Daughter of Zeus - Old

ALYSSA - Home

I woke up to the sound of silence. No talking, just birds tweeting and trees rustling in the wind. I felt an arm around my shoulder. I looked up and saw Grover fast asleep. I smiled as I remembered last night's events. We sat here, where we are now and talked. I told him about my mother's death and how I killed my father. Grover said that I should stay at Camp Half Blood and learn how to control my powers. I explained how my powers worked to him. That it was only when I was angry that they worked. He laughed and said that tomorrow or today now, that he will show me another way to control them. I told him about the Zeus' secret. I needed to tell someone because I didn't believe it. It wasn't even true. Jason was joking but it worked with me. Damn Alyssa, you're a weird child.

I slipped Grover's arm off me and tried to get up. I put my hands on the root of the trees and felt a pain in my palm. I turned it over and there was a slice in it. Duh Alyssa, Thalia sliced it yesterday after the, um, eidolon attack. Grover explained to me what happened with Gaia and her children. He told me more about the Greek and Roman Gods. Tartarus scared me most. He told me that Percy and Annabeth faced him. I shuddered, remembering how descriptive Grover was. It must have been horrible. My shuddering must have woken Grover up because he was staring at me. I smiled.

"Hey Alyssa" he said. I giggled.

"Hey Grover"

"We should probably head back"

"Nah, I like it out here"

"It's beautiful"

"Yeah" I breathed.

"Come on. They're all looking for you, I bet"

"No"

"Yes"

"Argh. But I don't want to go back"

'Why?"

"I-I don't know"

"You do want to go back but you're scared"

"I-I am" I sighed.

"Ok. Here. Let me show you something". Grover got up and pulled me up with him, careful of my sliced palm. He led me to another clearing. He left me at one end and he walked to the other.

"Ok. Alyssa, picture something that makes you happy. No matter how they are now or whether they're not here" he said. I did. I pictured my mother. The days when we laughed and she ran around with me. I giggled at the thought.

"Ok. Done" I said.

"Now summon those dagger things" he said. I did. But they didn't show. Argh! Stupid powers. I kicked the dirt.

"Try again. Try picture something different" he said. What else made me happy? Mum did. She always has. I kept imagining my mother and all the good times we had. My thoughts changed. I saw a boy. His wild black hair in a tangled mess. His smile melts my heart. As annoying and frustrating as he is, I now realise that Nico made me happy. Argh, stupid, annoying, beautiful, kind.. Argh! My mind went to the night I saw him. His frown made me laugh.

"Are you okay?" Grover asked. I nodded. I summoned up the power I used. Nothing. I tried again. My mind stayed on Nico. His smile.

"Don't defy the thoughts that make you happy Alyssa, it won't work" he said. I sighed. I imagined Nico here with me. I have to face it. I like him. That's what Grover meant. Denying the idea of me liking Nico stops my powers. I tried to summon the lightning bolts again and they appeared. I smiled.

"Yes!" I said. Grover ran over to me and picked me up.

"You did it!" he said. I nodded. I was so pleased. "What did you picture?" he asked.

"Uh-" my smile faltered. "Just the forest" I said.

"You pictured Nico" he stated.

"No! What gives you that idea?" I asked him. He laughed.

"You said his name in your sleep" he said. I blushed.

"Um.. what was I doing?" I asked him.

"Hitting me" he said. I remembered my dream now. I was battling Nico. And I won. Again. I smiled.

"I was battling him" I said. I heard him huff a whatever. I decided I needed to go back. I told Grover. He laughed. 

"Sure thing Alyssa". We walk out of the woods and I see the campers doing their usual things. I say goodbye to Grover and walk over to the workshop, hoping to find Leo. I walked into the doors and saw no one there. Or at least, no Leo. I asked around but they said Leo was looking for a missing camper. I ran to Hades Cabin after that, scared that it was I whom was this missing camper. I ran inside and saw Hazel.

"Hazel, where is everyone?" I asked. Her face was unbelievable.  

"You're okay? You're okay!" she said. She ran up to me and hugged me. I hugged her back. I asked again.

"Where is everyone?" 

"They're talking to Chiron"

"Who's-" I didn't have a chance to finish. I felt the wind change. I knew that feeling. Nico was shadow jumping. I felt his presence behind me. I then felt him grab my hand. I pulled back stroking my hand.

"You scared the-the- crap out of me!" he managed.

"Lovely" I said to him. My heart beating a million miles an hour. I felt myself sweating. My cut on my hand had reopened. I wiped the blood on my jeans.

"Come on, I'll take you to get that fixed up. It was my fault anyway" said a voice at the door. A voice I was so glad to hear.

"Thalia" I breathed out. I ran up and hugged her. She hugged me back.

"Never do that again" she whispered into my hair.

"Damn straight. You had me and Piper worried" came another voice from behind Thalia. I smiled and ran up and hugged him. Jason. He hugged me back.

"I'm so sorry" I whispered to him.

"Sweetheart, you'll be safe here. You have me as well you know" said a girl from Jason's side. I noticed that she was the girl from the battle. The one that made the eidolon leave my body. I smiled at her.

"Piper" she said.

"Alyssa" I answered. She nodded. By now, Percy and Annabeth were here too. I laughed. I felt my cheeks redden when someone grabbed my hand. My good one. I turned around and saw Nico. I hugged him. The group all breathed in. I smiled. The oh so shy and handsome Nico was getting a hug from the girl he brought in from the streets. I felt him stiffen but relax and hug me back. I pulled away and saw him smiling. He never let go of my hand though.

"You still want to go home?" he asked me. I nodded.

"Yes, I do. Home is where my family is and that is here" I replied. He smiled. Leo arrived as well. I laughed at the sight of his red face. He works too hard. I took Leo's hand but didn't let go of Nico's.

"By the way Percy-" I looked at him "-Grover is so cool" I added.