Daughters of the Gods: Book 1
Manticore Attack
Manticore
Chapter 1
Calista-Devri's POV
"Woman wake up!" I yelled in Acacia-Jana's ear as she was sound asleep, and I was currently brushing my teeth for the day of school to come. The minty taste in my mouth stinging my tongue slightly as the foam fizzled up. Hurrying to the bathroom I spit and wash out my mouth as I take my wet hair down. Drying it.
"Ugh. Okay.Okay. I'm up." she groaned sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of a bed cornered in my room.
Acacia has been staying here for two months so far since her father, Marcus Evans, is currently out of the country and working in the Air Force. Nothing new for her, she always says, since she could remember she would always have to stay at someone's house for months or weeks on end while her father was at work. The longest he has ever been away was almost two years. Me and my mom held out open arms when we found out he would be leaving again for another six months.
She didn't have a mother to watch her. Acacia never met her mother. Like I have never met my father. Both our parents gave little information on them and we both stopped trying to get answers years ago.
"Do my ears deceive me? Is Acacia-Jana Sophia Marie Evans actually saying she doesn't want to go to school?" I say dramatically laying a hand on my heart.
If anyone, Acacia is the smartest person I know. She loves learning oddly and tends to help me, Priscilla, and Lorelei with our school work. She gets them brains from who knows where!
"Hardy, har, har." she glares at me as she pushes me out of the way to go splash some water on her face to wake her up.
"I never said that. You know we have an Advanced Greek History Test today right, after we come back from, The Metropolitan Museum?" she asked me as she pulled her long chocolate brown hair up into a bun as she started putting on her make up quickly.
"For your information... yes! I am actually quite confident about this one. Unlike all the rest." I smile proudly. I am okay in school, I make good grades, but I am not Acacia, who makes unbelievable grades. I was truthfully excited though about going to this museum me and my friends have always held an interest in Greek History, and its language, we actually have been taking classes to learn the language, and in no surprise Acacia was fantastic at it.
After walking behind a door and stripping of my night wear clothing, I slap on what I am wearing for the day of school.
"I'm going to go out and leave you to see if my mom's up!" I yell back as I begin to leave the room.
"Kk!" I hear behind me.
Walking through the halls I turn a right into the kitchen to see my mom up just setting down two plates of food.
"Morning mom." I sigh tiredly as I slump in.
"Morning dear." she replied softly.
"Are you going to eat?" I ask as I sit in front of a plate frowning, the creases in my forehead appearing in my skin. She smiled and grabbed a mug from the other counter.
"Coffee will do just fine for me." she laughs lightly and then kisses my forehead.
I swear I look nothing like her, except from my facial features we look like complete opposites. She has her beautiful soft vibrant green eyes, to go along with her lightly tanned skin and rosy red cheeks, then her way dark chocolate brown hair. As where I have this yellow blonde wavy hair, to go with my weird snow white skin, and bright lightning blue eyes, her name:Evangeline Mae.
On top of that she just turned 30 two weeks ago. I was born when she was 17, she became pregnant with me when she was 16 though. My dad left before she could tell him. She doesn't talk about him much, and I don't really understand why. Doesn't she want her only child and daughter to know where her other half of her came from? Though I stopped asking years ago: "Where is daddy?", she would just be over come by a blank expression as if in a trance then snap out and say: "He left, that is all, now let's talk about something happy." she would smile a few seconds after and I would nod sadly and we would continue with a new kind of conversation. I don't even know his name! She won't tell me. So I just... stopped asking...
She grinned at me one last time touching my locket and walked over to the sink to clean dishes.
===
Acacia Jana's POV
Walking out of Calista's bedroom, and down the hall to the right, plopping down in a chair next to her my hair getting in the way as my braid fell down to my waist the tip of it going a bit past them stopping. I slowly ate. I barely ate in the morning and wasn't to fond of food at the moment, but I wasn't going to be rude and turn it down so I ate it.
"I've gotta go throw my other clothes on real quick so be ready when I come out to leave." she said and Calista nodded.
"Yes mam." I said. Oops. As she was walking out she stopped in her tracks, turning around slowly and pointed a finger at me.
"Acacia-Jana Sophia Marie Evans I have known you since you were 6 years old and you know I hate it when you be so formal with me. I am either Evangeline or Evi to you." she smiled teasingly. It was true I am always so formal, but its weird for me for some reason, especially when you are living at your friends house since your dad is out of the country and you don't have any other blood related family to take care of you, so I am here. I have always came here.
"Yes, Miss. Evangeline." I nodded giggling and got up taking my empty plate to the sink to wash. I saw the look on her face as she thought about if that would work okay.
"I will let that one pass." she eyed me and then grinned widely walking off out of site.
"So..." I heard my blonde headed friend begin as she came over with an empty plate. "When is your dad coming back? I never found out."
I chuckled slyly... "Getting sick of me already now are we?" I ask glancing at her for a moment as I scrubbed egg of a plate then took hers and began to work with it.
"Now hold on I did not say that. I just asked when your dad will be arriving back home..." she trailed off shaking her head and nudging me slightly.
"If he arrives back home." I said in a whisper under breath, she couldn't hear I said it barely.
"Ummm, his Commander said six months so four more months to go." I reply with a sigh. This wasn't anything different for me, my dad had been in the Air Force before my being ever became known or possible.
Before he met my mom...
Unlike Calista-Devri, I had gotten some more answers but not many, only her name, personality, and description. That was it though. Her name he said was: Athena, and she was the most shockingly beautiful woman he had ever seen, is how my dad put it to me. She was lightly tanned as I am, and I had her same curly chocolate brown hair, with a rosy pink complexion to my lips and cheeks. On the other hand she had gray silvery eyes, while I had my fathers milky brown ones.
He said she was kind, loving, warm, and wise. Just the kind he was looking for, he would joke, and I would giggle and ask for him to tell me more. Then he would go on, she just wasn't sweet but she was daring, she had a tone sweet as honey but rather saucy at the same time. He would say she had that nature to her - sweet but sassy with just enough sarcasm to balance out my fathers sternness.
That was all I learned, when I begged and begged for him to continue on with the facts, he would go blank and say he couldn't remember anymore. I am not stupid though, I know when someone is lying to me and when they are not. He knew he just didn't want to tell me, I mean how could you forget the woman you were madly in love with for two years, and then she had your child, a baby showing up on your doorstep the night after she was born and not remember a thing about her? He remembers, but I think its just hard for him to talk about at times so I just have learned to let it go now that I am older. My father is: Marcus Evans.
"You girls ready!'' I heard Calista's mother call out and I set the plates into the cabinet as they were new and clean after being washed with soap and water. I prefer washing dishes by hand, gets them cleaner but at times Evangeline doesn't like me to since she doesn't want me to over work myself apparently and go hang with the other kids. That's the thing, there is no one to hang out with besides Calista, Priscilla, and Lorelei, and we all don't have time anyway, I have dance after school everyday except on Wednesdays from five to nine even on weekends I do. Then Calista has singing lessons everyday but on Thursdays from six to seven-thirty, everyday including Saturday and Sunday. Priscilla has swim practice all week except on Mondays, from five to eight. Then finally Lorelei goes to an Art School all week except on Fridays from seven to eight.
