Chapter Two
Troy and Marcus jump on a wall, and grabbed the rope hanging on it, and quickly climbed up the wall. Upon reaching the top, they jumped onto a platform that spun around. Trot was the first to make it onto the spinning platform, while Marcus awaited it to spin around again. Troy then grabbed another rope and swung to a ladder, and climbed up the ladder.
"Atta boy Troy!" he heard Matt yell from the ground.
"Go Troy!" he also heard Amy shout from the ground. His face got a little flushed when she cheered him on, and he fumbled with the ladder. He turned around to see Marcus glaring at him, his face pure red. Troy turned around, hopped on another rope, and slid down to another platform, where there were machines that had swords and shields ready. Troy grabbed his weapon, and clicked the hilt, making his sword form.
"Come at me you giant pieces of scrap." he said. He charged the machines, and fought them all, the metal of the swords banging and clanging. All of the Campers admired the way he fought. He was like a man possessed. Even though he wasn't claimed, Campers swore he fought like he belonged in the Ares cabin.
Troy then did a front flip away from the machines, and landed onto a different platform, where another rope hung over a pool of lava. He turned to see Marcus fighting the machines. Troy slid down the rope over the pool of lava, onto a fourth platform, where there were three beams of different heights he had to climb over. He hopped over the first, jumped back on it to jump onto the second one, and then jumped down to go over the third one. He was about to finish when he felt a piercing pain go across his back, and a lot of yells coming from the crowd below.
Troy fell and looked to see Marcus with his sword standing over Troy, smirking. "Guess I win." Marcus said. Marcus hopped onto the final rope and slid down. Troy struggled to his feet, and slid down the rope, kicking Marcus in the back. Marcus landed head first on a rock, and turned around, face full of fury, and tried attacking Troy.
"You stupid no good unclaimed demigod!" Marcus cried. He tried to punch Troy, but was tackled by Matt. Troy struggled to stand, and fell backwards. He then felt a hand touch his shoulder.
"Troy, roll over. I'm going to heal you." Amy said soothingly. Troy did what he was asked to do, and Amy started singing a song to her father in Ancient Greek. Troy immediately felt his back feeling better. He got up and saw that some of the campers had pulled Matt off of Marcus, and that Chiron had a hold of Marcus.
"Marcus! What is your problem today!" Chiron thundered.
"That loser Troy! He thinks he is better than all of us. All he is is an unclaimed demigod whose own parent is too ashamed to claim him!" Marcus shouted. That was a low blow, so Troy made a lunge for Marcus, only to be restrained by some Campers of the Demeter, Aphrodite, and Ares Cabins.
"ENOUGH!" Chiron yelled. All the struggling ceased at once. "Marcus. Go back to your Cabin! Do not let me see you again tonight wandering about! Troy, meet me in the Big House." Chiron and Troy headed off to the Big House, a large sky blue house which was used for Camp meetings, and the infirmary.
Troy walked in, with Chiron right behind him. "Troy, calm down." Chiron immediately said to his Camper.
"I can't Chiron. Not after what the bastard said." Troy replied angrily, tears actually dripping down his face. He knew Chiron disapproved of swearing, but Troy couldn't help it. He had just been attacked, and embarrassed in front of a Camp he had been at since he was 8, in front of Campers whom had given him a lot of respect, in front of a Cabin that had stood behind him for years, and in front of his best friend and his secret crush. Chiron touched his shoulder.
"You know Marcus has issue with people, and being lonely. Seeing how much the Campers love, and respect you, he probably felt angry. Though he had no right to attack you, which he will be severely punished for. You must control your anger. You are not claimed yes. However, I feel that you may have a big event coming up in your life that will help you get claimed." Chiron told him gently. Troy wiped away his tears, composed himself, and nodded.
"Thanks Chiron." Troy muttered. He then walked out of the Big House. He headed back towards the Hermes Cabin, passing other Campers. He hung his head, in shame. However he did hear comments.
"Don't worry Troy! That scumbag will get whats coming to him!" an Ares Camper yelled.
"We have your back Troy!" yelled a Hephaestus Camper, who was working on a sword in front of his Cabin.
Troy then felt a hand touch him, and he turned to see Amy looking at him with a concerned look on her face. He took time to marvel the beauty she gave off. Hey Amy. he said, in shyness, and in shame.
"Hey Troy, how are you feeling?" she asked, rather quickly, blushing.
"I'm doing alright. Can't wait for that low life to show his face again." Troy said. Amy kind of shivered.
"Troy, he freaks me out. But you can't go after him in revenge. It would be like Hera going after all of Zeus's children." she said. The skies then thundered a bit. "Sorry!" Amy called to the sky.
"I know I can't. But still, it would make me feel better." Troy said. Amy gave him a hug.
"You're one of the sweetest people Troy. Don't let anger make you think weirdly." she said. After hugging him, she went back to her Cabin. Troy mentally kicked himself for not asking her out at the greatest moment, and made it back to his Cabin. He walked in, and collapsed on his bed. He looked up to see Matt looking at him.
