The journey to Camp Half-Blood was more eventful than Ivan had anticipated. Apollo thought it fitting to allow Thalia to pilot the vehicle ahead of her 16th birthday. Ivan and everyone else were tossed from wall to wall and thrown violently from their seats for the duration of their travel, and the school bus was ceremoniously dunked into the canoe lake. The collision threw up steam and sent alarmed naiads fleeing from the crystal blue water. If the lake had ever been frozen over on account of winter, there wasn't any evidence of it anymore.
Ivan was one of the first off the bus. Upon disembarking the sun, Ivan looked around the place he had called home at one point in his life. A light snowfall made its way through the weather barrier set up by Dionysus: the resident Olympian, who held an open distaste for demigod heroes and yet ironically found himself as the director of their training grounds. The ground was coated in a thin layer of ice; a lightly-placed step might cause you to slip and fall, but if one was mindful and walked with purpose then they would be fine. Slow lightly dusted the roofs of the cabins. All in all, the camp was very much the same as it was all those years ago.
"Woah… this is Camp Half-Blood? This looks so cool!" Nico exclaimed. "Are there a lot of half-bloods that get trained here?"
Percy chuckled. "Yeah, although it may not look like it right now. There are more people here over summer; around this time only the year-rounders stay here. Come on, we'll introduce you to Chiron."
"Who's Chiron? I don't have his figurine."
"He's like our head teacher. Ivan, do you know–" Percy stopped, recalling Ivan's familiarity with the camp. Instead, he turned to Zoe. "Zoe, have you met–"
"I know Chiron," Zoe said, stiffly. "Send him our regards. Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, with me."
"Oh, I can show you the way!" Grover quickly offered.
"We know the way."
"Oh, really, it's no problem at all! Right this way if you will."
Zoe rolled her eyes but must've realised that there was no getting rid of the satyr because she followed him without further objection or complaint.
"Is it good to finally be back?" Apollo asked Ivan.
With his reminiscence interrupted, Ivan replied, not looking to the sun god. "You know what? I'm not too sure just yet.
"I do think fondly of days gone by, but that's just what they are: they're gone. There's no reclaiming lost time." Ivan continued.
Apollo nodded. Placing a hand on Ivan's shoulder he said, "You got the right idea, kid. Take it from me as the god of prophecy: you gotta just look to the future."
Ivan glanced slightly over his shoulder so he could just see Apollo out of the corner of his eye. He gave a soft nod.
"Good man." Apollo gave his shoulder a couple of pats before retreating.
A radiant beacon of light illuminated the snow in front of Ivan.
"Oh, and Ivan!" Apollo called out.
Ivan turned and in the place of the school bus they had come in was Apollo's red Maserati.
"Watch out for those prophecies, eh? We'll see you around."
Before Ivan could ask what Apollo meant, he was already driving into the sky to fulfil his godly duties.
Ivan turned to face the Big House and began his walk there. Percy, Thalia, Annabeth and Nico had already made some headway. Ivan on the other hand, decided to drop back and take his time. This would allow him to observe them and soak in his surrounds. He wasn't in any rush. Percy seemed to have gotten over his initial disappointment of failing to recruit Bianca. He, Thalia and Annabeth took turns pointing out various features and facilities of the camp to Nico, who's eyes in turn followed their gestures in amazement. No doubt he'd never seen anything like this camp.
/ / /
Percy, Thalia, Annabeth and Nico made it to the Big House. They walked up the steps and through the entryway, before rounding the corner to the left, seeing Chiron and Mr D. playing a game of cards by the fireplace.
"Perseus! Annabeth! Thalia!" Chiron cheerfully greeted, congratulating them on their return.
Their footsteps had announced their presence. Chiron rolled his wheelchair over and gave each of them a quick embrace, which required them to lean down. Chiron was like a second father to all the demigods at camp; he watched them; taught them; protected them.
Mr D. gave an indifferent glance as if to say "Oh, you're back. With another camper. Huzzah…" before putting down his cards and opening up an issue of WineMaker he had stashed in the pocket of his reclining chair.
