IV

ANDREY

When Andrey fell asleep that night, she thought, Hey, I've just arrived at a demigod camp where I don't have to run from any monsters or social services. Tomorrow is going to be a great day.

Yeah, well, she was wrong.

Not only did Percy, who was exceptionally annoying that morning, drag her out of bed, but it was six in the fucking morning.

There was nothing he could possibly be happy about.

Percy threw clothes at her, yelling at her to get dressed for an important senior counsel meeting.

'Doesn't the fucking senior counsel ever sleep?' She exclaimed, and Percy sighed.

'This is important. Just get dressed please.'

Andrey rolled her eyes, but gave in. 'Fine. But go outside.'

Percy scoffed. 'It's not like-'

'Hey. It's six in the morning. I'm tired. Take what you can get.'

Percy groaned but complied, stepping out of the cabin. Once Andrey was dressed, she looked down at herself, realizing that Percy had gotten them from the Aphrodite cabin.

The reason she knew wasn't because it was just the obvious place to go for clothes, but because the top was an extremely tight tank top paired with skin-tight jeans with holes in them.

Andrey sighed, quickly putting on the converses she got from Piper as she called Percy back inside.

Percy opened the door, motioning out the door with his head.

Andrey rolled her eyes. 'Yeah, yeah. Important meeting. Calm down, little bro.'

She crossed the room and headed out the door, brushing past him. Percy rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

'How do you even know who's older?'

'Because I can feel it in my bones. You may be big, Percy Jackson, but I am mature and much more sophisticated.'

Just then, Andrey tripped over a rock, sending her to the ground. Percy let out a hearty laugh, nearly crying from laughter.

'Oh yeah, you're much more sophisticated than I am.'

Andrey got up and pushed him, stalking off with a scowl.

They got to the Big House, occasionally running into other demigods who had morning training sessions.

Andrey immediately felt sorry for them, mostly because she had no idea how someone could get up at six in the morning, let alone do physical activities.

Once they got to the conference room, Andrey looked around, taking in all the faces that she'd failed to miss at the last meeting, when she was too preoccupied with whether or not someone was going to start strangling her again.

She saw Clarisse, who stared back with a glare. Andrey rolled her eyes, surveying the Toll twins, who looked to be pranking another kid, who was too busy growing grapes out the window.

Andrey winced as the kid had a bucket of water dumped on him, and turned to look at Annabeth, who was in mid-conversation with Piper. They both looked up, Piper smiling and Annabeth surveying Andrey cautiously.

Andrey quickly looked away, but saw Annabeth turn back to Piper and gesture at Andrey in the corner of her eye.

Suddenly, someone started playing with her ponytail, and she rolled her eyes, already knowing whom it was.

'You obviously have no life.' She said, laughing.

Leo popped out in front of her, smirking. 'And you obviously have no humour.'

'Well you can blame that on lack of sleep. Or, y'know, being up at the crack of dawn.'

Leo chuckled. 'Well I heard it was important.'

Andrey rolled her eyes. 'We're demigods. Everything is important to us. We basically live on the verge of life and death everyday.'

Leo shrugged. 'True. But I think it has something to do with the quest, considering that we're all here.'

Andrey looked around, realizing he was right: everyone in the prophecy was here, even Alina. She was talking to Will, who looked to be lecturing her, probably on the fact that she shot an arrow at his feet.

Thankfully, she didn't seem to have blamed it on Andrey, who had originally given her the idea. Instead, Alina was laughing manically, probably getting a kick at seeing Will's face turn purple in anger.

'Okay everyone, listen up.' Percy said authoratively, looking around the room. 'Since Andrey and Alina have got here, we haven't heard much from the Romans, so it's safe to bet that they're moving rather slowly. Or so we hope. But we have bigger issues at stake here: especially sense Gaia's forces are getting stronger and stronger. So, Chiron and I have been talking and have decided that it's best for the camp if the demigods in the prophecy hightail it out of here.'

The room was silent for a few moments until the room exploded, everyone questioning whether or not it would be a good idea to leave the camp so undefended.

