I dreamt of myself in a grand room. But, it wasn’t just any room the ceiling was 3 stories high, was the size of my school campus. There was no roof, so you can see the starry sky, with the stars twinkling in it. You can see all of the constellations; I even noticed a new one. It looked like a young girl holding a bow and arrow. On the far corner was this huge sphere made out of water. In it was a half-cow, half serpent, but I didn’t really want to know why that thing was here. The columns were embroidered with ancient words that looked Greek. And there were 12 thrones in a U-form, each looked with fine craftsmanship. It surrounded a high fire with a lady treating the fire. Each throne sat a person arguing at each other, they were gigantic. Each one seemed to radiate power; it was amazing that the whole place didn’t blow up by the power in the room.

A woman with gray eyes said, “It is too risky, she’s a mortal”.

“I disagree, she will be helpful in the great prophecy”, said a man that held a trident.

Then a man that radiant light said, “You guys do know my prophecies are always right, right?"

Then a man who held a lightning bolt said, “It’s too early, time will tell.”

I woke up in my room; I was on my top bunk bed. My brother got the lower, while I got the top bunk. I was too afraid that he was so heavy; the top bed will come crashing down on me. What? It’s a typical fear, anyone has it.

I heard whispering behind the door. I got off slowly then tiptoed to the door eavesdropping. Sure that seems rude but I can’t help myself, I need to know stuff. They were whispering really quietly and I caught a few words like camp – New York – prophecy. But I leaned too much on the door and it swung open towards Fern’s face.

“Ouch,” he said.

“Oh, sorry Fern,” I said.

My Mom, Fern, and Julies were having a conversation. I look down and Fern still had shaggy hind legs and cloven hooves.

“Satyr” I pointed out.

Julies pushed up his glasses, like a nerd. It’s a habit he has to show that he’s right and that you’re wrong. “No, the term is called faun.”

“This is not Roman mythology; I met a manticore which is in Greek mythology.”

Fern sighed, “We’ve been arguing about this for hours. Dude, I’m a satyr.”

I asked, “What am I suppose to call you now, Black Beauty?”

Fern gave me a “Blaa- haa-ha!”

Julies stepped back, “Um, did you just bleat, kid?”

Fern cried, “I’m next to a bunch of bullies, I stand up for animal rights”.

My Mom told me that I’m going to a camp in New York. I almost fainted. I love California for its sunny beaches and the nice weather. I’m not a New Yorker, I can’t stand the cold weather, and people get mugged there.

“No, I love it here and what about my friends.”

She then showed me a news paper article of the LA Times:

Female Student Attacks Missing 9th Grade Teacher

By: Charles Stanson

Female student of Rosé Point Academy, Alexandria Olympia attacked Martin Kipler, an 8th grade teacher of the school. Student thought to be high and on alcohol being found behind the school’s dumpster.

Many students and teachers report of her unusual behavior after meeting Fern Everglade. He was a student who was transferred from New York for odd behavior and leading a riot for the Animal Rights Society.

The two students have mysteriously vanished with the Martin Kipler. Traces of blood shown in the scene, police are now finding the owner of the blood. Here are the latest school photos of the two fugitives and the victim. If anyone has any information, please call local police as soon as possible.

Julies just had to asked, “Leading a riot for the Animal Rights Society?”

“Hey, you should have see what they’ve been treating the elephants!” Fern snapped. “I wonder if Kayla’s okay.”

I was furious at how the police get the whole concept wrong. And my own friends and teachers think I have “unusual behavior”! And Mr. Kipler attacked me! Then thought of it terrified me. What will come on my permanent record and on my reputation of being a student? Will I ever go to school; maybe I’ll even go to juvenile!

Fern explained, “Humans can’t see through the mist and how mortals don’t see what we see. Their minds can’t take that much information.”

Julies huffed, “This would be cooler is Roman myths are in this.

I teased, “I told you Greek is better than Roman”.

Fern piped up, “The camp found out there is a Roman version of the camp, here in California.”

“Sweet I’m going, if Alex goes to one camp, I’m going to the other.”

My Mom said, “Julies, Kass is the eldest and chosen one, you have no Roman blood in you”.

I asked, “So you’re saying I have someone’s Greek blood in me?”

