Supreme Lord of the Bathroom

Once Percy had to get over the fact that his Latin teacher was part horse, the tour started with Lykos tagging along.

Naturally, they started off by passing the volleyball pit, where several campers nudged each other and stared at Percy. One even pointed at the Minotaur horn in his hand.

Another said "That's him, the other one."

"Word got round that we killed the Minotaur." Lykos told Percy, who looked shy and uncomfortable from all the staring and pointing.

Percy looked back at the Big House, making Lykos do the same at the four storey tall building with sky blue walls and white trim. At the uppermost window of the attic gable, both of them saw something move the curtain for just a second, which really unnerved Lykos, knowing what's up there.

"What's up there?" Percy asked him and Chiron.

Chiron looked up to where Percy was pointing and his smile faded, saying "Just the attic."

"Somebody lives there?"

"No." Chiron and Lykos replied with some finality. "Not a single living thing." Chiron added.

"Come along, Percy. Lots to see." He then said with a forced lighthearted smile.

They continued through the strawberry fields, where some campers were currently picking bushels of berries as a satyr played a tune on a reed pipe.

Chiron explained to Percy how they sell and export to New York restaurants and Olympus and that Mr. D had an effect on fruit bearing plants, where they go crazy whenever he's around, noting that he's restricted from growing grapes.

The tune the satyr was playing made the bugs leave the strawberry patch in every direction.

"Grover won't get in too much trouble, will he?" Percy asked Chiron. "I mean… he was a good protector. Really."

At this, Chiron sighed and pulled off his tweed jacket, draping it over his horse back as though it were a saddle. "Grover has big dreams, Percy. Perhaps bigger than are reasonable. To reach his goal, he must first demonstrate great courage by succeeding as a keeper, finding a new camper and bringing him safely to Half-Blood Hill."

"But he did that!" Percy pointed out, which Lykos agreed with.

"I might agree with you both. But it is not my place to judge. Dionysus and the Council of Cloven Elders must decide. I'm afraid they might not see this assignment as a success. After all, Grover lost you in New York. Then there's the unfortunate… ah… fate of your mother. And the fact that Grover was unconscious when you dragged him over the property line. The council might question whether this shows any courage on Grover's part."

Lykos raised an eyebrow at Percy about giving Grover the slip and he looked incredibly guilty.

"He'll get another chance, won't he?" Percy then asked.

This caused both Lykos and Chiron to wince.

"That was Grover's second chance, Percy." Lykos told him with a cold tone, being reminded of that first chance.

"The council was not anxious to give him another one, either, after what happened the first time, over five years ago. Olympus knows, I advised him to wait longer before trying again. He's still so small for his age…."

"How old is he?" Percy asked.

"Oh, twenty eight." Chiron replied casually.

"What?! And he's in sixth grade?" Percy's response made Lykos chuckle and move on from thinking about Thalia.

"Satyrs mature half as fast as humans, Percy. Grover has been the equivalent of a middle school student for the past six years." Chiron explained.

"That's horrible." Percy replied.

"Definitely." Lykos agreed.

"At any rate, Grover is a late bloomer, even by satyr standards, and not yet very accomplished at woodland magic. Alas, he was anxious to pursue his dream. Perhaps now he will find some other career…."

"That's not fair." Percy said. "What happened the first time? Was it really so bad?"

This caused Chiron to look at Lykos, who looked like he was going to snap at Percy for asking such a question, and so he said "Let's move along, shall we?" Lykos looked at Chiron gratefully.

He knew that Percy wasn't going to let this subject drop.

"Chiron. If the gods and Olympus and all that are real…."

"Yes, child?"

"Does that mean the Underworld is real, too?"

Lykos knew right away what Percy was thinking about: could his mother be able to be saved? Of course, he knew that it wasn't that simple and he looked at Chiron's darkened expression.

"Yes, child." Chiron said, pausing to choose his next words carefully. "There is a place where spirits go after death. But for now… until we know more… I would urge you to put that out of your mind."

"What do you mean 'Until we know more'?" Percy asked, also expressing Lykos' thoughts, as even he doesn't know what Chiron is implying.

