Hey Everyone! thanks again for all the reveiws!
Happy New Year! :)
The camp was nothing like I had expected it to be. It looked more like a military command base than a camp. If I was picturing a fun camp with kids playing, it was the total opposite. There were guard towers lined down as far as the eye could see. I highly doubted that was all that was protecting the camp. We came out of the tunnel and were met by two fully armed guards who immediately backed away and allowed us to pass as soon as they saw Lupa. We appeared in the middle of a vast forest on the edge of a clearing.
In the center was a roaring fire even though it was still light out. There was twelve cabins in a 'U' shape each with its own design. I recognized the one with an owl as Athena's. There were many well trodden paths leading away from this camp. The most surprising thing was that all around the camp fire there were people. They weren't just enjoying the fire though. Arrows were soaring high across what had quickly become a battle field. Most were golden tipped while others were silver. I saw two girls attack each other one with two silver knives the other with a pink and gold sword. Wait, I thought, pink?
My jaw dropped. They were hurting each other. Most had wounds and were dripping with blood. What kind of camp is this? There was blood staining the clearing and vicious battle cries sounded everywhere. Besides me Lupa snarled then through back her head and yowled.
"Reyna!"
From the side lines of the battle Reyna came running up looking ashamed. She had cuts all over her and blood was running down her cheek.
"What is going on here?" Lupa demanded.
"Just a little disagreement between the Vestal Virgins and the Venus cabin."
Lupa nodded her head. "I had not known they were coming. I will go sort this out. Reyna take Percy to my den and stay there with him. We have things to discuss."
"Yes Lupa." Reyna saluted then turned to me. "Come with me."
I turned to follow with one last look over my shoulder. Lupa had joined the battle and was thrusting campers to different sides with her massive jaws. Shuddering I raced after Reyna. She led me to a cave in the side of a mountain not too far away from the main camp. She led me inside and I found an extremely comfortable place. Furnished and everything.
"What was going on out there?" I asked.
"Just a little dispute between our Venus campers and the Vestal Virgins."
"Who are they though?"
"The Vestal Virgins are a group of eternal maidens who travel around the world with either Vesta or sometimes Diana if Vesta is busy. Of course the Venus cabin who are daughters and sons of Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, don't exactly agree with their ways of life."
"Okay then…" I said, "Why are they fighting?"
"The Vestal Virgins think that love is pointless. They give that up so that they have eternal maiden hood unless they get killed in battle or break their oath."
"Oh," I said finally getting it, "So the Aphrodite campers want to show them it's not true." The situation seamed familiar.
"Um… not Aphrodite, Venus. They are Roman not Greek. But yes that is the point. Last time they were here, because Vesta is the maiden goddess of the hearth, the cabins were all burned down and they wouldn't let us put out the fire."
"Why not?"
"It's their duty to keep the flame burning. If it goes out they are executed."
"Whoa! Isn't that a little harsh."
She looked at me as if I was crazy. "Of course not it is their beliefs so they had to abide by their rules."
It looked like she was about to say more but Gwen burst through the doors. "Reyna! We need help!"
"What is it?" she asked leaping to her feet.
"Things have gotten out of hand. The nursery is on fire!"
Reyna cursed in Latin. "Come on Percy let's see what we can do to get the children out of there."
I raced after them. They lead me into a burning building that I hadn't noticed before. I was hidden by one of the greater sized cabins. Without hesitation I followed them in. Smoke was everywhere and the fire was scorching my skin. I leaped through the maze of the crumbling structures trying to find the children. Now why would they have children in this military camp I had no idea.
I heard crying off to my left and raced towards it. I burst into a small room and saw a young child who could've been two cowering behind a shelf. She looked petrified.
"It's ok little one we'll get you out of here." I said holding out my hand. She tried to hide even farther behind the shelf. "No don't do that come on we have to get out of here." Tentatively she stretched out her tiny hand. I grasped it and pulled her into my arms. She had bright red hair that again made me think that I should know someone like this.
I began running towards the outside but it's not as easy as you think. The walls were falling down all around us. I heard Reyna's voice call out.
"Everybody out!"
I tried to go faster but I could barely see. The little girl was crying. The tears gave me a hopeless idea. Water I thought if only I had water. Suddenly I saw an opening. I lunged for it. I could feel the fresh air coming in. Then one of the beams above us gave out. It fell to the earth right on top of me. With a huge shove I threw the little girl away from the flames. The beam caught me on the back and I stumbled. I saw Reyna run forward and grab the girl. She tried to come help me but the roof collapsed in front of her and I was stuck.
"I need water." I muttered. I closed my eyes and strangely felt a strong tug at my gut. Water from nowhere poured through the ceiling dousing the flames. It was an insane flash flood. The water energized me. I uncapped Riptide and slashed at the beam. I shoved the now smaller pieces off my back and scrambled to my feet.
I raced outside of the destroyed building. Everyone was soaking wet. All the fires were out except one where a group of girls was tending to it, furiously trying keeping it alive. Reyna was staring at me as was everyone else. Some looked angry others shocked and some just happy that the flames were gone.
The fighting had broken up and the rivals were standing far away from each other. Lupa had no expression on her face. I looked to her asking with my eyes what was wrong. She didn't answer. The whole camp was staring at me stunned. I looked down at me clothes. Not one inch of me was wet. I was perfectly dry.
I looked up and stared at them all through the smoky evening. Then Lupa spoke.