My mom shook her head, “Not anyone’s, the Greek gods”.

I didn’t know if this some sort of joke or it was all true. I mean, my mom can’t really lie about this, can she?

“What do you call that?” I asked

Fern answered, “A demigod”.

Julies grinned, “So that means you’re adopted.”

My Mom grabbed both of our ears and said, “One more word out of the both of you and I’ll-”

She forgot that the traumatized Fern was watching us. She let both of us go with our ears sting red. She smiled sweetly at Fern as if this was perfectly normal.

She said, “Sorry, these two are like cat and dog or Artemis and Apollo”.

“It’s Diana and Apollo.” Julies mumbled.

“Stop it.” My Mom snarled.

My Mom then told me that I will live there. I tried to protest what about her, Julius, and Dad. But I had to go, I don’t know why, I just do. Fern gave me a backpack and he told me to put as much as I want. I went back to my room and put in clothes, jackets, and shoes. When I thought the backpack was full, I looked in and it was empty. I hesitated I put my hand in trying to get a shoe, but it felt like a bottomless pit. I checked my under my backpack if there was a hole in either the backpack or on my bed. There was not a single hole on either one.

“It’s okay, It’s a magical, bottomless backpack nothing to worry about,” I told myself.

I put in other things like books, sketching-books and other things. I then put on some jeans and a shirt. When I was done I put on my bag, but it felt like nothing was in it. When I came out Fern was waiting for me. My Mom got Fern, Julies and me into our 99’ Matrix to go to LAX. I thankfully got shotgun, I looked out the window watching the Los Angeles skyline, thinking if I’ll see LA again. I’ll miss the sandy beaches of Los Angeles; no other beach will seem like it. And all my friends are here, I doubt I’ll make any friends in this camp.

I turned to my Mom, “I don’t get it, why am I going. Fern told me it’s for demigods. And you guys are my real parents, right?”

“Of course we are,” She sighed. “Well, it’s… it’s complicated. One of the teachers will explain it to you.”

She dropped me off with Fern in front of the airport. I hugged my Mom, not only for all the things she did for me, but also for the butt load of cash had she given me. I then gave Julies a hug since our Mom was glaring at us.

“If you change my room into a game center, I’ll get you back with my demigod powers.”

“Nah, I’ll probably change it into a Roman Museum and library.”

I gave Julies a noogie, because he earned it. I stood there waving as the drove away. Fern put his hand on my shoulder and said, “I’ll show you a way to talk to them later.”

We went inside and bought our tickets. Thankfully we got into the plane with no problems. I sat at the window seat and Fern sat next to me.

Fern sniffed the air and said, “I smell a monster.”

“You smell like a barnyard animal.”

“Hey, it’s a personal thing. I’m serious; we satyrs have a sharp sense of smell.”

“And are famous for their modesty.”

Fern blushed at that comment.

“So, you guys are servants of Dionysus?’

“Y-Yeah, he is a generous god, we are very grateful to him.”

“What about that girl you like, Lily, is she a demigod?”

“Oh gods no, she’s a naiad.”

“Naiad, like as in water nymph.”

Fern sighed happily, “Yeah, she’s the prettiest one, but I don’t think she’ll ever notice me”.

“Are you serious? You got the school bullies to notice you the first day of school.”

“No it’s not that, she’s bli-”

“What?”

“Never mind just go to sleep. The smell is going to keep me up.”

I muttered, “If your smell is keeping you up, you should’ve taken a shower before we left”.

Fern didn’t bother to reply. He just pulled out his pipes and played a lullaby. I then drifted off to sleep.

I sighed and look at the mirror again from the bathroom. The plane crashed after that, from then on it was like a schedule. We’re sleeping. We bump into some monster. We’re eating. Some monsters stumble in the middle of our lunch. We’re walking. A monster joins in for the stroll. There were monsters here, monsters there, monsters everywhere. Now I’m scarred for life, paranoid that a monster will jump at.

My golden blood, I never really noticed it, it must have been that mist Fern told me. I was always different from my family, different hair, eyes, even my blood type wasn’t normal. To my parents, brother and I, it sometimes looks like real gold. But other times it looks like blue blood, like water with blue food coloring. When the doctors gave me a blood test, they did experiments on me, they finally conclude that me blood had the same elements as gold. They also found that I have a protein called hemocyanin. It some sort of protein that contains copper molecules that makes my blood color seems blue. Hemocyanin is also in horseshoe crabs, that’s why their blood is blue. I guess the mist can’t cover everything. So hooray, (sarcasm) I’m related to a crab! That would explain why I’m always crabby towards my brother.

