Back in about March, we had adopted a "fully honest about everything" policy. If one asked the other how they were doing, a better answer than "good, you?" was expected. That's what caused my mistake. She and I were talking about how alike we were and I commented, "Are we sure I'm not yours? Lol. Direct line doesn't matter. I have three moms." Totally unlike a daughter of Athena, I didn't think it through. Truthfully, I have Mom (Marie), Athena, and I was close enough to Dawn that I thought of her as a third mom, but that wouldn't make much sense to her.
Immediately, a reply came back. "Three? Who's the third?"
I fumbled a second, then only told part of the truth. I felt horrible, but I also didn't have much choice. "I recently found out that, while Mom is my birth mother, she's not my biological mom. I've only seen my biological mom once, but I'm close to several of my half-siblings. My biological mom also sent me a present for my last birthday." I was thankful the internet covered up my stumbling, and created a false confidence. As long as I wrote without grammatical hesitations, it was read without hesitations.
"Hmm. Interesting. In vitro fertilization?"
"That's one way to put it."
She didn't push the subject, and the conversation turned to school.
Unfortunately, three weeks later, and three days before I left for the Wilds, my summer camp, the subject came up again.
"School will be ending soon. Any plans?" she typed.
"Lots. I'm going to the Wilds in three days, then to another camp from there."
"You've told me about the Wilds, but never about this other camp. What's it like there?"
As I read that—and fumbled for how to answer—I got a semi-lucky break. I spotted a hellhound outside my window.
"Crud. I'm gonna have to get back to you on that description. Something just came up. I'll be back in a few. 3 you!"
I could almost see her confusion through the computer, but, a second later, her message came up. "Ok. See you later."
After killing the hellhound, which didn't take long with my arrows, I grabbed my mister and went to my room. Creating a rainbow, I tossed in a drachma.
"Iris, show me Lou Ellen, Hecate cabin counselor." I had some questions about the Mist and I figured the goddess of magic was the way to go.
A second later, I was looking inside the Hecate cabin at camp.
"Hey, Grace. What's up?" She knew I had a question. I never contacted Hecate otherwise.
"My aunt is asking tough questions. What are the chances that two members of the same family can see through the Mist?"
"For their whole life? Impossible. However, in your circumstances, it is possible. Your dad couldn't see clearly until recently. It is entirely possible your aunt could either gain the sight or have had it her whole life."
I nodded, thinking. "Know any good ways to test without giving anything away?"
She shook her head. "You'll have to ask Annabeth for that. I know magic, not tactics."
"Ok. Thanks for the info."
"No problem." She cut the connection and I tossed another drachma in.
"Annabeth Chase. Camp Half-Blood."
I saw Bunker 9, the Argo II standing mostly finished in the background. Campers were running everywhere trying to fix one part or build another of the ship.
"Hey, Annabeth!" I called over the noise. She turned.
"What's up, Grace?" We usually talked later in the day, but the next time I got online, I would have to answer Dawn.
"Family issue. My aunt's getting really close to the truth about me. I'm closer to her than my mom, and have no problem telling her the truth, but I want to make sure she can already see clearly before I tell her. Do you know a way I can test that without giving anything away?"
She thought a second. "Ask her what happened last August. If she can see, she'll know something about Typhon."
I considered that. "That might do it. Thanks. Now, any updates on Percy and how's the ship going?"
"Nothing new on Percy." She hesitated, probably thinking about his probable amnesia. "And the ship is fine. We've had a few problems, but, barring a major failure, we're set to leave on the summer solstice."
I nodded, then decided to just say it. "Awesome. And don't worry about Percy. Not even Hera could make him forget you. He'll be there when you land."
"I hope so," she murmured. "Wait, how did you know about his memory?"
I shrugged, not wanting to tell her the truth. "I have my ways. I have to go. If something new comes up, tell me. Otherwise, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Take care, Grace."
"You too." I waved my hand, clearing the mist, and walked back to my computer.
"You still on?"
"Yup. Everything ok?" Dawn replied quickly.
"Now it is. As for a description of my other camp, we have a weird rule for telling others about it. For me to be allowed to tell you about it, I have to ask you a few questions. That ok?"
"I don't want to get you in trouble," was the response.
"You won't. I just have to follow this stupid rule." The complaint was obviously there to make her think this wasn't me asking.
"Ok. What do you have to ask?"
"First, what "natural disaster" happened last summer?"
"That storm? That was part of the reason I moved to where I did. Everyone else said it was just a bad storm, but I didn't think so. Some of those clouds looked like body parts! When I decided to leave, I chose an area the "storm" had missed." And that solved the clear-sighted question.
"Have you seen anything else weird that no one else noticed?"
"Always. Since I was young, I've seen things. I stopped telling others when I realized no one else could see them."
"Well, that tells me the level of description I can give you." I added a smiley. "I've gathered you don't want anyone knowing where you are exactly. You have five minutes to get rid of everything near you that could give away your location before I video call you to explain everything…the demigod way."
"Whaaa?" was the reply. Now I had her confused. Good. Made it easier to explain everything.
"Four minutes, thirty seconds." No reply. I set my timer and went to my room, locking the door. Couldn't let mom see an IM. When the five minutes were up, I formed a rainbow.
