Riptide

Chapter 19

Just to be safe, trigger warning for mention of abortion and a shitty boyfriend. If you need to skip that, you can go straight to where it says "~Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas~" and read from there. Also, to avoid any confusion, Chloe is what Robin's name used to be and Victoria used to be Chiara's name. I still don't know how Texans speak, please correct me if I make any mistakes in Amelia's part of this chapter. I also apologize if I offend anyone or make any mistakes talking about Skye later in the chapter, she uses all pronouns and I wasn't entirely sure how to write that so I did my best to make it seem natural, I kind of just wrote whatever felt right to me in the moment, but please tell me if I need to change anything and I will do it ASAP, I don't want to offend anyone or get anything wrong. I've also never been to Vegas because I'm broke and British so I'll probably makes mistakes describing that.

~Two years ago~

~In Goldfield, Nevada~

Chloe sobbed, leaning against a wall. She hadn't wanted that baby, but it still hurt to lose it. She knew that it wouldn't have been right to raise a baby with Marcus, not when he was so volatile, and she'd never planned on having kids anyway, but what if she could've kept it safe? What if he wouldn't have done anything to the baby? He did seem to care about it... No. It was better to get out while she still could. Keeping the baby would have trapped her permanently, she'd had to get rid of it.

"What's up with you?" A voice came from above her. Chloe looked up to see a brunette leaning against a wall. "I'm Victoria, by the way."

"Uh, I'm Chloe."

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." Chloe stood up.

"You a demigod?"

"Uh, yeah."

"I think I know a place you can stay if you want."

"No, I'm okay."

"Girl, you're crying in an alley, you're clearly not okay." Chloe looked uncomfortable at the word 'girl'. "Sorry, are you not a girl?"

"I'm...I'm not sure."

"That's fine, I can call you person if you'd prefer that." Victoria smirked, and Chloe laughed softly.

"I guess so."

"So, Chloe, you gonna take me up on my offer of a place to stay or not? 'Cause I have a curfew and I'd rather not be late home."

"Okay."

"Great, I'll call my mom. It's kinda far."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

~Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas~

"C'mon, sunspot, you can't stay up all night."

"But I'm not tired." Amelia said.

"I smell what you're stepping in, but you gotta go to bed." Her dad replied.

"You can't make me, you're not even here." Amelia smirked.

"You're the one who told me to go, don't make me call Maddie."

"Don't call her, she'll be bowed up for being woken this late."

"Then go to sleep, I'll call you in the morning."

"Ugh, fine. Good night, daddy."

"Good night, sunspot." Amelia hung up, rolling over and staring up at the ceiling. There was nothing stopping her from going over to Kim's place, but she didn't want to. She got up, flipping on a light. If she wasn't going to get to sleep anytime soon, she might as well keep occupied. She went downstairs and into the kitchen, grabbing a mug from the cupboard. She wouldn't normally use the coffee machine by herself, but why not? She knew how to not burn herself. She made a hot chocolate, letting it cool on the island while she picked a movie to watch.

She picked a Marvel film and grabbed her hot chocolate, sitting down on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table, a blanket covering her legs. She had a bag of mini marshmallows next to her and put some in her hot chocolate, eating a handful as she pressed play on the movie.

"Nothing like hot chocolate and watching magic at 10pm on a Thursday night." She muttered, sipping her drink.

~Meanwhile, in Las Vegas~

Skye stared out the window, resting her head on her arms and looking at the night sky. It would have been so much prettier if it weren't for all the lights. They sighed and glanced over at her mom, who was sleeping peacefully. He looked out of the hotel window again at the blanket of navy clouded with harsh, unnatural lights of all colours. She could see the moon, though it was hard to distinguish, buried under layers of fluorescent signs glowing brightly and masking all traces of stars and constellations. He glanced over at her suitcase, which hadn't even been unpacked. What was the point? They'd be off again soon anyway.

It wasn't all bad though, he remembered one time they'd met another kid who travelled a lot. Apparently his mom was a singer, though honestly that'd never really been Skye's thing so she hadn't known. She uncurled her legs from under him, sighing again. He laid down and stared up at the ceiling, crossing their legs at the ankles. His white hair stood out in the darkness, fanning out on her pillow, and she put one arm over her face to block out the light.

~The next morning, in Rome because writing Skye is tricky (still two years ago)~

Ectoria looked out the window, sipping her wine.

"Mundus tantum mutata est." She muttered to herself. (Translation: The world has changed so much.) "Nec in melius perfecto. M. certe nunc mihi serviat, minimum potuit." (And not completely for the better. At least Marcus has to serve me now, it is the least he could do.) There was a knock at the front door, and she stood up, putting her coffee down on the table. She answered the door and smiled.

"Heus Rena, quid agis?" Apollo said, letting himself in. (Translation: Hey, Rena, How you doing?)

"Bene facio. Praesent sit amet elit sed nisi dictum molestie." Ectoria replied. (Translation: I'm doing okay. It's a lot but it's not bad.)

"Ut id magna. Quomodo Marcus est?" (That's great. How's Marcus?)

"Infelix nimis. Mirum est." (Very unhappy. It's wonderful.)

"Opinor, dubito, operando foeminam quam orbam iucundam fore experientiam." (I can imagine, I doubt working for the woman you orphaned would be a pleasant experience.)

"Praesertim cum Stygia colligit arma ferrumque fascinat pugnae. Oracula quomodo?" Ectoria confirmed. (Especially when she has a collection of Stygian Iron weapons and a fascination with fighting. How are the Oracles?)

"Magnus es, prophetia actu non nimis pridem erat ac pro dolor mox alterum futurum, sed bonum quod laboramus et liberum." (They're great, there was actually a prophecy not too long ago and there's unfortunately going to be another one soon but it's good that they're working and free.)

"Gaudeo quod boni sunt, quid est motus ad pulmentum meum, si una est?" (I'm glad they're good, what's the reaction to my mess, if there is one?)

"Nemo te adhuc animadvertit, quod certe gaudeas. Ego te diutius occultare possum quam si vis naturaliter ab oculis eorum manere." (No one's actually noticed you yet, which I'm sure you're glad for. I can keep you hidden a bit longer than you would stay out of their sight naturally if you'd like.)

"Certe ego valeo, sed tibi gratias ago pro oblato. Loquens de oblationibus, cras visurus sum patrem meum, visne me pergere in negotio nostro adhaerentem?" (I'm sure I'll be fine but thank you for the offer. Speaking of offers, I'm going to see my father tomorrow, would you like me to continue adhering to our deal?)

"Si non sapiunt." (If you don't mind.)

"Minime, fruor." (Not at all, I enjoy it.)

"Deo gratias." (Thanks.)

"Gratias tibi. Nunc heri nova recipe et cogitationibus egeo, asinum tuum in coquina habe." (You're welcome. Now, I tried a new recipe yesterday and I need thoughts, get your ass in the kitchen.)