Chapter 1: The Boy with the Starry Eyes

I sat in the corner of my favorite coffee shop in New York. It was only a few blocks from my family's penthouse in the Upper East Side.

I drank my soy latte and watched the people go by.

Each person was different from the other some short and tall while others were chucky and skinny.

A tall muscular boy sat near me and kept glancing my way.

His eyes were blue like the stars the shinned in the night sky and his short blond hair appeared to be strands of gold. He was one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. He was perfect except for a scar under his eye.

I smiled sweetly and continued to look out the window and then I check the time on my phone.

I still had a good hour before Dad got home from work. My stepmom stayed at home while my dad made the money. I argued with her a lot and since I didn't know my mom, I would just go get coffee or go to park and stay until Dad came home.

I saw the boy stand up and walk towards me. As he came closer I could see a grey streak.

That's odd I thought. I guess it's a new fashion style.

"You look all alone, so I thought I'd join you," he said proudly. "If you don't mind,"

"Of course not," I said.

"I'm Luke," he said extending his hand for mine to shake. "And you are?"

"Juliet," I replied shaking his hand.

"Like from the tragedy?" he laughed.

"Yeah, my mom named me," I said. "Don't ask me why though."

He laughed. "Juliet is a very pretty name, it suits you."

We sat for about an hour or so just talking and making fun of the random people walking by.

I glanced at my phone.

5:43

"Well, this has been fun," I stated. "But I got to get going."

As I started to get up, he grabbed my hand.

"Let me walk you home," he said.

"Sure," I said. If something goes wrong, the pepper spray is in your purse! I reminded myself.

We walked along the sidewalk and talked about our favorite bands.

Mine was Paramore and his was Linkin Park, and we spent several minuets arguing over who was better.

As we were halfway there, Luke kept glancing behind him and walking faster.

He did this several times.

I finally stopped and he turned around and looked at me.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Nothing, just keep walking," he said.

"Look if it's money you want, fine take it, but anything else and I'll castrate you," I added.

"Ouch," he said smoothly. "But, no. We're being followed."

I turned to see a middle aged woman walking several feet from us.

"She's harmless," I said.

"You can run but you cannot hide….half bloods," she hissed.

Luke gave me a serious look.

"Okay then again maybe not," I muttered.

We started to run as fast as we could and the woman got faster. Finally she broke into a fun and jumped in the air exposing her true form. She was a winkled old hag with long wings that spread out wide.

We ran and hid behind a building as she scouted the sky.

"Come out my pretties, I won't bite….I'll shallow you whole," she hissed.

"What is that thing?" I asked.

"A harpy."

"Like from Greek Mythology?" I asked.

"Yeah, um.." he said. "Short version, the Greek gods are real and your mom is one of the Greek goddess, I don't know which and now that you know your scent will get stronger and more monsters will be coming. We need to get out of here fast!"

I brain seemed to be fried. First I find out a mythological monster is real, second that my mother is goddess, and third that I have to leave for some camp.

"Okay, what do we do?" I asked.

"Leave it to me," he said. He grabbed a golden coin from his pocket and tossed it in the street.

As he started to mumble something in a kind of foreign language, I decided to distract the harpy.

"Hey ugly!" I yelled. "Looks like you could use some more expensive night cream!"

"Come my pretty and let me feed on your soft flesh!" she said with a raspy voice as she headed towards me.

Just as she headed towards me Luke jumped in the way with a sword in his hand.

"Get in the cab!" he yelled. "I'll take you somewhere safe."

"But what about you?" I asked.

"I'll be fine," he said knocking the beast up against a tree.

"I'm leaving without you!" I said.

The harpy charged at him with such force it knocked the sword from his hands.

I have to do something! I thought.

I grabbed the sword and jabbed it into the harpy.

As it let out a scream, it transformed into a shower of gold dust that rained down on Luke.

"Damn," he said. "You were great, but there will be more, so let's go."

We jumped in the taxi which I noticed was grey.

"Camp Half-Blood please," he said. "And here is something else for you," he said handing the three ladies a bag of coins.

"Thank you, son of Hermes," one whispered.

"Camp?" I said. "Hope it doesn't have a lot of bugs, I hate bugs!"

"Hold tight honey," another whispered.

I went to fasten my seat belt when I noticed chains.

"What the hell?" I whispered to him as we took off at the speed of light.

"Gray Sister's Taxi is the fast way to travel anywhere in New York," he replied.

Before I knew it we were stopping in the middle of nowhere.

"This is where we part ways," he said.

"Aren't you coming with me?" I asked.

"I'm afraid not," he said. "I have some other business to attend to."

"Will I see you again?" I asked.

"I hope so," he replied. "Just go straight up that hill and past a pine tree with a giant dragon in front of it."

I decided it was best not to ask about the dragon.

"Okay, well bye," I said as I got out the cab.

"Goodbye Juliet," he said.

I reached my head back in and kissed him softly on the cheek.

"Bye bye wonder boy," I said as I shut the door.

I took my time trying to process what had happened.

My head started to feel like I was being hit with a hammer and I felt light headed.

I soon saw a giant beast at the base of a pine tree.

I walked past it and it seemed to just stare at me and then going back to sleep.

A sign read "Camp Half-Blood" marked the point where Luke had said I would be going.

A girl with blonde hair and striking grey eyes ran up to me.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I'm fine," I said. "I'm Juliet."

"I'm Annabeth, daughter of Athena," she said. "How did you get here?"

"Um, this guy Luke, who I just met told me about my mom being a goddess and then we got in this taxi and I've got a headache," I said. "Sorry I ramble when I'm nervous."

"Luke?" she said.

"Yeah one of the Grey sisters called him the son of Hermes," I said.

I looked down and noticed that the harpy had torn my jacket and my arm was bleeding.

"Let's get you fixed up," she said.

She leaded me to this placed she called the "Big House."

When we got in there, I was given a glass of what was called nectar.

When I drank it, it made me feel warm and fuzzy and taste like homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Annabeth had went and talked to a guy in a wheelchair and a teenage boy.

She walked back over towards me and sat down.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Good," I replied.

"Chiron, is going to let your dad know where you are," she said.

"So, who is Luke and where is he?" I asked.

"Luke is, I mean was, the son of Hermes," she said. It looked like she was going to cry.

"What do you mean was?" I asked.

"Luke died in a battle last summer."