Chapter 1
I was running down the hallway towards its only door. At first I didn't know why I was running towards it and then I heard the shrieks of hatred coming from behind me. I was almost at the door when I realized there were no knobs or anything. I tried pushing on it but it didn't budge. The shrieks were getting closer and when I turned I saw the black silhouette of some creature at the end of the hall.
I looked around for a weapon, but could not find one. All I had was my ring. Then, suddenly, a bow and arrow appeared in my hand. The arrow was a weird bronze color that glowed faintly and the bow was silver. The creature came into view. I almost screamed in both fear and disgust. It was what looked like a young woman with flaming hair and pointed teeth. One of her legs was actually a hoof and the other was made out of metal. I pointed my arrow and her and released the string.
It hit her right in the stomach. With a cry of defeat, she crumbled to dust.
I woke up to a bright flash of light.
"Shut the window," I groaned as I turned over. Sure, Sister Anne, I'd love to room with my best friend Soleil. She's such a morning person that I'm sure I'll finally make it to morning classes on time, I thought to myself, Stupid me!
Soleil whacked my head with her notebook. She slammed the door on her way out of the dorm. How was she ready this early? I checked the clock to make sure I had not overslept again. It was only seven o'clock. Breakfast would not be served for another half-hour! I obligingly got up and took a shower and put on my uniform happily, which is weird since most people hate their uniforms. Mine is not half bad, it is just a black skirt and vest with a white blouse.
I checked to make sure I had done all my homework before leaving for breakfast. I never took any chances. If I did not keep this scholarship I would be stuck back in the orphanage year-round. It would not be the first time I skipped breakfast to finish it. After I triple checked that I had done it all I left. As I walked down the hall I turned to look over my shoulder. I do not know why I was doing that. I was still looking over my shoulder when I almost walked right into my Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner. He was hard to miss with his tweed jacket and messy long brown hair and beard. Also, because he was in a wheelchair.
"Sorry," I mumbled and stepped around him. He always ignored me in class so why don't I ignore him out of class.
"Jess," he called. I stopped and turned on my heels slowly.
"It's Tess," I said slowly and deliberately, "What do you need, Mr. Brunner?"
"I was wondering if you'd seen Soleil. I must speak with her about her grades. You're her friend right?"
"Yes, I'm also in your Latin class. The same one as her, to be more specific. Do you know how I did on the test?"
"Good, I guess. Since you're in the same class as her maybe you could help her study. I'm worried she's not remembering the lessons."
"Don't worry, I will. She's actually thinking about dropping the class. She doesn't get why she has to learn all about all that Greek mythology. I find it interesting," I said a little too eagerly.
"She will understand soon, though," he said and rolled down the hallway.
Why was he always so obsessed with her grades? She was not the one who had to hold down an academic scholarship so she would not have to go back into an orphanage. Her mom and step-dad were Richie Riches; they could afford to keep her in this school. I thought about the Christmas break when I had stayed at her house and her mom had quizzed her on all the mythology from the past semester. I was still thinking about it when I sat down at the table in the cafeteria.
Soleil handed me a coffee and began to babble about some guy in the senior class she liked.
"Tess? Are you even listening to me?" she asked, "Obviously not. You seem tired. Considering you were up until three in the morning again you should be. How can you stay up that late?"
"I can think clearer at night," I said, "By the way, Mr. Brunner wants to speak to you about your grades."
"Again? I wish he would stop worrying about my grades, they're fine. Guess what, I'm going to your swim meet today. I can't wait to see you whip their butts. You're so fast," she said and stared over my shoulder, "How can a guy that cute even exist?"
"That's what you said about that werewolf guy in those vampire love story books/movies, and look what happened. Don't take this the wrong way, but you have no chance."
"Yes I do!" she retorted, "All guys love girls with blonde curly hair and blue eyes."
"Not if the guys a senior and you are a freshman. Besides, you only like him because he has a car and you want to be the only freshman girl with a date to the dance that can drive."
"Shut up," she said snappily, "I like him for other reasons."
"Sure," I said and turned to look at the boy. He was opening up a water bottle and seemed to be having trouble. I laughed. What a wimp. As I turned around I waved my hand to dismiss the subject. I heard a yell behind me and when I snapped my head back around I saw the senior with water all over the front of his shirt and his face.
"Tess," she groaned.
"What? You think I did that?" I choked out between laughs.
"No, but I know who did," she said with a smirk, "Poseidon, god of water."
"You can so drop Latin now that you know the name of one of the most famous gods. You must feel so proud," I said.
"I do," she said. She thought for a moment. "That was one of the stupidest things I've probably ever said."
"Yeah, especially since he's known more as the god of the sea," I said. Mr. Brunner came into the cafeteria with a weird look on his face. "And because you just made it sound like the Greek gods are real. Here comes Mr. Brunner."
Mr. Brunner quickly rolled over to us. He looked around wildly and then rested his eyes on the cheerleaders for a second.
"Soleil, come with me, now," he said and she stood up slowly. "Quickly, now. And Tess, you were wrong, the Greek gods are real."
I did not have time to answer because I heard a high pitched shriek come from one of the cheerleaders.