Intertwined Fates • Parallel Universe • PJO (Book 1, The Lightning Thief)

Chapter 3 - Curse You Fates

Quote of the chapter ~

"No Matter how bad things get,

Something good is out there,

Over the horizon."

~ Green Lantern

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CHAPTER 3 - CURSE YOU FATES

Selene POV

Keeping up with my plan proved to be extremely difficult.

The only people, stryr, centaur, etc, that knew that Mrs. Dodds was, in fact, a teacher at Yancy were Percy, Grover, Mr. Brunner, and myself. Yet, the only people that acknowledged her existence were Percy, Grover and myself. If it were up to me, I would go along with Mr. Brunner and Grover's charade, but I was there. I saw, and helped Percy deafet her, not that he knew it. He thought he saw me watch. I couldn't pretend that I didn't know who she was.

Percy started growing agitated. He was convinced that the whole school was playing some sort of joke on him, pretending that Mrs. Dodds never existed, that Mrs. Kerr - the perky blonde woman that got on the bus with us and the rest of the class at the end of the Metropolitan feild trip - had been our Pre-Algebra teacher since Christmas.

Grover wasn't convincing. Whenever Percy sprung a Mrs. Dodds reference on him, he would hesitate, before saying that he had never heard of her. The only person he could talk to about the incident, was me, and I was ignoring him.

You see, I had tried to sway him off of it as much as I could, but he was insistent that something had happened that day in the museum. I had no choice but to indulge in his conversations. But, the more I did, the more I realized that it was a very bad idea. He was getting closer and closer to the truth. He would search online and try to find out where she was from, and one day he almost learned the truth. So I resorted to my most desperate opotion: I started ignoring him.

I tried to focus on my school work, but something was wrong. I couldn't read like I could before. The words seemed to float off the page, the letters rearranging themselves. I got a massive headache every time I tried to read my textbooks, but Greek and Latin came to me easily. Back in my world, the normal world, I had skipped servel grades. There I was currently in the 9th grade. I know, crazy, right. Apparently I was this super smart geek. I was studding for my boards at the age of 12. I'm thinking I am a child of Athena, considering how smart I am, but let's not jump into any conclusions. I just have to wait for my godly parent to claim me. Of course, I was dyslexic. Perks of being a demigod blessed by tons of other gods, I guess. I probably had ADHD as well, I just didn't realize it before. Again, perks of being a demigod blessed by tons of other gods.

When Percy would see me in the halls, he'd call my name, and try to talk to me about why I was brutally ignoring him. I'd duck into the nearest classroom and wait until he passed me. He was upset with me, and I knew it. I was supposed to be his friend, one that he shared a near-death experience with no less, and I was avoiding him like a plauge, treating him like everyone else did. And I felt terrible. There was a pit of guilt in my stomach, weighing me down.

He started getting angry and extremely reckless. He picked fights with Nancy Bobofit and her g**g of friends, and talked back to all of his teachers. His grades dropped. He would be sent to the hallway in almost, if not all, of his daily classes. Every time he was called out, he'd look at me, his eyes full of anger, sadness, confusion and my least favourite, betrayal. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore: I prented that he didn't exist.

*

The worst outburst was in English class. Mr. Nicoll was lecturing Percy about studying for spelling tests. I watched his neck become redder and redder after each word. Suddenly, without warning he snapped. He jumped up from his chair, the latter banging against the floor and breaking, and called our English teacher an old sot. Let's just say he wasn't pleased. I banged my head against the table in exasperation. Percy whipped his head around so fast, I heard it c***k. His eyes danced with untameable fire. "And you're no better. You were supposed to be my best friend. I trusted you."

My mouth dropped open, and my eyes sprung up with tears. Percy's face softened a bit, as though he just realized what he had said. He opened his mouth to apologize, his eyes shining with sadness, but Mr. Nicole sent him to the headmaster's office before he could say anything. Percy stormed out of the class, banging the door behind him. Hard.

I swallowed heavily and raised my hand, "May I go to the nurse? I'm not feeling well. I think I banged my head too hard." Mr. Nicole sighed in annoyance, but never the less granted me permission. I nearly ran out of the door, trying to catch up with Percy, but he was already in the headmaster's office. I sat on one of the plastic chairs in the hall and waited until he walked out of the door.

When he did, I stood up. I fumbled with the edge of my sweater, trying to think of a way to apologize for how I've been treating him lately, but before I could get a word out, I was enveloped in a pair of arms. I breathed in the sent of the sea and sighed.

"I'm so sorry, S. I didn't mean to snap at you. I was just so angry with everything and you were avoiding me and-" I cut him off by pulling out of the hug and shaking my head.

"No, no you were right. I was avoiding you because I wanted to get Mrs. Dodds out of my head, and you always wanted to talk about it. It scared me, Percy, and I just wanted to forget about it. It's like I can still hear her shrill shriek hanging in the air," I lied easily.

