Icy Heart: An Alex Greyson Story

I woke up groggy and aching with pain. I sat up in my soft bed and my eyes began to adjust to the light around me. I saw that I was situated in small cabin with several cots like one I was in along with counters and cabinets cluttered with a wide variety of medical supplies, everything from sutures to ace bandages to IV bags. All the cots were empty save mine and the windows were open letting light stream through them with a cool breeze from the north.
I stood up to find myself staring at white full length mirror. I could hardly notice any injuries from the fight. I couldn’t help but think of my main man Narcissus because I couldn’t pull away from my own reflection. Tousled brown hair hung down my forehead, barely touching my smudged spectacles. At that time, I still kept a round boyish face but one could see the smallest hints of a sturdy chin and a strong jaw. My gaze passed to my square torso and the well worn t-shirt covering it. The shirt had the stylized Ashburton mascot on it, ironically a gray wolf’s head. Moving on down, I saw my cargo shorts, stained and filled and holes. A wave of nausea swept over right then and I felt like I would faint. I plopped down back onto the cot and the feeling broke as I held my head in my hands.
The door creaked open and a teenage boy with a clipboard stepped in the room. He was tall with beach blonde hair and a tanned European complexion. The boy studied his clipboard before looking to me and smiling. “Well somebody is finally awake. My name’s Will, head of the Apollo cabin and lead medic.”
“How long was I out?” I mumbled “And where’s Jake? And where am I?”
“You’re in good hands now. I’ll have Chiron explain later. For now, I need you to stand up and stretch your limbs.”
I stood up and wiggled my fingers and toes. I extended my arms and twisted all around. “You took quite a beating out there. You’ve been comatose for four days.”
“Four days?!” I replied, “What about my school? Is my mom worried?”
“Relax kid. I’ll take you to Chiron and he’ll get you sorted out. Put on your shoes.”
I stepped into my well worn hiking boots and laced them up tight. I followed Will outside into the blinding sunlight. Once my eyes adjusted, I could see rolling fields of bright green leaves growing in neat rows. There was a cluster of cabins near a lake where teenagers in orange shirts canoed. There were orange clad kids everywhere I looked. On the giant climbing wall, at the archery range, near a squat building with smoke pouring from its chimney, they were there. We continued walking toward a tall yellow Victorian style house with a huge wraparound porch. “Chiron? You mean the centaur who trained Greek mythological heroes?”I asked
“You know your stuff kid. I’ll let you in on a little secret; they aren’t myths.”
As we neared the house we were met by an old centaur with short grey hair and a small beard. I could scarcely believe it. I had almost dismissed the fact that my best friend was half sheep but here in the flesh before me was the head and torso of a man with the lower body of a horse. When he spoke his voice was clear and gentle. “Hello Alex, I am Chiron, the activities director here at Camp Half Blood. I’m sure you have many questions.”
He sent Will away and invited me to walk with him around the camp. He went on to give the speech he has to give to the newbies. Greek and Roman gods are real. They’re here in America. They have children all the damn time. Blah, blah, blah. Needless to say I was incredibly shocked at first but as Chiron talked, some of the pieces began to flow together. I always knew my 6th grade math teacher was a monster. This explains why my dad was never around. And it explains the weird stuff that goes down when I get bored at school. I asked Chiron, “How do you know I’m a demigod like every other kid here?”
“Well normally there are some telling factors, but I’ve been told that you killed those werewolves a few nights ago with what have been described as “Frosty the Snowman” powers.”
“Yeah that was kind of an accident really...” I said sheepishly
“I don’t know how they found you but I’m glad Jacob got you here in time. Ordinarily monsters can only be killed with celestial bronze or some other substitute and werewolves can only be hurt by silver weapons. The fact that you killed them with your ice blade proves that your gifts are divine in nature.”
“Where is Jake? Is he ok?”
“Your friend is fine. He has taken to going off to the woods and praying to the ghost of Pan for your safety and recovery.”
“What about school? Can I go back to Ashburton?”
