A/N: We all knew something would have to happen soon. I'm sorry if I seem to be dragging it out, but I'm making a serious attempt to match it together. Percy shows up soon, I promise!

Chapter 3

The Battle of the Bathroom

Camp Half-Blood is surprisingly large. I remember cresting the hill and finding myself enthralled at the beauty. As opposed to the thick layer of snow past Thalia's tree, I found a light dusting of the white, and it looked very nice. As I glanced around, I found that it was actually somewhat…pretty. I looked at Blaine, and he tugged on my wrist to lead me to a farmhouse with a wraparound porch that looked quite homely. I didn't like homely.

As I walked into the house with Blaine, I found the face of someone I really didn't want to see. I held in my annoyance as he looked at me and raised an eyebrow. His leopard-print tourist shirt was annoying. Very annoying. Too colorful. He was chubby, too. Really chubby with dark, curly hair that brought out his red nose. He looked like he was drunk, even though he wasn't. He was on a 100-year sobriety ruling. And he wasn't allowed to live on Olympus for the time being.

Quite an annoyance to put up with him here, though!

"This is Mr. D," Blaine informed. Mr. D? How…uncreative. "Mr. D, this is Chrysanthe. She is…umm…A full goddess," the satyr replied nervously.

Dionysus, god of wine and fertility, waved Blaine off. "I'll send her out with you for a tour in a few minutes. Just wait out there, I want a word with this one." Blaine clopped out onto the porch, and I could almost sense his nervous shivers. "So, Karen, how have you been? I haven't seen you since…Oh, yesterday, as a matter of fact."

"Indeed."

"What is the meaning behind invading my camp?"

"I believe it is no concern of yours."

"It is when it is my property, where demigods are to be safe! With one of Hades's full-blood children here, it's impossible for it to be safe!" Dionysus hissed, making sure that Blaine could not overhear. I rolled my eyes at him.

"I am not discussing my reasons. It is not to harm any campers who are innocent, and therefore, the safety is upheld here. Now, I will be staying here until my father's order comes otherwise."

"Oh, great. You're here on your father's order? Hmph. Anyway, you'll be staying in the Hermes cabin. You haven't been claimed, and there's no chance that Hades has his own cabin."

A flare of anger rose in me. I took a deep breath through my nose as the stubborn god waited for me to retort badly. I knew that it would be easy enough for him to expose me and to bind me for a while. I simply turned my back on him and walked out to the porch.

Blaine was waiting for me, something I found endearing about the satyr. He was obedient. His red eyes studied me for a moment, and I realized my aura must have betrayed my anger. I calmed myself. "What's wrong?" he finally asked.

"Nothing, Blaine. Come on, show me around. I wanna know what everything is!"

"Alright, then!" Blaine replied, laughing at my (fake) enthusiasm. He and I raced into the camp, away from the farmhouse, and I felt a sort of joy, of exhilaration. It must have been the cheerful air. In any case, I felt a moment of…happiness. It was rare that I did, and most of the time it was when I made my father proud, and that was one of the rarest events of all.

The first thing that he showed me was the kitchens, which was where everything was made to eat (well, I knew this before the explanation. Thank you, Blaine). It was also where the messiest of cabins would clean plates. I met the harpies and motioned frantically behind Blaine's back that they should not act that they knew me. Well, that they knew the source of my darkest powers. Being the child of Hades was oft a pain in this regard. Monsters could not blow my cover.

We passed the woods on the way to the cabins. I was told that it was a place not to go into alone, which was something interesting. Why not? Monsters from the Underworld in there. Darkness, monsters…what more could I want in a home? I would have to explore it someday. Probably later on this one. I found myself curious about how secluded it was there. Blaine was still talking.

At the cabins, I looked over them. I could pretty much tell whose was whose. There was Zeus and Hera in the front; they looked similar except for the designs on the doors. From the dust on the steps, I could tell they had not been used in a long time, if ever. One was Zeus, Two was Hera. Three was behind Zeus, as all odd numbers were. That one obviously belonged to Poseidon. Four, behind Hera with all evens, belonged to Demeter. I hated that woman, and the woven grass roof made me want to throw Greek fire on it…Five was obviously Ares from its chaotic structure, Six was Athena, Seven was Apollo, Eight was Artemis, Nine was Hephaestus, Ten was Aphrodite, Eleven was Hermes, and Twelve was Dionysus.

My anger rose again. Although he was one of the Olympians, he was not granted the honor of the throne, nor a cabin here. I looked at Blaine as he led me to a rather crowded cabin.

"This is the Hermes cabin, where all of the new kids stay until claimed," he informed softly, nudging me to let me make my way inside. "Just be careful about setting things down in here. A lot of stuff goes missing. Just take a peek, but we still have more to see," he said, forcing himself to be cheerful. I stuck my head in, looked at the campers, and swore that I wouldn't go in there. Ever. I looked to a vast commons much like the forums Father had told me about, except it had basketball hoops for the common game. It did not matter to me, though.

