Review so I can catch more mistakes! Sorry, but this chapter may seem kind of slow and boring because I have to explain a little.
Chapter 2: I play with graveyard flowers
I began panting heavily as I got closer to the murky Styx waters. How could Aphrodite even get down here? Why would she help my mom in the first place? I knew I couldn't keep running if these questions were bothering me, so I paused and sat cross-leg position on the grass. So there I was, only a week away from my 12th birthday, and I was running away from home because of a goddess who was my mom. Actually, I was running from 2 goddesses. Aphrodite, if I remembered correctly from my instinct and lessons, was supposed to be a goddess of love and harmony. Her weakness was feminine stuff, and the Underworld was far from feminine. Even Ares didn't dare come here when he had a choice. As far as I knew, Aphrodite was on a neutral basis with my mom…and I wasn't exactly sure about my dad. Persephone had a better relationship with Demeter, Hecate, Artemis, and Athena, not Aphrodite. So none of this was even making sense! But Hades and Persephone weren't exactly a harmonious couple…but wouldn't Aphrodite want to fix that instead of break it apart?
I gave up on thinking and pressed on as I extracted a black satin pouch from my pocket. It was a gift from some centaur named Chiron that I had since my tenth birthday, when my parents decided I could start visiting the Upper Soil. I rubbed some grainy powder in my fingers, and then threw it in the air. I could feel my godly form becoming its true self before I disappeared. Now let me just tell you something about godly form. It's not exactly a comfortable form because it saps your energy and makes you feel like you've been stretched and put in an oversized yarn sweater, and many gods personally prefer a form they can customize. But I guess godly form can feel nice, because you get this nice glow around you that give an aura of warmth….but I still prefer my normal form. Just saying. My brown duster, white collared button up, dark wash jeans, and hiking boots reappeared as I surfaced in a random graveyard.
"Why can't that powder take me somewhere else?" But in a way, I was comforted by the serenity of graveyards, probably because of my dad. I strolled away from the Victorian fencing and up to a willow tree, where I decided to kneel down. Whenever I traveled, the godly form seemed to take up even more energy, so I felt light-headed. I had some ambrosia and nectar, and then leaned back against the tree trunk. Having mom and dad fight all the time made me scared and angry at the same time. I wanted my dad to just let my mom go, but they were my parents, and I wouldn't want to have dad all alone. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a sudden flash of some brown and white feathers.
"What-what was that?" I stared around for a while, and then tried to calm myself down. You're just really worried, you know. Just stop thinking about it and relax, and don't start grudging on your parents for this. But still, I felt infuriated that mom would do this, yet I felt bad my dad would keep her in the underworld. I curled up against the tree trunk and closed my eyes as some soft breeze fanned my hair. Suddenly, I heard this swishing sound, like fresh leaves brushing against each other. In front of me, some dandelions were wilting incredibly fast and turning black. I tensed as I grabbed for my Stygian blade.
Who's doing that? Show yourself! I figured it could only be godly power, so I probed my mind around to see if there were any others lurking nearby. But before I could do anything else, the bird-shaped blur I saw before flashed again and went into a tree, hidden in shadow. I tried to calm down, and I noticed the dandelions were growing from the ground again, somehow, losing their black sheen and becoming bright green. Great. I had the power to control flowers? But my eyes caught on something else. A squirrel behind me was laying incredibly still, its eyes closed and its fur the only motion I saw. I checked for its pulse, but there was nothing at all.
Did I do that? How- what type of monster am I? I kept wishing it would come back, but nothing happened. I began digging a hole in the ground to bury the squirrel in, but suddenly the squirrel began moving again, and it scurried away. A great weight lifted off my chest and I nearly laughed. Cawww! The mysterious eagle screeched loudly and I began worrying for revived squirrel. Suddenly, three shriveled old ladies seemed to appear from nowhere, each hauling a basket of yarn and some knitting supplies. Who knits in a graveyard?
"Mmmm…don't think he's too aware of his power, is he?" The old lady holding a ball of golden yarn stared at the running thread almost dreamily. I tried to scramble to the other side of the tree trunk and run away from the old ladies, but some odd feeling was holding me back, as though it was…fate. I glared back at them, but they only seemed to converse among themselves.
"No, I don't think so. Too bad, but he needs to learn to control it, or I see bad things in his future…very bad…yes…" Another one knitting the yarn into this weird yarn tapestry cackled to herself.
