AN: Gosh, sorry my chapters are so long...i get carried away. ENJOY!

Apollo's chariot came for us at sunrise.

It was a warm and damp morning, my muscles all tight from yesterday and I was sore as Hades. All of our comrades seemed to be too. They stalked out of their cabins, muttering in pain as they had to squint in at the sun…which was pretty much sitting outside our doorsteps.

Apollo was standing outside a flaming red long bus, with his usual white cut-off shirt and sunglasses, but the smile that crossed his face when he was usually present, wasn't there. Worry lines masked his handsome face (no! I don't think he's handsome! Just an observation!). All our stuff was packed and ready to go. All the kids were mobbed at the bus door, filing in with morbid scowls across their faces. The ones on the bus were staring outside, trying to soak up their last look at Camp Half-Blood. Chiron was present, with Mr. D standing beside him. Chiron had a weak, comforting smile going on but Mr. D had a permanent grimace.

I gave Apollo my bag to put it in the truck. He did, stone-face, not even a "Hey, what's up Zeke old buddy?" Yeah, me and Apollo go way back…which is a lie. I always say that to impress the ladies.

Speaking of ladies, I popped my head over the crowd and smiled as I recognized Nixie's black hair bobbing through the line into the bus. I ran up to her but before I could hug her or anything, she looked at me, gray eyes hard as a rock. I could tell something was wrong.

"Hey, what's up?" my tone was caring. I couldn't see anything wrong with my approach. But she shook her head.

"Don't talk to me."

"What?" I asked, totally staggered. I touched her shoulder but she whipped away like I had shocked her.

"Don't touch me!" She growled, tears welling up in her big eyes "Don't talk to me, don't look at me, don't even think about me!"

I recoiled, starting to get angry, "What is your problem? What did I do?"

Nixie fought for an answer but didn't have to because she disappeared inside the bus. Everyone was staring at me, equally confused as me. Did I do something wrong? I mean, I think I was her boyfriend since…last night. Surely I couldn't have messed up in the time I got with her! She was only my…1,2,3,4,5...6th! No…7th girlfriend! Did she just break up with me? The mind of a teenage female demigod. Never could understand it. Probably never will.

"Dude what did you do?" Izzy came up behind me, eyes smiling and mischievous, hungry for some gossip.

I shrugged, "Nothing, at least, I think."

Izzy shook her head, "Oh Zeke, never good with the ladies. Maybe it's because of that. She's knows your reputation with…dating."

As I pondered this, I finally got into the bus, plopping down in a seat of my own. From my pants pocket, I fished out my iPod, flicking through songs to best fit my mood-depressed.

Once I got a decent play list, I observed my surroundings. The bus, inside, looked like a normal school bus, not that I ever got to experience one, with emergency latches and leather seats. Apollo finally got in and pulled the radio up to his face.

"Welcome to Apollo Airlines." His voice was sad and unhappy. "We will now depart ladies and gentleman. Remember, no sticking your hands out the windows because you will get wet. Next stop, Hercules School for Special-Case Demigods in Arizona." We all groaned simultaneously. I was happy that I wasn't the only down about this.

Apollo hung up the radio and sat down in the driver's seat. The bus started to rumble as he started it up. I reluctantly looked out the window. Kids from all the cabins were right outside the bus, watching us, waving with somber faces. I saw Sofia and a couple of her "friends" arms crossed glaring at us. I saw Seth's gang, being closely watched by Chiron and Mr. D. He saw me staring at him and he gave me a thumbs up.

I suddenly had the urge to break the window and jump out, fighting off anyone who tried to get me back on the bus. The last person I saw was Chiron, giving me a small salute. That almost made me cry.

The bus ride was fairly short, considering our ride was the sun. I occupied myself by listening to music, or spying on Nixie, who seemed to be enjoying her trip laughing, giggling, chatting. I almost wanted her to be having a bad time, knowing how she made me feel after she freaked out at me for no reason. Maybe I should get her alone and confront her about it.

I also kept a close eye on Thana and Izzy. Izzy was sitting with some stud from Zeus's cabin, cuddling and whispering into each other's ear. Once, when she caught me making a disapproving face at her, she stuck out her bottom lip and pretended to cry. I rolled my eyes and sat back in my seat, slightly jealous.

Thana was sitting across from my seat, with the other girl from Poseidon's cabin, Molly, I think, Nixie's half sister. I tried to get some answers from her but all she did was shrug (and flirt) and say, "We are just as confused as you. All she did was talk about you all night then, she went out on a walk to the ocean, saying she wanted to give thanks to our father for her good luck. But when she came back about 2 hours later…she wouldn't talk. When someone would bring you up she would just shake her head and yell. Sorry Zeke. But you know…I'm always available if you need someone to talk to."

