We pretty much stayed sat in the same position until my mum returned, and it was a mark of our friendship that we didn't really need to speak. Neither Sofia nor Lucas got up, and the only time I did was to go upstairs and get a towel for Sofia, and to order Harry not to leave the house at any cost. I then got us all cans of Diet Coke from the fridge and a huge packet of toffee popcorn before parking myself back in between my friends for the next hour or so.

"Won't the monster get my mum?" I suddenly exclaimed, sitting upright.

"Highly unlikely." Lucas responded, putting a handful of popcorn into his gob.

"So the big monster won't notice my mum walking down the path?" I scoffed.

"No' a' all, 'n she won' notice 'im." Lucas tried to answer, with his mouth full. Sofia grimaced at him, and I sat back down. Something forced me to believe what he was saying. He wasn't yelping like earlier, so he must have been sure.

Sofia was keeping very quiet. She hardly touched the popcorn, but that was normal for her, and her eyes, now a hazel colour, were on the TV, but not watching it. She was clearly as anxious as I was, but I was eating my feelings.

At twenty five past one, we all jumped at the sound of the key turning in the lock. And soon entered my mother. Small as ever, with lines on her face from smoking and her short greying hair falling out of its bun. Her eyes were still the same blue, but she was less thin now, and wore trousers instead of skirts, with no make-up.

"You didn't say your friends were coming round today." She accused, standing by the doorway with her arms folded.

"Sorry, didn't realise it was a hanging offence." I answered back. "We have things to discuss, dear Mother."

Mum's eyes widened for a split second, before she replied with, "Like what?"

"Scarlet's daddy, Miss Swan." Lucas simply stated. Sofia and I stared at him. Now that was the tip of the iceberg.

"My father?" I exclaimed. My dad was a touchy subject with me. "What does that good for nothing prick have to do with this? How dare you…"

"Scarlet." My mum sighed. "He has everything to do with it."

My mum seemed to age about ten years right on the spot, like she always did whenever my father was mentioned. Although anxiety seemed to be mixed in along with the pain. I was astonished that he was involved, and angry, like whenever I thought of him.

"I think you two have explaining to do. Now. " I stated. Mum hastily sat down on the armchair, and sighed. She pushed her fingers against the bridge between her eyebrows, and looked like she had been dreading this day. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and let her ready herself. Sofia was tapping her fingernails against the arm of the sofa, and Lucas was now hogging the entire bag of popcorn to himself.

"Scarlet, I've always told you… that you're special." Mum started. "You always shouted at me for mocking you… you thought I was saying you're special needs. But I meant it literally. You're special."

"Um… okay?" I responded uncertainly.

"You are aware with Greek mythology, aren't you?" She asked me.

"Yes, I studied Latin all year. You and Mr Ronich wouldn't stop talking last parents evening."

"And so you are aware of the gods and goddesses?" She asked cautiously. I nodded.

"Well… what would you say if I told you it was all real?" She whispered this, blinking back tears as she did so. This evidently was hard for her to say.

"I would think you were mad."

"Scarlet… Scarlet… Scarlet…" Lucas began, putting a hand on my shoulder. "You were so keen on me admitting that there were monsters earlier…"

"But myths are myths." Sofia said simply.

"Or are they?" Lucas asked slyly.

"But why doesn't the whole world know they're real then, what with ugly monsters going round and attacking people? I'm not that stupid, you aren't going to fool me with this. " I ranted.

"Because most of the world can't see it." Mum answered. "You see, Scarlet, most of the world, mortals… the Mist conceals the entire mythological world from us. We don't see monsters, or anything remotely to do with that world. It doesn't affect us."

"Then why… oh." I was beginning to feel really confused. When Mum said 'us', I didn't feel she was including me.

"You are affected by the mythological world, Scarley, because you are a part of it. You are attacked by monsters, you see things… which is what doctors have labelled as ADHD… but you are very much a part of it."

"Why?" I asked my mother slowly. "Why am I?"

It took my mum a while to answer this. She took a deep, shuddering breath, and said the sentence that changed everything.

"Your father is a god. You're a demigod, Scarlet."

At first, I wanted to throw a pillow at her and tell her to quit talking rubbish. Then, I wanted to run to my room and punch a pillow, to relieve the sense of absolute fear that had filled me. Instead, I just stared at my mother.

"Why are you lying to me?"

Mum clearly didn't want to say anymore on the matter so instead Lucas took up the post.

