him, in all of his glory.

19. 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴

I awoke to something so bright, it almost blinded me.

I didn't know where I was. I felt a different ground beneath me. I finally opened my eyes and noticed I was sitting in my childhood home. In my old bedroom. How did I manage to get here? This place was destroyed years ago. A familiar voice spoke. "This place is just a projection. Thought maybe this place would calm you." The voice said. I turned to look at the voice, and there he was, my father. "You mean the place where my mom died, and my childhood rose up in flames?" I said while turning around to see him. He was standing by my door, as radiant as ever. "I'm sure you had loads of good memories here." He said. "You know what, her death is probably your fucking fault too. She was the only one I had, and even that I couldn't keep. While she always spoke so highly of you." I said to him. I'm done with him, and all of the gods. I've gotten no help from him ever, so why does it really matter now that he is in my life? "Your mother was a one in a million type of woman. She loved you so dearly, and she died protecting what she loved, you. So I do not want to hear that tone because she gave you something that was able to keep you safe for years." Apollo said. His tone almost sounded angry. I stood up and walked over to my bed. I noticed the necklace still around my neck. "You did it kid. You have made me very proud." He suddenly said while sitting down next to me. I looked at him and I just broke down. His words were simple, yet meant so much to me. "I messed up dad. I awoke Khaos and lost Malcolm. I'm not a hero." I just told him while bawling my eyes out. "Oh no darling, you did something a child of mine hasn't been able to do in centuries. You have awakened Khaos but she was going to be woken anyhow. Now we just stand a better chance against her. Plus there are some benefits, maybe some old hero's are able to help out. We will be fine." He said reassuringly. "I hope so. I'm scared." I said.

"Just remember the light, and let it guide you from now on." Apollo said.

I smiled at that. He stood up and smiled back. "I'm afraid I'll have to go, but things will be cleared up. You'll know your path soon enough. And oh I got you a ride back to camp, it'll make things easier. I'll speak to you soon. You have made me proud." Apollo said while walking out the door. I looked around my room, and noticed how much I missed it, and life with my mom. Maybe she did save me from hell all those years. But I will always miss her. And with that thought the room disappeared and I felt my body again. I was lying on the ground. I opened my eyes and saw the tree tops and the sun rising. I sat up and heard a familiar voice.

"Hey you, I was wondering when you were going to wake up!" Percy said while having a big smile on his face. I smiled back.
"What happened? How did you get me down from the mountain?" I asked.
"I carried you back down. And you woke up but basically fell right back to sleep. We thought you were dead for a second but your heart was still racing. I knew you could do it!" He said.
"Yeah it was weird.." I said to him while explaining everything. My encounter with Khaos, her words and my conversation with my dad.
"Well that is a lot. Khaos is, well, she is old. She is like the mother of all. Everything comes from her. Everything comes from chaos. Makes sense to what's happening to the camps. I'm sure she has been making the monsters stronger, waking up old enemy's." Percy said.
"Yeah but my dad also said about the old hero's coming back, do you know what he means?" I asked.
"Maybe Khaos is accidently also waking up allies of ours? Maybe she really is not that strong enough."
"Maybe. However, we have to find out what is going to make her stronger." I told Percy.
"All in time. First maybe we get back home?"
"That sounds good. My dad said something about a ride. But I'm truly not seeing anything." I said.
"Maybe use your necklace?" He asked.

I breathe in. And without using all my focus or power, I conjured a massive amount of light. And I rose up. I looked down but could not see any sort of 'ride'. But that is when I started to look up, and this small speck of light came crashing down. It was very fast and the closer it came, the more it started looking like a car. I rose back down again. And the car followed. Until there was this ford torino in front of me and Percy. It was golden and had a chauffeur inside. He dropped his window down and asked "You the Apollo daughter?" He asked. I nodded. "Alright get in." He said. He was wearing a suit and some glasses. "Look I'm ordered by your dad to bring you back to camp. It'll take us around 15 minutes or so. Please don't make this ride annoying. And wear your seatbelts!" He said in a stern voice. Me and Percy got in, and put our seatbelts on.