Michael still remembers when he first saw her. It was a cool summer night when he was fourteen years old. He was in the Big House putting away the telekhine claw he'd gotten on his last quest. Just as he was coming back down the stairs from the attic, the front door opened and a small group of people came in.

Leading the way was Chiron, packed into his wheelchair. Behind him were two girls, a brunette about his age and a blond a little younger. The brunette was chatting animatedly to Chiron; the blond had her arms crossed over her chest and was remaining sullenly silent.

"We do have some campers who are truly excellent at archery," Chiron was saying. "I know some of them will be more than happy to teach you."

"I'd love that!" the brunette said, her grin spreading from ear to ear.

Chiron turned and noticed Michael standing by the foot of the stairs. "Oh, and look, here is just such a boy now. This is Michael Yew, son of Apollo. Michael, this is Katie and Miranda Gardner, our newest campers." He indicated the brunette and the blond in turn.

Michael stuck his hands in his pockets and glanced between the two girls. "Unclaimed?" he said.

"What does that mean?" Katie asked, her smile faltering at his gruff tone.

"By your godly parent, that is," Chiron clarified.

She perked up again. "Oh, no! My dad says our mother is Demeter."

Chiron gave her a gentle smile. "And I do believe he is correct on that count. You see, gods don't always reveal their true identities to their mortal lovers, so the children here aren't always fortunate enough to know."

Katie looked taken aback. "Oh, no! That's so sad!"

Michael bristled at the pity in her voice, thinking of those six months he spent crammed into the Hermes cabin, spending every waking minute feeling like his godly father didn't care two figs about him. "We get by," he said.

Katie blinked at him. "I thought Chiron said your father was Apollo."

"He is."

"When do I get my cell phone back?" Miranda interrupted.

Chiron turned to her and said as kindly as he could, "I'm afraid you can't have it back, Miranda. Cell phones are dangerous for demigods. It attracts monsters right to you."

"You said we're safe here," she pointed out.

"It's best not to take chances."

Miranda looked like she might cry or throw a tantrum. She turned to Katie and said, "I want to go home."

"This is home now, at least for the summer, Miranda," Katie said. "Don't worry. You have me."

"I want my phone!"

"You can't have your phone." Katie's voice remained gentle and even as she spoke.

"I hate this place!"

"Michael," Chiron cut in. "Will you show them to Cabin 4, please?"

Michael gave a curt nod, then walked to the door. He looked back, but Katie and Miranda hadn't moved. "Coming?"

"No," Miranda snapped.

"Miranda, stop that," Katie said, taking her hand. "Come on."

They followed Michael out into the night. "How long have you been here, Michael?" Katie asked.

"Two years," he answered without glancing back.

"What's that over there?" Katie used her free hand to point at a glow just in the distance.

"Campfire," said Michael. "We have sing-alongs."

"Oh god, no," said Miranda, horrified.

"No one cares if you can sing."

"She has a beautiful voice," Katie told him. "You probably do too, being a son of Apollo, right?"

Michael gave a shrug. He didn't feel like explaining that while most children of Apollo were natural musicians, not all of them were. Poor tone-deaf Austin.

"Wow," Katie said breathlessly when they reached the cabins. "These are amazing!"

"That one's yours," said Michael, pointing at Cabin 4, with its brownish walls and flowered porch.

"Whose are the other ones?" Katie asked. "Wait, no, I bet I can guess some of them! That one's Poseidon, right?"

Michael nodded. "Empty, though."

"Empty?" Katie repeated. "Why?"

Michael wasn't sure why he'd mentioned anything. He didn't feel like explaining about the Pact of the Big Three. He definitely didn't feel like explaining about Thalia. "It's complicated," he said.

"Oh," Katie replied, seeming to get the hint. "Well, I guess we'll get settled in, then. Thank you for showing us around." She held out her hand to him.

Michael shook it. "Good night." Then he stuffed his hands back into his pockets and strode off for the campfire, glad that the night hid his blush.