Chapter Text
Cordelia is overwhelmed to many things are happening
Someone brought up the old Oracle and that fact is what finally made it click that in 2 years she’ll replace her. Camp was filled with mixed reactions: some concern, others fear, happy the mummy was going to leave, and despite the warning they were given some people went to Cordelia asking for a Prophecy.
The fact Luke's taken it upon himself to tell everyone about his mother doesn’t help her situation, he went to Cordelia multiple times to warn and beg her not to do it.
The whole situation since Apollo and the God Queen came to camp has been tiring and the only good thing that came out of that is everyone’s stopped ignoring all the youngest.
While Cordelia was more focused on hiding from all the other campers, Annabeth was allowed to join the debate team, people started sparring with Clarisse, and the twins have started helping set up the theater for plays so Cordelia is alone more and keeps getting ambushed by different people.
She keeps needing to defend her cave from curious campers, reminding people that no she can’t give prophecies, avoiding Luke, avoiding other concerned campers, avoiding the Owl cabin who want to know more and avoiding the Apollo cabin.
The last group wasn’t bad at first but now they’re so worried and suffocating, they seemed to adopt her as an honorary little sister but everything Luke's been saying has gotten to them and a week ago stories of Seers and Oracle were spread so it’s amped up.
It’s like they're worried she’s going to collapse and start speaking backwards or something.
All these things delayed her apology to Annabeth who’s just being stubborn at this point refusing to accept her apology, and Cordelia knows Annabeth has forgiven her because sometimes they talk and it’s normal or Annabeth comes up to her and talks about something that she learned.
But then Annabeth freezes, becomes mad again and stomps off face red, it would be funny if it wasn’t so annoying but the others think it’s hilarious.
Cordelia ended up finding an unexpected ally in Mr. D who allowed her to hang out with him; few are brave enough to mess with Mr. D because he’s a God.
It’s crazy to think that will change in less than a decade.
But currently she is hiding from Luke who still thinks he can “save” her and Cordelia is this close to snapping and moving back into the apartment Apollo got her. She doesn’t want to leave camp but she will wait until next summer if that’s what it takes for everyone to calm down.
She groaned and put her head in her hands. She misses Castor and Pollux and Clarisse and Olivia and Jordan and just everyone who’s not annoying.
“Are your cards that awful?” A voice snaps her out of her thoughts and she looks up at Mr. D “uh I fold?” He smirks and puts down his cards, a royal flush, beating the other hands at the table.
Cordelia just stares blankly and Mr. D huffs “scam brats leave us” he demands staring Cordelia down while 2 satyrs and demigod quickly leave.
“What’s the problem now?” He asks and Cordelia looks away and mumbles “nothing” and he snorts “you’ve been staring into the distance while frowning more” he says swallowing his comment.
Cordelia crosses her arms “I was thinking of leaving camp early and coming back next summer” Mr.D frowns “are you sure?” he says in a weird tone.
Cordelia looks at him confused “I thought you’d be relieved to deal with one less brat?” She says. Mr.D starts gathering the cards “you aren’t the average brat” he explains “you're my brothers, that means if you get hurt or die he’ll be mad at me for letting you leave.”
Mr.D hits the cards against the table making it a solid deck “I won’t die” Cordelia says and Mr.D snorts again “you’re 5, can’t a sword, don’t know how to wield a dagger” Cordelia frowns and stilts straighter.
Mr.D puts up his hand “and don’t say you can fight, you can’t” she opens his mouth but Mr.D interrupts “and don’t say mommy or daddy love you and’ll protect you,” Mr.D stares Cordelia in the eyes “they’re mortal, nothing compared to a monster, if they try they’ll be ripped to shreds.”
Cordelia crosses her arms and focuses on Mr.D’s hands, shuffling the deck, and mumbles “I was gonna say ‘pollo go- me a apartment”
Mr.D stops shuffling.
”What” he says flatly and she looks up definitely and says louder “Apollo got me an apartment that monsters can’t get near!” She looks back down and mumbles again “I’m safe, he’ll protect me.”
Mr.D stared a few seconds before saying “you’re 5” Cordelia heads snaps back up yelling “I’m 7!” But Mr.D ignores her “who’s watching you” and Cordelia frowns “what do you mean?” She asks and Mr.D sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose.
”Where are your parents? Foster parent? Grandparents? Any guardian who takes care of you and makes sure you don’t get yourself killed?” He demands and Cordelia shrugs and Mr.D pinches the bridge of his nose again.
”What’s your living situation like?” Mr.D asks, putting the deck down and Cordelia shrugs again “normal? My Patron got me an apartment, monsters don’t come near, food appears in the fridge and pantry, there's tv, books, and Apollo and Hermes visit sometimes cause I can’t leave the apartment without one of them.”
