Chapter 20: Relaxation at Last… Or Not

I layed on my bed at home and stared at the ceiling, thinking and going through what happened the past week. Aside from my birthday, New Year's, and Christmas the cast celebrated a one month adoption anniversary. I couldn't believe that everything happened in the one month that I'd been with them. In a huff, I sat up and looked at the corner of the room where the bean bag sat covering the entrance of the Labyrinth. This is the first time I've been able to think about everything that's happened that I haven't even thought of the elephant in the room.

Renée took me to a camp a few days after New Year's so I could meet this man who was half horse and half man, Chiron. He looked like he knew a lot but couldn't put a finger as to how I could see Percy's sword much less defeat a hellhound and be covered in gold dust all at once.

Then came the weird fact that I passed out because of the voice in my head who doesn't talk when I'm alone or not with anybody that the voice seemed to know. Every time I asked it a question it didn't answer me, it seemed like whomever this voice was, was sulking. I slid out of my bed and paced my room, keeping an eye on the trap door as questions filled my mind.

How are Renée and Alexis demigods but they didn't know that an entrance to the Labyrinth was in their own home?

What is the voice in my head?

Is it someone else?

I shook that thought out of my head, why would someone put a demigod in my head?

For as long as I've known I lived a mortal life

But this voice only came when I first met Percy

Could that mean?

Steeling myself I thought one name that came to mind when Renée asked Percy about his wife.

Annabeth?

I nearly fell onto the beanbag when she answered

You can talk to me?

I threw myself onto the bed as my stomach healed completely since the shooting and answered her.

Yeah but it's just in thoughts, could you answer some questions for me?

I sighed in relief as she answered with a simple yes, I began asking her some of the questions that I thought of while pacing my room. With what seemed like a sigh, she answered

I wish I knew why or how I'm in your head, she began, I was unconscious in your mind until you picked up Riptide which is the pen that turned into the sword. I passed out after I gave birth to my fourth child, it wasn't the pain that made me pass out it was more like someone knocked me out.

I thought for a minute

Who or why would someone knock out a daughter of Athena who was part of the Seven?

I pictured Annabeth from the books; brave, smart, strong, and resilient

Someone would need to be close enough and strong enough to knock her out mentally because they'd be dead if anyone tried to knock them out at either of the camps.

I honestly wish I knew, she answered, I have a lot of things going through my mind too, she added

Like what? Why are you in my head in particular?

Yes

Sighing I turned on my light and grabbed my phone to open the camera

Can you see through my eyes?

There was silence for a minute before she answered

Yes, I can, I'm looking at a blue wall right now

I smiled as I held the camera up to my face, compared to how I looked a month ago my face was full. My grey eyes sparkled with a hint of blueish green in them as they blended in with my blonde hair that curled gently at my shoulders.

Any ideas, I asked the silent Annabeth

Do you have a full-body mirror?

I smirked as I got out of my bed once more and walked over to the mirror hanging on my door while turning on the lights. I had an athletic figure going on, I got most of my work out from dancing as I did it so often. Once I was adopted and finished eating my fill, I went back to how I usually ate which were small portions in and of itself. I had a little tan starting from when Renée took me to the beach a couple of days ago. The tan deepened the scar on my stomach from the gunshot wound but other than that I had small scars from some minor cuts.

Better?

Annabeth was silent for a bit as I just stood in front of the mirror

Yes, she finally answered, I'm sorry I'm just going through possibilities of what may be happening and why it is

What do you think is the connection, I asked once she finished

You said that you had both of your parents?

Yes

No siblings?

Zip, zero, natta, nien

With a little chuckle, Annabeth continued, How, close are you with Cass and Maria?

I thought for a minute while turning lights off after taking a picture and putting it up on Snapchat. We're close enough to be sisters in everything but blood, why?

Annabeth was silent for a minute as I texted Sammy after remembering what tomorrow was

Me: Hey you

Sammy: Who me?

Me: Yes yooooou. Wyd

Sammy: Just chillin' Wbu?

Me: Same, I'm also very nervous about tomorrow

Sammy: Oh, how come?

Me: What if they hate me and blame me for all that happened. What if now they won't trust me and think I'm endangering by being there?

Sammy: Wow you put a lot of thought into that... I'll help you tomorrow and whoever says or thinks that will get punched in the face. Remember what Cass and I told you at Christmas, okay?

Me: Okay, thank you, Sams, it's nice to know who has your back I gtg ttyl

Sammy: Ttyl cya tomorrow, Rosy

Me: Cya then

I sighed as I looked up at the ceiling once more, barely forgetting that Annabeth was still thinking

Do you have the possibility to answer our current situation?

