Sorry everyone, but I wasn't sure if I uploaded correctly or not, s here are all the chapters
Sorry again :)
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I
RUN! my mind screamed at me, even before I had come back to full consciousness. I got up, and started running. not caring where, just running away from whatever my mind decided was dangerous. As I ran, i willed the shadows to bend around me, hide me. I ended up where I started out last week, dead tired, and not in the mood for anything but sleep, yet I looked around. I was in a small alleyway, filled with shadows, from which I could draw power, and travel through. I walked into the sunlight, my pale skin reflecting the glare of the sun. As I walked by a store, I saw my reflection. Black eyes, pale white skin, bluish black straight hair hanging down at my waist. I looked like a metal fan from the eighties in Europe. Not against my taste. I looked skinnier than usual, but that was probably just the window playing with the sunlight. I kept walking, in this winter wonderland, in a T-shirt, and black jeans. I swept my hair back, and summoned a hair tie from my pocket weapon and accessory carrier. A gift from my Dad, Hades.I tied my hair into a loose ponytail at the back of my neck. I became more conscious of my surroundings, and noticed people stare at me. I ignored their stares as usual. By the way, my name is Charles if you ever wondered. I'm a demigod without a purpose, no friends, and nowhere to return to. Not even the underworld is accepting me anymore, until I die. I start to shiver, and decide to run again. As I start running, a man shaped suspiciously clean shaven hellhound approaches me. I decide to ignore the dog, and just continue to run, and build the energy needed to travel to a warmer place. The dog follows, and I ignore it still. It hasn't tried to kill me yet, so it should be safe. Still, I duck into another alleyway, and plunge myself into the shadows, not knowing where I will end up. In the end, I ended up in Manhattan, New York, scaring the hell out of a homeless guy and his two dogs. He screams "M-M-M-Mo-Mo-Monster" and runs out of the alleyway, conveniently leaving a jacket behind. I put the jacket on, finding a nice surprise. The jacket is a completely new rider leather jacket. I put it on gratefully and leave some cash for the homeless in his bundle of blankets. Feeling warmer, I head towards main street. Might as well visit my Mentor, Chiron. Now for those of you wondering, walking to Long Island Sound from the middle of Manhattan usually takes a while, and isn't exactly safe, but can be an interesting experience for those who like to trekk. For a Son of Hades, it is a completely different story. You can hop on a shadow, and arrive at the edge of Long island Sound within a few minutes, and it takes about two to three whole steps to get there. It is less dangerous, and much less exhausting than walking the whole distance, even though it drains energy like crazy. It also attracts meanie monsters, which are hard to kill. but when you don't have enough energy to just shadow travel there, I will choose that method over walking, or taking a cab any day.
Shouts reach my ears as soon as the shadow wave stops moving. at the gates of CHB (Camp Half Blood) the campers are fighting two large bulls. And when I say that, I don't mean the bulls used in rodeos. I mean huge house size fire breathing golden bulls. Now I hate conflict, and I know for certain that if I go even near those two massive things, they will turn and attack the one smelling of death, so I just sit and wait for the fight to end.
II
A grey cab bursts out of nowhere, deposits two campers, and... a cyclops? they run straight into the fight, yelling something at the cyclops. As I watch, the fight quickly ends, but some campers end up thrown before they manage to defeat the two bulls. in the end the friendly(?) cyclops helps them defeat the enemies, and the campers are carried off into the borders of camp. Thalia's tree still stands tall, but seems to be poisoned. As I approach camp I examine the tree. it has been hit with a dart, probably thrown by the Manticore. the poison on the dart, was not the standard manticore poison, but one from the depths of tartarus. Time to go check when exactly this happened.
The Big house was painted blue, unlike in my memories of the place. Admittedly I have received the gift of immortality from the gods, resulting from one of my usual tricks, but that is a different story. As I approached the Big house,I noticed Death creeping across the place, as Thalia's tree lost it's life, the camp seemed to lose it's energy and life as well. As I got nearer to the Big House, a few half bloods stared at me in awe, a few with fear. none dared approach me as I went up to the porch, and ran into Dionysus.
