Pegasus and the Mirrored Ones

Chapter 16

Emily's POV:

I couldn't believe it. Who would have thought that they had the guts to pull off something like that? Then again, they're the kids of the GODAMN OLYMPIANS. Looks like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Sneaking around, putting themselves in places they shouldn't be, thinking they're omnipotent and all-powerful. Yup, sounds exactly like the Olympians. Or Gods, as they seem to call them.

To be honest, their faces were hilarious. I must have looked pretty scary, or they're wimps behind those brave and battle-hardened facades. I was angry at first because who wouldn't be? Imagine if people you thought trusted you went into your private room and snooped around like amateur detectives. You'd be infuriated right?

At least they didn't manage to get inside Agent B's - Benedict's - diary. Thank god I locked the drawer it was in, or else there would have been serious trouble. Knowing that my secrets were safe, I guess that evaporated my anger. However there was still something bothering me. I made sure that my door unlocked to nobody other than those who could control fire.

I knew it was Leo who opened the door. He didn't realise that his hand was slightly smoking when I appeared. I thought that there were only two people who could control fire: myself and Lorin. As much as I hate her, we were connected from the same source, the whole reason why we were known as Flames. Could Leo be one too?

The thought plagued me throughout dinner. Annabeth was confused when she saw that the other demigods refused to make eye contact with me. Once she realised that they wouldn't talk to me, her face lit up. Another point of evidence for her to hate me for no clear reason.

To take my mind off things after dinner I crawled into my hammock and read various pages from Agent B's notebook. He had drawn much more photos than I thought. I came across a portrait of me, wearing my Pegasus pendant. Although it hadn't seemed like that at the time, life was so much simpler then. Nobody cared how I looked, there was no Lorin, and Paelen, Joel and I were so close together that I could tell them anything no matter what.

Before I could register what was happening, tears formed at the edge of my eyes. Why did it have to be so complicated? Had I not been stupid by overpowering myself with Tom then Lorin wouldn't have awoken and everything would be normal. I wouldn't be here, trying to work with seven people claiming to be children of the gods that like to stick their noses in places they're no welcome.

I rubbed my eyes furiously. Stupid tears. Stupid me. Stupid everything! Without warning my hands burst into flames. No, no, no not now! I shook my hands wildly trying to extinguish them. I hadn't lost control like this for ages. I tried to remember the techniques Vesta had taught me. Vesta. It seemed so long ago that she'd been teaching me to manage my powers. She's probably in the same amphitheatre that I was taught in, training Lorin the same things that I was.

Did nobody care anymore? Did people welcome the fact that the annoying, irrational Flame had left them alone? I was a weapon to the Olympians, to the CRU. Now all I am is a damaged weapon, all ammo gone, therefore useless.

Tom's POV:

Olympus was in an uproar. Once the night dwellers and everyone else on Olympus found out that their Flame, their hero of Olympus had left for Earth they turned on Jupiter. They believed that it was because of the Olympians neglecting her had made Emily leave. Everyday people would appear at Jupiter's palace, demanding that they find Emily.

The desperation for the Flame to be found grew as fire would randomly appear out of cracks in the ground. The Temple of the Flame was barred from anybody trying to get in because of the flames spitting everywhere. Jupiter and the Olympians had lost all control over Olympus all because of one person. Shows you how fragile the system is.

Since Emily's arrival and sacrifice on Olympus all those moons ago, she had not only become the face of Olympus, but the core of our civilization. Whether it was from the selfless acts of bravery she had done for Olympus, the kind words she always had to spare, or the loyalty she had for Olympus and its people, she had captured the heart of everyone, including me. 

The situation had become so wretched that Jupiter was seriously considering having Lorin dress up as Emily to bring back stability to his world. When I heard the idea being brought up I was horrified. How could the Olympians think this? Emily wasn't a thing that they could even begin to possible imitate. She could never be replaced by anyone.

Everyday I woke up the guilt washed over me. How could I not have seen this? Of course Emily would want to leave. Joel turned away from her and spent more time than ever in Vulcan's forge and Lorin. Paelen was obsessed with the blonde titan (a/n: Lorin) and did everything he could to please her, going so far as to take her to Pegasus and Emily's private beach. Any fool on Olympus knew that that place was special to Emily, and to see its privacy taken away tore a part of my heart. The only one who didn't have any interest in Lorin was Pegasus, who spent his time with an auburn mare.

This, along with Emily's sudden appearance change, must have been the ultimate betrayal for Emily. If only she could see Olympus now in its chaotic form. Maybe the Olympians, nor Paelen, Joel or Pegasus, cared for Emily as a person, but Olympus's people did. Me, Alexis, Steve, the night dwellers and the Nirads all silently prayed that she would return.