Chloe

---

Chloe was the definition of alone. When she was young her family alienated her like she was a diseased hand. Whenever Chloe tried to assimilate and fit in, it always backfired. Her cousins found ways to pick on her, and her uncle never paid her any attention unless the situation involved dollar-signs.
Chloe also quickly learned that she was going to be on her own for a while. In her family she felt invisible, just a girl with a name and nothing else. Unloved, unwanted. Even her own mother didn't want anything to do with her! Chloe didn't remember much about the woman, but what she did know about her she cherished. She knew that her mother had soft blonde waves like she did, and that her mother and father met when she was only a few months out of college.
Chloe's mother didn't even say goodbye when she left, neither did her father. At six-weeks old she was an orphan; no home, no future.
The state placed her in the home of her aunt and uncle to keep her out of the system. Chloe didn't remember her aunt very well, but she knew her aunt's death when she was at the young age of six sent her uncle over the edge. He began gambling again, and stayed out during the late hours of the night.
If it was Chloe's destiny to live with such horrible people, she wanted to change it; badly.
Even when things seemed to turn for the better, they became worse again in Chloe's life. She didn't know who to blame; her mother, her father, her uncle, the fates. Nothing made sense to her.
That was until the man came.
It was her normal routine that day. She rose early and washed her hair. She cooked breakfast and while her cousins were gone away at school and her uncle left for work at the bowling alley, Chloe stayed behind to clean and study lessons on her own. She was used to homeschooling herself as she had done it for a while, but it was hard because of her dyslexia.
After lunch she had washed the dishes she used and waited for the mail to arrive when she felt it. Something was in the other room.
Chloe walked from the door into the living room, finding a man standing by a door. His two heads spoke quickly, telling her she had a choice to make. It was her only shot at getting out of the hellhole she grew up in.
Chloe didn't hesitate as she stepped through the magical portal, and as she touched the other side she sighed with relief as a sensation came over her she hadn't known in years.
Peace.
But that was quickly taken away.

---

Chloe hated lies. They made her skin tingle and burn on the back of her neck, and it hurt. Lies screwed her senses up, for as long as she could remember Chloe depended on her gift.
Her uncle called it a curse.
"Devil child", he would say. "You are only good for money."
As Chloe stood in front of the campfire, she felt a lie. She didn't know where it was coming from, but she sensed it.
Chiron shifted on his hooves beside her, squinting at the glowing green light that danced above her head. Chloe could feel the confusion from him. His only thoughts were on why there was no symbol, just a floating empty light.
"I don't understand," Andrew said, grabbing her attention. "I could have sworn she was getting claimed."
"Maybe her godly parent is embarrassed of her," Celeste muttered behind her. "I would be too if my kid was nuts."
Chloe jumped at the harsh words, grabbing a dagger from another camper's belt and holding it to Celeste's throat.
"I'm not crazy!" She screamed.
"That is enough Ms. Wayland!" Chiron bellowed, pulling Chloe away. "Celeste, it would be wise for you to mind your tongue."
Celeste smirked at Chloe, ignoring the centaur before turning back to her other siblings who made s'mores.
Chloe looked up at the light floating above her head. It reminded her of a bubble, except with more greens and blues.
"This isn't right," Andrew said. "They aren't supposed to back out on the agreement."
"I assure you, Mr. Henderson," Chiron said. "Chloe's godly parent has not forgotten the agreement."
The centaur turned to the sky, looking towards the moon. Chloe sensed a new presence before the man appeared in her eyesight. He was dressed in a postman uniform, but wore winged shoes on his feet. In his hands, he carried a clipboard.
As he touched to the ground, all other conversations around the campfire ceased.
"My lord Hermes," Chiron said, bowing his head. "It is wonderful to see you."
"Same to you old chap," the God said, offering the centaur a smile before turning to Chloe.
"You must be the one they call Chloe," he said. "I was sent here by your father. He wanted me to give you something. He asks you to forgive him for the cloak and dagger, the mist has not been working the same for weeks now on Olympus."
"Uh, it's okay?" Chloe said.
Hermes smirked, jotting something down on his clipboard.
"You may feel a slight pinch, but the package that has been ordered for you should be arriving..now!"
The green and blue light flickered, causing Chloe to look back up and gaze deeper into the blue green haze. Chloe's eyes reached through the fog, and she begged for it to clear. The light vanished, leaving sparkles dancing over Chloe's body before a green glow came and engulfed her.
When the light vanished, a booming voice echoed through the clearing.
"This is my daughter, my treasure. I am proud to be her father."
As the rest of the light disappeared, a shield appeared in Chloe's hands, glowing a bright golden color. Chloe saw Chiron move back, along with the other campers, their heads bowing low to the ground.
"What's going on?" Chloe asked, her arms shaking as the weight of the shield dragged her closer to the ground.
"You have been claimed my girl," Chiron said.
"It all makes sense now," Andrew said, his expression frozen as he bent down on his knees. "I can't believe I didn't see it before!"
Chloe looked around, wondering where the god Hermes had gone, when Chiron proclaimed loudly, thunder crashing in the sky behind him.
"All hail, Chloe Wayland, daughter of Poseidon, earthshaker, and Lord of the Sea!"

Notes