Chiron and Dionysus are glad the daughter of Eris’ schemes of vengeance have been foiled, and they understand that if she were not dead, then Alexandria would be. However, they are disappointed by the turn of events and she’s sure some public statement is sure to follow, along with the entire camp’s gossip that Athena has produced another murderer. She omitted Elina from the story; she owed her one, after all, but now she’s certain her mother’s tainted name will leave Athena almost as disappointed as her father will be. Warren is missing, with no leads, and she’s not in the condition to go tracking down the son of the underworld across the globe.
After a silent drive back to New York City, Alexandria pays the taxi cab driver as he drops her off at her apartment complex. Her mind is adrift, planning what exactly to say to her father, and she barely notices the doorman’s astonished expression as he greets her. It’s not until she keys into their apartment and notices the two police officers sitting on her leather sofa that she realizes just how much her absence has been felt. She’s still formulating some sort of non-demigod alibi as Alexander Conway rises from his seat beside the cops, swiftly crossing the room and pulling Alexandria into a tight embrace. Her heart feels as though it is soaring for a single moment, not realizing just how deprived she has been of another human’s touch until this moment. In truth, she can’t remember a time her father has e v e r embraced her until this very moment, but before she can gratefully return it, his grip on her has already tightened, his hands digging roughly into her skin. This show of affection is merely an act for the police officers, she realizes slowly, a chill spreading across her skin. How foolish she is to think she is worthy of anything else.
The officers question her, and she lifts the hem of her shirt to display her still healing wound. She was attacked by some unknown stranger, she tells them, left unconscious until she awoke in a hospital outside the city without her cellphone or any form of identification on her. The story is certainly vague and not without holes in its plot, but it’s out of their jurisdiction, so they don’t seem to care as much. When they ask for a description of the attacker, she describes Lukas, and they leave after telling Alexander how lucky he is that her daughter found her way home. However, as she watches the coldness in his pale eyes, h o m e does not describe the atmosphere of this room.
When they are alone, the silence evaporates as Alexander’s words slowly leave his lips one syllable at a time, hands curling into fists. “ Where have you actually been ? ”
She tells him, briefly, about Marlene, but tells the truth about Elina. He will be proud that she is alive to tell the gruesome tale. Or so she thinks, until she watches his eyes narrow.
“ Let me see if I understand correctly. You were bested by a girl younger than you, from the nineteen hundreds, twice. You almost let the entire camp be destroyed, nearly died, took the blame for someone else, and destroyed your mother’s reputation ? ”
“ I -- “
“ Would you like to know what else you ruined ? ”
“ Father, listen -- “
“ -- my entire fucking campaign, possibly ! Do you know how m o r t i f y i n g it was to have our most crucial campaign supporters watching as I stumbled through a meeting that you were supposed to prepare and present ? This was your chance to prove to me that you were worth all the time I’ve wasted attempting to turn you into someone capable of being almost as excellent as me in office. ”
Her eyes sting, but she will not cry, will not make this situation any worse than it is. “ You can’t mean that. A waste ? I’ve sacrificed my entire l i f e to please you, to be the best at every single role you’ve ever given me ! I’ve given up everything and everyone I’ve ever wanted for you and your political campaigns and business ventures, and I - ”
“ Everyone ? ” he asks, a harsh laugh echoing across the room. “ Like Jasper ? ”
This hits too close to home, as she’s successfully avoided even hearing his name for the past few years, but he continues on before she can defend herself. “ You’re right. I’ve tried my absolute hardest to remove your weaknesses, your flaws, to chisel you into perfection, something your mother would be proud of, but look at you, disparaging both of our legacies. ”
“ I almost died, ” she tells him in a whisper, a quiet plea for him to for once in her life act like the fathers she’s read about in books, the ones who care about their daughters for more than some leverage tool.
Her wish is swiftly denied as he replies, “ If you had, at least I would have gotten enough sympathy for the representatives to sign onto the campaign. ”
He’s already beginning to turn away, as if this conversation is over and they will go about their normal routine. Perhaps that’s how it’s always been, where he tells her what she has done wrong, ridicules her until she nods in agreement and swears to improve, then they’ll drive to their dinner reservation and he’ll brag to the governor about how proud he is of the daughter he’s raised. He hasn’t exactly ever raised her, though. In fact, she feels much closer to some monstrous creature he built in his mad scientist laboratory. Perhaps what she should do is nod in agreement again, but she was moments from losing her life only a week ago, and as her lips part to just give in and say ‘ I’ll do better ’, Alexandria surprises herself by shaking her head.
“ I deserve better than you, ” she states instead.
These words of rebellion, the only ones she’s ever said aloud, are like a spark, spreading a fire throughout her. Alexander spins around, raising his hand in outrage. She is certain he’s about to strike her, but something large collides into the window closest to them, a screeching owl having lost its way. How ironic, that something that terrifies her has come to her rescue.
“ You need me, ” he growls as he turns back around. “ What are you on your own ? Without me, you’re not a Conway, have no chance as a politician, no savings account, no legacy to inherit, no way to attend Harvard. Without me, you are n o t h i n g. Either you can get yourself in line and atone for your mistakes, or you can go back to your camp where you’ve made a mockery of Athena. ”
She stares in silence, because he is right. Without her father, she has none of those things to her name. In fact, even her own name is a diminutive form of his own. Walking out the door of this apartment would leave her with nothing, with no one. However, as she takes a step backward, her fingertips grazing the door, Alexandria nods. “ You’re right, but I’d rather have nothing than someone who wishes I were dead for their political gain. Besides, haven’t you always taught me that people will only destroy you in the end ? I’ve never needed anyone other than myself. ”
With that, Alexandria leaves, without so much as a goodbye. She has no destination in mind, because she’s not sure she’s prepared to return to camp, but she is damn sure that she does not want to be in these glass walls that feel as though they’re threatening to close in on her.
It’s such a foolish thought, she thinks as she reaches the elevator, but her lips crack into a small smile regardless. She’ll start with the diner that her father had forbidden they ever go to, some dispute with the owner over not displaying his campaign signs in their parking lot. Perhaps it is foolish, but how freeing is to come to the realization that she never has to ask anyone’s permission again.