Percy and Chiron moved through the camp, aware of the curious stares following their every step. Percy lowered his gaze, uncomfortable under so much attention.

Unintentionally, his eyes drifted toward the Big House. Something on the fourth floor caught his attention: a fleeting movement behind the window.

A shadow. The curtain had been drawn for just an instant, as if someone were secretly watching him.

"Was it my Pythia? Did she move?" Apollo asked, though his tone seemed more like a thought spoken aloud. The god kept his eyes fixed on the screen, avoiding his daughter's gaze, as if her closeness to the enemy was a thorn he preferred to ignore.

"I don't think..." Annabeth began, her voice calm but firm, trying to dismiss any movement from the oracle.

"It was her," Percy said confidently, giving the god a small smile, almost as if trying to reassure him.

Apollo smirked smugly, turning to the Olympians. "I told you she was still alive."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, brother," Hermes teased, shaking his head.

"What's up there?" Percy asked Chiron.

The centaur looked where the demigod was pointing, and the smile vanished from his face. "Just the attic."

"Somebody lives there?"

"No," he replied curtly. "Not a single living thing."

"I still can't get over how much Chiron lied to me," Percy complained, feigning sadness.

"Oh, stop being dramatic," Annabeth retorted.

"Come along, Percy," Chiron urged, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Lots to see."

They walked through fields where campers harvested strawberries as a satyr played a melody on a reed flute.

Chiron told Percy that the camp produced a good crop, which they exported to New York restaurants and Mount Olympus.
"It pays our expenses," he explained. "And the strawberries take almost no effort."

"Don't you donate to that camp too?" Damon asked Klaus with a mocking smile.

The hybrid visibly tensed as the Originals glared at him.

"Shut up, Damon," Caroline muttered through gritted teeth, noticing Klaus's growing discomfort.

"I'm just saying, the Big Bad Wolf wrote a big check when none of his kids attend Salvatore School, but his daughter goes to that camp, and he hasn't donated a single dollar. Curious, isn't it?" Damon mocked, grinning maliciously as Klaus avoided looking at Kiara.

Some gods watched the little spat with curiosity, while others simply waited for Damon to shut up so they could move on.

"I never lived in the camp, idiot," Kiara said, brushing the matter off.

Damon made a face and opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, Elena snapped his neck. The vampire collapsed to the ground, dead instantly.

Some demigods tensed at the ease with which Elena killed him, but soon remembered Kiara's words and shifted their focus away from the scene.

"He won't be bothering anyone anymore," Elena said with a somewhat sheepish smile, glancing at the goddess of magic, who responded with an amused grin.

"Grover won't get in too much trouble, will he?" Percy asked Chiron after a moment of silence. "I mean... he was a good protector. Really."

Chiron sighed deeply, folding his tweed jacket and carefully draping it over his back like a small saddle. "Grover has big dreams, Percy. Perhaps even bigger than is reasonable. But to achieve them, he must first prove great courage. He can't fail as a guardian-he must find a new camper and bring them safely to Camp Half-Blood."

"So cynical," Kiara complained. "It's not like Grover hasn't already brought three children of the Big Three to camp."

The Greek demigods nodded in agreement.

"He let my daughter die," Zeus retorted, unfazed by the glares he received in return.

"He didn't let me die. It was my decision to sacrifice myself, Father," Thalia spat, glancing at Annabeth and Luke, who looked at her with pity.

"I wasn't talking about you, though," Kiara said with a proud smile, looking at Grover, who seemed on the verge of tears. "Grover found Percy, Bianca, and Nico, and brought them to camp safely."

"I don't think any other satyr has accomplished something like that," Henrik said, challenging the gods with his gaze.

"A very brave satyr, right, my dear?" Persephone commented, looking firmly at her husband.

"He is," Hades admitted, making Grover nearly faint from the compliment.

"But he's already done that!"

"I agree with you," Chiron said. "But it's not my decision. Dionysus and the Council of Cloven Elders must judge him. I fear they may not see this task as an achievement. After all, Grover and Kiara lost you in New York. There's also the unfortunate... fate of your mother. Not to mention Grover was unconscious when Kiara dragged him onto our property. The council might question whether that showed courage on Grover's part."

"Can I kill them?" Kiara suddenly asked, looking at the Olympians with a mix of pleading and amusement.

"No," everyone muttered in unison, visibly exasperated.

"I'm going to kill them anyway," Kiara whispered with a mischievous smile, earning amused looks from Eros.

"Stop stirring up trouble, Angel," Eros murmured near her ear, careful not to draw attention. However, when Kiara leaned closer, he stared at her with confusion but didn't pull away.

"They'll give him another chance, right?" Percy asked, worried.

Chiron winced. "I'm afraid this was his second chance, Percy. The council wasn't eager to grant it after what happened the first time, five years ago. Olympus knows I advised him to wait before trying again. He's still so young..."

"How old is he?"

"Well, he's twenty-eight."

"So young," the Stoll brothers mocked, exchanging knowing smiles.

"No joke, you look way too young to be twenty-eight," Marcel commented, observing the satyr with curiosity.

"They'll explain it," Percy interjected, diverting attention from the Originals and the Mystic Falls gang back to the screen.

"What? And he's in eighth grade?"

"Satyrs take twice as long to mature as humans. Grover has been the equivalent of a middle schooler for the past six years."

