Chapter One
A lone mission - simple enough. Serve like a soldier, take orders like a Roman, but never forget your roots - those were Chiron's orders. He also told her not to get herself into too much trouble. Children of Poseidon were notorious for getting into trouble - Percy Jackson was a perfect example of this.
Having caught himself in the middle of two prophecies before his eighteenth birthday, her older brother was a mellow type of guy - until someone flirted with his two year girlfriend, Annabeth Chase. Then, he was almost as scary as their father. Now, he was lying on the sand by the lake, tanning himself while Annabeth studied feverously over college entrance papers.
Kalani Taylor inspected her room in Cabin 3 once more - spotless, except for a picture of her and Percy, which the whole Camp photo bombed. It hung on the wall in a frame. Out the floor-to-ceiling windows, Kalani saw Coach Gleeson Hedge letting Chuck Hedge, his baby, kick at the water with his goat hooves. Chiron was teaching his archery class. Across the waters, a bright light beam came down from the sky, then disappeared as quickly as it came.
Kalani gave out a sigh and walked outside the cabin. She took a few steps before a hand clamped over her eyes.
"Guess who?" a guy's voice said.
"Connor!" Kalani playfully pushed his hand away from her face. "What are you doing? I've already told you goodbye this morning. And my ride is just across the lake. They should be here any minute now - "
"If you think, Hula, that you're leaving without a goodbye," Clarisse LaRue growled on her right, "you are sadly mistaken." The daughter of Ares folded her arms, which were strong, but Kalani could tell she was playing. She rolled her eyes at her nickname and looked up at her best friends faces.
"Guys, you know I'm coming back for Christmas break." She picked up her bag. "Now let me go meet my - "
Connor picked her up in a hug. "You better come back. If not, I'm coming out there."
Clarisse grunted. "You two, I swear. Didn't you say you could write letters and send off?"
"Yeah," Kalani breathed as Connor pecked her cheek and sat her down. "I'll write when I get there."
Clarisse purposely tugged on Kalani's braid. "Good." Somewhere out by the volleyball court, her name was yelled just as the volleyball connected with the side of her head. Yelling in annoyance, she picked up the ball and stabbed it with her knife. "Gotta go, Hula. I'll kill you!" She charged after the twelve year olds.
Connor, her boyfriend of three months, slipped his hand in hers. His curly red hair was frizzy around his face, which had a mischievous look about it. With his upturned eyebrows and smirk-like smile, Connor Stoll was a true son of Hermes. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a leather-strapped necklace with five beads on it. He gave a smirked-but-genuine smile as he touched his bare neck.
"Since yours was broken during Capture the Flag." He stepped behind her.
Kalani blushed and pulled her hair off of her neck. "Connor, but your necklace -"
"It's my good luck charm, I know." He gently hooked it behind her. "But you're going to a wizard school in England. I think you'll need more luck than me. I'll be here, awaiting Christmas break."
By the archery targets, two men shared a hearty laugh and hugged. Chiron patted the old man on the back. "Albus! Good to see you! Come! Let's go talk to Dionysus. He has been waiting decades for a rematch."
Albus wore long purple robes with blue horn-rimmed glasses. His snow-white beard hung down to his waist. "Alright, I think I can spare time for a game or two before Miss Taylor and I must leave."
"Yes, I believe she is saying her goodbyes..." The two men walked off.
Kalani's stomach fluttered with nervousness. This wizard - Albus Dumbledore - was the most powerful wizard of his generation. Now, he was the headmaster of Hogwarts, where she would be until June, and her boss. Connor squeezed her hand.
"You better go say goodbye to your brothers," he reminded.
Kalani nodded distractedly and dropped her hair. She turned around and kissed him, quickly but lovingly. He blushed redder than his hair and scooped up her trunk, rolling it behind him as they made their way towards the beach. There her brother lay with sunglasses and swim trunks on. His strong and tanned muscles shown, but there wasn't a girl at Camp Half-Blood who would admit to liking Percy. His girlfriend, Annabeth Chase, sat next to him in a tank top and shorts. Papers were spread out around them.
"...I know we talked about college in New Rome, but Stanford is beautiful this time of year and - oh, hey, Kalani. Connor." Annabeth adjusted her papers.
Percy's left eyebrow raised, but under his sunglasses, his eyes were closed. Like herself, Percy had their father's jet black hair and bright green eyes. "Leaving so soon, Hula?"
Kalani kicked sand on him. His face broke out into a grin. "Don't call me that!"
"Okay, Honolulu."
"I told you! I've never been to Hawaii!"
Hula was her nickname. Since the war against Gaea, Aphrodite convinced the gods that when they claim their child, the child's clothes should turn into the dress of their ancestors. Lady Aphrodite had meant ancient Greeks. Poseidon was confused and Kalani had appeared in a Hula girl's attire because of her native Hawaiian background. Since then, the nickname "Hula" stuck.
Percy laughed and pushed his glasses to the top of his head. "Sure you keep telling me this. Anyways, what's up?" He frowned. "Why do you have a trunk?"
Kalani gave him a confident smile. "I'm leaving Camp. I'm going to England - "
" - which is across the waters and close to Greece!" Percy sounded like his heart was about to jump out of his throat. "No! You're not going!"
"It was Chiron's decision," Kalani tried. "He needs me to - "
"Kalani, across the waters - it's too dangerous for you," Annabeth cut in. "You're inexperienced - "
"I know that she can handle it," Connor vouched, noticing the downhill spiral it was taking.
"You don't know those places like we do!" Annabeth shot back at him coldly.
"You can't go to England!" Percy yelled at Kalani. "It's too dangerous!" He had a wild look in his eyes that was almost fearful. Connor stepped between Percy and Kalani.
"Man, let's calm down." Kalani then realized how much older Connor was than Percy. Connor had just turned 20, along with Clarisse, while Percy was still 18. Kalani's 16 was the baby of the pack.
"So you're fine with this?!" Percy yelled. "After the war happened? After some of your siblings died? You're okay with sending my sister into the meat grinder?"
"I assure you, Percy, that Kalani is in good hands." Chiron walked up on his horse legs with an older man tagging along, smiling as if the argument amused him. Ella the Harpy flew over head, landing on a nearby roof to listen.
"She can't go to Europe," Percy protested even stronger. "She runs the risk of - "
"There are demigods that live in England, Perseus. Kalani going to a boarding school up there isn't a problem. Now' I'd like to introduce you all to the Headmaster of Hogwarts - Albus Dumbledore."
The bearded man smiled at them, shaking each of their hands. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have read much about you two, Percy and Annabeth. You make a very fine team."
Annabeth blushed. "Sir, where did you read about us?"
"The phone book?" Percy snorted.
He beamed. "Our library just got a new shipment of books on the Prophecy of the Seven!"
"Books?!"
"I'll owl you a copy of my favorite." He winked at her with a grin,
Albus turned to Kalani. "Are you ready?" The trunk disappeared out of Connor's arms and into thin air. "We must be leaving. School starts tomorrow and you still need your tour of the castle."
"One more thing." Kalani hugged Connor, Percy, and Annabeth. She waved at Ella, who hid her tears in her wings. Tyson must be with Dad, she thought.
"Bye, guys. I'll see you in December."
Dumbledore offered her his arm. "Hold on. First time appartating always feels funny, and I don't want to lose you over the Atlantic. That would be terrible." He smiled. Kalani didn't find crashing into one of her father's secret dinner dates fun, but she smiled for his sake. She took his arm.
"Thank you, Chiron," Dumbledore said. "And tell Dionysus he knows where he can find me so I can win again."
The world twisted around her, and Kalani fell into the darkness.