The Hermes cabin was slightly overcrowded, but there were two spare bunks for Anthony and I to sleep in. Kylie had borrowed (or, in other words, probably stole) some toiletries from the camp store for us to use, which was pretty nice of her.
Anthony kept shifting uncomfortably, like he wasn't supposed to be in the cabin. "I can't stay here." He muttered under his breath, but stayed frozen in place.
A teenage girl strolled into the room; she had curly brown hair, pointed features like Kylie's, slightly upturned eyebrows, and wore a mischievous grin. When she saw us, she asked Kylie, "Regular or undetermined?"
"Undetermined-the both of them," Kylie responded. "They'll probably be claimed tonight, though."
The thought sparked a little flare of excitement in me. Anthony just looked nervous, like he wanted to bolt out of the door.
While Kylie told the girl about how she bravely secured two helpless demigods lost in the streets of Houston, I climbed over towards Anthony.
"Hey," I said. "You okay?"
Anthony looked up. "Of course I am."
"You don't look like it," I said flatly. "You've been nervous ever since we got here. Why?"
Anthony stared at the floor. "I-I had a dream," He admitted quietly.
Somehow that didn't sit very well with me. The way he said it made it seem like it was the worst thing in the world.
"Okay...why is that so bad?"
"It wasn't a normal dream." Anthony took a breath. "I can't talk about it now. Maybe tomorrow."
He probably wasn't going to tell me more, so I just slipped back into my own bunk. It wasn't long before I was drifting off, the sound of Kylie and her half-sister's voices fading away.
I got about three hours of sleep, and I probably would've slept for a whole week if Kylie hadn't woken me up.
It was late in the afternoon, probably seven or eight o'clock.
I glared at my blue-haired guide. "What was that for? I'm tired."
"It's dinner-time in the pavilion," Kylie told me with a shrug. "You have to come. Eating is standard procedure here."
I shifted, then slipped off my bunk. I had a feeling Kylie wouldn't leave me alone until I obliged. She had already woken up Anthony, which he didn't look too happy about.
"You guys should be excited," Kylie told us as we followed her out of the Hermes cabin. "You'll most likely get claimed by your Olympian parent tonight."
Fear was evident in Anthony's eyes, and he hesitated before stepping into the dining pavilion.
The pavilion was a broad white marble platform with Grecian pillars that gleamed in the torchlight and the glow of bronze swords. It didn't have a roof, which I figured made rainy days uncomfortable.
"It doesn't rain here," Kylie seemed to have read my thoughts. "Not unless we want it to. There's a magical border that protects camp from harsh weather and blocks the mortals and monsters out."
"Oh," I found my voice was once again small. "Right. Of course."
The pavilion was packed with smiling and laughing half-bloods happily enjoying their meal. I noticed that each kid sat at a specific table, like some sort of miniature clique. I didn't like groups all that much. I never fit in with them.
I thought I wasn't hungry, but then I saw what was on the menu. Imagine everything that tasted good; pork, mashed potatoes and gravy (a personal favorite of mine, I admit) steak, corn, pizza, everything. It wasn't long before Anthony and I had stacked our plates full of mouth-watering goodies.
Kylie had stopped by a bronze brazier and scraped a portion of her food into the flames. "Hermes," She said, "accept my offering." Kylie turned to us and said, "You have to give some of your meal as a sacrifice to the gods. Usually your parent."
I shifted on my feet. Sacrificing pieces of steak to the gods was kind of new to me, but I did what she said. Whoever my mother is, I thought, accept my offering.
Anthony did the same, but he stared at the flames in an anxious kind of way. Then Kylie ushered us to a table packed full of kids.
My friend Anthony lingered while I sat down next to Kylie, like he was uncertain.
"Sit with us," Kylie invited. "All unclaimed kids eat here until they're sure of their parentage."
The way Kylie said that made Anthony look guilty, but he scooted next to me anyways.
I scarfed down my meal within minutes. I hadn't realized how hungry I was until we walked in here.
Anthony hardly touched his food, which seemed a little strange. "I think I'm going to be sick." He muttered. He didn't look well, either. His face was pale and he kept shifting, staring off into the darkness.
