Silenced (Demigod Story)

Markings of Demeter

“What’s on your arm?” Dan gestured to my arms that still had the green designs from when I was claimed.

“Oh, just the markings of Demeter,” I casually stated.

“What is that supposed to mean?” he wondered.  I realized how weird I sounded.

“My mom is Demeter,” I smiled.

Dan’s face lit up, “I was right!”

I glanced at him “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“We aren’t allowed.” He wiped his head on his sleeve.  “If we go around telling the kids who their parents are, then why would they bother to claim their children?  How would we know if we were even correct?”

I shrugged.  “Wow, that was really thought through.”

“Yeah,” he softly laughed.  “It was thought through a lot.”

I glanced over my shoulder.  We have been released from the camp and have been walking away for about ten minutes.  “How long was I out?”

“About an hour,” he sighed.  “Most people stay out for three hours, but Artemis said that you would be different so she left to check on you early.”

“I wonder what makes me so different…” I whispered to myself.  “So do you think that we can make it a few miles today?”

“If we aren’t slowed down anymore then we already have been, and that would be nothing but a miracle for demigods.”

The Huntress pamphlet fell out of my back pocket.  “What is that?” Dan eyed the paper.

“Nothing,” I quickly picked it up and folded it into a tinier paper.  “Nothing.”

“You can tell me anything, I hope you know that.”

Just because I can doesn’t mean that I should. I thought to myself.  “Yeah, I know that.”

“Then what was that?”

“Some pamphlet that Artemis gave me,” I admitted.

“And you took it?  Why?” he asked.

“Well…” I started.  “If something happened and I had nowhere else to go, I could join them.”

“I don’t think that things will ever come to that.”

“Um, they just might,” I pointed out.  “In case you have forgotten, there are a few hundred monsters and they all want the same thing.”

“Power?” Dan asked to play dumb.  Our lives would probably be hundreds of times easier if that is all that they wanted.

“Well, they also want some street cred I would imagine,” I rolled my eyes at my own corny joke.  “And they probably wouldn’t mind some food.”

“Yeah, yeah.  I get it,” he sighed.

)-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-(

We walked for a few hours, snacking on berries that were found on a bush that was totally there the whole time.  (I may or may not have made it grow.  It would be better if I didn’t freak him out with all my Earth powers just yet).  We outran the few monsters that chased us.  They were probably not mature yet, otherwise we would be dead.  When we settled down behind a dumpster, it was almost too dark so see.  I took out my poetry book and learned that it could glow.  I looked up to see what Dan was doing, he was only trying to settle down in a comfortable position.  I carefully took out the Huntress pamphlet, knowing that Dan would be ticked at me if he thought that I was actually considering joining.  I didn’t see why he would even care that much.

When I opened it, I was a note from Artemis.

Dear Floret,

Please do be careful of who you expose your powers to.  Your powers are very rare, and not known to be given to the Demeter children.

I have also seen this story many times before.  Do you remember when I told you that many men were selfish?  Well, Dawn is doing this quest for respect, not for you or anyone other than himself.  Most boys don’t like how others have a lot of attention in camp while they are easily forgotten.  To bring back someone that is as important as you would surely help him become respected.  Do not fall for his foolish charms and stay strong.  I don’t know Dawn personally, but that is how my brother’s sons usually are.

Your friend,

Artemis

I stared at the note, feeling pride within myself.  A goddess said that I have power, important and strong!  But she also said those things about Dawn that was certainly not true, yet it seemed to have explained a lot.  He wants to be the hero, and I guess that I will help him make that happen.  I just have to make sure that no one interferes.

Day two

My mother is basically

the goddess of green.

Will she ever talk to me

from where she could be seen?

Why can’t my siblings

magically make a bean?

If I am ever caught

I hope that my getaway is clean.