"That's awful."

"It really is," Kol said, drawing everyone's attention as they noticed the Original standing next to Damon's lifeless body, sketching inappropriate things on his face.

"Your uncle's a bit strange," Percy muttered, glancing between Kiara and Henrik.

The twins exchanged looks, then shrugged indifferently.

"Well, yes," Chiron admitted. "In any case, Grover is clumsy, even for a satyr, and he's still not skilled in forest magic. Plus, he's too eager to chase his dream. Perhaps he'll find another occupation..."

Grover looked at the screen, his sadness mingling with indignation. He hadn't expected such words from the centaur.

Kiara glanced between Grover and the screen, sighing tiredly, determined to lift her friend's spirits.

"Hey, Grov," she called through their empathy link. Percy and Grover turned quickly to look at her, hearing her voice in their minds.

Percy was about to say something, but Kiara shook her head, placing a finger over her lips.

"Don't talk, just... Grover, don't pay attention to what Chiron or Dionysus say in the future," she told him, smiling kindly as Grover's eyes filled with tears. "In the future, you'll become the new Lord of Nature. So forget their words and be proud of what you'll become."

"Thank you," Grover whispered, covering his face with his hands so no one would see him cry.

"That's not fair," Percy said. "What happened the first time? Was it really that bad?"

"Now you know, Jackson," Thalia teased with a malicious grin.

"Though I wish I didn't, Grace," Percy replied, returning her smile with amusement.

"I hate you."

"I hate you more."

"Chiron, if the gods, Olympus, and all that are real..."

"Yes?"

"Does that mean the Underworld is real too?" Percy asked, fixing his gaze on the centaur.

"If you return to the Underworld, you'll stay forever," warned the god, staring intently at his nephew.

Percy raised an eyebrow and smirked mockingly.
"Then you'd have to deal with me for eternity."

Hades' expression soured further, his bitter face making Percy's grin grow wider.

Chiron's face darkened. "That's correct," he said gravely. "There's a place where spirits go after death. But for now... until we know more, I'd advise you to forget about it."

"What do you mean by 'until we know more'?"

Kiara burst out laughing, prompting Percy to glare at her.

"Kiara, stop laughing!" Percy complained, throwing Henrik a pleading look, hoping he would intervene.

"It's just too funny," Kiara said between chuckles. "Everyone thought you'd either get killed or die on some quest, but you're worse than cockroaches."

Some demigods couldn't help but laugh at the absurd comment, while Percy sighed in frustration.

"Are you saying none of us killed him?" Ares asked in a whisper, as though confirming it was painful.

"Mm, no. No one dared," Kiara replied, raising her eyebrows as Ares began to grumble like a spoiled child.

"The woods are well-stocked if you care yo try your look, but go armed," Chiron told Percy.

"Stocked with what? Armed with what?"

"You'll see. There's a 'capture the flag' game Friday night. Do you have a sword and shield?"

"Chiron's intelligence worries me more every day," Kiara sighed, finally calming her laughter.

"Must be an old age thing," Luke quipped from across the room, smirking.

Kiara turned her head toward him, holding his gaze for a few seconds before looking away and nodding slowly. "Could be..." she said in a neutral tone, though her expression betrayed a hint of discomfort.

"Me? A sword and...?"

"No, I don't suppose you do. A size five will do. I'll visit the armory later."

"And he never did," Percy complained, sounding like a spoiled child.

"What are you whining about now?" Annabeth asked, frowning at him in exasperation. "You ended up with Riptide, which is way better."

Percy looked at her for a moment, as if processing her words, then began nodding repeatedly. "Right..."

"As always,"Annabeth said, rolling her eyes.

"Sword and spear fights?" Percy asked, confused.

"Cabin competitions and stuff. There usually aren't any fatalities."

"I still remember Natasha," Kiara said, wiping away an imaginary tear.

"Always in our hearts," Silena added, placing a hand over her chest as though truly mourning.

"What are you two talking about?" Drew interrupted, looking at them like they were crazy. "You were the ones who killed her."

A collective gasp echoed through the room.

"I knew it!" Clarisse and Annabeth shouted simultaneously, pointing accusatorily at them.

Silena and Kiara exchanged glances before putting on expressions of utter indignation.

"False accusations," Kiara said, shaking her head solemnly.

"Why did you kill her?" Aphrodite asked with casual curiosity, as though inquiring about a fashion show.

Kiara shot a quick glance at Silena and shook her head, signaling her not to speak.

"For no reason, Mom," she replied quickly, stifled giggles starting to ripple through the other demigods.

"So... you killed someone for no reason?" Hestia intervened, her tone firm and her gaze full of disapproval.

The two demigods exchanged looks before turning to Hestia with expressions of pure innocence.

"It was an accident," Kiara mumbled, quickly darting behind Eros, who raised an amused eyebrow.

Luke, who had remained silent until now, couldn't help but chime in.

"Kiara, I had to clean up that, and judging by how Nat ended up, it didn't seem accidental to me," he said with a mix of curiosity and resentment.

Kiara peeked out from behind Eros and glared at him, only confusing Luke further.

"Well... 'accidental' is relative, isn't it?" she attempted, while Silena nodded vigorously from her seat.

Eros leaned toward Kiara, his eyes gleaming with amusement and curiosity.

