Chapter 18

Rhea POV

"I hate school", I tell my mother with a groan before leaving on the bus for boarding school.

"You'll do great Rhea, like always. I'm sure you've missed some of your friends", my mother encourages.

"You're right, it would be nice to see Jane and Malcolm again", I tell her.

Jane and Malcolm became my friends once I entered into Grade four, and we've been friends for over a year. They're really great and supportive, even when I skipped to Grade five.

I have to do a placement test again once I arrive at school to see if I need to go to be placed in a higher grade again. Mentally I am in my twenties, but physically I'm eight, and it's not like I can tell them that.

It's strange how I barely remember events in my past life now, but can remember information, like my schooling and such.

I want to finish school soon. As much as I like being somewhat normal and being safe for now from monsters and prophecies, I hate feeling stuck and reliant on others and people treating me like I know nothing due to my age.

Sometimes my physical age will show when I get excited about things or when I get angry and frustrated. My emotional age is different than my mental age. I've thrown a tantrum or two when I don't get my way. The Headmaster even phoned my mom in the first week when I started school over an incident with one of the teachers who treated me like a baby.

I like hanging out with Jane and Malcolm. Jane is your typical girly girl and Malcolm is your typical geek with an intense love for Star Wars, and then you get me, and I don't even know what to classify myself in the group.

I eventually got to school and got settled into my room before being called to one of my teacher's classes for my placement test.

Two hours later I finished the test and headed to the cafeteria to eat. My teacher will let me know tomorrow where I need to be placed again.

"Hey! Hey!", I see Jane calling me over to their table.

"Jane, Malcolm!", I greet excitedly.

"How was your summer?", Jane asks.

"It was good, I spent some time with my mom in Montauk at the beach. It was really nice How was yours?", I reply.

"It was good, we went camping for a few weeks and then mom had to go back to work, so my little brother and I had to stay at our grams' house", she tells me.

"Mine was okay, I played a lot of video games", Malcolm adds on.

"You look really tan. I wish I could tan like that. The moment I step foot under the open sun, I burn like roast beef", Jane says and I laugh at her description. She's really pale.

"I have really good genetics", I say smugly.

"That you do", Malcolm responds.

We ate our food and went to our respective dorms. The girls' dorms and the boys' dorms. We get separated into grades and after being moved different grades, I was placed with Jane's grade group eventually.

I was placed in grade 8. I skipped two grades. 'Soon, I'll be done with school. I'll miss my friends but seeing as Demi-gods don't live long to even finish school, maybe I'll be one of the few who can actually do it. Maybe I can even do it before heading to camp, which is in four years'.

Months passed and a few kids made fun of me for being so young, and I'm sad to say that it really bothered me and Jane found me in the bathroom, crying one too many times.

'I would prefer training with my dad than being here. I would even spend time locked in a room with Amphitrite for long periods of time than being here. But I have to move forward, I need to stop wallowing a focus on my schooling. I'll ask for a another placement test as soon as the first term ends'.

And so I focused and focused and I even went through all my books for this grade and studied and studied. I passed all my exams with flying colours and could even shoot an arrow on the target without hitting anybody nearby, but I still don't trust myself with the bow and arrow. 'Stupid genetics'.

I focused most of my pent up energy on ballet, martial arts and swimming.

And after four months I got placed into Grade nine.

I overheard my teachers talking about me the one day, close to where I was sitting in the cafeteria,

"I can't believe that an eight year old can move grades like it's nothing. It's not normal", Mrs Juke said.

"Yes, but she is incredibly smart and gets bored really quick. Every time she sits in class, I can tell how bored she is. She fidgets a lot and still struggles sometimes with reading because of her dyslexia but we can't hold her back because she is young", replied Mr Young.

"But what about social interaction. I've seen she only has two friends and even the other kids make fun of her", replied Mrs Juke.

"Those children aren't used to someone their age that is smarter than them, they are jealous and just like normal people, don't like it when they get upstaged. It's like the Salem days all over again", Mr Young, our history teacher says. He likes to compare history to today's events in every class we have. He is a really good teacher to have. He is fun.

Mrs Juke groans at his reference, "Do you always have to bring in some sort of historical event?"

"Of course, how else will we learn from the past if we don't look at it", he replies amused, clearly having fun annoying Mrs Juke.

And so their conversation continued onto different topics and I wasn't brought up again.

I phoned my mom every now and then and she freaked out when she heard I was placed in Grade eight, and then again when I was placed in Grade nine.

"I can't believe you've skipped so many grades in such a short time. It's amazing Rhea but I'm worried about you, about your social life. You haven't had time to just be a child. You're only a child and by the rate you're going, you'll be in University soon and you're just growing up so fast".

