The Daughters of the Big Three

I woke up the next morning. I sat up and saw Drea zoning out. Zac was sharpening his sword and Jace was sitting and staring at me. I began to wonder where Accailia is and reality slaps me in the face and the memories of last night roll in.
“She’s gone,” I whisper. “It’s all my fault.”
“Elaina-” Jace starts.
“No, I had a dream about it. Before this quest,” I can’t help the tears. “I knew about what would happen and I should’ve known it would happen and that it would be on this quest. Especially after what the Oracle said. I’m leading this quest. Whatever happens is my fault,” I can’t talk anymore since I begin to sob.
Jace wraps his arms around me until I’m finished. I sigh and eat another sandwich.
“Did you notice that earthquake last night?” Zac asks, “It got rid of that monster.”
“I probably caused it,” I say. “I’m not good at controlling them. That would be my second one. Actually, I can’t control them at all.”
“Have you tried?” Jace asks.
“Purposefully? No.”
“Why don’t you come with me and I can help you,” Jace says standing up.
“What good will it do?” I ask. “It’s not like you’re randomly causing earthquakes.”
“Go with him, Elaina,” Zac says. “That’s how I learned.”
I stare at Zac, “Fine,” I agree as I stand.
“That’s the spirit,” Jace smiles. He beckons me to follow him a ways from our camp.
“Wait, isn’t this kind of dangerous?” I stop walking and face him.
“Earthquakes? Yeah. Water? Not so much,” Jace continues walking. “You can control water, right?”
“Yeah,” I say.
“Cool,” he points ahead of us, “I found a stream a little ways up ahead.”


“C’mon Elaina,” Jace groans,
“You keep saying that! It’s obviously not working,” I reply. “Maybe I don’t have any powers, and someone else is doing all this.”
“Who?” he looks at me. “Elaina, you need to learn how to control your powers. You could be standing on the beach, your emotions could get out of hand, and you could cause a tsunami!”
“It’s not like I’m trying to do any of this,” My voice cracks, “I didn’t mean to cause that wave when my friends were being put down.”
Jace takes a deep breath, “I know that. Those girls probably deserved it too. All that’s happening is that your head isn’t clear when you’re upset. Like last night, you weren’t even able to listen to me.”
“How come I’ve never accidentally done anything before I came to camp?” I ask.
“You probably haven’t been feeling the way you have been lately ever before. Being a demigod is stressful. Plus, you’re so new to all this and then next thing you know you’re leading a quest.”
“Feels more like you are,” I sit down on a fallen tree, “You’re better at it, too.”
“Elaina, you are a great leader. This just hasn’t been a great start,” Jace sits down next to me. “It’s totally not fair that Accailia died. But half-bloods never have it fair. Now,” he stands back up, “Let’s try this one last time.”
He extends his hand to me and I take it. He helps me stand up and walks me to the stream. “Feel it, take any emotion you’re feeling right now and use it to make the water do what you want it to.”
I take a in a deep breath and close my eyes. I feel for the water. I imagine it swirling together and rising up and out of the stream. I open my eyes and realize its forming a small whirlpool. I raise it up and spin it around then let it down and flow naturally again. I look at Jace and smile.
“I knew you could do it!” he says. I give him a hug and thank him. Our arms linger around each other and I stare into his eyes. After a minute he darts his eyes and drops his arms. I clear my throat. “We should probably-”
“Get back to the other two,” I nod and look away.
“Yeah,” Jace agrees and starts walking.

Notes