Around me I could hear nothing more than a soft wind through the grass and leaves of the trees, everything seemingly quiet though after I'd stepped through what I could only assume to be the barrier, I had felt a tingle rush through me before I suddenly felt infinitely safer, like a safety blanket had been draped around me. Luke did not move his arm away from me even after we'd passed into the safety of this supposed 'camp'. I really wished I could see because I was desperate to know my surroundings, I hated being somewhere new without either Percy or mom, but at least Luke was a decent guide and the ground remained fairly even after we'd passed through the barrier. "Everyone else is asleep, I just happened to be on watch tonight and heard you calling for help. I'll take you up to the infirmary to get your ankle looked at. Okay?" Too tired to talk, I just nodded my head. He went slowly for me, but soon enough I was staggering about with my legs feeling like lead. "Almost there, just a few more steps. Oh look, Chiron's there. Chiron!" Chiron?

I don't remember anything else after that except kind of falling, or collapsing maybe, I don't know. At the very least, I couldn't walk anymore and I'm pretty sure I gave Luke a heart attack by suddenly dropping to the ground like a sack of potatoes. I slept deeply but awoke feeling no better off, but I was awake and alert, and that was all that mattered. I sat bolt upright on the bed I had been put in, still wearing my pyjamas from the cabin. Someone had taken off my raincoat and I was completely dry, however now I had no idea where I was and nothing felt familiar. Not the smells, the sounds, nothing. I could hear sounds from outside the walls of whatever room I was in, the sound of voices and distant clashing that made me think back to the guy who'd rescued me and the sound his weapon had made fighting that monster. Oh god. There weren't more, were there? I was too afraid to call out, but it appeared I wasn't alone because someone stirred to my left and spoke. "You're awake? That's good, though your brother is still out." I didn't even care that there was a strange girl apparently in the room. She'd said my brother.

"Percy?!"

"Yeah he's right here, do you want me to…?" But I was already moving, throwing back the covers and placing my bare feet on the floor in order to stumble my way towards her voice, feeling at the air until my legs knocked against another bed and the moment my hands dropped, I could feel Percy beneath my fingers. I couldn't help it, I started to cry with relief. I felt his face and his hands which were cold, and clung to him with the intention of never letting him go again. I was so grateful to have him back, to hear the softness of his breaths as he slept that I didn't care about anything that had happened, it was enough that he was alive. I didn't even care that I was sobbing in front of some girl. I cradled Percy in my arms and didn't let him go until I was exhausted again but at least calmer, letting him slide back his head onto the pillow where I brushed at his hair as I sat down beside him.

"Sorry, I thought he'd died."

"It's fine, I understand. Here, you should have something to drink. Take some of this and you'll feel a lot better, trust me." I listened to the succession of movements of things being moved and poured until the girl came back and gingerly touched my hand in order to press a glass into my palm for me to hold. "There's a straw there." Grateful that she didn't try to feed me the straw herself, I moved the drink closer until I felt the straw against my cheek, allowing me to take note of where it was so that I could then drink some of the beverage, not knowing what to expect. What I tasted was something so utterly delicious that I couldn't even fully believe it was a drink, and if it was I wanted the recipe. It tasked like candy apples on Halloween, but it was silky and smooth over my tongue as I drank greedily as a warming sensation rose through me and all my aches and pains simply vanished. I felt stronger. Better. Even the throbbing ache in my head vanished as I drained the cup dry.

"Thanks. What was that?"

"Nectar." She said nothing else, as if I was supposed to understand what that meant. "Mr D and Chiron will want to see you. Well, Chiron at least. Mr D probably won't care much but you should meet him anyway. Oh, you'll probably want to change first. Your backpack is beside your bed with all your stuff, there's a small table it's propped against. I put your headphones and iPod into your bag too so that they'd stay safe, they didn't look broken or anything so whatever you went through, they seemed to have survived." Thank god for that, but back to the main point, there was no way I was leaving Percy and I made this very clear to the girl. "He's still sleeping and healing. It'll probably be a while until he wakes up. At the very least you'll need to get something to eat as well as get settled in camp. There's a lot you need to know."

