In the Jackson-Grace-Zhang-Valdez-di Angelo-Solace house, it wasn't uncommon for the night to bring out bad memories. Being the saviors of the world came with a price, after all.
When I heard the first anxious mumbles, I sighed and slipped out of my bed. Without bothering to shove on my slippers, I tried to walk as quietly as possible down to Zoë and Crystal's room. Zoë was awake.
"You too?" Was all she asked. I nodded.
"Wanna come to my room? You know, I don't know why we don't share one. We should." I held my hand out and she accepted it, jumping out of bed. The floor creaked and she winced as Crystal rolled over.
"Come on." she whispered, tugging me along.
I stopped Zoë outside Papa and Dad's door and peeked in. Papa had a cold sweat broken out on his forehead and he was mumbling feverishly. He was clinging to Dad, who had his arms wrapped around him protectively.
I sighed and shook my head. "It's not fair…" I muttered, taking a few steps away from the door. "They saved the world multiple times when the gods couldn't. After all these years, don't they deserve just a little peace and rest? It's like, hey, you survived the war! Your reward? You get to live with the trauma."
Zoë didn't say anything, but looked up at me with wide green eyes. "The other day when I stayed home because I had a cold Mom was taking a nap and she woke up screaming, shaking Dad like crazy and asking why he left her. She just kept screaming and crying and… and I was so scared." Her defeated, slumped shoulder contradicted her fists, clenched so hard her knuckles were white.
I pried her fingers open and grabbed her hand, pulling her down the hall before we woke someone. I didn't stop until we got to my room.
"I like your room." Zoë said after a minute. "Crystal's side of the room is so sparkly it hurts my eyes. Plus, it's hard to sleep when your roommate just turns into a tiger in the middle of the night and starts hissing and growling." She shuddered and I laughed in spite of myself. "Again, why weren't we roommates?"
"Because we were the ultimate power couple." I responded swiftly. "We could get away with anything together. Zoë Jackson and Bianca di Angelo-Solace, the legacy of Poseidon and Athena and the daughter of Demeter and the sons of Hades and Apollo. Aunt Hazel told me we were briefly roomed together- briefly."
"Why? What happened?" Zoë sounded tired. She had that quality about her, almost timeless. Like her namesake, Zoë Nightshade.
Zoë's voice was quiet, her blond curls catching the starlight. She stared forlornly at the constellation of her namesake sprinting through the galaxies, content hunting the zodiacs for the rest of her days.
"After an encounter in which you exploded the attic bathroom, I grew the grass so tall it reached the window, and you used your Athena smarts to somehow hide the fact that it happened- they seperated us because we were just too powerful." I shook my head mock morosely.
My cousin grinned cheekily. "Not that separation ever stopped us from growing powerful enough to overthrow the gods themselves."
Lightning flashed almost lazily, nicking the sky. It was as if the gods knew they should be offended but couldn't summon the energy to be.
"So… what now?" I felt the corners of my mouth turn down slightly.
"What do you mean, what now? Bia, it's-" She glanced at the clock briefly. "- 2:43 AM and you want to do something?"
I sighed and ran my finger along the velvety leaves of my ivy plant. It perked up a little, somehow looking healthier. Sometimes I wished people were like plants. I tore myself away from the vine and flopped down on the bed.
"Geez, Zo, I'm just- I don't know. It's so hard to sleep lately. So much is going on. How am I supposed to sleep when there's a million other things happening at this very moment? And why am I not able to do anything about it?" I set my jaw, frustrated.
She looked down at the floor, her fingers skimming the comforter. Her ankle swivelled, colliding with mine and, with a moment's hesitation, she hooked them.
"A concept…" she began, closing her eyes. "One of peace. There is no Great Prophecy, no Big Three, no Oracle and no Curse to go with it."
My throat constricted. "Zoë-"
"There is no Pontifex Maximus, no temples to honour fallen deities, no strange powers that are written like glyphs and translate to death. There is no Waystation or any Hunters of Artemis."
