Behind the Shadows

Nothing bad had happened yet, but that could be due to the fact that only ten minutes had past since Sapphire was shown to her room. After getting changed Sapphire began pacing her room while putting together a plan in her head. After roaming the streets for years with Luke planning was important. Planning has saved their lives countless times when they came face to face with monsters. There was not much she could plan since she was in the middle of the ocean on a boat full of deadly sirens. The sirens "staff" could be of use if she could break what ever trance they were under but that could take days or even weeks. The only thing that troubled her was how she could keep Jake safe on this ship full of man eating sirens. She couldn't just stuff some ear plugs in to his ears because if she did the sirens would know that she did not trust them and their promise. It was the first time in a while that Sapphire wished Annabeth was here to save their butts. Sapphires intelligence didn't even come near to Annabeths.
A mirror hung on the wall. It had shells stuck around its frame. Sapphire stands in front of it and stares at the girl before her. She is tiny but the fierce look in her eyes makes her look deadly. Her skin is not tanned and perfect like her brothers, Sapphires skin is pale and flawless looking. It had always been a mystery to why she was so pale. Even in the Apollo cabin all the kids were tanned and sunkissed. Sapphire always stuck out like a sore thumb in that cabin. She now had the right look for her cabin. Dark hair, Sea green eyes and a figure that looked as though she had been a surfer most her life. Her height had never been a weakness. Her personality even made sense now because it was as un- tame as the sea. Percy's was different though his was like the sea at a calm. Always chilled and laid back.
A knock sounds from the door. Sapphire peels her eyes from the mirror and yanks the door open. A dead eyed boys stares at her. "You are to follow me"
The boy speaks in a empty tone. His voice and expression contains no trace of emotion. Sapphire frowns. Follow him to where?
"Where too?" She asks. No reply comes. The boy turns round and walks down the hallway expecting Sapphire to follow. She watches him walk for a moment thinking about just walking back in to her room and slamming the door. She follows him but only because curiosity gets the best of her. Even the way they guy walks looks controlled and robotic. He looks like he might be late teens. Sapphire and Jake's age. While they were out exploring on quests and enjoying freedom this guy was stuck on a boat with no control of his mind or body. It made Sapphire want to help them even more.
Sapphire was led to a room that looked like a small office. Milra sat behind a desk looking smug while she watches Sapphire enter. Jake is sat on a chair on the other side of the desk. He does not look at Sapphire while she walks to the desk. "Its so lovely to see you again Sapphire Jackson" Milra purrs. Sapphire holds back the urge to gag.
"Willow. Its Sapphire Willow, not Jackson" She corrects. Milra smiles. It is clear that Milra already knew that.
"Sit" Milra chirps. The urge to refuse was strong. All Sapphire craved to do was wipe that smug smile off the sirens face. Sapphire looks at the chair for a long moment. She decides to sit. Her thoughts were screaming at her to prop her feet up on the desk. It amazes Sapphire how obedient she is being. Jake has still not looked at her. His focus is directed at Milra. A weird feeling twinges within her. It makes her want to throttle Mirla and then drag Jake out of the room like some possessive caveman.
"The ship should arrive on camp half bloods shores by morning" Milra informs them. If they are both alive by morning. Jake is silent. What is wrong with him? He just sits there and stares at Milra.
"Is that all you wanted to tell us?" She asks while making a move to get up off the chair. Milra is silent for a moment and her smile sends chills down Sapphire back.
"No, I wanted to let you know that you will be arriving at camp alone now" Sapphire freezes and springs out of her chair. Her hands slam on to the desk.
"What?" Sapphire growls. Milra smiles sweetly up at her. As if butter wouldn't melt.
"Jake has decided he would like to remain with us" Sapphires eye twitches with from her anger that is rising at a dangerous rate. She looks at Jake. His eyes are blank just like all the other males on the ship. Sapphire lets out a feral wail before she pounces over the desk and grabs Milra. The boat rocks side to side. Milra stumbles about, but Sapphire remains stable and focused. She wants to rip Milra to pieces. Sapphire snaps her hands round Milras throat and throws her against the wall. No one is in the room to stop Sapphire from killing the siren. For the first time the smug look on Milras eyes is gone and is replaced with fear. Good, Sapphire thought. She wanted her afraid. The boat is swaying uncontrollably. Like the boat had just hit a storm. Her hands remain around Milras throat. Her grip gets tighter and tighter with the rage that never ceases to stop rising.
"Let him go" Sapphire snarls. Milra does not reply. Her eyes are focused on something behind Sapphire. Sapphire snarls and throws Milra to the floor she makes a move to unleash more hell on mirla, but hands grab her shoulder and throw her across the room. The force and shock hits her when she lands on the floor at the other side of the room. The shock is from seeing who threw her. Jake helps Milra up and they both turn to Sapphire. Seeing Jake stand next to that monster with his eyes completely wiped of any emotion it shakes Sapphire to her core. After that all she feels is a dangerous numb that replaces the panic or fear. All that is left is anger and fire. The swaying of the boat is now at battle while waves of the ocean crash against it with an uncontrollable force. Screams can be heard from up on deck as all the sirens up there are swept away by the flow of water. The fear is still in Mirla eyes.
"Pick one" Sapphire spits. She gets up off the floor and steps forward. Her hands shake from rage.
"Pick what?" Milra croaks. Sapphire lets a smirk form on her mouth.
"Pick which one of my godly parents you want to be squashed by like the pathetic bug you are". Mirla lets out a shaky breath and does not reply. Sapphire carries on talking. "I was thinking Poseidon, but I'm just as capable of drowning this ship without mercy as he is. I will pick for you" Sapphire lets out a deadly laugh. "I ask of the help of my father Apollo"
Milra lets out a shaky laugh.
"What is Apollo going to do to help? All he can manage is to tend to a few wounds and then sing us a song"
This was the response Sapphire wants. Sunlight blasts through the windows blinding everyone for a few moments. After a moment the sunlight fades and in the middle of the room is a man. He is tall and very tanned. His sunshine hair lights the room. He faces Sapphire with a fond smile.
"Hey there, sunshine" Apollo greets. Sapphire grins at him. Apollo had always been there for her since she arrived at camp. He had been there for her more than any other god had been there for any of their children. The Apollo children always envied the attention Sapphire got. If Apollo had not been there for her then she would of probably of accepted Luke request to join him because without Apollo she would of hated the gods just as much as Luke. Apollo turns around and faces Mirla. "Shall I start singing songs then?"
Milra starts screaming bloody murder for the help of her fellow sirens. None come to aid her. They must of all been swept away from the waves. Apollo chuckles and raises his bow and arrow. Sapphire steps forward.
"Release Jake and the others under your trance or you will greet an arrow to the neck" Sapphire snarls. Milra stands still. A moment later Jake collapses to the floor coughing up blood. Sapphire chokes a cry. "What have you done?" She screams and rushes to Jake. Milra lets out a frightening laugh before Apollo's arrow flies in to her throat and she fall the floor.

Notes