It had been a couple of days since I left Daisy and came home, and surprisingly, the school didn't email my dad to tell him I'd left.
I had fourteen missed calls from Daisy. Believe me when I say I felt really awful, but my whole life had just been turned upside down.
I was debating on asking my dad about it. I mean, he'd be the one who would know. I didn't even want to think about that idea being true, but I saw Daisy's goat legs with my own two eyes...
I huffed and made my way down the stairs to his study, where he always was. The giant, empty hall had huge paintings of all the past Coopers in thick gold frames. By the looks of it, we had a pretty big family, but it's always just been me and my dad. Sometimes I wish I had met them.
I flung my hands, trying to shake off the nerves, then made my way to the door and knocked softly.
"Bella, we can talk later. I have things to take care of."
"I know, but I need to ask you something."
No answer.
I sighed.
"It's really important."
"Fine, come in. Don't touch anything."
I twisted the cold metal doorknob and walked into the room. Everything was still really old and gothic because my dad didn't want to renovate. With a house like ours, you didn't need Halloween decorations to scare little kids.
"I know I ask this a lot, but..."
If I brought up mom, he'd shut me down real quick. I had to say it differently.
"Um, there's a girl at school who says she knows who mom is. Is that true?" A half-truth, but this way he'd actually talk to me.
He paused, looking at me carefully.
"Bella, you can't believe everything you hear." he looked down again at his work.
"I know, but isn't that oddly specific? No one likes to talk to me anyway, so I feel like she's trying to tell me something." I fidgeted with my hands.
"Well, do we know her?" he said, relaxed and still not looking at me.
"Her name is Daisy. And..."
Should I say anything more?
"She says she's a sa- a satyress, or however you say it." I fumbled with the word.
He slowly closed his computer and shoved aside his papers and books, serious now.
"Bella, what exactly did she tell you?"
"Are you actually going to listen to me now?" I asked sarcastically.
"Bella, this is serious. Sit down and tell me precisely what she said."
I sat in the seat in front of his desk. "She says that she came to Lowell's because I was her 'assignment' and that it was her job to find demi-god-people and bring them to a place called..."
I felt that I shouldn't be telling him this. He never shared anything with me, so why should I share with him?
"Camp Half-Blood." he finished.
"...So it's all true?"
Every part of me felt like it was on fire. I was so stressed out and upset. How could he keep this from me? Why would he keep this from me?
He sighed. "I knew this was going to be a problem."
He turned away, digging in some of his filing cabinets. I stood up, the stress turning to hot anger inside me.
"Wait, are you saying you knew all this time and didn't tell me I was a half-blood? That they even exist? How come-"
"You, Bella Cooper," he said sternly, "Are absolutely not a half-blood."
I sat back down slowly.
"I... what?"
"Your satyress friend is wrong."
I didn't understand. All the things I'd been seeing, just in the last week. What was going on?
"Then-" I sputtered. "How do you know about all this?"
"Watch your tone, Bella," he looked down at me. "This is a complicated matter that we'll deal with later. I'll tell Lowell's to pack your things. We're finding a different school."
"What?!"
"It's obvious you didn't like it there anyway," he muttered.
"You can't just do that! I don't like it there, but you have to tell me what's going on!"
"I'll tell you what's going on," he said harshly. "You are going to your room. Right now."
"Fine! Maybe I will go to Camp Half-Blood! Maybe there I'll get some answers!"
"You're not going there!"
"Why not?"
"Because-!" he quieted his voice as if someone was listening. "Because they won't let you in. Your satyress friend made a mistake. Now just... let me think."
I left, slamming the door. He knew all the answers and he wasn't going to tell me anything. Let him think. Yeah right. He had sixteen years to think.
I laid on my bed. I had a headache that felt like it was burning me, and my whole body felt heavy and tense. If I wasn't a demi-goddess, what was I? How did my dad know? Not to mention, now I know everything Daisy said was true, gods and all.
After not being able to get comfortable, I got up and snuck out to the garden. In the center of a maze of perfectly trimmed trees and scarlet rose bushes was a marble fountain that was built for my mom, and it always made me feel better. Imagining her as some otherworldly being was... weird.
I sat on the fountain, running my fingers through the cold water, the moonlight making the water shine like liquid silver. It felt nice on my warm hands.
"Hey," Someone whispered.
I jumped off the fountain in surprise.
"Wha- Who's there?" I whispered back, looking closely at the trees and bushes.
"Down here," They called.
It sounded like it was coming from the water.
