The Child of the Dead Sea (a Percy Jackson fanfic)

12. Little Gifts

KATE

I walked into my room and sat on the bed. I couldn't believe that Luke and Todd had made it out of Tartarus. When they pushed me through the opening and it closed, I thought they were dead. Or at least stuck forever. They were the only things that had kept me sane during my time down there.

I looked around the room, noticing its small details for the first time. Funny how impending death made you notice more about life. The room was painted with murals on the walls. But they weren't just murals, they were memories. They were images of my time on Olympus. Me sparring with Ares for my first time, I won but Ares would claim that he let me. Another was Athena homeschooling me, she insisted that I get an education even if I was an all powerful demigod. Hecate teaching me magic. Hestia teaching me how to cook. Apollo and me riding horses on the beach. Apollo proposing then trying to insist that it was a joke. My dad reading me a bedtime story on my first night in his palace.

And my favorite image, a view of my tenth birthday party. Dionysus had planned it but had to be reminded several times by various gods that the party was for a ten year old who couldn't drink. Somehow he had managed to sneak in a wine fountain and had gotten drunk halfway through. Apollo had helped me draw on his face.

Even though I loved it with the other demigods, I missed living there. Olympus was my home. And now, I might never see it again. I was truly grateful that Apollo had visited me and taken a trip to the cafe. He always knew how to cheer me up. The god had had a crush on me since I was twelve. He was always hitting on me since then and Aphrodite wouldn't leave him or me alone about it.

The ceiling in the room was a moving sky. It showed the sky that was right outside. Right now the stars were appearing and the moon was almost full. The floor was a deep gray carpet. My eyes traveled to my nightstand. There were three small wrapped gifts sitting under a salt lamp. One had wrappings with suns on it, the other had moons, and the third was bright solid pink. I had ideas of who they were from.

I picked up the pink one and read the tag. For the future Mrs. Apollo, From The Best Goddess Ever, Aphrodite. She had written it in pink pen and it was fancy cursive. I smiled, sure she was conceded, but she was still family. I opened the package and inside was a pink ribbon that shimmered pink, and a note. It said, Dearest Kate, I know what you are planning to do, and may I just say that I just love the drama it will bring, but I'm not fond of the idea of never seeing you again. I know it must happen. So to help you I had Hecate put a spell on this ribbon. Sadly she used a dreadful brown colored liquid, but she guarantied it would work. Anyway, tie it around that bomb of yours and it will compress into it so you can use it like those silver bracelets. Good luck. As a goddess, I've seen many people die and fail, but your death, will be the worst thing I have ever experienced. With love, Aphrodite.

I felt tears welling up. That letter was the most unselfish act that Aphrodite has ever done. And she did it for me. I reached over the side of the bed to the floor where the bag sat with the bomb. I pulled out the weapon and tied the ribbon around it. The bomb suppressed into the ribbon and I tied it around my wrist. Then I was able to summon the bomb just like I would with my sword.

After I was done trying out the gift, I picked up the next one. It was the one with moons. I didn't need to read the tag to know that it was from Artemis. I opened it and inside was a small vial of silver simmering liquid and another note. Kate, you could have been the best hunter I have ever had, but you chose the life that was best for you. That doesn't mean that you can't change your mind. I respect that you will fulfil this plan that you have made to protect your friends. From the moment I started to train you I knew you were capable of great things. But honestly I never expected this. I had hoped that you would have a great life, and possibly become a goddess yourself. Sadly that appears to not be true. So I have included something that will help you in your time of need. Drink the liquid in the vial before you start the fight. It will give you enough strength to do what you want to more than anything, protect your new family. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope to see you again, Artemis.