"Yeah mom!" she answered for both of us and I grabbed my bag and she swung hers over her shoulder as we walked out of the kitchen.
"Well that's nice to know it isn't to long. Before you know it he will be back in a flash." she smiled at me as she opened the door and I nodded smiling softly.
We walked out of the front, her mom following behind and locking the door as she pressed a rubber button on a piece of plastic making the garage door open. The older woman and her husband living next door, who's house was attached to Calista's, were on there small front porch and waved.
"Good morning Acacia, and Calista. Evangeline." the old woman, Miriam, I believe, waved and smiled with a nod.
We all waved back. "Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Coleman you have a nice day." I smiled back as we all got in the black Corvette car and I sat in the back with Calista.
They had a nice house, I too lived here in the neighborhood and my house was similar, even Priscilla, and Lorelei live in the neighborhood so we all can go over to one another's places when we get the chance.
Its a neighborhood filled with only town houses, and it isn't really a "neighborhood" but in a way it is, they are all of the same structure and called: Brooklyn Heights, weird name for a place in New York but whatever. I have lived in New York all my life and saw have all my other friends. Sitting in the back I looked out the window playing with my dads dog tags strapped around my neck.
===
Priscilla-Kai's POV
"Priscilla let's go!" I heard my mother call from the other side of the house hurriedly as we were running a little late behind. I rushed to my feet grabbing my bag, and an apple from the kitchen counter, that held a bowl of fruit.
She never has time to cook, she is too busy and caught up with her new husband, of 7 months, George Brown. I don't care though I have already gotten used to it, since they started dating.
I was quick, and was the first one out the door. Seeing Calista's mom pull out of her drive way and drive off, just down the street in time.
"MOM! Come on I have to meet the girls at school!" I hollered as both tumbled out of the door, and I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, okay. Were coming." she said and I turned my gaze to her as my face dropped and I gave her the look of: "Are you serious?"
"What?" she looked at me questioning my gaze. I pointed at my own face for a second...
"You have a little something on your face..." I trailed off, opening the car door and slumping in, slamming it behind me.
Both my mom, and step-dad hurried in quick, my mom in the driver's seat and I sat in the back behind my step-dad. Looking the mirror my mother: Kate Brown, blushed bright red and started to fix the smeared lipstick all over her face from making out with George Brown. Right before I was about to be driven to school, lovely.
I look a lot like my mom, besides the eyes. My skin is a ivory color, but not really tan, then my past the shoulder length black wavy hair travels to the middle of my back. My face is almost a replica of hers, just a younger version I guess you could say. Except my eyes are the strange part, they are his, my dads, a weird but delighting green and blue mix of colors that make my face look bright with color, from the drab black hair.
I never met my dad, he left before I was born. Sighing I leaned my head against the back of my seat, playing with the necklace from him to me. He gave it to my mother before he left with a letter explaining why he had to leave. She never told me why he left or even let me read the letter, that has always made me mad but when ever I begin a sentence with: "Was my dad..." or, "Why did daddy..." or "When is dad..." I would quickly be shut up my mothers angry look and her stern voice saying: "Priscilla-Kai Odessa Ryan Jacobs you know what I am going to say..." then she would just stare at me for a long moment unless she was driving.
"Yes mam I do." I would reply back nervously. And I do know what she would say: "Your fathers name shall never be mentioned in my presence or I will go ballistic." she would say hard.
She would go ballistic, she has before and that was the day, the last time I asked about my dad. I stopped after that...
===
Lorelei-Ever's POV
"Luke Samuel Adams Cad if you throw something at me one more time I am really going to show you the devil side of me!" I hollered at my little half-brother, Luke. He had been repeatedly throwing anything he could find at me, to put in his favorite CD in the radio player but it was already to nosy in here.
"Lorelei-Ever." my moms slightly stern voice warned me to be nice to my younger sibling.
"What? He was the one hitting." I huffed as I turned around in my seat from giving my little brother a mean looking my finger pointing at him sternly. He had instantly stopped, he knows not to fuck with me when I get really on the edge of becoming mad. I may or may not have some anger issues.
"He's six." she said quietly as the hollering in the back seat of the van continued. I was sitting in the very front with my mom in the passenger, then my littlest sister, Lilah strapped in her babies car seat in the row behind. Then my three other siblings, who were triplets, Laura, Luke, and Liam were all sitting in the very back together being loud and crazy as ever. Giving me headache.
"Yeah. A six year old wild child." I shake my head rubbing my temples.
She laughed... "Oh please. Truth be told you were just the same." she said glancing at me for a moment, and I glanced at her with a sly smile.
"Well I am not like that anymore. And these crazy kids are giving me a damn headache..." I protest.
She sighed and changed the subject.
"So, aren't you going to that museum today?" she asked, putting both her hands on the wheel.
"The Metropolitan Museum? Yeah. I have a test on it, in my Latin, and Greek class today after we go. Mr. Brunner is taking us." I answered her question leaning back in my chair, settling my feet on the dash board.
"Are the others going?" she asked as she pulled up to the school and I saw Calista's mothers car and then Priscilla's mothers car pull up behind us.
"Yeah, we are all in the same Latin and Greek Class." I say as snatch my back pack.
"Well have a nice day, see you later tonight. Maybe." she said as she kisses my cheek and I smiled softly at her. My mom: Jane.
My mother is sweet, sweeter than I will ever be. I can be nice but I have quite the devilish side to me when I get pissed or over protective of someone. At school, people know me as the schools bad girl, the one you don't want to fuck with, without landing in a near by hospital, when I was younger, I split open the leg of the man who is the triplets father for leaving my mother and being an ass. That was a sign that I was going to be a hassle at the age of seven.
I look like my mom a lot to, I have her exact facial features and bright, blue eyes that really look devilish and posses on me. That is really it, the rest I get from my biological father, I don't take the biggest liking in my father, I have never been interested in a father daughter relationship. For as long as I could remember it was only me and my mom, then the triplets came along, and now baby Lilah of 9 months. But I am cursed with his looks, the awfully pale sickly skin, and the dark brown curly hair that looks black, but really brown in the light. I think I probably have gotten my issues on how to control my anger from him.
He had a one night stand with my mother than got up and left, leaving her to find out she was pregnant, and nine months later little old me was born, and given the weird name of: Lorelei-Ever. I guess its different and that's good, but people think its weird.
Yet I still wear this ruby red glass crystal pendulum around my neck that my mother says came from my father. I don't know why I wear it but I do, I find comfort in its glow. I swear I might be crazy but when I lay in the shared bed of my younger triplet siblings after finally getting them to go to sleep, I swear it glows and whispers to me, but in a creepy menacing way. But I have never really told anyone. I am probably imagining it.
"Bye mom." I said quietly as I opened the door and stepped out.
