Hop illNeil Lurkman and the Ring of Gyges

Chapter 2: As If History Wasn't Confusing Enough

"Hey glad to see you're awake, sleeping beauty, but you have some questions to answer."

I managed to pull myself up to see two boys I vaguely recognized, but that didn't stop me from rambling on. "What did I do?" I asked quickly "Are you teen cops or something? The FBI? Look, I only did it to help the other orphans, see, they get like no Christmas or birthday presents, so I sell the stuff to buy them things. Don't blame Mrs. Conley she didn't teach me to do it."

The teens quickly glanced at each other, the shorter one whispering "Cops? Should we?" but the one taller one shook his head and said "No, don't, he's been through enough." The taller one then looked at me and said "Alright, first what's your name and age?"

"Neil, Neil Lurkman," I responded, glad that they weren't cops or the FBI "I turn 15 in like two weeks or so. So, um, where am I?"

The shorter one responded "Camp Halfblood, home for all demigods of any parentage. Welcome to both your haven, and your hell."

"A demigod? Like half-human, half-god? Like Hercules and those guys from the old Greek stories?"

"Well, at least you know that much. But those aren't just legends or myths. They actually exist, like me and Travis here." Continued the shorter one

"Yea, Connor's right, those stories are true, like Zeus, Hades, Athena, and all of the other Gods. Connor and I are sons of Hermes." The one that must be Travis said.

"No, wait, that doesn't make sense. Aren't the Gods supposed to be from Greece, not you know, Philadelphia?" I asked "Wait, are we still in Philadelphia?"

"Follow us." Connor said as he pointed to the crutches besides me. I wondered why I would need crutches when it all came back to me. The movie, the ring, the strange man, the fight, the poison, and Noel. Noel. My brain rushed as I practically screamed "The girl I was with, is she alright?"

"Noel? She's fine man, it's been like, what three or four days from that fight?" Travis said. That's when I realized why I recognized them. "You were there! You were those guys that fought those, those, uhh, Snake-Ladies" I pointed at them as I practically dropped the crutches.

"Scythian Dracaenae is their proper name, but yeah, snake-ladies works too." Connor said as he helped me up and out of the room. We ended up outside on a deck that seemed to surround the entire house. "So why were you there?" I asked "Like why would you come out there? We clearly aren't in Philadelphia."

I said that first part because as I stepped outside, I saw that we weren't anywhere near Philadelphia. There were these cabins directly in front of us, each one a different type. One looked like your normal camp cabin, but then there was one glowing bright orange-yellow, one that was all steam-punk and mechanical, one that look like a greenhouse, one that was a giant Barbie house, and then others I couldn't even begin to describe. They were in the shape of a U, with more coming out at the side, kind of like an Omega-shape.

Of to the right was a building that looked to have art supplies, along with a volleyball court, a lake with some kids canoeing, and farther off was an amphitheater. I looked over the right and saw an arena –like building, and something that looked like a Forge.

"Uhh, why does there have to be a forge at a camp?" I asked, looking at the brothers. "Remember how we said those myths were true?" Travis said. I nodded "Well, in those myths were monsters. Those monsters are real, as you saw with the Dracaenae. Being a Demigod, which you are, it's our job to fight them and do as the Gods tell basically. Also, we're on Long Island, near Ney York City. As to your question as why we were there, that's for another time with Chiron. Lunch is in an hour, go find Noel, she should be at archery right now. And with that, Travis and Connor ran off to a group of other campers.

I still had a million more questions: Who's my godly parent? How exactly did we get to this place? Who's Chiron? What monsters do I need to fight? And a ton more. Confused, I headed off towards the arena looking building, assuming that practice would be held there. Along the way, I realized my hands could still reach out and grab things. Within a few minutes, I had gathered two cellphones, and iPod, a bunch of strange gold coins.

About teen meters from the arena I felt something pull my crutch out from under me. I slammed down, and rolled onto my back. It felt as if needles were piercing my skin as I remembered the poisoned metal that sliced my back. Seeing stars, I looked up to see a brute of a girl standing up me.

"Hey punk, welcome to camp. But we have a ceremony for the new kids like you." And with that, she picked me up and through me to the other people next to her. They looked as if an ape had joined the Marines, all buff and ugly. I was being held over one of their shoulders, fireman style. I looked under my shoulder to see that I was being hauled to the bathrooms. I had watched enough T.V. to know where this was going.

Quickly, I prayed to whatever god was my parent Dad, or mom, well I'm assuming you're a guy since my real mom was around for a bit. Sorry, off topic, but uh, please help me out of this. I don't want to the total fool, I saw a girl earlier, and she looked pretty cute. If I at least get dunked, don't let her see. Uh, amen. Wait no, thank you? I have never real prayed before so sorry if this is a bad one.

