Antigone D'Ignoti was very anxious about making a good first impression at her new school. The fact that she'd been accepted into a school this good was a miracle with her behavior record. Which, in her defense, wasn't entirely her fault. Sure, there were multiple instances of violence, but she'd only ever fought to defend herself. Of course, no one expects that they'd have to stop themselves from being eaten by their middle school principal. Still, the fact that all she'd had to do was touch him and he disintegrated into ashes was enough to send her into her room for three days in tears. She'd been fully convinced that she was going to be arrested.

But, to her surprise, she went back to school that Monday and there was perfectly normal, non-child eating principal in charge, and no one had even heard of Principal Ellamia. At that news, Ginny had been relieved and highly scared. It was official. She was losing her mind and she could tell no one. If she did, she'd be taken away from Shelby and Shelby was the best Foster Mom and guardian that she'd ever had. She couldn't be taken away. She had to be better this year.

More than that, Shelby had met with multiple teachers at Goode High School, and they had personally intervened on her behalf to give her a chance. She was determined to prove that everyone who had put their faith in her weren't completely delusional. That she wasn't a bad kid. She just...had the worst luck. 

Every single year previously, she'd done all she could to have a school year proceed smoothly. She'd gone out of her way to make teachers and other adults see how hard she tried. Then, when that hadn't worked, when nothing she did was ever enough, she took the opposite approach. She receded into the shadows. She did all she could not to draw attention to herself.

Still, despite everything, she'd been kicked out of her last school and forced to Goode in a cloud of shame. 

She'd only had two weeks left in the school year. Yancy Academy was a private boarding school and, according to Shelby, had been a great opportunity for Ginny. She'd been there on scholarship and with her good grades, she could have stayed there. Until she couldn't. Ginny had gone to retrieve a salad at lunch when she saw a lunch lady using a spear instead of a spatula. The older woman, whose eyes had started to glow and whose teeth had begun to look awfully pointy, was terrifying. 

And she'd focused all of her attention on Ginny. She'd raised her spear up, ready to strike the poor girl down, and she would have if Ginny hadn't lifted her tray up to block the blow. It all happened in a matter of seconds and without thinking twice, the moment the tray broke, she slid to the side and doing a spin, she knocked the woman out with the full force of her body weight and the plastic trays. She was completely knocked out, and Ginny was relieved to be alive...at least before the heavy hand landed on her shoulder. 

"Ms. D'Ignoti," her least favorite gym teacher said, face red and salted mustache twitching, "Principle's Office. NOW." 

Because of course, no one saw the lunch lady trying to murder her. They saw Ginny attack a poor old lady serving chef's salad, and the school had done the logical thing. They'd kicked her out.

There'd been talk of criminal charges. Of course there had been, because that was Ginny's luck. Ginny knew the only reason that she hadn't been arrested after that was because Shelby had talked them all out of it. The fact that the lunch lady disappeared without a record of her ever being employed there, well that had helped Ginny's case, too. If anything, really, Ginny did them a favor and it was their fault that they'd let a stranger walk in and feed innocent children food. Who knows what that woman might have done if given the chance?

The principal hadn't found that argument to be entirely persuasive, although the police had some lingering questions. Ginny had been asked not to return to Yancy. 

Ginny's former roommate, Nancy Bobofit, had been too pleased to see her go. She'd practically sneered as she and Shelby were escorted off campus by the Security Guards. 

"I'm so glad that FREAK," the pug nosed girl had raised her voice to ensure that she'd been heard, "is finally leaving. She's nearly as weird as Jackson was. Remember him?" 

Ginny had been just a bit disappointed to be leaving, but she was glad to be out of the dorms, away from Nancy Bobofit who used to put rotten eggs in her bed, and back with Shelby. 

And so, after pulling numerous strings, Shelby had gotten her a spot at Goode, and Ginny was about to hyperventilate. Here she was. A new school. A new start. So far, there were no scary teachers in sight, but it was still early, and Ginny had never had good luck for a full day.