"Zoë, you just can't-"
"There is nothing." She opened her eyes and they flash a thousand times worse than the lazy lightning that had barely made an imprint upon the sky. They flash like love, hate, death, and war. If her eyes were thunder they would destroy, slicing the very skies in two and leaving horrific ruin in its wake.
"There is no Camp Jupiter and no Camp Half-Blood, even. The gods don't exist- no, the gods are dead, Bianca, the gods are dead." She unhooked her ankle from mine. Zoë's gaze locked with my own and her eyes searched for agreement.
I know I can't even give her that much.
"And do you know what?"
I inclined my head. She opens her mouth but is cut off by a yelp from downstairs. We glanced at each other and raced to the door, tripping over our own feet to Aunt Hazel and Uncle Frank's room, the source of the shriek.
All the other aunts and uncles are there, and Aunt Hazel is trying to calm them.
"Percy, put Riptide away! Nico, there's no need to summon skeletons, and put your sword away too, I swear to the gods! It was nothing. Frank just shifted in his sleep by accident."
The clamor died down at her words. Normally it would have been nothing, but Uncle Frank looked so tired that it must have been something. His broad shoulders are stiff and his face is creased with worry lines. His eyes landed on us and he nudged Aunt Hazel.
"What are you two doing up?" he sounded shaky and defeated. "Girls, it was nothing. You can go now."
Neither of us moved. Aunt Annabeth pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and walked over to Zoë, wrapping her arms around her in an embrace.
Dad sighed, then opened his arms. Without a second thought, I barrelled into them.
Aunt Annabeth let go first. "Girls-"
"Don't tell us nothing's wrong, Mom." Zoë jutted her chin out defiantly. "We're demigods. Nothing is ever right in the first place."
Her mother swallowed hard like she's swallowing a lump in her throat.
Dad let go of me gently. I missed the embrace almost immediately.
"You girls know it's not alright. But you just aren't ready to have to process what we've been through. Hell, we can barely handle it, what in Hades makes you think you can?" Uncle Jason asked quietly.
"We don't deserve to know because we haven't lived enough years yet, that's what you're saying, isn't it? Charlie and Jackie don't even know and they're seventeen!" Zoë burst out. "I don't care how old we are. I'm a demigod too and so is Bianca. All of us kids are! How old were you when you were spiralled into all this Great Prophecy crap, Dad? Tell me."
Uncle Percy's voice was brittle when he finally answered. "I was twelve. I thought the minotaur had killed my mom and suddenly I was special because of my parentage. Nothing made Percy Jackson special other than who his father was back then."
"We're twelve too! You killed a minotaur by now- we at least deserve to know our history! Would you not have given anything to be able to understand?" I'm pleading now. Dad's face hardens.
"That's enough from you two." Uncle Leo said quietly. "Just… go back to bed."
"You too, Uncle Leo? You too?" Zoë turned to him helplessly.
"Zoë… we all agreed before you all were born that it would be a long while before we would be ready to tell you this." Aunt Calypso said firmly.
I didn't say anything and neither did Zoë.
"Everyone, back to your rooms now. Everyone." There was charmspeak in Aunt Piper's voice.
"So you're not going to tell us? The words 'Great Prophecy' and 'War of Gaea' will mean nothing but the fact that Luke Castellan remembered his promise in the end and that the seven of you were chosen for a quest to defeat a goddess? That's it?" Zoë sounded like she was going to cry.
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed my hand so roughly my wrist throbbed and ran back to my room. When we got there, she hugged her knees to her chest in the manner of someone who had given up.
"And do you know what?" she turned to me, asking the question again.
"What?"
"Everyone is all the better for it."
"They would be… but that's not how it is. It never can be that way."
"I know." She hung her head helplessly. "But just once I wish we could all be normal. Just for a day, even."
I said nothing but intertwined our ankles again. As Morpheus stole my consciousness, I wondered why Zoë hadn't gone back to her room.
But then again, I decided, I didn't really care.
