𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟓: 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃

"Unexpected kisses are supposed to be the best..."

"PERCY, GROVER..." Chiron broke the stunned silence, "Please take the Oracle back to the attic."

Too stunned to reject, Percy and Grover grabbed the Oracle and started to carry her away.

Murmurs flooded the audience but there was one main word repeatedly said:

"Eris..."

Chiron cleared his throat, "We will discuss of this tomorrow."

"But, Chiron—" Zoë started worriedly.

"Tomorrow, Zoë," Chiron said, uneasily looking around. "I promise but for now everyone get ready for curfew." He looked around, "Now, Essence—"

Eris Lewis was gone.

NOTHING MADE SENSE TO ERIS LEWIS.

"The daughter of dead shall feel pain worst than death"

Hadn't she suffered enough? What could she had possibly done to deserve this?

Eris bit her lip as she slowly walked alone towards to art cabin.

Maybe she just had bad luck? What kind of pain would she be in? Would Lena or Katherine die? Would both of them die? Would Willow be hurt? Would Hades make her stay in the Underworld again? Would she met Alicia? God she didn't even want to think about what would happen if she met Alicia, she still carried around her contact information.

Would Eris die...?

Eris felt like throwing up.

"ERIS!"

She glanced backward and found Thalia running towards her full speed.

The anger that Eris had felt towards Thalia and Percy had completely disappeared when the Oracle had came out. Eris felt so sick she couldn't even feel flustered around Thalia at the moment. And she always felt flustered around Thalia.

Thalia stopped in front of her and leaned over with her hands on her knees as she panted, "You...walk...really fast."

"Oh, sorry," Eris muttered, "I'm just kinda...I...I have a lot on my mind."

"I know," Thalia blushed, "Um...look...I'm sorry about ruining the game...I'm really sorry."

"Oh, um," Eris sighed, "it's fine...I...I mean I'm disappointed but I shouldn't have reacted that way," she flushed, "I don't get mad often so when I do...I tend to go kind of overboard...I'm sorry about that."

Thalia waved her off, "It's fine...are you okay? You know about the whole...prophecy thing."

"No..." Eris said worriedly, "I'm really not, I feel like I'm going to throw up but...I'll be okay...I think." She replied.

Thalia nodded but for some reason she seemed off. She wouldn't look Eris in the eye and focused her gaze on the floor and every single word she said seemed hesitant like she was scared of something.

"Um..." If possible Thalia's blush darkened, "I....I just wanted to...since we're all I..."

Eris frowned, seeing the sweat that started on Thalia's forehead, "Um...are you okay? You look a little warm—" Thalia swallowed and Eris looked at her slightly concerned, "Thalia, are you—"

Then Thalia did something Eris never expected to ever experience in her fourteen years of life.

Thalia kissed her.

In movies usually the main character's first kiss had fireworks playing the background with a really cheesy Ed Sheeran song
blasting. The two people kissing would move in perfect sync, tilting their heads perfectly as their un-chapped lips pressed against each other.

It wasn't like that with Thalia. Which wasn't Thalia's fault, Eris was pretty sure Thalia had never kissed anyone either.

    There weren't any fireworks, no Ed Sheehan music or any perfect in-sync kissing.

    No...having her first kiss wasn't like that at all.

   First, Eris didn't kiss back. Not because she didn't want to, it was because...Eris didn't know what the hell to do. The movies made kissing look so easy but now it seemed like the hardest thing ever. Thalia's lips accidentally clashed with Eris's braces...it was just awkward. Kissing was just skin touching skin...it was weird.

But what Eris had come to realize was that being awkward was normal.

    It was only when she saw that Thalia's eyes were closed that she remembered you weren't supposed to kiss people with you eyes open for some reason and closed her own. Thalia's nose bumped with Eris's when she turned her head but Eris couldn't unfreeze.

   What the hell was she supposed to do? Kiss her back? Eris didn't even know how to kiss anyone. How the fuck did people make out?

Eris never thought about kissing a girl before. Hell, she never thought she'd ever kiss someone in her life. But...kissing Thalia didn't make her feel wrong. Yeah, it was a bit weird but Eris didn't think it was because Thalia was a girl, she thought it was because she had never kissed anyone before.

Did Eris like girls? The thought had never crossed her mind. It's not that Eris assumed she was straight, she didn't like assuming people were straight as default. But...she had never considered herself...anything.

She never thought of herself as gay or straight or whatever she was. Eris just thought of herself as Eris.