"I know mom. I understand that you're worried, but this is a good thing. Mr Young, my history teacher said that once I graduate high school, then I'll get scholarships to study".

"Fine, but don't grow up so fast. You're my only child. I can't wait to see Poseidon's reaction to your grade placement", she replies.

"I can pray to him right? And he'll hear me?", I ask. My dad told me that if I really need to tell himsomething then I can just pray and my mother confirmed it as well, 'it's so strange to do that. I'm not sure if I like it. But it's better than nothing, cause dad doesn't have a phone'.

"Yes Rhea, make sure that no one hears you though. It'll be strange for them if they see you praying to a Greek god.

"Okay mom. I'll tell dad tonight".

And so I did, alone in my room before my other roommate came to bed,

"Dad, uh, Poseidon. I don't really know how this works. I've never had to done it before, but I want to tell you something great. I was placed in Grade eight and then went to Grade nine at the end of term. Mom is worried and says I am growing up too fast, but I'm only eight. I want to finish school soon. The other kids in my grade don't like it that I'm so young", I say with my hands folded together in a prayer's position.

Poseidon POV

I hear her praying to me, and I am proud of her, of what she has accomplished at such a young age. Not many children can do that. Sally has spoken to me about Rhea's education and her worries for our daughter. And I agree with her that I don't want her to grow up too fast and miss out on her childhood.

But seeing as she is a demi-god…she might not have much of a childhood anyway with the amount of monsters in this world.

We have been lucky so far that she hasn't been discovered yet as a demi-god.

I send her a telepathic message saying, 'I am very proud of you daughter. You have accomplished much in your young life. I miss you my sweet child".

I can tell she is startled, "Thanks dad, I miss you too. Love you, I've got a long day tomorrow, I'm gonna sleep now", she says.

"Sleep well daughter", I said and she fell asleep soon after that.

I left the palace and went to one of the islands that I gave to Hestia, my dearest sister. The island is safe from prying eyes and ears.

When I arrived she was already sitting there around the fire, under the stars, having sensed that I wanted to speak to her.

"Hello brother", she greeted with a smile.

"Hello Hestia, it's good to see you again", I reply.

"You wish to speak to me?", she asked.

"Yes, I need your help. Out of all of our family members, I trust you more than anyone else", I respond and she frowns.

"With what?" she asks confused.

"My daughter", I say, taking the chance in trusting her.

"Your daughter?!", she responds shocked, both in the sense that I've broken my vow and that I have a girl.

"Yes, after all these years, I've broken my vows and sired a daughter".

"You do realize the danger you've placed her in, just by being born?", she says angrily. She despises it when we kill of each other's children, and knows the danger that Rhea will be in once Zeus and Hades finds out, not to mention the other gods.

"I know. And that's why I am here. I need allies, I need people I can trust, I need my family. This is the first time I've sired a daughter and I love her so much that it hurts. I will do anything to protect my daughter. Please", I say.

Her eyes widen at my proclamation. She is pensive for a few moments.

"I don't know what I'll be able to do for her against our brothers", she says.

"We all respect you Hestia, even if you do not have a seat at the council anymore. They will listen when you speak. I'll also speak with Hades soon enough".

"What is her name?", she asks and I smile.

"Her name is Rhea, named after our mother", I respond.

She smiles at me, "Not many demi-gods are named after her".

The night went on as I told her of Rhea and of the Fates. She was shocked and curious about them approaching us, "It's strange, they don't normally interfere".

"I'll keep your secret safe brother, and I would like to meet her soon, to see the daughter that has captured the heart of the sea god", she said after hours of conversation.

"I'll see what I can do sister"

Another few weeks later I finally scrounged up the courage to approach Hades with this, along with Hestia. She'll be our mediator in this encounter.

Hestia went to the underworld first to make sure that Hades listens to me.

Hestia POV

I'm happy for my brother but knowing that his daughter is in danger now worries me greatly. He has so much life when he speaks of her, and I haven't seen that sort of love for any of his other children. He loved them, but with Rhea, it's different, it's a deeper love. It's a family love. He has always been a formidable warrior and like the ocean can be unpredictable and dangerous, regardless of his 'chilled' attitude that he portrays to others.

His love for his daughter is dangerous and I hope she knows that he would destroy this world for her if she asked.

I told Poseidon that I will go to Hades first and speak to him before Poseidon arrives.

"Hello Hestia, dearest sister, what brings you here to my humble abode?", Hades asks with a smirk on his face.

'Humble?! This is no humble home', I think. 'Sometimes I wish I could tell my family members what idiots they really are, but who decided to be the goddess of family and wants to maintain peace in her own? Me of course'.

"I come on behalf of Poseidon. He wishes to speak to you".

"Fish breath!", he responds in outrage.