Chapter Two:

Heya, guys! So this is a pretty long chapter. Again. Haha :) Anyways, the next chapter is the last of Marco's backstory, then the new adventure will begin. Yay! Just to let you guys know, I'll probably alternate which story I update. Last time I updated Hidden Hero, now Burning Sun, then I'll go back to HH. Helps me keep up! :) I want to apologize again if their are inaccuracies with the Spanish. :( Anyhoo, this chapter includes more familiar PJO characters, so I hope you enjoy! Shout out to ShadowTravel for being the first to favorite, follow, and review! You rock! :D

Reviews:

I wanted to review earlier, but I had to run out the door like a crazy person… As far as I can tell(with my limited Spanish ;-) the Spanish seems right. Love this so far! Thanks so much, lovely! Glad to know I seem to be on the right track! I really hope you continue to enjoy this story. :D

Disclaimer: I own Marco and Andrew (cause that doesn't sound possessive). Everything else is Rick's (cause that doesn't sound selfish).

Thankfully, we made it to Camp Half-Blood without incident. Andrew said this was largely due to the fact we got a direct flight. With us being in the air most of the time, it was harder for monsters to attack us.

"Not impossible, but harder." Andrew had said.

'Yeah, that's reassuring.'

When we got to the doors of the airport in New York, a man was waiting for us. He had sandy-blonde hair and blue eyes. He was dressed as a chauffeur. He loaded us up into a white van, then drove off into New York traffic.

"Marco, this is Argus. He's our head of security at camp. Argus, this is Marco." Andrew introduced.

"Hi." I said, hesitantly.

Argus didn't say anything, he just winked at me. I jumped and nearly hit my head on the roof of the van, because the eye he winked at me with was on his neck. I let out a yelp of surprise.

Andrew chuckled. "Oh yeah, by the way, Argus has eyes everywhere. That's why he's such a great head of security."

Argus smirked, looking at me through the rear-view mirror.

'Tienes que estar bromeando.'* I thought. Trying to distract myself from the strange company I had, I spent the rest of the ride gaping at the view from the van window. I had never been in such a big city before, much less an American city, so I was amazed by everything I saw.

"A lot different than what you're used to, huh?" Andrew asked.

"Sí.* Very much so." I manage to reply. We're silent for a moment. "This camp of yours.. Is it in the city?" I asked. Now that I was in America, I was kind of hoping to explore the big and exciting city.

"Oh gods, no. We couldn't hide a demigod camp in the middle of a city! Besides, all the pollution and littering you humans do? No. I couldn't live there! Camp Half-Blood is outside the city. However, we are close to the beach."

I nodded. "Oh, okay." I tried not to sound too disappointed.

"Trust me, mi amigo.* There will be plenty for you to explore." Andrew promised.

I didn't really believe him, until I saw the camp. When we first got to the hill, I thought they were joking.

"This is it?" I asked, looking up at the lonely hill in the middle of nowhere. The only thing I could see was a tall tree at the top of the hill, with large cables wrapped around it.

"Just over this hill is Camp-Half-Blood." Andrew confirmed.

"Why do we have to walk? Why can't we just drive into camp?" I asked, as we began trekking up the hill.

"It would be weird driving into the camp! It would definitely make the nature spirits mad, leaving tire tracks in the grass. Not to mention it would probably disturb Peleus."

"Who?" I asked.

Andrew pointed to the cables. But as we got closer, I realized they weren't cables. It was a dragon. It seemed to be sleeping.

"What?! You have a dragon?!" I hissed, hoping I didn't wake it up. "And why did I not notice it until now?!"

"Geez, chill out, man. He won't hurt you. Well, unless you try to take the Golden Fleece." Andrew says, nonchalantly. "And the reason you didn't notice him at first was because of the Mist. It helps disguise magical things from mortals. Sometimes it tricks half-bloods too."

"The Mist? The Golden what?!" My world had been taken and turned upside down, then shaken like a snow globe for good measure.

Andrew pointed to something glittering in the bow of one of the branches. A Golden Fleece.

"That's the Golden Fleece. Ever heard the myth?" Andrew asked.

"N-No. I kind of didn't have the money for schooling, much less a course on Ancient Greece!"

"I take it you didn't read the Mythology book I gave you for your birthday." Andrew said, disappointedly.

I made sure to keep my distance from the dragon as we continued walking up the hill. I thought about how to respond. I didn't want to offend Andrew, it was nice of him to give me a birthday present. But at the same time, reading was the last thing on my mind back home. And right now, Andrew was starting to annoy me. "No. Call me crazy, but I thought providing food for Rosalina and Andrés was a little more important than reading."

"Pity. Might of helped with your monster fighting." Andrew said.

I shot him an annoyed look, getting ready to slap him up-side the head. Andrew noticed.

"Sorry! Kidding! Well, not really. It probably really would have helped with your fighting." He grinned, obviously enjoying getting me riled up.

Before I could let him have it, someone spoke up.

