HALFBREED

Chapter 2

I was twelve now, and had made a habit of coming down to the pit of the prison at least once a week. I had never been caught, and I had never been attacked again. I slowly made my way to Reed's cell, unshed tears barely contained.

"What happened?"

I put my head against the bars, unable to look at him.

"Kids at school...they said..." I hiccuped, unable to contain the tears any longer.

"Is there something wrong with me?"

"You come to the pit continuously and talk to monsters, I'd say there is a lot wrong with you."

"I'm serious! Everyone is already developing their powers, and I'm a dud. They say I'm a freak. A dirty half-breed who should have been drowned at birth."

Growls sounded all around me. Reed put his hand through the bars, even though I knew it hurt him. He gently touched my cheek.

"There is nothing wrong with you, Annabeth. If the gods ever did anything right, it was you. "

"How can you say that? Look at me!"

"I am."

"I can't even defend myself. I can't shapeshift, I don't have power over the elements, I can't control a person's mind."

"You're genetics are to blame, not you. Your father is not exactly an overly powerful demon, and your mother was human, or at least mostly from what I can tell. You may never have powers like those, or they could develop late."

"So I am a dud."

"Powers do not make you powerful. Power does. Influence. Respect. You could be the most powerful creature in the world, but have no actual powers. Look at the human president. No powers. But he controls millions of people. His word is law."

"So your saying I should make myself powerful?"

"I'm saying you shouldn't worry about powers when there are so many other things you have."

I nodded and stood up. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"You may be without me for a while, Annabeth."

"What do you mean?"

"There is...something happening. Something I can't explain. When you hear the news break, I need you to stay hidden. Don't let anyone know where you are, or who you are. I need you to keep yourself safe, no matter what."

"I don't understand."

"You will when it's time. I promise you that much."

I nodded, still confused, and said my goodbyes before I left.

Two days later it happened. The Demon King was killed, another took his place. The prison was closed down, something about monsters escaping. My father took me into hiding. Apparently I was a high risk. Half breeds were being slaughtered and no one knew by who. A rock had settled in the pit of my stomach, wondering if it was Reed, but shaking off that thought. We moved from place to place. As long as I was covered with others clothing I couldn't be scented, at least that was the plan. We would help others as much as we could, weather it was binding wounds, or just saying soft words, we did what we could without putting ourselves in danger. Eight long years. I had grown into a woman, but couldn't experience being a woman. We always had to watch our backs. Always fearing the next attack.

Almost eight years to the day it finally happened. We were found.