The Chloe Chronicles: The Lost Goddess

When Chloe was seven, a group of Christmas Carolers came up to the front door and noticed how skinny she was, so they called Child services. Two days later, a social worker surprised her Giagiá with a visit accompanied by a police officer.
Chloe remembered how her Aunt argued with her Uncle to let Chloe's Giagiá be taken away, so Chloe and the other children would be safe.
"She is a danger to the child, she doesn't even treat her like she is human!"
"She isn't human Maya, you of all people should know that. I told you adopting her would bring dangers to this family, and that my mother would not approve, but you wouldn't listen, would you!"
"I am her mother, not by birth, but by right, and I will raise her as my own. If you will not protect Chloe from harm, then I will, and I will take the other children with me!"
"Please," the social worker said, breaking up the argument. "We can all be rational and come up with a solution, calmly."
Chloe relaxed thinking about the moment, the woman's voice was angelic and sweet. Something about the tone of voice she used helped her seven year old self, feel safe.
Chloe's Aunt smoothed down the skirt if her dress. Her ivory hair hung in pieces over her eyes that looked toward the social worker.
"What do you suggest we do?"
"Is the child being fed properly?"
"oh yes!" Chloe's uncle interjected, placing his hand on his wife's shoulder. "She eats more than my oldest son, she just must have an abnormal, nonhuman metabolism! She is quite safe here, I assure you."
Chloe's Aunt went to protest when the social worker held up her hand. "Ms. Wayland, I'm afraid there is nothing I can do here. Children around Chloe's age do tend to have higher metabolisms. Unless there is any other problems I should know about, please, tell me now."
There was silence in the room, and Chloe dread it instantly. Silence was never good.
After the social worker left and the police officer released Chloe's giagiá from custody, Chloe was confined to her room where she was allowed to see no one. Chloe was always afraid after that day that someone was going to take her away from her Aunt.
Chloe stood silently on the hill, nervously smiling back to Percy. Would she be able to trust him? What would she tell him if she did?
Yes, hello! My name is Chloe and I am a pathetic, orphaned, shut-in with no family.
"I hope you don't mind being lead around." Percy said. "Mr. D gets grumpy when new campers don't know where they're going!"
"Mr. D? Uh, okay...I will try not to make him grumpier than he already is."
Annabeth giggled and Percy shook his head. "Oh my gods, good luck!"
"Is he always grumpy?"
Percy nodded and continued laughing with Annabeth for a moment. Chloe sighed, feeling like a third wheel she turned away from the couple, breathing in the salty air of the Long Island sound.
"This is your home, your true home," A voice spoke again.
Chloe looked around wildly. Who was talking to her, and why?
Percy frowned, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Is everything okay kid?"
Chloe nodded, shrugging his hand off. "Sorry, I uh..keep hearing a voice."
Annabeth chuckled. "That's your godly parent speaking to you. What have they said?"
"Um, all he has said is 'welcome home, my daughter'."
Percy smiled. "So it's a god. Well, you might be claimed before the day ends. For now, why don't I show you around the training area?"
"Claimed?"
Percy said goodbye to Annabeth, oblivious to her question. He hurried Chloe over a small hill as they approached a stone house with steam coming from every area around them.
"Ah, the forges never get old. This is where our Hephaestus campers normally hang out. They craft a lot of armour and weapons in here everyday. Are you good with your hands?"
Chloe shook her head. "I'm kind of clumsy."
Percy chuckled and continued another corner. "You're not the only one."
Chloe sighed as she struggled to keep up with him. Percy eventually stopped at a large quartz building with columns and campers coming from all entrances.
"This is our arena." He said, showing Chloe to the door. "When you advance in your classes, you get to train here with other campers and just spar. Sometimes, if your lucky, you get to fight Chiron. That is a treat!"
Chloe gawked at the vast area around her. "Wow." she said. "Why aren't you training right now?"
"I have some break time I can take for myself. It doesn't end for another 2 hours, so I can show you around some more if you like."
Chloe smiled and looked up at Percy. "Thanks. I'd like that."
Percy frowned. "Hold on a second....Someone is waving at me. They might need my help? I'll be right back."
Chloe nodded and Percy jogged off towards a group of what Chloe guessed was nymphs. Some of the girls who chatted with him had greenish skin, as if they had chlorophyll running through their veins. Chloe stared at a couple of them who had vines in their hair, and a bark looking texture on their legs.
