Chapter 3
I think it was the pain in my shoulder than woke me. It was stinging and insistent. I looked at it, and it was covered in a thick gauze bandage. I realized I was lying on my bed, in my room.
Nico was sprawled on my beanbag in the corner, sleeping. I tried to prop myself up with my elbows.
I think it was my hiss of pain that woke Nico. He scrambled to his feet.
Nico picked up a glass of water from the bedside table. He handed it to me.
"Ew, I'm not going to drink this!" The water was cloudy, like it was tainted or something.
"Yes, you are," Nico replied sternly. "I dissolved some painkillers in it. You're going to have to wear long sleeves to cover your bandage for about two weeks. Your cut isn't deep, but it's long."
"So, you're not going to tell me who did this?" I gestured as best as I could with my good arm.
Nico totally ignored me. "It'll be a bit stiff for awhile after it heals, but it'll be alright. You'll have a scar. Which is cooler than a tattoo."
I scowled. "Nico, you are going to tell me who did this to me."
Nico frowned. "You tripped and fell. Luckily I was with you. I drove you home and fixed you up."
I was angry. "Liar. I can tell. Your hands are clenched. You always do that when you're lying."
I was getting worked up. And besides, shouldn't I know what happened? After all, I did get hurt.
"Listen, Nico, you are going to tell me what happened. If not, I'll tell Stephanie that you were trying to hurt me, and I mean rape. My dad will hear it and his lawyers will come down on you, like vultures. And I'll get the truth from you when you're in jail."
He was really annoying me.
"Min, you can't do that. And you don't have any proof." Nico was flustered.
"Oh, yes I can. And I will. Do not underestimate me, D'angelo. If you do, it'll be your head. Remember last year, when we did that experiment in Biology? I still have your blood, and hair samples."
Of course I was lying, but I was very good at this from years of lying to Stephanie.
Nico was fidgeting. It was only a matter of time before he gave in.
"Oh, and I there happen to be cameras installed in this house. You trespassed on my property."
I was amazed that he couldn't see through my prevarications. I was a bit nervous about the camera part. There were some, but not many, at the front of the house. And they had large blind spots.
I was a bit queasy at bringing my bad side out. But what had to be done must be done.
Nico gave in. I smiled inside.
"All right, I'll tell you.
"The Duodecimus, the Twelve, control all."
I cut him off. "Are you telling me that those stories that my mom has, in the little books in her office, are real?" I knew what "duodecimus" was. It was Latin for "twelve".
My mother, the historian, kept a collection of mythology in the little glass fronted cabinet in her office. She had all sorts of books: Thor and Freya, Odin, Ganesh and Vishnu, Magpie, Dreamworld, Zeus and Hera, Jupiter and Juno.
I had read them as a child, and I remembered my mother's bedtime stories, back when she was around a lot.
Nico's face was composed.
"Yes, they're all real. Athena and Ares, Apollo and Artemis. They produced children with mortals, creating mixed-breeds. And I happen to be one of them."
I was aghast. "So you're telling me that you're half god? This is unbelievable." I sat down hard on my bed.
"Yes, I am. It's called demigod, by the way." Nico was smiling, trying to be comforting. "Everything you learned in science is a lie."
"So-o. If you're so all powerful, then why are you friends with a poor, weak little mortal being like me?"
Nico grinned. "You aren't that weak, little mortal. The reason I wanted to be your friend six years ago was because I thought you were one of us. Your name, "Minerva" was a clue. But you don't have ADHD or ADD or dyslexia. And you weren't attacked by monsters. But you're still my friend."
I was confused. "Monsters? Disorders? What does that have to do with anything?"
Nico explained.
And after an hour or two, things were starting to fall into place, just like the clichéd jigsaw puzzle metaphor.
But one thing I never asked was who Nico's Olympian parent was. I didn't want it to change or distort my view of things. Sure, he would still be Nico, but somehow different.
I heard the door slam. Stephenie was back from her part time job, as a secretary or something. Nico's head jerked upwards.
"Min, I've gotta go. I can't use the front door. Can I use your window, please?"
"Sure. Bye, Nico."
Nico jumped up and went to the window. He pushed up the shutter, and slipped out on to the roof. Holding the gutter and pipes, he slid down to the ground. Nico looked around before he started running to his car, parked conveniently next to the bushes.
