Dionysus sat across from me, slouched in his chair, his grumpy expression matching the sour aura he gave off. He looked like a tired, pot-bellied older man with graying hair, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt stretched a little too snug over his rounded belly. His bloodshot eyes barely focused on me, and he drummed his fingers impatiently on the armrest. Chiron, standing tall and poised next to him, looked much more alert and thoughtful. I could tell they'd been talking about me, deciding what to do next, and Dionysus didn't seem too happy about it.
Before they could continue, I cut in, unable to resist stirring the pot a little. "I brought a gift from my mom."
Chiron raised an eyebrow, immediately curious. "A gift, you say? And what might that be?"
Dionysus rolled his eyes, looking completely uninterested. "Probably some kiddie drink—lemonade, I'd guess. Not that I'd care."
I grinned, reaching into my bag and pulling out a small, elegantly wrapped bottle. The label was ornate and golden, shining even in the dim light. "Actually, it's for you, Lord Dionysus."
His eyes narrowed as he reluctantly looked my way. But the moment he recognized the label, his eyes widened, and for a second, the grumpy mask slipped.
"Is that…" Dionysus's voice was almost a whisper, tinged with something I'd never thought I'd hear from him—respect.
I nodded, trying to keep a straight face. "Yep. It's the last bottle of Lady Varuni's Amrita Soma, her most famous blend. My mom searched all over for this. It took a lot of connections—and about fifty million dollars—to get just a liter of this."
Chiron's eyes went from the bottle to Dionysus, who was now practically salivating. But before Dionysus could reach for it, Chiron put a steady hand on his shoulder. "You know the restrictions, Dionysus. Zeus has issued a strict order against any alcohol consumption."
Dionysus's face turned stormy, his lips pressing into a bitter line. I could tell he was trying to hide his frustration, but he didn't argue with Chiron.
I rolled my eyes. "With all due respect, that's a load of bull," I said. "Zeus may be king of the gods, but he can't dictate how other gods govern their own divinities. Dionysus is the god of wine, and being forced to avoid alcohol is weakening him—look at him. It's like telling Hephaestus to stop working with fire."
Dionysus blinked, clearly caught off guard by someone standing up for him. I took the bottle, uncorking it with a smooth twist. A rich, intoxicating aroma filled the room, the scent of honey, spices, and something almost magical. I walked to a nearby shelf, took down a glass, and poured a small amount of the glowing amber liquid. The golden liquid caught the light, swirling with flecks of iridescent sparkles, as if it held a little piece of the divine inside it.
Setting the glass in front of him, I met Dionysus's gaze, my voice steady. "Now, are you going to keep moping around like a pathetic waste, or are you going to be the god you're meant to be?"
Dionysus's eyes went dark, a fire sparking to life in them. Small vines began to snake across the floor from his feet, curling and twisting with a strange life of their own. For a moment, the whole room filled with a vibrant, wild energy, and I could feel the god of wine and revelry coming back to life, even if just a little.
Dionysus took the glass, holding it up as if in a silent toast, his eyes still locked on mine. Then he brought the glass to his lips and took a slow, savoring sip. The tension in the room seemed to ease as he did, the vines around him pulsing with renewed vitality.
When he lowered the glass, his eyes were brighter, and his voice was quiet but firm. "Not bad, Jackson," he said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Not bad at all."
Before I could react, Dionysus snatched the bottle right out of my hand. With a grin that seemed both mischievous and defiant, he tilted the bottle back and chugged the entire thing in one go. As the last drop disappeared, the god began to glow with a pulsing energy. His whole form seemed to ripple with power, his aging, pot-bellied body transforming. Muscles strengthened and toned under his Hawaiian shirt, which shifted to fit his lean, athletic frame. His graying hair darkened and flowed into thick, curling waves that framed his now youthful, handsome face. His eyes shone a brilliant, otherworldly purple, radiating with vitality and confidence. He looked about thirty, his grin wide, wild, and full of life. This was the god of wine and revelry in his prime.
Dionysus let out a rich, booming laugh that filled the room. "Oh, I haven't felt this good in ages!" He looked over at me with a mischievous glint. "We're going to get along just fine, Jackson."
I smirked, reaching into my bag and pulling out another bottle, this one wrapped even more carefully. "Well, if you're up for it, I've got one more of Lady Varuni's brews here. It's yours—but only if you take your job here seriously and keep Camp Half-Blood a safer, better place."
Dionysus's smile grew, and he gave a short laugh. "You've got yourself a deal, kid." He set the empty bottle aside, his fingers tapping the desk with an energy I hadn't seen from him before. "Alright. I'll do what I need to make camp safer—on one condition. No complaints when I start making changes."
Chiron, who'd been watching all of this with a mixture of surprise and worry, sighed, reaching into a drawer and pulling out a packet of papers. He set them on the desk, looking at me with a calm but serious expression. "Percy, these are the basics of camp life. Here's your schedule, a map of camp, and the camp rules."
Dionysus waved him off, clearly itching to take charge. "No need, horse-man. I'll handle the introductions." He scooted the folder aside and leaned over the desk, looking at me intently.
Chiron hesitated, then gave a respectful nod and stepped out, muttering under his breath. I watched him go, still amazed by the sight of a centaur in real life, as he left the Big House—a grand marble building styled like a Greek temple.
Dionysus waited until the door closed behind Chiron before leaning back in his chair. "Alright, Percy," he said, his tone lighter now. "Do you know who your father is?"
I nodded, and he looked at me with a raised eyebrow, clearly a little impressed. "Good. That'll make things easier." He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a different packet, handing it to me. "Since you're the first child of Poseidon in a very, very long time, you'll be on your own in the Poseidon cabin. Inside this packet, you'll find your new schedule, a map of camp, a list of camp rules, and this."
He held up a black leather cord, its thickness solid but flexible, with a small silver bead on it. "This is your camp necklace. Wear it, and every summer you're here, you'll get another bead to mark the years."
I took the packet and the cord, slipping it into my bag. He went on to explain the ins and outs of camp—how training worked, the hierarchy among campers, and which activities I'd be expected to join. He mentioned all of this in a brisk, straightforward way, his tone shifting from friendly to serious as he laid down the rules. By the time we finished, nearly two hours had gone by.
"Well, that about covers it," Dionysus said, standing up and stretching. "Time for you to get some sleep. Tomorrow, you'll get a tour of the camp."
I stood up and bowed, feeling the weight of what I was stepping into. "Thank you, Lord Dionysus."
The god gave a nod, half-amused and half-appreciative. "Get out of here, kid. Don't make me regret that deal." He waved me off with a grin, and I headed out into the night.
The Poseidon cabin was easy to find, standing by itself, distinct from the others. Its walls were made of rough, sea-colored stones that seemed to shimmer like ocean waves under the moonlight. Seashells and coral adorned the exterior, giving it the look of something you'd see at the bottom of the sea. A trident symbol was carved into the door, polished and shining under the stars.
I pushed open the heavy wooden door and stepped inside. The place felt abandoned, almost untouched. The air was cool and smelled faintly of salt and seaweed. Inside, the cabin was simple but grand, with a few beds pushed against the walls and plenty of open space. There was a faint blue-green glow, like the light filtered through ocean water, and a small fountain bubbled quietly in the corner, filling the room with the soothing sound of running water.
I picked a bed and set my backpack down, finally able to relax. The quiet made me think about all the stories I'd read about demigods being claimed by their parents— I already knew who my father was, so would I even get claimed? Or was that just something for the other campers?
With that thought in my head, I lay down, the sound of the fountain lulling me to sleep.