"Chiron, why can't I fight! When people find out that I didn't fight, how do you think they will feel?" I protest. Chiron drops his reading glasses and sighs. "Chiron, these people are dying because my father is throwing a damn temper tantrum! I should be there to help them fight!" I yell at him, walking over to the ping pong table and slamming my hands down. Hot, thick anger flows through my veins, my chest tight and heavy.
"Thysia, this is not your fight!" Chiron yells at me. He slams down his stack of papers he's holding and looks me dead straight in the eyes. "Thysia, he is my father too. But really, this is not your fight. If you go out there, then...things will get even more complicated. I-I can't lose you or let you do that." Chiron says to me in a stern voice.
"Chiron, I understand our relationship. You've been more of a father to me than anyone. Even D, but...you care about these other demigods as well. I know that it is killing you to watch them die.
"But even if I did go out there and fight, why would it make things more complicated?" I ask him, arching an eyebrow. Chiron sighs and takes off his glasses.
"Thysia, yes, our father is fighting to get Olympus back, but...ever since he learned that you still existed after you faked your death, he became even more angry, and more determined to find you." Chiron explains, and I feel the colour drain from my face. I sit down in the chair next to me and the tightness in my chest from the anger molds into anxiety. I stare blankly at the table and try to breathe.
"My father still know I'm alive?" I whisper in a small voice, my eyes barely making it to Chiron before they turn glassy.
"Charlie?" I whisper. My heart leaps into my throat and I can't speak. Charlie looks up at me and gives me that faintest of a smile. I run, rushing into his arms. He grabs me, knees failing and we fall to the floor where he pulls me into his lap and cradles my head.
"My love, you are here. Wait why are you here?" he asks, pulling away from me and putting his hands on the sides of my face, wiping away the tears that streamed down my face.
I shake my head and let out a small cry. "Charlie, I was the spy. I was the one feeding information to Luke. He..he was just so charming and man-manipulative towards me. I-I didn't know at...at the ti-time." I hiccup, shaking my head from side to side, feeling like cotton got shoved down my throat.
"Shhh, love. It's okay. You are fine, I understand. I still love you and we are going to get through this. I've got you and I am not letting you go." He whispers to me, still wiping away the tears and pulling me back into a hug.
"I don't think I understand Aunt Love." I say to her, setting my cup of lavender and vanilla tea down back onto the small china plate. She sighs and sets hers down as well.
"Well Frankie, it's quite simple. In a few days Zeus will be hosting a small get together with some of Olympus' most trusted heros." she begins, talking smoothly and gracefully.
"Wait, didn't you say that Luke Castellan was going to be there. I don't think he is one of Olympus' most trusted heroes. I mean, didn't he just start a war?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and picking my tea back up, and taking a sip.
Aunt Love sighs and gives me a pointed look. "That will be explained but basically, once Perseus Jackson gave his speech about fighting, we all realised that maybe we should help you guys out, create some sort of, I don't know…" she pauses. "team to help with fighting all of these monsters." She explains, waving her hands in different motions.
I nodded my head and take a minute to think about that. Creating a team that could help out the demigods with always having to fight monsters might be a good idea. But there are so many of them, it doesn't make sense to have one team covering all the space.
"Is he wanting me there? To be a part of this team?" I ask her in a small voice, focusing my attention on the cup of tea.
"All will be explained tomorrow, I simply wanted to give you a heads up." she reassures me.
"What about my dad? Why didn't he come with you today to talk?" I ask her in a hard voice. "He was supposed to be here. He has blown off our monthly tea three times already!"
All Aunt Love does is sigh.
Waves crash against the shore, sending a mist of salty air my way. I inhale through my nose and exhale through my mouth. That's what they taught you, right? When you had a panic attack or were to avragated.
The sand beneath my fingers was like a soft blanket. I take a handful and let it slip through the cracks of my fingers. Another wave crashes.
"Andromeda?" I hear my father's voice. I close my eyes and inhale. Inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
"I know you are upset. I understand, but these were the only conditions for you to be able to live again. I'm only trying to do what's best for you. Please try and understand?" My father asks me. Inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth. I shake my head and pick up more sand, letting it all fall through my hands before I stand up and shake off all of the excess sand.
"Dad, I...I need you to know I am not mad at you. I simply just hate this deal. I get that I will be able to live again and really live this time. But knowing that my brother is still alive and not being able to see him? Or mama?" I reason with him. His face is dark. Shadows under his eyes and a crease in between his forehead.
"I know Andromeda. It's hard for me too. To just not go and pick him up and let him train with me. But he just barely finished getting out of the labyrinth and surviving that. He wouldn't need this right now." I feel my heart drop. A hot lump forms in my throat and I slightly tear up.
