Home Is Where The Heart(h) Is

Chapter 12: Calm Before The Storm

Hestia sat on the guest bed numbly. Tissues were strewn all around it and the pillows were stained with tears. Her eyes were raw. She stared at the flickering torch on the wall for what felt like an eternity. Somehow, the activity seemed more engaging than anything else in her life.

The last few days had been a blur, a long stretch of time that seemed to never end, unfortunately; like a rubber band being stretched, its skin distorted and blurred to the point of unrecognition.

She didn't want to recount it, it would only bring back pain and more tears. But her mind had other plans. Flashes of memory echoed like voices. Clytius releasing and teleporting here, the initial shock but quick recovery of the campers when she appeared. And the faces of them, and Percy's parents when the news was broken to them...she would never forget their disbelief etched onto their expressions.

The funeral pyre...the mourning and forlorn faces...the flames of the campfire that spluttered weakly...

She picked up another tissue.

But the worst thing was the laugh. The clear and cold laugh that resonated in her mind, followed by what felt like a chilling gale, when she was released by Clytius. She knew the spirit of Aphrodite had left her. But while one thing left, one thing remained. Questions.

Too many of them to even comprehend. Why did Clytius release her? Why did Aphrodite leave? And most of all, why wasn't she possessed by the goddess of love again when she left that campfire in the woods. She didn't understand. What were the Giants planning?

The answers of the questions seemed to be on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't form them, as though they were like a distant island covered by fog and storms, but faintly and somewhat visible. Deep down, she knew it was there, but could barely make it out.

More memories flooded her unexpectedly. Rain. Rain pouring at midnight, extinguishing the fire of the pyre, in spite of the supposedly controlled weather within the camp boundaries. Somehow, she thought that was an insult to her by the Fates, the fire being killed.

Chiron had told her to rest at one of the guest rooms in the Big House before galloping off, wiping more tears away. Or maybe that was the rain. She didn't know. She didn't want to know. Hades, she didn't want to know or feel anything anymore. Her mind was whirling with unknown emotions that she couldn't seem to place. It could have been sadness, for she was crying, but that wasn't it. It could have been anger, but her fists weren't clenched, but she never felt this rage towards someone. Anyone. Someone to vent it on. But she wasn't sure if the desire to vent this emotion was anger. It was...so confusing.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Expecting it to be Chiron, she weakly called, "Come in." To her surprise, it turned out to be the demigod Annabeth Chase.

Hestia flinched slightly at the memory of her throwing that dagger at her stomach. The wound stung at the thought.

She could see that Annabeth was no better than her current state. Her eyes were raw and bloodshot, her blonde hair unkempt and messy, tear stains evident on the hem of her camp t-shirt.

"Hi," the demigod said awkwardly. Hestia inclined her head slightly, the conversation then lapsing into an uncomfortable silence, before Annabeth picked it up.

"Look, I'm not sure where you're from. I'm not sure who you are. But I've seen you before, and it's been a rough week for me, so for once I'd like to have an answer to my questions."

Hestia pursed her lips. "Very well. What do you want to know?"

Annabeth took a deep breath before rattling off, "Who are you? Why did I see you run off with my boyfriend? Why am I the only one that recognises you but everyone doesn't know who you are?"