Hi, fanfic readers! Don't have much to say except enjoy!

Chapter four: Maia

Einstein curled up next to me and started snoring.

The boy sat up and leaned against a wall while he caught his breath. I sat next to him.

After I got over my shock, I looked around. We were in a classroom. The chairs were all stacked, the lights were off, and macaroni art hung from the ceiling.

The boy swallowed. "Saturday," he whispered. "No school. We can rest here for a few hours."

I looked at him a bit concerned. He seemed really tired.

"Your shoulder's bleeding," I told him. "Do you have some bandages? I can wrap up the cut so it won't bleed anymore."

He hesitated a bit and his eyes drifted to the floor. Some people might not have noticed, but I did and I realized that it was because he wasn't sure if he should let me tend to his wound, like he was afraid I'd faint or something if I see it.

I felt my cheeks grow hot. Okay, so I was completely useless when we were being attacked by those monsters, but I was good at taking care of someone. That was one of the only things I was good at.

"I-I'll be fine! You shouldn't be worrying about me! If I don't help, you'll get more hurt," I stuttered.

He reluctantly let me help him, and, truthfully, I did cringe while bandaging it up. The wound wasn't that deep but the skin around the cut was tainted light green and blood was oozing out. His sleeve was soaked through. I didn't notice before because his jacket was black and the blood didn't show.

"That's good enough. Thanks," he said, pulling his jacket back on. I knew he wasn't trying to show it but the wound was bothering him.

He took something out of his pocket. A Ziploc bag filled with…lemon squares?

He broke off a teensy bit and handed it to me.

'Thanks for being so generous,' I thought, taking the food. I ate it.

It was the taste that struck me first, then the memories.

It tasted delicious, almost heavenly. It tasted like something I've eaten before.

'What?' I thought. 'What is it? Where have I eaten it before?' I tried digging into the deepest part of my brain to find out, but it was useless. The wonderful sensation left when I swallowed but I felt more energized.

I peered tentatively at the boy. "Can…can I have some more?"

He broke off a bit more which I quickly devoured. It filled my body with new energy again and I felt the shock and tiredness I've been in for the last few days lift. Where, oh where have I eaten this before?

I turned to the boy again. "Um…more?" I saw a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Whoa," he said. "Calm down. I know ambrosia tastes good but too much can kill you."

"Oh." Darn. I was planning to eat that thing for the rest of my life.

He put the Ziploc bag back into his pocket.

He turned and stared into my eyes like he was trying to figure something out about me.

It was only for a second that ours eyes met but that was all that it took. This happened with me before. I can just look at someone and tell what they are like. I don't know how I did it but it was easy. The eyes of other people told me their whole story. You know that saying: eyes are the windows to the soul, right? Well, that was what it was for me. Literally.

Betrayal. Why am I being left alone?

Sadness. Why did that happen?

Loneliness. It's not my fault I'm like this. Why can't anyone accept me for me?

Anger. Stop staring at me. Or I'll kill you.

Then, the boy looked away and I found myself back in the present. I blinked and looked down.

Who was he?

He cleared his throat. "Um…so, I was wondering if you have any questions about what just happened," he said. He sounded a little awkward.

I blinked. Oh, of course! After everything that just happened, I just sort of forgot that I had absolutely no idea what just happened.

"Who…what was those…um…monsters?" I asked.

He took a deep breath. "Myrmekes."

"What?"

"Greek monsters. Giant flesh eating ants that hunts in groups and turns their prey into mush before eating them. They love shiny stuff."

"Oh."

We sat in silence for a while. Truthfully, I didn't know where to start with the questions.

The boy cleared his throat. "Um…listen, you're a half-blood."

"Half-blood?"

"Yeah. You're half human and half god."

I felt something stir inside me. "Half god? What do you mean?"

He looked me in the eye again. "You're half Greek god. I just spoke to you in Ancient Greece and you understood me."

I felt the stirring inside grow stronger.

The boy started from the beginning. He told me about the Greek gods and how they were in North America and how I was the child of one of them. He explained about all different sorts of monsters and how they can't exactly die when you kill them. He told me all sorts of crazy stuff, from prophecies of the Oracle to something called the Mist to a place called Camp Half-blood.

I sat and listened without interrupting once.

After he was done, we sat in silence once again.

"So who's your godly parent?" I whispered, suddenly feeling tired again.

He raised an eyebrow. "Can't you guess?"

I thought about how he shadow traveled (yeah, he explained that, too. When he was fighting the Myrmekes, apparently, he shadow traveled back and forth between their shadows. That's how he seemed to be moving so fast.) and how he summoned those skeletons out of the ground.

"The dead god?" I tried. I never really learned anything about the Greek gods. I came across a book or two about them sometimes but I wasn't good at reading so I never read them.

His lips twitched and I felt my cheeks grow warm again. Darn. He was laughing at me. I feel so stupid.

"My father's name is Hades," the boy explained. "But you can call him the God of the Underworld, or our friend downstairs, if you wish."

I wanted to lie down and take a nap. This is all crazy. I'm dreaming and I just have to wake up. A part of me didn't want to believe him but another part…

I took a deep breath. "Who…who is my godly parent?"

The boy looked away. "I don't know. Maybe Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. Maybe a minor god. I'm really not quite sure. You should…you should get some sleep."

He didn't have to tell me twice. I leaned against Einstein and immediately felt the comforting arms of sleep envelop me. Before I passed out, I somehow gathered the courage to ask one last question.

"What's your name?"

He looked at me. "My name is Nico. Now go to sleep, Maia."

Whew! Chapter four done! I know Nico didn't have that close distance shadow traveling ability in the book but I felt like adding it. ^.^ Really hoped you guys liked it!

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