Reaching For The Stars

Chapter 4

Annabeth Chase

"You still haven't told us who you are."

Nebula drove the car purposefully toward Hickory Run State Park. Without needing to look, she navigated effortlessly, as if guided by some unseen force. Despite their time together, neither Annabeth, let alone the other demigods, could quite figure out Nebula's true nature. It was as though they were just now seeing the real Nebula emerge.

"Impatient, are we?" Nebula said, a small smile playing on her lips as she glanced at her companions. "Patience, my friends. No stray monsters will come for us. You can relax while you're inside."

"You're sure about that? Three demigods, plus whatever you are? You sound like the dumbest person on this planet. The monsters will come for us like flies to dead meat."

Nebula twitched slightly, a flash of anger flickering in her silver eyes. She took a breath, glancing at a restless Thalia and Luke, who sat on the bed. Both appeared out of their element, clearly trying to grasp the situation.

"I am like you, but also not like you. This car keeps them away as long as we stay near it or inside it. It has protections that conceal our presence. Or your scents."

"It's how I had no monsters coming after me," Annabeth murmured, realization dawning on her. Nebula confirmed her conclusion with a nod and a gentle smile. "They always came for me at night, no matter what I tried."

"Yes. I don't have much to fear from monsters, but they can be frustrating to deal with. My mother made sure I wouldn't need to deal with them."

Thalia furrowed her brow, her expression tense as if she were trying to solve a complex puzzle. Luke, on the other hand, appeared amused and intrigued, grinning like an impish creature drawn to an entertaining spectacle. Annabeth couldn't help but notice Thalia's unease, her legs bouncing as she eyed Nebula with folded arms, her spear still clutched in one hand.

"And who is that?"

Nebula's face lit up with a smile as she leaned forward, gazing out of the front window. Her eyes seemed to radiate a silver glow, the day giving way to the embrace of darkness. Stars began to twinkle, their silver light seeming to guide them, as if illuminating the path. Annabeth felt as though she knew nothing of her life or the world around her.

"You'll see soon enough. We're going to her now."

"Ugh, how vague can you be. It's frustrating!"

"And your ADHD problems are frustrating."

Nebula grinned as Thalia grumbled profanities under her breath, while Luke laughed beside her. Annabeth couldn't deny that Thalia seemed the most restless of them all, her boundless energy seemingly at odds with her inability to be in control. Nebula parked the car near Hawk Falls, stepping out with her gaze fixed on the night sky. The twinkling stars seemed to captivate her, drawing her into a reverie. It was a magical sight, making Annabeth feel insignificant in the vastness of the universe.

"Now what?" Thalia asked, but Nebula raised a hand, silencing her, her gaze still fixed on the sky.

"Patience, demigod."

"Don't call me that, I am Thalia. I have a name, you know."

"Be patient, Thalia," Nebula repeated, as if she were elsewhere. Thalia sighed in frustration, sitting down on the dirt-covered ground, her arms crossed like a sulking child denied candy.