Blood red dress. Death black dress. Blood red dress. Death black dress. The two colors alternated the entire length of the closet. Typical Mom. She always replaces my clothes with black and red dresses this time of year. My birth month. December. I don't know why exactly she does it. It makes zero sense. Especially since she knows that I only wear them around her. I change back into jeans and t-shirts as soon as she leaves for work.
Speaking of work, I was running late today. Johnny was not happy at all. Carter's Café has a low tolerance for late employees. But it isn't my fault. Not really. I had the dream again. The dream about the blonde guy killing some kid named Percy. I was standing by helpless… trapped in something. I think it was a prison cell or something like that. Whatever it was it affected my powers.
I don't really talk about my powers do I? Why would I? They cause me nothing but trouble. Shadow jumping is the worst of them. It wears me out so freaking bad. And Mom hates it when I do that. She says it attracts bad things. Like bad spirit things. My Mom's a kind of hippie lady. She believes in a lot of stuff like that.
Catrina put her pen down and placed her leather notebook to the side. The full moon shown through the open curtains of a small living room. She shut her eyes and let the light spill over her already pale features. It was times like these that Alyssa Southwick enjoyed watching her only child. Catrina looked so much like her father. They both had the same dark eyes and hair. The same smooth, milky white skin and regal features. The only thing Catrina had inherited from Alyssa was a pair of full, red, lips. Kids use to tease her for being the exact cliché of Snow White.
Skin pale as snow.
Lips red as blood.
Hair black as night.
"One day, honey, those kids will owe you their lives." Alyssa always told Catrina. "If only they knew who you really are?"
"And who am I?"
Alyssa would smile as she said, "You, my love, are Catrina Helen Southwick. The daughter of a very powerful man."
"Who, Mama?"
"That is classified information. Maybe one day you'll know."
There was a loud, demanding knock on the front door. Neither of the women moved. They continued to sit. Catrina stared outside at the night and Alyssa stared at the door. The knocking continued for another breath, then stopped. A deep chuckle came from the other side of the locked door. Alyssa recognized the sound. She heard the same terrifying chuckle in her nightmares. The dreams where he comes for Catrina.
He can't defeat the gods with out her.
"I will return another time." The man said. "Perhaps then she will be ready."
Alyssa let out a sigh of relief when foot steps walked down the driveway, a car started, and a loud engine faded to nothing. Catrina looked at her mom worriedly. Something about the man had been off. Like, dead, off. The man wasn't living. She could sense that as soon as he had approached the door. Judging from Alyssa's reaction Catrina didn't say anything. Mom knows whoever that was is bad news. I don't need to say anything.
Long moments passed before either of them spoke. The clock went from 10:00 to 11:00. Catrina stifled a yawn. But she was too worried over the person (or not?) at the door to go to sleep. But her body had other ideas. Her eyelids became heavy and her mind fogged up. The more she tried to concentrate on staying awake the more she wanted to collapse. Alyssa laughed quietly.
"Go to sleep baby." She said. Her voice was low and soothing. "You're going to have a long day tomorrow."
"Why?" Even to her own ears Catrina sounded about ready to pass out.
Alyssa looked down. Catrina swore she saw her mom start to cry. "I've been selfish with you. I'm surprised they're only looking for you know. It should have started when you were thirteen. In fact, I should've sent you away when you were thirteen."
"Sent me away." Catrina repeated numbly. "To where? You're my only family. I wouldn't leave you… at least not until college."
Alyssa laughed on the verge of hysteria. "You have to go baby. You have to because it's the only way you'll be safe. Your father… when you turned two he wanted to send you then but I couldn't. Catrina, I don't even want to do it now."
The sixteen year old understood even through her sleepy haze. "But you have too. Just tell me something, okay?" Alyssa looked up. Her crystalline blue eyes shone with unshed tears. She nodded. Catrina took a breath. "Will Dad be there?"
Alyssa hesitated. "I doubt that Cat. I really do."
For some reason Catrina didn't care. So what if she wasn't going to see her dad? She was leaving her mom, the only parental figure she has ever known. She couldn't even remember her dad anyway so what did it matter? Even if he was there who's to say she would even recognize the man? It. Just. Didn't. Matter.
Alyssa sighed. "You aren't going to remember this in the morning are you?"
"Probably not. I'm way sleepy. I'm also lucky if I remember my name. What with getting do distracted by-"
"The ADHD and all." Alyssa finished for her. "I know, I know. But soon you'll realize that the ADHD and dyslexia are only the beginnings of something greater."
"What?"
"You'll know soon."
Catrina groaned. "Stop being so cryptic!"
Alyssa laughed. "Sorry love. Go to sleep."
Catrina lay down on the couch. Soon her breathing became slow and even. Alyssa got up and walked to the telephone. She dialed a number slowly. A man's voice came on the other end almost immediately.
"Hello Alyssa."
"Hello Chiron."
"He came today didn't he?"
Alyssa nodded, forgetting momentarily that the Immortal Trainer of Heroes couldn't see through the phone. "Yes... he did. Was I stupid to keep Catrina with me for so long?"
Chiron laughed sadly. "Gods no Alyssa. In ways I believe it saved Catrina's life. I will send a retrieval team immediately. They will be there within the hour."
"Thank you Chiron."
"You are quite welcome Ms. Southwick. And don't worry over your daughter. We will take good care of her over here at Camp Half-Blood."
"I know. I just… I'll miss her. She reminds me of her father in ways. I guess that's why I held on for so long."
"It's understandable. Hades can have certain…" He seemed to struggle for the right word. "Charm."
"Don't get sarcastic with me old man." Despite her angry sounding words Alyssa laughed. "Do I need to give her that potion thing now?"
Chiron hesitated before saying, "It would be wise."
"Ok. Goodbye Chiron."
"Goodbye Alyssa."
Alyssa put the phone back on the hook. With a heavy heart she went to the kitchen. She rummaged through a drawer before pulling out a vial filled with a thin purple liquid. Alyssa got out a glass and filled it with water, then poured in the concoction. It vanished in the water immediately. There was a part of her saying no, not to give Catrina the drink. She would forget everything about this life including Alyssa. She would forget all their love and inside jokes. She would remember only basic things.
Her name is Catrina Helen Southwick.
She is a sixteen year old and an only child from New York. Her mother's name is Alyssa Southwick.
She has special talents and knows how to use them.
That's all Catrina would remember. But then again that would be more then enough. Everything prior to her new life would be a nuisance. She wouldn't need memories weighing her down. Making her sad.
Little did Alyssa know that Catrina would also forget the nightmare about the blonde guy trying to kill Percy while she was imprisoned. Something that could have saved her from unnecessary pain was forgotten. Something that could have saved many people from a premature death was forgotten.
Alyssa shook her daughter gently. Catrina's eyes fluttered open and Alyssa gasped. She could see the entire depths of another world reflected in those chocolate brown eyes. She could see the whole of the Underworld. With shaking hands Alyssa handed Catrina the drink.
"You'll need this for tomorrow."
Catrina took the glass without argument. Anything that would get her mom to leave her alone so she could go back to sleep she was up for. She would have juggled poisonous snakes if that were what it would've taken. As the cold water went down her throat a sort of warmth spread throughout Catrina's limbs. The glass slipped out of her hand and fell to the floor, breaking into a million pieces. She fell back against the couch with a small groan. Her mind was going numb along with the rest of the body. Catrina tried to say 'Mom' but nothing but another groan would come out.
A/N: Comment and tell me what you think. Should I continue or not? No flames please. Title may be subject to change by the way.
