Cursed: Chapter One

When Conner rejected me, it was probably the most depressing time of my life. I knew I should've just gotten over it, but I couldn't stop replaying the moment over and over again in my head. I couldn't stop crying at night. I couldn't stop second guessing myself, or start acting cheerful again. That was why it took a goddess to remind me of who I really was. The rebellious, stubborn child, that really, just wanted to live life to the fullest. But the price… was it really worth it?

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I never knew gods existed, I probably would've never believed it until I saw an auburn haired twelve year old in my room after dinner one day. Just sitting on my bed, she seemed small and innocent, until you looked closer. Her skin was silvery, and she radiated a silent, but deadly power. I knew in a flash that she wasn't normal. I stopped in the doorway just staring at her.

She wasn't looking at me, but instead at a photo that I kept in my top dresser drawer. The photo of Conner smiling, that I got from a friend who knew about my crush.

I got a sudden urge to yank it from her hands and ask why she was looking at it.

But see, that would have alerted my mom of some problem, and she has enough on her mind. This person is foreign to me, and strangers are dangerous. Knowing she broke into my house unnoticed was a pretty good sign to me that the best thing I could do was back away and call the police. So I really shouldn't confront her, over a random picture.

But as I've said before: I am rather rebellious.

"What are you doing? That isn't yours!" I yell angrily, as I grasp for the picture in her hands.

She lets go of the photo, letting me have it. She looks up at me finally, acknowledging me with knowing brown eyes that couldn't possibly belong to a twelve year old.

"Hello Eumelia," She says just above a whisper, but her voice was clear as day. "Guys like Conner Tran are just so cruel aren't they?"

I became silent. My anger vanishes suddenly. How she knows my name, I could never guess. But how did she also know my relationship with a certain boy at school?

"You could avoid them, you know. Join me. Become a hunter." She says calmly.

"H-hunter?" I asked, stuttering. Something about her is affecting me. I shake my head to clear it.

"A follower of me, Artemis, goddess of the hunt."

"G-goddess?" I ask, sounding like an idiot. I scrutinize her, my eyes landing on a beautiful silver bow she was grasping and a matching quiver of arrows strapped on her back. A goddess? Her?

She hands me a small three-paneled, folded piece of paper. A brochure.

Skimming it quickly (I didn't realize until later that I could read the brochure even with my dyslexia. It was in Ancient Greek.)I find that it's about the 'hunters' Artemis was speaking of. They are a group of young maidens that followed the goddess in her hunting expeditions. They are immortal, at the price that they may never fall in love and rejected the company of men. They swear an oath to Artemis–I did a double take. Can't fall in love, rejecting males?

"You want me to join? This- umm…" I still couldn't comprehend what was going on.

"The hunters of Artemis," She filled in for me. "And only if you want to."

"Why me?" I ask, rather paranoid at her generous offer. It seemed like some kind of scam to me.

"You're a strong half-blood. The camp isn't good enough for you. Males will taint your maidenhood." She answers like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"Camp? Half-blood?" I ask again.

Artemis sighs softly at my ignorance. She acts really patient, like she has done this many times before. And then she tells me the story.

First off, the Greek Gods exist. They just moved to America and adapted to the expectations of modern times. Normally, if someone were to tell me this, I'd think they were crazy. But one look at Artemis, her graceful silver gown, her beautiful bow and arrows, I knew she wasn't kidding.

Then she explains that I am a half-blood, or demi-god. A child with one mortal and one godly parent. This explains why I only had mom; dad 'is a rich guy who couldn't marry because his parents forbade him'. A lie I completely bought into. But when I ask the goddess why my mom had lied to me since I was a child Artemis answers:

"When you learn of your lineage, monsters start to know of your presence and they attack you. It was to keep you safe."

Though strange, this much I was okay with. (After the whole talk of 'Gods exist', some things just didn't surprise me as much anymore)

"But because your going to join my hunters, I thought it was okay to tell you. Hunters are stronger than normal mortals. They can keep themselves safe."

This irritates me. My nature starts to kick in. But ignoring my instincts, I bottled my feelings up. Now isn't the time to get angry. I think. She's a goddess for the love of …god. (After this, I had to push the ADHD thoughts of 'that's an awkward statement', and 'awkward is spelled so weirdly' out of my head.)

"Who's my dad then?" I ask quietly.

"I don't know." She admits. "But I have my suspicions."

I didn't question her further. I didn't want to think dad was one god, but then find him to be another. How embarrassing would that be?

Then she explains about Camp Half-Blood. A camp for training half-bloods so that they would be safe from monsters. Most demi-gods go to this camp. It sounded pretty cool to me. And then Artemis says:

"But the campers there are not that strong. All fifty-four times my hunters played against them in capture-the-flag, the campers lost. Usually in some shameful way."

Maybe because their opponents were immortal. I think, even more annoyed than before. It's like she thinks her 'hunters' are just so superior. I make up my mind instantly: I was going to change the campers loosing streak one day.

She then says that recently, some kid named Percy Jackson changed camp to have more cabins, at the cost of his immortality, and something about gods claiming their children. I tuned whatever she said after that out. I imagine what this Percy Jackson was like. To turn down immortality just for a few more cabins at camp?

"So," The goddess says, looking at me expectantly. (Annoying me even more) "You can join now or ask for time to think about it and then tell me your answer later."

I didn't need time to think about it.