"Everyone up!" Aunt Piper shouted as Dad's supersonic whistle sounded. My eyes snapped open and I groaned, rolling over and clutching the pillow over my head.
Something shuffled around and there was a CRASH and a lot of cursing. I squinted, sitting up and rubbing my eyes and saw a fully dressed, freshly showered Zoë standing by the bathroom door, holding her foot and jumping up and down.
"Zeus's godsdamned bloody effing toga, why me, why today!"
"That's enough, Zoë." I said, rolling my eyes. "What happened?"
"I dropped a full shampoo bottle on my foot on the way out." She pouted momentarily, then straightened up.
"Well, up and at 'em, Bia! Let's pack."
"Up and at 'em, boy. C'mon, let's get going." I repeated to Helios, who had leapt off the foot of the bed and landed with a raucous CLANK. He padded in a circle lazily, stretching like a cat, then hopped back on the bed and promptly flopped into my lap.
I gave Zoë a 'help me' look and she shrugged at me through the mirror, shaking out her curls.
"Lazy boy. Get up, I'll give you barbecue sauce, okay?" He raised his head at me, his glowing black eyes catching the light as he looked at me inquisitively.
I picked him up like a child would pick up a disgruntled cat and kissed the top of his head as I searched through the closet for Road Trip™ clothing (you all know what I'm talking about).
I decided on a pair of sweats and a hoodie. After setting Helios down, I ran into the bathroom to shower. Then I quickly changed and pulled a spare backpack out to start packing my Road Trip™ survival pack.
"It's about time!" Zoë complained as she sat down next to me. "You took forever getting ready. I was hoping you could help me pack my survival bag?"
"Maybe." I shrugged as I threw a few books, some gum, and a pair of earbuds in my bag.
"Come on! All of us know you pack them the best!" she begged.
"Fine." I relented. "But only if you can arrange for us to get the double seats nearest to the door on the left side of your mom's Transit."
Those seats were best because they were huge with a lot of leg room.
"Deal." she agreed, and we shook on it.
"I ran to my room to get some stuff." She explained, pointing to an overflowing bag on top of my bed. "I know the parents already packed jeans and some new Camp shirts, so I brought some stuff for the ride."
I peered over the foot board and pursed my lips almost immediately.
"Zoë…"
Zoë held her hands up quickly. "Now- hold on, I know what you're going to say, but these are all absolute, complete necessities!"
"A chessboard." I pulled the rectangular slab from the bottom of the bag and tossed it on the floor where it landed with a dull THUD.
"In case we get bored!" Zoë said defensively.
"A flip-sequin pillow?" I sighed and tossed it at her face. Zoë made an undignified noise.
"For sleeping in the car." She said, like I was an idiot.
"How the fucking hell did you manage to pack the entire hardcover Harry Potter series in here?" I exclaimed, my biceps straining with the effort it took to haul it out. "Really, Zoë Jackson?"
"That is an absolutely valid item to bring along!" she sputtered, polishing the cover of The Sorcerer's Stone with the hem of her shirt.
"You're supposed to be the smart one out of the two of us!" I turned the bag upside down on the floor and emptied it out. A waterfall of items poured out. I gave Zoë an appraising look and she flipped me the bird.
I rolled my eyes and started sifting through the miscellaneous objects, pulling things out and sorting.
"Okay, so I've gathered a few real necessities." I said after a moment, wiping my forehead. "You can take your bulk package of Sour Patch but not the Hershey's because it's heavier. You want to pack light. You can bring your MP3 player and your headphones, your cell phone, a charger, a neck pillow, and one Harry Potter book."
"Only one?" She gave me a horrified look.
"Only one." I repeated calmly. She huffed and I hid a smile.
"Traitor." she muttered. "Godsdamned bloody traitor, how the hell am I related to you?"
"Well, technically you're not. Again, you're supposed to be the smart one." I shrugged and tossed her newly packed, much lighter bag in her direction.
"I'm going to get my shoes." She called over her shoulder, along with a few other obscene things. Once she was gone, I allowed myself a hazy smile and zipped up my backpack.
