Anika: Thanks every one for all of the reviews. In this chapter we learn…
Aj: Why don't you just let them read it for themselves?
Anika: …
Max
During the whole bus ride to some stupid camp I was freaking out. The bus was way too cramped and way too small for my liking. My breathing was shallow and no matter how many times Fang forgot I was mad at him, he would just be annoying and try to comfort me. I would shrug him off but that boy was persistent. When we arrived at Camp Half Blood I was the first one out of the bus being driven by Apollo, Artemis' twin, and I nearly kissed the ground.
Fang was the second one out because he was almost as claustrophobic as I was. Then Iggy and the kids. I looked around me and saw lush green grass everywhere and cabins that were circled in a U around me. In the middle was an eight-year-old girl tending a fire. The rest of the flock seemed to ignore her and started walking along. I started to walk up to her though and she seemed surprised that I did. She smiled though and seemed happy about the company.
"Hello there." She told me in a calm voice. "Would you like something to eat?" I nodded and a plate with two slices of pizza was there.
"That should tide you over until dinner."
"You're a goddess aren't you?" I asked. She nodded and I sat down and started eating.
"I thought goddesses think they're too good to come to camp." I told her. She looked at me in confusion when she sensed the bitter note in my voice. She nodded though.
"I was replaced by this camp's director, Mr. D. On Olympus he is more commonly referred to as Dionysus." She explained. I thought about the brief Greek Mythology I had learned in Virginia.
"Here, I'll show you everything you'll need to know about the Greek history of the gods." She told me. I was about to stop her when she touched a finger to my forehead. Images and knowledge rushed into my brain. I saw what seemed like a video clip of the gods voting Dionysus to replace the little girl known as Hestia. I saw so much more too. It suddenly seemed like another connection was blocking some parts out though. It was probably just Angel.
"So you're Hestia." I stated when I woke up from the creepy trace thing. I took another bite from my pizza and almost moaned, as the cheese seemed to melt in mouth. I noticed that the flock was gone though. Instantly I started panicking on the inside worrying that someone had kidnapped them. I knew this place wasn't safe! I was about to get up to go look for them when Hestia put a hand on my knee.
"They are at the Big House with Chiron, our activities director, and Mr. D. They might even get claimed because the gods are trying to gather a bigger army. If not Chiron will give them a test to find traits." She explained. I relaxed slightly and continued to eat.
"You should probably join them now so you can be claimed." She said as I finished and the plate disappeared. It made me wonder if the food was actually real.
"Tell me about this place first. And no creepy visions." I added as I saw her finger reaching towards my forehead again. Don't trust them. A raspy voice said in my head. It was different then my usual voice too. About time the voice upgraded what his voice sounded like. Now at least I knew he was male. Don't trust who, I asked. The answer I got was the most helpful thing anyone has told me all day. The gods.
Fang
Apollo had told us to follow him to some kind of two-story house. We followed him, except Max. I guess she would catch up later. All though I wanted to have her here, I would give her a little space. As we walked along I noticed every thing the camp had here. There were strawberry fields behind the house that a few girls were wandering in. Near the beach were a volleyball court and a sword arena. A rock-climbing wall was a little ways away from that with real lava flowing from it. Secluded and far away from the other stuff was an archery range. I guess so no one gets hit.
We arrived on the front porch and a man in a wheel chair was sitting there, as if he had a choice, and playing some game with a fat man in a purple tracksuit. He reeked of grapes and I could tell he was one of those party types. The man in the wheel chair seemed excited that they were there and lifted himself from the chair. Fang waited for him to fall on the ground, but the wheelchair turned into horse legs. He galloped closer to them and Angel and Nudge immediately wanted to pet and ride him.
"Are you five new half bloods?" He asked, I could tell that he already knew the answer though. I shrugged and the others nodded.
"Six actually." Angel corrected. The horse guy looked worried that Max wasn't with them as if something bad had happened.
"Where is she?" He asked.
"Talking to Hestia." Angel answered again. I remembered an eight year old not a reject goddess. Angel glared at me when she heard my thoughts. She isn't a reject goddess. You make it sound so mean. She told him mentally. The horse guy visibly calmed.
