CHAPTER 6

I dreamed that I was standing in a vast, flowery meadow.

A soft breeze stirred the long stalks of green grass. The sky was clear except for a few puffy white clouds drifting around.

A white-marble gazebo-looking building stood next to me. Without thinking, I stepped into the gazebo. There were two chairs set there, and a table. A marble gazebo in the middle of a beautiful flower-filled meadow-totally not suspicious, right?

Almost as soon as I sat down, a woman's voice-soft and silky-spoke across from me. "Oh, dear. Beautiful, isn't it?"

I jumped. Only a second ago, the second chair had been empty. Now a woman sat there.

It was hard to describe the woman clearly, but she was startlingly beautiful-easily the most pretty woman I'd ever seen. Think of the prettiest celebrity you know-you know what? That celebrity isn't beautiful enough to compare to this woman.

Her eyes, hair, and skin-tone all seemed to shift. One moment her hair was curly locks of chocolate, and the next it was braided and a warm auburn color. Her eyes sparkled playfully, and when she smiled, I was filled with some giddy feeling. I felt as if I wanted to smile, too, but I held it back, just barely.

She reminded me of everyone I had a crush on in my entire life-which wasn't a lot of people.

"Lady Aphrodite," I don't know how, but I managed to speak.

Aphrodite smiled again. She was wearing a simple white Ancient Greek dress with gold-trimmed sleeves and neckline. "I apologize, my dear-did I disturb your slumber?"

I realized that I'd been staring at her, slack-jawed. "No! I-I mean...why are you here?"

Aphrodite's fingers tapped against the table. "Just dropping by, sweetie. I wanted to see how my new projec-I mean, niece was doing."

I tried to think of a reply, but I was still stunned by her appearance. Stop it! Part of me thought. Aphrodite wasn't here to simply say hello, that was for sure.

"P-Project?" The word jarred me out of astonishment.

Aphrodite was humming a sweet melody, then gave me a dazzling smile. My bones melted to syrup. "Oh, but you are so much more than a project! What an amazing story you will be when I'm done..."

That made me blink. Story? Project? Is that what this mega-super-model thought of me? I'm not going to be toyed with like this!

Aphrodite seemed to notice my discomfort. "You're an independent young woman, I understand. Just like your mother! Really, the love magic that went into her-simply tiring! If only she kept more of an open mind and wasn't so prudish."

"What?" I scowled. "My mother? What do you mean?"

"Artemis, of course. My sister denies the opportunity of love! Can you believe that? It was becoming awfully boring, really. I simply spiced things up, so to speak." Aphrodite's voice was sweet as honey.

"You...you used love magic on my mother, didn't you?" I was done goggling at the love goddess-anger was swelling in my chest. A bitter taste was rising in my throat, making me nauseous. "That's why she fell in love with my father? Because of magic?"

Aphrodite looked offended. "My dear, you word my actions in such an unflattering way! I only gave my sister a simple push. No one can avoid love forever, Alex. You see, your...mother," I had a feeling the love goddess had other ideas of what to call her, "was acting especially rude. Saying a young woman had no need of love in her life? I proved her wrong! No one expected my dear sister to fall in love, did they?" Aphrodite giggled to herself, like it was some huge accomplishment. Admittedly, it was, in one way. Getting Artemis-a maiden goddess-to fall in love? Not easy.

But I was too embarrassed and ashamed to feel any sort of admiration. "Y-You did that? To Artemis?"

Aphrodite smiled again. "And it was no easy task, I assure you! Almost every ounce of love magic I had. And, of course, there was the matter of finding someone that Artemis could at least tolerate without magic. Your father was the best I could find. A kind hunter and archer? Yes, he shared the same boring interests as Artemis. They were perfect together!" She sighed wistfully, then went on more sadly, "But alas, love magic does not last forever. Once Artemis had you, she swore your father into secrecy, then left. Wallace was a decent mortal, so he kept his word and hid you the best he could."

I should have shouted at her. I should have slapped her right in her gorgeous godly face, but all I could say was, "She...she never really loved my dad?"

Aphrodite's smile melted away. Something glittered in her eyes-pity, amusement, I couldn't tell. "Oh, sweetie. Love magic cannot simply zap feelings into existence. No, it can only escalate on emotions already built. The last time I tried this with Artemis, however...it was not pleasant. Hopefully, you will turn out better than the other attempts."

"You can't play with someone's feelings like that!" Rage bubbled into my voice. "It's not right to disgrace a maiden goddess. The Olympians are angry at my mother now-and me."

Aphrodite's fingers tapped against the table. "Oh, most are simply shocked or confused. Hera and Zeus, however...they are not happy."

"Why did you appear to me, then?" I demanded. "Why tell me this?"

"I couldn't leave you in the dark forever!" Aphrodite replied. "I just want to prove that love is no thing to take lightly. Those Hunters and their patron, Artemis? They don't respect me, or what I stand for! I needed to teach them a lesson. Hopefully, you will also learn this."

"What?"

Aphrodite smiled playfully. Her previous anger melted away like snow under the hot sun. "Oh, I have plans for you, Alex. I don't intend for it to be easy, but they will tell your tale centuries from now! A story of how love can conquer all! People will see Aphrodite in a new light, my dear niece."

I seriously wanted to throw my chair at the goddess' face. Did she seriously think that she could just pull peoples' heart strings like that? But she could. She's the goddess of love.

"I don't care about love," I spat. "I just want to be a regular person. I don't want the gods to hate me! I don't want to be the child of Artemis!"