I crept toward the fountain slowly and looked inside. It was too dark to see anything for sure, but I think I saw someone.
"Where- where are you?" I said, looking closely at the water.
I saw bubbles for a split second, and suddenly, out jumped a person.
I fell back. "Woah!"
"Shh, shh!" he said.
He was a kid about my age. He had dark hair and a grey hoodie on, and even though he just came out of the water, his hair and clothes were completely dry. Even in the dark, I could see his green eyes like glow sticks.
"How did you get in here?!" I whisper-shouted in surprise.
"I can't tell you!" he whisper-shouted back, a stupid smile on his face. I hate boys.
"Okay, why are you guys whispering?" a familiar voice said normally.
"Daisy? How did you-"
"Bella? What are you doing outside?" My dad yelled from the house.
"Um..." I looked at the boy and then at Daisy. "I'm... just getting some fresh air!"
"Well, come in for a minute."
Daisy looked at me pleadingly.
"Daisy, I can't just tell him no. He'll have my head!"
"Yeah, I can see that happening. Your house looks like Count Dracula's Castle, and there's a graveyard next door. Very cliche." the boy said, nodding.
I glared at him.
"Percy!" Daisy whispered.
"Okay, you need to leave before my dad gets here!" I ignored him. My dad could not find out about this.
"But we need to tell you something first!" Daisy said.
"Are you rich? Your house is pretty big. Also, you remind me of the girl in that really bad vampire movie. Even more cliche." he nodded again.
"Percy!"
I felt my face get hot. "You shouldn't be here. I have to go inside."
"Wait, Bella, you need to come with us," Daisy pleaded.
I sighed.
"Bella! What are you doing?" My dad called again.
Strike two. Better get going.
"Coming!" I yelled. "Okay look, Daisy. You made a mistake."
"I... What?"
"I can't explain it to you right now, but I'm not a half-blood."
The boy looked at Daisy slowly.
"Oh brother..." he grumbled. "I knew we should have brought the others."
"Whatever! I have to go. And you should too!" I left quickly, hoping my dad wouldn't call again.
I raced inside, where my dad was waiting.
"What were you doing out there?" He frowned.
"I told you, just getting some air," I tried to say normally. My cheeks were a little pink from running.
He sighed. "Fine, don't tell me. But we need to talk."
I followed him into the formal living room we never used, and sat on the couch across from him.
"Bella, did your satyress friend tell you what a demi-god is?"
"Well, yeah," I said. "It's the child of a mortal and a god. But they aren't real, right?"
"What do you think?" he leaned back, arms crossed.
"I... I think it's real." I made myself say. "Only because I saw a little girl with goat legs."
"She showed you? What a violation of protocol." he scoffed.
"A what?"
"Listen, Bella. I know we haven't exactly been on great terms-"
"An understatement, but sure. Let's go with that."
He scowled at me.
"-We haven't exactly been on great terms, but now that you know, it's better if you know everything."
Shocking, I know. My dad, who had refused to talk to me about anything other than how annoying I was, or how my grades were dropping, wanted to graciously explain 'everything'. Obviously, I was suspicious.
"Okay, what is it?"
"You are not a demi-goddess. Do you know what Empusai are?" he said, as if I should know what they are.
"No."
"They're creations of the Goddess Hecate. They are very beautiful and use that power to feed on the blood of young men. Your mother was one of them."
"Oh, great," I said after a minute, trying to process everything. "So we really are vampires."
"Not we, you. Also, this isn't the time," he said harshly.
"So, wait, you got tricked by a pretty girl and had me?" I said slowly. The thought grossed me out.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP2KCJg5za
"What? No! Your mother was different. She was lovely, and- oh nevermind, why am I justifying my actions to you of all people?" he sighed. "The point is, Camp Half-Blood doesn't allow demons or monsters in. You aren't safe there."
"Wait," I said, still really confused. "How come I don't drink blood?"
My dad rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you could, but I'd rather you not," he muttered.
"Also, I'm not that pretty."
He rolled his eyes. "Bella, please stay on track. You are quite attractive, which is why you've only ever been to girls' schools."
I raised my eyebrows, not quite believing him. He rubbed his temples. "You have a slim nose, big round amber eyes, thick eyelashes, and you eat like a pig but never put on any weight."
"Hey!"
"It's true and you know it."
I touched the pentagram on my neck. "So I'm not a half-blood."
"No, you're a she-devil."
"Huh."
I didn't really know what else to say. All I knew was my headache was getting worse.
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