There she was on a Summer day in Manhattan, just hoping that this would all go right. Shelby hadn't been able to drop her off. She'd had to open the flower shop that she ran below their apartment. So, Ginny had taken the bus, which luckily delivered her one block away. Even that far away though, it was a crowd. She could see dozens upon dozens of teenagers converging towards her intended destination, everyone ready for Freshman orientation. 

But today would be different. She could do this. She'd promised Shelby that she could do this. Besides, this wasn't even officially part of the school year. It was the first day of June. It was just freshman orientation. Even with the worst of years, she'd never had incidents at school before the year had even started. Surely, that wouldn't change now...right?

So, Ginny pasted on her best smile, her 'sunshine smile', Shelby called it, and she timidly walked towards the top of the front steps. Goode high school was a large brownstone with sizable windows and arched doorways. It was also surrounded by very expensive cars. Cars that spoke of wealth that Ginny could hardly imagine. Cars that only served as another reminder of how fortunate she was to get an opportunity like this. 

Still smiling, she ventured up the line. Standing there was a teacher who appeared to be in his mid-thirties was greeting the incoming students. He had longish salt-and-pepper hair, which on anyone else would make them look even older, but he seemed to pull off the graying hair well. He had happy brown eyes and wore a giant smile paired with jeans and t-shirt under a brown leather jacket.

Ginny was happy that he didn't smell when she got close to him and that when he spotted her as she got to the front of the line of students, his eyes didn't change color. Then, once she heard his voice, she was triple times relieved because it sounded so welcoming and normal. Not a creepy growl or ancient demonic sounding tongue to be heard. 

This could be good. This could be very good. 

"Hi," the man shoved his hand out to shake hers. "I'm Paul Blofis. I'm the English lit teacher here."

"I'm Antigone D'Ignoti, but please call me Ginny," the girl introduced herself quietly. She never spoke loudly. It would cause too much attention. Attention, in Ginny's experience, was bad.

"OH," Paul's eyes lit with recognition and a bit of surprise.

Ginny understood that. She didn't look like the type to start a fight. She wore carefully pressed khakis and a white shirt that she'd embroidered with her favorite flowers. A simple necklace adorned her neck, and her ears had small studs. Her unusual hair, wavy and thick, long enough to reach the small of her back, was pulled out of her face into a low ponytail, and other than the starkness of her black nail polish, for all intents and purposes she looked quite respectable. Demure and well behaved even. Because she was.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you," he said kindly, and this is where Ginny knew she was doomed. She braced herself for the warnings about her past behavior. Maybe he'd even be the one to give her the yearly lecture about staying in line. "I understand that there had been some issues with your previous school, but I just wanted you to know that none of that will matter here. We have teachers here who are willing to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and we have a great staff to work with you for ADHD and Dyslexia."

"That's very kind of you," Ginny told him. She noticed that he hadn't addressed the elephant between them. Her eyes flashed nervously behind her sunglasses. She couldn't take them off, but not for the reason her Doctor's note indicated that she couldn't. 

According to them, she suffered from pseudo-seizures brought on by migraines. With that diagnosis came an acute sensitivity to light, so Shelby had gotten her special permission to always have her sunglasses on. It was an easy enough accommodation, and honestly, it had been the one easiest made to get her into the school. 

"If anyone gives you a difficult time about wearing the sunglasses, be sure to let administration know. It's a health accomodation, not a fashion statement, and will be treated as such by your instructors. We're all here to help." 

"Thank you," Ginny gave him a tiny smile, trying to assure this man that she did in fact appreciate his help and wasn't being so awkward because she didn't like him. She was just...awkward. 

"Please go on into the gymnasium," he gestured her. "Follow the crowd and find a seat. After the small pep rally, you'll be sent on a tour, and you'll find out there's nothing to be afraid of here."

Ginny nodded, following his instructions as he moved on to greet a girl with frizzy red hair who'd come up behind her. Despite that nod, Ginny wasn't convinced of Paul's words.

After all, she was always afraid.

She cautiously made it just passed Paul and the line that had gathered behind her, merging into the crowd with her head down. It hadn't been bad, she mentally cheered. The first social interaction was done, so she just had...the rest of the day to go. 

How was she going to make it? Being so caught up in her personal pessimism, Ginny was unsurprised when two cheerleaders purposefully bumped into her. The collision of bodies sent her startling back and it sent the sunglasses, which she'd just gone to adjust, to the tiled floor. Right behind the cheerleaders. 

