Esperanza Valdez

'''"Leo, listen to me. Fire is a tool, like anything else, but it's more dangerous than most. You don't know your limits."

- Esperanza  Esperanza Valdez''' was a Latin American mechanic who was the mother of demigod, Leo Valdez whom she had with Hephaestus.

History
Esperanza Valdez received a college degree in mechanics but never received a job in that field because she was never taken seriously. Sometime in 1995, Esperanza had a relationship with Lord Hephaestus, God of blacksmiths and fire, resulting in the birth of Leo.

From 1997 to 2000, the Queen of the Gods, Hera (in the form of Tia Callida) came to her house and babysat her young son to prepare him for his life as a demigod. Esperanza was enraged by this, insisting that Leo was far too young, that he was still her baby.

It was stated by Leo that while Esperanza did not have a lot in life and lived in poor conditions, she was always happy, because she had Leo.

Death
In 2003, three years after the departure of Hera, she was killed in a fire caused by Gaia, when the Mother Earth faced eight-year-old Leo Valdez. Her death resulted in Leo running away, and his eventual enrollment in Wilderness School.

Similarities to Sally Jackson
Esperanza Valdez is similar to the mother of Percy Jackson and lover of Poseidon, Sally, in the fact that they only cared that their respective godly lovers were around for the benefit of their respective sons.

Trivia

 * Esperanza always called Leo "mijo" (mi + hijo) (my son), which is an endearment term used for males in the Spanish language. It is often used by parents to address his or her son; as well as other close family relations.
 * In Spanish, Esperanza means "Hope."

Appearances

 * The Lost Hero (in flashback)