New life

I was looking at myself in the mirror. The Aphrodite's blessing was gone and everybody could see my face... that wasn't at all pretty. Huge bruises laid under my eyes. The skin was pale grey. It looked like l was ill. Blue eyes didn't have any light in them. They were as the enormous sky without any stars.

I looked down at the running water. "Um, please, Aphrodite... help me. Can you hide the traces of my two sleepless nights, this painful skin pallor and return the blush? I don't want anybody to see me like this... Please..." I thought and spoke to somebody in my head. I took a deep breath and looked up in the mirror. It was me. Beautiful as always. "Thanks" l thought and smiled at myself.

I found one advantage of being a daughter of Aphrodite. If you ask me, why didn't l want anybody to see me like that? With bruises and pale skin? The answer is that l should be strong. I've been in this camp only for 3 days, but l'm suffering. How is that possible? And, of course, everybody will ask me "Stef, what's going on? What have happened? Why are you so... Why do you look like this?" And so on. I don't want this. I don`t want anybody to notice me. I want to be like they`re.

I turned around and went to the pavilion where everybody was. I sat beside Jason who was eating some yogurt. I decided to have a yogurt for breakfast, too. The yogurt was sweet, strawberry and, as Jason said, made in the camp from the local strawberries.

I sent another spoon of yogurt to my mouth when l noticed someone walking towards me. Guess, who?

"Hello" Percy sat on the opposite side of the table. "Um, Stef, why..."
"I need to go." Jason stood up. "I think, Stef, it's now Percy's tern to teach you." Jason was smiling. I saw his smile, but Percy was looking at me. I started to think about “emergency” call that made Jason go away. I felt like he made it specially.
"Stef, l'm talking to you" Percy's face was concentrated. How didn't he understand my behavior? That's why, maybe, Annabeth calls him Seaweed brains...
"I know" l said drinking tea.
"Stef, why didn't you sleep with me this night? Why did you move to Jason?" Percy asked me quietly. When he understood what he'd just said, he blushed slightly.
"Um, Percy, cabin 1 is my cabin. Not yours. It's my father's and brother's home" l said trying not to betray my trembling voice.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Percy took me by the hand.
"Why should l tell you something?" I said pulling my hand out of his. "Who are you? And how can you, the boy l met 3 days ago, control me and my life? I do what l want"
"Um, you could say to me. And l wouldn't worry about you" Percy said coldly. His feelings were hurt. Hurt badly. I shouldn't say that... I didn't think like that. I just needed to be away from him... "Then, l guess, l'm living you alone... with your yogurt"

Percy stood up. I need to do something... Stef! Do something! If he goes now, you won't be such friends as before! Stef!

"Um, Percy!" I stood up and went towards Percy who was near the exit of the pavilion. "Percy, l'm sorry..." All l saw was Percy's back. He didn't want to turn to me. He was showing that he was hurt. He didn't want me to see his face... "Percy... Turn to me... Please... Percy..."

I heard a deep breath and Percy turned to me. His lips were compressed. A crinkle of thoughts laid between the eyes, I knew he was thinking about my words. And his eyes ... As it said, eyes are the mirror of the soul. Percy's eyes were full of dark, heavy ocean, which may at first seem quite calm. This calm can be seen on the ocean surface, but if you look under the surface of the ocean, if you dive deeper, you can see that there, in the dark depths, were a variety of live fish, algae swaying in different directions and other marine life. It was like this with Percy. His eyes were full of pain.

"Percy, l didn't mean... I didn't want to say that... I shouldn't. I really appreciate what you're doing for me. Really. You're the only one with whom l feel save and like home. I just...so tired... And l..." l didn't finish. I wanted to tell him the reason why l'd moved at first, but then l understood that it would be not good... Why did l say him all? I didn`t... I wanted to stay away from him. And what`s now? I've said him what l fell... What are you doing, Stef?
"Piece?" Percy smiled.
"Definitely... Um, ar..."
"Stef, don't ask me" Percy cut my question. "Stef... I... I just feel like l need to save you, to give something that recalls your home... I just saw you and l understood this... And l's so terrified when you screamed that night. You couldn't wake up... It was your first nightmare... I understood that, even if you're one of the strongest demigods, you can be hurt, frightened, terrified... I felt like l needed to keep you away from it all... Yesterday... I thought that you would be just late, but when l got up in the morning, you weren't beside me... I started to worry... Stef! I wanted to look for you in the woods! I didn't know where you were... But you were just sleeping in a cozy bed of the first cabin!"
"Percy, l'm sorry... I didn't know that you feel like this... But now l know... An..."

I didn't finish because Percy hugged me. He held me tightly, pressing close to him. I heard his heartbeat, the smell of the sea emanated from him. I clung to his warm cheek and ran a hand through his hair. One of his hands laid on my waist, the other one burnt the back of my T-shirt.

What are you doing, Stef? Good question, my mind. But l have no answer to it. I just know that this person, this boy, this man was so important in my life. He is an integral part of my life. We both know that if one is suffering, the other one suffers too, if someone is happy, another is happy too. I'm his sea. He's my air...

"I guess, l need to show you something..." Percy said making a step backwards.
"And this something is...?"
"Let's go. I'll show you" Percy took me by the hand, smiling, and lead to the stables.

As we entered the stables, l saw them... Pegasus... They were lovely animals of different colors. Each Pegasus had strong legs, long folded wings. It was like l entered a dream... l couldn't believe that l saw Pegasus...

