There, above my head, was a shimmering musical instrument. A lyre, I thought automatically. How, I didn't know. I had never even seen a lyre.

"What does it mean?" I gasped to Chiron as it faded.

"You will not have to live in the Hermes cabin after all," he said, turning away.

"Where will I live?"

"The Apollo cabin, of course. You, Ella, are a daughter of Apollo." He walked away. "Oh yes, your mother sent a bag of your possessions. I will send someone to drop them off in your new cabin."

I stood there, rooted to the spot. I was a daughter of Apollo, my favorite Greek god! I would get to stay in the gold cabin!

"Ella?" asked a not-so-familiar voice from somewhere behind me. I automatically turned to the sound of my name. There was Tom.

"Go away," I grumbled. "And Will had better not be with you."

"No, it's just me. Were you claimed a few seconds ago?" His head was cocked to the side and he looked confused.

"Yes. I'm a daughter of Apollo. Now leave me alone." I started to walk into the forest.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

I froze midstep. "Why?"

"Those woods are stocked with monsters."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, like I believe that. Really, what do you want?"

"I wanted to know if you need sword lessons. And since I'm a son of Ares, I thought I would be the best one to teach..." His voice faltered as he saw the intense, burning look in my eyes. "On second thought, scratch that. I think I hear Will calling!" He jogged in the opposite direction.

I walked into the U of cabins, slamming directly into someone. Why did that stuff always happen to me?

"Ow," I moaned, holding my arm that had bumped into that person's bronze sword.

"Are you okay?"

I looked up into the face of a boy slightly younger than me.

"I am fine," I said, trying to find a way to escape. Weren't there any girls at this camp?

"I'm Xemari, son of Hades. You might know my brother Nico?"

"No, I do not know your brother Nico. I'm new here. So will you please get out of my way so I can get into my cabin?"

"Whatever. Oh, I know who you are. You're the noob, Ella."

"What did you just call me?"

"A noob."

"What is a noob?" I demanded, tapping my foot.

"Someone new to something, duh. You're Hazel's new friend, right?"

"Yes..."

"Yeah, well I'm looking for Nikki. Have you seen her anywhere?"

"No I haven't. Now get out of my way."

I pushed him out of my preferred walking path, fuming silently. What was with everyone? Didn't anyone mind their own business anymore? I opened the door of the Apollo cabin and walked in.

Like the outside, the walls were gold. But they weren't so blinding. The floor was a deep gorgeous purple. There were two bookshelves- one labeled "Apollo's Poems" and the other labeled "Misc. Poetry." There were pictures of musicians, artists, doctors, and actors on the wall labeled "Wall of Fame." Against the other wall were seven bunkbeds. There was a big harp on a pedastal in the center of the cabin, and on the one remaining wall was an awesome stage.

I was frozen in place. This room was heaven! I curiously walked to the shelf of my... father's... poetry and picked up a Harry Potter sized book called, "Haikus XVI." I opened to a random page and found:

Frogs leap in the pond.

One is eaten by a snake.

Goodbye, little frog!

This is genius! I thought. I put the book back and picked up a smaller volume called, "Poems CVIII" I opened to another random page. This is what I found:

Apollo.

My name is Apollo.

My name is Apollo. I am so cool.

Poems.

Pretty, pretty poems.

Pretty, pretty poems I like to write.

Famous.

I am very famous.

I am very famous. I am a god.

Apollo. Poems. Famous. Awesome.

I am awesome.

I am awesome...

Because I am.

Apollo, my... father... was so incredible! That poem was absolute brilliance!

"Wow!" I said brightly.

A redhead girl who seemed about my age was curled up on the top bunk of a bunk bed, scribbling furiously in a notebook. She lifted her head and said, "Yeah. I know, right?" She hopped off the bed and landed a few feet in front of me.

"I'm Anastasia, but you can can me Ana," She said, tucking a curl behind her ear. I noticed that she had my same blue-gray eyes and basic facial structure. "You must be my sister."

"I'm Ella. And you must by my sister!"

That line sounded uber-cheesy, but we both started giggling.

"So, are you liking camp so far?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

I nodded as I said, "Yeah. Sorta. Except every single guy is being waaay too friendly." I had only just met her, but I felt like I could trust her. We were half-sisters, after all.

"Really? Lucky."

"Why am I lucky?"

"They probably like you, Ella!"

My face went pink. "What? What do you? Huh?"

"Ella, you are so naive. Want me to show you around the cabin?"

She led me to the Wall of Fame.

"This is our Wall of Fame. Pictures of influential children of Apollo are put up here. That," she pointed to a big picture of a blond guy, "is Apollo. Our father. And patron of this cabin!"

I stared open-mouthed at my dad's picture. He was half-smiling like I always did and had an intelligent look in his blue-gray eyes. Other than that, he looked about 19 years old, and that he should be a male model or something.

"Whoa. That's our dad?" I had always pictured my father to be like most fathers- not looking 5 years older than me and such.

Ana laughed. "I know it's a shock at first, but yeah."

Someone knocked on the cabin door. Ana went to open it.

"Oh daughter of Apoooooolloooooooooo!" sang a way-too-familiar voice. "I have a present for yoooooooooooooou!"

"Close that door," I commanded frantically.

But it was too late. Will walked in the cabin.

"Nice place you got here," he said, looking around.

As his eyes met mine, I thought, How do I look?, but then mentally kicked myself. Why should I care how I looked? It was just an idiotic, barbaric son of Hermes. A little voice inside my head said, An idiotic, barbaric, attractive son of Hermes. I mentally kicked myself again. When I spoke, I said coldly, "Why are you here?"

He smiled and my stomach did a backflip. Stupid! I chastised myself. He said, "Well, I was just in the armory, and a package just randomly appeared that said 'To Ella Johnson.' So, I decided, being the nice person that I am, to bring it to you. Here you are, El."

"Don't. Call. Me. El." I said through my teeth, although I secretly liked it. He handed me a big package wrapped in gold wrapping paper.

"Open it!" prompted Ana. Until then, I had almost forgotten she was there.

I tore the wrapping paper and smiled brightly.