I can't believe! My dad would kill me. Dad. I choke back another sob. 'Dad is dead.' I tell this to myself has I have been for the past five years- ever since his death. He died at war. He was a strategist on the Canadian side, until he died. I am an orphan by law, but I live with my Aunt Jennifer. She's nice and all- but not my dad. I'm an only child; my stepmom abandoned me after Dad's death. My aunt (whom I had never heard of before the incident) found me when I was in my fifth foster home, three years ago. I was ten. Now I am 13, and live in New York City.

New York City is my favorite place on Earth, other than my dad's cabin in the woods. Even though it's polluted and full of strange things we all live close together, work together like one giant family. In the city- I have never once felt excluded and left out. I had that feeling before- in foster care and in orphanages and boarding schools.

Speaking of which- I just got kicked out of my boarding school! And it was only the opening ceremony! Apparently- when I told the teachers that what I saw in the woods was a six armed beast that looked like it had taken a mud bath they thought I was a bad influence on the other students- who claimed all they saw was a dead tree. "Too much creative energy," Yeh that's how they worded it.

So here I am running home with a letter in hand warning Aunt Jen that I am mentally insane and need therapy. But I know I'm not crazy! I huffed angrily and storm up the stairs to our apartment on 33rd Street- right by the Lincoln Tunnel. It's this ultra modern nicely sized apartment over looking the Hudson River (not that, that is all too nice!). It can get real cozy at times- over the holidays when my aunt decorates it all up. I would still switch my Aunt's penthouse for my dad's old hunter's lodge up in Canada any day. But that's all wishful thinking. To life in the woods; right on the wildlife again- would only happen if the nearest mental institute where bordering the Yukon territories.

I run in and slam the door. My aunt looks up and puts her finger to her lips- quiet. She's on the phone.

"Yes, yes of course- I understand. Thank you for your time and effort. Good-bye."

My aunt is a saleswoman for some security system for banks. 'The brains run in the family' my dad always said. Sometimes I think I missed that gene-or my mother was psycho lunatic. That's the only logical explanation I have found yet.

Aunt Jen looks up and sighs. "Ohh sweetie- what is it?" she asked- not a drip of fake concern in her voice. That's one thing I love about her- I can always tell if she means something or not.

Wordlessly I toss the letter on the table and run in my room.

"What is this- oh I see, I'll put the oven on."

Whenever I was in some sort of trouble (which happened a lot) my aunt always made cookies. They were the best since my dad's coffee cake and cinnamon roll breakfast.

Sometimes I think my room is the only cozy place in the apartment aside from Aunt Jen's study. My room is painted light green with windows on two sides. I have owl stickers on the walls- like the giant really cool wall stickers. Bookshelves line the back wall and I have pale white- kind of rustic looking furniture. My dresser isn't lined with make-up like some girls I know, just a hairbrush and elastics. I have a bench pulled up under a section of the window for comfy reading. Two beanbags sit opposite each other with a chessboard in-between them. Several chests and baskets of sorts I have collected over the years are filled with family heirlooms, books, and games. Several rugs- either braided or shag cover the old- dark hardwood floor. A fireplace site in the corner; ready for winter. My bed is stacked with pillows and has a canopy on it- a perfect room.

I leap on my bed and pull out my sketchbook. Drawing or writing always helps me clear my mind- just usually I'm drawing maps or building designs- not sketches of flowers. This time I'm trying to recall how the figure in the woods looked and draw a half-way decent sketch when my Aunt peered in. She smiled- a heart-warming and not even slightly disappointed smile that's makes me break. I stuff my drawing under my pillow and roll over so I'm staring at my ceiling.

"I'm not insane- I swear, please believe me. Don't send me away."

My aunt chuckles and smiles sadly at me. "I know that sweetie, and I know the position you are in. You see- your father and I only have the same mother. Your grandfather- he wasn't my father."

I shrug, sure I'll believe it, my family is really messed up. "Who was your father?" The way she talks about it- like this has something to do with me getting kicked out of school makes me curious.

