Chapter Four:

It was dark, yet the conch horn had not announced curfew yet. Perhaps on game nights, they were allowed to stay up later.

"Now, Mara," Alice said, her arm around Mara's shoulders. "There are boys here that we a. approve of and b. disapprove of. We'll let you know which ones you can date and not date. Later so, in the next three weeks, you should have a boyfriend. Being a daughter of Aphrodite, you should always have a boyfriend."

Mara shook her head. "I don't want to."

"What was that, Mara, dear?" asked Alice. Mara chose not to reply. Alice said, "there's a good girl. Now, the other rules make sense. Stay beautiful at all times. Don't do anything to embarrass yourself or your cabin. Flirt. Have fun. You know. All that stuff."

"I don't know how."

"Don't know how to what?" asked Alice, a tint of cold humor to her voice.

Mara stammered, "Uh, not embarrass myself, flirt, or have fun when I'm told to."

Alice giggled. "Oh, Mara, you poor girl! Don't worry. You'll learn when you get your first boyfriend. And the best thing about having a boyfriend; us charm speakers can charm him in to going on a date. You can have everything, Mara." She sighed softly, smiling at the dark sky. "Mara, when you charm speak, don't just smile and ask sweetly. Mean your words. If you must, bring the person down so they want to obey you. Once you hold something over their heads, they want it more than anything. And you can give it to them, and get what you want as well."

Mara didn't respond. The five minutes till curfew horn blew. She pulled away from Alice. "I'm going to bed."

The couple days were awful. Mara had to survive her angry cabin mates after she got back from sword fighting, sweaty and exhausted, canoe racing in her dress, and running races. She was treated like a fragile little child everywhere she went.

Finally, after a long day, she sat down at the waters edge. Even after everything that had happened the past two days, her muscles sore and aching, and her ankle still bruised horribly, she still smelled like a vanilla and brown sugar perfume, her hair still fell in neat, swirling curls, and her dress remained clean and beautiful.

She felt an arm around her and flinched away immediately. When she turned though, it wasn't her cabin mates she saw.

Erik gave her a reassuring smile. "You look like you've been hit by a train."

"I feel like I've been hit by a train," she muttered.

He quickly tried to take back his statement. "I didn't mean it! I just meant, you look tired. You're still beautiful...you're gorgeous, Mara."

"I know, Erik. You don't need to apologize." Mara sighed. Everyone was that way lately. Acting like they were standing on eggshells with her around.

Erik smiled blushingly. "Forgive me, Mara. It's just...you're gorgeous. You know that I suppose. Everyone gaping at you all day long. I'm really sorry for not talking to you earlier."

Mara chose not to reply. She looked at her fingers. Erik did not say a word either. Mara asked finally, "Why on Earth is everyone apologizing suddenly?"

Erik looked away, abashed. "It's just because they all realized who you are and your abilities."

"What is so important about me?" cried Mara, pulling away from Erik.

He gripped her hand tightly. "I don't know," he said, his voice almost a cold hiss. "But everyone is crazy about you. Your cabin mates have been going around giving death glares at the mention of your name. This is the strangest reaction we've ever gotten from an Aphrodite girl. Even Alice didn't get reactions like these."

"Erik," Mara said, her voice tight with sadness and misery. "I don't care. I don't want it. I want to leave Camp Half Blood."

Erik stood up, not looking at her eyes. "I'm sorry, Mara. I wish...I wish..."

"Erik..." Mara held his hand. "Alice has rules for the Aphrodite cabin. Would you like to be my..."

"Boyfriend?" he sounded so hopeful, Mara would've smiled. Erik gave a light shake of the head, causing her heart to sink. "I can't. Alice wouldn't approve of me."

"I'll ask. I'll demand it," Mara said, her voice demanding. "In fact, I'll go ask right now." She stood up and pulled away from his, walking straight up to her cabin. "Alice, I know who I want to date."

"Well, that was quick!" said Alice cheerfully. "Who?"

"I want to date Erik of the Ares cabin."

"I think that's a good idea," stated Demetrius.

"No," Alice said.

Mia added, "He's on the disapproved list."

Mara tried not to yell and scream. She took a deep breath and attempted again. "I didn't ask for your approval. I'm letting you know. Erik is my boyfriend."

Demetrius and Thomas looked away. Stephen interrupted, "I think the approval thing is stupid anyway."

"Incorrect," Alice said, her voice cold and mean. "Stephen, I can just as easily charm speak Arielle in to not dating you as I did to date you."

"She wouldn't," Stephen said, a look of fear passing his eyes briefly. "Arielle loves me. Something like that wouldn't happen, Alice. And you aren't supposed to be doing this."

"Except the fact I am," Alice replied smoothly. "And if you want to continue to date Arielle, then you will deal with that fact. You're lucky she was so crazy about you anyway. Smarts rarely like looks."

"I'm not shallow!" cried Stephen.

