HALFBREED

Chapter 1

 I quietly crept down the stairs of the prison, keeping my ears open for the tell tell jingle of keys. Daddy would tan my hide if he knew where I was going. But in my five year old curiosity I had to see. Had to know. What was at the bottom. The growls should have scared me, but for some reason I lacked the fear. The minute my foot landed at the bottom the whole place grew silent. I could hear my own heartbeat. Still I wasn't scared. I walked down the corridor slowly, listening for anything, any sound to prove there was life down here. The silence grew heavy, as if it were waiting for something.

I had almost made it to the end of the corridor when I felt something sharp at my throat. I froze, holding my breath. In my child mind I thought if I were perfectly still it wouldn't see me, it would let me go. The claws grew tighter around my neck.

"Amaradon, release her."

There was a snarl, but the monster didn't respond.

"Now."

The voice was calm, almost quiet, but it held power. A power I didn't understand.

The claw slowly moved away from my neck. When it was gone I took a slow step away from it and towards the voice.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Annabeth, but everyone calls me Beth."

"Why are you down here, Annabeth?"

"I wanted to see."

I was so close to the bars, almost touching them. He was just barely in the shadow.

"Who would let a halfbreed in a demon prison."

I wrinkled my nose. "Why does everyone keep calling me that. The babysitter, the school, uncle Leo."

"It's what you are. Do you not know what you are?"

"I'm a girl. And I'm five."

"Hmmm."

"Will you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"What is a halfbreed, and why does everyone act like it's so bad."

"It means you aren't full blooded. Impure."

"And that's bad?"

"I use to think so."

"That's not  very nice of you."

"I'm not very nice. That's why I'm down here."

I sat down, leaning against the wall, looking at my feet.

"You did bad things?"

"Lots of bad things."

"Are you sorry?"

"I'm starting to be."

I stood up, brushing dirt off my dress.

"I have to go, daddy will wonder where I am. I'll come back soon."

"You shouldn't. It's dangerous down here for a little girl."

"I'm not scared. You'll protect me."