"It's very true, Scarlet. You're dyslexic, because your brain is hardwired for Ancient Greek, and your ADHD is your heightened senses, and your battle reflexes. Monsters find you and are attracted to you because of your demigod scent."

"But I see monsters too." Sofia sounded confused. "But I can't be a demigod…"

"You are, Sofia." Lucas grinned. "Your mother is a goddess. You have dyslexia and ADHD also. You're both a pair of united demigods."

Sofia and I looked at each other, and Sofia looked completely fearful. I was so utterly baffled. I had no idea when I woke up that morning that I would be told this. I didn't feel scared, or happy, or excited. I just felt confused.

"So… well, then…what now? If I decide to believe… this… then things can't continue as they are for Sofia and me."

"There's a place, just outside London." Lucas said, his voice full of respect. "A place called Camp Half-Blood. It's the only safe place for demigods to go to. No monsters can get in there."

"So we're going to go there?"

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea." Mum broke in. "I hardly get a good night's sleep, worrying that you'll get attacked the next day."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier then?" I snapped. "If there's a safe place I can go to, shouldn't I have gone there sooner?"

"Me and Sofia's father were both agreed that we should try and have you both a normal life. Telling you the truth makes your scent so much more powerful as well, so we thought we would act like everything is normal. But it's gone too far now."

Nobody spoke after that. I found myself wondering what Camp Half-Blood was like… and what it would feel like to finally be safe. But then I ended up thinking about my dad again. Cue the anger.

"So my dad, the god, had to leave. Why?" I demanded.

"I'm sure our parents had good reason…" Sofia started, but Mum then answered.

"The gods can't be directly involved with their mortal children, a decree Zeus made a couple of centuries ago. There was nothing your father could have done, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love you."

"Who is he?" I sniffed.

"I don't know, he never said." Mum sighed wistfully, caught up in memories of when she was shacked up with a god.

"Do we have to stay in Camp Half-Blood… forever?" Sofia asked tentatively.

"It depends." Lucas answered. "Most only stay in the summer, to train, but some are too powerful to leave."

"What would we do? I don't think I can leave my dad too long…"

"How many of us are there?" I accidentally interrupted, but it was a thought that suddenly struck me.

"Not many." Lucas answered. "I'd imagine roughly one hundred of you creeps altogether."

Only one hundred… that was even less than our year group at school. That really wasn't many demigods at all. And Sofia and I were two of them.

"Are you a demigod?" Sofia asked.

"Do not insult me, Miss Princess." Lucas gasped, mockingly insulted. And then he kicked his shoes and fake feet off to reveal hooves. Yes. He had hooves. He then rolled up his jeans to reveal… goat legs.

"Goat." I stated.

"Excuse me? I'm a bloody satyr! Do not call me a goat again Scarlet Swan or I will force my kind to trample you."

"A satyr. Oh my goodness, I think I'm about to faint." Sofia gasped. "This is all such a shock! I mean… a demigod. Lucas a satyr. My mother a goddess and a camp to keep me safe from monsters."

"Just your usual rainy Saturday." I managed to smile. "Um… where do we go from this point? I feel something needs to be done… oh crap Harry's upstairs, do you think he heard?"

"Don't be so ridiculous Scarlet, of course he didn't." My mum had jolted back to her normal self, although her eyes were rimmed with tears, which she quickly tried to brush away. "Now, I think, being as the attacks are becoming regular, we need to get you to camp ASAP. Let's go upstairs and pack your things."

"We're leaving now?" I cried. "What?"

"What's the point in delaying? Get up off your arse and help me pack your things."

Once Mum had dragged me upstairs, I rummaged through my wardrobe for my khaki coloured rucksack, which I used to use for a school bag, until I got a new one for Christmas.

"You're required to wear a camp top, but they'll give you one once you arrive, so just pack your plain grey top." I did as I was told, and then packed a pair of shorts and jeans, underwear, socks and a navy jacket. Mum had put my toiletries in a little bag for me: toothbrush, cleanser and a razor. And apparently there really wasn't much else to pack. I also put my iPod in there, even know Mum said I wouldn't have much time to listen to it.

"I'd give you a knife, but unless it's celestial bronze it won't work against monsters…" Mum muttered.

"Celestial bronze?" I asked.

"Yep, a powerful metal. Tempered in the heart of Mount Etna and cooled in the River Lethe. It affects anybody or anything in the mythological world."

"How do you even know all this?" I asked, irritated still that she hid it all from me.

