CHAPTER 3

I knew I had not as much of time left than I imagined. A part of me hoped that it wouldn't be before next six months. Another part of me just wanted them to find me already and take me to Camp Half-Blood.

All that speech I made about having some stability and normalcy after my encounter with Kelli was garbage. It was just a moment of exhaustion, frustration and adreline speaking.

If Kelli found me already and came to hunt me then satyrs weren't much behind. I knew they would sense me eventually. But I imagined it wouldn't be in next year and half.

The problem with that was first I came back year and half early with full knowledge of my ancestry; second I am a son of one of the big three; third I have an ancient extremely powerful deity living inside my head. Although Chaos assured me that wasn't the case after my encounter with Kelli I wasn't so sure. All that was left was big yellow banner attached over my head that say:

Yo I'm a half-blood. Come and get me.

I never imagined the time would out next day after my encounter with Kelli. I anticipated that my scent with the smell of an Empousa in school must've given them enough smell that to realise that there is a half-blood- me. And it was none another long time best friend, my partner on quests, my buddy with empathy link- Grover.

He joined the school next day with his usual disguise. He looked same as I remembered when I first met him back in Yancy Academy in my past life. He still had curly brown hair, only person with acne on his face and wispy beard on his chin and looked like he was held back several grade. He looked so out of place that children instantly noticed him and started pointing, whispering, snickering… you get the gist. On top of that he disguised as crippled to hide his goat legs.

"Hey, that's new kid I take that everyone is talking about?" My other bestfriend said as she watched Grover entering the canteen which, sadly, got attentions of everyone present which again started the whisper, snickering and all.

He looked nervous with all the attention he was getting. I can't blame him. If it was me in place of him, I would sure get nervous too.

"Yep, He sure is." I replied. My eyes still fixed on Grover as he scanned the hall for something…. or someone.

"He look so nervous and out of place." She pitied him.

I gave her an amused smile. She obviously wasn't aware of his condition. It was quite amusing to watch Rachel getting all sad and pitying over Grover. She didn't saw Grover in battle against Titan; if she did she wouldn't be acting like somebody kicked her puppy.

"Don't you think we should invite him to sit with us?" She asked.

"Yeah, absolutely." I replied immediately. Even if she didn't I would've. He did come here looking for me after all. We would've been best-friend instantly no matter what situation.

Rachel waved her hand frenziedly beckoning Grover to come sit with us. She just made his situation easier. With all the food smell in cafeteria, I imagined it was difficult to catch my demigod smell. It was not like as soon as he saw me he would recognize me. This Grover didn't know me at all.

Grover walked funnily our way as if every step he made hurt him. Ofcourse I knew reason behind it but Rachel didn't which got her sadder for Grover. She's always been an emotional girl.

"Hey I'm Rachel." She introduced herself as soon as he reached our table.

"This idiot here is Percy." She introduced me which got 'hey' from me. She just rolled her eyes in response.

You know it's true. Chaos commented.

As soon as his eyes fell on me, his eyes widened slightly. I knew he recognized me as half-blood. Not as any half-blood but a powerful one. Satyrs always had a sensitive nose for these types of thing. I wondered he already had some speculation regarding powerful half-blood in this school before he joined.

I gave him a small mischievous smile and shook his hand.

"I have a feeling that we are gonna be great friends in future." I said. "And for the record I'm not an idiot."

That caused all of us to chuckle.

As soon as he sat, Rachel immediately began with her bunch of questions I knew she must've been dying to ask. Grover looked slightly uncomfortable. I can't blame him for that, Rachel could sometimes talk too much whenever curiosity burning inside her become too much for her to keep in.

Hey, you noticed that Kelli only kept leaping at you? Chaos asked.

'Now that you mentioned it… she seemed less…impressive.' I thought back.

I thought it was kind of odd.

'She must've thought that I was ten years old, so I would be easy prey' I reasoned.

Hmm…she sounded skeptical. I let it slide.

I knew Grover was dying to talk to me, to know about me so that he could contact Chiron back at the camp about me, with the way he kept glancing at me. I decided to let Rachel talk with Grover for now.