"BYE LORELEI!" I heard my three triplet siblings yell at the top of my lungs and rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help smiling a bit, I mean I may get made at them sometimes, but I truly do love those kids to death, I have been helping my single mother of five kids, taking on three jobs take care of them since they were born, and their idiot father left, same as Lilah since she was born nine months ago, her father left a few months into my mothers pregnancy.
Damn bastard.
===
Calista's POV
"Bye mom!" I called as I jumped out of the car behind Acacia, after my mother had kissed my cheek quickly, she insisted being my mother.
"Bye girls!'' she yelled through the rolled down window and waved with a smile then rolled it back up as she began to drive off down the concrete road.
"Wait here. Priscilla, and Lorelei are here." I heard Acacia tell me as I cam to a halt and whipped my head around, my blonde hair following.
"Any day now would be nice!" I yell as they both slowly get out.
"Oh shut up blondie and start walking!" Lorelei smirked calling and came up behind me kicking my feet and I glared playfully and we began to walk up the steps of the school.
Yancy Academy. Not the best school, its a school for troubled kids, many the kids here though are from well-off rich families, unlike us four. Now again you are probably wondering what troubles do us four have, well for starters we all have major dyslexia problems, and ADHD, especially Priscilla, she has always had some trouble with school, and focusing. Then Lorelei has some anger issues, well I wouldn't say some I mean... a lot, and she knows that. Acacia's got high anxiety disorder, she is constantly looking to succeed in everything she does and goes completely insane if she doesn't. Me? My other system is EHS, Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity, EHS for short as you know. I am very sensitive to electromagnetic fields. Its very rare and there really is no treatment but in my honest opinion, it really doesn't effect me. The symptoms are headaches, fatigue, stress sleep disturbances, skin symptoms like prickling, and burning. In a way though I find it comforting, at times it hurts though but then I feel stronger around electrical things. Weird I know, I feel like a magnet sometimes around things, like everything will stick to me. So that's me but then we all have as well Nightmare Disorder, pretty self explanatory name itself, we all have nightmares every night, but we also dream soothing dreams, comforting ones that relax us in our sleep, I think this is the only thing we don't talk about with together.
Let's change the subject, damn these halls are crazy! I thought as me and Priscilla departure from Acacia and Lorelei, since out two lockers were right next to one another, and the other twos were done the hall on the left.
"I really fucking hate this damn school..." I heard Priscilla huff as she threw her backpack and swim bag into her locker lazily and I nodded...
"Agreed."
"At least we get to get out for the first half of the day." I point out, mentioning the museum.
"Thank the damn gods!" she exclaimed slamming her locker shut along with mine, saying gods since we are going to a Greek Historian Museum. It has some Greek History facts in it but it is mainly an Art Museum. Lorelei was quite excited about it though.
"Careful woman!" I exclaim backing up. +++
Acacia-Jana's POV
"Urgh. I hate buses." I whisper silently as I step off holding onto Priscilla's shoulder.
"Students! Quiet now!" Mr. Brunner hollered to quite us. Which took a few seconds to go completely silent besides the other people going in and out of the museum, and cars on the road. The big yellow bus behind us driving off along with other honking cars.
"Now lets gather into the building!" he called as he began take a ramp up to the door, the rest of us ran up the stairs. Mr. Brunner is crippled from the waist down. Has been all his life he has told us. He is mine, and the other girls Greek teacher then Mr. Rast is our Latin, the class is together so he is with us too, two teachers in one class kinda different, but whatever. The other part is, is that Mr. Rast is Calista's uncle, he is apparently Miss. Evangeline's adoptive brother. So they aren't really blood related, but me and the others have known him since we were toddlers. Mrs. Starl is also joining us today, but she is just a substitute English teacher, and to be honest the woman gives me the shivers.
Its gloomy and dark outside and seems it is about to rain a storm, and we hurry up the gray stone staircase.
"Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art." Mr. Brunner said as he held open the doors along with Mr. Rast and we all entered the door that held a banner about it saying: The New Greek and Roman Galleries.
"Woah." Calista, Priscilla, Lorelei, and I all say together at once as we come to see the inside and the cool air hits our faces, stinging slightly.
It went on for five halls I imagine. "This way." we heard and followed the voice.
We started down the main hall full of statues of the Greek Gods. They piled high many feet tall, carved out of white stone.
Mr. Brunner took in a deep breath to talk, and at the same time I saw Lorelei pull out her sketch pad and pencil and begin to draw lines, and curves amongst the paper. She had talked with Mr. Brunner and talked him in into letting her bring her art sketches to draw portraits of the various statues. Telling him she had been anxious to try some Greek drawings...
"There are twelve Olympian Gods... would anyone like to name them and there purpose of rule if they know?" he asked and turned his chair around to question everyone. Shyly me and my friends hands raised. We have all took a liking in Greek Mythology since we were little. Mr. Brunner smiled when he saw our hands raised.
"Okay since they are the only volunteers. Each of you four name three. Starting with Calista-Devri..." he trailed off eyeing her.
"Umm o-okay." she was a little nervous. "Zeus God of Sky and Thunder. Apollo God of Music, Poetry, Oracles, Archery, Art, Plague, Medicine, Sun, Light, and Knowledge. Dionysus God of Grape Harvest." she said simply.
"Acacia-Jana..." he mentioned me.
"Athena Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Crafts. Aphrodite Goddess of Love. Hera Goddess of Marriage, Women, and Birth." I said with ease and knowledge of what I spoke of.
"Priscilla-Kai..."
"Poseidon God of the Seas. Demeter Goddess of Agriculture, Fertility, Sarced Law, and the Harvest. Ares God of War." she said looking around at the three statues names she said.
"And Lorelei-Ever..." everyone kinda went silent with wonder of what she may say, she was the schools bad girl.
"Artemis Goddess of the Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon, and Archery. Hephaestus God of Fire, Metalworking, Stone Masonry, Forges, and the Art of Sculpture. Hermes God of Trade, Thieves, Travelers, Sports, Athletes, and Border Crossings, guide to the Underworld, he is also the Messenger of the Gods." she adds in, which is a true and well known fact of the God.
Mr. Brunner stared for a moment then smiled happily.
"Very nice girls. I would take notes from those for if I were you..." he said to the rest of the class, and I felt my cheeks blush red.
"The first three Gods were brothers, even though one of them isn't considered one of the twelve now days, they all three wanted to control the world. Zeus became the King of Gods and controlled the Sky. Poseidon controlled the Seas. And his other brother, Hades, controlled the Earth." he said as we came to three statues of the three Gods.
"The brothers over threw their father, Cronus, by chopping him up into pieces..." he points to a picture of the scene of it happening an old stone one.
"The brothers have been rivals since. Threatening war. Hades was the one of the three brothers to not become one of the twelve Gods."
"Chad." Mr. Brunner snapped and I heads went towards him as we saw him snapping a picture of Aphrodite's chest. It was really not all that amusing.
"Show some respect to the Gods." he said holding out his hand the boy sighed and put his phone in the mans hand.
