Chapter 1 – Meeting Mum

My heart leapt at the sound of that soft, feminine voice.

"Mum!" I cried, throwing myself in her arms. Like me, her hair was a luscious gold and her frame tall. However, her eyes were a gold as the sun, unlike my green eyes that I inherited from my father.

Eos, goddess of the Dawn, laughed and hugged me tightly.

"My darling, how are you?" she asked, her voice soft like morning sunshine.

"Alright, I guess. Dad's in the Bahamas with wife number three. Or is it four? Anyway, I'm here on my own and school starts tomorrow, so yeah, fun."

"I am glad to hear it." Her face grew grave. "I am sorry I didn't get chance to warn you of Lord Zeus and the Council's decision until now. I tried, my dear, I truly did but I can rarely get away from Olympus. You know how it is."

"I know Mum, it's okay. You are quite important to the world, you know," I laughed.

"Still, I should have made more of an effort to see you, Eden."

"Well, you're here now, and that's what matters. Do you want a drink or anything?" I asked.

She smiled. "I would love a cup of coffee, thank you."

"Sure," I replied.

I went into the spacious kitchen of my and my Dad's apartment. We lived in central London, overlooking Green Park. It took my Dad ages to find this place and haggle with the landlord to get the rent low enough for us to pay and still live comfortably. I really did love the place, but it was a bit lonely when I was here on my own.

"I heard from Frances the other day," my Mum said.

I smiled whilst getting the mugs out of the cupboard. Frances, daughter of Apollo and Sun Child* was my best friend and one of the few demigods from England. Now that she lived at Camp I didn't hear from her much but I did get the odd IM or letter via Hermes.

"What did she say?" I asked.

"She says that Nico and her are doing fine, she misses you terribly and wishes you would go and live at Camp Half Blood like she does so she can see you everyday and you two can make sarcastic comments together all say long."

I laughed heartily. "Somehow I doubt she said those words exactly, Mum," I said.

The goddess shrugged. "So, I added a few sentences, but that was the main feeling of it."

"Thanks Mum, I'll be sure to IM her in the morning," I said, handing her a mug of coffee.

She took a sip and signed happily. "There certainly isn't coffee like this on Olympus," she said.

"Speaking of," I said. "Who came up with the ingenious idea to reveal the gods to the general public?"

Eos sighed and lowed her mug onto the counter.

"I can assure you it was not me, child. I believe Lord Poseidon came up with the idea. Too many people were deep sea diving near one of his properties, apparently, and he said to his brother 'Why not just tell the mortals we exist so no others have to die mysteriously at sea?' Let's just say Lord Zeus took the statement to heart. Three years later, here we are."

Wait a minute.

"The gods have been planning this for three years?" I asked disbelievingly. "As in, during both the Titan war and the fiasco with Gaea? Surely that should have put the gods off revealing themselves?"

"You would think that, wouldn't you? But those incidents had the opposite effect. They convinced Lord Zeus that revealing the gods would provide an explanation for those who found the cover stories less than convincing."

"Were no demigods involved in the decision?" I asked, getting more worked up by the second.

"Only Percy Jackson and Jason Grace were directly consulted, but they had talks with their respective Camps who said they were okay with the idea," my Mother said, trying to sooth me. It wasn't going well. "I suppose no one came to you because you don't live there or they didn't want to bother you…?"

She trailed off as the front door slammed shut. More accurately, her voice got quieter as I got further away. Normally I wouldn't get so worked up over an issue like this – I wasn't usually – but when something this serious was being discussed without my knowing, something that affected me this badly, I think it's understandable to get a little worked up.

I know it was rude (not to mention dangerous) to walk out of a goddess when they're talking to you, but if I'd have stayed any longer and heard what she had to stay I'd have done something I'd later regret.

One of the good things about living so close to Green Park was that I could go there to let of some steam. I headed to the back of the park, no where near the path, and found a good, sturdy tree. I let loose my anger, punching the tree as if it was a deadly opponent.

I don't know how long I was there, but soon I felt dawn's pull in my mind. Being the daughter of Eos, I always know when dawn is, and consequently what the time is. Having calmed down considerably, I decided to head home. I was going to need all my wits about me for the next few days.

Upon entering the apartment, I found a note on the door, attached to it by a new imperial gold dagger. It was an exquisite blade, the gold shining. The hilt was an intricate design of suns and swirls in hues of red, orange and pink. I do love my Mum sometimes.

The note read:

Daughter;

I know you are upset and angry, but I believe this shall be for the best.

These next few days will show you many things, child. Pay attention.

Keep the dagger, I have a feeling you are going to need it soon.

My love, Eos

A word of comfort, a word of foretelling, a word of caution. Typical for an Olympian. Taking the note and dagger from the door, I went inside and got ready for bed. Boy, was tomorrow going to be interesting.