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When I awoke the next morning, my bed was covered in ice.
In fact, my entire room was covered in ice.
I had let the dam break when my parents told me they weren't coming to the special place. They hadn't told me the name yet.
I had packed a bag the night before, it containing a few changes of clothes (including my favorite blue dress), my toothbrush, a wallet containing all the money I had saved, about $20, and my DS. Mother told me to bring it so I would have something to do during the drive there, but I wouldn't really use it. I planned on bombarding them with questions.
We left our little New York suburbia home, and started the drive towards what would be my new dwelling. Father said it would take about an hour. That was not nearly enough time.
Sometimes I watch these dramatic movies where the girl has to leave her boyfriend, and she only has a week or two left with him. She claims it's not enough time. She didn't have to entirely move and probably never see him again, though, as I was.
It's not fair. I don't think my biological parents realized how hard it would be to leave to go to the special place. Maybe they should've just put me there in the first place, and not let me get all sentimental with the people of New York.
"I want the truth- no more holding back. What were their names?" I asked seriously. Mother and Father shared what would be their last worried glance, silently asking the other if they should tell.
"They never told us," Mother finally said. "I'm being completely honest; the only thing they told us was that you're a goddess, and need to be supervised. You don't know how to control it, Elsa. It's beyond your comprehension of what you can do."
"Than why was last night the first time I actually done anything? I've never been able to do this before."
Father sighed. "We were able to keep your powers in check for the past the eight because they are triggered by strong emotions. At least, because you don't have full control of them yet. One day you will, and will be able to do it all on your own. Anyways, we made sure you never got too angry or sad, and they weren't triggered. That is, until last night, when we couldn't control your anger."
"So you guys have pretty much isolating me for my entire life, never letting my emotions get out of hand?" It was a dishonest way of doing it, but I guess it was the only way.
"We had to," Mother said, turning around. "You were our only chance of ever of having a child. We wanting you for as long as possible."
I couldn't stay angry at them for long. Mother's tears and sad smile made me want to cry myself.
The temperature started dropping again. They must've noticed, because they immediately started to cheer me up.
"But we knew the day would have to come," Father assured. "It was inevitable."
At least they knew it would happen. It struck me that they must've been preparing for this day the entire time I've been in their custody.
"I'm sorry for not being able to stay." The temperature slowly started rising.
"It's not your fault," Mother assured. "We've been preparing this for a long time. We just didn't know it would happen so soon." Mother and Father linked their hands together.
We only had about 30 minutes left.
"If there hadn't been the Visions, would I had stayed longer?"
"Probably," Father said, taking his eyes off the road to glance back at me. "There was no stopping them; they're out there, and we couldn't change that."
I looked solemnly out the window. "What is the special place called?" I nearly whispered, though we were the only ones in the car.
"Camp Half Blood. It's a safe place where the Visions can't get in. It's where special like you go to be protected," Father answered.
"Why is it called Camp Half Blood? I'm not a half blood- I'm a goddess."
They looked uneasily at each other.
"It's where half bloods, demigods, go. Demigods are only half god, and the other human. The only reason we're bringing you here instead of Mount Olympus is because your parents told us to bring you there when you found out," Mother explained. Of course, my parents had told them to do it instead of doing it themselves. I guess they really didn't want me.
"Why?' was the only thing I could ask at the moment.
"They said you have a great prophecy to fulfill, and they needed you at camp."
20 minutes.
"How did they know? What if I had never gone to camp?"
Father chuckled his low chuckle, one that I would miss terribly. "Elsa, they're gods. You would end up at camp somehow, no matter what. You have to go; it would be dangerous if you didn't. We're not doing this voluntarily. We're doing this because we have to. Your mother and I love you and don't want you to go, but we know you have to. I don't want to give up my little girl to strangers; but I know I have to."
Father looked at me through the mirror, and noticed my tears. His eyes immediately went wide. "Elsa, please don't cry. I know this is going to be hard; it will for us too. But you need to stay strong. You can't risk your powers being exposed to others. They can't know. And you don't want to freeze New York, do you?"