"Now, there were many occasions where the Gods would come down to earth and... how should I put this..." he started. I knew exactly what he meant.
"Hooked-up with chicks?" a boy said, it was Jacks, a nasty looking and mean kid with piercings over his body even for a young age.
"They hooked up with mortals..." I corrected. Irritated and it was clearly shown in my voice. I was known as a geek but I didn't really care, school and learning is important to me.
"Yes Miss. Evans thank you. They would get together with mortals. The children of the unions were half god half human. Is there anyone who can tell me what they are called?" he asked and looked back to the Jacks kid.
"Mr. Drake?" he called and the kid smirked then said. "Bastards?"
His two friends laugh hysterically as Mr. Brunner eyes them down with flames in his eyes. They were gonna get into some trouble later, but like they would care though.
"Someone else? Lorelei-Ever?" he turned to my dark friend who wasn't paying attention really too lost in drawing a portrait of Hades statue.
"Lorelei!" I whisper yelled to her, and got her attention and she snapped her head up.
"Huh? What?" she asked all of a sudden totally oblivious.
"What was the name that people gave to the offspring's of a human and a god?" Mr. Brunner repeated the question for her.
"Demi-gods." she said confidently and I smiled.
"Very good. Seems you are quite ready for the test. Lets go on..." he mentioned to her and she nodded, without a care she went back to her main attention, her drawing.
"Many have become great hero's. Such as Hercules, and Achilles." he went on and then turned to us four girls as we stopped in front of a mural of sorts with four young girls carved into the stone and up lifted.
"Do you know any other names?" he questioned us.
"I'll give you hint. You four have something in common of what I speak of." he said and my brown eyes fixed on the writing above the picture.
The letters began to switch around instantly, damned dyslexia.
"Acacia." I said as I saw my name up there, above a girl who's face seemed similar to mine. Awkward.
"Calista."
"Priscilla."
"Lorelei."
My three friends said there name a loud. Our Greek teacher nodded his head happily.
"Correct." he sat back in his chair again.
Then we continued on to a picture of Hercules defeating the Nemean lion. Learning for the hundredth time how Hercules had killed it with his own two hands then took the skin as a trophy, I learned this when I was eight.
"Calista, Acacia, Priscilla, Lorelei..." we heard our four names and turned to see the creepy teacher Mrs. Starl.
"Yes?" Priscilla asked for us.
"Come with me." she said. "We need to talk..." she led us to a room that had small construction going on.
"Are we in trouble cause whatever it is I bet you it was Lorelei." Calista pointed.
"Hey!" Lorelei glared.
"That is so true." she said after a moment of silence. We turned to each other and laughed as the door closed behind us.
"Ummm, where is Mrs. Starl?" I heard Calista's question and turned my head to see her gone.
===
Priscilla's POV
"Uhhhhh......." I stumbled a little looking around for my teacher along with the others.
"Mrs. Starl?!" I called out.
Then I heard the last thing I expected to. A low tumbling growl.
"What was that?" Lorelei asked aloud her eyebrows creasing together.
"Holy shit!" I heard come from Acacia's mouth. It must be something big because Acacia is the goody two shoes of all of us. I whipped my black hair around to see the most horrific thing that my blue green eyes have ever laid eyes on.
The animal, or should I say creature, or monster, was built high and was as big as a bus. Its upper half was like a highly muscled cat with sharp looking hairs, its teeth were dagger like, and were gooing with clear heavy liquid. Its claws were sharp, and curved, digging into the ground but only his front two legs were of this. Its lower half was a whole different story, it was made of an exoskeleton, like a scorpion, the reason I say that was because its two back legs looked like pinchers, and its tail was the worst, it was a huge black stinger stretching almost all the way over its rough head.
"What is that thing?" Calista breathed to us in shock, wide eyed and stiffed starring at it, we all jumped though when it yelled in a loud terrifying voice:
"Where are they?!?!?!" It screeched and we flinched.
"Mrs. Starl?!" Lorelei yelled in disbelief, the animal had the voice of the teacher to it.
"WHERE ARE THEY?!?!?!" it charged and sent me flying across the room as a large impact I felt hit me in the stomach and I hit the wall rolling to the ground.
"PRISCILLA!" I heard my name but everything was blurry for a moment till I got on my hands and knees and collected myself.
"GIVE THEM TO ME! NOW!" I heard a scream as I looked up in time to see it scratch Lorelei across the back with its claws and she yelped in pain as I heard her clothing rip.
"Come on." Calista helped me up rushing over as the thing tried to sting Acacia, but she was quick and moved out of the way.
"GIRLS!" I heard another familiar voice I turned my head slowly to see Mr. Rast, and Mr. Brunner there in a hurry.
"LEAVE THEM BE AND GO!" Mr. Brunner rumbled, just as the thing knocked Acacia into the air and she flew yelping and rolled to the ground and in all our surprise rolled to her feet before she stopped.
"I WILL SLICE YOUR HEAD OFF AND DELIVER IT TO THE GODS IF I SHALL!" another threat, it seemed to not want that and the thing crashed through the wall and out of the building to the back, out of sight.
"What the hell was that?! I must be going crazy! I GOT SCHIZOPHRENIA NOW!" Acacia exclaimed running across the room as Calista helped me over to our teachers.
"What was that thing?" Calista exclaimed.
"Manticore." her uncle replied to his niece's question.
"What?! What i that?!" I yelled and was hit by a head ache but ignored it.
"Hidden in the school again. I am so blind to everything. This is the same that happened with Percy!" Mr. Brunner was talking to himself.
"Who's Percy now?!" I exclaimed again.
"Lorelei's bleeding..." Acacia became soft as she supported Lorelei who looked in pain and I caught a glimpse of her back. That Manticore, or whatever had clawed her flesh to shreds and it seemed she would have a scar there for life.
"Bye bye Bikinis." she tried to stay positive but groaned in pain.
"They found them..." Mr. Brunner said to Mr. Rast.
What?!
"Who found us?" Calista spoke again.
"They are no longer safe here." the two were arguing.
"Where should we take them?"
"We have no choice. Like Percy we will take them to the Camp..." Mr. Brunner declared.
"Answers please! What Camp?!" Acacia was ignored and this frustrated her greatly I could tell my her reddened angry face.
"If they find out where they are there is no place safe." he shook his head. "This is the best we can do for the time being. Take them to there mothers and gather them to the camp grounds. Do not let them out of your sight! Go! Go!" he ushered.
"Come on girls quick. Here Lorelei let me help and put my coat on. We can't have people see your back." Mr. Rast said then handed over his coat which Lorelei stiffly attempted to put on with the help of him.
"Why?" she asked suddenly.
"No time for that lets go." he pushed us out the glass door of the room and out the front doors of the building as we stumbled onto the staircase pavement...
Chapter 1
Calista-Devri's POV
"Woman wake up!" I yelled in Acacia-Jana's ear as she was sound asleep, and I was currently brushing my teeth for the day of school to come. The minty taste in my mouth stinging my tongue slightly as the foam fizzled up. Hurrying to the bathroom I spit and wash out my mouth as I take my wet hair down. Drying it.
