Chapter 4.

Cleo: (vessel, ceremony, bloodline…ME…..)

Cleo: (How is this even possible?)

Caught off guard by the director's quick movements I can't help but let out a light squeal.

Cleo: "Ack!.!"

I don't hear a word he says as my mind is still racing a mile a minute, but his voice is enough to snap me out of my thoughts long enough to hear him say.

Director: "I must notify the council and make preparations….."

Looking deeply conflicted he takes a moment to place his hand on my uncle's shoulder and in a sincere tone he continues..

Director: "I shall leave the rest up to you….for the best I think."

He attempts a brief smile as he bids me good day before heading towards the door….

Cleo: (vessel, ceremony, bloodlines?)

I can't seem to do anything with myself all that seems to keep happening is the thoughts, on constant replay of what just happen.

Before I can stop myself I am thrown back into flashbacks from the attack come. They come rushing forth causing my entire trimers throughout my entire body, my legs to start to give out and just before full panic sets in I hear a familiar calming voice.

Even as confused and upset as I am, he has always known how to calm me.

Uncle: "Breath honey you have to breath….. Everything's going to be fine…."

Uncle: "Here sweetie."

My body stiffens has he tries to guide me over towards a chair. All the emotions I am feeling must show across my face because he takes a step back giving me space but still being close enough to matter…

Uncle: "Please dear, you look faint."

Whispering comforting words but still staying at a distance he starts rubbing the middle of my back as I let him guide me towards a chair.

Uncle: "Here"

He hands me a small glass of water before taking a seat across from me.

Looking at my uncle trying to sound as calm as possible.

Cleo: "There is more going on here….then just today at the temple."

Nodding in agreeance as he speaks.

Uncle: "Yes…but I am afraid this all of this goes deeper than you ever could imagine.."

Uncle: "You have questions and I know how confusing this must be but we don't have the time to go into full detail now.."

Uncle: "Athena wants to use you to awaken the guardian she believes slumbers within you."

Realizing the depth of his tone and what he saying I set staring at him with my mouth hanging open.

Trying to recover I take several sips of my water saying the first clear thing that comes to mind.

Cleo: "So that was the goddess Athena? The Athena?"

Cleo: (Deep breaths, Deep breaths)

Cleo: "She believes that I am a guardian? Me…"

Sensing I am on the verge of a freak out again he places his hand on my wrist as an anchor before answering.

Uncle: "I think you already know the answer to that, but yes."

Taking a deep breath himself as he sits back in his chair.

Uncle: "The gods, myths, many of the hero's around us are as real as you and I."

He gestures to all the artifacts around the room.

Uncle: "Though not all of them walk among us they still play a vital part in our everyday lives."

Everything about this day has gone totally wrong and now this. He drops something like this on me now of all days.

Cleo: (Was this why I was finally promoted so she could seek me out?)

An uneasy feeling continues to spreads through me as he continues.

Uncle: "Many of the versions you hear today are far from the truth or have removed from history with the help of us here at the museum and an agency located in America. We work together to hide what needs to be hidden."

Shock and disbelieve start free flowing through my mind along with everything I've ever studied or believed sense a child.

Cleo: "I am not a warrior let alone her warrior. Before today I was normal or as normal as possible."

Before I can stop myself I am thrown back in to the events from today. Everything comes rushing at me at once.

Not so much the violence or shock but instead to the mystery that surrounds them. Power, beauty, secrets, lies and death.

Cleo: (What does it all mean? And what did she mean by "if my bloodline was true?")

Watching me closely my uncle is unsure if he should continue on or wait for me to process.

Calmly he sits back silently waiting for a clue to continue.

Cleo: "I still don't understand how I fit in to all of this?"

Trying to stop my voice from crackling and fading out I take a deep breath and ask him again.

Cleo: "Why was I summoned here today? So that the gods could transform me into something else?"

For the first time in my life my uncle stares back at me speechless. The man that always knew exactly what to say and has never kept anything from me, is now surrounded by secrets and lies. How could he look back at me with such pain in his eyes?

Swallowing my fear and outrage I continue.

Cleo: "It's me I have gathered that much. But what about me? You raised me. You have to know what it all means."

Tears start to form as he speaks the next few words to me causing me to tear up in return.

Uncle: "You my dear have been involved unknowingly sense birth. It is who you are as was your mother before you and her mother before her."

He tries to be as gentle as possible taking his time.

Uncle: "When your parents passed it was decided by the council that without her guidance and proper training it was unsafe to pursue. You were given to me and it was never spoken of again."

Putting his head down in a low tone.

Uncle: "Until a few weeks ago. Fate as some would call it"

Cleo: (My parents? Her guidance? What path? Ugh enough riddles….)

Cleo: "It's my mother you're talking about when you say her guidance?"

No one ever told me what really happen to them that night just that they were killed in a freak accident. I was only nine when it happen.

Waiting patiently for him to gather himself before he continues I can't help but grow angrier as I watch how torn he is between what he wants to say, should say and needs to say.

Uncle: "Yes. It's her it's always been her."

Uncle: "She was special so very special….."

Before he gets a chance to continue there is a knock at the door.

KNOCK….KNOCK…

It opens and in walks a tall thin pale fancy dressed man with short blonde hair dressed up done by an overly bright purple suite.

My stomach slightly drops as two agents follow in behind him. I don't think I could handle anything else today.

Surprise spreads across my uncle's face as he quickly jumps to his feet and rushes over to greet the fancy dressed man.

Uncle: "Kale, to what do we owe this honor? If I had known you were coming I would have prepared…."

Cleo: (Mr. Fancy pants has a name...)

Kale quickly cuts my uncle off clearing seeing the state of distress on his face and apparently me in the back ground.

Cleo: (Is he? Oh boy here we go!)

Kale: "Is this her? The girl Athena spoke of?"

Cleo: (Athena mentioned me to him?)

The thought of her sends shivers down my spine but to my surprise it's not out of fear but out of awe that the goddess was thinking about me. She has always been my favorite goddess.

Cleo: (OMG this is not the time, what am I five?)

They are both walking towards me slowly as they whisper to each other but before he gets a chance to introduce himself, my uncle start shouting at him.

Uncle: "She what? You can't be serious."

Realizing his outburst he attempts to regain himself clearing his throat.

Uncle: "When exactly does she expect this to happen? The council won't be ready until…."

Before he has a chance to finish or I a chance to react there is a spine chilling voice from behind me.

Athena: "Now…"

I had been so distracted by the man's fancy suite and my childish thoughts that I didn't notice her walk in or pop in I am not sure.

Cleo: "Wait what?"

End of chapter 4.