The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, casting a golden glow on the city streets as Sally sat at the kitchen table, sipping her morning coffee. A lot of years had passed since she first held Cordelia in her arms, and the weight of her past as Amphitrite had always lingered in the background. Now, with Cordelia fifteen years old, the truth of her heritage loomed larger than ever.
Cordelia was no longer the little girl Sally had tried to protect. She was growing stronger and more curious with each passing day. Her powers were becoming harder to conceal, and Sally could sense that the time had come to let her daughter embrace her destiny. The world outside was growing more dangerous for someone like Cordelia—someone tied to an ancient prophecy that was supposed to come to fruition when she turned twenty-one.
As she stared into her coffee cup, a light knock at the door startled her. It was far too early for visitors, but the rhythmic, deliberate sound of the knock filled her with a sense of foreboding.
She rose from the table and opened the door to find Chiron standing on the threshold, his expression grave. The centaur had taken on the guise of a simple man in a wheelchair, as he often did when traveling through the mortal world.
"Chiron?" Sally's voice wavered as she stepped aside to let him in. "What are you doing here?"
Chiron wheeled himself into the apartment, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Sally. "I came as soon as I could. The Fates... they've spoken. It's time for Cordelia to know the truth."
Sally felt her heart drop. She had known this moment was coming, but it still felt too soon. Cordelia may have been fifteen, but how could she possibly be ready to face the destiny that awaited her?
Chiron's eyes softened as if he could read the conflict in Sally's mind. "She's stronger than you think, Sally. And she won't be alone. She has Tyson, and soon she will meet others who will help her along the way. But the prophecy... it is already in motion. We cannot wait any longer."
Sally swallowed hard, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. "Does she have to leave? Now?"
Chiron hesitated, then nodded. "She must come to Camp Half-Blood. The camp will protect her, and there she can begin to learn about her powers. You know as well as I do that she won't be safe here for much longer."
Sally's grip tightened on the back of the chair she had been holding. She had always known that Cordelia was special, but the thought of sending her daughter into a world filled with danger and ancient enemies made her feel sick to her stomach.
"She's just a child," Sally whispered, her voice trembling.
"She is the child of prophecy," Chiron said gently. "The prophecy speaks of a hero born of the sea and destined to rise in the battle against the Titans. Cordelia is that hero, Sally. She is the one who will unite the worlds of gods and mortals when she turns twenty-one."
Sally took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had heard the prophecy before, but now, knowing that her own daughter was at the center of it, the weight of those words felt heavier than ever.
"Let me tell her," Sally finally said. "She deserves to hear it from me."
Later That Day
Cordelia sat on her bed, her legs crossed and her brow furrowed as she watched her mother pace back and forth across the room. Sally had been acting strange all day, and now, with the sun starting to set outside, the tension in the air was palpable.
"Mom, what's going on?" Cordelia asked, her voice full of concern. "You're freaking me out."
Sally stopped pacing and turned to face her daughter. Her heart ached as she looked at Cordelia—so full of life, so full of potential, and yet so blissfully unaware of the storm that was about to engulf her.
"There's something you need to know, Cordelia," Sally began, her voice soft but steady. "Something I should have told you a long time ago."
Cordelia tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "What is it?"
Sally sat down on the edge of the bed, taking her daughter's hands in hers. "You're special, Cordelia. You're not just an ordinary girl."
Cordelia frowned, her confusion deepening. "What do you mean?"
Sally took a deep breath, steadying herself for what she had to say next. "Your father... your real father... is Poseidon, the god of the sea."
Cordelia's eyes widened, and she pulled her hands away, shaking her head in disbelief. "What? No, that can't be true. Poseidon? The god of the sea? Mom, what are you talking about?"
"It's true," Sally said, her voice thick with emotion. "And there's more. I'm not just Sally Jackson. I'm Amphitrite, Poseidon's wife, the Queen of the Sea. I was reborn as a mortal so that I could give birth to you. You're a demigod, Cordelia."