"Ugh. Okay.Okay. I'm up." she groaned sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of a bed cornered in my room.
Acacia has been staying here for two months so far since her father, Marcus Evans, is currently out of the country and working in the Air Force. Nothing new for her, she always says, since she could remember she would always have to stay at someone's house for months or weeks on end while her father was at work. The longest he has ever been away was almost two years. Me and my mom held out open arms when we found out he would be leaving again for another six months.
She didn't have a mother to watch her. Acacia never met her mother. Like I have never met my father. Both our parents gave little information on them and we both stopped trying to get answers years ago.
"Do my ears deceive me? Is Acacia-Jana Sophia Marie Evans actually saying she doesn't want to go to school?" I say dramatically laying a hand on my heart.
If anyone, Acacia is the smartest person I know. She loves learning oddly and tends to help me, Priscilla, and Lorelei with our school work. She gets them brains from who knows where!
"Hardy, har, har." she glares at me as she pushes me out of the way to go splash some water on her face to wake her up.
"I never said that. You know we have an Advanced Greek History Test today right, after we come back from, The Metropolitan Museum?" she asked me as she pulled her long chocolate brown hair up into a bun as she started putting on her make up quickly.
"For your information... yes! I am actually quite confident about this one. Unlike all the rest." I smile proudly. I am okay in school, I make good grades, but I am not Acacia, who makes unbelievable grades. I was truthfully excited though about going to this museum me and my friends have always held an interest in Greek History, and its language, we actually have been taking classes to learn the language, and in no surprise Acacia was fantastic at it.
After walking behind a door and stripping of my night wear clothing, I slap on what I am wearing for the day of school.
"I'm going to go out and leave you to see if my mom's up!" I yell back as I begin to leave the room.
"Kk!" I hear behind me.
Walking through the halls I turn a right into the kitchen to see my mom up just setting down two plates of food.
"Morning mom." I sigh tiredly as I slump in.
"Morning dear." she replied softly.
"Are you going to eat?" I ask as I sit in front of a plate frowning, the creases in my forehead appearing in my skin. She smiled and grabbed a mug from the other counter.
"Coffee will do just fine for me." she laughs lightly and then kisses my forehead.
I swear I look nothing like her, except from my facial features we look like complete opposites. She has her beautiful soft vibrant green eyes, to go along with her lightly tanned skin and rosy red cheeks, then her way dark chocolate brown hair. As where I have this yellow blonde wavy hair, to go with my weird snow white skin, and bright lightning blue eyes, her name:Evangeline Mae.
On top of that she just turned 30 two weeks ago. I was born when she was 17, she became pregnant with me when she was 16 though. My dad left before she could tell him. She doesn't talk about him much, and I don't really understand why. Doesn't she want her only child and daughter to know where her other half of her came from? Though I stopped asking years ago: "Where is daddy?", she would just be over come by a blank expression as if in a trance then snap out and say: "He left, that is all, now let's talk about something happy." she would smile a few seconds after and I would nod sadly and we would continue with a new kind of conversation. I don't even know his name! She won't tell me. So I just... stopped asking...
She grinned at me one last time touching my locket and walked over to the sink to clean dishes.
===
Acacia Jana's POV
Walking out of Calista's bedroom, and down the hall to the right, plopping down in a chair next to her my hair getting in the way as my braid fell down to my waist the tip of it going a bit past them stopping. I slowly ate. I barely ate in the morning and wasn't to fond of food at the moment, but I wasn't going to be rude and turn it down so I ate it.
"I've gotta go throw my other clothes on real quick so be ready when I come out to leave." she said and Calista nodded.
"Yes mam." I said. Oops. As she was walking out she stopped in her tracks, turning around slowly and pointed a finger at me.
"Acacia-Jana Sophia Marie Evans I have known you since you were 6 years old and you know I hate it when you be so formal with me. I am either Evangeline or Evi to you." she smiled teasingly. It was true I am always so formal, but its weird for me for some reason, especially when you are living at your friends house since your dad is out of the country and you don't have any other blood related family to take care of you, so I am here. I have always came here.
"Yes, Miss. Evangeline." I nodded giggling and got up taking my empty plate to the sink to wash. I saw the look on her face as she thought about if that would work okay.
"I will let that one pass." she eyed me and then grinned widely walking off out of site.
"So..." I heard my blonde headed friend begin as she came over with an empty plate. "When is your dad coming back? I never found out."
I chuckled slyly... "Getting sick of me already now are we?" I ask glancing at her for a moment as I scrubbed egg of a plate then took hers and began to work with it.
"Now hold on I did not say that. I just asked when your dad will be arriving back home..." she trailed off shaking her head and nudging me slightly.
"If he arrives back home." I said in a whisper under breath, she couldn't hear I said it barely.
"Ummm, his Commander said six months so four more months to go." I reply with a sigh. This wasn't anything different for me, my dad had been in the Air Force before my being ever became known or possible.
Before he met my mom...
Unlike Calista-Devri, I had gotten some more answers but not many, only her name, personality, and description. That was it though. Her name he said was: Athena, and she was the most shockingly beautiful woman he had ever seen, is how my dad put it to me. She was lightly tanned as I am, and I had her same curly chocolate brown hair, with a rosy pink complexion to my lips and cheeks. On the other hand she had gray silvery eyes, while I had my fathers milky brown ones.
He said she was kind, loving, warm, and wise. Just the kind he was looking for, he would joke, and I would giggle and ask for him to tell me more. Then he would go on, she just wasn't sweet but she was daring, she had a tone sweet as honey but rather saucy at the same time. He would say she had that nature to her - sweet but sassy with just enough sarcasm to balance out my fathers sternness.
That was all I learned, when I begged and begged for him to continue on with the facts, he would go blank and say he couldn't remember anymore. I am not stupid though, I know when someone is lying to me and when they are not. He knew he just didn't want to tell me, I mean how could you forget the woman you were madly in love with for two years, and then she had your child, a baby showing up on your doorstep the night after she was born and not remember a thing about her? He remembers, but I think its just hard for him to talk about at times so I just have learned to let it go now that I am older. My father is: Marcus Evans.
"You girls ready!'' I heard Calista's mother call out and I set the plates into the cabinet as they were new and clean after being washed with soap and water. I prefer washing dishes by hand, gets them cleaner but at times Evangeline doesn't like me to since she doesn't want me to over work myself apparently and go hang with the other kids. That's the thing, there is no one to hang out with besides Calista, Priscilla, and Lorelei, and we all don't have time anyway, I have dance after school everyday except on Wednesdays from five to nine even on weekends I do. Then Calista has singing lessons everyday but on Thursdays from six to seven-thirty, everyday including Saturday and Sunday. Priscilla has swim practice all week except on Mondays, from five to eight. Then finally Lorelei goes to an Art School all week except on Fridays from seven to eight.