"What would be too hard about it? The fact that paying attention to your kid is hard for you!" I scream at him, a slight tremble happening beneath me.
"No, no. Andy, you must calm down, that is not at all what I was saying. I know that as a group the gods have screwed up in the kids8 department," I scoff at this, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms against my chest.
"But your brother is part of a huge prophecy that I cannot and will not meddle with. He is an important part of out future and as his father, I must try and help him in every way possible." he explains to me. I loosen up at this, but still am angry.
"I get that. But he still is my brother. I just think that we should let him know that I'm alive."
"All in due time. The team hasn't even finished forming yet, once it has, and you have all been trained, then we will announce you to the world."
"I want to choose rebirth, father! I want another chance at life!" I yell at him in his throne room. I stomp to a chair around the table near the fireplace.
"B, you can choose rebirth, but in a different form. This team will allow you to live again, but fight for what is right. To give your fratello a better life." he pauses. "Please, Zoe already choose to fight."
My ears perk up at this. I had only known Zoe for a short while, but she was really nice to me, and already cared about me. She warned me to not go and take something from hephaestus' junkyard. And during our time in the Underworld together, we had grown close. Her body was sent to the stars, but her spirit still travels to the Underworld to visit old hunters who have passed.
"Okay, but that doesn't mean that I will join! I mean, it still is my choice, right?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. Father sighed in defeat and sits back down on his throne, rubbing his forehead.
"I understand, I do. But think about this…"
"Yeah sure, I'll join." I say, shrugging my shoulders and getting back to shining my sword.
"Wait, really?" Father asks me. I nod my head and rub off some monster grim.
"All of the other's are having a hard time joining. Are you sure that you are all right with joining?" He asks me, walking closer to me and staring at my sword.
"Dad? When have you ever seen me stand down from a fight? Plus, you said that Frankie was going to be there? She isn't that bad of a sight." I chuckle.
"That's my boy!" he yells, hitting me on my back.
6 months after the Giant war...
"I don't really want to deal with this right now. I cannot go to training tomorrow." Andy says as she barges into my room. I pull away from Max quickly and untangle myself from his lap.
"Oh, ew." she cringes, scrunching her nose up and gives us a look of disgust.
"Well it's not like you and Apollo are any better, annnndddd you barged in on us." I arched an eyebrow. I feel Max stiffen beside me.
"Wait, you and Apollo are actually together?!" he whisper-yells. Andy makes huge eyes at me and I turn my face toward Max, putting both hands on either side of his face.
"Max, sweetheart, you cannot tell anyone about this. Ok? Promise me that you won't tell anyone." I tell him, using some of my charmspeak. Max's face suddenly goes into a trance and looked me straight in the eye.
"I promise,my love, that I won't tell anyone." he says in his charmspeak trance. I smile and turn my attention back to Andy.
"What's going on mate?" I ask her, moving to swing my legs on the side of the bed. Max gets up and puts his shirt back on, and throws me mine.
"I'm going to leave, because this seems like a conversation that does not involve me." He says, giving me a kiss on the cheek. I give him soft smile and rub his arm as he walks away.
As he leaves the room, Andy comes over and sits beside me as I throw my shirt back on.
"I can't train anymore. That's all we've been doing for the past couple of years, and I haven't even been able to see my brother! That's why I'm doing this right?! FOR MY BROTHER?" Andy screams, jumping up off of the bed, breathing hard.
"Woah, woah, Andy, chill out, love!" I say, rubbing her arm and sending calming vibes towards her. She sighs out loud and looks me in the eye.
"I can't do this." she whispers "I thought that after all of the training and the fighting and the...the...these damn emotions! I thought we would finally have a break and I could meet my brother! I miss him so much. I miss him, my mom. I mean, my mom is now married to some guy I don't even know!" Andy yells, ranting, pulling her hair. I frown and stand up, grab her arms and wrap myself around her.
"Hey, hey. It's okay." I whisper, pulling her to sit back down. I rest my cheek against hers and she finally lets the tears fall, and they come in long waves. And are extremely salty.
"It's going to get better." I whisper into the air.
One month before the party…
"Demigods! We have a new assignment for you…"
ITS HELLA SUMMER BITCHES! Okay sorry I won't ever refer to you guys as that again but I am way too excited. Stick with me now guys I have more time on my hands and will hopefully be able to upload more!
Explaining this chapter: I wanted to introduce some of the characters, and also reintroduce some of the old characters. I don't really want to do POV stuff but if this gets too confusing, let me know and I will. Have a great day and stay tuned for the next chapter!