Liam
"So you've been here how long?" The black-haired girl asked him.
"Two hours," Liam replied, "I was just about to get a tour when you crossed the border."
Zoe laughed, her smile radiating. "Well sorry for keeping you busy."
Liam returned a grin, his blonde hair glowing in the sunlight, "It's no problem, I think it could wait, considering you were hurt."
Zoe gave a sarcastic scoff, "My hero." Their eyes met for a split second, and Liam had to admire the complexity of her sea-green eyes. They were almost identical to the older man who was at the border when Zoe crossed.
"Ahem," A cough interrupted the two demigods conversation. Zoe's smile immediately left her face. "Hi guys. My name's Will, and I'm gonna show you guys around camp, so if you'd follow me," The guy, Will, commanded. After Will's back was turned, Liam looked to Zoe and raised his eyebrows as if to say, 'get a load of this guy'.
"So over here are the cabins. You both have been claimed right?" Will asked. The two demigods being questioned nodded their heads. "Okay, who are your parents?"
"Emily Castle," Liam responded, "Dad's been gone for a while."
Will nodded and motioned for Zoe to respond as well.
"No clue," She responded, "I've been in foster care for years. Mom died and dad never showed."
Will sighed as if he had heard that story before. "Well, you two are both demigods, which means both your fathers are Gods. Liam, Hermes is your dad, and Zoe, yours is Poseidon." Before he explained anything however, Zoe began to speak again.
"A God spoke to me before I got here. She showed me the way to Camp after I suffered my injury. She explained it all to me."
Will nodded and looked back to Liam.
"I know too," Liam responded, "Mom was clear-sighted, as was my aunt. It ran in the family. She told me everything she learned from my aunt, and from my dad when he came. Anything I didn't know was covered in the orientation film that I watched waiting on sleeping beauty to awaken."
Will looked surprised, but a look of relief washed over his face. "I'll just give you guys the tour then, and I'll let your counselors tell you everything." He proceeded to walk off, beckoning the two to follow him.
"This is the forge. It mainly used by Hephaestus' spawn, but it's open to all," Will said, pointing a big factory-like building. He motioned towards a gigantic supply shed, "And that's the armory. You guys will eventually get equipment from there, but it'll be a bit."
Will showed them the rest of camp until finally reaching an area where a random assortment of houses were built. There was a group that was shaped in an oval around a courtyard with basketball hoops, volleyball nets, and a small fire, being tended to by a girl. Off to the right, was another oval, with more random buildings.
"These are the cabins," Will said. "Zoe, since Poseidon is your dad, you'll be in Cabin 3. There's only two other children that live in there right now, since Percy and Annabeth moved into the Big House, but they're both nice, so you can go ahead and head in there." Zoe acknowledged it and nodded a goodbye to Liam before heading to a green building.
"Liam. Your dad is Hermes so you'll be in Cabin Eleven, with me," Will said, pointing to the only cabin that looked normal in the jumble of buildings.
"So you're a son of Hermes too?" Liam asked.
Will grimaced, "No, I'm not," Liam noticed a look of longing in Will's eyes as the dark brown orbs meandered to an obsidian building, "I'm unclaimed, so I have to stay in cabin eleven as well."
Liam nodded, before leaving Will and going into Hermes' cabin. He was immediately greeted by a guy around his age with the same crooked smile that Liam saw every time he looked in the mirror.
"What's up newbie? My name's Adrian Walker, the counselor here at cabin eleven," Adrian said, mischievous look in his eye, "We're all children of Hermes, well except Will, but he's still one of us. We're thieves, liars, charming, and extremely good looking. A deadly mix, but it's the best combination. And the ladies love it," He said with a wink.
Liam smirked. He definitely was gonna like it here. He found himself drawn to a bed in the corner. "Hey Adrian, is that one claimed?" He asked, pointing to it.
Adrian smiled, but a look of fear was in his eyes, "No, it's not. Feel free to take it." So Liam did. He sat on the bed and unpacked his things. He laid down on it, and looked up at the wood of the top bunk. On it, there were many carvings, made from over the years. One carving in particular caught his eye.
