The Hunters of Artemis: The Return of the Hunters

Chapter 2: Meet the New Rhea

Hi. My name is Rhea Karrie Montgomery. You probably recognize my first name, but only because I was named after the person that killed my mother. You can probably guess why I don't like my name... But at the same time, it's beautiful. I probably sound totally self-centered when I say that, but I just mean that it's a nice name. I honestly don't know how Mom came back, but hey! I'm not complaining. If she hadn't come back I wouldn't be alive...

Thirteen years ago, Mom gave birth to me. When I got older, I thought I was adopted because I looked nothing like Mom or Dad. 

Mom has tan skin and dark hair with hazel eyes. Dad has light skin and dark hair and marble eyes. I have blonde hair, fair skin and blue-green eyes. Yeah, I know. It sounds suspicious, but then when I was even older (like, eight) my parents told me it was my grandpa's genes that were infiltrating my DNA. 

I've never met my grandpa. Mom says it's because he travels a lot, but sometimes I wonder if he's dead and Mom doesn't want to tell me. 

My grandma on Dad's side, however, comes to visit maybe once a year. Just randomly, but she comes. 

I like it when grandma visits. She tells me crazy stories about Greek gods, and monsters and other fake stuff like that. The strangest thing is that Mom and Dad nod along like it's real.

I know it isn't though. Greek gods? Please. That's just a bunch of hooey.

It wouldn't take long for me to realize just how wrong I was.

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Mom sighed, pulling her dark brown hair into a pony tail like she always does. "Are you all packed?" she asked.

"Yes, Mom." I picked up my blue luggage bag and pulled it to the front door. "You said you used to go to this summer camp?"

She nodded. "I met your dad there." Mom smiled. "Trust me. You'll like it. Liam! We're going to be late!" she called.

"Coming, Kat!" Dad came bounding down the stairs. In his typical jeans, t-shirt and light jacket I could see what he must have looked like as a teenager. Dad was thirty-eight, but I saw how women still turned to stare as we passed by. It made me proud to be his daughter. Sometimes I even saw Mom smile at those women who just glared back.

A few minutes later, we were ready to go and drive to the airport. Living in Canada, I knew a little bit about the USA, but not much. We Canadians kind of looked down on the Americans. 

The flight was overnight, and I slept most of the way there. The seats were three on each side of the aisle and I sat next to the window. Flying is amazing. I love seeing the ground flash below us, seeing those itty-bitty cars on the highway with their tiny little lights. You can't even see people they're so small.

I also loved watching the sun set. For some reason, I had always loved the sun. It was like... a beacon of hope for me. Beaches, sun, that was all my speed.

I yawned and Mom stroked my hair. "Go to sleep, Rhea. We've got a long day ahead of us." I smiled sleepily at her and rest my head on her shoulder. Closing my eyes, I wondered what she meant by long day. It was only summer camp, right? 

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When I next opened my eyes we were landing. "Where are we?" I murmured.

Mom smiled at me. "We are in New York."

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From the airport, we took a taxi to the bottom of a hill. "Stop here!" Mom ordered the taxi driver. 

"Here?" The taxi driver looked out his window. "There's nothing here, dear." 

"Please. Here is fine. Thank you," replied Dad. He handed the man a bunch of bills and he didn't say anything more. Getting out of the car, the driver popped the trunk so I could get my bag. 

As he drove away, my parents waited until he was far away enough he couldn't see where we were going. "Mom, where are we?" I asked.

"We're at camp."

I looked around. There was the road, a hill with a pine tree at the top, and some trees behind us. "What camp?"

Dad put a hand on my back. "Just follow us." 

I lugged my bag behind me as we made our way past the tree, and then I gasped. There was the camp. But it didn't look like any ordinary summer camp. There was a big three-story house with a blue trim and a man in a wheelchair on the porch.

There was a rock climbing wall, but this one spewed... red and orange goo? What kind of summer camp was this? Was it shaking? "Mom? Mom, that kid just fell off of the climbing wall!"

"It's okay, Rhea. There are huge mats at the bottom. That camper will be perfectly safe." 

I nodded but looked warily at the wall. I wouldn't be climbing that thing any time soon. 

Mom and Dad started walking down the hill and I had to run to catch up. At the bottom of the hill, the man in the wheelchair greeted us. He had a scruffy brown beard and he wore glasses with silver frames. "Kat. Liam. How nice to see you again." He saw me. "Ah. You must be Rhea. Nice to meet you."

I smiled. "Hi."

"This is Chiron. He's the camp's activities director." Dad smiled at me.

I frowned. "Chiron... You're named after the guy in Greek mythology?"

"You haven't told her yet?" Chiron squinted at my parents. "She's thirteen now. Life is going to get hard now. If it isn't already."

Mom sighed. "We didn't tell her so she wouldn't have any... encounters... like Liam and I did as kids."

I crossed my arms. "What on Earth are you guys talking about?"

Dad put a hand on my shoulder. "There are some thngs we haven't told you."

"Like what?" I asked warily. "That I'm actually adopted?" 

Mom shook her head. "No, sweetie. Nothing like that. It's just... You aren't fully... Oh, how do I break this to you?"

I started to get angry. "Just tell me already!"

Chiron wheeled right in front of me. "What your mother means to tell you is that you aren't fully human."

My knees started to buckle. "Wh--What?"

"We'll explain. Just come with us," Mom said.