A/N: A shout-out to all those who followed this story! Persiana, snyderk161, Daughter of Poseidon25434, you guys rock! Thanks again!
_
The woman waited for me. The rest of the kids had been dismissed. I guess they weren't allowed to hear what the woman had to say. Well, everyone except Carter and Sadie. I wasn't suprised- they seemed to be in on everything. Sadie looked at the woman.
"Bast, what's going on? Who is she?" Sadie asked, gesturing at me. I scowled. Rude much?
"Hey, I'm right here!" I exclaim, but she just ignores me. The woman- who I assumed is named Bast, seeing how she was called it twice- stares at her lovingly. Like a mother would.
"Sadie, Carter, I am not allowed to say much. The gods have decided that you are not to know until she... proves herself. I believe though, she is no threat." She turns to me for an answer. I shake my head no.
"Absolutely not. I won't hurt my friends." I say fiercly. Hey what can I say- I'm loyal. It's not my flaw though. No, my fatal flaw is cockiness. I'm to sure of myself- and that will get me killed. The woman smiles at me slightly. I have a feeling she's beginning to like me. Then it hits me- she said gods.
"Hey, what gods told you not to say anything?" I ask. She frowns at me.
"The only gods in this world. You've stumbled here- now you must learn our ways." With that said, she turns and walks towards the fire. Carter and Sadie look at me questioningly.
"What did she mean, 'in this world'? What world are you from?" Carter asks. I shrug. To be honest, I have no idea what the gods are in this world. I have a few ideas- I wouldn't be a daughter of Athena if I didn't- but none of them seem right.
"Why don't you show me this world of yours?" I ask politely, and Carter nods.
"Alright, come on. I'll show you the library."
_
The library was amazing. Cleo was in there- apparently she was like the librarian. There was a ton of scrolls, in Egyptain and English. I could even get them in Ancient Greek! All I had to do was voice my question out loud, and a shabti would get it for me.
However, it was weird. There were Egyptian deities painted on the floor and ceiling. The Egyptian scrolls, the shabti. It was all starting to prove one of my theories- one of my least favorites. Carter kept pulling down scrolls though, obviously not focusing on me. Or trying not to, at least. I did catch him sneak a few looks my way. Sadie too. Finally, I couldn't take it. I plopped in a chair and called out.
"Um, find anything?" I asked. Carter nodded, and he brought the scrolls over by me.
"Yep. Now before we begin, I must ask you not to say anything. Just listen first. Ok?" I don't want to agree- it reminds me of when I learned I'm a demigod- but I reculantly do. Basically because I didn't want to lose Carter as my friend. "Great, then here goes." He took a deep breath.
"The Ancient Egyptian gods are real. They are still around. You've met one. Bast is the goddess of cats." He pauses, obviously eaiting for me to say something. When I stayed quiet- I did promise to- he continues. "And with the Gods staying aroud, Egyptian magic survived. Egyptian magicians normally hold blood-lines to a pharaoh from Egypt. They make magicians- the people in this house." That sank in- they thought I was a magician? There was no way! I'm a demigod! Carter continued, pausing my thougts of denial.
"Egyptian magic is about turning words into reality. There are seven kinds- elementalists, diviners, combat magicians, necromancers, animals charmers, sunu and sau. Sunu means healer and sau means charm-maker. Every person with the blood of the pharaohs specialize in one of these areas.
"Another part of being blood of the pharaohs means the gods will take you on as a host. This happens beacuse The gods prefer blood of the pharaohs and can not physically walk on the Earth without a mortal body anchoring them. A few months ago, Sadie was possessed by Isis and I was possessed by Horus. Set even possessed our uncle, Amos." Then he began to tell me the story. Throughout his explanation Sadie jumped in and the two backed up their claims with images from the scrolls they had taken down from the shelves. As I listened, I kept my face neutral. It wasn't that bad. Not like the Titan War. When he finished, the room was silent. "Any questions?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Nope. Nada. None at all." I say. "This is actually pretty normal." They look at me. "What? It is." I say and Carter raises his hands in defense.