L. C. 2005
And above it was a scythe.
Liam didn't know what to think, those were his initials, but that was a long time ago. He felt a prodding in the back of his head. He started feeling discomfortable, and decided to leave, finding himself on a basketball court with a few other demigods.
"Hey man, you tryna shoot?" A guy asked him. He looked about sixteen, and he was quite muscular.
"Yeah man, sounds great," Liam responded.
"Alright cool! That's Morgan and Michael," he said, pointing to the other two demigods on the court. He motioned to one that was on a bench watching, "And that's Haley, but she doesn't like playing. My name's Darius, and you'll be on my team."
Liam nodded before sizing up his competition. Michael and Morgan both looked very athletic, but they both looked smug, in their own way. Michael had an intelligent look in his grey eyes that gave the impression that he thought he was the smartest person in the room at all times, and Morgan's eyes held a bloodthirsty look. One that made Liam think she'd pummel him into the ground without giving him a second glance.
Liam learned his thoughts were right on both counts.
Darius got the ball immediately, and passed to Liam. Liam took it, and ran as close to the goal as he could before shooting a layup.
"That's what I'm talking about man!" Darius cheered, but it didn't last long. Morgan had the ball, and charged straight up the center, almost knocking Darius off his feet, before passing backwards to a wide-open Michael, who shot a three.
The game went like that for a while, Darius and Liam making a good play, only to be showed up by Michael and Morgan making a better one. Liam learned that Darius could make a shot from anywhere around the court, but didn't, letting Liam shoot instead.
Soon Michael and Morgan had 30 points, effectively ending the game. They only beat Liam and Darius by five, but Liam still didn't like being beat. Darius didn't mind though.
"Good game guys," He said, sweat dripping down his forehead, "Especially you Liam, that was a nice game."
Liam nodded, "Right back at you man."
Morgan laughed, a surprisingly pleasant sound, "You guys had me worried."
Michael scoffed, "Not me though. I'm not easy to scare."
Liam frowned, but Morgan got on Michael first, "Oh quit being a dick man, you were worried and you know it."
Michael just smiled, not willing to admit it out loud.
"Hey guys," Darius said, and idea on his face, "You guys wanna check out the armory before dinner? See if we can find any magical items?" The group nodded, so the four took off, Haley on their heels.
They entered the massive shed and Liam found himself in awe of all the weapons and armor lining the walls. They spread out, searching the shelves. Liam felt himself being drawn to a shelf up high, in a corner. He climbed a ladder to it, and found a strange sword, giving off a similar glow that he'd seen celestial bronze give, but just a little bit darker.
Liam gently picked the sword up and he felt powerful. The name of the sword was inscribed on the hilt, but most of the letters had been scratched out, leaving only B_K_T_R. Liam grabbed a sheath laying next to it and sheathed it before meeting the rest of the group at the entrance.
Darius pointed to a watch on his wrist, "Yo Liam, check this out." Darius pulled up on the watch face and it morphed into an arm sleeve. Then, a quiver appeared on his back, while a bow formed on his hand.
"I look like that old superhero! I'm the black Winter Soldier!" Darius exclaimed, a smile beaming on his face.
His smile was contagious, and soon enough it was shared across everyone else. Well, everyone but Michael, but that was because he was too engrossed with a pair of glasses that wasn't on his face before.
"Guys, I think we should leave. Dinner's gonna start soon," Haley said. Liam was surprised to hear her speak. Her voice had a melancholic sound, almost like she was somewhere else.
"Yeah," Michael said, pocketing the glasses, "We probably should. Capture the flag should be announced soon."
The group left the armory, Darius' arm sleeve back on the watch, and Liam caught a weird look from the camp leader, Percy, who beckoned him over.
"What's up?" Liam asked after he reached him.
"I recognize that hilt," Percy said, a look of longing in his eye, "Did it call to you?"
Liam shrugged, "In a way. Is it bad?"
Percy chuckled, "No, it isn't. Have you met with your counselor yet?"
"Oh, Adrian?" Liam asked, "Yeah, he's great."
