There was a certain feeling in the air the next morning. Bryson was brushing his teeth before he noticed that something was slightly...off. After rinsing his toothbrush, he decided to investigate the source of the strange energy in the air. The first place he checked was the kitchen, his mother was bustling about while preparing eggs and biscuits for breakfast. Bidding her a good morning, he turned to continue his search. He found what he had been looking for in the spare bedroom, the same one that Draco was sleeping in.
After opening the door, the first thing he saw was a woman sitting on the bed. His heart stopped in fright before he saw that Draco was still asleep behind her. Sighing in relief, he cautiously returned his gaze to the woman. She was tall and had grey eyes that spoke of great power, her blonde hair was held away from her face in a long braid. She wore jeans with a light blue t-shirt that still somehow managed to make it seem as if she were royalty. She gazed at Bryson with eyes that seemed to stare into his soul. She nodded in satisfaction before opening her mouth to speak.
"It is good that you care for him." Bryson blinked, what could she be talking about?
"I...who...what...s-sorry, but who are you and what are you doing here?" He stuttered as his eyes narrowed. He knew somehow that she meant no harm but she still had appeared in his mothers house uninvited.
"I came to see my son." She said softly as she an her fingers through the boy's pale hair.
"Your son?" Bryson's gaze drifted over the pair. They had the same pale skin and the woman's eyes were the same curious grey eyes that seemed to hold great knowledge.
"Yes, I am glad that you have found my Draco, he will live a dangerous life and your care will be treasured by him." She was silent for a moment, pondering her next words.
"I have a request for you. You will need to make sure Draco falls into the care of a young girl by the name of Clarisse. She will take him to a place where he will be safe."
"What do you mean by safe? Can he not be safe here?"
"For the time being, yes. But he cannot be cared for in your home. There is a place for people with his blood."
"What do you mean by that?" The woman stood and met his gaze. Bryson shivered slightly, he knew that whatever the woman was going to say would be important. And possibly dangerous.
"My name is Athena. I am the goddess of wisdom. Draco is a demigod, because of that he will be hunted. The place Clarisse will take him can teach him how to defend himself." She paused and ran a gentle hand down the side of her son's face.
"He has the gift of one of my uncles which makes him more powerful and an even bigger target."
"Wait, you're telling me that you're a goddess and Draco is your son?" Bryson's head was spinning. Athena, greek goddess, real, Draco, demigod, powerful. His head was a whirlwind f thoughts as he tried to comprehend this information. He wanted to deny everything but he somehow knew it to be true.
"Yes." came the answer.
"Okay." he said slowly.
"Draco is a demigod, so shouldn't he have a er… mortal parent?"
"His mortal parent is currently in an unfavorable situation and Draco needed to be removed from that environment. I must leave now. You may explain Draco's heritage to your mother. Do not forget what I have told you. Draco must be protected." Athena's grey eyes fastened on Bryson's and he shivered at the threat that lay in her gaze.
"You will need to go to the Jermyn Child Care and Orphanage. The manager there will explain the situation in greater detail. I cannot linger long, the Fates forbid us to interact with our children. Draco is now in your care."
With a flash, the goddess was gone leaving no trace she had been there at all. Shakily, Bryson walked over to wake the young demigod. He wondered what exactly his mother would think of this.
Two figures stood side by side, watching unseen as the young boy was awakened. One was looking with a sad, wistful look on his face while the other was watching with a more satisfied expression adorning her features. The man sighed softly.
"He will be safe at the camp." The woman pointed out.
"..."
"Don't be so gloomy, we aren't allowed to interfere with our children anyways. This is the best for him."
"He isn't my child. I have no children. I have sworn." There was a hint of bitterness in his tone.
"You can still not interfere with Draco, he is a demigod. Not only that, but one of prophecy."
"I still don't like it."
"You don't have to. Besides, how would you raise him anyways, young children need the sun, he wouldn't be happy down there."The woman was exasperated now, obviously this argument had come up before.
"..."
"I must make my way to Olympus, will you be coming?"
"No." Came the curt reply.
"You can't ignore them forever."
""I said no already and I will thank you to leave it at that. Good Day." With a swirl of shadows, the man disappeared.
"...Stay safe Draco, my darling." The woman whispered as she vanished
The small blue car rattled along the road. It was a long, rather twisted and winded road and it seemed to stretch into the distance before fading away. The lonely car contained two people. A middle aged man with a rather bemused expression at the antics of the other occupant, a small child that was looking in amazement at the landscape speeding by. It was obviously the boy's first time in an automobile. When Bryson had announced that it was time to leave, Draco had rushed to the fireplace, and was confused when he was led outside to the waiting Volkswagen. He was a strange child, Bryson decided. Strange yet amazing. Bryson was currently working out how many of the supposed greek myths were true in his head when the town of Jermyn came into view.
The town of Jermyn was bustling with activity, most people were heading to work or dropping off children for their at school. It was a nice happy town with lots of nice happy people. For the most part that is.
