Ashes, Ashes

chapter 4

-ash-

 I kept my eyes on her as she walked to her table. I saw her sigh when she saw her friends and roll her eyes. I have to get a way to talk to Aspen. The only way I can get her trust and bring her to Camp Half-Blood is-

"Bro, do you think she's hot too?" Noah interrupted, wiggling his eyebrows. "I bet you're gonna go over and talk to her right now!"

"Wh-what?" I asked. Wait- that's it! "Thanks, man!" I yelled as i jumped up and ran to Aspen's table.

I tapped her on the shoulder and she turned around.

"Hey, Aspen, right? Can you come with me for a second?" I asked. She seemed alarmed that I was talking to her. After glancing at the other girls who seemed to be glaring at us, she nervously nodded and got up.

We walked quietly outside the cafeteria in awkward silence. I led her down a quiet hallway and into and an abandoned classroom and glanced around furtively to see if anyone was near. No one was. Okay, here goes nothing, I thought. I took a deep breath.

"Um, look, th-this might sound weird but..." I faltered. I continued, taking another deep breath. "The thing is- well, um, do you know anything about the Greek Gods?" I blurted out.She seemed surprised at the odd question.

"Y-y-yeah. B-but not very m-much," she replied in a small voice. Her voice really is raspy.

"Well, uh, what do you know, then?" I asked

"W-well, I-I know that they, um, they..." and here she spouted of the names of the Greek gods, all their facts, and such. She even surprised me by naming most of the minor gods and even a few monsters. I stared at her dumbfounded. She met my gaze and then looked at the ground, blushing.

"L-like i said, not v-very much," she said. I didn't know what to say.

"I'll bet a drachma even Zeus doesn't know everything you said," I muttered. A loud rumble of lightning made me jump. It sounded annoyed.

"Okay, okay," I muttered again, relented.

I looked back at Aspen who looked back at me confusion crossing over her face. Oh right. She doesn't know the whole story yet. I sighed. I looked back at her.

"Well, they're all true. The gods, myths, legends, and the monsters. All of it." I said. I explained everything. "I am a satyr from Camp Half-Blood, the only place safe for demigods. Demigods like you." After seeing her confused expression, I said more plainly, "You're a demigod. Half human and... half god.

-aspen-

My face paled. "What?" I whispered. I couldn't think. Greek myths are real. I started backing away from him. His face was full of anguish.

"No, Aspen, really, it's true!" He exclaimed. He started towards me and I backed away more until I bumped a desk. There was nowhere to go. I gripped it so hard my knuckles turned white.

Ash came forward and gently grabbed my hand in his big warm one. He looked down and took a deep breath.

"I didn't want to do this, but..." he trailed off.

Then he did something surprising. He took my hand and raised it to his head. Then he gently took a finger and placed it on his stubs. His stubs??? No, they weren't stubs they were...they were horns! I stared at him astounded.

Then he did something else surprising. He kicked off his shoes which revealed... horse hooves? Oh. Goat hooves. I looked away, uncomfortable. He really was a satyr.

He drew back and dropped my hand. I hadn't realized it was still there. It just felt so... right. It seems to make sense, yet it doesn't make sense. The whole scenario ran through my mind. The gods, myths, creatures, places, villains and probably more. I started out of my thoughts.

"I-I'm sorry, b-but I have to g-go," I stammered and walked away, a little unsteady with some lingering shock. 

omg chase and noah are so cringeyyyyy