I sat in the back of the truck as it jolted, slightly knocking around the boxes labeled Delphi Strawberry Service. I'd tasted some of them, earlier. Not bad.

I grasped my suitcase again, making sure its contents were safe and secure. My khopesh and staff were in there, as well as various magician garbs and robes. But for now, I was wearing the crisp and warm orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt.

I would be representing the house of Life's Brooklyn House at Camp Half-Blood for several months, or longer if I insisted. Don't get me wrong, I was excited. Very. They had part of a cabin set up for me, apparently, and I'd be meeting a shitton of campers. I would be a symbol of the Greeks' and Egyptians' relatively new alliance.

Which I helped instill, by the way.

I won't get into the main details, but in short, a crashed pegasus, trapping a wannabe god inside of a snow globe, and a field trip gone horribly wrong led both sides to discover each others' existence. Thank the gods it hadn't ended in conflict. The thought alone of bringing both pantheons to bear was horrifying enough.

Best to think about what didn't happen, than what has happened, then.

My train of thought was broken as the truck shuddered to a halt. With a flick of my wrist, a gust of wind opened the back shutter, a simple demonstration of my elemental magic.

These guys are gonna have no idea what hit them, I think as their man Argus helps me get my luggage out. Still can't get over the fact that the guy has a hundred eyes. I mean...so many puns, so little time. I'm sure he has heard them all by now, wouldn't surprise me.

"Um ...thanks, man." I nod. He shrugs, grunting.

"So...your mom's a god, right? Here, right?"

He nods again. Shame he doesn't talk much. I suppose it's because of the eye on his tongue. Must make it a bitch to speak.

I sigh. "I'm not entirely sure if I should be asking this, but since you mom's a goddess and all, how are they feeling about this whole teaming up with us?"

He shrugs. Okay, well all right then.

I'd only been to this camp a few times, and that was under heavy supervision from those war-hungry Ares goons. This time, though, I'd be able to see a lot more. Argus pointed towards a path leading away from the truck.

"Is that how I meet Chiron?" He nods. As I turn around to go some of his eyes start to blink. I notice it only for a quick second, but it's there, in Morse Code.

Good luck.

I never expected how much I would come to remember that term.

After following the path through some trees, I came upon the cabins.

And by Ra, was it pretty.

It was apparently dinner-time, and the sky became darker, leaning on the edge of night. The various cabins were beautiful in their own right; I could see now why the campers loved these so much; each one represents one's parent god or goddess beautifully. Athena's looked quite similar to a library; what I assumed was Aphrodite looked like a dollhouse on steroids, and the...Hades cabin looked like a gods-damned mausoleum.

Okay Jack, you can do this. You helped kill Apophis, you've ended several wars, and you're currently hosting a goddess. You can try to fit in.

"Really, Isis?" I say.

"Who are you talking to?"

I turned around to find a boy with gleaming golden hair and blueish-greenish eyes. He's a little bit shorter than me, with a huge smile on his face.

"Oh, I uh, I ...no one!" I laugh awkwardly. "Who are you? Sorry, I don't believe we've met."

"That's alright. I'm Will Solace, counselor of Apollo cabin. Are you new?"

"Apollo? That's the guy with the arrows, right?"

"And the sun." He corrected me.

"Ah! Like Ra. I see."

His face contorted into a confused expression. "Who?"

I chuckle for a moment. "Oh, I'm sorry!" I extend a hand. "I'm Jack Samson, elemental magician that somewhat drabbles in combat."

"Magician? ….Oh, you're that visiting Egyptian guy who's supposed to come!"

I blush. Looks like word's gotten around about me. "Yes, although I'm more American than that, but yes, I have Pharoah blood in my veins. Magic and all."

"Magic? Like Hecate?"

"Well...yes, but the House of Life has much more experience with such things."

"Well Jack, it was nice to meet you, man. Tell you what-I'll take you to Chiron, and you tell me about this 'magic' stuff."

"Deal."

