A / N: Hi all! Here is a new book! It is the third Maia Lightwood book, so it would be easier if you read the other two first, otherwise you will get very confused. Either way, its fine by me. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Do I still do this if I did it in the blurb? Oh well, just to be safe, I don't own PJO.

1

I looked out the car window, watching the moss covered trees around Camp Half-Blood flash past. I wasn't meant to come back to camp for another six months, but I didn't like being away for so long so my Dad and I made a co-promise. I would to camp every three months. That was such a good deal that couldn't believe Dad had actually agreed to it. Even so, what was even harder to believe was that last time I drove up this road Dad had been kidnapped. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. This time would be different. No kidnappings.

I was different too. I was better. Last time I was at camp, Chiron had taught me how to fight. I was stronger now, and I could take on almost any camper and win. My appearance had changed too. My body was toned with muscles, and I dressed better. I wore a dark brown leather jacket over a fawn-coloured top with pale jeans and combat boots. Nice, but practical. My sapphire necklace hung around my neck and I played with the chain fondly. It had saved my life to many times to count, giving me a warning every time a monster was near.

With the camp barriers down, I was sure that I would need all my new skill. I was almost dreading facing camp. I didn't want to see the damage that the constant monsters had inflicted. Chiron said that he didn't want to waste resources in rebuilding when the new buildings would just get knocked down again.

I worried about Audrey, Jack and Holly getting hurt from the attacks. And, well, most of all I worried about Leo. I couldn't help it. The break-up had been exceptionally hard. I felt like there was a giant hole in my chest, and in the first few weeks I had to hug myself just to keep myself from breaking into a million pieces. Now the pain in my chest was just a dull throb, and I was finding it easier to live a normal demigod life. Even so, I was constantly feeling like I had made the wrong decision to break up with Leo, but I had a feeling that feeling was just Audrey's influence.

"Maia," said Dad.

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned away from the window to face him as he picked up my scruffy bag, handing it to me.

"Here you are. Have a good time at camp," he said, his blue eyes looking rather shiny.

I bit my lip. I knew that camp would be fun, and for the most part dangerously exciting, but a part of me didn't want to leave my dad. Dad seemed to notice this and he grinned. "Don't worry, I won't go off and get kidnapped again," he laughed.

He said again instead of like last time. That reassured me a little. "Okay dad." I sighed, giving him a hasty hug before opening the door slinging my bag over my shoulder.

"Love you," I called, as the car's engine roared to life.

Dad just smiled and repeated my message, clearly thinking the same thing as me.

I had this thing, where every time I left my dad I would be consciously nice to him, just in case it was the last time I ever saw him. I gotten it from a movie, where the last thing this boy said to his mother was 'I hate you', and then his mother died, leaving the boy feeling terrible. I first started when I was younger, when I was scared of burglars or murders coming in to the house at night, so each time Dad said goodnight I would never fight with him. It was something that my little sister Emma had picked up too. With a pang I realised I love you was the last thing I had heard her say.

I watched gloomily as Dad sped off in our blue Subaru, the tyres screeching against the rough road.

I turned around and took a deep breath. This wouldn't be so hard, would it? I was going to see my friends again. Then I shook myself. Who was I kidding? I was scared of facing Leo again, and scared of the damaged that had been wrecked on camp. I was scared of there not being any camp left to come back to.

My fear quickly faded away though. No, faded away wasn't the right choice of words. I hadn't learnt how to get rid of fear, but Chiron had helped me learn how to control that fear and turn it into courage. I took a few more deep breaths, and with shaky fearful courage I walked through the stone archway and into Camp Half-Blood.

I took one look at the camp and stopped dead, my mouth hanging open. It was all but in ruins. A fine layer of grit and dirt lay over everything, and the whole campus radiated defeat. The only buildings that seemed to have survived were the Big House, the stables, the climbing wall, the Arts & Crafts building, the weapon arena, and all the cabins but Apollo's, which had one of its sides caved in.

The grass was slightly withered by the oncoming winter, and the strawberry fields looked sad and neglected. There were no satyrs playing volley ball or tending to the wild flora which had taken over the cracks in the buildings. Campers with tired eyes walked wearily to their classes, looking utterly defeated.