Aphrodite hesitated, studying me pensively, then nodded. "Perhaps you will take time," She decided. "But no one can hide from love, Alex."

Then my dream dissolved.

I woke up curled in my bunk, alone in Cabin Eight.

It had stopped storming outside, and dawn light spilled into the cabin.

It was numbingly cold, but I found myself sweating and trembling inside my sleeping bag. The dream echoed vividly in my mind, and my eyes stung. I wanted to cry.

I barely pulled myself together. I couldn't sit and despair over this new-found information. I couldn't have expected more.

My mother was a maiden goddess, after all. I couldn't...I couldn't have expected for her to fall in love completely on her own.

But I still couldn't shake off the feeling of embarrassment. I felt like I'd just been punched, disowned, and laughed at, all at once.

Someone knocked against my cabin's silver walls. The sound echoed a few times, but managed to snap me out of whatever I was experiencing.

"Alex?" A familiar voice called. "You awake? It's breakfast time."

At first, I didn't know who was speaking. Then, after a moment, I realized it was Ezra, the Athena kid I'd met at the archery range yesterday.

"Yeah," I called. My voice sounded cracked and husky. I slid out from my bunk, and then walked over towards the table and grabbed my bow and quiver. It was too much trouble to try and bring my dagger. I need to find a sheathe for it.

Ezra was waiting outside. The sky was still gray and cloudy, but at least it wasn't storming.

"How's the new cabin?" He asked me.

I shrugged. We were already walking towards the dining pavilion. "It's okay. It could use a door, though. That would be nice."

As we walked, I realized camp was...different. Unlike when I first arrived, it wasn't buzzing with campers happily going about their way. It was like a heavy blanket of quiet solemnity had been thrown on top of us.

I instantly regretted attending breakfast. The pavilion echoed with the voices of at least fifty demigods talking all at once. But the moment I came within few, the shouts and laughs silenced into unsure whispers.

My skin prickled. Everyone's eyes were trained on me. My footsteps echoed loudly on the marble floors.

I searched the crowd and tables for my friend, Anthony. There wasn't anyone sitting at the Hades table.

Ezra frowned apologetically. "People are a bit...you know, surprised by Artemis claiming you. But they'll get over it and get on with their lives."

I shoved my fists into my jacket pockets. "Yeah, hopefully. Hey, did you see Anthony toady?"

The chattering had resumed, and we were viewing today's breakfast menu.

"Anthony? That black-haired kid who came with you to camp?"

I nodded. "Yeah. He's my friend."

"I think I saw him," Ezra hesitated, like he was trying to remember. "Early this morning. He was walking away from the Hades cabin with his head down, heading into the woods."

Alarm spiked my tone. I nearly dropped my plate. "What? In the woods-alone?"

Ezra shuffled his feet. "I didn't see anyone with him. I didn't think much of it. He looked like he knew what he was doing."

"What does that mean?"

"He had a standard bronze broadsword with him-one of ours, from the camp armory."

I frowned. Why would Anthony be sneaking out of camp with a sword? Oh, gods, I thought, is he running away? I shook off the thought and scolded myself. No, Anthony wouldn't just leave me here. I knew that.

I followed Ezra over towards the bronze brazier, and scraped a portion of my eggs and sausage into the flames. I kept my voice as low as possible and said, "Artemis, accept my offering."

Then I trudged over to sit at the Artemis table, completely alone. I didn't even have Anthony with me.

Suddenly my breakfast didn't taste too good. I kept thinking of Aphrodite, (not her looks, mind you) and what she said about my mother and father. Artemis never really loved him, did she? Or maybe she never could have loved him.

At that moment, I was swept off into a distant memory.

The door creaked and opened. My father, Wallace, stepped into a small, dimly lit room. A girl, perhaps five years old, was laying in a weathered twin-sized bed.

"Daddy!" The girl's eyes lit up when she saw the man. The child had auburn-colored hair, like her father, and startling silver eyes.

Wallace Park smiled. "Hey, princess."

"I missed you." The girl said frowningly. "You were gone for a long time, daddy."

Wallace sighed and sat near the girl's feet. "I'm sorry. I'll be around more, I promise."

That made the little child smile. "Are you here to tell me a story?" She chirped. "About mommy?"

Wallace smiled again, and the following conversation seemed to blur. I already knew what my father had to say: "She was the most beautiful and kind woman ever, Alex. But she couldn't stay here forever. She loves you just as much as I do. You'll meet her one day, princess. I know it."

I scowled down at my plate and shook off the memory. Artemis didn't love me; or at least, not as much as my father did. And she didn't love him, either. It was just Aphrodite pulling the strings on someone's heart, creating false feelings.

I gripped the fork in my hand. I was simply a pawn in Aphrodite's little plan.

After breakfast, the kids went off to do their daily activities. Archery and swords class, lessons in Greek mythology, Latin, stuff like that. I hadn't been assigned anything yet, which I was fine with.

My mind drifted off to my silver dagger, still sitting on a table inside my empty cabin. I decided not to bring it with me today; keeping it in my boot or jacket pocket wasn't safe. I had to find a proper sheath for it.

What did Kylie say about Hephaestus's kids? They could build almost everything for...a drachma? Yes, that was it. I knew a drachma was some sort of Ancient Greek currency, but I didn't have any.

"Hey, Alex!" I gave a slight jump, looked up. Ezra had strayed from the rest of his siblings and was walking over to me. What does he want?

"Yeah?" I said. "What is it?"

"You haven't chosen any classes yet, right?" Ezra asked.