Towards the end of her explanation something flickered on Mr.D’s face but was quickly concealed “I don’t know what to say to that” he says and Cordelia shrugs again and Mr.D sighed “how do you eat?” He asks.
Cordelia smiles “it was hard at first but I’ve gotten really good!” Mr.D raises an eyebrow and she shrinks “it’s mostly easy things, canned food like ravioli, I can boil water now so different noodles, frozen meals for the microwave and pre-made meals show up in the fridge a lot.”
”pre-made?” He asks and Cordelia looks away “I think Hermes has been stealing all the food for me but Apollo sometimes brings things over” Mr.D straightens up “when you say all the food..” and Cordelia's eyes widened.
”no, no I think Apollo just forgot I can’t cook. He puts plenty of things in the cupboards and fridge” Cordelia explains and Mr.D relaxes slightly “I’ll talk to them about getting a companion for you” and Cordia frowns.
”what?” She asks and Mr.D gestures to the air "there's plenty of satyrs, harpies and nymphs” he explains “it doesn’t even need to be one from camp it could even be a clear sighted mortal for all I care, but like I said your 5” “7” “and you need someone with you”
Mr.D stared Cordelia down when she tried to speak “no I hate this place and you brats but even I know kids need some supervision” he summons a soda “thats why whenever someone does drugs or anything else and passes out in the forest I put then in their cabin” he says simply.
Then promptly chokes on his drink when Cordelia asks “what’s drugs?” Wide eyed he stares at her for a few moments then mutters “right your 5” and she yells “I’m 7!”
Mr.D snorts and takes another sip before saying "right, right well why don’t you ask your annoying Patrons cabin? They’ll tell you” Cordelia glares at Mr.D for a few seconds before huffing and leaving grumbling all the way.
Then promptly froze when she opened the door and Luke was standing there staring down at her in horror “you live with my dad and Apollo” he chokes out.
Cordelia slams the door
She turned the lock, turns around and goes back to Mr. D, sits down and puts her head in her hands “I’m sleeping here tonight” she says into her hands and Mr. D sets a coke down next to her head.
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Mr.D let her stay the night and the morning but towards the afternoon he kicked her out no matter how much she begged.
Cordelia tried to refuse to move but he just picked her up and the whole way to the door she screamed, squirmed, and grabbed anything she could get her hands on.
But it was useless and she was quite literally pushed into Olivia's arms and Mr.D disappeared with his stupid God magic.
”Cordelia!” Luke yelled running towards her and Cordelia in a panic hit Olivia in the chest causing her to drop Cordelia, mostly in shock, and Cordelia tried to run but she at most got a few dozen steps in before getting picked up by Luke.
“Let me go!” She yells trying and failing to hit Luke who just holds her closer to his chest “no I’m not letting you escape again!” He pins her arms to her sides “we need to talk!”
”No we don’t” Cordelia screams trying to pull her arms up from Luke's hold “you don’t have a guardian! Just 2 Gods who sometimes visit! You can’t even leave your apartment!” Cordelia shakes her head “it’s none of your business! I’m fine!”
”WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!” Both freeze and turn to the voice, Chiron, and he looks pissed, staring at the 2 children “put her down Luke” he releases her.
”Explain” Chiron demands and both say quiet for a few moments before Cordelia tries to speak and Chiron holds up a hand “not you, Luke said quite a few concerning things” Chiron explains and raises an eyebrow at the young boy who stays silent and doesn’t meet his gaze.
When Luke continues to stay silent Chiron sighs and kneels “young Luke, I promise you nor young Cordelia will get in trouble nor be punished” Chiron explains as he puts his hand on Luke's shoulder “can you please explain."
Luke hesitates for a few more moments but then he looked at Cordelia and his eyes hardened.
He points at Cordelia “Cordelia lives alone and doesn’t have a guardian!”
Chiron stares at Cordelia “you’re seven” he says and she snaps “it’s none of your business” while glaring at Luke “I have food and water and things to do!”
Luke glares back “but you don’t have anyone to watch you! You're seven! You only have 2 Gods that sometimes visit” Cordelia opens her mouth to speak but Luke keeps going “what are you going to do when they stop huh! They’re Gods! They’ll get distracted and forget about you!”
Chiron frowns “Lu-“ “you can’t even leave the house!” He continues “what will you do when you run out of food!” “I won’t!” Cordelia starts yelling back “they won’t-“
Luke takes a step towards her “they’re Gods! You’ll try to become an Oracle and you’ll turn crazy!’ Cordelia doesn’t back down, her face turning red at Luke's words “they seem kind now! But then they’ll stop visiting as often, and you’ll have to go to a store your self, and you’ll run out of money and have to start stealing to survive and before you know it, even if you scream” Luke's voice starts rising
”and do it again and again and beg every night they just won’t come!” He shoves her and Cordelia's head hits a rock