The Daughter of the Sky // Wattys 2016

Chapter 1

      Everything in this world fits into two categories. Right now, we're talking about the normal and the abnormal.

      Most people dream of having a calm, stoic and ordinary life, perhaps filled with adventure, and mystery. Little do they know they coexist amongst creatures and cretins hiding in The Mist.

    Don't worry, though. If you hadn't noticed anything strange by now, you're probably not a half-blood. You fit into the normal category. Consider yourself lucky. In fact, I deeply urge you to continue to live the rest of your mortal life in peace and quiet, away from all of this madness.

      But if you have noticed the world you're living in, a world filled with not so much good as there is evil, be careful. You fit into category number two. The abnormal; the extraordinary. You're an outsider, and that's not a category you want to fall under. Not in this world.

     This is not a sob story, or a hero's tale.

     This is a warning.

     Being a demigod is kind of like playing a never ending game of Russian roulette; you never know when a metaphorical bullet of doom could potentially kill you. Mine just so happened to shoot me on my seventeenth birthday. It was the very last day I was able to categorize myself as normal. Poetic, right?

     Birthdays were taken very seriously in the Carter household to say the least. The routine was the same every single year. My hovering, obnoxious and overbearing parents would wake me up with a very loud (and very, very off key) rendition of 'Happy Birthday' before making me blow out the seventeen sparkling candles on top of my favorite chocolate cake. Extra chocolate.

    "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Orion...Happy Birthday to you!"

     I tried my best to wipe the sleep from my eyes and focus on the dazzling crackle and pop of the multicolored candles submerged in decadent chocolate frosting. 

     "What are you waiting for? Make a wish," my dad looked at me with anxious eyes as my mother held the cake in her eager hands. This was my least favorite part. Making a wish wasn't necessarily easy when you had everything you could ever want; I desperately tried to think of something trivial to wish for off the top of my head, just to fill the suspenseful moments that were passing by. Finally, my lips curled in an 'O' shape as I tried to blow out each and every candle in a single breath while my parents cheered.

      While my mother and I stuffed our faces with cake, my father left the room to get my birthday present. This was where I began to play the annual guessing game.

      "Is it a motorcycle?" I interrogated my mom in between bites of cake.

      "Absolutely not," my mother nearly choked.

      "Oh, I know! You finally got me a boyfriend," my eyes widened in false shock.

      "Very funny."

      "Come on, mom. What is it? I can't take it anymore!" I began to grow even more anxious with every sluggish moment that passed.

      "Orion, can't you just be surprised for once? What's the fun in knowing everything?" My mother rolled her hazel eyes in response to my paranoia.

     "Did you knit me something? I swear if you knit me another one of your hats I'll use it as a doormat."

    "Oh stop! You loved the hat I made you for Christmas!"

     "You can paint, but you can't knit or sing."

     "Watch it, kid." She threatened as I dodged her playful attempts to whack my arm.

    "Knock knock," my father's fingers tapped on the wood of my door. "Is it someone's seventeenth birthday, or am I mistaken?"

     I raised my hand. "Guilty."

     "Well thenI guess by default this present belongs to you, huh?"

      In his right hand was a small box, carefully wrapped in newspaper and adorned with a shimmering green bow. My favorite color.

     I couldn't help but weigh the box in my hand, imagining a new pair of earrings or a charm bracelet rattling inside. The suspense was killing me. I gently began to pry open my gift, feeling a nervous sweat forming above my brow. Inside was a set of shiny brand new silver car keys. I immediately felt a lump creep into the middle of my throat.

    "No way," I gasped, clutching the keys in my clammy hands, "you got me a car? Like... my very own car?"

    My mother looked as if she were about to cry, draping her arms around my father's torso in pure happiness.

     "Why don't you go check it out for yourself, kid," my father cocked his head towards the door.

    I think I broke the Olympic record for fastest sprint that day.

    My eyes nearly popped out of my sockets just looking at the car. It was a maraschino cherry convertible mustang; not brand new, but not old enough to be dad's age either. The paint was so shiny I could practically see every detail of my reflection staring back at me. My mouth was wide open in complete awe. The interior was a crisp khaki color but the steering wheel was black; it was truly a beautiful contrast. My heart swelled at the thought of my father planning this gift months ahead of time, wondering what I would think of it. He had to have been working on restoring this car for a long time.

    "Say something will you?" My mother nervously tugged at her nose ring while my father carefully studied my face for any signs of  disappointment.

    Then, I ran again. This time towards my parents, nearly tackling them to the ground with a hug.

    "It's absolutely perfect. I love it. Thanks, guys." 

My father chuckled and the skin around his deep brown eyes crinkled as he cracked a wide smile.

   "Happy birthday, Orion. Why don't you go take it for a spin?"