Chapter One: I Learn How to Face Time with my Sprinkler

By Maddie

I'm a normal kid? Nope, not even close. I mean I thought I was up until the attack. I thought I was the most normal girl out there. I had lots of friends, straight A's, amazing parents and the most annoying little sister,Tallah. Yes maybe I used to have dyslexia but I overcame it years ago thanks to the private tutors my parents were able to hire. In fact, I can't believe I even thought they were my parents because we are nothing alike. Both my parents have red hair and so does my little sister but me, my hair was jet black. My parents had told me I was Irish which made sense at the time because my grandparents all spoke with a thick Irish accent but they couldn't name a single one of my relatives that had my striking black hair or even looked remotely like me. The black sheep, my grandfather liked to call me.

It was after school one day that I noticed something peculiar about the house. I was normally the first one home on a Tuesday. School got out at 3:30, Tallah was over at the elementary school and she stayed for art club Dad and Mom were both at work but Mom was always home earlier. The house was quiet and empty it wasn't until I plopped down on the couch and turned on my phone that I smelt something burning. At first I tried to stay calm and keep a level head. It's probably something minor I can fix, I thought, Mom probably left the stove on or cooked something for too long. I crept into the kitchen only to find to my horror a boy laying in a pile of broken glass with his pants singed and curly black hair covered with soot.

My first thought was to call 9-1-1 first the hospital then the police. Then the boy moved and groaned. I stared at him as his eyes blinked open.

"That..." he said groggily, "was awesome."

I stared at him for a moment unable to believe that the boy was conscious after crashing through my kitchen window.

"Who are you?" I asked. "What happened to your clothes?"

His attire was thoroughly burnt and orange shirt so singed that the writing on it could not be seen as if the boy had literally been engulfed in flames, but there was no way anyone could survive that.

"I'm Lucas," the boy said. "Don't worry fire can't hurt me," he suddenly stopped himself realizing that this must sound odd. "I mean, I'm sorry for smashing through your window," he said blushing slightly. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you why I had to do it."

I held up the phone. "I'm about to call the hospital. You shouldn't even be conscious. "

Lucas waved his hands violently. "No no, please don't. I'll fix your window just hear me out. I was only out for a few minutes and that's only because I hit my head-"

"You're not starting out too well," I said and I dialed 9.

"Wait," Lucas said. "If you can an ambulance they'll only see that I'm fine and you'll be in trouble."

"You want the police then," I said. "They'll see the broken glass and know you broke into my house."

Lucas bit his lip. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Then he drew a sword out of no where. It was a magnificent blade of made out of a coppery substance possibly dull gold or bronze. I stood a shaky step back and stupidly dropped the phone.

"What are you doing?" I said and the boy seemed surprised I even recognized the blade.

"You can see this?" He asked waving the sword dangerously close to my face. "It doesn't look like a feather or anything?"

I stared at him completely bewildered.

The boy recapped the sword and I saw it fall into a thin sheath that lay at his waist. "So," the boy said looking slightly amused. "You're either a mortal that can see through the mist or-"

"Would you just tell me what's going on?" I interrupted. "Why are you carrying a sword? What's all this mist business and how come you arn't burnt to a crisp?"

Lucas smiled at me as if viewing me in a new light. "I am a son of Hephaestus," he said proudly as if that was suppose to sound important.

I sighed half heartedly. "You've got to be joking," I said dismissively. "The blacksmith guy from Greek mythology really?"

"Except they're not myths," Lucas said. "Some of us, the children of the gods still practice the old ways because we know that the greek gods are real."

I raised my eyebrow.

Lucas shook his head. "Just last week we saved the whole world from the giants and the earth mother Gaea."

I was starting to think this guy had hit his head a little too hard. Earth mother Gaea? What was he talking about? Maybe he was part of a religious group I hadn't heard of or was still under the effects of almost being burned alive.

"Maybe you should sit down," I said guiding the boy over to the couch. "Do you want me to get you some new clothes? They would have to be my dad's." The boy was my age probably around middle school but very skinny and probably could have fit into Tallah's clothes.

"You don't believe me do you," Lucas said but he agreed to let me give him some new clothes.

I stepped out of the room to let him change but when I returned it was to another suprise. Lucas had made his way outside and had managed to turn on the sprinkler.

"You know we're in a drought," I said trying to turn off the faucet.

"Stop, I need to do this," Lucas said closing his eyes. In his hand he produced a golden coin. "Oh Iris goddess of the rainbow..." Lucas chanted.

This guy is crackers. I thought as he tossed his coin toward the sprinkler. Magically, it disappeared. Suddenly the water droplets changed and reflected another boy with similar features to Lucas he seemed surprised to see the other boy.

"Lucas you okay?" He asked. "Did the mission go alright?"

Lucas looked grave. "Hey Lando, I may of taken a few blows I shouldn't have and landed myself at some girl's house but the mission was a success."

"You're at a girl's house?" The boy, Lando exclaimed. "Does she know?"

I moved closer to Lucas and Lando must have seen me for he cried out. "What are you doing Lucas? You can't let a mortal girl see you send an Iris message."

Lucas smiled and shook his head. "That's why I called you Lando. If she was mortal she wouldn't be able to even see me Iris messaging you."

Lando seemed to think about this then realized what Lucas was saying. "She can't be one of us if that's what you mean," Lando said now sounding serious. "A satyr would have picked up her sent by now. She's just a mortal who can see through the mist, Lucas do you know what you've done?" Lando sounded panicked. "Tell the girl it was a nightmare or a dream I don't care just don't let Chiron find out you told a mortal about us."

"Standing right here," I said and Lando flinched.
"Come on Lando," Lucas said. "Give her a chance. How do you know she's not a demigod."

"I already told you," Lando said. "Grover would have sent someone after her by now. We can't have mortals at our camp."

"What about Rachel," Lucas said. "She's a mortal."

"Was a mortal," Lando corrected. "Surely you know the difference between the oracle and some random girl who can see your iris message."

"Well I want to talk to Chiron," Lucas said indignantly.

"He's away remember," Lando said and Mr. D still on Olympus. I don't know if he's ever coming back. "Percy's in charge."

"Jackson?" Lucas sounded surprised. "I thought he was in New Rome."

"No Annabeth went instead, we're still waiting to hear back from her and Reyna."

"Fine then," Lucas said. "Put me on with Percy."

I was starting to wonder who this Percy was. I didn't remember him from any of the books I'd read about greek mythology.

Lando looked scared. "You can't just march up to Percy Jackson and tell him you want to let a mortal into camp. He's really busy."

"Fine then," Lucas said, sounding a little frustrated. "We're just going to march up to the border and see if she can get through."

He threw a rock at the sprinkler and the Iris message out leaving me staring at no more than water again. Confused and slightly thrilled I tried my best to compose myself.

"How did you do that?" I demanded.

"It's an Iris message," Lucas explained. "You throw one golden drachma into the water as an offering to Iris the rainbow goddess," he paused. "Now do you believe me about the greek gods?"

I didn't answer. Truthfully, I wanted to believe him but another part told me not to. It was completely illogical. There was no way the greek gods existed, someone would have noticed by now. Still there was that part of me that was still enchanted by what I had seen in the Iris message. It was no trick, we had really been talking to someone probably miles away. I marveled to think what else could be possible.

"I'll go with you," I said before I could change my mind.

Lucas seemed surprised that I would make up my mind so quickly. "You don't even know where we're going," he said the grin returning to his face. "It could be dangerous."

"I don't care," I said. All I wanted to do was see more magic.

"Okay... um," Lucas faltered and I realized he didn't even know my name.

"Ella," I said. "My name is Ella.