"Come, Percy. Let's see the woods."

Lykos and Chiron led Percy to the large forest, which took up at least a quarter of the camp grounds and had trees so tall and thick that Lykos thought back to Native Americans.

"The woods are stocked, if you care to try your luck, but go armed." Chiron told Percy.

"Stocked with what?" Percy asked him and Lykos, who didn't answer. "Armed with what?"

"You'll see. Capture the Flag is Friday night. Do you have your own sword and shield?" Chiron said.

"I'm sure he doesn't have either, Chiron." Lykos pointed out, patting Percy's shoulder.

"True, I suppose he doesn't. I think a size five will do. I'll visit the armoury later."

They went on with the tour, Lykos explaining some of the various areas. When they arrived at the arena, Percy was surprised to learn that sword and spear fights were held here.

"They're just cabin challenges. And they're not usually lethal." Lykos assured him that it wasn't as dangerous as it sounded.

"And of course, there's the mess hall." Chiron pointed to the Dining Pavilion.

"What do you do when it rains?" Percy asked, noticing how there's no roof or walls.

Both Lykos and Chiron looked at him as though he grew another head.

"We still eat, obviously." Lykos said and this made Percy drop the subject.

They then led Percy to the cabins, who looked a bit baffled by how each of the buildings looked.

Excluding how each had large brass numbers above their doors (with odds on the left side, evens on the right), they each looked very different from each other.

The Hephaestus cabin (number nine) had smokestacks, looking like a small factory. Demeter's cabin (number four) had tomato vines on the walls and had a roof made of actual grass. Apollo's cabin (number seven) looked to be made of solid gold, gleaming so much sunlight that it was near impossible to look at.

Lykos looked at the firepit and was surprised to see a nine year old girl tending the flames, poking the coals with a stick. He recognised practically every camper and he never saw her before.

He looked at Percy, whose attention was at the pair of cabins at the head of the field, Zeus' and Hera's cabins (number one and two). They were like mausoleums with big white marble columns in front. Zeus' cabin was the biggest and bulkiest with polished bronze doors that shimmered like a hologram, so from different angles, lightning bolts streaked across the doors. Zeus really had a big ego.

Hera's cabin was more graceful with slimmer columns that were decorated with pomegranates and flowers. The walls were also carved with images of peacocks.

"Zeus and Hera?" Percy guessed.

"Correct." Chiron said.

"Their cabins look empty."

"Along with a couple of others. No one stays in one or two. Especially two." Lykos replied, his eyes turning to Artemis' cabin for just a second, still feeling that pull he felt when he first laid eyes on it.

Lykos then noticed that Percy was now in front of Poseidon's cabin (number three).

It was long, low and solid with its outer walls made of rough grey stone that was studded with pieces of seashells and coral, like slabs of the ocean floor were used.

Lykos and Chiron approached Percy as he peeked inside the open doorway.

"Oh, I wouldn't do that!" Chiron warned him.

"He's right, Percy. This is just an honorary cabin for Poseidon." Lykos added.

"Come along, Percy." Chiron then said.

As Lykos knew, most of the other cabins were crowded with campers.

Ares' cabin (number five) was bright red, which was just a nast paint job in Lykos' opinion, looking like it was just splashed on with buckets and fists. The whole roof was lined with barbed wire and there was a stuffed wild boar's head that hung over the doorway and its eyes followed Percy. Inside were a bunch of mean looking kids doing things like arm wrestling and arguing with each other while rock music was blaring loudly.

The loudest of the Ares campers happened to be Clarisse. She's fourteen years old, wearing an XXXL camp t-shirt under a camouflage jacket and had long light brown hair that was stringy. And she had a muscular build, which is typical for a child of Ares.

She spotted Lykos and nodded to him, but when she laid eyes on Percy, she gave him an evil sneer. Lykos sighed because he knew she didn't believe Percy was capable of taking down a Minotaur, even though he showed her proof.

Percy kept walking with Lykos and Chiron, staying clear of the latter's hooves.

"We haven't seen any other centaurs." He pointed out.