We went across the commons, and I ignored the looks I was getting. We arrived in the arena, where I watched someone who was training. The sword was not my style, but I was proficient in it. I looked through the swords that were set next to the arena, picking up a light rapier. Although they were weak, they were fast and had a better puncture rate than a slash rate. I found that punctures were more effective.

"Care to spar?" I heard him ask as I turned my head in his direction. I raised an eyebrow at him, readying a stance but not speaking.

"Chrysanthe, don't try it!" the satyr nearby exclaimed.

I heard my opponent's light chuckle. "I take that as a yes." He rushed me, which was a fool's move. I feinted a block, then ducked under his swing, moving to make a blow to his stomach but finding my move blocked. "Wow, good try." I had never seen someone (well, someone other than Father) quick enough to block that one. I ducked under another swing, feinting at least three times before an attempt on his side, at which point I had to dive away from his swing before I got hit.

Bah.

This guy was pretty good, and I could see that Blaine was concerned from the corner of my vision. I attacked viciously, deciding to check his defenses. He was rather proficient. No matter how close to him I got, my blade never touched his skin. He was good, but I noted an opening in each stance and realized that he wasn't good enough.

I made him move, keeping myself spry and in motion. I knew I wouldn't break a sweat as I went for each opening. As he got my pattern, he could block each opening. Suddenly, I used my bare hand to block his sword, holding it. It almost burned; I could feel celestial bronze and steel in it. My free hand used the rapier to flick it just under his chin. His use of a two-handed grip had left him more open than he had thought.

My eyes followed his hands as he released his weapon. I set it down and tossed the rapier back into its pile. "That weapon isn't right…" I commented as I turned to Blaine, whose eyes widened. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled and I rolled forward, feeling that blade graze my back.

"You don't turn your back to an opponent," the boy chastised. "This is an opening, but you didn't get hit too hard, so not bad."

"I was under the impression that we were done, but if you want to continue, I would suggest finding me a decent weapon. Swords do not feel right," I said simply. Then I could hear someone yelling something. It took me a moment to realize that they were addressing my opponent.

"Luke!" they yelled. My eyes returned to my previous opponent. I locked eyes with him and saw his scar. I tilted my head, questioning him. I went unanswered. He smiled, waving at the blonde now approaching us. His sandy hair almost complimented her blonde. She stood to my side, looking at me curiously. "Are you a new camper?"

"Indeed."

"Well, I'm Luke," my opponent commented, holding out his hand, which I didn't take. Blaine trotted over, bleating with concern. He had taken off his fake feet and had tucked them under his arm as he stood on my other side. We made the approximation of a square.

"I am Chrysanthe," I said simply. The blonde blinked at me and my rudeness. She seemed annoyed that I could be so curt, but there was more where that came from.

"My name's Annabeth! Daughter of Athena. I'll help you out if you need it," she offered.

"No thank you."

"I am a son of Hermes, so I'll be in charge of you until you're determined," Luke said with a friendly smile. I could feel his interest in me. Not a friendly interest, but a calculating interest. As if he needed me for some odd purpose.

I would not being agreeing, I was sure.

I heard a loud horn blow and blinked, my eyes looking at the source, which I could not determine. Blaine caught my hand. "That means dinner," he said in explanation. I nodded. Dinner? Sounded like it could be of interest.

We went to an outdoor pavilion where there were many picnic tables. I was set with a rather crowded table that Luke sat at. Blaine joined Mr. D at the head table and Annabeth joined many others that shared a few features. I was told that it was more crowded in the summers and made a note that I would have to eat alone in the summer.

A loud, obnoxious group sat a few tables away, and they annoyed me a little more than somewhat. I turned my eyes on them, and a rather large girl seemed to bristle, turning and glaring at me before smiling with evil intent. I had a feeling that I would be seeing her again soon.

It was explained to me that we offered part of our meal to the gods, normally our parent. If we didn't know, just pray to be claimed. I snorted internally, but offered a part of my meal to Father, whispering how I wanted to leave. I felt a small rumble under my feet, which went unnoticed by most, but Mr. D glared at me from over his Diet Coke can.

I didn't even finish my meal. I felt ill. I slipped away halfway through the meal, almost everyone watching me. I'm pretty sure a few people found the behavior normal and didn't bother. I knew Mr. D was watching me as I walked far enough away to not be seen before I slipped into the woods. I found my way in deep, sitting beside a stream. The setting sun on a spray of water created a bit of mist, and I noticed that it was glowing with a rainbow. I blinked, taking a golden drachma from my pocket—I was well-armed with them—and tossing it into the mist. Rather suddenly, I saw my father's strict face. He looked bored.

