Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO, only my characters which are Derek, Rob and Alyssa

Chapter 5

I Finally Meet My Mom, and Receive Something I was NOT Expecting

In my sleep I saw a dark cave. It was as dark as it could be outside, with the stars still shining, thanks to Artemis, and there was a woman leaning on the mouth of the cave, but this was no ordinary cave. The cave itself was what seemed to be another planet at the edge of the galaxy. I could clearly see the Milky Way and a million other galaxies.

She wore an ancient Greek tunic with a flowing silver cape that shimmered in the starlight. She also had midnight black hair, and extremely dark brown eyes. She stood at the mouth of the cave that, to me, stood at the edge of the galaxy. It was beautiful out, you could see a million constellations and other galaxies that even scientist probably don't know about. I turned and walked towards the woman. She stayed as I continued forward. When I got to her she started to talk. She said, "Hello son. How are you?"

"I'm fine. A-Are you my mother?" I replied.

"Yes, I am your mother. Nyx, goddess of the night." Said the lady, who apparently was my mother.

I suddenly had a million question swirling around in my head, but all I was able to blurt out was, "Were you released from Tartarus, or am I a few billion years old?"

"I was released from Tartarus. I met your father while exploring the Earth 14 years ago. We talked and 'went out' for a while. After a while you were born, and do not have me explain how," she answered.

"Alright then. So who was my father and where is he?" I asked.

"Your father was a wonderful man. He was a person who preferred the night over the day, and that was when I met him, at night. His name was the same as yours, Derek. Your father is in the Underworld. He died in a severe car accident with a drunk driver," she replied to my question, with a hint of sadness in her voice when she spoke of my father.

"I am running out of time, for dawn is soon to come. Good night my child and sleep well," She said then disappeared into the cave.

I stood there for a moment and then heard a conch horn sounding in the distance. I woke up, finding myself in asleep in a sleeping bag in a corner of the Hermes cabin. The other campers were getting up and leaving to go to the bathroom to get dressed. I got up a grabbed my bag that one of the Stoll brothers gave to me as a welcoming gift. I left for the bathroom and changed into my vans hoodie, sweatband, dark denim jeans, loose belt, black polo, and black hat.

I left and went back to the cabin, dropped off my stuff and got in line to go eat breakfast. I got to the pavilion and got a plate, went up to the brazier and scooped a little bit of my cereal and bagel into the flames. I went back to eat when I was interrupted by Chiron. He had come up behind me while I was eating and said, "My boy, if you want you may sleep in the Big House from now on, until we get your cabin and bench made. The bench should be finished by tomorrow." Then trotted off.

I finished my breakfast and went to my first activity of the day, which was archery with Julie. She was really good and able to make straight bull's-eyes while I was barely able to shoot after the first half-an-hour.

Then the conch sounded again, meaning it was time for the second activity of the day, which for me was swordplay with Percy and the others from the Hermes cabin. I went to the arena and picked up a sword and swung it around a little to see if it was right. It fit for now, but I would soon have to get my own. I went out to the center and sat, while watching Percy pummel a few other campers. Then he pointed to me, and told me to come up. He said that he was going to teach a new move to us. He said that it was supposed to knock your opponents sword out of his hand and nearly knock him out. We started then he showed the move in slow-mo, knocking out my sword, hitting me in my forehead with his hilt, and knocking flat on my butt.

Then I got up, and Percy said that he was going to show again, but this time faster, and before I knew I was on the ground again, my sword lying few feet away from me. I got up and Percy said that he wanted to try to use it in a real duel. So we started. I circled him, while he circled me, then he lunged forward and tried to hit my hand with the flat of his sword. I pulled my hand away and while his was extended, I used the move on him. I hit his fingers with the flat of my sword, spun over and hit him in the forehead with my hilt, and tripped him. Percy got up and said, "That was nice! Have you ever used a sword before?" I said, "No, but it just seemed to come to me," and shrugged. Then the conch sounded again, saying it was time for our third activity. Mine was metal work with the Hepheastus cabin.

Once I got to the forge I saw a guy named Bekendorf working on a sword. Once I entered the forge, my skin immediately started to burn. I backed out of the forge and felt normal again, then I tried to enter again, but the same thing happened. Bekendorf then came over and asked what was wrong, I replied, "I can't seem to be able to enter the forge." "Well, being the child of the night might do that to you. You know, since night is usually sorta cold, and a forge is always really hot. Maybe you should go to Chiron and get a schedule change." Then re-entered the forge, leaving me outside.

I walked toward the Big House. As I got closer I could see that Chiron and Mr. D were playing a game. Once I got to the porch, which wrapped around the whole house, Chiron asked if I wanted to play. "What are you playing?" I inquired.

"Pinochle of course, so would you like to join?"

"I would except for, I don't know how to play. And I'm only here to ask if I can have a schedule change, because forgery isn't working for me. I can't even enter the forge," I calmly stated.

"Oh well. Well then lets have a look at your schedule."

I gave it to him, he then looked at it for a second. Then Chiron said, "Follow me, and I shall change it, after my game of Pinochle. You may watch if you want, but you may also go back to your cabin and rearrange your stuff or something like that, if you want to I mean."

I decided to go to the beach. The sound of the waves calmed me. I also saw what was of my cabin so far. They had set the foundation and were starting on the walls. (A:N/ I'm going to borrow what -you know who u are, srry i forgot ur name!-had said and say-) The outside would look like any old black metal cabin that would shine at night, but it would have multiple rooms, like a living room, my bedroom, and a bathroom. I volunteered to help Annabeth with the architecture of it, because I loved architecture, it was just so fun to create new buildings that haven't been created before.

We had set up so that most of the items inside would be black, or a shade of gray, and sometimes even white. The counter in the bathroom would be black marble and the toilet (A:N/ I know, weird time to be talking about toilets, but this'll help give you a better visual of how the cabin looks like!) would also be made of black, while the shower and sink would be a deep shade of gray stainless steel. My room would be 10x15 feet in diameter with a black metal bunk with a desk underneath and a chain ladder leading up to the bunk itself. I would have a cherry wood dresser with doors for my cloths. I would have a closet at the right side of the room. The living room had a sleek black leather couch with silver and white throw pillows and a mink blanket with the image of the cosmos on it. Then I left to rest to Annabeth, because I knew that's why she really wanted this job. Now back to where I was.

It was still an hour until lunch so I decided that I would go back to the Big House.

When I returned Chiron had just defeated Mr. D and apparently Mr. D was not happy with it. I walked up to Chiron and asked if he had changed my schedule. "Yes I have and from now on you shall arts and craft in place of forgery," He said with a little bit of a know-it-all tone.

Then Chiron got up and trotted over to the dining pavilion and blew the conch horn. Lunchtime, and I finally have my own bench to sit on, without having half of my butt hanging off the side of it.

I went to the dining pavilion and toasted to the gods, then out of nowhere, Chiron surprised me. He called me up and spoke. He said, "The gods have a quest for Derek. If is confidential and only those giong on the quest may know. Derek you may chose two companions for this quest."

I stood there for a moment and said, "I would like Julie and Rob to come with me."

Julie and Rob both stood and nodded their heads "yes".

"You may now speak with the Oracle in the attic of the Big House," said Chiron with a reassuring tone.