I shrugged. "No."

"You could come with me to archery," Ezra offered. "You're good with a bow-better than some Apollo kids, actually."

I shifted on my feet. I'd like nothing more than to have a bow in my hands, free from the criticism of everyone else, but I also had a friend to think about.

"I'd like that," I admitted, "But I'm worried about Anthony. He's still a new camper, like me-being in the woods alone is dangerous, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah," Ezra said. "But Anthony...there's something about that kid. I think he wants to be alone, at least for now. Besides, I'm not sure about going after him when he's got that sword."

"He's never fought with a sword," I snorted. But maybe Ezra's right. Part of me was reluctant to go look for him. It seemed that my friend had already become out of reach, shrouded in a thick cloak of darkness that I was too afraid to intercept. Stop it, I told myself. Anthony's your friend. You shouldn't be afraid of him.

"You know something about him, don't you?" Ezra guessed.

The question had been so sudden, I didn't know how to react. "What do you mean?"

"You know who is parent is," Ezra replied.

"Don't you?"

"I didn't really pay attention to which cabin he went to. The camp's kinda been focused on...you know, you."

My eyes narrowed. "Yeah."

Ezra fidgeted uncomfortably, but he kept his voice upbeat. "So how about archery class?"

I shrugged the clasp of my quiver back towards my shoulder. "Okay."

The archery range was empty except for two Apollo kids. Both of them stared at me for a few long moments, but then got on to practicing.

"So," said one of the Apollo kids, slinging a golden quiver over his back as he strolled over to us. He nodded to me. "You're Artemis's kid, right? Cool. Can you shoot?"

I glanced sheepishly at the four targets. "Let's find out."

Last time I visited here, I nailed a bull's eye on my first shot. I guess since my mother was one of the twin archers, I inherited some skill.

The other child of Apollo-a girl with red hair with a streak of green, backed away to give me room. I had seen her last night in the storm-Chiron had called her Kayla.

Kayla kept shouting advice-most of it was pretty useful, but I shrugged some words off. My hands worked for me, and for the most of it, I didn't really think.

I unloaded one, two,-three arrows onto the targets, each striking the center. I tried for a forth, but I was out of arrows.

"Wow." Kayla looked impressed. "That's...wow. No one else has that skill except for us Apollo campers, and even then, it takes time."

I smirked. "I guess that means Artemis is the better archer, then," I joked.

Kayla shoved me playfully. "I didn't say that. Our dad's still way cooler."

"Alex," Ezra intercepted, "Do you have a team for capture the flag?"

My smile turned into a scowl. I brushed some sand off my worn-out jeans and shook my head. "No. I'm new here, don't forget."

"I think Athena would like to have an alliance with the Artemis cabin, then," Ezra announced. "What'd you think about that?"

I thought about Kylie's words during the campfire, something about their cabin being doomed because of this week's alliance. "Thanks," I said, "But I think your cabin has enough skilled kids to get you through."

Ezra hesitated. "If you say so," He said uncertainly. His gray eyes had a stormy look in them-like he was calculating a lot of things at once. Then he smiled, "Right. My turn."

By the time we left the archery range, my arms and fingers were sore from shooting, and my quiver jangled empty on my back. I'd tried to reuse as many arrows as possible, but most were bent beyond future usage.

Ezra and I were just now heading towards the lakeshore to where a senior Athena camper was holding lessons on monsters in Greek mythology-monsters that we'd might run into if we left camp.

Then a dark shape flashed near the edge of my vision. I was amazed that I could even see it-my sight was blurry from staring at targets and arrowheads for an hour. But it was definitely Anthony, emerging from the monster-infested woods outside camp.

I stopped in my tracks. "Ezra, hold on a sec."

For a moment, he looked confused. Then he saw Anthony, and nodded. "Alright. Just don't tear that kid apart, okay?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'll try not to."

My friend Anthony had stopped near the forge (that was mainly dominated by the Hephaestus bunch) and was staring at the rows of deadly Celestial bronze weapons hanging on the wall.

"Anthony," I said. Anthony jumped, like he was startled, then turned to face me. "Where were you?" I clipped off every word.

"Oh..." Anthony looked like he was a naughty kid confronted by his teacher. "Er, you know. Practicing sword-play in the arena."

I raised an eyebrow. "Don't lie. You were in the woods outside camp, weren't you?"

"How do you know that?"

"Ezra said he saw you walking from the Hades cabin and going into the woods." I gestured to a glimmering bronze sword that Anthony had in his hand. "With a sword."

Anthony glanced down at the blade, and shrugged. "I really was training, Alex. Just not with the instructors here."

I frowned. "Then with who?"

Anthony hesitated then. "Undead sword-fighters from a few hundred years ago."

When I stared at him, he held up his hands. "Hey, it's effective!"

I muttered something unpleasant under my breath. "Gods, Anthony-you left camp, by yourself, to train with zombies? Sorry, but that's a little unsettling. I thought some monster would have killed you!"

Anthony shifted his weight, looking uncomfortable. "Alex, you don't have to worry about me. I can deal with this stuff by myself."

I scowled. "Because your a child of Hades?"

Anthony's eyes widened. "Careful!" He glanced around, as if making sure no one heard us. Then he looked me in the eyes. "Alex, children of Hades...we're not as accepted as other demigods. It's better for me to be alone."

"You're being stubborn, Anthony," I said sharply. "You think that just because your dad's Hades means you're toxic waste or something. You feel like just because of that, you always have to be alone." I took a breath, and with some effort, softened my voice. "You know we'll always be friends. You nothing to hide from-not from me. We're in this together, so don't just turn invisible."