"Oh good. You never told me where you're from," Percy prompted.
"Connecticut," Liam replied. Percy's face went cold. He muttered something along the lines of 'it can't be', but didn't say anything else to Liam. "Will that be all?" He asked. Percy nodded his head and Liam went back to Cabin Eleven to put his stuff up before dinner.
At dinner, Liam sat next to his new friends. Michael, surprisingly enough, wasn't completely a dick. He was just proud. Liam beckoned to Zoe to join them, which she did, taking a seat at his right, and for just a second, he felt like he was at home.
"Good evening campers," Percy said from the big table in front, "Before we get to announcements, I'd like to welcome two new campers: Liam Castle and Zoe Moreno." Liam stood, along with Zoe, and they were met with applause. Percy waved them to silence before beginning again. "Capture the flag will be tomorrow night after dinner, and leading the teams are Poseidon and Athena. Chiron also Iris messaged me this morning, and he will be back in time to watch capture the flag tomorrow night."
That statement earned quite a few cheers from some of the older campers, but Liam had no clue who Percy was talking about.
"Who's Chiron?" Liam asked Darius.
"I have no clue," Darius responded, "I've only been here a few days."
Liam looked at Michael, expecting an answer from the genius, but Michael just shrugged, as did Morgan and Haley.
"Chiron's the camp director," a new voice said from the shadows, "He's been gone to Olympus for about a year now, leaving Percy and Annabeth in charge in his stead."
Liam turned around to see who spoke, and was genuinely surprised to see Will standing behind them. Liam hadn't even seen Will appear. Will took a seat on the other side of Adrian on the table behind them.
"Well guys, I think I'm gonna turn in for the night," Morgan said before getting up to leave. Michael mumbled something along the same lines before following.
"Hey Darius, aren't those two rather close?" Liam asked.
Darius nodded, "Yeah, they came to camp together, a lot like me and Haley, and I don't know if you've noticed, but Michael's kind of a pain in the ass. Morgan's the only one he isn't to. Probably because she probably beat his ass on the road."
Liam nodded, "So you two came to camp together?" he gestured to Haley.
Darius nodded, "Yeah, she tolerated me on the road. It was a big surprise when we were claimed together, by the same parent too!"
Liam smiled, "So you two are like brother and sister?"
Darius smiled while ruffling Haley's hair, "Nope. We are brother and sister."
Liam laughed, which turned into a yawn. He looked at Zoe and Darius, "Well, I better turn in." He got up from the table and made his way to the Hermes cabin before getting in bed and going to sleep.
Which meant he just had to dream.
Liam had been getting dreams since he turned 13. For three years the same man haunted his sleep.
"Welcome back Liam," the man said. He was wearing what he usually did, black denim jeans, and a deep blue shirt. His smirk, which looked more familiar today than it had before, was in its usual spot on his face. His blonde hair was cut, unlike last time he had seen him where it was past his shoulders, making him look healthy. He would've looked like a Hermes camper if it wasn't for two traits, traits that haunted Liam to his core.
His eyes, ne was a deep, deep blue, and the other was a glowing gold, and there was a scar running down his face.
"Do we really have to do this again?" Liam asked.
"Liam, you know we do. But I think we've gotten off to a bad start," The man said, acting as if three years was 'a start'.
"If you would call it that," Liam said, coldness in his tone.
"Come on man, we're family. You gotta listen to me," The man said, golden eye gleaming.
"I want nothing to do with you," Liam responded, this time he was downright spiteful.
"Then why do you carry my blade? Why are you in my bunk? Why are you following my footsteps?"
Liam was stunned. He wanted to wake up and get away. He wanted to throw the sword out. He wanted to run.
"But don't be alarmed Liam. You're destined for greatness. It's a family thing." And with a wink, he left.
AN: Hey guys! Just letting you guys know some basics. On my update schedule, you guys will get the next chapter after I finish the chapter (I just finished chapter 3, so you guys get chapter 2, etc.). That's all I have right now, but if you enjoy, please please PLEASE leave a review. It really gives me incentive to finish, because I kinda get lazy. Hope you all enjoy!