I was about to ask him if he was okay, but a certain centaur friend of ours trotted into the dining pavilion, announcing that it was time for the nightly sing-along (led by the Apollo campers) and s'mores by the campfire.
That didn't sound too bad to me. I stood up, and before I knew it, I was contentedly nibbling on a s'more, listening to the Apollo kids sing some silly tune or other. Kylie explained that the campfire was enchanted, so the height and color of the flames reflected off the campers' moods. Right now, it was blazing purple and fifteen-feet high, nearly melting off some marshmallows near the front row.
Sometimes the fire flickered black; just for a few seconds, the air grew cold and the height of the fire dropped before rising up again. Someone wasn't feeling the love, and I had a good idea of who it was.
Chiron went on to announce tomorrow's camp activities. "Capture the flag will be held at 4:PM tomorrow! Campers have had two days to prepare strategies. New campers will attend as well, presuming they have assumed teams..." He went on to say a bunch of other stuff about it, but I was only half-listening.
"Oh, this will be great," Kylie muttered. "We don't have an alliance with Athena this week."
I shrugged. "They can't be that bad, can they?" Athena's children, at first glance, didn't look particularly vicious, but I had a feeling that they could be more dangerous than the Ares kids if they wanted to be.
"They're smart and good with weapons," Kylie responded. "That's bad enough. But whatever. I'll think something up."
I just nodded. I probably wouldn't even participate. I was a new camper, after all. I'd just slow down whatever team that adopted me.
The sing-along continued a little while after that, and Kylie began to tap her foot against the ground, as if she were impatient. It took me a moment to realize she was waiting for Anthony and I to be claimed.
Then, suddenly, the song stopped. A green glow flickered and hovered above a boy's head; he was maybe eight or nine, and an unclaimed kid I'd seen in the Hermes cabin. I stared at the holographic image above his head in amazement. It was a leafy-green scythe.
"Hail, Lucas Spencer, son of Demeter." Chiron's eyes twinkled and he nodded to the boy, who was still gazing up at the symbol above his head.
The crowd murmured congratulations and cheers for the kid. Even I had to smile, the little boy was so cute.
Then my smile drained away. Everyone's gazes were trained expectantly on me, and I just pretended not to notice.
The flames died. The air was filled with a sudden chill.
Crack!
Lightning flashed against the sky. The sound was so incredibly loud I jumped and covered my ears. Campers started to murmur uneasily, shifting and nervously looking up at the flashes of light.
A herd of gray clouds replaced what used to be a clear, dark blue sky. Thunder rumbled angrily in the distance. The moon's light dimmed as it was suffocated in a storm of lightning and thunder and clouds.
Kylie cursed in Ancient Greek and glared around at her half-siblings. "Alright, who made a joke about Zeus this time?"
"This is no simple joke, child." Chiron murmured. Even he looked worried, and that wasn't exactly reassuring.
There was another loud crackle of lightning, even more nerve-tingling than the last.
Drip, drop...something wet splattered on my shoulder. I turned and glared accusingly at a Hephaestus kid, but she just scowled and shook her head.
The drops got heavier and more frequent. Then, with shock, I realized it was raining. And it wasn't just a light drizzle. It was the kind of pouring that caused destructive floods.
Several campers gasped.
"That...that isn't supposed to happen!" Kylie said. Her bright-blue hair was drenched and clung to her face. "It can't rain here! What's going on?"
More thunder. I was seriously tempted to run all the way out of camp, but that was stupid. I felt rooted to the ground.
There was a burst of silver light; more gasps of amazement; another crackle of lightning against a stormy sky. Everyone was staring at me, slack-jawed, as if the rain didn't matter anymore.
"I...I don't understand." I glanced around. "What's everyone looking at?"
"You...I don't get it." Kylie shook her head in disbelief. "This must be some mistake."
I shrunk back. I wanted to just dissolve into the rain-soaked ground. Everyone stared at me, including Chiron. When I looked up, I saw the glowing silver image of a stag.
Finally, the glow died away.
Chiron stared at me grimly. "Hail, Alex Park, daughter of Artemis."