"And who is this young man?" Chiron asked, turning to Nico with a warm and welcoming smile.
"Hi… sir, I'm Nico di Angelo." Nico was unsure of how to address the heavily bearded man in the wheelchair.
"Just 'Chiron' is fine, young one." Chiron replied, patting the side of his shoulder.
Just then, Grover stumbled through the door, panting heavily.
"The Hunters – are all – moved in." he said, between breaths.
"The Hunters, eh?" Chiron said, bemused. "It seems that in addition to our young half-blood here, you have brought some valued guests. Grover, perhaps you should take Nico to the den and show him our orientation film?"
"Yes – sir…"
"Go on now, child." Chiron ushered Nico.
"Orientation film?" Nico asked. "Is it G or PG? 'Cause Bianca is kinda strict—"
"It's PG-13," Grover said.
"Cool!" Nico happily followed him out of the room.
After the two had left, Chiron gestured for the three remaining heroes to pull up chairs and sit with him.
"Tell me of your mission. Surely with Nico here it must have been a success. Did you encounter much resistance? How did the Hunters become involved?"
And so, they told him everything. From their arrival to identifying the monster, Dr Thorn, to Percy rushing off on his own, to their supposedly doomed encounter with the manticore. Chiron chuckled at Percy's recklessness, but this was a point of embarrassment for Percy as he knew that he should have waited and put them all in danger by needing to be saved.
"Well, you were fortunate this time, Percy. Next time, however, you might not be so lucky." Chiron lightly chided.
"I know…" Percy said.
"And then, this guy comes out of nowhere and completely owns the manticore!" Thalia recounted enthusiastically.
"Oh?"
At that moment, the sound of footsteps could be heard, and a shadow could be seen stretching across the floor. The footsteps drew closer, and a figure rounded the corner and leaned against the wooden double door frame.
"Ivan!" Chiron exclaimed in surprise.
Mr D. looked up from his magazine. "Oh, it's you." He said unenthusiastically, before returning to his reading.
"Uh… could you three make the rounds of camp and inform the campers that we'll be playing capture the flag tomorrow evening? It's a friendly tradition for whenever the Hunters come to visit."
"But we haven't fin-" Percy turned to Annabeth who had nudged her with her elbowed.
"Come on, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth nagged.
Chiron gave Percy a pleading look, which prompted him to nod. The three of them got up and left, awkwardly walking around Ivan without a word.
Outside the Big House, the three casually made their way down the Big House steps. Annabeth thought it would be easiest if they divided the camp into thirds. There wouldn't be too many people around, but this way they'd get good coverage and would be certain they didn't miss anyone.
"Do you guys wanna meet in the Arts & Crafts Centre afterwards to go over strategy? I've heard from Chiron that the campers have a massive losing streak against the Hunters."
"I'm down." Thalia agrees.
"Yeah, me too." Percy adds in. "Are we counting Ivan in or…?"
Annabeth pauses a moment before replying. "We can draft two sets of plans: one of them with Ivan and the other without. How does that sound?"
With the three of them in agreement for the afternoon's plans, they set off in their separate directions.
/ / /
"Well, this is certainly unexpected…" Chiron began.
"Sorry to pop in unannounced," Ivan replied, still leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed. "And sorry for my abrupt departure before…"
The exchange trailed off into an awkward silence before Chiron cracked a smile at his returned pupil, which prompted Ivan to as well. Ivan strode forward and clasped arms with Chiron.
"It's good to see you again, my dear boy."
"Same to you." Ivan looked past Chiron to the god of wine slumped into his reclining chair and ottoman. "Mr D." Ivan acknowledged with a nod.
Dionysus replied with a dismissive hand in greeting, all without looking up from his magazine.
"The man that Thalia was speaking of; that was you?" Chiron inquired, to which Ivan nodded. "You must tell me what happened. Come! Sit with me."