I tried to keep a low profile as the Apollo kid toured me through the camp, towards the Big House, basically the meeting place. The whole place seemed...empty.

"Where is everyone?"

"Oh, they're back from daily classes. You came in right during the pre-dinner break. I heard tonight they were gonna have an announcement about you."

"I see."

"So you really live in a mansion?"

I had told Will quite a bit of what the living was like back at Brooklyn House. You should've seen his face when I told him about living in a giant mansion filled with magicians and the occasional god or goddess, with a personal room for everyone. Did I mention the magical crocodile? I think I mentioned the magic crocodile.

I don't blame him for being jealous. I mean, living in a cabin is cool and all, but living and sleeping with so many in such an enclosed space? Blargh.

"Well, here we are!" Will raps on the door of the 'Big House'. It honestly looks kind of imposing, especially since it's so much larger than the cabins, and the way it's positioned right down the middle of the cabins. Damn. The door opens, and the 'wily old centaur' steps out. Chiron. I know him very well from the meetings between our side and his before the alliance was still form.

"Chiron." Will says. "This is the Egyptain guy. Looks like he came a little bit early."

"Your driver is very good at his job." I interject. "Having a hundred eyes can be...valuable."

He looks me up and down, as if searching for something. "Thank you Will, you may go now. Your cabin gets out five minutes early for your work."

He beams, and runs off. "See ya."

"Mr. Samson. Please follow me."

I follow him through the house, making a note of all the memorabilia he has. 'Party Ponies'. I wonder what that is. He beckons me to take a seat at a pool table. I immediately recognize it, as Percy described it as where the 'war council' took place. I sit, and he simply stand at the opposite edge of the table.

"I must say, Mr. Samson, it is a great weight off my back that both of our sides can finally become friends."

"You guys could have asked earlier, y'know. We're not so bad. I believe that both of us have something to offer one another."

"And what would that be?" He responds with ...intrigue.

"Knowledge. We've been around for a thousand years longer than you guys. The shit we know on the outside world and magic could help you in the next war."

"Next war?"

"Chiron. Look….we both know there's more out there than Apophis or Kronos. There are...others, you must understand."

"I do. Which is why I do not tell the campers of them."

I smile. "You're a good...man...horse? I'm sorry, what exactly do I call you?"

"Man is fine."

"Very well. So...what exactly will I be doing? A little clarification, just to be sure."

"You will be staying at our camp for a full summer, or longer if you wish. While here, you will be expected to follow our rules, just like any other campers. You'll participate in all of our activities, rituals, etc.. You will also interact with all campers to learn more about their specific skills and creeds. Is that clear?"

"Crystal, sir." I do a mock salute. "And where will I be staying?"

He smirked. "That will be a surprise. Don't worry about it. Now go out there, and have some fun. I'll have a harpy handle your things."

I shake his hand, and walk out. Camp Half-Blood, here I come!

I got in line for dinner, which unfortunately seemed pretty damn long. The guy in front of me seemed quite intimidating. Tall, muscular, blonde hair, and an inch or two taller than me. Probably a son of...Ares, is it? I made sure to read up on Greek mythology, with Annabeth's help before I came here. It's seemed to work out so far.

He turned around. "Hey, you new here?"

So he doesn't know. Ah.

"Yes, actually. I'm Jack Samson, pleasure to meet you." I reach out a hand, which he takes.

"You been claimed yet?"

"No actually, I'm not a demigod by any means."

He raises an eyebrow, face scrunching up. "So...who are you?"

"Egyptian elemental and combat magician. Bit of both, actually."

"Really? Egyptian….oh, that's right! I recognize you from the alliance thing! Protectorate, right?"

I gleam with pride. "Yes, it was my idea."

He chuckles. "It's funny how both sides were so close to each other this whole time, eh?"

"Believe me...uh, what's your name?"

"Butch Walker, son of Iris."

"The rainbow goddess?"

He sighs. "Yes. And I've heard them all, believe me."

I chuckle. "Believe me, I won't say anything. So...what exactly can you do?"

