Daughter of Mother Earth

Chapter Sixty-Three

With that, the goddess zoomed off on her motorcycle, a dust cloud trailing behind. Opening her hand, Crystal realized what Nemesis had given her.

"Why on earth do I need lipstick?" Crystal was thoroughly confused.

She watched as Hazel knelt on the ground. All the broken cookies and fortunes had vanished, except for one slip of paper.

"You will see yourself reflected," Hazel read. "And you will have reason to despair."

Crystal groaned. "Have I ever mentioned how much I hate being a demigod?"

"Come on," Leo sighed. "Let's go find out what it means."

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Crystal chewed on her lip as the three demigods trekked their way over the hill. She'd be tugging her curls had they not been tied into a bun. Everything Nemesis said still echoed in Crystal's mind. She would pay the ultimate price? But she wasn't ready to tell them. Hazel's voice knocked Crystal out of her thoughts. 

"So," Hazel began. "Who is Aunt Rosa?"

Crystal looked over at Leo, who seemed like he didn't want to talk about it. She knew Aunt Rosa had to be someone he hated, otherwise Nemesis wouldn't bring her up. 

"It's a long story," Leo sighed. "She was a caretaker after my mom died, but she abandoned me and left me for foster care."

"I'm sorry," Hazel said quietly. 

Crystal tried to change the subject. "I didn't know Nico was your brother."

"Nico found me in the Underworld," Hazel cleared her throat. "He brought me back to life and gave me a second chance, I owe him for that."

"Did you see your mom, Crystal?" Leo suddenly asked. 

Crystal stopped in her tracks. "W-What do you mean?"

"Nemesis. Did she look like your mom?"

"Yes," Crystal admitted. 

Leo frowned. "How long have you known?"

Crystal turned away, unable to look Leo in the eyes. "She... I... I can hear her, in my head. Not all the time, but sometimes. She gives me hints, whispers. I haven't known for very long."

"Why haven't you told anyone?" Hazel asked.

"Chiron, our mentor, he knows," Crystal hugged herself. "I'm sorry, I can't tell you. Not yet."

The conversation was dropped and they continued to climb up the hill. Hazel made her way up a large boulder to get a better view. Crystal followed, standing next to the girl. Leo tried to climb up as well but lost his balance. Crystal immediately tried to reach out and grab him, but Hazel beat her to it. She pulled him up and they stood there, face to face and holding hands. Crystal cleared her throat, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow at the two. Leo blushed and pulled away, making his way to Crystal's side. She didn't look at him, instead, focusing her gaze ahead. 

"You're doing it again," Leo whispered in her ear. 

Crystal rolled her eyes, brushing him away from her ear like a fly. "I'm not doing anything."

"You are. It's just like back at the castle," Leo grinned, hinting that Crystal was jealous.

That word. She hated that word. She wasn't jealous! Unless jealous means feeling upset because you feel like another person is trying to take a lover friend away from them.

Okay so maybe she was a tiny bit jealous, but she'd never give him the satisfaction. "You know what, Valdez? One more word and I shove my foot up your-"