-PROLOGUE

I ran for my life-and when I say that, I mean it. Behind me, what appeared like a dog was chasing at the speed of light towards me. Its bright red eyes flashed menacingly as it advanced on me. I wasn't sure what to do-I'd already held him of for as long as I could by getting him stuck in a bush. Whatever could I do now?

As I turned a corner suddenly, I saw a small farmhouse up a hill in the distance. Somehow, something told me I needed to get up there-to that farmhouse. And the only way to get up there without the furry black canine catching up on me was to face the beast. Turning suddenly, I shouted 'Hey! You! Dog breath!' That got his attention. The dog hurled towards me, and I gripped something tight behind my back. A sharp knife. Backing up towards the hill, I watched the dog growling in front of me. Then I shot at it, hoping, crossing my fingers and closing my eyes that it hit. When I opened my eyes, there was just a pool of dust and my knife where the dog had stood. Picking up the knife hesitantly, I continued back up the hill in shock, before collapsing beside a pine tree.

That was where it all started.

A few moments later, at least that's how it seemed; a tall figure was stood over me. Everything was blurry. It looked like one of those old fuzzy oil paintings in a museum, with a fluffy green splodge, a confusing human figure, and some more splodges here and there. I blinked, and it became a little clearer. I blinked again. I could see the tree trunk's detail and the boy's bleach blonde hair. A few more blinks, and I could see his ice cold eyes.

Eventually, I could see again. The boy standing above me may have been about fifteen, perhaps sixteen. His floppy blonde hair lay over his right eye and the left side was tucked behind his ear. He had a pale, thin complexion and a scar on his chin.

"Hello?" he said. "Are you okay?"

I attempted sitting up, but immediately felt dizzy. My hand flew to my head. "Not so good…"

"Here," he sounded sympathetic as he propped me up against the pine tree. For a moment everything was silent. "Yes, definitely…" he muttered to himself.

"What-where-who are you?" I managed.

"I'm Tyler," he replied, grinning. "You're at Half-Blood hill."

"Half-Blood hill?" I questioned. "Where's that?" I looked around at my surroundings.

"Yes, Half-Blood hill," he confirmed, laughing a little. "In Long Island."

I nodded as I took the information in. "Right. Okay. Well this place looks a little deserted, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you," he retorted.

"Yes, well, I was chased here…" I began. "By that big dog."

"You mean the hellhound?" he laughed. "Well, my turn now then; I go to camp Half-Blood. Just down there." He pointed down the hill to some strawberry fields and a large farmhouse.

Camp Half-Blood sounded more like a camp from hell, where children went to be tortured. "There's a camp here? But this place is, like, deserted!"

He sighed, getting impatient. "You'll see."

I stared in confusion for a moment. "Wait a minute; I'm not going to any camp. I haven't enrolled in a camp since I was six. Thanks, but no thanks." I stood up by the pine tree.

"Well, you don't have to," he said. "But at least stay the night. You don't have anywhere to stay, right? So until you do, you could stay the night. I'm sure our camp director won't mind."

I thought about it, suspicious. But in the end I decided to trust him. Mostly because I was tired and, he was right, I had nowhere else to stay. Anywhere was better than with that dog.

I took a look from where I'd run up the hill, to the farmhouse. "Right…maybe I'll just stay the night then."

"As expected," he grinned proudly. "Off we go then, follow me!"

He trudged towards the farmhouse, and I followed. The air smelled fresh, with scented strawberry. The farmhouse sat happily to one side, and as I took a step in a new smell of a summer's breeze filled the air.

"Chiron!" Tyler called out. "We've got a…guest!"

After a short while, a man in a wheelchair cam round the corner, grinning. He nodded to Tyler and led us through to a room with a long table and many chairs.

"Take a seat," the guy, Chiron, insisted.

I sat on a chair at the end, nervously. Whatever was going on, I didn't have a clue.

"Now, what is your name?" Chiron asked me.

"My name?" I questioned. "But why-"

"Just tell him your name," Tyler suggested, sighing.

"Delphi Night," I replied confidently.

"Quite…" Chiron muttered quietly, thinking to himself.

"What?" I asked on the edge of my seat. "What is it? I've been asking questions since I landed by that palm tree, and the whole time all I've been told is either lies or no real answer at all! Now I demand an answer now or…or else!"

Chiron stared at me for a moment. "As you wish. Now listen carefully, I won't repeat. The Greek gods you may have heard of in school used to mate with mortals, yes? Well, after all these years do you think that would change? No. The great gods still make visits to the mortals and mate. They have children, called demigods, or Half-Bloods. This camp is for these children. You, dear child, appear to be a daughter of Apollo. We can not be certain, but it does make sense. Your first name, for an example, relates to the Oracle of Delphi-and, of course, Apollo's messenger of prophecies."

"Apollo? Gods? Kids? Me?" It all came out so sudden. "Don't be stupid, none of that stuff is real!" Lightning thundered outside the window.

Tyler whistled. "Don't anger Zeus," he muttered.

"It's probably hard to take in," Chiron noted. "But trust me, you'll get used to it."

"No…"

"Tell me, have you ever had ADHD or Dyslexia?" Tyler asked, and I nodded. "ADHD-your battle reflexes. Dyslexia-your brain is hotwired for ancient Greek. There you go simple explanation. Oh-and the monsters that keep following you, get used to them.

"Thank you, Tyler," Chiron nodded, confused, towards Tyler. "Nice tactics."

Tyler nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, boss."

I laughed nervously, not sure whether this was a joke or real. But something about their tone of voice, the way things connected together, made me sure this wasn't to be taken humorously...