"No." Chiron said sadly. "My kinsmen are a wild and barbaric folk, I'm afraid. You might encounter them in the wilderness, or major sporting events. But you won't see any here."

"You said your name was Chiron? Are you really….?"

Chiron and Lykos smiled at Percy's question.

"The Chiron from the stories? Trainer of Hercules and all that? Yes, Percy, I am."

"But, shouldn't you be dead?" Percy then asked, making the centaur pause, like the question intrigued him.

"I honestly don't know about should be. The truth is, I can't be dead. You see, aeons ago, the gods granted my wish. I could continue the work I loved. I could be a teacher of heroes as long as humanity needed me. I gained much from this wish… and I gave up much. But I'm still here, so I can only assume I'm still needed."

Lykos had to respect Chiron for wanting this very purpose of training heroes and do it by being immortal.

"Doesn't it ever get boring?" Percy asked.

"No, no. Horribly depressing at times, but never boring."

"Why depressing?"

Chiron ignored him as Lykos pointed to Annabeth, who sat in front of the Hermes cabin, reading a book.

As they approached her, she looked at Percy critically.

"Annabeth, I have masters' archery class at noon. Would you and Lykos take Percy from here?"

"Yes, sir." She said.

"Cabin eleven." Chiron told Percy, gesturing at the doorway. "Make yourself at home."

This cabin looked like a regular cabin in a mortal summer camp with the threshold having been worn down and the brown paint peeling. Over the doorway was Hermes' symbol of a winged pole with two snakes wrapped around it: Hermes' caduceus.

Inside, it was just incredibly packed with way more than the amount of bunk beds in the cabin. Sleeping bags were spread all over the floor, Lykos being able to see his sleeping bag in the far corner to the left.

Chiron wasn't able to go in because the door was too low for him. Yet when the campers saw him, they stood and bowed respectfully.

"Well, then." Chiron said. "Good luck, Percy. I'll see you at dinner." He then galloped away to the Archery Field.

Lykos stood with Percy in the doorway, looking at all the various kids, who stopped bowing. They all stared at Percy.

"Well? Go on." Annabeth prompted.

This caused him to trip and some snickers can be heard, which made Lykos glare at the ones who snickered, who all shut up.

"Percy Jackson, this is cabin eleven, where I also reside." He then told Percy,

"Regular or undetermined?" Someone asked.

"Undetermined, just like me." Lykos replied, patting Percy's shoulder, making everyone groan.

"Now, now, campers. That's what we're here for. Welcome, Percy. You can have that spot on the floor, right over there." Luke stepped forward.

He currently wore an orange tank top, cutoff sandals and had his regular leather necklace with five different coloured clay beads.

"This is Luke." Annabeth introduced Percy to him, sounding different than she normally does with a blush on her face. Lykos raised an amused eyebrow before Annabeth's expression hardened when realising Percy was looking at her.

"He's your counsellor for now."

"For now?" Percy asked in confusion.

"You're undetermined, just like Lykos." Luke explained patiently. "They don't know what cabin to put you in, so you're here. Cabin eleven takes all newcomers, all visitors. Naturally, we would. Hermes, our patron, is the God of Travellers."

Percy looked to the section of the floor he was given, which was next to Lykos' sleeping bag and belongings. There was nothing to mark it as his own other than the box with the Minotaur horn still in his hands. He then looked around with paranoia, seeing that some campers were sullen and suspicious, others grinning stupidly and some eyeing Percy like they were waiting to pick his pockets. Lykos experienced this himself when he first entered the cabin, but he was soon able to get most of the campers to leave him be, the exceptions being the Stoll brothers.

"How long will I be here?" Percy then asked.

"Good question. Until you're determined."

"How long will that take?" Percy asked, making the campers laugh while Lykos frowned.

"Come on. I'll show you the volleyball court." Annabeth told Percy.

"I've already seen it."

"Come on." Annabeth ignored him and dragged Percy out by his wrist, making the campers laugh.

"I'll go make sure she doesn't kill him." Lykos told Luke before he followed them.

When they were a few feet away, she said "Jackson, you have to do better than that."