With him already finding me, I had hurry up my plan with few change. He was gonna contact camp soon. I knew he wouldn't be far away from me. After all he was here to protect me. What good Satyr he would be if he doesn't and he was already on second & last chance with Cloven of Elders, not that he isn't good at what he does but he has tendency to mess things up… like me.

They were going to contact my mom soon and then I had to go. It's not like Camp Half-Blood is a terrible place, which wasn't the case. It was to saying goodbye again to them. On one hand I didn't want to go to The Camp yet. I can't leave my mom and Rachel yet. I mean I just reunited with them. One week wasn't long enough.

On the other hand, I had to leave, it would make some of the things much easier to achieve. I would meet Rachel and my Mom on regular basis and I needed help of Rachel for some part of my plan to work. But that wouldn't be same as before.

Rachel became Oracle in my past life, which meant she would become one again. That'll make another reason for regular meet when she does.

That's good, right?

I have been at war for better part of my year. Whenever I did get some peace time, my mind would be plagued with worries, fears, about what next course of actions I had to partake. I never really got sense of peace. Where I doesn't have to worry about which next immortal or monster is gonna attack.

I really thought that was it after The Second Giant's War. That I was going to finally get some peace but it wasn't any immortal or monsters attacked me, nightmares did. Yet another constant battle and this time it was all happening inside my mind.

I cogitated that's what happens when you become victim of constant war. Once you get sucked into it, you never really return. War is like one way door, you enter it then that's it. You are trapped.

Finally, Chaos took pity over me and gave me a second chance. That meant living through all of this again and this course I took was gonna be much, much harder than I anticipated in exchange for Peace. Peace from war, peace from monsters, peace from immortals, peace from gods. Peace from nightmare and anything to do with being a Demigod.

I took a deep breath and counted backwards from ten. A method I took whenever had these morose thoughts spate my mind and calm myself.

Yes, I was doing this for peace. I motivated myself.

You'll meet them soon. Chaos assured me.

I shooked my head dissipating sad thought. This was not me.

As soon as these thoughts were suppressed another popped and I realized that I was so busy reuniting with my old bestfriend (for him just becoming friends.) that it never really crossed my mind.

When I projected my realization she only replied with one word: Ripple effect.

"But Grover shouldn't be assigned another school until year and half from now. I mean it took him five years to convince Grover to give him another chance." I pondered.

And you shouldn't know your heritage now. Things are gonna change, Percy. Kelli attacking you and Grover finding you before their time are some of them.

I muses what she explained. Does that mean…

"Are they gonna get worse?"

There was silence for few moments from her hide as if she was reluctant to give answer.

No…they are gonna get much worse.

I closed my eyes, took a deep calming breath and released it. My heart was pounding erratically.

I don't know why it was hitting me then. I have back for a whole week willingly, knowing its consequences. There was no backing now.

For Peace. I chanted. For Peace, For Peace, For Peace.

"Hey, you ok?" Rachel's voice broke me of from the stupor.

I shooked my head again, clearing away unnecessary thought and gave her a week smile.

"Yeah I'm ok… I guess."

She didn't look convinced.

"I think I'll just need walk… it's getting too much packed for me."

With that I got up and walked out of canteen not seeing Rachel threw worried look after me and confused one from Grover.

xxxxx

It all started with that damn Empousa Kelli. It's been eight days since I time traveled and for a week I had monster free day. After a week I encountered Kelli and now they all just started flocking towards me like I am I piece a really tasty beef.

I was really tasty piece of beef to them. Chaos's words not mine.

I could never catch a break, can I? I thought.

These monsters were giving me headache. This time not only I got Hellhound on my tail but also my very old arch-nemesis Minotaur.

I think I should explain to you all how I got into this monster parade.

It was the end of day; I was on my way to dorm deep in my thoughts when suddenly Grover appeared out of breath

"Where were you?! No time for this-"

He started tugging me frantically.

"Who whoa where are you taking me."

I blame my disorientation of my mind for not realizing what possible reason Grover could be hurrying up me for.

"We need to get ou-out of here fast." He said very much out of breath and those fake legs weren't helping the cause.

"Why?"

It was kind of embarrassing that I still hadn't realized it yet. Again blame my brain for that. Maybe I should have dial back on those gloomy thoughts that were kept popping in my head.

"Trust me; come with me before they get to you." He said still out of breath but he kept moving has fast as his fake legs could allow.

