The Gift of the Lethe

Trickling Emotions

When Athena appears in Annabeth's apartment, the owl wings off her shoulder to perch on the couch beside Annabeth, who is watching her carefully. Annabeth takes a moment to send the owl a long-suffering look, though Athena doesn't know the reason behind it, and then she looks back. Athena follows the owl, sitting beside her daughter.

"I hear you asked for me?"

Annabeth nods. "I did. I apologize, mother, if it was disrespectful, but I think it's important."

Athena smiles slightly. "I may be more prideful around others, daughter, but I'm still your mother. If you ask for me and I am able, I will come. Just . . . don't let my father know."

Annabeth snorts. "I'm not likely to."

"I'm glad. Now, what did you want to speak with me about?"

Annabeth bites her lip. "Did . . . something happen? A few nights ago."

Athena stiffens. "Why do you ask?"

Anabeth lifts an eyebrow. "Well that reaction for one. But also- all of your kids felt a surge of pure rage that we couldn't explain. All of us."

"And why do you think this is troubling?"

"It isn't just the rage, it's what happened because of it. I was working on designing the new temples for Camp Jupiter and I ended up shredding the plan for your father's temple. Back at Camp Half-Blood, they were having a craft night and some of them were weaving or drawing. Thera made an interesting tapestry, to say the least. Maria was painting, and she somehow managed to recreate the exact same image. A traumatizing image, mother. It made her scream, when she was done."

Athena pales. "What image?"

"Hmm."

Annabeth stands, going to grab her laptop from the table. She flips it open and taps on it for a couple seconds before she turns it towards Athena. It's the picture of a painting, one that matches the tapestry Athena had burned. A pool of golden blood spilling across the floor of Olympus and soaking the glowing figure of the master lighting bolt.

"Mother, what happened? What does this mean? None of us are prophetic, so it doesn't make sense."

Athena grimaces. "I suppose I was angrier than I thought I was. Pallas had another flashback and the results of it were extreme enough that it sent both of us off. It would seem that when I was trying to channel that rage into my weaving, it trickled down to all of you."

Annabeth swallows, squeezing her hand into a fist and then releasing. "Did that image mean something? The one Thera and Maria made?"

"I wove the same one that night. And speaking of that image- have your sisters destroy what they made. Immediately."

Color leeches from Annabeth's skin. "Mother . . . what is the significance of that picture?"

"It's something my father would be very displeased to see. Please, for your own safety, destroy it. And never talk about it."

Annabeth pushes upwards from the couch, crossing to the bookshelf to grab something from it. A cube of tiny metallic spheres. As she returns to the couch, she squeezes it in her fist and pulls a string of the balls from it. Still working on turning the cube into one long chain, Annabeth perches on the couch again. She pulls wildly on the chain, twisting it against itself and pulling it apart.

"You aren't telling me something, Mother. I know that you're a goddess, I know you are allowed to keep things from us demigods. But I think whatever you're hiding, it's important and it scares me. It's dangerous, isn't it."

Athena swallows, wilting into the couch. "Very much so. I can't tell you what it means, Annabeth." When Annabeth opens her mouth to retort, Athena holds up a hand. "I really can't. Pallas doesn't even know. What I can tell you is this: stay away from Olympus for the time being, matters are getting tense. When it's safe again, I'll tell you. I swear it."

Annabeth sighs. "I understand, Mother."

"Good. I must go. Tell your brothers and sisters that I say hello."

"You can't tell them yourself, Mother?"

Athena grimaces. "I wish I could, but my father will have much more of an eye on me at Camp Half-Blood than he would here."

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So, who thinks something bad will come from that image? Do you think Zeus will find out? Do you think the details of the image mean something? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out