Cordelia's mind was spinning. She could barely process the words her mother was saying. Poseidon? Amphitrite? Demigod? It all sounded like something out of a storybook, not her life.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Cordelia asked, her voice trembling.
"I wanted to protect you," Sally said, tears welling in her eyes. "I wanted you to have a normal childhood, to live in the mortal world without the burden of knowing who you are. But now... now it's time for you to know the truth."
Cordelia shook her head, disbelief still etched on her face. "So... I'm supposed to be some kind of hero? Is that what this is about?"
Sally nodded, her heart breaking for her daughter. "There's a prophecy, Cordelia. A prophecy that says you're destined to play a pivotal role in the battle between the gods and the Titans when you turn twenty-one. You have powers, abilities that you'll begin to discover soon. But you can't do it alone. You need to go to a place called Camp Half-Blood, where others like you will help you learn how to control your powers."
Cordelia sat in stunned silence for a moment, trying to absorb everything she had just learned. "What about Tyson? Is he?"
Sally nodded. "Yes, Tyson is also your brother. But his powers are different. He's a Cyclops, and he'll have his own path to follow."
Cordelia's heart pounded in her chest as she tried to process the weight of everything her mother had just revealed. Her life, her identity, everything she had ever known it was all changing in an instant.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this," Cordelia whispered.
Sally reached out, gently brushing her daughter's hair away from her face. "You're stronger than you know, Cordelia. And no matter what happens, I'll always be here for you.
As the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, Cordelia knew that her life would never be the same again.
The revelation of her true heritage hit Cordelia hard, but she didn't have time to dwell on it for long. As soon as the conversation with her mother ended, she knew her next steps. She had to pack. She was leaving for Camp Half-Blood, a place where demigods like her could learn to control their powers and train for the battles that awaited them.
She stood in her room, looking at her open suitcase on the bed, wondering where to even begin. Her gaze wandered to the corner where her two sea turtles, Bubbles and Flame, were swimming in their tank. She couldn't leave them behind. Bubbles had been a gift from her father, Poseidon, years ago, and Cordelia always felt there was something special about her. Flame, on the other hand, was a turtle she had found on the beach during a walk with Bubbles. The moment they met, Bubbles seemed to take a liking to him, and Cordelia couldn't resist bringing him home. His shell had a unique marking—an almost perfect symbol of the sun.
Over the years, Cordelia had even heard them talk, though she dismissed it as her imagination. Now, after everything she had learned about herself, she wasn't so sure. The ocean, the water, it had always been her second home, and Bubbles and Flame had become like family to her.
She opened a small travel carrier for them, gently placing Bubbles and Flame inside. "You're coming with me," she whispered, running her fingers over their shells. Bubbles nuzzled her hand affectionately, while Flame flicked his tail, a small spark of sunlight reflecting off his shell.
As Cordelia continued packing, there was a knock at her door. "Cordelia, can I come in?" her mom, Sally, called from the other side.
"Yeah, come in," Cordelia replied, zipping up her suitcase.
Sally entered, holding a small silver pendant in her hand. "I want you to have this," she said, her voice soft.
Cordelia looked at the pendant with curiosity. It was simple yet beautiful, a small ocean-blue stone set in silver. "What is it?" she asked, taking it from her mother's hand.
"It's more than just a pendant," Sally explained. "It can change form. When you press the stone, it becomes either a pen or a trident—whichever you need at the moment."
Cordelia blinked, impressed. "That's amazing."
"It's from your father," Sally added, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "He wanted to make sure you had a way to protect yourself, no matter what."
Cordelia slipped the pendant around her neck, the weight of the gift settling against her chest. "Thank you, Mom."
Sally smiled, though the sadness never left her eyes. "I'm proud of you, Cordelia. More than you'll ever know."
A little while later, Cordelia was nearly done packing when her half-brother, Tyson, appeared in the doorway, holding something wrapped in cloth. His large, Cyclopean form was gentle as he approached her, a soft grin on his face.
"Tyson made you something," he said, unwrapping the bundle to reveal a long, flowing scarf made of bronze steel threads.
