Percy Jackson--The Blazing Trident

Chapter 1: The Ocean Is On Fire

I wasn't in the worst of moods today.

I'd entered 11th grade without a hitch at Goode High School. Mom had married Paul and after a bit of bargaining, Zeus altered the Mist to fix things up there just a bit better than Chiron managed before. I suspected that it was because there was a tiny difference between an all powerful lightning king of gods and an old half horse teacher, but apparently not (In fact, I don't think Chiron was too happy when I asked that). So much time had passed that it was easier to erase the memory of me blowing up the school, killing an "innocent cheerleader", and basically wrecking. But it was alright now. I could start a fresh rep.

Today, I was starting my first day at Goode. Technically, it wasn't my first day, but I had to be careful not to trigger mortal memories of me. So in other words, I needed to avoid talking about demon cheerleaders and exploding music rooms. Normally, you wouldn't really feel bad at this point, but I wasn't just feeling pretty good, I was feeling awesome.

Because you see, Goode recently added an architecture course. And a bunch of other classes that have nothing to do with me complaining about having no friends at school since Grover was staying at camp most of the time now. So Paul tweaked a few classes, and now I can enjoy my school life with the best girlfriend ever.

I saw her running up to me as we walked into school together. With her blond curls flying and those beautiful gray eyes, I couldn't imagine anything that could top this one. I was meeting Annabeth just like I would every day from then on. In fact, I can't remember a better moment, although the time we got Double King Cheeseburgers on sale may rival that statement.

"Percy!" She shouted and caught up to me. "What class are you going to?" I shrugged. I was taking Mythology, Latin, and a bunch of other stuff I knew already. I told her this was because I sucked at a few of the other minor studies like Math, Science, History. I don't need to know that stuff, really. Like, who needs Algebra?

Apparently, Annabeth was taking Architecture, Graphic Design, and a lot of smart people stuff. Honestly, I didn't understand a word that came firing out of her mouth.

We were about to go in, but a misty rainbow appeared in front of us. The translucent waves soon were made out to be an image of Chiron at camp near the lakeside, although I couldn't see the water in the limited space the image provided me. Chiron looked...kind of worried, for some reason. 

"Percy, I need you to get to camp with Annabeth now! It's really important--" he told us urgently. "Something's been--" I interrupted him.

"Chiron, whatever it is, I'm sure you guys can handle it. Don't underestimate the new and improved campers, we can deal with an attack. Whatever that is messed up, you can tell me later. This is an important day," I said. "The message can wait." Before he could respond, I cut off the connection. 

When I think back, that should have been the first red flag. That was stupid of me. Any day, I should've figured whatever makes Chiron worried is something to reckon about.  But it was like something was gently pushing me along, capitalizing on the giddy feeling I had. Annabeth was going to the same school as me. And in peace. I hadn't had peace for a long time until now.

But like I mentioned, it wasn't just that. Normally, Chiron had to be a serious heads up, but the tugging feeling only made my thoughts even more clouded. Before I could linger, I had moved on, unaware.

I turned to Annabeth, who was still going on about ceiling structures and domes. But we were really going to be tardy on our first day if we didn't hurry up, because the new watch she got me points out that we have a few minutes to get to classes.

"And so I'm hoping I can decide about the tower's spiral for the gods in this class as well as whether I should use clear glass or one-way windows for the rooftop panes--" Annabeth rattled on.