The food was disgusting. I'm almost positive that it was several packages of military rations that were all mixed together into one big slop pile which was then served up to anyone who came which was everyone because everyone was hungry. From the mess hall, I could see into the throne room where a table had appeared for the titans. They were eating what looked like barbecue and other food that looked like heaven compared to the food I was eating.
I sat next to Alicia and that was most of the time. We were at the end of one table and were only joined when there was no more room at any other table. Polly and Titus were the only people that I recognized. As I talked and got to know these people, it upset me a little bit to realize that these people were the same people that I was targeting as the enemy. I was told that titans were bad and they killed a lot of people, but if there was an option of restoring peace to the world…Well, I'd have to pick the Titans in this race.
Titus despite his scowl and his mountain-ness was actually pretty funny. Not in a witty funny way, but funny in a bad jokes way. And I already knew that I liked Polly. These people were the same people that Camp Half-Blood was warned about. The same guy who told a 4th grade level knock-knock joke and laughed his ass off was supposed to be some horrible death machine? And the girl who snorts when she laughs is supposed to be the girl that kills thousands? I wasn't buying it.
I was somewhat satisfied with how it went. Not that the food ended up being really good, but I was starting to make some friends. I had to remind myself to keep an eye out for escape plans, but I needed to make sure that I was trusted before I could go snooping around the camp. At least, I figured that. What was sad was at that rate I was going, I wasn't sure I was going to want to leave.
I know it was horrible to think that, but…I had a family here. I had friends here. People that didn't look at me like I was going to kill them. People that, once they got past the fact I used to be on the other side, saw me like one of them. I knew that Lee and Alicia could train me to use my powers better than anyone in Camp Half Blood could. And here, they had weapons I could use. It was already much better than what I had at Camp Half-Blood.
After dinner, Alicia led me out of the mess hall which was off the left hallway. This castle really was enormous and I was a little shocked how it was that they were supposed to be able to pick up and move quickly. She led me further down the hallway into another door which had several beds and a couple people walking around, checking the dozen or so people lying in the beds.
I didn't know what I was there for, but Alicia got the attention of someone.
"Peter, this is Laurie. She's going to take care of you. I need to go to training." She nodded at me then hurried out of the infirmary. I watched her go then turned to Laurie. She was somewhat plain looking, but she had long curly black hair and dark eyes.
"Hi, I'm Laurie. You must be one of the newbies." She said with a smile. "I'm one of the main…doctors, if you will." I shook her hand and she reached into her jacket and took out a scalpel. I stepped back and put my hands up.
"Whoa! I really hope that's for a hair sample." I said, looking around. She chuckled and shook her head.
"Sorry, but if you haven't noticed, we have marks here." She rolled up her sleeve and showed her forearm where there was the mark of a feather quill. I looked with interest until I realized that it wasn't a tattoo. It was a brand.
I kind of figured that it was going to be a little tougher than Camp Half-Blood, but I didn't really imagine this.
"Umm…So, my uhh…I'm getting a mark." I said a little nervously. She nodded.
"Unfortunately, with you it won't be so simple. We usually brand the campers, but we can't really do that with you."
"And that's where the scalpel comes in." I said quietly. I took a deep breath, dreading the idea of her carving some sort of 'mark' on me. "I uhh…I don't mean any offense by this, but…you're…17? 18?"
"18."
"And I'm to trust you with carving my arm like a Thanksgiving turkey?"
"Well, I've read all the books that a third year college student would read and I've memorized them cover to cover." She said with a smile. "I know the human body down to the cellular level and I've done this dozens of times."
"How does all of that fit into one head?" I asked with a chuckle. She giggled and blushed a little bit.
"Well, when your mom is the titaness of memory, you have a way with these things. Now, just sit down and this will be over before you know it." I nodded and then carefully sat down. She brought over a small cart which I set my arm on. She sat down across from me and carefully ran her fingers along my arm.
"So, am I going to get one of those fancy feathers?" I asked, closing my eyes as I felt her cut into my arm.
"Nope. You'll be getting a dog paw. Perses was associated with dogs. His dad was the ram. Astraeus, his brother, your uncle, was associated with horses. Pallas, your other uncle was associated with goats."
"There you go. Showing off that bigger on the inside brain of yours." I said with a smile. She laughed quietly and I looked down to see the blood pouring down my arm. I inhaled sharply and looked away.
"You're handling this pretty well." She said with a smile.
"Well, you know…" I started, shrugging lightly. "I've got a really high tolerance for pain or whatever." I bit my lip gently as she finally stopped.
"All done." She said, placing a pad of gauze over it. I placed my hand over it and winced a little bit. "It'll hurt for a little bit, but we need to keep it open, so it scars well."
"Well, thanks, I suppose. For being gentle." I laughed and then took off the gauze as Laurie placed a new pad of gauze then bandaged it. "Come back to me for the next couple days. Eventually, I'll give you some nectar and it'll heal up."
"Won't that—"
"The longer a wound stays open, the greater it will scar." She said with a nod. I nodded back with a small smile on my face. "Alright. Now get to bed. You've got a long day tomorrow."
"Okay, mom!" I said with a roll of my eyes. "Geeze!" She laughed and nudged my arm.
"It's good to have you here, Peter." She said as I stood up. "Not many people here are ones for humor."
"Well, according to a lot of people neither am I." I chuckled and bowed slightly to Laurie before leaving the infirmary.
I headed out of the castle and looked around the camp. I could feel the pain pulsing through my arm, but I tried to ignore it. I decided to head along the side of the castle. I knew that sneaking around like this was risky. Any suspicion was raised and I was going to be killed. I moved alongside the castle and to the back. I could see the stables before I was actually behind the castle. It was a big building and as I got closer, I could hear the sound of movement from within. I walked inside. All I could see were griffins. Big monsters with head of an eagle and the body of a lion, but with big wings. They were quiet until I walked in. They didn't flip out like the pegasi did back at Camp Half-Blood, but they did get up to see what was going on.
I looked in all the stalls and saw a lot of griffins. There were some pegasi mixed in, but it was mostly griffins. I walked down the aisles when I heard a loud whinny right next to me. I stopped and looked over to see Epona.
"Hey, they got you…" I said quietly, walking up and patting his nose. It shook my hand off then hit me in the arm with his snout. I backed off, but laughed a little bit. "Hey, no need to be fussy." I said, nudging him back. I leaned on the wall across from Epona and looked at him. It made me think about how easy it would be to leave. I could just fly away. Take my chances. Maybe I would go back to Camp Half-Blood. Maybe I wouldn't. Right now, I didn't mind being here.