    It wasn't until Thalia pulled away that Eris could finally breath. Her lungs had felt like they were set on fire.

    Eris swallowed thickly. Thalia's face was the color of a fire truck and her lips were swallowed and slightly bruised. Eris could only imagine what her own face looked like.

    Eris opened her mouth but her throat felt so dry no words would come out.

    Thalia's gaze focused on the ground. "I..." she clenched her fist, "I think you're really...cool."

    "I..." Eris cleared her throat but the only words that would come out were, "Um...I...uh."

   Thalia frowned, "Sorry...I was being stupid," she muttered angrily. "I won't bother you again," she sniffed and wiped her eyes.

    Eris's eyes widened, "Wait! Thalia!"

    Thalia was already running away.

    ERIS DID WHAT SHE ALWAYS DID WHEN SHE WAS STRESSED.

    She locked herself in the Art cabin and painted until her hands practically bled.

      Her first kiss and a prophecy that promised her pain all in one night, Eris didn't think she could handle this.

     She didn't pay attention to exactly what she was painting but she just knew that she needed to paint.

    Her mind spiraled with thoughts. What the hell was she supposed to say to Thalia? Did this mean Thalia liked her? Eris didn't know why someone would even have romantic feelings for her? Why would anyone have romantic feelings for Eris?

     Did this mean that Eris liked girls? She thought she was too young for a sexuality crisis.

    She just wishes Willow was here, she would know what to do. As if on cue, a bright flash of light erupted next to and Willow appeared.

     Willow looked around warily, "My big sister senses are tingling."

     Eris whirled around, "Oh thank god! I need help now. Willow, I don't even—I just—"

    "Relax," Willow raised a brow, "Tell me everything."

    Eris spilled her guts. She told Willow everything and because Willow loved hearing gossip she drank in everything Eris said.

    After a moment of silent Willow blinked, "Oh."

   "Oh? All you can say is 'oh'?"

     "What the fuck do you want me to say? Oh shit?" Willow shrugged, "I mean I don't see the issue."

    "What do you mean?"

    Willow rolled her eyes, "I mean, do you like Thalia? Did you like the kiss?"

"I..." Eris hesitated and bit her lip.

Eris did think Thalia was attractive (how was one person that gorgeous?). She was probably the only girl Eris head met that could make her turn red with a single look. Hell, Eris probably wouldn't even mind having the chance to kiss her again but...

When they kissed there was no spark. Butterflies didn't arrive in Eris's stomach. Lightning didn't strike her body and made her feel all tingly.

"I...I liked the kiss," Eris said slowly, "but...I don't think I like Thalia...in that kinda way at least."

"Well there's your answer."

"But...because I liked the kiss...a lot...does that mean I like girls now? I...I don't understand."

"I can't tell you what you are, it's something you have to figure out yourself. Technically, you don't have to label yourself as anything.I mean do you like girls?"

    "I...I think I do."

    "Do you like boys?"

    Eris nodded, "Yeah but...I don't think I have a preference...I...I've never thought about gender before," she muttered, "I've only ever cared about who they are as a person not about what's in their pants. I...I think I just like everyone."

    Willow paused to think, "Have you ever heard of the term 'Pansexual'?"

   "Pansexual?"

    "It's like...you're gender-blind when it comes to dating. You don't care about gender when it comes to dating. You're not just attracted to men and woman but...you like everyone if that makes sense."

It made perfect sense to Eris. It felt like she had found a missing piece of a puzzle.

"That...that makes sense," Eris muttered. "What am I supposed to do now? Come out?"

"You don't have to do anything," Willow said, "Coming out is a personal choice. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You get to decide when and who knows and how you get to say it. You don't have to, you remember how I came out to you."

"Oh...yeah."

Willow didn't actually come out to Eris. She just showed up one day and told Eris she was dating this hot girl named Aubrey, Eris told her she was happy for her and the rest was history.

"So you don't like Thalia?" Willow said slowly and Eris nodded. "Then who do you like?"

"Um...no one?"

"....right..."

"Why are you saying it like that?"

"Eris, whenever we talk who is the one person you almost always bring up?"

"...Percy."

"Who is the one person you think about at least once a day? Who isn't me."

"Percy."

"Who makes you nervous every time you think about them?"

"...Percy."

"Eris, is the person you're painting right now?"

"What are you—" Eris whirled around and stared at her canvas. Usually when Eris painted she just painted without any idea in mind.

Staring back at her was a half-done painting of bright sea green eyes, a youthful but handsome face, hair as dark as midnight, and possibly the worlds most mischievous smirk.

