Andromeda Jackson

Andy

I usually love the Poseidon cabin. It's just Percy and I, sometimes Tyson. It's long and low, and I like the way the abalone walls emit their soft blue light. I wish Percy hadn't cut our fountain in half, because it added a nice touch, but I guess he had to.

Now, I lay in my bunk, staring at the minotaur horn we hung up. That was the day Percy and I first came to camp, when our mom was kidnapped by Hades, and all the craziness started.

Percy and I have discussed many times how we wish we had done things differently. If we had made one decision differently, maybe we wouldnt've found camp so soon. Or, at least, we would've gotten into this whole Greek god mess later, and maybe avoided the Titan War or something. Either way, we just want to live normal lives.

I toss and turn in my bed for a while, before I decide I can't sleep.

Instead, I sneak off to the beach.

The beach at Camp Half-Blood isn't too much of a beach. Small waves lap up against the sand, but it's nothing compared to the ocean in Montauk. That's still my favorite place.

At least on the beach here, I can sit with my feet in the water and get some peace and quiet.

I focus on how the moon reflects off the water's surface. Crickets chirp in the bushes, and monsters growl in the woods. The quiet lapping of waves clears my mind, at least a little bit. The racing thoughts calm to a steadier pace, and I find I can breathe again.

Everything these past few days has been so overwhelming. It's nice to enjoy the cool water on my toes, and the sand beneath my palms.

"Andromeda."

I jump to my feet so quickly that I pull a muscle in my thigh. Still, I draw my sword, Quake, faster than most would think possible.

I recognize the man instantly. His flowery Tommy Bahama shirt, khaki shorts, Birkenstocks. His jet-black hair and sea green eyes that look so much like mine. I like the crinkles around his eyes, that tell me he smiles a lot.

"Dad."

He smiles faintly, then looks nervously up at the sky. "I don't have much time. Things on Olympus right now...well, they're not pleasant. Zeus doesn't want us reaching out to our kids. But I had to come and see you."

"Where's Percy?" I ask immediately.

His eyes fracture at the mention of my brother's name. "Ah, yes. I should have known you'd ask. I'm sorry, my girl, but I can't speak of that matter."

My own eyes burn with frustration. "Why not?"

He spreads his hands helplessly. "It is not my place to speak on the actions of other gods."

Anger bubbles up in my throat. The sand on the beach begins to vibrate as my hands ball up into fists.

"Andromeda-"

"Is he coming back?" I ask, my voice sharp.

"He may yet." Poseidon tells me. "But that all depends on your quest, and the will of others."

"What others? Other gods? Monsters? Giants? Titans? Who?" My voice rises in tone. The entire beach is shaking at a low rumble.

"Stop that." My dad's voice is commanding and stern, much different than usual.

I do stop. I'm not used to him speaking to me that way.

"I'm not here to discuss Percy, as much as I'd like to tell you where he is and what's going on. I'm here to discuss your quest."

"So you know Hera's been taken?"

"I'm one of the few." He nods. "This quest is the beginning of something greater than you. Greater than me, even. You, Andromeda Jackson, are one of the eight demigods of the Great Prophecy."

"I don't want to be." I admit. "I just want to find Percy."

"if you want to find your brother, you must succeed on this quest." He tells me. "And in order to do so, you're going to need this."

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a thin silver necklace. Hanging from it is one delicate bronze charm shaped like a trident.

He walks around me and clasps it around my neck.

"What-"

"Pull on the charm." He instructs.

I do as he says, and the charm comes off in my hand, elongating and thickening until I'm holding a six-foot-long Celestial bronze trident.

"Woah," I admit. "That's pretty cool."

"That's a giant-fighting weapon." He tells me. "You're incredibly talented with that sword of yours, but this will help in your challenges to come. It'll help channel that earth-shaking thing you do."

"What do you mean?" I ask. "I thought the whole point of being the Earthshaker was that I could shake the earth. I cause earthquakes, Percy talks to horses. Easy peasy."

He smiles at me affectionately. "Being an earthshaker can be quite destructive, if not used appropriately, You saw what happened at Mount St. Helens. With this...you can be more precise. More intentional with the earth that you're shaking. Besides, this is big enough for giant fighting, and might give you an...advantage, when the sea is not near."

"Oh," I say. "Um, okay. Thank you."

He ruffles my hair, which I would normally hate, but I allow him to do. "Remember this, Andy. The sea can be rough or smooth. It can be constructive or destructive. It can work with or against you. You need to know when to help, and when to fight. Not everything has to be a battle against the current."

I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but I don't like the sound of it. "Are you saying I shouldn't fight this quest? That I should just...go with the flow?"

He smiles to himself. "Go with the flow. Yes, I like that." He takes a few steps into the water.

"Wait, dad." I stop him. "Where should we start?"

He tilts his head at me. "You're a smart girl, Andy. Those storm spirits attacked your friends. Go with the flow."

"You're saying we should follow the storm spirits? How?"

"I suggest you ask a wind god. Aeolus is the master of all the winds, but...well, I don't recommend you go to him first. I'd try one of the seasonal wind gods."

"The closest one is Boreas, I think. In Quebec."

My father smiles warmly at me. "Good luck, Andy. I know you're going to do amazing."

And just like that, he walks into the waves and disappears.

I briefly consider following him. I could just run away and disappear under the water. No one would be able to go after me. I could go to Poseidon's palace and hide out there until all this giant business is over with.

I touch the trident to my necklace, and it shrinks back down, dangling around my neck like nothing happened.

Running away sounds nice, but it wouldn't be going with the flow. And apparently this quest is going to help find my brother. Besides, Jason, Leo, and Piper need me to free Hera. Maybe I'll get the opportunity to give her that whack upside the head like I wanted to do.