ALL RIGHTS TO THE CHARACTERS (except Celeste, she's mine) BELONG TO RICK RIORDAN. I DO NOT OWN THE PJO/HoO OR THE KANE CHRONICLES SERIES!!!

Chapter 7 - Celeste

Percy had told Celeste about Carter and then left.

Now, Celeste was alone in the infirmary, her mind blank.

The constant headache that was nailing her temples bugged her, but she brushed away the pain to concentrate.

Something wanted her and the gods dead, but what was it?

It wasn't Kronos.

It wasn't Gaea.

It wasn't any of the giants or Titans.

It wasn't a monster.

So, what was it!?

Sighing, Celeste turned to where the right side of her head was on the pillow.

She was almost asleep when a loud crashing noise and a boy's scream sent her bolt upright.

However, sitting up fast made her nauseous again.

She grabbed her head in agony and tried not to scream. The pain was unbearable.

Still moaning from the pain, Celeste pulled off her covers and hobbled to the window.

Outside, she saw all the campers surrounding a boy.

Then, a girl showed up.

After watching for several minutes, Celeste finally realized Percy, the girl and the boy, Chiron, and the rest of the seven were heading for the infirmary.

Celeste sprinted to her best ability and jumped back in bed.

She pulled the covers up to her chin and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

She heard the door open and the sound of footsteps.

"Shh. She's still sleeping." Percy's voice.

Then, she felt a hand on her forehead. She didn't dare open her eyes to see who it was, but she guessed it was Percy.

"Still burning up." Percy said, confirming for Celeste that the hand had definitely been his.

"Carter, Sadie, this is my sister, Celeste. She's asleep at the moment, but she's a goddess. And-she's dying." Percy said, his voice breaking on the last word.

"I'm sorry." A voice Celeste didn't know said. She guessed it was the boy Percy had called Carter.

"So, whatever you guys can do, we'd be indebted. Celeste is our friend and, as you know, Percy's sister. We can't lose her." Annabeth's voice this time.

"We'll try but...we're not miracle workers. Our friend is dying of the same thing as well." A girl's voice Celeste didn't recognize came.

"Of course, but we can help each other. Like the prophecy said, three sides." Percy said with slight hope.

"But it said three sides each despised, what if we have to fight?" Hazel added.

The room fell silent at that.

"Plus, a war. What exactly are we fighting? Before we can stop this, we have to figure out exactly what it is causing it." Jason pointed out.

"How are we supposed to do that?" Percy asked.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Celeste's hand. She almost jumped, but fought it down. She didn't want to bring notice to everyone that she was awake. If they knew she was awake, they would talk elsewhere and leave her out of the conversation. She needed to know what their plan was. She wanted to help.

Risking the tiniest glimpse, Celeste opened her eyes just a crack to see Leo crouching beside her, stroking her hand.

"Celeste?" He whispered.

Celeste immediately shut her eyes, hoping he hadn't seen her.

"Can you hear me?" He asked again, low enough so that no one else in the room could hear.

Celeste sighed inwardly when she realized that he hadn't seen her eyes open.

She heard him sigh and stand up, but his hand remained on hers.

It was warm and gentle, and it reassured Celeste.

She listened more intently to the conversation now, hoping to grasp important information.

However, sleep was grasping her thoughts. She never thought gods and goddesses slept, but it might've just been her. She was a freak after all.

As she slipped out of consciousness, she barely felt Leo's hand leave hers as everyone exited the room.

Alone and tired, Celeste let the darkness come.

•••

It was the first nightmare she had in months.

She was standing in Manhattan, all alone (which was surprising since it was Manhattan) in the dark.

A low chuckle, that soundly creepily like her own laugh echoed throughout the city.

In the nightmare, her sickness was gone. She was up on her feet and had energy coursing through her.

There was a sword at her belt and she unsheathed it, pointing it out into the air and calling out, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

The uncanny laugh grew louder until it shook the ground and nearly burst Celeste's eardrums.

Then, a black mist swirled around her feet and a body appeared in front of her.

It was herself.

Her clone was draped in dark, coiling mist and had a cruel smile on her face.

"Who are you?" Celeste shouted, cursing herself for the crack in her voice.

The clone-Celeste laughed. "I am you. Well, simply the other side of you. Deep down inside, hatred boils up inside of you. I am the darkness that gave you your powers in the first place. I am what made you-a freak."

Celeste's sword arm trembled. "What do you mean!?" She screamed.

"When you were born, do you think you just got your powers from nowhere? Cute. I am what your father placed the curse on you for. I am the darkness he was trying to block out, and he succeeded. But, now your curse is lifted. You removed it with your powers without even realizing. Now, I'm free. We both are."

Celeste's breathing stopped momentarily. "So, you're saying, you're me, but just an evil version?"

"Briefly speaking." The evil-Celeste chuckled. "We are connected, you and me. Anything that happens to you, happens to me, and vice-versa. Unless, one of us kills the other, of course."

"So, we have the same power and everything?" Celeste asked, still curious.

"Yes. And with your power, I will rule the world and destroy the gods! But first, I need your cooperation. Work with me Celeste, and we will rule the world together."

Celeste hesitated. "What about my friends? I don't want them to die."

Evil-Celeste pouted. "Oh yes. I forgot how soft you were. Well, I'll spare your brother, Percy. But that's it. I can't exactly rule the world with a bunch of annoying demigods now can I?"

Celeste flinched at how much evil-Celeste sounded like herself. It was like she was looking in a fun-house mirror, the mirror changing the way she looked. However, right now, it was just changing the way she acted.

"No. I'm not going to let my friends die. They don't deserve it." Celeste started, still holding the sword firmly.

Evil-Celeste sighed. "Please don't make me kill you darling. You would be such a great help to a worthy cause. Why not help me? Your brother will live? Isn't that all you've ever wanted? To be with your brother forever, protecting him like you swore all those years ago?"

Celeste became speechless. She almost slapped herself for even considering the possibility of going with evil-Celeste's plan.

"If you're me, then you know how much I care about Percy. But you also know how much I care for my other friends as well." Celeste stated firmly, holding her head up higher.

Evil-Celeste frowned. "Such a softie. Well, you've made your decision. Good luck winning a war against yourself. You are your own greatest enemy Celeste. You've always known that. Just remember, your father cursed you to get rid of me. Basically, you never should've been born. Tell your friends to kill you, and it'll kill me of course. But do you really want to die? Do you really want to die letting your brother thinking of you as a monster, a traitor, and a coward?"

Celeste flinched and felt tears brimming her eyes. "I-"

"Goodbye Celeste. The next time we see each other will be your last moments alive." Evil-Celeste smiled cruelly. Then, she snapped her fingers and everything went dark.