"Hey? Stef? They won't bite you." Percy was looking at my face.
"I'm not freighted... I just... I can't believe l see... Pegasus..."
"So, l guess, you need something... Choose the one you like. Except the black one. He's my lovely Blackjack"
"You took the one l wanted..." l smiled. "Does this Pegasus have a name, too?" I pointed at white stallion with silver hooves, mane and tail.
"Um, l see you for the first time..." Percy walked to the Pegasus that whinnied. "Um... Interesting..."
"What do you mean?"
"He says that Zeus told him to come here and to be beside you..." Percy's face was serious.
"Are you kidding? Or you can read Pegasus' minds and understand their whinnying..." l laughed.
"Actually, l can."
"Wow!"
"Yes... Do you want to know the name of this "present"?" Percy asked that like he didn't like the idea of gifting a Pegasus.
"Percy, he's not my present. We live in the modern free society. So, this Pegasus is free. And it's his choice whether he wants to stay always beside me or fly anywhere until l`ll need him." As l said, the stallion whinnied.
"He says he wants to be free, to fly somewhere and to come to you if you need his help"
"You see. Everything is okay. So, what's his name?"
"He's Akteon."
"Wow... Greek name... Which means shining. Great!" I went towards the Pegasus and held my hand over his mane.
"So, l guess, l need to prove you that this is reality" Percy took me by the hand and led outside where our Pegasus went, too.
"So... Yes" Percy answered to some Pegasus. "So, climb up Akteon."
"What? Why?"
"We will just walk around the camp. Don't worry."
"Um... Oh, okay. But, if something happens to me, l don't know what l will do with you!"
"You will do nothing, because "something happens to you" Great! Black humor!
"Ha-ha-ha! Extremely funny!" I made a poker face, but Percy was laughing, so, l just couldn't watch him doing that. His laugh made me smiled.

I climbed up the Pegasus and clung to the mane, because there wasn't anything that could help me. Percy climbed, too.

"So... Let's go!"

As Percy said that, our Pegasus rushed towards picking up the speed. I started screaming and l hugged Pegasus as tightly as possible, so l wouldn't fall. Then l felt like the wings started working. And then in the next moment l understood we were above the earth. We were flying....

At first, l was frightened to look down. But then l took all my courage and bravery and sat straight trying to look around me. We were flying above the water leaving the camp behind us. All we saw were enormous ocean and clean blue sky. I tried to touch the air, the wind. I felt it blowing around me, making amazing figures.

I looked at Percy who was flying beside me. He was smiling. He understood that l did like flying. He knew l would like it and the feeling of freedom... I smiled, too.

"Akteon, what about increasing our speed?" I whispered into the ear of the Pegasus.

In the next second l felt like the wind was trying to push me from Akteon. So, l clung to the body of Pegasus, because I didn`t want to fall. We reached an amazing speed. I looked back and saw Percy trying to catch us. I showed him my tongue and sent Akteon sharply down.

As we were about to fall into the water, we flattened parallel to the sea surface. Akteon's hooves touched the water, leaving behind the wave crests.

"As l see, you like it" Percy screamed.
"Yes. Percy... You know what? You're professional and you can speak with horses and Pegasus... But you have to admit that l'm better than you're at this" l smiled coquettishly.
"I guess, l have to..." Percy smiled back.

Next few hours we spent flying around our camp. We didn't talk. We were just flying. Sometimes we had an unspoken competition. Sometimes l tried to do something extremely dangerous. And one time l nearly felt. And l would have fallen if l didn't have my powers. They helped me to fly, to feel everything on 100%. It was like l had poor eyesight. But then when my strength was opened, I began to see everything perfectly. And it was fantastic!

After we were back at earth, l had a strange feeling. I felt like it wasn't comfortable for me to stand, like l was still flying somewhere high.

Percy and l let our Pegasus go. It was a little bit pity. But l saw that Akteon needed to have a break and to spend time with his new friend.

"Oh, l thought where you both were..." Annabeth walked towards us. Towards Percy.
"Yeah... We were flying! And, Ann, you just won't believe me how cool it was!" Percy gestured.
"I'm glad you had a great time..." She made a few steps towards Percy and kissed him.
I looked down. I didn't want to watch THAT! I felt like my face started to become red... I needed to go somewhere... Like right now.
"Hey, Jason!" I waved to my brother who was near the main house and went to him.

I made a few steps when someone touched my hand.

"Hey, where are you going?" Percy asked like nothing happened.
"I'm going to Jason, because l want to do some fencing with him" I said slowly going forward.
"And what about me?" Percy stopped me.
"I thought that you suddenly became busy"
"Um, Stef... Don't say like that... Annabeth is rebuilding something, so she works every day and night in her cabin. We spend too little time together..."
"That's why l've said that you suddenly became busy"
"Um, can l go to her, yes?"
"Why are you asking me? Run to her!"
"Thanks! Have l ever told you that you're amazing?!" Percy hugged me.
"Just did it for the first time" l smiled. All my good mood has disappeared as disappeared Percy who was walking towards Annabeth.
"So, Stef, what did you want?" Jason asked when l sat beside him on the terrace of the main house.
"I think l need some fencing today..."
"Aren't you tired?"
"Nope. Will you train me? If you will, l'll name you the best trainer of the day!"
"Of the month. And the best brother"
"Deal!"
"Then let's go" Jason smiled leading me to the arena.

During 4 hours before the dinner we trained. Why did l say train....? Actually, we were talking and laughing at something that now l don't even remember. But this isn't so important. All l thought then was not to think about relationships l had. And that aim was reached successfully.

After the dinner the whole camp went to their cabins. Guess, where did l go? Correctly. I went straight to Percy's cabin which looked like home for me.

Notes

Next chapter...