Chapter 2

Lawrence p.o.v

"That's a fucking tree."

"No not the tree, dumbass." Geoffrey said. "Come on." He started up the hill, I reluctantly followed him. When I reached the top of the hill I was met with a sight that boggled my mind.

Spread out below us were dozens of small cabins each one in a different style. One was blood red, another was Silver. Nearby there were sandpits, obstacle courses, a climbing wall spewing lava, and a full sized fucking arena.

I was led down the hill toward a big baby blue mansion, with wrap around balconies, and a big bronze Eagle weathervane. "Damn," I breathed.

He led me up a set of stairs to the balcony. We walked for a while until finally we rounded a corner and saw three guys sitting around a little table. There was an old guy in a wheelchair facing us, and two young men facing with their backs to us. One gas black hair one was blonde.

"Chiron," Geoffrey said, the old dude looked up and smiled a warm smile.

"Ah," he said in a low gentle voice. "Geoffrey my boy, welcome back." The girl walked around the corner behind us. "Emilee welcome back. I see your mission was a success." Emilee stepped forward and nodded.

"Yes, this is Lawrence," she gestured to me. "Lawrence, this is our activities director Chiron," I nodded my head to him in greeting.

"Sup Lawrence," the black haired guy said. "I'm Percy, always cool to meet a new camper." He stuck out his hand, I shook it firmly. "The dumb blonde is Jason" he pointed his thumb at the blonde.

"Hey," he gave me a smile which I returned.

"Why don't you sit down m'boy," Chiron said waving to the empty seat. "I'll explain everything." I circled the table and sat next to him. "I'll start with the basics, are you familiar with the Greek gods."

The question threw me off, I was expecting something more along the lines of: 'how do you feel about joining a crime syndicate' or 'slurp these coke filled condoms, you're going to Miami.'

"Well," I started, unsure. "I guess I know a little, Zeus and them, right?" Chiron nodded, still with that warm smile.

"Precisely. Now, this may come as a shock, but all those gods, all the stories, they're all true. The gods still live, they follow the flame of Western civilization. Wherever it burns brightest is where they reside." I believed him, not sure why, but it made sense; something clicked on in my head, repressed memories, strange experiences.

"I believe you." I said, in awe. Chiron's smile grew.

"I knew you would." Then he stood up, out of his wheelchair. But not like how people normally become unparalyzed. He stood up, then continued to stand up, back legs sprang out of the chair, horse legs.

"You're," I choked, he simply smiled and nodded.

"Emilee," she snapped back into the conversation, Sir Lancelot had long since left. "Why don't you-" His voice died in his throat.

"What?" They were all staring at me.

"By the gods." Chiron gasped the smile gone from his features. Percy pointed to a spot above my head. I looked up to see a dark symbol bobbing above my head. It was a shield, with the face of a woman on it, she was crying blood.

"No way," Percy grabbed his forehead and ground his palms into his eyes. "Argh" he clawed at his face, Jason wrapped an arm around his shoulder and led him away from the table.

"What the hell was that?" I asked. Chiron scowled.

"Worse than hell m'boy, you've been claimed." thanks for the explanation, I wanted to shout. "You're a half blood like the other campers here, half god half human. Your godly parent," he choked. "Is Achlys, goddess of misery and poison."

Worse than hell, fun. "Emilee, could you show Lawrence to his cabin, I have some reading to do in my study. I'll see you at dinner." His face was sheet white as he turned and clopped into the manor.

"Well," I trailed off.

"Yeah," Emilee concluded.

She showed me around the camp half-heartedly. My favorite part was my cabin, number 63.

"Really? It's all mine?" I was incredulous it was a big wooden cabin painted dark Earth tones with black out blinds and a huge fireplace.

"Yup," Emilee replied, leaning up against the door frame. "You're the only Achlys camper, which makes you head counselor too." I nodded in appreciation of my new house. I jumped onto the bed and was in heaven, after sixteen years in the streets it was the most comfortable thing I'd ever felt.

In the distance I heard a horn blow. I looked at Emilee questioningly. "Dinner." That got my attention.

She led me to an open air dining Pavilion where the rest of the camp was already taking their seats. Emilee explained the plates, goblets, and the burning of offerings as we walked, but I was more focused on the cacophony of smells emanating from that place.

She walked to her table and pointed out one to me. I sat alone on the stone picnic bench. Platters of food whipped to my table, I piled my plate high with grapes, potatoes, and brisket. My mouth was watering but I remembered what Emilee had said. Along with everyone else I stood and walked over to the nearest fire, scraping in a big chunk of beef.

I didn't know who to pray to, so I didn't. I say back down and dug in greedily. I ate like, well like a starving person, which I pretty much qualified as. I got a few sideways glances from the other campers but it didn't deter me.

I cleaned my plate, and put down my fork. For a second, my vision changed, I was sitting on a dirty cot in a dugout. A rat the size of a puppy ran past the entrance in the trench outside. The beans in my helmet we're getting cold.

With a start I snapped back to the pavilion, campers laughing and eating. For a second I could smell the fleeting scent of Belgian mist. What the hell was that. In my head I heard a name Lloyd, once, then it was gone.

I curled up in my warm bed, a first for me. I was still shaken up from my, whatever that was at dinner. But I was also exhausted, and the bed was very comfy. After some tossing and turning I managed to sleep.

I awoke to the sound of German dive bombers. "Stukas!" I shouted and dove onto the floor. I curled into a ball and covered my head. I scrabbled for my helmet but it wasn't there. The screeching stopped, I cracked open one eye and saw my cabin. There were no Stukas, no Germans, no bombs.

"Fuck I need a smoke."