I reread the note three times. Kalia? She broke my window for this? That's quite the elaborate plan to get a note to me that doesn't even make much sense.

A knock comes on my door, startling me so much the note flutters to the ground. The door opens before I have a chance to snatch it back up, and Sera's jaw drops at the shattered window, the brick, and the note I try desperately to hide.

"Um... okay, who did this, and what is that?" she demands, gesturing to the note I try to stomp on and slide under the bed.

"Uh, nothing." I try, but Sera just rolls her eyes.

"Yeah, okay, whatever. My only question: Does this bother you?"

"Not really." I pick up the note, but don't hand it to her. "They had a good reason. I'm not sure if I should tell you, though. Is that bad?"

Sera shrugs, sitting on the bed next to me. "No, I don't think so. But let me guess. Kalia?"

I stare at her. "How did---"

She winks at me. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna say nothin' to the camp or anythin'. Kalia is a sneaky girl, but the Stolls are not. I heard them giggling about something last night, and mentioned you and Kal, so I'm assuming this was them?"

I nod. "But... I think it was for a good reason."

"It always is with Kal." Sera says, then stretches. "Welp. Today is the winter solstice, the day where Hera will either be set free or... y'know. So! Ready to start your day as an official child of Hades?"

I sigh. "Do I have to?"

"Yup! C'mon!" She hauls me to my feet, kicking glass out of the way. "Get dressed, get your tall-dark-and-stabby, while I clean this up! Wait---lemme get friends to force help me." She waves to me and sprints from the cabin.

I shake my head in disbelief. She's a very weird person. But I carefully tuck Kalia's note away, then get dressed in a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, my black jacket (which had been returned over the night, apparently) and jeans. I debate on whether to strap the knife to my waist, but decide against it. I exit the bathroom while finger-combing my hair to find that Sera, Arson, Brit, and Carlos have made quick work of the glass fragments. My cabin is clean, and the window has been covered with a curtain.

"Just what this place needs. Less light." I say, leaning against the wall. "Thanks, you guys."

Brit comes over to me, hugging me tight before I can say anything. "Congrats on getting claimed! I forgot to say yesterday, everyone kinda wanted to get away."

"I get it." I say, awkwardly patting her shoulder. "Well... kind of."

"Big Three. Bad. Powerful. Bad." Arson says helpfully, whacking my back in what I'm sure he meant as a comforting way, but just makes my Fury cut twinge.

I roll my shoulder, grimacing a smile at him. "I got that."

"Eh, kids just don't know what to think, Ells." Sera says.

"Yeah, people weren't sure what to make of Percy when he got here." Carlos tells me. "But it's not illegal anymore, at least. That was part of Percy's deal last year. Kids of the Big Three weren't bad anymore."

"Are there any other kids of Hades?" I ask. I vaguely remember someone mentioning a kid named Nico, but I have to admit I'm curious.

"Only one." Sera says. "Nico di Angelo, he's the kid who was trapped in the Lotus Hotel for years. I think I might've mentioned him."

"You did." I agree. "So that's all?"

"Well, he did have a sister---Bianca---but she went off to become a Hunter of Artemis and died like two days later on a quest." Sera says, then clears her throat. "Ah, but don't mention that if he ever comes 'round here again. Touchy... touchy subject."

"Right. Remind me again why being claimed by Hades was a good thing?"

Brit bites her lip, then takes my hand. "Because it means the gods are keeping their attention somewhere, at least, for a little while. You're lucky, Ellie. Some of us...

Some of us had to wait a lot longer than a few days to be claimed."

I feel my face heat up a bit, thinking about poor kids who were stuck in Hermes, like I was, for years, ignored by their parents. Suddenly getting claimed doesn't seem so bad, even if it is a bad parentage.

"Sorry." I mumble.

"It's not your fault." Brit assures me. "I get that this is new, and weird, and a week ago you would've laughed at anyone who told you all of this... but you get used to it. You're doing a lot better than I did my first few weeks here."

"What're you talkin' bout, Brit?" Sera demands. "You were fun!"

"Um, to you. Unless you were forcing me to talk to you and Ar, I was a mute ball of misery my first few weeks." She laughs, then lets go of my hand to walk to the door. "Don't we have breakfast to get to?"

"Food." Sera says, her eyes widening. "How could I forget about FOOD? HERE I COME, GLORIOUS FLUFFY PANCAKES!" She sprints out of the cabin, ignoring Carlos, Brit, Arson and I laughing at her.

"We probably should go eat." Carlos says. "Annabeth will be angry if we're late, Brit."

"True." We all head outside, blinking on the sudden onslaught of sunlight. Most kids are already at breakfast, but it feels much less crowded now that I sit alone at the Hades table. While a few minutes ago, I was starving and ready to chow on whatever deliciousness they'd given me, now I've lost my appetite. I miss the Hermes crew.

"Hi." Someone slides onto the bench next to me. I look up in surprise at Endora, who just casually starts eating her food. She gives me a side-eye. "Aren't you going to eat?"

"I thought you weren't allowed to switch tables."

"Yeah, well, that's a stupid rule that I don't like following." Endora says calmly. "Plus you looked pretty mopey, and Drew is being a total bit---"

"Dori." Maira scolds, sitting across from me. "What have we said?"

Endora rolls her eyes. "Yes, I know, cursing isn't good for my health, or whatever."

"It's not good for everyone else's health. You never know when a curse you say can actually curse someone." Maira says, pointing her fork at Endora. "Remember the last time you called someone that?"

Endora leans on her hand, staring off into space with a fond smile. "Yeah..."

"Why, what happened?" I ask.

"She turned someone into a dog for a few hours until it wore off. Her Hecate blessing does wacky things." Maira shrugs.

I look around, but nobody really seems to care that Maira and Endora are sitting with me. Drew and a couple other people are giving my table grossed-out looks, but nothing major. Chiron raises his eyebrow at me when I make eye contact, but doesn't say anything.

I smile and dig my fork into my pancake, listening to Maira and Endora's chatter. Suddenly I'm hungry again, and in a much better mood.