Andrey rolled her eyes at the chaos, looking to Leo, who was just smirking.

After a while, Andrey had enough of it, so, rolling her eyes once again, she spoke up.

'Shut it!' She roared, and everyone – even Clarisse – fell silent. Andrey let out a deep breath before continuing. 'Listen. If we just sit here and fight all day that just gives the Romans more time to ambush us. And, if you ask me, I'd rather not be impaled by some Roman dude trying to defend his precious ego. Now, if some one's got something they'd like to say, wait your turn and, for the love of god, do not shout. I'm not a morning person, and if you yell at me, I will most definitely disembowel you.'

Everyone looked at Andrey in shock, some in anger, and – surprisingly – some in admiration.

Andrey locked eyes with everyone, making sure they got her message clearly. Once she was sure, she clapped her hands, nodding. 'Now, who's first?'

Clarisse stood up, eyeing Andrey. 'We can't leave the camp undefended. You're taking some of our best and most experienced fighters with you. People we can't afford to lose.'

Andrey nodded. 'I understand. Except we aren't necessarily leaving the camp undefended. We're not even taking half of the senior counsel, even if you include Connor and Travis as one party. Plus, you have all the rest of the camp, who are definitely willing to defend their home against the Romans.'

'You also have Chiron.' Leo pointed out, and Andrey gestured to him.

'See? You have plenty of defences. Plus, you can't go against a prophecy. Believe me, I've tried. It doesn't work. So unless you want your ass haunted by the prophecy hippy ghost, I suggest you think logically about this.'

Clarisse's face hardened, but Andrey could see understanding in her eyes. 'Fine. So long as we have as much defences as we can, I guess it's all good with the Ares cabin.'

Andrey nodded, scanning the room. 'Any other takers?'

Annabeth stood up, and Andrey looked at her in shock. She cleared her throat, looking up into Andrey's eyes.

'I don't have any objections to the quest, obviously, but there's one thing I think we should all be informed of.' Andrey's stomach tightened. 'The prophecy states that you have the curse of Aphrodite. And even though the Aphrodite cabin has forgotten about this, I haven't – and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. So please, enlighten us.'

'Annabeth!' Percy hissed, eyeing her with scorn. She shrugged, taking her seat once again.

Andrey looked at the expecting faces of the counsel members, and, with her hands tightened into fists, she broke the hardened marble of her face with a sneer.

'Listen here, wise girl. I don't have to explain shit to you. So unless you have a problem with the quest, which is what we came here to discuss, I suggest you back the fuck off before I rip your pretty little blonde head off your body.'

'Andrey!' Percy hissed, turning his scorn onto Andrey.

Andrey sighed deeply, totally disregarding Annabeth's previous statement.

'Anymore complaints?' No one answered, so Andrey nodded. 'Good. Percy, take the stage.'

Andrey sat down, glowering. Leo gave her an apologetic look, and she brushed it off, staring off into space.

Percy snapped her out of her reverie moments later. 'Andrey, you're in charge of getting everything ready for the trip. That includes running everything through Leo to see if the ship's ready, and getting everyone on board. Understood?'

Andrey nodded, and he smiled back tightly, probably irritated that she just threatened his girlfriend's life.

Once it was over, Andrey raced out of the room, trying her best to avoid everyone in the room, especially Percy.

She was about half-way to heaven, aka her bed, when Percy caught up to her.

'Andrey! Andrey hold up!' He shouted, and, despite her obvious reluctance, she stopped in her tracks, letting him catch up.

'What?' She snapped, shoving her hands in her pockets.

'Listen. You know you can tell me anything, right?' He said, and she rolled her eyes.

'This is about the curse isn't it?'

'Well, yes. I know it's an obvious sore spot for you, but honestly, I think you should at least tell us what the curse does.'

Andrey rounded on him, rage building up in her chest.

'Listen, bro.' She snapped, putting every drop of venom she had into that one word. 'I don't have to tell you jack shit. So drop it before someone gets hurt.'