"I am not leaving my brother. In any case, what about my mom? Do you know what happened to here?" Judging by the silence, I could tell that it was my worst fear come true. I shivered with cold, the uplifting drink I had just taken now fleeing from me as a harsh weight of pain and sorrow came crashing down upon me and my eyes filled with fresh tears. I had never cried so much in my life. "She's gone, isn't she?"

"I'm sorry." The girl sounded genuinely sympathetic, but other than offering her apologies there was nothing else she could do. "I'll leave you for a while. You probably want to sit and think by yourself for a bit. I'll go and let Chiron know you're awake then come back. Just don't leave here on your own as it's dangerous outside." Listening to her get up I paid attention to her movements, which were light and quick like a cat as she moved away from Percy and I, opening a door but paused before leaving. "I'm Annabeth, by the way. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood." She vanished quickly, leaving me alone with Percy. I sat there in silence for a long while, processing everything that had happened until eventually I took a deep and steady breath.

"Perce, I have no idea what kind of craziness we have gotten ourselves wrapped up in, but I have a feeling we're not going to be able to go back to our normal lives from now on." I murmured to him, stroking his hair once again. "Not that they were that great anyway, but still…you know mom…mom…" I couldn't finish my sentence, biting down on my tongue as I started to fiddle with my charm instead. It felt heavy on my wrist, like suddenly gravity was acting increasingly upon it and trying to drag my hand to the ground and then pull me through the crust of the earth all the way to hell, because that's what I felt like right now. Hell. Mom was gone, and I had no idea how, or why, and Percy was still unconscious. I took several deep breaths in order to keep myself from bursting into tears again, trying to keep myself under control. This wasn't going to help Percy. I need to be rational now. I needed to know where we were and what the situation was, I needed to know why mom was gone and who had killed her.

Getting up I sought out my backpack and pulled out some fresh clothes to change into, because the ones I was wearing smelled filthy and earthy. I stripped quickly and pulled on clean clothes, bundling up the ones that were dirty and, having nowhere else to put them, tossed them into my bag. I'd wash them out later somehow, there must be a laundrette around here somewhere, right? Or at least a washer I can borrow. I pulled out my headphones and settled them around my neck, clicking the cable into my iPod and pressed play so that the continual loop of my songs would start playing even if I weren't listening to them. Just having them as background noise helped to fill the empty void around me as I started to pace about the room, running my hand along the wall to learn its shape and size as well as everything else around me. It wasn't long after this that the girl Annabeth returned, though she knocked before entering to make sure I was decent. "Good you're dressed. So, are you ready to go meet Chiron yet or are you going to stay here?" I paused slightly, considering Percy still asleep on the bed. "It's okay, I'll let you know when he wakes up. I promise he's being well cared for here."

"It's not that, I just…I don't know what I'm supposed to do." Annabeth came further inside, letting the door swing closed behind her.

"You could always take a tour of the camp and then come back? Trust me, the sooner you get your questions answered the better you'll feel, then you can tell your brother when he wakes up." For a kid, she sounded pretty clever. Finally acquiescing, I allowed Annabeth to take me outside where I immediately felt the bright rays of sunlight shine down upon my face and I soaked it all in. I pushed aside all my feelings of pain, hurt and confusion, all my fears and doubts, because something was prompting me to keep on going. I couldn't stop here, I had to know what had happened, and I had to know what was going on so that I could try to protect Percy the best I could. Feeling a tug on my hand, I allowed myself to be led forwards by Annabeth, though she soon let go and I had to try and figure out where she was with my other senses.

It sounded busy out there, though with no clue what I was actually wandering into, it was difficult to determine all the sounds. I did sometimes hear a horse though, and wondered if maybe there was a stables around. Annabeth told me that they were approaching something called the Big House, where as I was led up the porch steps, I suddenly smelled coffee, tweed and horse. "Mr Brunner?" I hadn't actually expected him to be there, so I almost shrieked when I heard his voice answer me just a few paces away.

