Hello. This is the second story I'm writing.
Disclaimer: I do not own PJO, or anything in this story except parts of the storyline.
Prologue
My name is Kathryn-Camilla Crest, but you can just call me KC. I was just a regular 12-year-old kid with ADHD and Dyslexia in my school, where all kids have ADHD or some sort of disability. Sucks to be me. I love Greek mythology. I find it super fascinating. Other than my history class, school is boring.
The only other good things about being in my school are my friends, Percy, Anna, and Nick. Percy and Anna is a couple. They say they're not but they so are, it's very obvious. When I made friends with Percy and Anna, they introduced me to Nick. He gave me a look but said hi. Nick is cute but is really dark and distanced from everyone. He has dark shaggy and messy hair, somewhat dark olive skin, intense black eyes and he always wears ripped black jeans with a black shirt and a silver skull ring. He always brings this little statue around, a statue that looks like Hades, the Greek God of the Dead.
I asked him about it one day, when Percy and Anna were doing their Literature work together, and he stared at me, as if he was amazed that I even knew about his statue.
"It's Hades isn't it?" Nick's eyes got even bigger and he replied
"How did you know?"
I shrugged indifferently. "I love Greek mythology. It's really fascinating. But the statue looks like a figurine from Mythomagic. Is it?"
"Yeah it is. It was a gift from my sister." He went all-quiet after that.
"Sister? I didn't know you had a sister." I asked tentatively, afraid that he would get offended.
"I had a sister. She died." He told me off-handedly.
"Hey, I didn't mean any offence. I'm sorry. I also lost my brother." I told him, and we sat in silence, thinking about our lost siblings. Suddenly, he asked quietly, "How?"
"I lost my brother in an accident a couple of years back. We were both in the car but I'm the only one that survived. My aunt, who was taking us out on a trip to the mall, died too."
"I'm sorry." He said quietly, and we sat in silence, not really knowing what to say.
The sharp ringing of the bell, which indicated that our free period was over, broke the silence. We walked towards our classes and I told him before we parted, "It was nice getting to know about you Nick."
"Thanks KC, you too." He actually smiled before putting his hands in his pockets and walking away.
Later in the day, it was History when all hell broke loose. Our teacher, Alaric Saltzman, was on leave and a replacement teacher by the name of Mrs. Alez came to relief our class. She started teaching about Greek mythology.
"Okay class, who can tell me what this says?" she said in a high-pitched voice.
I raised my hand and said, "Perseus was the son of Zeus and Danae."
She raised an eyebrow, and looked at Nick, Percy and Anna, who looked as stunned as she did.
"Very good, Kathryn. Stay back with me after class. I want to see you." She turned her back on me and continued teaching, recounting the story of Perseus and how he was born. I wasn't really paying attention because I already knew the story when a note dropped onto my table. It was from Nick.
"Since when were you able to read Greek?"
I quickly replied, "I don't know. I can barely read English! The words just sort of formed in front of my eyes." then passed the note back. He rolled his eyes but wrote back, "We'll wait for you outside class later. You do realize this is in Greek right?"
I looked at the note again and realized, "Holy crap!" I muttered under my breath.
Then I replied, "No. I just realized." I passed it back and I heard him chuckle under his breath. When class finally ended, I stayed back as instructed. Percy, Anna and Nick, even, looked worried, as if something really bad was about to happen.
"Kathryn-Camilla Crest right?" Mrs. Alez asked in her high-pitched voice.
"Yeah. What is it you wanted to see me about?" I asked, kind of nervous.
"Since when have you been able to read Greek? Are your parents Greek? Do you have ADHD and Dyslexia? Do you know both your parents?"
Dumbstruck, I tried to answer. "I don't know. I never tried until today. My mum is American. Yeah, I have both ADHD and dyslexia. I don't know who my dad is." She nodded approvingly, and then looked at me. Suddenly, her eyes turned a fiery red and she transformed into a hideous monster with leather-like wings. I screamed in terror as a sword materialized and missed my head by a centimeter. The thing swiped again, and I ducked, and ran for the door. But before I could reach it, the door burst open and Percy, Nick and Anna came running in. Anna had a bow and arrow, Percy had a golden sword and Nick had a sword as black as a nightmare.
The thing hissed and Nick shouted at the thing, "As the son of Hades I order you to go away!"
The thing shrieked but obeyed Nick. I stared, open-mouthed at the trio, unable to believe what happened.