Setting it down on the bed, I sprinted down to the kitchen to get Helios's bowl and some barbecue sauce. I filled up the bowl and put the bottle back in the pantry, not bothering to say good morning to Papa and Dad when I bumped into them on my way back up. It made my gut pang, but I was still angry at them from last night over their refusal to tell us about their past.
I kicked the bedroom door open and whistled. I wasn't as good as Dad, but I was decent. Helios jogged out of the bathroom and I set the bowl on the floor. After I stroked his head, I picked up a spray bottle filled with cold water and started watering my ivy plant.
I heard a voice I did not recognize from behind me say, "She certainly is Demeter's kid, isn't she, Uncle?"
I whirled around and saw two men, one in black robes and the other in a light yellow chiton.
Panicking, I swiftly kneed the one in black in the groin. He doubled over onto the floor, hissing and shouting profanity. Breathing heavily, I picked up Zoë's hardcover Order of the Phoenix book and whacked the one in yellow over the head. Hard.
He yelped and clutched his skull, which I seriously hoped was throbbing. I kept beating the book over his head, yelling, "KILL IT WITH FIRE!" Helios looked up from his bowl of barbecue sauce and started snarling, advancing on the two men.
"What the fuck is going on up there?!" Dad shouted from downstairs.
"Yes, I would like to know why you are beating my head in with an obscenely heavy book right now!" The one in yellow screeched as Helios pounced on him.
I elbowed him in the gut and yelled, "THERE ARE TWO CRAZY GUYS IN MY ROOM RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE BUT I'M OKAY!"
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the man in black try to get to his feet, and I willed the ivy plant to grow. It snared around his ankles and I extended the force to the one in yellow. My arms were getting tired, after all.
"WHAT?" several voices screeched at once, and I could hear footsteps thundering in the hall. Within moments, Papa was standing in the doorframe, sword in hand, and Dad was behind him, holding a bow and arrow. He sucked at archery though, so it was sort of pointless.
They stared with what could only be defined as confusion. Finally, Papa dropped his sword and plunked down on the ground.
"Dad, why are you tangled in my daughter's ivy plant?" was all he said, voice muffled by his hands at the same time Dad asked, "Dad, why was my child beating your face in with a book?"
I dropped the book and stared at them incredulously. "These lunatics are your parents?"
Papa glanced at me and said dryly, "Yes. The gods Hades and Apollo, Bianca. Now please untangle them from the plant and call your automaton off."
I raised an eyebrow but distended my will and the plant slunk back into its place on the wall. Then I snapped my fingers and Helios reluctantly padded over to my side, nudging my calfs.
Hades brushed himself off with a disgruntled snort.
"We came to speak with our granddaughter, Will. What we did not expect was to be assaulted with a book, captured by a plant, and attacked by that mutt." Apollo cast me an annoyed look.
A moment of silence. And then:
"I wasn't planning on having anymore kids, anyway." Hades grumbled.
"Oh my gods. Bianca, did you-" Dad gawked at me.
"She did." Apollo supplied.
"Oh my gods…" Papa repeated.
Hades shrugged. "No offense, my boy, but can we please speak to our granddaughter now?"
Papa looked at me, then shrugged. "Behave." He lead Dad out, closing the door gently behind him.
Apollo turned to me. "Now, kiddo, before we say anything, you must promise not to bash my skull in." He gingerly touched his nose, which was beginning to bleed a little. "Just magnificent. My amazing facial structure is going to be disfigured by this inconvenience!"
"It's… it's a nosebleed." I said, confused.
"I know!" he wailed. Hades rolled his eyes.
"Nephew, can we get on with this-"
"No, no, we cannot, Uncle! This is a tragedy, do you hear me? I feel a haiku coming on."
"Nephew, don't you dare-" Hades panicked, shooting me a 'run for your life' type look.
"Beaten with a book,
Nosebleed given by a mutt,
This child is trouble."