"For a second I was worried…never mind. Annabeth, will you please try to see any traits so we can attempt to determine them." He asked no one in particular. All of a sudden a girl with blonde hair appeared out of nowhere. She had a California tan and there was a grey streak in the front of her hair. Someone was aging quickly. She looked about fifteen; the same age as Max, Iggy, and I, and was wearing an orange t-shirt with the camp name written on it.
"Okay Chiron." Annabeth replied. She had a clipboard in her hand and was looking at all of us like she was studying for some test. She looked really brain and smart. I somehow knew she would be a know it all.
"This little girl isn't Athena. Her eyes are blue. She could be Hermes, Eris, or Demeter. She'll have to take the test to be sure." She gestured to Angel. I inwardly groaned when she said test. It isn't that type of test. It's like one of the ones in Nudge's magazines. Angel explained mentally. He nodded and inwardly sighed in relief. The goody-goody moved on to Gazzy. Somehow the flock was in order according to age.
"Hermes. I can just tell." She grumbled. I guess she has a problem with that cabin. She moved on to Nudge.
"She could be Aphrodite, Apollo, or Eros. She'll also have to take the test." Annabeth concluded. Then she moved on to Iggy.
"I think he's Athena, Hermes, or Hephaestus. He'll have to take the test as well. Then she came to me.
"Hades or possibly Erebus, the god of darkness and shadow…" She trailed off and dropped her clipboard. Every one was staring at something above my head. I looked and saw some holographic blackness above me. "I guess you've been claimed by Erebus." She said in awe.
"I'll take those two to Cabin eleven and tell their friend to come so she can be determined." Annabeth told the two and gestured to Gazzy and I. He was practically jumping up and down with excitement.
"Wait, if I have a different parent why are we in the same cabin?" Gazzy asked Chiron.
"There is no cabin for minor gods like Fang's father so since Hermes is the god of hospitality he will be staying in there." Chiron explained. Gazzy grinned because he saw me as an older brother. We walked along with Annabeth silently and we reached a cabin that had a caduceus on it.
"Where are your things?" She asked.
"Don't have anything but our backpacks." Gazzy answered. She nodded unsure, questions racing in her head, and opened the door. Two boys answered that looked alike. They both had mischievous grins that resembled Gazzy's.
"Determined or undetermined?" The one on the left asked.
"One determined and one minor god." She answered. They looked happily at Gazzy and high fived him. I walked into the cabin with Gazzy and Annabeth left. Inside there were about ten bunk beds, but most of them were empty. If this was the cabin of hospitality then shouldn't it be packed?
"Most of our cabin joined Luke. You have the choice of whatever bed you want besides five of them. They're the ones with the covers on them." The one on the right explained. We nodded and I chose a bottom bunk with an empty top above me. It was dark underneath and I put my backpack under my head and tried to get some rest. My dream was shattered when the rest of the flock came in without Annabeth. Angel and Nudge ran up to me jumping excitedly.
"Guess what! We found out our mothers. Angel's was Eris which isn't that hard to believe because Angel is arguing with Max more and trying to become the leader, but I got Aphrodite which is like a huge honor because everyone in Aphrodite's cabin is like super pretty which means that I'm super pretty too and…" Angel put her hand over Nudge's mouth. Fang mentally sang Hallelujah.
"We all found out one of our parents, but Max. Iggy got Hephaestus which is kinda ironic because Hephaestus is handicapped in a way and Iggy is handicapped in a way because of his sight." Angel told him. Fang thought of Max who was putting her stuff on an empty top bunk in the front of the room that allowed her to see both Fang and Gazzy. Always the leader. There was a look of pure anger on her face though. I could only imagine what she must be thinking when she was forced to come here by the flock and now she is the only one who doesn't know their real parent. They did know that neither Dr. M nor Jeb is related to her. Angel told him mentally.
Fang walked up to her and hopped onto her bunk. She glanced at him, but her expression didn't change.
"Everything will be okay. You'll find your real parent soon." He told her.
"How do you know?" She mumbled.
"Haven't we been over this? I know everything." Fang answered. She smiled slightly lighting up the room and just as he was about to kiss her, Gazzy farted. The flock all ran out of the room followed by the others in Cabin 11.
"Ugh Gazzy." Max groaned.
Aj: Review and I'll update twice tomorrow too. Ahh, Bribery. Gotta love it! –Aj.