"Why did you did it, Angel?" he asked, his tone low but clear.

Kiara glanced around quickly to ensure no one was too close, then leaned in toward him. She barely moved her lips as she responded, making sure only Eros could hear.

"Because Luke slept with her, and I... was jealous."

Eros blinked in surprise and, unable to help himself, repeated it a little louder, drawing everyone's attention."Jealous?!"

Silence fell over the room. All eyes turned toward them, and Kiara, now completely red with embarrassment, froze with a guilty smile.

"Jealous?" Luke asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly incredulous.

"No!" Kiara exclaimed quickly, glaring at Eros with barely contained fury. Then, with a forced smile, she added, "Eros is completely making things up."

"Then what did you say?" Annabeth asked, crossing her arms as everyone watched.

"That it was out of jealousy," Eros confirmed with a playful smile, enjoying the situation.

Kiara let out a heavy sigh, slumping her shoulders and rolling her eyes. "Well, Natasha wasn't exactly my biggest fan, you know?"

"So, you killed her for that?" Luke frowned, clearly baffled.

Kiara shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe."

Eros let out a soft laugh, clearly entertained. Kiara nudged him in the side, while Silena's nervous giggles and Hestia's murmurs of disapproval spread across the room.

"We haven't seen any more centaurs," Percy remarked.

"No," Chiron replied sadly. "My kind are wild and barbaric, I'm afraid. You might find them in nature or at big sporting events, but not here."

"You said your name was Chiron. Are you really...?"

Chiron smiled down at him.

"The Chiron from the stories? Hercules' teacher and all that? Yes, Percy, that's me."

"But shouldn't you be dead?"

"You have absolutely no tact, kid," Damon said, startling Elena. "I like you."

"Weren't you dead?" Percy asked curiously, unable to suppress a small laugh as he noticed Damon's painted face.

"I was, but not anymore..." Damon began, only to stop when he saw Percy struggling to hold in his laughter and his brother's mocking expression.

"What's so funny, huh?" Damon growled, glancing at Percy and then at Kol, who was practically rolling on the floor laughing.

"Nothing, nothing. I just remembered a joke," Percy replied, covering his mouth with his hands, trying to compose himself.

"Then share with the group," Damon said, raising his hands like he was in a courtroom.

"Share what?" Percy asked, still chuckling, confused.

"The joke, idiot!" Damon muttered, glaring at Percy as if dealing with the densest person alive.

"Oh... I, uh, forgot," Percy mumbled, scratching his head awkwardly as his laughter faded into an uncomfortable silence.

Chiron paused.

"You know, I couldn't be dead even if I wanted to. It's not up to me. Eons ago, the gods granted me my wish to keep working at what I loved-to teach heroes for as long as humanity needed me. I've gained much from that wish... and given up much as well. But I'm still here, so I can only assume I'm still needed."

"Don't you get bored?"

"Of seeing demigods die every day? How could anyone get bored of that?" Kiara said sarcastically.

"That's... harsh, Kie," Luke responded, staring at her in surprise.

"I'm just saying. Besides, you're the last one who should talk," Kiara replied, cutting herself off mid-sentence when she realized what she had said. "Luke..."

"No, you're right," Luke said, nodding with a weary sigh as he turned away, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.

Kiara watched him, realizing she'd struck a nerve. Her eyes met Eros', who shook his head slowly and gestured for her to turn her attention back to the screen.

"Sometimes I get horribly depressed, but never bored," Chiron admitted.

"Why do you get depressed?"

"You sure know how to ask the tough questions, Jackson," Clarisse said mockingly, though her expression was serious.

"As always," Percy muttered, wincing slightly as he glanced at her.

Chiron suddenly seemed hard of hearing again.

"Ah, look," he said. "Annabeth is waiting for us."

When they joined her, Annabeth gave Percy a critical look, as if still deciding whether he drooled in his sleep.

"Annabeth," Chiron said, "I have an archery class for teachers at noon. Can you take charge of Percy?"

"Yes, sir."

"My worst nightmare, coming true," Kiara said with a teasing smile, earning a glare from Annabeth.

"Cabin eleven," Chiron said, pointing to the door. "Make yourself at home."

Cabin Eleven looked like a typical old camp cabin, emphasizing the old. The threshold was worn, and the brown paint was peeling.

Above the door was a symbol of medicine, commerce, and other things: a staff with two snakes coiled around it-a caduceus.

"My poor cabin," Hermes lamented with a heavy sigh.

"If you actually cared, you would've fixed it by now," Luke snapped, unable to contain his anger. The thought of his siblings admiring Hermes made his blood boil. His useless father didn't deserve it.

The cabin was crowded with boys and girls, far more than there were bunks. Sleeping bags littered the floor, making it look more like a Red Cross evacuation center than a cabin.

Chiron didn't enter; the doorway was too low for him. But when the campers saw him, they all stood and bowed respectfully.

"Well then..." Chiron said. "Good luck, Percy. See you at dinner." He galloped off toward the archery field.

"Ugh," Percy groaned, covering his face with both hands, dreading what lay ahead.

He stopped at the threshold, observing the kids inside. They were no longer bowing their heads but watching him closely, sizing him up.

"Well?" Annabeth urged, arms crossed. "Go on."

Predictably, Percy tripped as he crossed the doorway, landing like a complete idiot. There were a few snickers, though no one commented.

