A Demigod's Promise "Ok class, who's ever heard of the Trojan war?" , said Mr. Lycaon. He was the substitute we've had for a few weeks and I hate him. And for some reason he gives me the creeps when ever he mentions my name or calls my name. Theres always this weird wolfish glint in his green eyes. And his front canine teeth are REALLY sharp. Like he's been eating too much meat and never any vegetables. I don't blame him. Broccoli isnt exactly my BFF. But every time he looks at me he licks his teeth like hes gonna eat me. Creepy much? And his face is kind of wolfish. But ive seen WEIRDER things in my life. Like that first time I went on a boat. I almost drowned, after some ahh... issues with the steering wheel. I really didn't mean to trip and... well that explains it just fine. Ive never exactly been a fan of water. Some times I feel like its going to wrap around me and masticate me a malevolent way so that my intestines spill out and..... no I am not the violent kind. I always like heights like riding in planes, scaling rock walls, and....well juts climbing on stuff. But the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me was really weird. (FLASHBACK 9 years ago) I was 3 and walking down a river with my mom. I really liked taking a stroll with my mom. It took my mind off things. Anyways we were walking when I asked her, "Mom what happened to dad? I mean I had one right? Its just that at pre-school we had a Bring Your Dad Day , and everyone took their dad, I was the only one without one." I tried to look away but I think she saw tears in my eyes. "Well Dayren... he went on a plane buisness trip to... I don't really know but he never came back. Not dead, lost." ,she said before speed walking back home. I decided to go to my favorite tree. It has a strong branch hanging over the river. Huh weird, the river was faster than normal. Ive always been a natural climber so I scampered up the tree in no time. I think the branch had weakened over the years, because before I knew it, I was in the river. Just as I was starting to swim I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was in a cave. It looked like ive been here for a few days, because I was starving and my clothes in tatters. My dirty blonde hair was a birds nest and kind of long. I was deciding I would be here for ever when suddenly I heard growling behind me. I slowly turned around to find the biggest wolf ive ever seen. But it had that notherly kind of look. Caring but really strict. The next few months were really hard for me. The wolf had taken care of me, fed me and taught me. She showed me the ways and language of the wolves like nudges and gestures until I could understand her perfectly. She taught me to fight, to survive until I was as strong and tough and vicious as a wolf. When she was satisfied with my skills she was ready to send me back home. It looked like she wanted to tell me something, and something slipped when I was talking to her. I wanted to learn more so I eavesdropped on her when she was talking to another wolf. Something about the summer Kalends and....when she said Jupiter Optimus Maximus I felt a tingle. Like if I should know Mr.Optimus Maximus. Maybe she was talking about Optimus Prime from Transformers? The next morning was the day I left. But before I did the wolf had set up some kind of ritual place. When suddenly lightning came down and hit me. But it didn't hurt. The other way around, I felt more powerful. Like I could run 10,000,000 miles. When the smoke cleared I was alone. And I saw my house up ahead. But I also noticed there was some thing on my arm. It said SPQR and looked like a tattoo. When I got home and my mom looked at me she screamed and said where I got the tattoo. So I told her the story. Next thing I knew we were on a plane flying towards the city. So here I am at Goode Middle School. "DAYREN PRAETOR I AM TALKING TO YOU!" said Mr.Lycaon. And I said the smartest thing ever, "Huh?". Everyone in class laughed. "I asked you why Lycaon in Greek Mythology was turned into a wolf?" , said Mr.Lycaon. Hmm what a coincidence. "Uhh, because....he fed his son to Zeus?" , I said. "Hmm yes preciseley." ,said Mr.Lycaon. The bell rang and as I was about to leave Mr.Lycaon said, "Mr.Praetor would you please stay after school?". "Back in a flash Nyc" , I told my best friend Nyctimus. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay here with you?" said Nyc nervously. "Nah dude you go ahead". Once he left Mr.Lycaon said "Dayren Senatus Praetor you have been found, and atlast, I was growing hungry". I turned just in time to dodge Mr.Lycaon who was turning...hairy? " You cannot run away all your life Mr.Praetor, I am the first to find you and you will be a fine morsel." ,growled Lycaon. " Your Lycaon arent you?" , I asked him. He answered me by trying to bite me. Doesn't the guy have manners? I guess not, for a guy who tried to feed his son to Zeus. He was getting ready to attack me again when suddenly time stopped. Literaly, everything froze. I found myself staring at the wolf that took care of me when I was 3 years old. She was saying something, but I couldn't understand her. Then she handed me something really powerful and deadly.... a necklace. But it just wasn't any kind of neckalce....it had an eagle symbol on it. Great. Now I can jump on Lycaon's back and strangle him. "You are so young demigod. But you are ready." She said and then disappeared. Time went back to normal. I saw Lycaon tensing, ready to pounce. And for some weird reason or on impulse I touched my necklace. What I saw next was unbelievable. My necklace turned into a golden spear with the tip bronze. It looked awesome, but I didn't have the time to admire it. Right when the necklace transformed, Lycaon attack. On another impusle, I later learned was my ADHD acting up, I stabbed at Lycaon. He gave a puppy whine and then atrophied into sand. Then Nyc bust in the classroom waving a chicken leg around, screaming something about killer chickens. When I looked back at my spear it wasn't there. It had turned back into my necklace. The only trace left of Lycaon was the sand. When Nyc calmed down a bit he turned and looked at the sand. His eyes got wide and his head got beaded with sweat. When he looked at me I saw fear in his eyes. "What happened here Dayren?" he asked, slowly picking out the right words. I thought he would never believe me so I said, " Oh nothing just did a beach project with sand, and spilled some on the floor. Mr.Lycaon already left.". Nyc looked like he didn't believed me, but he let it go. He said if he could walk me home, and like always I said no. Its not that I didn't trust him, its just that I didn't have a home. I lived on the roof top of some building, and for quite a long time. I had 'properly' made my house. It was a few boxed cut, and taped to form a hut. I actually kind of proud of it. I went to this public school that for some reason, I didn't have to pay. Whenever I asked, they just said it was tooken cared of. Its like for poor people. Its for hobbo's like me not normal kids like Nyc. I keep on asking myself why hes here, but I don't have the courage to ask him. I was so lost in my thoughts, I almost crashed into a man wearing a trench coat. I kept on walking, but when I looked back I swear I saw a spiked tail with a thorn on the end. Hmm, I thought, weird. But when I looked back he wasn't there. I just shrugged and looked for Nyc. Where is that kid? Then I heard him yell, " Daryren, watch out!". I dodged to the side just in time, because something pointy shot past me. It went too fast for me to see what it was. And then I thought about the man in the trench coat. It must've been him who shot at me with that missile thing. Then I thought: My necklace! The guy in the trench coat must've hit it on accident. I looked for it while Nyc distracted him. There! By the playground. It must have been a mile away from me. Nyc looked okay, but I didn't know he knew karate. I feel really bad for the trench coat guy. I ran for my necklace. As I ran I got faster and faster until I was zooming by. For a second I thought I was flying, but i discarded the idea. Hmm, but if the really is a Lycaon, and my necklace transforms into a spear, I wonder.... I jumped. While I was running I jumped. Really dumb Idea right? I would be accused of vandilsing the marry-go-round. I closed my eyes, waiting for the impact, but it never came. Instead when I opened my eyes, I was flying! But I didn't have the time to think what else I could do. I leaned forward, and shot for my necklace. But I think I was too late. The trench coat guy had revealed his true form. Kind of like Lycaon. He was, also turning hairy, but like thin hairy. Like a lion. A red lion? Its head stayed the same, except that its grew 3 rows of sharp teeth and had horns on its head. And of course, it has to have a dragon tail that shoots out poisonous spikes, that when they touch you, your nerves disintegrate and......too much info? Yeah, it's a dangerous thing. I racked my brain, trying to figure out what it was. It was a mantelcore? No, manticore. Dang, these