I didn't give him any time to reply. I whipped around, and stalked back over towards Ezra. A twisting feeling had become knotted in my chest-a feeling of desperation and clawing ferocity to stay aloft in this swirling storm. If Anthony-one of my only friends-left to roam around like a ghost, I would be alone to face something I did not want to look at. My destiny.

It's amazing how many hideous, deadly creatures in Greek mythology that aren't actually myths. Sphinxes, hydras, gorgons, Cyclopes, empousi-the list went on and on. I'd spent at least an hour-and-a-half listening to one of Ezra's half-brothers basically go into the story of every Greek monster in existence.

Oh, and that's not all-apparently, you can throw a coin into a rainbow and message anyone in the world, like magical, Ancient Greek Skype.

Ezra had gone off to discuss no doubt ingenious battle strategies with his siblings. I didn't have anyone else to go to. (the thought of talking to Anthony now gave me a queasy feeling in my stomach) Naturally, that's when Kylie ran into me.

And I don't mean I just casually saw her hanging around. She was bolting from the Hypnos cabin, with a stocky boy racing after her.

When she slammed into me, I jumped back in shock. "Kylie! What the h-?"

"Alex!" Kylie gasped in relief. She glanced back at the stocky boy that had been chasing after her-when he saw me, he shrank back and retreated. I had that effect on people. "Gods-I can't believe I actually got Clovis running!"

I blinked and took a step back. "What? Who-Kylie, what did you do?"

Kylie grinned. "I may have, uh...put some cockroaches in Clovis's bunk before his nap."

"Kylie, that's-"

Kylie held up her hands. "Hey, it's in my blood! Besides, all those Hypnos kids do is sleep. The run did him some good."

I snorted, crossed my arms. "That's one way of looking at it. Do you always stuff roaches into peoples' bunks?"

Kylie shrugged and brushed some dust off her jeans. "Nah. But ya know, camp would be boring if there wasn't some pranking."

Well, now at least I knew the Hermes kids were notorious for that kind of stuff.

"Aren't you worried about capture-the-flag?" I stared at her.

"Oh." Kylie blinked, like she forgot about that. "Oh, don't worry. I've got it all worked out."

I snorted. "Obviously, you don't."

Kylie's eyes sparkled. "Forgive me for asking, your highness, but why does it matter to you? I thought Ezra adopted you."

"What? No. I didn't want to join."

"Why not? The Athena kids have a partnership with Ares, Demeter, and like, half of the camp. They're always the winning cabins. Well, except for Nike, but-"

"Not anymore," I said. "I'm joining your team. Let's talk strategy."

It took a while to get all the Hermes cabin rallied up, but eventually, we had all our allies situated outside Cabin 11. There were over a dozen of us; eight from Hermes, (including some unclaimed kids) four from Hephaestus, one from Iris, one from Hecate, and, of course, there was me.

The Hephaestus kids were definitely resourceful; they'd already filled the woods with traps; not deadly ones, but enough to keep the enemy out of commission. Most of the Hephaestus kids were defending our flag, but some were on decoy.

The Hermes cabin weren't especially skilled in combat, and were hard to control, but they were definitely good with thievery, which made them essentially vital. I couldn't make out much with the unclaimed kids, so they were stationed near our borders.

The Iris kid, a tall, buff guy named Butch-I had him on the decoy team, along with a girl from Hecate.

I was with Kylie and one of her siblings. We planned for the decoy team (Butch, Lou Ellen, and a few Hephaestus kids) to run through enemy territory, and then lead them into an ambush, where several other children of Hermes would pounce. During that, me, Kylie, and her half-sister would make a grab for the enemy team's flag.

The plan was good. But I knew that the Athena kids probably had a better one. We were going to lose, but at least we had a fighting chance.

"Not bad," said Nyssa, the temporary head counselor of the Hephaestus cabin.

I glanced across at Nyssa and her siblings. "Your traps are ready?"

Nyssa nodded. "All around Zeus's Fist. Ready and loaded."

I hoped that none of the traps were lethal. Over the past few days, I couldn't be sure that anything wouldn't kill me.

Kylie looked amazed that we had a sufficient plan. "Jeez. This strategy stuff makes me really sleepy." Just to prove it, she gave a massive yawn.

I nudged her playfully. "Hey, don't fall asleep on me. I need you up and running."

"Oh, alright," Kylie rolled her eyes in an over-exasperated manner.

"Hey, Alex," said Nyssa. She had a dagger sheathe in her hand. The hilt was silver and had the symbol of a moon carved into it. "You're a knife-user, aren't you?" She tossed the sheathe at me. "For you. It should fit, and you can't go around with just a bow."

I clutched the sheathe in my hand. "Thanks, Nyssa."

Maybe the kids here weren't so bad. Maybe...perhaps, if the gods willed it, I'd finally have a home.

Just before sundown, Chiron rallied up most of the campers-about eighty demigods armed with deadly weaponry and lugging around pieces of bronze armor.

I was wearing tattered jeans, a dirty gray shirt and a silver jacket. Like always, I stood out like a leafless branch on a tree-bare, awkward, and exposed.

An Aphrodite camper took one look at me, shook her head, and said, "This won't do." She dragged me away, dug something out of the Aphrodite cabin (I stayed a clear ten feet away to avoid being suffocated by the stench of designer perfume) and came back out with fresh jeans, a plain gray tank with little designs of wild animals, and a slim, lightweight white coat.

