Hey! This is a story I wrote about a girl named Nicole who finds out she's a demigod. If you find a problem with it, please tell me! I don't own the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, or iPod, or Miley Cyrus's G.N.O., or Denny's, or anything else I might have mentioned in the story!
For as long as I can remember, I'd been an orphan, moved from foster parents to foster parents, never really staying in one place for very long. Now, looking back, I realize it probably had something to do with all the mysterious and most of the time, troublesome, events that seemed to follow me everywhere I went. Although, you can't blame me for not seeing that earlier, I was only about seven at the time.
I had grown up to be one of those kids who had learned to be self-sufficient and not really depend on anyone else. That probably was due to the fact that I never had anyone to depend on. No matter what "nice couple" decided they wanted me as their daughter, I didn't exactly make a good impression. Maybe it was the dyslexia, or maybe the ADHD, or maybe the fact that I always seemed to bring trouble with me wherever I went.
The people in charge at the orphanage where I stayed until I was seven, and old enough to be in foster care, said that my mother died giving birth to me and my father left her after he found out that she was pregnant. I'm not sure if I believe that, but it was the closest thing to an explanation I was ever going to get. Or so I thought.
I was living with my foster parents 17 (yeah, I kept track) listening to the iPod I had gotten from foster parents 5 (it was sort of a bribe to stay away from them and shut up, but I got to keep it anyway), and watching the sunrise when I looked at the calendar. I was one day away from being 13! I was really excited about my birthday, even though no one else cared.
I had this really good feeling about my birthday, I can't explain it; maybe it was just cool to know that I was almost a teenager. Although Sue and Harry would just say that I was now a moody teen, and not worthy of their attention anymore, I was beyond the point where I cared. They could start cursing at me at the top of their lungs and I would just smile and nod; which I have learned from experience, they don't like.
The only thing they could do to really upset me was take away my iPod, but since they didn't know I had one, I was safe there. I always listen to music when I'm upset; it calmed me down and helped me concentrate. I know it seems weird, but I never said my life was normal!
"Nicole! Get your sorry butt downstairs now!" There was my wake-up call from Sue. I honestly don't know why they even bother to try; I'm always awake when the sun rises. I was told either that I was just an early riser, or I was a freak; depending on whom you ask.
"Okay! I'll be right there." I yelled back, knowing that if I wasn't there in under five minutes I would have to go to school without breakfast, but that didn't really bother me; the less time with Sue and Harry, the better.
"I said NOW! You sorry excuse for a human being!" Yeah, this was how my "loving parents" often referred to me. I was used to it by now though, so it didn't bother me anymore.
"Okay, OKAY! I'm coming!" I said, then couldn't help muttering under my breath "you sorry excuse for a guardian." But I did go down to the kitchen and get my burnt toast before grabbing my school bag and heading for the door.
"Bye! I'm leaving for school now, so don't be too excited, thinking I ran away!" I yelled back over my shoulder. Then, I ducked as she threw her fork at my head and broke into a full-on sprint to get out of the house. I ran down the street to the bus stop, laughing the whole way there.
I sat down on the side of the road, away from everyone else just like always. I threw the burnt breakfast into the bushes behind me, too busy thinking about what I was going to do before going back to the jail that Sue and Harry call a house. I hated it there, so I would normally just go for a walk in the park after school. A really long walk if school was being particularly annoying sometimes.
That's when the bus pulled up and stopped, letting everyone pile up. I was always the last one on, and the last one off, not liking to be in the middle of the huge group of people. I was just about to board the bus, when I heard a strange noise behind me. I turned around and saw the shrubbery rustling.
After staring at the plants for a few seconds, the driver started to yell at me to get on the bus, so I let it go and boarded the bus to my doom, I mean, school!
I sat in the front of the bus, and when we finally pulled to a stop at my middle school, I let everyone else flood into the building before me. As I was getting off, I saw the bus driver throw me a dirty look; though why, I have no idea. It's not like I trashed the bus or anything, I always leave that to the last day of school!
So I walked into the three-story building all alone, and headed to my first period class. When I got to history, I realized that we were going to be reading about ancient Greece. I love hearing all the old stories about mythology, because, personally I think it's cool. So we read through the whole story of the titans and how the gods overtook them, and I could barely understand anything that was written there.
