𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧 || Percy Jackson

Four

Aurora dreamed about candy those following days.

It didn't matter that people were weary around her, that Annabeth stopped talking to her, or that Phoenix and Ryland finally stopped crowding her whenever she left the cabin.

Okay, maybe she missed the last one.

But those literal sweet dreams made up for it. Grover usually brought her new candies to try, Phoenix would have a school bag full when she came back, and Ryland would teach her how to bake things. To say she had a sweet tooth would be an understatement. And surprisingly, not one cavity made its home in her teeth despite the amount of candy she used to eat.

"What even made you interested in candy?" The two of them grew closer after the attack, much to the dismay of Phoenix and Ryland. Percy reached for another caramel candy, pausing to hand Marsh one before taking one for himself.

"Uh, Grover actually brought me a bag of these strawberry candies when I was like, five I think?" She said, burning her wrapper in her hand. "He said that other kids like them and he wanted to see if I did."

"You remember things that long ago?"

"I remember the day my other mom brought me here. And I was just born when that happened." Aurora said, staring out at the water. "She's not dead, I can feel it. She just...vanished in this poof of gold."

Percy nearly choked, hitting his chest as Aurora pat his back.

"My- my mom disappeared like that too!" He gasped out, coughing and waiting on her response.

"Do you think she's dead?" He shook his head. "Then until proven otherwise, she's alive."

He liked that answer, a smile on his face as he watched her burn another wrapper.

But her dreams never remained good for long.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but I already don't like you." Aurora huffed as she watched a battle go on between Zeus and Poseidon, knowing that if she turned she would be back in that dark cave. "I'm gonna wake-"

"Won't you face me, child?" The dark and haunting voice sounded, almost amused as she stubbornly kept her back turned. "Join me, child."

"I would rather die." She spat, the ground rumbling. She didn't look down, knowing what she would most likely see. "You're somewhere you're not wanted."

"Think of what you could do with that power, child. The world would be at your mercy."

"I'm sure you don't even know the definition of the word mercy." She snapped back, struggling to keep control of her dream. She hated that the Gods could do whatever they wanted to dreams. "Leave me alone."

"So stubborn. You'll see the way soon, child."

Aurora's eyes snapped open and she stared at her cabin's ceiling, Marsh's usual bright flame dimmed as she slept soundly next to her. It was quiet, no sounds of Phoenix reading her magazine letting her know that she'd gone to bed for a bit.

She sighed and sat up, pushing her irritation to the back of her mind and going to shower. She walked out of her cabin and sat at her table, the Nymphs setting her food and drink down for her as she thanked them. It wasn't unusual for her to wake up before sunrise, seeing as she always sat at the lake and bid her grandmother a good night.

"Night, Mama Nyx." The sky darkened a bit, whispers reaching her ears before the sun started to flood the sky. "Morning, Mom. Morning, Apollo."

Beautiful colors kissed the sky, clouds swirling as the sun got a bit brighter in greeting. Water splashed at the docks and she giggled, leaning over to look at it.