The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school. But there we were Monday morning, the first week ofJune, sitting in our mom's car in front of Goode High School on East 81st.

Goode was this big brownstone building overlooking the East River. A bunch of BMWs and Lincoln Town Cars were parked out front. Staring up at the fancy stone archway, I wondered how long it would take us to get kicked out.

"Just relax." Our mom didn't sound relaxed. "It's only an orientation tour. And remember, dear, this is Paul's school. So try not to. . .you know?"

"Be normal?" I asked.

"Destroy it?" Percy asked.

"Yes."

Paul Blofis, our mom's boyfriend, was standing out front, greeting future ninth graders as they came up the steps. With his salt-and-pepper hair, denim clothes, and leather jacket, he reminded me of a TV actor, but he was just an English teacher. He'd managed to convince Goode High School to accept Percy and I for ninth grade, despite the fact we were kicked out of every school we'd ever attended.

I'd tried to warn him it wasn't a good idea, but he wouldn't listen.

I looked at our mom. "You haven't told him the truth about us, have you?"

She tapped her fingers nervously on the wheel. She was dressed up for a job interview—her best blue dress and high-heeled shoes.

"I thought we should wait," she admitted.

I traced shapes on my legs, nervous for the day. I was wearing my lucky blue converse, baggy jeans, and a white off-the-shoulders long-sleeve, since it was a chilly day out. I had my hair curled since I had extra time that morning because we wanted to be early.

"So we don't scare him away," Percy summed up.

"I'm sure orientation will be fine, Percy, Kiera. It's only one morning."

"Great," I mumbled. "I can get expelled before I even start the school year."

"Think positive. Tomorrow you're off to camp! After orientation, you've got your double date—"

"It's not a date!" Percy protested. "It's just Annabeth and Lee, Mom. Jeez!"

Warmth flooded my face, I hadn't told anyone that we were dating since I didn't want the camp tradition to occur.

"They're coming all the way from camp to meet you."

"Yea."

"You're going to the movies."

"Mhm."

"Just the four of you, in two separate groups."

"Mom!" I protested.

She held up her hands in surrender, but I could tell she was trying not to smile. "You'd better get inside, my dears. I'll see you two tonight."

I opened the door and took  deep breath, suddenly I felt like everything was off. The world was upside down, the air was toxic, everybody was angry, dangerous, and violent, as if everything from the mythological world I belonged to mixed into the mortal realm I so desperately wanted to be in.

Percy started to get out, but froze when he saw something. I turned my head and saw what he was staring at. Paul Blofis was greeting a girl with frizzy red hair. She wore a maroon T-shirt and ratty jeans decorated with marker drawings. When she turned, I caught a glimpse of her face, Percy took a deep breath.

"Percy?" Our mom asked. "What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing," he stammered. "Does the school have a side entrance?"

I frowned. "Yeah, down the bock on the right? Why?" I memorized maps like nobody's business, ever Incase something happened and I needed a quick exit.

"We'll see you later."

He pulled me with him as our mom started to say something, but he sprinted, trying to avoid the reheated girl.

I groaned as I realized something was gonna happen. Ugh what a fucking day.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

Sneaking into orientation didn't work out too well. Two cheerleaders in purple-and-white uniforms were standing at the side entrance, waiting to ambush children.

"Hi!" They smiled, which I figured was the first and last time any cheerleaders would be nice. One was blond with icy blue eyes. The other was African American with dark curly hair like Medusa's(trust me, I know what I'm talking about). Both girls had their names stitched in cursive on their uniforms, but with my dyslexia, the words were as helpful as mosquitos.

"Welcome to Goode," the blond girl said. "You two are so  going to love it. My dear, you have that body! You have to try out for cheer!"

I rubbed my wrists, fingers finding my Italian charm bracelets that concealed deadly weapons. "Um . . .I don't know, I'll see."

She smiled at me, but a glint was in her eyes, and it threw me off. Then she turned to Percy. She looked him up and down, in his baggy jeans and blue T-shirt, converse half shown below the hem. Her expression said, Ewww, who's this loser?

The other girl stepped uncomfortably close to me. I studied the stitching on her uniform and made out Kelli. She smelled like roses and something else I recognized from camp—the scent of freshly washed horses and. . .metal. She ran a finger down the back of my neck, and I could feel her breath on my cheek. I felt energy below my skin, asking to zap her. I forced the thoughts away. "What's your name, fish?"