-Oooo... Who have we here- His usual drunk crankiness hasn't changed since the last time I saw him. Twenty years ago.
-Hi Mr. D- I say with mock cheerfulness. his cheeks redden, and purple fire blazes in his eyes.
-YOU!- He shouts, vibrations of madness traveling from his shaking hands, away from him like a ripple- You disgraced us gods twenty years ago in Olympus, and if I remember correctly were banished for eternal wondering for the little stunt you pulled.
-Don't remember being Banished from Here Mr. D.- I remark.- And you can't banish me from here without the consent of the tree, and if I remember correctly, correct me if your memory isn't hazy from too much wine, Thalia isn't exactly in a place where she can agree or disagree with you.- My cocky attitude just sent him off the charts in anger.- Also I remember you being blamed for my stunt, giving you an extra 25 years to spend down here. How's it turn out for you?- I edge him on, enjoying the fact that if he blasts me, then a wave of death will wipe out everything in a hundred kilometer radius, and I will be just fine. maybe singed, but just fine.
-Look Kid.- He is struggling to keep his emotions in check, to avoid blasting me- You're enjoying this way too much aren't you?
-Yep- and I proceed to walk inside the Big house, feeling happy, and not guilty at all. Although I do feel sorry for the poor person or Satyr who manages to anger him even a little bit. As i walk, i find no trace of Chiron in his office, instead, there's a nasty stench of someone from the fields of Punishment lingering in his office. I walk in towards Chiron's living quarters, to find two campers already inside, and him packing his saddle bags.
-You can't leave Chiron- exclaimed the boy in the burned tie dye shirt, and deep blue shorts. As I look in, I notice Annabeth standing near the door. I walk inside.
-Hey Chiron- I say, ignoring the gasps of the two others inside.
-Hi Charlie- Chiron's voice is tired, not even surprised by the fact that i just suddenly showed up.
-The reason for your leaving is the dart isn't it?- I ask completely nonchalant but looking at his reactions.
-Yeah. I can't heal it, and because of my Heritage I'm a prime suspect for the act of poisoning the tree- He sighs, and folds another of his shirts.
-It was Luke wasn't it?- the burned boy pipes up.
-The carrier for Kronos?- I ask
-Yes- Chiron replies, answering both questions. he then looks at me.-How do you know about all this?- he asks
-News travels fast- I reply
-Who is this guy?- the boy finally asks.
-Percy and Annabeth, this is a previous camper, lived in the Hermes cabin as an unclaimed kid since he was 4. His name is Charles. Charlie, this is Perseus Jackson, Percy for short, and you have already met Annabeth when she came in with Thalia.- His voice is tired, and emotionless.
-Nice to actually meet you two.-I say, smiling at the two teenagers. annabeth says nothing, too stricken by grief over losing Chiron.
III
I walked Chiron to the edge of camp half blood. not many campers joined us. Most seemed afraid of me, the rest just didn't trust me yet.
-Please watch out for the campers. Luke is drawing people towards Kronos, and trying to raise an army of Demigods and monsters to attack Olympus. also watch for the new camp director. not the best of sorts.
-Will do. Will do.- as soon as I utter my agreement, he gallops off into the distance. I watch his figure disappear behind the bend in the road, then decide to return into the midst of camp. A conch horn blew, calling the cabins to eat. I watched as the cabins filed into the dining pavilion, and eventually joined into the end of the hermes cabin. the very end of the line, where the recent campers were situated. none of them had bead necklaces, and most shied away from my nearness. The only person who recognized me was the current second in command, [insert name], and even he only gave me a nod of respect. As soon as all the campers filed in, all the attention was drawn to the head table by a dryad.
-As we all know. Or most of us at least, our dear Chiron had to leave, and is being replaced by this man- Dionysus gestures to the man seated next to him.-please introduce yourself to these brats- he mutters to the man.
The rest I tune out, until my attention is drawn by someone requesting to know who I was. It turned out to be the head counselor of the Athena cabin. I sigh, as all muttering and chattering at the tables stops.
