Chris opened the door and was bombarded with sounds and smells. People were throwing things around and being loud and obnoxious, video games were beeping and blowing up. Kids were bullying and beat up others.

Good gods, Chris thought. Its like juvy for demigods.

A boy looked over, he seemed to be the oldest, he was trying to keep order along with the other 16-year-olds.

"Hey," he called to Chris. "Gimme a minute, I'll be right with you." SMASH! "Oh come on Wilson! Put the ball down, you're terrible at sports and you know that! Connor, greet the newbie for me, will you?"

A boy came over that looked the same as the other, only shorter. Actually a lot of the kids looked the same in this cabin. Probably the resemblance of their father, Hermes.

"Hey," the boy named Connor said. "I'm Connor Stoll, that over there is my brother, blood brother, like not just from Hermes, Travis. We're the counselors of this cabin."

"I'm... I'm Chris Wall," Chris said, sticking out his hand.

Connor shook it. "Determined or not?"

"Uh, oh you mean do I know who my father is, no I don't."

"Well, as you can see," Connor pointed behind him. "We don't need anymore Hermes kids, but if you do get Hermes You're welcomed here." He smiled and ducked in time for a ball to land in Chris' face. Everyone stopped and looked over at Chris, who didn't even move. His eyes closed, when he opened them the kids were all gaping, all expecting him to flip out and go on a killing spree. Instead he picked up the ball, everyone flinched.

Chris' eyebrows arched, he looked very mad. He held up the ball, "Who through this?"

A young man, about 12 years old, lifted his hand slowly and shakily. It seemed as if the effort to lift it was draining the blood from his face because he went paler every inch his arm went up. Chris walked over to him and stood tall over him. The kid had to be no taller than 4'11'', Chris was exactly a foot taller than him, so the kid had to crane his neck to look into his eyes.

Chris smiled, and handed him the ball. "Nice throw, kid," he said. Everyone was silent, the kid took the ball and smiled up at Chris.

"Thanks," he said, the kid was a Hermes kid, he had the pointy ears, much like an elf. He had black curly hair, Chris figured if the kid grew it out he would have an Afro. His smile made Chris feel as if he should guard his pockets and wallet carefully.

Chris nodded to him and turned toward Travis Stoll. "I think I just brought order to the cabin," he said smiling.

Travis walked over and shook Chris' hand, looking him over. "Damn, I hope you're my brother dude, we could use someone who can quiet everyone down."

"Well, I would be glad to help," Chris said as a conch horn sounded outside. Everyone took a second and gave Chris appreciative smiles and nods, then they filed out, pushing and shoving, like kids in the school cafeteria.

"Dinner," Travis told Chris, leading him out the door. "After that the camp bonfire, maybe you'll be claimed by then..."


Dinner was amazing, it was the best stuff he had ever eaten, plus they had a goblet that you could say whatever drink you wanted and it would fill with it, nonalcoholic of course. He had eaten with all the Hermes cabin, who needed 3 extra tables to fit the whole cabin. Mr. D, who turned out to be the God of Wine, Dionysus, didn't seem to keen to be at the camp. Chris knew of course, he had been punished by Zeus for being with an off limits nymph.

After dinner they went to the fire pit and did a sing along, which Chris would never participate in but tonight was different, he felt like he was one of the campers. And then Mr. D stood and started to speak, by the looks on everyone's face this wasn't a fun thing to listen to.

"Well," Mr. D said unenthusiastically, "welcome back to all you summer kids, yadda yadda. I would like to welcome some new comers, like Brandy McLayer..."

Someone in the crowd yelled, "Mandy McMayer!"

"Yeah, yeah," Dionysus waved the outburst away with his hand. "Now, Capture the Flag will be next week, find your alliances and... yeah. I think its time for bed. Off you go children!"

Just as everyone started to get up something glowed green over Chris' head and when he looked up he saw a Caduceus rotating over his head. Everybody gasped, they Stoll brothers made silent gestures saying they were excited. The whole cabin lifted him onto their shoulders and carried him to cabin 11.

That night the Hermes kids stayed up late, which was customary when a son or daughter of Hermes was claimed, and partied. The children of Hermes were experts at sneaking in off prohibited things like soda or candy. They stayed up drinking soda and wolfing down candy. Chris hung around mostly the Stoll brothers, but they would branch off and talk with others, leaving Chris to sit there awkwardly, drinking his soda and eating M&Ms. Chris never really liked parties where he didn't know many people, he was always a shy guy, never mingled or anything.