things really want me dead. But, why? As I was talking to myself, the manticore knocked Nyc out. Then I got mad. No one hit Nyc. Well, no one has ever hit him, but you get what im saying. I quickly scooped my necklace out, put it on, and touched the eagle. I think I didn't need to put it on, but just the same. And in my hand was my....sword? A leaf shaped sword with one side bronze, and the other golden. It looked even better than the spear. I quickly turned around and charged towards the manticore. I was so fast it didn't even get to look up. But it blocked me with its tail. I hope it goes to tartarus. Wait, tartarus? Where did that from? "dimitte eum!" I told it. I don't know where the Latin came from, but I think I said 'Leave him alone". Awesome, now If I could translate more words, I can never be caught by the teachers. But I can't think about school right now, because the manticore attacked me. It was so fast and sudden, it caught me unawares. As I evaded, I slashed sideways at its tail. I only managed to cut it, but when I landed I rolled and stabbed at it. It tried to block with its tail but it was a mistake. I feinted towards its back, and then slashed at its front. The last thing it said was "I am only a percent of what you're going to face! You could have died, and Hades might have only 10 centuries of torture!" Then it exploded into the golden sand. But I didn't care about him. All I cared about was Nyc. I rushed up to him, and picked him up. I don't know how I did, maybe it was adrenaline? He was conscious enough to tell me the address of the place where he lived. Then time stopped again. I was really getting tired of this. But this time, it wasn't the wolf. It was a woman. With, peacock feathers all around her. Oh I remember now. From Greek Mythology...peacocks....Hara? No, Hera. The queen goddess. The wife of Zeus. I bowed and said, "Queen Hera. What brings you here? Wait, does this mean, all the gods, monsters, and titans are alive?" "Slow down young demigod. Although you are his son, I must say you quite impressed me. No training at all, and already defeated the manticore and Lycaon." Said Hera. "Wait, who's he? And what do you mean training? And what's a demigod?" "The protector hasn't told you? Well not to worry, Your trainer will. Now this is the most important thing. To choose one side. New York or California. Either way you will be the greatest hero. Or maybe the worst villain. You are one of a kind, coming from both sides. Your mom Greek, your Dad Roman. So little demigod, choose one. Roman or Greek." Said Hera. And again, I said the same thing as before, "Huh? You mean my mom was Greek? And my dad...how do you know him?" Hera answered, "Yes I know your father very well. But its not my place to tell you. Wherever you choose, you will know. As for your mother....I am glad Hades took her life. She was a Greek demigod. So your answer?" I thought about it for a moment. Then I chose. "Very well young demigod. You will be on your way now. I will at least help with transportation. I may look bad in the stories, but not that much." That was the last thing she said before I blacked out. ******************************************************************************When I came back around I was in a room. Looked like an infirmary. But wait, why was I here? And what's on my head? Looks like sparkly hairs. Suddenly someone came in. It was a boy, about my age. Only he looked mad. But when he noticed I was awake, he smiled. "Oh hey, you're awake! Nice to meet you, I'm Will Argentum, son of Neptune. I'm guessing you already know about the gods? Well the look on your face tells me otherwise. Dayren, right? Well, one of your parents is a god. Like you know, Neptune, Pluto, Juno. But their roman. More disciplined than their Greek counter-parts and more war-like. Well yeah the gods are real and so are the monsters. You know like the Minotau-" "Yes I know I already killed the manticore and Lycaon. And where's my necklace?" I said. "Oh you mean the thing that was next to you when we found you? Someone in this camp has it. It's theirs as long as they want. They found it." He answered. "What! No! Its mine! I had it first! It was given to me by a wolf!" I said. "Oh Lupa gave it to you? I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid if you want it you're going to have to fight for it." He said. "Ok then, I will. Lets go now." I said as I got up and ran. I didn't even know where, but I found myself looking at an important looking house. Well it looked more like barracks.