I snorted in disdain. "You got that right, pal."
"If my nephew is finished with his foolish poetry, let us get down to business." Hades studied the photos I had tacked to the wall of my friends and family. "We hear you are experiencing… trouble, to say the least."
"Trouble is putting it mildly." I muttered.
"Yes, well, your trouble is not as bad as my nosebleed!" Apollo wailed.
"Dude, grow a pair! You're like, a god! Can't you just swallow some ambrosia or nectar or some shit like that? Cry yourself a river, build a bridge, and get over it." I snapped, rubbing my temples. How was this guy Dad's father?
Apollo stared at me for a long time. "If you were not my grandchild I would smite you." he finally said.
I gave him my best resting bitch face. Hades stepped up and shoved Apollo out of the way.
"Bianca, you now see what an idiot your other grandfather is. May you choose favorites wisely. But that is not the point. You're having trouble, we're here to help."
"You? Help? How?" I scoffed. Gods rarely help. If anything, they cause more trouble. "The only way you could help, Grandfather, is by removing Elijah Shade from the face of this Earth."
He looked mildly surprised. "A bit extreme, but if that is your wish, then it would be quite simple for me to pull a few strings with the Fates and-"
"Please don't kill anyone." I muttered into my hands.
He sighed as if he didn't quite understand me.
"Listen up, kiddo. We're here to grant you some really awesome powers that your parents have so it would make it easier for you to protect yourself. You are a powerful demigod and there is strife in your future. We're helping, capisce?"
"Capisce, I guess."
"Great. So you can expect the blessing anytime today. The time has to be just right, preferably in front of the whole camp."
"What?" I exclaimed.
"Ignore Apollo. It shouldn't be difficult. I've been doing it for several millennia." Hades' dark eyes bore into mine, but I could detect the faintest sprinkling of amusement in them. "But he is right to some extent. The blessing will be bestowed upon you any time today. It could be right after we leave or at midnight. Any time today, just be ready."
Apollo made an obscene hand gesture. "Uncle, please, shut up.Anyways, other than that we've planted a special weapon for you inside the weaponry shed at the Camp. You'll be able to tell what it is." He paused. "Aside from beating my skull in with a book, you are not so bad. I had developed a certain fondness for demigods the last time I was cast down from Olympus, therefore I am aware of the complex feelings you mortals suffer from. Goodbye, child." He knelt down a little and patted my head twice, and then he was gone.
Hades was left standing there. "So, girl, our business is done. I wish you all the best. After all, you do make my son incredibly, unbelievably happy. Happier than he has been in a long time. And please, if he is reluctant to inform you of his past, it is because he believes it so dark he wishes not to poison your young mind with his happenings. Do not be so hard on him. He will tell you when he finds the time right. Again, all the best to you, child of Demeter. May you not have to reside in my realm for many decades. But let that not stop you from visiting every now and then, hm? Persephone is most keen to meet you, you know." And in a small burst of shadow that drifted the scent of wet soil throughout the attic, he was gone.
Zoë chose that moment to burst into the room, muttering about how her sneakers were not for storing spare gemstones in. Then she noticed the look on my face.
"Oh, yeah. Uncles Nico and Will came downstairs raving about how you started beating Apollo's face in with a book and how you kicked Hades where it hurt. And then you sicced Helios on them and tied them up in your potted ivy." Her nose wrinkled like it always did when she was trying not to smile.
I shoved her gently, mainly because I couldn't think of anything else to do. "Did you pack the canned pineapple rings? You haven't lived until you've drank the juice straight from the can, Zo."
"You are going to tell me everything, Bia. We have time." She gave my shoulder a little push and slung an arm around my shoulders.
I wanted to get to them going to Camp but I didn't want this chapter to be too long cause I didn't know whether or not you guys liked long chapters or not.
But seriously. I love the Bianca and Zoë friendship that so many girl cousins share, especially if you have no sisters of your own, like me. I don't mean to sound self centered, but their relationship kind of sums up a relationship that me and my girl cousin have.