The cake sat tauntingly on the kitchen counter top, marked with eleven candles and frosted with blue. Its delicious sweetness could almost be seen radiating off in sugar scented waves. Percy Jackson licked his lips in anticipation; soon his mother would be in to light the candles and sing happy birthday, then he'd be able to eat the confectionery delicacy. His stomach growled and his taste buds tingled, all ready for a bite of one of Sally Jackson's cakes.

He hoped so badly for nothing odd to happen this day. For as long as he could remember Percy Jackson was always a source for bizarre occurrences. First it was the strange people in brightly assorted robes that had always appeared at his schools when he was younger. Then it was field trips constantly going wrong.

Percy shuddered when he thought of the aquarium incident. It started off as a nice class trip, but then they got to the shark exhibit. He didn't mean to do anything, all he wanted was to get a closer look at the sharks and the floor seemed to suddenly disappear. The workers said he had hit into a lever that made the floor retract over the waters and needless to say Percy did not return to that school the next year.

But today, today had to be perfect. No weird happenings were allowed on this warm August day. Percy Jackson was eleven today and had the whole day just to him, his mother, and one of her famous blue cakes. Gabe was at work, nowhere near enough to bother him. Today was going to be great.

"Percy," Sally Jackson called from the living room. "You better not be eating that cake. You know it's for later."

"I know, mom!" He shouted back. He didn't need to shout as loud as he did. The home he lived in was quite small with only one level, two bedrooms, a just barely functioning bathroom, and a small living room and kitchen.

Still, the cake sat there just as luring as before. Maybe if he asked nicely, Sally would let them have cake before lunch. He could ask for it as a birthday favor.

"Mom," He said with a slight hesitation, he didn't want his mom getting upset with him. "Would it be alright if we had cake now?" Not once did his eyes leave the butter cream swirls.

Sally gave a small chuckle and entered the kitchen with a smile on her face and some flour in her brow. "I suppose that would be just fine." She said looking at her only son entranced by the dessert.

Percy's face lit up. How could he think his mom would ever be upset with him?

"Let me just go get some matches to light the candles." Sally said walking over to a cabinet.

When Sally returned to the kitchen counter top that Percy was huddled around she stroke a match on the side of the box to begin lighting the eleven candles. Only the match didn't light. She took another one out and tried again. Just like last time nothing happened.

Like children of his age, Percy was becoming impatient. How long does it take to light a match? He glanced around the kitchen for a quick second in a bit of annoyance, but was startled to see that when he looked back at the cake all the candles were now lit. That was very, very fast.

Sally eyed Percy in a way he'd never seen before. It seemed to be a mix of worry, suspicion, and dread. Though the look soon faded into a bright grin as she started to sing "Happy Birthday" to Percy.

When he closed his eyes to make wish, he stopped short. What did he want? There was so much he could wish for; for his mom to leave Gabe, for his family to have more money, for him to actually do well in school for once. He decided on something that covered all those areas. Percy wished for his life to go right and blew out the candles.

Ψ

The day had started out terrible. Thunderstorms rolled in in endless waves. The heavy rain, foreboding gray skies, and perilous lightning diminished all chances of going outside. So for the whole of the day, Percy Jackson was stuck inside with his smelly step father and his smoking, drinking, and poker games. So much for the wish he made just a few days ago.

"Hey, punk." Gabe called to Percy in a sloppy slur.

"What do you want?" Percy said already irritated by Gabe's small thread of a voice.

"Are you giving me attitude?" Gabe asked menacingly.

Without meaning to, Percy's whole body tensed. He still remember the last time he gave Gabe "attitude". Let's just say Percy Jackson wasn't a stranger to concealer.

"No, sir." He mumbled.

"Don't frickin' mumble kid," Gabe snarled. "Get over here and give me some money."

Now Sally had heard Gabe demanding for money, she felt it was time to intervene. "Gabe, sweetie," She said with the beginning of a cringe. "Percy's only a child. He doesn't have money to give you."

Gabe grunted in response. "Just go back to making your bean dip, Sally." Sally flinched a little when he ordered her around, but didn't argue.

Turning his attention back to Percy, Gabe asked, "Now why don't you have money? Huh, punk? There's absolutely no reason for you not to have a job by now."

Percy snorted, "Yea except maybe child labor laws."

Once the words were out of his mouth, he instantly regretted them. Sally glanced at her son with eyes wide in fear. Gabe made his way up to Percy, grabbing him roughly by the collar of his shirt.

"Do you think you're funny, punk?" Gabe spat in Percy's face.

"N-no, sir." Percy cursed himself for stuttering.

"Don't stutter when you talk to me." Gabe said pulling Percy closer to him in a threatening stance.

"Gabe! That is enough." Sally yelled out.

With a glare as venomous as a snake's, Sally quickly quieted. "Now," Gabe started at Percy. "Why don't you just go outside and get out of my way?"

Percy didn't have it in him to argue that it was raining cats and dogs out and he'd get soaked to the bone. He marched himself out the front door onto the cement steps.

Luckily, a small awning covered most of the steps, so when Percy sat down most of his body remained dry. However, he did feel something crinkle beneath him. Curiously, he stood up to see what he had sat on.

It looked like a letter. Picking it up suspiciously, Percy saw it was addressed to him. Against better judgment, Percy reentered his house to open the mysterious letter wit his mother.

Gabe didn't miss a beat, "Did I say you could come back inside?" He said once Percy had only a toe through the door.

Ignoring the man, Percy called out to his mother. "Mom! I got a letter."

Apparently not getting the memo, Gabe sneered at Percy. "Are you dumb or just stupid? It's Sunday. You don't get mail on Sundays." Gabe's poker buddies laughed with him.

Percy was about to retort with dumb and stupid were the same things, but saw his mom entering the room. She wore the same face that had been on her on Percy's birthday. That look of worry, suspicion, and dread.

"A letter?" She asked cautiously.

"Don't feed into his lies, Sally." Gabe said up to her.

Like her son, Sally ignored Gabe too. For an unknown reason, the letter seemed much more important than any of Gabe's threatening taunts.

"Yea, a letter."

Sally made her way over to the raven haired boy. "Well let's open it then."

Percy of course noticed the tension in her voice. Why was his mother so worried about a letter?

Breaking open the red seal, Percy pulled out a cream colored piece of paper. The letter looked very official, like a school's. But why would any school want Percy Jackson as one of their students? He had a record to last him a lifetime.

Reading the contents, Percy's confusion replaced his previous suspicion. It was like any other school letter. There was an introductory and then a list of required materials. Only this letter spoke of witches and wizards and all first year students required wands instead of notebooks.

"Mom? What is this?" Percy asked, wondering if this was some kind of prank. Though if it was a prank, why was his mother so nervous?

"Percy, I should tell you something." Her eyes couldn't hold onto one spot for long. Guilt consumed all other features.

"What is it?" His voice strained.

"Not here. Let's go outside."

The pair rushed out the door in a way that alarmed Percy. Once out the door and onto the cement steps, rain splattering on their clothes, Sally took in a deep breath before looking directly into her son's sea green eyes.

"Percy," She started. "You're a wizard."