Mom looked like she always had, waist long black and silver hair in a braid, dark tanned skin, a bow and quiver on her back and, a crescent moon painted on her forehead. Today she wore loose black pants and a red tunic. Tall hunting boots went up to her knees and, of course, a doe stood next to her.
"Mom? Why are you here?" I stammered out, the other kids sat, quiet for once.
"Well I heard your call for help." Mom told me, pulling an apple from behind her back. "I decided that, my only child," She glanced at me with her silvery blue eyes, "should get help from me. So, I popped down and helped, a tiny bit." She gave a smirk and bit into the apple. "Without my help, your arrow would have hit the seven. Aren't you glad mommy dearest was Therese to help?" She smirked-smiled at me, her eyes glinting with cruelty. I wasn't mom's most favorite person in the world, but I was her daughter for Zeus's sake, at least she could show some compassion. "Dionysus, how are you? Still here I see." Mom tipped two fingers at Mr.D. He fumed, not even able to respond.
"Mom, why did you really help me?" I snapped, yanking her attention back to me before she could spit out anything else.
"Whatever do you mean my child?" She asked me, in her sarcastically sweet voice, made only for me. "I came because you called for me." She smiled at me and then, at the camp. Her smile could turn a Gorgon into a puddle.
"You only ever come when it benefits you." I said dully, her eyes snapped back to me. I felt Ash come up and stand behind me, a silent warning and guard, as he always was. Mom snorts at this.
"Got yourself a boyfriend daughter?" She asked, mockingly. I shook my head, she only sneered. "Sure child. Anyways, I did come for something." She pushed off the target, and swaggered over. "But, only your ears my hear my words. Not your boyfriend or," Mom whirled to look Charon straight in his eyes. "you Charon. You may not hear this." She finished, tipping her fingers at him. She grabbed my shoulder and snapped her fingers.
We landed in an empty field, filled with long grass and covered by a never ending blue sky. "Anyyywaays." Mom drug the word out. "The gods are having issues, again." Mom rolled her eyes. "Aries is at the center and is reaching out to his children. So are the others." I looked at her, not quite understanding what she meant.
"What kind of issues?" I prodded, knowing I probably wouldn't get a very straight forward answer.
"Issues as in, Zeus is getting old and forgetful. His reign as king is coming to an end and Aries wants to be king. Hera, of course thinks she can just take over." Her eyes made a loop again. " We have decided to have a vote. Whoever gets the most votes wins. Gods and demi-gods are to vote." She was just reciting things now, her hands always played with her hair when she didn't really care about what she was talking about.
"When is this happening?" I hoped it was in a year or so.
"In a week." She replied happily. My eyes widened. "What? Its so far away!" She cried, throwing her hands up. I rolled my eyes.
"so, why am I here?" I repeated.
"Oh, I'm making sure I get your vote." She snorted, "You are voting for me right?" Mom growled, her eyes narrowing.
"I don't know!" I cried at her, throwing my hands up. "Take me back to camp." I snapped at her.
"Fine." She grumbled. A few seconds later, we landed back at camp. "See you later." She disappears.
"Luna!" Ash races up to me. "You okay? She didn't yell or burn or-" He was panicking so I cut him off.
"I'm all good but, the gods aren't." I then tell him all about the vote.
"What?! They are gods, they can't have votes, can they?" I shrug.
"All I know is that, we get to vote next week." I reply, with a shrug. "I just hope you don't have to be eighteen." Ash laughs at this. Thunder rumbles above us. As the sky cracks open, I thought I heard Zeus laughing at me.