Hi, guys! Thank you all for the support. My dad did ground me, but he clearly underestimated when he locked away my computer and phone in one of the rooms on the first floor. I simply sneaked in through the window last night and typed most of this very short (Sorry about that) filler chapter. :)
Thank you for the reviews, favorites and follows. My parents will be home shortly so I probably won't have enough time to answer as excessively as I wish, but, well, beggars can't be choosers, right?
power214063 - I'm not sure yet if I would continue this after the Last Olympian, so nope, sorry, no Jason for now.
harryginny9 – Yes, I think Poseidon is the kind of father who would be a bit over-protective over his baby girl. I'm glad you approve of my decision to show a peak of what is going on Olympus, because there were a moments I thought about deleting it.
discb– Well, Zeus is just being Zeus
Ivyhunter10 – Yeah, what can I say, my dad is a bit too strict at times. I'm pretty sure he is still convinced that I'm eight years old and not seventeen *insert eye roll here* Anyway, thank you for the review :)
Guest 1– Thanks!
Nameless2210– Hi! Thank you for another great review. I wish I have enough time to address everything you wrote at the length I wish, but, unfortunately I'm in a bit of hurry.
First, I'd like to say that the prophesy will be changed. It hasn't been even hinted to yet simply because this story is mainly in Andre's point of view and she still has no idea about it. But gradually, the Prophesy would start to make appearances here and there. Despite all of that, we know that usually Zeus is very paranoid. Especially when his weapon of power is stolen and a new goddess is claimed in such a short period of time. It does seem like more that a coincidence.
And about going around the Ancient Laws… Well, it will be probably said in the next chapter, but it's something I've alluded to in the very beginning of the story and has been part of my plans all along.
I will write more about the gods' reactions in the next chapter, including Dionysus. I still haven't decided what his decision will be, but I'll think about it.
I'll finish this here, but if I've missed anything feel free to mention it in the next review. Hopefully I would have more time then. :)
Dark-Angel-Princess 01 – Stay tuned and you'll find out :)
MLM24 – Thank you!
Lmb111514 – I agree that Artemis and Poseidon are probably two of the most powerful gods on Olympus. After all, about 70% of the Earth is covered with water and Artemis, being a goddess of the wild has a very large domain as well. So, Zeus really doesn't want to pick a fight with both of them, especially since he doesn't know who will back them up.
And yes, they can visit Andre but she doesn't really want them to at the moment so the explanations and apologies will probably have to wait for a while.
Artumis – I bet that you are not as old as you think you are. My parents are just too strict in my opinion. I'm seventeen, but they seem to think I'm eight. Anyway, I'm glad you like the chapter. :)
rebfan90– Thanks! And don't worry about it – I'm too sneaky to be held back.
ro781727 – Well, I will be changing the prophesy slightly. After all this is a fanfiction and not everything will stay as it is in canon, so the Big Three oath and the prophesy will be slightly different.
About Artemis' vow… Well, it isn't really stated anywhere but I've always assumed it was kind of binding like an oath on Styx. I don't know, I might be wrong but it's done already. I hope you don't mind this inaccuracy too much.
Yunero - Okay, you got me there, that is a very interesting pair. I've never actually considered it and I doubt it will appear in Daughter of Broken Vows but you just gave me an idea for another story.
Guest2 – Thank you!
Guest 3 – Done!
EroSlackerMicha– Well, to fit the story, the prophesy will be changed slightly. This is a fanfiction after all, but I really hope you will not mind the changes too much.
And thanks for the review! :)
– Thanks! I hope I'm updating soon enough.
GenderBender25 – Well, we'll see, I guess :)
jayfeather10 - I admit I haven't included any demigods in the poll, but I except suggestions for romances. After all, there will be a main pairing and all but I think Andre will have a brief romance with some of the campers for a while before she goes and falls in love with any of the gods. I am a fan of slow building relationships.
belladu57– Thank you! :)
Guest4 – Thanks and don't worry – I'm too sneaky to be grounded for a long period of time ;)
Daughter of Broken Vows
Chapter 10
The Wing-Footed Guy
My mind was numb and silent while I slowly gathered my things from the Hermes cabin with mechanical, practiced movements. The cabin was empty except for me, all others gathered in the dining hall, probably excitedly discussing my recently found parentage, uncaring how I felt about it. With a heavy heart, I slung the backpack over my shoulder, looking around what had been my home for the last four days.