"Um…ok thanks...I guess. And I think I'm fine." And that was that. I tried not to make eye contact with the girl anymore. But that got me thinking. What happened out there on her little walk that changed her mind so much?

I sat thinking about this, for almost the whole ride, relaying different scenarios in my head. Some were logical, like what if her father told her not to date me because he had something against children of Hades. But my imagination grew to what if she met another guy, better looking than me, that totally beat me out on everything and now Nixie rather have him than me? I quickly killed that idea for my own sanity.

So wrapped up in my thoughts I barely noticed that we were crossing a desert and the air conditioning kicked in when the temperature raised about 10 degrees. Apollo's voice came across on the radio again. "We have reached Hercules's School for Special-Case Demigods. Please brace yourself for landing."

All of the kids flocked to the windows to get a first look at our new home. We all gasped as it came into sight. It looked exactly like a prison, high walls lined with barbed wire and a giant tower in the middle with a circling search light. And plus, all around it was dry, arid desert.

"It's a reformatory!" I heard Izzy groan above the chatter, "I've been in one before! Awful places!"

I heard Apollo chuckle and his now playful voice was on the radio, "Haha, no Izzy. You silly demigods. The Mist is messin' with your minds! The prison look is just for mortals. Wait ill we're lower. You guys are gonna love this place!

Doubt it I thought drearily but anything is better than a prison.

As Apollo did a nose dive towards the school, it started to change. The nasty gray concrete walls around the place the size of 3 football fields was now lowering and now white decorated with carvings of a familiar Greek myths. Hercules's 12 tasks. Theseus battling the Minotaur. Perseus killing Medusa. And what disgusted me the most was the description of Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood all fighting a rather realistic and scary carving of Kronos.

Yeah, I have a problem with Percy Jackson. I understand he's an awesome guy with his own book series, movie, etc. Oh, and he saved the world once or twice and is immortal but that's the thing. He's too perfect. Everyone else loves him. Thinks he's the best thing since Iris messaging but let's face it. The guy is either a vampire or a god. No one can be that faultless.

He was my hero but when once, when I was 9, he came to the camp as a special guest speaker with Annabeth (who is way to hot and flawless to be human) and Grover (who is just…awful) and he gave a really great speech and everything but he was so full of himself it was sickening. Plus, he wasn't that impressive looking! I have bigger muscles than him!

Also, I had a bit of, dare I say it, jealousy. I mean, the guy has done so many things that I wanted to do too. No, I wanted to do more than him. But so far…my goal is going slowly. I was well known around camp but I want a darn book series!

Anyway, the prison had finished transforming. Now it was a huge mansion, white and magnificent. It was an exact replica of a huge, ginormous Italian Villa. To the left and right were white dorms, probably to separate the boys and girls, which sent despair through my veins. No more Izzy and Thana? Looks like I'm going to have to get use to not having two girls sleeping in the same room as me…

Apollo slowed the bus down and landed in the front yard, which was decorated with fountains and flowers. I saw a really, really, REALLY buff bodybuilder with some young girl draped across him out on the front steps of the Villa, waving with big brilliant smiles on their faces.

"Whoa! Who's the hot bodybuilder?" Izzy exclaimed and all the girls giggled and agreed.

"You'll find out soon enough!" Apollo announced "Now come on and get out. I got a sky to blaze across."

And so slowly but surely we paraded off the bus, all of the girls trying to get a glimpse of the muscleman while all the guys (except me I'm taken…kinda) were staring at the gorgeous girl.

It just so happens, when we were trying to get out of the bus, I got caught beside Nixie. I smiled sweetly at her but she just stared straight ahead, not noticing anything.

Trying to Win her Back Attempt Number 1-Fail.

We all got outside and claimed our bags while Apollo bid us all farewell and good luck then got into his bus. As I passed the door, a hand jerked me into the bus and my belongings clattered to the ground. I looked at Apollo with incredulous eyes.

Apollo was stiff jawed, as if he was trying to figure out what to say.

"Zeke…" he started, "You know there is something more than just overpopulation at Camp Half-Blood, am I correct?"

"Uh, yeah," I answered wondering where this mini quiz was going.

"The gods don't want me to tell you this but…I had to."

Apollo glanced around as if someone was on the bus, "There is a war coming. A demi-war they are calling it. But please, don't tell anyone. It's a secret."

I nodded, letting that register in my brain. A war? A demi-war? "So?"

"The gods can not interfere the in the upcoming war. That is why we have chosen the most powerful demigods, the children of the Big Three, to fight in our stead. And to get you ready…we made this place."

"What does this have to do with me? And who are we fighting?"

