Chapter 2

That night, I had a most pleasant dream.

I was in the Eleusis fields. The flowers were more beautiful than ever. I was wearing a beautiful and meticulously arranged pearl-white robe. I heard footsteps and turned around. It was Ares. I smiled. He was dressed in his armor, but his helmet was not present.

Suddenly, the setting changed. We were at Central Park, New York City. This place is Number One on my list of favorite places to be. Ares and I were in our human forms. Ares was in his biker's outfit. I looked the same for the most part. I mean, I usually wear a v-neck and a pair of jeans. We were looking at the view of the buildings. Everything was just amazing and it felt so great. Something faint within me told me that this wasn't right. Me? Falling in love with Ares? No Way! But, I just couldn't resist. I looked at Ares. He mouthed three words. I can't read lips but inside, I knew what he meant.

The view was marvelous. The skyscrapers reflected against the water like rainbows dancing gracefully. In the distance we could hear a duck quacking. The tall grass waved gently with the wind. Everything was just so calm and relaxed. I wanted to stay there forever and ever, with Ares by my side.

I awoke suddenly due to my mother calling from the door of my bedroom, "Heather! Rise and shine!"

I wanted to groan but decided against it. My mother hated it when I groaned. She said it was 'un-ladylike' and impolite. She should look in the mirror. Is cheating on your husband ever considered polite? I didn't think so.

"Come on, Heather. Up and at 'em," My father called.

"Oh great," I thought. "Quality family time." I walked out into the kitchen and there was a cake on the table.

"Who died?" I asked.

Dad smiled at me. "Don't be silly. No one died," He kissed my forehead.

Mom danced around the table in a way that made me wonder how she could ever be related to me. "Good morning, dear," She walked up to me and kissed me on both cheeks and resumed dancing around the table and juggling the eating utensils.

I exchanged scared looks with my father. He asked me, "How does one forget her own 1947th birthday?"

"Oh yeah," I thought. "How could I ever forget?" I smiled back at my father. "I remember now! 53 years until I reach my 2000 mark." I turned around to change into my birthday gown that Mom put in front of my closet on each and every one of my birthdays. "Just another chapter in my life…"

"I'm gonna invite Demeter, Poseidon and, of course, Athena! How could I ever forget Athena?" I heard Mom think out loud. I shook my head. Sometimes, you feel like you love your parents for actually having you instead of finding ways to kill you before you were even born but you don't want them around at the same time. Yeah, I got that feeling just about then. I wanted to hide my face in the Underworld until the day was over and all of the party shavings were cleared up already. But then again, you've gotta love your parents.

The next thing I knew, Mom and Dad were fighting over whether or not we should invite Ares and Hera. Zeus was definitely on the guest list. I mean, come on, he's Zeus for all the gods' sake.

I felt like I needed to step out for a bit. "Mom? Dad? Can I go to the beach for a while? I promise I'll come back before the party starts," I asked my parents, poking my head out of my door.

"Sure!" My Mom exclaimed, still dancing around the kitchen table. "Anything for my little 1947-year-old angel!"

"Little?" I asked myself meekly. I came out of my room and walked over to the main door. I looked back at my parents. Dad was busy putting up streamers in so many colors I didn't even bother counting them. My mother was still dancing around the table with my cake on it without a care in the world. I needed to leave – NOW.

I went to the part of the Aegean Sea coast that was closest to Mount Olympus. I met up with Poseidon there. He smiled at me.

"I hear it's someone's birthday today," He said in a singsong voice.

I laughed. "If you're going to embarrass me, Aphrodite did a sufficient amount of that. I don't need more lap dancing around a kitchen table. Once in a lifetime in good enough,"

Poseidon sighed. "Dite's at her dancing again. I feared that this would happen. I will hang around Hephaestus instead and try to avoid her. Thanks for the heads up." Poseidon said, chuckling. He reached into the sea and pulled out a necklace of pearls. I gasped. "For you. From me." He said.

"Thank you! Aw, Poseidon, you didn't have to do this!" I accepted the necklace anyway and tried it on. It was perfect.

He leaned in closer to me. "I know about your secret," He whispered.

I looked at Poseidon. "If it has upset you in any way-" I began to say.

Poseidon jumped back. "Woah! No, no! I'm fine with it! I just wanted to let you know that I know."

We both laughed. "I'd better get going." Poseidon interrupted. "Hermes tells me that Hephaestus needs my help," With that, my great uncle trotted off into the distance.