Eleven year old Hope McBride has it rough. She has an abusive father that is very manipulative. The only thing that is keeping her going is dancing. When she gets a mysterious letter from someplace called Hogwarts her life is flipped around. She lat...
The change in clothing and style was wearing my spirit down. I walked into my room and took off the dress, and changed into clothing that made me more comfortable.
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I looked into the mirror and saw a girl that was beautiful and confident, and I hated it. This is not me. This is someone else who is strong. I tried to ruin my makeup and my hair but no matter what I did it went back to what it was before, perfection. Perfection isn't what I am. I ended up giving up and laid down on my bed. When will this nightmare be over?
I closed my eyes just wanting to rest my eyes for a little bit, when a several minutes later my thoughts turned into mush and I was asleep.
~~~Hope's Dream~~~
Annabeth took the Lexington Avenue subway down to Grand Central. There were other ways to get back to her high school dorm from the Upper East Side, but Annabeth liked going through Grand Central Terminal. The beautiful design and the vast open space reminded her of Mount Olympus. Grand buildings made her feel better—maybe because being in a place so permanent made her feel more permanent. She had just passed Sweet on America, the candy shop where Percy's mom used to work, and was thinking about going inside to buy some blue candy for old times' sake, when she saw Athena studying the subway map on the wall.
"Mother!" Annabeth couldn't believe it. She hadn't seen her mom in months—not since Zeus had closed the gates of Olympus and forbidden all communication with demigods.Many times, Annabeth had tried to call on her mom anyway, pleading for guidance, sending up burnt offerings with every meal at camp. She'd had no response. Now here was Athena, dressed in jeans and hiking boots and a red flannel shirt, her dark hair cascading over her shoulders. She held a backpack and a walking stick like she was prepared for a long journey.
"I must return home," Athena murmured, studying the map. "The way is complex. I wish Odysseus were here. He would understand."
"Mom!" Annabeth said. "Athena!"The goddess turned. She seemed to look right through Annabeth with no recognition.
"That was my name," the goddess said dreamily. "Before they sacked my city, took my identity,made me this." She looked at her clothes in disgust. "I must return home."
Annabeth stepped back in shock. "You're...you're Minerva?"
"Don't call me that!" The goddess's gray eyes flared with anger. "I used to carry a spear and a shield. I held victory in the palm of my hand. I was so much more than this."
"Mom." Annabeth's voice trembled. "It's me, Annabeth. Your daughter."
"My daughter..." Athena repeated. "Yes, my children will avenge me. They must destroy the Romans. Horrible, dishonorable, copycat Romans. Hera argued that we must keep the two camps apart. I said, No, let them fight. Let my children destroy the usurpers."
Annabeth's heartbeat thumped in her ears. "You wanted that? But you're wise. You understand warfare better than any—"
"Once!" the goddess said. "Replaced. Sacked. Looted like a trophy and carted off—away from my beloved homeland. I lost so much. I swore I would never forgive. Neither would my children." She focused more closely on Annabeth. "You are my daughter?"