It was a minute before she answered, in that time I turned on my side to look out the window

I do if you promise not to freak out about it, I think the best person to tell this to would be Renée

I stared out of the window wistfully as she answered

I promise not to freak out and I will be sure to tell Renée of this in the morning before school

Swear on the River Styx?

I furrowed my brow as I thought about what she said, I then remembered how she was talking about the sacred oath that I've seen Renée use

I swear on the River Styx not to freak out and that I will tell Renée about this as soon as possible.

With a sigh, Annabeth began with her hypothesis which was short and sweet but yet shocking

I believe that you may be my oldest daughter Zoë Nightshade Jackson

I dropped my phone on my bed after I posted the picture on Instagram

How?

I may have gone through your memory with the Labyrinth and Riptide, she began. You had a similar connection to it as Percy does with the sword then I noticed when he said that you looked familiar.

I have to talk to Percy and Chiron about this as soon as possible, I thought to her as I turned on my stomach and sighed. I went from losing my biological mother to finding out she's been in my head the whole time.

Annabeth chuckled, Yeah, sorry about that, she said then paused, Tell Renée as soon as you can tomorrow but first you need sleep since I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a busy day.

I smiled into my pillow as I checked the time, it was midnight

Okay mom, talk to you in the morning

With that and a few toss and turns, I fell asleep

I woke up to someone shaking me awake, I shot up out of my bed and looked to see Renée sitting on my bed with a wide smile

"About time you woke up," she said with a smile as I looked at my phone, "it's six in the morning you didn't miss your alarm we just have a surprise for you."

I smiled before I remembered the talk I had with Annabeth, "Hey Renée," I began and she turned around before walking out the door. "I found out something last night that I need to tell you, Chiron and Percy, is there a way that you could take me to camp as soon as possible?"

"Yeah," she began turning around, "what is it?"

"I know where Annabeth is and why I look familiar to him," I answered as her eyes widened

"How," she asked walking back to my bed as I sat up

I explained to her everything that Annabeth and I talked about last night being sure to include her hypothesis of me being Zoë. "We came to that conclusion last night before I fell asleep," I finished as I took out a dress that matched my eyes

Renée nodded, "I'll try to take you tomorrow, I have to see how busy I am but I see the resemblance," she said. "Hurry up, we don't have much time before your surprise."

I nodded, "Will do," I called out just as she closed the door, by the time Renée called for me I just reached the ground floor. "I'm ready," I called out from the door

Renée smiled as she came up to the staircase, "Okay then,��� she began, "let's go."

I grinned and nodded as she led the way out and into the car, "Where are we going," I asked as she chuckled

"I know something you don't know," she sang as we closed the door

"So," I began, "surprise?"

Renée nodded, "Cover your eyes," she ordered and I did as I was told

Soon I felt the car move and then we were on our way to my surprise with my stomach grumbling. For one reason or another Annabeth didn't say anything for a long time. A few minutes into our ride she said something

I hate surprises

I smiled into the cover of my heads

Me either but I learned to live with them

After that, she was silent for the rest of the ride

"Is it bad that I kind of feel like a Wish version of Ed from Full Metal Alchemist," I asked Renée once the silence started unnerving me

I heard a laugh in response, "No but you're still perfect either way," she said as I smiled before asking the dread question for every car ride

"Are we there yet?"

This time there was a sigh from both Annabeth and Renée, "No," Renée began, "we're not there yet but we're almost there."

A few minutes passed by before I felt the car stop, "Yay," I exclaimed, "can I move my hands now?"

Renée chuckled as I heard her open the car door, "No, not yet hang on sweetheart," she said as I grinned. I then heard the door close as I sat inside the car waiting for her in my winter coat. It was about a minute or two later my door opened just as my fears started returning from a month ago. Once Renée spoke, I was kept from having a panic attack, "You can come out now, let me help you since you're still supposed to have your eyes covered."

I felt her pull at my arm as I moved my leg to get out of the car, soon enough I was out with her help. Once I was out, she finally told me to move my hands and I gasped at where we were. We were in front of the Russ and Daughters café with the whole cast of Hamilton

"Rose," Daveed exclaimed as he ran over and attacked me with a hug, "I thought I'd never see you again," he added as I chuckled

"You saw me yesterday," I said with a laugh, "don't you remember me being on your shoulders when we celebrated my one-month adoption?"

Daveed scrunched his nose and scratched his head, "Oh yeah," he said, "but I still missed you," he added before going back to hugging me

Lin laughed in the distance, "All right you two," he said, "let's eat, I'm starving."

We all started following him into the building but before I walked in Renée stopped me. "Before we go inside," she began, "I would like to give you both a heads up about what you told me this morning and something to open at school."