"Hello? Earth to KC? You okay?" Percy asked me, looking as if he wanted to burst out in laughter.
"What was that…thing?" I finally managed to say.
"Erm…that was the Fury Alecto." Nick answered.
"Nick, a fu–"
"It's Nico. She's Annabeth." He pointed at Anna.
I got really confused.
"Wait. You mean, your real name is Nico, and her name is Annabeth?"
"Yes. Although I didn't change my name, if that helps." Percy spoke up and I gave him a look.
"So, what? Why was that–erm…Fury after me?"
Nico stared at me, then burst out laughing.
"What? You mean…Oh." The realization dawned on me.
"I'm a demigod?"
Nico had calmed down and answered, "Yes, you are. That's why Alecto went after you. How old are you KC?"
"12. 13 this year, why?" I asked.
"Hmmm…Okay, we'll figure it out later. But first, we have to get you to camp in one piece."
"Camp? Cool. But wait. I have to tell my mum first."
"Your mum? She already knows. We called her earlier. Your things are all packed and ready. All we need to do is just drop by to collect them." Percy led me towards the exit and when we stepped out, there was an Audi R8 sitting there, gleaming in the sunlight.
"Whoa. Is that yours?" I asked, completely in awe.
"Yeah. A gift from Apollo to thank me for helping him find his chariot."
We all piled into Percy's car and drove home.
"This is where you live?" Nico asked as we got out of the car.
"Yeah. My mom's the Big Boss of her company. Hi Apollo!" I said just before my golden retriever pounced on me. I laughed and patted his head before letting him go. I picked up the ball that he brought and threw it "Fetch!" My dog bounded away and I turned to see three pairs of eyes following my dog.
"Your dog's name is Apollo?" they asked.
"Yeah, I have another called Artemis. Why?"
"Nothing. We'll help you get your stuff."
"No need. I'll do it myself." Apollo came back and I sent him away to play with Artemis.
We walked in and the housekeeper greeted me.
"Good Afternoon Ms. Crest. Your bags are ready. Would you like to say goodbye to your mother?" she asked in a perfectly polite tone
"Could you bring the bags and put them in the car outside? Where is my mom?"
"She's in the study. And she said to bring your friends up too."
"Thanks Grace." I bounded up the stairs and ran into the study.
"Mom!" I cried. She turned around and enveloped me in a hug. I hugged her back and said, "I love you mom."
When we broke apart, she looked at Percy, Annabeth and Nico. "Are you the ones who called me?" they nodded, unsure of what to say. "Thank you for telling me. I've been dreading this day. Plea–"
"Mom, you knew I was a half-blood and you didn't tell me? How could you?" I asked in a playfully accusing voice.
"You were too young. Anyway, as I was saying, please take care of her."
I rolled my eyes, knowing what would come next. "And if anything severe happens to her, I'll sue, okay?" I laughed and told them, "Two things. One, my mom is joking, I hope. Two, I can take care of myself. Relax mom. We gotta go. I'll call you when I can. Bye." I hugged her one last time before leaving the study room.
"Your mum is really nice but kind of creepy." Nico commented as we went back into the car. "I like her."
"So, you guys are demigods too right? Who are your godly-parents?" I asked, unable to resist.
"Can you guess?" Percy asked.
"Hmm…Nico is the son of…Hades?"
"How…?" Nico started.
"Because you carry around a Hades statue, you carry a Stygian iron sword and you're always wearing black. And you said it out loud earlier. And Percy… Poseidon? Annabeth…I'm guessing…Athena?"
"How on earth did you guess that? And how did you know Nico's sword was a Stygian iron sword?" Percy asked, stunned that I got them all right.
"Percy, its obvious you love the water, you have blue-green eyes. So it just made sense. And I should know about the Stygian sword. I've read about it before."
"She's crazy over Greek mythology." Nico added.
"Hey!"
"Then what about me?" Annabeth asked, curiousity gleaming in her eyes.
"Yours was really hard to guess. But I guessed Athena because Athena is super smart, and you're super smart. Plus, you kinda look like Athena, in the pictures I've seen."
She nodded approvingly, and we drove towards camp in a comfortable silence.
We reached the forest without much trouble but once we drove in, a Manticore attacked us. He had the body a lion, the face of a man, and the sting of a scorpion.
"She must die!" and he attacked me, of course. I was just dodging his attacks, not having any usable weapon to defend myself with. Percy eventually killed him with his sword, Riptide.
