Turn the corner of Quaker Street and make your way down Lewis lane, the directions I now naturally repeat every day to get home during school.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come over today?” said my best friend, Austin.
“Yes I’m sure, Austin” I replied with a hint of annoyance in my voice considering this was his fifth time asking, and I’m pretty sure he only wants me to do his geometry homework.
“Fine,” he said with an attitude causing me too let out a chuckle. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” He walked off throwing up a peace sign.
“Bye!” I shouted at him as he walked.
Today was another boring normal day at Kingston High School; nothing exciting ever happens with Austin in none of my classes. As I was approaching my one story light brown brick house, perfect for my dad and I, I heard angry shouting coming from what sounded like our back yard.
There, quietly peeking around the brick corner, I found my dad and the back of man, and from what I could tell the man was tan and very buff. When he turned around pacing back and forth I could observe his facial features, and he was a very good-looking man considering he look older than myself. He turned around back to my father and said,
“You’ll have to tell her soon or she will be in greater danger not knowing how to defend herself properly with the power she holds,” he said with concern and seriousness in his voice. “George, you have no choice”
My father sighed as the man put his fingers between his mouth and whistled.
“Apollo” my father shouted, so that was the mysterious mans name. “Are you sure there’s no way to stop this?”
I could hear the hope in his voice. What are they trying to stop? And what were they going to tell to “her”? Is that “her” me? As these questions run through my head wanting answers, a golden chariot approaches the man named Apollo. What age is he from? And did that chariot really just come to him?
“I’m sorry George, there is only so much we can do.” Said Apollo hoping in his chariot. I see my father rubbing his temples, obviously stressed. Questions needing answers and curiosity took over me as I jump up, my brown hair blowing behind me and legs stretching out with each stride determined to stop the man from leaving.
“Wait!” I yell.
Apollo and my father both freeze looking at me wide eyed.
“What? And who were you talking about? And what needs to be stopped? And who are you?” I finish looking over at the man who goes by Apollo, strange name.
“Selene,” the man says almost seeming astonished “you are so much more beautiful and older.”
“ How do you know who I am?” I question.
“Selene maybe we should-“ my father speaks before being interrupted.
“No, it’s okay George I understand she must be confused,” he chuckles trying to lighten the mood but failing. “I am Apollo, your uncle, your mothers brother.”
The words mother bring tears to the brim of my eyes, my father never told me much about her except that she was very beautiful and unable to be in my life unfortunately. He never spoke negatively of her.
*
We all ended up sitting down on the back patio, me in the middle, and Apollo telling me stories of my mother and who she was and who I am.
“Your mother is Artemis, goddess of hunt and the moon,” his deep voice keeping me intrigued and listening to him speak. “Which makes you a half god.”
“ I love your mother very much and she loves me but we are not allowed to marry since I am not a god and she must live up in Olympus with the other gods.” My father suddenly spoke.
“Are you joking?” I asked unsure and in shock.
“I’m afraid not, you have powers,” Apollo spoke. “And you need to learn how to use them for your safety from the Manticore-“
“We were learning about those in our mythology class aren’t they body of a lion, tail of scorpion, and head of blue eyed man?” said I.
“Yes,” he replied “and don’t forget 8 rows of teeth like a shark, but as I was saying, they’ve been trying to overrule the gods by using half gods, like you, to reproduce with and become powerful enough to possess the powers of gods and go to war. Most half gods however came from a long line of half gods so they weren’t really straight from a god and a human just god like powers were in their DNA, but you are directly from Artemis and your father so you my darling are very powerful and they want you.”
Fear and anxiety washed over me like a title wave.
“How will I learn to use my powers? And how can I defeat the Manticore?” I ask.
“You cant defeat the manticore but you can scare them off with a big enough fight, they have an Hercules heel, but it’s the back of their throat, and right before they attack they always release a roar to frighten their opponent.”
I sat there taking in all this information in at once trying to cope and understand what is being said. How will I train? Am I leaving? What about Austin? What will I tell Austin and should I even tell him? I mean his is my best friend. My thoughts were interrupted when my father spoke,
“Selene,” he sighs. “You must go meet your mother on mount Olympus and she will train you along with your uncle, Apollo.”
“But what if they come for you?” I ask worriedly.
“If your not here they won’t, and besides I’m the sheriff, no one messes with the sheriff.” He says lightly. “You must go immediately. I will take care of everything with the school.”
We all stand up, I go up to my room to pack a suitcase full of things I think I might need. I’m very unsure of what will be needed so I pack the necessities. I glance around my room, looking at the light blue paint and all my drawings and paintings of the night sky hanging around my room. Maybe that’s the reason I was so interested in the moon, maybe that was my connection to my mother all this time.
*
As im in the charriot that belongs to Apollo, I sit there thinking of how my life has completely changed. And how I would take back my boring life at Kingston High School, rather than fight beast, but at least I get to see and meet my mother, considering I have all but one memory of her and it was just her singing to me while holding me in her arms.
