Pegasus and the Mirrored Ones

Chapter 18

Emily's POV:

I had decided to go for a walk around Central Park to clear my head. As I passed places I had often been before I was struck by how much New York had changed since I had left. There were many more buildings and, although this may just have been me, the Empire State Building had many more levels.

I had noticed things about me. Even though it was the end of summer I didn't feel the cold air despite only wearing a t-shirt and leggings. People looked at me more often than they did before. Whether it was because I was wearing different clothing to them or for another reason I didn't know.

After wandering around Central Park and some of the avenues in New York I decided to head back home for lunch. I had no idea why Annabeth and the others had gone out or when they would come back. I began to walk back to the apartment block.

I put the key in the lock and opened the door. Inside a person had their back to me and was talking to Percy. Percy looked over the person shoulder and saw me in the hallway. "Oh hi Emily!" Percy said. I saw that he still looked incredibly guilty.

The person turned around with difficulty and I had to stop the gasp that was coming. I smiled at Percy tightly and dragged the person into a corner. "What do you think you're doing Cupid?" I hissed.

He smiled brightly. "I came to see how the Flame was," he said.

"Why do you care how I am?" I snapped back.

I turned to see Percy looking at us with a bemused expression. I grabbed Cupid's arm and walked up the stairs into my room. I sat on my bed and rubbed my temples.

His smile dropped. "To tell the truth Flame, Olympus has gone crazy. You have been sorely missed."

I snorted. "Sure. 'Sorely missed'. I wouldn't believe it if Jupiter himself told me."

"Well Flame – "

"It's Emily,"

"Fine, Emily, I speak nothing but the truth and I will stay here to protect and aid you."

I was surprised. "But you've always been so...so..."

"Hesitant?" Cupid said. "Yes, I have. But after all we've been through, I have discovered that I have a taste for adventure."

"Okay," I said tiredly. "You can join us but first we need to make you seem more human and educate you."

Cupid grimaced. "I don't think I like the sound of educating, but if it is necessary then I will."

Over the next thirty minutes I explained Camp Half-Blood, the demigods that lived there, and the quest that we were on. Cupid looked confused when I told him that the demigods called the Olympians by their Greek names. Finally I gave him a name. "What about Cameron Love?"

Cupid groaned. "Why must I have a mortal name? I do not see the point of it."

"Because first of all, the demigods may obey the gods, but they don't like them and second, I think that they wouldn't want to know that they are working with a god as they call you."

We went downstairs and saw the demigods sitting around the table. "Guys this is Cameron, a friend of mine. I though he could be of help with the quest because of the amount of people he knows."

Annabeth looked affronted. "I don't know who you think you are but you can't come along on a quest and declare yourself the leader!"

I glared at her coldly. "I have no intention of being the 'leader'. All I want is for this quest to succeed. What would Chiron say if we returned to Camp with nothing because you didn't want to share? Seems a bit childish and selfish, even for you."

Annabeth stared at me open-mouthed. The others shifted uneasily. Finally Percy spoke up. "We need all the help we can get, right guys? Because currently we've got nothing." Jason, Frank, Leo, Hazel and Piper began to nod. I rubbed my hands together. "Okay we've got that sorted, who wants lunch?"

Throughout lunch Annabeth glared me from the other side of the table. Afterwards Cupid pulled me to the side. "This is very strange. How do they not see my wings?"

I whispered from the side of my mouth. "There is this thing called the Mist that stops mortals and sometimes demigods from seeing mythological events and creatures. I think that's how they don't see your wings but you and I can."

"That makes no sense and yet explains many of the mortal encounters I have previously had. Then how do the CRU agents see my wings?"

"There are some mortals who can see through the Mist. Maybe all of the CRU agents are mortals who can do that."

Cupid nodded and went to put his plate in the sink. He motioned for me to follow him. I did so and took him inside my room. I shut and locked the door so that no overly-curious demigods could enter. I offered Cupid a seat and sat on the floor opposite him. "So," I said slowly. "I have an idea but I don't think you're going to like it."

Cupid gave an undignified snort. "You underestimate me Flame. I have been captured and been cloned by the CRU. Surely there is nothing that could even compare to those monstrous people?"