Cressida slept as droplets of snowflakes fell silently outside the Hermes Cabin. She slept dreamlessly until spirals of darkness drew her in; she was entering a dream – but not any normal dream. She found herself standing in pitched darkness, she was in the Mansion of Night – Nyx' home.
She spun around slowly, and put her hands up in irritation. "Really?" she said, exasperated. "Is this the only way to communicate?"
A forty foot figure emerged out of nowhere. Nyx stood tall in her graceful, shadowy figure, her dress shining with colours of the nebula, but this time she was standing in a chariot made of pure iron black, pulled by two black horses with piercing red eyes – Shade and Shadow. Her wings beat, and her quasar eyes – similar to Cressida's – sparkled with amusement. The goddess chuckled, and as she did, the horses bared their fangs as if they were smiling ever so freakishly.
Cressida stepped back. "No offence, but your tall figure –" , she gestured to Nyx' body. "– is kind of nerve-wracking."
"Yes, I see it pushes mortals off the edge," The goddess said. "I can appear as however I desire, but I like this best."
"Okay," Cressida drawled. "Why am I here?" Cressida knew that if Nyx is appearing into her dreams, that it wasn't good news. Cressida did not like that.
"I see Zeus is suspicious as I predicted," The goddess mused. "Let him be, the gods won't harm you, and I ensure that." Her ash smoke legs churned as she said that.
Cressida gulped. "What will happen when they know the truth? That – that – "
"That you're a child of mine?" The goddess cocked her head. "They will deny it of course, I have never conceived a mortal being."
"If I am truly a child – a half-blood of yours – then who is my father?" Cressida looked away, feeling kind of anxious to find out the answer. If what Jack said is true, that Nyx had her by herself, all she wanted was for Nyx to confirm that.
The goddess sighed – and it echoed throughout the void of darkness. "Child, you do not have a father. It is I who is your only parent, for I can conceive without another. I have most my children by myself." She sounded pleased.
Cressida cut to the chase. "Okay. Whatever. What do you want?"
A wisp of darkness drew from Nyx' body and the horse's eyes glowed furiously. "Do not demand me, Child. I have appeared to you to ensure your safety, the years I've protected you from the monsters that slay and prey on demi-gods. But you will not need that. You're capable of anything, Cressida. I may not be here physically and directly for you, but I am always watching over you in the hours of darkness."
Now was the time for Cressida to feel angry. Years of bitterness washed over her, consuming all the times of darkness and isolation she felt. "Watching over me isn't enough," her voice cracked. "14 years and 246 days I have spent... alone. Lost and confused. An orphan who know one cared about. Unloved, because my parent left me. I was abandoned because my parent refused to care for me, to be there for me. And the worse thing? All those years and days... you didn't bother to acknowledge me until now, and I don't want to be a spawn of a primordial goddess. I don't want to burden these powers... to carry this darkness. All those years I've spent crying myself to sleep in the night, calling out for love, for the parent who left me alone in solitary."
If the goddess pitied Cressida's words, she didn't show it. Tears stung Cressida's eyes, she hasn't cried since the night she arrived at her second foster home, she was ten years old then.
"I am a goddess, child. You must fend for yourself, I cannot interfere with your life. I am the night itself." Nyx said. The constellations on her dress sparkled brilliant shades.
"I didn't ask for this life. I didn't ask to be a daughter of Night." Cressida whispered, breathlessly. She didn't mean for this conversation to turn tables. "Now the gods will find out eventually, and they will kill me. I shouldn't be a half-blood of a primordial goddess, it shouldn't have happened."
The rage in the goddesses eyes died down, and the blackness of her figure washed out. The horses disappeared in a wispy flash. "You have a tough journey ahead of you. The gods will do whatever they can to rid of you, but I know for certain you will get through it. You will show no sign of weakness, and remember, you are a child of mine. Show strength, as you are born with. Darkness can fill you with loneliness, but you are not alone."
Cressida didn't understand the last words the goddess said. The chariot glimmered and vanished, leaving only Nyx standing. "And with your journey soon to come, you will face many difficulties." She said, and the next words bit Cressida hard in the chest. "The only way to control the darkness is when you learn to accept it. To accept who you are."
Then Nyx dissolved into a cloud of black twinkling shadow of night and dusk. Cressida's heart pounded still as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning, was Capture the flag. The kids of camp-half blood were preparing for the game, practicing their swordplay, and shooting bows. The Hephaestus cabin was inventing traps, and the Athena cabin was using their knacks at tactics. The Hermes cabin was preparing pranks and ambushes. The Hecate cabin was practicing their magic. Everyone was excited because the goddess Artemis is participating along with her sisters in arms – the huntresses. Cressida's stomach coiled up, the goddess surely knows of the suspicions against Cressida and her unclaimed godly parent.
