The Children of Olympus

Silena

I sat up in bed. My twin brother, Luke, was still asleep in his room next door. I pulled on one of his sweaters and leggings, and brushed out my long, dark hair into a high ponytail. Today was the day we were going to Camp Half-Blood for Christmas.

I quietly pulled open my door and snuck into his room. "Luke!" I hissed. "What?" he grumbled. "Wake up! We're going to Camp Half-Blood today!"

He shot up, his blonde hair styled by his pillow and his gray eyes were wide. He loved Camp Half-Blood, but we lived across the country in New Rome. I mean, yeah, we were close to Aunt Hazel and Uncle Frank, and Emily and Sammy, but everyone else lived in Long Island.

"Go wake up Ethan and Dad," Luke said. Ethan, our little brother, was the youngest addition to the family, at four years old. Mom was about to have another son, named Charles, but that's not the point.

I walked into Mom and Dad's room, because nightmares chased her in there nearly every night. She was curled up against Dad, as Mom was getting ready in the bathroom.

I shook their shoulders gently. "Ethan, Dad," I whispered. "Wake up."

Dad opened his eyes. "Noo," he said. "It's six am, Silena. Go back to bed." His New York accent was fading.

"We're going to Camp Half-Blood today," I sang quietly. 

"I'll meet you downstairs."

****

Ethan walked downstairs, wearing a hoodie and jeans. His blonde hair was wild and green eyes looked tired.

"Let me guess," I said, helping him to the couch. "Dad styled your hair."

He nodded vigorously. I turned on Nick Jr. and poured myself a bowl of cereal. Mom was in charge of feeding Ethan, while Luke was in charge of feeding himself and I was in charge of making sure Dad ate.

 "Leena!" Ethan called. I walked over. "What's up?" I asked.

"Your birthday's 'morrow," he said. "I know," I said, walking back into the kitchen. I poured milk into the bowl, then put the jug back in the fridge.

Tomorrow I would turn sixteen. I didn't plan on having a "Sweet 16" with a pony and Justin Timberlake with the hottest guy in school. I planned on having a small party with my friends and family.

I rinsed my bowl and put it in the sink. Dad ran downstairs, a wild grin on his face. Mom wasn't too far behind.

He tried to hide behind me, but a 6'3 thirty-five year old man hiding behind a 5'1 fifteen year old girl wasn't really going to work out.

"Nice try," I said, "Eat your breakfast."

"Do I have to?" he asked. "Yes!" I said. "'Cause we won't buy you food on the plane."

"Ugh, fine," he said, putting bread in the toaster. Then I realized we were missing Luke. "Hey, Ethan?" I asked.

He looked at me. "Daddy did it!" he said, pointing at Dad. Dad did a spit take with his orange juice as Mom and I burst out laughing.

"You're not in trouble," I said, still smiling. "Can you go get Luke?" I asked. He jumped off the couch and ran upstairs to go get his "big bro", as he liked to say.

****

Dad grabbed the armrest of his seat. I had gotten stuck sitting with him and Luke. Luke was the same as Dad, and hated planes, or heights in general.

Their faces were sickly white. Of course, I had inherited traits from Mom, and was just fine with planes and heights.

****

Ethan raced ahead of us, obviously really excited. "Ethan, wait!" Mom called, but he was too far ahead to hear.

"Silena, would you-" "Yeah," I said. "I'll go get him."

I chased after him, and it didn't take long for me to get to him and scoop him up. Dozens of girls in silver and black roamed around.

"The Hunters," I grumbled as everyone caught up to us. "Luke, would take take him to Aunt Thalia?" I asked as he caught up to me.

"Oh," I said, grabbing his collar so he couldn't walk off any farther. He walked backwards, an eyebrow raised.

"Don't flirt with the Hunters," I said, then set off to find my best friends.