"What?"

"Annabeth, he doesn't know what's going on. This is all very new to him." Lykos tried to calm her down, but this made Annabeth roll her eyes and mumble under her breath "I can't believe I thought he was the one."

"What's your problem?" Percy asked angrily. "All I know is, me and Lykos kill some bull guy -"

"Don't talk like that!" Annabeth turned on him. "You know how many kids at this camp wish they'd had your chance?"

"To get killed?"

"She meant fighting the Minotaur. It's why us campers train: to fight monsters." Lykos corrected him.

"Look, if the thing me and Lykos fought really was the Minotaur, the same one from the stories…."

"Yes." Annabeth replied.

"Then there's only one."

"That's right." Lykos nodded.

"And he died, like, a gajillion years ago, right? Theseus killed him in the labyrinth. So…."

"Monsters actually don't die, Percy. They can be killed, just no death." Lykos said grimly.

"Oh, thanks. That clears it up."

"They don't have souls, like us." Annabeth explained. "You can dispel them for a while, maybe even for a whole lifetime if you're lucky. But they are primal forces. Chiron calls them archetypes. Eventually, they reform."

"You mean if I killed one, accidentally, with a sword -"

"The Fur - I mean, your maths teacher. That's right. She's still out there. You just made her very, very mad." Annabeth replied, making Lykos recall how it was Hades that sent the Furies and hellhounds after her, Luke, Grover and Thalia and he clenched his fists.

"How did you know about Mrs. Dodds?" Percy questioned.

"You talk in your sleep."

"You almost called her something. A Fury? They're Hades' torturers, right?" Percy said.

This made both Lykos and Annabeth look down at the ground nervously.

"You can't just call them by name Percy, even at camp. We call them Kindly Ones if we were to speak of them." Lykos shook his head.

"Look, is there anything we can say without it thundering?" Percy whined. "Why do I have to stay in cabin eleven, anyway? Why is everybody so crowded together? There are plenty of empty bunks right over there." He pointed at the first few cabins, making Annabeth turn pale and Lykos to sigh.

"You don't just choose a cabin, Percy. It depends on who your parents are. Or… your parent." Annabeth explained, giving Percy a look to see if he gets what she's implying.

"My mother is Sally Jackson. She works at the candy store in Grand Central Station. At least, she used to."

"Percy, we're sorry about your mom, but Annabeth was talking about your dad." Lykos told him.

"He's dead. I never knew him." Percy replied.

Annabeth sighed, one that told Lykos she'd had this conversation with other newcomers when they arrived. "Your father's not dead, Percy."

"How can you say that? You know him?"

"No, of course not."

"Then how can you say -"

"Because I know you. You wouldn't be here if you weren't one of us."

"You don't know anything about me."

"No?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "I bet you moved around from school to school. I bet you were kicked out of a lot of them."

"How -"

"Diagnosed with dyslexia. Probably ADHD, too."

Percy gulped. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Think, Percy. You see letters floating off the page whenever you read. This is because you, like the rest of us, are hardwired for ancient Greek. The ADHD - you can't be still in a classroom. Those are battle reflexes. They're what has kept you alive from that Kindly One and the Minotaur. You simply see too much, Percy. Your senses are better than that of a regular mortal. This makes the teachers want you to be medicated, meaning that most of them would be monsters." Lykos explained.

"Exactly. They don't want you seeing them for what they are."

"You both sound like… you went through the same thing?" Percy asked them.

"It was a manticore that attacked me and my dad." Lykos replied.

"Most of the kids here go through it. If you weren't like the rest of us, you couldn't have survived the Minotaur, much less the ambrosia and nectar."

"Ambrosia and nectar."

"Yeah. The food and drink used to make you better. They would've killed you instantly if you were just a normal kid." Lykos nodded.

"It would've turned your blood to fire and your bones to sand and you'd be dead. Face it. You're a half-blood."

Percy was now reeling from all this, no doubt having many more questions to ask.

However, before he could ask more, a husky voice yelled "Well! A newbie!"

Clarisse and three other daughters of Ares sauntered over to them, all looking big and mean, also wearing camo jackets.

