Chapter 1 "The News"

On my second blog, I talked about my story

MY WONDERFUL SOME WHAT CRAZY GREEK FAMILY

(If you haven't read the prologue, read before this)

"Ridiculous!!" Dakota’s voice bounced off the cafeteria walls." Ridiculous" she repeated, although this time she sounded more exasperated than angry.

"What is it?" Macy asked, her voice barely containing her innocent curiosity.

"These magazines lie way too much," Dakota mumbled tossing a People magazine in front of my tray.

There was an article about her. Dakota Latki (Lot-Key) Living a Double Life?! I sighed. In the last few months, the media had been pressuring Dakota about her aloof attitude. She simply told them she didn’t want to be bothered, but that made the media more suspicious.

"Just ignore them," Macy encouraged. "They’ll leave you alone once they get used to you."

Poor Macy. Ever since her sister became famous, Star and other magazines wanted to know all, but she did things that attracted less attention.

My daydreaming was cut short when Kate burst through the doors. She stopped automatically in front of my table.

"Marcia..the principal wants to see you." She looked nervous. "I think it's something about...you know."

I sighed again. Two days ago, a sphinx tried to attack the school. In self defense I split her in half. I mean... if you see a cat person running towards you and she's about to slit your throat, then yeah, I'm going to defend myself. Plus I don't know what the mortals saw. Because of mind-manipulation, monsters and gods can change what mortals see and do. For all I know, they could have seen an icecream lady being attacked by some juvenile delinquent that was an escapee.

"Come on Marcia! He's not patient!!"

Kate clamped a cold hand onto my shoulder and nearly dragged me out the door. When we got to the office there were police officers everywhere and even an FBI agent. They all moved out of our way as we walked to Mr. Fredrick's office Kate stayed in the hallway.

He was sitting down in his "throne chair." His slit eyes looked up from his papers.

"Oh...Ms. Marcia!! Pl-please take a seat." He took a hankie and dabbed his forehead that was trickling with sweat.

I swear I could here his heart skip a beat.

"I uh...hope you wont react to this to quickly." He started. "But your mother has disappeared in a terrible plane accident. Her plane was found in the Amazon. I'm very, very sorry. Your father is waiting for you."

I must say that I took the news rather well. I pushed back from the table and I spun on my heel and marched toward the door. In the process I ran into my father who was walking in with Persephone (my younger sister.) Her brown eyes filled up with tears.

"Is it true? Is Mama gone?" her question hung in the air like a black cloud hovers over a funeral procession.

What could I say? What could I, a tenth grader say to my 9 year old sister? Mother will never come home her plane crashed in the middle of no where.

I stared her in the eye and said in a simple voice "Mother's plane had to do an emergency landing. She possibly parachuted out and is on her way home."

That was such a stupid thing to say. I was talking to a fourth grader with a college reading level and the brain that was as straight forward is a locomotive. Thankfully she bought the story and ran into my arms. Her hair smelled of sweet strawberries and jasmine. My father who had been surprisingly quiet cleared his throat. He walked over us and with a nod to the principle steered Persephone and I towards his car. Kate looked at me eyes confused and questioning. All I could do is shrug.

After we were on the freeway, my father looked at me his golden eyes boring into mine.

"I'm taking you to Isles Rose" his spit out.

(For those of you who don't know, Isles Rose is an island that is one of the pocket fulls of Immortal Safe Havens (ISH) in the world. Isles Rose is the head quarters of the organization.) It was so random and so sudden, I didn't even know what to say. Persephone was different though.

"Why?"

"It's time to stop living in fairytale mode."

Apollo's eyes were dangerously bright and he was gripping on the steering wheel like it was a stress ball. He continued

"Persephone, your mother was kidnapped by a man...a demon named Guss."

Although I wanted to find my mom I couldn't help laughing. A guy named Guss? Come on!! But a look from m dad made me shut up.

"Anyway, he has detested the gods for who knows how long. He has tried to attack Olympus at least three times. He is not a forced to be reckoned with and that is why I am taking you both to Isles Rose. It's safe and the last place he'd think of looking."

I could tell that that was the end of the conversation. I turned to look out the window. Mother... Where are you?

HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!!!!

-SIDNEY