Annabeth's Struggle
A/N: Here's the next chapter! I still can't believe someone guessed it was Persephone…I really need to be more vague…oh well!
Disclaimer: I only own Cali and the plot (:
Cali's POV:
I grinned. She looked exactly how I remembered her. Happy, light green eyes, straight, but very luscious, brown hair, and beautiful features.
While I jumped down, she had moved closer until she was behind me, so all I had to do was reach a little to hug her. So I did. My dad jumped down and joined in. I had what I had wanted for my entire life: a family. But something was missing; something important. Ryan. He needed to be part of this. I pulled away first.
"Mo—Persephone, have you seen a young boy of about 8 years old with shaggy blonde hair, warm blue eyes, and the cutest dimples when he smiles in the Underworld?" I asked, not knowing if I should call her Mom or Persephone. She thought for a moment.
"Well, number one, please call me Mom, sweetie, and two, yes, why?" she said.
"Um, the little boy was my younger brother, Ryan. He died seven years ago in an accident with me," I explained.
"How was he your younger brother?" she asked, looking at my dad. He looked down.
"Two years after we had Cal, I had Ryan with Molly," he said, ashamed.
"Oh, alright," she said. I see where I get my optimism and easy-going-ness from.
"So, what happens now?" I asked. They looked at each other and nodded.
"It's time to tell Chiron and Mr. D," my mom said. I nodded in response.
We started walking towards the Big House, receiving many stares since it's not every day a demigod walks with two gods.
When we arrived, Chiron and Mr. D were playing pinochle with two satyrs, including Grover. Mr. D lazily glanced up, but then realized who I was standing with and smiled. Chiron looked at me instead of the two gods and smiled warmly and, was that knowingly?
Grover and the other satyr bowed respectfully to my mother since she was the goddess of spring, then nodded to my dad. They both smiled at them, and the satyrs quickly left. I chose not to question it.
"So, Seph, Pollo, what have we done to be honored with your gracious presences?" Mr. D sarcastically asked his brother and sister.
"Well, we have brought you and Chiron news," my mom answered.
"What kind of news?" Chiron asked. Mom and Dad looked at each other.
"Oh, spit it out already," Mr. D exclaimed.
"Fine, I was kind of going for dramatic, but whatever," Dad said, rolling his eyes. I stifled a laugh. "Cali is our daughter." Mr. D did a spit take.
"Our?!" he screeched. Mom and Dad smiled nervously.
"Surprise?" Mom said, more like asked. I looked at the ground, not knowing what else to do.
"Calisto," Chiron started. "It has been long, hasn't it?" I looked at my parents.
"Why did he call me Calisto? My name is Cali," I said, really confused.
"Your full real name is Calisto Fleur Fiammetta," my mom began.
"But we thought that we should give you a somewhat normal name down here, so we put Cali on the basket we put you in," my dad finished.
"So, my real name is Calisto?" I asked, clarifying. They nodded.
"No wonder you looked familiar!" Mr. D said. "That's why I called you Cali, to be respectful to them." He nodded his head towards my parents. I laughed a little.
Just then, Percy, Annabeth, Jason, Leo, and Ace burst through the door.
"Chiron!" Annabeth exclaimed. Then they noticed me. "Cali, what are you doing here?" And then they noticed my parents. They all bowed. "Lady Persephone, Lord Apollo."
"What is it, child?" Chiron asked.
"Artemis and her Hunters are here," Ace said, panting a little. I grinned on the inside. Aunt Artemis. Hehehehe…
"Cool, little sis has arrived," my dad said, smirking. I rolled my eyes.
"Dad, she's older than you," I said, again. We've had other conversations, okay? Jason backtracked.
"Woah, what do you mean, 'Dad'?" Jason asked.
"Who said Dad?" Annabeth asked, who had been distracted. Jason pointed at me.
"You know, pointing is rude," I pointed out. He smiled sheepishly. I laughed.
"I'm her father," Dad said.
"Then why is Lady Persephone here?" Annabeth asked. I looked at them and they shook they're heads slightly.
