Nineteen
[Spring break was a lovely thing. Erato was back home in Olympia for the time being. She didn't usually get up too early, but as the sun was rising, she just felt... energized somehow. Sliding out of bed, she almost didn't notice the change in her clothing until she glanced in the mirror and gasped. A shimmering chiton. Her golden curls wreathed in red roses. So this was what the message had meant. She was a goddess once more.
She didn't know how to face her family in this, but she supposed she had no choice. Her parents gaped as she walked in for breakfast.
"Amanda..." her mother breathed softly.
Erato sighed. "It's time you knew, I guess. I'm really the reincarnated Erato. Muse of lyric love poetry and mimic imitation. Explains a lot, doesn't it?" she asked with a faint chuckle. Her parents just continued to stare at her. Erato awkwardly looked at the food in the pantry. Suddenly, cereal just didn't sound appealing.
She turned to her parents. "There's something I need to do. I promise I'll come home again by tomorrow. Don't worry. I'm immortal today. Nothing can hurt me," she told them gently, and then headed out the door... and straight for Fort Lewis.]