"I hate all of you," Percy muttered irritably, catching the laughter-likely from Clarisse and the Stoll brothers.

"I would've paid anything to see that," Clarisse teased, rolling her eyes as Percy flipped her off.

"Percy Jackson, meet cabin eleven."

"Regular or undetermined?" someone asked.

Percy didn't know how to respond, but Annabeth announced, "Undetermined."

Everyone groaned.

"That wasn't very kind," Hestia said, casting a disapproving glance at Hermes' children.

Connor and Travis, realizing they were the culprits, hung their heads in shame at the goddess's reprimand.

"Sorry, Percy," they mumbled in unison.

Percy gave them a half-smile, enough to accept their apology.

An older guy stepped forward with a relaxed stride.

"Well, campers, that's what we're here for. Welcome, Percy. You can take that spot on the floor, right over there."

Percy looked up, and his eyes widened in recognition when he heard the voice. Luke stood in front of him.

"Luke, what..." Percy began, but stopped when the demigod gave a barely perceptible shake of his head.

"You two knew each other already?" Will asked curiously, drawing the attention of the other demigods, who now watched Percy and Luke with a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"Percy's like my brother, and Luke, well..." Kiara began, glancing at Luke, who was staring at her intently. "Luke and I got close, so they met at some parties I hosted."

Will nodded, seeming to accept his sister's explanation, but the other demigods continued to eye Percy and Luke warily.

"This is Luke," Annabeth introduced, her voice slightly different. Percy noticed her cheeks were faintly red. When Annabeth saw him looking, she quickly hardened her expression. "He's your counselor for now."

Kiara watched Luke from a distance, her mocking gaze fixed on him as she noticed him avoiding Annabeth and Thalia's stares.

"For now?" Percy asked.

"You're undetermined," Luke clarified. "They don't know what cabin to put you in, so you're here. Cabin Eleven takes all newcomers, all visitors. Naturally, we would. Hermes, our patron, is the god of travelers."

"How long will I be here?" Percy asked again.

"Good question," Luke replied. "Until you're determined."

"How long will that take?"

Everyone laughed.

"I don't get the joke," Henrik said firmly, glaring at Hermes' children, who instantly swallowed nervously. If Kiara was intimidating, her twin was worse.

"Come on," Annabeth said to Percy. "I'll show you the volleyball court."

"I've already seen it."

"Come on."

She grabbed his wrist, dragging him out while the campers' laughter followed them.

"That was your moment to save him from Chucky," Kiara complained, glaring at Luke.

"I was busy, Kiara," Luke replied sharply, making Kiara raise an eyebrow at his indifference.

"Wanker," she muttered, shooting him a deadly look before turning her attention back to the screen, ignoring the glances from the others.

"Brat," Luke shot back without even looking at her, as if he couldn't care less.

"Jackson, you need to try harder," Annabeth said when they were alone.

"What?"

She rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "I can't believe I thought you were the one."

"Oh no," Annabeth whispered, covering her face with both hands as a wave of embarrassment washed over her.

Her actions on-screen made her want to disappear. For a moment, she could feel the sea god's heavy gaze on her, burning like a fire. And for some reason, she felt like she deserved it.

"What's wrong with you?" Percy asked, glaring at her, clearly annoyed. "All I know is that I killed some stupid bull-man..."

"Don't talk like that!" Annabeth yelled, her voice full of frustration. "Do you have any idea how many kids in this camp would've given anything for the chance you had?"

Some demigods looked at her in confusion, even Clarisse, who always sought glory, frowned.

Annabeth avoided looking up, feeling as though everyone was judging her.

"To get killed?" Percy asked, looking at Annabeth with confusion.

"To fight the Minotaur! What do you think we train for?" Annabeth replied defensively.

"Uh, maybe to survive?" Drew chimed in with a mocking smile. Several demigods nodded in agreement.

Realizing how she sounded, Annabeth felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"I didn't mean it like that, okay? I was being stupid" she mumbled, avoiding their gazes.

"At least you know it," Kiara quipped, smirking at Annabeth.

Annabeth glared at her, choosing not to respond, though she knew Kiara was right. Still, admitting it aloud was out of the question.

"Look, if the thing I fought really was the Minotaur-the one from the myth..."

"Of course it was."

"But there's only ever been one, right?"

"Yes."

"And it died, like, a gajillion years ago, right? Theseus killed it in the labyrinth, so..."

"You talk in such a..." Alicia hesitated, unsure if what she wanted to say was appropriate.

Percy grinned. "Street-smart way?"

Alicia nodded with a small smile.

"Got that New York edge, you know?" Percy chuckled, earning amused smiles from both Henrik and Annabeth.

Eros glanced between Kiara's brother and the daughter of Athena, shaking his head with a sly grin before turning his gaze to Kiara.

"What?" asked the hybrid.

"Your brother is down bad for Jackson," the god whispered, low enough that only she could hear.

Kiara glanced between Eros and her brother, sighing in mild exasperation.

"Jackson's quite the heartbreaker," she said with a mix of amusement and resignation, "but I hope he doesn't break my brother's heart."

"Monsters don't die, Percy. They can be killed, but they don't truly die."

"So, if I killed one-accidentally-with a sword..."

