After the cream puffs, Bec snuck me back to my room and I fell asleep with a bad feeling in my stomach. Not that the cream puffs were bad. Actually they were really good, apparently made with a pinch of ambrosia. Listen if you ever get a chance to eat Persephone’s food, eat as much as possible because it is amazing. The bad feeling was because of Zeus, curse, sister, and mother information I had just been given.

I was woken up by a bell. I tried to sleep still but someone busted into my room.

“It’s breakfast time! Also your stuff got here so me and Josie have two heavy boxes.” Johanna’s voice yelled.

I sat straight up and glared at her. “Child, I am trying to sleep.”

“Child? I’m only a year younger than you.”

“Sleep is good.”

“Breakfast buffets are better than sleep. And with your chub I doubt you don’t like food.” Johanna smiled sheepishly.

“Anyone ever tells you that you’re a horrible child?” I asked.

“Yes, every day. Anyone here who is older than me does. Sometimes even my own dad.”

“Good.”

Josephine appeared behind her twin with a large box. She eyed me like she was trying to figure out a puzzle. “Have you gotten zir up yet?”

“Halfway.” Johanna pointed at me, still wrapped in my blanket with my black hair puffy and all over.

The twins managed to drag me out of bed and I got dressed in some of my old clothes. Luckily they left the room for the second thing since I don’t wear a bra.

I was happy to have the familiar feeling of my old galaxy crop-top and black ripped jeans was comforting. As if for a second I was still the simple high schooler in Florence, South Carolina. Waiting to see my friends after summer since they were all busy this year.

I had three best friends. Mia Guadalupe, born on February twenty-ninth so we joked that she was only four years old. She loved musicals and was the mom friend. Then there was Jamie Air, who was going to college next year. He was a huge sci fi nerd and I loved him like a brother. Lastly there was Willow, a genderfluid badass, they were kind, smart, and Jamie’s datemate. They also were a wonderful mascot at our school. I wondered if I could call them or even if I could go back to South Carolina, I mean Mia was in Mexico with her grandfather and Jamie was on a road trip with Willow, so I knew they wouldn’t be calling me or texting me during the summer but if school started and I wasn’t there, they would get worried.

I didn’t even noticed I had started crying until I felt a tear land on my shirt. According to Megara, I was to die when I turned eighteen if I didn’t get rid of the stupid curse.

Otherwise Jamie, Mia and Willow would have to mourn me. I should start planning my will soon. Jamie would get all my books, Mia would get my clothes, and Willow would get my money.

“You almost done?” Johanna’s voice yelled.

“Yeah.” I said. I wiped my tears away and forced a small smile before opening the door.

The cafeteria was more full than it was last night. There was probably close to sixty demigods in there for breakfast.

“Over there is Allen Raye. Along with him are his siblings,” Josephine said. I looked over to where she was looking. I had hoped to see Mindy. I didn’t. There was three boys and two girls. But one girl was white and the other was very small and looked about seven. So she wasn’t there.

“The boy with albinism is Zeus Deak. Everyone calls him Z. Black guy is Allen. Indian guy is Zeke Ahuja. We hang out with him during Hindu holidays if he can't make it home. White girl is Grace Cullen. And then the tiny black girl is Robin, no one knows her last name. They always eat breakfast together. Most siblings do. It’s like a family meeting,” Johanna said.

“Really?” I asked. I didn’t want to eat alone or with Megara.

“Yeah… you know us Apollo kids are always friendly plus I should keep an eye on you with the fainting that happened yesterday,” Johanna said.

I opened my mouth to respond before I saw Bec waving at me. They were sitting alone. “Actually, I’m fine. See y’all later,” I said to the twins.

“Okay?” Johanna stared at me. I walked away before the two of them tried to get me to come with them. Sure, they were nice but Bec, well after last night I knew I would learn more if I hanged around them.

“Hi.” I said to Bec as soon as I reached them.

“Morning. How did you sleep?” Bec asked.

“Fine. You?”

“As good as usually. What did you dream about?”

“I don’t remember.”

“You don’t?” Bec looked surprised.

“Nope, never do.”

“Strange. Gods send messages through dreams. Even if it’s just a simple hello. Demigods always remember their dreams. Maybe someone blocked that for you since, you know, Zeus hates your guts.” Bec frowned.

“Can we not talk about that?”

“Okay. So my sister, Kore called me a while ago. Said her and Mindy will be back around breakfast.” Bec smiled slightly.

“Where are they anyway?” I was curious as to where they went to.