"Matt, what is it that I have always said? If I open my eyes and you are staring at me, you are getting punched." Troy told his best friend.
"Sorry dude, but I'm worried. You have NEVER gotten that pissed off before." Matt replied.
"Get a sword to your back for no reason. It's bound to piss anyone off." Troy said.
"Well it was a fun brawl. Damn Campers ruined my fun of beating Marcus to a pulp. The Aphrodite daughters were complimenting my buffness though." Matt added, flexing. Troy laughed.
"Keep dreaming buddy. You may or may not get Veronica." Troy said, clapping Matt on the back. Veronica Solan, a daughter of Aphrodite, had caught Matts eye when they were 15, and he had talked about her non stop, and even tried asking her out a few times. She however, politely turned him down.
"Alright boys and girls." Travis Stoll, one of the two Head Counselers of the Hermes Cabin, said. "Dinner time. Fall in line. Troy, try not to beat the living daylights out of Marcus at dinner please." he added jokingly.
"No promises." Troy replied The Cabin walked to the dinner table, at the dining pavilion, and sat down. Each Cabin had their own table, and were forbidden to sit at another table.. Troy sat down and looked at his goblet, and said "Orange Kool-Aid." The goblet filled with Orange Kool-Aid, and Troy helped himself to some of the food that the wood nymphs brought out.
"Alright, time to offer a portion of your food to the Gods." Chiron announced. They all lined up, and said their parents name, and tossed a piece of food into the fire. It was soon Troy's turn.
"Please, whoever you are. Please claim me soon." Troy said. He then threw a piece of his food into the fire. He then went back to his table, and began eating. Every now and again, he would toss a look over to Amy, who was laughing, and giggling with her brothers and sisters.
Soon dinner was over, and they began the Camp Bonfire. The Apollo Cabin starting singing Campfire songs, while others sang, and had fun. Troy sat by himself. Matt was out having fun talking with a Hephaestus camper about making him a new sword. His friends in the Ares and Athena Cabins were discussing strategies of war. Amy then suddenly joined him. She was smiling ear to ear. "Will you quit being such a downer? Have fun! Here, come dance with me." she said. She grabbed him and pulled him near the fire and starting dancing with him. There were many whistles, cheers, and the Aphrodite Campers saying how cute of a couple Troy and Amy would make.
Troy couldn't help but laugh, and smile. Amy was really bringing out the best in him. They danced for awhile, and soon Troy heard Matt yell "Troy and Amy are dancing? Dude, why didn't anyone tell me this stuff? You're the man Troy!"
"He's so funny." Amy commented.
"Yeah he is. He's been my best friend since he joined Camp Half-Blood. Had my back in the Second Titan War." Troy said, reminiscing about the hour he and Matt fought off as many of Kronos forces as they could.
"Yeah. You two were pretty brave." Amy agreed.
"If I recall correctly, you did some good work yourself." Troy said sheepishly.
"Nah, I didn't. All I did was shoot a monster in the eye." Amy replied.
"Which took skill." Troy told her.
"Well all Apollo children are blessed with excellent archery skills. Just like all Ares children like you are good with weapons, and hand to hand combat." Amy told Troy.
"Um Amy, I'm not an Ares child. I don't know who my parent is." Troy reminded her.
"Well, you are a weapons expert. You are good at hand to hand combat. I think you may be an Ares child. Why he hasn't claimed you yet is beyond me." she told him. Troy blushed, and be fore he knew what he was doing.
"Amy, can I talk to you in private?" he asked her.
"Sure thing." she replied., looking puzzled. The two walked away from the fire, and behind a tree. Amy was still looking puzzled.
"I've liked you for a long time, and wanted to know if you wanted to be my girlfriend?" Troy blurted out. Amy looked shocked, and then gave the biggest smile she had ever given.
"Yes! I'd love to be your girlfriend!" she exclaimed. She threw her arms around him, and hugged him. He hugged her back, and noticed her hair smelled of strawberries.
"Aww look at the cute couple." a voice said. The two turned around to see Matt grinning at them.
"You are a horrible individual, do you know that?" Troy asked.
"Yes, yes I do. Bigger problem. No one has seen Marcus all night." Matt said.
"Chiron sent him to his Cabin for the rest of the night." Troy replied.
"Well Chiron went to go get him, and he wasn't there." Matt said. He then walked away from the couple. Troy thought for a moment, and then let go of Amy, and walked towards the Cabins. Amy chased after him.
"Troy, relax. He's probably off somewhere." Amy pleaded. By this time, Matt caught up to them.
"Dude! Chill." Matt called after him. Troy reached the Hades Cabin, and kicked open the door.
"Marcus! Where in Tartarus are you?" Troy yelled throughout the Cabin. No one answered, the Cabin was empty.