"That Fury... I mean, your math teacher? Yeah, she's still out there. All you did was piss her off. A lot."

"She wants to kill you so bad" Hades taunted, earning a sharp glare from Percy.

"How do you even know about Mrs. Dodds?" Percy demanded.

"You talk in your sleep."

"You almost called her something. A Fury? Aren't they Hades' torturers?"

"And he never stopped saying their names," Poseidon groaned, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"I keep forgetting," Percy said dismissively.

"You know saying their names gives them power, right?" Henrik said with a playful smirk.

"What?" Percy blurted, looking back and forth between Henrik and the gods, who watched him with a mix of amusement and irritation.

"What part of 'names give power' didn't you understand, Patricio?" Dionysus sneered, sipping his wine with a mischievous grin.

"I thought it was more like an invitation or invocation, not that it literally gave them power," Percy said, confused.

The demigods turned to Henrik as if expecting an explanation, their eyes seeking clarity. Henrik sighed heavily, clearly tired of repeating himself.

"It's not just that," he finally said, addressing the demigods. "When you say their names, it's not just a gesture; it's like you're acknowledging their power, their existence. You strengthen them because, by doing so, you're accepting that they have influence over you. In a way, you're believing in them, and that belief fuels their power even more."

The demigods stared at him in silence, processing his words. Some nodded slowly, while others still looked confused.

"Where were you, and why didn't we have you instead of Kiara? You seem more helpful," Clarisse remarked, smirking at Henrik.

Henrik shot her a dark look, his eyes full of warning. Though calm, his tone carried a latent threat.

"Kiara knows more than I do," he replied, defending his sister without hesitation. "But I'm sure you were all too busy hating her to notice."

An awkward silence filled the room. The demigods, used to Clarisse's confrontational attitude, now felt uneasy under Henrik's intense gaze. The once-relaxed atmosphere had grown tense, and no one dared speak.

Hecate, her face lit with a satisfied smile, continued the chapter, ignoring the shift in tone.

Annabeth nervously stared at the floor, as if afraid it might open up and swallow her whole.

"You shouldn't say their names-not even here. When we have to mention them, we call them 'the Kindly Ones.'"

"Is there anything we can say without risking disaster?" Percy muttered. It sounded whiny, but he didn't care anymore. "And why do I have to stay in Cabin Eleven? Why is it so crowded? There are empty beds in other cabins."

"Because the gods prefer playing poker to worrying about how their kids live," Kiara said nonchalantly, earning a few sharp glares from her family.

"Watch your mouth, Kiara," Zeus warned, his eyes sparking like lightning.

"What? I'm just stating facts," Kiara replied with an innocent smile.

"So poker's more important than us?" a demigod asked, and the room was filled with an uncomfortable silence.

"And parties, performances, ambrosia, sex..." Kiara didn't finish her sentence. Before she could continue, Eros clamped a hand over her mouth, ignoring her playful bite.

"You don't choose your cabin, Percy. It depends on who your parent is. Or... your divine parent."

"My mom's Sally Jackson," Percy said. "She works at the candy shop in Grand Central Station. Well, she worked there."

"You're so adorable!" Silena squealed, grabbing Percy's cheeks in a vice-like grip. He stared at her in a mix of terror and resignation, unable to escape the daughter of Aphrodite's clutches.

"Silena, please..." Percy mumbled, struggling to free himself, but it was no use. She held onto him like he was her personal plush toy.

"What? Don't you like cuddles?" Silena asked with a mischievous grin, continuing to squeeze Percy's cheeks, making him even more uncomfortable.

Completely embarrassed, Percy looked around desperately for help, but the other demigods just watched the scene with amused smiles. Clarisse seemed on the verge of laughing, while Annabeth and Henrik, though entertained, kept watching with a raised eyebrow.

"Silena, I swear if you don't let me go right now..." Percy began, his voice growing more and more desperate.

Before he could finish his threat, Silena let out an exaggerated excited squeal.

"You're so adorable when you're mad!" she said, planting a quick kiss on his cheek before finally releasing him.

Percy, red-faced and confused, just stood there, breathing a sigh of relief while trying to regain his composure.

"Never again..." he muttered to himself, giving the other demigods a warning look, but they couldn't contain their laughter anymore.

"I'm sorry about your mom, Percy, but I wasn't talking about that. I'm talking about your other parent. Your dad."

"He's dead. I never knew him."

"Wish he were though," Percy whispered, barely audible, but just loud enough for the vampires to hear. They looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and understanding, knowing exactly what he meant.

Annabeth sighed, used to these kinds of conversations, which, though tiring, seemed to happen over and over again.

"Your father's not dead, Percy."

Percy looked up, narrowing his eyes in frustration.

"How can you say that? Do you know him?" he asked, nearly desperate.

Annabeth looked at him calmly, her voice firm yet soft.

"No, of course not," she replied without hesitation.

"Man, even I'm confused now," Hypnos said suddenly, appearing behind Eros and Kiara, making them jump in surprise.

"Well, looks like you're pretty cozy, dear niece," he commented with a sly grin.

Kiara's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly looked around to make sure no one had heard the god. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she turned to him and gave him a light tap on the head-not hard, but enough to make Hypnos look at her with amusement.

"You don't know how to keep a damn secret?" Kiara hissed, while Eros watched the scene with a grin.

