Chapter 2

Camp Half-Blood

I practically threw doors off their hinges, trying to get into my house.

"Whoa, Ellie, watch it!" On verge of tears, I spotted Clary.

"Mother… read this. I have to go." She furrowed her brow, but she didn't ask anything. I was grateful for that, because I needed to calm down.

What in blazes happened? Percy shooed me away, somehow got hold on a sword, and… My thoughts were in total chaos.

"Ella." Clary's voice was serious. "Pack. That boy will pick you up any minute. I'll help you."

She was grim, but when I looked at her, she gave me an encouraging smile.

"Where… am I going?"

"To Camp Half-Blood. You'll be safe there." I flinched. I never liked phrase half-blood.

I walked in my room, and pulled out my suitcase. While packing my stuff, I started thinking: What is that camp? Why am I so special? I was almost done with packing when doorbell rang.

"Coming!" Clary called, and rushed to open the door.

I hastily threw my diary in my backpack, grabbed suitcase and ran downstairs. As I crept toward hall, I overheard Clary and Percy talking.

"… I didn't know", Percy was saying. "If I knew, we would've picked Ella up sooner."

"I know, I know. Just… take care of her, OK? She's like my own daughter."

I was speechless. My stepmother wishes I was her kid? Oh, boy.

"I will", Percy promised. "But we need to hurry: it doesn't take long for monsters to notice us."

I entered hall, and Clary yelped, startled.

"Hey, Ella", Percy greeted me. "You ready?"

"Yep, sure."

"Then, let's hurry up. You really don't want to meet Chimera, do you?"

I groaned. He took it as no, and pulled me out of the house.

"See you soon, Ella!" Clary called after me.

Last time, I turned around to see her.

"Mom, I love you."

Her eyes filled with tears; she waved to me and closed the door. I was standing alone in front of my house, with Percy Jackson, boy who I didn't know, holding my suitcase.

"All right. You ready for a bumpy ride?"

I gave him dagger look. He laughed.

"No joke, I swear. You like horses, right?"

I nodded.

"Then…" He whistled again. "You should ride one."

I stared at him in amazement. I would ride a horse? Sweet. But, there was one problem: there wasn't any horse in ten-mile radius.

"Blackjack! Late again, huh? Have you brought Porkpie?"

I watched him, wondering had he gone nuts. He grinned.

"Look up."

I looked up, and my jaw dropped. Two beautiful horses flew above us: one was black, other gold.

Yo, boss! Sorry, Porkie had lesson.

"Yeah, yeah, now come down before Chimera shows up!"

OK, OK! Don't be pushy. We're horses, right?

"Come on! No excuses!"

With a start, I realized he talked to horse, and I understood everything.

Hey, do you know that girl over there is cute? Can she ride me?

"No", I answered firmly. "I'm riding Porkpie."

Whaaaaaat? Does she understand what we say?

"Yeah, so get your butts down here before…" Percy never finished his sentence, because I heard dog's barking.

"Erre es korakas!" Percy cursed.

Go to the crows!, translator in my head said.

"Hop on, Ella, and hold tight!"

I jumped on Porkpie's back, and murmured: "Giddyup!"

With those words, we soared into the sky.

"Whoope!" I yelled.

It was absolutely magical, riding on a flying horse.

"Do you like it?" Percy yelled.

"Yeah!" I was totally thrilled.

"Where are we going?" I yelled back

"To the Half-Blood Hill on Long Island! That's your new home!"

Half-Blood Hill? Never heard of it!

As we rode, I noticed Percy was murmuring something in Blackjack's ear, and we started descending.

Hey, what's your name, missy? Porkpie asked.

"Ella Rodriguez", I replied.

Nice name. I wonder…

"What?" I asked, curious.

Doesn't matter. Percy will tell you. Oh, and one warning: never call him by his full name. He's kind of sensitive on it.

"Really?" Now I was intrigued. "What's his full name?"

Porkpie hesitated.

Perseus. Perseus Jackson. But problem isn't in his name, but in the users of his name. Only his worst enemies call him Perseus.

I shivered. I, too, never used my full name, Eleanor.

"Okay, I won't", I promised.

In that moment we touched down, next to the pine tree.

