Gracie Jackson

~ Part 4 ~

As I said my goodbyes to my parents, I could see the worry in their faces. I wish I could have told them I would be ok, but they taught me to never announce that I was fine because something always goes wrong when you think you're safe.

"Just be true to yourself and remember that you are going to act as a demigod descendant of Athena rather than Poseidon so you will blend in," Dad said to me as he wrapped me in a hug.

"Seaweed Brain, I know you aren't suggesting that Athena is a boring goddess."

My mom said as her grey eyes tried to pry the truth out of my father.

"Of course not Annabeth, I'm just saying that she looks more like a descendant of Athena than of Poseidon and to keep your identity secret you can't go near the water, you might slip up," Dad said. I understand that he was just trying to keep me safe but it seemed as if he was trying to hide up the side of me that came from him, the side of me that allowed me to have humor and to act on impulse rather than always-on strategies like my Mom and Cleo. My "aunt" Piper always told me that I'm the perfect demigod because I have a mind that works in two ways; both strategy and curiosity alike. I don't need someone to see the other side like my parents need each other or how the twins need each other to balance out.

"I'll send an iris message if there is any trouble," I said to give my parents some hope. They both stared at me accusingly because they knew I had a tendency to get into trouble. "Promise," I said on my way out the door. I handed my bags to Luke and we started down to the dock. Camp Jupiter didn't always have a dock but when our parents first moved here to attend college Dad made sure that they had a decent navy. When Luke became a praetor he expanded on that idea and made sure there were boats for travel, fighting, and even fishing. We were to take the long way around from California to New York but with the sea helping us we would be there in a matter of hours.

"Here we are, ladies! Welcome aboard the Hereditates Nostrae." Luke said while helping us on to his boat.

"You named your boat 'Our Legacies'?" Cleo asked. Latin came easy to Luke and her but I had always been able to speak Greek more fluently. I watched as Luke stood in the middle of the boat and did his "thing". Luke could ready a boat with just the will of his mind and he had perfect bearings at sea just like our Dad. I could control and breathe underwater like them but I could never be a sailor. When I got tired of watching Luke, I found Cleo sitting below deck sketching in her notebook. Cleo never did like the ocean very much so to calm herself down she draws endless sketches of buildings and temples in her notebook. She aspires to be an architect just like our Mom. I'm not able to think up beautiful arches and staircases like them, I was always more into the battle strategy side of Athena rather than the craft and wisdom side.

"Are you nervous?" Cleo asked me inbetween drawing pencil lines.

"Of course I am. You and Luke both decided who you wanted to be after spending a summer at Camp Halfblood. Going there is all Mom and Dad ever talk about. Camp Halfblood is their home and they're itching to go back." I replied. I watched as Cleo put down her notebook and looked into my eyes. Her eyes were even greener than our Dad's and her hair was so much easier to take care of than mine. Being blonde always makes people assume that you aren't as smart as you really are just because of that "dumb blonde" myth.

"Gracie, you are named after the great Jason Grace. Even though we never got to meet him, all the stories we hear at Camp Jupiter make us wish we did even more. I remember the day you were born, everyone was there, and I mean everyone. Nico, Thalia, Will, Piper, Frank, Hazel, Reyna, Leo, Calypso, even Poseidon and Athena themselves were there. Two of the greatest gods were there when you were born. You know why? It's because they knew you were going to be special and they were right. Gracie, you are the most powerful demigod I've ever met and that's saying a lot considering I know our parents." Cleo said. She winked at me and I attacked her with a hug, she always knows just what to say to make me feel better. I looked out to see the peak of the sunrise.

"We'll be in New York in a few hours. Faster if you nerds help me speed up the engine." Luke said accusingly. I punched him in the arm and ran to the engine, willing the water beneath us to help us go faster while Cleo made tweaks to it here and there. We would be in New York in no time.