Jermyn Child Care and Orphanage was a group of light blue buildings that were filled with children and the homeless people who are only permitted to stay the night. Most of the employees were volunteers that enjoyed helping the more unfortunate children. On normal mornings, all of the children would be at the breakfast hall at eight o'clock sharp. It is now eight nineteen and one girl is impatiently waiting outside the main office for someone to let her in.
Oscar Montemayor was a short, round, tanned mad with a full beard and curly black hair and looked to be of spanish descent. He walked using a cane, because of his slight limp, and had made a habit of wearing his favorite baseball cap, which changed depending on who was winning. He was a strict vegetarian and had a rather odd, bleating laugh. All in all, Mr. Montemayor was a rather nice individual. Mr. Montemayor had a friendly demeanor but was always rather frustrated when around the child care official, Jansen Drail, a tall skinny woman with grey hair who was extraordinarily strict and never smiled.
Mr. Montemayor was in a good mood. He had dreamt of a magical tree that grew aluminium cans that tasted of fruit punch. Most people would be disturbed to dream of eating cans that grew on trees, but Mr. Montemayor was not most people. Mr. Montemayor was not a person at all. Mr. Montemayor was in fact, as you may have guessed by now, a satyr. He had been running the orphanage in Jermyn for the past twenty years, giving shelter to demigods running from monsters as well as housing mortal children. As he headed down the halls to his office, he hummed a small tune and swung his cane as he walked. He stopped when he saw the young girl standing outside his door and scowling. This was most definitely a child of Ares. A powerful one at that.
"Ah Miss la Rue, your bag is in my office, I will reunite you with it in a moment." Clarisse did not reply, as the cheerful man unlocked his door and strode inside.
"Excuse me sir, Are you the manager" Came a voice from down the hall. The satyr turned to see a tall lean man with dark hair hurrying toward him with a child on his heels.
"Yes, I do believe I am." He said, extending a hand when the man got closer. It was shaken gratefully. Mr. Montemayor discreetly sniffed. The small boy was a ridiculously powerful demigod. Hopefully, he prayed, not a child of one of the Big Three.
"My name is Bryson Hidner, This is Draco. I was told that you would be able to explain his err… unique situation more clearly." Bryson scratched the side of his head as he took in the surprised look on Mr. Montemayor's face.
"Well now, I truly didn't expect you to ask that of me. Come into my office, you too please Clarisse, we will talk about this away from eavesdroppers." He motioned for the three to move through the door before following them himself.
Bryson blinked and looked at the girl who was glowering at the floor. The stout man had called her Clarisse, she was the one whom Athena had told him to watch for.
Clarisse was really annoyed that the arrival of the tall man had caused her departure to be further postponed. She wanted to leave this dumb safe house and get to camp as soon as possible. Clarisse had never been truly accepted in her home, never had any friends to talk to, and never had someone to care for her.
Camp Half-Blood provided these things. She now had insane siblings who looked out for each other in their own blood-thirsty way and had accepted her when no one else had. She had found out about Camp-Half Blood from a son of Hermes who had stumbled across her as she was walking home from school. He had given her a fake brochure and helped Clarisse convince her adopted father that it was a camp for the 'mentally challenged'. Clarisse was now eager to go back for her second summer and since her father had refused to take her, she walked.
She eyed the tall man dubiously. Clarisse had learned long ago not to trust strangers. The kind old lady who used to give her lollipops before trying to eat her was a reminder of that.
A flicker of movement caught her eye. A small boy stood almost hidden behind the man. He was watching her with curious eyes. Grey eyes.
Clarisse knew those eyes. She had seen them on the Annabeth girl she met at camp. They were the eyes of Athena. This strange pale-haired child must be a demigod. Clarisse thought. She moved from her spot by the wall and stuck her hand at the kid.
"My name is Clarisse. You are my cousin."she said bluntly, not caring about the shock that crossed the tall man's face or the groan from Mr. Montemayor.
The boy stared at her, silently, not making any move to respond. Clarisse was beginning to get slightly impatient when the kid took her hand and spoke.
"est Draco in nomine meo." Clarisse blinked.
"Is that...Latin? Never mind. Μπορείτε να καταλάβετε μου τώρα?" She questioned.
The boy's face brightened as a smile lit up his features as he responded.
"Ναι." Clarisse grinned.
(Okay from now on this is Latin and this is Greek.)
She pulled the boy's hand toward the plush chairs in the corner of the office.
"We will leave the grown-ups to talk while I tell you about your family." She said sitting on the closest chair. This boy was odd, even for a demigod, but he somehow connected with her. She silently vowed to bring the child to camp and protect him as much as she is able.
"My father is Ares, the God of War. I am a demigod. You are also a demigod, a son of Athena if your looks say anything. We are hunted by monsters because of our godly parent so most of us go to a training camp to learn how to fight. This place is called Camp-Half Blood…"
The two men watched the demigods talk. One with confusion and a hint of shock and the other with a more curious gaze. The silence between the men was broken when the short man spoke.
"I assume Clarisse is giving Draco the rundown of being a demigod." He said with a sigh.
"She is one too?"
"Yes. I suppose you are rather new to all of this as well. Come sit down and I will explain."
The two men seated themselves and Mr. Montemayor began to give the long explanation(which we already know so I won't type it) about the existence of Greek gods and monsters.