Chains || Piper McLean

Chapter Three

Piper

Piper hated dreaming.

Dreaming was full of constant nightmares for the average demigod. Most saw horrible visions of monsters and battles, most of which would probably come to life sooner rather than later.

But for Piper, it meant revisiting her past. Over, and over, and over yet again.

She was tired of the past. She wanted to forget about it, to fight the memories with all the strength she had, but Piper did not realize how scarred they had left her. She had the physical strength, sure, but did she have the mental strength?

Piper was remembering the day when her, Percy, and Jason were drowning when her vision changed. She breathed out a sigh of relief. Only for her to gasp in surprise when an image of Aphrodite appeared instead.

She stumbled back, shocked. "Mom!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here, in my dream?"

Aphrodite gave her a smile. "It's been a long time, Piper. You haven't changed at all." She stared at Piper's hair. "But would it kill you to-"

Piper huffed. "Enough with the beauty tips! You obviously came here for a reason!"

Aphrodite's grin didn't change, but her eyes betrayed sadness. "Piper, dear, I only came to warn you."

"Warn me about what?" Piper asked, confused.

"You mustn't let the past control your life, Piper. You have to move forward with your future instead of dwelling on things that happened long ago," Aphrodite whispered.

Piper boiled up with anger, why quickly turned into misery. "But I can't! Everywhere I go I'm reminded of something terrible. I can't seem to let go of the memories!"

"You must find a way, Piper, or the resentment will eat away at your life force. Too much distress can do horrible things to someone's mind, mortal or demigod!" Aphrodite exclaimed.

Piper looked up at her mother. "I can't do this on my own! Is there some possible way you can help me?"

Aphrodite pondered for a moment. "You could always find Apollo and ask for a potion that erases all memories. But then again, it would wipe away the good times as well as the bad events that have occurred. You would remember nothing."

"But mom-" Piper posted.

Aphrodite glanced around. "Time is short, my dear. I have to return to Olympus. But heed this: seek your friends for help, and don't dwell on the past."

And with that, the goddess of beauty vanished. That was the last thing Piper remembered of her dream when everything spiraled into black once more.

Jason

Jason had been beside Piper for days. Still, she had not waken up from her coma.

She had responded to the ambrosia and medicine well; her health was much better than it had been. But Chiron said her mind was in a very fragile state, and he didn't know when she would wake up.

It was a week later when Percy burst through the doors of Jason's cabin. "Jason!" he exclaimed. "Piper's awake!"

Jason, sitting in the back of the cabin, raced to meet Percy. "You're being serious, right? Because if you're kidding right now-"

"Dude, I'm not joking. Come on, she wants to see you."