"Ok. I just know it's a lot to take in. Why don't you turn in and we'll figure out what path you'll follow tomorrow. Oh and you will start your training as well." He suggests, and I nod in compliance.
"Sure, sounds good. See you tomorrow." I say, then head off to sleep. As I gaze at my ceiling, I think back to my moms message. You are not alone. I am with you. As I drift of to sleep, I realized she was right. I'm not alone. My last thought before falling to sleep- what's a headrest?
My dream that night was not a normal one. Well, for a mortal anyway. But even in demigod standards it was weird. It started out where I was standing in Camp Half-blood with Annabeth and Percy. Plus Grover, Thalia, Nico and demigods I couldn't see behind me. They were standing, weapons out and facing two people I met today. Carter and Sadie.
Carter and Sadie brought out boomerangs- no, wands- and pointed them at my family. It seemed to be a fight between the two sides. Behind Carter and Sadie were a group of magicians. I recognized Walt, Jaz, Cleo and Felix. But the sun bent and refracted around the magicians, so it seemed the shadows belonged to other people. People with human bodies and animal heads. A shiver ran down my spine. They were showing that person's godly path.
As I raced foward, trying to stop the fighting, I noticed the elements attempting to stop me. The gods were readying for battle as well. The Egyptians stared at me with hatred and betrayal. None of them mattered except for Carter's gaze. He wouldn't even look at me. A signal was given, and the two sides began to fight. Then the scene shifted.
Now it was the gods fighting- both sides. The Greeks were winning it seemed, but it was really hard to tell. Finally, my mother and Thoth strode foward and began talking to each other. Then they addressed the crowd. Eventually, the gods settled down. Zeus and Horus spoke to each other, and thunder and sunlight flashed through the room. The Mist grew strong and thick weaving itself in between the two groups until they could not see each other. The dream showed Olympus, my mother sitting on her throne and staring at me. "Daughter, this is what you have started. You have brought the groups together- make sure it does not end in war."
I woke up, heart pounding, sweaty and gasping for breath. I felt as if I had fought the two wars, alone. I analyzed the dream, trying to decide the hidden meaning- if there was one. There wasn't, so I got up and stretched. I changed into a Camp Half-blood shirt and frayed jean shorts. Grabbing my knife sheath and necklace, I placed both pieces on. I exited my room and eased the door shut. I pressed the pendant, and walked downstairs, staying close to the wall. I was going to practice.
I had made it down the stairs and through the Great Room when the lights suddenly turned on. Bast stood there, knives out, searching the room. I wanted to guess that she was searching for me. When she found nothing, she called to me. "Kitten, I know you are there. Show yourself." I recuantly took off my necklace and appeared before her. She smiled. "Ah, there you are. What are you doing Minny?"
"I was going to practice with my knife. I don't want to get out of practice."
"What is coming up that you would need to be able to fight? A war?" Bast hissed, obviously trying not to show her disappointment. With me? I shook my head no.
"No, not another war. Just wanted to be ready for monsters and such." Bast smiled wickedly, and held up her knives.
"As long as I am not helping you prepare for war... let us practice together." Before I could answer, she lunged. Instinct forced me to leap backwards and reactions swiftly grabbed my knife form it's sheath and pointed it at Bast's throat. She purred. "Very good. Now, let's fight for real." She lunged at me again, and instinct brought my blade up, knocking hers aside as I danced out of her reach. We had begun.
I had to say this for Bast-she was good. Really good. I normally pressed my opponet and didn't leave them time to put me on defensive. With Bast, I was on offensive for two seconds and then I was forced on defense. Most of the time I just stopped her knife from making a lethal cut. I was dripping in sweat, my orange t-shirt looking like a rusty brown. I decided to try a maneuver Annabeth had accidentally taught me.
I backed up, hoping to lead her foward. She hissed, but advanced, knives flashing. I timed it- I had to start now. I lunged foward unexpectantly, slamming my knife aginst her left one. As soon as it connected, I twisted, keeping the knife there. I was now stationed in the area between her knives. I placed force on my hilt that was on her blade. It twisted the knife while forcing the blade itself down. Two opposite forces acted on the knife at the same time. Bast howled in the pain it caused, dropping the knife.