"Summon rainbows, talk to pegasi-"

"No fuckin' way. You can talk to Pegasi?"

He nods. "Impressed?"

"Uh, yeah? Talking to animals ...not sure if that's something we can do."

"So, what exactly does it mean, being a magician and all?"

"Well, it's a long story-"

"Short version, please."

"Well, Butch, basically I can control elements, and if I want to, can turn into a kite and summon a giant magical chicken that I can kill people with."

The look on his face made my day...nah, scratch that. The whole gods-damned month.

So dinner had gone well. Apparently, they had some rule that said that you couldn't sit at a table whose god/goddess wasn' yours. Weird. So, I had to sit along, chowing down on a meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Your mouth watering? Mine was, too. Trust me.

As per the strange tradition of throwing some of your food into the fire (how wasteful!), I obliged. Next up was the campfire. Time to have some fun.

I took a front-row seat in the small amphitheater, while some campers were walking around in a circle, singing a song about something something Apollo something something music.

"Good evening campers, and may I be the first to welcome you all to another wonderful summer at Camp Half-Blood!" The crowd of demigods rose up in cheers. "Now, before we get onto the announcements, we have...a very special guest who will be staying with us this summer!"

My cue. I stood up proudly, and walked next to the centaur, the fire keeping me warm.

"As you all may know, several months ago, we became aware of the Egyptain gods and their pantheon. We have signed into an alliance with them, and have and will expect to keep excellent relations with for the years to come. To better relations with both sides, they have sent one of their best to live us for some time!" He cocked his head towards me. "Please introduce yourself."

I take a bow. "Hello, you guys! My name is Jack Samson, elementalist combat magician from Brooklyn House, of the Twenty-First Nome of the glorious House of Life. I was one of the first to discover that we were not alone in the world of gods. I was one of the honored few who wrote the pact that brought our two sides together. You've probably seen the emessarial building being built by your cabins."

"Anyway, I have decided to stay at your camp for the summer, experiencing how you guys...live, learn, fight..all of that stuff. So...umm ...that's about it all."

I cough. "Questions, any?"

Pretty much everyone raised their hands, whether it be demigods, satyrs, or nymphs floating around. Weird.

I chuckle. "Well, I'd be here all night to answer y'all's questions, so I'll only take a few. Hmmm. How about...you?"

I point to a muscled blonde girl, with a smirk on face. "Show us your 'magic'. I wanna see how this goes against Hecate."

"Clarisse…" Chiron interjects. I hold up a hand.

"No, excellent question! Alright, I won't be fighting anyone today, so no combat avatar, or giant battle chicken, as some would call it. So...elemental magic!"

Chiron gets the hint, going to stand by the crowd.

"Fire." I announce. I concentrate, and with a flick of my hand, the vampire erupts, its flame turning into a miniature whirlwind, twisting around me. With a flick of my wrist, fire erupts from my hands, two plumes shooting into the air before it stops on my command, with a single thought.

Cheers erupt from the crowd, but I'm not done just yet.

"Earth." Several rocks on the ground to fly to my position, forming a ring that dances around me. With a clench of the fist soil breaks from the ground individual pieces of dirt form a shield before me, after which they float back to the ground.

More oohs and ahhs.

"Water." I clap my hands, and water flies out of some demigods' cup. I hold up a hand, pausing it as it floats in front of me in a blob-like form, waiting for my command. I turn it into a pillar of water, sending it flying over the audiences' heads. If I was by a river, I could do so much more. But I'm getting tired.

Ad the audience gapes. I unveil my last trick.

"Air."

I fly up several feet into the air, levitating before the crowd. As they react with generic reactions like "woah" "what?" and "holy shit!", I clap my hands, a small gust of wind giving the audience a shock. I lazily float for a few more seconds, before landing safely on the ground.

The audience starts clapping and screaming praise, as I take another bow humbly, as any magician should.

"Thank you all." I return to my seat, panting and sweating like a horse. A satyr hands me a water bottle, which I gulp ravenously.

