The moon shone in the cloudless sky, casting it's light down on a picturesque scene. A valley, in which there could be seen by any who had the skill to look, what could only be described as a camp. Cabins had been erected in what could once have been called a planned space, but that plan had obviously been abandoned, as they now were scattered throughout the place wherever their owners chose. Although, there were still a half circle of twelve cabins that appeared to be the center of the place, as well as a large pavilion where the residents got their meals with a large fire pit at one end. A lake stood off to one side of the valley, and on the other there was a forest that stretched farther than many cared to look. A large white house stood at the bottom of a hill, and at the top of that hill stood a tree, and on that tree still hung a prize that heroes throughout the ages have fought for, known as the Golden Fleece. This was Camp Half Blood.
Gods do I hate this place sometimes... Marcus sighed. Why was it that every time he thought he had the nerve to talk to her, he just couldn't do it? Marcus glanced to his left, seeing if she noticed, but no. She was still talking. Maddie was talking to the moon. Again. Why is it when it comes to the moon, Maddie's a friggin chatterbox, but when I try to talk to her about anything other than the Gods... But Marcus knew that answer already. Everybody did. Maddie had been raised in what could only be described as a sheltered environment. Homeschooled until her mother sent her off to Camp Half Blood, Maddie hadn't really experienced the outside world. Marcus on the other hand... Yeah. Seen too much of it. And Gods know Maddie shouldn't ever have to deal with that.
"Marcus? What's wrong?" Marcus started, looking around and finding Maddie looking at him with concern. "You have that scary face again..."
Marcus smiled as best he could, placing his hand on Maddie's head as he always did. "Don't worry about it. I'll tell you when you're older."
Maddie pouted up at him, slipping her hands into the pockets of her overalls. "You always say that... but I guess as long as you're okay, that's all that matters I guess."
Marcus smiled and messed up Maddie's red hair, causing her to giggle. Gods I can't believe she's eighteen... not a kid anymore. Yeah, I'm not much older, but Gods do I feel like it some days... I'll tell her one day, but not today. Marcus stood up and stretched, easing the soreness from sitting on the ground all night. "Are you and your friend done talking for the night? Seems like another one-sided conversation."
"Nobody told you that you had to stay around here with me all night you know." Maddie replied, once again turning her attention to the moon.
"And miss these talks? Who knows, maybe the moon will actually talk back one day."
"You can be so mean sometimes Marcus..."
Marcus stopped and looked down at Maddie. He always forgot how small and fragile she could be, especially for a daughter of Ares, God of War, and even with all they've been through together. Looking at her now, he felt that same feeling as always. His heart raced; he could feel his face starting to grow warm. Gods get over yourself Marcus. This isn't some fantasy story where a guy like you gets the girl of his dreams. And yet... "Well you know, you can be mean sometimes too you know."
Maddie sprung to her feet and put her fists on her hips, trying to look as intimidating as possible, which wasn't easy when she barely stood at 4'11". "Nuh uh! I could never be mean to you!"
Marcus laughed a bit and met her brown eyes, full of defiance. "Oh? You never could huh?"
"Nope!"
"What if I could prove you could?"
"You can't!"
"But what if I could?" Marcus leaned forward and tapped Maddie's forehead gently with his index knuckle. "What if I could prove you not only could be mean to me, but have been? What then?"
Maddie pushed Marcus' hand away. "You can't!"
"Wanna bet?"
Maddie froze. Since they were kids, those words had always been said whenever Marcus knew he was right and could prove it. But Maddie never was one to let a challenge go unanswered. "Fine! I bet you can't!"
Marcus smiled. "Alright. If I can you have to wake Chastity up at dawn."
Maddie shivered. Chastity was one of their closest friends, a daughter of Aphrodite, Goddess of Love. And if there was one thing Chastity loved, it was her beauty sleep. "F-f-fine! But if you can't then you have to wake up Chastity!"
Marcus shrugged. "You know, I think she would actually appreciate me sneaking into her bedroom more than you think."
"What?" Maddie asked, the picture of pure innocence.
Marcus sighed and messed up Maddie's hair again. "I'll tell you when you're older."
Maddie glared up at Marcus. "Go on then. Prove I can be mean!"
Marcus smiled and sat down with a groan. After a second of waiting he tugged on Maddie's arm, causing her to fall to sit next to him with a little scream. "Well Maddie Madness, let me remind you of the first time we ever trained together."
Maddie gasped. "Not fair!"
Marcus smiled what could only be described as a cocky grin. "I never said I was gonna be fair. The first time we trained together we were only supposed to be seeing what you already knew. And yet-"
"And yet I nearly broke your arm with my spear. I know, I know... Gods will you ever let that go?" Maddie pouted, throwing Marcus her best puppy dog eyes that always got her out of trouble with him.
Marcus sprang to his feet laughing. "Oh no, not this time. You lost our bet Maddie. You know what that means. You have the honor of waking up our resident sleeping beauty tomorrow."
"But Marcus..." Maddie whined, "Tomorrow is when we're supposed to go to Olympus! I don't wanna die!"
Marcus messed up Maddie's hair again before walking away, shouting over his shoulder, "Oh don't be so dramatic! That's for the Apollo kids! Besides, between the two of you, my bets on you in a fight! Trust me."
Maddie frowned, then shrugged and looked back up at the moon before heading back inside her Cabin. For a son of Aeolus, he sure acts like a Hermes kid with all those bets... Maddie smiled to herself. But tomorrow was the day she'd finally get to meet the Gods! Even Marcus' teasing couldn't ruin it! Although she'd better hope Chastity wakes up in a good mood... for once.
