I grew up modeling. My father had grew up in the business, so I had my first cover on a childrens magazine at age 1. I grew up with him by my side, as we sat on the balcony of our high-rise apartment and looked at the stars. He was the one who got me a tutor so that I could be homeschooled and focus more on my modeling, which was my passion until very recently. He was the one who let me go to New York Fashion Week at just 3 years old. He was the one who took me on trips to different places. He was the one who consoled me when I didnt get the modeling job I really wanted when I was 8. He was the one who made sure that I was comfortable and happy all the time. He was the best person to have with me during my early childhood. I never really knew why I had no mother, because my dad just waved off the topic and told me to not be curious about it, until the day I turned 14.
My dad woke me up early, saying that he wanted to tell me something very special. I walked lazily through our large apartment (if you somehow manage to stay in modeling for long enough, it pays off.) I went into his bedroom and saw a picture of a beautiful woman on the mantel. He told me that that was my mother, and that she was a very busy woman who lived overseas, in Europe. He told me that he had met her in college when he was spending a semester in France as an exchange student. He said that he loved her a lot, but that she was offered a big job at a big company and was forced to leave him. He told me there was a very slim chance that I would ever meet her, and that if I ever did, she probably would not spend a lot of time with me."
My dad and I lived on an apartment that took up the entire top floor of our high-rise, which was 40 stories high. It was on Riverside Boulevard in NYC, overlooking the Hudson River. It was always amazing to go on our wraparound balcony and talk about things. But when I stepped out on the balcony on that day, plans for my birthday party in my head, I saw a frightening sight. A large hellhound sat upon the front ledge snarling at me. I ran inside and called for help, and when there was no answer, I attempted locking the door, but the dog barged in. It attacked me, snarling until I got up and ran feebly to the balcony. Then, i had an idea. With the little strength I had left, I hoisted myself up onto the ledge and the dog jumped at me. I shifted a little and he fell into the Hudson River below.
My dad came outside, and I whipped around, scared that there was another monster. He turned pale when he saw my injuries, and told me to follow him. I was still shocked after my recent encounter, but I followed him back into his room and sat on his bed. The look on his face was one of pure terror.
"What did you just do?" My dad asked
"Nothing, I swear," I replied
He looked at me suspiciously, then sent me to my room so I could think. I tried to exit the thought of the recent attack from my mind and went to sleep.
I woke up 2 hours later, my dad was gone. I searched everywhere, but I couldnt find him. I called him, but he didnt pick up. I listened to the voicemail messages and found one from him saying that he had a last minute modeling job. I turned on the TV to entertain myself. The channel happened to be on the news, and turns out my dad was in a car crash on the highway. I was shocked and canceled my party, running out of my apartment and into a taxi to the hospital.
My dad ended up dying from his injuries. In the will, I got the apartment and all of his money. A woman named Celene Seren adopted me and moved into the apartment, for it was bigger than hers. I loved her as much as I loved my birth father. She got married to a man named Kenneth 3 months before my 15th birthday. Monsters did become a part of my life, but I was getting better and better and fending them off. My new parents were interested in archery and taught me how to shoot to improve my self-defense skills. They understood my circumstance much better than my dad did. They knew that I wanted to learn how to defend myself.
I did continue modeling, for it was how I honored my dad. Whenever I left a photo shoot, I thought of how happy he would have been. It made me sad to think of how he died, in a crushed car. It made me sad to think that he had died on a day that was very special to us, my birthday.
On the day of my 15th birthday, I woke up to a pile of gifts outside my door. My parents hugged me and watched me open my presents. My favorite was a bronze bow and arrow, which my parents said could replace my wooden one.
I had my 15th birthday, and it was amazing. My parents pampered me and had set up a huge party. At the stroke of midnight, a hellhound ran inside. I screamed and ran, but everyone else did not see it and stared at me like I had suddenly gone mental.. I ran out of the party and into a dark alley. It followed me all the way there. I attempted to climb the fence, and broke my leg as I fell down. My parents were waiting on the other side, and they helped me up and brought me into their car.
Inside the car, they told me all about their pasts. They were demigods, children of Athena, who grew up together at Camp Half-Blood. They told me that my birth mother was a god and that I needed to go to the camp to meet others of our kind. They led me inside the grounds and introduced me to the director, who led me inside. I have been inside the camp ever since.