I walked out the restroom where Fern was waiting for me. He wore the same shirt as me that spelled out CAMP HALF-BLOOD. He wore baggy jeans and green Nike shoes. He still wore his beanie over his curly, red hair. We were about to walk out of the infirmary when he tripped. His Nike fell off and instead of a foot what a cloven hoof.

“Satyr”, I pointed out.

“Black Beauty, I know”, he sighed.

He put on his shoe and we walked out of the building with the sun shining on us.

Fern led me to the deck of the building. I saw that the building was quite large, sky blue with white for the trim. It had an bronze weather vane with the shape of an eagle.

Fern then led me and to the camp director. He was a guy in a leopard shirt and jeans. He had Lakers style running shoes but doesn’t really look like a runner. He had black, bed hair and a beard and had pinkish eyes as if he’s in a hangover. He made a wave with his hand and a diet coke came out of the air like it was nothing.

Fern gulped. "Mr. D, what are you doing here?"

"Zeus made this an exeption and want me to welcome her to Camp Half-Blood." Mr D. looked at me, "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood."

"But I-I thought you weren't suppose to-"

The guy interupted him and said, “You made quite an entrance yesterday, you majesty.”

He was playing some card game that Chiron joined in.

“How come everyone is saying your majesty or princess to me?” I asked.

“Not my problem. Fern, you’re going to play with us?”

Fern squeaked and sat on the chair farthest of the guy. I wonder why Fern was scared of some guy in a hangover, the worst he can do is puke on you. I looked at the three playing and noticed something wrong.

“You’re suppose to have four for pinochle.”

Fern asked, “How did you-”

Chiron interrupted, "Then join us, Alexandria.”

The sober guy muttered, “Girls joining pinochle, just let Kronus take over the world...again.”

I sat down, and scooted my distance away from that guy. The last thing I want to happen is to catch something from him. He then shuffled the cards and gave 15 each to us. Fern got paler and paler every time he gave him a card.

“Okay sir, please explain me all of this Greek stuff.”

“I’m reffered to as Mr. D.”

I banged my fist onto the wooden table which made Fern and Chiron flinch, but Mr. D didn’t move as if nothing happened.

“Okay Mr. D, why are monsters in Greek mythology coming at me? I mean, I have golden blood running through my veins.”

Chiron faced me, “Did you say golden blood?”

As I lifted my fist from the table, a splinter went into it. I took the splinter out but it was pretty deep. Soon my golden blood started to spill on the table. Chiron watched in amazement as the blood glittered in the sunlight. I pressed into my ring and soon I was wrapping the wound with a bandage.

Mr. D barely looked up and said, “You have ichor, the blood of the gods.”

Fern piped up, “The orientation film will be useless for her.”

When Mr. D finished his coke, he waved his hand and a wine bottle came out.

Chiron sighed and replied, “ Dionysus, your punishment.”

Mr. D then changed it to a coke then went back to his card game.

“Your Dionysus, god of wine, theater and madness,” I stammered.

“Sadly I can’t use my powers anymore!” Mr. D complained.

“I’m sorry, it’s just your a Greek god.”

“Yes, one of the most handsome and famous.” No one replied at him comment.

He then glared at Fern and Fern stammer nevously, “Yes, a generous and well loved God.”

Bully was the word Mr. D can be described. Everyone started to make a bid in the game. So I followed.

I asked, “How’s it possible, they’re myths. The ancient Greeks used them to explain science, natural causes.”

“This conversation sounds familiar,” Mr. D mumbled. “Mortals think they know more than the gods.”

“Well, we have Prometheus to thank since he gave us fire.”

Chiron explained, “The Gods are as real as the monsters you fought and well, Fern.”

Fern asked Mr. D, “Do you need your soda can by any chance, Mr. D?”

Mr. D threw it to Fern who caught it and ate it nervously. I though to myself that couldn’t be a good diet plan.

Chiron continued, “The Gods are currently here in America, New York to be specific.”