Percy seemed upset when one of the nymphs told him something. Chloe wished she could help him, but she messed a lot of things up. She collapsed on a nearby bench, rubbing her elbow gently.
Percy seems nice, Chloe thought. He seems very protective, and loyal. He could be a good friend. If only he wasn't oblivious to questions....
Chloe's ADHD distracted her from her mind and her eyes wandered. She noticed a camper, fighting off two others who were half his size. He sliced his sword under their feet and the feel to the ground coughing. His dark armor glimmered in the sunlight and another sword ricochet off his chest. The camper slammed his arm into the side of his opponents head and they feel to the ground. That's when dark eyes met hers and Chloe smiled as she ran over to him.
"Looks like I found you!"
Nico's mouth turned up a tiny bit and he put his sword away on his belt. Chloe was tempted to touch the armor herself, but she resisted. Something about the dark metal seemed cold.
"What are you doing here?" Nico asked, running a hand through his hair.
"Well, I was being given a tour of the training grounds but I found something more interesting."
Nico raised an eyebrow and put his arm around Chloe's shoulder leading her out of the arena. "Oh really? Well I hoped you aren't too interested in it because I was going to show you around the cabins."
Chloe smiled and the pair walked out of the arena, towards a circle of small houses with two larger ones in the back. Chloe held her breath as they approached, they were amazing! Nico motioned over to the cabins as they walked by and Chloe tried to remember the names.
"So, what can you do, as a demigod?" She asked, trying to not receive silence from her new friend.
Nico paused and frowned as if he was never asked the question. "Well, as a son of Hades-"
"He's the god of death right?"
Nico nodded and stepped closer to Chloe, his breath lingering on her face. "I can, bring up the dead and talk to ghosts." He said, lowering his voice.
"What?"
"You asked me what my powers were? I can control the dead and speak with them." Nico said, frowning. Chloe could tell he was getting a little upset with her.
"Oh right! That's..interesting."
Nico scoffed and kicked a rock, sending it flying I to the woods. "Most people here think that it's disgusting. I just ignore them, they'll burn in hell anyway. My point is, as a demigod, you will have certain powers that you received from your godly parent."
"So, I would be able to like, read really well if I was an Athena kid?"
Nico stopped walking and then broke down laughing. Chloe raised an eyebrow, was it something she said?
"Ha! Oh my Hades! I have never heard anything like that before! Oh my gods!"
"What?" Chloe frowned. "Is it wrong?"
Nico shook his head and roughly threw his arm around Chloe's shoulder. "No. It's just that- I have never heard anything like that before!"
Chloe grinned softly, she liked making people smile, it helped her feel better about herself. "So, which cabin do you think I will claimed into?"
Nico took a breath and started to lead her away from the circle of cabins. His body shook slightly with laughter but he seemed to control it very well.
"I don't know. You have a mixed personality." Nico said.
"I've heard my godly parent speak to me, is that good?"
"They might be trying to tell you something." Chloe shrugged and Nico sat down at a picnic table and started to clean his sword.
"Do you have ADHD or dyslexia?" He asked casually. Chloe smiled at the gesture. She had longed for nothing more than to be able to talk to him for months.
"I have both, why?" She said, curious.
"That's normal for demigods to have that. Since you have ADHD, your impulsive. You can't stay still! That is your natural battle reflexes. That's the thing that will keep you alive in a fight. You have dyslexia because your brain is hard wired for Ancient Greek, not English."
"That explains why I get confused after reading a book for a while."
"Ah, Nico! I see you are doing well."
Chloe glanced over and saw a man walking towards them. Her eyes widened when she realized it wasn't a normal man. The stranger had the upper body of a normal human, but had legs of horse.
"Are you a centaur?" Chloe asked.
The man laughed and gave her a comforting smile.
"Yes my dear. I am Chiron, I will be your teacher for some classes. You must be?"
"I'm Chloe. I'm new here."
Chiron nodded and turned back to Nico, who blushed slightly. What could he have been embarrassed about?
"Well, I see that you have made a new friend so I won't bother you for long. Make sure you bring her by the big house tomorrow so that we can fill out her file."
Nico nodded and Chiron trotted away, leaving them alone.
"This place is-wow." Chloe said, sitting beside him.
Nico snorted. "It has that effect on every new camper."
"I just never thought that this could be real. I've read myths and books before but, it's all real! Could you tell me something?"
Nico shrugged. "Sure, I guess..."
