God-Bloods

It happened again. The dreams. I was surrounded by fire in a crater. It flickered and danced around me, threatening to engulf me. But I could only stare at the figure ahead.

A man of fire, his laugh echoing with a searing heat. Yet it sent a chill down my spine. Every time he laughed, the fire all around roared with him.

"Them?! They would never accept you! No...they will fear you."

The fires reached a crescendo, the heat bearing down on me. I was not sure what I was afraid of more. The fact that it engulfed me...or the fact that I felt nothing in what should have been a warm embrace.

I jolted upright, shaking and breathing deeply. It felt like my first breath of fresh air in forever. My lungs didn't ache, and there was only a dull throb in my lower back.

I appeared to be in a hospital bed. Only there wasn't any IV drip, or monitors. Instead other teenagers, wandering around with water, bandages and other supplies. Looking around I understood more of my surroundings. Or rather, understood less.

Instead of walls there was tarp, separated by wooden pillars. So it was a large tent of a sort. The bed I laid in seemed like a normal bed. What confused me the most was the fact it was teenagers treating others. No adults in sight working on them. It was confusing, to say the least.

I sat up further in bed, groaning as I did. One of the teens caught sight of me and rushed over, easing me back down.

"Easy there, easy. You took a beating from that Tel- that...dog man" they explained, "Put up a good fight though. Maybe I was wrong..."

Once they had sat down, I blinked and realized just who it was...and glared.

"Cornel...you left us! To fight that thing, all on our own! You left me with a kid, without saying a word, without telling me what that thing was! It nearly killed us! What is a telkhine, what is a God-Blood, whe-"

He quieted me quickly, standing over with a hand over my mouth.

"Others are resting. Please, please be quiet. I should have told you, yes...but..."

My eyes rolled, and looked down...and they went wide. He realized what I was about to do by the look on my face, and tried to quiet me. But, I screamed.

This guy had goat legs! Not human legs! Human legs down bend that way! And he had horns on his head! Why did he had horns on his head!? Several others in the tent just groaned while I screamed.

Screamed till I couldn't, instead my chest heaving more. He held his hand there, giving me a look as if to ask 'you done?'. It was a little while longer before he finally took his hand off. I remained still, staring.

"Right...now that that's out of the way...you're in Camp Half Blood. Camp for Demigod heroes and others. Such as Satyrs...like myself." Cornel gestured to his whole self. This was nuts, but it was real, wasn't it? Only one question came before my mind.

"Why?"

He seemed confused by the question, only a taking a few moments to register when he nodded understandingly.

"Let's list it off; you helped a demigod I was sent to rescue, you saw the monster, you fought the monster, and the boundary let you through" He counted off each finger, nodding go himself. "That's what I don't get. You're..."

I quirked a brow. Cornel hung off from those words for a while.

"I'm what?" I asked. What was a demigod? I had heard the term somewhere, possibly a movie. Or some fun reading in the library.

"...I don't know." I didn't know why. But that sent chills through my body, to the bone. He seemed to know plenty here, then again there was a lot still to know. Maybe another could give me a straighter answer...I decided it was time to find another.

I sat up, pushing past Cornel who urged me back to the bed, but his voice got further and further after exiting the medical tent.

All around was what looked like a camp. Snow covered the ground, nearby cabins covered in snow save for one. Yet it was not snowing here, not a single flake flowing down from the sky.

A bunch of teens were running about. A trio nearly knocked me flat, running off wearing armor. Upon a closer look after glaring at them, I took note of their armor and swords at their sides. Teenagers, equipped like soldiers from an older time. All of them wore orange shirts with words printed across their front.

Others had bows, helmets, shields. There was also more goat legged men and...ladies with a whole other shade of skin and flowers growing from their hair. A share of odd looks came my way from many passerby's, I shot them back in kind. A pair of footfalls came racing after me, catching up as I was still staring around in both awe and annoyance.

"Helene, please. Come back to-"

I whirled around. How? How did he know my name? By Cornel was a blonde boy, must have been close to my age.

"How do you know my name?"

"We went through your things. Had to see anything about medical history, allergies, illnesses, such as your strawberry allergy. Gotta keep a close eye on-"

"I didn't ask you." The blond boy opened his mouth to say more, then reluctantly closed it and downcast his eyes. Cornel glared at me.

"This is Will. Child of Apollo, and he just wants to help" he said. What do I care who he is the child of?

"Doesn't give you the right to look through my stuff! Where is my pack?! Where am I?! This is kidnapping, you know!"

By now, I had attracted attention. Too much attention. Other teens stopped what they were down to watch and stare at the fiasco before them. I was just about ready to start throwing punches.

