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Hestia stood in her bathroom, staring into the mirror. Something felt off, and the longer she gazed at her reflection, the more it unsettled her. Her usually soft blue eyes seemed darker, almost as if shadows had seeped into them. The change was subtle but undeniable—an unsettling reminder of who her father was.
She leaned in closer, touching her face lightly, running her fingers along her cheekbones. Her features were the same—high cheekbones, full lips, and sharp brows—but it was as though the darkness from her heritage was starting to manifest outwardly.
"What is happening to me?" she whispered, her breath fogging the mirror.
She stepped back, clutching the sink, her heart racing. She remembered what Hera had said:"You must learn to control your powers, or they will control you."
Taking a deep breath, she turned on the faucet, splashing cold water on her face, hoping it would clear her mind. But when she looked back up, the dark blue in her eyes hadn't faded. Instead, it seemed to pulse, glowing faintly in the dim light of the bathroom.
This wasn't just about controlling her powers—it was about controlling who she was becoming.
"Get it together, Hestia," she muttered to herself, but the unease lingered. Something inside her was changing, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was already too late to stop it.
Hestia took a deep breath, gripping the edge of the sink tighter. The cool porcelain anchored her, but the darkness in her eyes still pulsed—an unnerving reflection of the power inside her. She couldn't ignore it any longer. This wasn't just about a moment of weakness back at the picnic; this was her father's influence surfacing.
"What if I really am like him?" she thought, her heart sinking.
The room felt smaller, as if the very air around her was closing in. She backed away from the mirror, her mind racing. She needed space, she needed air. Hestia quickly left the bathroom, heading outside into the cool night, her feet moving faster as she neared the garden.
The night sky stretched above her, vast and quiet, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside. She had tried to distance herself from her father's reputation for so long, but now, the darkness was clawing its way out, threatening to overtake her.
"You're stronger than this," she whispered to herself, but the doubt lingered. She wasn't sure if she believed it.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She spun around, her guard up, only to see Mal.
"You okay?" Mal asked, her voice laced with concern. "You looked off when you left earlier."
Hestia hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know... Something's happening to me. My powers, my... my eyes. They're changing, and I don't know if I can control it."