"Children of Rome. All hail Peruses Jackson, Son of Neptune."
No one cheered. All was silent. Then there was a huge uproar. People crowed me demanding answers. People were muttering, shouting in Latin and I had no clue what to do.
A howl pierced the air and instantly they all quieted down.
"We will not speak of this now. Reyna, Percy. My den now. "Lupa snarled.
We walked briskly back to the den. Lupa was right behind us.
"So you are the Son of Neptune!" She exclaimed. Then turned to Lupa, "You knew all along. But what about the prophecy? The oath?"
"I have sworn on the River Styx never to tell and I will not break my oath. For very good reasons."
Reyna didn't push it. "You understand pup that you will not reveal any information that I give you." Lupa said. Reyna nodded.
"He will help you find Jason. We need our praetor."
"Because of the new prophecy." Reyna said. Lupa nodded.
"What prophecy?" I asked
Reyna then said, "The old prophecy said 'A child of the eldest gods shall reach sixteen against all odds, And see the world in endless sleep…"
And then I remembered." A hero's soul cursed blade shall reap, A single choice shall end his days, Olympus to preserve or raze."
"We never found out if it had been completed. We all thought it was Jason but then…" Reyna looked shocked. She turned to Lupa but she would not give anything. "Then the new prophecy. Do you know that one too?"
Lupa interested now started it, "Seven half-bloods shall answer the call…"
"To storm or fire the world must fall," I said excitedly," An oath to keep with a final breath and foes bear arms at the doors of death."
"So it is true ,"Lupa said, "The time has come again." She shook her head.
"Time for what?" I asked.
"I cannot tell you anymore. You will have to figure it out yourself." Then she turned to Reyna, "Take him to his cabin and send the others in early. We have capture the flag tomorrow."
Reyna nodded and stood up. She bowed to Lupa and I did the same before following her out. She lead me to the smoking cabins where people were now moving around putting others into the undestroyed ones. There were twelve cabins all together in a 'U' shape. I couldn't tell but either they were building new cabins outside of this shape or they were there and had been burned. Reyna noticed me looking and explained.
"Each cabin represents a god. These are for the twelve Olympian gods. You are placed into the cabin of your godly parent. Usually you are placed in the Mercury cabin until you are claimed."
"Why Mercury?"
"He is the god of travelers. He doesn't mind who he sponsors. Recently though after the titan war demigods are being claimed as soon as they turn thirteen. We've had to build a lot more cabins for many of the lesser gods."
Before I could ask anymore she walked off leading me to the top of the inside 'U'. My cabin was low to the ground built like a fisherman's house. It was small and smelled like the sea. Above the door was a trident just like the bead on my necklace. The cabin was next to a tall white cabin with a huge lightning streak on the top. Reyna looked sadly at the cabin.
"That's Zeus's cabin right?" I asked.
"No, It's Jupiter. You better knock it off with the Greek terms." She said warningly.
"Alright." I said a little offended. "Whose cabin is that," I said pointing to the equally large one on the right.
"Juno."
"She doesn't like me." I said surprised to know that with such certainty.
"She doesn't like any heroes. Except for one."
"Who?"
"Jason."
"The guy who went missing?"
"Yeah. It was so sudden. We came back late one night." She smiled. "Jason loved cliff diving. Being a son of Jupiter he could control the air almost like flying. It was awesome."
"So what happened?"
"I don't know. The next morning he was gone. Three days ago. We've been searching ever since." She said it with a warning that she didn't want to continue this conversation. Of course I ignored. Then she turned to me. "I've got night patrol. You better get some sleep." She turned to walk away.
"Wait," I called. "Why would Her- I mean Juno like Jason especially if he's her husband's son?"
"No one ever really explained it to me. I think Jupiter gave his life to her to please her. She is his patron." With that she walked away.
I looked up at Hera's cabin. It was as if a current was pulling me towards it. I wanted to go in but stopped myself. I'll check it out tomorrow. I turned and pushed open the door to my cabin. I walked in to find a plain cabin with a bed pushed to the side and a small shelf right next to the window. The walls had nothing on them and the bed just had plain white sheets and a blanket. On the corner of the bed was a note along with a purple shirt and a pair of jeans. The note said:
Thought you'd need these. Swiped them from the camp store.
-Hazel
I smiled. She must be a child of Hermes. I looked at the pathetic room. It just wasn't me. It didn't feel like home. Then I walked over to the window and looked out to see the ocean. Just the presence of it calmed me. The moon was over it and it made the water gleam silver. That almost made up for it. I turned around and nearly fell out the window.
A horse was standing in my door. To be more precise it was a pegasus. It was a dark bay with near black wings that it delicately folded into its back. Then she whinnied with delight.
It is true! The Son of the Sea God is alive!
"Are you talking to me?" I asked. This was really creeping me out.
Of course, she said in my mind, your father is the creator of horses.
"Um…"
I must return to the stables for the night Lord. Anytime you need a ride call Alcippe. She dropped a gold whistle the size of my pinky on the floor.
"Thanks?" I said. Alcippe turned around and walked out my door. She unfurled her wings and took off into the night sky. I fingered the small whistle, shrugged and tied it onto my necklace.
Sighing I laid down on the bed. My life sucks. I closed my eyes hoping for sleep but instead in my dream I came face to face with the queen of the gods. Let me tell you, she did not look happy.
