❦ Chapter Three: House Mates

❦ Kaiana Hamilton ❦

"EEEEEVAAAAAAAAA!"

"KAIIIIIANNNAAAAAAAA!"

We ran at each other, colliding and hugging in the middle. I laughed, a broad smile plastered to my face.

"Oh gods, it's so good to see you!" I cried.

"Oh, you have no idea! I've been going all over the worlds, doing quests and saving Magnus's butt—"

"Wait, worlds? And Magnus, as in Chase? As in Annabeth's cousin?"

Eva Skau nodded. "All in good time," she promised, answering my next question, which would have begged for an explanation.

"Who else are we rooming with?" Brookelynn asked, glancing about the house.

Eva shrugged. "I don't know yet, honestly. I've only seen our...caretakers, you could call them?"

"No, you couldn't," a new voice said, "because there is no way I am being your caretaker." The girl spotted us. "Who are you two?"

"Kaiana—" I started.

"—and Brookelynn—" Brooke continued.

"—Hamilton, two of the triplets," we finished together.

She leaped down off the banister. She had a red streak in her hair and wore combat boots, a brown leather jacket, and a necklace with a strange symbol. "Sadie Kane."

"Nice to meet you. And you are from which little realm of deities?"

"Egyptian," Sadie said, blowing a bubble of gum, then snapping it.

"Are you from England?" Brooke asked.

Sadie nodded.

We both grinned at each other.

"I have always wanted to go there!" I squealed.

Sadie laughed. "HEY ZIA! Come meet two more!"

A girl with short black hair and tan skin appeared, walking toward us. She seemed far more refined than Sadie, holding herself with an air that reminded me of a queen.

"Zia Rashid. And you are?"

"Kaiana Hamilton."

"Brookelynn Hamilton."

"Two of the triplets Annabeth told us about," Sadie added.

Zia smiled. "Nice to meet you. Are you Greek or Norse or Roman? You're not Egyptian, are you?"

We shook our heads. "Greek. Our father is Poseidon."

"Impressive," Zia said. "I have heard Annabeth use the term "Big Three" related with his name. You must be proud of your parentage."

I shrugged. "We have many ancestors to be proud of. I guess we've learned not to boast in our blood. Mostly, anyway."

Zia smiled. Before anyone could say anything, the doorbell rang.

"Anybody here?" a voice called.

We turned. A girl of our age stood there.

"Hello," I said.

"Hi. Um, I'm Theodosia Erikson," she said. "You can call me Theo."

"Hullo," Sadie said. "I'm Sadie, that's Zia. Then this is Eva, and those two are Kaiana and Brookelynn."

"Nice to meet you," I said pleasantly.

"I'm Norse."

"We're Greek," I said, gesturing to Brookelynn.

But before Eva said anything, the door rang again. Theo stepped aside as two other girls stepped in.

"Oh, wow. Told you we'd be last. Er, I'm Caitlyn Sanders, this is Ress Amile. I'm Egyptian."

"And I'm Roman," the girl called Ress said.

We made our introductions again, this time moving to the den, but Eva didn't volunteer her background. I wondered why, but I kept quiet.

"Parentage?" Theo asked, however.

"Poseidon for us," Brookelynn said as we reclined on the soft, plush couch.

"My mom's Freya," Theo said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Eva deflate. I made a mental note to ask about it later.

"I study healing magic," Caitlyn said. "I had just started out at the Brooklyn House when I came here." She grinned at Sadie. "If you're here, can I keep learning?"

Sadie shrugged. "I don't see why not."

"My dad's Mercury," Ress said. "Hermes, in Greek."

"Well, I host Ra," Zia said.

"I host Isis—again," Sadie added.

"Host?" I asked.

"We'll explain at the meeting tonight," Zia promised.

I nodded.

"Eva? You're Norse, right?" Sadie asked.

Eva nodded slowly, embarrassed.

"Parent?" Theo prodded.

Eva flushed and looked away. "It's no big deal."

"Do you know?" Theo asked kindly.

Eva nodded.

"You can tell us. I mean, we can't judge you off your parent."

She smiled grimly. "That will change when you know them."

"Please Eva?" I asked. "I know you better than I know myself. I promise I won't judge you off of your parent because I know you're a good person!"

"We all promise not to judge you," Caitlyn said.

Eva cast her eyes low, but murmured, "My dad's Loki."