Next was Language Arts, my least favorite class ever. It was also the class that I was failing epically in; even more than all the others. I can never read the required books, and I always took the longest on tests; which, coincidentally, I also always got an F on, so I just zoned out and didn't hear anything my teacher said, until the bell rang forty minutes later.
Then, it was time for band, my absolute favorite class that I have ever been in. I don't know how, but my dyslexia doesn't transfer into music. I can always concentrate on my saxophone skills in band, even though no one else seems to, because our teacher yells at us a lot. Band is my favorite three quarters of an hour, and it makes my day all week long.
Unfortunately, every good thing has to end, so at 11:50 I had to leave the band room, and my awesome tenor sax, behind while I headed off to lunch. I waited in line to get my hamburger, and then went to go sit at my table. I ate a solitary lunch, then stood up and went to dump all my trash off the lunch tray.
Now it was math, which is actually not that bad for me. My dyslexia wasn't that bad when it came to numbers, so I only got C's in algebra. I was half way through my math worksheet when the class ended and I left to go to science, which I had never really excelled at. So, obviously, I zoned out now too.
That's when I went to my last class of the day, P.E. I had to climb the rope, and I was always only slightly good at that. I made it about half way up, when I knew that I couldn't make it to the top. I dropped to the ground and landed somewhat gracefully on my feet. At least I didn't fall this time, I was glad about that.
Finally school was over, and I went to the bus ramp. I climbed on my bus last and got a seat in the front, just like always. Although today, I noticed my bus driver staring at me like I was some sort of child delinquent; which, I guess technically, I might be.
It was my stop, so I stood up and waited for everyone else to pass by me before I got off. Once I was on the sidewalk, the bus driver was still watching me as she drove off. I really didn't have anything to do because I wasn't feeling like doing my homework, so I walked around without any real purpose.
I had just passed the same spot that I had heard the weird rustling noises that morning, when the bushes next to me started to shake. I knew I wasn't imagining it this time, so I did the completely rational thing to do; I stopped dead and stared at the shrub.
The sounds got louder and I still was just watching it. I hadn't moved at all and was standing about three feet away, when whatever was behind the bush jumped out at me. That's when I started to move again, and ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction.
Unluckily for me, I couldn't run faster than the thing that was hiding behind the plants. I tried my best to get away, but the creature caught up to me and pinned me to the ground. I managed to scream at the top of my lungs, and I don't know or cared who heard me.
Now, I can scream pretty loud and extremely high-pitched when I want to, but I had no idea that I could be so annoying until that thing howled in displeasure. That's when I knew that this was not going well at all, so I prepared myself to be painfully killed; and I mean honestly, it's not like anyone would actually care if I died.
That's when she showed up, and my life was completely changed forever.
She just showed up out of absolutely nowhere, and all of a sudden, the whatever-it-was was pulled off of me as it wrestled with a tall girl who had spiky black hair that was held back by a thin silver circlet on top of her head.
Suddenly, the thing broke out of her grip, and backed up so that it had enough space to attack. The girl pulled a bow and arrows out of literally nothing this time (honestly, I was actually watching this time) and took careful aim at the things mouth. That's when I realized that it was the thing we were just learning about in history; the Nemean Lion. Man, is that thing more frightening in real life than in pictures.
The lion disintegrated into a gold powdery dust as soon as her arrow hit it. Then she turned to me and I saw her eyes were a shocking shade of bright blue; very unlike my own eyes, which are blue, but not nearly as bright as hers.
"Hey, I'm Thalia. I'm guessing you probably don't know what just happened do you?" Thalia said. That's when I realized that I was just staring open-mouthed at where she was standing, and where the Nemean Lion had been seconds before.
"What did you just do? What the heck just happened here? Who are you really?" I asked, still not sure what was going on, and wanting answers.
"Well, I just saved you're life, the Nemean Lion attacked you, and I already told you I'm Thalia; but I think you already knew that much." Thalia answered my questions, but not to the extent I wanted her to, so I tried again.
"Okay then, why did this happen? How does that lion exist? How did you get here?" I asked even more questions, this time more specific questions.
