The next day, when I wake up, alone and sleep-deprived in the Hades cabin, it all comes crashing back to me.

After the symbols had faded away, a buzzing noise spread quickly around the crowd. Curious whispers mixed with angry hisses, phrases mushed together like "Big Three" "Blessing" and "Impossible".

Sera, not looking quite as happy anymore, the flag forgotten fluttering to the ground, pushes through the crowd to get to me. "Well? She's been claimed! Don't we have a game to celebrate?"

Jay clears his throat. "She's right. Come on, guys." The crowd slowly disperses, sending glances back at me until it's just Chiron, Sera and I standing here.

Chiron sighs. "Miss Snow... Sera will help you move your things to Hades Cabin."

"Now?" I ask quietly. My sword hangs uselessly by my side. I don't feel strong, confident, or happy anymore. Whatever Sera had told me beforehand, I wasn't prepared for this.

Chiron grimaces. "I'm sorry, my dear."

"And what does the blessing of Khione mean, Chiron?" Sera demands, putting an arm around my shoulder.

Chiron's tail flicks uncomfortably. "A... very rare thing, indeed... but, occasionally, the goddess Khione decides to... er... bless a child of a major god who is destined for a... ah... troublesome... life. She enjoys making hardships harder."

Sera's grip on my shoulder tightens. "Wait. So this... blessing... isn't even a proper gift? Because what you're describin' right here sounds more like a stinkin' curse."

I shudder. "Is that why my nightmares are so... vivid? And why I'm covered in that awful ice every night?"

Chiron winces. "Quite probably, yes. All documented blessings have been different, depending on who the godly parent is. If there is any downside to your parent, the blessing magnifies it."

"Like how?" Sera asks.

Chiron considers it. "I knew a daughter of Aphrodite whose blessing made her a magnet of attraction. She couldn't go anywhere without being mobbed by mortals. You probably know her name, she's quite famous these days."

"Who?" I ask.

"Selena Gomez." Chiron says calmly. My mind whirls at the thought of my childhood TV show star being a demigod, but Chiron looks perfectly at ease at that tidbit.

"So... it just makes her have bad nightmares?" Sera asks slowly.

"Not just bad. Real." Chiron corrects. "Your dreams, Miss Snow, how vivid would you say they are?"

"Very."

"Precisely. If I'm not mistaken, your blessing draws every monster your way, ten times stronger than an average demigod's aura would. So strong that, even with your father's... ah... repulsive aura pushing them away, they're able to slip through into your dreams."

"Then how come she isn't dead yet? No offense, Ells." Sera says.

"Because of the blessing." Chiron explains. "It pulls them to her, only to prolong her fear, making it last as long as possible."

"That... sucks." Sera sums up wisely.

Chiron nods.

"Is that all?" I ask tiredly.

"Is there anything else you'll be able to guess at? Any powers you might've noticed?" Chiron prods gently.

I start to shake my head, then slowly nod. "The day I came to Camp... I... did something weird. I was running, and then I passed out. When I woke up, I think it was hours later. And it wasn't the same place I remember passing out. Different trees."

"Shadow-travel." Sera says in awe. "You shadow-traveled!"

"What's---"

"The ability to travel through the shadows, to practically anywhere your limits will allow." Chiron looks troubled. "Perhaps if Mr. di Angelo returns, he can help teach you. I can't imagine anyone else being able to."

"What about the blessing?" I ask. "Is it going to get worse?"

"Well..." Chiron's tail flicks. "In past cases, rare cases, mind you, the blessing has manifested physically. I knew a son of Apollo who had such control over it that he needed no weapon, as he created his bows and arrows out of ice on the spot."

"Cooool." Sera breathes. Then she coughs. "Uh, no pun intended."

I stare down at my hands, remembering the frozen lunchbox and ice appearing on my fists the other day. "So---"

"Miss Snow, I insist you start making your way toward your cabin." Chiron interrupts. "I know this is confusing, and you must have questions, but you need a good night's rest. After all, tomorrow is the day that Hera is either rescued, or..."

