Skyler's pov:
I raised my brow at Athena.
What was she getting at?
"Show him during his 'episodes'." Athena said.
"Do I have to?" I ask.
I don't like to see it. My memory reminds me of it more than enough. I don't need to see it on a huge screen like... Whatever it is in here.
"You don't have to do anything Skyler. I just want to help you understand." Athena replies.
She seems to have picked up on my feelings as she leaves her meditative position and puts a hand on my lower arm.
I take a deep breath. I know she's only trying to help. But the glowing in his eyes. I still have nightmares from it. I just can't show it to her.
Wait...
Glowing eyes...
Changing voices...
Changing moods...
Realization must've dawned on my face because Athena shows an encouraging smile.
"You know." She states the obvious.
"Did my dad carry a god in him as well?" I ask.
Athena frowns. She frowns? Since when? Usually her face is like a mask. No emotion and no movement.
"No. I don't think so. No God would match your description. Not even Ares would be like that."
"Then... Who was inside him?"
"I don't know Skyler. I'd have to see it to determine it." Athena gives my wrist a little squeeze.
The universal sign for encouragement. Maybe I should show her. But... It's just so... Scary. It's an understatement really.
I sigh.
"Alright I'll show you, but... Do you have you're... Urm what's it called here?" I ask, trying to think of the word.
"My what? You'll have to be a little more specific than that my dear." Athena said.
"You're... Magic cloak thingy."
"You mean Aegis?" She asks.
It seems I must've hit a nerve there. Her eyes tell me it sent a sting through her body, but the rest of her seems unbothered.
"Yeah that one. Do you have it here?" I continue.
"Of course. Everything and anything is here. Whatever you can imagine exists." Athena says.
"Can I have it please? For now? The real one?"
"Sure. But why?" She asks, summoning the cloak and handing it over.
It's made of a couple layers of animal furs. It sort of tickles me, but I love how soft it feels. As soon as it's wrapped around my shoulders I feel safe and invincible.
"It's like a shield right? Nothing can pierce it?"
Athena nods.
"Good. I just want to feel safe when I'm going to go through this again." I say.
For a moment a dumbstruck expression passes on her face. As quick as it came it dissappears again.
Then Athena gets up and sits down next to me. I raise a brow, which she ignores just fine. When she's comfortable she gives me a small nod and I let the memory play.
Flashback:
A young Skyler is wathing tv. Suddenly she hears her parents shouting from the kitchen. That's odd... Her parents never fight. Or at least not like this.
She walks up to the kitchen door and pushes it open, just far enough for her to peak through.
"What is going on with you?!" Mom yells.
"Nothing. Can't you just understand that I don't care for a stupid hockey match?!" Dad yells back, but it's not his voice.
Young Skyler would recognize it everywhere, that's how she knows this is not how her father usually sounds. There is a dangerous, dirty, yellow glow in her father's eyes. Since when is that a thing?
Her heart sings as her father's words sink in.
"Since when?! You live and breath your daughter! Why would you not care for her game?!" Mom continues.
"I don't have to take this." Dad groweled.
"Oh I believe you do. You've been acting weird. You ignore Skyler when she tells you about her day and you ignore me!"
That's when it happens. That one strike. The one that would change Skyler's life forever. Dad smacks mom across the cheek. The sound of a hand touching a cheek with force pierces in Skyler's ears as tears start rolling over her cheeks.
"Has it ever crossed you're mind that there is a reason for that?!"
The pain and hurt settle deep into young skyler's heart.
Skyler's pov, present:
I hadn't noticed it until the vision stopped, but I found myself wrapped in Athena's arms and tears rolled over my cheeks.
"That's only the first of many moments like those." I somehow managed to say.
Athena remained silent and slowly rubbed my back as she held me. One of the perks of us being split I guess. A better way for her to comfort me. Although I must say I'm kind of surprised. I didn't really take Athena for the hugging type.
"So do you know who my father hosted?" I say after a while.
Athena let go and stood up. Then she helped me up.
"I do." Was all she said.
"Who?" I ask.
"One I hoped I wouldn't see in a couple of centuries, but I suppose the fates have never been kind to me." The goddess in front of me sighed.
"Really Athena? You're going to have me fishing for the answer?"
My annoyance was bubbling up. Now really wasn't the time to be mystrious. I wanted to know who screwed up my family and my life with it.
"Of course not. The one you're father hosted is as I suspected no god. He's a giant. The giant Enceladus..." Athena pauzed.
"And?" I push her, knowing there is something else.
"Enceladus is the giant that was meant to destroy me." She says as her grey eyes darkened.