"Well, you're a demigod, all the Greek myths are real, and the satyrs are working overtime, so Artemis wanted us to travel the country trying to find more demigods before they get killed." I don't know what I expected Thalia to say, but it sure wasn't that.
"WHAT? Demigod? Me? Satyrs? Artemis? Huh?" I know I didn't make any sense, but I was starting to freak out. Is she for real? Greek myths being true, that's just insanity!
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's weird and hard to take in, but it's completely true and unless you want to have more run-ins like that one, I suggest you listen and let me take you to our camp for a little while." Thalia said, acting like it was the most normal thing in the world. Then again, if she can kill the Nemean Lion like that, maybe it really wasn't a big deal to her.
"Okay, but first let me grab my stuff from my foster home first, and are you a demigod too?" I asked Thalia, knowing the answer was most likely yes to the question, but having no idea how'd she respond to me going to get my iPod.
"Fine, and yes, I'm a daughter of Zeus." Wow, daughter of the god of the sky, pretty impressive. I probably should have figured that out though, with her eyes the color they are. I really didn't know how to respond to that though, so I just started walking in the direction of Sue and Harry's house, hopefully for the last time in my life.
We finally made it to the door, and I used my key to open the door. I warned Thalia she might want to stay outside, but she was too stubborn to listen to me and came in anyway. Unfortunately, Harry was actually home, so I tried my best to just walk around him and not say anything to alert him to my presence.
Thalia however, just stood in the middle of the room looking around her and Harry couldn't help but notice her, no matter how stupid he is. So, naturally, he turned to yell at me even though I had done nothing except let one of my "friends" into the house.
"Nicole, what exactly is that girl doing in my house? And why are you back here so early, you never show up until at least after eight! The least you can do is stay out of my way when I come back from work, but no you just have to show up and ruin it all! It's as if the five minutes we spend together every day aren't enough for you and you have to ruin my quiet time by showing your face in here!" Harry practically screamed at me. He works the night shift at Denny's (classy, right?) so he leaves at 7:30 P.M. and comes back at 8:00 A.M. after I already left for school.
"Sorry, I was just getting my things. As soon as I'm done with that, I'll leave and you'll never have to put up with me again! Happy?" I was just as mad as he was, but I was better at controlling my volume. Thalia was just watching this, not saying anything; pretty smart move on her part.
I pushed past Harry and ran up the stairs before he could say something else or throw anything at me. I got to my "room" and grabbed my iPod, hairbrush, and some of my clothes that were scattered across my floor. I shoved my iPod into my pocket, and rolled my clothes around my brush so I could carry it all easier.
As soon as I was done I ran back down stairs to find Harry and Thalia staring each other down. Oh no I thought, this can't end well!
When neither of them moved, I coughed. Both of them spun around to face me and I smiled. Better get this over with soon!
"Well, I'm ready to leave, so Harry, please tell Sue that I lied this morning, I did end up running away; so good-bye and good riddance. We'll just leave you alone with your television and alcohol! Come on Thalia, we probably shouldn't stay to watch this." I said, turning to the door and starting to walk away. Thalia followed, looking somewhat amazed at what I had just said to my legal guardian.
When we were about half a foot away from the door I pulled Thalia down so that she didn't get hit in the head with whatever Harry had just threw at me. After that smashed, I dragged her with me as we sprinted out of the house and down the street.
Me being the insane person I am started laughing hysterically while the daughter of Zeus just stared at me. I kept laughing until Thalia told me we still had to get back to her camp. I nodded and followed her down the street. It was quiet, and I can't stand awkward silences, they're just too . . . awkward.
"So, how did you find me anyway? I mean, I'm really glad you did and I don't mean to sound ungrateful or anything, but I'm just wondering." I asked her, I honestly don't know if I was expecting her to answer or not, but she didn't; guess that ends the conversation.
We kept walking in silence, walking through the forest behind my school, until we came across a clearing where there was a bunch of silver tents all grouped around a fire. Thalia showed her tent and told me to wait there as she went to talk to Artemis about me. Wow, I don't think I've been talked about by a goddess before! Yeah, that was slightly sarcastic.
After a few minutes, Thalia walked back in with a girl who looked about 12. She seemed to be glowing slightly, more so than Thalia was, at any rate. I wonder if she's Artemis.