Percy nodded reluctantly. He guestured with his head to walk with him back to class. "I'm sorry."

"S'okay," I mumbled. I steeled myself before asking my next question, though I already knew the answer. "Did you get expelled?"

He hung his head. That alone was an answer enough for me. I touched his shoulder and gave him a small smile when he looked towards me. "If it makes you feel better, I'm not coming back to Yancy next year."

Percy c****d his head in confusion. "Why not? You're doing great here, even with your dyslexia."

I shrugged. "They said something about me being too smart for my own good. I'm actually in the 11th grade. I skipped grades and never got any friends, so my sister sent me to Yancy to make some." I wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either.

"Wow," Was all he said.

We stopped in front of our English class. Percy turned towards me, "Are we still friends?"

I smiled, "Of course, Jackson"

*

The night before finals, I was pacing my dorm room. My roommate was one of Nancy's friends, so she didn't talk to me much, nor was she in the dorm a whole lot. She normally hangs out in Nancy's dorm with the rest of their group.

I was contemplating whether or not to go out and look for Percy. I felt like this was something he needed to do on his own, but then again, what if Grover and Mr. Brunner said something about me and I wasn't there to give him an explanation? Who knew what therioes he would come up with.

That settles it, I thought. I needed to act as naïve as possible, and that means going along with Percy. I walked into the hallway and crept downstairs to the faculty offices. I hid in a darkened hallway until I heard Percy's footsteps echoing down the hallway. I came out of my hiding place and walked towards Mr. Brunner's office, knowing that Percy could see me.

Sure enough, his voice stopped me in my tracks. "Selene? What are you doing here?" I looked back at him. He was holding his Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology textbook in his hand.

I guestured towards the end of the halls, where Mr. Brunner's office was casting a beam of light across the floor from it's door. "I was going to talk to Mr. Brunner about the final tomorrow," I whispered. "What about you?"

Percy held up his Cambridge Guide to Greek Mythology book. "Same," he said. We kept walking until we were three steps from the door handle.

Voices sounded from the office. A voice that was most definitely Grover's said, "... worried about Percy, sir"

Percy froze. He turned towards me, about to say something, but I held a finger towards my lips, urging him to keep quite and listen to them.

"... alone this summer," Grover continued. "I mean, a Kindly One in the school! Now that we know for sure, and they know it too-"

"We would only make matters worse by rushing him," Mr. Brunner replied. "We need the boy to mature more."

"But he may not have time. The Summer Solstice deadline-"

"Will have to be resolved without him, Grover. Let him enjoy his ignorance while he still can."

"Sir, he saw her..."

"His imagination," Mr. Brunner said. "The Mist over the students and staff will be enough to convince him of that."

"But it won't," Grover insisted. "Selene saw her too. And we know that she knows, it's only a matter of time before he finds out too." Percy's head whipped towards me. I knew that they were going to say something about me, but I contorted my face into one of suprise and confusion, and shook my head, trying to show him that I didn't know what they were talking about.

"Selene won't say anything, this I am sure of. She knows what is at stake here," Mr. Brunner's voice was weary. He obviously didn't belive what he was saying. Nice to know how much confidence he had in me.

"Sir, I... I can't fail my duties again." Grover's voice quivered with emotion. Poor goat... guy, whatever. "You know what that would mean."

"You haven't failed, Grover," Mr. Brunner said gently. "I should have seen her for what she was. Now let's just focus on keeping Selene and Percy alive until next fall-"

Percy dropped his textbook. The thud it caused from hitting the floor rang out across the hallway. Mr. Brunner stopped talking.

I picked up Percy's book and grabbed his wrist, pulling him with me down the hallway.

Mr. Brunner's shadow fell across the hall. Percy opened the nearest door - a janitorial closet - and pulled me inside, putting his hand over my mouth to stop me form talking. Like I was going to say anything in the first place.

We waited. I heard the clop-clop-clop of hooves hitting the linoleum tile, and then a sound like an animal sniffing outside the door.

My heart hammered against my chest. I couldn't get caught, it'd be even worse than if Percy was the one found. Thankfully, the animal moved on.

"Nothing," Mr. Brunner said. "My nerves haven't been right since the Winter Solstice."

"Mine neither," Grover agreed. "But I could have sworn..."

"Go back to the dorm," Mr. Brunner told him. "You've got a long day of exams ahead of you."

"Don't remind me."

The hallway grew dark. Percy and I waited in the closet. One minute, three minutes, eight minutes. I started growing anxious and agitated due to my Claustrophobia. I figitated with the hem of my jacket nervously.

Finally, Percy cracked opened the door. Except for the two of us, the hall was empty. We exchanged looks, then he shook his head at me. The message he sent was clear: This wasn't the right time to discuss what we had just heard.