Curses. 

Before she could gather herself and avert her eyes, the two girls forced themselves into her line of sight, standing between her and her sunglasses. Because of course they had. Something about Ginny made her a magnet for not only the creepy and mysterious, but also the bullies and these girls did not look as if they wanted to be her friend. They looked at her as if she'd personally offended them by daring to exist.

Great. Just great.

"Watch it, Dead Girl," one snapped and in an effort to avoid eye contact, Ginny focused hard on reading on the girls' nametags. This one read Kelli after Ginny blinked enough times.

Kelli was an African American girl with perfectly clear mocha skin and curly hair. Her companion, who's name Ginny couldn't make out, was as pale as her companion was dark. Her almost white-blonde hair pin straight. Still, both girls had identical expressions of disgust.

"I'm sorry," Ginny murmured and anxiously reached up to pull at her necklace. It was dark metal, heavy in her palm, that had been molded into the shape of a lily. Shelby had told her that it was from her parents, whoever they were. It was one of two things she had of them.

"I, uh," Ginny gulped, "I didn't mean to bump into you. But could I get passed? I need my sun glasses."

"And what is your name, Freshman?" the blonde demanded, ignoring Ginny's request completely, and coming close enough that she nearly stepped on Ginny's toes. Ginny immediately stumbled back a few steps. Still, she couldn't help the errant thought that these girls smelled like flowers...and the zoo. She also managed to spot the name of the blonde. Tammi.

"Uh...Antigone D'Ignoti," her voice cracked a bit at her own name, fearful and anxious. She had to get to her glasses. Their silver frames glinted in the distance, thankfully, they remained unbroken.

"No wonder you haven't been eaten yet," Kelli cooed with a chuckle. Then, she did something really creepy and came forward to...sniff her. She was frozen, whether because of fear or nerves, she wasn't sure. She just had the feeling that she was facing a wild animal and any sudden movements would cause them to strike.

"There are two of them," Tammi said. "I thought we were only expecting one."

Ginny had absolutely no idea as to what they were talking about.

"True, but this...can't you feel it? Too delicious to pass up. Hecate will be pleased."

Ginny looked up, too confused to remember why it was a bad idea and met their gazes before she could stop herself. They were like the eyes of Principal Ellamia and the spear bearing lunch lady. Like the strange grandpa at the park who looked to be feeding pigeons that were definitely not pigeons. These types of eyes, they held an eternity of darkness in their depths, no beginning and no end, filling Ginny with the sensation that she was suffocating. 

She scrambled back in fear, and without thinking to much she dodged around them like a football player, scooped up her glasses, put them on, and allowed herself to be swept away by the crowd of students who were in a hurry to make it into the gymnasium. She purposefully became lost in the masses, lost in the hundreds of students. Then, gradually, she sighed in relief as the smell of cattle faded, replaced with the more familiar smell of sweat and fourteen-year-old body odor.

She just had to make it through the day. She could worry about the cheerleaders another time. In fact, the school was large enough, she could very well not encounter them again after that day. It wouldn't be difficult to decide to skip the various athletic events they'd cheer at, and as an underclassman, they wouldn't share classes. Avoidance, she mentally chanted. Avoidance was key. 

The gymnasium of Goode High School was large and loud, echoing with the hundreds of students all preparing to start their Freshman year. Just under the din of conversation, getting louder and louder as she approached, Ginny heard the BOOM BOOM BOOM! of bass drums, some tinny horns and clarinets. The loud noises and foreign surroundings allowed to her to relax, just as she would in the sounds of the busy New York streets. 

Yes, avoidance was key. She had to make Shelby proud. As she made her way through the doors, her eyes wanted to go everywhere, but then, her mind zeroed in on the most blatant showing of school spirit. The signs. Not metaphorical signs of her impending doom, there were literal signs. 