Not yet, they told me.
"I have other business to attend to here," Mom said. They all nodded.
"So, auntie's here, huh?" I said, trying to break the tension. They all laughed; it worked.
"Then let's go see her, come on!" I didn't wait for anyone and marched out of the Big House and ran to Artemis.
"Miss me?" I asked, her back facing me. Startled, she turned around.
"Calisto?" she asked in disbelief.
"That's my name, isn't it?" She engulfed me in a hug. I laughed.
"Where's your mother? Oh, and that knucklehead of a brother of mine?" she asked. I turned and pointed to the group walking towards us.
When they reached us, Jason said, "You know, pointing is rude," mimicking my voice. I laughed and hit his shoulder.
I saw Mom and Dad pull Artemis aside and talk with her. She nodded her understanding and they came back to the group.
"Well, Chiron, I think it's dinnertime, don't you?" Dad said, implying to call dinner early. Chiron got it.
"Yes, I shall go call the campers now."
"But it's a half an hour early, sir," Annabeth said, looking at her watch.
"That's alright, we have guests."
The horn blew and we all went to dinner. I walked with my parents at the back of the group.
"So, where will I sit at dinner?" I asked.
"We are going to have you sit at the head table with me and your father," Mom said. I nodded hesitantly. Sitting in front of over 100 campers wasn't exactly my thing, but at least I'll be with my parents and aunt.
When we arrived I pulled my hair into a messy bun. My parents practically dragged me to the head table and we sat down.
"Do I still have to give an offering since both of you are right here?" I asked, hopeful to keep all of my food.
"Yes!" they said in unison.
"Just asking," I murmured. We got our food first, and of course everyone was staring at me. I quickly got everything, offered, and sat back down. I got Root Beer as my drink and ate contentedly until Chiron stomped his hoof to get everyone's attention.
Everyone instantly hushed and looked at Chiron.
"Alright, first thing's first, the Hunters are here, so we shall have our annual Capture the Flag competition. Second, we are graced by having two gods with us; Lady Persephone and Lord Apollo. And third, these gods have, ah, interesting news." Great, now I'm 'interesting.' My parents stood. My dad started.
"Well, 17 years ago, Seph and I got together—" the Aphrodite cabin cooed. "And we had a child together. We raised her for three years of her precious life. When she turned three, Zeus thought that when our child grew up, she would try to overthrow him and rule Olympus herself. So he forced us to have her live here with a mortal family, or he would rid her himself." My mom continued.
"We had no choice but to leave her in the care of a family here, so we did. Now, 14 years later, we have reunited since she has found out that she is not a mortal, and was sent to Camp Half-Blood."
"Cal, stand up," my father murmured to me, smiling encouragingly. I looked at him wide-eyed. This wasn't part of the deal. He grabbed my hand and pulled me up so that I was standing. I smiled nervously. I looked at all my friends scattered around the dining hall.
Annabeth and Natalie: Looked like she couldn't believe she didn't think of it.
Percy: He dropped his fork on his plate.
Jason: His mouth was hanging open.
Piper: Pure shock.
Leo: He was checking me out. Again.
Ace and Nico: Smiling like they discussed it and just found out they were right.
Katie: Smiling. I couldn't read her…weird.
I shrugged helplessly. Everyone stood and bowed to us. I looked at Chiron and he shrugged and smiled warmly. I smiled back. I looked to my parents put my arms around them. They laughed and hugged back.
Annabeth's POV:
Apollo and Persephone? How did I not think of them?! How?! I thought thoroughly on who her parent could be, and it turned out to be both parents! I wondered how Hades is taking this…
Meanwhile, in the Underworld…
"Persephone has a child?!" Hades boomed. "With Apollo?!" He was enraged, to put it simply. He felt betrayed, but then he thought about what happened 17 years earlier.
*Flashback*
"Ugh, Hades. Why are you being so difficult?" Persephone yelled. Hades shrugged.
"Because I can," he simply answered. Persephone screamed in her anger. It was very hard to make the goddess mad, but this time Hades got her the worst it's ever been.
