Poison splattered a millimetre from my face as I stumbled backwards. I felt numb with fear and shock, my brain slow on the uptake. Out of the corner of my eye I saw my mum and Graham cowering next to the desk. Everyone else has disappeared. My mum caught my eye.
"Go!" She yelled but the Hydra turned to her instead and she and Graham dived behind the counter. Poison covered the desk and it began to disintegrate.
"Mum!" I screamed and the Hydra turned around to face me again. I was all ready to charge at the monster when a boy hadn't pushed me out the way.
"Idiot!" He sneered as he pulled out a sword. Unfortunately my head hit the chair leg and my whole head hurting like hell. I watched, blurry eyed as he used the sword to mesmerise the monster while he called out: "Alicia! The fire!"
A girl with short blonde hair ran, screaming, towards the monster and lobbed a lighted match just as the boy cut of one of the monsters heads. The match sailed through the air and lit up the stump where a head had once been. The hydra shuddered, dazed and then vaporised on the spot, leaving just a pile of sandy dust which blew a way in the wind that had escaped through the open doorway.
I heaved myself up, my vision cleared and my head not in so much pain. I guessed that the boy must have been a year or two younger than me and his brown hair was sticking in all directions. Slowly he turned to face me; he had a broad face and small dark eyes, his T-shirt was ripped and falling apart from claw marks and his sword hung at his side. He sneered at me.
"You're such an idiot! Were you trying to get yourself killed!?"
I blinked nervously. The girl pushed him aside. "Snap out of Jake!" She muttered. "You don't have to have a go at every person we come across." Then she smiled at me. "Hey, you okay?"
I nodded but stayed silent, I was still in shock. The girl, whose name must have been Alicia, wore a bandana over her short wavy hair and she was pale with serious grey eyes. Like Jake she her once nice clothes were ripped. She looked about my age, but her eyes suggested that she'd seen a lot more than any thirteen year old has the right to see. I turned my head to see my mum emerging from the partly destroyed desk.
"I knew we shouldn't have come to America!" She muttered then she looked up at me. "Lily! She gasped "You have to get to camp! It's not safe anywhere else!"
"W-What?"
My mum turned to Alicia "Are you on the way to Camp Half-Blood?"
"Yeah, for the summer."
"Will you-?"
Alicia nodded like she understood "We'll keep her safe Mrs –"
"Harper. " My mum said
"Mum!" I protested.
"Go. " She said. "And remember…. I… I love you."
"I love you too but-" My sentence was silenced by a roar echoing out in the street.
"Come one!" Alicia grabbed my hand. I grasped at my in flight bag as she pulled me out the door. Down the street was a huge figure and I had a horrible feeling it was another Greek monster.
Jake shocked me by cursing in ancient Greek. "We haven't even left Manhattan yet!"
The three of us ran down the street. Unfortunately Jake had other ideas. He kept trying to run in the direction of the monster muttering "Let me at 'im!" I recovered from my initial shock and sped up. After a mile or so we seemed top have lost whatever had been chasing us and Alicia ushered us into a pancake place.
While Jake sat down Alicia went to order.
"I'll pay." I volunteered. "I reckon I owe you one."
She smiled "Thanks."
We sat down at the at the table and then my questions began.
"What's going on?" I demanded. Jake and Alicia looked at each other.
Jake smirked. "You really don't know do you?" I glared at him while Alicia explained.
"You know Greek Mythology?" She asked.
"Like the hydra that tried to kill me." I said.
"Well, yes but …er… try to avoid using the names." She said nervously but then she continued. "Well-"
"It's real isn't it?" I said abruptly. I probably should have been shocked but after seeing a hydra first hand I figured that that was the only sensible explanation.
Jake rolled his eyes. "Well done Einstein."
If anyone else had said that it would have been a joke but Jake had a cocky manner about him and I couldn't help but be angry. He had a serious attitude problem and I was fed up with him treating me like I was two years old. "Shut your mouth!" I growled. I jumped out my seat and Alicia pushed me back.
"He's really not as bad once you get to know him." She said softly.
"Yeah," I muttered angrily. "And butter wouldn't melt." It was a strange expression that I'd never give much thought to but for some reason Alicia and Jake had cracked up.
"What is wrong with you?" I demanded.
Jake ignored me. "Say butter again will you?"
I blinked. "What in god's name-?"
Alicia giggled, "Don't worry… It's just you say it so posh!"
I rolled my eyes and finished my pancake. I was acutely aware that they might have been right. My English accent did sound posh compared to American accents that surrounded me. When we had finished we went out into the street and Alicia started going through the backpack thrown over one shoulder. "Ah ha!" She exclaimed when she pulled out an odd looking coin and tossed it on the ground.
"Um… what are you doing?" I asked tentatively.
"Getting a taxi." She said "Now be quiet." She started rambling in ancient Greek which I was surprised to find I understood. I watched in horror as the tar started bubbling and a smoky taxi emerged from the ground. I stared at it in surprise.
"Come on. " Jake said and I realised I was the only one left on the pavement. Inside I could see three old women sitting in a place meant for one.
"Camp half blood, please."