Chapter 2: My Dad holds secrets

After the school and Mr. Bachfisch was out of view I started asking the millions of questions I had. Mr. Timber finally started his explanation. "You're a Half-Blood." he spoke calmly, like just rescuing a teenager from a cyclops was normal for him. I ignored him and just yelled "MONSTERS ARE REAL!" The realization had finally hit me that there was indeed a monster.

"Yes, that was a cyclops. You should really brush up on your Greek history. I was kind of disappointed in class." I struggled in class without Sydney there, although I was starting to connect some dots.

"So that monster wanted to eat me because i'm a "Half-Blood?" Mr. Timber was about to say something but we must have been going far because we just merged onto a highway. "Take me home!" I spouted. My dad needs to know what's going on, I can't let him worry about me. Not after my mom died.

"No, we need to take you somewhere safe!"

"I need to let my dad know where im going." I tried to sound as calm and convincing as possible. But with everything going on the only thing I wanted to do was let my dad know I was safe.
"Half-Bloods are dangerous, they attract monsters, do you want your dad to be in danger."

"Please." Was the only word I could say. I starred at him and looked at me and I stared into his eyes. Sydney always told me I have a stare that makes people feel bad and guilty. The gaze was only broken by a car honking his horn driving by. came to the realization that he was starting to drive off the highway. "Fine" was all he said. He sounded annoyed but I was happy.

We pulled into my house's driveway, walking up to the house I was on edge. I was afraid that Mr. Backfisch would show up or something worse. It didn't help that was frantically looking around with his bow slung across his shoulder. "I'll stay watch but please make it quick." I nodded at him, I was nervous too.

When I walked in it was quiet, nothing new. I walked into my dads office and seeing him safe made me relax a little. He was at his computer typing away without a care in the world. He didn't notice me and I was trying to think of what to say. I wanted to tell him everything that happened before I landed on a "Hey dad". He turned around to look at me surprised.

"Oh you're home early". He looked at the time on his watch, a present I had given him last year for his birthday after saving some money. Despite having a clock on his computer and on the wall he preferred his watch.

We stared at each other for a moment before I finally decided to ask a dumb question. "Hey dad whats a Half-Blood?" He looked even more surprised, if that was even possible. I didn't know what else to ask him. seemed annoyed on the way to my house and he didn't finish his explanation. I didn't want to bother asking him.

I wanted answers and after I asked the question I realized he might not know what I'm talking about. "Um well , er-yes." Luckily he did know what I was talking about. It seemed like the question made him feel uncomfortable. "How did you learn about them?" He looked pale, but I explained everything that happened. Afterward he seemed a little bit better and looked out the window to Mr. Timber before he spoke.

"You know the Greek gods in mythology?" I nodded my head, I knew little about mythology but enough.
"Well they're real, and well sometimes they have kids known as demigods also known as Half-Bloods…" He trailed off.

"But you're not a god, you work in IT!" He looked at me and gave me a really face. "Mom wasn't a god either, she died like any human!" Dad stood up straighter and took off his glasses, massaging the bridge of his nose.

"Adin, there's some things I can't explain to you right now its complicated. I'm sorry we kept it a secret . All I can tell you is that your mom and I needed help to have a child. Its not safe for you around here anymore. I love you but I need you to go with that satyr outside. He motioned toward outside. It was only then that I noticed his legs were covered in black hair. He had goats feet and I could hear a "clank" whenever he walked, even from inside the house.

Dad escorted me to the car with Mr. Timber commenting how we have to hurry before monsters come. "Will you be ok?" I asked my dad, I felt like I was abandoning him. He just winked and said "You're old man has some tricks up his sleeve". That was probably the most dad thing I've ever heard him say. I got into the car looking at him, just now realizing that my dad might not even be my dad. Even if he wasn't I reminded myself that he had raised me and loved me, to me he was my dad.

I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep until I woke up, too much happened and I was tired. I looked to my left and was focused on the road, drinking a cup of coffee. I looked to my right and recognized my surroundings as the city of Detroit. The nap seemed to have calmed me down a lot.

"Sorry about not letting you finish and panicking." I said to Mr. Timber

"And for saving my life.