"Fish?" I asked.

"Freshman."

"Uh, Kiera."

She looked at my brother. "Oh, Percy." He stumbled.

The girls exchanged looks.

"Oh, Percy and Kiera Jackson," The blond one said. "We've been waiting for you two."

It sent a major uh-oh  down my spine. They were blocking the entrance, smiling in a not-very-friendly way. My head crept to my bracelet, the wave charm cleverly hiding my Stygian sword, Nightfall. I wanted to pull off my star charm and listen to music to calm my nerves, but I couldn't in front of them.

Then another voice came from inside the building: "Percy? Kiera?" It was Paul Blofis, somewhere down the hallway. I'd never been so glad to hear his voice."

The cheerleaders backed off. I was so anxious to get past them I accidentally kneed Kelli in the thigh.

Clang.

A tingle went through my body. Celestial bronze. 

I held a hand out, eyebrows knit, "I'm sorry, was trying to hurry."

"Ow," She muttered. "Watch it, fish."

I glanced down, but her leg looked normal. I was too freaked out to ask questions. I grabbed Percy's hand and dragged him through the crowd into the hall, the cheerleaders laughing behind us.

"There you are!" Paul told us. "Welcome to Goode!"

"Hey, Paul—uh, Mr. Blofis." I glanced back, and Percy squeezed my hand to let me know it wasn't just me.

"Kiera, you look like you've seen a ghost."

I probably did.

"Yeah, uh—" Percy started.

Paul clapped him on the back, and nodded at me. It was something discussed between him and my mother, I didn't usually like physical touch. "Listen I know you're both nervous, but don't worry. We get a lot of kids here with ADHD, anger issues, and dyslexia. The teachers know how to help."

I wanted to laugh. If only ADHD, dyslexia, and anger issues were the biggest worries of my life. I mean, I knew he was trying to help, but if we told him the truth they'd put us in a psych ward.

Percy's eyes widened and he turned back to Paul. I turned my head and saw the redhead from earlier. She noticed us. Her eyes widened.

"Where's the orientation?" He asked Paul.

"The gym. That way. But—"

I could feel Percy's fear, nervousness, and stress coming off of him.

"Bye." He said, and pulled me through the crowd.

"Percy? Kiera?" He called, but we were already speed walking.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

I thought we had lost the girl.

A bunch of kids were heading for the gym and soon we were just two of the three hundred fourteen-year-olds all crammed into the bleachers. A marching band played an out-of-tune fight song that sounded like somebody hitting a bag of cats with a metal baseball bat. Older kids, probably student council members, stood up front modeling the Goode school uniform and looking all, Hey, we're cool, when they in-fact, did not look it. Teachers milled around, smiling and shaking hands with students. The walls of the gym were plastered with big purple-and-white banners that said WELCOME FUTURE FRESHMEN, GOODE IS GOOD, WE'RE ALL FAMILY, and a bunch of other happy slogans that made me want to bring the whole place down.

None of the other freshmen looked thrilled to be here, either. I mean, coming to orientation in June, when school doesn't even start until September, is not cool. But at Goode, "We prepare to excel early!" Yeah right, till I excel in first degree arson.

The marching band stopped playing. A guy in a pin-stripe suit came to the microphone and started talking, but the sound echoed around the gym so I had no idea what he was saying.

Someone grabbed my shoulder, and a charge of electricity bounced off my hoop earring and zapped the hand. It was small, just a shock. "What are you doing here?"

I turned and was about to say; Um, I don't know you- but Percy interrupted.

"Rachel Elizabeth Dare," he said.

Her jaw dropped like she couldn't believe he had the nerve to remember her name. "And you're Percy Jackson. I didn't get your full name last December when you tried to kill  me."

I whirled to Percy. "You what!?"

"No!" He protested. "That's not what I 'tried' to do. Look, I wasn't—I didn't—what are you doing here?"

"Same as you, I guess. Orientation."

"You live in New York?"

"What, you thought I lived at Hoover Dam?"

Some guy behind us whispered, "Hey, shut up. The cheerleaders are talking!"

I turned to him, sneering. "Shut your lonely ass up, you only want to listen because you find them attractive." He opened his mouth, and I cut him off. "I said fucking zip it." He closed his mouth and I rolled my eyes.

The redhead—Rachel?—grinned at me, "You must be his sister, Kiera." She held her hand out and  shook mine. "Nice to meet ya."