Signs hung all over the gym. While the biggest one read 'WELCOME FUTURE FRESHMAN, GOODE IS GOOD, WE'RE ALL FAMILY' The sun haired girl was drawn in by the others. 'GOODE IS DEDICATED TO YOU DOING GOOD' and 'GOODE STUDY HABITS START EARLY' and the real kicker 'HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE A GOODE TIME'. Ginny wondered if there was an advertising class somewhere full of students with an affinity for bad puns, but she hadn't seen one in the brochure that she'd studied on the bus ride over. 

In the corner of the gym, the marching band reached the climax of something that Ginny thought was supposed to be a popular song on the radio, but...well it didn't sound like it. At all. In fact, it was likely causing whoever wrote it to cry because they somehow knew that their work was being butchered out in the universe. 

Older students wearing the blue, white, and grey Goode uniform stood chatting with each other in the middle of the space while the incoming freshman made their way up into the bleachers. They looked like overachievers, bright smiling faces to be trusted and admired by the adults around them. Ginny's eyes zeroed in on them as she nabbed a seat in the farthest corner, right next to the exit in the second row up from the front.

Them, the young girl stared intently behind her glasses at the clueless persons of her admiration. I want to be like them. Put together. Admired. Successful. She envied their shining faces and what she knew to be full bank accounts even as she self-consciously fingered the slightly frayed ends of the cuffs on her shirt. No matter what she did, she couldn't lose the stigma of being a foster kid.

A troublesome foster kid.

Ginny bit her tongue and hissed through her teeth as a large group of guys fell into her pushing her against the metal bars that lined the outside of the bleachers. They didn't bother to apologize, just went back to laughing after pulling themselves up, while she rubbed her now bruised side.

Oh. They would pay. She'd make them regret- Ginny instantly cut off that insidious voice in her head. She took a deep breath in, and then let it out slowly, counting down to seven. She had a quick temper and a long memory. 

Eventually, the marching band finished their rendition of a top 100 song, if they could call it that, and transitioned into what Ginny thought might be the fight song. If it was, the girl was glad that she'd already decided to avoid the pep rallies and ball games. 

But the noise was bad. So bad that if Ginny really did suffer from seizures she's certain the song would have sent her into one on the spot. Her mind continued to wander as she looked around, hoping that the sound would eventually stop. After awhile, Ginny gazed blankly at one of the signs, this one reading 'HAVE A GOODE TIME WITH THE GOODE CHESS CLUB', contemplating if she would rather risk being attacked by the cheerleaders in the hall to make an escape, rather than listen to another note. But, an eternity later with no answers, the band eventually stopped and the principal, a balding man in a pinstriped suit took the podium.

His voice, which was competing with itself over the gyms echoes didn't penetrate Ginny's already distracted brain after, "Welcome Freshman! Are you ready for a Goode day?"

"I'd rather listen to the marching band again," Ginny sighed to herself. Already her head was hurting as she was desperately trying to pay attention but the echoing microphone made it impossible. It was all impossible.

She really tried to listen to the Principal's speech. She did. Her right leg only bounced a little bit, and she'd only read twelve of the forty something signs on the walls that her brain kept wanting to focus on. Yes, they were disgustingly cheesy, but she wanted to know how many Goode puns there were in the universe now that the question had popped into her head.

Ginny didn't even notice when the two cheerleaders she'd encountered in the hall, Tammi and Kelli had taken over the microphone until somewhere down the rows a girl let out a loud yelp, pulling at the anxious girl's attention. When she faced forward and saw that Tammi's eyes were glued to her form, she froze. Kelli was speaking, but her hard gaze was focused farther into the crowd, to where the female voice had startled. Ginny didn't know who Kelli was looking at, but...she looked hungry. 

And for some reason, Ginny didn't think Kelli or Tammi enjoyed strawberry and banana smoothies for breakfast as much as she did. 

That's when the content of Kelli's words pierced her brain. The Freshman were to be divided into groups to tour the school.

Did...did that mean that the cheerleaders would be giving tours? Her thoughts began to race. That was not good. Not good at all. Hah. She'd just made two more puns. Maybe she could join the poster making committee...that is if she didn't get kicked out before starting school that is.

Students were beginning to move, the start of dividing up, and the girl was once again frozen. Her fear overwhelming her yet again. 