“They were asked to save a demigod. I don’t know the details but a demigod and a mortal got trapped in a small labyrinth,” Bec said.

“Oh. So what is Mindy like?”

“She likes books, cooking, dancing and is really nice. She stands up to bullies at the nearby mortal school we go to. Me and Kore don’t have it easy, neither does she but no one messes with her since all the teachers love her. She’s brave and would probably give up everything to protect those she cares about, which is pretty much every demigod here. Everyone likes her.” Bec smiled more, and without any hint of annoyance.

“You seem to like her alot.” I raised an eyebrow.

“Not like that, she’s like a sister to me. Plus I have a something with a person. It's hard to explain but I really like this person. But yeah, no way do I see Mindy as anything other than a sister.” Bec blushed.

“Okay, cool. Let’s get some food,” I said as I pulled Bec towards the buffet.

After getting our food me and Bec sat down at a table that was far away from the other tables.

“When Mindy and Kore get here, this is a good place to talk about things.”

“Okay… does Mindy know about certain things?” I asked. I didn't want to say it.

“Yes. She hates her father. She was happy when Hera wanted her to be her champion.” Bec’s face darkened.

“Sorry. I just didn’t know. I didn’t want to.”

“It’s alright. Trust me, some things are hard but you know she remembers you. Her and Kore told me about you, her sis- sibling, from when you guys were little kids. She told me the two of you use to play dress up with your mother’s old clothes.”

“Really? I wish- I wish I could remember. I only had Maricia as family growing up.” I frowned. I wanted to remember. Hot tears formed in my eyes.

“Shit. Sorry. That was probably rude. Gods, you’re tearing up. Gross.”

“It’s alright. I just- it's a lot. New sisters. Demigods. Dying. A dead birth mother.” I said as I wiped tears from my eyes.

“My mother’s dead too if that makes you feel better.” Bec chuckled. My mind went back to Melinoe. Was that woman she turned into Bec's mom?

“That’s awful. That doesn’t make me feel better, that makes me feel bad for you,” I said.

“It was five years ago, I don’t need people feeling bad for me. Dead mom club?” Bec smirked.

“Sure, dead mom club.” I smiled.

“See, it’s not sad if you joke about it.”

“Jeez, well aren’t you a walking Tumblr post.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I opened my mouth to respond but then I heard people yelling. I turned around to see a goth Muslim girl and a girl who looked a bit like me. We didn’t look the same, but I could see similar features. Same nose. Same brown eyes. Same smile. She was probably Mindy. The other girl, Kore most likely, had a large burn across the left side of her face. It looked old. I could guess why Bec had said they had a hard time at school. Between Bec’s anti social attitude, Kore’s burn, and their religion, I doubted many people were very kind to them.

People were asking questions and shouting. Everyone wanted to know what happened.

A sharp whistle cut through all the noise. I looked towards the source of the sound, a young boy was standing on top of the table the Ravi twins were sitting at.

“Let them eat breakfast before you guys go bugging them!” He yelled.

Mindy yelled a thank you before walking towards me. No, towards Bec. No… towards me. She didn’t even know me.

Mindy’s face has a wide smile on it. And her eyes were looking right at me. She remember me after all. She saw me as her lost sibling. A child I can’t remember being. Because of her father. Who she hated.

“Pamela, I can’t believe it! You were dead! Wait, Bec you didn’t raise the dead did you? What is the one thing me and Kore tell you not to do when we are on a mission?” Mindy said as soon as she and Kore reached the table. I felt a little sick as soon as she said my deadname. Nobody had called me Pamela in years unless they were a bigot. But Mindy didn’t know any better.

“Not to raise the dead, and I didn’t. Zir death was faked,” Bec said.

“Good, well not good but whatever. I missed you!” Mindy yelled as she hugged me. She seemed to be a little taller than me.

Some people looked over at us. Especially the Zeus kids. Some people whispered to each other.

“I wish I could say the same, I don’t remember. I’m sorry,” I said.

“That’s okay. That’s okay,” Mindy said, her voice was shaky.

“I know it’s not. And it’s Bobbie these days, ze and zir pronouns,” I said.

Mindy looked at me and nodded.

“I’m so happy to see you again! We were almost five went you disappeared. I cried for days when my asshole of a father told me you were dead.”

“Bec told me about how we played dress up as kids. Maybe you can tell me more about our past,” I said.

“Yeah, of course. I can’t believe you’re alive. I thought I lost you, my twin. Sorta twin. Whatever. I missed you!” Mindy hugged me again.

“So how was the mission?” Bec asked.