Occasionally someone would come over and start talking to him, Chris enjoyed getting to know the people he would be living with, but he hated the idea of there being so many people in the cabin. He barely liked sharing a room with his brother at home. Then someone strange walked over to him, whoever it was was about the height of an adult but he was wearing a hood to cover his face.

"Chris," the hooded figure said. "Meet me outside in a few."

Yes, and bring me a rat, came a male voice in Chris' head.

Oh hush, George before you draw attention to us!

"Hush you two," the hooded figure hissed at the two voices, he hurried out of the cabin. Chris followed the hooded man out of the cabin and followed him up to the Big House. The hooded man changed form and now looked like an ordinary mortal mail man, but Chris recognized the man.

"Herm..." Chris caught himself. "Father, what are you doing here?"

Hermes sat down on the bench and gestured for Chris to do the same. Chris sat down and his father turned to him, a box appearing in his hands. He handed the box to Chris and Chris took it.

"What's this?" Chris asked.

"Just call it a little... 'Sorry you have to deal with this whole Pandora's box thing' gift."

Chris opened the box and pulled out a pair of shoes, not very nice shoes either, they were dirty and looked worn out.

"The mist hides what they really are, but once you put them on you will see what they are... Go ahead, put 'em on!"

Chris put the old smelly sneakers on and they transformed into golden sandals with big bird wings on the sides.

"Whoa!" Chris exclaimed. "Wow, thank you father... but why are you playing favorites with me? You gave me a sword, a shield, and now these shoes. Plus I am pretty sure you don't do that avatar thing with all your kids."

Hermes looked at Chris for a moment then cleared his throat. "You see Chris," Hermes explained. "You were always destined to protect Pandora's Box, but I figured you needed a good family so that you won't hate the gods all because I 'abandoned' you. As for the sword and shield, you needed protection, and I gave it to you."

"Oh," Chris thought there was more to it, something Hermes wasn't telling Chris, but he didn't say anything. "So what are the shoes for?"

"For when you have to leave the camp," Hermes said as if it were obvious.

"Why would I leave the camp?" Chris asked, shocked. He didn't want to leave camp, he liked it here.

"This isn't the safest place for the box," Hermes explained, putting his hands behind his head.

"Then... then where is the safest place?" Chris asked.

Tell him, the female voice from before said.

Hush, Martha! The male voice said.

"What was that?" Chris asked. Hermes sighed and pulled out a cellphone, Chris saw two snakes coiled around it.

"Chris," Hermes said. "Meet George and Martha, my caduceus."

Its a pleasure, dear, Martha said. Now Hermes tell him! He has a right to know!

Martha shh, he will tell the boy when he thinks he is ready. Don't mind her Chris, she's senile.

"What is she talking about?" Chris asked the messenger.

"Thanks Martha," Hermes muttered to his phone. "There is something you do not know about this quest." Pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Chris. "This is the prophecy about the quest."

The boy with the box will be claimed by the God of Trade,

He will be rescued by the father's aid,

The Box shall be opened by the son the God of Thieves,

A fight to the death will decide who leaves...

Chris looked up at his father, gaping. "The boy with the box will be claimed by the god of Trade. That's me, I have the box and you are the God of Trade and Commerce," Hermes nodded. "He will be rescued by the father's aid. You rescued me by giving me the sword and shield, without those I'd be dead. The Box shall be opened by the son of the God of Thieves. The box is going to be opened by... one of your children, not me though right?" Chris looked at his father for reassurance. The god looked away from Chris.

"I cannot tell you," Hermes said. "All I can say, is that it is not someone you know currently."

Chris closed his eyes in relief, then looked back down at the paper. "Well the last line is obvious; A fight to the death will decide who leaves. I'm going to have to fight the one who opened the box."

Hermes nodded.

Hermes sir, Martha said, you have a call on line 1.

"Take a message," Hermes said without looking down.

It's Zeus sir, he says it is urgent.

It must be urgent, George said. He also sent you 20 texts, 5 emails, and 17 faxes.

Hermes sighed, he looked at the first text from the Father of the Gods. He cursed and looked at Chris. "Looks like I must be going son, be ready to leave by Wednesday. And don't trust anyone you meet out there, understood?"

"Alright," Chris said. "I'll see you later at some point."

"Yes," Hermes said, standing. "shield your eyes." Chris closed his eyes as Hermes revealed his true form and disappeared, leaving Chris sitting in the bench alone to ponder what he had just learned. He was about to leave the safety of Camp Half-Blood, but where was he going to go? He was allowed two people to go with him, but who would go with him on such a dangerous quest?...