Jimmy

After the demigods dug me out, Apollo waved us goodbye and left in a fiery ball.

The hunters didn't say a word to me, or any of the other boys. Instead, they walked over to their cabin and settled in like nothing happened.

Meanwhile, Percy, Thalia, and Grover showed Nico and I around camp. For some reason, I thought Percy was a little timid around me, but I think that's because he hadn't gotten used to the fact that I was a monster yet.

Next, Percy showed us where we were staying. Nico and I got Hermes cabin even though everyone there argued against the fact I was a monster. In fact, the night I slept there, everyone shifted to the other side of the cabin, and I doubt it was because I snore loudly.

The next day at breakfast, we went to the dining hall. Everyone sat at their own tables, but I was the only one at mine… excluding Joanna, of course. She wasn't a reject from the hunters, in fact they thought she was the coolest, safe for Zoe, who was probably jealous of her powers.

At our table, Joanna and I were playing chess, although it had been forever since I had last played. I even had to ask Joanna how to play, and I think she was getting a little annoyed.

Chiron

I looked at the two monsters, cautiously. They seemed okay, but for some reason, I had the strangest feeling that they were dangerous. I always had this feeling when I was around friendly monsters, but they were actually inside my camp, and I doubt they were any different than Tyson.

"Hey," I said, leaning toward Mr. D "do you think those new monsters are…"

I saw James make a move on his chessboard.

"YHATZEE!" He cried out.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" The other screamed as she leapt over the table and tackled him to the ground.

Mr. D was still looking at his food, but could tell they were causing trouble.

"Retarded?" He asked.

"Yes, that's the word." I said as I continued to watch them.

Jimmy

After the fight settled down, Joanna stormed off toward the woods. I waved her off and sat back down, continuing to eat.

Just as Joanna left, someone else sat down opposite from me. He was a muscular teenager who looked like he had just one on one with a machine.

"Hi there." He said. "Want some company?"

I gestured toward the seat. "Sure. Why not? I've never eaten lunch with a demigod before."

"Thanks." He said as he took a bite from a breakfast burrito. "So… you and Joanna are monsters?"

"Um… yeah." I said, laughing a little. "Why? You think we're gonna eat you or something?"

The kid gave me a nervous look.

"Yeah… we're not those kind of monsters."

He let out a sigh of relief. "Oh thank the gods. My cabin actually thought you two were gonna go on a killing spree in the night or something. Speaking of which, where's your vampire friend?"

"Oh, she's grabbing a bite."

We looked at each other for a minute, and then we burst out laughing.

"I like you," I said, still laughing, "What's your name?"

"Charlie Bekendorf." He said, extending his hand.

I shook it. "James McClure, but my friends call me Jimmy."

Charlie nodded. "Hey, do you mind if I ask you something?"

X

Joanna

I took a bite out of the giant scorpion I had killed. It hadn't turned into dust because it wasn't killed by Celestial Bronze, in case you're wondering.

I spit out the chunk of meat and reached into my pocket. I took out a straw I got from the dining hall, put it into the spot of blood and began drinking. After a while, I stopped and…

"What? Just because I'm a vampire means that I can't drink out of a straw?" I asked. "I'm talking to you, fan-fiction reader!" I shook my head as I continued. "Racist."

As I finished talking, I heard something coming from my right. Another monster, maybe?

I turned my head in its direction and saw a teenage girl walking toward me. She looked a little scared that I noticed her approaching. She wasn't armed, so she couldn't have been trying to kill me.

I sighed as I spoke to her. "What? I'm eating."

"You… drink monster blood?" The girl asked.

"Vampire. Duh."

She shrugged as she walked closer. "Makes sense." She sat on the ground next to the stump I was sitting on. "So you're really a vampire? Like from Twilight?"

I had to use all of my restraint to not tear her into pieces. "No… I don't sparkle." I said through gritted teeth. I hate it when people compare me to Twilight.

"Yeah, but you're still a vampire, so-"

"At least compare me to Alucard from Helsing Ultimate. Can you do that?"

She looked at me for a little bit, probably trying to figure out what that even was. I sighed "You know what? Never mind."

I continued to drink as she looked at me with interest. Honestly, I was a little creped out.

"I'm Selena, by the way." She said, extending her hand.

I looked at her hand, then back to her. "Joanna Nightingale." I said, not shaking her hand. "Now go away."