"Hey! You have to come with me!" Ginny was startled when a random girl with red frizzy hair grabbed her hand and started to drag her out of the gym. She was so surprised at the encounter that she didn't utter a word through the silent hallway for three whole minutes.

This girl was her exact opposite in every way. Where Ginny's hair was tamed to the centimeter, this girl's hair was wild and free, strands dancing in the air around her. Where Ginny's clothes were professional and neatly pressed, this girl's clothes were wrinkled and covered in hand drawn pictures in marker. Where her clothes were cheap but formal, the stranger's red t-shirt that read 'Harvard Art Club' and jeans were casual and likely cost more than Ginny's entire wardrobe combined. Ginny's nails might have been painted black, but this girl's nails were covered in chipped pink polish and traces of paint.

Ginny D'Ignoti had never met a girl like this in her entire life, and she wasn't sure what to do even as she allowed herself to be lead through hallway after hallway, the noises of the gym fading quickly. 

"Uhhh...." Ginny began in her usual quiet voice. "I'm not sure who you think I am, but I think you have me confused with someone else. I don't know who you are."

By the time she'd reached the end of her sentence, the redhaired girl had to pull her in closer just to hear what she was saying. 

"I don't know who you are either," the shorter girl admitted. "But my name is Rachel Elizabeth Dare, and we have got to talk away from those things."

"Those things?" Ginny meekly asked. She didn't question why the girl had introduced herself as all three names. In her short life, Ginny had come to place great value in names. Other than her lily necklace, her name was the only other thing her parents had left her with. "Oh. Right. Well, I'm Ginny, and if you don't know me...then why are you dragging me through the halls?"

Rachel didn't answer, instead she pulled her towards one of the doors in the hall that was clearly marked, BAND ROOM. Without hesitation, even though Ginny was positive they weren't supposed to go in there, the girl, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, opened the door. Ginny, ever meek, followed along, her anxiety growing. 

"Uhum...why are we in here? And what are we getting away from?"

"You really don't know, do you?" Rachel looked at the taller girl curiously. "I guess...I guess I thought since you are like Percy that you'd know. That you'd know him too."

"Who is Percy?" Ginny asked, a sharp stab in her gut hit her as she said the name. It was a feeling she got whenever she felt that something important was happening. Whether it was bad or good, she wouldn't know until later, but it was definitely important.

Rachel didn't stop pulling her until they reached a spot, hidden behind a large pass drum. Ginny was paying no attention to where she was going and almost took down a set of bongos, earning a frantic shush from the redhaired girl who really looked as if she were running from something. Rachel had turned, likely to answer Ginny's question, but someone else answered first.

"Uh...I'm Percy," a low, husky voice said behind her, causing her to jump almost a foot in the air.

Ginny turned to take him in, and her mouth instantly dried up. Of course, Percy was gorgeous. Weren't they always? 

"Get over here!" Rachel hissed at the boy, "Keep your head down! Did they follow you?"

The boy complied, even as he looked as if he didn't want to. But then, as if he couldn't help it, his eyes met hers, and Ginny was lost. 

He had dark hair and eyes the color of the sea. She desperately wished that she could take of her glasses, sure that the color would be something unique. His eyes gave her the feeling of crashing waves and tides tickling her feet. He smelled of sea salt and chocolate. It made sense to her then, that he was tall with strong arms that were even visible under his t-shirt. He had a swimmer's build. She knew that she'd been staring at him for too long when, self-consciously under her shielded gaze, he moved from foot to foot, and gave her a bashful wave. 

"I'm sorry," Ginny said carefully, staring at Percy for one more moment before looking back towards Rachel, careful . "I've never met him before. You really must have me confused with someone else. I'm sorry-"

"I'm not confused," Rachel interrupted, and from her tone, Ginny knew she wasn't. She turned her intensity onto Percy then. "Now did they follow you?!"

"You mean the cheerleaders?" he clarified. "I don't think so. Who are they? And," he gestured to Ginny, "why did you bring her along? Do you think that's really a good idea? Especially since...you know what?"

Percy took this girl in and was startled to find her eyes boring into him behind sunglasses. He had no idea why she got to wear sunglasses inside when they weren't allowed. He'd have thought that she was blind but she didn't carry herself as if she couldn't see the world around her. She moved as if she didn't want to see the world around her. It was disconcerting, especially since Percy could feel her eyes on him but he couldn't meet her gaze through the barrier of her glasses. 

