IV      

                                                                      Ana

        Ana was confused, she didn’t fully understand her feelings for Leo, and she really didn’t understand what was happening with Gabby. She was happy for one second, and yelling at her to leave her alone the next. Ana was lost. Why would Gabby, of all people, be angry at her? She just had the best day of her life the day before, and today has been the worst. Her best friend isn’t talking to her for the first time. They have never fought about anything before today and she didn’t fully understand what Gabby would be angry at. If anything, Ana should be angry at her. Gabby was so outgoing, while Ana was too shy to even say “hi”. She was thankful to have Leo and Gabby help her, but even then, it was hard. Gabby was amazing at archery when they met so many years ago, so Ana decided to practice every night after Gabby went to sleep to attempt to gain her skill. It was the hardest thing she ever did, and it is still a struggle whenever she pulls back the string. Sword fighting was so much easier, it came to her after a little bit of practice. Gabby can play and write music like a famous composer in her sleep. Ana has even seen her do that. Gabby was a genius, she was kind, she was funny, she was lovable, she was amazing!

        “Ana?” asked a voice that made Ana sit up straight.

        “Hi Leo,” she replied, trying to be calm and not break down.

        “Do you know what’s gotten into Gabby? She isn’t talking to anyone.” Ana looked down, not knowing what to say. “Maybe you could talk to her?” he asked.

        “I already tried, she doesn’t want to talk to me either. Do you have any idea why she might be upset?” Ana asked desperately. Leo’s face fell again, and said,

        “No, no I don’t. She also turned down my offer for the Valdezinator.” He turned his face away as he said that as if he was hiding something.

        “Really? Wow, she is upset, but seriously, I feel really bad.”

        “Why? Did you do something wrong?” he asked, staring through her soul, making her face hot.

        “Well, if I did, I didn’t intend to,” Ana replied honestly. “Leo, what should I do? I don’t want to be...not friends with her over a fight. I don’t even know what we’re fighting over in the first place. I’m kind of scared,” she blurted out. Sensing her sympathy, Leo patted Ana’s back.

        “You’re being a good friend, being able not to be angry at her even at this point,” Leo replied. Ana looked into his eyes. They were a beautiful coffee brown. His tousled curly hair was positioned so oddly that it just added to his humorous character. He was just so cute, sitting there and...wait, what?!

        “Uh, thanks Leo for everything, but I gotta do...some sword practice. Meet ya at the bonfire!” Ana exclaimed, and ran towards the group of Hunters.

        “Well, ok, see ya then…” As Ana ran up to the Hunters, she could’ve sworn there was a tone of sadness in his voice, but dismissed it.

                                                                …

        Ana sat amongst the group of Hunters, looking for Leo and Gabby in the amphitheater as the flames of the bonfire rose overhead in a yellow hue. Unfortunately, the flames were messing with her vision and so, she finally gave up after a few minutes.

        “Isn’t it cool?” asked Thalia, who sat beside me staring into the towering flames. Ana merely nodded. She was too stressed to think what could be possibly making the flames change color or whatnot. She wanted to know why Gabby was so angry at her. No, she didn’t want to know. She needed to know.

        “Too bad Percy and Annabeth aren’t here to see this,” whispered Thalia.

        “Who?”

        “You seriously haven’t at least heard of them yet?” Ana shook her head. “They’re two of the demigods from the prophecy of seven who saved the world! They are also my friends. Annabeth and I go way back, but they’re both in college, so you won’t be seeing them around here,” Thalia explained. In truth, Ana could care less about...what their names again? Peter and Annabelle? She had to focus majorly on her priorities, not celebrities. Ana breathed out a sigh as she noticed Leo in a crowd of lean looking demigods with grime covered shirts. Ana waved, hoping Leo would notice. With a grin, Leo waved back pointing to his half sibling who had fallen asleep beside him with a floral wreath around his neck and a daffodil tucked behind his ear. Ana couldn’t help but laugh. She received a questioning glance from Thalia and sat still, expressionless as if nothing had happened. Leo winked and poked the sibling, lightly, suppressing a laugh. The sibling woke up, disoriented and fell back asleep. He seemed more of a son of Hypnos rather than Hephaestus, Ana thought to herself. At that moment, she wondered who her godly parent was. Her mother was a very kind woman, but mysteriously disappeared one day. She’s been living with Gabby’s family ever since. Only until did Gabby’s mother pass away from cancer, did they run away. They knew they didn’t want to end up in an orphanage and possibly get separated. All in all, she still wondered who her godly parent was. Sure, she was good at shooting arrows, but not the best, so not Apollo. She wasn’t thoroughly skilled with tools (and the only accomplishment had she ever done was screw in a loose screw for an electric screwdriver), so not Hephaestus. She frowned in disappointment. Her godly parent didn’t even bother to claim her yet, let alone come to any of her birthday parties.

