My Life as a Background Demigod

New Story

Andromeda glanced at the clock. Dam it, it was already 7:45 and she was going to be late for school. It was the day before her sixteenth birthday. As she walked down stairs to grab breakfast before heading off to school, Andromeda had a sudden pang of anxiety. She felt like something bad was going to happen today. 

She decided to shake it off. Besides she thought, I've had plenty of gut feelings before and nothing happened all those times. This rainy Friday wasn't going to be any different. 

"Time to go!" she yelled at her dad who was sitting on the couch on his computer working already.

"Ah, okay. Give me a sec." He continued to check his emails. 10 minutes later, he got up and slowly made his way to the car. 

"Dad. I'm going to be late again," she said, and her Dad could clearly tell she was irritated. He sighed and started the car. 

Luckily, their apartment was only a few blocks up from the school, yet unfortunately not close enough for Andromeda to walk. As the car barreled down the hill, her Dad ran a stop sign and kept going. 

"Hey-" Andromeda turned to chastise her Dad for running yet another stop sign, but she stopped when she saw his face. He was pale and looked sick, worried almost. He looked how Andromeda felt only moments before. 

"Dad, what's wrong?" she asked, visibly concerned. 

"It's nothing, sunshine." He responded, as the jeep turned up the road to the school. He parked and Andromeda reached to grab the door handle and found it locked. She turned to her Dad and saw he was holding a small sea green box. 

"Here, um this is a little something I was going to give you tomorrow for your birthday, but I think today might be better, just to play it safe." 

"What do you mean?" she asked, taking the box, "What is it?"

She untied the silver ribbon, and opened the box, revealing a sterling silver trident pendant necklace. Huh, she thought, that's odd. 

She turned to her Dad for some sort of explanation and he responded saying, "It's not from me actually. It's from your other parent." 

Her other parent? She never knew her mom. He never mentioned it, and when she asked he simply said, "There's nothing to tell about your mom."

"My mom?" Andromeda asked, putting on the necklace, "It's from her?"

"No," her Dad said forcefully, "Your other parent." 

Andromeda was confused. Obviously it was her mom, right? Biologically it had to be a mom. 

"Okay, Dad, see you after school - 3:00" she reminded him. 

"Okay. Andromeda? Be safe." He said, making uncomfortable eye contact with her. 

She gulped and nodded, climbing out of the car. She checked her watch and cursed under her breath. 8:20. Great she really was late. 

She walked towards the main office, that feeling of discomfort and anxiety rejoining her and accompanying her to school.