PROLOGUE

The scenery was gradually changing as they moved further and further away from the city. Considering she had never visited New York city before and it had always been something she had wanted to see, Elizabeth had been more than a little upset with the fact that the only glimpse she got of the famous city was through the car window. Her mother sat in the front seat stressing about which would be the quickest route to get 'there'.

"I knew we should have bought sat nav…" Elizabeth heard her mother mutter to herself from the front seat. Talking to herself was one of her mother's many quirks. There was a map propped open on the passenger seat, occasionally her mother would glance at the unfolded piece of paper with a look of complete confusion. "Where is it we're actually going to mum?" Elizabeth asks for the hundredth time since she found out that her mum was taking her away for the summer. "Were nearly there sweetheart, you will see" her mother answers worryingly. Elizabeth gave up and sat back in her seat playing on her Nintendo DS.

It was not long till they started going along forest roads. Elizabeth could see a lake in the distance which made her smile; her eyes looked on intrigued, wondering if that's where she was going, maybe she could have a swim and get away from everyone like she usually did; she never felt like she fit in anywhere, never mind somewhere where she didn't know anyone. They finally pulled up at the bottom of a hill, in the middle of nowhere. "Here we are… I think…" her mother smiles as she looked at the huge pine tree near the top of the hill. Elizabeth shoved her ds back in her backpack and jumped out of the car. Even though she didn't think she would fit in she was still interested to see where she was going. Her mother pulled her in to a tight hug, "I'm going to miss you" she whispered in to her daughters ear as she kept her close. "I will miss you to mum, but I'm not going forever" she smiles innocently, completely unaware that her life was about to change forever. Gwen kissed her daughter on the cheek and smiles but Elizabeth could sense a hint of sadness in her mother's eyes. "Go straight up the hill towards the pine tree, you will see an arch way, go through there and head towards the farm house on the other side of the hill, go in there and tell them your name, you will be fine there, you will be safe…" Elizabeth didn't understand why her mum couldn't go with her but she knew not to question her mother, "love you" she gives her mother one last hug before heading towards the large pine tree which seemed to whisper in the wind.

"Just apologise and I can get back to…work" Percy looked exceedingly stressed, it was days like this deeply regretted being a head counsellor. Annabeth was so much better at this job, she always seemed to know just what to say or what to do and she was a massive hit with the younger campers.

"You mean so you can go back to sucking face with your girlfriend?" the younger camper grinned smugly, poking Percy in the ribs playfully "Aww, missing her already?"

"Shut up" Lucy Kent was annoying but she meant no harm, which was rare to find in the Hades cabin. She was gutsy and cocky but unlike the others in her cabin she wasn't a massive fan of needless violence. She had a few anger issues…that was a given, but she tolerable "Just apologise"

The little boy standing behind Percy looked about nine years old with a thick mop of mousy brown hair that seemed to stick out wildly in every direction, making him resemble a mad scientist from a black and white horror film. In actual fact the boy, Tommy, was nearly thirteen years old.

Lucy let out a long sigh and finally gave in "I'm sorry for what I said" Tommy smiled and was about to accept the apology but almost as if she couldn't resist herself, Lucy quickly added "But you know the truth hurts; you're not going to get a girlfriend if you're constantly sulking!"

"That's…not quite what I meant" Percy said trying to prevent Tommy from running off in a sulk. Luckily back up had arrived, Percy had never been more thankful to see Chiron in all of his life "Chiron! I could really…who's she?"

Beside him stood a rather shy little girl with short reddish curls and green eyes. She was standing quite timidly beside Chiron almost hiding behind him "New camper, I'm sure you can show her the ropes?"

"I'd love too but I'm meant to be planning the capture the flag event tonight with Annabeth in like…five minutes" Percy was running his hands through his hair. If he was honest he wasn't stressed about the young campers but more about the possibility of being late to see Annabeth.

"I'm sure that will be a very productive meeting…" Lucy sniggered, earning a smirk from Tommy which Percy, unfortunately for the young campers, heard.

Percy grinned and stepped aside placing a hand on each of Lucy's shoulders "Luckily though, Lucy and Tommy here have just volunteered to be tour guides" he gave the two campers a little shove forward.

"I hate you" Lucy crossed her arms over her chest stubbornly, not noticing the glares Tommy was sending her.

The shy girl giggled a little at the other campers and Percy, her gaze met Tommy's and she smiled sweetly at him. "They can gladly take her on the tour…with your supervision" Chiron smirked at Percy.

Percy's face fell; he had truly believed he had found a way to see Annabeth on time. The gods weren't so kind. Perhaps he wasn't facing life and death situations every other day now but his luck had certainly not improved. "Fine"

"Why don't you bring Annabeth with you?..." the small girl suggested. Tommy was watching the girl admiringly as she spoke. Percy went to protest but then realised that it was actually a good idea, he huffs still sulking that he had to take the new girl on a tour.

