If you're reading this it's most likely not because I wanted you too. I bet if anything my dad or uncle is forcing me to write it. My advice is if you notice anything in this book remotely similar to what you've experienced before or if you've seen yourself in these pages, close the book up, put it away somewhere you'll never see it again. Pretend none of this is real and go on with your daily lives.
In the case that none of that warning made sense to you, continue reading this book, I envy you for being able to believe this all to be fiction and be able to get away with normal everyday stuff. Either way, I wish you the best of luck with whatever option you end up choosing. Then again I also know you won't believe a word I'm about to say, er, write?
My name is Alessa.
Hopefully, that cleared up a bit, but it probably didn't. I'm a 16,000-year-old goddess who doesn't like her job. Well, actually that's a lie, I like some aspects of my job, just not paperwork. Paperwork always sucks, no matter what job you have, unless you're one of the weird ones who like it, then I worry for you.
Anyways I'm getting off-topic. I work on Olympus under my Father and Aunts and Uncles, I'm in between being called a minor goddess and an Olympian. I'm also considered a "gopher" in the sense of what I do for them. Most times I'm the one they send to the mortal realm for things, stripping me of my godly powers and making me like a normal demigod. Some days I feel humiliated by it, others it's ok. I mean I am the goddess of Heros, so I really shouldn't feel that way. But I was mortal once so I do feel that way, sadly. There are just some things you can't let go of.
The day was normal for me, well as normal as it can get when you're helping calm down gods who have too large of egos and can't admit when they're wrong. An emergency council meeting had been called, there were issues going on that I shouldn't mention right now. Trust me when I say it will be explained at some point in time. But anyways, Zeus was angry. No, he was more than angry, he was furious. My uncle has always had a temper but at the moment it was beyond ridiculous. He had just found out after four years that my father had a son. I don't get why uncle was upset, really he had no reason to be, considering the number of children he has sired and how he broke the oath… twice. But that was too much information, I'll get back on that later. That's probably what led to the argument going on right now.
"You broke your oath brother!" Zeus roared, glaring at Poseidon with a poisonous look.
Poseidon's glare turned stormy as he replied in a chilling tone. "You broke it twice brother. Do not get angry with me."
The other gods and goddesses were trying to ignore the conflict going on, doing their daily tasks. Especially Hermes, poor guy. He just can't catch a break with how busy he is. Apollo and Artemis were arguing on who the best archer was, which I dutifully ignored because everyone knew the correct answer, me, considering they had both blessed me when I was still mortal. Aphrodite, my mother (confusing I know with all the mentions of being mortal, again be explained later), was fussing over some of the couples she had set up thinking they would be perfect together. I rolled my eyes and turned to look at Athena, my favorite cousin. She was sitting there listening to both drama queens argue. Her eyes were stormy and calculating. Hera was ignoring the two and talking to Demeter and Dionysus about family. Ares and Hephaestus were arguing like usual about my mother.
After a few hours of listening to Poseidon and Zeus argue, Athena cut in with a "brilliant" plan. I pray to the gods you got my sarcasm. "Why not have Alessa go down as a mortal and watch over the boy then?"
All talking ceased and everyone looked between the four of us. I groaned and slumped to the floor in despair. Uncle tapped his chin in thought before looking to me, Athena and finally Poseidon. "Alessa would have to check in once every two weeks then."
My face morphed into a disbelieving expression. I don't think Uncle was going to give me a choice. "Do I even get a say in this?" I muttered, rubbing my temple and glancing at Apollo.
With a cheeky smile and wink, he shook his head in the negative. "Of course not." I sighed.
Father looked at me then sighed in resignation. "Only if you promise to leave my son alone after."
Uncle grumbled but nodded in agreement. "Very well." He turned to me. "From this day forward you will be reduced back to your mortal form with demigod capabilities." He turned to Father. "She's going to have to live with the boy."
Father looked at Uncle before closing his eyes. "I'll have to talk to the boy's mother."
Uncle grunted in agreement. "Alessa, have fun being four again." With that, he snapped his fingers and everything changed.