How I held myself, fists clenched and a direct stare at the satyr was clear enough; Back. Off.

Apparently, someone didn't understand sign language. He took a step forward. I moved fast. I had dealt with bullies, and saw Cornel as nothing more than another bully. Taking a swing, it should have made contact. I didn't account for a bully have goat legs, being quick on their feet.

He moved with ease, then gripped my arm in a tight grip. Suddenly he was behind me, holding one of my arms to my back while the other swung widely.

"Let go!" I screamed, flailing and swinging. Will had to duck back to avoid being clunked in the head. "Let me go! This is kidnapping! I said, let me g-"

A bright flash came from my peripheral vision. The grip was gone, letting me fall flat on my face. Once I sat up I saw dozens of campers stunned, rubbing their eyes along with Cornel. Others blinked rapidly...what was that?

"Enough!"

Startled, I turned my gaze to a man on a horse, his gaze and stance full of authority. His eyes scanned to situation before landing on me. They remained there, before softening slightly. The horse counted at the dirt, and with a nod he beckoned me forth.

If it was not for his steeled gaze and posture I would have stayed where I was. I stood, approaching the man. As I got closer, the realization slapped me with a harsh reality. The horse and man were one. Where the man's waist was connected to the neck of the horse. He wore a suit jacket with a tie, thinning brown hair atop his head with intense brown eyes and a bushy brown beard.

His bottom half was a white stallion. Nothing too peculiar other than that.

He held a hand out to me, urging me forth till his hand was placed upon my shoulder. How he was dressed was like a university teacher. He looked the part, save for a horses rear. That wouldn't sit well with most universities.

"Child, I understand this is all...strange to you. But your old life, you cannot go back to. It is a dangerous world you have entered.

This is going to sound stranger, and if you need a moment you are free to sit around and take it all in. But you being here, it means you are a half-blood. You know what this means? Being the child of a God? And a great God, at that.

Much is expected of you, and in due time it will all be explained. But you need rest and time to register all of this, right? It is never easy for anyone. Please understand, we only wish to help."

His words flowed over me, keeping my questioning mind at peace. His voice was level, touched with concern and assurance. I simply nodded, despite not understand a single word he meant.

"I will, however, answer one question before I send you off." He raised a brow, looking down at me.

What question...one question...

"You said...I am a child of a God...what did you mean by that?" He paused, pondering this. In his eyes, there seemed to be a distant thought lingering. "Like, what God? I only know of the one from church."

"Why, that would be referring to your lineage. Seeing what you did back there, hearing how you flashed a monster with light...you have a gift, daughter of Apollo."

Another slap of reality to the face. I had no idea what Apollo was.

Apollo Cabin. First thing I did getting there was apologizing to Will, whom I later learned was full named Will Solace, who was wary yet accepting of my presence. Wouldn't you, if a person you had never met before took a swing at you?

The cabin counsellor, Lee Fletcher, was welcoming enough. The others of the cabin greeted me warmly. It was a strange feeling, with still being overwhelmed from so many revelations in a single day.

Apollo's cabin itself was beautiful. It seemed plain save for how the sun hit it and made it seem to shine gold. Inside were potted plants, cots and bunk beds. Simplistic, yet the flowers added a certain touch to it all.

I was guided to one of the bunk beds, being told to set my things down under the bottom bunk. Guess this was something I would have to get used to now. As I gave thanks for welcoming me and sitting down, all of it finally hit me.

I had felt...blank since my talk with Chiron, the Centaur as I had later learned. When all the information hit me, it was like being hit by a freight train. I felt exhausted, falling back on my bunk with a long sigh. I felt flat, my mind having gone blank from overdrive. It was all too much. I wasn't given any time to process any of this, simply left to sort through it on my own. Sure, Chiron offered assistance and these new...siblings? Is that what they were? They could help me. They've been on my position...right

Will had sat nearby my bunk occasionally, mentally checking off a check list of symptoms and what else he might find. Meanwhile other campers threw questions.

"-how'd you do it, beat the Telbine?"

"Telkhine, it's telkhine."

"-a rare power, using light. You must be strong!"

"She's just lucky."

"What's your favorite song?"

I groaned in my head at the constant barrage, did my best to answer. They seemed surprised to know my favorite song was Girlfriend. So what?

I sighed again, blowing hair from my face. I had to get answers.

Venturing back out of the cabin, against Will's better judgement, I began looking for Chiron again. If anyone could help, he could surely. And where would the leader of a camp be? The biggest house, that's where. At least, that was my best guess.