"No," I mumbled, wiping at my eyes.
Father smiled. "Don't cry. Stay strong. We'll be back; we'll visit. But until then, you need to stay strong. Can you do that for me? For your Mother?"
I nodded. "I'll stay strong for you guys. Not anybody else, though."
They laughed.
10 minutes.
Anxiety built up inside me. I was dreading this.
Calm down, Elsa. Stay strong for them.
My little motivation talk made me sit straighter in my seat.
"I love you guys."
"And we love you. We'll see you soon enough, Elsa." Mother dried her tears that had been steadily flowing practically the entire ride. It hurt me to see her cry; I had caused her to hurt.
"Just a few more minutes, and you'll get to meet new friends, maybe even siblings if you find out who your real parents are. You'll be having so much fun, you'll forget all about us," Father smiled.
"I'll never forget you." I was a little excited for this fun, but not that much.
My statement made fresh tears spill onto Mother's cheeks.
Tears filled my own. "Mother, please don't cry. It'll make me miss you even more."
She nodded, and tried to wipe at them, but failed when they kept being replaced.
We stopped in the middle of the road and pulled over. Father got out and retrieved my bag from the trunk, while Mother and I followed him out.
We started up a hill with thick trees. The path behind me where I had walked froze with ice crystals.
Father took my hand and squeezed it, Mother taking my other. The ice thinned out a bit.
When we reached the top of the hill, I noticed pine tree, taller than all the others, sitting atop the crest of the hill. A few older kids in armor and guarded with swords greeted us.
A girl removed her helmet and walked to me. "Hello. I'm Grace, daughter of Ares. Who are you?" she asked me.
"Elsa," I said in a quiet voice. Grace smiled sweetly at me. She was probably the nicest daughter of Ares I would meet, since their father is the god of war.
"Well, Elsa, welcome to Camp Half Blood." She then regarded my parents.
"Parents?" she questioned.
They nodded. "We're mortal," Father said. "Just here to drop her off."
Grace nodded. "Take your time." She walked over to her post.
Father crouched down to my level, Mother soon following lead. "Elsa," he said soothingly, "remember to stay strong. For us."
I nodded, tears steadily flowing down my cheeks.
He wiped them with his thumb. "Conceal your powers, Elsa. Try not to feel strong emotions. Don't let the other campers know what you're capable of. Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know."
"Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know," I repeated as the ice spread from my feet.
"Elsa, it's going to be okay. We're just an hour away, maybe less if your Father goes fast." I laughed. "It's going to be okay," Mother soothed.
They enveloped me in a hug as I shook with sobs.
"Why can't you come?" I wailed.
"I told you, sweetie, we're not special like you. You have to go. We'll be back; I promise. I promise you'll be okay. Remember what we told you. Stay strong- for us." Father's voice assured.
"Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know," I repeated again.
Father smiled and nodded. Tears filled his eyes. "I love you, Elsa. Never forget that." His voice was tight.
"We both love you very, very, much, Elsa. Stay strong for us," Mother hugged me again, and soon Father joined.
They planted kisses all over my face. "Goodbye, Elsa. We'll be back before you know it. We love you," Father said while backing away. "They're going to take very good care of you." He handed me my small backpack.
"I love you guys.. a lot." I breathed heavily, trying to control my sobs. More ice spread. "Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know," I whispered.
They hugged and kissed me again.
"Goodbye, Elsa. We'll be back soon. We love you," they said in staggered unison as they stepped back. Grace walked over again and put an arm over my shoulder.
"Goodbye, Mother and Father. I love you!" I said as we turned around and went through the camp gates.
Mother fell onto Father, shaking with sobs. Father's arms encircled her, his tears silently flowing down his face.
I took in their image- this was probably the hardest thing they've ever done.
All because of me.
I cried while writing this. It's just so sad!
Thanks again for reading! Leave a review, maybe?
~Aubz
