Celestial Immortal

CASSIA POV

~CASSIA~

I walk away from the crowd not being able to contain myself anymore. I've got to get out! I'm hearing the voices again. "We can't keep arguing! Demeter will claim her child, and Aphrodite will claim that lipstick-spawn and then what? My daughter will be thought to be my daughter but I can't claim her and then she'll be all alone! You're just being selfish! They all know she's my daughter anyway. She has my power. The only reason you don't want me to claim her is because you don't want anyone to know its our baby and your honor to be diminished. Having a child means to make sacrifices! The sooner you learn that, the better!" The man argues. I scream with anger, "Shut Up!" I know they can't hear but if they do I want them to know to shut up. It doesn't work. "The sooner you realize that being your child puts Cassia in more danger than anything, the better. She's better off alone than being known as the daughter of you, Washed-up Catfish. But maybe you can protect her once the bond is formed. But only if we work together! Just because you tricked me into your castle doesn't mean anything! We both agreed that we'd send her to the mortal world to protect her but all it's done is hurt her more. If we don't both claim her she will die, but if we don't she will surely die. Don't you see? This has none to do with my honor or dignity! That was lost 12 years ago. Now all I want is to protect my daughter." Athena admits. "So you'll help her?" Poseidon asks. "Who shall claim the girl first?"

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I gasp. "I can't do this!" I scream. Why me? I wanted answers. Now I have them. I don't want to be anymore special than I already am. Why did I have to be born a Demigod? Why did I have to grow up without my parents even though they were only a thoughts-length away? If I was so special and fragile, why didn't they just keep me close and raise me with their protection? All these questions swirl through my head. But no answers come. I am not even a Demigod. I am a monster. "Cassandra Sybil Taylor." I jump, startled at the sound of my full name. Not one of the girls, or Charlie. I turn to face a light blue-skinned, green-haired, rainbow of a girl. She looks about my age or so. "Who are you?" I manage. "I am Corinna, river naiad. This is my river." She explains monotonously. Still though I see a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to intrude." I apologize. "Come daughter of Poseidon." She turns and motions for me to follow. I manage a quick step forward to keep up. "Corinna? Do you think I'm different? Do you think it's bad to be?" I murmur. She stops walking, turns to face me, and grabs my hand, "Of course your different, Child. But however could that be bad? Cassandra. She was a wonderful girl... I miss her. She was my most wonderful friend. It's been many years though. She is long gone. I was the only one to believe her, you know? Her prophecies were always true... Do you know who your named after?" The forcefulness of her question shocks me and brings me out of my reverie. "No. Cassandra is a very popular name where I come from. You are the only one to ever call me it though. I've never told anyone. How did you know?" I ask suspiciously. "Naiads know all. Cassandra was a very intelligent prophetess, and seer. She could see what was never there, what was to come, and what had passed already on. I pray now that she frolics in the fields of Elysium or better. But I don't count for much. You share her ability, you know?" She says. "How many powers to I actually possess?" I ask confused, "Its only a name. How can I access powers from a name?" "Not only a name. A Namesake, Birthright. You Cassandra are a mystery yet to be solved. Never has a full-blood come to camp or live with the mortals for a long many years." I stare blankly at the ground while mimicking her footsteps. I hadn't even realized we had begun walking again, before we stop and she declares, "We're here." I stare out and see the most amazing site I've ever seen. Crashing waves, bubbling sea foam, golden white sand thats soft to the core. The salty sea breeze blowing in my face. Corinna coughs and gags. I sigh, "what's wrong, Corinna?" "I am a river Naiad, Not a sea Nereid. I will come back later." With that she turns and disappears. I turn back to the ocean. I try to breathe it all in but it's so great not even I can begin to absorb it all. I step forward and sand sinks warmth into my toes. Soon I'm knee-deep in salt-water and its the happiest I've ever felt. It dawns on me that I haven't practiced any of my powers. Juliet and Aspen are amazed at what they can do, and yet I sit here in the sea not even thinking about them. All I want to think about is the water. I dive under and realize I can breathe. I sink to the bottom, close my eyes, and start to sing. Really it's only gurgles and humming, but it's beautiful in its own way.

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"Cassie! Cassie! Where are you?!?" It's Percy. He sounds genuinely concerned. No one has ever been concerned for me. I smile and open my eyes. I swim to the surface reluctantly and peek above the waves. I'm startled though when I realize the sky is a coal black littered with sparkling stars. "Has it been that long already?!?" I ask, shocked and confused. "Time passes differently in the water." He replies. "It felt like minutes." I wonder.