Apollo removed his ever-present sunglasses and his piercing blue eyes stared into mine and suddenly, I was thrown into his mind. I was in a large open field, the smell of blood strong all around me. I was in my Stygian armor, the rain that was pouring heavily on me made little tinks as it bounced off my armor. I suddenly realized I had my sword in my hand, pointing it down it someone in the ground. But when I looked at the face, I dropped my sword. It was Nixie , face bloody and bruised.

"Why?" her voice was weak and hurt. "Why did you kill me?"

"I didn't!" I screamed but I felt a tug at my navel and all of the sudden I was ripped out of that terrible field and back on the bus, with Apollo clutching my shoulders.

"You alright?"

I nodded shakily, so many questions swarming in my head. But, of course, I had no time to answer them. Raiden's fist pounded on the door.

"Hey! Were waiting for you!" his voice was agitated. Good ol' Raiden.

` "Goodbye young demigod. Study hard!" Apollo smiled and opened the door for me to leave. Raiden grabbed my arm and ripped me out into the crowd. We all watched as Apollo's sun chariot returned to the sky. I walked past Nixie and I choked up, my mind recollecting the vision I saw only moments ago. Was I really going to kill her?

The bodybuilder and the hot chick walked up to us, their toga's swaying in the slight desert breeze. They both had a soft glow around them, since they were both immortal.

The buff guy had wavy brown hair and huge dimples on his face, making him seem like a guy you would find in a magazine. The girl was just…hot. Pretty young face, blonde shiny hair, bright black eyes, a supermodel figure…Bad Zeke! Your with Nixie…kinda.

"Welcome!" The guy greeted, oblivious to our scowled and somber mood. "My name is Hercules! Or Heracles which ever you like! But here, I am Mr. H. I'm sure you know me. Conquer of the 12 labors, Rescuer of Prometheus? Star of the Disney Movie Hercules? Had an adjective named after me? Herculean? Of course you know me!" A couple, just a couple, kids ooooed and awwwed but I, like most kids, just shrugged and nodded.

"And this is my most beautiful, best wife in the world, the goddess of youth, Hebe." The young supermodel waved shyly at us, embarrassed. My mind slipped back into all my Greek Mythology lesson to remember that Hercules had actually 4 wives…and some male lovers.

"Here," Hercules continued, "We will teach you major life skills and prepare you for the coming days." Some whispers of confusion dispersed among the group. But I knew what was coming. War.

"And since this is a school, you all will have various classes to attend. But don't worry, they are few. Just Attack Training, Defense Training, Know You Enemy, Strategy, and, my class, English!"

We all stared at him. English? Really?

Hercules belted out a loud obnoxious laugh, "Haha young demigods, I was just pulling your legs! I teach Guerrilla Tactics! I crack myself up sometimes…anyway, just like school, you will be graded and you will have homework." We all groaned at once. I even did, though I have never experienced a real school with kids and what not. I was "camp schooled".

"And now," Hebe's beautiful immaculate voice rang in the air, "I will distribute your schedules. On there you will find when and where all your classes will be. Oh and where your new dorm will be and who your dorm mate will be!"

More groans. Hebe snapped her fingers and suddenly, all of us were holding a thick, expensive looking pamphlets. Hercules and Hebe told us to report to our dorms and settle down until the bell rings, then left.

I flipped through my pamphlet, grimaces at the description and pictures. I turned to the very back. On the top read my name "Ezekiel Jathan Brenton" with my dorm number, Room 13, and my dorm mate, some 8 year old kid named Mike Tempest. At first, I wasn't sure who it was. But then I remember him arriving when I was 13 and he was 6, quickly being put into the Poseidon cabin. We knew him as "Shrimp" not Mike. I tell you why later.

But the worst part came when read through my schedule.

6:00 to 7:00-Breakfast in the main Villa Cafeteria (Ha! Try getting me get up at that hour and there will be blood!)

8:00 to 9:30- Guerrilla Tactics with Mr. H in Hero Woods (I bet I know who named that)

10:00 to 11:30-Attack Training with Mr. P in the inside Field1 (Mr. P?)

12:00 to 1:30-Lunch in the main Villa Cafeteria

2:00 to 3:30-Defensive Training with Mr. T in the inside Field2 (Really? Mr. T?)

4:00 to 5:30-Strategy with Mrs. Chase inside classroom A (Wait, Mrs. Chase? Cant be…)

6:00 to 7:30-Dinner in the main Villa Cafeteria

8:00 to 9:30-Know Your Enemy with Mr. Jackson at classroom B

I stared incredulously at my schedule. Mrs. Chase…Mr. Jackson…that can only mean one things. Annabeth Chase. Percy Jackson. This day is going very downhill very fast.