There wasn't any alarm or urgency to Chiron's tone; not that Ivan noticed anyway. It just sounded like an eagerness to catch up with an old friend. Ivan pulled up Percy's chair and turned it around, so he sat on it the wrong way, directly in front of Chiron. He went on to pick up the story from where Percy left off. He just explained that he was in the area and had dropped them off at the school for a quick break in their travels. This then led to the encounter with the manticore and the appearance of the Hunters. Finally, he concluded with Artemis' request for him, as well as their journey to camp with Apollo. He did omit a few details; Chiron didn't need to know about him scouting Percy and Thalia as being one of his original objectives.
"Your return has been lively, it seems," Chiron commented. "To be honest, I'm still a bit shocked that you're here, in front of me!
"And I assume that you're here to deliver Nico and Bianca to me for safekeeping and training." He finished.
Ivan shook his head. "Just Nico. Bianca has pledged herself to Lady Artemis.
"If you're alright with it, I'll leave him in your care. If I had the choice, I'd have him accompany me. But he's too young right now. Someone his age needs more friends than just his brother."
"You can trust me with him." Chiron said. "I will train him well in the coming months and years, and I'm sure he will make many friends; the boy seems quite sociable. For now, though, classes are off due to the sparsity of campers over winter. But feel free to make use of any of the facilities here. And furthermore, you yourself are more than welcome to stay for as long as you'd like."
"Thanks, Chiron. You know, I haven't been back in the world all that long, but it's good to know I've got some place to come back to." Ivan said, smiling.
"While you're here too, you should join us for capture the flag! If memory serves me right, we never played against the hunters while you were here."
"Hmm… I think I might, then. It could also be a good thing for Nico to watch and learn too."
"It's settled, then. Having you here with us, we'll certainly give the Hunters a run for their money." Chiron said with a warm smile.
"Looking forward to it, Chiron." Ivan said. Eyeing the playing cards on the table by Mr D., he continued, "Anyway, I've taken up enough of your time, so I'll let you get back to your game."
"Please, Ivan, don't think about it like that." Ivan stood up and they clasped arms once again.
"Before you go though," Chiron said, his voice taking on a more subdued tone. "You might want to go visit June; I know you were quite fond of her."
"She's here?"
Chiron nodded. "Up in the attic. Take the left out of here and up the ladder. We regrettably haven't found better accommodation for her. Her appearance… unsettles the campers."
Ivan looked down, and regret flashed across his face fleetingly.
"Mmm, alright. We'll catch you later then, Chiron."
"See you, my boy."
Ivan left for the attic. Chiron watched him go for a moment.
"Mr D.? Where were we… Shall we resume our game?"
/ / /
"They haven't treated you too well, have they?"
Ivan stood in the dark attic. Assorted paraphernalia lay scattered on top of and beneath an odd assortment of tables lining the two side walls. Insects scuttled about, coming into visibility for only a brief moment before disappearing again into unseen places. Minimal, cold lighting shone through the window at the end of the room, but was amplified by an ever-present haze that hung in the air. Everything was coated in a layer of dust, and many cobwebs could be seen.
And at the end of the room opposite the ladder which Ivan had climbed to ascend to the attic, atop a wooden three-legged stool, was June. She sat awkwardly; somehow, she hadn't toppled over. Her bony, fragile figure was leant backwards slightly, though Ivan couldn't see what was holding her up. Her skin (or what was left of it) appeared as if it had been vacuum-sucked onto her skeletal frame. Hollow eye sockets seemed to hold an impenetrable darkness, and cobwebs had formed in the left one. June's mouth was agape, revealing sickeningly yellow teeth. Grey, wispy hair draped her shoulders and framed a face that was frozen in time, as if it were letting out a silent, demonic, and tormented wail.
When Ivan had last seen her, she had been a beautiful young girl. Melancholy, perhaps, but with an edge of resigned acceptance and determination. What else could be expected, though? Her job was literally to tell heroes and gods of the often ill-fated misfortunes that would befall them. Such was the burden of the Oracles of Delphi.