"Hey its part of the job, it can be a lot to take in". I still felt some exhaustion .
"So where are we going?"
"Well, right now were going to Detroit Metro Airport. There we'll take Chariot Airlines to Camp Half-Blood".

"Camp Half-Blood?" I asked.

"A camp for Demigods, there you'll be safe and you'll train to protect yourself from monsters. Alongside other fun camp activities like rock climbing, campfire songs and canoeing!" If I wasn't in danger of dying to monsters this package deal sounded pretty good. The sun was starting to set as we were pulling in and the second we got out Mr. Timber was sniffing the air.

"We have to hurry, monsters are nearby."

"You can tell that monsters are nearby just by smelling?

He nodded, "That and Detroit tends to have one of the largest cyclops populations in America, too many mechanics."

When we walked into the airport I didn't know what to expect. I've never been in an airport or on an airplane. Except for one time my dad took me flying with his buddy who owned a mini airplane with just enough room for the three of us. I had a smile the entire time, especially when the pilot did a loop in the air.

The airport didn't seem too big at first, just lanes to check in. Mr. Timber started to lead me to the third lane where a lady with a gigantic smile and a button up suit. She was adjusting her red tie when we came up to her.

"Tickets?" she said looking at Mr. Timber who instead of pulling out tickets, pulled out two golden coins and handed it to her. She nodded like she understood and was still smiling. "And is this handsome young man joining you? Demigods cost extra." Mr. Timber looked annoyed but gave her two more and her smile grew even more.

She gave us two tickets and we entered the rest of the airport walking past the TSA without a question. I was worried about Mr. Timbers bow and quiver, but no one seemed to mind it. Oh boy it was not what I was expecting. We went down an escalator, went past stores I would have never expected to be in an airport and went back up an escalator. I looked at my ticket, we had to go all the way to the end of the airport and around a corner.

The airport felt pretty safe since it seemed empty. No monsters would be sneaking up on us. Or so I thought. Right when we turned the corner Mr. Timber let out a yelp. When I turned around, Timber had been picked up by a cyclops. Good news, it wasn't Mr. Backfisch, this Cyclops had red hair and for some reason only wearing shorts. Bad news, my protector had been captured and the cyclops was only wearing shorts.

"Bachfisch was right!" it sounded just like Bachfisch.

"Satyr and Demigod for good eating. I'll give Bachfisch the bones to make a soup!"

I didn't know what to do. The cyclops had Mr. Timber upside down and I had no way to help him. I wanted to scream for help but I thought that would only draw more attention and I didn't want any more cyclops to sneak up on us.

I just stood there while Timber was squirming telling the cyclops that "Satyrs are better full in a soup not just bones!" The cyclops turned Timber upside down to eat head first. When Timber got turned upside down all of his arrows fell out of his quiver. Once the arrows hit the ground an idea popped in my head.

I ran to grab an arrow, luckily it didn't seem the cyclops noticed me. And right when Mr. Timber was about to be eaten, I jumped on his back. I struggled up to the cyclops shoulders. Luckily Timber was dropped and the cyclops was trying to grab me like it was trying to scratch its back.

"Pretty boy what are you doing?" the cyclops yelled. With the arrow in hand I tried to jam the arrow in its eye. Key word tried. Just when I thought I had him he slammed his back against the wall, squishing me like a panini press. It hurt a lot, but I was still able to move around. He turned around and looked annoyed. " Demigod sandwich!" he yelled with delight. Just when I thought I was done I heard a familiar Whoosh.

The cyclops knelt down with pain in its eye. I was so close I smelled his nasty breath, which smelled like both garbage and gasoline. I took the opportunity and grabbed the arrow that fell by my side and jammed the arrowhead into his eye. The cyclops yelp in even more pain before disintegrating into dust, revealing Timber who was right behind the mess.

We both were limping, the pain from being smashed against a wall began to seep in. No one was around the fight except the gate attendant. Above the gate exit read Chariot Airlines and a woman who looked identical to the lady at the entrance. Even though we were less than a hundred yards from where we were fighting. "Tickets?" was all she said and Timber just threw his ticket on the counter before walking into the gate. I looked at her angrily and slammed mine on the counter and followed Timber. We started the board the plane and with Chariot Airlines and flying commercial for the first time, I didn't know what to expect. The one thing I didn't expect however was an actual chariot, attached to two Pegasus of course.