"Actually, I just wanted to ask you something reel quick." She said, standing up.

"Fine. Make it quick." I said, not looking at her.

"Are you and Jimmy… a thing?"

I froze as soon as she said this. I turned my head toward her, a little insulted.

"Um… what?" I asked.

"I'm a daughter of Aphrodite, I have to know this. Also, you two seem very close."

Jimmy

"What? No! Hell no!" I cried out, feeling insulted. "Joanna and me? Can you imagine?"

"Well I was just asking." Charlie said, trying to lighten his blow. "You two just seem so close is all."

Joanna

"Do you always start conversations like that?" I said, standing up.

"No." Selena said. "Again, I just had to know."

"Well now you know." I said. "Although to be honest… he is kinda hot."

Selena raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

It took me a few seconds to realize what I had just said.

"Don't look at me like that. We're still just friends and I'm a hunter now, but…" I continued letting my guard down for a minute, "doesn't mean I can't still look. I mean have you seen him? He's got nice hair, he's fit…"

Jimmy

"… and her boobs! Oh my god!"

I looked at Charlie, who was giving me a weird look.

"I just made this very awkward, didn't I?"

"A little, yeah." He agreed.

"Well you gotta know how I feel, right? Haven't you ever felt like this about some girl?"

Charlie looked down, thinking. "Well… there's this one girl. Her name's Selena."

Joanna

"Charlie… Charlie..." I pondered, "Where have I heard that name before?"

"He's a son of Hephaestus." Selena said.

"Wait, the forge god? Doesn't that mean he's a nerd?"

Jimmy

"Doesn't that mean she's a…" I noticed how Charlie began to scowl at me, so I didn't say it. "… never mind."

"Well to be honest," Charlie said while leaning foreword, "we met one day during one of the in-camp battles we hold every once in a while. We talked during a break when one of the campers was injured badly, and we really hit it off."

"Really?" I asked. "Why didn't you ask her out?"

Joanna

"I don't know, I just… got scared, you know?" She said, nervously rubbing her arm.

"You're kidding, right?" I asked in dis-belief. "A daughter of Aphrodite, scared of rejection?"

"I know it's hard to believe, but… I don't know… I really like him. He's not like the other boys. He doesn't see me as some object, he sees me for who I really am."

I looked at her for a minute, waiting for her to burst out laughing and say something like, "Just kidding, he's just hot," but she never said that.

"Oh my gods, you really feel that way, don't you?" I asked.

Selena nodded. "I just want to have the courage to do this, but I don't know if I can get him to say yes."

I gripped her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Selena, you're probably the nicest daughter of Aphrodite I've met. Trust me, you can get him."

Jimmy

"Dude, you're ripped. You can get her." I said to Charlie.

"You really think so?" He asked, hopeful.

"Hell yeah. Just remember to actually listen to her when she talks, though. You may hate it, but it'll pay off in the end."

Charlie's face darkened. "What if it doesn't work out?"

"Oh please, the day you two break up is the day you die in a boat explosion."

Charlie sighed. "I guess you're right. Okay, I'll do it."

Joanna

"I'll do it." Selena said, hugging me, which I wasn't entirely okay with. "You've been so wonderful, thank you so much!"

I chuckled nervously as I patter her back, awkwardly. "Heh, heh, yeah. No problem."

Selena released me and ran off into the woods. I smiled as she ran off.

"Glad I could help."

X

Jimmy

After breakfast, I decided to try out one of the obstacle courses in the camp. Naturally, I dashed past nearly everything except the fire pit. Little known fact about me, I can regenerate anything except burns. I don't know why, but I can't. In fact, this one time, I fought a fire demon and he burned the muscle and skin on my right arm clean off. That took me weeks to fix. Don't get me wrong, I can regenerate the wounds, but it takes a while.

Anyway, after I chickened out, I decided to walk back to Hermes cabin when I saw none other than Zoe Nightshade practicing her archery on a few tin cans tied to a tree hanging from strings. I was bored, so I decided to talk to her. I mean why not, right?

She saw me coming, but didn't do anything to stop me.

"What dos thou want?" She asked, clearly not welcoming me.

"Eh, I'm bored, so I came here."

"Good for thou, not leave." She shot another arrow at a can, hitting it dead center.

"Oh come on, why're you such a man hater? What have I ever done to you?"