I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know what everyone was staring at. But I did know, that whatever just happened, was not good.
"I..." I shook my head, trying to recall the lessons of Greek mythology I'd glided over in school. Why did it matter if Artemis was my mother? She swore something...I don't remember.
It was still storming. Our fifteen-foot-tall blazing campfire had been reduced to some dying embers. The only source of light that highlighted the panic around me was the constant flashes of lightning.
"Artemis swore to be a maiden forever, Alex." Kylie's voice was just loud enough for me to hear. "She...she denounced the company of men. Do you know how bad this is?"
I didn't like the way she said that. How cold and grim Kylie's voice was; I didn't think it was possible for her mischievous grin to morph into something so different.
The air prickled with disbelief. An icy feeling crept over my bones, and I felt walls go up. They didn't want me here. They were the same.
I found myself backing away. Thunder rumbled in the distance; rain splattered heavily against the ground. The demigods were bewildered, just for now. They would turn on me. I was a monstrosity, according to them.
"Alex," Chiron finally spoke, "Y-"
At the edge of my vision, darkness flashed. I was vaguely aware that Anthony wasn't anywhere among the confused crowd. There! In a flash of lightning, I caught a glimpse of my friend running towards the woods that surrounded camp.
I didn't hesitate. As arguments broke out amongst the other campers, I turn and ran. I heard shouts coming from behind me, no doubt warning me to never return.
I ran until my legs felt as if they were crumbling to dust. I was cold, wet, and exhausted. I'd soon be rejected, when I finally thought I had found a home. Why does it always have to be this way? Half of me wasn't even surprised.
Finally, I couldn't handle it anymore. I stopped and leaned against a silver birch tree and choked back a sob. I couldn't go back.
"Artemis sword to be a maiden forever," Kylie's cold voice echoed in my mind. I was a mistake, I realized. Artemis messed up, and I was the product of that.
I bent down and felt around my left boot, then retrieved my dagger. Somehow, as I stared at it, hiding in the woods from the thunderstorm and the wrath of everyone else on earth, I knew it was a gift from my mother.
I remembered how I found the dagger; it just sitting on my windowsill, on my first day with my ex-foster-father, Joseph. Maybe Artemis knew the torture I'd face and took pity on me.
Then I realized, beyond my little rain-dampened clearing, there was a faint glow radiated from the darker shadows beyond. I gripped my dagger with one hand, and then crept closer.
I didn't expect to see my friend, Anthony, sitting on a tree-stump in the darkness. I also didn't expect to see the fading holographic imagine of a black skull hovering over his head. It cast a purple glow across the trees. It might have been my imagination, but the shadows were being pulled towards him, like a magnet.
At once, I understood. That's why Anthony had been so nervous. I recognized the skull from when Kylie showed us the cabins; a symbol of the Lord of the Dead. He suspected that he was a child of Hades. He knew he would be an outsider. Even if this was my first day here, I knew that not many had love for Hades.
"Anthony," I loosened my grip on my dagger.
Anthony jumped; he looked at me with wide, sad eyes. "What are you doing here, Alex?"
Judging by his tone, I stayed where I was. It wasn't my imagination. The shadows were beginning to pool around him in swirling black wisps. "I saw you run into the woods," I said. "I followed you."
"So you saw it?"
I nodded warily. "Yes. I saw it."
Anthony glared at the ground. "This isn't fair," He grumbled. "I'm going to be an outsider forever, while you get to be the kid of some archery goddess."
I froze. He obviously didn't understand that the stag was a symbol of Artemis. But when he realized I was being claimed, he knew he was next. He didn't want everyone to know about his parentage.
"Anthony..." My voice cracked. "I'm not the kid of some archery god, okay? My mother is Artemis, goddess of the moon."
"So?" Anthony didn't look up.
"Artemis swore to be a maiden forever. She broke that vow, Anthony. That's really bad." I found myself glancing up at the sky. Perhaps Zeus would strike me down in anger. Maybe Artemis would. I didn't know. But Zeus was definitely angry, judging by the storm.
What I said seemed to catch my friend's attention. "She's never had kids before?"
I shook my head. "No. Everyone will hate me now. I'm not supposed to be alive."
