Prologue

13 Year Ago

The ghost of a beautiful young woman glanced at the peaceful sea wistfully. She drifted toward the door and hesitated, glancing back and forth between three bundles on the bed and the comforting sea breeze—she can't decide what to do. A wail from one of the bundles decided it all; she hurried bac]k to the bedside. She peered down on the wailing baby's face. Then she reached out one ghostly hand and gently smoothed the young girl's thin coat of black curls. The twin boy opened her sea green eyes and gurgled happily. The young woman managed a smile at the boy. "Sorry, I'm sorry" She whispered regretfully.

"Saying goodbye, I assume Aprilynne Graceling?" a male voice said. Aprilynne Wester swung around and her gentle look was replaced by a fierce glare. On the doorsteps was a handsome, young man in a white Greek tunic, leaning on a staff, looking grim. "What are you doing here?" She snapped; fearing the answer but hoping that it was not what she expected. "Ah…you know what I am here for right?" The man clapped his hand, pointedly tilting his head at a body lying peacefully on the bed, covered with a sheet. Aprilynne looked away before she can throw up, which she know that she probably can't since she is a ghost now.

"I can't go. Who will take care of them?" Aprilynne pointed out—desperation showing in her voice. "Somebody will." The man replied carefully. Aprilynne raised her eyebrows. "Somebody will? Are you crazy? These are my children, not some child picked up on the street!" The man looked amused. But as he checked his staff which had shifted into a small iPhone—his face grew grim again. "It's time to go Aprilynne Graceling." He declared. Aprilynne pursed her lips and said defiantly "I won't go." "Or would you rather end up as smoke. I promise these children will be taken care of, loved, fed, and will be housed." The man sighed exasperated. Aprilynne still looked unconvinced. "You can end up in Elysium, Hades agreed." The man added quietly. "Elysium?" Aprilynne echoed, looking a bit tempted. "You will never have to worry about monster attacking." The man promised. Aprilynne narrowed her eyes and said "Monster attacking?" The man squirmed and looked down at his iPhone again. Raising it, he pointed to the screen which said 45 minutes left. Sighing, Aprilynne nodded agreement reluctantly.

The man hold open the door open for her, staring at the babies. As he turned to go, some instinct told him that these children will be important. Turning around again he whispered "May you have the blessing of Hermes." Then closed the door behind him. As soon as the door closed the cabin flashed with blue light and the smell of salt drifted in. "The blessing of Uncle." Hermes whispered.

A man in a clean turquoise t-shirt and jeans emerged from the sea. He adjusted a sunhat on his head. A woman suddenly appeared from the sea beside him. "Where are you going?" She snapped. "Taking a walk. Is that a problem?" He replied calmly. "Oh, really. Not going to see Aprilynne Graceling again?" The woman said sarcastically as she ran a hand through her dark, wavy black hair. The man didn't reply just started walking down the beach. The woman frowned and disappeared only to appear again in front of the man. "You are going to see Aprilynne Graceling again, aren't you?" She accused. The man didn't reply. "I'm tired, husband." She said. "You've been unfaithful to me for thousands of years." The man kept going. "Rhode just came to visit and Aprilynne Graceling is are the only thing on your mind!" The woman shouted. "What did you find in that mortal that make you stay with her for years?" She continued. The woman smoothed her green top and opened her mouth to speak again but was interrupted by the man.

"Enough!" He roared "Aprilynne Graceling died! Happy?" The woman looked at him skeptically and melted into a warm, comforting breeze and left the man striding toward the cabin standing alone on the beach. He opened the door and glanced at the body on the bed. "I'm sorry Aprilynne, you had died young and it is all my fault" He whispered. A loud squeal startled him. The man smiled down at the black-haired boy. "Ah... a tiny replica of me, aren't you..." He hesitated for a moment. "Jason." He decided his son's name. "Your name is Jason after the famous hero who stole the golden fleece."

Jason grabbed a tuft of his twin sister's black hair and his sister wailed. "Your name is Ariadne after the beautiful princess of Crete" He told the black-haired girl. The girl gazed intelligently at him. Then he held out a hand and a silver charm bracelet appeared. The bracelet has three charms- a dolphin, a conch shell, and a seal. "May this simple peice of jewelry help you survive." The man said solemnly. Then he quickly fastened the bracelet on. Then he turn to the boy. The man pulled out a old coin. "This will help you, Jason." The man place the coin in the boy's tiny hands and Jason gripped it tightly. A single knock on the door started the man, also telling him at the same time that it was time to go. "My children, you have my blessing, Ariadne and Jason Graceling." He whispered and faded away.