Mathlide and the Heroes

Ch 4. Mathlide's disbelief

"Your father, Kenneth, well, he had an affair, as you know. But it wasn't any woman, oh no. It was a very special woman, a goddess. Your mom is a goddess, Mathlide. Though, I don't know which one. He only said she was a goddess, and he only told me. He was going to tell you. Oh, Mathlide how he wanted to. But he- he never did, and you didn't know. That's why you experienced that levitation earlier today. Why didn't you say something? Otto and Frances had to come tell me," Clara said.

"You're lying. There's no such thing as Camp Half Blood. It's a fictional place, those books are fiction." Mathlide said.

"More and more the demigods are in denial. Those books are doing it," said the short man who Mathlide had to assume was Frances.

"This is a joke or something."

"No Mathlide, it's not. You see, one day a man came stumbling to the edge of our camp. He was rambling about monsters and kids with swords. We took him into the camp and Chiron talked to him. Turns out he could see through the Mist. He knew a lot, too much for a mortal's brain to handle. He kept saying, 'I have to tell someone.' Chiron said no, and told him to write books, publish them as a work of fiction, and convince everyone he was a really good writer.

That man was Rick Riordan, the author of your little books," Frances explained.

"That sounds like some internet headcanon," Mathlide yelled. "Just tell me the truth!"

"Mathlide, we ARE," Otto spoke for the first time.

"Oh so I suppose you have a godly parent too?" Mathlide said.

"Yes, but-" Otto stuttered and fell silent.

"You can't tell me who it is?" Mathlide said.

Otto muttered some name but Mathlide gave up. She was tired and she didn't know what to do. "Prove it." She muttered. "Why haven't any monsters come for me yet?"

"Hey, consider yourself lucky, little girl. Some have died," Frances said.

"I'll believe this isn't a hoax when I see a real satyr."

They pulled up to a hill with a tree. It was broad daylight. They had gone through the entire night without stopping.

"Aunt Clara, you're not really going to leave me here!"

They got out of the car. Mathlide stared in disbelief at Clara.

"Here are your bags. Be safe, Mathlide." Clara got back into the car.

"Wait!" Shouted Mathlide. Clara rolled down her window.

"What's really going on here?"

"You'll learn soon enough, I'm guessing. Stick with Frances and Otto. I'll see you soon."

Aunt Clara drove off in her fancy car and Mathlide broke down. She sat on the hillside and stared at the car driving away.

"Mathlide, it's fine, really." Frances snorted.

"My only family remaining. Gone. I'm alone. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ALONE. I miss my dad," Mathlide started to whimper. Otto touched her shoulder. She glanced up at him and he helped her up. She followed Frances and Otto into the camp. She hardly believed her eyes. People were training and fighting. Everything about the camp was as Rick had wrote. She shocked her head. She wasn't seeing straight. She couldn't be. She looked then at Frances. His hat was gone and she saw he had the legs of a goat.

"Do you believe us now?" Otto raised an eyebrow.

Mathlide nodded and promptly passed out.