"Thanks Percy." We went back to the car and Percy did something that completely floored me. He pressed his car keys and the just folded in on itself. It shrank and shrank until it was the size of a toy car.
"Whoa. That was so cool."
Then, I realized that my clothes had also shrunk.
"Uh…are my clothes and all my stuff still inside?"
"Yeah. Don't worry. We'll get them out later." Annabeth assured me.
We walked through the forest and after about fifteen minutes, we reached a gate.
Its wordings were carved in Greek and it read, Camp Half-Blood. Percy enlarged the car so I could get my stuff out. Before I stepped in, this huge dog came bounding my way. It pounced on my and knocked me flat. I thought it was going to eat me. Instead it licked my face. I reached up and patted his head and slowly crawled out. I opened my suitcase and tossed him a doggy treat. Then took out a towel.
"What or who is that dog?" I asked, while wiping the doggy drool away.
"That's Mrs. O'Leary, our sort of dog. Its actually a hellhound."
I stared at her. Then I shook my head and walked into camp. It was really like normal camp but it was filled with a mystical feel.
"Come on. We'll put you in the Hermes cabin until your claimed." Nico led me towards the Hermes cabin.
"I smell smoke. It that normal?" he nodded brusquely.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing. I should probably tell you that I don't live here." He muttered.
"Oh…why not?" my happy mood dampening.
"Because only the dead respect me... and only out of fear."
I stopped him. "Hey, look all around you. You're accepted in camp. In fact you may not realize it but you're popular here. Are you blind?"
Nico looked at me. And he just looked, and looked.
"What?" I asked, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze.
"Nothing. I just know you're not a Hades child. The cabin's this way."
He started walking towards the cabin that was really noisy.
"Hello! New camper? Here's a gift for you! I'm Erik by the way. " A kid about thirteen or fourteen held out a box to me.
"Er…no thanks. I've been through enough pranks to know that isn't real."
The kid next to Erik muttered, "Damn, she's a smart one. We'll need better tactics."
"Do I really have to room with them?" I asked, really reluctant now.
Nico's expression was one of awe. "No you don't, thank the gods. You've just been claimed. By Zeus. Congratulations KC. We can bring you to your cabin, and you don't have to room with those jokers." I looked up and saw this lightning bolt floating above my head. Just then, a satyr came running up.
"Chiron wants to see you. Both of you." He said, before asking, "Hey, you're the new camper right? I'm Grover." I took his hand, smiling.
"Come on. We'll drop by your cabin first."
After dropping my bags, we hurried over to the Big House.
"Welcome, Kathryn-Camilla Crest, daughter of Zeus, ruler of humankind, dispenser of good and evil, god of weather." The guy, whom I guessed was Chiron, bowed down, and so did everyone else. I stood there a little awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
"I presume this is the new brat?" I turned to see Dionysus walking in.
I raised an eyebrow but refrained from saying anything.
"She's Zeus' daughter. The one we've been waiting for." Chiron said.
"Waiting for? What?" I asked, not understanding anything except the fact that I was being led to a room.
"Here. You have to go in by yourself. Good luck." The demigod that led me here told me and left.
I raised my hand to knock but a voice said, "Just come in already."
I cautiously opened the door and found a girl wearing a boarding school uniform sitting on a stool. The room was decorated, but still looked dark and gloomy.
"I'm Rachel Elizabeth Dare, also known as the Oracle. You've been sent here to seek advice on your quest." She told me formally before bursting into laughter.
"I'm joking. I am the Oracle. God, relax would you? I'm not gonna eat you. Ready?"
I nodded, not really knowing what to say.
Suddenly green mist was everywhere and when Rachel opened her mouth, a voice that wasn't hers spoke.
"Children of the Three will avenge thee.
Secrets that lie at the bottom of the sea.
Terrors and woes underneath the Crying Tree.
Forever in the sky is where you will be.
Four will live while death takes three.
All will happen unless you set her free.
I shuddered at 'death.' It was kinda scary that I was going on a quest within hours of getting here. There was hope that no one would die, but who was the "Her?" I wondered as Rachel got herself together.
"Wow, interesting poem. Well, good luck!" and with that, she turned her back on me. I numbly walked out of the room and was immediately confronted by the same demigod that led me here.
"You okay? Seem kinda pale. Got a scary one?" the demigod asked, passing me some water. I accept it gratefully.
