CHAPTER 2: MARK

Jason

"Sooo… how are you guys feeling?" I asked, watching Percy stuff pancakes into his mouth and Annabeth grimacing in response. Piper was squirming right next to me, itching for the sausages on the table.

Percy merely shrugged. Annabeth nodded. Piper asked, "So the girl who did it…"
Annabeth said, "Amelie. It was just a prank. She didn't mean any harm."
"As long as you're fine with it. Has she been claimed yet?"
Annabeth shook her head. "I have a few theories."

"Hermes? I mean she did pull a prank on you guys." hummed Piper.
"Maybe, but like anyone can enjoy a good prank." I pointed out.

"Definitely not a child of the Big Three. Looking at how old she is, there is no way she could survive with that many monsters after her."

"But I survived." frowned Percy.

Annabeth huffed, "Seaweed Brain, your mom deliberately protected you."
"Well, did she even say if she has a mortal mom or dad?"

"I don't know Piper. It never came up I guess." Annabeth frowned.

I smirked, "She could be an Athena child."
Percy said, "She isn't blonde."
"Dude, there's something called hair dye." Percy shrugged and went back to his meal.

"So when is Leo coming back?" I asked.
Piper shrugged, "He and Calypso took off yesterday. Assuming they arrived at Camp Jupiter today, they'll probably be back in three days. Nico will come back with them too."
Percy asked, grinning like a child, "Hazel and Frank?"
"Doubt it. Frank is a praetor after all, and Hazel will probably stay with him."

Percy grumbled and stuffed some more food into his mouth.

Amelie

This camp is nothing like what I expected. Who decides to have a lava rock climbing course? I looked at the behemoth of a course, hot magma spewing out on the sides from the past sessions, almost done chilling from the morning air. I sighed and continued looking around the camp.

I sneaked my way past the mess hall and towards the place Annabeth showed me earlier, the Arena, a giant pit of sand surrounded by stone benches and marble pillars. I examined the pillars. They looked nothing like the ones I've seen before. They weren't cracked or decorated in random juices. However, they were dusty, not treated with the respect that such a sacred place like the arena commands. Damn, I'm just being sentimental now.

I made my way over to the armory, the giant shed blocking out the sunlight. I entered and examined the various weapons. I touched the string of a bow, testing it out. "Not bad. Definitely won't give you enough power to fire over a couple meters, but it seems these demigods know what they are doing."

I traced my fingers over the blades of several celestial bronze swords hanging alongside the occasionally imperial gold weapon on the rack. "A bit dull. Could use a clean." I whispered, walking over to the very few shields in the armory. "Do they not care about their lives? They need a lot more shields than this."

I scoffed and walked out of the armory, looking for the next place to visit until the rest of camp finished breakfast.

Over there. I found myself walking towards the woods. "Don't tell me what to do." I mumbled. I looked dead ahead at the woods. Despite the sun overhead, the woods seem dark, mysterious, deadly. "Looks fun."

I ventured into the woods, watching the dryads and tree nymphs watch me warily before they scampered back to their vessels. I sighed and kept going.

SNAP! I stopped and turned around, holding my breath, observing for any movement. A shadow leaped past my right eye into my blindspot. My right hand reached for my left where a silver charm bracelet dangled.

A growl sounded behind me. Hellhound. Run. I sprinted out of the woods as fast as I could. I could hear the beast bounding after me, paws pounding on the dirt. "I can't keep running!" Yes, you can.

I grumbled but kept my pace nonetheless. Soon, the woods opened up back to the camp. I bee-lined towards the armory, grabbing anything I could find before running out to face the monster.

You just had to pick the shortest weapon available to you, child. I glanced at the dagger in my hand. "At least it's better than a toothpick." It is a toothpick in comparison to a regular sword.

I stared at the hellhound heaving in front of me. Strangely enough there was a collar around its neck. I mouthed, 'What' before the hellhound jumped towards me.
Eyes widened, I leapt to the side, skidding across the grass. The monster looked around for me until it spotted me. Its mouth hung open, a tongue rolling out.

"Think I should fight it?" It is imperative we survive.

I stood up, dusting myself slightly. I asked the beast, "I thought the camp barriers were supposed to keep monsters out. Or did I hear that wrong?"

I ran towards the beast and dove underneath it. The hellhound turned around and sprinted towards my new position. The creature is smart. "Didn't you create them?" I mumbled before raising the dagger, holding the tip of the blade loosely. I threw the dagger and watched as it sailed towards the ground next to the hellhound's paws. Rusty. AND you lost our only defense.

I scoffed and watched as the hellhound glanced at the dagger curiously. I reached for my charm bracelet and pulled on the lion charm. The charm came off and transformed into a wicked imperial gold dagger that glinted in the sun. "I'm not that stupid."

I yelled and charged the beast. I vaulted on its back and raised the dagger, about to strike at the area right above the collar.

"Stop! Don't hurt Mrs. O'leary!" The dog moved and launched itself to the newcomer. I fell off, landing on my back. I groaned and carefully put away my dagger, returning it to its metallic lion form.

I picked myself up and saw Annabeth and Percy tackle the hellhound as if he was a dog. They were laughing.

I smiled and made my way back to the armory, picking up the dagger that I had thrown previously.

"Wait! How did you do that?" I turned and saw Annabeth glancing at me warily. "I mean, no new demigod would know how to beat a monster that easily."
"But I didn't beat that hellhound."
Annabeth flushed, "I know, but the last time I saw something like that was when Percy came."
"It wasn't a good omen?"
"Well, after he came, we learned of Kronos coming back. That started the Second Titan War. And then Percy disappeared. And when I saw him next we were at war with Gaea." My right hand twitched. "And it was the Second Giant War. So believe me when I say that this could be an omen of changing times." She faltered.