Looking at her now, Ivan found it impossible to determine an age. How old was she when she died? He'd never know.
How undignified, Ivan thought. Still speaking prophecies from a decrepit and decaying body. He knew that June would probably be in Elysium on account of her service, but the sight of her body continuing to be used as a vessel; a marionette; unable to rest, made him sick to the core. That was one of the things he had strongly opposed his father on, and something that had driven a wedge in their relationship. He didn't really care about the oracle, but he did care about June.
Despite the knowledge that her soul had long departed the frail puppet, he couldn't help but feel the urge to speak in its presence.
"I'm sorry." Was he simply talking to himself? Or were the words directed towards the lifeless form?
"This shouldn't have happened to you. Maybe if– maybe if I had been firmer and more insistent…"
He let the sentence trail off. Nothing needed to be said. It was obvious: he'd been unable to do anything to stop his father at the time.
"Once this is all over," he began, "I hope I'll get to see you be laid to rest."
Turning around, he strode back the ladder and began to make his way down. With his head now level with the attic floor he took a parting glance at June– gruesome; unsettling.
"Be seeing you, June."
/ / /
Ivan was late to dinner that evening. The last of the campers were already leaving the dining pavilion at the time of his approach, left the area empty. Even Chiron and Dionysus had already retired. Everyone was probably back in their cabins. Because of the cold weather, there likely wouldn't be any singalongs at the amphitheatre this night. The hall was bordered by white marble columns, tapered in the Greek fashion resembling the columns of the Parthenon. In turn, they held up a brown-orange wooden roof. A single torch blazed on each of the columns. The warm illumination provided by the lofty ceiling lights further added to the cozy and welcoming ambiance.
Dryads were already clearing used plates, goblets, and cutlery, as well as replacing tablecloths that had been made dirty after the night's meal. One however noticed his approach, and brought him his own plate of mashed potatoes, barbecue steak and some sausages, along with some utensils and an empty chalice. Nodding his thanks, he made his way over to the brazier where customary offerings were made to the gods. Burnt offerings were supposedly of a pleasing odour to them.
The brazier was constructed of bronze and was lined with a stone wall. It was about the size of a large bathtub, overall. He saw Nico there as he got closer, talking to the familiar figure of a 9-year-old girl. Ivan smiled at the sight.
"Hey, buddy." Ivan said.
Nico turned to look around, excitedly. "Ivan, Ivan! She's a goddess. An actual goddess! I've been showing her my Mythomagic cards!"
"Hello, my lady." Ivan said, bowing his head in greeting.
"Ivan." Hestia smiled warmly. "Please, come and sit with us."
Just as Ivan was about to take his seat, the sound of rapid footsteps could be heard approaching them.
"Nico! Nic– oh!"
It was a camper. From his elfish features Ivan took him to be a child of Hermes.
"Uh… can we uh… borrow Nico? It's games night, and the Hermes cabin were just gonna play a few card games."
"Is that right, huh…" Ivan bore a soft smirk.
Setting down his dinner on the stone border, he pulled five golden drachma and placed them in Nico's hand, before wrapping Nico's fingers around them.
"Try not to lose them to quickly, eh?" Ivan said with a smile. "Take it easy on him, yeah?" This time he spoke to the Hermes boy.
Nico said his farewells to the both of them and left to follow the camper to Hermes' cabin.
"A kind-hearted boy that one." Hestia said, watching Nico go. "He is the first to have approached me in a long time. Before him, it was you."
"He takes after his mother." Ivan replied, taking his seat beside her.
"He spoke about you, you know. The boy holds you in high regard; he looks up to you."
Ivan didn't say anything in response to this. Accepting complements always felt weird to him.
"I am so pleased to see you again, my child."
"Not much of a child anymore, my lady." Ivan said. "But I will say that it's good to see you too. I've missed your company."
She nodded. "You've grown."
"You haven't."
This caused them both to chuckle lightly. Hestia still adopted her youthful form. A brown cloak enveloped her small frame, and a brown hood was pulled up over her head. Brown hair was seen to flow elegantly from the depths of the good, and round, almond shaped eyes were literal firepits for warm, comforting and inviting flames.
