Running the Gauntlet

I meet some new "people"

Garden

All of us were miserable that night.

We decided to camp in the woods, around one hundred yards away from the main road. The clearing we were in was obviously used for partying. The ground was covered in cans and wrappers from food. I hated it.

I had made sure to grab enough food and blankets for everyone from Aunty Em's. Percy wanted to light a fire but the rest of us talked him out of it. We didn't want to attract anything else after The Furies and Medusa.

We all agreed to sleep in shifts, Percy said he'd take first watch and I didn't feel like arguing with him so as soon as I made sure everyone had a blanket I went to sleep.

I opened my eyes to a black void with one light, an eclipsed white star off in the distance, as far as I could see that was the only light source. I was standing on water. I couldn't tell if it was shallow or not.

I started walking around and with each step the water rippled underneath my feet, it was very calm here. The white star gave off a warm familiar glow. It reminded me of coming into the house after it snowed and warming up.

"Where am I?" I asked myself.

"We are in your inner soul, little Brother." A soft voice said to me. I turned around and saw a woman who had the same porcelain skin tone as me. She had long flowing white hair, black eyes, she was wearing a white toga with a diagonal black piece on it. She had some golden jewelry on like around her left wrist and both biceps.

"Who are you?" I asked as I stared at her, I could tell we were related. We had the same jawline and nose.

She laughed a little. "Oh forgive me Garden, I'm Makaria."

"Are you a goddess?" She nodded.

"Yes, I'm the goddess of blessed death."

"So you're like Thanatos?" She laughed again.

"Yeah, I guess I'm kinda like him, but way less grumpy." She explained.

After a moment of silence, I noticed that there were white butterflies flying around Makaria.

Like she was reading my mind, she said. "They sorta follow me around everywhere."

"Why are we here in my, what did you call it inner soul?" I asked.

"I wanted to come talk to you, the others did too but they're busy right now."

"Others?" I was confused.

"Yeah, we have two other siblings from Mom and my dad. Oh, speaking of which Melinoë wanted you to have this." A necklace with the hilt of a sword at the base appeared in her hand. "Turn around, I'll put it on you." I turned around, I didn't need to crouch because she was taller than me. I heard her clasp the necklace around my neck. "All done."

"Tell Melinoë I said thanks when you get the chance." I told Makaria.

"She can hear you." Makaria laughed.

"Oh. Well thank you."

"Do you know who my other parent is?" I asked.

She bit her lip and looked like she was thinking of what to say. "I'm not the person to tell you. It's also why all of your siblings were forbidden from seeing you until Mom claimed you."

"Why? It can't be that important can it?"

"Oh it is." She explained.

"I'll have to wait for Mom to explain it to me right?"

"Yeah and who knows when she'll do that."

"What's that mean?" I asked her, she gave me a smile and said. "Nothing important."