Demi Of The Spring

Finding Out

When Annabelle turned sixteen, that was when she discovered her adoration for nature. She didn't understand why she adored being outdoors so much. Other children would preferably be inside watching tv or playing video games. Whereas Annabelle would instead be outdoors than inside. She simply enjoyed hearing the birds, sitting beneath the trees, or sitting in the flower meadow that was next to the house. That is where she spent most of the time, sitting in that area. Besides being outdoors, Annabelle even enjoyed drawing. And when she wasn't inside drawing, she was sitting outdoors, either on the front patio or sitting in the field with her notebook. Mark had raised her, teaching her to be kind, but he has not yet informed her about her being a demigod, somebody who is half-mortal and half-god, so that means she doesn't know who her true mother is.

Mark just wasn't certain how to tell her, so while Annabelle was outdoors in the meadow, Mark was sitting on the patio, looking out at the meadow, and his daughter sitting in the meadow drawing, he was trying to figure out what to say, and how to say it. But after a few, he muttered to himself, "I'll tell her tonight.."

Mark stood up from his seat, stepped down the patio steps, and over to the meadow of flowers, heading over to his daughter.

Annabelle glimpsed up when she heard footsteps and beamed up noticing her father, "Hey, Dad." she said. Today, Annabelle wore a light-colored green dress that reached her knees and black leggings underneath the dress, but she was barefooted. Her shoes lay on the ground next to her. Annabelle had her brown hair down, which her hair was long, it nearly went to the middle of her back. But she liked it that length. On top of her head, she wore a flower crown that she had created out of dandelions.

Mark smiled, sitting down next to her. "I like that flower crown you assembled," he stated, looking at the one that was on top of her head. Annabelle grinned, "thank you," she said. "Do you want one?" she questioned him.

He chuckled, "no, thanks." he said but smiled at her. "Well, I was coming over here to say that I want to speak to you about something after dinner," he said. "Don't worry, it isn't anything bad," he told her. Annabelle looked up at her father hearing he had to speak to her about something, which caused her to be slightly nervous, but hearing it wasn't anything bad, she nodded, relaxing a little.

"What will we be having for dinner?" Annabelle questioned, but knew they just usually ate out or ordered something unless her father felt like cooking. Mark shrugged, considering. "Well, there are two options. One is, we can order pizza or Chinese food and not cook, or I can cook and make spaghetti tonight," he suggested.

Annabelle considered for a minute, thinking if she wanted to order or if he would cook. But after a minute, she made her decision. "Let's order pizza!" she declared with a grin, one of her favorite meals was pizza.

Mark chuckled with a nod. "Pizza it is," he said and stood up.

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Once the pizza had been ordered, Mark sat in his armchair, leaning back as he looked at his daughter. He knew that once he informed her of everything, it would all change. Annabelle looked over at her father as she sat down on the sofa. "What was it you were wanting to tell me?' she questioned him. He looked over at his daughter and sighed. "I'll tell you after we eat, okay?" he said. She looked at him, a curious look in her eyes at what he was going to tell her. But then she nodded. "Okay," she said.

But, once the food had arrived and they had eaten, he had gone to tell her. But, he never got to say anything.

At that moment, something had come smashing through the door. Mark had been placing the dishes in the sink when he turned to hear something come smashing through the front door. His eyes widened seeing a minotaur. "Annabelle!" he shouted and rushed to his daughter's room. He knew it would have been sooner or later when a minotaur picked up on Annabelle's demigod scent. He didn't bother knocking since he knew his daughter would only be laying in bed. "We got to go," he told her, grasping her wrist

"What? Why?" she questioned him, a little confused before she heard crashing noises outside the bedroom. "What's going on?!" she questioned, now a little frightened.

