Chapter 1
It was the summer breeze that set Laura Tolland into a good mood as she sat on the grass, drawing the picture of a bird, settled on the branch of a tree in the garden of her mother's bungalow. Her best friend- Alice Gilbert, who lived in the neighbourhood, would often visit her and they would spend a considerable amount of time laughing, playing chess and many other games. Sometimes, Alice would test her skills in sword-fighting (with a pair of sticks), and even in archery, which was pretty weird to her. But, she had never expected herself to be as good as Alice in a swordfight.
Laura and Alice were both sixteen and studied in the same school. Alice was tall and sporty. She had sea- green eyes and long dark hair. Her skin was a little tanned- probably because she spent most of her spare time on the beach, Laura had often thought. Alice too, lived with her mother, and every summer, she would go to a camp which she rarely spoke about.
Laura, on the other hand, was tall, too. She had perfectly smooth skin, which glowed in the sunlight, brown eyes, which looked like pools of chocolate, and straight, brown hair. She would practice archery or would strum a song on her guitar, which had always been her favourite pastime. Everybody at school called her a 'gorgeous, athletic chic.'
Laura's mother had told her that her father had left them two weeks after she was born, and had never returned. Her mother, Ms. Kelly Tolland often described her father as a 'good- looking, loving, and a gentleman with a good sense of humour.
Alice had been watching Laura closely, ever since she had met her. She knew that there was something special in Laura, who was an awesome singer and a musician. She had spoken to Chiron about her, but he would tell her-'Keep close watch on her, until you're completely sure about her, and of course, keep her away from harm.' Although they weren't attacked by monsters till that day, Alice had a gut feeling that she had to be alert, as it is said- Better safe than sorry.
As if reading her mind, suddenly, the weather turned cold, hiding the sun behind the grey clouds. It was just 4 p.m. and the sky looked...dangerous.
Laura frowned at the change in the weather, and looked at Alice, who seemed to be thinking intently about something.
"What's the matter, Alice?" she asked her best friend, who was looking around the house as if expecting something bad to happen.
"It's just...a weird feeling. I think there's something wrong, Laura," she said as she dug her hand into her pocket to find something, but was disappointed when her hand emerged empty.
"You're right." Laura glanced at the sky and continued, "For a minute it's so sunny and bright and whatever, and suddenly it looks like the sky is waiting to fall on our heads any minute!"
Alice gave her friend a half- hearted smile, wishing she could explain the thoughts crossing her mind. She knew that she would attract a great deal of monsters wherever she went, being a child of The Big Three. Her half- brother- Percy Jackson, had warned her about that fact. But right now, Alice Gilbert had to handle the situation wisely, if things got any worse. She said a silent prayer to her dad to help her get Laura and herself, safely to Camp Half- Blood- the only safest place in the world for kids like them.
Just then, Laura's mom came out of the house and urged the girls to come inside. Alice was a little hesitant at first, then decided she would tell Laura everything she needed to hear, once they were inside.
Laura's mother brought out cookies and two cups of hot chocolate, and laid them on the table. Alice didn't know how to tell her best friend the truth. Sipping her hot chocolate and glancing nervously outside the window, she drew in a deep breath.
"Laura, are you familiar with Greek mythology?" she asked.
The other girl eyed her friend for a moment. Who could possibly come up with this topic when it's so dull outside? "Yes. What about it?" she answered.
Excitedly, Alice looked her in the eye and said, "All those myths are in fact, real- the gods, the monsters...everything," she said and waited for the words to sink inside.
Laura looked like she was having a tough time registering the fact. "So...?" she said and bit a piece out of her cookie.
There was silence for a while before Alice said, "Uh...do you have the strangest and slightest idea that you're a demigod?" she eyed her friend as she took a sip of her hot chocolate and waited for the blow to come.
"What?" Laura exclaimed. She couldn't understand why she, of all people would be a demigod. She's definitely joking! she thought. "How can you be sure of it?" she demanded.
Alice didn't know how to make her friend understand, without looking insane herself. She began, "We demigods have an aura that attracts almost every wicked, evil thing in the world, waiting to devour us half- bloods."
Laura did a double- take. "Whoa, back up a bit. You said 'us half- bloods?"
Alice nodded.
"You mean...you too...?" she looked sceptically at those sea- green eyes.
"Yes, we both are half- bloods. My godly parent is Poseidon- Lord of the Sea," she said.
"You've got to be kidding me. Why didn't you tell me before...?" her voice faded. The biggest secret of her own life, which she herself didn't know, but her best friend does. How wonderful!