-Mine name is Charles, and I am a new camper- I lie. Lying is easier than explaining my whole life story to them.
-No you are not- the girl says- all new campers are escorted in by a satyr, and showed around camp by another camper.- She's pushy and annoying as hell.
-okay I'm not a new camper, but I am a camper. or i was a few years back.- I claim, and stare her down. She squirms a bit, but holds my gaze.
-The can you show us some proof?- a kid from the ares table stands up. one of the older campers who probably recognized me, tries to pull her back down, but she jerks away.
-This proof enough?- I pull out my camp necklace from the petrified piece of ebony in my Jean pocket,the gift of my father. the campers gasp. the necklace has about 15 beads on it, all representing a different year which I lived through in camp.
-How old are you?- some campers utter at the same time.
-Left camp when I was nineteen. haven't celebrated my birthday since.- The campers look at me awed. I am probably the only person who "graduated" from camp, and managed to live a life outside for this long. Although immortality helps, but I was not about to share that secret with everyone. They get up and crowd around me, asking annoying questions, and not leaving me with enough time to answer them. Suddenly Annabeth stands up, and motions to me, speaks, but none hears her.
-EVERYBODY- she yells, and the campers quiet down- please spare him your questions for later. he seems tired- the campers leave me alone. finally. I nod at her, as my way of thanks, then leave the table to find a suitable resting spot. the camp hasn't changed much since I last saw it, which caused me to wonder whether or not my hiding places were still intact. I went to look at them, and found three completely destroyed by monsters, to in rebuildable shape, and on in a usable condition. this one was my favorite, and the hardest to find. Even for me. it is a cave deep within the forest. the best way to go is to go to the fist of Zeus, turn North, and proceed until you get to a cliff wall, which is completely perpendicular to the way you came from, turn left, and walk until you almost fall down a three meter cliff into a pond cave should be on your right side, completely accessible if you manage to get in past the debris. I lay down into the old feather mattress i dragged out here for my comfort.
The curfew conch wakes me up to a blanket of darkness. I shadow travel behind the hermes cabin, scaring a few campers planning a raid on the camp store. Once I recognize the leaders, they jump up knife in hand.
-who are you?- They ask.
-Why if it isn't the stoll brothers planning another raid on the store.- they jump at the mention of their names. -have you forgotten me? I used to teach you how to pick locks and disable security systems.- recognition flashes in their eyes, and they jump me into a bear hug at the same time.
-Charles!- they cry
-Boy you guys grew up. you were little kids when I last saw you at your Mothers.- I exclaim.
-Yeah. I'm taller than Connor now- Travis gloats.
-By half a centimeter- Connor retorts. They haven't changed bit.
-How is your mother?- I ask. Their mother and I were pretty close when I was a teen. She took me in as a renter for one of their rooms, while i went to elementary during the year, since no one at camp knew my godly parent. She then had these twins, and when I saw Hermes come in with the twins I knew they were his children. the rest of the memory isn't really pleasant, so I'd rather not describe it.
-She's doing great!- they exclaim at the same time
-Glad to hear. Now when do you plan to execute the raid? or is it actually a raid on the store thirty minutes down the road to get soda cans?- at my question they look at each other and nod
-First let's introduce you to our teammates- Travis says with a big grin
-Then we can talk about business.- Connor finishes.
-This is Troy, he doesn't talk much, but is handy with locks and cameras
-And this is Raven. She is unclaimed like you, but has a knack for setting up spyware, and traps. Most likely a child of hephaestus the way she can set and destroy those tiny machines is amazing to watch- I shook their hands. As our hands connected, I sensed a deep sorrow within her, and she blushed a little. I smiled.
-Alright, but you two and the team need to get inside. it's way past curfew. the harpies will be here in a minute or two.- I usher them to the front of the cabin, and then inside. we creep into the cabin, and they find their spots on the floor or their bunks respectively.
IV
I creep out of the cabin, not feeling the need for sleep. I enjoy the company of the night, but I know that even though I'm immortal, I will need sleep after a week or so. Plus I have to blend in to camp once again, which might complicate why I came here, and what my goals here are.
