Chapter 1

Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, leaned against the school wall casually. His senses were on edge. His friend Grover Underwood was next to him. "Is that the one?" asked Percy, nodding to a young girl of about fourteen years of age.

"Yes," whispered Grover back. "She doesn't smell like one of the Big Three, but her scent is different. I've already alerted Chiron."

"Good," whispered Percy back. "I can't look at her and think of Lady Artemis."

"She does look like her. And her scent is nothing that I've ever smelled. Keep an eye on her." Percy nodded, and Grover limped away. Percy, Grover, and Annabeth Chase were all at Greenleaf Boarding Academy, a boarding school where most demigods ended up after a lifetime of ADHD and/or dyslexia. Grover, a satyr, had already alerted Chiron, a centaur and the activities director of Camp Half-Blood about this new demigod. Annabeth ran over. "Any monsters, Percy?" she asked.

"Not yet, Annabeth," replied Percy. "But my senses are on edge. It's only a matter of time before-" But his sentence was cut short when Grover came running up again.

"Percy," he panted. "I just talked with Chiron. He says that Olympus has called an emergency meeting. Something to do with Artemis. Also, I passed a monster. It was disguised as a tall young man. I think it's a drakon. But watch out. And that demigod, Chiron said to bring her to Camp Half-Blood immediately."

"All right. Annabeth, go tell that girl that a teacher needs her outside. We need to get her to Camp Half-Blood."

"I'm on it." Percy nodded, and then walked outside, trying to act casual. He spotted a dark car parked in front of the school. He walked over. The driver in the front was Argus, the security guard at Camp Half-Blood.

"Annabeth is getting the new demigod," he said. "Be ready to leave immediately. I sense monsters." Argus nodded. All of a sudden, Percy heard screams. Percy turned around, shocked to see the building in flames. His hand plunged into his pocket, drawing out Riptide. He uncapped the pen, and his trusted sword sprang out. He rushed into the school, seeing Annabeth and Grover running towards him, dragging the young girl behind him. Percy heard a roar, and then saw a drakon terrorizing students. He swung his sword, attracting the monster's attention. The monster turned to him.

Fire leapt out of the thing's mouth. Percy grimaced, and pressed a button on his watch. Instantly, it sprang into a full-on battle shield, a gift from his half-brother, Tyson. He deflected the flame easily. The drakon snarled. Suddenly, it stood stalk still. Percy froze. All he could hear was the crackling of flames and the distant screams and sirens. The drakon was changing form it was a Minotaur. Then it was a harpy. Then it was an empousai. Then it was a drakon again.

The drakon snapped out of it and lunged. Percy was caught off guard, thinking about the strange words that made no sense whatsoever. The drakon's teeth sank into his shoulder. Percy saw spots as the drakon's teeth sank deeper into his flesh. Suddenly, a silver arrow whizzed out of nowhere, piercing the monster's head. The drakon roared, and then crumbled into dust. Percy rolled over, and glanced at his rescuers. "Thalia," he croaked. The daughter of Zeus, Lieutenant of Artemis, stared at him, her electric blue eyes flashing with annoyance.

"You're lucky, Perseus Jackson," she growled. "Artemis sent me here. Take the demigod to camp, and don't get into any more trouble."

"Nice to see you too," retorted Percy. Thalia rolled her eyes, and disappeared. Percy got up and fell, gasping at the pain that streaked through his whole body. Annabeth came running up.

"Percy, what happened?" she asked.

"Drakon. Ambrosia, quick." Annabeth swung her pack over her shoulder, and brought out a little bit of

ambrosia along with a bottle of water. Percy ate the ambrosia, tasting his mother's blue chocolate chip cookies. His wound closed, but it still throbbed with pain. He drained the water bottle, and felt strength surge through his limbs. He stood. "What of the demigod?" he asked.

"They're waiting with Argus."

"Why didn't you leave when you had the chance?"

"We couldn't just leave you."

"Owl Head."

"Come on unless you want to give Hades a surprising visit." Percy and Annabeth ran outside, trying to ignore the frantic cries for help. Annabeth stumbled, falling to the ground. Percy stopped, hesitated, and then picked her up. They ran- or rather, Percy ran- towards the car. As soon as they reached the sleek, black automobile, he threw Annabeth in. Percy swung himself inside, and then Argus slammed the gas pedal. The car surged forward.

There was silence as they drew farther and farther away from the burning building. "What happened while I was gone?" asked Percy.

"The drakon attacked. I guess the flames must have licked the oil in the kitchen, because the whole building burst into flames before we knew it," said Annabeth.

"Oh."

"Who are you?" asked the girl timidly. Annabeth took her hand.

"Don't be frightened," she said. "We're here to help you."

Cindy Silvermoon was scared to death. Literally. She'd thought that she'd died and went to hell when that monster attacked. And now she was here, squished between two teenagers and someone with thousands of eyes driving a car to who knows where. "Who are you?" asked Cindy timidly.