"No," my voice came, hushed at first, but with latest my emotions putting words in my mouth, my argument strengthened. "Your just a coward. Just like the rest of your hunters. Not strong enough to take your chance with love, and get over heartbreak. Your followers… They're too scared to die, so they choose immortality under you. Now all they do is follow you like dogs!" I yell out the last part, my previously pent up annoyance bursting. "It's like you think girls are weak! Only females can join your hunt and run away from their former lives! Guys don't get this option and don't need it. Well, guess what? I'm not weak! SO GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND QUIT INSULTING MY GENDER!"

The second I finished I regretted it. I went too far. I knew I shouldn't have said what I did. Wasn't that the one thing our English teacher kept stressing while we were reading The Odyssey? The theme: Respect for the gods was the key to survival. And what have I just done? Insulted Artemis, goddess of the hunt, the moon, and all those other things in Greek mythology.

And as predicted, Artemis' eyes narrowed, her fingers tightened around the bow in her hand. Getting up, she walked towards the window.

Just when I started thinking I got away with what I said, she raises her voice once again. "I won't forget this Eumelia. From this day forward, you shall bear my curse."

I was sticking my chin up arrogantly, but bracing myself internally.

"May moonlight become your enemy, arrows become your bane. And when you are most needed, —" She dropped her voice to a whisper. "—may you fail your task."

And suddenly the twelve year old disappeared, once there, but not anymore.

I suddenly had the feeling that this was just some kind of weird hallucination, the result of too many lectures on Greek mythology. Hunters? Greek Gods? How could all of that be real? Artemis seems like an illusion now, without any proof that she had once been here.

Then I look down and see the crumpled hunters' brochure in my fist.

No way.

...

I stare at the paper uncomprehendingly. This is just too weird.

The fast rapping of boots steadily growing louder breaks me out of my thoughts.

"Mel! Mel! What's going on? Why were you yelling?" Someone cried from downstairs.

There's only one person who calls me Mel. This isn't good. I need an alibi.

I threw the brochure aside quickly, and hid my picture of Conner. I dashed to my desk, littered with papers, and grabbed the first sheet of paper I found. As soon as I did so, my mom burst into the room.

"Huh? What wrong mom?" I ask, faking innocence, while my heart was beating out of my chest.

She was stunned at the site of me holding up a sheet of notes. Which scared me. Did she know Artemis had just been here? I feel my gut twist. I can't tell her that I had just gotten myself cursed. She was already too overprotective as is. My fingers get cold like they always do when I'm in this state of mind. I rub one hand against my jeans to warm it.

"Just practicing your lines for the debate competition tomorrow?" She guessed, but with a tone indicating she was not entirely convinced with what she had said.

"Yup, being in the finals for the whole state of New Jersey is really hard work." I confirm. Instant relief floods her face. "I'm fine. Really mom. You can go back to whatever you were doing. It's easier to practice my lines when I'm alone." I add, trying to dismiss her. I needed time to think about what had just happened.

"Sure." She says as her eyes scan the room. "But close the window okay? It's chilly outside, I don't want you to catch a cold."

I nod and she leaves, closing my door as she does. I listen for her steps to disappear before placing my paper back on the desk and flopping onto my bed. I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that a goddess had just been here. (And cursed me, but I didn't really like thinking about that part)

Then I got up quickly and paced around my room, unable to stay in one spot for too long. I needed to do something to occupy my time. Remembering my mom's concern for my health, I walked to the window.

Reaching towards the white handle of the sill, a sensation like touching very, very, strong acid floods my fingertips. I draw back immediately and barely stifle a sharp yelp of pain. I grip my hand into fists, but the pain already subsided the second I pulled away. Looking down at my fingers through a slight film of tears, I found them perfectly fine, like nothing had happened.

What was that feeling I had just felt?

I continue to stare at my hands quizzically before choosing to reach for the windowsill again. The acid burns me for a second time just before I realize the source.

Shining right outside, a waning crescent moon.

Artemis' curse comes back to me. It's meaning revealed. "May moonlight become you enemy." I could never be in the light of the moon without feeling that burning sensation.

But then an idea comes to me. I pull on my thick sweater sleeves, so that they stretch to cover my hands completely. Then I reach up and close the window with ease.

No side effects as long as my skin is covered I see. Well it was November 11th today. I could pass off the rest of the season wearing thick sweaters, long pants, and knit hats. But, with my limited wardrobe, what would I do in the summer?

I never found out. That was my last day at home.

--- [Edit: Some grammatical errors, rephrasing.]

Chapter one finished! I think it's okay… review please! I love constructive criticism, not flames. Tell me what I need to work on/ how to change my story to make it better, not just that it's bad/ my character is a Mary Sue. And before you comment, I want you to know that I don't hate Artemis or her hunters in any way. I just wanted my character to have more peculiar traits.

I would also like you to guess who Eumelia's dad is. I'm trying to be discreet so it's a shock when she's claimed, but I'll give a cookie to whoever gets it right!

I may need some more campers in future chapters. If you are willing to have your character or yourself(Self insertion) in my story fill in this form when you review or PM: (I may not use your character and if I do, make edits to the idea. Specify if you don't want editing)

Full Name:
Gender:
Godly Parent:
Physical Looks:
Personality:
Abilities:
Distinctions: (what makes this character stand out?)
(Optional) Major/Minor role?:
(Optional) Love Interest?: (I can't guarantee they'll love you back though)

PJO copyright Rick Riordan