"Thanks, guys", Percy said. "Next time be quicker, OK?"

Sure, boss! , they chimed together. Then he turned, facing me.

"OK, Ella, let's go to the Big House."

He led me toward Big House, oldest-looking building in sight. As we passed, I saw kids having archery lesson, dueling with swords, climbing wall which spat lava and playing with huge dog. When dog spotted Percy and me, he roofed and ran toward us.

"Hey, Mrs. O'Leary… I missed you too!" Mrs. O'Leary jumped on him and licked him.

"You named dog Mrs. O'Leary?" I was dumbfounded.

"First, it's not a dog, it's a hellhound. Second, I got it from a guy who is dead now, and he named her Mrs. O'Leary."

I was still shocked, but I managed to school my face straight. He stood up, dusted himself off and opened the door.

"Chiron!" he called. "New camper's here!"

If Mrs. O'Leary was shock, it was nothing compared with Chiron: he had human torso, but from belly he was white stallion.

"Centaur", Percy quickly explained.

I just nodded.

"I know it's quite difficult to understand all of this, but you'll get used to it."

"It's okay, Percy", I sighed, "Just tell me what I need to know."

After half an hour of Percy's story, my head was spinning. Monsters and gods are real, and gods have children with mortals, called demigods or half-bloods. Camp I was in, Camp Half - Blood, was the only place that was safe for us to be. Or it used to be.

"Believe me, you are lucky: you weren't there when we fought with Kronos's army when they tried invading our camp."

"I believe you, but it's not easy to hear that everything you believed before is just an illusion."

He patted my shoulder sympathetically.

"You should go to cabin eleven. It's Hermes cabin, and you'll stay there until your father claims you, although I have my suspicions."

"Really? And who is your godly parent?" He looked in the distance.

"Poseidon, Neptune, Sea God, he has lots of names. I call him Dad." He smiled softly.

"I have half-brother too, Tyson. He's Cyclops, and he's really cool."

I remembered Cyclops: they had only one eye, but they were excellent forges.

"Okay, let's show you around before I get sentimental." I giggled.

"I don't think you can be sentimental, as much as you tried." He grinned.

"Thanks. Now, let's go."

As we walked, he pointed many cool places I already saw: archery and sword practice fields, climbing wall, forest for games (I couldn't resist and asked what kind of games; he said: "You'll see!"), and cabins.

I saw many buildings, but dozen houses, placed in riveted U-shape, took my breath away. Every house had different design, representing different gods and their powers. At the farthest end stood two elegantly designed houses: left one had lightning mark over entrance, and right one had peacock feathers. Those were for Zeus and Hera.

On the left side, closest to Zeus's one, stood house with trident mark: sign of Poseidon. Eleventh one had caduceus mark, representing Hermes. Its entrance looked shabby, but it wasn't surprise: Percy told me every demigod who is undetermined lives there as well as Hermes's kids.

"Hey, Travis! Get your butt here, we have newcomer!" Percy shouted.

"Wait a sec, Jackson!" a male voice responded.

I was stymied why he didn't come out immediately. Percy rolled his eyes.

"Travis and Connor Stoll are pranksters. They never miss a chance to make a prank on a newcomer."

"Yeah, Jackson, but that's just for fun! If I and Connor don't do it, no one will!"

The boy, I figured it was Travis Stoll, exited. He looked approvingly at me.

"Well, well. New girl came here."

"Travis", Percy interrupted, sounding bored, "don't start flirting with her the second she crosses doorstep! Give her a break."

I looked at him in alarm. He burst out laughing.

"Travis is probably the worst flirter in this camp", he confessed, still shaking with laughter.

"Tell me about flirting, Jackson", Travis noted. "What about you and Wise Girl?"

Percy blushed.

"Not your business", he snapped. "How's your progress with Drew?"

It was Travis's turn to blush.

"To quote you: not your business."

Percy slammed him on the back.

"Nice dodging. But, please, don't flirt right away. For my sake. If you do, I might get indigestion."

"Sure, bro", Travis said airily. "Come here…"

"Ella", I supplied. He smiled.

"Ella. I'll find you place to sleep, and then we're off to dinner."