Cordelia took it, her fingers running over the silky, yet durable, fabric. It shimmered in the light, much stronger than it appeared. "Tyson, this is beautiful," she said, smiling at him.
Tyson beamed with pride. "It's very strong. Bronze steel. Can protect you in battle."
Cordelia nodded, grateful for the thoughtful gift. "Thank you. I've been practicing with silk for a while now. I got into it after watching that Chinese drama about warriors using fabric as weapons. I never thought I'd actually be able to use it like this."
Tyson's single eye twinkled. "You will be best warrior. Better than the people on TV!"
Cordelia chuckled, tying the scarf around her waist. It felt light, almost like it was made for her. She gave Tyson a big hug. "I'll miss you, Tyson."
"Tyson will miss you too," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
As Cordelia prepared for her journey to Camp Half-Blood, a momentous conversation unfolded among the Olympian gods in the grand halls of Olympus. A sense of urgency filled the air as they gathered to discuss the implications of the recent revelations.
Zeus, seated on his imposing throne, looked gravely at his fellow gods. "It appears that Poseidon's daughter, Cordelia, is more than just a demigod; she is destined for greatness. The Fates have spoken of her prophecy."
Hades leaned forward, his dark eyes sharp. "The reincarnation of Amphitrite has been a matter of speculation for years. It seems she has returned to fulfill her role as a mother and a goddess once more."
Apollo, standing tall, added, "I've been having dreams about her. Vivid dreams where we're connected, as if our fates are intertwined. It feels like there's something powerful between us."
A murmur of surprise rippled through the assembly. Ares crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "So, it's true. The three of us have watched our wives reincarnate over the years, each time to have children. We never thought they would return in such a significant way."
"Exactly," Poseidon agreed, his voice steady. "Amphitrite was not merely lost to the tides of time; she was destined to return and bear children who would continue our legacy."
Athena, ever the strategist, spoke up. "If Cordelia is to become a hero, she must be trained and protected. We cannot let her face the challenges ahead without support."
In that moment, Zeus turned his attention to the wives. "We need to talk to them about their children and the roles they play in these prophecies. Their knowledge will be crucial."
Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, Cordelia felt a strange sensation wash over her, as if the air were thick with destiny. Unbeknownst to her, the gods were aligning their fates around her, each one eager to play a role in the unfolding story.
As Cordelia continued to pack, she caught a glimpse of her mother, deep in thought. "Mom," she called out, "what are the other gods saying about me?"
Sally looked up, a flicker of concern in her eyes. "They're learning about you, Cordelia. Your connection to Poseidon has not gone unnoticed, and there are discussions happening in Olympus."
Cordelia's heart raced at the thought of the gods talking about her. "What do you mean?"
"Your father and the others realize the significance of your birth, the prophecy tied to you," Sally explained. "They've acknowledged that your life will be intertwined with the fate of both gods and mortals."
"And Apollo?" Cordelia asked, recalling the dreams she had heard about.
"He's been having dreams of you," Sally replied, a hint of a smile breaking through her worried expression. "It's not just a matter of power; there's a bond between you two that seems to transcend time."
Cordelia felt a flutter in her chest at the thought. The idea of being connected to someone as powerful and vibrant as Apollo was both thrilling and daunting. "So I'm supposed to be this hero, with Apollo at my side?"
"Yes," Sally affirmed. "But remember, being a hero comes with sacrifices. You will need to embrace who you are and accept the challenges that lie ahead."
Cordelia nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. She was stepping into a world filled with potential danger but also the promise of adventure. As she zipped up her suitcase, she felt a sense of clarity. This was her journey, her destiny, and she would face it head-on
With one last look around her room, she turned to Grover, who was trying to contain his excitement. "Are you ready for this, Grover?"
"Born ready!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. "Let's hit the road!"
As they stepped out into the world, Cordelia felt the tides of fate shift beneath her feet, and she knew that this was only the beginning of a much larger story—a story that would weave together the lives of gods and mortals, prophecies, and untold adventures.