Andrey turned to stride off, but Percy grabbed her upper arm, turning her towards him.

'I don't think you understand. One of us is predicted to die because of that curse. Don't you think we have the right to know what brings it on?'

Andrey's jaw hardened as she ripped her arm from his grasp.

'You want to know what brings it on? Love, Percy. Love brings it on. The love others have for me kills them.'

But I think you're safe, little bro. Because you obviously don't love me enough to trust me with something I've been living with for the past two years.' Tears burned her throat, but she continued. 'So fuck you, and your little blonde girlfriend. Tell the counsel I quit. Clarisse can take my spot for all I care.'

At that, she stormed off, ignoring Percy's yells in the distance. When she got to the cabin, she ripped her backpack off of her bunk, shoving all her belongings in along with a handful of drachmas.

She burst through the door, running in the direction of the pine tree, trying to out run anyone who would try and stop her from escaping.

She could hear someone yell her name from the distance, but she ignored it, pumping her legs.

Suddenly, before she had anytime to process the pounding of feet from behind her, she was tackled to the ground.

She screamed, yelling out several names that would've gotten her a mouth of soap in foster care.

'Stop fighting, Andrey!' Her attacker shouted, but she didn't listen. She struggled, trying to break free of the hands that pinned her to the ground.

'Andrey stop!'

The voice broke through her haze of rage, and she looked up into dark brown eyes, which carried a familiar spark.

'Leo?' She croaked, and the grip on her hands relaxed slightly.

'Andrey. What are you doing?'

Andrey shrugged, her hard persona shifting back into place. 'I was taking a walk.'

'Taking a walk? You were racing across camp.'

Andrey rolled her eyes. 'I like to walk fast.'

Leo looked at her in total seriousness, which made her freeze. There was no mischievous spark in his eyes, which were dark and hard, searching her face.

'You were running away, weren't you?'

Andrey shifted awkwardly, shifting her eyes to the ground and then up again. Her defiant streak shot through her. 'So what if I was?'

Leo scoffed. 'Is that what you do? You run when things get tough?'

Andrey glared at him. 'Preach all you want, Leo. You do the same thing. We're exactly the same.'

Leo rolled his eyes. 'You're right. We are the same. Except the only difference is, I'm not stupid enough to run from the one place that actually feels like home.'

His words hit her like a blow to the chest, and she looked away, tears threatening to fall. 'I can't do it, Leo. I can't endanger others.'

Leo looked at her in shock, but she could see the sadness in his eyes.

'You won't.' He got off of her, helping her up. 'Don't listen to Annabeth. You won't endanger others, because that's not what you do. You protect others even when they don't necessarily deserve it.'

'You don't understand, Leo. I'm a danger to everyone around me. The curse-'

'Is nothing. Not now. All you have to worry about is Gaia. We'll tackle the rest of that shit later.'

Andrey nodded, sighing. 'So I guess I should go apologize, yeah?'

Leo chuckled, nodding. 'Probably. Although I'm absolutely sure you gained the respect of everyone in that room by standing up to both Clarisse and Annabeth. In the same day.'

She laughed, pushing him. 'Well, what can I say? I have a big mouth that sometimes says the right things.'

'And the wrong things.' He added, chuckling.

'Mostly the wrong things.' She replied, and they both started laughing.

After a while they started walking down the hill, laughing along the way at Annabeth's face when Andrey called her 'wise girl'.

Andrey didn't necessarily feel sorry about it, but she knew it was the right thing to do when she apologized.

One thing you learn in foster care: always be on the good side of others. You never know when you might need to use them.

Back in the Big House, once Andrey had apologized to both Annabeth and Percy, Andrey was completely and utterly speechless.

Which didn't happen often, so it was obviously either something extremely awesome or stupid.

In this case, it was the ladder.

After announcing that the nine demigods were going on the quest, Chiron decided that the camp would hold a dance in the demigod's honour.

Which, to Andrey, was the stupidest idea in the history of ever.