"Hello Lily, it's good to see you up and about. I'm glad you're alright." I could feel Annabeth looking at me strangely clearly confused as to how I'd known Mr Brunner was there but she kept quiet. "Come closer, do not be alarmed. There is someone here you should meet. Mr D, our camp director." I came forwards purely without thinking about it, stretching out my hand to feel my way forwards until the familiar touch of Mr Brunner's hand found mine and guided me forwards. "Thank you Annabeth." That was clearly a dismissal because the girl disappeared again, quick as a cat. "Now there is a chair in front of you, Lily. Sit down a while so we can talk." Placing my hand upon the back of the chair I drew it back so that I could sit down in it, sinking slowly and carefully as I listened to someone slurping from a can.

"Mr Brunner…I'm not going crazy am I?"

"Well that depends on what you consider crazy, girl." A stranger's voice said to me and I flinched slightly, hardening my expression slightly as I attempted to get a read on the person but other than knowing roughly where they were sat at the table in front of me, I couldn't tell much else. Their voice had sounded rather lazy, like they were constantly bored, but it bordered between an old man's and a child's, which was seriously confusing.

"Lily, may I introduce our Camp Director? Mr D as we call him." I managed a slight nod towards where I could hear someone slurping on their drink which must have been from a can, though whether it was beer or soda, I couldn't tell. Anyway this wasn't important, so I maintained my focus towards Mr Brunner.

"Where's my mom, Mr Brunner?" A heaviness settled over Mr Brunner and I knew instantly that he didn't want to tell me the truth, but he couldn't lie either. "She's…she's gone. Isn't she?"

"Yes, my dear. I'm afraid so." I wanted to cry again, but I had enough of crying and rather than feeling aggrieved and mournful, I was angry. I was so angry that I wanted to scream until it didn't hurt anymore, but instead my hands raised upwards and slammed down so hard onto the table that my palms continued to tingle even long after. Just as my hands made contact with the table it lurched and juddered as everything else seemed to tremble as well. I was so enraged that I hardly even noticed the fact that the ground was shaking, the vibrations rippling up through my feet because I'd closed off that part of myself to just wallow. Ignoring Mr Brunner's cry of exclaim and Mr D's grumbling of annoyance as the earth tremor knocked over his can, I eventually just lay my head face down on the table and just sat there hunched over in silence. It was the longest I'd ever stayed still in my entire life. I didn't want to do anything. I didn't even want to breathe because it hurt too much and it took too much effort. Eventually starvation of air won out and I sucked in a deep, long breath before gradually beginning to sit up again, only then taking note that Mr Brunner had his hand pressed comfortingly into my back.

"Had your little moment, have you? Any other tantrums you want to throw?" Mr D questioned rather scathingly and I had a deep urge to flip the table onto his head.

"Please, the child has just lost her mother. Perhaps a touch of consideration and sympathy?" Mr Brunner sounded as displeased as when he'd catch someone cheating in his tests. Giving a sigh of exasperation, Mr D grumbled and did not answer, possibly because he was incapable of feeling any sympathy and didn't want to waste his time faking it. I decided I didn't really like this Mr D character at all. I got the distinct feeling that he didn't like kids, so why he was a camp director I had no idea. "You must have a lot of questions, Lily. Do not be afraid and ask away. We shall answer them as we can." Collecting my thoughts, I tried to think of which question was the most important, but there were just too many and I couldn't ask them all at once, so I settled for asking about Percy first.

"Is Percy going to be okay? What happened to him?"

"He is healing well and resting, recovering his strength. The monster that was chasing you all was in fact a minotaur, and Percy fought it and succeeded in defeating it. He was not injured physically, but the battle took a great deal of his strength and all things considered, he is in dire need of the rest." I just stared blankly in shock. Percy really had fought that thing? And won? My little brother who usually got the crap kicked out of him on a daily basis? "I see you do not believe me."

"No offence, Mr Brunner. I mean I know you're not a liar but…that just sounds…Percy really did that?"