I put it all on reluctantly, slightly taken aback. "Er...thanks?"

The Aphrodite girl gave me a dazzling smile. A conch horn sounded in the distance-it was about to start. I turned to leave, but the girl said, "Wait!"

I halted, a bit stunned about the urgency in her voice. The Aphrodite girl thrust two silver earings shaped like crescent moons into my hands. "There!" She announced, looking satisfied.

I didn't have time to thank her. I just smiled, put the jewelry on, and raced off to where my group was waiting.

When Kylie saw me, her eyes widened. "You got attacked by the Aphrodite cabin, didn't you?"

I just nodded. I was fitting my dagger into it's new sheathe. "Yeah." I glanced up, and gave them all a confident smile. "Right. Who's ready to lose?"

Surprisingly, it didn't take long for everyone to get into post. I think that the Hermes cabin was relieved at having something to do. They wouldn't admit it, but they were happy to have some organization.

I was waiting in the dark behind a jutting oak tree. A group of kids in bronze armor waited for a command nearby.

I knew that the Athena cabin wouldn't risk attacking first. Or at least, I hoped they didn't.

Finally, I gestured towards the group of kids near the opposite side of our clearing. They ran off, and disappeared into the night within seconds.

The rest of the team, except Kylie, her half-sister, and me, were gone. I just had to wait.

Time passed. I could hear the sound of metal clashing furiously against metal; the sound of shouts and jeers filled the air; not vicious or disturbing, more eager and competitive.

I kept my hand on my dagger the whole time. I couldn't hear anything nearby, but that just made me feel uneasy.

Kylie seemed bored. She tapped her fingers against the bark of a birch tree. She had a simple bronze dagger.

Her half-sister, Cecil, just had a standard bronze broadsword from the camp's infirmary. I had a feeling that Cecil wasn't very experienced with weapons, and neither was Kylie. But I didn't really need them to fight. I needed them to steal the flag, while I fought.

Finally, there was a sound; a shrill conch horn so loud that it made me flinch. But we wasted no time.

"Come on," then we raced off into the trees.

Saying that we made it through enemy territory completely unopposed would be a lie.

Our mad dash was interrupted by a Demeter kid, but she didn't look very warlike. She tried to sprout weeds around our feet, and almost succeeded, until Cecil threw her sword at the girl's legs. And I mean actually threw. Yeah, that was a clear sign that she wasn't skilled in swordplay.

"Cecil!" I gasped. But the girl didn't look badly injured, just dazed. We kept running.

A new camper, who couldn't have been older than nine, blundered out towards us, but Kylie knew enough to disarm him.

I was nearly out of breath, but we were close...so close...

Green flashed from the darkness. Ezra was running past us, our flag held in his hands.

"Oh, no you don't," I muttered. I drew my bow and produced one dull-studded arrow, and didn't hesitate as I let it fly through the air.

Naturally, it hit exactly where I wanted it to. The flag flew out of Ezra's hands, landing in a trickling stream. But within seconds, Ezra was already scrambling towards it.

"Cecil! Get it!" Cecil understood. She snatched our flag away, and looked at me with a panicked expression. "Go! Take it back to the base and guard it!"

Cecil nodded, and nearly stumbled over her own feet as she ran back into the shadows.

Ezra chased after Kylie and I, but he made a wrong move in landed right in one of the Hephaestus' kids' traps. He was snatched up in a net, pulled aloft, at least ten feet in the air. He stared at us, wide-eyed and goggling, as we darted past him.

"Sorry, Ezra!" I called behind me. I wasn't sorry. My heart was racing. We were close-I could almost see the owl-embroided flag of the Athena cabin.

We almost made it together. Then Kylie stepped in one of our own traps, and was strung into the air. I halted, gazing up at her, not knowing what to do. "Go!" Kylie yelled. "I'll be fine!" She sounded doubtful, but I continued on my run.

Landscape rolled by. I leaped over streams, puddles of water, avoiding Athena's traps...

Just then, a muscular shape emerged from the surrounding greenery. I ran straight into the figure. I backed up in surprise, reaching for my dagger, but whoever he was simply knocked the blade out of my hand when I had it ready.

My vision focused; I could see a tall boy around sixteen, with a red-plumed Ancient Greek bronze helmet and chest plate. He held a long, sharp, glimmering Celestial bronze sword in his hand.

"Going somewhere?" The boy snickered smugly. I thought for a moment. That voice...I recognized it.

Then I remembered. Last night at the campfire, a guy had suggested that they throw me out, and Anthony promptly had him swarmed by invisible bees. Or at least, that's what it looked like. The girl called him Xavier.

"You know," Xavier lazily waved the swordpoint in front of my face, "The gods are getting reckless. First Thalia, then Jason, and then Percy." He chuckled. "Now Artemis. It's all out of balance. The gods are breaking too many oaths."

I scowled. What was he talking about? Percy? Thalia? I didn't even know those people. "You're a son of Nemesis," I realized, "She's the goddess of revenge, right?"

Xavier replicated the expression of a snarling bulldog. "Nemesis is under-credited. She stands for balance. You, Alex...you're a mistake. Oh, the major gods can get away with anything, sure. Even Artemis."

My blood boiled. I wanted to smack this guy in the face, but that was difficult with a sword in his hands. "It's not my fault for being born," I managed.

Xavier shrugged. "Maybe not. Either way, though, you're not supposed to be alive. But everyone's fine with it. It doesn't matter to them, no, the gods can get away with anything and at the same time ruin the lives of innocent mortals."