"No, no I doubt it. You guys deserve moments of peace. Don't mind me much." I smiled.

Annabeth and I walked back to the hellhound. Percy glared at me while scratching Mrs. O'Leary's scruff. I raised my hands, "Sorry. I thought he was out to kill me."

Percy softened, "She. Yeah, don't sweat it." He continued scratching the hellhound.

I shifted nervously, "About last night, I'm sorry. I didn't know-"
Percy waved, "No grudges held here. Don't worry." He gave me a genuine smile.

Hooves hit the pavement. Chiron came in with his centaur form. He hurried over to Percy, "Is Mrs. O'Leary okay? I heard what happened from Piper and Jason." Said demigods were huffing behind the centaur, just arriving. I said, "Don't worry. She's fine."

Chiron cocked an eyebrow. "I'm fine too."

"Then, come child. I noticed you haven't eaten breakfast yet." I followed Chiron back to the mess hall where people were finishing up their breakfasts. Clarisse jumped on her feet and thrusted a plastic knife towards my neck. She growled, "Heard what happened last night."

Annabeth put her hand on Clarisse, "We already made peace. It's fine."
"No. If she wants to fight, I'd be happy to." I snarled.

"I agree with precious over here. She has a right to get whoo-"

Clarisse looked up at something above me. I checked behind me and saw nothing out of place. "What's going on?"

Percy said, "Look up."
Above me was a brown owl slowly dissipating into thin air. Chiron's smile twinkled as he said, "All praise, Amelie Gray, daughter of Athena."

Everyone started getting on their knees, even Clarisse. However, none of that was my concern. I looked directly at the clouds and shouted, "Are you kidding me? You claim me now. Not back then when I needed your help, but now?! Is he making you do it? Cause, if I recall-"

There was thunder. "αι γαμισου*, Zeus!"

Chiron stared directly at me, surrounded by confused and gaping campers. He said directly to me, "Language, young lady."

I flushed before walking to an empty table and picking up a piece of toast. Everyone snapped out of their stupor and resumed their normal activities, many leaving to their first class. Annabeth and her little gang stayed behind with Chiron, discussing some things before leaving.

Annabeth, however, walked over to me and said, "So, since you're also a daughter of Athena, I'll help you acclimate to Cabin 6. Come on." She started walking in the direction of the cabins.

I smiled a little before running to catch up with her.

She then asked, "So… where did you learn that phrase from?" I smirked before running off.

In Happy Harbor….

Wally

"Guys." I raced into the living room of the cave with a bag of potato chips. Barbecue flavored. "When is Kaldur coming back?"
Superboy was currently watching static, as usual. Megan was baking in the kitchen, smoking pouring out of the oven. Boy Wonder was probably hanging the cave. Again. For the thirtieth time.

Robin shrugged, "Sometime today. Why? Think we need another babysitter? Red Tornado is enough, no?"

"He's not much of a babysitter. He just stands around and charges all day."
Robin hummed, noting my point.

"Team. You have a visitor." Red Tornado came next to me. I yelped, spilling chips everywhere.
I groaned, "That was the last snack I had left."

Robin jumped up. He hurried over to the Zeta tubes. The rest of us quickly followed and saw Kaldur come out of the tubes. "B02. Aqualad." chimed the computer.

I smirked, "Where have you been Kaldur?"

"Atlantis. We had a monster issue on the surface."

Robin frowned, "Monster?"
"You don't need to know." Aqualad said. "Should we start training?"
I groaned, "Really, Kaldur?"
He stared at me straight on. "Fine." I huffed, making my way to the training area.

On my way, however, I heard Kaldur tell Red Tornado, "There's a lot of monsters appearing near Long Beach."

Red Tornado nodded, "I'll notify Batman." Monsters, huh.

Flashback

A woman with flowing black hair and stormy gray eyes floated down onto the lush island, full of trees and colorful insects, but most of all, a teeming female warrior force. The Amazons.

The woman landed on the beach, her feet sliding under the wet sand. A woven basket hung from her hand, a blanket inside, covering a creature. There on the top of the beach was Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. Hippolyta smiled and bowed, "Lady Athena, what brings you here to our humble abode?"
Athena sniffed at the basket. "I had a thought. It was just a thought. But it came to life."
Hippolyta tilted her head to glance inside the basket.

Athena continued, "Just as many of your Amazonians are demigods or legacies of such, especially of my father." She said that in disdain. "I have brought you a gift as well. A child of mine. My first."

She handed Hippolyta the basket where a toddler was sleeping soundly, tufts of black hair peeping out from the blanket. On top of the blanket was a simple bracelet acting as a mobile.

"A gift for her. It is enchanted so she will be fitted with the finest weapons. And of course, she can accumulate more if she is clever enough."

Hippolyta nodded, "My Lady, may I ask why she is not in your care?"
"She is not a god. She is not a pure mortal. She is a mix in between with no true mortal father. Truly, born out of my thought, and as such, modeled after me. Gods can not raise their children. But she has no mortal family to raise her. I trust the Amazons will keep her fulfilled and raise her properly."

Hippolyta nodded. "Just one more question my lady." Athena nodded.

"Her name?"

"She is my firstborn after all. A name fitted after my own. Her name is Athenais."

So... second chapter! More chapters will be out soon and more than once a week since I got time to actually outline the next few (and I have time to write with... you know). For those of you asking about the flashbacks, the flashbacks are meant to illustrate Amelie's past, and help show her to the reader. These flashbacks will be there every chapter and usually relate to the chapter content.

Reviews are welcomed. Appreciate constructive criticism.

*αι γαμισου=Fuck you. (excuse the language)

Eat. Sleep. Read. Review!

-hope4all