I glanced at the Big House and saw Dionysus sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, while Chiron stood in centaur form, overlooking the camp with sad eyes. Chiron seemed to have more grey hairs than before, and he looked like he had aged several years while I was away. He nodded in acknowledgement at my presence, and returned to overseeing the wreckage.

My eyes brimmed with tears at the sight of seeing my second home like this. Because that's what camp was. Home. I ducked my head and headed towards the familiar pale blue cabin, one of the lucky buildings still intact. The number ten on the wooden door was hanging on an angle and the flowers on the window sill had wilted. Sylvia had obviously given up trying to keep them alive.

I pushed open the door to the Aphrodite cabin and immediately saw a familiar face. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Audrey!"

Audrey gave a persistently cheerful smile and hugged me tightly, unwilling to let go. I was glad I had someone so optimistic as a half-sister.

I looked around the cabin, and was glad that it seemed to have suffered no damage. The bunk beds were still in an orderly pattern, and the brightly colour posters still clung to the walls. I saw Meg applying a fresh coat of mascara, and Ariana was making some DIY cheek stain. I had a feeling the Aphrodite kids were the only ones that the monster attacks hadn't changed. I wonder if that was some sort of strategy. You can't lose the fight if you don't compete in it.

"Hey Maia," said Audrey, sitting down on her bunk and wearing one of her typical happy faces.

"Hi," I murmured.

"How's life in the big city been treating you?" she asked, making a stab at conversation.

"Not too badly," I replied, chucking my bag on to my bed. "Only got thirty-seven detentions at my school this time. Oh, and plus one for a 'cheap shot' in dodgeball. It broke someone's nose."

Audrey laughed and wacked me playfully on the arm. The atmosphere of the room lightened considerably.

"Have you seen Jack?" I asked, before quickly adding, "Or Holly?"

Audrey looked at me thoughtfully, as if she was going to say something but apparently decided against it. "They're both at the climbing wall, and Leo is at the fighting arena."

"Cool, thanks," I said quickly before she could add anything else.

I dashed out of the cabin, marvelling at my close shave. Audrey was still so persistent about me and Leo, so now I just avoided that topic of conversation. I was only just starting to feel better about the Leo factor, and I didn't want to reopen that wound.

I walked across the wilting grass towards the climbing wall, nimbly jumping over large pieces of rubble that I would have tripped over last summer. It was nice being stronger, more agile. It made life easier, and now no one would consider me the weak link.

I reached the climbing wall, thinking that it was funny that this was one of the only structures still intact. It had suffered stress though, and the once russet coloured rock was now a dusty grey. At least the lava still works, I thought as I saw some of the hot orange sludge spurt out of a hole in the rock.

I spotted Holly waiting patiently at the top of the wall for Jack, who seemed to be having a little trouble. Jack turned and waved to me and got a near-death experience with a handful of lava as a consequence.

I laughed and waited for him to get to the top. My turn. I pulled my long black hair back into a low ponytail and wedged my foot on a jutting out piece of rock. I stuck my fingers into another little dent. My brow furrowed in concentration as I continued clambering up the rock, avoiding jets of hot lava but not daring to slow down in fear of being squished.

I threw myself on to the safe, flat top of the climbing wall and sat down next to Holly panting slightly. A girl could only get so fit in three months.

"Hi," I said breathlessly.

"Hi Maia," replied Holly looking slightly amused.

I rolled my eyes. "I made it up faster than you."

Holly grinned. "Definitely faster than Jack."

Jack blushed and mumbled something about having good view from up here.

I grinned and looked out across the camp from my high vantage point. Jack was right about the view; I could all four corners of camp. The view was both wonderful and upsetting. The forest and greenery looking amazing, but from up here I could also see the destruction that monster attacks had caused to the camp.

My heart stopped for a moment in my chest as I saw a familiar head down in the fighting arena throwing knives at a target. I quickly looked away, but not before I saw Leo turn around and see me on top of the wall.

Holly looked at me curiously, but I was saved from further interrogation as the bell went for our next class. I muttered a quick good bye and hurried down to the marble Arts & Crafts building.

A / N: Please review!