Deep Water, Percy Jackson

MISTAKE ONE: I Agreed To A Coup

If you're reading this, you've probably heard it all before. You don't want to be a half-blood —— it'll get you traumatized, mutilated, killed. If you think there's any chance you are one, put the book down, ignore it, try to live a normal life.

Of course, there will be an unfortunate few of you who do not have that luxury. Those of you who already know, those of you who have spent your whole life feeling different, chased by monsters, left abandoned and defenceless. For those of you who wouldn't know normal if it hit you in the face, take this book as a warning. A complete list of every mistake I have ever made, so that you don't end up following my footsteps.

The summer of 2006 was one of unbearable heat, humidity that turned New York into one giant sauna. The stench was awful. I spent most of that summer trying desperately to avoid the Ares cabin, although Hermes' didn't smell much better. Annabeth and I passed the time sat in the strawberry fields, where she would read, make architectural sketches, and think about her big quest, while I would nod and pretend I understood any of the words she was saying. Luke used to spend summers like this with us, but this year he was withdrawn, spending most of his time in the arena on his own.

It was mid May when he came to me with talk of demanding better from the gods. For all the time I'd known him, Luke had disliked our father. As with many demigods, he had a minimal relationship with his mother, and he had hoped knowing who his father was would give him a parental relationship he had never had. Of course, godly parents do not care for their demigod offspring (we are not much more than pets to them) so Luke's hopes were quickly squandered. I hadn't been expecting this conversation, though.

"I'll get them to pay attention to us," he whispered. We were far out of anyone's earshot, sat on a log just outside of the forest, but conversations like this had to be treated with caution. You never knew who (or what) could be listening. "They'll treat us like their kids. Like real parents. It will be better for everyone."

"How will you do it, Luke?" I asked, glancing around frightfully as if someone was lurking in the underbrush. "They won't listen to you."

"I've got a plan," Luke replied, "You just have to trust me, Vikas."

Afraid might as well be my middle name, so it took me a while to reply. I didn't want to upset Luke, and I would've done anything for him, but at the same time this was dangerous, and I was not brave like he was. Regardless, I tried desperately to swallow the lump in my throat, and squeaked out, "Okay. What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing, yet," he said, a smile taking over his face, "Just keep quiet about this. Don't tell anyone, not even Annabeth. I'll let you know when I need you."

It was a struggle not to tell Annabeth. I told her everything, had never once kept a secret from her. She'd be upset if she knew I was keeping secrets, might even kill me if she knew those secrets were about Luke. I found myself tortured, torn between loyalties and walking a fine line to try and keep my best friends. I avoided her for most of that month, spending my time playing volleyball, taking extra chores, and dodging eye contact. It was a lonely time, even more so because Grover was away at some boarding school. I'd never realized just how dependent I was on my small group of friends, but without them I found myself lost.

And then, in early June, Percy Jackson showed up.

The night before he arrived I had a dream that I was drowning.

I was floating in water like a warm bath. At first, it had been relaxing; a nice change of pace from the usual nightmares. But then I realized there was no way to the surface. No air. Nothing but endless teal no matter where I looked. There was sunlight streaming through the water, but no matter how much I tried to swim up to it, I couldn't. There was a muffled pounding I began to recognize as the sound of my own heartbeat, and frantically I tried to kick to the surface, reach the air. Drowning was a new sensation to me. It was entirely different from holding your breath intentionally. Time slows down. Familiar panic froze the blood in my veins. My head felt like it was going to explode. My entire chest burned.