I didn't say anything. I didn't want to.

A girl bubbled into the gym, she giggled into the microphone. "Hi, guys! My name is Tammi, and this is, like, Kelli." Kelli did a cartwheel.

Next to me, Rachel yelped like someone had stuck a pin into her. A few kids looked over and snickered, but Rachel just stared at the cheerleaders in horror. Tammi didn't seem to notice the outburst. She started talking about sports.

"Run," Rachel told us. "Now."

"Why?"

She turned to me, narrowed her eyes, as if squinting hard enough to see under my skin. I shifted in my seat, slightly moving to Percy. Her eyes widened again. "Woah, that's a lot." She murmured.

"What?"

She ignored us. She didn't even explain anything as she pushed her way to the edge of the bleachers, ignoring the frowning teachers and grumbling kids she was stepping on.

We hesitated. Tammi was explaining how we were about to break into small groups and tour the school. Kelli caught my eye and gave Percy an amused smile, and a wink sent to me. Paul Blofis was down there with the rest of the teachers. He'd wonder what was wrong if we just left. Then I thought about Rachel Elizabeth Dare. Percy got up and followed her out of the gym. I followed my brother.

Just as we were at the end of the isle, I walked past someone and their hand snapped out to my wrist, stopping me. I turned to them and my heart hammered in my chest, and I couldn't believe who I was seeing. Fire Boy. Leo. His amber eyes stared into mine, and his chocolate curls were set nicely on his head, but his face was one of shock, as if I was a ghost.

"I can't believe I found you," he whispered. His voice was sweet, but could be just as harsh as the fire in his eyes.

I moved my head to see how far Percy was, he was walking slowly, so I'd have time to catch up. He must've noticed I wasn't following him and gave me  space. 

"Uh," I started to stammer. "I have to go."

"No." Leo protested. His hand against mine was making me overthink things, it was unusually warm. "Please, I've been looking for you since last year—"

"At Westover Hall." I finished.

"It was you!" He smiled.

Percy was getting farther and farther away.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I have something really  important."

Leo followed my line of vision and he seemed to understand. "Okay. . .I'll find you again."

"I'm not too sure about that," I forced a laugh.

I wanted to stay, his warmth made me want to. Those beautiful eyes trapped me, they looked like the bonfire at Camp Half-Blood. His curls reminded me of the trees outside of Cabin Three. The barely noticeable freckles along the bridge of his nose looked like small stars. He had slightly pointed ears and nose, like an imp. 

"I promise, I will find you again." He swore.

I couldn't say anything, so I just nodded and hurried along when he let go.

I had just seen Leo, and let him go, again.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

We found Rachel in the band room. She was hiding behind a bass drum in the percussion section.

"Get over here!" She said. "Keep your heads down!"

I groaned as we hid behind a bunch of bongos.

"Did they follow you?" Rachel asked.

"You mean the cheerleaders?" I frowned.

She nodded nervously.

"I don't think so," Percy said. "What are they? What did you see?"

Her green eyes were bright with fear. She had a sprinkle of freckles on her face that reminded me of constellations. Her maroon T-shirt read HARVARD ART DEPT. She was extremely pretty, and I felt my face warm at just a small bit of eye contact. "you. . .you wouldn't believe me."

"Oh yea, I promise we would," I said. "We know you can see through the Mist."

"The what?"

"The Mist. It's. . .well, it's like this veil that hides the way things really are. Some mortals are born with the ability to see through it. Like you."

She studied me carefully, and her eyes deeply reminded me of the Oracle back at camp. "Your brother did that at the Hoover Dam. He called me a mortal. Like you aren't."

I wanted to level the school. I would never be able to explain, I shouldn't even try.

"Tell me," she begged. "You know what it means. All these horrible things I see?"

"Look, this is going to sound weird." Percy said. "Do you know anything about Greek myths?"

"Like. . .the Minotaur and the Hydra?"

"Yeah, just try not to say those names when we're around, okay?"

"And the Furies," she said, warming up. "And the Sirens, and the Moiraio—"

I pushed her against the wall, hand over her mouth. "Sh!" I was ignoring how when she said the name I felt energized. "We get it."

I looked around the band hall, sure that she was going to make a bunch of bloodthirsty animals pop out of the walls; but we were still alone. Down the hallway, I heard a mob of kids coming out of the gym. I removed my hand from her mouth and backed up, breathing slow. "Okay. All those monsters, all the Greek gods—they're real."