Just like that it crept back to me and also Chaos reminded me why Grover was dragging me along at night.

We ran like hell was on loose. Well, as much as his fake legs could allow. He was running out of his breath but still maintained his disguise. I had to give it to him; even though we were chased by the monsters, he didn't drop his disguise. Note my sarcasm.

It was really getting me frustrated. I mean I had a very good reason for putting up my façade but why does he have to then? Mist would cover his legs for god sake!

"Use your real legs for god-sake." I blurted out.

His heads snapped towards me, eyes widening in shock.

"Yes I know about your situation but I'll explain it later."

Then I heard the scream and crash that made me shiver in panic. These damn monsters kept finding me at lowest possible points.

I glanced back and noticed that children running wildly new all direction with the look of terror on their faces, some distance behind I saw two figures running in our direction. I got clear look on Hellhound and Minotaur that were gaining on us sensing goat-boy and me as their so-not-happy-meals.

He was seven feet tall, easy, his arms and legs like something from the cover of Muscle Man magazine-bulging biceps and triceps and bunch of other 'ceps, all stuffed like baseballs under vein-webbed skin. He wore no clothes except underwear, bright white Fruit of the Looms-which would've looked funny, except that the top half of his body was so scary. Coarse brown hair started at about his belly button and got thicker as it reached his shoulder.

And the Hellhound, Well he looked very large, furry, with canines longer than walrus and very vicious. Hmm, it was good seeing them again but we couldn't have proper reunion like I had with Kelli with them because Kelli's razor nails wouldn't be enough for both of them.

I wondered what they looked to children and few faculties present.

No time for that.

They were making their way fast towards us.

I grabbed Grover's hand and towed him as fast as I could towards the exit. Grover making his panicking noise wasn't helping the cause at all. For the record screaming Blaah Blah! In really weirdly high pitched voice. I totally forgot about it. Grover stopped his panic scream after the whole shenanigan with him being trapped with Polyphemus when he realized that his weirdly high pitched scream wasn't appreciated at all. It's been years since then.

"Grover, tell me you've a plan?" I asked him, rounding up the corner into the other hallway and why not kept up the act. "Because I'm seeing a really large dog and a horn bull guy are chasing us for no apparent reasons!"

They were advancing towards us fast. I could not pull the same trick as Kelli with them because one they were two in number, they could easily catch up to us and two children were already terrified and instead of making their way difficult, they parted, running as far as possible from them, making their way easier for them to catch up. Kelli alone already was hard enough.

I needed to get hold of my powers and my fighting.

And shouldn't my original powers come naturally to me. I wondered. I don't know why is it coming to me now of all time. Since those two creatures of Underworld were on our tail, I let it slide. I reminded to ask Chaos later..

Grover better have a good plan. I grumbled to myself.

"Yes and for that we need to get to the exit. There's friend of mine outside with car." He explained me the plan as we rounded another corner and there in her glory was the exit.

That sounded like a good promising plan. We dashed through the exit, through the garden. The grasses were posh, tees running along its length. At night with the moon in the sky, it looked relaxing.

If it was any other day when monsters are not bustling after me, I would've found lied on it or maybe had picnic with Rachel. But monsters were after me so we dashed through the garden, and then took a left turn towards the parking lot. There infront of other car was another car. It was nothing special about this car; it was a simple Camero but the guy that was leaning against it. My heart gave a thud.

It was Charles Beckendorf. Counselor for the cabin 9: Hephaestus cabin. The guy who gave up his life to save mine. Suddenly all the guilt that I thought I moved on from crashed into me, making me stumble.

He was here. Ofcourse he was, I was in past but I haven't imagined that I would've this type of reaction upon seeing him. That made me a little uncomfortable. If I was gonna go all starry eyed seeing someone whom died in my past time-line, they would get suspicious.

I shooked my head, getting out of trance.

I was in situation; there was no time for fangirling. I would get enough of that when I get to the camp. Those monsters were advancing on us.

Charles saw us coming and immediately knew in what predicament we were in. He quickly got into the driver's seat and started it.

"Come on, guys, get in quickly!"

We immediately complied. As soon as we got in, he hit the gas.

