Angel from Tartarus

My Dad's New Name is Bob

I know it's been only a day since I published the Prologue, but it seemed too short to not publish another one as soon as it's finished.

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"Alright, Kat, name the minor Greek gods and goddesses."

I'm Kat. My full name is Aikaterina. And that woman talking? That was Kelli. My mom. A more correct term would be 'Caretaker,' even though she doesn't like to say it. She taught me all about the world outside of Tartarus. Said I might need it, even though Iapetus was against it. I guess you could call the two my parents, if an Empousa and a Titan can be a human's parents at all. Well, I'm not really a human. Well, half human, or half mortal fits me better. Demigod. Half-Blood.

I grew up with this knowledge. They told me that monsters would be out to get me, but they're powerful enough to take them. So, I'm raised by monster parents, in a monster land, in the very Pit of Hell. Was this weird to me? Not at all. I guess to most people it would be weird. Even the monsters think it's weird. But was it weird to me? No. Apparently, when they first found me, they had a long and heated debate about whether I should be taught just like mortals above, along with knowledge of Greek mythology, and who exactly I was. So, she got me some school textbooks from above, moved me into Hermes's Temple, and homeschooled me.

I started my education really early, and there are no "Sumer breaks", holidays, or weekends here. As soon as I master one area, I learn the next, with little tests here and there, so I don't forget. I'm six now, and am already learning eighth grade level stuff. Pre-algebra, reading, writing, history, and, of course, she teaches me all about Greek and Roman mythology. They tell me I'm wiser and smarter than most demigods my age.

Iapetus, he teaches me how to fight monsters, how to survive in Tartarus (If they aren't around and I need to fend for myself), and helps me take care of Reese. Reese is my friend, the hellhound. I sort of called him Reese when I was a baby, and it stuck. And here I am, raised my a seductive monster and a Titan, my best friend another monster. Of course, I wouldn't give Reese up for the world. I'm just stating the facts. So, feeling like both the most fortunate and unfortunate girl in the world, I live here, in Tartarus. Sure, my "parents" leave on trips every once in a while, but it's nothing I can't handle.

Until now. Iapetus left several hours ago, saying that there were demigods above. Kelli's nervous. She doesn't say it, but I know she's thinking about him. I can't easily imagine such a powerful Titan losing to three demigods. Finally, we see him enter the Temple. We look up from our textbook and see him, looking confused. He scratches his head.

"This place is... interesting..."

"I... Iapetus?" I ask.

"Who's Iapetus?" He asks. He looks at me. No, it feels like he's looking straight through me. Gods, it hurts.

"Dad! You're Iapetus!" Why is he wet? No, he can't have. He's too smart. Did he really do it? Kelli stands by me in shock.

"I am not Iapetus!" he fumes, "I am BOB!" I try to run up to him, but Kelli grabs my wrist.

"Lilly, stop!" I turn and look at her. She must have come to the same conclusion I have. One touch, a single drop on my finger, and I'll forget everything about myself. I won't be Aikaterina, I'll just be some dumb person in Hell. Kelli sighs sadly.

"I'm sorry to have bothered you, Ia- I mean, Bob. You just looked like someone we know," she says. Iapetus... Bob... I don't even know what to call him anymore. This Titan can't possibly be him... could he?

"Bob will leave now. Nice meeting you," he says. Turning around, he leaves, and I'm left without a father. I watch by the entrance as he becomes smaller and smaller on the horizon. Suddenly, I can't contain myself anymore.

" STUPID!" I turn towards a vase and kick it. It shatters into pieces. "Stupid, stupid. stupid!" tears stream down my face. I keep stomping on the pieces until Kelli puts a hand on my shoulder. Reese whimpers.

"Kat," she says softly, "I think you need to rest." pouting, I walk away from the shards. There's a pile of sand in one corner of the temple. That's the softest it gets. I lie down with Reese and fall into a fitful sleep. I dream of something happening above, a pale young teen is waving goodbye to a demigod Hunter of Artemis and a teen with sea green eyes, wearing an orange T-shirt.

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So, this is where we see a whole new side to Kelli. She offered to help take care of a child, and now she's actually being a parent.