Chapter 1: The Past

As we walk down the narrow ally, I had the distinct feeling that we were walking towards our deaths. Honestly, you can't blame me, as I have been pretty much heading in that directions for the past two weeks, when my best friend turned into a donkey and I found out I was a demigod. But before I go all depressing on you let me explain a little about being me: Aneira Reine.

I was born almost 16 years ago into a minor royal family in England. My father is French, but my mother is the daughter of the King of England's cousin. My father is not actually my father, because my mom was pregnant with me when they married. I found out when I was seven, but I never thought of my dad differently. My mom died a month later, and my father never talks about her.

My mom was a kind and beautiful women. She had stunning red hair and ice blue eyes, just like mine, although my hair is black and I am as pale as a ghost. She was tall and graceful, but she always smiled. I have never met my biological father, but my mom always said I look like him. My dad didn't have time for me after she died. The only time he really shows up is when I get myself in trouble because of my "talent".

I can read minds. But thats not even the bad part. My name means snow queen, and that is exactly what I am. I am ice. I can create it, melt it, freeze it, and manipulate it in any way I want.

Before I started running away from monsters or going on crazy quests, I was a normal(ish) girl in high school. I had friends, enemies, and even a boyfriend. His name is Leo Valdez. I always found it slightly ironic that we started going out, even before I knew we were both demigods. Leo knew of course, but he didn't tell me. Not until two weeks ago when Jacob Fields turned into a donkey. Don't worry, he isn't actually a donkey, but he is half goat, a satyr. If I'm going to tell you my story I should start at the beginning of my Junior year at West City High in the middle of New York.

School. Not where I wanted to be right now. Teachers were fine, and learning was great, but the people are what I didn't want. Some of them are fine, and a choice few are actually great friends, but most are just bratty kids with rich daddies.

As I sat on the lawn in front of my school, my two only friends appeared: Autumn Summers and Sasha Peters. Autumn is very interesting, she has auburn hair and green eyes. Her skin is flushed and she is very tan. Sasha has natural beauty that she doesn't hide, but doesn't try to draw out. Her hair is straight blonde and her eyes seem to glow purple and blue. Her skin is perfect and her hair is always perfect, even when she first wakes up. She could have any guy she wanted, but she only wants one, and he is at the very bottom of the social pyramid. Dylan Walker. Your classic geek, smart and thought of as ugly, but with a hidden beauty and a kind heart.

As I'm thinking these thought, the two very different girls sit next to me. We sit in complete silence, as always. Sasha and Autumn are the only people who know about my whole ice and mind reading "gift". When I told them. I expected them to run screaming away, but Autumn smiled and said that she had a gift too. She then showed me how she could get plants to do what she wanted. Sasha said her only gift was her great looks, causing us to laugh hysterically.

Autumn is making a necklace out of vines and Sasha is staring off into the distance, or at least thats what she wants us to think. She is actually watching Dylan walk across the lawn about 15 feet away from us. He waves at her and she blushes and waves back.

"Go talk to him." I whisper, "invite him to sit with us at lunch." She shakes her head but I take a quick glimpse into her mind and laugh.

"I know you want to Sasha! Go on! Make small talk about school or something and then ask him to sit with us at lunch!" Sasha laughs.

"You're so annoying." she says as she strolls of towards Dylan. I watch her go, and then look over at Autumn.

"You hear about the new boys?" I ask.

"Yah, we're supposed to be there tour guides, since they have the same schedule as us." Great, I think.

We walk towards the office after telling Sasha what we are doing. She nods, and then continues to talk to Dylan. I push open the door, and my heart almost literally stops. Standing in front of me is a boy I haven't seen in almost 5 years.