His Father's Glory

Chapter 19

Atlas.

Not a demigod. She's the daughter of a Titan.

I'm frozen for a moment as the gravity of her confession sinks in.

A mortal and a Titan. A non-olympian Titan.

How is this even possible? Atlas has been imprisoned for millennia holding the literal weight of the world on his shoulders.

Not only that, but how does he have the strength to speak to her?

Daddy told me you were coming.

Gods, she's Calypso's sister. 

Pushing my rampant thoughts to the deepest corner of my mind I focused on Gabby. She must be confused. She has no idea what power that name can hold. The power she can hold.  She's just a kid.

"Listen to me very closely," I said, looking her in the eye. "Do not tell anyone what you've told me. Not your father's name, not that you talk to him. Nothing. Do you understand?"

"Why?" she stammered.

"I know you're confused Gabby, but you have to trust me," I insisted. "It's very important, ok?"

"Ok," she whispered, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"Hey, it's going to be ok, sweetie," I said, pulling her into my chest. "Everything is going to work out. I'll make sure of it."

Gabby continued to cry silently into my shoulder as I rubbed her back and gave my best attempt to soothe her. It seemed to work as her hiccups began to wane.

"Why don't we keep looking for rocks? You still need to finish your project."

"Yeah," she sniffled. "Yeah, ok."

The next half hour consisted of Gabby running around the creek bed collecting every shiny rock, and me struggling to carry all of them.

By the time we returned to the Hermes cabin, Gabby's tears were long forgotten and dried. I said my goodbyes and left her in the care of the head camper, heading to the Hades cabin.

Without the distraction of Gabby's presence, I am left alone with the whirlpool of thoughts our conversation has founded.

It should not be possible for a new child of Atlas to have been born. His only manifestation is currently on that mountain, where it has been since Zeus began his punishment.

I finally reach my temporary home, nearly collapsing on the steps, but before I could enter a voice calls my name.

"Cleo, wait up!"

I turned to see Percy trying to get my attention.

He's looking better since the last time we talked. He still has bags under his eyes, but at least he's cleaned himself up a bit.

"What's up, is something wrong?"

"No, man. I just wanted to know if you would come over to my cabin." Percy shrugged. "You know, so we could talk more and make a plan."

I nodded. "Sure thing."

I was still slightly on edge from the conversation with Gabby. I was sure we were alone but you can never be sure. Maybe a nymph was walking by and caught wind of Gabby's parentage.

I just need to stay calm. Surely he wouldn't be so nonchalant if he knew.

I can't start acting weird now. I need to do everything in my power to keep her safe.

I just don't know if I can ensure the safety of Gabby, and the rest of the camp.

What can I do? What choice do I have?

The life of one innocent child who knows nothing of her power, or the lives of two hundred children who could turn against us at the drop of a hat.