"Clarisse." Annabeth sighed. "Why don't you go polish your spear or something?"

"Sure, Miss Princess." Clarisse said. "So I can run you through with it Friday night."

"Erre es korakas!" Annabeth retorted, which meant 'Go to the crows'.

"Clarisse, you don't really stand a chance against my combat skills and Stormy Eyes' strategic mind." Lykos pointed out.

"Oh, we'll pulverise you." Clarisse said, less heated, her eye twitching. She knew that she wasn't sure of her promise. She then turned to Percy. "Who's this little runt?"

"Percy Jackson, meet Clarisse, Daughter of Ares." Annabeth introduced.

"Like… the war god?" He blinked.

"You got a problem with that?" Clarisse sneered.

"No. It explains the bad smell." Percy retorted.

"You shouldn't have said that." Lykos mumbled as he shook his head.

"We got an initiation ceremony for newbies, Prissy." Clarisse growled.

"Percy."

"Whatever. Come on, I'll show you."

"Clarisse -"

"Stay out of it, wise girl." Clarisse snapped at Annabeth, who looked pained but did as she was told. Lykos didn't even bother trying to get involved, partly because he didn't want to be on truly bad terms with one of his friends.

Percy, however, looked like he didn't want any help as he handed the Minotaur horn to Annabeth.

But before he could make a move, Clarisse had him by the neck and dragged him towards the bathroom, which was a cinderblock building.

Lykos watched as Percy kicked and punched, but it was no use against Clarisse's iron grip as she dragged him into the girls' bathroom.

Lykos stood at the doorway, seeing a line of toilets on one side with a line of shower stalls on the other and cringed at the smell of what a bathroom usually smells like.

Clarrise's half sisters were laughing and Annabeth went into the corner.

"Like he's Big Three material." Clarisse said as she pushed Percy towards one of the toilets. "I buy Lykos taking the Minotaur down, but you? It probably fell over laughing."

Her half sisters snickered as Annabeth now watched through her fingers and Lykos watched on.

Clarisse bent Percy over on his knees and started to push his head to the toilet bowl to give him a swirly and Percy strained to keep his head from getting in the water.

Suddenly, much to everyone's surprise, the plumbing rumbled and the pipes shuddered before water shot out of the toilet, going around Percy and shot into Clarisse so hard that she let go of Percy and was pushed to her butt, the water shooting at her like a fire hose and pushed her into a shower stall.

Her half sisters were making their way to help her but the other toilets all exploded and six more streams of water blasted them back. The showers then acted up and all the fixtures sprayed at the girls out of the bathroom, making Lykos move out of the way, and spun them around like pieces of garbage being washed away.

Once they were out, the water shut off.

Lykos looked back inside to see that the whole bathroom was flooded.

He then saw that Annabeth wasn't spared as she was drenched, though she wasn't pushed to the floor. She just stood where she was, staring at Percy with shock.

Lykos looked over at Percy and was stunned to see that he was sitting in the only spot that was completely dry in a circle of dry floor, not even having a drop of water on his clothes.

His brain was on overdrive with the fact that this is an obvious clue of who Percy's father was. Now it'll be just a matter of time before he's Claimed, since Lykos knows that people will realise who his father was.

Percy stood with shaky legs.

"How did you…?" Annabeth said.

"I don't know." Percy admitted, and Lykos could see that he was being truthful.

They walked to the door and joined Lykos. Outside, Clarisse and her sisters were sprawled in the mud with various campers all gathering around to gawk at the sight.

Clarisse's hair was now flat across her face and her camouflage jacket was sopping. She now smelt of sewage.

She gave Percy a look of pure hatred. "You're dead, new boy. You are totally dead."

"You want to gargle with toilet water again, Clarisse? Close your mouth." Percy decided to retort back.

She had to be held back by her sisters as they dragged her back to their cabin. The other campers all made way to avoid her flailing feet.

Lykos and Annabeth stared at Percy, the latter like she was considering a choice.

"What?" Percy demanded. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that I want you on my team for Capture the Flag."

Talk about having first impressions.