I didn't know what that meant. "What did the gods do to you, Xavier?"

The scowl returned. I knew I wouldn't get an answer to that question. "None of your business, girl." He prodded me with the sword. Pain exploded from my left arm, and I felt warm, sticky blood trickling down...

Xavier held the sword at my neck. "I have to correct Artemis's mistake, you see. Bring back balance."

"You're crazy." The words sounded gurgled. I felt the sword-point press closer... "No...k-killing..." I stuttered.

Suddenly the pressure was released. Xavier crumpled to his knees.

I staggered back, gasping, my body blazing with pain. The cut he gave me was at least four-inches long, but luckily not that deep.

Then I realized Xavier didn't just fall to the ground unconscious by himself. I readied my bow, notched and arrow, and aimed it at where the son of Nemesis had fallen.

"Don't shoot!" The boy held up his hands, but that gestured wasn't appreciated much due to the fact that he still held a four foot-long wickedly sharp black sword in one hand.

Then I realized the boy was my friend, Anthony. My aim fell, and I stared at him. "Anthony? Did you...did you k-?"

"No," Anthony said. Then he frowned. "I don't think so..." He knelt down to examine Xavier, then stood up again. "Sadly, he's fine. Just knocked out."

"You...you hit him with the butt of your sword," I realized. "How did you-I thought you weren't playing."

Anthony shrugged and sheathed his sword. It was new. He must have gotten it just several hours ago. "I wanted to test my skills. I was being chased by some kids earlier, but I lost them, and eventually wondered into your territory. I was going to steal your flag, but then I ran into this jerk."

"You wouldn't have stolen our flag." I said indignantly. "But thank you. That psycho would have killed me."

"He would have," Anthony agreed. "Now, are you going to shoot me, or do you want to steal Athena's flag?"

That choice was easy. We headed towards Zeus's Fist, where the Athena flag was.

Surprisingly, we made it all the way on top of the hill without being attacked. I guessed the decoy team worked.

The bad news was that there were four well-seasoned campers guarding the flag.

Things would have gone smoother if Kylie were here, I thought. Anthony and I stopped in the shadow of a towering pine, frowningly examining the four armed half-bloods.

Finally, I had enough of waiting. I drew my bow, and aimed one dull-tipped arrow at a chink in a girl's armor. The arrow soared through the air, and hit the kid with a fierce impact that sent her staggering and stumbling.

Anthony gave me a look like, Holy crap, why did you do that? But I just shrugged. Shouts erupted from the clearing beyond, and I heard the sound of swords being unsheathed.

Now was the best time to make an appearance.

In a matter of moments, swords were being clashed, blows were being landed, and curses were being shouted. I drew my dagger and managed to dive in and out without being hurt.

We were definitely losing. Three against two-and I was only armed with a dagger, and my bow was useless at close-ranged combat.

Anthony was managing to fight off two kids at once while I distracted the third. How he did that, I didn't know.

The girl I was fighting pressed her sword against my dagger. Our blades were frozen and locked together for several moments. My arms trembled with the effort of trying to hold her back.

Xavier's voice echoed in my head: You were a mistake, Alex. That did it.

I pressed harder, and the sword flew out of her hand. Taking in her moment of surprise, I landed a well-placed kick, and sent her staggering. Two down, two to go.

Anthony wasn't doing great. The two other campers were battering him at all sides, their movements swift, their blows precise and their parries quick. I ran to his aid, and within moments, we stood back-to-back, me armed with a bow, Anthony swinging a midnight-black sword.

By now, the girl I'd disarmed had recovered her sword, and was advancing, red-faced and making a noise that sounded like growling. I swiftly notched an arrow, aimed it at her, and shot her in the chest. That arrow was enough to make her double-over, gasping and muttering a vast variety curses at me, my grandmother, and my soul.

I shot another arrow. In no time, our enemies were either lying on the ground clutching their stomachs, or fleeing to call in reinforcements.

Now was the time to make a move on the flag. There was only one camper left, a seasoned Athena guy by the looks of it, and Anthony was doing his best to fend him off. I stumbled towards the tall gray flag, and took it in my hands.

At the same time, there was thump, the sound of a blade flying through the air and then skittering across the ground. I risked a glance behind me-Anthony was finally disarmed.

"Nice try." The Athena kid said, moving his sword away from Anthony's neck. "But you're out."

Anthony caught my eye, and I nodded. The Athena kid wouldn't kill him (or at least, I hoped he wouldn't). The flag in my hands, I made a dash into the woods.

I ran as fast as my shaking legs could carry me. The gray Athena flag rippled in in the wind and glowed in the moonlight. I passed several bewildered kids-some on the enemy team, others the decoy team which was still running around.

Finally, I leaped over the gurgling creek that marked our border. Some unclaimed kids stationed there called out encouragements, but I didn't have time to stop and acknowledge them.

I was wheezing and out of breath by the time I reached our base. I almost broke the flag by violently shoving it into the earth, and the moment I did, the gray instantly turned into a silver banner, embroided with a black stag. The symbol of Artemis.

Cheers exploded all around me. For the most part, everything past making it back with the flag, was a blur. I remember getting patted on the back by some teammates, some resentful mutters from the people who weren't too happy about my mother being Artemis, and some pleasantly surprised and dazed smiles from the Hermes kids. I guessed they thought that they would lose.

I just smiled faintly and nodded. I was too tired to do anything else.

When the noise died down and Chiron rallied up both teams for some speech or other, I noticed Anthony wasn't anywhere to be seen.