Charles shot down the nearest ramp, wove across the parking lot of this boarding school, and then blasted through the gate without apologizing for the property we just crashed. We swerved into an industrial area of dilapidated warehouse, they were still gaining on us.

My knuckles turned white on my seat belts shoulder strap. "Is your plan to avoid a fight by dying in a traffic accident?" I demanded.

"Ha-ha." Charles yanked the wheel to the right. We sped north, the warehouses giving away to a hodgepodge of apartment buildings and abandoned strip malls. "I'm getting us to a safe place where these monsters can't reach us."

"A safe place?" I acted, steadying myself against the door handle.

"Yep," Grover agreed. "That pretty much describes my entire life: getting to safe place."

I glanced out of the rear window. Three dark figures were still following us and with the look of it gaining on us. One of them clashed though a random person toppling him onto his face. Ooh, that's gotta hurt. I mused.

"Ah, I think I know these monsters." I muttered. "I read about them in my Latin class. The one with one eye must be the cyclops and the horn dude must be-"

"Don't!" Grover cried. "Don't say the name. Names have powers."

These monsters don't know when to quit does it.

"So, you're the Percy guy I was asked to pick up, I take." Charles said in non-chalance as if those nefarious creatures chasing us weren't a big deal. I so missed him, I realized.

"Pick up?" I asked acting confused. I should get Oscar for all the acting I've been doing.

"You studied about the Greek gods and mythology in your Latin class right?" Grover asked. When I nodded hesitantly he took it as a sign to continue. "The thing is they are very much real and so those monsters."

I stared at him for few moments as if to look that I was deliberating whether to agree or not. Then I morphed my face into understanding one.

"If I haven't seen them already I would've taken you as mental person." I said which got chuckle from Beckendorf.

"You are smart one." Charles commented.

Oh you don't know anything boy. Chaos sniggered.

"They sometimes have an affair with mortals." Grover continued "Children resulting from it are half god and half human like you."

I eyed him shrewdly "You meant to say that one of my parent is a God?"

"Yep." Charles contributed.

"Does any of one of your parents, you haven't seen at all?" Grover asked.

I glanced out of the window, feeling uncomfortable. They must've have expected it as they gave me look somewhat between pity and understanding. It was all acting.

"Don't worry it happened with all of us."

I exhaled in resignation.

"My mom told me that my dad lost in sea. He looked very much like me and he had great affinity with seas and oceans like me. That's all I know about my dad."

From corner of my eyes I watched them exchange look as if wondering the same thing. Good, that meant it was going as planned.

I turned towards Grover and gestured towards his hoofed legs.

"So you are a half-human and half-donkey?" Repeating the same thing as last time I discovered his true identity.

Charles snorted.

"Half-goat." Then he explained what he was. "Satyrs would trample you underhoof for such insult."

"But you already knew about that?" He pointed out my slip.

I was prepared with answer. You get an edge in these types of situation when there's a deity residing inside your head. Chaos may be acting a little childish but she wouldn't mess up the plan we carefully laid out.

"I saw them peeking out a little bit. I thought it was odd at first. Then I saw a horned bull guy and a really large very vicious dog, I figured you were somehow connected with it." I explained.

From my peripheral I saw Charles giving appreciative look for my deduction.

Then they started explaining me about the gods, the camp and activities that happen there. It was nothing I already knew but I nodded politely, my eyes fixed on the passing by scenery.

'Hey Chaos' I asked, not speaking physically.

Yep

'Something clicked me while Grover and I were running from those monsters-'

Why does something click you WHILE you are running from some monsters?

'No idea.' I continued 'Shouldn't my powers come to me naturally? Why am I having problem with it? I almost passed out using it on Kelli.'

I waited for few moments for her answer. She was strangely quiet for some reasons.

'Chaos?' I called.

Hey, there's a guy peeing on the wall! She tried changing subject.

'Chaos, just answer me what did you do?'

Time-travelling and I residing inside of you might have put strain on your powers suppressing it.

'What!' I could feel my face morphing into angry one, I schooled it immediately. I didn't want to worry the guys.

Good thing is you just need a magical boost… Uh, you could get that when you enter the camp. It's magical land after all.

I took deep breath and tried to calm myself. Guys were busy describing me camp and driving that they didn't notice me. That was a good thing. I didn't want to explain every time.