I not at him, indicating that I understood, and we parted ways, heading back to our respective dorms. When I opened my door, my roommate was lying on her bed, studing for the finals tomorrow. "Where have you been?" She demanded.

"I went to get a drink of water," I said, and then I turned my back towards her, and got ready for bed.

*

The next afternoon, I was on the last page of my Latin exam when Percy got up and turned his in. My head was aching from the questions that my brain couldn't decipher anymore. I was certain that I had misspelled some of the names of the gods or heros, which frustrated me more than not being able to read.

Suddenly, I could read again.

"We have added a feature to your necklace, the one that can turn into a sword. When you roll the chain of your necklace, the words will turn into Ancient Greek so it's easier for you to read." Three gravely voices said in my head.

I quickly corrected my mistakes and was about to hand my paper in when Mr. Brunner called Percy back into the classroom.

I slammed my pencil down and winced. This wasn't going to end well, but Percy needed to hear it.

"Percy," Mr. Brunner said. "Don't be discouraged about leaving Yancy. It... it's for the best."

Percy's shoulders slumped. He looked at me, but I picked up my pencil again and pretended to scribble answers on my test.

"Ok, sir." He mumbled.

"I mean..." Mr. Brunner looked extremely uncomfortable. "This isn't the right place for you. It was only just a matter of time."

"Right," Percy said, his voice tight with emotion.

"No, no," our teacher ran his hand over his face. "Oh, confound it all. What I'm trying to say... you're not normal, Percy. That's nothing to be-"

"Thanks," Percy blurted out. "Thanks a lot, sir, for reminding me."

Ouch.

"Percy-"

But he had already left the classroom. I shot up, slammed my test on Mr. Brunner's desk, and sprinted out the door to follow him. But, when I got out in the hallway, Percy was nowhere to be seen.

*

On the last day of term, I found Grover in the main hall.

"Grover, we need to stick by Percy. He's not thinking clearly, and that will get him hurt," I said.

He nodded, his face grim. "That's why I got these," he heald up two Greyhound tickets, and gave one to me. I gave him a quick hug in thanks, and then ran to the bus station.

When Percy and Grover got on the bus, I was already there. I smiled at them, "Hey guys! What are you doing here?" I asked, as though Grover and I didn't plan this at all. Percy mumbled a response, and stowed his suitcase in the overhead compartment. He collapsed on the seat next to me, exhausted. Grover was more alert, his shoulders tense as we pulled out of the station.

I kept up a conversation with Percy during the bus ride, trying to keep his focus on me instead of Grover, who was being anything but subtle about his constant roving, but soon enough, Percy was getting annoyed.

After a while, he turned towards Grover. "Looking for Kindly Ones?" He asked.

Grover whipped around to face us. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Wha - what do you mean?"

I took this as an opportunity to include myself in the conversation. I admitted to him about me and Percy eavesdropping on him and Mr. Brunner's conversation the night before the exams.

When I was done, Grover glared at me, probably because I hadn't told him before. Then he turned back to Percy. "How much did you hear?"

Percy shifted in his seat. "Oh... not much. What's the Summer Solstice deadline?"

Grover winced. "Look, guys... I was worried for you two, see? I mean hallucinating about demon Math teachers..."

"Grover-" I tried.

"And I was telling Mr. Brunner that maybe you guys were overstressed or something, because there was no such person as Mrs. Dodds, and..."

This time, it was Percy who spoke. "Grover you have many strengths, but lying isn't one of them."

Grover flushed with embarrassment He took out two business cards from his shirt pocket and handed them to us. "Just take these, okay. In... in case you need me this summer, or...or something."

I looked at the card. Although I already knew what it said, I had to make it look like I saw it for the first time. I twisted my chain and read it in Ancient Greek. It said:

Grover Underwood

Keeper

Half-Blood Hill

Long Island, New York

(800) 009-0009

Percy said, "What's Half-"

"Don't say it out loud!" Grover hissed. "That's my, um... summer address."

Percy's shoulders slumped. "Okay," he mumbled. "So, like, if we want to come and visit your mansion."

I sighed. Why did he have to bring me in this?

But Grover just nodded. "Or... or if you two need me."

"Why would we need you?" Percy snapped. I put my hand on his shoulder to relax him. His face contorted into one of guilt.

"Thank you for the cards, Grover," I said, casting a warning glance at Percy. He knew that Grover was a sensitive soul.

Grover blushed. "Look, Percy, the truth is, I - I kind of have to protect you."

Percy just stared at him. Finally he asked, "What do you mean, you have to protect me? What exactly are you protecting me from? And what about Selene? Are you protecting her too?" He looked towards me, but I held up my hands and shook my head, trying to act like I didn't know what was going on.

