Chapter 6 the beans get spilled

Sarah's POV

Luke leaned on the sink head down, eyes closed. It was obvious he was in a lot of pain, but there was nothing I could do about it. Neither of us spoke for a long time, the only sound was the creatures outside. Finally I couldn't take it anymore. I had to know what was going on.

"Luke, please, I have to know."

"Know what?" He asked without looking up.

"Everything," my voice caught as I spoke but I couldn't help it.

"I want to know what those things are, where you learned to fight like that. Why do you know so much about first aid and how you actually got that scar? Most of all I want the truth."

For most of what I said he didn't react, but when I said I wanted the truth he looked over at me.

"Sarah, what makes you think I haven't been honest with you?"

I hesitated, then took the plunge.

"I don't know how or why, but since I was twelve there has been a voice in my head, it tells me when someone is lying. Half truths are harder for it, but the voice still lets me know someone's not being honest."

Luke seemed to consider me for a moment then said.

"You should count yourself lucky, that is a very useful power to have. You have my apologies, I should have recognized what you were sooner."

I stared at him. That was not the reaction I had been expecting, and what did he mean anyway? So many questions raced through my head, but the only thing that made it out of my mouth was,

"What?"

Luke had the audacity to laugh, as he turned to fully face me.

"One question at a time," He said teasingly. "What do you want to know first?"

"What did you mean by, you should have recognized what I was?"

"Ok, going straight for the big question. You'll want to make yourself comfortable." He said, gesturing to the toilet, then began.

"The gods and monsters of Greek mythology are real and in control of our lives. Just like in the storys the gods will have a fling with a mortal, which is how you get Demigods. Sometimes thougs Demigods, will inherit some of their goodly parents power, like you being able to know if someone's lying. Now around the age of twelve, Monsters are attracted to us because we smell like food. Some half-bloods smell stronger than others, some are hardly noticeable. Those of us who are lucky enough to survive our first attack learn to fight. Sarah, had I realized you were a Half-Blood I would have started preparing you for something like this sooner."

I sat upon the porcelain throne stunned, what he said sounded crazy. To carry to be true, except it was. Luke casually leaned on the sink watching me digest his words.

"So, those things outside are Greek monsters that want to eat us, because one of our parents is a Greek god."

Luke nodded and said.

"I think they are some kind of Underworld Demon."

I studied his face, then on an impulse I reached out to him. Luke walked over and kneeled in front of me, concerne on his face. I cupped his right cheek in my hand and traced that awful scar with my thumb.

"You got that fighting a monster didn't you."

Luke put his large callist hand over mine, saying.

"When I was about fifteen, my dad sent me on a quest to steal a golden apple from a special garden. The tree the apples grew on was protected by a thousand headed dragon, I messed up and the dragon woke up. To this day I don't know how I got out of there alive with only the scare to show for my failed quest."

Not knowing how to respond, I changed the subject.

"How did you learn to fight? you're too good to be self taught, you had to have a teacher."

"Correct again, for the most part anyway. I was pretty much on my own for about six years, before receiving any formal training. Chiron always said I had enough, natural skill with the sword, to keep me alive out here. But it's definitely Chiron I owe for turning me into the sword's man I am today."

"That's cool, how long did you train under him?"

"Five years, and after about a year and a half I got to help teach."

"That is really cool. But how does it work? Is there like a school for that or what?"

"Not a school, a training camp, held every summer in New York. For some half-bloods it's their home year round, it was mine for the five years I spent under Chiron."

"That is literally the coolest thing I have ever heard of. Will you take me there? I want to meet other demigods and see your old home, and oh Luke that would be so cool please take me there!"

There was a look on his face that I couldn't place as he took both my hands in his. A sense of foreboding fell over me as I waited for Luke to say something.

"Sarah, if you have your heart set on going I will take you. But I will not set foot inside Camp-Halfblood."

"Why not? You said it was your home."

"Yes it was, just not for a very long time."

"I don't understand what happened?"

Luke liked has lips, and I could tell he was considering his words carefully. I wondered briefly if he was considering liyeing, then released he new I would know. Finally he said,

"I left the camp on political grounds. I believed and still do the gods are corrupt and treated their children poorly. My Ida of change was not taken well by most of the camp, so I and those who agreed with me left on our own accord. I made a lot of powerful people vary angry when I left, but I was ready to take a stand for what I believe in. Things got heated as they always do when politics are involved, a fight broke out and everything went down hill from there. Long story short I'm not on good terms with camp, in fact they think I'm dead and that's how I prefer it."

I was shocked. At first this camp sounded cool, but know I wasn't sure. Luke had told the truth…. At least the voice had no objections to his story. Something felt off though, and something told me the only way to figure it out, was to go to Camp-Halfblood.