Hey guys, I have been an avid fanfiction reader for a while now, but I have always been too scared to write my own stories out of fear of it being bad. So, here is my first try at it! Please leave comments and constructive criticism for me! It would really mean a lot. Drew was always a character that I thought deserved to be in a lot more fanfiction than she is. I have not written up to the actual conflict of the story yet. The chapters I am publishing initially just lay the groundwork for the story. I am looking forward to your feedback! If you like I will create an update schedule, but it might be a little wonky for awhile since I am in the Army and going on a deployment soon :( Love you all and be nice!

I have another story I am really excited about, that I am working on that is based off a unique universe (entirely created by me). I might drop some sneak peaks to gauge your reaction to me potentially releasing it! Let me know if you are interested in reading that.

DREW

I'm Drew Tanaka, daughter of Aphrodite, reigning queen of Cabin Ten at Camp Half-Blood, and quite possibly the most fabulous demigod you've ever met. So why was I stuck on a quest with these three disasters?

There was Alice Miyazawa and Julia Feingold, twin terrors of the Hermes cabin who'd made it their life mission to ruin mine. They'd already stolen half my makeup bag and hidden my hairbrush somewhere in the Everglades. And Sam Greenwood, our resident satyr who was so timid he once fainted during capture the flag because someone yelled "Boo!" too loud.

The quest? To find and deal with a Chimera reportedly terrorizing Miami. Miami! My first time in the Magic City, and instead of sipping piña coladas by a pool or meeting gorgeous men, I was following Sam, who was sniffing the ground like a beagle on a leash.

"Remind me why we're chasing a monster Percy Jackson couldn't kill?" I asked, stepping over some sticky gum on the sidewalk. "This is a waste of time. We could be shopping. Or, better yet, shopping. You know, actual important stuff."

Alice glanced back at me, smirking. "You're right, Drew. Monsters? Totally unimportant. Let's hit the mall and leave Miami to burn. Maybe you'll find a guy who's immune to your charmspeak while we're at it."

Julia snickered. "Doubtful."

I glared at them. "I could leave you both here and nobody would notice. Sam and I can handle this."

Sam, to his credit, looked up from his sniffing. "Oh, uh, I don't think—"

"Don't worry, Sam," Alice said, patting his shoulder. "We'll make sure Drew doesn't scare off the Chimera by flirting with it."

"I don't flirt with monsters," I snapped. "Only humans. Well, and occasionally gods. But that's different."

Sam suddenly stopped and pointed at a dingy bar across the street. The neon sign buzzed, reading Mac's Deuce Bar.

"What a stupid name," I muttered. "Sounds like a place where dreams go to die."

"The scent's coming from inside," Sam said, his voice quivering. "It's strong. Like, uh, really strong."

I sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with." I pushed open the door, the others trailing behind me.

Inside, the bar smelled like stale beer and broken dreams. A few people nursed drinks at the counter. Sam pointed to a man in a leather jacket hunched over a glass.

"That's him," Sam whispered. "He smells like Chimera."

I didn't bother waiting for a plan. If this guy was the Chimera in disguise, I'd handle it my way. I walked up, tapped his shoulder, and prepared to dazzle him.

The man turned around, and for a moment, I forgot how to talk.

He was gorgeous. Dark skin, stormy green eyes that swirled like hurricanes, and a smirk that screamed trouble. He looked like he was in his mid-20s, definitely too old for me, but hey, a girl can appreciate the scenery.

"Hey," I said, batting my eyelashes. "Mind if I join you?"

He took a long sip of his beer, looked me up and down, then turned back to the bar. "Two shots of tequila," he told the bartender.

I stared at him, stunned. Did he just ignore me?

"Excuse me," I said, louder. "Do you know who you're talking to?"

The guy chuckled without looking at me. "Kid, you're about five years too young for me. Definitely nothing but trouble."

Behind me, Alice and Julia burst out laughing.

"Wow, Drew," Alice said. "Did he just shut you down?"

"No," I snapped. "He's playing hard to get."

The man downed both shots in quick succession, which made me gag. Who drinks like that? Then he leaned in, so close I could feel his breath on my ear.

"Stop trying to charmspeak me," he murmured. His voice was low and rough, like gravel mixed with honey. "Go outside. I'll meet you after I pay my tab."

I shivered, equal parts annoyed and intrigued. "This isn't over," I said, flipping my hair. I marched out of the bar, motioning for the others to follow.

As we walked out, I heard the bartender chuckle. "What a spitfire," he said. "You might need another shot to deal with that."

The guy laughed, and for some reason, my cheeks burned.

"What's your plan, Drew?" Alice asked as we waited on the sidewalk. "More batting your eyelashes? Maybe a hair flip or two?"

"Oh, shut up," I said. "You'll thank me when he tells us what we need to know."

But as we waited for the mystery man to come outside, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd just met someone more dangerous than the Chimera.