"I wasn't sure of your godly parent, I'm sorry- I should've known before." Alice felt sorry to see the shock on Laura's face as she let the truth sink in.
Laura began to choke on her words, "Does...my mom... know?"
Standing silently behind the wall and listening to their conversation, Ms Kelly Tolland felt guilt creep into her heart. She didn't want her daughter to hear the truth from somebody else, but she knew that her daughter wouldn't believe her if she confessed it. Also, she hid the truth, only to protect her daughter from evil. Laura's mother said a silent prayer to her husband as she walked into the hall, where the girls were seated.
"Yes, dear, I have known about it," she declared. Ms Tolland looked at her daughter's face which reflected sheer horror and shock, with her jaw open.
"I'm so sorry, sweetie... I did it just to protect you..."
"Protect me from what?" Laura demanded. "Why didn't any of you tell me the truth before?" Her chocolate- brown eyes began to fill with tears.
"Honey, believe me, it's because the earlier you know your true identity, the quicker and faster you're attacked by blood- thirsty monsters." Her mother hoped that her daughter would buy her words and stop crying after hearing this.
Suddenly, the storm set in. Alice ran towards the window and panicked at what she saw. A ten-feet dark form was sniffing the road for any hint of a demigod ten blocks away.
Instantly, Alice reached for her sword and stopped cold. She had left it in her bicycle basket, which was in Laura's garden.
She and Laura's mother exchanged nervous looks after which her mother nodded. Alice understood the message at once: Leave, now.
"Laura, we've got to leave, immediately!" she yelled at her friend over the storm.
"But, where are we going, and what's going on?" she demanded, barely able to hear her own voice over the storm.
"I'm taking you to the camp, which I go to every summer- Camp Half- Blood," she glanced at her friend to see what her face reflected as she said the last words, before running out of the door. Laura's expression seemed to be asking her: Camp Half- Blood? Really?
"There's no time, I'll explain later!" Alice said. "Grab your bow and arrows and get your bicycle, too!" she reminded her. She had no other quicker way of escaping from the jaws of death in time. Running would be of no help, she thought. Besides, even if Laura's mother offered them her car, it would take time to start the engine and stuff, and Alice wasn't sure if she could drive a car in a situation like this, with her mind panicking till no end.
She grabbed her bicycle and turned around, to find Laura hugging her mother trying to keep back the tears from falling. Her mother seemed to be assuring her that everything would be okay, if she trusted Alice and stayed with her.
A few minutes later, they were out into the storm, heading towards Half-Blood Hill. Laura tried to keep her pace steady with Alice's, who seemed to be struggling in the storm.
As they rounded a corner, Laura caught a glimpse of the monster in her bicycle mirror. The thing was ten- feet tall and quite heavy. It looked more like a giant dog, she guessed.
"It's a hellhound," Alice said turning to look at Laura, and almost missed knocking off a stray dog, crossing the road.
Laura's legs began to hurt like hell. She wished she could eliminate the monster following them. But, without knowing her powers, she didn't want to take a chance.
"How much farther?" she asked.
"Almost there, don't give up," Alice replied.
Laura heard the fear and tiredness in her friend's voice and began doubting whether they would reach their destination in time.
The monster roared behind them and increased its speed, eager to devour its prey.
After a few minutes, Alice called out, "There it is- Half- Blood Hill!"
Laura looked at her as if she were crazy. Looking into the direction where Alice pointed, she saw nothing but a pine tree standing on top of the hill.
Alice yelled at her to drop her bicycle and run up the hill, without looking behind. Together, they ran up the steep hill in waist- high grass, which seemed to slow them down a bit. The monster was closing in on them and was only eight feet away, when Alice stopped and turned around. Summoning all her remaining power, she held up her hands, willing the water from the nearby canoe lake to follow her movements.
Laura didn't understand what Alice was doing. Suddenly, a huge tsunami- like wave came crashing in on them from somewhere, dousing anything and everything, but her and Alice. Looking down at her feet, she thought that she was dreaming. I'm floating on the water inside a bubble! she realized.
After the water disappeared, Alice willed the bubble around Laura to burst. Holding her ground, Laura quickly pulled out an arrow, placing it between her bow, she aimed it at the hellhound's wet chest. The monster was beginning to get up when the arrow sank deeply into its body. The hellhound let out a shrill shriek before crumbling into nothingness, but dust.
Laura felt herself go weak at the knees, and it had dawned on her how tired and worn-out she had been. Exhausted, she fell to the ground, unconscious.