'You seriously want to throw a party when not only the Roman demigod camp is planning to attack us as we speak, but an evil old lady god is planning on wiping out our existence along with her several giant sons, who, are in fact, actual fucking giants?'

Chiron huffed. 'Yes, Miss Jackson, that is what we are doing.'

Andrey made her voice high and airy, mocking them. 'Oh yeah, that sounds like a great idea! Let me just pick from the mountain of dresses I own – oh wait no, I don't own any dresses nor would I put one on because this is literally the worst idea since Zeus decided to dress up as a swan to get into a girl's pants.'

'Well it worked for him.' Percy replied with a smirk.

Leo laughed outright, and was greeted by a stern look from Chiron, who gave Andrey and Percy equally stern looks.

'I appreciate the concern, but let me handle those issues whilst you have fun.' Chiron said, and looked intensely at Andrey. 'And do come, Miss Jackson. This will most likely be the last time you find fun in a long time.'

At that, Chiron left, obviously having to go set up the party that would lead to their imminent deaths.

'Well isn't he a ray of sunshine.' Leo said, and Andrey chuckled.

Percy let out a deep sigh, resting one of his hands on Andrey's shoulder. 'Try not to get into anymore trouble.'

He left a moment later with Annabeth, who had been suspiciously quiet the whole meeting, and looked extremely worried for a reason Andrey couldn't quite grasp.

Andrey turned to Leo, who was smirking down at her.

'Ready to dance your ass off?'

Andrey laughed. 'You know it.'

Andrey felt immediately out of place.

Not only was she wearing a dress - which was "lilac", as Piper called it - but she also had no one to really talk to. Almost all her friends were in couples, which meant they were hanging pretty close to each other.

The real question was why they were having a dance in the first place.

Sure, some people needed to relax. But for the chosen nine, there was really no time to just play around.

And Andrey was the only one that seemed to really grasp this, which was surprising. You'd at least think Annabeth would have some sort of plan, but her eyes were glued to Percy's and they were dancing in a stupor, completely oblivious to the world.

And, you know, their imminent deaths.

This is also why Andrey obviously shouldn't be invited to parties. Because she'll find herself often skulking in a corner or glaring at anyone who comes into her vision.

So there she was, leaning against a pillar in the pavilion, trying to avoid as much human contact possible.

Suddenly, someone took her by her waist, grabbed her hand, and flung her into a dance.

Before she could find her dancing partner's face, they spun her in a circle. Their hands immediately found their place in the crook of her waist, pressing her against their chest.

She looked up to find Leo smirking down at her. She rolled her eyes.

"Why is it always you?" She asked teasingly, and she felt him shrug.

"You looked like you were going to murder someone, so I decided to lighten up your festivities."

She chuckled. "My festivities were fine without your dancing."

"Oh, I see how it is. Insult the party, sure. But insult my dancing? You are going to pay dearly for that."

She rolled her eyes, laughing. "Oh please. I could beat you in my sleep."

He smirked, which usually meant he was about to do something really stupid.

"You? Beat me? But you're so tiny!" He exclaimed, lifting her up in the air by the waist. She let out a small yell, glaring at him.

Once she was back down on the ground, she smacked his shoulder, which only made him laugh harder.

"Are you swatting at me? Are you a kitten?"

Andrey scoffed, glaring.

"I will swat you like a fly if you don't stop it!" She exclaimed, punching his arm.

He rolled his eyes and led her over to the edge of the pavilion. "Now that we've had our fill of dancing, you want to take a walk?"

She looked at him suspiciously. "This isn't a prank, is it? Are you going to throw flaming plants at me?"

He pulled a shocked face. "How dare you! I am Leo Valdez, a gentleman. I would never throw flaming anything at you."

Andrey scoffed.

"But actually. Let's take a walk." He urged, and Andrey rolled her eyes.

She thought it over for a moment before shrugging. "Sure."

He smiled, lighting up his face as if it was doused in sunlight. She realized she was staring and made herself focus her gaze ahead of them.

God, Andrey. You can't go all crazy every time he smiles. Get it together.