"Uh, am I interrupting something?" A guy asked.

I turn to see a guy about my age. He was tan, with messy black hair, and piercing green eyes. He had on basketball shorts and an orange t-shirt with a pegasus on it. 'Camp Half-Blood' was printed in black letters across it.

"No." I said, shooting another annoyed glance at a smirking Andrew. "It's just been a heck of a day."

The guy smirked. "Yeah I can tell." He gestured to my clothes.

I looked down and realized I was still wearing my scorched clothes from the cantina. I felt my cheeks burn.

"Yeah, nasty run-in. Didn't really have time to change."

The guy laughed. "I understand. I've been there. Don't worry, though. We have extra clothes at the camp store. I'm Percy, by the way. Percy Jackson." He held out his hand.

I shook it. "Marco Alvarez."

Percy nodded, then turned to Andrew. "Sup, Andrew?"

"Oh, not much. Just another day saving a half-blood's tail and being heroic and stuff." Andrew shrugged.

I rolled my eyes.

Percy chuckled, before turning his attention back to me. "Well, ready for a tour?" He asked. He gestured behind him.

That was when I looked at the other side of the hill for the first time.

"Woah." I said.

The place was huge. The landscape was scattered with buildings that looked like ancient Greek architecture—an open-air pavilion, and amphitheater, a circular arena. 'They all look brand new!' I thought in amazement. The white marble columns sparkled in the sun. In a sandpit nearby, a dozen high school-age kids and satyrs played volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange T-shirts like Percy's were chasing each other around dozens of cabins nestled in the woods. Some shot targets at an archery range. Others rode horses down a wooded trail. 'Wait, do those horses have WINGS?!' Between the woods and the strawberry fields, kids in bronze armor raced each other in chariots around a dirt track.

Percy smirked again. "Pretty amazing, right? C'mon. Let me give you the tour."

"You guys go ahead." Andrew said. "I'm going to go check in with Chiron. I'll meet up with you later. Okay, Marco?"

I nod. "Sure thing."

Andrew begins to walk away. When he was just a few steps away, I called his name.

"Andrew?"

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Gracias."* I said, gratefully. "For everything."

Andrew grinned and tipped his fedora. "De nada, amigo!"* Then he headed for the huge, blue-gabled roofed farmhouse.

As Percy and I walked, he would ask me questions and I'd ask him some in return.

"So, where are you from?" He asked.

"Mexico." I replied.

"Wow. Ever been to the states before?"

"Never. Where are you from?" I asked.

"Manhattan, New York. My mom and I would actually vacation in a beach-front cabin not far from here. It's not as luxurious as it sounds, though. The place was a dump, but I still loved it. If you don't mind me asking, who's your mortal parent? Mom or dad?"

"I don't mind, I'm just not used to it. All this 'mortal' and 'half-blood' stuff is pretty weird. My mother is mortal. Her name is Isidora." I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. Less than twenty-four hours, and I already missed my familia* terribly.

"Nice name." Percy said. "Yeah, being a half-blood is hard to get used to. So, any clue who your dad is?"

"None." I replied.

"Well, don't worry. We'll figure it out." He assured. Percy showed me all the cabins and explained what they were for, and which one represented which god.

"Since we don't know who your dad is, you'll stay in the Hermes cabin until you're claimed." Percy said.

"How long will that take?" I asked.

"I honestly don't know. Can be anywhere from a few days, to a few weeks. Sometimes longer. Sorry, I know that's not what you wanted to hear." Percy said. "But when you start training, we might get indicators on who your dad might be."

"Indicators?" I asked.

"Take me for example. I'm a son of Poseidon. When I first got to camp, no one could figure out who my parent was. I wasn't good at archery like the Apollo kids, I definitely didn't have a green-thumb like the Demeter kids. And anything lovey-dovey like the Aphrodite kids? Forget it! Once, I managed to disarm the sword instructor, but that was about it. The only thing I was good at was canoeing. Go figure. It wasn't until after I was claimed that it made sense."

I snickered. "Canoeing?"

Percy laughed. "Yeah, well. It did come with some other perks."

We were walking by the lake that ran through the camp, when Percy held out a hand towards it.

"Wave." He said.

A massive wave built up high above the lake, before crashing down on the still water below. I gaped in amazement.

"You.. Have powers?!" I asked.

"Yeah. I forgot you haven't seen the orientation film yet. Demigods have special powers from their parents. Do you have one?"

My enthusiasm faded slightly. "I.. I don't know."

"Hey, man. Don't worry about it. Sometimes your powers don't show up until later."

I nodded. Suddenly, a girl with dark hair and blue eyes appeared in the lake. She glared at Percy.

"Uh, Percy?" I asked.

Percy turned. "Oh. Sorry!" He called to the girl.

She huffed and disappeared in the water. Percy turned back to me.

"Those are nereids. Water spirits. They really don't like their homes being disturbed."

I just nod, too stunned to speak.

