Shattered

Reflection

The first thing Thalia noticed was that she was no longer snug in her cot. She stood at the edge of a glimmering scene of a lake. Tall grass, swaying steadily in the wind and streetlights filling the surrounding landscape. Beyond that – forest then skyscrapers. A mixture of illustrious quacks and distant car horns filled her senses. She tried looking further around but her body refused to conform to the will of her mind.

Her eyes stilled at the lake; its waters - red tinged from the lowering sun - cleared into a reflection.

It was herself. At least - It would be her.

Her hair was just near as she remembered it, short and choppy, but it seemed to have grown out a bit. The next feature she noticed was her eyes. Piercing electric blue eyes stared back at her from the water. Her vision dropped lower, onto her lips.

Was she wearing lipstick?

That struck her surprised. She couldn't remember the last time she had even owned makeup, let alone the last time she had worn any. She wasn't the type of girl who'd wear such things on her face.

Speaking about her face, she looked pretty much exactly the same as what she remembered looking as, not counting her hair of course. Disregarding that detail, she continued to train her sight downwards and onto her choice of clothing. She was surprisingly wearing a dress, something she thought she wouldn't be caught dead wearing.

Fortunately it was black...

The fabric clung to her curves, accentuating her figure, making Thalia slightly blush. She didn't mean to brag or anything, but she looked downright sexy! (B/N: Oh boi, whatcha got for us, Josh?) (A/N: I've no idea what you may be referring to...)

Thalia wondered why she was all dressed up, and more importantly, how had anyone managed to convince her to wear a freaking dress. It seemed as though her questions would be answered soon as her musings were soon interrupted by light footsteps that arose behind her.

Thalia's face forcibly smiled at the figure who appeared behind her in wavering image in the water. What was presented to her was probably going to be imprinted in her memory for all of eternity.

Before her was probably the most beautiful woman she had ever laid her eyes on. The woman looked about as old as her dream-self. Mid to late teenage.

Her piercing, deep obsidian eyes shone with mirth as they gazed into Thalia's own blue orbs on the waterside. She had long, silky black hair that grew down to the small of her back. Woven into them was a silver tiara which glittered in the dim light of the room they were in. Her olive-like skin wasn't unblemished, but instead was riddled with small scars, but they only served to enhance the her illustrious beauty. Her pale skin was in stark contrast with the rest of her dark features. She wore a dark purple dress that hugged her body in just the right way. She also wore black heels, but they weren't too high. In fact, the girl was only slightly taller than herself.

"Thalia, you ready?" The girl had an expression of pure, unadulterated love. Thalia couldn't avert her eyes from the strange mystery girl that stood before her.

Her voice spoke up of its own accord, "Yes Bianca, just another moment. I just need a little longer."

Thalia wanted to widen her eyes. The absolute beauty standing in front of her was Bianca di Angelo! Now that her identity was revealed, Thalia couldn't deny the similarities she could find to the Bianca she remembered. The eyes and skin, for example could be unmistakable.

Questions blazed themselves through her mind: Why was Bianca wearing Zoe's lieutenant tiara. Has something happened to the daughter of Atlas? Even if that was the case, why was Bianca the lieutenant? Hadn't she left the hunt because of the great prophecy? Then again, the girl looked much older, so perhaps she had joined the hunters again once the prophecy had come to pass?