"I'll explain in the car. Let's go!" he said and with that, he rushed out of the bedroom, holding his daughter's wrist which caused her to have to run after him. She caught a glimpse of something large in the kitchen. "What is that?" she asked her dad, and it came out in a whisper. Mainly so the beast wouldn't hear her, and because she was terrified. "It's a minotaur." her father stated, heading to the front door while he seized up the keys off the table by the door. "A minotaur? Like in mythology?" She asked which got a nod from her dad... Though, just as he proceeded to move the destroyed door over a bit, the minotaur turned with a roar and charged at them. Annabelle yelped seeing the beast charging towards them, her father dashed out, tugging her after him and out of the path as the minotaur went racing past them. Mark watched but then pushed his daughter towards the passenger side of the car as he unlocked it. "Get in," he told her, moving to the driver's side as he got in, starting the car.

Once Annabelle was in and the doors were closed, he sped off, going faster than he usually went. Annabelle clasped onto the handle that was on the door. "Please tell me what is going on, dad. Why did that minotaur attack us?' she asked,

Mark peeked at his daughter but then shifted his attention back to looking at the road, still going at the same speed. He sighed. "Alright, it's all about who your mother is. And the minotaur isn't after us. Only you." He said, his voice soft though rushed. Annabelle looked at him, obviously confused. "But.. you told me my mother left us," she said.

"I know what I said. But the fact is, your mother is the goddess Demeter, that's why you enjoy being in nature so much," he stated. "When you were an infant, she had left you on my doorstep. She had to get back to Olympus. And I wasn't able to tell you until I was certain you were ready. I tried to tell you after dinner and when I completed the dishes, but I didn't have time." he informed her.

Annabelle sat there quietly, simply listening and also trying to let this sink in. It's not every day that someone tells you that your mother is a god. But after a few, she spoke. 'And... the minotaur is after me because I'm part god?' she asked. Her father nodded, "you are a demigod. But yes, the minotaur had smelled your demigod scent. I knew they would arrive sooner or later." he said, still not taking his eyes off the highway in front of him.

Annabelle chewed on her lip slightly as she nodded a tiny bit. But then she looked back behind them noticing they weren't being followed. "I think we lost the minotaur.." she said. "Can you slow down now?" she requested and after a minute felt the car had slowed. She sighed in relief and leaned back, but then she frowned as she looked outside. "Where are we heading?' she asked him.

"I am bringing you to Ohio." her dad said, leaning back in his seat, allowing his body to relax a bit since he had been so tensed up. Annabelle shifted in her seat, facing her father. "Why.. are we driving to Ohio?' she questioned with a tiny frown but puzzlement evident in her voice.

"There's a place there, a building, for demigods. You'll be safe there," he said, his voice gentle. Annabelle nodded slowly. "Will.. you be able to stay with me?' she asked, sounding a little hopeful.

Hearing what she asked, her father sighed, looking at her. "I'm sorry Belle, I won't be able to remain with you there. I will have to go back home. But, we can write letters. And if they have a phone there, we can make calls every Saturday. But, I promise, there will be other demigods there and all that. You will be safe from the minotaurs and from the other monsters that would try to get you." he said. "I won't stay in Ohio since I have to come back to clean up the house. And it'll be easier than purchasing a home down there." She chewed her bottom lip a little hearing he couldn't remain with her, but she did feel better that they could write letters and maybe call each other.

Annabelle then tilted her head back, looking at the night sky through her window, but she had soon drifted off to sleep, now exhausted. But, Mark kept driving, he didn't want to make any stops yet since he knew they were only a day or two away from Ohio, and he wanted to make sure nothing attempted to attack them.

Mark allowed her to doze though, he had turned the radio on but kept it turned down so the music wouldn't be too loud or wake her up. But, for the rest of the evening, he had kept on driving to get closer to Ohio. but he couldn't help but think that he could merely take her someplace else, he didn't know where, but someplace where he could be with his daughter. She was the only family Mark had, and he didn't want to lose his daughter. He took a deep breath before sighing, "she will be safe in Ohio." he muttered to himself. Attempting to persuade himself that she would be safe.

And Ohio would be the safest place for her.