Chapter 36 - I Am Human
Athena stared at him like he had just spoken a foreign language.
"One of you?" she repeated.
Her voice shook.
"That doesn't mean anything."
Silas didn't move.
Didn't push.
Didn't try to convince her.
Which somehow made it worse.
"I am human," she said firmly. "I grew up in a normal house. I went to school. I went to college. I have a degree. I bleed. I get sick. I get tired."
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"I am human."
Silence met her words.
Not disagreement.
Not agreement.
Just patience.
She shook her head and stepped back from him.
"This is crazy. This whole place is crazy. You're trying to tell me I'm something I'm not because I've been stressed and confused and- and-"
Her words tangled together.
Silas's voice remained calm.
"You are afraid because you feel that I'm right."
Her eyes filled with frustrated tears.
"No. I'm afraid because none of this makes sense."
She turned abruptly and walked past him.
Fast.
Needing space.
Needing air.
Needing to get away from the way he was looking at her like he knew her better than she knew herself.
She reached her room and shut the door harder than she meant to.
Her chest was tight.
Her thoughts racing.
She paced once across the room before stopping in front of the mirror.
Her reflection looked back at her.
Flushed cheeks.
Wide eyes.
Breathing too fast.
"I am human," she whispered to herself.
She leaned closer.
Her eyes flickered.
And then-
Gold.
Not a faint ring.
Not a trick of the light.
Her entire irises shifted, glowing softly like molten metal.
Athena froze.
Her breath stopped completely.
She didn't blink.
Didn't move.
The gold stayed.
Bright.
Unmistakable.
Her heart pounded in her ears.
Her fingers trembled against the edge of the dresser.
After several long seconds, the color faded slowly back to brown.
Athena stumbled backward.
Her voice came out as a whisper.
"What is happening to me..."