We continued the tour. I saw the dining hall, the volleyball pit, the climbing wall, the arena, the strawberry fields, and the beach; along with all the other areas of the camp. Like I said, the place was huge.

"Well, you've pretty much seen everything. Let me take you to the Big House. Chiron will want to meet you, and show you the orientation film." Percy said.

"Andrew mentioned him earlier. Please tell me he doesn't have eyes all over his body. I've had enough of a heart-attack for one day."

Percy laughed. "Oh, no. He doesn't have eyes all over his body."

Percy's laugh didn't encourage me.

He was right, though. Chiron didn't have eyes all over his body. No, he was a centaur. 'Well, there's heart-attack number five.'

"Hello, Marco. My name is Chiron."

"Nice to meet you." I said, hoping my voice didn't sound squeaky, as I stared at the centaur in front of me.

From the waist up, he looked like a normal man with brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard. However from the waist down, he looked anything but normal; he was a white stallion.

"Chiron, are you coming back to our game of pinochle?" Someone asked.

I looked behind Chiron to the porch of the Big House and saw a pudgy man sitting at a table. He had a chubby face, a red nose and curly hair so black, it looks purple. His eyes were watery, blue, and bloodshot. 'He's no stranger to alcohol.' I thought. He had the same look about him as Ramone, and trust me, Ramone was no stranger to alcohol either. The man was wearing a tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt, black shorts, and purple running shoes.

"I'm sorry, Mr. D. I must go teach the children archery. Perhaps our new camper, Marco, would like to play?" Chiron suggested.

The last thing I wanted to do was play with this man. Before I could refuse, the man, Mr. D, did for me.

"Bah! I want a challenge. This godling would be no match." Mr. D looked at me, disgust on his features.

I figured my expression mirrored his. Chiron quickly stepped in.

"Well, in any event, this is Marco Alvarez. Marco, this is Mr. D, the director of Camp Half-Blood."

'THIS is the director of camp? I guess this was place was too good to be true.' I thought.

"Don't look so disgusted, Martin Alvin. I could turn you into a rodent. You're definitely not one of my kids."

"Marco Alvarez." I corrected. 'What did he mean, not one of HIS kids?'

Mr. D's eyes flashed purple.

"Be careful, Alvarez, and show some respect. You'll refer to me as sir."

I swallowed. "Sir." I repeated.

Mr. D stared at me for a moment. "Anyways, welcome to camp, blah, blah, blah." He went back to his card game.

Chiron cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Well, Percy, would you mind showing Marco the orientation film? I must be off to my class."

Percy nodded, and Chiron galloped off.

"This way." Percy said, nodding towards the door of the Big House.

"Peter Johnson. Still alive I see. Pity." Mr. D said.

Percy gritted his teeth. "It's Percy Jackson, sir."

Mr. D waved a hand. "As you kids say: whatever."

Percy stomped inside the house. I followed.

"So.. He does that with everyone?" I asked.

"Basically. He's here as a punishment from Zeus. He chased some off limits wood nymph and now he's here, trying to sober up."

I tried to let that process. 'Nymphs? Zeus? What?'

Percy lead me to a small room with a projector. He gestured to a folding chair. I sat and stared at the screen.

"I'll be outside if you need me." Percy said, then pressed play on the projector. He mumbled something about, "Thank the gods it's a huge porch," before leaving.

–•—•0•—•–

When the video finished, I was feeling queasy. I found Percy leaning against the railing. Thankfully, Mr. D was gone.

"So, what did you think?" Percy asked.

"Very informative. Could have done without the gore. And realizing I ticked off a god." I said.

Percy chuckled. "Yeah, I heard it's pretty graphic. And don't worry about Mr. D too much. He doesn't like any of us. Well, except maybe his two kids, Pollux and Castor."

'Poor kids.' I thought. But something stuck out. "You haven't seen the film?" I asked.

Percy shook his head. "No. My education was a little more.. Hands-on."

"Oh, I see." The video included the pact the 'Big Three' gods made after World War II. I knew Percy wasn't supposed to be alive. "Well, I also learned the name of the monster I defeated." I said, changing the subject.

"Really? Which one?" Percy asked.

"The Chimera."

Percy gapped, turning slightly pale.

"What?" I asked.

"N-Nothing. Just, I had a nasty run-in with it on my first quest three years ago. The snake didn't bite you?" He asked, slightly stunned.

"No. It attacked me in the cantina I worked at. The owner had a bunch of ancient weapons on the wall. I grabbed some sort of Mayan bow and I killed it."

Percy looked amazed. "Had you ever fired a bow before?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. And it showed. It took me awhile to actually kill it. Even then, it took three arrows to bring it down."

Percy studied me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just wondering what you could do with one of our bows.." He said, thoughtfully.

*Translations:

'Tienes que estar bromeando.'= You got to be kidding.

Sí= Yes.

Mi amigo= My friend.

"Gracias."= Thanks you.

"De nada, mi amigo!"= You're welcome, my friend!

Familia= Family.

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Thalia Bolt