"Not only bad luck for him, but for others as well!" The last old lady took out a pair of shears and clipped the yarn with a snick that gave me shivers. The trio cackled loudly as the end of the thread on the tapestry drooped lifelessly. "Ooh, look, he's mad. Do you know your power, boy?" All three of the hags stared at me, their drooping lips curled into malicious smiles. Their beady eyes stared at me from under their bandannas expectantly as my nails dug into the willow tree's trunk. Suddenly, I felt a sickening lurch as the tree began to shrink. I stared back at it, panicked, and saw that the life was draining out of it. Not again! No! I can't do this! Come back to life! Please! The willow tree suddenly began plumping again, and it grew greener leaf vines than before.
"Haha! Very powerful indeed! Maybe he is not to be reckoned with, yes? A major god, possibly…" The hag who knitted stared at me and seemed to ponder something even I was clueless about.
"Zeus! Transport him for us please." Zeus? The bald eagle swooped down and morphed into a stormy haired man in a blue pinstripe suit. His eyes seemed to emanate a sharp energy as they stared down from a hooked nose. He seemed part angry, part calm, but ready to tip in either direction, like a sudden thunderstorm or light drizzle. In a large, strong hand he hefted a crackling lightning bolt and put his other hand in front of me, palm-first. I had heard of him before for sure, but I had never seen him in real life, so his presence startled me. I had only met gods like my mom, my dad, Hermes, Athena, Artemis, and Hecate, but I still wasn't used to the strong aura they gave out. It always made me realize I had an aura as well, which slightly disturbed me.
"What are you doing Zeus? Please! Don't punish me just because I'm the son of your brother! I-I've never gone into your territory! I promise!" I sounded pathetic, but I learned you have to act humble in front of major gods, especially the king, unless you want to become a pile of lint-colored dust. Zeus set down his lightning bolt and placed both hands on his stomach as he laughed in a deep tone.
"I'm not that cruel, Skotinaphos! But you watch out, or you shall be disintegrated before you can beg for mercy. Your father cannot venture into my territory, and neither can you. But maybe I'll take pity on you, since you are the son of my lovely daughter Persephone." A peacock squawked indignantly from somewhere above, and I figured it was Hera being mad at Zeus for cheating on her with her own sister, Demeter. "Now, I'm guessing you've seen some of your power, yes?" I nodded carefully. Zeus rubbed the coarse black hairs of his beard between his fingers and mumbled to himself. "I rarely make appearances on the ground or for a minor god…or so you seem."
"I'm not really powerful, Lord Zeus. I guess I can just control plants or something," I reasoned. I had no desire for a great power, yet a tugging feeling pulled inside me, wanting me to become a major god. Zeus chuckled and shook his head.
"Oh, no, my boy, I'm afraid those powers belong to Demeter and Pan, may his soul be blest in Nature." Zeus lowered his eyes in respect for a couple of seconds. Then he looked back up, his eyes staring at me with almost a hint of pity. "But maybe you are just a minor god. We may have to send you to work for your grandmother Demeter one day, but for now I guess we should get you somewhere safe where no other gods can exploit you or harm you." Just as he was about to snap his fingers, I placed a hand on his large wrist.
"Uhh. Where am I going? Why are you protecting me?"
"I'm sure you might be powerful someday, boy. We can't risk you being influenced by…others. It would be utterly dangerous. The Fates, I'm sure, agree with me." The Fates tittered from behind Zeus, but were silenced by his threatening lightning bolt.
"Watch your back, Lord Zeus," said Clotho, "You might find a rival in both us and this boy." She had snuck up behind me and placed her wrinkled hands on both my shoulders. I shivered as she put her face close to mine. She smelled horrible, like moth-eaten sweaters and raw meat. Zeus looked frustrated by all the teasing, but even he submitted to the Fates.
"Well Skotinaphos, it is high time for you to get to a safe place. Correct?" Before I could answer, he snapped his fingers and there was a sound like thunder. Gratefully, I grabbed onto his arm and up and away we flew, the Fates cackling behind until their sounds faded away. The rushing winds stung my cheeks and bit at them fiercely, but I managed to hold onto Zeus's suit-sleeve. I could have sworn he looked at his pinstriped sleeve in an annoyed way and mumbled something like Always got to iron it with my lightning bolt whenever this happens.
"Lord Zeus?"
"Yes, my boy?"
"Where are you taking me?"
"You are going to Camp Half-blood."