"Well, until you aren't, I'm going up to Olympus," she said, having been done with her rage for a while. She hated being angry. Hades' eyes widened.
"B-but what about out d-deal?" he stuttered, shocked at her sudden change of mind.
"I can't be in the same Underworld with you right now," she huffed. "I think we need a break." They were only dating at that time.
With that, she vanished to Olympus, leaving only a little red wildflower in her place.
*End Flashback*
She had been gone for three years, which felt like 3 hours in gods-time. He relaxed, now knowing she hadn't cheated on him.
He popped the question a year after, and they never got in an argument as bad as that one since. He smiled, thinking happily for once. He was a step-father to a girl. He had two sons, but now he had a step-daughter. That was a nice change.
*Back to Camp Half-Blood*
I waited until after dinner to talk to Cali. Apparently, everyone else had the same idea. People were crowding around her, and I knew that she hated the attention. So I decided to save her.
"Hey, Cali, do you want to come to the Athena cabin and talk?" I asked her. She nodded gratefully. We walked quickly to the Athena cabin and rushed inside.
"So what did you want to talk about?" she inquired nervously. I laughed.
"Oh, I was just saving you from everyone out there," I explained. She looked relieved, strangely, but I just brushed it off.
I was about to say something to end the awkward silence, but our whole group burst through the door, saving me. They all immediately started asking questions at the same time.
Cali's POV:
"Did you know?"
"How old are you?"
"How does it feel?"
"Are you a goddess?"
"Where are you going to stay?"
"What—" I held my hand to silence them and took a deep breath.
"I knew about my dad, he told me in a dream about a week ago, but he said not to tell anyone until I knew about my mom. Travis, I'm still 17. They had me 17 years ago. Connor, it feels the same, just a little more whole. I mean, I have a mom and dad…I don't know if I'm a goddess, to tell you the truth. My mom asked me during dinner if I wanted to stay with her and Hades in the Underworld, up on Olympus with Dad, or here. I told her I'd talk to you guys first." I took another deep breath.
"Are you sure you're 17?" Travis asked, sounding skeptical. I rolled my eyes.
"Yes."
"Where do you want to stay?" Percy asked. I slouched. The question I didn't want to be asked is above my head waiting to be answered.
"I don't know. I mean, I finally meet my real parents, but I would have to leave my original family in the process," I said, feeling indecisive. That's me. Indecisive. Now I have the biggest decision to make.
"Well, maybe you could go between the three?" Thalia suggested. She was going to join the Hunters of Artemis soon, so she would go between the Hunt and Camp. I thought about it.
"I guess I could do that," I said, feeling hopeful. "But where would I stay first?"
"Olympus," Ace said, treating me like his sister. I am technically his step-sister. Same with Nico.
"Why?" I asked.
"You seem closer with Apollo," he explained.
"Speaking of Apollo, you call him Dad," Annabeth said, surprised. "And he doesn't get mad."
"Yeah," I said, confused at where this is going.
"Gods hate it when they're kids call them Mom or Dad," Percy told me. I looked at them, all nodding.
"Really?" They nodded again. "Huh."
Just then, there was a knock on the door and in walked my parents.
Mom's brown hair was pulled into a side braid with flowers in it. She was wearing a flowing floral print sundress that went to her knees and white flats.
Dad's hair was flipped to the side, like always. He wore jean shorts with a light green polo—the same shade as Mom's eyes. He was wearing black converse like me.
They walked in and all of my friends and Annabeth's and Natalie's siblings bowed. I didn't move.
"Fleur, you have to at least act like we're gods to you," Dad said, a twinkle in his light blue eyes told me he was teasing. I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"Sure, Dad, I will. When the sun doesn't rise," I said, teasing back. He laughed.
"Have you decided where you'll be staying?" Mom asked me. I nodded.
"I would like to go between the three, if that's alright," I politely responded. She looked as though that was what she expected. She smiled and nodded. I laughed and hugged her, thanking her repeatedly.
"Where to first, Cal?" Dad pursued. I told him Olympus, and soon we were off to his home.