When we returned to where everyone was waiting, I was almost back to normal.
"Well, what did it say?" Chiron asked. Percy, Annabeth and Nico all leaned forward, interested in what I had to say. I began to recite:
"Children of the Three will avenge thee.
Secrets that lie at the bottom of the sea.
Terrors and woes underneath the Crying Tree.
Forever in the sky is where you will be.
Four will live while death takes three.
All will happen unless you set her free."
They all stared. Then Percy spoke up.
"It obviously means the kids of the big Three, meaning, Nico, KC and I." Percy told Chiron.
"Then what about 'Four will live while death takes three? Are we supposed to take seven? Isn't that a bit too big?" Annabeth asked.
"Guys, look. I know that you guys are worried but this is sorta my quest right?" they all looked at me and nodded. I continued, "I know Percy, Nico and I have to go. I want Annabeth and Clarisse."
Clarisse? Why her?" Annabeth blurted out, unable to stop herself.
"Because she's an Aries child. And I think she could help us tremendously." I explained. She grudgingly nodded and we dispersed.
"So, lets give you some jump-start training. You need to have a sword, or some sort of protection. Follow me." Percy led the way to his room, where a rainbow fountain stood. He tossed in a coin and said, "O'goddess Iris, accept my offering. Show me Tyson." I looked at him, and shook my head. Suddenly, this Cyclops appeared in the floating picture-thingy.
"Hey big brother! How are you?" The big Cyclops, which I assumed was Tyson, asked.
"I'm fine Tyson, thanks. Can you make a bracelet for her?" Percy asked.
"Sure. Sword-changing bracelet coming right up!" he answered. I decided he was really nice, even though he was kinda weird.
"Thanks Ty. I gotta go. See ya!"
"Was that a…?" he shushed me and nodded. Then we left his cabin.
"Percy! Want to let our new camper try out some arrows?" Erik called over.
"Should I? I don't really trust him." But went over anyway.
It was then I found out I could not shoot. Not for the life of me. But I was really good at sword fighting.
Then an amazing thing happened. I wanted to get a better view of the place, and wished I could fly when we were playing capture the flag. The next thing I knew, I was rising up in the sky! I wobbled for a bit before getting the hang of it. I flew across the woods and found the flag. Unfortunately, Percy had flying shoes and he was on the other team. We started a battle in mid-air. Halfway while fighting, I decided to see if I could do anything else. I thought about a really, really windy day and to my surprise, the wind started blowing. I had to control it before it turned into a storm of course. I blew Percy just far away enough so I would have time to swoop down and grabbed the flag. I landed and was hoisted up again, and carried back to camp.
"Where's Nico?" I asked during dinner. " I haven't seen him since the Big House."
" What did you do to him? He's moving into the Hades cabin. None of us have been able to do that." Annabeth asked disbelievingly and I smiled impishly at her and left the table, tossing the leftovers of my dinner into the fire as a sacrifice to the gods. Then, I left for Nico's cabin.
"Knock, Knock." I spoke out loud.
"Who goes there?" Nico replied, apparently in an olden English mode.
"It is I, Daughter of Zeus, coming to visit the Son of Hades. May I come in?" feeling a little stupid.
The door opened and I stepped into a cabin that was covered in stygian iron and all his sheets were black.
"Goth much?" I asked a little creeped out.
"No, it's just that I like black." He replied nonchalantly.
"Okay, whatever. You made this for Bianca?" I was staring at a beautifully made bracelet made of onyx.
He lowered his head, and mumbled, "Yeah. You can have it if you want. It becomes a sword, but its not made of Stygian Iron."
"I…I can't Nico. It was for your sister." I told him gently.
"I think, I think that I'd rather you have it. So it doesn't become a waste of my efforts." He gave me half a smile and turned back to unpack. I smiled back, just a small smile and took the bracelet. I put it on and pressed one of the onyx stones. It transformed into a sword, midnight blue and shining in all its glory.
"So, you like it?" he asked, and turned around.
"I love it. Thank you Nico." I smiled at him and he grinned back, and I could see the pride in his eyes. I walked up, hugged him and left before he could react.
And so, with my awesome wit and next-to-nothing training, we set out on what would become the most dangerous mission I have ever done in my entire life, not that I've ever done anything else with my life.
Me: cool! I smell a romance between Nico and KC! But shh… I shall not reveal anything for now. Now, READ AND REVIEW!
Damon: you're lame.
Me: -.-"'