“L-like the 600th floor of the Empire State Building is Mount Olympus?” I asked in awe.

“Yes, they live in what’s called “Western Civilization.” It’s a sort of force that moves with the civilization. You may have notice through your love of Greece that many legacies are here in America. It’s usually referred to as the "flame", this force moves with the influences of mankind that was originally in Greece. There is this sort of connection that effects on the gods and human civilization. If the “flame” were to disappear, the gods would be weakened from their powers, and if the Olympians were to crumble, then everything will be at chaos.”

I said in a quiet voice, “Oh.”

“That sums it up,” Chiron said.

I stood up from my chair and exclaimed, “Why hide this whole life from the world? Why not have mortals believe in Greek Gods again? Don’t you guys miss it, is this enough for you? This whole world’s been living off a lie that the Greeks made up these ‘fake’ life.”

Chiron scratched his head and sighed. “You already understand the mist, and how mortals can’t look what life really is?”

“Yeah, go on.”

“Imagine you don’t like Greek mythology or anything about it. Then one day, people tell you the Greek gods are real and monster reign around you without your knowing. You’ll panic, knowing monster are everywhere around you. People might believe in other religions that were passed down for many generation and then you have them start believing in elemental maidens and goat men.”

Fern cried, “Hey!”

“Sorry.” He continued, “wouldn’t you live in fear, in doubt that 12 powerful beings can come down to Earth, live among us and help make the new generation of kids.”

Mr. D blushed at that comment. I felt the gods listening to the conversation and becoming hot with embarrasement.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Okay, but maybe someday. It’ll be like back then. We’ll have to sacrafice our own children to sea monsters like Princess Andromeda.”

I then turned to Mr. D, “If you are really Dionysus, why are you stuck here instead of sitting on your throne on Mount Olympus.”

“I’ve been grounded, my father disaproved my love with a wood nymph. Now I’m stuck with you kids in this stupid camp.”

I mumbled to myself, “I’m glad the gods haven’t change over the centuries.”

“That you’re correct with. Who’s parents are all of these children in this camp?”

I looked around and saw so many campers, different faces but they’re all related.

I crossed my arms. “I still don’t believe it, your a god, an Olympian to be specific. Who’s been punished by Zeus. And you can’t do a single thing about that?”

Mr D glared at me, “So then, you’re calling me weak?”

“No, that’s not-”

I then stared into his eyes. A glint of purple fire were in them. I then saw him giving women wine that make them so mad they kill their husbands, it torturing ways. I saw him make diseases that will make people suicide just so the pain can go away. I knew if I stepped over the line, he’ll use his divine power that will torture me even worse than the gruesome myths I love to read. All of a sudden I felt like I was recovering from a huge hangover, and going through the side effects in the bathroom.

He said to me like a parent telling their kid. “Would you like to see the true power of an Olympian?”

I was paralyzed in fear. “N-No Mr. D.”

I always thought Dionysus should be a minor god. I mean, God of wine? Aeolus the ‘master’ of the winds seemed more important than him. But I was wrong, very, very wrong, I hope Mr. D didn’t have the power to read my thoughts from before because I might turn drunk the next day and kill everyone in my path.

Mr. D sneered, “Kassandra Olympia, do you know why you were named that?”

I was stiffened on how he knew my real name, but he was a god after all.

When I was about to answer but Mr. D said, “For you have a fate with a prophecy, just like her.”

“I’m going to be liked then cursed by a god, by foretelling prophecies that no one will believe?”

Mr. D smacked his hand to his face. He then looked at his cards and announced, “I win.”

Chiron gave a grin, “Not really.” He showed a full house.

I looked at my cards and gave a smug smile. I set down my cards as a straight of kings.

“I think I won this game.”

Chiron and Fern had their mouths wide open. Mr. D glared at me, for being beaten by a girl. I was afraid he’ll change me into a clump of grapes.

Fern asked, “How did you win, Chiron is like the master of-”

I gave an unconfortable chuckle, “I don’t know. This game seems familiar.”

Chiron gave me a pat in the back. And have Fern give me a tour of the camp.

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Hi again, how do you like this chapter. First time Mr. D. got beaten at pinochle. LOL, anyway vote and comment on this chapter. I'll post the next chapter soon. THX