"Insulting me, driving away the manticore, insulting the hunters…"

"Okay, wrong question to ask." I said, leaning on a tree. I watched her shoot another can off the stump. "So why'd you become a hunter?"

She was about to fire another arrow, but stopped as she heard me say that. She looked at me, curious. "Tis an odd question for a man to ask one such as I."

I shrugged. "Just curious is all."

Zoe focused on the can again and steadied her bow. "I just… got tired of men." She shot the arrow and split the can's frame. "Years ago, one betrayed me, so I got mad and joined the hunters."

"Wait, you got mad? Is that it?"

"Tis complicated." Zoe said, notching another arrow.

"Well maybe he's seen the error of his ways. Maybe you can talk to him."

"I can't. He is dead." She let loose the arrow and hit another can.

"Oh… well who was he?"

"A terrible man named Hercules."

I stopped her as she raised her bow. "Woah! You met Hercules?"

"Um… yes. Now release me."

"You gotta tell me what he's like! Was he really as strong as he was? How quickly did he kill the Nemian lion? Was he-"

"Silence!" Zoe shouted as she turned to me. "I shall not tell thou, now leave."

Zoe steadied her bow and aimed her notched arrow. That's when I had an idea.

"What if I beat you in archery?" I asked.

Zoe stopped and looked at me, a little amused. "Thou? Ha! Thine friend, Ms. Nightingale hast told me thou art a terrible shot."

"Okay, I didn't understand a word of the first part, but I am a good shot, and I'll prove it."

Zoe handed me her bow. "Fine, prove it."

I grabbed her bow and an arrow she had. I notched it.

"Watch me as I prove you wrong." I aimed the arrow. "Get ready, because I'm gonna stick my rod in your cans."

"Just shoot the arrow." Zoe said, un-amused.

I looked down the bow at the cans hanging from the tree. I took a deep breath, pulled back, and let an arrow loose.

Nothing happened.

I looked around for a second, trying to figure out what happened.

"Wait… what?"

"Thou missed." Zoe said.

"No! I just… need to be closer." I said.

I took a few steps toward the cans and fired again… missed.

"Damnit!"

I took a few more steps toward the cans and shot again… missed.

"What the Hell?"

"James, just give up." Zoe said.

"No, I can do this." I said as I took another shot, missing again.

I kept walking closer to the cans firing again and again, missing every shot. Soon I got inches away from the cans and fired again.

Missed.

I grabbed the cans and pulled down the whole branch in rage. I walked back to Zoe and gave her back her bow and arrows.

"Fine, you win." I said in a fit of rage.

Zoe smiled in triumph. "I knew a man of your stature couldn't best me."

I waved her off as I walked away.

Zoe turned toward me and called, "Then again, thou art not an archer. We'll see how you fare in the battle tonight."

"The what?"

X

"Welcome to the battleground!" Chiron said as he stood atop a large stump.

Apparently, it was a tradition for the demigods to fight each other in a large arena for fun… no wonder Luke was able to raise an army of angry demigods.

"Today, we have some… special guests here. The hunters of Artemis themselves." He said, unenthusiastically. "It will be a battle of fifteen hunters against fifteen campers, and since the hunters have a monster on their side, it is only fair that the demigods receive one as well."

Everyone looked at me when he said this. It was only then that I got what they were implying.

"Uh… no." I said as nicely as I could.

"Come on, we need you." Percy said. "It's bad enough that the hunters are immortal warriors, but now they have a vampire on their side."

"Dude, I'm only going to get someone killed, I'm not-"

"Fine, stay out of the battle." Joanna said, interrupting me. "I would have beaten you anyway."

I raised an eyebrow and laughed at her remark. "I'm sorry, I would have lost? I'm pretty sure I'm the powerhouse around here."

Joanna walked up to me as she spoke. "That's only because I've been holding back. You scared you'll lose to my full potential?"

"I'm scared that you'll be begging for mercy before I'm done with you." I said, letting my rage swell.

"Well we can settle this dispute once and for all. Right here, right now."

I smirked. "Fine. I'll see you on the battlefield, bitch."

"Bring it, yellow eyes!"

X

We set up our defenses around Zues's fist, a pile of boulders, which looks nothing like a fist… at all. Percy and Thalia were on my team along with Charlie from earlier, some girl he was flirting with, Nico for some reason, and nine other demigods.

