Chapter 2

The low hum of the Rolls-Royce engine was almost soothing as we wound up the narrow mountain road. My mom sat beside me, her eyes drifting to the scenic view out the window. I could feel the weight of the pack on the seat next to me, but it was the adamantine sword nestled inside that really made me restless.

The silence was nice, but I couldn't help myself. "So, Mom," I asked, keeping my voice casual, "how did you…uh, meet my dad?"

Her lips curved into a gentle smile, and she looked like she was somewhere else entirely. "Well," she started, her eyes twinkling with the memory, "I was young—maybe about twenty. It was a deep-sea exploration in the Atlantic. I was in a submarine, along with a small team, heading into waters so deep you could barely see anything past the floodlights."

She chuckled. "I thought it was just going to be another day of documenting the sea floor. But as we descended further, something caught my eye—a shimmer, like sunlight, even though there shouldn't have been any light down there."

I leaned forward, drawn in. "And?"

"And there he was, outside the glass." She shook her head, almost like she didn't believe it herself. "A man with dark, wild hair and sea-green eyes, holding this golden trident that glowed like it was made from sunlight. He was swimming, completely at ease… as if he were part of the ocean itself. He looked right at me, like he was studying me, and then…" She laughed, her eyes sparkling. "He came closer, riding this chariot drawn by two enormous, beautiful seahorses, their scales shimmering like opals."

I couldn't hide my amazement. "He just…showed up? Out of nowhere?"

"Yes," she said softly. "There was a kindness, a depth in his eyes. And I felt…drawn to him, like the ocean itself was pulling me. He motioned for me to come closer to the glass, and when I did, he placed a hand on the window and mouthed my name. I don't know how he knew it, but when he looked at me, I felt like I'd known him my whole life."

I was about to ask more, but my senses tingled, cutting off my words. I felt something—a shift in the air pressure. Outside, the sky darkened, and thick clouds began to gather, swirling angrily.

"Mom…" I muttered, sitting up.

She looked out the window, her smile vanishing. The storm was coming in fast, thick clouds swirling and blotting out the sun. Lightning crackled through the sky, jagged bolts streaking across the clouds.

Suddenly, a sharp sensation hit me, something primal, like my instincts were screaming. "Stop the car!" I yelled.

The driver slammed on the brakes, and right then, a bolt of lightning struck the road in front of us, so close I could smell the ozone.

I turned to the driver. "Go! Drive! Fast!"

Without hesitating, he floored it, maneuvering up the winding road as the storm seemed to come alive around us. Lightning strikes lit up the edges of the road, each bolt closer than the last. The car skidded slightly, but the driver kept control, speeding up the mountain until we finally reached a plateau.

"We're here," my mom whispered, glancing at me with a mix of pride and worry.

I grabbed my backpack, and she handed me my sword, the adamantine blade I'd been training with for years. I'd named it Tempest and had even carved the name in Greek along the blade. My fingers traced the name, feeling the weight of the weapon in my hand.

Mom's hand reached for mine, giving it a squeeze. "Be careful, Percy. Remember everything I taught you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. "I will. And I'll come back."

She pulled me into a hug, holding me tightly. "I know you will."

With one last look, she got back into the car, and the driver started the engine. As they drove off, three more lightning bolts struck near them, but they made it down the mountain safely. I took a deep breath, watching until the car was out of sight.

Turning, I slung my backpack over my shoulder, sliding my bracers onto my wrists, feeling the familiar hum of the adamantine.

As I started up the path, a girl's voice cut through the air. "Hey, stop right there!"

I looked up, spotting a girl standing beside an enormous pine tree. She looked about my age, dressed in full leather Greek armor with a spear gripped in one hand. She had blonde hair pulled back, and her gaze was sharp as she sized me up.

"Uh…hey!" I called out, trying to sound casual.

Her eyes narrowed, and she raised her spear. "Are you insane? You shouldn't be out here!"

Before I could respond, a deep, rumbling bellow echoed from behind me. I turned, and my heart nearly stopped. It was a massive bull…except it wasn't just any bull. Its body was covered in dark, rusted plates, like armor fused to its flesh, and steam snorted from its nostrils. It had glowing red eyes, and its hooves sparked against the ground, leaving scorch marks with every step.

"Oh, great," I muttered.

The girl was already rushing to my side, lifting a conch horn and blowing into it. The sound reverberated, as if calling for backup.

"I got this," I said, gritting my teeth as I slammed my bracers together. Instantly, my nano-armor spread across my body, black and sleek, crawling over my arms and chest until a Spartan-style helmet covered my head. I could see the girl's jaw drop as the armor finished assembling itself.

"Whoa," she whispered, looking at me like I'd just transformed into something out of a sci-fi movie.