“It was good. The demigod was a guy named Jamie, he and his datemate, I forget their name, were on some road trip when they got trapped in a labyrinth,” Mindy said. Jamie? Datemate on a road trip? Weird. It made me think of my friends.

“Both of them are alive?” Bec asked that like demigods have been trapped in labyrinths before and die in there.

“Yup, the mortal took everything well. They punched a monster in the groin. Tough cookie and they were so protective over their boyfriend, it was cute,” Mindy said while Kore just smiled and nodded.

“Good. Now we need to talk about some stuff,” Bec said flatly.

“Yes, I assume that would be wise,” Mindy said. Kore nodded. Did she not talk? Was she mute? Had social anxiety? Taken a vow of silence? Was just non-vocal? Deaf? She seemed to hear fine.

I noticed they all were looking at me. “Huh? Oh, yeah we should talk about stuff.”

Mindy frowned before she spoke, “I know of the curse and the cure. I’ve asked and begged my father to undo it. He refused, no matter what I offered or what I threatened. I would try to get Allen to help but he hates Demeter for killing his mom so no luck there. Hades, Allen doesn't even think that Zeus could put such a cruel curse on innocents for no reason. I don’t kn-”

A scream pierced through the air. I looked towards the source. At the front doors stood a person I know well. Willow. Their eyes were glowing gold.

“The mortal?” Mindy questioned no one specifically. “Willow?” I whispered.

Willow screamed again and clawed at their eyes, then they stood limply, like a puppet.

They spoke in a graveling voice,

“Find the lost goddess

Sibling bonds to break the chains

The mark burns the home

Free the powerless

The knife will destroy the rule

Four go, one will die.”

And Willow fainted. Golden smoke swirled around them. I was to horrified to say anything.

Mindy rose to her feet. “It appears me and Kore accidently found an Oracle.”

No one spoke. No one even moved.

A man formed above Willow. Apollo? He looked different, now much paler with white hair, but still had the same smile and golden eyes.

“That is correct, Ms. Flora,” He said. Still no one spoke.

“Now, now. This is not a big deal. Johanna, Zander, my little healers. Would you two take what’s their name to the hospital. Make sure they are okay,” Apollo said.

Johanna and the boy who had whistled made their way to Willow.

“Well then, everyone else go back to your breakfast. It’s almost time for the gym. Eat a big breakfast because Ares has a surprise for you.” Apollo looked at me and Mindy before disappearing.

“Well, I’m going to get food. Bec do you want me to get you something to drink?” Mindy asked.

Bec just nodded.

“Kore, do you want something to drink?” Mindy asked.

Kore shook her head. Then she raised her hands and signed the words “No food. No drinks. Fasting again.” Mindy nodded and walked away. I wondered why she was fasting. Then I realized. I was so stupid. It was Ramadan.

“Mama’s making date cookies for after sunset,” Bec said.

Kore smiled. “Good. I like her food. Tell me about cutie here,” She said with fast fingers and a playful look in her eye.

I choked on my eggs a little. Bec looked at me. “Do you know ASL?”

“Yeah. I learned it when I was really young. Same with Spanish, morse code, French, Greek, Arabic, Chinese, BSL, and FSL,” I said. Macaria always wanted me to be well rounded. I learned languages and took dance classes on tip of cheerleading, weekly trips to the library, and I was the junior secretary for my school’s student body government. It was a lot but she always asked if I was okay, if it all was too much, if I needed to take a break.

“Cool, most people can’t,” Bec said.

Kore nodded. I noticed she was blushing slightly. I guess it’s because she called me a cutie.

“Well anyway, thanks for calling me a cutie. You’re sorta cute too. In a scary gothic, punk rock way but still,” I said.

“Thank you. So what you do for fun? Friends back home?” Kore asked.

“Gardening- “Of course, the child of Demeter likes to garden.” Bec interrupted me.

Kore shot them a look.

“My aunt taught me to do it. Anyway, I also like cheerleading and reading.” I finished.

“Cool.” Kore signed.

“Yeah. As for friends, I have a friend named Mia and well you’ve meet Jamie and Willow.”

“The people from the mission?” Kore’s fingers and Bec’s lips almost moved at the same time.

“Yup, Jamie is one of my best friends and Willow is also a friend,” I said. I had a million questions I wanted to ask about Willow being an oracle. But I knew I shouldn’t.

“After breakfast you go see them.” Kore said, smiling brightly.

“That sounds great.” I smiled. I wanted to make sure Willow and Jamie were okay.