Suddenly – as if on queue – there was a bright flash, we both squinted and shielded our eyes, the light was a strange colour; mainly white but with an almost greyish tinge. It dimmed slightly, just enough to let me see properly.
I slowly tilted my head to see the source and found that it was emanating from just above my head. The light was stronger in certain places and seemed to be arranged in such a way it almost resembled an bird of some sort; the wings spread and shimmered, the brightest spots were huge eyes the flickering lights around them were feathers of some sort. Mr Brunner grinned and nodded approvingly.
"That is a claiming" he announced. I felt all warm and fuzzy inside although I wasn't sure why "you are a daughter of Athena."
I smiled; relief flooding over me it was good to get some closure, now I knew that my mum was the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy. This was amazing just unbelievable but I now knew it must be true; she had sent me a sign.
"Cool, demigod, huh?" I mused, this really was a fantastic and slightly strange, the world had just changed around me, everything was new and shiny, this was a completely knew world and I was fready to take it on, after all I was a demigod.
"Yes. This is a life changing moment and I understand that it's important to take time to deal with this but I don't have much time" he seemed to be rushed; he kept glancing outside.
"Who are you and how do you know all about this?" I queried. I suddenly was interested in how the teacher fit into all this gods and monsters.
"I am Chiron, trainer of heroes at camp" so many things in that sentence didn't make sense. My brow furrowed as I tried to sift through my limited knowledge of Greek mythology. One piece of information pushed its way to the front.
"You mean like the same one who trained Hercules and all those heroes?" I wondered if that was why his eyes looked so old, he'd been around while and it showed.
"Indeed, do you know what is interesting about me?" he began, once a teacher always a teacher I guess. Leaning forward he revealed that below his classic teachers tweed jacket was something glistening and white that definitely wasn't human, the rug fell away and revealed two furry legs which were pulling out of a disguised space in the wheelchair. A moment later hooves clacked against the lino.
I gasped as a sleek body kept protruding from the chair. Sure enough after a moment later another two hooves emerged from the wheelchair although it didn't look big enough to to take a whole horse body. This was obviously magic, after all it wasn't such a big leap of imagination as just finding out your mum is a Greek goddess.
"Centaur" I guessed, well it was obvious now "what's the camp you mentioned?"
"its a special place in long island in the U.S where demigods are trained and are protected from the monsters, its the only true safe place for you, alas I cant take you there because there is something I need you to do" he started of talking down almost as high as the ceiling, his horse half giving him extra height but now he was slowly shrinking, squashing his stallion half back into the wheelchair. Shows over. It would be quite terrible if a cleaner walked in on us and found a centaur in a classroom. Mind you they might not see anything different and just go about their business as normal and that would be so much worse. There were so many possibilities that it was making my head hurt. Did he even know what would happen?
"I hate to ask you with you only just being introduced to this life but we really don't have the staff, we've barely got enough satyrs to protect demigods in America let alone the rest of the western world. Then we find out that the gods aren't just having children in the U.S and we have to track down all the others and warn you before the monsters find you, that's why I am here doing the tour" for a moment he sounded like any unhappy office manager who'd been to stretched for too long, weary and frustrated. "i need you to protect some others"
"You want me to protect some other demigods from monsters?" I spread my arms out wide. I was amazed that he had that much faith in me.
"Oh sorry, you will need a weapon" he had misunderstood, I had caused a fair few fights in my time but I had never actually got involved in them, I was small, slim and wasn't the most athletic person. For a few moments he rummaged in his pockets and finally brought a small piece of wood and threw it to me.
I instinctively caught it and looked down at it "I'm supposed to protect someone with a bookmark?" I was just coming to terms with all this and BAM! I'm pushed back into confusion zone.
"look a little closer" Mr Bru- er Chiron said gesturing to the slip of wood that was around 15 centimetres long and 4 centimetres wide. The pale wood was varnished and had beautifully intertwined patterns of gold. they traced into shapes of branches, leaves and flowers. It was enthralling, so delicate and fine workmanship that I couldn't take my eyes away; this wasn't made by man. Eventually I flipped it over and regarded the plain side.
There! Close to the top right corner there was a small circle that was indented. I shakily pressed my index finger to the space and waited.
Almost immediately the bookmark began to vibrate, I dropped it in alarm and before it hit the floor it had shimmered and changed, this really was getting too spooky for me.
I picked up the new item it was around 5 foot long still a pale wood and still had decoration, although it was now a cylindrical pole and there was a goldish spike on each end where the patterns all seemed to emerge from although they now weren't lovely scenes; they were twisting barbed vines or roots. It was a battle staff and looked like it could do some serious damage.
"It is an ancient and powerful weapon " Chiron instructed as I gingerly weighed it in my hands, feeling its balance "that is made of olive tree wood and the spikes are celestial bronze, which is the only sure was of killing a monster. It will not affect mortals either" he added as I gave a little smirk of satisfaction it felt completely natural in my hands.
I spun it around a few times in one hand "will anyone be able to see it when it's in this form? I mean mortals" that word felt strange coming out of my mouth but I had to know.
"Well you can't tell how humans will react – even with the mist – so keep it in the other form unless absolutely necessary" I found the button in the central section and pressed on it and immediately I was clasping the bookmark again.
"cool, at least now I can defend myself" I sighed sliding the bookmark into my jeans pocket "by the way, who am I supposed to by guarding?" I had been itching to ask this question for ages.
"i thought it was obvious, its the four girls you had such a interest in. Ellie Wilson, Jane Grisham, Sam Dolton and Daisy Hayer are all demigods"
dun dun duuuuunnnnnn, thanks for all the reviews, this is my first fanfic and all opinions are welcome, the reviews are lovely so far keep going, sorry I haven't updated recently but iv had a huge case of writers block