Aunt Hestia wasn't what Annabeth expected. She wasn't the one who obsessed about order, like Piper with Alabaster Reynolds. "I let things take its course." She said, striking Annabeth as hippy-cliché-like. Hestia was very welcoming. She invited Annabeth with a smile like they knew each other very well. She closed the door behind her back.
"That's the dining room/kitchen," she said, pointing at the room, "but, either way, it's my favorite room." She winked. Annabeth blinked. She didn't know whether to shiver or wink back. Hestia laughed, which casted a warm feeling over Annabeth.
"The living room." She gestured the room where a masonry fireplace with huge flames flickering inside. Annabeth stared at the fire, almost feeling warmer and more comfortable. She felt Aunt Hestia grab her wrist and drag her upstairs. They became silent. As they climb the stairs, Annabeth looked at the pictures on Hestia's wall.
There was a picture of Aunt Hestia and Frederick. The other was her as a teen, twirling around in a dress. The next one was her and Athena, playing tag with happy and childish face. Every picture seemed to be older. Annabeth didn't see any other pictures. She doubt Hestia would frame some. "Um…you live here alone?" She asked.
Annabeth felt Hestia's lips twitch upward. She turned and nodded. They continued to climb the steps. "Don't you have a husband?" Annabeth didn't know why she was so curious. Hestia was likable and joyful, why wouldn't a guy fall in love with her?
"I don't need one, honey." Hestia said with an obvious grin. They finally arrived at the top of the two-story house. Annabeth took a look around. It had good interior but she was now too tired to care. Hestia pointed upward.
"Attic, I won't go in there, though." Hestia said with confidence.
"Why?" Annabeth panted, carrying her bag wasn't as easy as she thought.
"Spiders." With that one word, Annabeth's face began to pale. Spiders were her greatest fear. She would never test her curiosity on the attic.
"Enough said." Annabeth followed Hestia, who was already moving.
A hallway led Annabeth to her room. Hestia swung the door open, showing Annabeth the guest room. "Wow," Annabeth muttered. She just gaped at the room. A chandelier hung from the ceiling. A queen-sized bed was sitting still in front of the wall. A nightstand with a lamp was beside the bed. A huge cabinet was on Annabeth's right.
"Make yourself at home." Hestia turned on the light, closing the door slowly. "Don't be shy, belly flop on the bed if you'd like." Annabeth nodded as Hestia closed the door. She did a belly flop on the bed and smiled as some other memories flooded her mind, all of which Hestia was in.
Annabeth was trying to catch a butterfly. Hestia stared at her with a grin. She was having so much fun with her butterfly that a nasty rock caught her ankle and pulled her back for a fall. Dirt and grime covered her clothes and arms. Not only did she fall, she also fell into a mud puddle.
Tears welled up Annabeth's eyes. She blinked, which made them fall. She shouted for help, and, since she was just a baby, it sounded like "Delb niii!" instead of "help me". A foggy figure with blazing eyes carried her and patted her back, whispering encouragements.
"It's okay." Hestia murmured to the baby's ear. "You're fine."
Annabeth believed her and swore she would never catch butterflies again. Hestia smiled and kissed Annabeth's forehead after washing her.
The high frequency ringtone of her phone shook her out of memory. She blinked and took out her phone from her pocket. Annabeth's eyes readjusted to see Unknown Number sprawled on her phone. She sighed and answered, eyes closed.
"Hello?" A deep voice said from the other line.
"Hmm?" Annabeth answered, she wasn't sure who this person is or what's his plan, she just wanted him to get to the point.
"It's Piper."
Annabeth's eyelids shot up. "That's your voice?"
"No, it's Jason who's talking, not her. She just wanted to see if we got the right number."
Annabeth blushed. Piper has mutism! She reminded herself. She asked a stupid question and now she has to pay for it. "You got the right number." She muttered.
"Okay, thanks. And Piper was wondering if you could meet her at the park tomorrow."
"What park?"
"It's close to your house. Just turn right and you'll see grassy fields sprawled through like a meadow."
"How do you know where's my house?"
"Piper can see you."
"What?" Annabeth shrieked as she scrambled out of bed. She stared out her window until she saw the other house. It had its lights on and Annabeth was shock to not notice the house before. Its window opened to reveal a blonde haired boy on the phone—
"What the—!"
"Will you go?"
Annabeth sighed and nodded. For some reason, Jason saw this. "Okay, bye."
"Um…bye, too, I guess."
Then, silence.
Annabeth climbed into bed after brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas. She took off her glasses and put it on her night stand. She stared at the chandelier for a while before her eyelids became heavy like lead. She closed her eyes and nodded off.
Thank you for the reviews! I hope you people like this chapter, sorry if it's kinda short. Fav, Follow, Review!
