I'm Celina Night and I live with my dad, Horace Night, in Manhattan. Dad works as an archaeologist searching for Greek mythology artifacts like statues of the Greek gods and goddesses. He would frequently travel to different places especially Greece so he sends me to stay with a friend of his and her son, Marc Everett. I've been able to get close to Marc because of Dad's travels.
When Dad would return, he would tell me a Greek myth. By the time I was eight, I knew every Greek myth. Yet Dad kept telling me to always find time to learn about all the figures in each myth as well. Here I am, at thirteen years old, exercising my knowledge of Greek mythology. On my thirteenth birthday, Dad gave me a bronze watch with stars engraved on the handle. He told me if I'm ever in trouble, lightly tap the watch. I didn't question why but now I know how important the watch is.
I've noticed that Dad always brings the same bag with him wherever he goes. Although he isn't a strict dad, he gave me one rule forbidding me to look inside the bag. Although my ADHD caused me to be tempted, I never opened the bag. I always felt like I was Pandora in the myth about Pandora's box. I could only observe the outside of the bag. It was a simple leather bag with a gold plaque on one side with two lines engraved on it. One was in English, but my dyslexia made it hard for me to read. The second line appeared to have Egyptian hieroglyphs. As far as I knew, Dad didn't know how to translate hieroglyphics. I never questioned him about it though.
Although Dad and I got along well, Dad always found it hard for me to keep me in one school. I don't know why but something strange would happen at school and I'd get the blame. In fifth grade, the class was learning how to grow bean plants. When my plant didn't grow as tall as my other classmates, they taunted me about it. I don't know how my plant turned into a tree the next day, but my teacher though I cheated by making a growing formula. The year before that, went on an annual camping trip. One night, we were roasting marshmallows and mine kept burning and melting. When my classmates, laughed at me, my anger seemed to burn inside me. Then, the campfire seemed to grow into four-foot tall flames and somehow I was blamed for adding a large amount of wood to the fire.
This year, I was trying to stay in M.S 115 which is one of the worst schools in Manhattan. It was the end of the year and my grades were ranging in the Cs and Ds. I thought I probably wouldn't be able to stay next year. I was right, but not for the reason I expected.
One day during fourth period science class, an announcement was made saying, " The two students, Celina Night and Marc Everett, are to report to Principal Emmerson's office." I slowly got out of my seat and headed down the aisles of desks. I could see the eye of Mr. Borrowski glaring at me. He always considered me trouble. i headed out the wooden door and walked along the empty hallways. My black Converse sneakers squeaked slightly against marble floors. Soon, I heard footsteps echoing mine and Marc had appeared by my side.
Marc and I were so simliar in appearances that people often mistake us for siblings. We both had long, raven-black hair, the same midnight black eyes, the same pale skin. However, I was a bit more friendly while Marc would try to avoid other people besides me. We were both having trouble with school and we tried tutoring each other. He has also been expelled out of every school he's been to so we understand each other.
"Hey." Marc said to me, casually, as if there was nothing wrong with being sent to the Principal's office.
"Hey." I responded
"What did you do this time?" Marc asked.
"I don't know. It's probably my low grades. What about you?"
"Same I bet."
We arrived at the front of Principal Emerson's office. Marc knocked and a voice from inside said, "Come in." Marc opened the door and I followed him into a dimly lit room. The office was painted black with a dark wooden floor and a black wooden desk was in the center of it. A chair was turned against us and a voice came from it saying, "I've been expecting you two." The principal turned her chair and revealed a young woman about thirty years old. She had bright red hair that seemed to appear like flames in the soft light. Her pale face consisted of blood-red lips and black eyes that were staring intently at us, especially Marc.
"You two have been quite difficult for the teachers." said Ms. Emmerson. We replied with quiet "Yes, ma'am"s.
"I feel that this school needs eliminate troubles such as you two." she said. She slowly smiled, revealing white fangs. I was getting nervous at the way she was looking at us. I felt like a mouse being cornered by a cat.
"Come to me." said Ms. Emmerson, beckoning to Marc. As if he were under a spell, Marc quickly approached her. He didn't seem as nervous as me. He stopped only a few inches away form her. She placed a white hand on his cheek and was slowly stroking it with a long, well-manicured nail. For some reason, I felt some anger and jealousy watching the principal touch Marc like that.
"But it's such a pity that you don't understand though. Why you two are like this." she said, still stroking Marc's cheek. Finally Marc spoke up saying, "WHAT do you mean? We're just students. How can you know us well?" Ms. Emmerson simply smiled and said, "I know more than you think. You probably even don't know what I plan to do." She tilted her head and began leaning over Marc's neck. Marc didn't seem to want to run away. Then, I realized what she seemed like. There was a Greek monster that was created by Hecate and were part bronze, donkey, and ghost. They would search for men at night mostly and drink their blood. That was when I ran.
I don't remember how fast I ran but I was able to tackle Marc away from Ms. Emmerson. Seeing that her prey escaped, she actually snarled at me and barred her fangs at me. I looked away from a confused Marc and said to her, "Empousa." She smiled, her fangs glistening in the dim light. "What a clever little demigod you are. I think you're a bit too good for me to let you live." Then, she transformed. Her bright hair actually turned into flames, her long nails turned into claws, and her legs became the mismatched pair I read about. Marc stared in amazement and said, "So she is an empousa. No wonder."
I ignored him and tapped my watch. It became a full silver shield and there was a small compartment at the back. I opened it and a celestial bronze sword with a silver handle was in it. I got up and faced the empousa. She said, "I don't normally kill girls. But you'll have to be an exception." She lunged at me but I quickly dodged. I noticed Marc reaching into his pocket but before I could ask, the empousa lunged at me and and brought me down to the floor. Pain shot up my shoulder, but I swung my sword. Before the blade could cut through her, she rolled off me. She prepared to lunge at me again, but Marc had crept behind her and he brought a gleaming bronze sword like mine down her back. She screamed in pain and fell to the floor. Our vicotory was short because her flaming hair fell to the floor and snaked along the wooden desk, setting it into flames.
Marc grabbed my hand and yelled, "Celina, we got to go! Soon the whole offiice will be in flames!"
I got up and ran with him. We ran out of the office and into the halls. Teachers were looking out of their classrooms and began to notice the burning Principal's office. I began to worry that whole school would burn down. As much as I hated this school, I couldn't let anyone get hurt. My eyes fell on a nearby water fountain. All my worry seemed to be focused on that water fountain. Suddenly, water seemed to explode out of it and a wave of water ran across the hallway. Soon, more fountains exploded and the water bagan to build up. The water raced to the office and splashed against the flaming walls. I didn't get to look for Marc had already helped me run past the school entrance. We found ourselves in the middle of the busy streets of Manhattan.