My throat felt dry and an unpleasant fluttery feeling developed in my stomach; what if the Athena kid didn't let him go?

I shook myself free of the thought. Why wouldn't he? He is a child of Hades...

"That was some good archery, Alex," I jumped at the voice. When I turned, Ezra was standing behind me. His hair was ruffled and his Camp Half-Blood T-shirt was stained with mud and slightly tattered. Apparently, someone had freed him from the Hephaestus trap. "You really put my skills to shame."

I glanced down at the standard camp-issued bow that I was still clutching in my hands. "Sorry about the trap," I said. "I really didn't know where they were placed myself."

"Nothing to be sorry about," Ezra said easily. He reached out with an arm, and after a moment of frowning, I realized he was offering his hand. I shook his hand gingerly, uncertain. The idea that someone wasn't sour about me winning something was new. Actually, the fact that someone just wasn't sour at me was new. "You won fair and square. To be honest, I didn't expect that decoy team. Or getting strung up ten-feet in the air-" He smiled again. "Anyway, that was good work."

I shrugged. "Thanks..." Suddenly I remembered my encounter with Xavier, the crazy nut-son-of-Nemesis who tried to impale me with his sword for being born. I could see him now, inside a cluster of burly, mean-eyed kids, scowling and holding an icepack against his forehead. I straightened myself, tore my gaze away.

"Something wrong?" Ezra glanced behind him. Xavier promptly turned his back, like he hadn't been giving me the evil-eye.

For a second, I actually considered telling Ezra about what happened. Then I stopped myself. He'd think that I was making it up. I couldn't turn a friendly acquaintance into an enemy.

"Er, no," I said hastily. That excellent reply probably wouldn't convince a son of Athena. I shifted on my feet. "Hey, have you seen Anthony anywhere?"

Ezra frowned. "No. He didn't join capture-the-flag, did he?"

"He did."

"I didn't see him during the entire game. Was he with you?"

"Yeah. I can't see him anywhere." I stamped my foot and muttered a curse that would have made a sailor gasp. "He disappeared again."

Ezra looked sympathetic. "After you ordered him not to? Gee. That guy's living on the edge."

I scowled. "I didn't order him."

Ezra shrugged. "I guess you don't have to."

"What does that mean?" I said sharply.

"Nothing," Ezra's reply was nervous, quick. "But why is Anthony always...you know, disappearing? I'm not suspicious of him, don't get me wrong. It's just kind of odd."

I frowned. Did no one pay enough attention to Anthony to, I don't know, notice that he's a child of Hades?

Before I could reply, someone screamed.

The sound made me jump, draw my bow, and whip around. Cecil Markowtiz, one of my teammates from capture-the-flag, was being dragged from the shadowy woods by Kylie and a grim-faced Nyssa.

Ezra and I nearly tripped over our feet trying to get closer. My heart thumped in my chest; an icy feeling crept over my spine.

Chiron countered over, shock evident in his expression. Kylie and Nyssa gently laid Cecil down near the roots of an oak tree.

I shouldn't have gotten closer. When I saw the wound, I felt dizzy, like I couldn't stand. I wanted to hurl, but I couldn't dedicate myself to it.

One of the default arrows from the camp's infirmity was deeply embedded in Cecil's shoulder. Blood drenched her navy-blue jacket, and her skin seemed pale and clammy. Her chest fluttered up and down weakly, her eyes shut. That wasn't all...no, that was not an ordinary arrow.

From the single glimpse I'd have of the wound, I could see an acid-green liquid dripping from the arrow, mixed with the blood.

"Poison," Chiron murmured. An Apollo kid-maybe fourteen, knelt beside her, a collection of first-aid stuff by his side. "It must have been extracted from a monster deep within the depths of Tartarus."

I felt woozy. Someone...someone had shot her. She could die.

The boy looked up, shaking his head. "I can't...I-"

"Don't blame yourself, Will." Xavier stepped out of the crowd. He had a nice-sized bump on the back of his head from where Anthony struck him. He jabbed a finger in my direction; I was standing a few feet away, completely silent. "It's not your fault. It's hers."

At first, I was too dazed to even give a reaction.

Kylie grabbed a large woolen blanket and laid it over Cecil's unmoving body. Tears welled up in her eyes; there were bloodstains on her shoulder and hands from where she helped carry Cecil.

"Alex shot her," Xavier announced. His own voice was cracked, filled with seemingly genuine emotion. But it wasn't. I could tell when feelings were fake. "I-I saw it. I tried to help Cecil, but Alex's little friend, that kid Anthony, knocked me out with the hilt of his sword..." Xavier shuddered. "It was black as midnight. Only children of Hades wield wicked weapons like that."

Murmurs engulfed us. My feet felt rooted to the ground. I didn't notice it, but my hands were trembling.

"This is ridiculous," Ezra growled. His stormy-gray eyes were hard as steel. "Why would Alex want to shoot Cecil with an arrow?"

"Alex told me, before her friend knocked me out," Xavier shot back. "She's crazy. She said it was to defend her mother's," Xavier said the word through gritted teeth, "honor. I told her she was insane, but she wouldn't listen to me."

Some people stepped away from me and gave me wary looks.

"N-No," I stammered. "I didn't. I swear."

"Bah!" Xavier spoke with fiery passion. "What does the word of a murderer mean? I watched Alex turn on her own teammate with that terrible gleam in her eyes." Xavier took a breath, tears slowly forming in his eyes. "It was terrible. I wanted to help Cecil...I was too far away."