"Right, right. I forgot," Hypnos replied, yawning as he squeezed between Kiara and Eros, completely ignoring the daggers they were glaring at him. "You don't mind if I use you two as a bed, do you?"

Before they could answer, he made himself comfortable, and in no time, he was asleep on Kiara's lap.

Percy frowned, bewildered.

"So, how can you say...?"

Annabeth interrupted him.

"Because I know you. And you wouldn't be here if you weren't one of us."

"You don't know anything about me," Percy growled, almost as a whisper of defense, while nervously fiddling with his fingers.

"Now I do," Annabeth said, and despite the coldness of the moment, her smile was full of affection.

Percy, still caught up in his own inner turmoil, returned her smile. But it wasn't a full one. It didn't reach his eyes. It was an empty smile.

"Don't I?" he raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure you've been bounced from school to school. They probably kicked you out of most of them."

"How...?"

"You were diagnosed with dyslexia, maybe ADHD too."

"And why does that matter now?" Percy said, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Do you guys really have all that?" Dakota asked curiously.

"Don't you?" Katie responded, surprised by the question.

The son of Bacchus shook his head, just as confused.

Before anyone could say anything else, Hecate raised her hand, gesturing to the screen with a commanding motion. No one said a word as she continued with the chapter, effectively shutting down the topic.

"All of that together is almost a clear sign. The letters float on the page when you read, right? That's because your mind is attuned to ancient Greek. And the ADHD? Those are your reflexes for battle. In a real fight, they'd keep you alive," Annabeth explained, not giving him a chance to speak. "As for the attention problems, that's because you see too much, Percy, not too little. Your senses are sharper than those of an average mortal. Of course, doctors want to medicate you. Most of them are monsters. They don't want you seeing them for what they really are."

Stefan let out a surprised whistle, alternating his gaze between the screen and the demigods with evident curiosity, while the Originals turned to Kiara.

"Do you have that too?" Hayley asked, a mix of curiosity and compassion in her voice.

"It's not as intense as theirs," Kiara replied, gesturing to the Greek demigods, "but yes."

Bonnie frowned, looking at her in confusion.

"But aren't you supposed to be an Original? That shouldn't affect you. You can't have... any kind of illness," the witch said, realizing too late the implications of her words and quickly throwing an apologetic look at the demigods.

"Original?" Athena interjected, raising an eyebrow with clear interest.

Kiara let out a tired sigh, debating whether to answer or ignore the question.

"If we keep watching without interruptions, your questions will get answered on their own," she finally said, casting a look at the others, clearly frustrated by all the questions.

"Alright," the goddess of wisdom agreed, leaning back in her seat, ready to wait.

"You talk like... like you've been through the same thing."

"Most of the kids here have. If you weren't like us, you wouldn't have survived the Minotaur, much less the ambrosia and nectar."

"Ambrosia and nectar?"

"The food and drink they gave you to help you recover. That would've killed a normal kid. It would've turned your blood to fire and your bones to sand, and you'd be dead now. Accept it. You're a half-blood."

Before Percy could say anything, a gruff voice exclaimed: "Well! A newbie!"

"Ugh, no," Clarisse complained, looking down in embarrassment.

Percy turned around. The burly girl from Cabin 5 was walking toward them with a slow, determined pace.

Three girls followed her-big, ugly, and looking just as mean as she did, all wearing camouflage jackets.

"Clarisse," Annabeth sighed. "Why don't you go polish your spear or something?"

"Sure, Miss princess," Clarisse shot back with a mocking smile, "so I can run you through with it Friday night."

"I'd rather that than you hurting Percy, honestly," Kiara commented indifferently, causing some nervous laughs from the demigods while Luke, Thalia, and Annabeth glared at her.

"What?" Kiara asked, locking eyes with Luke, who shook his head without saying anything, just watching her with a mix of disappointment and exhaustion.

"Why the hate towards my daughter?" Athena intervened, her tone filled with irritation.

"Well, because she's your daughter," Kiara responded with a disdainful smile.

"Are you really this immature?" the goddess snapped, a hint of mockery in her voice. "Just because you hate me, do you have to hate my children too?"

Kiara raised an eyebrow, clearly offended.

"Do you really want to talk about immaturity?" she replied, her voice sharp. "Because I'm not the one who handed her daughter over on a silver platter for Echidna to kill just because your enemy's son disrespected you."

A tense silence fell over the room. Athena's expression hardened, and Kiara held her gaze without flinching. Before anyone could speak, Hecate interrupted them, lighting up the screen with a tired sigh, fed up with the drama.

"Erre es korakas!" Annabeth retorted, glaring at her.

"We'll pulverize you," Clarisse replied, but her eyelid twitched, clearly not as confident about fulfilling her threat. She turned to Percy. "Who's this little runt?"

"Percy Jackson," Annabeth said. "meet Clarisse, daughter of Ares."

Percy blinked.

"Like... The war god?"

"You got a problem with that?" Clarisse sneered.

"No," Percy replied, smirking. "It explains the bad smell."

"Percy..." Poseidon scolded, causing the demigod to flinch slightly at his tone. However, when he turned to the god, he noticed the corner of his mouth twitching in a barely concealed smile.

"That's right, uncle, punish that little brat you call son," Ares chimed in, not realizing Poseidon was only pretending.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Ares," Poseidon responded indifferently, brushing it off.