Just then, the bus lurched to a stop, black smoke pouring out of the dashboard. The driver cursed and pulled over. After tinkering with the engine for a while, he announced that we all had to get off the bus. Percy grabbed my hand so I wouldn't get trampled by the other passengers. I blushed.

The stretch of highway we were on didn't look like anything special, but I knew better. Without saying a word to Percy or Grover, I walked around the bus and stared at the fruit stand across the road, watching the three old women knit giant, electric blue socks. The Fates. I had seen them in my dreams before, but it was nothing compared to real life. They emanated an aura of power, something much more powerful than the gods. I had the sudden urge to bow, but I fought it.

Percy and Grover joined me after a couple minutes. As soon as Percy was standing next to me, the three ladies next to the fruit stand looked up from their knitting project and stared at us. I caught my breath. Why were they looking at me too?

Percy looked at the both of us. Grover's face went pale, and my eyes were wide, unable to look away form the creepy old women.

"Grover? Percy said."Hey, man-"

"Tell me they're not looking at you two. They are, aren't they?"

"Yeah. Weird, huh? You think those socks will fit me?" Percy joked. I elbowed him gently in the ribs. Grover looked close to passing out.

"Not funny, Percy. Not funny at all. C'mon both of you, let's go." He said. But I couldn't move. My feet were glued to the ground, my eyes stuck on the old ladies.

The middle lady took out a pair of shears. Grover looked close to hyperventilating.

"Come on!" Grover opened the bus doors and and climbed inside, but Percy stayed behind, staring at the old ladies just like I was. Just like they were to us.

The middle lady cut the yarn, and I could hear the sinp through 4 lanes of traffic. It was as if I was standing right next to them. The other two Fates balled up their massive socks of life, and their hold over me shattered.

The bus roared to life. I shook my head, as if I was coming out of a daze, and grabbed a hold of Percy's hand. "C'mon," I said. "Let's get on the bus."

*

After we had been driving for a while, my throat started to close up, and I was shaking.

Percy and Grover didn't look any better. It was like all of us had caught the Flu, but I knew it wasn't that. It was something worse.

"Grover?" Percy asked.

"Yeah?"

"What aren't you telling us?" Percy asked, gesturing between us. That made me feel a little better, almost like we were a packed deal. He is going to hate me when he finds out the truth.

Grover was shivering. "What did you two see back at the fruit stand?"

"You mean the old ladies? What is it with them, man? They're not like... Mrs. Dodds, are they?" Percy's voice was quivering, not that I blamed him. Alecto was pretty terrifying.

"Just tell me what you saw."

My voice started working, without my permission, like it had so many times over the past few weeks. "The middle one took out her scissors and cut the yarn."

Grover closed his eyes and made a guesture, curling three of his fingers over his heart, and then pushing his hand outward. "You both saw her snip the cord."

"Yeah. So?"

"This is not happening," Grover muttered. His eyes got wider, more terrified. "I don'twant this to be like the last time. And with the both of you... no..."

"What last time?" Percy all but demanded. He looked at me for support, but I wasn't much help. I felt extremely clamy and nervous.

"Always the sixth grade. They never make it past sixth."

"Grover," I managed to say. I had to keep up my cover, even if my insides felt like they were cooking. I couldn't give anything away. "What are you talking about?"

"Let me walk you guys home from the bus station. Promise me," he pleaded.

Percy looked towards me again, and I nodded. We both promised. I just realized though, I had no fixed home right now. In my world, I was currently on the run. Where will I stay? I'll probably just stay as an all rounder in Camp.

"Is this like some superstition or something?" Percy asked.

Grover didn't answer, and my voice failed me again.

"Grover - that snipping of the yarn. Does that mean that somebody is going to die?"

Grover looked at the two of us, finally, but it was a look of mourning, like he was picking what flowers I would like for my funeral. He didn't know who's cord it was. I did. My face was even worse than Grover's.

***

Hi! Chapter three of the Selene Aetos series is finished. I apologize for any typos in my work. I'm currently outstation, so I'm stuck with writing from my mobile and I couldn't wait to come home to write it, because I was too excited. I'm going back home tomorrow so the next chapters will be done on my Laptop.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It took a long time to type on the phone. This isn't my favourite chapter but it is quite good.

How are you guys liking Selene? In the first few chapters she is like a double agent. I'm liking her better in the next few chapters. She's kind of bad-a*s, which is awesome. Her and Percy devolup a best-friend kind of relationship, but it will soon turn into something more. *Hint* *Hint* But in the next few chapters she becomes extremely overprotective over Percy. Did you figure out who her godly parent is?

Disclaimer:

I don't own Percy Jackson and his books, all credit goes to Uncle Rick. I do however, own Selene Aetos and her storyline.

Don't forget to tell me what you think. Is there anything I can improve in my story? I love reading your comments!

Please vote, comment and share my story if you liked it.

xoxo, Zoe_Nightshade_