As she landed soft ground, police sirens swarmed over the place. Alexia ran as fast as she could, a few more blocks and she was already home. She couldn't erase the vampire image of Stephanie on her mind. Her black, scaly skin, her razor-sharp claws, her red eyes, and sharp fangs made her look like Alexia's worst nightmare. And she was still too shocked about what Mr. Crone meant about her going to some "camp". Finally, she reached her house, slamming the door behind her and locking it as fast as she could. She looked around and heard her father's footsteps upstairs. Alexia ran to him and found him playing with a Nintendo DS.
"Dad!" Alexia shouted, breathing heavily. "Mr. Crone told me to go to camp now."
Her father looked at her with teary eyes. He turned pale and looked like he was about to get sick.
"Dad… You should probably sit down."
"No. We need to get you to camp now. You're in danger."
"Wait-what? What do you mean about this camp?"
"I'll get the car keys. Pack up your things. Food, clothes-everything you need and get in the car, NOW!"
Alexis didn't understand why her father was such in a hurry but she sprinted to pack her things. She all stuffed her things in one backpack and hurriedly went to the car. Her father was already in the car. As soon as she got inside, the engine roared to life.
"Dad, where exactly is this camp?"
"It's called Camp Half-blood." He answered nervously.
"Um… Why do you have to take me there now?"
"Because," He paused, his hands shaking. "-I don't want you to get harmed. It's too dangerous for you in the mortal world."
"Mortal world? What am I, a different kind of human?"
"Technically."
"Look, dad. Tell me the real reason. Am I different because I have Dyslexia?"
"Yes, but…" He trailed off as they neared Williamsburg Bridge.
"But what?"
He picked up more speed, ignoring her question.
"Dad, why are we passing by hills?"
"We're almost there."
Finally, her father stopped below a huge hill.
"Alexia, about your mom…"
"What does this have to do with mom?"
A tear dropped down her father's eye, as she looked at him quizzically.
"She's the reason why you're going here."
"Why? Is she here?"
"No, yes, I don't know. But she's a god-" His sentence was cut off because Mr. Crone came slamming in their hood.
Alexia and her father got out of the car and found Mr. Crone on goat's hooves.
"Um… Mr. Crone, it isn't Halloween yet." Alexia said as she eyed Mr. Crone's weird goat legs.
"No, this is not a costume. Mr. Robertson, we should go now." Mr. Crone pleaded. Alexia's father took a deep breath and stared at Alexia.
"Alexia, take care of yourself, got it? Don't run away from camp, you hear me? This is where you belong."
"But, dad. Can't you come with me too?"
"I can't. You'll know why later. But right now, you have to go."
Her father tossed Alexia her backpack and got inside the car. Mr. Crone dragged Alexia up the hill.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"You'll see. Just up that pine tree up there," Mr. Crone pointed to the tall pine tree on the middle of the hill.
"Wait a second, is that a dragon near the tree?"
"Yep, that's Peleus."
Alexia shook her head, hoping that it was all just a freaky dream.
Apprently, there was a dragon. Alexia looked at it nervously as they passed by. It was huge with a coppery head and shiny scales. Steam hissed out of its nostrils.
"Um… Mr. Crone, are you sure this is a camp? I mean, I think it's unusual for a camp to have a dragon guarding a pine tree with something glowing on its branches," Alexia asked nervously.
"Well, this is a Greek camp after all. Anything is possible."
As they entered a huge sign with two pillars on the side, Alexia knew they had already entered camp. She felt like she was safe. That nothing was there to hurt her. Mr. Crone was about to say something when an arrow whizzed towards him.
"DUCK!" He shouted as they both sat on the ground. There was a boy about Alexia's age and another about twelve years old who carried a bunch of arrows.
"Hey, Ares kids! Don't play with those!" Mr. Crone shouted at them as they ran away, laughing.
"Ares kids? Isn't Ares the god of-"
"War, yeah. They're quite dangerous. Mind you, you would not want to be friends with them."
Alexia looked at him confusingly. She DID NOT understand what was happening. She was at awe to ask questions. She saw teenagers like her everywhere. Others older than her, others younger. She saw a huge white building just up ahead. On their left side was a path to the beach while on the right was a path to a group of buildings or cabins she couldn't quite see. Mr. Crone led her to the white building, muttering about evil Ares kids.
"Welcome to the big house." Mr. Crone said to Alexia as they entered a white pavilion that could fit about a hundred people. She saw a man who was small and porky, with watery eyes and black, curly hair. And beside him was a man on a wheelchair with a scraggly beard. They were both talking in ancient Greek until Alexia and Mr. Crone approached them.
"That's Mr. D, the small guy. And beside him is Chiron, the man on a wheelchair. Be nice." Mr. Crone whispered.
"Mr. Crone, why's he called Mr. D?"
"Oh, I forgot. Call me Edith. I prefer to be called that way."
"Um… okay, Edith."
"Ah, another brat, eh? What have you brought, Edith?" Mr. D demanded. "-Speakj, satyr. I don't have all day."
"This-this is Alexia Robertson, sir. An empousa attacked us when she smelled Demigod blood in her." Edith explained, sweating nervously.
"Mhm. Undetermined?"
"Undetermined mother, sir."
"Hey, I'm still here. What do you mean undetermined mother?" Alexia asked as a million questions floated in her head.
"Oh, the creature speaks. Edith, get this girl to orientation, will you? Gods, I am so tired of introducing them to camp over and over again…" Mr. D said as he sipped a can of diet coke.
"Hello, Alexia. I'm Chiron and this is Mr. D, the head director here at camp." Chiron said warmly.
"Um... Mr. D, meaning?" Alexia asked curiously.
"He's Dionysus, the god of wine."
Alexia dropped her jaw.
"As in, THE GOD OF WINE?"
"All right, that's it! Edith, please get this girl out of my sight, now." Mr. D exclaimed.
Edith dragged Alexia out of the pavilion.
"Well, Mr. D's always in a bad mood, is he?" Alexia asked.
"Yeah. Literally. We need to get you to orientation."
They reached a room full of chairs and a flat screen TV glowed on the mini-stage.
"Take a seat. I'll just turn on the tape." Edith scrambled to the back of the stage. Alexia sat on the chair, hoping for a good film. The orientation lasted for about two hours. Finally, Alexia got out of the room, adjusting to the amazing shade of sundown.
"I'll get you to the Hermes cabin, since you're undetermined yet." Edith said to her as they walked to the other side of the hill.
"Edith, do you think I'm a half-blood? I mean, what if my mom doesn't claim me?"
"She will. You just wait. Ah, we're here."