Chiron had offered me to choose if I would rather stay in Poseidon's or Artemis' cabin. I declined both. I couldn't make myself to live in a house so closely connected to either of them. They were strangers to me. No, no let me correct myself. You don't feel anything for a stranger but for these two gods I felt a deep-rooted resentment, edging on hatred. They had sired me, given birth to me and then left me, knowing that I would always be an outsider in the mortal world. They had known where I was this whole time but not once did they do anything for me. Not a letter, not a call, nothing.
As far as I was concerned, they meant nothing to me. Sally Jackson was my mother. She had raised me, cared for me, given me the best life she could afford and this was all I cared about. Blood meant nothing. Or at least this was what I kept repeating like a mantra for the last hour while trying to process the fact that both my parents were immortals.
So I asked Chiron for another option. He didn't seem happy but something in my eyes must have softened him because in the end he agreed. I was given a room in the Big House. It was small in comparison to the empty cabins I had been offered, though bigger than my room at home, and it was (Unfortunately) right next to Mr. D's room, but at least it didn't have relations to any immortal and that made it completely mine. Plus, it felt great to be by myself after spending five nights cramped up in cabin eleven.
I set the few things I owned on their respected places and with a sigh let myself collapse on the king-sized bed (one of the perks of having a room in the Big house). Desperately, I wished sleep would come to me quickly and I would find peace for at least a few hours but I should have known better with my luck. Or lack of it.
I managed to stay in bed for only about an hour, enough time to know that everyone else in Camp was already asleep, before my ADHD decided it could tolerate no more inactivity. As silently as I could (the disadvantages of living next to a god and a centaur with radar ears) I tiptoed out of the house and right out in the fresh night air.
For my surprise, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.
Across Camp, the great campfire was burning bright as always and yet I knew something was missing. There was no little girl sitting there. It was so strange not seeing her there as always, poking the fire with that favorite stick of hers, ready to offer advice and a warm, home-cooked meal to anyone who desired it.
"Hestia?" I asked tentavely, approaching the flames. "Are you here?"
No answer.
For a moment I grew angry. She had been here every night since I arrived and just now, when I wanted to talk to her, she had disappeared. A nagging feeling told me that she was gone because she knew that if I found her there, I would ask questions that Hestia didn't really want to answer.
"Damn it!" I growled, kicking the ground angrily. Fucking gods! Where are they when you need them? The thought of waking Dionysus up just to get my answers crossed my mind but I quickly wrote it off. If I did that I would probably get turned into a dolphin. Or a turtle. Or just go mad and get myself a front place in some psychiatric ward.
No thanks.
So, with no one left to turn to, I decided to take a stroll on the beach. Though I really didn't like my father, I knew the sea at least would calm my nerves and allow me to think clearly. Usually, I would rather venture in the forest but I really didn't want to deal with another Hellhound. One encounter with a monster per night was my limit.
I did walk for a while but in the end I just collapsed on the warm sand and stared at the starry sky. It was nice, I had to admit. With the vast planes of the night sky above me and the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore, I could, at least for a moment, imagine that I was still on vacation with Sally and had just stayed outside late to enjoy the warm summer night.
I sensed the presence, before I saw him. I guess that sharper senses was part of the whole godly package, or maybe it was just a thing connected to Artemis (I couldn't call her my mother yet) but immediately I knew I was not alone, just like during the game. But this time my instincts didn't scream 'Danger!' on top of their lungs, so, I wasn't particularly worried.
"A nice night, isn't it?" I twisted my head slightly to raise my eyebrow at the man standing nearby. A weather talk, really? He just grinned at my look and set himself down next to me, seemingly without a care in the world. "Can I sit?"