"Scarlet, you forget I studied Ancient History at degree." She managed a smile, and then turned serious again. "And of course I made it my knowledge before you were born to find out everything I could about demigod life. Me and your father would have lengthy discussions at top restaurants in London."

"Yet he never told you who he was." I shook my head, incredulous and also disgusted with my dad.

"He couldn't. And neither could Sofia's mother… they just couldn't."

"Sounds stupid." I muttered angrily.

"That may be." Mum sighed. "Scarley, go and say goodbye to your brother. I'll take your bag downstairs."

I was strangely reluctant to say goodbye to my brother. We had never been close, but I never liked goodbyes. Probably because of all the people in my life that had buggered off. So when I barged into Harry's room, we just looked at each other awkwardly.

"What do you want?" He grunted.

"I, um, have to leave." I revealed. He looked up, a bit confused.

"What do you mean, leave? To the shop?"

"No, Harry, I'm leaving home. At least for the summer." I snapped the first part, and softly spoke the second.

"You haven't rowed with Mum again, have you?" He asked warily.

"No. I just have to. I might explain to you one day… but."

The two of us just looked at each other. His face portrayed no sign of emotion; however he played with his hands, like he did when he was nervous.

"Will I see you again?" He eventually asked.

"Hopefully." I decided not to give a yes or no answer, especially as I hadn't even made up my mind yet. He then surprised me by coming up and hugging me. He was small for his age too, so he looked up when he next spoke to me.

"I'm going to miss you, sis." He grimaced, as though saying that caused him pain. I burst out laughing, and then sighed.

"Yeah, I'm going to miss you being a grumpy sod."

"Says you, you're like a thunder cloud personified!"

I shook my head and smiled, before turning serious. "Harry, please look after yourself. You're starting year seven, you're going to secondary school. Don't be a twat. And look after Mum. I'll be worrying about you."

"Scarlet, we're not going to burn the house down without you. You don't run this house."

"I beg to differ." I argued.

"Can you tell me what's going on?"

I hesitated, contemplating this. He's my brother, so perhaps he should know the truth. But then, I had a sense that telling him would be dangerous.

"No." I said firmly. "Maybe when you're older, like I said."

"Scarlet come down now!" I heard my mother call. I bit the inside of my mouth as my brother and I said goodbye to one another, and could hardly bring myself to leave his room and come downstairs.

"Are you alright?" Sofia asked, once I had joined them.

"Fine." I said, daring anyone to contradict me. Nobody did.

"Put your coat on." Mum told me.

I went and put on my dark purple winter coat, and then had a sudden memory.

"What about the monster outside?" I asked suddenly.

"There's a monster outside?" Mum gasped. "And to think I walked right past it…"

"What do we do?" Sofia shrieked, panicked.

"I think we should leg it." I shrugged.

"So wise." Lucas nodded sarcastically.

"Well what else can we do?" I argued. Nobody said anything. "We have none of this celestial bronze that Mum mentioned, so we're best off running for it."

"Couldn't we just creep quietly?" Sofia suggested meekly.

"That doesn't half sound more safe." Lucas agreed.

I peered through the door. The monster was awake, but not looking in the direction of the path. To creep, or to run?

"Let's just run for it!" I persuaded. "If it's awake, it will sense we're creeping straight away. I'm going."

Pretty bravely, I must admit, I shouldered my backpack, opened the door and ran. I could hear footsteps following me. I shuddered as I passed the monster, who has just realised what was going on and jumped up. I didn't stop running until I reached the car, and crashed right into it. The others, thankfully, managed to reach the car also, but Mum, panicking, stumbled when trying to reach her car keys to unlock the car and the monster was advancing on us.

"Mum hurry up!" I shouted.

Mum ignored me, having found her keys, she now had to find the correct one. It was utterly ridiculous how long it was taking her to unlock the bloody car. Bleep bleep… and the car doors all opened and Mum and two teenagers threw themselves in. I tried, but someone had hold of my coat. I turned my head and gasped. The monster had hold of me. I struggled against it, absolute fear now filling me up.

Then the strangest thing happened. I had a burst of rage, and this burst of rage almost blinded me. It felt as though my skin had exploded off my body, and my vision was black. But the next thing I knew, the monster was off me, and unconscious on the ground. I stared at it for a moment, stunned, but the sound of the car horn urgently beeping spurred me back to life, and I climbed into the passenger seat, again, confused with the event that had just occurred.