Marcus stretched and had to catch himself from falling off the branch he was sitting on. Looking out through the canopy, Marcus watched the last moments of the sunrise over Camp Half Blood. He toyed with his pocket watch, a gift from his father and his one weapon. When swung from the watch, a blade, and when swung from the chain, a whip. Best part? It even told time! Marcus shook his head. Only Maddie ever laughed at that joke. Popping open the watch, Marcus checked the time. Speaking of, I'm sure she's woken up Chastity by now. He hopped down from the branch he'd been sitting on since leaving Maddie last night, brushing off his jeans. I hope she didn't give Maddie too hard a time...
Marcus glanced around, trying to be cautious. Even this close to a forest full of monsters, there were campers who decided they'd rather live here than around the kids of the twelve Olympians. Not that Marcus could really blame them, being the child of a so-called "minor god" himself. Even thinking that pisses me off... Marcus shook his head to clear his mind. His father, Aeolus, was still on better terms with the Olympians than a lot of the minor gods. Hence why these "Fringers", as he so affectionately called them, usually tended to still try and pick a fight with him whenever they could.
"What are you doing here!?"
Like now... Marcus sighed and stood straight, turning to see which of the minor Demigods had a chip on his shoulder today. He was shocked to see that the person who called out to him was a kid, no more than eleven years old. A shorter boy with a shock of red hair, obviously dyed, and a regular orange shirt and jeans look that you could find all over camp. "Um... you live out here?"
"Yeah. What's it to you?" the kid replied, looking at Marcus with nothing but suspicion and something very close to hatred in his eyes.
"I was just walking through the forest on my way back to the main camp to get some food. Why don't you come with me?"
"Main camp?" the kid scoffed, "Thanks but no thanks old man. I'd rather wait till I almost starve than eat with those self-centered Olympian kids. At least the kids out here look at me as the same as them, not less!"
And with that, the kid turned and ran into the forest before Marcus could say anything else. Marcus watched the kid run away, his heart heavy. So young to be filled with such hatred... and it's only getting worse. Kids like this are all over camp now... something's gotta give soon. I guess you were right Aaron... Marcus shook his head as he thought back.
Some Time Before...
Marcus looked around the corner of the building he was leaning against.
"Is it clear?"
Marcus didn't turn around. He knew exactly who was behind him. Aaron Baldwin. Marcus didn't even have to look to know that Aaron would be looking at him with that grin on his face as always, the sunlight probably reflecting off his tan skin and making his green eyes shine in a perfect contrast to his brown hair that Marcus would kill to have. Pays to be a son of the Goddess of Victory I guess...
"Marcus? What, see a hot chick over there or something?" Aaron's voice cut through Marcus' musings.
"Quiet!" Marcus hissed, aiming a kick back towards Aaron, which Aaron dodged without even really trying. "You're gonna get us caught!"
"What's so important about this one anyway? We've brought in stuff Dionysus doesn't like before." Aaron sounded bored, leaning against the wall and watching Marcus. "You seem really on edge for this one."
"Because this one's special." Marcus said through gritted teeth. He knew as soon as he said it that it wasn't the sort of ammo he should give Aaron, but he needed him to be serious.
"Oh, so it's for Maddie! Why didn't you say so? I never pass up the chance to be her hero!" Aaron teased.
Marcus spun and grabbed Aaron by the front of his shirt, pushing him back into the wall. "Aaron, I swear to the Gods-"
"You'll kill me if I ever try to get between you. I got it the first thousand times. Geez you think after all this time you'd learn to take a joke." Aaron smiled disarmingly at Marcus. "Besides, we both know if anybody is that girl's hero, it ain't me chief. Only one of us can break her out of that psycho mindset."
"Don't call her that Aaron. Last warning."
"Alright, alright I get it. Now, do you wanna grab this thing or what?"
Marcus let Aaron go and went back to looking around the corner. All of this for something as small as that... But if Maddie wanted it, Marcus would get it. Aaron knew that Marcus would rather dive into Tartarus itself than see anything close to disappointment from Maddie.
"Listen Marcus... You need to tell her eventually man. Hiding it like this ain't healthy."
Marcus shook his head. "I told you. It's a bad idea."
"Yeah, you've said that before, but you never said why. After all, it's not like you don't have options. Lord knows you'd at least have Chastity at your beck and call if you just put in the effort."
"She's not as easy as all that and you know it."
"Okay yeah, that was an exaggeration but stop changing the subject. Why is it such a problem for you to just tell the girl you like her?"
"Because she wants to be a Hunter of Artemis."
Aaron looked at Marcus, his back stiff as he refused to look anywhere but the shop they were going to "borrow" their cargo from. "A Hunter? She knows that means-"
"Yup. No romantic feelings. No boys. Ever. Which is why she vowed to never even try to have a boyfriend."
"A vow huh... That's rough buddy..." Aaron patted Marcus on the back, then stopped. "Wait... this vow... did she swear on the River Styx?"
Marcus turned to look at him, his blue eyes cold as ice. "What?"
"Did she swear on the River Styx?"
Marcus shook his head, causing Aaron to laugh out loud. "You idiot! That means there's still hope! No Styx? No true vow."
Marcus rolled his eyes then noticed that the store was finally empty of people. "Heads up. Time to go to work."
Aaron laughed to himself and shook his head. "Only you would go this far for a Gods damned Polaroid camera."
