Zeus turned to Chiron and said, "Can I have a word with you and the demigods of the prophecy?"
Scarlet started walking away, but Chiron stopped her and said, "He meant you too."
Scarlet was clearly puzzled. They all proceeded to the Big House. Each of them took a seat and all eyes were on Zeus.
He looked at Scarlet and said, " You have her eyes. The same warm, brown eyes."
"Whose? Whose eyes do I have?"she asked.
"Your mother, Vanessa's."
Scarlet gulped. "You knew my mother?"
He couldn't meet her eyes. They reminded him of the lovely woman who saved his life.
"I did."
"Who was she? I mean, which goddess?"
"She was a mortal. So was your father."
Everyone gasped.
Leo asked him, "Then how is she inside camp borders?"
Zeus ignored him. He turned back to Scarlet and continued, "I was deprived of my lightning bolt. My brother and I had a terrible fight and I hurt him. I wish I hadn't, but Olympians too have anger issues."
Scarlet had a puzzled look on her face.
She continued, "How did you meet her?"
"I was weak without my lightning bolt and was being chased by a Minotaur. I was searching for my lightning bolt. But outside Olympus I was prone to attacks and injuries. I couldn't save myself so I hid in a warehouse. That was when Vanessa saw me. She could see through the mist too. She helped me get to safety but the Minotaur found us." A sparkling tear rushed down his cheek. Scarlet was crying too. Everyone else in the room was just staring dumb-founded at the Olympian god crying.
He said, " She sacrificed herself for me to get back to Olympus."
Scarlet wiped away a tear and said, "So, if my parents are mortal, then why am I in Camp-Half Blood?"
He paused a few seconds and continued,
"I wasn't going to leave her there alone and in pain. The Minotaur left after he stabbed her through the stomach. I helped her sit up against a tree. I remember her smile , even as she was dying."
He looked up, "I granted her a wish. That was all I could do at that time. But my wish cannot bring a person back to life. She wished that I would watch over her little daughter, Scarlet, and when the time is right, I could tell you about her." Zeus continued, "All those years your aunt had troubled you, I was watching. I could have disintegrated her, but I knew you were strong enough. Just like your mother."
Scarlet forced herself not to burst into tears. She said, "So you helped me get into the camp. You told me the truth about my mother, but how am I a part of the prophecy?"
Zeus got up and said, "Well, you have the gift of seeing through the mist. And you are a mortal. So that clears the first part- ' a pure -blood shall join the seven'.
The rest is for you to figure out." He pointed at the demigods. He took one last look at Scarlet and vanished in a flash of light.
Annabeth put her hand on Scarlet's shoulder and said, "You're the Eighth One."