Capture the flag was hours away, and as the kids in the cabin were preparing up, Cressida stepped outside and slung the strap of her quiver behind her back and her bow. She was greeted by the cold brisk wind that hit her face. It was snowing, but she wasn't that cold that she'd have to wear a sweater – courtesy of the magical barriers. She walked along the pathway of the cabins, kids were laughing and battling playfully with their swords. Fractals of white flakes fell onto Cressida's black shoulder-length hair.
A haunting feeling washed over her, the dream last night she had. The words Nyx left loitered in her mind, the only way to control the darkness is when you learn to accept it. To accept who you are. Cressida didn't know until then, that she didn't accept this all. But what Nyx said, to control the darkness? Cressida shook her head and the flakes fell onto her t shirt. She didn't want to overthink it through. It didn't help matters.
Amid the cabins, the stone-lined fire pit was occupied. A young girl wearing a simple brown dress, and a scarf around her head was tending the flames. Cressida came to a halt when the girl brought her eyes to her. They were fiery – golden and red flames that were cosy and warm. It was the goddess Hestia – thanks to the book Jack loaned to Cressida.
Hestia smiled warmly at her – much to Cressida's surprise. Hestia brought her hand up and beckoned Cressida forward. Cressida ambled over to her, her sneakers crunching under the snow. The goddess's eyes smiled as Cressida accompanied her on the concrete, by the fire.
"Hello, Cressida." The goddess said amiably. Being with Hestia's presence gave a warmly feel, after all, she was the goddess of the hearth and home.
"Hi," Cressida mumbled. She fiddled with her hands, and her dark eyes glimmered.
The goddess chuckled, "Don't be afraid, dear." She said. "Are you hungry?" She brought out her palm as if she were to materialize food, Cressida didn't doubt it at all.
"No, thank you." Cressida said. Her heart was pounding, and her teeth chattering – and she wasn't even cold. She was so apprehensive about Hestia talking to her – because of the god's suspicions about Cressida.
Hestia leaned in and gave a half-smile. "I mean you no harm, dear. I know of what the gods are brewing up there," her fiery eyes drifted to the sky, and lightning flashed.
Hestia waved a hand over, and Cressida was confused as the goddesses eyes stared into Cressida's, alarmed. For a second Cressida was afraid that her eyes were stars, but it was the day…
Hestia seized hold of Cressida's shaky hands. "My brother Zeus cannot hear us now, but be attentive." She whispered, and her eyes were alarmed and frightened, and suddenly Cressida was too. "I know of your godly parent, child. I have been keeping your secret from Zeus, but I'm afraid it won't stay like that any longer."
Cressida swallowed hard, and her throat was dry. She took a sharp intake of breath, "You know?"
The goddess nodded and leaned back, tending the hearth again. "The Night is not affiliated with Olympus, and the second I glanced at you I knew you were not the usual type of demi-gods we've seen. At first I thought you were a child of Hades, resurrected from the dead or perhaps have been stopped in time from the Lotus Casino." She said. Cressida was confused. "But I was wrong. Your presence – it's far stronger. Powerful. Zeus has no idea, but he has his suspicions. And it's only a matter of time when he uncovers the truth." The goddess turned to Cressida. "But I will not side with him if that happens."
Cressida's chest fluttered. She took a shaky breath in air of snow. "What will happen?"
The goddess lips formed a tight, grim line. "It is unpredictable. But he will do anything in his power to eradicate you, but he will do it at the appropriate time. It will not end to that, I assure you. If he knows of your Mother, he would not do it directly. He wouldn't want someone as powerful as you to be here, he cares of his throne tenaciously." The goddess words were sad, as if she sympathaiszes with Cressida.
Cressida closed her eyes tightly. She didn't want to be here. She didn't ask to be like this. She didn't want it at all. But a surge of daunting strength consumed her as she sat by the hearth. She opened her dark eyes and said calmly, "I'm sorry. I didn't ask for this, but if it comes to the stage where Zeus will do anything in his power to get rid of me, I am going to fight back. I didn't ask for this life, but I will not be toyed with."
The hearth crackled, and Hestia's eyes flared with pride. She smiled. "I respect that dearly." She said. "You are very strong. You have immense power you have yet to understand, but be warned, do not let the darkness overthrow you; power can be an addictive element."
After that strange conversation, Hestia waved her hand and continued to tend the fire. Cressida stood up and took a shaky breath. She went to the Hermes cabin to help prepare for capture the flag. The teams were announced earlier and the Hermes cabin was paired with – Nemesis, Hypnos, Nike, Ares, Demeter, Hephaestus and Dionysus cabins. The opposing team consisted of – Athena, Artemis and her huntresses, Apollo, Tyche, Hebe, and Iris cabins. Cressida's side got the advantage of more cabins, but only because Artemis was playing against them.