The bull let out another roar and charged. I adjusted my grip on Tempest, feeling the adrenaline surge. "Stay back," I told her. "I've been waiting for a fight like this."

The bull monster snorted steam as it closed in, each step like a mini earthquake. The thing was massive, towering over me, it pawed the ground, its massive arms flexing as it gripped a spiked club in one hand. I took a deep breath, tightening my grip on Tempest.

The thing roared, and I charged, my sword flashing as I went for its knee. But the bull monster swung down with its club, nearly slamming me to the ground. I barely dodged, rolling out of the way just in time. Even through my armor, I could feel the heat radiating off it.

"Come on, Percy. Focus," I muttered, trying to remember everything my mom taught me.

The beast lunged forward, swinging its club again, but this time I was ready. I ducked and slashed upward, aiming for the vulnerable part of its thigh, where there wasn't much armor. My blade sliced through, and the monster bellowed in pain, its blood spilling onto the dirt.

But it wasn't done. It came at me, faster this time, raising its club high to strike. I waited until the last second, then sidestepped and swung Tempest in a wide arc, slashing at its wrist. The club fell to the ground with a thud.

The monster roared, steam puffing from its nostrils, and I could feel it weakening. With a final burst of energy, I channeled everything I had, slamming Tempest into the beast's chest. It staggered back, groaning, then collapsed to the ground, its blood pooling around it.

Breathing hard, I stepped back, watching the life drain from its eyes. I'd done it.

I got to work right away, pulling out a knife and starting to skin the beast. It was one thing to fight a monster, but if I'd learned anything from my mom, it was that every kill had a purpose. Monster parts could be useful—food, weapons, medicine.

The girl from earlier stepped up beside me, watching in silence for a moment before she spoke. "You really know what you're doing. Where'd you learn all this?"

I didn't look up, focusing on my work. "My mom wanted me to be ready. Spent years training me for stuff like this."

She nodded, impressed. "Smart mom." She didn't hesitate to crouch down beside me, pulling out her own knife and helping me separate the meat, bones, and organs.

I glanced over at her. "So, what's your name?"

"Clarisse La Rue," she said, flashing a grin. "Daughter of Ares."

I grinned back, shaking her hand. "Perseus Jackson. Can't wait to go a few rounds with you sometime—see what you've got."

She laughed, a little too eagerly. "Anytime, new kid. I'd like to see what you're made of, too." She gave me a sharp look, like she was already measuring me up as competition.

We'd just finished separating out the parts when a group of campers came running down the hill toward us, a mix of armor, half-armor, and pajamas. I noticed a couple rubbing sleep from their eyes as they took in the scene—the bloody, skinned monster, and me and Clarisse standing over it.

A centaur emerged from the group, his dark brown hair streaked with gray. His body was strong and broad, with scars crisscrossing his chest and arms, and he carried a simple yet elegant bow slung over his back. He wore a long cloak over his shoulders, which flowed down to his back like a teacher's robe, and his wise eyes examined the scene with calm authority.

"What is going on here?" he asked, his voice deep and steady.

Clarisse straightened, clearing her throat. "Chiron, this is Perseus," she announced grandly. "He just singlehandedly took down the Minotaurian bull. It was… pretty awesome."

I nodded, still catching my breath. "Yeah, uh, took me a minute, but I managed. Could use some help storing the remains, though."

A few campers made faces, some groaning at the sight of the bloody parts.

"Hey," I added with a grin. "A little beef stew never hurt anybody."

A few groans turned to looks of horror, but I shrugged. "No, really. A lot of monsters are actually… really tasty. With the right preparation, monster meat can make you stronger, and certain parts can be used as medicine. Plus, some can be made into weapons. It's practical."

A blonde girl in the crowd looked skeptical, her grey eyes were alittle to nerving. "What are you talking about?"

I reached into my backpack and pulled out a leather-bound book, flipping it open to a section with diagrams. "This book is from a Japanese demigod—son of Takabe, or Iwakamutsukari no Mikoto, the Japanese god of cooking."

The campers looked confused, exchanging glances. I turned to Clarisse, raising an eyebrow. "Wait, none of you know about Nagai Riko?" I said with surprise. "He's a famous cuisine chef in Japan he spend his youth traveling the world hunting monsters and testing out what he could make from them, a true Cuisine Master."

Clarisse just shrugged. "We have never heard of that guy before, look no offense but the greek gods are the only ones that are real." She turned to her cabinmates. "Ares Cabin, get the monster parts to storage. Chop-chop!"

Chiron nodded in approval. "Everyone, back to bed. Get some rest." Then he turned to me, his wise eyes studying me carefully. "Percy, come with me. I think it's time we talked."

I glanced at Clarisse, who gave me a thumbs-up, then turned back to Chiron. "Lead the way."