Anthony just scowled and looked away. "Just tell them that your dad's Apollo. Maybe they'll believe it. Apollo's one of the twin archers. You can just pretend and live here."
"The gods know about me," My voice was certain. "They won't have any love for the product of a broken oath."
"That's why I ran."
"What do you mean? What oath did Hades make?"
Anthony took a breath. "Back during World War II, the three gods, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades all swore not to sire anymore children because they were too powerful. The oath dissolved a few years ago...after I was born."
He looked so scared and frustrated, it was hard to imagine him as the sweet, quiet kid I'd made friends with. Still...he wasn't telling me everything about that vow. "No, Anthony, I don't care if your father is Hades. You didn't get claimed in front of everyone. If you don't want them to know, they don't have to."
Anthony finally had enough of sitting in the darkness and staring at the ground. He stood up, and the shadows fled away, retreating back into the night. "You're right. If they know another god broke an oath, all hell would break loose. Even if..." His voice did away, but after a moment he continued. "I don't need to..." Add onto their problems? I shifted my feet.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it." I muttered. "Where are we going to go now? We don't have any money."
Anthony shrugged. "We're at the mercy of them, Alex."
"They'll hate me now. I won't be accepted."
"I'll protect you," Anthony promised. If any other boy would have said that to me, I'd probably unload an arrow into his knee. But I knew Anthony wasn't saying that out of pride. "If anyone tries to hurt you-"
"Thanks." My legs felt like Jell-O. I couldn't imagine returning. "But I don't know...I'm not sure if I want to go back."
Just then, the leaves rustled. I whipped around, hand on my dagger. I stared at the leaves, waiting for some monster to emerge.
Instead, a voice called, "Alex? Are you here?"
I frowned, but didn't lower dagger. Perhaps I'd still need it.
Then Ezra stepped out of the gloom. He was rain-drenched, but had a new, larger bow clutched in his hands. I gulped.
"Ezra? What do you want?" I stared at him. I desperately wished I hadn't left my bow back in the Hermes cabin.
Ezra looked relieved. "Alex! Everyone's looking for you. We were afraid some monster would pick you off in the storm. You're outside camp boundaries." Then he realized Anthony was standing next to me. "Anthony, right? What are you doing out here?"
Anthony scowled. "Same as you. Looking for Alex." He lied.
"Why are you looking for me, anyways?" I tried not to shiver. Despite it being August, the air felt unnaturally chilly. The constant rain, thunder, and lightning didn't help, either. "I'm the daughter of Artemis. That's not good for you, right? Wrath of Zeus and all that?"
Ezra shrugged. "We've had kids of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades here. It doesn't really matter. Everyone will get over the surprise quickly. The gods aren't very good at keeping vows when it comes to kids anyways."
Somehow, his plain carelessness both irritated and reassured me. Like a twisting feeling in my stomach. "Artemis is different! She hates guys. This doesn't make sense!"
"Calm down," Lightning crackled overhead, and white, electric light filled our little clearing just for a second. "I know it feels crazy. But hiding in the woods won't do any good. The last thing we need is a monster on our hands."
The dagger glowed faintly in my hand, icy and cold. Yield, my daughter. Be safe. The voice whispered faintly in the back of my mind. I knew that must have been Artemis, perhaps offering a little guidance since she got me into this mess, after all.
I glanced at Anthony. He was shifting his weight, looking like he didn't want to follow us back. Did he really feel more comfortable in the dark woods than safely sheltering at Camp Half-Blood?
"What will happen to me, if I follow you back?" I demanded. "That's like waltzing into the enemy's base."
"We're not the enemy, Alex. They won't hate you because of who your parent is. It's not your fault." Deep down, I knew Ezra was just lying to calm me down. I knew that they wouldn't accept me so easily. They would judge be based on who my parent was, just like they would Anthony if they knew he was a son of Hades. But half of me wanted to believe what he said. To believe I could be safe and happy for more than a day.
Strive and endure your trials bravely, child.
"Okay," I forced my tensed muscles to relax. "Okay." I repeated. "I'll follow you."
