"Hello, come closer my friend. Don't be shy."Well damn it she's noticed me, I thought to myself. I'm not particularly afraid of fire as such, but when an 8 year old girl sits in the middle of one, starts calling you friend and speaks in an endearing manner, I thought it'd be wise to be cautious.
As I came closer, I noticed a lot of people walk by, ignoring the firegirl altogether, as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I stopped right in front of her and smiled politely.
"It's nice to see you again after all these years, though I'd doubt you'd remember me even after your splash in the Lethe. I am Hestia, goddess of the hearth, and I will help people when they need it most."
So why was a goddess helping me out you ask? Goodness knows. So I asked her what she meant, and why she was helping me.
"Oh, I am not helping you yet. Soon enough I shall, but for now I am only offering you some information that may help you, if you ask the right questions."
Right. Fair enough, so all I had to think of was what to ask, then I'd get an answer. Pretty simple right? Well, what do you think?
"So can you tell me who my parents are?"
"I'm sorry, I think you'll have to find that for yourself. Try something less simple, less direct."
I racked my brains to try and think of a question but nothing came. When I stopped thinking it suddenly became clear.
"What led up to me losing my memories?"
Hestia smiled as if to say that's better! She then continued to answer my query.
"If you recall what Chloё told you when you first woke up, she said that you were fighting Melinoë. All that is true, but she hasn't told you why you were fighting her in the first place. The reasons are complex, but it had something to do with your mother."
"My mother? Why didn't Chloё tell me?"
"Ah, I could easily tell you, but why don't you ask her yourself when you see her? I am sure she will be more than willing to share with you the information if you wait for the right moment."
I paused for thought. Then,
"Anyway… what exactly was the quest about anyway? Because Chiron said in the meeting that a prophecy's required to go on a quest, but he decided to bend the rules a little."
"You did receive a prophecy, but your quest was not completed. I am not allowed to say anything directly, but you should be able to find out later."
"So why can't you tell me? It doesn't make sense!"
And that was the moment I realised that Hestia's eyes had flames in the pupils, and that they had just flared up as if stoked up with coal. When she spoke next she spoke with a cautioning tone.
"I am trying my best to answer your questions, at least try to not to get sassy with a goddess."
"Sorry, it's just… oh I don't know anymore…"
"That's quite alright. Now do you have any more questions?"
No, I was all questioned out. Then I noticed some people around me looking my way, but not aware that I was stood talking to the fire.
"So why can't they see me? Is this witchcraft or something?"
This time she smiled very warmly at my comment.
"No it is not 'witchcraft', though it is a form of magic called the mist, that can stop people from seeing the world as it is. That is what I am using to obscure us from their vision, and it will stop mortals from seeing monsters, gods, and usually any other mythical object or person. Some mortals can see through it, like Rachel, but then again, they are very rare indeed."
Now I had definitely finished probing Hestia for answers, and I thanked her for her troubles, which she graciously accepted.
"No problem Haxolo, and remember, I'll be seeing you again some day."
It was around about the time for us to all go get something to eat from the mess hall, and it had just began to snow. All around me people were looking up, wondering why it was snowing, like they didn't understand that that was what weather tended to do in winter when it was cold enough. When I found Chloё to ask her about this, she said that the weather at camp was controlled by magic, so it rarely snowed ever. We talked a bit more, and I asked about the other cabins, and she said that a lot of the councillors were at college or university nowadays, but because it was winter, most of them had come back to camp, taking back their roles whilst they were here.
"Connor and Travis of Hermes, Annabeth, Percy and Piper from Aphrodite cabin had all been off to different universities around the country, but they came back for some reason or other. I don't know exactly though, but I'm not really one to pry. Seeing as my mother is Harmonia, I don't like to cause tension if I can help it."
We ended up talking more about her life and it turns out that her father was a UN peacekeeper before meeting Harmonia.
"Yeah, my dad's great, he sort of accepted the fact that the gods were real, and when they started… you know, doing the thing people do, they eventually had me" She shrugs and, having nothing else left to say we walk on in silence. Eventually we reach the mess hall and I noticed that everyone sat with their cabin,
"So Chloё...where do I sit?"
"Over with the Hermes cabin, that's where all the new and unclaimed go. But hey, don't worry, they are really nice if you don't have anything for them to steal"
"Why would you say that? I've got the most badass sword here and you're saying that they'll just take it?"
And Chloё just winked and left me standing there, going off to sit by herself at her table. I turn to the Hermes table and, as I approach a few of them smile, but for some reason, the rest of them seem awkward in my presence. It's almost as if they are scared of me, and for the first time in my life, I shamelessly felt good.