I assumed my parent must have heard me, because right before we entered the room I heard a "Clarisse, don't." I looked up to see a guy with blonde hair standing in front (or behind, depending on how you describe things while upside down). Behind him was a girl with dark skin, and hair the color of chocolate. Thankfully or unthankfully, I saw Noel in the crowd that followed these two people.

"What's it to you, Jason?" said the girl I thought must be Clarisse "We have a special introduction for these new kids."

"Clarisse, just don't. Look at his back, then tell me you should do that." Jason pointed at my back and I heard the person holding me curse and practically drop me. I grimaced at what I was about to see, and looked up.

"Oh shit." I muttered. My back was a sickly green color, with long thin scabs converging up towards my left shoulder. I felt sick, and started to vomit while still upside down. Unluckily, it landed on the person carrying me, and they jumped back and dropped me. I wanted to say sorry, but all that came out of me was a curse as I landed on my back for the second time.

Quickly, the blond guy helped me up to my feet and said "Piper, go get Will and Lauren. Also, Annabeth, please track down Travis and Connor. They were supposed to make sure he didn't come outside until healed." He turned to me and said "Hey, I'm Jason, nice to meet you. Sorry about Clarisse and her friends, there children of Ares. The war god."

"So it's true? Those guys, Travis and Connor, they weren't messing with me. The gods are still around?" I asked him while he helped me hobble over to a bench. He then said "Yeah, but not only the Greek gods. You know the Roman gods?" I nodded "Well, they exist too. Like each god has different aspects; their Greek side, and their Roman side. We're at Camp Halfblood, the Greek demigod camp. And then there's Camp Jupiter, the Roman Demigods. I'm actually a Roman Demigod, son of Jupiter. And there is a guy, Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon, who we think might be there. But it's a long and confusing story, so I won't bore you. Look, here comes Will and Lauren."

My head hurt from what Jason told me, but two campers that looked as if they were surfers, the whole California look, came over with a box what I assumed must be medical supplies. The girl, who introduced herself as Lauren, told me to lie down on my stomach on the bench. The guy, Will, helped me take of my shirt, which it was in ruins from the fight. They opened the box and pulled out glass-vials that looked as if they were filled with hone. "Drink up." Lauren said.

I was expecting a caramel or honey flavor, but it tasted like lime Jic-Jac. I practically spit it up from the surprise. "What is this stuff?" I asked, looking up as Will wiped a cream colored salve over my back. "Nectar, drink of the gods. Don't have too much, because you literally will burn up." After Will finished with the salve I instantly felt my back start to feel better. I put on a new shirt and then I heard someone scream.

I looked up to see Travis and Connor being dragged, yes literally dragged, with a rope around their legs, by a girl with blond hair, and the girl Piper. She approached and Jason said "Annabeth, Piper, I said find them, not torture them."

"We tried to, but we couldn't find them anywhere. Thankfully, Annabeth had this idea of a trap. We caught them trying to sneak into the camp store." said Piper

"And it worked well." finished Annabeth "Now explain yourselves why you let Neil out when he wasn't healed properly!"

"Check his pockets." responded the brothers at the same time. All eyes turned to my shorts. Jason raised an eyebrow, and then padded my pockets. A few of the gold coins came rattling out. "Wait, I can, uh, explain, kinda." I said, worried that I would be unwelcome now that I had stolen from them, but it was too late. Will pulled me up and started to pull up my pockets along with Jason. Everything fell out, all to Travis' and Connor's amusement.

Annabeth was the first to respond "No surprise there." followed by Jason's nod and Piper's grin. "Travis, go get a bed made for him." Connor said. But as everyone did this, their focus wasn't on me, but above me. I looked up I saw a white circle with a caduceus in the middle floating above me.

"What's that mean?" I asked, startled by the fact a giant beacon appeared above my head. "It means that you're our brother. You're a son of Hermes, God of Messengers, Travelers, and Thieves.

Ω Ω Ω

It was at dinner when I was formally introduced to the camp, by Dionysus. "Everyone please say 'Hello' or whatever you kids say nowadays, to our new camper Nile Larkin." Chiron, who I meet after my claiming, whispered in his ear. Dionysus then stated "Sorry, Neil Lurkman." I got a few cheers at that, and it'd made me feel pretty welcome. I went and offered to the brazier. I passed Noel and she gave me a smile.

We had talked earlier, me apologizing for taking her on my "Heists". She just laughed, and responded "It's fine, it's in your blood after all." Turns out she was demigod too, daughter of Tyche, goddess of Luck and Fortune. "That explains why you're good luck for me." I told her, which she then punched me in my arm in her playful manner. It felt as if life couldn't get any better. Oh, how that was about to change.

"Neil, please come here. There is something you need to see."

*Omega's Note: So sorry for being gone so-o-o long. I've been working on an original story that even my Creative Writing teacher says I have a chance it may be published if it turns out well. :D So thanks to my teacher and Natalie (brightblueconverse). Check out her page for some cool stories. 3 you Natalie :P Next chapter may be whenever, so stay somewhat tuned. See ya*