Her hair was a bit strange too. Most of it was honey blonde, a shade of grain fields and earth, but it contained streaks the darkest black he'd ever seen. Percy didn't know much about hair, but he didn't think that she'd dyed those two black streaks. It was so...natural to her. Her skin was perfectly olive and seemed to glow. She was around five-five or five-six, not tall, but not as short as Rachel. Percy found himself struck dumb at the sight of her. He'd not dare say it aloud, but he thought she might have been the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. (And he'd met Aphrodite.)

"This," Rachel gestured, "is Ginny. I thought you guys all knew each other. Don't you come from the same place?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ginny demanded, voice still low. Her anxiety melting into mild irritation at being left in the dark, although a few things were beginning to come together.

Rachel's eyes widened, as if she had just realized what she'd said, or how thoroughly ignorant Ginny was of this entire conversation.

"You...you really don't know anything do you? You might know less than I do."

"I promise you that I do know less than you do," Ginny told the redhead honestly. "At least...I know less about what's going on. But if we are talking about the cheerleaders, they are creepy. And mean. They do not seem to like me."

Rachel turned back to Percy, "How...how does she not know?"

"She..." he looked over at Rachel, "you can sense that she's like me?"

"Yes," Rachel nodded. "That's why I brought her with us. The cheerleaders were watching her too."

"What did you see?" Percy demanded gently.

"You...you wouldn't believe me. Neither of you would," Rachel shook her head sadly.

"Oh yeah, I would, and if Ginny is like me...then I bet she'd believe you too. She knows more than she knows that she knows." As convoluted as that sounded, it made sense to Ginny. "And I know you can see through the Mist."

"The what?" Rachel and Ginny asked at the same time.

"The Mist," Percy looked between the two girls and found himself caught under Ginny's scrutiny again. He really wished he could see them. He had to force himself to look away so he could explain this because every time he looked at this girl his thoughts became hazy. "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."

"You did that at Hoover Dam. You called me a mortal. Like you're not," Rachel pressed. The taller girl allowed this revelation to permeate and meld together with the other information she worked to sort through. These two had met at the Hoover Dam? How...strange. Coincidental? But then, Ginny didn't believe in coincidence.

Percy was quiet, as if he really didn't want to give Rachel the answers that she obviously expected. However, he kept stealing concerned looks towards Ginny, as if she would chime in at any moment to say something important. What he expected from her, well, she didn't know.

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

"Horrible things?" Ginny found the courage to open her mouth, suddenly much more certain of what was going on. Mortals. Monsters. Little old ladies who have knitting needles that aren't knitting needles and carry around thread and scissors like they are threats. "Like...like lunch ladies with spears and principals who try to eat you?"

"Pretty much, yeah," Percy nodded. "Exactly like that."

"Oh..." Ginny grinned at the boy to hide her rising panic. "I hate it when that happens."

"Me too," Percy responded with feeling. Then they exchanged a rueful look and let out an uncontrollable burst of laughter. Rachel, however, was not as amused as they were.

"But what are they?" Rachel demanded again. Impatient. Which, Ginny thought was understandable. Other people saw what she saw? Why? What was going on? What was wrong with her? Could it...could she be fixed?

"Look," Percy looked between the two girls, "this is going to sound weird. Do you know anything about Greek myths?"

"Like Orpheus and Eurydice and Eros and Psyche and Persephone and Hades," Ginny responded instantly. Myths surrounding love and the underworld were her favorite and at the strange look she got from Rachel and the wince she evoked from Percy, she promptly blushed and looked down.

How embarrassing, Ginny thought. She shouldn't have said anything, especially since she had no idea where Percy was going with this. 

"Minotaur and the Hydra?" Rachel clarified after Percy was quiet for a moment.

"Yeah. Just...try not to say any of those names when I'm around, and Ginny...probably try not to say those names at all until we get you somewhere safe."

