The Crossroads: The Stolen Memories

I've been sleeping for how long?

"Hello Zoe."  I heard someone's voice.  I had heard the voice before but it wasn't super familiar.  I adjusted my eyes to the blinding light.  It was a woman with black hair and she had stunning eyes.  (Picture at top).  The inside of the eyes, closest to the pupil were dark pink.  Then it got a lighter shade of pink.  The outline of her eyes were dark blue.  She had a red toga.  

"Hecate?"  I asked.

"Yes dear."

"What are you-?  What happened?"

"When you created that portal you nearly killed yourself."

"What?"  I asked still feeling exhausted.

"You've been asleep for 3 days already.  If you haven't noticed you are dreaming.  You guys made it all the to Los Angeles.  But your friends are really worried."  She waved her hand and an image appeared.  Logan and Bianca were talking.  Near them I say me.  I didn't look too good.  I looked paler than usual.  There was leaves in my hair and I looked practically dead.

"I've been asleep for 3 days?  Wake me up we need to keep going on with the quest."

"I can't wake you up.  You need more sleep."

"Oh come on Hecate!"

"You can call me mom."

I glared at her.  She ignored me.

"You know what you are going to do on your quest right?"

"Uh yeah but not completely.  We need to go to the underworld and set things straight with Demeter and Hades.  That was my guess anyway since you haven't been giving me any help."

She chuckled.  "Yes you are mostly correct but that is only part of it.  Do you know why Demeter is mad at Hades?"

 "Well I assumed they were just never really great friends since Hades captured Persephone a long time ago."

"Partly yes but there has been something that made her mad again.  It is the summer so Persephone is supposed to be with her mother, yes?"  I nodded.  "Well she is in the underworld with Hades.  I do not know if it is by choice or not.  But Demeter is very angry.  As you can see see,"  she said waving a hand and a diagram showed up with a world map. "It has been getting harder and harder for everywhere in the world to grow crops.  That is bad.  Last time she was mad like this she nearly starved the whole world."

Why did I have to set things straight between the gods?  Couldn't they do that themselves?  They could have a family friendly meeting.

Hecate seemed to have read my thoughts.  "With this behavior I don't know if I want to give you your memories back."

"What?  You are the one who has my memories?"

"Why yes.  You will get them back once you complete your quest.  It may seem like I am just being a jerk not giving them to you but trust me I have my reasons."

She has her reasons!  I thought.  She was making me madder and madder.

"Fine Hecate."  I said.

"Mom."  She corrected me.

I rolled my eyes.  "Promise you will tell me one thing."

"Depends on the promise."

"Why did you take my memories away?  What did I do to deserve that?"  I was so fed up with everything.  I was doing a quest so I could make two powerful gods happy.  On top of that I didn't have my memories.  And now I figured out it was my own mom who was making me suffer.  

Hecate considered how to answer my question.  "Look Magico-"  Was she speaking Italian?

"Did you just call me Magico?"

"Yes, its um your nickname."  She looked at me apologetically. "But to answer your question.  You were being influenced.  It's hard to explain and I can't explain everything right now.  But we were already preparing to send you to camp half blood but you refused.  Then the whole issue with Demeter and Hades came up.  Demeter and I decided it was best for us to take you memories and give them back when you completed the quest."

I tried to not be angry.  It seems like she was trying to be reasonable.  Plus I wasn't very good at holding a grudge anyway.  I can't believe I had a nickname.

Hecate pointed to the image of Bianca, Logan, and I.  There was also someone else in the room that I couldn't recognize.  The color was returning to my face.

"You are waking up."  Said Hecate.  "It is surprising though you should at least have to sleep another few hours.  Well goodbye Zoe.  I will speak with you soon."