        “Hello demigods,” said the centaur. “I am here to announce two new additions to our camp. Welcome Gabriela, daughter of Apollo, and Andromeda, lieutenant Hunter and undetermined demigod.” Ana felt slightly uneasy being labeled as “undetermined.” It made her uneasy that her father didn’t care about her enough to claim her already. Then she saw Leo staring at her, but not directly at her. Above her head. In fact, everyone was. They were shocked, and Ana was puzzled. She looked up to see what could possibly be over her head that shocked everyone.

        “I’m sorry everyone, please welcome Gabriela, daughter of Apollo, and Andromeda, daughter of Poseidon.” Ana’s eyes widened and she gaped at the glowing trident over her.

                                                                        …

        “Oh, this isn’t good,” Thalia muttered.

        “What do you mean ‘isn’t’ good?” Ana replied. Before Thalia could respond, Chiron walked over towards them. Well, walked isn’t the right word for it. Trotted. He trotted over towards them with a grim expression.

        “Ana, could you please come with me into the Big House with me? I need to discuss a very important matter with you. Sorry, Thalia, I’ll have to steal your lieutenant from you for a quick discussion,” Chiron promised. Thalia nodded her head and walked back to her group of Hunters.

        “I’m sure you know of a demigod named Percy, correct?” Chiron began.

        “Yeah, but all I know is that he’s in college now,” Ana responded.

        “Well, he’s your half brother; he is a son of Poseidon.” Ana kept moving at a regular pace and wondered why this was such a big deal.

        “Um, Mister Chiron, I don’t understand why this is such a big deal. I have a half brother, ok then. He’s in college. What’s so amazing about that?” Chiron smiled at her and replied,

        “Child, he saved Olympus a number of times, and please just call me Chiron.”

        “Okay, Chiron, that is great, but I don’t know him anyway and he isn’t me,” she said. Chiron chuckled and that puzzled Ana even more. Her mysterious father finally decided to show himself and it turns out he’s famous and that’s just another way that people will look at her differently.

        “Andromeda, it is a controversy that you’ve been claimed,” he said with a serious look. “The Big Three, already have a difficult relationship and now their pact of having no children has been once again, broken.” So, that’s what Thalia was worried about. Suddenly, Ana realized they were cousins. Her number one idol just happened to be her cousin. Great.

        “So, I’m basically not even supposed to be born.”

        “In a matter of speaking, but I feel that everyone is born for a purpose, even mortals,” replied Chiron. Is this guy a philosopher? Or just a millennia old horse-man that knows a lot of stuff? The second option seemed more realistic. She was so flustered at what Chiron revealed, that she totally forgot why she was upset at the bonfire. Bonfire, fire, Leo, Gabby. Gabby! Does Gabby know? Where was she?

        “Sorry, Chiron, but I have to find Gabby,” Ana said running back to the flaming purple fire that stood at least twelve feet high. That means that everyone was excited, she assumed. When everyone saw her approach, they all halted in their snickers, and stared at her like she was from another planet. She searched the crowd for Gabby with no luck. Her heart sank and she walked slowly to Cabin Eight, longing to talk to her brother, thinking maybe he would understand. She crumpled onto her pillow, eventually falling asleep, experiencing another horrifying dream.

        She fell into nothingness, grabbing onto someone she dearly loved, not knowing who the other person was, or where they were falling. She could tell she loved that person very much, and would do anything to stop them from being harmed. She realized that she was falling into the most evil place of the universe. With her limited knowledge of Greek mythology, she had no idea what this place was. All she knew is that things were down there that don’t exist on Earth for a reason. They kept falling, then finally reached a lake, not an ordinary lake where she would always feel calm and happy. This liquid was pure sadness. It was misery. Every sad thing that could possibly happen was shown in the dark purples and blues of the “water.” She then heard a voice that was unfamiliar, but made her kick to the surface to get out of this place.

        A girl hugged tight and pleaded, “Tell me about New Rome,” the voice demanded. “What were your plans for us?”

        “New Rome…For us…?” Ana stuttered.

        “Yeah, Seaweed Brain. You said we could have a future there! Tell...”