhea whispered.

Bella pulled her head away from her shoulder, looking at her with red-rimmed eyes.

“Jacob? Mike? Edward?” Bella asked.

Rhea sat next to Bella, hugging her to her side.

“Alice? Jasper? They’re safe?” she asked.

“Safe, they’re all safe,” Rhea said.

Bella put her head on Rhea’s shoulder.

“Edward it with Alice and Jasper, along with Emmett and he could take on a bear with his bare hands,” Rhea said fingers running through Bella’s hair, “we can call Jacob in the morning, and he’ll be with his father. We can ask Jessica about her date during class.”

“I saw Jacob and Edward fighting each other,” Bella said tracing patterns on Rhea’s hand, “Jacob was a giant wold and Edward stood their with fangs, Mike just happened to be in the forest.”

“Ah, yes, the cold ones,” Rhea said.

Now she was glad she didn’t tell Bella what the sea life had told her.

Jacob’s stories weren’t mere stories.

“Vampires as we in Europe would call them, but myhts are different depending on the country and the name might chance,” Rhea said, “but in the end they have some similarties to each other.”

“Someone’s calling,” Bella said getting up to grab her phone, “it’s Alice.”

“That answers that,” Rhea said.

Bella grabbing her laptop, before next to Rhea and turning her phone slightly.

Rhea narrowed her eyes.

“Bella, Rhea, I had a feeling you would be up,” Alice said.

“We just woke up a minute ago,” Bella said.

“I... as well, Edward, Jasper and Emmett just wanted to know if you and Rhea had a good time at the beach.”

“We did, Rhea got to have a bit of a swim.” Bella told her everything that had happened... apart from Jacob’s stories. It was a good thing she didn’t, since one of the stories had the Culllen family in it.

“That was nice of her,” Rhea said after Bella hang up.

“Now vampires,” Bella said turning on her laptop.

Rhea smiled watching the screen, usually she would scoff about searching creepy things in the middle of the night, but it would give Bella some peace.

She would have to ask Nico what he could tell her about the subject.

Or what he would recommend reading.

Rhea didn’t trust the internet.

“There are quite a few stories,” Rhea whispered.

Bella clicked onto another website.

“Nico would know more, he knows more than I do about this subject.”

“Maybe if you had a phone,” Bella said.

“Your life isn’t worth risking.”

“At least, there are stories about good vampires.”

“Bells, there isn’t a single race on this plant that is all good or all bad,” Rhea said, “Hellhonds are the same, Mrs O’Leary is wonderful and Cerberus is a sweetheart. There’s a theory that he’s name means spot of all things, of course Hades won’t say a single thing on the subject.”

“Mrs O’Leary?”

“Yes, Jack, Will and Nico are looking after her and Small bob for me.”

“Small bob.”

“Skeletional cat.”

“Seriously?”

“Yup, Small bob is all bones.”

“Wait, does that mean Werewolves are real?” Bella asked after a few minutes of silence.

“In tiny numbers that are getting smaller, but they are very real. One tried to kill Nico back before the Giant War started and he still has the scar.”

“a*********s about the tidepods?”

“Not for tonight.”

“You can shapeshift?” Bella asked.

“Of course, got that after Neptune adopted me of course,” Rhea said, spotting something in Bella’s eyes, “want to see it.”

“Yes.”

Rhea closed her eyes and looked at Bella from her new height. She had shifted into a kitten, it’s shape was easy for her to slip into. As it was a shape she had used more than once to slip out of situations she didn’t want to be in.

Her kitten form also took up less room.

“So cute,” Bella said.

“It’s a draining technique,” Rhea admitted turning back to her human form, “it’s cute, useful since no one looks at a stray cat twice.”

“Do you think the Cullen family are vampires?”

“Nico would know, if they’re creatures of the living dead, then they would fall under Hades’ and Plutos’ realms and if there’s one thing I know about my uncle, is that he keeps decent records.”