"Indeed, and my name here is Chiron. In the outside world it is necessary that I take on a disguise and new identity. Here, however, things are very different." Mr Brunner, who now was apparently called Chiron, then revealed to me the truth that before now I had only glimpsed parts of and not understood the entire picture. The Greek gods were real. All the myths were true, and everything I knew about the world was incorrect. I listened silently yet with horrified awe as Chiron explained to me all that had transpired since Grover discovered Percy and I. Grover was a satyr like he'd said, and it was his job to look after the children born between mortals and the immortals, the demi-god children. Percy and I were such children, and Grover had employed Chiron's help to watch over us and keep us safe, hence why he took on a new identity. Chiron was a centaur of all things, which then explained the smell of horse that always surrounded him and the fact that sometimes I could have sworn I heard his hooves whenever he moved them inside the contraption that he went around in, which he described to me but without actually seeing it, couldn't fully understand. I just accepted that it was a magic box that hid his horse body and made it look like he was in a wheelchair and left it at that.

Mr D was actually a god too, which threw me off again as I started to grow increasingly daunted by all I was hearing. Camp Half-Blood was a summer camp for demi-god children to learn how to fight and survive in the real world, because apparently we half-bloods gave off an irresistible smell to monsters which attracted them to us and usually then tried to kill and eat us, and not necessarily in that order. Every kid here had a godly parent, and when it started to dawn on me that this meant me too, I started to think about dad and immediately flung up my barriers. "Impossible. Percy and I don't have a dad."

"If that were so, then you would not be here. Your father will be one of the gods of Olympus, however which one we cannot say. Luke told me how you invoked the name of Hermes when you were in danger and he answered. This could possibly mean that he is your true father, which is why he offered you a moment of protection from the monster that attacked you, but we shall have to see. Otherwise, I should be very careful should you be asked to return the favour of his blessing." I scowled at this, thinking how stupid it was that a god would want something from a blind fifteen year old at all. Maybe Hermes was just being nice? I'm still not even certain I could accept that all of this was real, though by this point it was impossible to deny the facts considering everything I'd experienced and heard. "So, until you are claimed by your godly parent, you shall be staying in cabin eleven."

"I want to stay with Percy."

"The infirmary really is only for the injured and sick, and in any case you will be busy now with your new schedule. I think perhaps you should listen to the orientation film for a better understanding of everything, it should clear up anything I forgot to mention, and afterwards we can take a tour of the camp so that you can familiarise yourself with everything. Perhaps we can even arrange for a personal guide to accompany you so that you do not accidentally wander onto the archery range in the middle of practice." Now I felt insulted and embarrassed, because honestly that could very well happen given that this place was new and strange. It reminded me of just how useless I was without someone holding me by the hand, and I hated that feeling so much. The weakness. The uselessness. It gnawed at my insides until they were churning like a meat grinder. Chiron clearly didn't mean anything by his words, he was just trying to be helpful and supportive, but the last thing I wanted was to be stuck with some stranger to lead me around like a Big Brother or Big Sister type. I just wanted to be with Percy, but seeing as I couldn't really argue with Chiron seeing as I still fondly remembered him as Mr Brunner, I allowed him to take me to go listen to the film.

He described things to me as I sat back in a chair that kind of felt like a small cinema complex, even being offered popcorn but I declined it seeing as I didn't really have an appetite. The film explained a lot and there were things that were useful to know that Chiron had forgotten to mention, but it remained so outlandish and impossible that my rationality was still convinced I'd just lost my mind completely and this was all in my head. Chiron showed me around next, or at least, walked with me along the main trail paths and explained to me where and what everything was. Quite helpfully there were a number of wooden signposts which I could touch and trace the letters of some of the signs that were carved into the wood to tell me which directions things were in, but other than that the camp was so huge that I was already totally confused over where I was. Everything sounded cool, even if it was dangerous like a lava wall and real battles with swords and spears, but I just didn't have any interest in it.