"Don't be frightened," said the girl, taking Cindy's hand. "We're here to help you."

"Where are you taking me?"

"To a Camp where you'll be safe. Are you familiar with Greek mythology?"

"Yes. But those are just myths, aren't they?"

"No!" cried the girl.

"No what?"

"Don't speak that. The gods will get angry."

"Wait. The gods?"

"You know," said the boy, speaking up for the first time. "Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, Aphrodite, Ares, Artemis, Apollo, Demeter, Hades, Hera, Hephaestus. They're all real."

"And they have children," said the girl.

"What? Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," said the girl. "I'm Annabeth Chase, that's Percy Jackson, Grover Underwood, and Argus, the security guard for the camp that we're taking you to. And you are?"

"Cindy. Cindy Silvermoon. Now answer my question. What do mean when you said that the gods have children."

"The Greek Gods are alive," said Percy Jackson. "They don't marry, they just go around having children."

"Who's your... um, father?"

"Poseidon. Technically I'm not even supposed to be alive, because the Big Three- that's Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades- they swore on the river Styx not to have any more children. But unfortunately, Zeus and Poseidon haven't done so well."

"Who's your father, Annabeth?" asked Cindy.

"Why does everybody think that your parent god has to be your father?" scoffed Annabeth. "Athena. The goddess of wisdom."

"Who's my parent?"

"We don't know yet. Chiron, our camp director, has to see," said Annabeth. The car rolled to a stop. The other boy in the car, Grover Underwood, leapt out. Percy grabbed Annabeth and yanked her out.

"Ow!" Annabeth yelled. "Watch it, Shark Bait."

"That's new." Percy extended his hand, and Cindy took it gratefully. She turned, and looked around. They were in the middle of nowhere, with an endless road stretching farther than she could see. They were standing in front a large hill, with an enormous pine tree with what looked like a sheep's skin hanging on.

"Thalia's pine tree," said Percy, noticing her gaze. "When Thalia Grace, a daughter of Zeus, was being chased by an army of monsters sent from the Underworld, Zeus took pity on her, and turned her into a pine tree. After we retrieved the Golden Fleece, she turned back into a normal girl. Now she's one of Artemis's hunters."

"Oh."

"Now come on," said Annabeth.

"All right, all right," said Cindy. She reluctantly got out of the car and trudged after Percy up the hill. When she arrived at the top, she was greeted by a view she would never forget. Green hills rolled on all sides. The sky was bright blue with the occasional cloud. Cindy could faintly hear the shouts of other kids close to her age. A large farmhouse loomed in the distance. Suddenly Cindy was yanked into the air. She yelled and then heard laughter. She looked around and saw a few teenagers on the ground laughing. Percy frowned and then helped Cindy down. "Those were sons of Hermes," he said apologetically. "You know, the god of thieves and travelers?"

"And why did they just rig up some sort of trap?"

"Those were the twins. Connor and Travis Stoll. They are the troublemakers at Camp Half-Blood. Ever since the war against Kronos, they started setting up traps for every newcomer. Everyone."

"Kronos? You mean the Titan Lord who ate his kids?" Percy laughed dryly.

"That's the one. He rose again and we had to fight him a few years ago. That was a nightmare."

Percy brushed himself off and then started off down the hill, Cindy following close behind him. As soon as she passed Thalia's pine tree, she stopped in her tracks. Instead of the strawberry fields she had seen before, she saw cabins at least fifty. There was a climbing wall close to the farmhouse with what looked like lava falling down.

Cindy shook herself and followed Percy and Annabeth down the hill. Once they reached the farmhouse, Cindy saw a man in a wheelchair and a dude who looked like he had had a little too much to drink. "Ah, Patrick," said the dude, his words slurred together. "Why don't you join us for a game of cards."

"It's Percy, Mr. D," said Percy. "And no thanks. I have a new demigod here and I need to get her orientated."

The man in the wheelchair frowned. "Has she been claimed yet?" he asked.

"No," responded Annabeth. "That's weird. Cindy, how old are you?"

"Fourteen. I'll be fifteen in a few months." The guy in the wheelchair frowned. He wheeled himself over.

"What's your name, child?" he asked. His voice was deep and gravelly, as if he was a hundred years old.

"Cindy Silvermoon," answered Cindy.

"My name is Chiron. I am the activities director for Camp Half-Blood." Suddenly Chiron narrowed his eyes.

"What?" asked Cindy. Percy and Annabeth gasped and the Mr. D guy raised his eyebrows. They were all gazing at something above Cindy's head. She looked up just in time to see a symbol before it faded. It was a golden bow and arrow, the symbol of Artemis, the goddess of the moon, the hunt, and virginity.

"Well," said Mr. D. "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood, daughter of Artemis."