"I thought Chiron was dead, wasn't he killed by Hercules? Does Demeter actually have strands of wheat in her hair? Does the Minotaur have four legs or two? Have you ever met Odysseus, would he be dead? He's dead isn't he?"
Nico placed a finger to her lips, and chuckled. "One at a time. Chiron isn't dead, he was made immortal by Zeus to be the teacher for all demigods. As long as he doesn't leave his position as trainer of heroes, he'll be immortal."
Chloe was about to say something again when Nico shushed her. "Not finished. To answer your question about Demeter, yes. The Minotaur has two legs, he's half human. Odysseus I am afraid is dead, sorry."
Chloe offered Nico a smile. She had so many questions she wanted answers too, Nico was nice enough to offer them.
Nico gave her a small smile but quickly lost it because a group of campers were walking by. Their eyes wandered all over Chloe, staring and they began whispering. Chloe started to feel self conscious. She pulled at the sleeves of her shirt.
"Oh, can they see a..bruise?" She asked Nico, whispering.
He shook his head and glared at them as they walked away. "People around here aren't used to you. Campers always talk about new people because they haven't been claimed yet."
"They seemed..uncomfortable." Chloe said.
Nico frowned. "You sense it too huh?"
Chloe nodded.
"Things have been..strange around here lately." Nico said. "It's like everyone here could tell something big was coming."
"Something is coming." Chloe said. "I can feel it."
Chloe meant every word.
Nico's eyes connected with hers, his eyes emitting a soft worried glance. Chloe bit her lip and the two sat in silence. The wind blew and leaves rustled around them. Her hair flew around and she couldn't help but stare at how Nico's hair moved in the wind. It was like a dark blanket.
Chloe didn't seem to notice the group of girls crowding around in front of them. She was too busy looking at Nico, then the trees, and a squirrel, and then a rock, the worm crawling by that rock...
Nico tapped her shoulder.
"What?" She asked, out of her daze.
He grinned and Chloe noticed another girl standing beside him. She towered over Nico easily, but he was catching up in height. She had freckles dotting her skin and short, choppy black hair. She wore a silvery coat with ripped jeans and combat boots.
Chloe couldn't help but feel the powerful aura from the girl standing in front of her, and she sat back in her seat.
Nico grinned, sensing her uneasiness. "Chloe I would like you to meet Thalia. Thalia is my cousin."
Thalia held out her hand and Chloe shook it.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you." Thalia said. "When I normally introduce myself I say, I'm Thalia, daughter of Zeus, lieutenant of the hunt."
Chloe studied her breath-taking eyes. They were bright electric blue, could she have gotten them from her father?
"What is your father like?" Chloe asked. "In the myths he seems to be quite clever but..is it right to chest on your wife that much?"
Nico nervously glanced up at the sky, stepping in front of Chloe. Thalia smiled awkwardly, giving Nico a look.
"Ladies," she said, "take five." The girls behind her saluted Thalia and then walked away, out of Chloe's sight.
"Is Zeus old looking or is he handsome? Does he have a lightning bolt like he does in the myths?"
"Uh-"
"Do you have any siblings? I bet you have a lot. No offense Thalia but your father seems like a man-"
"Chloe!" Nico said, placing a hand on her mouth. I really, really want you to mind what you say."
"Why? Thalia doesn't seem offended."
"No, she doesn't, but trust me, her dad is the kind of man who is offended quickly. Since you have read myths I don't need to tell you what he does to people who offend him, right?"
Chloe gulped and bit her tongue.
Thalia glared up at the sky. "He won't hurt you...not while I am here anyway...To answer your many questions yes, he has cheated on Hera many times but I know he has been good the last few years. He doesn't look old, none of the gods really do. Lady Artemis chooses to look around the age of twelve most times."
"So, he doesn't have a lightning bolt?"
"He does, it hardly leaves his sight." Thalia said, leaning against a tree. "Listen kid, why don't we uh, stop with the questions for now, before you get killed."
"Good idea." Nico muttered.
"So, you're a newbie huh?"
Chloe nodded. Nico gave Thalia a look and Chloe frowned. Was he being, possessive over her? Chloe didn't mind though, she was enjoying Nico's company.
"Is something wrong?" Chloe asked.
"No." Nico said. "It's getting dark, it's almost time for campfire. I'll show you to the fire pit."
Chloe nodded. "It was nice meeting you Thalia." She said. "Can I ask you more questions later?"
Thalia shrugged. "Sure, I guess. I won't be able to tell you much."
Chloe gave her a polite nod and Nico led her away, to another adventure.

Notes