Prisoner of the Sea

Chapter 8

I DO NOT OWN THE PJO/HoO SERIES, RICK RIORDAN DOES! THIS IS JUST A FANFIC!!!

Chapter 8

"Alright, you have to be very quiet." Nora whispered.

"Why?" Celeste asked as they swam around a corner of rock.

Nora's glistening tail shone in the dark waters and Celeste used its light to guide her.

Nora had taken her deep below the ocean saying that she had a special place she used to go to as a kid.

Finally, they arrived in a small cave with long strands of seaweed braided with crystals hung down.

"My own interior design. I found this place when I was your age. I shared it with my brother before he went to fight off in the war. We called it 'Jacob and Nora's Own Personal Elysium'. Pretty stupid name if you ask me." She said with a sad chuckle.

"Anyways, we did so many cool things here. Let me show you around."

Celeste gasped in awe at the beauty of the underwater cave. Childish drawings were tacked on the wall, seashells were scattered amongst the floor, and a necklace was hanging from a tack.

Nora sighed and scooped up the necklace. "Jacob gave it to me. He said as long as I had it, I'd never be alone. I want you to have it."

Celeste's eyes widened. "Oh no, Nora I could never take that from you."

"Nonsense. You deserve it. I can tell how lonely you are sometimes. I know you try to hide it but it's a little obvious. I want to be good friends Celeste. Best friends even. This is how we start." Nora said.

Celeste smiled and lowered her head for Nora to slide the necklace over. She felt the cold metal of the chain around her neck and grasped the greenish blue pendant in the shape of a merperson.

"It's beautiful." Celeste said. "I will take great care of it, don't worry."

"I know you will." Nora said, patting Celeste on the shoulder. "Now, enough with the sympathetic stuff, let's have some real fun."

Celeste cocked an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Nora smiled and grabbed Celeste's wrist. "Let's go fast."

Celeste barely had time to protest before she was sent shooting through the water.

She screamed and felt like a bullet shooting out a gun. Nora was a blur in front of her as she sped with her amazing tail, but Celeste could still feel the death grip the mermaid had on her wrist.

Celeste's scream quickly turned into a laugh and she started to whoop. She let the ocean carry her and became one with the current. The water bent to her will and pushed her along, making her go even faster.

Finally, Nora erupted to a halt in front of the palace and Celeste jerked forward.

She threw out her arms to stop herself and found herself spinning in circles. She willed the water to stop spinning her and she slowly felt her feet touch the sandy ocean floor.

She was out of breath and panting, taking in gulps of salt water. "That...was exhilarating." Celeste said through heavy breaths.

Nora was smiling but didn't look the slightest but tired.

"That's how we have fun." Nora said.

Celeste surprised both herself and Nora as she wrapped her arms tightly around Nora's waist.

"Thank you." Celeste said.

Nora stiffened at first, but then relaxed and stroked Celeste's silky black hair. "Anytime, Seaweed Brain."

Celeste laughed, breaking from the hug. "Stop calling me that!"

Nora made a teasing face. "What? It's a cute nickname!"

Celeste groaned and swam inside with her friend.

Even with the fun events of the day, the lurking shadow in the back of her mind still loomed dangerously behind her.

For now, Celeste decided to ignore it.

•••

"This is ridiculous." Zeus rumbled.

The 12 Olympians gods were sitting at their table and everyone was staring at Poseidon.

He knew right after he had left Hades' presence that his brother, Zeus would be furious.

He was furious like 99% of the time anyway so...

"You want a hug, Zeus?"

"No, let me smite you!"

Stuff like that.

Anyways, Poseidon sat nervously while he listened to Zeus ramble on about betrayal and mistrust.

He wondered about Celeste sitting at the palace doing who knows what, probably killing someone else.

Or what was Percy doing? Poseidon hadn't really checked up on him in almost a year now. Was the memory wipe still working?

And speaking of the memory wipe, would Celeste find out that he was the one that put it there?

The Lord of the Sea sighed, knowing that Sally was only doing what was best for both Celeste and Percy. Something dark was inside Celeste, but he just didn't know what it was.

His other daughter, Kayla, she could have something to do with it, but he doubted it.

Maybe he was just paranoid.

"He was obviously lying to you brother." Zeus interrupted his thoughts by directing a sentence at him.

"He seemed truthful, Zeus. I sensed no mistrust in his words. He is telling the truth." Poseidon said wearily.

"Nonsense! Hades is obviously up to something! He wants this prophecy to be fulfilled and for Olympus to be destroyed." Zeus thundered.

"The prophecy said it could also be saved." Apollo spoke up.

Zeus sent him a death glare and Apollo rolled his eyes and murmured a poem made of swears under his breath.

"Father, prophecies cannot be changed, we know this. Maybe it's best if we just let it play out." Athena said.

Zeus sighed. "I just do not know anymore. We will continue this meeting on another date." Zeus said, rising from his chair. "Until then, try anything in your power to see who this prophetic demigod is. We must know so we can kill them."

With that, he was gone with a flash of lightning.

And it was decided. No one could know about Celeste and Percy.

No one.

However, he was slightly worried that that would never work out.