"Percy...."

"Yep."

"S-so I'm—"

"Yep."

"....oh fuck."

    CHIRON CALLED A MEETING THE NEXT DAY.

    The council was held around a Ping-Pong table in the rec room. Dionysus waved his hand and supplied snacks: Cheez Whiz, crackers, and several bottles of red wine. Then Chiron reminded him that wine was against his restrictions and most of us were underage. Mr. D sighed. With a snap of his fingers the wine turned to Diet Coke. Nobody drank that either.

    Like Eris predicted, Thalia avoided her gaze like the plague. Which Eris wasn't mad about but she did really want to talk to Thalia.

    Mr.D and Chiron sat at one end of the table. Zoë and Bianca di Angelo took the other end. Eris sat next to Percy, Thalia and Grover with Beckendorf, Silena Beauregard, and the Stoll brothers. The Ares kids were supposed to send a representative, too, but all of them had gotten broken limbs during capture the flag, courtesy of the Hunters.

    The first words out if Zoë's mouth were, "This is pointless."

     "Cheez Whiz!" Grover gasped. He began scooping up crackers and Ping-Pong balls and spraying them with topping.

     "There is no time for talk," Zoë continued. "Our goddess needs us. The Hunters must leave immediately."

     "And go where?" Chiron asked.

     "West!" Bianca said. Bianca had changed a bit after spending some time with hunters. She wore her hair in a braid similar to Zoë's and had a splash of freckles across her nose, and her dark eyes with seemed oddly familiar to Eris. She looked like she'd been working out, and her skin glowed faintly, like the other Hunters, as if she'd been taking showers in liquid moonlight. "You heard the prophecy. Six shall go west to the goddess in chains. We can get six hunters and go."

     "Yes," Zoë agreed. "Artemis is being held hostage! We must find her and free her."

    For the first time Eris thought Zoë was stupid. It's not that she thought the hunters were incapable but they were just too stubborn. Why was it so bad to accept help?

     "You're missing something, as usual," Thalia said. "Campers and Hunters combined
prevail. We're supposed to do this together."

    "No!" Zoë said. "The Hunters do not need thy help."

     "Your," Thalia grumbled. "Nobody has said thy in, like, three hundred years, Zoë. Get with the times."

    Zoë hesitated, like she was trying to form the word correctly. "Yerrr. We do not need yerrr help."

    Thalia rolled her eyes. "Forget it."

    "Please stop," Eris said. She turned to Zoë, "Look...I...I understand that you don't like us. And that's fine but...you can't go out there on your own...we want to help. I want to help...Annabeth's my friend too. I'm not perfect...but I can be useful," she added quietly.

     "I fear the prophecy says you do need our help," Chiron said. "Campers and Hunters must cooperate. You especially need Essence's assistance on the quest considering the...circumstances."

    Eris shifted in her seat uneasily as she felt pitying eyes on her. She felt like she needed to throw up.

      "Or do they?" Mr. D mused, swirling his Diet Coke under his nose like it had a fine bouquet. "One shall be lost. One shall perish. That sounds rather nasty, doesn't it? What if you fail because you try to cooperate?"

      "Mr. D," Chiron sighed, "with all due respect, whose side are you on?"

     Dionysus raised his eyebrows. "Sorry, my dear centaur. Just trying to be helpful."

     "We're supposed to work together," Thalia said stubbornly. "I don't like it either, Zoë, but you know prophecies. You want to fight against one?"

      Zoë grimaced.

     "We must not delay," Chiron warned. "Today is Sunday. This very Friday, December twenty-first, is the winter solstice."

     "Oh, joy," Dionysus muttered. "Another dull annual meeting."

     "Artemis must be present at the solstice," Zoë said. "She has been one of the most vocal on the council arguing for action against Kronos's minions. If she is absent, the gods will decide nothing. We will lose another year of war preparations."

    "Are you suggesting that the gods have trouble acting together, young lady?" Dionysus asked.

   " Yes, Lord Dionysus."

    Mr. D nodded. "Just checking. You're right, of course. Carry on."

   "We...we need Artemis back," Eris swallowed uneasily, "she needs to be at the winter council...we have to figure out where the monster she was hunter was.@

     "I must agree," said Chiron. "Now, we must decide who goes on this quest."

   "Four and two," Percy said. "We're supposed to have six.Three Hunters, three from Camp Half-Blood. That's more than fair."

     Thalia and Zoë exchanged looks.

