Tyler wanted to disappear. She wished that her flames would burn her to nothing but a pile of ash. Part of her was glad she’d told Hunter, but another part was scared. She’d hid her sexuality for so long, it felt weird telling someone about it. Plus, the only other person who’d found out was her step-dad, and that hadn’t got so well.

She risked a glance up at Hunter. The other girl was staring at the fire, an intense look on her face.

“I wouldn’t worry.” Hunter finally said. “If the Christian God is real, he should have to take a back seat, since you’re related to a Greek God.”

“I’m a monster.” Tyler whispered.

“No.” Hunter countered. “Hell-hounds are monsters. You’re a Godchild.” She gave Tyler a smile warmer than any fire. “And if a Goddess made you like this, it can’t be wrong, right?”

Tyler laughed. “You know, Aphrodite is actually my step-mom.”

Hunter’s smile faltered. “Is it okay to badmouth her, then?”

Tyler wiggled her eyebrows. “She’s also dating Ares.”

“That bitch!”

They laughed together until the last of the coals died out. When Tyler lay back down to sleep, she felt Hunter lay down beside her. She was glad for the comfort, but she was worried she wouldn’t sleep with the other girl so close.

The nightmare she had wasn’t about her step-dad, or even about being gay. She stood face to face with a man’s head surrounded by a fluffy mane.

You won’t escape. The man growled. I’ll kill you.

Tyler looked down and saw that only the man’s head was human. The rest of his body was a lion, culminating in a spiked tail. A manticore.

After her mom had told her about her birth father, she’d looked up a bunch of monsters from ancient myths. If she was going to be a hero, she’d have to rely on more than just a flaming party trick.

The manticore grinned evilly at her and she could see the venom glistening on his fangs. She gulped. Manticore venom is super potent. She remembered. One drop and my blood with feel like it’s boiling.

She took a small step back. The manticore lunged.

Tyler awoke screaming. Something was on top of her and she writhed, trying to get free. “Help!” she cried desperately. Then she remembered she wasn’t alone. “Hunter!”

Whatever was on her was ripped away and sturdy hands gripped her shoulders. “Tyler, what’s wrong?”

Tears streamed down her face and her breath caught in her throat. I’m not alone. She reminded herself. She wrapped her arms around Hunter and sobbed. “I was scared.” She managed.

Hunter’s hands were surprisingly gentle. She kept one securely on Tyler’s back while her other soothed her hair. They must have sat like that for an hour. Tyler’s knees were sore and her feet were falling asleep.

“You okay?” Hunter asked when she pulled away.

“Yeah.” Tyler said softly. Her dream still had her shaken, but she did feel a little better. “I get nightmares a lot. Godchildren get them sometimes. They’re like warnings from the Gods.”

Hunter helped her to her feet and they started packing up. The thing that had been on top of Tyler had been an old army jacket. Hunter gingerly picked it up and folded it before packing it away in her backpack.

“Thanks.” Tyler said when they were done. Hunter put a hand on her shoulder, but she skittered away. “You… may not want to do that.”

“I’m not afraid of your fire.” Hunter pointed to her shirt, where she’d cut off one sleeve. “I have fast reflexes.”

A twinge of guilt bubbled in Tyler’s heart. In her panic, she’d set her new friend on fire. A different twinge stabbed at her and Tyler turned away. “Not that.”

“Oh.” Hunter rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, I don’t want to stop being friends, so…”

Tears prickled at Tyler’s eyes. “Yeah. Let’s stay friends.”