Chapter 1
Lynn dragged her feet along the cracked gray New York City pavement, her arms loaded down with bags of milk, eggs, and the other essentials. The hot June sun beat down on her, and she wished that she were in a pool, or on a cruise, or lounging on some exotic island. Anything but doing the grocery shopping in 95º. But her family wasn't exactly rich, so she could scrap that dream. She silently cursed her long black hair. It was an ongoing subject of argument with her and Dad. Dad would never let her cut her hair. He said it reminded him of her mother. That and her deep violet eyes. Mom had left them when Lynn was still a baby. "She loved you very, very much," Dad had always said.
"If she loved me so darn much, why did she leave?" Lynn would always ask.
"Because she loved you," Dad would say. "She didn't want you to get hurt." And then he would look away with a sad look in his eyes and that would be the end of the conversation.
Sighing, Lynn entered the apartment building and climbed the flights of stairs to the apartment she shared with her dad. 1…2…3…4…5…and 6. She reached the apartment, sweating from the heat outside, and hoping Dad had the good sense to turn on the air conditioning. Sighing, she put down her bags, took out her key, and opened the door.
Inside was a scene of complete chaos. Lamps were overturned, rugs twisted, vases smashed. Lynn's piano, the singular most expensive piece of furniture in the house, her sixth birthday present, was ruined. The keyboard was bashed in; the legs were broken. She would cry over that later. But first she had a more important order of business. "Dad?" She called into the house. "Dad?" Her voice rose until it was nearly a shriek. She ran to his room, hoping he would still be sleeping. Then she would wake him up and say, "Hey Dad. While you were sleeping some serial killer or home basher or something wrecked our house. Mind helping me clean up?" Or something like that. She opened the door. He wasn't there. On his bed was a letter. It said:
To Lynn:
If you're reading this, it means I'm gone. They've found me, and now they're after you. I can't tell you who they are; I can only tell you that you have to make it to Camp Half-Blood. It's in Long Island, and it is the only place you will be safe. Your mother knew this would happen. That's why she left. Remember: Camp Half-Blood. I love you.
Dad
Lynn stared. Then, she sank to her knees and cried as everything went black.
In her dream, she saw a beautiful woman with black hair wearing a black cloak. The woman was fighting off some sort of giant monster with two crescent moon shaped knives. "You will no longer control the night," said the monster. "The gods will fall. Their domains will go back to us, the rightful owners." It let out an ominous chuckle. "Never!" cried the woman, as the monster lunged at her. But suddenly, the monster changed course and laughed as it headed toward Lynn. "NO!" The woman screamed. "Leave, Lynn! Go to Camp Half-Blood, and find the necklace of Harmonia! You have to, before they do…"
Lynn woke up sweating. She felt dread. Camp Half-Blood? What had Dad said? Go to Camp Half-Blood. The woman had said it too… Lynn found the heavy canvas camping bag in the hall closet. She filled it with clothes and food, plus her life savings of $300 that she had earned doing odd jobs. She was ready to leave. No, wait. She took a pair of scissors from the hall closet. Snip, snip. Her long hair was gone, replaced by chin-length locks. She didn't need to remind Dad of anyone anymore, she told herself bitterly. Then, without a second thought, she left the apartment, slamming the door behind her.