"Okay, here's the plan." Thalia began, "We'll have two teams. One will draw the attention of the hunters while the other goes for the flag. The team that goes for the flag will be composed of me and three others while seven people try and draw the hunters' attention. Percy, Jimmy, Charlie, and Nico will be on defense."

"Wait, shouldn't Jimmy be on offense?" Percy asked. "He could plow through their lines like they were nothing."

"Jimmy has to stay here incase the hunters want to do the same thing with their monster, no matter what, stay on defense."

"Unless you see an opening." Percy said.

"No. Stay here no matter what." Thalia said, looking at Percy with a stern face. "Now let's go!"

The sound that began the match sounded and the two teams charged into the forest. Almost instantly, I could hear sounds of battle ringing through the woods. While it was going on, I sat by the rocks, bored. I couldn't believe I had to sit here while Joanna's probably blasting her way through everyone, then again, if she was, she should have been here by now.

"What's a bitch?" Nico asked me, innocently.

I looked at him, both amused and freaked out that I had just taught him that word.

"Um… what?"

"You said it when you were talking to Joanna."

I looked at him for a minute, trying to think of something to say.

"I didn't say that." I said, trying to cover up my mistake. "I said… 'Mitch.' It's a complement I always give her."

"Oh… Mitch." Nico said, smiling and nodding.

I let out a sigh of relief. "Yeah."

Just then, Percy jumped down from Zues's Fist and landed next to me.

"Jimmy, I see an opening. If we go now, we can get the flag."

I stood up to protest. "Wait, but what if…" That's when I remembered: the demigods were supposed to lose. I nodded. "Okay, let's go."

X

Percy and I ran through the battlefield at full speed, dodging tree branches, or in my case hitting every single one that was in my range.

In a moment, the creek was in sight and we moved into enemy territory.

"Okay, just one-" I was cut off by an explosion of smoke.

As I breathed it in, I felt my nostrils burning with the smell of… I really don't know what it was, but it smelled horrible!

"Augh! No fair!" Percy said, waving the yellow gas away. "Fart gas is cheating!"

"Is that what this is?" I asked, dropping to my knees and covering my nose. "God, it's like a skunk sprayed a pile of rotten eggs, then lit them on fire! You know what? To hell with this."

I grabbed Percy by his shirt collar, and then lunged into the air. I put Percy on my back for protection, and slammed onto the ground.

BOOM!

The ground shook and a crack formed under my feet. A few hunters fell from the trees and hit the ground either on their backs or their feet. I knew that wasn't all of them, but at least I knew who I was fighting now.

My eyes turned amber as I charged them. "Get back to the flag!" I shouted as Percy ran off.

A hunter shot an arrow at me, but my reflexes kicked in and I slapped it out of the way. She tried to draw her knives, but it was no use. I grabbed her head and slammed her onto the ground. The force wasn't enough to kill her, but it was enough to knock her out.

The next one was smart by drawing her knives early… or she has a death wish. She swiped them at me, but I jumped out of the way just in time. I took a swing at her, but she blocked it by batting it out of the way. The hunter tried to stab me, but I blocked the blade as it was inches to my face.

I grabbed her and threw her into one of the other hunters in the tree above me. They fell in unison onto the ground.

Just as I turned to follow Percy, I felt a sharp pain in my legs. I fell down just as a hunter tackled me, pinning me to the ground. He had in her hands two hunting knives coated in black blood… my blood.

"Still think you're hot stuff now?" She asked, tauntingly.

After she asked that, I wedged my foot in-between her and I and pushed off. The hunter soared into the sky until she disappeared.

I stood up and looked up, waiting for her to come down, positioning myself accordingly. After a minute, there was a shrill scream growing louder and louder until...

WHUMP!

I caught the hunter before she hit the ground. By the look of her, she was scared out of her mind. Her hair was messy, and she had a bird stuck in her hood.

I set her down as she shivered.

"You okay?" I asked her.

"I-I-I think so." She replied.

"Good." I punched her in the face, knocking her out.

"Now to get that flag." I said, sprinting toward where the flag was.

Joanna

I watched from a treetop as Jimmy sprinted across the field.

"Um… he's coming." I called out.

I would have preferred offense in this game, or even defense. But lookout? Come on! I mean I have super senses, but I can fight. Better than Zoe, even. This isn't fair.

"Hm… it seems I have underestimated the Vok." Zoe said, thinking.