"Yeah mom!" she answered for both of us and I grabbed my bag and she swung hers over her shoulder as we walked out of the kitchen.
"Well that's nice to know it isn't to long. Before you know it he will be back in a flash." she smiled at me as she opened the door and I nodded smiling softly.
We walked out of the front, her mom following behind and locking the door as she pressed a rubber button on a piece of plastic making the garage door open. The older woman and her husband living next door, who's house was attached to Calista's, were on there small front porch and waved.
"Good morning Acacia, and Calista. Evangeline." the old woman, Miriam, I believe, waved and smiled with a nod.
We all waved back. "Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Coleman you have a nice day." I smiled back as we all got in the black Corvette car and I sat in the back with Calista.
They had a nice house, I too lived here in the neighborhood and my house was similar, even Priscilla, and Lorelei live in the neighborhood so we all can go over to one another's places when we get the chance.
Its a neighborhood filled with only town houses, and it isn't really a "neighborhood" but in a way it is, they are all of the same structure and called: Brooklyn Heights, weird name for a place in New York but whatever. I have lived in New York all my life and saw have all my other friends. Sitting in the back I looked out the window playing with my dads dog tags strapped around my neck.
===
Priscilla-Kai's POV
"Priscilla let's go!" I heard my mother call from the other side of the house hurriedly as we were running a little late behind. I rushed to my feet grabbing my bag, and an apple from the kitchen counter, that held a bowl of fruit.
She never has time to cook, she is too busy and caught up with her new husband, of 7 months, George Brown. I don't care though I have already gotten used to it, since they started dating.
I was quick, and was the first one out the door. Seeing Calista's mom pull out of her drive way and drive off, just down the street in time.
"MOM! Come on I have to meet the girls at school!" I hollered as both tumbled out of the door, and I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, okay. Were coming." she said and I turned my gaze to her as my face dropped and I gave her the look of: "Are you serious?"
"What?" she looked at me questioning my gaze. I pointed at my own face for a second...
"You have a little something on your face..." I trailed off, opening the car door and slumping in, slamming it behind me.
Both my mom, and step-dad hurried in quick, my mom in the driver's seat and I sat in the back behind my step-dad. Looking the mirror my mother: Kate Brown, blushed bright red and started to fix the smeared lipstick all over her face from making out with George Brown. Right before I was about to be driven to school, lovely.
I look a lot like my mom, besides the eyes. My skin is a ivory color, but not really tan, then my past the shoulder length black wavy hair travels to the middle of my back. My face is almost a replica of hers, just a younger version I guess you could say. Except my eyes are the strange part, they are his, my dads, a weird but delighting green and blue mix of colors that make my face look bright with color, from the drab black hair.
I never met my dad, he left before I was born. Sighing I leaned my head against the back of my seat, playing with the necklace from him to me. He gave it to my mother before he left with a letter explaining why he had to leave. She never told me why he left or even let me read the letter, that has always made me mad but when ever I begin a sentence with: "Was my dad..." or, "Why did daddy..." or "When is dad..." I would quickly be shut up my mothers angry look and her stern voice saying: "Priscilla-Kai Odessa Ryan Jacobs you know what I am going to say..." then she would just stare at me for a long moment unless she was driving.
"Yes mam I do." I would reply back nervously. And I do know what she would say: "Your fathers name shall never be mentioned in my presence or I will go ballistic." she would say hard.
She would go ballistic, she has before and that was the day, the last time I asked about my dad. I stopped after that...
===
Lorelei-Ever's POV
"Luke Samuel Adams Cad if you throw something at me one more time I am really going to show you the devil side of me!" I hollered at my little half-brother, Luke. He had been repeatedly throwing anything he could find at me, to put in his favorite CD in the radio player but it was already to nosy in here.
"Lorelei-Ever." my moms slightly stern voice warned me to be nice to my younger sibling.
"What? He was the one hitting." I huffed as I turned around in my seat from giving my little brother a mean looking my finger pointing at him sternly. He had instantly stopped, he knows not to fuck with me when I get really on the edge of becoming mad. I may or may not have some anger issues.
"He's six." she said quietly as the hollering in the back seat of the van continued. I was sitting in the very front with my mom in the passenger, then my littlest sister, Lilah strapped in her babies car seat in the row behind. Then my three other siblings, who were triplets, Laura, Luke, and Liam were all sitting in the very back together being loud and crazy as ever. Giving me headache.
"Yeah. A six year old wild child." I shake my head rubbing my temples.
She laughed... "Oh please. Truth be told you were just the same." she said glancing at me for a moment, and I glanced at her with a sly smile.
"Well I am not like that anymore. And these crazy kids are giving me a damn headache..." I protest.
She sighed and changed the subject.
"So, aren't you going to that museum today?" she asked, putting both her hands on the wheel.
"The Metropolitan Museum? Yeah. I have a test on it, in my Latin, and Greek class today after we go. Mr. Brunner is taking us." I answered her question leaning back in my chair, settling my feet on the dash board.
"Are the others going?" she asked as she pulled up to the school and I saw Calista's mothers car and then Priscilla's mothers car pull up behind us.
"Yeah, we are all in the same Latin and Greek Class." I say as snatch my back pack.
"Well have a nice day, see you later tonight. Maybe." she said as she kisses my cheek and I smiled softly at her. My mom: Jane.
My mother is sweet, sweeter than I will ever be. I can be nice but I have quite the devilish side to me when I get pissed or over protective of someone. At school, people know me as the schools bad girl, the one you don't want to fuck with, without landing in a near by hospital, when I was younger, I split open the leg of the man who is the triplets father for leaving my mother and being an ass. That was a sign that I was going to be a hassle at the age of seven.
I look like my mom a lot to, I have her exact facial features and bright, blue eyes that really look devilish and posses on me. That is really it, the rest I get from my biological father, I don't take the biggest liking in my father, I have never been interested in a father daughter relationship. For as long as I could remember it was only me and my mom, then the triplets came along, and now baby Lilah of 9 months. But I am cursed with his looks, the awfully pale sickly skin, and the dark brown curly hair that looks black, but really brown in the light. I think I probably have gotten my issues on how to control my anger from him.
He had a one night stand with my mother than got up and left, leaving her to find out she was pregnant, and nine months later little old me was born, and given the weird name of: Lorelei-Ever. I guess its different and that's good, but people think its weird.
Yet I still wear this ruby red glass crystal pendulum around my neck that my mother says came from my father. I don't know why I wear it but I do, I find comfort in its glow. I swear I might be crazy but when I lay in the shared bed of my younger triplet siblings after finally getting them to go to sleep, I swear it glows and whispers to me, but in a creepy menacing way. But I have never really told anyone. I am probably imagining it.
"Bye mom." I said quietly as I opened the door and stepped out.
"BYE LORELEI!" I heard my three triplet siblings yell at the top of my lungs and rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help smiling a bit, I mean I may get made at them sometimes, but I truly do love those kids to death, I have been helping my single mother of five kids, taking on three jobs take care of them since they were born, and their idiot father left, same as Lilah since she was born nine months ago, her father left a few months into my mothers pregnancy.
