I dream I'm back on Olympus. At least, it has to be a dream, but the details are immaculate. More than I remember. I'm in the throne room, in the same spot I was standing when I was unfrozen. I feel so tiny. The gods are all seated around me, except for Hera. They stare down at me, some indifferent, some smile, and some look angry. I gulp. Mr. D gives me a polite head nod, and goes back to twisting the vines on his throne.
"Theodora." Zeus speaks, his black beard bigger than my body. I wonder if he made me so small to seem more intimidating. "You have a tough road ahead of you." He looks the most annoyed of them all, like this is the last thing he wants to be doing.
So, this is not a dream.
"My dear." Aphrodite leans forwards. She seems happy to see me. "We want to warn you."
Zeus grumbles from his throne.
Apollo scoffs, examining his nails. "Yeah, we should've warned you sooner, but, well, it never came up."
Athena glares at him. "We have kept something from you. Hera insisted, but she's not here, and it could greatly affect the outcome of your quest."
"Just tell her already." Zeus whines.
I'm struck with a sudden pang of annoyance.
"I'm sorry if I'm delaying your party." I clench my jaw. "Just trying to save you, that's all."
He sits up now, his expression hard to read. "You dare-"
"Yes, I dare." I cross my arms. "We're busting our asses out there. I'm doing whatever I can to make sure everything goes well, so that we can save your wife from your enemy while you hide. Husband of the year is not going to you this time, buddy. Don't bother with the acceptance speech."
Hephaestus chuckles. "I can see why Leo likes her."
"Why are we doing this again?" Zeus asks Athena. "I say we just throw her in blind."
"We're doing our duty." Athena tells him calmly. "We gave her life, her abilities, the tools she needs to accomplish her quests. But she can't do it without our guidance. And we failed her. We thought we were protecting her, but what she is about to face tomorrow... she needs to know."
"Know what?" My voice is shaky now.
"My dear." Aphrodite stands and shrinks down to my size, approaching me. She takes my hands gently and smiles. "Thank you for taking care of my daughter. She is learning so much from you."
Hephaestus joins us. "Here's the thing, girl. I'm not great with people, but you are doing a good job at your... job. Protecting. Catching my son midair? Twice? Impressive work."
I feel my face redden. They've seen everything?
"Oh, don't be embarrassed, child." Aphrodite laughs. "I am the goddess of love, after all."
"We don't have much time." Zeus speaks into the hand he's leaning his face on.
"Right." Hephaestus looks at me solemnly. "Your...creator. The hands that made you. From the... sorry... dirt and clay. Well, it's kind of complicated, but you were made by, uh,"
"Oh!" Athena exclaims in annoyance. "You were created by Gaea. You were supposed to be a physical form for her. She made you all that time ago, and tossed you in the sea before we sent her to sleep. Your mother is Mother Earth herself. Mother of the giants."
I stumble, the words hitting me like a ton of bricks. "Wait. So, you're telling me that it's Gaea that we're about to go take on? And that she's my mother?" All the puzzle pieces click into place. "Oh, my gods. I have to sit down. No, I have to lay down."