DREW

The man strolled out of the bar like he had all the time in the world. The neon from Mac's Deuce Bar cast an ominous green glow on his leather jacket, and his hurricane eyes locked onto us with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

"Why is it always Olympian kids?" he grumbled, raking a hand through his messy dark hair. "Can't you all just… not?"

"Excuse me?" I snapped, crossing my arms. "Who do you think you're talking to?"

Alice and Julia snickered behind me. Sam tried to blend into the shadows like a terrified chameleon.

The man ignored my outrage and jerked his head toward the street. "Come on. I know a better place to talk."

As we walked, I found myself drifting closer to him—not because I wanted to (okay, maybe I did) but because someone needed to figure this guy out. And clearly, that someone was me.

"So," I began, casually tossing my hair over my shoulder, "who exactly do you think you are, talking to me like that?"

"Someone smarter than you," he said without looking at me.

I bristled. "You didn't answer the question."

"You'll live."

"Ugh, you're impossible." I huffed, but that didn't stop me. "How old are you, anyway? You look like you're pushing thirty."

He smirked, which only made him more infuriatingly attractive. "I'm twenty-five. Not that it's any of your business."

"And how do you know we're demigods? You just looked at us and guessed?"

"The less you know about me, the better."

That response didn't sit well with me. My life was about being in control—of people, situations, everything. This guy? He was throwing my whole playbook out the window. To make things worse, my brain kept replaying his voice from earlier when he leaned in at the bar. I was starting to wonder if I had a thing for older, dangerous men.

No, Drew. Focus. You're the prize. Not him.

Before I could grill him further, Alice and Julia decided to jump in, bombarding him with rapid-fire questions about the Chimera and Miami.

"Is it true Chimera breath smells like gasoline?"

"Have you ever seen it up close?"

"Why would it come here? Do monsters like margaritas or something?"

To my delight, the man just stared at them in silence, his expression blank.

"Oh my gods," Julia muttered, throwing her hands up. "Is this guy serious?"

Alice groaned. "Say something, dude!"

"I like him," I said smugly. "Finally, someone who knows how to make you two shut up."

Alice glared at me. "Don't get used to it, Princess."

We eventually reached the beach, where the moonlight sparkled on the waves, and the air smelled like salt and sunscreen. As we approached the shoreline, the water started churning, almost violently.

The man stopped and pointed to a patch of sand. "Sit."

Alice and Julia plopped down immediately. Sam hesitated but followed suit. I, however, stood there glaring at him.

"I'm not sitting in the sand," I said. "These are designer pants."

He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching in amusement. "The sand too dirty for the princess?"

My face flushed. Why does him calling me princess make me feel weird?

"Just get on with it," I snapped, flipping my hair over my shoulder.

He chuckled, pulled out a flask, and took a long swig. Then he said, "Name's Ethan. Son of Kymopoleia. I'm a bounty hunter."

Alice and Julia gasped. Sam blinked in disbelief. I just stared at his lips, wondering if he was a good kisser. Drew, focus.

Ethan continued, oblivious to my wandering thoughts. "I take jobs—protection, assassinations, finding lost items, whatever pays. I could tell you were Olympians the second you walked into the bar. You've got that… look."

Sam squeaked. "You killed the Chimera? Alone?"

"Yep," Ethan said casually. "Hired earlier today by an immortal client. They wanted it gone, so I got rid of it."

Alice and Julia started gushing. "That's so cool!" "You're like a hero, but cooler!"

Ethan just shrugged and took another swig from his flask.

Sam, still recovering, asked, "Are you, uh, connected to Camp Half-Blood at all?"

That got a real laugh out of him. "Camp Half-Blood? That overgrown children's camp? Hell no. But a few years ago, I got a contract from the Titans to find a weak spot in its defenses."

The words hit me like a slap in the face. Without thinking, I stormed over and actually slapped him.

"What is wrong with you?" I yelled. "You went against your own kind?"

Ethan rubbed his jaw, grinning like I'd just told him a joke. "I like a woman with some fire." He leaned back on his hands. "I told you, it wasn't personal. I take all kinds of jobs. And kids of minor gods like me? We weren't exactly welcome at camp."

I blushed again at the compliment, but I quickly pushed it down. No, Drew. You are not letting this guy flip the game on you.

Alice and Julia, oblivious as always, looked confused. "What's this about the Titan War?"

Ethan muttered, "I'm going to regret this." Then he said louder, "Since you wasted your time coming all the way here, the least I can do is escort you back up north."

"To camp?" Sam asked hopefully.

"Yep."

"Appreciate it!" Sam said quickly, before I could protest.

I glared at him. "We don't need his—"

"Oh, come on, Drew!" Julia said. "Don't you want to know what kind of car he has?"

Ethan smirked. "Who said anything about a car?"

And just like that, I knew this would be the most exciting—and infuriating—game I'd ever played. But one thing was for sure: I always win. Well, except when Piper cheats.