Chapter 12
Dina's POV
I blinked, shocked. A nervous giggle escaped my throat and I jumped at the sound. I glanced at my friends. Wyatt looked both embarrassed at the fact that he, the toughest guy in our school, had just been beaten by a girl. Artemis had turned an odd shade of maroon that didn't at all suit him. I cleared my throat.
"So…anyone know who my mom is?"
Willow rolled her eyes.
"Dina, as you haven't been claimed yet, we can't be sure, but we're pretty much positive that you'll be in the Aphrodite cabin, due to your obsessive hair styling and makeup applying."
My eyes widened at the idea of living with people who understood my need for perfection. I loved it immediately.
Wyatt snorted.
"Excellent, my girlfriend has the hottest mom in the universe."
Artemis' color had faded to an angrier shade of scarlet.
"Willow." The word was a statement, not a question.
"Why didn't you tell me? Did you think that I couldn't handle it?"
He was beginning to scare me. He moved towards Willow and I instinctively moved so I was in front of her. That was a bit counterproductive, as she had grown quite a bit over the last few months. She was now six inches taller than me, and I had just learned that she was an evil psychopath on a battlefield.
"Artemis, I had to. There was no other way to keep you safe."
"Safe? Safe? I think I can keep myself safe-
"SHUT UP!" Wyatt bellowed. I buried my head in my hands.
"Wyatt, if you don't mind, I was just explaining to Arty dearest why we- well, you mostly- are in mortal danger right now." Willow was death glaring as Wyatt started trying and failing miserably at yoga breathing.
"Wy-Wy, love, if you're yoga breathing, do it right, please. It makes my heart ache to see loved ones fail at one of the easiest things about being a Dina." I grinned.
Artemis didn't back down.
"Dammit, Willow!"
"Arty, I'm getting to what's going on. Just let me slap Wyatt for yelling at me."
SMACK.
"Owww!"
"Aw…want me to kiss it better?" I pecked him on the cheek.
Willow and Artemis were getting more and more aggravated with each other. They had migrated gradually inside.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE, JUST ANSWER ME!"
"I'LL ANSWER YOU WHEN I WANT TO!"
"HOW ABOUT NOW?"
"NO, I WAS THINKING WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT OVER TEA AND COOKIES!"
"THEY'RE BISCUITS!"
"COOKIES!"
The sound of cheap plastic furniture breaking made me run inside. Willow had tackled Artemis to the ground and was attempting to knock him out. Wyatt ran to separate them which earned him a bloody nose, courtesy of Willow.
"Jesus, Will!" he exclaimed.
"EVERYONE STOP!" I screamed.
Willow stopped mid-punch. Artemis' jaw dropped. Wyatt looked dumbfounded, mainly because Willow had never shown any sign of aggression.
"Ok, why don't we all try some yoga breathing…and here, smell these, Willow. Don't kill anyone." I tossed her my smelling salts. She didn't take them.
Artemis was the first to break the awkward silence.
"Will someone tell me what the hell is going on? It is my first time being completely clueless and I must say I hate the feeling."
Willow sighed.
"Ok, but you'd be safer not knowing." She paused before continuing.
"So you know how the Greek gods are real? Well, so are the monsters. And the titans. But they took care of them a few years ago. And you knowing that they exist make you more vulnerable to them."
Wyatt paled.
"So I'm not insane?"
Willow laughed. It was short, humorless.
"No, you're not. None of you are."
"What're you talking about?" I had never seen any of the monsters that Willow was describing.
"Well, since Aphrodite isn't really powerful, it's not really likely that they would be attracted to you. Wyatt, I'm guessing you're a son of Apollo, and Arty, I'm thinking Athena. They're both pretty powerful, so if you two have been seeing stuff it's not your imagination."
"So the only things on the planet not attracted to me are monsters? That's one more thing I don't have to worry about." I was a bit confused, but found it humorous at the same time.
"Don't worry Dina; we don't think of you any less for it." Willow grinned at me. I returned the smile half-heartedly. I was too stressed to be too happy.
"Toss me my salts." Artemis picked them up and chucked them at me. I breathed deeply and decided that maybe this whole thing wouldn't be so stressful after all.
It would get me out of high school, wouldn't it?