“We might have answers?”

“Maybe, Nico might have already looked, he’s overly protective.”

“Pot meet kettle.”

“Very funny there Bells.”

“Tomorrow’s meant to be sunny.”

“Two sunny days in a row, we have to take advantage of that.”

“Homework’s done.”

“Until Monday.”

“Some Universtites are hard to get into.”

“Expensive as well, Mum was in night classes and I still have the drift of the novel she was write, Nico’s reading a copy of it,” Rhea said.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Bella asked.

Rhea blinked.

She hadn’t thought about letting Bella read it, she had given Sally’s things to Nico to hide. Rhea didn’t know where she was going to end up, and she didn’t need random people destorying her things.

Or publishing her Mum’s story as their own.

“She was done, finished, and it was ready to be sent out to be published,” Rhea said, “I didn’t think about it, Nico’s the only person who I’ve given a copy to.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know. University is on of the reasons Renee got us to do so much after school... since we finished our homework during lunch.”

“And Mum has a short attention span.”

“Another reason we tried so much.”

“Thank you for paying for it.”

“Kept me sane. Besides, Father... Fathers gave me a card each and I’m sure they wouldn’t have minded.”

“Wait, why did they give you cards?”

“To pay for the expensives of living... and to keep me sane after the wars.”

“Wait, why don’t you publish Sally’s story? She would have wanted you to.”

“I understand nothing about publishing... I don’t want to make mistakes with Mum’s work,” Rhea said.

The story Sally had written was about a mother whose child was forced to become a hero for beings stronger than they were.

A child the mother would have done anything to protect.

“We can start to write one of our own,” Bella suggested.

“That would work.”

“A retelling?”

“As long as it isn’t about Withering Heights, we never agree on that book.”

“I know, Drucula?” Bella asked.

They would have to get a copy of Dracula to reread it, but she’d sooner write a retelling about a vampire book than one about a twisted love story turned revenge story.

“We could have Mia be a shapeshifter,” Rhea said.

“And she goes to Romania to save her silly husband, to save her foolosh mortial husband.”

“She fall in love with him because he was kind to her, back then a woman not being married was a strange thing.”

“Spinster?”

“The Victorian era was a strange, for mortals and demigods.”

“During our trip to Seattle.”

“We might but a vampire novel with vampires?” Bella asked.

Rhea snorted.

“Can you stay?” she asked.

“Kick me and I’ll kick you back,” Rhea said, “you’re lucky I love you.”

“You’re the best.”

Rhea rolled her eyes, lying down on her side pulling Bella down to lie in front of her. How they would wake up in the morning, she didn’t know.

It wasn’t like anyone would see it.

--

Rhea was back at Camp Half-blood.

Which means Nico needed to tell her something.

“Rhea,” Nico greeted pulling Jack and Will behind him.

It looked like her little brother was getting stronger, she wouldn’t be surprised if he got stronger than her one day.

“Nico, Jack. Will,” Rhea greeted.

“Be careful, someone’s let hellhounds out,” Nico said.

“I’ll keep an eye out, but I doubt I’ll be attacked this far out of the way,” Rhea said, “also Jake, your camera works brilliantly.”

“You haven’t been attacked?” Will asked.

He was looking at her with the puppy-dog eyes.

Rhea stared; stunned.

“Will,” Jake said.

“A van hit me, but I’m fine,” Rhea blurted out.

“Will, she has the Achilles Curse,” Nico said, tightening his hand around his.

Will stared at him, like he was saying something without speaking.

“She kept it during the Giant War, Hazel said it drove Octavian up the wall, she and Reyna loved for you it,” he finished.

“Octavian had a big ego,” Rhea said.

“Now he’s dead,” Jake said.

Rhea and Nico looked at each other.

Will sighed.

Jack pulled him into a hug.

Then Will started muttering to himself.