"You know, people usually ask before they do something." I pointed out without heat in my voice. The environment had calmed my temper and all I really felt at the moment was some strange feeling of nonchalance and emptiness. It did feel kind of nice.
I got another mischievous smile in return, one that was strangely familiar. Finally I looked at the man, taking in his sharp, elfish features, curly black hair and bright blue eyes. I was sure I'd never seen him before and yet he was familiar to me. It took me a moment to place where I had seen the same features.
"You're Hermes." I stated, bitterly recalling my recent desire to speak with a god. Well, here he was.
The Olympian's face brightened at once and his grin widened like a kid on a Christmas morning. "Smart girl!" He exclaimed and I gave him a sardonic smile.
"Yeah, that's me. The genius." I huffed and looked back towards the sky. At least it was not so hard to understand. With my peripheral vision I saw Hermes' face fall slightly, probably at the bitter coldness in my voice. He didn't say anything for a while and I felt kind of bad for behaving like such a brat.
"I'm sorry." I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I'm having a really, really bad day." Camp must be turning me into a better person because I don't think I've apologized more than I did these last few days.
Hermes looked at me silently and I felt prompted to continue. "I have nothing against you, personally. I'm just having a hard time liking the gods right now."
"Your parents?" He guessed, hitting the sore spot right on.
"They are not my parents!" I hissed back. "A parent is a person who cares. They haven't cared about me the last sixteen years and I doubt they would start now."
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry." He raised his hands in surrender. "I won't talk about them, I promise."
With a sigh, I settled back on the sand and resumed my star-gazing. I felt the Olympian copy my position but did nothing to stop him. It felt kind of strange to lie next to a god and watch the stars together, but I was used to weird by now.
"So," I started after a long moment of comfortable silence, shifting slightly to look at the man lying next to me. "Is there a reason for your presence or are you just making a social call?"
Hermes sighed grimly. "As much as I wish I could just spent the night star-gazing with a pretty girl," He winked at that, making me roll my eyes in exasperation. Like sons, like father. Or was it the other way round? "But, sadly, I'm here on business."
"Let me guess, you bring me a message?"
"So you really do know mythology! But no, actually, not exactly. I'm here to deliver an invitation." That brought me short, though in the back of my mind I knew only one who could send the messenger god to summon me, personally.
I raised my eyebrow in a silent invitation to elaborate and, thankfully, Hermes was quick to oblige. I really didn't want to have to pry the information out of him.
"You are being summoned to Olympus by Zeus himself."
Great, just fan-fucking-tastic. That was the last thing I needed at the moment. "Any idea why?"
Hermes frowned, gazing at me with surprisingly intense eyes, as if wondering if he should share the information or not. But before he could say anything a thunder shook the air, making us both flinch and look up at the cloudless sky.
"Fine!" Hermes yelled. "I won't say anything." Another thunder was his only answer.
"I take it we are being watched?" I sneered at no one at particular and Hermes sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder. I could feel the power I now associated with the immortals buzzing beneath his skin. His was very different from the others I had felt, in a way I couldn't explain but it immediately made me feel inspired and mischievous like I should go do some prank or make a speech.
"Look, Andronika, just come to Olympus tomorrow. Everything will be clear up. My fa-" But before he could even finish his sentence a loud ringing interrupted him and with a curse he drew a modern looking smart-phone out of his pocket. I gaped at the two snakes lazily crawling around it, but the Olympian paid me no attention. He groaned in frustration when he saw the lightened screen.
"Sorry, Andre, but duty calls." I squinted slightly when golden light erupted from his body, seeing for just a second his body grow to monumental sizes of liquid light before he was gone and I was left alone once more with only the stars as my companions.
In the distance I heard the movement of the cleaning harpies and though I knew they would not touch me due to my new godly status, I really didn't want to deal with them. I walked back to the Big House and sneaked in my room. I didn't even change my clothes before I collapsed on the bed and Morpheus take hold of me.
Tomorrow would be a very interesting day.
That's it for now. Next chapter will clear up a lot of things so stay tuned for more.
Read and Review!