"Somewhere safe?" Despite her previous inner chastisement, she couldn't resist the question, voice still so soft that Percy and Rachel leaned in to hear her better. She was so quiet that it was almost disconcerting to Percy who'd become accustomed to others like himself, who had no hesitation speaking two volumes above acceptable.  

Her voice was soothing, Percy thought. Like the sound of a spring wind blowing through the trees in Central Park. 

"Listen, all those monsters," he was speaking to both of them, but he was staring meaningfully at Ginny as he delivered life-altering news. "All those Greek gods...they're real."

"I KNEW IT!" Rachel almost gave a fist pump she was so excited, but Ginny was stunned.

They were real? But...what did it mean that they were real? Those people who didn't look like people that had attacked her? Those...were those monsters? Real monsters? Then what was she...if she was like Percy? Not mortal. A monster?

"You don't know how hard it's been," Rachel explained to them, continuing as she hadn't spotted the horror that grew across Ginny's face. "For years I thought I was going crazy. I couldn't tell anybody. I couldn't-" but then she stopped as her eyes narrowed in on Percy and Ginny. "Wait. Then who are you two? I mean, really?"

"We aren't monsters," Percy said, reassuring both Ginny and Rachel. While Rachel wasn't surprised, Ginny visibly deflated with relief, and it was all Percy could do to not reach out and give her a reassuring hug. She looked so lost. Percy understood that feeling. He understood how scared she must have been all these years. He wanted to help her.

"Well, I know that. I could see if you guys were. You both look like...you. But you're not human, are you?"

"We are half-bloods," Percy explained. "Half-human."

"And half what?" Rachel pushed. Ginny was beginning to get annoyed at her general inability to speak. It shouldn't be Rachel demanding answers. This was Ginny's life, but she just...couldn't open her mouth. She had always been quiet, always sinking into the shadows. Now, she wanted more than anything to demand these answers for herself. She needed to take control of her life, but she couldn't.

Percy, to his credit, didn't seem to mind her inability to speak or Rachel's insatiable demands for the truth. In fact, before he spoke again, he reached out and held on tightly to Ginny's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. But, before he could say the words that Ginny knew would change her entire life, the two mean cheerleaders, Tammi and Kelli, stepped into the band room and slammed the doors behind them.

"There you are Percy Jackson!" Tammi exclaimed excitedly. "And look, it's Ginny D'Ignoti right behind him! How convenient! It's time for your orientation."

"They're horrible," Rachel breathed out, looking at them with wide eyes.

"What do they really look like?" Percy asked, but Rachel was too startled to answer.

Ginny could almost see it though. Once she got passed the black holes in their eyes that continued to draw her in even with the protection of her glasses, she could see them.

"Pale skin, blood red eyes, fangs, and one of their legs is a donkey leg and the other is bronze," Ginny told him. Now that she knew they were from Greek myth, she could start to use her own knowledge to figure out what she was looking at. Distantly, a memory tugged at her brain, the sound of a light, tinklingvoice, talking of times long past and monsters that were all too present. Itwas a pleasant sound, but now wasn't the time to be distracted. "I think I've read about them. They're called em-"

"Forget her," Tammi gave Percy a beaming smile, but not before she shot Ginny a deadly glare. Ginny, however, couldn't help but glance towards Kelli who guarded the door, ensuring that they could not escape.

Only when Percy started to get dazed and sway on his feet did Ginny's focus go back to the dark-haired girl. She stepped forward, unsure of what to do but knowing that Percy had to snap out of it or they'd all be toast. She didn't know where this bout of sudden courage had come from, but she wasn't going to stop to think about it. 

"Percy! Earth to Percy!! Ginny yelled.

"Snap out of it!" Rachel snapped, coming out of her own horror induced haze.

As if he were shaking off a deep sleep, Percy shook his head. Then, to her utter amazement, he reached into his pocket to pull out... a pen.

"Okay," Ginny stuttered in shock, "I'm all for fighting with the written word. Lists are my best friend. Well-Organized mind and all that, but is a pen really going to-"

Percy uncapped the pen and right before her eyes, it turned into a long bronze sword. On the side, she could make out a word carved in Greek. Then, as if by magic, the letters rearranged themselves so she could read it. Riptide.

"Okay, so that's a sword!"

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