Clarisse growled.

"We got an initiation ceremony for the newbies, Prissy."

"I think they should just shut down Cabin 5," one demigod commented, immediately provoking growls from Clarisse and Ares, while nervous laughter rippled through the other demigods.

"Percy."

"Whatever. Come on, I'll show you."

"Clarisse..."

"Stay out of it, wise girl."

Annabeth looked firm but stepped aside.

"You sell him so easily to the wolves," Henrik said, frowning with disdain.

"And where were you, huh? All talk, and we didn't even know anything about you," Annabeth retorted, starting to get tired of the constant attacks from the Mikaelson twins.

"Sorry, Annabelle, I was too busy being dead," Henrik replied sarcastically.

"It's Annabeth!" Annabeth snapped, glaring at Henrik, her eyes burning with fury at his disrespect.

"That's what I said, Annabelle," Henrik replied with a mocking smile, enjoying every moment of the frustration he was causing.

Annabeth grunted, rolling her eyes, clearly on the edge of exasperation.

Percy handed Annabeth the Minotaur horn and prepared for a fight, but before he could react, Clarisse already had him by the neck, dragging him toward the gray building Percy instantly recognized as the restroom.

"Like he's 'Big three' material," Clarisse said, pushing Percy toward a toilet. "Yeah, right. Minotaur probably fell over laughing, he was so stupid looking."

Clarisse closed her eyes, as if praying as the atmosphere changed. She wasn't the only one; all the demigods, and even some minor gods, shifted uncomfortably.

Poseidon frowned, his tone serious and low.

"You should be more careful with what you say, daughter of Ares," he said, his voice filled with authority.

Clarisse, noticing Ares' serious look from across the room, lowered her head and nodded, remaining silent.

Annabeth was in a corner, covering her face but peeking between her fingers.

"You're so helpful," Drew mocked, looking at the daughter of Athena, who ignored them while Thalia gently stroked her hand in a reassuring gesture.

Clarisse wasted no time, kneeing Annabeth and forcing her head toward the toilet. Percy struggled to keep his head upright, feeling the pressure on his neck.

Suddenly, a roar from the pipes filled the air, and Clarisse released Percy's hair, surprised.

A stream of water shot out from the toilet, arcing perfectly over his head. Percy fell flat on his back, hearing Clarisse's screams as the water kept pouring down.

Travis and Connor's laughter quickly filled the air, both nearly falling over from how hard they were laughing. The sound of their laughter was so contagious that, in seconds, all the demigods joined in, laughing uncontrollably.

"I need a camera!" Travis exclaimed, grinning mischievously.

At that precise moment, a camera appeared in his lap. The demigod turned, confused by the sudden appearance, until his eyes met Kiara's. She winked at him, smiling playfully.

Travis, understanding the gesture, smiled back, adjusting the camera as he began recording.

Meanwhile, Clarisse watched everything with a look of pure hatred, clearly wishing for this moment to end as soon as possible.

Percy turned just in time to see a jet of water shoot from the toilet and slam Clarisse in the face with such force that it knocked her backward. The water, relentless like a fire hose, pushed her into a shower stall as she tried to resist with screams and swipes.

"Seems like Big Three material to me," Henrik commented, shooting a mocking glance at the daughter of Ares.

"Shut up," Clarisse growled, her tone full of irritation as Henrik smiled with amusement.

A couple of sighs were heard in the room, making Henrik raise an eyebrow, puzzled.

"What's going on now?" he asked, looking at his parents, who were barely holding in their laughter. Klaus and Apollo exchanged looks before bursting into low, conspiratorial laughter, leaving Henrik more confused than ever.

When Clarisse's friends tried to intervene, the other toilets exploded, sending streams of water that forced them to retreat. The showers also turned on, cornering the girls, pushing them out of the restroom as if they were trash swept away by a hose.

"Your water skills are impressive," Alicia commented, admiring the screen.

"That's nothing compared to what he'll be capable of in the future," Kiara chimed in, recalling how Percy's mastery over the sea and water had reached extraordinary levels over time.

Percy lowered his head, slightly embarrassed.

"It's true, Percy has amazing control over water... maybe too much for a demigod," Annabeth added, causing Percy to give her an offended look.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Percy asked, frowning.

"Well, that no demigod should have that much control over their godly parent's domain. But of course, you love breaking the rules, don't you?" Annabeth replied with a slightly mocking tone, though there was affection in her voice.

Percy blinked, processing her words. Finally, he sighed and nodded, as if reluctantly accepting that she was right.

Once the girls left through the door, the water stopped as suddenly as it had started.

The bathroom was completely flooded. Annabeth hadn't escaped unscathed either; she was soaked from head to toe but remained in her spot, watching Percy with a mix of awe and confusion.

Percy looked around, perplexed. He realized he was sitting in the only dry spot in the entire room. Around him was a circle of untouched floor, and his clothes were completely dry, not a drop had touched him.

"I guess not getting wet is the best thing I got from my control over water," Percy commented, blushing slightly when he finished speaking.

"Okay, Percy, didn't need to share that with the whole class," Kiara teased, bursting into laughter along with Leo and the Stolls, the only ones who got the joke.

"Kiara!" Percy yelled, as red as a tomato. "You know I didn't mean it like that!"