"Or Jason, Piper, and Leo's quest fails." I sigh, feeling a bit of worry for the three teens. I wonder if they're doing well?

Sera nods and pulls me away, leaving a troubled-looking Chiron behind us. "Welp, ya got claimed."

"Yeah." I say gloomily.

"C'mon." She pulls me toward Athena cabin.

"Sera, that's not Hades."

"I'm well aware of that." Sera snaps. "D'you want your knife or not?"

"Oh!" I say in surprise. "Yeah. I guess so."

"Good. I'd like to see what you can do with a proper weapon." Sera says, pulling me inside the weapons shed and giving me what I'm assuming she sees as a 'gentle' shove toward the knife. To my relief, it's still leaning against the wall, sheathed in it's dusty scabbard. I grab it easily, feeling it vibrate happily in my hand.

I smile, belting it around my waist and turning to Sera. "You ready to go?" She asks me, looking amused.

"Yep." I say. We exit, And I notice that the few campers who are still out are looking at the knife as though it's a feral wolf with foam in it's mouth.

Sera dropped me off at the Hades cabin, which is so dark inside I almost have a headache trying to decipher things. I light a few weak torches, and Sera comes back with my few belongings.

"Do I really have to stay in here?" I ask quietly, eyeing the coffin-looking beds.

Sera nods. "Sorry, gotta stay by parent."

"I miss Hermes cabin." I sigh sadly, sitting on it. It's bloodred sheets are freezing, and covered in dust.

Sera laughs. "You'll get used to this. Besides, all ya gotta do is sleep in here."

"I wish I was Ares, with you." I complain.

"So do I, Ellie. But, ya can't really change your parent." She glances outside, and scowls. "I gotta get back to my cabin. You okay?"

"Yep." She turns to leave, hesitates, then quickly grabs me in a hug. "Whatever happens tomorrow, ignore it. They're stupid, biased morons. Okay?"

"Um. Okay." I say, confused, then she lets go of me and stomps out without another word.

As I recall last night, a loud crashing noise shatters the silence, and glass comes flying from a broken window towards me. I yelp in surprise, throwing my hands up. The temperature drops, somehow, even lower, as frost shoots from my palm, freezing the glass mid-air, along with what looks like a brick with a note tied to it.

Shaking slightly, I climb out of bed and tread carefully over to the sculpture I've created. Thinking back to what Chiron said, I shudder. I certainly didn't take long to start using it, did I?

Slowly, I reach out and touch the ice. The moment my finger makes contact, it all melts away swiftly, dropping pieces of glass and the brick onto the floor harmlessly. After sweeping away the glass, I sit on my bed and untie the note.

I am sorry for breaking your window. But I could not get close enough without drawing suspicion to myself. I doubt it is a secret to you that the camp does not know what to think of you, daughter of Hades. Before you, Hades was the only one who had not broken his oath. And now it appears he has, and I have no doubt that your life will not be easy.

I am well-known for being slightly crazy. Reaching out to you would solidify that, and I have seen that I will need my reputation to be as clean as possible in the future. So I hired the Stolls to do this instead. They enjoy any prank, so they might come and ask you later if you enjoyed it. I'd advise saying yes, otherwise they'll do a worse one in the future.

Here is the point to this---I have seen a glimpse into your future, Elicia. A small one, but enough to know this--- it is imperative you learn to control both your shadows and your ice. A battle is coming, and you play a part.

One more thing--- Trust your instincts. Do not listen to what others tell you is right and wrong. What is right for them might not be right for you.

I hope what I have seen is what will happen.

Kalia, daughter of Apollo

______________________________________

First thing--- I'm curious--- Yanny or Laurel? 

Second--- quarantine is very helpful. It's given me a LOT of time, and I have the first few chapters of the continuation of regular Ellie--- "Serene and Janessa" ready. I'm debating on whether to post it or not, though, since I'm posting a couple different things already. 

Do the people who read original Ellie want to see it? Or should I just leave it until I'm done with this? Idk.