Damn bastard.
===
Calista's POV
"Bye mom!" I called as I jumped out of the car behind Acacia, after my mother had kissed my cheek quickly, she insisted being my mother.
"Bye girls!'' she yelled through the rolled down window and waved with a smile then rolled it back up as she began to drive off down the concrete road.
"Wait here. Priscilla, and Lorelei are here." I heard Acacia tell me as I cam to a halt and whipped my head around, my blonde hair following.
"Any day now would be nice!" I yell as they both slowly get out.
"Oh shut up blondie and start walking!" Lorelei smirked calling and came up behind me kicking my feet and I glared playfully and we began to walk up the steps of the school.
Yancy Academy. Not the best school, its a school for troubled kids, many the kids here though are from well-off rich families, unlike us four. Now again you are probably wondering what troubles do us four have, well for starters we all have major dyslexia problems, and ADHD, especially Priscilla, she has always had some trouble with school, and focusing. Then Lorelei has some anger issues, well I wouldn't say some I mean... a lot, and she knows that. Acacia's got high anxiety disorder, she is constantly looking to succeed in everything she does and goes completely insane if she doesn't. Me? My other system is EHS, Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity, EHS for short as you know. I am very sensitive to electromagnetic fields. Its very rare and there really is no treatment but in my honest opinion, it really doesn't effect me. The symptoms are headaches, fatigue, stress sleep disturbances, skin symptoms like prickling, and burning. In a way though I find it comforting, at times it hurts though but then I feel stronger around electrical things. Weird I know, I feel like a magnet sometimes around things, like everything will stick to me. So that's me but then we all have as well Nightmare Disorder, pretty self explanatory name itself, we all have nightmares every night, but we also dream soothing dreams, comforting ones that relax us in our sleep, I think this is the only thing we don't talk about with together.
Let's change the subject, damn these halls are crazy! I thought as me and Priscilla departure from Acacia and Lorelei, since out two lockers were right next to one another, and the other twos were done the hall on the left.
"I really fucking hate this damn school..." I heard Priscilla huff as she threw her backpack and swim bag into her locker lazily and I nodded...
"Agreed."
"At least we get to get out for the first half of the day." I point out, mentioning the museum.
"Thank the damn gods!" she exclaimed slamming her locker shut along with mine, saying gods since we are going to a Greek Historian Museum. It has some Greek History facts in it but it is mainly an Art Museum. Lorelei was quite excited about it though.
"Careful woman!" I exclaim backing up. +++
Acacia-Jana's POV
"Urgh. I hate buses." I whisper silently as I step off holding onto Priscilla's shoulder.
"Students! Quiet now!" Mr. Brunner hollered to quite us. Which took a few seconds to go completely silent besides the other people going in and out of the museum, and cars on the road. The big yellow bus behind us driving off along with other honking cars.
"Now lets gather into the building!" he called as he began take a ramp up to the door, the rest of us ran up the stairs. Mr. Brunner is crippled from the waist down. Has been all his life he has told us. He is mine, and the other girls Greek teacher then Mr. Rast is our Latin, the class is together so he is with us too, two teachers in one class kinda different, but whatever. The other part is, is that Mr. Rast is Calista's uncle, he is apparently Miss. Evangeline's adoptive brother. So they aren't really blood related, but me and the others have known him since we were toddlers. Mrs. Starl is also joining us today, but she is just a substitute English teacher, and to be honest the woman gives me the shivers.
Its gloomy and dark outside and seems it is about to rain a storm, and we hurry up the gray stone staircase.
"Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art." Mr. Brunner said as he held open the doors along with Mr. Rast and we all entered the door that held a banner about it saying: The New Greek and Roman Galleries.
"Woah." Calista, Priscilla, Lorelei, and I all say together at once as we come to see the inside and the cool air hits our faces, stinging slightly.
It went on for five halls I imagine. "This way." we heard and followed the voice.
We started down the main hall full of statues of the Greek Gods. They piled high many feet tall, carved out of white stone.
Mr. Brunner took in a deep breath to talk, and at the same time I saw Lorelei pull out her sketch pad and pencil and begin to draw lines, and curves amongst the paper. She had talked with Mr. Brunner and talked him in into letting her bring her art sketches to draw portraits of the various statues. Telling him she had been anxious to try some Greek drawings...
"There are twelve Olympian Gods... would anyone like to name them and there purpose of rule if they know?" he asked and turned his chair around to question everyone. Shyly me and my friends hands raised. We have all took a liking in Greek Mythology since we were little. Mr. Brunner smiled when he saw our hands raised.
"Okay since they are the only volunteers. Each of you four name three. Starting with Calista-Devri..." he trailed off eyeing her.
"Umm o-okay." she was a little nervous. "Zeus God of Sky and Thunder. Apollo God of Music, Poetry, Oracles, Archery, Art, Plague, Medicine, Sun, Light, and Knowledge. Dionysus God of Grape Harvest." she said simply.
"Acacia-Jana..." he mentioned me.
"Athena Goddess of Wisdom, War, and Crafts. Aphrodite Goddess of Love. Hera Goddess of Marriage, Women, and Birth." I said with ease and knowledge of what I spoke of.
"Priscilla-Kai..."
"Poseidon God of the Seas. Demeter Goddess of Agriculture, Fertility, Sarced Law, and the Harvest. Ares God of War." she said looking around at the three statues names she said.
"And Lorelei-Ever..." everyone kinda went silent with wonder of what she may say, she was the schools bad girl.
"Artemis Goddess of the Hunt, Forests and Hills, the Moon, and Archery. Hephaestus God of Fire, Metalworking, Stone Masonry, Forges, and the Art of Sculpture. Hermes God of Trade, Thieves, Travelers, Sports, Athletes, and Border Crossings, guide to the Underworld, he is also the Messenger of the Gods." she adds in, which is a true and well known fact of the God.
Mr. Brunner stared for a moment then smiled happily.
"Very nice girls. I would take notes from those for if I were you..." he said to the rest of the class, and I felt my cheeks blush red.
"The first three Gods were brothers, even though one of them isn't considered one of the twelve now days, they all three wanted to control the world. Zeus became the King of Gods and controlled the Sky. Poseidon controlled the Seas. And his other brother, Hades, controlled the Earth." he said as we came to three statues of the three Gods.
"The brothers over threw their father, Cronus, by chopping him up into pieces..." he points to a picture of the scene of it happening an old stone one.
"The brothers have been rivals since. Threatening war. Hades was the one of the three brothers to not become one of the twelve Gods."
"Chad." Mr. Brunner snapped and I heads went towards him as we saw him snapping a picture of Aphrodite's chest. It was really not all that amusing.
"Show some respect to the Gods." he said holding out his hand the boy sighed and put his phone in the mans hand.
"Now, there were many occasions where the Gods would come down to earth and... how should I put this..." he started. I knew exactly what he meant.