    "Well," Thalia said. "It does make sense."

     Zoë grunted. "I would prefer to take all the Hunters. We will need strength of numbers."

      "You'll be retracing the goddess's path," Chiron reminded her. "Moving quickly. No doubt Artemis tracked the scent of this rare monster, whatever it is, as she moved west. You will have to do the same. The prophecy was clear: The bane of Olympus shows the trail. What would your mistress say? 'Too many Hunters spoil the scent.' A small group is best."

     Zoë picked up a Ping-Pong paddle and studied it like she was deciding who she wanted to whack first. "This monster—the bane of Olympus. I have hunted at Lady Artemis's side for many years, yet I have no idea what this beast might be."

     Everybody looked at Dionysus. He was flipping through a wine magazine, but when everyone got silent he glanced up. "Well, don't look at me. I'm a young god, remember? I don't keep track of all those ancient monsters and dusty titans. They make for terrible party conversation."

     "Chiron," Percy said, "you don't have any ideas about the monster?"

    A zap of electricity ran through Eris's body at the sound of Percy's voice. Eris had already felt flustered around Percy before but Willow helping Eris come to the realization that she did have feelings for Percy only amplified her reactions.

   Eris had never felt with romantic feelings for someone so when she wasn't flustered about Percy she was confused about Percy. Did she want to date him now? Was Eris even ready for these types of feelings?

   What if Percy didn't like her back? No one had ever told her feelings were stressful.

     Chiron pursed his lips. "I have several ideas, none of them good. And none of them quite make sense. Typhon, for instance, could fit this description. He was truly a bane of Olympus. Or the sea monster Keto. But if either of these were stirring, we would know it. They are ocean monsters the size of skyscrapers. Your father, Poseidon, would already have sounded the alarm. I fear this monster may be more elusive. Perhaps even more powerful."

    "That's some serious danger you're facing," Connor Stoll said. "It sounds like at least two of the five are going to die."

    "One shall be lost in the land without rain," Beckendorf said. "If I were you, I'd stay out of the desert."

     There was a muttering of agreement.

     "And the Titan's curse must one withstand," Silena said. "What could that mean?"

     Chiron and Zoë exchange a nervous look, but Eris chose to ignore it.

     "The daughter of dead shall feel pain worst than death," Mr. D said absentmindedly.

Eris shifted in her seat as she felt stared burning into her face. Maybe Eris should be thankful. Her part of the prophecy didn't predict her death. But pain...what kind of pain was so painful it was worst than death. It's not like she has a choice to go on the quest either.

      "One shall perish by a parent's hand," Grover said in between bites of Cheez Whiz and Ping-Pong balls. "How is that possible? Whose parent would kill them?"

     There was heavy silence around the table.

     Eris shifted in her seat uncomfortably. She felt a bit odd about being in the only one in the room who she knew's parents wouldn't kill them. Hades had shown her multiple times that he didn't have any ill intentions towards her. She didn't think he liked her but if Hades really wanted her dead he would've kill her already.

     "There will be deaths," Chiron decided. "That much we know."

     "Oh, goody!" Dionysus said. Everyone looked at him. He glanced up innocently from the pages of Wine Connoisseur magazine. "Ah, pinot noir is making a comeback. Don't mind me."

    "Percy is right," Silena Beauregard said. "Three campers should go."

"Oh, I see," Zoë said sarcastically. "And I suppose you wish to volunteer?"

Silena blushed. "I'm not going anywhere with the Hunters. Don't look at me!"

"A daughter of Aphrodite does not wish to be looked at," Zoë scoffed. "What would thy mother say?"

Silena started to get out of her chair, but the Stoll brothers pulled her back.

"Stop it," Beckendorf said. He was a big guy with a bigger voice. He didn't talk much, but when he did, people tended to listen. "Let's start with the Hunters. Which three of you will go?"

Zoë stood. "I shall go, of course, and I will take Phoebe. She is our best tracker."

"The big girl who likes to hit people on the head?" Travis Stoll asked cautiously. Zoë nodded.

"The one who put the arrows in my helmet?" Connor added.

"Yes," Zoë snapped. "Why?"

"Oh, nothing," Travis said. "Just that we have a  T-shirt for her from the camp store." He held up a big silver T-shirt that said ARTEMIS THE MOON GODDESS, FALL HUNTING TOUR 2002, with a huge list of national parks and stuff underneath. "It's a collector's item. She was admiring it. You want to give it to her?"

    The Stolll twins were always up to something. Eris eyed the shirt uneasily.