Rhea rocked on her heels, not understanding a single thing he said.

Nico coughed into his hand.

“Only you, Rhea, only you could have find trouble outside of war,” Will said.

“Bells is just as bad,” Rhea added, “she actually might be worse for finding dangerous situations. Forks is getting more interesting by the day.”

“Apollo is heading your way,” Nico said narrowing his eyes, “and someone who’s worse than you.”

“You’ll have to meet her... at some point,” Rhea said.

“Fine,” Nico said turning towards the space between two cabins before disappearing.

“For the love of Hades,” Rhea said.

Once she knew that Nico was gone, she looked at Will and Jake with hard eyes. Will might be one of the few people who could get her to do things.

But Hazel and Nico were her baby siblings and if anyone hurt them, she would hunt them down nad make sure they didn’t live long.

“Hurt Nico and I’ll hunt both of you down,” Rhea stated hands on her hips, “you will not be safe; sky, land or sea. I’ll track you down and you’ll regret huting him with your last breath.”

“Another shovel talk?” Will asked.

Jake’s skin paled.

“Do I need to finish giving you one?” Rhea asked slipping her hands behind her back, “you’ve already seen what I’m willing to do and have seen the results of it.”

“You’re evil,” Jake said.

“And a danger magnet,” Will added.

“I’m taking that as a compliment,” Rhea said.

“Rhea?” Bella asked walking out from between the same cabins Nico used to leave.

“Bells,” Rhea said.

“Where are we?” Bella asked.

“Welcome to Camp Half-blood,” Jake said.

“Bella, this is Will, Nico and Jake,” Rhea said waving her hand to the person as she talked, “Will, Jake and Nico, this is Bella.”

“It’s lovely to meet you,” Bella said.

“Anyway,” Rhea said.

Will and Jake stared at her.

“As I was saying, Forks is getting more interesting, by the sounds some of Nero’s is around here, there might be vampires going to our high school and there’s a nearby Native American tribe that might be shapeshifters that are triggered by the presence of something dangerous,” Rhea said.

“If there are vampires, what does that mean?” Will slowly asked.

“That there might be giant ass wolves wondering around La Push,” Rhea said grinning, “or there might be, but according to the sea life, the giant ass wolves have already been spotted.”

“I want boring back for a but,” Nico said.

Rhea couldn’t find it in herself to blame him for that statement, she hoped that he could stay out of the mess she found herself in.

“Same,” Will and Jake said.

“I’ve given up on normal years ago,” Rhea said, “to lessen it would be nice. I could leave Bells, but she’d find some way to get herself nearly killed.”

“I would not,” Bella said.

“Bella, don’t worry about her leaving, Rhea’s loyal to a fault,” Will said.

Rhea grinned.

“Loyal to the point of almost getting herself killed... more than once,” Will finished.

“I told her about the sky,” Rhea said, “Nico, what’s wrong?”

“You and Jason are the same,” Nico said, narrowing his eyes, “along with Hazel, Frank and Reyna... you and Jason are more annoying.”

“Don’t forget Leo and Annabeth,” Jake added.

“Leo’s dead, he kinda of... exploided,” Rhea said.

“Little s**t’s alive,” Jake said.

“I am taking what you said as a compliment, just FYI there Nico,” Rhea said.

“Back to the vampires,” Bella said.

“Do you know who there are,” Jake said.

“So he didn’t look into it,” Bella said.

“I should of,” Nico said.

“We have an idea,” Rhea said, “there’s Carlisle Cullen, will you be able to find anything from that?”

Nico nodded.

Bella quickly gave him the rest of the family’s names.

“Thank you,” Will said.

“You’re going to lok them up, aren’t you?” Rhea asked.

“Someone has to make sure you don’t get yourself killed before you’re twenty,” Will said, “and I don’t think Bella is going to prevent it, she’ll in said situation with you and I’m going to be the one having to heal both you morons.”