"Good." Ezra looked relieved. He glanced at Anthony, who'd been hanging back slightly, cloaked in the shadows. "You coming too?"
Anthony nodded. "Yeah."
Then we all trudged out of our grassy clearing and forged back inside the camp boundaries.
Seeing everyone's faces as we marched back towards the campfire made me regret I chose to come back.
Gasps and murmurs drifted around me, but I didn't say anything. They could stare and talk about how much of a disgrace I was all they wanted.
Chrion looked at me sadly, almost in a pitying way. The storm was still raging. It felt like the thunder and lightning had increased the moment I walked into camp.
Then Chiron turned to a red-haired girl. "Kayla, call back Dakota and the others. It seems a search is no longer needed."
The girl nodded and ran off.
I shifted on my feet. My dagger felt limp and awkward being clutched in my hands.
Now, Chiron looked at me. He looked much older now, with a grim expression and completely drenched in the rain. "Alex, we should discuss this matter at the Big House."
I gulped, but just nodded. "Yes, sir."
"I need to come, too," Anthony said hastily.
Chiron shook his head. "No, Anthony. This is something I must talk about with Alex alone."
"But..." Anthony hesitated. "Chiron, I have something important to tell you."
I looked at Chiron hopefully. I didn't want to be alone with someone I barely knew.
Chiron relented. "Alright, boy. But we must hurry." He addressed the bewildered crowd, "Campers, return to your cabins. It is well-past curfew already."
The crowd hesitated. A tall, buff kid who looked around sixteen called out, "What about the kid? We have to get rid of her, right? Zeus will blast camp to pieces with her around."
My hand crept towards my dagger, but Anthony was faster. With a subtle jerk of his hand, a wave of shadows surged from the forest, wrapping around the kid. At first glance, you couldn't see the darkness amongst the rain, but the kid waved his arms in panic, like he was being attacked by a swarm of bees.
I guessed being a child of Hades had some impressive but creepy perks. Finally, Anthony let his hand fall and the shadows melted backwards.
"Scared of lightning, Damien?" snickered someone behind him. The kid, Damien, muttered something and soon there was a fist-fight going around.
"Enough!" Chiron had to raise his voice to break through the booming thunder. "Do not fight amongst yourselves. Return to your cabins."
There was some reluctant mutters, but this time the campers slowly dissolved, heading back to their cabins.
"Now," Chiron said, "I believe we have something important to discuss, Alex."
Anthony and I followed the centaur across camp, and it was a relief to escape the constant murmuring and whispers.
I didn't slip away completely unnoticed, though. As we passed a few of the cabins, some campers peered out from their doors and pointed at me.
Chiron stopped in front of a huge sky-blue house. It had a wrap-around porch, white paneling, and reminded me of a Victorian townhouse. The cozy and peaceful feeling was completely disrupted by the rain beating down on us. The thunder and lightning had stopped, but I didn't know if that was good or bad.
I found myself wondering how Chiron could live here comfortably, being half-horse and all.
Chiron, however, simply trotted onto the deck, opened the door, and carefully trotted inside. Anthony and I followed, slightly uncertain, but with a glance back at the gray, rain-soaked camp behind us, I hurried in after him.
It was warm and cozy inside. Chiron led us into a living room. A fire crackled contentedly nearby, unfazed by the lightning and thunder outside. The head of a sleeping leopard snored above the mantel, but I didn't even give it a second glance. There were also grape vines wrapping around the walls, and theater-type masks hanging everywhere. An old Pac-Man arcade stood deactivated in the corner.
I slumped against a sofa. Anthony did the same.
Chiron's head brushed against the ceiling. I figured it couldn't be comfortable, being half-horse and living in a regular house, but I didn't say anything about it.
"What are you going to do now? Kill me?" I broke a silence. I'd been basking in the fire's warmth, wondering how all this would play out.
Chiron's horse-half shifted. The wood creaked under his hooves. "It is not as simple as that, child. I wish for your safety, but the Olympians will no doubt have...unfriendly questions regarding you."
"But the gods aren't good with oaths anyway, right?" Even as I spoke, I knew this was just hopeful nonsense. "Anthony said that during World War II Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon swore not to have kids. They didn't keep their promise, either."
