age: 15
Immortal Parent: ares
Weapon: a red sword and a silver shield
looks: long dirty blonde hair with blue highlights, tall and slightly chubby, a small scar on her lip and freckled cheeks
personality: defiant and Independant, confident and with an easy Temper and high values, slightly narcissistic and too serious at times
powers: standard ares powers: profficient in fighting and using most weapons
Age 12, June
I groaned belligerently as I groped helplessly in the air next to my soft bed. Finding the elusive snooze button I slammed it down proceeding to fall back to asleep now the irritating noise was gone. In five minutes, however the droning alarm rang out once again and I let out a faint growl of annoyance.
Deciding to wake up properly or not at all I flopped flounderingly onto the floor dragging myself up by the bed post only to collapse in the bed again. The alarm was still going so I stood up and walked over to the heavy white-washed door that led to the bathroom. I began running water unsure whether I would use it to wake up or break the clock. Turning off the water that was now set to be cold as possible I put my head over the edge of the baby blue bath and slammed on the shower head.
"Ooh ooh oh good god oh my", I panted as I hopped up and down reeling away from the freezing cold of the water. Feeling refreshed I turned off the water and towel-dried my hair before finally ending the shill "ee ee ee woooooooh woooooooh eh ah eh ah ohohohohoh meep meep meep" of the alarm clock by turning the power off at the plug with a horrible crackling sound that set my teeth on edge.
I straightened up and put on my favourite Led Zeppelin tee with a purple flannel shirt over the top, bulky glasses I didn't need and a pair of skinny jeans. I opened my door ran down to stairs to the cluttered kitchen where my mum sighed "good morning" chokilly. I could tell that her and Lisa had been arguing.
Lisa was in senior year of high school and could never think of anyone but herself. She constantly expected the best of mum but did nothing in return and would accept no incompetence. She was also a vegan with a nut allergy and she refused to eat salad. She had no ideas of what to eat herself but expected mum to have loads. I worried about mum, sometimes she cried, yelled at me or hit herself. Dad was no use he just went to work all day and smoked in his room all night.
Mums only comfort was when auntie Carol, dads sister, called. Carol was very ill and pregnant so she offered mum a distraction from her own troubles. Sighing I went to the living room which was nicely furnished with green walls and blue leather sofas. Lisa glared at me and said "can you get me water?".
"why can't you get it", i replied.
"My got Lydia I am in senior year do you really expect me to get my own water, I have to study or do you want me to fail you little idiot?"
Studying Vogue?
I restrained myself and went to get her the water. Dad walked downstairs his bald head shining and he called "Lydia. Lisa! Come on".
I tossed her the water and she gave me the evil eye as we got into the ford hatchback. I glanced back at the house and saw my mums face buried in her hands.
Age 13, December
Mum was sobbing into my hair. Dad had left earlier that day. Left us . I wished he had at least shouted or cried or told us he hated us but he hadn't. I could have understanded that but this total indifference. No that was unforgivable.
He had dumped mum with a text.
To make things worse Lisa was coming home for Christmas from college and I knew she would blame mum, tell her she should have tried harder, yelled, cried, begged or forced dad to stay with us. Mum didn't need that.
I didn't need that.
Mum had her first cigarette in five years that day.
The day after Boxing Day
I didn't expect dad to come to mum's funeral.
When I saw him -him the man who had left us, driven mum to it, him who had pushed her over the edge- I couldn't bear it.
]i]He gave a eulogy[/i]
I was disgusted.
After the service he started walking in my direction but I acted like I hadn't seen him and ran in the opposite direction.
I was running from him and everything he represented. I had to run. Just run.
I finally reached home and ran inside slamming the door shut as I did. I was glad Lisa was at the reception and I wasn't. I didn't her telling me how she couldn't believe it over and over.
Running upstairs I slowly peaked into mums old room. Her pillows still had a slight indent, her bed was unmade and her packet of cigarettes lying half open on her dresser covered in hair products and various boxes.
I stepped inside and as I felt my throat tighten as I smelt mums favourite perfume.
I found myself tearing up and I just collapsed on mums bed sobbing. I curled up into a ball and just lay on her bed. I closed my eyes and drifted away into a deep sleep rattled with dreams, nightmares... memories...
It was Christmas day
I walked down the stairs and put on a pot of coffee. I glanced into the living room and saw the back of mums head over the big green armchair.
"Merry Christmas", I called.
I poured out two mugs of coffee and was surprised when she didn't reply.