Annabeth's POV:
I watched as Cal flashed out with Apollo, soon being followed by Persephone. We all sighed and said our goodnights to each other. Natalie and I went to bed, and I had a 'demigod dream' that night.
I was in a dark room with a huge cage in the corner. A human-sized cage. There was a clumped figure in the cage, and when I looked closer, I saw a familiar floral print sundress that was ruined and had gold stains—ichor stains. Their brown hair was braided to the side with dead flowers sticking out of it. The white flats on their feet were stained with dirt and grime.
It was Persephone.
I woke up in a cold sweat and ran to the Big House, not bothering to get dressed or put on shoes.
"Chiron! Mr. D! It's Perseph—" I cut myself off once I saw Evelyn talking to them.
"Ah, Annabeth, I see you two had the same dream. It's time for a quest," Chiron said. "Go see Rachel and get your prophecy." I nodded grudgingly and started for Rachel's cave.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare was a good friend of mine, and the Oracle of Delphi at Camp Half-Blood. As soon as we got there, Rachel's eyes turned completely green and billowing smoke radiated out of her mouth.
"Four shall travel to the birthplace
Troubles, fear, and more they shall face
Beware the longest hour
In order to find the flower
The Dove will fall
The Sunshine shall save all
The Owl shall hail
But without the Sea will fail
Help from the Flame they will need
In order for the four to succeed."
Rachel collapsed, but I caught her in time, no thanks to Evelyn, and set her gently on her bed.
We walked out; I thinking about the prophecy, Evelyn doing gods know what. We went to Chiron and I recited it word for word. He nodded thoughtfully before speaking.
"You each will choose one companion to join—"
"PERCY!" Evelyn yelled, before I could say anything. I swore under my breath. 'The Sunshine shall save all.' I knew who to pick.
"Cali."
"Ah, Calisto, nice choice," he said.
"Who's Calisto? She said Cali. I think your hearing's going, old man," Evelyn said.
"Calisto is her full name, genius," I told her.
"No, her full name is Cali Fiammetta."
"Her full name is Calisto Fleur Fiammetta," Chiron said, looking agitatedly at Evelyn. "I'll go Iris-Message her now."
Evelyn walked out to look for my boyfriend who, since it was 7, was probably still sleeping. She returned with Percy, whose clothes looked as though they were thrown on carelessly. They most likely were…
Cali flashed in, the work of her father, and regarded us with a yawn. She was a morning person, but probably stayed up late writing one her stories.
"What is it, Annabeth?" she asked with another yawn. I wrung my hands together, trying to think of the best way to tell her. She noticed and woke up a little.
"Annabeth, what's wrong?" she inquired further.
"Um, you see, well—" Evelyn cut me off with a groan.
"Persephone's been captured," she blurted. Insensitive much? Cali looked close to tears.
"But I just saw her yesterday," she muttered. "Damn, I should've gone to the Underworld first! I could've prevented this from happening! Why?! Ugh! Stupid me! I just had to stay with Dad!"
Her anger was rising by the second. I glared at Evelyn. I looked back at Cal and grabbed her into a hug. She struggled for a few seconds, still angry, but soon softened. I felt her body shake with sobs. She was crying. Wait, she was crying. This is bad. She feels like she did when Ryan died.
There was a flash, and soon Apollo appeared.
"Sweetie, I heard a noise—oh," he said. Then he realized that she was crying. His eyes widened.
"What happened?" he demanded. Evelyn rolled her eyes.
"All I did was tell her that Persephone was captured—"
"She was?!" Apollo worried. He took Cali from me and held her, speaking calming words to her. Percy was still in shock of Cali crying. I put my fingers in front of his face and snapped him back to reality—literally.
"When she's calmed down, Apollo, help her pack a bag. We're going on a quest," I declared.
A/N: So how was that? Remember the contest, deadline March 31st, and no one got my favorite colors: orange, blue and purple. WOW was close though. Thanks for reading guys!
Random song of the chapter: New Divide by Linkin Park
Random question of the chapter: How old do you think I am?
~Cali