As I approached the dining pavilion, a bottle of lava spray was directed at my face.
-Campers should be sleeping. non sleeping campers are dinner for Harpies- a cleaning harpy was licking it's lips, and staring at me as if I was the best meal she could imagine. by the way, Harpies, winged monsters with the bodies of birds and the heads and torsos of women. They are ugly chicken like things. if you kill one, it returns to Tartarus, and showers you in a yellow colored sand.
-I'm not a camper, and if you try eating me, you will instantly burst into yellow dust.- All the above is true. Monsters of low caliber can't even draw blood before they burst to dust. Now hellhounds and gorgons area completely different story. They could wound me, and my blood would flow out, but the wound would heal itself soon enough. I am immortal, banished, cursed, and can't die. Not the best experience ever. Sometimes I think dieing would come as a gift, not as punishment, although I know that what awaits me after death is the fields of punishment. if I ever die that is. The harpy suddenly chomped onto my arm, and showered me in terrible disgusting yellow dust.
-I told you- I whispered, and started running towards the camp boundaries. i needed to take a closer look at the tree, and what Thalia had become. As I was running, I noticed a light shining in the forest, but decided to ignore it. probably a monster, or one of the Hephaestus kids playing with their automatons.
Thalia's tree was in a much worse state than this morning. As i examined the puncture, I realized Chiron had been healing the tree as much as he could. Guess I should try some healing too. Poor poor Thalia. She gave her life to save her friends, and then protected camp with her remaining life force as a tree. and now if they didn't find a cure for the tree soon, the camp and all it's inhabitants would be in danger. Now I don't hate the gods or the Titans, but I have no real feelings for this camp. It could die for all I care, but I don't want it to die without Chiron and the inhabitants trying to protect it. Which means Chiron has to come back. If he doesn't... NO. He will come back. Time to try healing.
Who should Charles Fall in Love with? I need ideas, so VOTE
Annabeth
Artemis(later in story)
Raven
Other(I can include any character in my story, even one you make up, just PM me, and leave a review saying you PMed my profile)
who should be Charles's nemesis? I need ideas for Conflict, SO VOTE
Percy
Luke
Jake
Athena
Hades
Other(same as the other poll. PM me if you made up a character)
Thanks :)
spoiler alert to anyone who has yet to read the sixth book in the series.
V
My healing powers are very limited. Mostly because of my own internal limits. Ever since the god's mistake then banishment, I have been scared of my own powers, so I installed internal limits on myself. to brief you on the incident: I tricked the gods with tricks learned from Hermes himself, into blessing me and giving me immortality, BUT they didn't give me any curses to balance the powers. I had to set the limits myself. Every god except Hermes and Demeter has blessed me causing an overflow of powers, So I locked my powers away, except for Hades's. When the Gods found out, I got cursed, and Banished from my Father's realm. The curse sounds like this:
" the man shall fall in Love
the curse shall be remembered
the Love shall fall apart
the Powers shall unleash
Death shall reach all within sight
the gods shall triumph over the mortal
the mist shall swallow the man
and Death will never reach him"
The curse was uttered by Zeus, and not one of the gods disagreed. They could not take away the powers, but curses took effect nonetheless. From then on I avoided almost everyone, especially girls. In camp, I can't really avoid anyone.
I tried releasing more of Apollo's blessing, but the lock I put it under was a strong one. I needed herbs from the actual cabin to finish healing the tree to the best of my knowledge. I creeped toward the Apollo campers cabin, but the Harpies came at me again. This time I decided to run for it. Running. Running- dodge that tree. Those were the only thoughts I could process as I ran into the forest. This time around I felt the locks come loose. The Harpies and some monsters chasing me, for their own reasons. I ran towards my hiding place, but instead of bursting into the cave, I got intercepted by a Dragon automaton. So this was the light source I saw earlier. The dragon was made of bronze, and seemed to be fashioned by caring hands. It glowed from the fire within, and it's ruby eyes attempted to stare me down. I stopped barely a meter away from the Monster, and only then noticed a camper on the monsters back.
