Chapter One
Zoey
We were sitting in the cafeteria when Neferet stood up to give an announcement.
"Fledglings, I have an announcement to make. To improve relations with humans, we are having six students from a school in New York come to the House of Night. Please try to make them feel welcome. Can Zoey Redbird, Stevie Rae Johnson, Damien Maslin, Shaunee Cole, Erin Bates and Aphrodite La Font please see me at the end. That is all," she strode out without another word.
We all finished dinner in silence, wondering what Neferet could want. Then, we went to her office.
She opened the door and smiled at me.
"Ah, Zoey, great. Come in," she stood aside and we all crowded in, sitting on the sofas in the office.
"I guess you're wondering why you're here?"
"Well duh, what do you want, Neferet?" said Aphrodite, rude as ever.
Neferet ignored her.
"Well each of the students from New York will need a guide, so I instantly thought of your group. Zoey, you'll be with a girl called Annabeth Chase, Stevie Rae, Nico di Angelo, Damien, Jason Grace, Shaunee, Leo Valdez, Erin, Percy Jackson and Aphrodite, Piper McLean."
Percy
I was sitting in assembly at Goode High School next to my beautiful girlfriend, Annabeth. My stepdad Paul, sorry, Mr. Blofis, was at the front talking about some exchange trip to Tulsa. They were drawing names out of a hat for who would go, but I wasn't really paying attention, until Paul read out a name.
"Percy Jackson,"
I blinked, confused, until Annabeth whispered "You're going on the trip, Seaweed Brain. You've got to stay behind afterward,"
Okay, so I was going on an exchange trip. No big deal. Or at least, I didn't think there was until the next names came out.
"Annabeth Chase. Nico di Angelo. Jason Grace. Piper McLean, and… Leo Valdez," Paul called out.
This couldn't be a coincidence. Six half-bloods on the same trip? I could tell Annabeth was thinking the same. But we had no choice. We stayed in the assembly hall after everyone had left.
"Okay guys, I know this seems suspicious," Paul began, and we all nodded. It's great that my mortal stepdad knows about demigods.
"But you need to go," he continued, "So you've been paired up with students from the House of Night for your stay. And Percy?"
"Yes?" I said, but I knew what was coming.
"Try not to blow it up," he told me, and everyone laughed.
"It's not like it do it on purpose," I complained, "But, fine, I won't blow it up,"
"Good. You'll be leaving tomorrow, so turn up to school an hour early with your bags packed for two months. The school bus will take you there," Paul explained, and we nodded. "Okay, off you go!"