AN: Sorry, it's kind of short! Been a busy day!
"I'm fine - I said I'm fine. Can I go now?" Chris pushes back the Apollo camper who was looking over his shoulder. "It's just a small scratch."
"Fine. Go. Just take it easy with the hammering, got it?" chris rolls his eyes but jumps down from the bed and walks out of the medical tent. Sure, his shoulder hurt but that didn't mean that they had any right to keep him locked up like one of their stupid animals. Plus he wanted to go to the campfire and tell Cecilia good job. He'd heard all about the magic she worked on Ryan. It was impressive but people wanted to know how she did it. Walking through the camp, he heads toward the large bonfire in the middle of camp, hearing everyone singing along with the free Apollo and Aphrodite kids. He reaches the fire and scans it for Cecilia, seeing her sitting off in a corner with the di Angelo kid.
"I don't know what happened Nico. I really, really don't know what I - hey Chris!" Cecilia cuts herself, jumping up from her spot on the log. "How's your shoulder?"
"I'm fine. You alright? I heard what you did with that Ryan kid." A dark look crosses her face and she sits down.
"If you're going to ask me what I did I'm going to give you the same answer I've given everyone else. I don't know what happened so please stop asking me."
"I wasn't going to ask what you did because I don't care. I just know you kicked his scrawny pretentious ass. That's all I care about." Cecilia grins and offers him her spot, which he promptly and gratefully takes. "Pass me a mallow?" She grabs one of the bags of marshmallows and tosses it to him, getting him a plate of chocolate and graham crackers.
"Well Nico here kicked ass too. Why don't you wish him a good job?"
"I never said the words good job Cece. Just watch yourself." Chris puts a marshmallow on a stick and sticks it over the fire, letting it completely burn before putting it on the graham cracker and making a s'more out of it.
"But it's what you meant! Oh I love this one! Be right back!" Cecilia walks to the group of musicians and joins in on their rendition of some country song Chris didn't recognize. He couldn't help but watch her as she sang and moved to the music, a smile on her face.
"So, are you going to tell her about your massive crush on her any time soon?" Nico asks, sitting back and messing with his sword.
"What are you talking about skeleton boy?" Chris asks, looking over at him.
"You're staring after her like a lost puppy. It's kind of pathetic actually." Nico sits back, watching the fire roar twenty feet in the air and burn brightly. It had been a long time since the camp fire had last been low and dull, everything was fine.
"I am not! She is my friend! That's it!" Chris feels his ears turn red and his palms begin to burn a little bit. He reaches in his tool belt and pulls out a few pieces of metal, tinkering with them absentmindedly.
"Sure she is, what you say pall."
"Listen here you little-" Chris begins but cuts off when he sees a bright pink light from where Cecilia is standing. She looks around her at the pink aura and suddenly a dove like shape appears around her as well, enfolding her. Chris jumps up and runs over to her, his weapon drawn. "Cecilia? Are you alright?"
"Hold on Christopher! Do not touch her!" Chiron orders, trotting over. A moment later Cecilia emerges, completely changed.
Gone were her torn clothes and battle uniform. Instead she wore a classical Greek silk chiton with a belt of gold around her waist that held her sword. Her hair was lightly curled away from her face and a golden laurel shown. Her scars and blemishes had all faded away and she wore a pin with a dove on her left breast. In short, she looked like a goddess. Everyone around the fire could not help but stare at her, marveling at her beauty. Even the other sons and daughters of Aphrodite couldn't help but stare at her. She herself was amazed by the transformation.
"I present to you, Cecilia Antoniou, the lady of the dove!" Chiron announces, bowing at his waist with his arm folded across his chest. The rest of the camp followed suit, all knowing that if Chiron was bowing and announcing her with an official title it was important. Cecilia's ears couldn't help but turn pink and she began to argue with them to straighten up.
"No daughter. They do not have to. They are simply showing your respect. The respect that you deserve" Aphrodite says, walking into the light of the campfire. Everyone goes into a full bow at the sight of her, the guys have to be elbowed to bow to her as they are stunned by her beauty. "Hello Cecilia. Everyone."
Chris shakes his head, clearing the daze and looks over at Cecilia whose fists are balled at her sides. She also wasn't bowing, not even the slightest.
"How. Dare. You." Cecilia shouts at the goddess, drawing her sword from her belt. Oh shit.
