Thanks so much to my beta, krystle123.

Disclaimer: Rick Riordan wouldn't sell to me. So I still don't own PJO

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Prologue: The Defender

The orphanage was full of life and noise. The tiny brown building was almost too full; there were children in every crook and cranny, all covered in what blankets the staff could find to protect them from the harsh winter of St. Petersburg, Russia.

An employee had finally gotten everyone comfortable and was finally able to lay down. Just as her head was about to touch the pillow, a loud knock came from the door. She sighed and got up to open it.

Standing outside in below freezing temperatures was a young woman with a package pressed to her chest.

The worker peered closer. No it wasn't a package, it was… a baby.

"I can no longer protect him." The woman spoke in a heavily Russian accented voice. "Every time I look at him… He looks too much like his father." She pulled the baby from her chest and placed it into the woman's arms. The lady held the baby and pushed away the blanket that was covering its face. He was beautiful, with bright blond hair and eyes the color of the sky. His skin was practically glowing.

The employee gasped and stared at the woman. "Why would you want to give him up? He's gorgeous!"

The mother shook her head. "I cannot keep him. But I have something for him." She dug through her pocket and pulled out a silver ID bracelet. She handed it to the worker.

The worker looked closer at the bracelet and was surprised to see words on it, words she could not understand. It was all Greek to her.

"Make sure he never loses this. Make sure he wears it always," the mother whispered as she backed away from the door.

"But wait," the woman from the orphanage yelled, "what's your name? How can I contact you?"

The Russian backed further into the shadows. "You don't need to know my name, but his name... His name is Aleksandr, because he will be the defender of mankind. He will shine like his father, like the sun."

And then she was gone, leaving the lady and the child, Aleksandr, alone.