I kicked it far away from her and slashed at her unprotected chest. She was forced to back up, hissing in frustration. I scrambled onto the couch, waiting for her to come back towards me. She scrambled back towards me, howling in outrage. I timed it, just about... almost there... now! I jumped off the couch, flipping it as I flew towards her. A bang echoed from the couch colliding with the floor. Her head jumped towards it, and I landed behind her. As she realized what happened, I disarmed her right knife. Kicking that away too, I jabbed the back of her knee and she crumpled to the ground. I situated my knife above her neck, breathing heavily. She smiled.
"Good work Minny. No mortal has ever been able to best me in millenia." I smiled, then sheathed my knife and reached a hand out to her. She grabbed it and I pulled her to her feet.
"Thanks. You should see my sister Annabeth fight with a knife. I can never beat her- neither can our best swordsman." She purred.
"Still, a mortal has not bested me. You have. That is no small feat, my dear." I smiled.
"But I'm not mortal." I said, confused. She laughed.
"I meant a being that can die, dear. I understand the difference." I laughed to. It seemed obvious, in retrospect. I looked down at my sweat-soaked body, and wrinkled my nose.
"Ugh, I need to take a shower. Thank you for sparring with me." She nodded.
"Any time dearest. But do take a shower- you stink." She said, her nose wrinkled as well. I nodded and walked up the stairs towards my room. I passed Carter on the stairs and smiled at him.
"Hey Carter. What's up?" He looked at me once, eyes narrowed, then walked down the stairs. Rude much? I shrugged it off and continued walking. I desperatley needed a shower.
_
Fifteen minutes later I locked my door and went down for breakfast. My knife was sheathed and at my hip, my hair back in it's normal braid. I even wore a fresh Camp T, but this time with black shorts. I grabbed my tool bag at the last second. I had my bracelet, and my three necklaces on. I fingered my camp beads, deciding to place them in my room. I didn't want them to break.
I walked up the stairs, but heard voices coming from Carters room. Him and Sadie were talking about... me? I pressed my pendant and crept closer. "I'm telling you the truth Sadie! She's different!" Carter seemed frustrated and annoyed. I frowned. What did he mean, different?
Sadie rolled her eyes. "Of course she's different Carter- she's one of us!" I felt him shake his head. Don't ask how though. I can't explain it.
"Not like that Sadie. She said she's not mortal." Sadie scoffed.
"What- she's a goddess?" She asked, tone implying disbelief. He nodded again. "I don't believe you." She stated.
"Do you believe Bast? She said she knew the difference." Carter argued, and I sucked in a breath. He had overheard me and Bast!
"Yes, but you also said she told Minny she meant a person that could die. That's what she meant by mortal Carter." Sadie rolled her eyes.
"So what, Minny can't die?" Carter countered, and Sadie shrugged. Then frowned.
"Carter, why are you so interested in this?" She asked.
"If she thinks she's not mortal, what if she's a..." He trailed off. Sadie glanced at him sharply, mouth wide open. She looked like a fish.
"Carter, you think she may be a godling?" She asked. Godling? Did they know? I thought. Carter nodded. "But that's impossible! We were godlings and we thought we were mortal!" She cried.
"Yes but remember what Desjardins said? 'The gods have possessed you, as they always do. Soon you will forget you're even human.' She forgot Sadie! She's possessed." He said, voice rising. Sadie seemed to hesitate.
"I don't know Carter. What if we're wrong? How do we find out?" Carter paused, thinking.
"Minny has journals in her room. Top shelf of her bookshelf. Maybe we can check in there?" Sadie grinned.
"Let's go check out the new girl!" They walked out the door, me on their tail.
I know most of you probably don't care about my excuses, but I truly am sorry I took so long in updating this. Schoolwork is piling up, dance season is starting, and track just started. I'm trying out. Plus, I wanted to get the explanation right... Did I do ok? R&R!