"Hooked-up with chicks?" a boy said, it was Jacks, a nasty looking and mean kid with piercings over his body even for a young age.
"They hooked up with mortals..." I corrected. Irritated and it was clearly shown in my voice. I was known as a geek but I didn't really care, school and learning is important to me.
"Yes Miss. Evans thank you. They would get together with mortals. The children of the unions were half god half human. Is there anyone who can tell me what they are called?" he asked and looked back to the Jacks kid.
"Mr. Drake?" he called and the kid smirked then said. "Bastards?"
His two friends laugh hysterically as Mr. Brunner eyes them down with flames in his eyes. They were gonna get into some trouble later, but like they would care though.
"Someone else? Lorelei-Ever?" he turned to my dark friend who wasn't paying attention really too lost in drawing a portrait of Hades statue.
"Lorelei!" I whisper yelled to her, and got her attention and she snapped her head up.
"Huh? What?" she asked all of a sudden totally oblivious.
"What was the name that people gave to the offspring's of a human and a god?" Mr. Brunner repeated the question for her.
"Demi-gods." she said confidently and I smiled.
"Very good. Seems you are quite ready for the test. Lets go on..." he mentioned to her and she nodded, without a care she went back to her main attention, her drawing.
"Many have become great hero's. Such as Hercules, and Achilles." he went on and then turned to us four girls as we stopped in front of a mural of sorts with four young girls carved into the stone and up lifted.
"Do you know any other names?" he questioned us.
"I'll give you hint. You four have something in common of what I speak of." he said and my brown eyes fixed on the writing above the picture.
The letters began to switch around instantly, damned dyslexia.
"Acacia." I said as I saw my name up there, above a girl who's face seemed similar to mine. Awkward.
"Calista."
"Priscilla."
"Lorelei."
My three friends said there name a loud. Our Greek teacher nodded his head happily.
"Correct." he sat back in his chair again.
Then we continued on to a picture of Hercules defeating the Nemean lion. Learning for the hundredth time how Hercules had killed it with his own two hands then took the skin as a trophy, I learned this when I was eight.
"Calista, Acacia, Priscilla, Lorelei..." we heard our four names and turned to see the creepy teacher Mrs. Starl.
"Yes?" Priscilla asked for us.
"Come with me." she said. "We need to talk..." she led us to a room that had small construction going on.
"Are we in trouble cause whatever it is I bet you it was Lorelei." Calista pointed.
"Hey!" Lorelei glared.
"That is so true." she said after a moment of silence. We turned to each other and laughed as the door closed behind us.
"Ummm, where is Mrs. Starl?" I heard Calista's question and turned my head to see her gone.
===
Priscilla's POV
"Uhhhhh......." I stumbled a little looking around for my teacher along with the others.
"Mrs. Starl?!" I called out.
Then I heard the last thing I expected to. A low tumbling growl.
"What was that?" Lorelei asked aloud her eyebrows creasing together.
"Holy shit!" I heard come from Acacia's mouth. It must be something big because Acacia is the goody two shoes of all of us. I whipped my black hair around to see the most horrific thing that my blue green eyes have ever laid eyes on.
The animal, or should I say creature, or monster, was built high and was as big as a bus. Its upper half was like a highly muscled cat with sharp looking hairs, its teeth were dagger like, and were gooing with clear heavy liquid. Its claws were sharp, and curved, digging into the ground but only his front two legs were of this. Its lower half was a whole different story, it was made of an exoskeleton, like a scorpion, the reason I say that was because its two back legs looked like pinchers, and its tail was the worst, it was a huge black stinger stretching almost all the way over its rough head.
"What is that thing?" Calista breathed to us in shock, wide eyed and stiffed starring at it, we all jumped though when it yelled in a loud terrifying voice:
"Where are they?!?!?!" It screeched and we flinched.
"Mrs. Starl?!" Lorelei yelled in disbelief, the animal had the voice of the teacher to it.
"WHERE ARE THEY?!?!?!" it charged and sent me flying across the room as a large impact I felt hit me in the stomach and I hit the wall rolling to the ground.
"PRISCILLA!" I heard my name but everything was blurry for a moment till I got on my hands and knees and collected myself.
"GIVE THEM TO ME! NOW!" I heard a scream as I looked up in time to see it scratch Lorelei across the back with its claws and she yelped in pain as I heard her clothing rip.
"Come on." Calista helped me up rushing over as the thing tried to sting Acacia, but she was quick and moved out of the way.
"GIRLS!" I heard another familiar voice I turned my head slowly to see Mr. Rast, and Mr. Brunner there in a hurry.
"LEAVE THEM BE AND GO!" Mr. Brunner rumbled, just as the thing knocked Acacia into the air and she flew yelping and rolled to the ground and in all our surprise rolled to her feet before she stopped.
"I WILL SLICE YOUR HEAD OFF AND DELIVER IT TO THE GODS IF I SHALL!" another threat, it seemed to not want that and the thing crashed through the wall and out of the building to the back, out of sight.
"What the hell was that?! I must be going crazy! I GOT SCHIZOPHRENIA NOW!" Acacia exclaimed running across the room as Calista helped me over to our teachers.
"What was that thing?" Calista exclaimed.
"Manticore." her uncle replied to his niece's question.
"What?! What i that?!" I yelled and was hit by a head ache but ignored it.
"Hidden in the school again. I am so blind to everything. This is the same that happened with Percy!" Mr. Brunner was talking to himself.
"Who's Percy now?!" I exclaimed again.
"Lorelei's bleeding..." Acacia became soft as she supported Lorelei who looked in pain and I caught a glimpse of her back. That Manticore, or whatever had clawed her flesh to shreds and it seemed she would have a scar there for life.
"Bye bye Bikinis." she tried to stay positive but groaned in pain.
"They found them..." Mr. Brunner said to Mr. Rast.
What?!
"Who found us?" Calista spoke again.
"They are no longer safe here." the two were arguing.
"Where should we take them?"
"We have no choice. Like Percy we will take them to the Camp..." Mr. Brunner declared.
"Answers please! What Camp?!" Acacia was ignored and this frustrated her greatly I could tell my her reddened angry face.
"If they find out where they are there is no place safe." he shook his head. "This is the best we can do for the time being. Take them to there mothers and gather them to the camp grounds. Do not let them out of your sight! Go! Go!" he ushered.
"Come on girls quick. Here Lorelei let me help and put my coat on. We can't have people see your back." Mr. Rast said then handed over his coat which Lorelei stiffly attempted to put on with the help of him.
"Why?" she asked suddenly.
"No time for that lets go." he pushed us out the glass door of the room and out the front doors of the building as we stumbled onto the staircase pavement...
Notes
I really hope you took the time to read this all and if you did thank you! I worked my ass off to do this first chapter and it is almost 20 pages and its at 19 right now. I will update as soon as I can for the ones who would like to continue to read. Sorry for any mess ups in writing I tried to fix the ones I caught. After reading it over.
@Acacia-Jana Evans
Oh ok. I'm already on the Mark of Athena! XD
2/5/15