"Hello Nicole, I am Artemis, goddess of the hunt." Well, I guess that answers that question!
"Hello Lady Artemis." I said, not knowing what else to say, because I mean, she is a Greek goddess! She's actually my favorite goddess, but I probably shouldn't tell many people that now that I know they're real; someone might get offended. I'm guessing it probably isn't a good idea to make a god or goddess mad.
Lady Artemis looked me up and down, as if checking to see if I was worthy of her presence. I'll admit it, that freaked me out a little bit. What if she made me leave her camp? I didn't have anywhere else to go, and I had no idea how to survive the life of a demigod!
"Nicole, would you like to join the Hunt?" Lady Artemis asked. Well that was completely unexpected! At least, it was to me.
"Sure! What do I have to do?" I asked, liking the idea of being a Huntress. They're so cool! I've heard stories about them, and they are wicked awesome. Lady Artemis smiled at that, I think that's the first time I saw her smile.
"All you have to do is repeat after me 'I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt.' Then, if I accept the pledge, it is binding." Lady Artemis said, and I looked quickly at Thalia. Eternal maidenhood, that would mean being immortal; I wonder how old she really is even though she looks like she's only sixteen.
"I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt." I said hoping I didn't mess up anything.
"I accept your pledge, welcome sister. Thalia, show her were to sleep and introduce her to the rest if the Huntresses." Lady Artemis said before leaving the tent.
"So, do you feel any different now?" Thalia asked. She smiled and walked over to where I stood, surprised at how simple that was.
"Yeah, I feel like now I have to stop rating guys on a scale of one to ten." I said jokingly, because I honestly never did that before in my life. I did feel stronger though, almost invincible. She just laughed and led me out of her tent.
"You'll be sleeping here, with Lauren." She said, leading me over to the tent farthest away from Lady Artemis's and Thalia's. That's probably where they put the newest hunters. We walked in and found Lauren lounging around with one of the other hunters.
"Nicole, this is Lauren, your roommate, and Ella. Ella, Lauren, this is Nicole. She just joined the Hunt." Thalia said before walking back out of the tent again. Ella and Lauren both welcomed me to the Hunt, and Lauren showed me where I would be sleeping. I was surprised at how nice they were to me; I guess I now have a real family.
I spent the rest of the day meeting some of the other hunters, and hanging out with Lauren and Ella. Lauren is a daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom; and Ella is a daughter of Eos, the goddess of the dawn. I felt kind of awkward when someone asked me who my Greek parent was, because I didn't know. Lauren told me that the hero of Olympus, Percy Jackson, had all the gods and goddesses swear upon the River Styx that they would claim all their demigod children before their thirteenth birthday; although, that didn't help with my problem much, because I was now going to be twelve and three-hundred sixty-four days for the rest of my immortal life until I fall in battle. My godly parent had all the time in the world technically.
I was a little upset that I wouldn't know who my real parents were, or are, or well, you get the idea! I lived my whole life thinking my mom had died and my dad had left her, but now I find out that one of them has just been ignoring me. Not exactly the most reassuring thought in the world, but Ella told me that most demigods' lives are like that; though some of the lucky ones get to know their mortal parent before finding out that they're a demigod.
The hunters are all really nice; it's like having a bunch of older sisters that will look out for you if you ever get cornered by a deadly monster! After I was introduced to most of them that were there, it was time to sit down for food. I was pretty hungry, because the only thing I had to eat all day was one school lunch burger; not the most tasty thing in the world. It turned out that we had to eat vegan food, because some of the Huntresses were daughters of Demeter, or nymphs, or someone who just dislikes meat.
After dinner, it was time for us to get some rest, because according to Thalia "we are going to look for eve more girls tomorrow!" So we all went back to our respective tents, and Lauren and I said good-bye to Ella. Then we went back to our tent and got ready for bed. We both changed into our pajamas and got in our sleeping bags. Sleeping on the floor wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as I thought it would be, but I still couldn't get to sleep. I pulled out my iPod and set it on shuffle. I know it sounds corny, but that night I fell asleep listening to Miley Cyrus's G.N.O. and for the first time in a while, didn't have a single dream.
Did you like it? Did you hate it? Either way, please tell me!