“Yes, let’s waste time with surface wounds,” Rhea said.

“Bella, just dump water on her and she’ll be fine,” Nico said.

“See? I’m easy to heal,” Rhea said, “just dump me in the nearest body of water.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Bella said.

“Also, Rhea, do keep in mind that if someone hurt you, physically or emtionally,” Will sayd grinning, “sky, earth or sea. Nothing will stop us from hunting them down and killing them.”

“I don’t like anyone,” Rhea said.

“Racheal, Rhea. Piper are well,” Will said, “they’re both keeping an eye out... your love life is being monitored by Aphrodite and Venus campers.”

“And most likely Aphrodite and Venus herself,” Rhea said, “just please tell me the children are safe.”

“They’re safe,” Will said.

“Being kept away from the front lines,” Jake added.

“Grover?” Rhea asked.

“Grover’s safe,” Nico said.

Bella looked at them, staring at Rhea when she didn’t get anything from them.

Rhea shock her head, she would explain later. She could only feel more reflief. Fourteen year olds would not be dragged onto the battlefield.

“You three stay safe,” Rhea said.

“You to,” Jake said.

Rhea took Bella’s hand into her own, the dream disappearing and Rhea could feel herself going into a deep sleep.

--

“Dad’s fishing,” Bella said.

Rhea walked into bthe kitchen, yawning as she sat down.

Bella put a plate in front of her.

Rhea slept a little longer than Bella had.

“He left before I had woke up, left a note behind,” she finished.

“Yea, more fish,” Rhea said.

“I reminded Dad that you didn’t eat fish.”

“Hard to eat something you can talk to... also hard to tell someone that when they don’t know about the whole Poseidon thing.”

“And I do know, I just told you were picky.”

“Whatever works.”

Rhea finished eating before following Bella outside, Rhea was carrying drinks.

Bella carried a picnic blanket, along with a few books, she had tired to get Rhea to reread Withering Heights.

But Rhea was happy with her mythology books, different mythologies from around the world. These were the things that would keep her alive, but it would seem she was missing some cultures.

Native American being one of them, she would have to find some book. Maybe some books about myths from South American.

Laying in the sun, Rhea opened her book on Norse mythology. Magnus Chase was much nicer to her than his cousin had been, someone who she felt sorry for and fought side by side with.

Magnus was already dead, which was one of the reasons she didn’t blink when Jacob suggested that the Cullen’s could be cold ones or vampires.

“Hello Nico,” Bella said.

“Nico?” Rhea asked sitting up, “come, sit, sit. We have food and you’re too skinny.”

“I need one answer,” Nico said sitting down.

“Okay,” Bella said.

“What colour are their eyes?” he asked.

“Amber and black,” Rhea and Bella said.

“Good, the Cullens are vampires,” Nico said, “they drink animal blood instead of human.”

“That explains why they’ve stayed in one spot,” Rhea said.

“Thanks for lunch,” Nico said.

Rhea grinned hugging her cousin before he left, sitting down she spotted golden eyes looking at them before disappearing in a blink of an eye.

Bella looked in the same spot, but Rhea didn’t know if she saw picking up the book that Nico had left behind.

“Told you he was overprotective,” Rhea said showing Bella the book.

“You saw someone?” Bella asked.

“Edward.”

“Why would he?”

“Early twentieth century, might explain some of his behaviour and the reason he might be slightly creepy.”

Rhea had opened the book, it was the list of the Cullen’s names and information about their past. She didn’t know where Nico had gotten the information and she didn’t know if she wanted to read about their information.

“We’ll talk to him,” Bella said.

“That we will,” Rhea agreed.

She looked back at the tree lines, Edward had popped up a few seconds after Nico had left. She didn’t know if he had seen her cousin leave in the shadows.

“That we will,” Rhea said, “if he doesn’t understand, then we’ll have to stuck on of his siblings or one of my many cousins on him.”