"What the hell is that thing?" I demanded. The freaky monster blocking us had the head and body of a lion, its tail was a snake, and there was an extra goat head on its back. Oh, and did I mention that it was breathing fire? Grover pushed me out of the way just as a burning blast blew over my head.
"Chimera. Don't let the tail bite you; it's poisonous."
"Yes, because I want to let the monster's snake butt bite me," I snapped sarcastically. Maybe I was a little rude but I seriously thought it was time to up my ADHD meds if I was going to start hallucinating freaky monsters with biting butts or whatever was going on.
The lion head spewed fire at us and the snake tail snapped its fangs. I didn't have much defense from either attack in nothing but my one-piece, red striped speedo suit. I was sopping wet and standing barefoot in the middle of the parking lot. I probably looked like a complete idiot but I couldn't worry about that with the kimora or whatever trying to kill me.
Grover was swinging at it with his crutches. He was dodging pretty quickly without them, faster than if he was actually using them. Mom grabbed my arm and pulled me away from a sudden fire blast.
"Naida, use the barrette."
I touched the ornamental hair accessory that my mom had given me before my first race. It was nothing more than a good luck charm, something to help me feel confident in my swim meets and surf contests. "What?" I asked stupidly.
"The barrette in your hair. Take it out." I did what she said but felt like a moron. "Open it and squeeze the hinge."
"Mom-"
"Now," she yelled.
I took a step back. Mom never yelled and she especially didn’t get that snappy with me. She was usually sweet as could be unless I was being a bitch to her boyfriend, while I was the one with the messed up anger issues. I figured that if she was this tense I’d better do what I was told for once. I followed her instructions and my pretty barrette became a handle to support a sharp sword made out of what looked like smooth cut ice. My eyes widened to the size of saucers. "What just happened?"
"A little help," Grover yelped. Actually, it didn't even sound like he yelped bur more like bleated. Like a sheep.
I couldn't even follow my own movements over the next few minutes. One second I was standing by my mom with the sword in my hands and then I was swinging and stabbing at the beast. Me. Naida Hale, was fighting a mythical monster. I let adrenaline take over and my moves became natural. I even hit its goat head with my awesome sword. The monster roared and vanished.
"What," I panted, "the hell was that? Jesus Christ, that thing coulda killed us."
"That's what it was trying to do," Grover reminded me.
"Is someone going to tell me what's going on yet?" I demanded.
"Soon," Mom promised, quickly grabbing me and dragging me in the direction of our house. "First we have to get home and you need to get on some clothes. We'll explain on the way to New York."
I squeezed my hand into a ball and the stinging gash that appeared made me realize that I still had another problem. "Um, how do I get my barrette back?"
"Just close it," Mom said. I arched one auburn eyebrow. Mom sighed tiredly. "Fold up the handle and it'll be your clip again."
She was right. "Mom, how do you know all of this stuff? What aren't you telling me?"
"I'll explain later. We're not safe right now. Just do what I say, Naida."
Have you ever noticed how everything's always 'later'? I mean, why can't parents just give you a straight answer when you ask for it? I think that my mom just wanted me to stop asking questions and forget the whole situation, which I would have been fine with if I wasn't so freakin' traumatized by whatever was now haunting me.

Notes

short, i know, but hope you guys like it. and thanks SO MUCH to Daughter of Poseidon123 and fightingnexttoyou for the story comments :)