Chiron walks back to the front, as impressed as the crowd is. "Well...I can say that that was a way to start the summer off, no?"

More cheers.

After the meeting is over, I trudge back to my appointed cabin-Artemis'. She is the goddess of the moon and hunt...or something. I take my stuff inside, and collapse on the bed, falling asleep.

My ba, however, had other ideas.

"What are you doing in my cabin?"

A feminine voice woke me from my sleep. I was in the clothes I'd fallen asleep on, in a garden surrounded by trees. In front of me, kneeling in front of me, was a woman. She had a silvery glow; an aura if you will. She had a bow and set of arrows on her back, and she was wearing a silver cloak that slowly rippled. She was in a pair of sandals, with silvery hair flowing behind her.

"Well?" The woman didn't sound angry, mind you-she was curious. SHe raised an eyebrow, smiling as if she was talking to a small child.

"I'm sorry...your cabin?"

She chuckled. "I'm Artemis, goddess of the hunt and of the moon. I don't recall you being a Hunter."

"Hunter...of Artemis? You mean those chicks with the bows?"

She sighed. "It's more complicated than that, but yes. You are an Egyptian magician, are you not?"

I suddenly remembered the rule. "Oh fuck ma'am, I'm sorry. I can just pack up and…"

She waved a hand. "No, no. You are fine. I was messing with you. I was simply asking you. I have not met one of you. Ever."

"You've never met an Egyptian? No offense, but we literally live all over the world. And one of our most major hideouts is literally miles from this Camp."

"I know. But we preferred to stay away from the other pantheons. Rules this, rules that, I suppose." She waved a hand. "But, you are here, and if I remember right, you were the one who actually proposed the alliance between the Camp and your House, correct?"

"Yes. The Protectorate. My little name for it, but...well, yes."

"Um...what do the other gods think of it?" I never really knew any of the gods of the Greek pantheon. I'd briefly met Poseidon once or twice, he seemed kind of cool. Dionyisus seemed at most indifferent to me and the House, and...well, that's pretty much it.

She shook her head. "It's ...complicated. Myself, I never saw a reason to be concerned. Your House is quite competent, and good at what they do. You have been around longer than we have, something the rest of us refuse to admit. Ares wants to 'kick their asses back to their gods-damned house', hmmph. Typical. Hera complained as always, Athena...she's been unusually quiet about it, actually."

"Zeus...he is conflicted. He, on the one hand, is worried about the possible mixing of Greek and Egyptian magic. On the other...he does see the advantages of the two sides working together. He admires you House's knowledge and experience. The snake thing ..."

"Apophis." I say the name with disgust. That sonuvabitch caused us a lot of pain.

"Yes...the knowledge that such things are out there…." She shivered. "And I thought Kronos and Gaia were bad enough."

"So...no offense, but why did you bring me here?"

"I suppose I wished to get to know you. Few members of the pantheon have met one of your kind. I simply wish to know more."

So she wanted to ask questions. Well, I had answers.

"So, um, what else did you want to know?"

"Well, I could ask you more, but I wouldn't want you to miss your wake-up call."

I raise an eyebrow. "Wake-up call?"

The vision began to fade. She winked. "Oh, and by the way, enjoy the cabin."

"Wait! I-"

I suddenly shot awake, looking around the cabin. Save me, it was empty. My things were lying next to me in a pile. Fuck, gotta get that stuff sorted out. Don't they have an inspection around here or something?

I grab some clothes, and walk to the back, where there's a bathroom and shower. Before entering, I pause to look at the altar to Artemis; a woman with a bow surrounded by wolves and birds of prey, with two glowing torches around it. I nod at it.

"Thanks. And...I hope you don't mind."

I wash myself, noting that for a cabin bathroom, it's pretty damn clean. As I walk out in my orange T-shirt a bell sounds.

"Must be that wake-up call Artemis mentioned. Huh."

I grab the camp-issued knapsack, putting in my khopesh and wand. My staff disguises itself as a credit card, which I slip into my pocket.

Go time.