"It's not your fault, man," said Dakota, another son of Nemesis. He glared in my direction. "You can't control crazy people."

Some people still looked uncertain. "Where would Alex get a poison-tipped weapon?" Some called. "It's only her second day here!"

"Artemis could have easily given her it," Xavier snarled. "The goddess is clearly unstable. Having a child?" He glared at me balefully, which was nothing new. "Zeus even warned us that she was bad news!"

"It does kind of make sense," Katie Gardner from Demeter muttered.

"We all knew it was bad when she got here."

"...clear sign from Zeus."

"Murderer!"

I felt like I could barely stand. This had to be a dream. I'd wake up, completely alone in Cabin Eight, or even better-maybe even being a child of Artemis was a dream.

But it wasn't.

Soon, carnage was breaking out. Shouts and insults broke the peaceful silence of the night.

At that moment, Anthony slipped into the crowd, looking confused. I ran over to him, blinking back tears. "Anthony! Oh, gods..."

"Alex? What's happening?"

"She's a murderer!" Xavier yelled. "She killed Cecil!"

Anthony's frown intensified. "What?"

"That dim-witted, lying, crow-face-" I wanted to shoot Xavier in the face right then, but I couldn't. The dull-tipped arrows wouldn't do any permanent damage. "He said...he said that I killed Cecil..."

"Alex," Chiron said, trotting towards me. He had a guarded expression on his face. "Can you defend yourself against the claims?"

The shouts grew silent. Everyone's gaze was trained expectantly on me, like they thought I was going to do a flip.

"I...I didn't do it," I said numbly. "Xavier's lying. To get pay-back for knocking him out."

Chiron raised an eyebrow. "You knocked him out?"

"No! I mean-yes..."

More shouts. I just wanted to sink into the earth and disappear from existence. Being the target of all that unbridled anger...

At one point, someone tried to throw rocks at me, and Chiron anticipated that it was a good time to leave. "Alex," He said, "This will be better discussed in the Big House."

"I'm coming," Anthony said hastily. "I'm a witness."

Chiron didn't hesitate. "Very well."

"And us." Said a broken voice.

I turned and saw Kylie and Ezra standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Kylie's eyes were puffy from crying, and her blue hair was disarranged. "Cecil was my sister. I have to be there."

Ezra stated no reason for wanting to go.

Chiron looked like he wanted to argue, but I wasn't very good at dodging stones. One hit the back of my knee, and I nearly crumpled to the ground from the pain. "If you must. But hurry."

Escaping the crowd wasn't easy. Xavier kept yowling shouts at me, trying to chase after us, but we managed to outrun them.

Chiron came to a halt, standing on the Big House's wraparound porch. He didn't bother heading inside.

I couldn't keep back the tears for long. I was trembling-from hate, betrayal, grief, all of it. I just wanted to sob into a pillow, locked away from the hatred of everyone else.

"Alex," Chiron said, "The camp believes you are guilty of Cecil's murder."

I stared at him. I tried to reform a steely glare, but I found that I couldn't look him in the eye. "Do you think that?" I asked.

Chiron hesitated. "I believe someone murdered the daughter of Hades," He said. "But I don't think it was you. My dear, I'm afraid it's no longer safe for you here."

"But you said I wasn't safe from the mortal world, either."

Chiron gave me a look of deep pity and sadness, like I was destined to die painfully, and he knew it. With my luck, I probably was. "Child, this may be a sign from the gods. They want you to leave protection-they may want to kill you, or perhaps give you difficult quests in exchange for your life. I am not sure. There hasn't been a demigod like you since..." Whatever he was going to say, he decided against it. "I cannot convince them that you aren't guilty. Neither sides have evidence-it's simply the word of Xavier against yours."

A hollow feeling formed in my stomach. "Everyone will believe Xavier." I shook my head, fighting back a sob. "Chiron, can't you do something? I-I have no where to go."

Chiron winced, like I'd stabbed him. "The best I can hope, child, is that the gods will have mercy on you." He faltered; his hooves shifted across the wood. "However, there may be another place..."

I looked up. "Where?"

"Camp Jupiter." Ezra said. "The camp for Roman demigods. But, Chiron-that might be worse for Alex. You know how seriously they take vows of maidenhood."

Chiron nodded grimly. "Indeed, child. But perhaps if you do not reveal your true parentage, you could find a haven in the legion."

"Where is this other camp, then?" I demanded. They were kicking me out. Like every other place I'd been in.

"In San Fransico," Chiron said reluctantly. "That is a very difficult place to travel to, Alex-"

"I don't care. I'm going." I wiped the tears from my eyes. "You guys don't need a murderer daughter of Artemis here."

"Alex, if there were a possible way for you to stay here..." Chiron stopped. "If you wish to travel to San Fransico in search of Camp Jupiter, you can't leave alone."

"I'll go." Anthony said. His expression was cold and hard to read.

"Me too," Kylie sniffed.

"And me." Ezra said. When Kylie and Anthony looked at him in confusion he said, "You guys need some brains in this operation."

"Four," Chiron muttered. Anything above three heroes is an unlucky number among quests, but you will need all the protection you can get."

I turned and stared at the camp-even at this distance, I could hear the shouts of angry campers and see Xavier rallying them up against me, filling their heads with lies.

"I will give you the supplies needed," Chiron said. As he passed me, he said, "Alex, I'm so sorry. May the greatest gods be with you."

Well, that was it! 8k words...wow. Thanks for reading! Reveiws and constructive criticism are appreciated! :)