I could feel my godly essence leaving my body, again, which was kinda painful. My body started shrinking, my cheeks gaining back their baby fat. My eyes became bigger and more puppy-like (my secret weapon wins every time). When the transformation finally stopped my mind kept bouncing back and forth from my four-year-old one to my much older one.
I looked around at everyone with wide and I suppose they'd be impressionable eyes, my lips started quivering and sniffles pushed past my lips. The faces of my family softened and my mother cooed at me. She shrunk to human height and scooped me up in her arms.
"Aw, my sweet Ambrosine, why can't you be this age forever?" She rubbed her nose on mine in an eskimo kiss. No matter how much I try to deny, a lot of the little kid stuff I did end up doing… again…. So in response to my mother's eskimo kiss, I did in fact giggle and respond with, "Your so funny Mommy! I can't stay like this forever, I have to get big and strong so I can protect you and Daddy."
Of course, this meant everyone had to aww over my response. I refuse to have anyone speak of this day. So wipe it from your memory now. My father shrank to human height and plucked me from my mother's grasp. He planted a kiss on my head and tickled my sides eliciting giggles from my mouth. I tried really hard to squirm out of his arms promise, he was just a little too strong.
I can faintly recall Hermes and Apollo asking Uncle to keep me this age forever. I think they forgot I change my age just like them, idiots. Uncle chuckled but denied them their request. Father turned to address Uncle, tucking me in his hold and encompassing me with his warmth.
"Well, Brother, I better go ask the boys mother and see if she will also take care of Alessa." Father gave me a soft smile and we dissolved into the air, leaving behind the smell of the sea. I can faintly recall Mother wishing me luck and Athena's smile she only has for me as we parted.
The next time my Father and I formed solid forms we were at a dingy-looking apartment. The paint was cracked and peeling and there were faint smells of rotten wood. Father wasn't discouraged though, he walked straight up to the door and knocked. We didn't have to wait long for someone to answer the door. A short portly shaped man with only three hairs on his head answered the door.
"Who are you?" He gruffly asked, arms crossed and expression sour.
"Hello, I've come to talk to Sally Jackson." Father politely replied, though refused to give his name.
My nose detected a faint whiff of what smelled like moldy pizza. Eww.
"She's not here." This guy was refusing to cooperate.
Father's expression was slowly losing its polite smile. I could only look between the two.
"Gabe? Who's at the door?" A women's voice called from within.
This "Gabe" person wrinkled his brow in frustration, a sort of angry look taking over his features. If I'm honest he was scaring me a little. I don't know if it was my 4-year-old mind or my demigoddess (can't day goddess when my godliness was stripped from me) instincts giving me the signal he was not a good guy. Maybe it was his smell?
"Please don't leave me with him, Daddy." I whispered, burying my head into his neck.
Father tightened his hold on me at the same moment a young woman with long chestnut brown hair pushed Gabe aside.
Her eyes widened in surprise seeing both my Father and me. She turned to Gabe and whispered something to him before shutting the door behind her.
"Hello, Sally." Father gave her a soft smile, one I never see him give to his own wife.
"Hello, Poseidon." She returned his smile before turning her eyes on me. "And who might this cutie be?"
Father laughed softly. "This is my daughter Ambrosine, but she prefers the name Alessa. She's actually why I came to talk to you."
Sally's smile fell slightly. Father took that as his cue to start talking. He explained Zeus's compromise that he'd leave Percy alone, but only if I stayed and lived here reporting every two weeks.
"She can stay, Poseidon, I don't mind." She paused and looked back at the apartment. "The only problem is Gabe, he'll know she doesn't belong here."
Poseidon smiled and set me down. With a snap of his fingers, my memories shifted slightly. There were memories of me, Sally, Gabe and a boy I can only assume is Percy. Memories I know I never had before. Some I didn't care for and others I wish I could have actually experienced.
Father knelt to my height and pressed his forehead to mine. "Be good, my sweet Ambrosine. I'll be watching over you, always." A tender kiss was pressed to the crown of my head before with a faint pop he left with the smell of the sea lingering behind.
"Sally! What's taking so long?" A voice yelled from inside.
Sally bent down and looked into my eyes. "Ready to go inside Alessa?"
With a slightly nervous look, I nodded my head. I mean it's not like I really have any choice. Right?