"Come along then…" Percy said beginning to walk off before quickly turning around to glare at Tommy and Lucy "You two as well" Elizabeth walks next to Percy, shying away from the eyes of other camp members who are curious of the newcomer. "You will be staying in cabin 11, the Hermes cabin, they take all the new comers and the undeclared half-bloods" Elizabeth looked at him confused, "What exactly is a 'half-blood'?" Percy began to explain everything about the camp and the gods, as Elizabeth listened to him intently and the other two bickered and shoved each other.

"My Dad would totally kick your dad's ass" Lucy spoke sounding tired, as if this is something she has had to explain numerous times before

Tommy stopped for a second waving his hands up in exasperation "I don't even know who my dad is yet Lucy!"

"And last but not least…the lake" Percy finished leaning against one of the rails along the edge of the small pier "So what you think?"

Elizabeth smiled and leaned down to play with the water. "The camp is amazing. I can't believe that a place like this exists or that I'm meant to be here" she sighs; still feeling like she doesn't belong whilst she makes ripples in the water making her feel calmer.

"Can you never shut up!" Tommy complained trying, with very little success, to move away from her. She simply kept following him around singing annoyingly down his ear. Tommy might have had the reputation of being somewhat a cry baby but he had his moments. He could stand his ground and with Lucy…well, let's just say it wouldn't be the first time. Eventually getting angry, he gave her a light shove.

Percy, however, was completely oblivious to shove war that was obviously about to kick off for he had seen a certain blonde haired girl sitting at the lakes edge which he had been dying to see all day. "Hey…"

"Don't just say 'Hey' like everything is normal" Annabeth said closing the book she had been reading and turning to see Percy. Her anger faltered a little upon seeing his coy smile "I've been waiting here for around an hour seaweed brain"

"Chiron landed me with a new camper, asked me to show her the ropes and what not…am I forgiven?"

She couldn't be angry at Percy for simply doing his job. It was part of his responsibilities as a Head counsellor to help take care of newcomers. She would have been angry at him had he done anything else. A warm smile spread over her lips and Percy, knowing he was forgiven, placed an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

Since camp season had begun, new kids had been flocking inside and new kids were constantly being claimed thanks to the new rules that had been set before the Olympians, forcing them all to claim their children by their thirteenth year. It was a much fairer system but it meant both Percy and Annabeth, along with the other counsellors, were worked off their feet.

Annabeth sighs exhaustedly as she cuddles in to Percy after almost a full day of helping the new campers. Percy smiles and rests he head on hers, smelling the sweet scent of her hair; she smelt like fresh roses in the dawn of summer, just as the sun rises in the sky. Annabeth loved to sit by the lake when she was reading or even just to watch the ripples of the waves; it reminded her of Percy, making her feel calm when she was stressed, plus, it was Percy's favourite place so she was more likely to see him.

They both walked to the edge of the lake and Percy dips his feet in. He gestures for Annabeth to do the same, "I'm wearing jeans, Percy" she rolls her eyes. "Don't worry" he smirks with his half smile. Annabeth slowly dips her feet in to the water only for them to feel completely dry; Percy had created a bubble so she didn't get wet. She smiles at him "show off, seaweed brain" she smirks as she leans in to him and kisses him gently on the lips.

Percy was about to lean in and kiss her again when he noticed what was happening on the pier. Lucy and Tommy had somehow managed to get into a full blown brawl with one another. Tommy was trying his best to throw punches which Lucy managed to avoid using shadow travel, which was cheating in Percy's opinion.

Tommy threw a right hook, missed, only for Lucy to appear behind him and playfully karate chopping him in the shoulder blade. He turned around and attempted to punch her again. Lucy entered a shadow just as Tommy felt his fist connect with something warm. However, his feeling of triumph was quickly replaced by fear when the shadow vanished with no sign of Lucy but instead a slumped Elizabeth who was falling off the edge of the pier.

He had knocked the new girl out on her first day!

He scrambled quickly to save her but just wasn't quick enough. Her unconscious body slipped under the lakes surface and began to sink. Tommy was panicking but luckily Percy wasn't. He had already flung himself into the lake and was swimming down to retrieve the girl. However the sight that he saw stopped him in his tracks.

Elizabeth lay at the bottom of the lake, her legs pulled up to her chest and her arms locked tightly around them. That wasn't what was strange though. What was strange was that she was bone dry and was sitting in a bubble that created a dome over her head. She looked up when she heard Percy moving through the water

"Is this normal?" she asked, noticing the dumbstruck expression on Percy's face.