I nodded, "Okay," I said raising a blonde eyebrow

She smiled, "You are just like your mother," she began as she dug in her purse. "As you well know, this world will be dangerous," she paused as she looked into the bag. "There it is," she said to herself then stuck her hand back in as I chuckled. "Anyways," she continued, "you will have the help from certain cast members if something happens that you can't help. If you need help from us and you're in Richard Rogers with us just yell monster. What's inside here will help you as much as possible, the name will look different to whoever sees it," she said as she handed me a small box. "Open it at school and rotate your wrist whenever you need it," she finished. "I will help train you during the school year while you'll be at camp over the summer with whoever else comes forward with this information," she added and I nodded

"Thank you, Renée," I said taking the box and putting it in my bag, we then walked into the café. It was pitch black up until I was about to say something, I was kept from doing so because the lights flashed as a chorus of voices sang

"Surprise," as three people attacked me with hugs, one of whom with blue hair that was gradually going back to her blonde hair

"I told you everything was going to be all right Rosy," Sammy said while squeezing me in one of her amazing hugs as Cass and Maria stepped back

"If anyone tries to give you shit," Maria began, "tell'em that you have two graduates who have your back."

Cass nodded while saying, "We'll be ready to sock anyone who gives you hell," she finished while putting her fist in her hand for emphasis

I chuckled before saying, "Thanks guys," I paused and checked my phone, "let's eat, Sammy and I have school soon."

Everyone nodded as we all sat down and started eating, I had triple chocolate pancakes with bacon, sausage, and a glass of orange juice. By the time we were done, it was time for Sammy and me to go to school and we were full.

Renée came up as I swallowed the last bite, "Cass and Maria will drive the two of you to school and the rest of us will go back to the theater for rehearsal with Pippa. I'll see you after school," she said kissing my forehead as Sammy, Cass, and Maria got up from the table that we were sitting at

"Okay," I began as I stood up to hug her, "thanks, I'll see you after school," I repeated as she returned the hug

Soon enough we were all in the car with me sitting next to Sammy while Cass and Maria were in the front seat. It was silent for the most part until Maria chuckled

"What's so funny Miss Reynolds," I said with a smirk as she shot a glare in my direction but continued laughing

"I just remembered that my mother almost named me Samantha after a friend in the family," she said as Sammy laughed in response.

"Well then," she began as I glanced over to her, she was wearing an orange dress that brought out her eyes. "I guess it's more of a coincidence that my mother had to choose between all of our names," she finished as the whole car laughed

"I think Sammy wins this one," I said as Cass nodded while pulling up to the front of the school

"I agree," she said as she stopped the car, "You two have a good day and Rose," she began as I looked up. "Don't let anyone bring you down for what happened, what you did was heroic so don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

I nodded before smiling, "I will Cass," I began, "you guys don't need to worry; I'm pretty sure Sammy isn't the only one who'll have my back throughout the rest of the year."

"That's good to know," Maria said with a grin as I hugged both of them, "you have a good day."

"We will," I said, "you guys have a good day too," I added before I closed the car door and they drove off. "Why are you so hyper," I asked her raising an eyebrow as she bounced on her feet

"Renée told me that she gave you something," she began with a wide grin, "I want to see what it is."

I smiled remembering the box that she gave me, "All right," I said as I slid the backpack off of my back and opened it. After a little digging, I found the blue box that Renée gave me and grabbed it before zipping the bag. I opened the box and gasped, inside was a bracelet with the name that Annabeth said to me.

Sammy gasped in my ear, "This means that it's official," she said as I nodded remembering what Renée said about the name looking different. "it's so beautiful," she added as I slipped it onto my left wrist as it glowed gold in the sunlight

"Yes, it is," I said after I found my voice

"Come on," she began nodding to the school as I looked up and noticed the sun highlighting her blonde hair coming back. "We need to get to class or we'll be late," she said as I nodded and rushed into the school.

The whole day flashed before my eyes as I found out that Brittany died in the shooting and was replaced by a cheerleader who quickly said that she wasn't going to harm me and that she'd try to stop James from getting to me. Pretty soon I was at lunch with choir members

"Hey guys," Samuel began, "Rose is back," he finished as I smiled and everyone laughed

"Dude," Stephanie began, "where have you been, she's been here the whole day," she finished as I sat next to Sammy. "Sammy what's wrong," Stephanie asked as her smile was replaced with a look of concern

I looked next to me to see Sammy's face was full of shock as her phone was held at her ear. "Hey Sams," I began but she didn't flinch, "what's wrong," I repeated as I turned to her

Her hand slid into her lap as she lowered her head and started silently crying as she hung up the phone, "From one problem to another," Mike muttered. "What the hell is wrong now," he asked when I shot a glare at him, he stuffed a spoonful of the driest mashed potatoes on Earth into his mouth.

