The Sea's Daughter

Chapter 14: Ocean

Emma took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the salty sea air.

She wasn't suppose to be out of the house, but she couldn't stand being cooped up anymore. She just had to leave the near constant noise of the Tracy home.

She had to think. What was she really doing here? The Tracys would always be in danger with her living on the island and without her powers, she couldn't protect them. Why was she even still on the island?

Was she even in love with Scott Tracy?

The Hood had said something about her being a Trojan horse. Could that mean that her feelings for Scott be fake? 

Emma thought about those kisses they had shared. They had felt real and when his hand had brushed her butt, the jolt of electricity that had shot through her spine had certainly felt real too. Not to mention the way her body reacted to him simply walked in the room.

Or was it?

Emma rubbed her forehead. Why was her life so confusing? 

The wind shifted slightly, bring a different smell mixed into the sea air. Cologne. After shave. Machine oil. Rubbing alcohol. 

Virgil.

So much for getting away from the Tracy clan. 

"What are you doing out here? I told you that you should be on bedrest," Virgil said putting his hand on his hips.

"I just missed the ocean," Emma said, looking down at her hands.

"I'll BS on that."

"What?"

"You're not out here just because of the ocean. I know when someone is upset," Virgil crouched down next to her wheelchair. 

"You don't know me."

"I live with four brothers and Kayo. I'm also a medic so I know a thing or two about reading body language. I can tell something is eating at you. Spill."

Emma bit her lip.

"Its something the Hood said when he captured me. He said I was going to be his Trojan horse into International Rescue."

Virgil raised an eyebrow at her, "so?"

"What if I cause you all to get hurt? What if another monster attacks? I can't use my powers or my legs. In a fight, I'm useless. A danger to you guys. And if what the Hood said was true, it would be all my fault."

"You don't know that."

"I'm a demigod and a child of the Big Three. One of the most powerful half-bloods at Camp Half-Blood. I attract monsters like flies to honey."

"That doesn't mean we'll be hurt by them."

"Have you met my luck. If there is a monster nearby, it will try kill me and anyone near me."

"Then we'll fight."

"You wouldn't stand a chance."

"So what? We can do almost anything when we put our minds to it."

Not this, Virgil. This time it would kill you," Emma said, picking at her callused palms.

"You want to bet?" Emma could tell that he was grinning through her hair.

"With your life? Not happening," she finally looked up. 

Virgil had taken off the red and black plaid button up shirt he always wore. It was at the ground by his feet.

He smirked as he pulled off the white tank-top that was underneath. Virgil turned and Emma gasped.

His back was covered in scars and a massive tattoo. 

On his left shoulder, Scott's name and birthday wrapped around a pair of Air force pilot's wings. His right had the constellation Orion with John's name and birthday under it. Starting from his left hip, a yellow squid inscribed with Gordon's name and birthday reached towards the middle of Virgil's back. A red rocket blasted off from his right hip, Alan's name and birthday worked into the flames. 

The middle of his back was blank, except for the 20 or so lines that crisscrossed his spine. 

"What happened?" Emma said in a whisper, in awe of the cargo pilot.

"I was in a wreck when I was in collage."

"How?"

"Because I was drunk."

Emma raised an eyebrow. None of the Tracys struck her as the drinking type. Especially Virgil.   

"When I went to collage, Scott was already in the Airforce, John was working his way through the Astronaut program at NASA, and Gordan, at just 16, was in the Olympics. I felt that I could never match up with my brothers."

"Why? You are so...They rely on you."

"Not back then. I decided that I was going to be different from all of them. I was going to be the Bad boy of the family."

"What changed?" Emma was enthralled by Virgil's story. 

"When I wrecked that car, all my brothers came to my side. I had pushed them all away, and yet they came. They refused to leave the hospital, took shifts sleeping in the room with me. When I got home, I realized that family was stronger then anyone person and that you can't compare yourself to anyone."

Is that why they were ready and able to put themselves on the line everyday? 

"I got the tattoo to remind myself that my family always has my back. Emma, you were willing to do the same for us," Virgil said, pulling on his shirts.

Emma looked confused.

"No matter what, we won't give up on you."

Emma felt tears start rolling down her cheeks. All the pain, all the suffering, all the guilt, pored down her face. Her shoulders started to shake as she began sobbing.

"Shh, its okay, Emma," Virgil said wrapping his arms around her as she let go of all she had been holding back.