'When were you going to explain me this?'

I hoped you didn't realize it until we get to the camp.

I sighed resignedly. I can't blame her. Time-travelling does have its bane. I was relieved it was nothing permanent.

I went back to watching scenery and pondering.

I would describe brave, smart, handsome, clever, stupid, seaweed brain but I never imagined that one day I would add manipulative in it. Here I was manipulating two guys and I was already finding it hard enough.

They were my very good friend in my past time line, Grover was my best friend for god sake. It was really difficult lying to them.

You'll get your chance to come clean. Chaos assured me.

'I just hope when they know, they don't hate me.' I thought back.

They won't.

I hoped she was right. According to her and those Fates it will be much worse than before and if I lose most of them in process then I didn't know what I would do. I came back for these guys and I'll make sure they live, whatever the cause.

'Hey I realized something.' I pondered.

What?

'Rachel was in same school in my fourth grade in past time-line, I just never made friends with her. How crazy is it that I would encounter few years later and became her best friend. It can't be co-incidence right? I mean there is no co-incidence in demigod's life.'

It was destiny.

'What?'

Simple, if somebody or something is meant to be in your life, they are gonna be part of it any way, any time. Even time can't change it. It's one constant thing in your life that would always present with you until your dying breath.

'Hmm."

Grover and Rachel are live example for that.

Then I saw three dark figures gaining on us through review mirror. Damn, they were still chasing us.

"-it's most enjoyable game." Grover said.

"Hey guys?" I said tentatively.

"I think we should explain what catch the flag game is." Charles said. "You see it's-"

"No, it is gaining on us."

Charles glanced through review mirror and swore profanities in Greek something about Minotaur's dung.

"For once I would like an easy commute" Charles grumbled. "Grab on tight… ride is gonna be little bumpy."

His definition of little bumpy was not at all as I imagined. I thought he was just gonna speed it a little, make few haste turn here and there to throw them off the trail. It was much worse. After this ride I swore I would never ride in a car with him being on the driver's seat.

He shot down to another street, and then made a sharp left turn, then speeding again before making another sharp turn. This went on for a while. We got thrown at one side, then another side like a ragged doll. By the time he stopped making sharp turn I was sore from all the hit I took. My ten year old body wasn't trained to absorb hurt yet. I really thought that was it.

I was so wrong.

"Hold on!" Charles stepped on the gas, hitting the maximum speed limit this car could run, flew through a railroad crossing and the Camero went airborne. Grover yelped as his head hit the ceiling. Then he began muttering something in Greek. Car slapped onto the ground roughly, hitting our head against the ceiling again.

The landscape opened into familiar actual countryside- fallow fields, dormant vine-yards, orchards of bare fruit trees.

We were getting close to the camp.

"Just another mile or so to the beach" Charles said. "Plus we are almost to the west side of the camp. We can do it. We can do it."

Then hill came into view where camp was presided over. We just have to get there, dodging maybe even destroying these monsters on the way there.

Sounds easy right? It wasn't.

As soon as we got near to the hill, the hair rose on the back of my neck. There was a blinding flash, jaw rattling boom!, and the car exploded.

I remembered feeling weightless, like I was being crushed, fried, and hosed down all at the same time. Also I felt déjà-vu. It was all so similar to what happened to me the first time.

I peeled my forehead off the back of the driver's seat and said,"Ow."

"You guys ok?!" Charles asked. "Damn it! I just remodeled it."

"I'm okay…"

I tried to shake off the daze. I wasn't dead. The car hadn't really exploded. We'd swerved into a ditch. The roof had cracked open like an eggshell.

I was so mused in my own mind that I didn't notice the clouds grumbling with occasional lightning spewing. Lightning, that was the only explanation. We'd been blasted right off the road. Next to me in the backseat was a big motionless lump. "Grover!"

Did Zeus found out about me?

No, he hasn't and you need to get of the car fast!

He was slumped over, blood trickling down from the side of his mouth. I shook his furry hip. I knew he wasn't dead because he was breathing but unconscious.

Then he groaned "Food,"

"Percy," Charles said, deadly serious, "Get out of the car fast!"

