Ariana's Trials

Part 19

Natasha's POV

I met my-siblings? It was hard to get my head around. I was related to all the other kids in this camp. I thought I had no family. Now I have one so big I don't even know their names. 

"That's normal. Not knowing all the names" One girl without a hand said "It gets confusing after the sixth Billy" She's sitting on her bunk, swinging her legs "I'm Sarah" she jumps down

"Natasha," I say

"I'll give you a tour since Ariana did a crap job" She opens the door and walks out, with me in tow. Sarah is a good mix of sassy and rude, bad-mouthing everyone while complimenting them. She ignores Percy, who was chopping all the training dummies into dust

"Idiot! We need those!" Sarah shouted, then hopped into the ring. Percy stopped his arch of destruction as Sarah approached

"Sorry," Percy rolled his eyes "That you're not the only one that has to train" Sarah smacked his shoulder and they laughed together. I would never be a part of this family.

"Don't think like that" Ariana says "Everyone has a chance. I nearly ruined mine, don't fall for the same trap" She's beside me "The people here are accepting, kind and funny. Sing along and have fun, and they'll see you as one of them soon" She smiles at her brother, then at me "Camp is safe, no matter how old a person may be, or how many traumas they've faced" She has a look of pain on her face, covered so well I can't even recognize what kind. Then I know. I spot the way she favours her right leg and the sag of her left arm, closely covered by her suit and her posture. Percy sees me watching her walk away

"Annabeth, Ariana and I have been through a lot. Ariana probably gave us the biggest sacrifice"

"What was it?" I asked. Out of curiosity and care for her. Ariana was closer to a young me than anyone else

"The people we're fighting-They captured her. Ariana's the heiress of the sea and a direct link to our father. They wanted her power, her blood. She was chained up in a cave and tortured for three months. All while holding out, refusing to give in. She didn't give in even when they slashed her body into sushi and drained her blood, coating her with poison. She didn't even shed a tear, waiting for her death or rescue."

"Oh. How can anyone come out of that okay?"

"She didn't. It took two days of sleep to bring her back to a condition where she could even be awake. And she refuses to change out of her suit. Ever. Or let a doctor heal the ever-bleeding wounds that she hides and can't heal herself. She can't rely on anyone to do anything for her, she has to be the one in the front, taking the bullets because she thinks she can save everyone all the time" Percy says. He's so sad for her, watching his sister do everything without her letting him carry some of the burdens.

"Some day, everyone who cares about her will band together and force her to accept help," I say

He snorts "That would be a sight. A god, a goddess, our mom, our stepmom, Jack, Annabeth, you, and so many more all forcing her into the same room as Apollo and then making her take a four-year vacation with the moon"

"With the moon?" I asked

"Artemis has a band of immortal Hunters she runs around the country with, killing monsters. I know Ariana would like it. Maybe if she never had to be Queen of the Sea one day, she would have joined them. I could see her running along in a silver parka with a bow" He's smiling now "And I know Artemis likes her. A woman who is set to take over from an Olympian, who can fight practically anything with her silver-tongued sass and never wants to see any kind of abuse, ever? Exactly who Artemis likes. Or I think. It's hard to tell" He wanders away after that, eventually intertwining with his fiancee and walking to the beach. I ponder his words and laugh at silver-tongued sass. 

Ariana's POV

I revealed too much. Natasha is observant, and if she spoke to Percy or even Annabeth, I'm f*****. I know she sees herself in me, as I see myself in her. I fiddle with Jack's Christmas gift. he didn't quite understand the point of waiting, so he just gave it to me-a glass snowflake engraved with my name and an infinite wave pattern etched into the centre on a long, moon-coloured string. I loved it. I pulled up my sleeves and watched my blood flow, the cuts made in a strange circular pattern. I wondered if they cut it in that pattern for a reason, but never followed up. It didn't seem practical to waste time making such strange marks, but they did anyway. To make me cry out, to draw the pain out in new and different ways? I waved my hand over my chest and reformed the sleeves, clutching the pendant again. I needed Jack. He made me feel normal. I walk to where Percy and Annabeth are enjoying a sunset and decide not to disturb them, but leave a note saying I was going out and would be back in a few days. I needed time off from...Demigoding. I rip open a portal and walk out to wherever. I have no destination in mind.