"Chrysanthe," he said dryly, "have you found anything?"

"No, not yet. I am becoming acquainted with the camp. I have not been able to assess behavior. I'll be certain to report a list of suspects soon," I offered, hoping that would please him. However, he scowled.

"I'm rather disappointed."

"I-I apologize," I replied, my hopes let down.

"No, in myself," he amended. I looked at him hopefully. "I sent you out on a mission that I knew you wouldn't like on your birthday." It was. I thought about it, and it was no wonder there was an air of cheer about. It was my birthday.

I had been born about a century ago on what mortals had called Christmas. I frowned. "Ah. Indeed you did. I had forgotten, Father."

"Mm. That's no good." I sensed the shadows next to me shifting and slipped back, defensive. I heard a chuckle and blinked, looking at my smirking father. "Relax." I looked at the shadows as it formed something small. It had four long legs and a long, slim body of black. Its head was pointed, it seemed, making it faster, I was sure. A long tail with an arrow-shaped end joined its end. Bits of white were over its back and sides, and it took me a moment to realize that it was bone; a spine and ribs. It was not the skeleton of the dog that was now forming in black, but likely a type of armor for its bones. Its underside was decidedly red, as was its chin to its jaw. Long talons on its paws made it dangerous and bone-like horns like a bull completed its hellish look. It opened yellow eyes and stared at me.

I felt…I'm not sure what I felt. Appreciation? I had forgotten my own birthday, yet Father had remembered and created me something. Around its neck was a black band, obviously marking this beast as mine. I looked at Father again, and he tilted his head with curiosity. "Do you like it?"

"I do, Father. Thank you."

"It is not of consequence to me. Now, go to the camp. You should find yourself able to find him when you need him. Mm…what would you like to name him?"

I thought about it critically. "Well, your drakon is already named Aides, so I suppose I'll name him Cleomenes."

Father's eyebrow twitched with annoyance. "Indeed," he murmured in regard to the drakon's name. It had been mother's idea. I ended the connection and left, sighing internally. I wouldn't be seeing Father as much, would I?

XxX

The campfire was enchanted. No matter how much cheer the fire portrayed, I still held a spark of black gloom in the flames. No one really noticed, other than perhaps Chiron. He kept looking at me, but I pretended not to notice. I could sense someone trying to tug on my aura and got up, following it out of curiosity. Whatever it was led me to a bathroom…quite the odd destination. I stepped inside and found myself face-to-face with that girl who had smirked at me previously. I tilted my head at her, curious to what she would try.

She must have sensed my curiosity, because she moved forward with a couple of other members who were smaller than her. It seemed she had a posse. "So, kid, you're new? It means you have to go through orientation."

"Orientation? I do not believe that I need such a thing. Learning things on my own has always been a strong point to my—GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!" I had been approximately three words from finishing my sentence, but I had not the patience to wait that long before warning the two that had grabbed my arms. I had physical strength, but I wasn't going to use it yet. I saw the girl—those other two had called her Clarisse—getting behind me and she soon took me by my wrists, leading me into a stall while the other two laughed.

"So, kid, meet the toilets!"

"I warn you once more. Release me," I said calmly and the laughter faulted. They were used to begging, not orders.

"Not a chance!"

"This is my final admonishing."

"And this is mine!" Just as she was about to shove my head in, I felt my skin begin to sing, and I could see a dim light on the walls as my eyes glowed. I felt the sensation of light feathers dancing over my skin as suddenly I was released. I jumped to my feet, using one hand to hoist me up on the stall's side to watch as Clarisse began dunking her head into the toilet repeatedly with crazed laughter. Glancing at her posse, I saw what I wanted.

Fear.

XxX

Two hours found me in the forest beside the creek again. The doglike creature Father had created for me was lying behind me, letting me rest my head on one of the bare parts of its side. I stared at the stars, listening to people calling my name. I had assumed that the girl had been found by now. Certainly my spell of insanity had thrown everyone for a loop. I heard someone approaching and turned my eyes to eyes that reminded me of sweet grapes and pleasant wine. "Dionysus," I said in acknowledgement.

He glared at me without trying to hide it, sitting on a throne of vines that appeared out of the ground. "You do not attack my campers on my campgrounds without paying the price!"

"It was self-defense, and I was under the impression that you disliked the runts anyway?"

"Karen, you need to—"

"You know my name."

"Do not interrupt!" I was silent. "Good. Now, you simply don't invade someone else's territory and do what you want. You can't use your powers here, unless you want everyone to know you're not really a half-blood and cause a panic?"

Hmm. Indeed it would, not to mention that Father would be upset that I had not managed to retrieve his Helm thanks to a stupid mistake of mine. I sighed, and it seemed that Mr. D got the idea that I wouldn't be speaking any time soon. He got up, and I barely noticed when he left.