'My father," she paused and moistened her lips, "this will seem strange- but my father is-"Ring-Ring Ring. Her stupid phone rings now- now of ALL times.

I sighed and nicked for her to answer. She looked genuinely upset but gave me a sad smile and answered. Her smile can be dazzling, bright and her eyes twinkled with a joyful tone when she wants it to. My aunt was some sort of child miracle. She plays every instrument perfectly and has the voice of an angle. She is dyslectic and ADHD like me- though hers is a little crazier and harder to control. She wasn't that good in school- I usually don't like to brag- yet I must say I am quite a bit smarter than she was, but I still don't understand how my family works.

My Aunt is murmuring some other language- one I have wished I'd learn. Maybe French or Italian. I sigh. Languages- or school in general for that matter of-a-fact- had never been half as easy has mythology. The entire Greek/Roman mythology, even their language, was always the easiest for me. Strange as it may seem it's another thing that is passed down in the family. My dad was some sort of Greek geek too; as is Aunt Jen. Aunt Jen told me there was even a camp she went to that was all about Greek gods and mythology, and she could sign me up-but they had very high requirements so my friends Liz and Sammy and Daisy and Dahlia probably couldn't make it. We always go to the same summer camp- we rotate on who gets to pick. This year we went to this camp up high in the mountains, and before that an all about the water camp- mostly out on the boats. It's always great to get away from the city's exhaustion and massive heat.

Sammy's parents take us on a camping trip the week after school starts as a 'Goodbye Summer' party. None of us go to the same school anymore. Well, except Daisy and Dahlia who are twins. They both go to (yet have complete different schedules)- Leonardo da Vinci school in Queens. Liz goes to The Young Women's Leadership School in Queens. Sammy attends Tompkins Middle School on East 6th street. And I- well I jump around a lot. Most of the time I attend public schools and occasionally boarding schools. See the thing is I absolutely love school- yet I still manage to get kicked out. I've been to almost every school I can. Aunt Jen always teases me that she might end up having to take me to New Jersey, I use up schools that fast. I don't quite understand how she jokes about stuff like that- I sometimes think she can't take anything seriously!

I sigh- I have no actually school to go to now but I still keep up my studies. I start out with math, then English, Greek, science, History, Mechanical drawing, and mythology. By the time I have dated all my papers- August 15. I'm so tired I doze of right there on my books.

By the time I wake up my clock says it's only 5am. Aunt Jennifer is still sleeping so I just keep reading. Finally I start to get hungry so I check my clock again. Still 5am on the dot. What the? I check the oven clock. I have to move this really heavey pot full of ravioli- my dinner maybe? 11:37- whoa-time flies when you're having fun I guess. Then I realize how quiet it is. I usually tone out when I'm reading but- the entire city seems to be absolutely silent. I freeze. A note is on the table; from Aunt Jen.

Hey, Sleeping Beauty- Out in New Jersey for dinner. Yours is on the stove. Hugs and Kisses. Jenny

Okay- so my aunt is out- but that doesn't explain the silence. My aunt must have left at like supper- which is still pretty normal, since her boyfriend lives across the river, but she is usually back by ten. I tiptoe over to the window. What I see purely terrifies me. Everyone- I mean everyone is sleeping. Curled up in balls on the sidewalk, even those driving have pulled over and are snoozing. I can see things- like the creature in the woods surrounding New York. I yelp and fall back under the window so they can't see me. Whatever they are. One things grunts and another roars but I'm still too scared to look.

"For Olympus!" The cheer echoes off the buildings but dies quickly. I hear footsteps soon proceeded by the sound of battle. I pinch myself. And again. This is no dream. Maybe I do need to go to a mental institution after all.

Ahhh- Hope you like this. And have you all seen the cover for House of Hades! It came out today! Is it just me or is Percy looking a little younger than he used too? Tartarus might have that affect. Anyhow check it out! Hope you like this! And don't forget to REVIEW! PS: I am really bad at chapter titles...