Chiron looked even more uncomfortable. "My dear, that's a different matter. Artemis has made it clear she has no desire for male companionship. For her to have a child...that is confusing."
"So this hasn't happened before?" Anthony asked.
For a moment, Chiron hesitated. "No, my boy. I am not sure how the gods will take to you, Alex. Perhaps they will simply move on. Perhaps there's an explanation, I do not know. The best I can do for you is to keep you here, at Camp Half-Blood."
"I don't get it," I muttered. "If Artemis doesn't like guys or something, why would she suddenly change her opinion?"
"There could be a variety of answers," Chiron said grimly. "No doubt the Olympians would like to know as well. I'm afraid Zeus, however, is not waiting for an explanation. He is angry, I can tell that much. It's simply not safe for you outside of camp. Zeus will send the worst monsters after you."
"But I didn't do anything!" Indignation flared, momentarily chasing away all the self-pity I'd been nurturing lately. "He can't punish me for being born, can he?"
Chiron's horse-tail flicked against the wall. "The gods are not always reasonable, Alex." Then he asked an unexpected question. "Has Artemis ever spoken to you?"
I fumbled with the zipper of my silver jacket. "A few times," I admitted. "Not in person, just occasional whispers, like advice. She gave me this dagger, too. Some kind of gift."
Chiron blinked. "Interesting. I would have thought Artemis would have not dared to have interaction with you. But Artemis is not a cruel goddess, usually. Perhaps she wished to help you-have you been alone, Alex, all this time, you would have been picked off by some monster."
"So you're saying Artemis has been whispering into my ear, trying to help me because she knows she messed up?" I didn't try and keep the bitterness out of my voice. The only reason my mother even acknowledged my existence was out of pity.
"Gods cannot directly interfere with their childrens' lives, Alex," Chiron said. "It is against the ancient laws. She did the best she could, and even that would be risking her place in the council."
That didn't make me feel a whole lot better. "So what do I do now? Sit and wait for a punishment?"
"As I said, I am unsure. But Olympians gods know you are Artemis's child. It's no use to pretend otherwise. You will be moved to Cabin Eight, and train. Perhaps one day you will be allowed a quest and prove yourself to the gods."
He sounded doubtful. If I was allowed a chance to prove myself, it probably wouldn't be out of my own free will.
"Okay." I said glumly. "I get it."
Chiron looked at me with pity. Then his gaze focused on Anthony, who'd been slouched against the sofa in complete silence. "My boy, is there a reason why you've insisted on following Alex here?"
Anthony might have blushed at that moment, but I couldn't tell. "There is. I was claimed."
Chiron looked surprised, but he said, "I didn't see a symbol. How do you know this?"
"I've known ever since we got to New York," Anthony admitted, not looking at me. "But something appeared above my head after Alex was claimed. I-I ran into the woods before anyone could notice me."
The centaur frowned. "Why, child?"
"My father's Hades," Anthony looked like the words were being forced out of him. "I had a dream, while we were flying here. I knew for sure when that stupid symbol appeared above my head."
Chiron scratched his beard and muttered something under his breath. "That is no difficult matter, boy. You will be moved to the Hades cabin-"
"No." Anthony's voice was cold. "No, thanks. I don't want to be singled out as some creep."
Chiron looked troubled. "My boy, you do not have a choice. If you stay in the Hermes cabin, that will raise questions regarding the gods' oaths to claim their children."
"Then I can just say I was claimed by a minor god," Anthony said it like it was no big deal. "Like Nemesis or something."
Chiron's hooves skittered nervously across the wood floor. "The gods would not appreciate someone masquerading as their offspring, and nor would Lord Hades appreciate his son hiding his parentage in shame. I'm sorry, Anthony, but there is no other way. You can't hide your identity as a child of Hades."
Anthony's shoulders slumped and he looked at the ground. "Fine. Alex, I guess we should go get our stuff."
Kylie met us by the entrance of the Hermes' cabin.
"Alex!" She said. "Jeez, are you okay? You look awful."
"Yeah," I muttered, then repeated in a louder voice, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just shaken, I guess."
Kylie nodded. "I can imagine that. What did Chiron say?"