Shocked, Mara took a couple cautious steps back. "Stephen, don't worry," she began, gently, placidly. "We know you're not shallow. You're very kind and caring. That's why Arielle likes you."

"Stop!" snarled Alice, shocking Mara in to silence. "You are not allowed to use your power to comfort them."

Mara looked at Stephen, who had an extremely grateful look on his face. "Okay," she said, not wanting to hurt her innocent brothers. Her sisters followed Alice, but her brothers were different. "I won't date Erik. That doesn't change the fact I want to."

She turned around and rushed away.

"You weren't dismissed." Alice's voice made her pause.

Mara turned around, her voice cool. "Are you going to dismiss me then?"

"Dismissed."

Mara turned and rushed away. She was so scared and furious her eyes started to burn. She felt Erik at her side. "Erik, I can't," she said. "I'm sorry. It's just...Stephen. My brothers. I can't hurt them. My sisters are horrible."

"So are mine," Erik replied, humor tinted in his voice.

"I don't find this situation funny, Erik," Mara said, her voice tight with pain. She still refused to look at him, staring at the ground with her tearful eyes.

A conch horn. "Now that's odd," stated Quinn, rushing by. "I wonder if something's wrong?"

Mara followed, forcing her eyes clear. Chiron was standing calmly, absolutely commanding attention. "I have an announcement!" he shouted above the buzz of talk. Everyone fell silent. Chiron continued, "There is a quest ready. I have chosen Mara to go on a quest."

Mara did a double take. There was reluctant applause. "Mara, come here," Chiron said. She slowly reached his side, looking out among the campers. Chiron said, "You may have three companions. Go. Talk with the Oracle."

Mara walked quietly up to Rachel. Rachel gave her a warm smile. "Come in here," Rachel said in a soft voice. "You don't want the rest to hear."

Mara stepped in to darkness. Rachel's voice resonated softly.

"Everything will change your way,
Two will be lost in the same day.
Perhaps, saved they could be
You'll be betrayed and dismayed,
But never give up.
For at your journey's end,
Will you find, not only the truth
Also the item that you seek."

Mara frowned at Rachel. "I'm confused."

"As you will be," replied the girl softly. "Go on, now. Go choose the three you will take with you. Leave tomorrow at dawn, my friend."

Mara walked out of the cabin, almost miserable with surprise. "Chiron," she began. "I can't-"

"Choose your companions."

Mara looked out among the campers. "Erik. Arielle. And...Justin."

Justin was a tall strong boy from the Apollo cabin. Arielle was Stephen's girlfriend from the Athena cabin, and Erik...well, was a reflex and natural pick. Her best...well, friend? First boyfriend? She wasn't sure what to call Erik anymore.

"Your quest," Chiron told her, softly. "Is to retrieve some items Ares has lost."

"Ares?" asked Mara, beginning to get a little frightened.

"Don't be scared," Chiron said, humor to his voice. "Ares is your mother's boyfriend. Talk to him if he tries to get in the way. He'll listen to you. Just...ah, try not to let him and Erik get in...in an argument?"

"Yes, Chiron. Rachel said to leave tomorrow at dawn. I'll go pack..." Mara left, to the group's side.

Justin smiled at her happily. "Thank you so much for choosing me," he said honestly. "It is very nice of you."

"I'd like you at my side. Seeing the talent you have with bows and in the medics class." Mara turned cautiously to Arielle, the girl she chose only because of her closeness to Stephen. "And we could use some intelligence with us."

Arielle laughed. "You sound like your brother. I wish he could come..." She looked over to Stephen who grinned and waved at her.

"He's crazy about you," Mara said.

"Yes. He's pretty great," Arielle waved back, a smile on her face. "I...I love him." She gave a nervous chuckle. "I suppose my mother would say something along the lines of 'love makes a wise man a fool.'"

Mara laughed. "And mine would say 'a man without love is a man without a life.'"

"We can see your differences," Arielle said, smiling. "However, I understand your point. I think we can get along."

"I'd like to think so," Mara turned away from Arielle, holding Erik's hand. "I think...Alice can't control who I date out here. As long as she doesn't try to hurt Stephen, Demetrius, and Thomas."

Chris and Will both gave her some advice; Will some medicine advice in case they were hurt, Chris a reminder about the watch and a shield. "Good luck," they both said sincerely.

Liana and Liam also gave her a goodbye. Liana was sorted in to Athena's cabin, and Liam in to Ares. They were both plenty excited.

"Thank you, goodbye," Mara said, giving Liana a hug and Liam a light punch to the shoulder. "You two take care now, got it?"

Mara said goodbye to Stephen, Demetrius, and Thomas. "You guys hang in there. I'll have some drachmas. We'll make sure to stay in touch when we need help. Don't worry. I'll take care of Arielle."

Stephen just nodded. "You'd better be careful, sis. We'll see you when you get back."