I carried them to the living room and set hers down on the coffee table. "Let Lisa sleep for a while eh, mum", I said looking at her.
My mug shattered as it hit the ground.
"Mum", I muttered quietly.
Her unblinking hazel eyes gazed out at things they could no longer see. Her head was lolled onto her shoulder and her mouth hung open. A small blue bottle was clutched loosely in her hand that hung over the side of the chair.
Her other hand lay limp in her lap and next to it was a picture her holding me as a baby, Lisa 5 years old reaching up to touch my face and dad smiling with his arm around mum.
"Mum. Mum. Mum!", I said clutching her hand and feeling her wrist for a pulse. I shook her hand staring into her face, "Mum. Wake up mum. Mum! Wake up mum. Wake up. Wake up..."
A Week Later
Dad had custody Lisa and I. He had moved us out to his new apartment and was putting our house up for sale. At the reading of the will I had been given a letter for no one to read but me. It lay tucked under my pillow. I couldn't stand being around Lisa or Dad. He kept trying to talk to me but as soon as he did I would leave the apartment for hours on end.
I wanted to read the letter but was scared of what it would contain.
I put on a hoodie and left my room.
Dad tried to talk to me and I slammed the door as I ran out.
Racing down the stairwell I suppressed my feelings. I wasn't upset. I was indifferent.
Just like he always had been.
I pulled up my hood as I stepped outside and with my hands in my pockets I wandered among the city ending up in a market place. I saw a street performer wearing only a purple waistcoat, a purple turban and baggy purple trousers.
"And for my next trick", he said lifting up a wicker basket.
He paused. His eyes darted back and forth and his nostrils flared as he sniffed the air. Looking at his face I began to notice something odd about his eyes.
Focusing I saw that he had only one.
At that moment he pulled the lid off the basket and screamed, "Fly!"
Four green snakes with wings soared from the basket and I screamed, stumbling as each wrapped its body around one of limbs.
They joined each other by biting each others tails and formed a perfect circle. They lifted me in the air and began slowly rotating me through the air as the small crowd cheered.
I screamed for help but was ignored. I stared at the performer and he licked his lips eyeing me.
Suddenly he burst into a pile of gold dust as did the snakes holding me and the basket fell to the ground slowly rolling in ever decreasing arcs.
I fell to the ground and the crowd cheered even louder whistling and yelling tossing money at me.
Looking up I saw five arrows embedded in the wall behind me.
Gathering up a few notes and coins I shoved them in my pocket and searched for my saviour.
A fleeting shadow flew across my line of vision and I decided to run.
Frantically running I made my way back to the apartment looking over my shoulder every few seconds. Jumping up the stairs two at a time I raced into my room and grabbed a bag I had prepared a few days ago when I had considered running away.
Pulling the letter out from under my pillow I shoved it in my pocket and took three deep breaths.
I flung open the door and called out "Dad. I'm leaving", his door flew open a few moments later but I was already half way down the stairs.
I ran and ran until I finally stopped in a park and sat down on a wooden bench.
Opening the letter I read
Dear Lydia
I always loved you, but if you are reading this then I have done what I knew we were both fearing but could not admit.
So you should know some things.
Arnold is not your farther. He is Lisa's but not yours. After five years of marriage our love was dead. I wanted to get away from him so I ran away leaving Lisa with him for a while.
I had an affair. An affair with a beautiful man who was so rugged, so dangerous, so intense that it just thrilled me.
He took me on his motorbike to a posh hotel and he made me feel like I was loved again. He left the next morning. It was better that way. He returned 9 months later after your birth and he held you.
He explained some things to me and made sure I knew not to tell you until it was absolutely necessary. Here is a photo of him.
It was a picture of a man with a strong face and deep, dark eyes. I realized he had been at mums funeral. "He hasn't aged a day", I wondered aloud.
I continued to read
Your father, Ares was his name, he told me that one day you would need to be kept safe, that you were special and who I should contact.
Part of my will is that they will be sent another letter. They are coming to find you babe and then everything will be fine.
I love you darling
Mum
A boy with dark eyes and a hoodie pulled over his head sat next to me. "Are you Lydia Bayheart", he grunted.
"Yes", I whispered.
"I think you ought to come with me".
"Okay", I muttered standing up, "Where to".
"It's a place called Camp Half-Blood. I think you'll like it", he said lifting his hood and revealing two bumps pointing up through his hair...
to be continued