I shifted my feet. Even now, I could feel the glares of kids peering out of their cabins to have a look at the scandalous daughter of Artemis burning into my back. "He said to get my stuff and stay in Cabin Eight while the gods debate how to punish me, basically."
"Oh." Kylie's voice was small. "Yeah, right...I'm sorry I acted so cold earlier, Alex. I guess it just shocked me, that's all." Then she noticed Anthony. "Are you staying here or what?"
"No." Anthony said simply. "I'm here to get my stuff."
Kylie didn't question him about it. She just shrugged. "Okay, then." She grinned her old impish grin. "I gotta say, guys, we'll miss havin' you here at Cabin Eleven."
I snorted. "We were here for, like, three hours."
Kylie's grin didn't waver. She gestured for us to enter, and with some hesitation, we did.
Cabin Eleven was bursting with kids. I could feel dozens of eyes staring at me, and whispers began to stir as I trudged over to my old bunk.
"...broken vow..." whispered a Hermes kid.
"...moon goddess? Insane!"
"The gods won't be happy..."
"Artemis dun-goofed!"
I ignored them all and grabbed my small back of toiletries, my bow and quiver, and then waited for Anthony to gather his things.
Now, with a bow by my side along with a dagger, the whispers ceased. Kylie gave us a once-over, then raised a hand in a joking salute. "It's been an honor to be graced by your presence-"
I rolled my eyes. "Gee, thanks." I was feeling seriously impatient-all the staring and murmurs were making me feel uneasy. "But I'm afraid I have to be off to Cabin Eight now."
That caused some snickering.
I scowled and gave everyone my best, top-of-the-line-Alex-Park-death-glare, gripped my curved silver dagger, and waited for someone to say something. No one did.
Then, Anthony and I walked out of the Hermes' cabin and into the rain.
Hades's cabin did not look friendly. It was made of solid-obsidian, and the torches that were fused on the walls harbored green flames that somehow burned in the rain. A wicked-looking skull hung over the doorway.
Anthony gazed at the building and gulped. "Alex, Kylie told me some other kid lives here...another son of Hades."
I was fighting the urge to shrink back from the cabin. "So you won't be alone," When he still looked disheartened, I gave him a playful shove. "Hey, don't worry about it."
Anthony shook his head. "I wish I could go back."
I didn't know what he meant exactly, but I found myself wishing the same thing. I wanted to be sipping hot cocoa by a warm fire while my father told me stories about his hunting trips, and about the time he met my mother...but I couldn't. There was no way to go back to him, ever.
"It'll be fine," I promised him. "I'll see you in the morning, okay? Go get some rest."
I didn't give him time to reply. I was already turning away and trudging across the rows of buildings.
It wasn't hard to find Artemis's cabin. It was completely silver, with carvings of wild animals on the walls. It glowed in the moonlight, but I was still hesitant to enter.
Mother, I thought, please, if you're listening, tell me what to do.
There was no whispering reply. If Artemis had heard me, she gave no sign of it. She was probably busy running from Zeus or something like that.
I took a deep breath, and walked inside. Getting in-that was easy, mostly because there was no door.
The only thing that lit up the cabin was the moonlight that leaked through the doorway, and the dim silver-fire torches hanging on the walls. There was a small window at the back of the wall, lightly veiled by silky silver curtains.
It felt strangely...I don't know, right, to be in my mother's cabin.
There were two sets of bunk beds, one to my left and right. Unused silver bows hung on the bed posts, and other weapons lay unused and forgotten on the walls.
There was a little bedside table standing in front of the window. The lacy curtains swayed, stirred by the wind coming from outside. I set my dagger in a pool of moonlight, and the blade seemed to glow. I slipped the bow and quiver off my back, and then climbed into the nearest bunk.
As I lay there, my vision dimming into blackness, I knew without a doubt that I had a tough ride ahead of me. But I am a worthy daughter of Artemis. I'll prove myself to the gods, whether they like it or not.
So, that's it. I hope you guys liked it. If not, constructive criticism is appreciated. P.S.: Updates may be a bit shaky for a while. Hopefully chapter six will be up soon.
