Chapter 2

Verna had had quite a life in the past year. After being chased by hordes of monsters sent by Hades daily and moving everywhere, she didn't have to worry about leaving her father behind to the torment of Hades since he got killed by a Fury trying to protect her. He had given her the dagger sent by her mother (who she and her father had no idea who except that she was a goddess) and she had simply used her ADHD to survive after he told her to find Camp Half-Blood. That, she thought darkly, was quite a destiny and no way a peaceful one. She wasn't about to tell anyone that.

Camp Half-Blood was quite nice as far as she could see. She could train there and have some peace for a little while, without getting trampled by a hellhound or hunted by monsters. None of the cabins had particularly stood out as 'mom' or anything. After the tour, Annabeth left her to go and explore around. She spotted a nine-year old, homely looking girl tending at the campfire.

"Hello," Verna said. The girl looked pleased with someone talking to her.

"Well, hello. It has been a long time someone has talked to me." The girl replied.

Verna pondered for a minute at her appearance and at her tending the fire.

"Are you Hestia?" Verna asked. The girl smiled.

"Yes I am. You are a new camper right?" Verna nodded glumly.

"I've been trying to find out who my mother is. After running around the country so much, I'd like some explanations.

Hestia studied her curiously, "I'm afraid I don't know, but I'm sure you'll find out soon, tonight at the latest." She put a wise hand on her shoulder. "A demigod's life is always dangerous, but I wish you all the best." She winked and disappeared.

Verna smiled. It was blessing, but a goddess's one all the same. It made her feel safer.

Later, she had met the Stoll brothers who had brought her to the Hermes table to eat dinner. They were both quite nice, even if they were serious pranksters. They had told her about the many close calls they had planning their jokes. She had had a nice dinner and sacrificed part of her meal like the others. As the smoke drifted into the air, she wondered how her mother would like the smell of burning food. It was quite laughable. Verna also noticed one of her rescuers, Nico staring at her during dinner. She puzzled over that for a while.

She had no idea how a campfire with demigods would be like, but it was actually fun. "Come on, Percy, sing a song!" Conner pestered Percy.

"Um, no. I'll cause an avalanche or an earthquake sooner or later. Do you want that?"

"So? We want to see if you have blessed by Apollo!" Travis chortled. So did the rest of the camp.

Verna chuckled and stood further into the shadows. She wasn't much for interacting too much, but it felt nice to be part of it. She bumped into someone and tripped.

"Sorry," She murmured. She looked up then realized it was Nico. He hesitantly reached out his hand and pulled her up. "Thanks," She said. She looked at him curiously. So, he wasn't much for socializing either. A sort of an outcast, a bit like her. She could understand that.

"Well thanks for saving me today; I probably wasn't going to hold out much longer." Verna said. Nico nodded awkwardly and said, "Nah, it wasn't much. After all, my father was sending monsters after you. It was the least I could do."

"Won't you get in trouble? Like, won't Hade-, I mean your dad do something?" Verna asked. She wondered if demigods got in trouble with their godly parents if they did something they didn't like. Judging by the monsters one god sent after her, gods probably were too prideful for their own good. If they were parents, wow… no further comment mentioned then.

"And then, we have a new camper," Mr. D's voice drawled. Verna jolted back into reality. "Veto Everest." Several of the campers looked undecided on whether to laugh or correct Mr. D. A centaur (Chiron from the Greek myths she thought) murmured something in his ear. "Well, fine. Verna Everglade." Veto? Mr. D had a warped sense of humor.

"He's always like that," Nico muttered to her. "He keeps calling me Nickolas. You'll get used to it." Chiron coughed, "Verna, where are you?" Verna stepped out of the shadows nervously. All of the campers looked above her. There was no claiming symbol. All the campers started whispering to each other. She spotted Annabeth looked very puzzled and thinking hard.

All of a sudden, a small breeze came by. It came from the forest and had the scent of flowers and a slightly tart fruity aroma. She walked towards the woods.

"Verna? What are you doing?" Annabeth asked concernedly. Verna just kept walking until she was standing underneath the trees. She breathed again. It smelt like pomegranates, she thought. But that was impossible. This was New York.

Two nymphs melted out of the nearest trees and looked at her. The campers looked even more puzzled. The nymphs knelt and bowed to her then stood politely straight. Things got even stranger. Her orange Camp-Half Blood shirt she had changed into after the tour started to fade into translucent soft material. A few seconds later, she was in a dress similar to the nymphs. A wreath woven with white flowers circled Verna's forehead. Her dagger, (thank the gods she thought) was attached to her… her belt was replaced by a coiled rope. She liked that belt. But after all that, all poor Verna could think by then was: what in the world was going on?

"Aphrodite?" A camper suggested hesitantly.

"No way," The leader of the Aphrodite cabin said. (Her name was Drew, but Annabeth hadn't particularly got along with her when we passed their cabin so Verna resorted to a neutral title.)

"That's true," Another Aphrodite camper frowned. "That doesn't look like mom's blessing to me." Annabeth looked even more and more confused while Percy looked at her for answers. Then, her eyes opened wide. "No way," She gasped. "That's… that's just not possible." Verna saw Nico step out into the shadows staring at her. She probably looked really strange in a nymph dress with two other nymphs still standing nearby. Nico then blinked and then walked to Annabeth, "What do you mean that it's not possible?" Annabeth just kept blinking faintly.

"Annabeth?" Verna stepped forward. "What do you mean?" Annabeth swallowed.

Chiron looked grave and mystified but he nodded. Mr. D looked like was about to laugh. Percy just scratched his head and looked at everyone. The other campers were none the wiser. "What do you mean it's not possible?" Nico asked.

"Can't you piece it together already? Her dagger shows her heritage to the Underworld (the campers gasped at this— nymphs didn't make them think of Underworld) the way she walked into the woods and the nymphs bowing. Doesn't that make any sense?"

Nico's eyes widened. "You mean—"

"I'm right here you know!" Verna wanted to stomp her feet but it was a little disconcerting (and difficult) trying that with a dress on. "What is it? Why won't anyone tell me anything?"

Chiron bowed, "Persephone, Goddess of Springtime, life and death, Queen of The Underworld, Lady of the nymphs."

Did you like it? I can't publish next week because I have summer camp (I'm living somewhere else with no internet access). :( Sorry! I made up the last title for Persephone but I htink it made sense.

I think...