United

Chapter One

Perseus Jackson stepped out of the taxi and glanced up at the Empire State Building. It was a truly impressive structure, at least twice the hight of the nearest building and several times more interesting.

Behind him emerged a ruffled looking Zoë Nightshade, glaring at anything that moved.

"Now, Zoë, I think you've intimidated that cat enough. Poor thing must be terrified." Perseus drawled, drawing out his vowels and testing out the foreign language.

Zoë glared at him. "I am not intimidating a cat! Be quiet!" She was much more versed in the language, having an English speaking mother.

"Sure, sure," He nearly slipped back to Greek despite his determination not to. "Shall we go in?"

Zoë huffed but nodded and they both glided towards the double doors.

They glanced around the lobby and Perseus sighed. They were to be meeting with those who had summoned them here in about three minuites.

Several seconds passed before Perseus hissed "I'm bored," to Zoë in their mother tongue.

Zoë sighed. "Perhaps they will come early?" She asked in a hopeful voice, not willing to believe it.

When no one answered she sighed again and resigned herself to her fate.

At exactly 15:36, a young lady and a young man, both with golden blond hair and grey eyes, entered the lobby. They made their way over to where the dark-skinned foreigners were residing.

"Are you Perseus and Zoë?" Was the first thing to emerge from the blond girl's mouth.

"Indeed."

Now it was the boy's turn to speak. "We are still awaiting twelve others. I apologise in advance but it makes more sense to explain all at once rather than individually."

"Understandable."

A few minuets of silence followed before the girl, who still hadn't introduced herself, spoke.

"You don't speak much, do you?"

Perseus sighed in defeat. It was going to be the longest day of his life.