Zoë just sighed and took the T-shirt. "As I was saying, I will take Phoebe. And I wish Bianca to go."

Bianca looked stunned. "Me? But...I'm so new. I wouldn't be any good."

"You will do fine," Zoë insisted. "There is no better way to prove thyself."

Bianca closed her mouth.

"And for campers?" Chiron asked. "Essence is obviously included."

"Me!" Grover stood up so fast he bumped the Ping-Pong table. He brushed cracker crumbs and Ping-Pong ball scraps off his lap. "Anything to help Artemis!"

Zoë wrinkled her nose. "I think not, satyr. You are not even a half-blood."

"But he is a camper," Thalia said. "And he's got a satyr's senses and woodland magic. Can you play a tracker's song yet, Grover?"

"Absolutely!"

"Very well," Zoë said. "And the third camper?"

"I'll go." Thalia stood and looked around, daring anyone to question her.

"Whoa, wait a sec," Percy said. "I want to go too."

"Oh," Grover said, suddenly aware of the problem. "Whoa, yeah, I forgot! Percy has to go. I didn't mean...I'll stay. Percy should go in my place."

"He cannot," Zoë said. "He is a boy. I won't have Hunters traveling with a boy."

"You traveled here with me," Percy reminded her.

"That was a short-term emergency, and it was ordered by the goddess. I will not go across country and fight many dangers in the company of a boy."

"What about Grover?"  Percy demanded.

Zoë shook her head. "He does not count. He's a satyr. He is not technically a boy."

"Hey!" Grover protested.

"I have to go," Percy said. "I need to be on this quest."

"Why?" Zoë asked. "Because of thy friend Annabeth?"

"No! I mean, partly. I just feel like I'm supposed to go!"

Nobody rose to his defense. Mr. D looked bored, still reading his magazine. Silena, the Stoll brothers, and Beckendorf were staring at the table. Bianca gave him a look of pity.

      "I...I think he should come too," Eris blurted out. "I...Percy has lead two quest already...he'd be useful."

    Percy's cheeks turned slightly pink as he shot her a grateful look.

"No," Zoë said flatly. "I insist upon this. I will take a satyr if I must, but not a male hero."

Chiron sighed. "The quest is for Artemis. The Hunters should be allowed to approve their companions. So be it," he said. "Thalia, Essence and Grover will accompany Zoë, Bianca, and Phoebe. You shall leave at first light. And may the gods"—he glanced at Dionysus—"present company included, we hope—be with you."

     Percy looked down and Eris took in his tan skin and dark hair before swallowing and looking away.

Thank you so much for reading!

Please comment it helps me update more often.

Sorry the last part of this story is kinda lazy, I'm really sleepy but I want to post this chapter.

If I'm going to be honest...I was gonna have Eris kiss Percy but then I remembered how much I love slow burn and angst so....

I thought it would be unrealistic for Percy to be the only person Eris had ever kissed in her life so...yeah.

Is there anything you liked? Is there anything you didn't like?

Is there anything you wanted to see?

How do you think Eris will be when she's older?

Eris did realize her feelings for Percy but as we all know Percy is dense...you guys are prob gonna be mad at me in the end of  part 3 but it's for character development purposes. All imma say is 'self-love is the best-love.'

It's not that Eris holds 0 romantic feelings for Thalia. She thinks Thalia is the prettiest girl she had ever seen however it is just a small crush she has a on Thalia. The crush on Thalia is not as strong as Eris's crush on Percy. Eris has known Percy longer unlike Thalia who she's only known for a couple of months.

Also, I never planned for Eris to be straight so please don't think this is a last minute decision. I just decided to wait to introduce Eris's sexuality for when she became a teenager with a better life. Eris is very comfortable with her and her sister's sexuality because she does not automatically assume a person is straight.

Though I have had characters who were lgbt+ before I've never written a character who did not know they weren't straight and had to go through the process of figuring out their feelings for people of different sexes. If I did anything to offend anyone or if I made a mistake please let me know so I can educate myself and learn. I'll rewrite the chapter.

On the bright side I figured out the title of my Leo Valdez fanfic. The OC will also be black like Eris because of the lack of poc characters on wattpad.

Because I feel bad that I haven't been able to post in a while here is sneak peak for part 5 of this fanfic:

The half-blood of the eldest gods

Shall reach sixteen against all odds

And see the world in endless sleep

The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap

The Ungodly Hour shall decide his days

For the technique shall send the war into a daze

Olympus to preserve or raze