"Are you not going to eat, my child?" She asked.
"I'm waiting for company." Ivan said, giving a wink at her. "She's a late-eater like I am. And she'll be especially hungry after her walk."
As if on queue, Lily made her way up the pavilion steps and approached the pair, startling a few dryads on the way. One got over their surprise quite quickly, as she was able to bring Lily her own plate of barbecue meet just as she reached Ivan and Hestia.
Wow, I forgot how quick they were, Ivan thought, nodding his thanks. Lily basically collapsed on the spot and started to nibble away at her food.
Ivan divided his meal down the middle and scrapped half of it into the fire, sacrificing it all to Hestia.
She beamed. "Thank you, young one, but you didn't need to do that. You know that I receive a share of every tribute, as tender of the flame."
"I know," he admitted. "But you've allowed me to join you this evening, which I'm thankful for."
He ate his meal in silence while Hestia gently stoked the flames. Whenever she would prod the burning logs, the flames shifted hues to a more intense, ethereal red, before returning to their naturally orange colour.
After finishing, he commanded his goblet to summon red wine, which he sipped from leisurely.
"Have you decided whether or not to approach Alice, my child?" Hestia inquired.
Ivan finished his sip. "Artemis thinks I should. Though I don't even know what I'd say."
"You should. What happened was not your fault." She lay a supportive hand on his shoulder. "You should give yourself another chance to have a family, with what family you still have left."
While she looked intently at him, Ivan seemed to find more interest in the wooden floorboards, for he couldn't bring himself to look at her. Her presence and the comforting flames at his back were the only things currently stemming his turbulent emotions.
"It's funny, actually: gods, monsters and heroes don't even phase me. And yet, I can't even speak to an 11-year-old girl. Add to that she's a Hunter, which just complicates matters."
"Do you still resent my brother for what he did?"
That question caught Ivan of guard. He skulled the rest of his wine and then placed his goblet down beside him. Taking a moment, he shook his head.
"It's hard, Hestia. I thought for so long about it. But how could I hurt him the way he hurt me? It just isn't possible.
"And then there's the whole 'eye for an eye thing'. I'm sure Lady Nemesis is just cringing hearing me say this, but I'd just be stooping down to his level if I were to do anything.
"What I feel now isn't hatred or anger or resentment or fury or anything like that. I just… don't care. When I think of him and what he did I'm just cold, and hollow. It's like a present emptiness… if there even is such a thing."
He looked up into Lady Hestia's eyes. His own were remorseful, but unmistakably filled with conviction.
"But," he continued, "if I ever got the opportunity, I would want everyone to know that he robbed me. I've only stayed alive this long to make sure the truth is known; it's only right."
Hestia understood. "I do not approve of what my brother did, and I know Lady Hera was quite enraged as well. You have my support if this is what you want. But my stance is still that you should make Alice your prime focus."
Ivan nodded and proceeded to let out a large yawn.
"You should sleep, hero. You have capture the flag tomorrow, from what I hear."
"Sleep often eludes me, my lady. I've gotten used to it."
"You need to rest." She insisted.
Raising her hand, she touched her right thumb to his forehead, right in between his eyebrows. Her open palm covered his left eye and his eyelids began to flutter.
"Sleep here by the hearth, sweet one."
The last waking memory he had that night was the feeling of falling forward. He was caught as everything turned to black.
Hey all,
Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and the series overall thus far. Thanks to all of you who have come along for the ride and those of you who left comments for me; glad I'm headed in the right trajectory (I think). I decided to move my A/Ns strictly to the bottom to get you right in to the story.
I went back through the books and did some searching on the wiki, and I couldn't find a name for the oracle before Rachel, so I gave her the name June. Thought it sounded nice enough.
Anyways, if you have any feedback, questions, or you just wanna let me know how I'm doing, feel free to leave a review.
We'll catch you all for chapter 6.