I then returned my focus to Sammy, "Hey Sammy," I began, "Is everything okay," I asked and eventually she shook her head. "Do you want to go into the hallway to tell me about it," I asked as she nodded. I excused us from the table and soon we were in the hallway heading towards a bench when I heard her sobs. "Hey," I began once more as I sat down on the bench wrapping my arm around her shoulders, "what's all the crying for?"

She took a deep breath as she slid her head onto my lap, "There is no rest for the weary," she began. "First you have problems coming here and now," she paused to take a tear-filled breath, "and now my parents are dead."

"Do you want me to tell everyone at the table," I asked first as she nodded, "you don't want to talk about it," she nodded again after I finished the question. "Do you want me to text Renée to see if you can stay with us for now," I asked lastly as she nodded once more, the tears wetting my skirt. "Okay, you can still lay on my lap but I need to get my phone from my bag," I said as I shifted to grab my phone

"Okay," she whimpered as I felt my heart break a little as I unlocked it

Me: Hey Renée, Sammy just lost her parents today and is crying on my lap outside of the cafeteria. Is it okay if she stays with us until everything is figured out?

Renée: Yeah that is perfectly fine, I'll share it with the cast, she can stay as long as she needs to.

Me: Thanks Renée, I gtg cya after school

Renée: Cya then Rose, Ily

Me: Ily2

After that, I locked my phone and looked down at Sammy who was now crying into my stomach. "Renée said it's fine to stay with us," I began as I rubbed circles around her back. "You can stay with us for as long as you need to," I paused as I remembered the feelings that I had when Cass told me that I was orphaned. "Do you want to go back to the cafeteria and finish eating?"

I felt her shake her head as I looked across from me, "No," she began, "even with the prosthetics your lap is very comfortable," she finished as I smiled a little

"You can still cuddle me while we eat," I said with a smile tugging at my lips, "I'll tell everyone what's going on and that you don't want to talk about it. Trust me with this, I may know a thing or two about it," I finished as we both chuckled a little. Soon we were back at the table and I told everyone there what happened and they didn't say a word as Sammy had her head on my lap and I was eating. Once the end of the day came Lin came to pick us up and take us to the theater, once we got there everyone wanted to talk to me. I let Sammy go to my room ahead of me before I followed Lin underneath the stage where the cast was waiting. "What's up," I asked once the door closed

Lin shifted then began to speak, "One of us wants to adopt Sammy after all of this clears up," he began. "I'm volunteering for it since I believe that you two have a close connection, is that all right?"

"We're asking you this because you've been through this before and we want to know what's going to happen and what we should do," Daveed added and everyone in the room nodded in agreement

I sighed, "She's going through a lot right now," I began, "I'll be there for most of it since I know how it goes. This is a good idea, just give it some time for everything to settle down for her. Give her some time to cool down from this," I said and they all nodded. "You guys are too amazing for words," I added as they chuckled before I walked up the stairs to my room

Once I got there, I saw a sight that made my heart leap in my chest as a faint memory of it flashed before my eyes. Sammy was sitting at the edge of my bed, tears streaming down her face as she held a knife to her throat. I rushed over to her and pried the knife from her fingers tossing it across the room as she collapsed into my arms. I carried her onto the bed and sat her down before I laid next to her and she cried into my side. "I know that suicide may seem like the best option right now," I began as I ran my fingers through her hair. "But it's not the best idea," I paused remembering what she told me when I got back from the hospital. "You'd leave so much behind, remember what you told me when I got back from the hospital."

"But what if all that matters is gone," she asked me on between her sobs

"It's not," I answered thinking about what kept me going up until I met Renée. "I always thought that when I first got here, but the thing that kept me going was the possibility of seeing my friends again. Now that I looked back, I'm glad none of the attempts at suicide didn't work because here I am with my friends and family. There is so much more in life that it's not worth ending now," I added as I looked down at her just as she looked up at me, our eyes meeting for the first time since I met her. "You'll still have friends such as me and the cast and you'll have a family of your own," I continued. "there is still life after a loss such as this," I finished as she smiled

"Thank you, Rose," she said as tears continued streaming down her cheeks as she planted her face into my stomach once more and I continued running my hand through her hair. We laid there for a while as her breathing slowed down and she fell asleep as I thought of everything I'd done after I found out. I sighed as I looked at her sleeping form

She looked so peaceful

So beautiful even with her tearstained face

Right then a thought struck me

Maybe Lin is right, maybe I do love her.

I smirked as Annabeth answered

Yes, you do now take care of her or else I'll have your head

I smirked as I looked at myself across the room

I will mom, I began, I will do whatever it takes to keep her safe