Born To Die

I finally meet my mother

A  year later
The night of the solstice had arrived, and the atmosphere around Camp Half-Blood was charged with excitement. Everyone was getting ready for the journey to Olympus. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the green dress that fluttered against my legs, the fabric catching the light in a soft shimmer. A flower crown, a little wild with a few flowers still fresh and dewy, rested lightly on my head. My red hair cascaded down my back for the first time in what felt like forever, free from the tight braids I usually wore. There was something almost freeing about letting it flow, but at the same time, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Tonight was a turning point, and I knew it deep down.

Luke, standing by the door with his usual smirk, noticed my lingering hesitation. "You look stunning," he said, though his tone held a hint of mischief. "Let's make sure you don't cause a scene in front of the gods, alright?"

I rolled my eyes, knowing he was probably teasing, but there was something in his smile that made me feel a little lighter. We were doing this. We were about to be standing face-to-face with the gods. The same gods who had given me nothing but grief. The same gods who had taken so much from us.

We made our way to the bus, the campers bustling around us, all getting ready for the trip to Olympus. As always, the mortals saw nothing, just another busload of tourists heading to the Empire State Building. But for us? It was a portal to another world, one full of danger, lies, and godly expectations.

When we arrived at the Empire State Building, it almost felt like a dream. The hustle and bustle of New York's streets seemed to fade as we ascended to Olympus. The elevator doors opened, and there it was—the grand palace of the gods, towering above everything else. It almost looked like it was suspended between dimensions, blending in with the clouds.

I tried to keep my emotions in check as we entered. The gods were waiting. And they didn't seem too thrilled to see us.

We filed into the large hall, the gods seated on their golden thrones, watching us like we were ants in their garden. I tried not to look directly at them, knowing how they could look right through you if they wanted to. But my eyes caught one figure in particular—Aphrodite.

She was standing at the far end of the room, her beauty undeniable, a stark contrast to the cold, stern faces of the other gods. Her presence seemed to take up the entire space. But when she looked at me, I felt something shift.

Her gaze was sharp, almost like a dagger.

"Isla," she said, her voice flowing like silk, but with a venomous undertone. "So is what associate yourself with my girl, why do think he's special, why him my child?"
The way she said him made my heart drop. I knew what she was referring to—Luke. Her eyes narrowed, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Her gaze flickered to my flower crown, a knowing look crossing her features. "How fitting. Did he make that, or wait he's son of Hermes he probably stole it."

I bristled at her words, but I couldn't bring myself to retort. What was the point? The truth was, Aphrodite had never been a mother to me. She had abandoned me, left me to pick up the pieces of my life without ever bothering to even look back. And here she was, sitting on her high pedestal, judging me for choosing Luke.

"Aphrodite," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "What do you want from me?"

Her lips curved into a cruel smile. "I don't want anything from you, my dear. Not anymore. You're already lost. You've tied yourself to him—Hermes' spawn." Her voice dripped with disdain. "I suppose I should be thankful you haven't forgotten whose kid you are But then again, you seem so eager to forget all that you are, don't you?"

I wanted to snap at her, to scream, to tell her everything I felt. But the weight of her gaze, the divine power radiating from her, made my words stick in my throat.

"I'm not lost," I finally managed to say. "I'm choosing what I want, not what you want."

Her eyes flashed, her smile turning icy. "We shall see, my dear," she said, her voice filled with finality. "But remember this moment. Remember that you've chosen a path that will lead to your undoing."

Before I could respond, she vanished, leaving me standing there, feeling smaller than ever. The gods were watching, and I knew, deep down, they were all waiting for me to fall.

I turned to Luke, who had been standing quietly by my side. He saw the look on my face and came to me, his presence a small comfort in the midst of the chaos.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

I nodded, though I wasn't sure if I was. "Yeah. I'm fine."

But deep inside, I knew the weight of Aphrodite's words would follow me. It would always follow me.