"What do we do?" Bianca asked. "I mean we can't kill him."

"True, but we can slow him down." Zoe said, drawing her bow and notching an arrow.

She aimed her shot at Jimmy as he kept running. After about what seemed like a full minute of aiming, she released the arrow. I didn't see it hit Jimmy, but I heard it connect with something followed by…

"AGH! DAMNIT! EXACT… SAME… SPOT!"

Zoe smiled.

"Nice shot, lieutenant." Bianca said.

Zoe notched another arrow and walked toward where Jimmy was.

"Stay here." She said. "If I fall, guard the flag with your life."

Jimmy

I pulled the arrow out of my foot and grunted in pain. Celestial bronze may not fully kill me, but it still hurts like hell.

I stood up and tried to put weight on my injured foot. It hurt, but nothing I haven't experienced before. Unfortunately, as soon as I stood up, I was hit by another arrow, which struck me like a taser. I fell to the ground on my side.

I tried to get up, but was met by a bow and arrow owned by Zoe Nightshade.

"I would stay down if I wert thou." She said in a serious tone.

"Wow," I said, "you know, I'd be reel threatened if you were… well… threatening."

"Silence!" Zoe commanded. "Thou hast made fun of me for too long, now I shall hast thy revenge."

"Well then I hate to disappoint you, sister."

I quickly swiped out her legs, making her fall to the ground. Then I ninja-flipped and landed a few feet away as soon as she got up.

Zoe didn't speak, she fired the notched arrow at me, but I caught it and threw it back at her. I have no idea how she did this, but somehow she used the force of the arrow to bring it back to her bow, then shoot it at me again, hitting me in my shoulder.

"It appears thou hast underestimated me as well." She said, putting away her bow and taking out her hunting knives.

I ripped out the arrow and charged her. I tried punching her, but missed and hit a tree instead, ripping out a large chunk of wood. Zoe then stabbed me in the back with her knives. I spun around to counter, but she ducked under my arm and stabbed my shoulder.

At this point, I lunged out from between Zoe and the tree and landed on the ground ten feet away, making a shockwave and forcing Zoe to the ground. I jumped and tried to punch her, but she rolled out of the way just in time as my fist collided with the ground, cracking it.

Zoe stood up and prepared for another assault. I started to charge her, but out of nowhere, I was interrupted by Joanna.

"What the? Joanna?" I asked, surprised.

"Ms. Nightingale! Out of my way!" Zoe shouted.

"With all due respect, Zoe," Joanna said, "I've been friends with this guy for a year now, and even with your skills, you can't beat him. Believe me, he's a challenge for most monsters I know."

I could tell Zoe wanted to interject, but she knew Joanna was right. She put away her knives. "Very well." She said as she ran off.

Joanna and I didn't say much. We just stood there, looking at each other, waiting for the other to make a move. In the background, I could hear the battle still raging on. The creek between us was flowing quickly. It wasn't deep and it sounded like water trickling.

"So…" I spoke finally, "you were defense too?"

Joanna shrugged. "Lookout, actually. How exactly were you defense?"

"Percy saw an opportunity and we took it."

"Wait, so he's out here?"

"Nah, he's back at the flag."

"Oh."

More silence. I still couldn't believe Joanna hadn't struck yet. Usually, she was the first to do so.

"Hunters are down three guys, by the way." I said.

"I saw that." Joanna said, nodding. "I've seen better."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you suck at combat. It was more like wildly flailing."

"This coming from the woman who was assigned lookout."

Joanna took out her scythe, angrily. "Hey! That wasn't my choice! Zoe wanted me as lookout, so I became lookout."

"Since when do you take orders?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow.

Joanna was quiet for a few seconds, but she enraged a moment later. "Why don't you go back to defense?"

"At least I get to fight someone."

"At least I see them coming!"

"At least I don't have to fight with an oversized di-"

"Oh that's it! You are dead!"

Just then, Zoe came running out of the woods with the campers' flag in hand.

"Joanna! I have their flag! Cover-"

Just as Zoe was in range, Joanna raised her palm and hit her so hard in her forehead that she fell down. Joanna then grabbed the flag from her.

"What art thou doing? We could have won!" Zoe shouted in frustration.

Joanna tied the flag around her waist as she stared me down. "Sorry, Zoe. This just got personal."

To be continued…