"Yeah, sure, and I'm still a virgin," Kiara said between bursts of laughter, though her laughter immediately died when she felt her parents' stares piercing through her like knives.

"What?" Apollo said, blinking like a broken doll. He wasn't the only one; all the gods, along with Klaus, Elijah, Marcel, and Kol, stared at her with faces full of disbelief.

Kiara shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances with Eros and Luke, who also didn't know where to look.

"What?" she mumbled, swallowing hard.

"You're not a virgin?" Hermes murmured in such a serious tone that it made the demigods chuckle.

By that point, all the campers were watching the scene with genuine interest as Kiara tried to hold herself together.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes, tired of the drama.

"Why are you acting like it's the end of the world?" she asked, exasperated.

"Because it is, woman!" Apollo shouted, still blinking strangely, as if his system was about to crash.

"Ugh, enough, Dad. I'm twenty-two. Did you really think I was going to stay pure for all of eternity?" Kiara said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Yes!" Apollo and Klaus shouted in unison, causing Kiara to jump. Her surprise only made Henrik, her twin, chuckle lowly, staring at her with a mocking grin as he enjoyed the spectacle of her discomfort.

"You're twenty-two?" Eros interrupted, earning a mocking glance from Hecate, who crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Kiara didn't respond. She simply nodded, keeping her gaze down as if the floor had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world.

"This is pretty awkward," Luke said, breaking the uncomfortable silence, glancing at Apollo with an amused smile, clearly enjoying the chaos.

"Shut up, Castellan!" Apollo growled, but then he slowly turned toward him, his expression frantic, his face so tense it seemed ready to explode.

He stepped toward Luke, as if the mere proximity would make him understand what was happening.

Hermes, who had been watching Apollo like this was all a movie, suddenly realized that his son was in a very delicate situation.

"It was you, wasn't it?" Apollo said in a low voice, filled with venom, pointing an accusing finger at Luke.

Luke, visibly confused, raised his hands. "What? Me?"

At this, all the demigods burst into mocking laughter, knowing what was coming. Even Thalia covered her mouth to avoid laughing too loudly.

Apollo didn't take his eyes off him. "You stole my daughter's flower."

Instantly, Ares and Eris couldn't contain themselves and burst into laughter, their chuckles echoing through the room. Apollo's tone, hurt and almost on the verge of tears, made them lose all composure.

Luke, eyes wide open, quickly shook his head, still raising his hands in innocence. "It wasn't me! I didn't steal anything!"

But his denial only made the laughter intensify as the gods and demigods watched with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

Kiara, seeing her father's drama, calmly stood up and walked toward Apollo, taking his hands with a calm smile. She gently guided him back to his seat, her voice trying to sound more comforting than she actually felt.

"It's okay, daddy, you'll get over it," she said, with a teasing smile.

Apollo, still with a lost look, nodded automatically, as if under some sort of spell. But suddenly, without warning, he lunged forward and slapped Kiara on the head.

"Ouch!" Kiara exclaimed, clutching her head as laughter erupted once more around the room.

Apollo, his face a mix of anger and determination, stared at her. "When this ends... you're going to tell me who dared to touch you."

Kiara, rubbing her head, whispered to herself, "Who didn't."

Instantly, Apollo turned toward her like in the Exorcist. Kiara jumped slightly, startled by the intensity of his gaze.

But before Apollo could say anything else, Hecate intervened, raising her hand with her usual calm.

"Enough, both of you," she said firmly, cutting the tension with a single gesture. Everyone fell silent, and Apollo finally seemed to stop glaring at his daughter as if he were about to explode.

"How did you...?" Annabeth asked.

"I don't know."

They both walked outside. Clarisse and her friends were lying in the mud, while a group of campers had gathered around, staring at them with astonished expressions.

Clarisse's hair was stuck to her face, her camouflage jacket completely soaked, and the unmistakable smell of sewage was wafting from her. Her eyes locked with Percy's, full of pure hatred.

"You are dead, new boy. You are totally dead."

"Kiara's right, you're like a cockroach," Chris said, smiling slightly.

"If I had been the one to get that threat, I'd probably already be dead," Connor complained, shooting a glare at Clarisse.

"You want to gargle with toilet water again, Clarisse?" Percy responded, grinning mockingly. "Close your mouth."

"So provocative," Ares sneered, shaking his head to himself.

Clarisse's friends had to hold her back before she lunged at him. With effort, they dragged her toward Cabin 5, while the other campers quickly moved aside to avoid a possible kick.

Percy turned to Annabeth, noticing she was staring at him.

"What?" he asked, somewhat uncomfortable. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that I want you on my team for capture the flag," she said, with a slight smile.

"And everything just went to Tartarus," Percy said, as dramatic as always.

"I second that," Clarisse said, nodding with a mocking smile.

First off, I want to share that it was really hard to write this chapter due to a horrible writer's block, but you know, that always happens to me. I was organizing ideas for the next acts and got so excited that I ended up writing a few scenes that are still pretty far away. It was a bad idea because there's still a long, long way to go before I get there.

I also just wanted to ask you to please leave your comments about what you think of this chapter and future ones. Reading your thoughts really motivates me to keep writing, and I'd love to know what you think about the characters, about Kiara, and about the story in general. So, please, be kind to me and tell me what you think :)

I HOPE YOU LIKE IT AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE. <3