Charles threw himself against the driver's-side door. It was jammed shut in mud. I tried mine. Stuck too. I looked desperately at the hole in the roof. It might've been an exit, but the edges were sizzling and smoking.

"Climb out the passenger's side!" Charles told me.

He didn't have to tell me twice and with the help of Charles we got Grover out too.

"We need to get to the camp." Charles said. "It's in that direction," pointing the direction, "So, we need to run."

Another flash of lightning, what got Zeus's underpants into twist? I was going to shout out to him to just suck it up and deal with whatever has got his underpants into twist like a man and not throw tantrum like a child but I didn't want to freak out Charles who was helping me with Grover situation.

I glanced back and saw their silhouette snuffling, sniffing and nuzzling. I hoped they kept looking it until we got to the camp. But when does Fate ever worked in my favor. I'm not talking about those creepy old ladies. I meant Fate in general.

"Food?" Grover nodded.

"Yes, buddy we'll get to that when we reach this safe house you both were talking about." I assured but I don't think he heard anything.

"His sight and hearing are terrible," Charles explained. "He goes by the smell. He'll figure it out soon enough but that dog-looks like he found us run fast!"

I was going as fast as I could but hellhound is freakishly large so, he was gaining up on us fast, Minotaur was still clueless. Good for him.

"You go straight," Charles said, "I'll meet you there."

With that he shifted whole weight of Grover on me and ran towards the Hellhound. Was he really thinking he could fight both Hellhound and Minotaur on his own with only his sword? I thought.

I couldn't leave him there alone fighting both the monsters. It looked like Charles was handing Hellhound pretty good.

I settled Grover by the tree some distant away and came back for some fun.

Another bellow of rage, and the bull-man started tromping uphill.

He smelled us…quite late. I was ready for him. I'll kill him all the same as I did the first time.

"Hey! Stupid! Ground-beef!" I screamed, waving my red handkerchief that was in my pocket.

"Raaaarrrr!" The monster turned towards me, shaking his meaty fists.

Charles looked at me for a moment giving me are-you-stupid? Look. Yeah, I got your back buddy. I may not have a weapon with me but I'll destroy this monster all the same.

I know how to kill this guy. Looks like we were gonna have the proper reunion after all. I put my back to the big pine tree and waved my red handkerchief infront of the Minotaur.

The bull-man charger towards me, his arms out to grab me whichever way I tried to dodge.

Time slowed down.

My legs tensed and when the moment came I leaped straight up, kicking off from the creature's head, using it as a springboard, turning in mid-air, and landing on his neck. It was such a fun.

A millisecond later, the monster's head slammed into the tree and the impact nearly knocked out all of my teeth.

The bull-man staggered around, trying to shake me off. I locked my arms around his horn to keep from being thrown and to break this stupid thing. Thunder and lightning were still going. The smell of rotten meat burned my nostrils.

"Good to meet you too, my old buddy!" I said, throwing my body weight backwards with all my might. The monster tensed, gave a surprised grunt, then-snap.

The bull-man screamed and before he could throw me off, I drove the broken horn straight into his face. He roared in agony and immediately began disintegrating like crumbling sand.

The monster was gone.

"Food?" Grover moaned in the distant.

It looked like Charles was done with his monster too. He was shaking off the monster dust before making his way towards me.

"That was really impressive." He said.

I pretended to be scared and exhausted. I looked at the horn I had as a memento. Nice! Another one, I thought, it would look good to my Percy Jackson museum of awesomeness.

"Let's get to the Grover and get you to the camp." Charles said wiping away the sweat.

I nodded hesitantly. I was really a good actor, still doing it. He helped me on his feet and we both put one hand of Grover over our shoulder and helped him towards the camp.

We reached the crest of the hill. Down the other side I could see the familiar valley, just as I know and love. At night, the light from the big house, from the camp fire… it looked heavenly.

After all it was a heaven for the half-blood like us.

I let myself to full blown smile.

"Welcome to the Camp Half-Blood, buddy."

What do you think of the chapter?

Comment your thoughts and views about it. If you like it where it is going, please share.

Next updates- Chapter 5 One and a half years

Chapter 6 Lightning thief

Next update would be next weekends because next chapter would be really big as it would cover next year and half. I may give you hint for relationship in there.

Until next time, enjoy!