I had had a glimpse of it before when I was staring around in confusion. A four story house of blue with a deck around the house. As I made my approach I made out a figure sitting on the deck, tipping back a can. Frizzled dark hair, a Hawaiian shirt but what threw me off was his eyes. How they stuck to me like a stink on my clothes. There was a flicker in that gaze that threatened my very existence. I gulped back.

"Ex...Excuse me" I could not understand why I felt unnerved speaking to the red faced man. He looked like a holiday dad, not a murderous man. So why did I feel so...conflicted. Intimidated by his presence. "I'm looking for Chiron?"

He seemed to regard me with his silent gaze, even setting down his can. But before a word could be spoken, sounds of hooves against wood came around the corner.

There he appeared, horse and all. Chiron looked between me and the man. Then gestured me around to the front. I hurried along, averting my gaze. The man scoffed, getting back to drinking.

"Chiron, I have so many questions but for starters, why do you have a trucker dad on your front porch?" That earned a hard chuckle.

"Mr.D, God of Wine." That sent through another shiver. I had met a God. In silence but even still...

"Do all gods dress like that?" He simply shook his head, a small smile above his beard.

"You do not know much of mythology, do you?" he asked. I shook my head. "Shame. Lots of exciting things to learn in those classes."

He opened the door for me, welcoming me inside. While he may have smiled, something in his eyes told me otherwise. They were heavy with worry.

"So, child. Now that we are away from prying eyes and ears...what do you remember from the fight? With the Tel...the dog man." That caught me off guard.

"Uh...um...well, I remember running from it through the city. After Cornel found me-"

"Found you?" He arched a brow. I stammered.

"W-Well not quite found me...I followed him. I don't know why. He got me to find the kid, Tet- oh, Tetsu! is he okay?!" If he had died...

"The boy is fine. Light scratches and orange stains. Now, go on."

I sighed with relief, before continuing. I was glad he was alive and well.

"Okay...I stabbed it with a knife that Cornel gave me. It..." I paused. What it said to me came to mind. "It...It said it knew my scent? And that it wouldn't stop it from...I assume from harming me?"

A look of confusion crossed his features. He brought a hand to his beard, stroking along. To see a man who seemed so wise and in the moment wear a look of confusion was discomforting. Along with that, a hoof counted at the steps.

"Curious..."

Curious? Smartest half man in the room. and all he could say was curious? His eyes widened before I could say anything.

"Even more curious..."

"What? What is so curious?" Instead he stepped around me, muttering to himself while moving to the stairs. What was odd was all that green smoke flowing down the steps. "Hey uh...whatever you are cooking up there? I think it's burned. Like really, really burned. Is there like, a demigod of fire extinguishers or something?"

There was a momentary pause, with Chiron watching the smoke.

"I believe...this is for you to attend to. In the attic. I shall await you, down here" he gestured to the stairs, crossing his arms. I frowned, wondering what kind of adult sends a kid into smoke. But no argument could come forth.

"And if you hear anything, don't fret. But, do tell me what you hear" he continued, only making me worry.

I took a deep breath, thinking if I ventured in there I was going to choke. Taking each step with care. It smelled of rotten eggs, mixed with mulch. I ascended past the second floor, following the wisps of green. Straight into an attic.

Shelves stacked high with piles of objects. Horns, swords, statuettes. Despite being piled, they were categorized with a certain neatness to it. Jars of pickled animal parts and...well I don't know what it was. Never seen an animal that that large of a claw. A massive snake head that could not possibly be real was hung on the wall.

Not to mention the mummified corpse, quite a centerpiece. An odd one.

The attic filled with green smoke up to my ankles. I scoured the attic, searching for what was bringing about all of this smoke. I smelled no fire, saw nothing burning on a stove. Whatever it was-

A snap. I froze, staring at the window of the attic past the mummy...had...had it moved? The way it's head was tilted, I could have sworn...

Another twitch. I backed up fast with a few steps, reaching for the nearest item; a goblet. I gripped it tight in both hands, ready to deal some damage. All right, Helene, you got this. It's just like the movies, it's just like the movies, just whack off its head.

"All right, mummy. I've seen Brendan Fraser beat you guys before, I will not hesitate" I warned, adjusting my stance.

The mummy did nothing in reply. Now it's blank eyes stared through me blindly, but it seemed to see me nonetheless. It felt aware of my presence, and I felt I was aware of that fact. I took a tentative step forward.

Green smoke began to seep from its mouth, I realized it had been coming from the corpse this whole time. The smell was stronger now.

"I swear if you move," I muttered, approaching closer, "Your head is going out that-" Then I screamed when it did the last thing I expected...

She spoke.