Chapter 2 – A Special Object Arrives at Camp

I woke up with a start.

Climbing out of bed, I switched off my alarm. I dressed hastily into jeans and an orange Camp Half-blood t-shirt. Then, I put on the watch that Tyson had given me and checked the time. It was seven o' clock. That gave me an hour before breakfast.

I decided to go and see Annabeth. Not wanting to wake the others, I tiptoed over to the door and opened it as quietly as I could. It was weird now that I wasn't the only one in the Poseidon Cabin. After I'd made the Gods agree to claim all their demigod children, two kids had moved in. One of them was called Coral. She had soft blond hair and pale skin and was even better than me at canoeing. The other was Kaylie. She was fourteen and had just been claimed. Neither of them was as powerful as me.

Closing the door behind me, I glanced around the clearing. It was silent. No one else was around. However, I was sure that Annabeth would be awake because she always got up early to plan some more of her design of Olympus.

I crossed over to the Athena Cabin, and peered in the window. I didn't want to open on the door in case I woke Annabeth's siblings up.

Catching sight of Annabeth, I knocked gently on the glass. She looked up and saw me. She put her notepad and pen down, and then slipped out of the door.

'Hi, Seaweed Brain.'

'Hey. I was wondering if you wanted to Zephyros Creek now, since I was stuck with Drew yesterday?' I began.

'Okay.'

We walked together. I noticed that Annabeth looked particularly nice today. Her curly blond hair was down, and she was wearing a pretty purple top.

'So how are your plans for Olympus going?' I asked.

'Really well! I've decided that the building will be shaped like a mountain, so it reminds the gods of Mount Olympus and…..'

I secretly tuned out. Once Annabeth started talking about architecture, she tended to go on and on.

Annabeth was looking at me expectantly. I realized she'd finished speaking. 'That sounds amazing!' I told her and she blushed at my praise.

'So, how was school?'

'Yes. It was okay, I guess. But I still prefer learning ancient Greek to English. And things are better at home, too. I'm getting on with my Stepfamily now. How about you?'

'School's all right. Nothing's gone wrong yet, which is a first. Mom and Phil are married now and they're really happy.'

We'd reached Zeus's fist.

'Race you to the top!' I challenged.

'You're on!' Annabeth replied.

I scrambled over the boulders as fast as I could. I was in the lead, and nearly at the top, when Annabeth shouted.

'Percy, stop!'

'No way!' This was probably just one of Annabeth's plans. I'd stop to help and she'd catch up. I carried on climbing.

'This is serious, Percy.'

I came to a halt and turned around. Annabeth was a few boulders behind me. Climbing downwards, I saw that she was holding something.

'What's that?' I asked when I reached her.

Then, I saw it clearly. 'That's a Golden Apple!' I exclaimed. 'It's just like the that started the Trojan war!'

'I know,' Annabeth agreed. 'The original Golden Apple was left at a wedding by Eris, the Goddess of Srift when she wasn't invited. It read 'to the fairest'. Hera, Aphrodite and Athena fought over it. Paris of Troy was chosen to judge the contest. He picked Aphrodite, because she said if he did, she would help him get Helen, the most beautiful mortal in the world. So, Paris stole Helen from her husband, King Menalaus. Menalaus was so angry that he started the Trojan War.'

'Does this apple say anything?' I quizzed.

'Yes. It says: to the greatest.' Annabeth informed me.

'But that could be anything!' I stated. 'It could be the greatest beauty, the greatest artist, the greatest architect….anything!'

'I know', Annabeth answered. 'And who would leave such a thing here?'

'I don't know, but we need to find out', I stated. 'What should we do with it in the meantime?'

'We'll have to talk to Chiron.'