His Father's Glory

Chapter 18

You might think that I grew up missing the sun because I lived in my father's realm for so long.

You would be wrong.

Sure, it could be chalked up to my body, and my brain is accustomed to the darkness; the stimuli of the sun's rays overloading my senses.

In reality, the light burning in my eyes only seems to remind me of my mother and the days we would go to the park together.

It reminds me of May's radiating smile.

It reminds me of all of the time I missed in the lives of the two people I hold closest in my heart.

Or it could be a combination of both.

Whichever you believe, as soon as I left the cave, the blinding, smoldering sun beat upon me like a drum. It was all too much.

On instinct, I traveled to the pit.

Surrounded by silence and complete darkness, all alone.

Finally, I was relaxed. I was safe.

Safe to take the time and sort my thoughts.

I sighed heavily.

Yet another prophecy. Another battle.

The Oracles' words kept racing through my mind as I walked back into the heart of the camp.

"She isn't human nor a demigod."

There are three categories someone falls under. The Big Three, if you will.

Demigod.

Mortal.

Monster.

Rachel said she's not a demigod, and I don't think the Oracle has ever been wrong before.

She's not mortal, she sees through the Mist and she got into camp.

But she didn't walk into camp. I brought her straight there.

Something that Percy said to me suddenly rings in my head like an alarm bell.

"You shadow traveled into Olympus?"

If that surprised Percy, then it likely shouldn't be possible.

If I traveled with him into Olympus of all places, something he assumed impossible, could I have brought someone into camp that otherwise shouldn't have been able to enter?

And if that's true, I wouldn't have known if Gabby was supposed to enter camp or not.

Is there a possibility that Gabby is a disguised monster?

No. No way.

How could I even think that? She's just a kid!

But there are plenty of stories about monsters disguising themselves to trick demigods and mortals.

Then again the gods have been known to do that too.

My brain keeps going around in circles like a helicopter stuck in a tailspin that will ultimately lead to a mental collapse.

I just need to think rationally.

I have to find her. I need to ask her about her father.

"She doesn't belong here."

Most importantly, I have to protect her no matter what.

....

After taking some meditative breaths and pushing most of my thoughts into a dark corner of my mind to deal with later, I finally traveled back into the surface world.

I emerged from the shadows in the Hades cabin.

Luckily Nico wasn't inside. I don't know what I am going to tell him. I don't want to lie, but if they know what the Oracle said about Gabby, they might see her as a threat.

I need to find her and fast. She'll be at the Hermes cabin.

I made my way toward the cabins, mentally preparing myself for the upcoming conversation.

Just as I thought, Gabby was sitting at a table outside, hands covered in whatever substance was supposed to be used as glue.

"Cleo!" She yelled. She dropped her project and ran at me.

"Hey, ankle-biter," I wrapped my arms around her and spun her around as she laughed. "How is the camp life treating you?"

I set her down and ruffle her hair. She already looks healthier, definitely cleaner, but there's something I can't put my finger on. She just seems... different.

"I love it here!" She said, bouncing on her toes with excitement. "Everyone is so nice to me, and there's always food!"

"I'm glad you're having fun," I chuckled. My eyes flickered to the older girl watching over the children. She was otherwise occupied as two boys fought over the last snack on the table.

"Hey, why don't we go take a walk? I'll help you find more stones." I couldn't care less about the stones. I just needed answers.

Her eyes lit up. "Really?"

A tug on my heart strings. "Sure, pipsqueak."

She almost flew off the bench, abandoning her half-finished art piece.

We started walking away from anyone who could overhear, Gabby absent-mindedly looking for rocks she deemed "pretty enough" for her project.

I spent a few minutes mustering the courage to ask her the questions that have been on my mind. I decided to start small.

"Gabby, how old are you?" I asked her. She tilts her head in thought and closed her eyes.

"Daddy told me to say eight," she says finally. 

"When did he tell you that?" I cocked my head.

"Just now," she says matter of fact. I stopped walking and stared at her.

"Your dad was talking to you just now?" I tried to clarify. This is beginning to look bad. 

"Yup!" she exclaimed. "He always talks to me. Says it helps him to take his mind off things."

Ok, I thought to myself. Just because she hears this voice doesn't mean it's automatically bad. however, we don't know if this is actually her father or a random presence only claiming to be.  

"Can he hear what you hear, or see what you see?" I ask. If whoever is talking to her has seen inside of the camp, and has malicious intent, we could be royally screwed.

"No, he only hears what I tell him. Sometimes he goes away for a while, but he always comes back."

I sighed in relief. At least the voice can't possess her. I've heard the stories and the seven witnessed firsthand how devastating a possession can be. The Eidolons nearly caused a war between the two camps within hours of meeting.

"Do you know who your father is?" I asked. She slowly nodded. "Are you sure that it's your father who is talking to you?"

"I'm sure," she said.

"Can you tell me his name?" I prodded.

"Daddy says I can't trust you," she whispered, tears begging to fall. "He said you wouldn't be my friend anymore if I told you."

"Gabby," I knelt beside her, getting on her level, and looked her in the eyes. "I'll always be your friend. No matter what."

"Promise?" she sniffled as she held out her hand, pinky extended.

"Promise," I vowed as I hooked my pinky with hers.

"Daddy's name is Atlas."