"I knew it!"

I would've been more comfortable if she'd called me a big liar, but Rachel looked like I had just confirmed her worst suspicion.

"You don't know how hard its been," She said. "For years I thought I was going crazy. I couldn't tell anybody. I couldn't—" Henry eyes narrowed. "Wait. Who are you? I mean really?"

"We aren't monsters," Percy said.

"Well, I know that. I could see  if you were. You look like. . .you. But her. . .never mind. But you're not human, are you?" Her eyes wandered to me.

I wanted to just go home, but I was stuck there. I swallowed. Even though I'd had three years to get used to who I was, I had never talked about it with a regular mortal—I mean, except for mom, but she already knew. 

"We're half-bloods," Percy said. "We're half human."

"And half what?"

Just then Tammi and Kelli stepped into the band room. The doors slammed shut behind them.

"There you are, Moiraio and Perseus Jackson," Tammi said. "It's time for your orientation."

"Can I not have a fucking minute to relax!?"

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

"They're horrible!" Rachel gasped.

Tammi and Kelli were still wearing their purple-and-white cheerleader costumes, holding Pom-poms from the rally.

"What do they look like?" Percy asked Rachel.

I fought a smile, "Assholes."

He snickered as the cheerleaders continued their deadly monologue. "Oh, forget her," Tammi gave me smile and started walking towards us. Kelli stayed by the doors, blocking the exit.

They'd trapped us. I knew we would have to fight our way out, but Tammi's smile was so dazzling it distracted me. 

"Percy, Kiera," Rachel warned.

I blinked and was back into battle mode.

Percy said something really smart. "Uhhh?"

Tammi was getting closer. She held out her Pom-poms.

"Percy!" Rachel said. "Snap out of it."

I tore off Nightfall. The sword grew into a three-foot-long bronze sword, its blade glowing with a faint silver light, but the Stygian Iron absorbed every other source. Tammi's smile turned into a sneer as Percy also brought out Riptide.

"Oh, come on," she protested. "You don't need those. How about kisses instead?"

Yes please!

Snap out of it!

Rachel pinched me, hard. "Guys, she wants to bite you! Look at her!"

"She's just jealous." Tammi looked back at Kelli. "May I, mistress?"

Kelli was still blocking the door, licking her lips hungrily. "Go ahead, Tammi. You're doing fine."

Tammi took another step forward, but I leveled the tip of my sword at her chest. "Back the fuck up."

She snarled. "Freshman," she said with disgust. "This is our  school, half-bloods. We feed on whom we choose!"

Then she began to change. The color drained out of her face and arms. Her skin turned as white as chalk, her eyes completely red. Her teeth grew into fangs.

"A vampire!" Percy stammered. Her legs were what distracted  me. Her left leg was a brown, shaggy, looking thing with a donkey's hoof. Her right leg was shaped like a human's, but made of bronze. "Uhh, a vampire with—"

"Don't mention the legs!" Tammi snapped. "It's rude to make fun!"

I nudged him, "Yeah, Percy. Don't make fun."

Tammi aDanced on her weird, mismatched legs. She was bizarre, especially with the Pom-poms, but I couldn't laugh.

"A vampire, you say?" Kelli laughed. "That silly legend was based on us, you fool. We are empousai, servants of Hecate."

"Mmmm." Tammi edged closer to me. "Dark magic formed us from animal, bronze, and ghost! We exist to feed on the blood of young men and woman. Now come, give me that kiss!"

She bared her fangs and a snare drum came flying into my vision.

The demon hissed and batted the drum away. It went rolling along the aisles between music stands, its springs rattling. Rachel through a xylophone, but the demon swatted that away, too.

"I don't usually kill humans," Tammi growled. "But for you, mortal, I'll make an exception. Your eyesight is a little too  good!"

She lunged at Rachel.

I tackled her midair and transformed Nightfall into a singular dagger and brought it down on her chest. With a horrible wail she exploded into dust all over Rachel.

Rachel coughed. She looked like she'd just had a sack of golden flour dumped on her head. "Gross!"

"Monsters do that," I said. "Sorry, girlie."

"You killed my trainee!" Kelli yelled. "You need a lesson in the school spirit, half-blood!"

She too began to change. Her wiry hair turned to flickering flames. Her eyes turned red. She grew fangs. She loped toward us, her brass floor and hoof clopping