My dark mood was understandable and Chiron didn't berate me for my lack of enthusiasm, remaining patient and kindly until we reached the cabins where all the campers stayed and slept. "Now, there are twelve cabins in total all set out in a ring with the first two at the top on the other side of the glade. There is a large commons area in the middle of all the cabins, be aware because there are a number of statues and fountains, as well as flowerbeds. The Demeter cabin will not thank you to tread on them, so just be careful. There is also a large fire pit at the centre, so make sure to tread carefully where you go. Now, on the left side are the odd numbers, and the evens are on the right. Cabin eleven is the last to our left. This way." Describing everything rather helpfully, Chiron guided me towards the cabin whilst following the path so that I could remember the steps and count the number of paving stones I crossed in order to reach the door. "This is where you will stay for the time being. Ah Luke, there you are. I believe you know Miss Jackson already?" Lifting my head slightly at the mention of the name Luke, I heard someone push off a firm ground that sounded like decking to then land on the grass, the earth softening the sound of his footfalls.

"Sure thing, we've stumbled across each other before. Glad to see you up and walking around. How's the ankle?" Cheerful sounding as I remembered, I lifted my foot slightly and rolled it as I only realised then that it wasn't hurting me.

"It's fine, thanks."

"Lily, Luke is the head counselor of cabin eleven and I am certain he will make sure that you are settled and…looked after." At this I scowled, shooting a look towards Chiron at the suggestion that I needed to be coddled and 'taken care of' because of my disability. Sure it'll be rough at first, but give me a few days and I'll be striding around this place without anyone's help like I own the place. I am not completely helpless. "It's almost time for lunch. How about you stay and get to know everyone a little before going to the mess hall."

"Fine." Mumbling quietly, I could practically feel Chiron's sympathetic eyes upon me as he squeezed my shoulder then trotted away, his hooves now clearly audible to me. Apparently the reason why I had been more intuitive about his and Grover's true nature was because of the fact that the Mist didn't work well on me, since it mainly duped a person's sight of the Greek world. Being blind, my other senses were sharper and more difficult to fool, hence why to me Chiron always smelled of horse and Grover sounded like his feet were always clip-clopping everywhere.

"So, Lily Jackson. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood and cabin eleven. We take in all the strays because our cabin is dedicated to the god Hermes, who as you know is a patron to all travellers." Luke suddenly said, cutting through the silence and I had to wonder what his face looked like, because I was convinced he must be constantly smiling to sound that bright and happy. "Do you want to come in and take a look?" He paused then, realising his poor choice of words but I found it funny and even managed a smile. "Sorry, I mean…uh…"

"You don't have to walk on eggshells around me, it's fine. I'll 'take a look', at your cabin." Chuckling richly, Luke described to me what the cabin looked like, telling me it was a run of the mill cabin you might expect to find in another summer camp, though it was a little worse for wear since it saw more use than anyone else.

"It's nothing grand, but it serves its purpose. Oh the door is right here, move your hand to the left a little more." I was grateful that Luke didn't try to lead me himself, letting me feel my way about the cabin to figure out its size and shape before going inside, pushing the door open myself. "Alright everyone, this is Lily and she's one of our new campers. Make sure to make her feel welcome." Luke called out and I heard a few kids murmur and the sound of shuffling and creaking from beds and the floor where some of the kids seemed to be sitting. "There's a bunch of sleeping bags on the floor, we're a little overcrowded but there's always room for one more. There's an open space that you can take in the top left corner." Turning my head towards the left, I slowly started my way forwards whilst carefully placing my foot down so that I didn't step on anyone. Mostly they moved out of my way though, but I could feel their stares as I moved tentatively forward until my hand pressed against the wall and I found the corner with a sleeping bag right by it. "That's the one, good job." Luke praised before starting to introduce people to me.

When their name was called they said something so that at the very least I could try and learn their voices, though there were so many that I soon became lost in the long list of names and voices around me. I was glad when I could escape there, already decided that I didn't like it in that cabin. It was too close and crowded, and there was no privacy at all. Everybody was always staring and it made me uncomfortable, like they'd never seen a blind girl before. I ignored them, following the general flow of kids towards the mess hall whereby I placed my headphones over my ears and drowned out all other sounds to step away from that mess of confusion and strangeness, and enter a world of my own which was neat, normal and still had my mom in it.