“You can’t ever go back Alex. Don’t worry though. You can stay here at Camp Half Blood until you enroll in a new school in the fall. I’m sorry but you shouldn’t stay in the outside world. There are monsters like those werewolves everywhere.”
“Can’t everyone see them? I mean if there are all these monsters wouldn’t someone else do something about it?”
“There is magic everywhere that is called The Mist, capital M. It prevents the mortals from seeing monsters and gods for what they truly are.”
“What about my mom?” I asked, “Does she know I am here? Is she ok?”
My mom means the world to me. Ever since I was a little boy, it has been just my mom and I. Sadly I was brought up in a series of boarding schools because my mom travels so much. She is a research biology professor at UConn. Her area of study is extremophiles, tiny protozoan organism that thrive in conditions we have before though in hospitable for life. Mom researches the ones that live in especially cold environments. She’s been to Norway and Greenland and Alaska and Siberia and even the South Pole. She leaves for weeks on end and I always worry that something could go horribly wrong. Every trip she takes has a chance to be her last.
“We’ve sent a message to your mom,” Chiron said, “She knows you’ll be staying here and will send your things when she gets back from Nunavut. Sadly though, she never knew the godly identity of your father.”
I wasn’t even going to ask how Chiron talked to mom because I know damn well there isn’t cell reception in Nunavut. “Doesn’t anyone else have Elsa magic? Because I figured that it’d be at least a little common.”
“I’ve trained very few demigods with winter powers. Let’s see there was...” Chiron thought for several seconds, “Edmund Hillary, Ernie McSorely, Sig Hansen, and Ice Cube.”
I looked at him with astonishment. “Ice Cube has actual ice powers?”
“I’m just pulling your leg son. Ice Cube is a child of Apollo. You might share a father with these great names, save Ice Cube, but we can’t know for sure.”
“Then how did all the other campers find their parents?”
“They were claimed in some fashion, usually with an incredibly noticeable sign or vision. I have a suspicion on who your father is but until he claims you as his son, you can stay in the Hermes cabins. As god of travelers, Hermes welcomes all.”
My full circle tour of the camp was coming to an end as we nearer the Big House as Chiron called it. I noticed a new figure sitting on the porch this time. He was a short, round man with a gaudy Hawaiian shirt and a can of diet coke. Chiron addressed this interesting fellow with much respect. “This is Alex Greyson, the new camper who fought off the werewolves.”
Then Chiron turned to me, “This is Dionysus or Mr.D, the director here at Camp Half Blood.”
“Like the Greek god of wine and merriment?!” I asked with astonishment
“Very good Allen,” He said sarcastically before facing Chiron, “which one of my relatives is the boy’s parent?”
“We are unsure yet, but I have a guess. In time the boy’s father will reveal himself. Come now Alex, I will show you to the Hermes cabin so you can get unpacked before dinner.”
“But I don’t have any clothes” I replied
“After all you’ve seen today, you’re questioning whether you have clothes?” Chiron raised an eyebrow as we walked to the cluster of cabins “You’ll find your clothes on the empty bunk in Hermes. And don’t mind Mr. D, he’s a bit surly because Zeus exiled him to run the camp as punishment for chasing the wrong nymph.”
The centaur led me to the most run down disheveled wood shack and told me that dinner was at 5:30. I checked my watch. Could it be possible that the whole day had passed? When I opened the door, I was greeted by several teenagers playing poker, three girls and four boys. A chorus of hellos echoed from the group. “Hey there” “Nice to meet you new kid” “This is the guy that slayed them werewolves” Two brown haired boys stepped out from the crowd. “I’m Travis” “And I’m Connor. We’re the counselors for Hermes cabin. That bunk in the corner is yours.”
“Thank you guys. I’ll get settled in”
“Hey umm Alex right?” Travis asked
“Yeah”
“Do you think you could be on our team for capture the flag on Friday? You kicked the crap out of those wolves.”
“What day is today?!”
“It’s Monday.” Connor answered.
“Sorry, I forgot I slept for four whole days. Anyway, what is capture the flag?”
“Well it’s like the game you played as a kid, except we do it with full battle armor, non-lethal of course.”
“But I can’t fight?!”
“I would sure beg to differ.” Said I familiar voice from behind me.

Notes

Please tell me if you notice any errors. Thanks