They walked into the field, casually talking and strolling. They ended up at a marble bench, decorated with roses and small cherubs.

She rolled her eyes, looking up to the sky.

Really, Aphrodite? REALLY?

The sun was beginning to set, and as they sat down, the field seemed surrounded by orange and pink. She looked at Leo, and with the orange backdrop, it looked like he was a slowly burning coal.

Gods, she really hated him.

He smiled at her, and she couldn't help but immediately smile back.

Was this what it was like with Sam? She wondered.

Partially, except Andrey never really assessed his beauty, mostly due to the fact that she was a scared little kid who thought she had no chance with him.

Leo, on the other hand, ignited something within her that was impossible to burn out.

And even though she knew she could never have what she wanted, for a moment she was happy knowing that it would be different under other circumstances.

For example, not having him die when she confesses her love for him. Or, you know, just the plain old death threats of Gaia hanging over their heads.

But no one said life was fair.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Leo said, and brought Andrey out of her thoughts.

She shrugged, smiling. "Just thinking about what it would be like to be normal."

He made a slight shrug. "Being born a demigod kind of ruined that for us, eh?"

She chuckled. "Just a little bit."

A look of curiosity crossed his face. "What do you think we'd be doing if we were normal?"

Kissing. "I don't know. At the mall?"

He smiled. "What about the theatre?"

Her smile broadened as she imagined it. "Yeah, watching one of those crappy actions movies that you secretly have to love."

He laughed. "Sounds amazing."

She sighed. "Alas. We can't be normal."

He shrugged. "But we can do normal things."

Andrey looked at him curiously. They stared at each other for a moment before she looked down, causing a strand of hair to fall in front of her face.

When she looked up, she found Leo still staring intently, which made her blush.

He smiled dreamily, softly tucking the strand behind her ear. Her stomach constricted with nervousness at what she knew was about to happen.

His hand cupped her cheek. He looked up at her as if for approval, but her brain was stuck, as if someone had sucked all the logic out of it.

"Can I maybe kiss you?" He asked, and, in response, her eyes grew wide.

She stuttered, but couldn't get her mind to wrap around words.

It felt like her body was moving independently, as if it knew what she wanted.

She nodded slightly, going against the warnings in her brain.

Leo leaned in and suddenly, Andrey couldn't breathe.

The spark that was lit inside of her turned into a wildfire; her body felt like it was engrossed in flames.

Her brain couldn't grasp anything else than Leo's lips, and his hands that had reached up to cup the sides of her face. She instinctively brought her hands up, entwining them in his hair, trying to move her body as close to his as possible.

Her ears were singing, and the warmth of his lips and body pressed up against hers was the best feeling she'd ever experienced. She opened her mouth slightly, allowing his tongue to venture into her mouth.

They sat there, locked in this embrace, exploring each other's mouths like they were born to do it.

Andrey couldn't focus on anything else but him; his hand that had run down her body to her waist, drawing her closer. His other hand was buried in her hair, which was no doubt a complete mess now.

She had one hand buried in his soft, curly hair and the other flung around his neck tightly, trying to close the space between them.

Suddenly, her mind flickered with thought.

Aphrodite.

It only took this one thought for her to fling open her eyes and draw away from Leo (even though her body was screaming for his warmth).

"Andrey, what's wrong?" Her heart sank at his expression, which was laced with confusion and hurt.

"I'm sorry, I just-" She started, her voice cracking. "I can't."

And then she ran.

She ran as fast as if Furies were chasing her. She heard Leo calling her name, but her body took control once again.

Her vision was blurry, and she let out a loud sob, not even trying to maintain composure.

She finally reached the Poseidon cabin, slowly closing the door and climbed up the ladder to her bed.

She tried to calm her breathing, but all she could think about was Sam's body, lifeless, laying on the floor of the auto shop.

Suddenly, Sam's face was replaced with Leo's, who was lying in the emerald grass of the field. The orange and pink sky made him look like an angel, but his eyes were wide open with horror.

Andrey's body convulsed with a sob, and the sound that protruded from her wasn't even remotely human.

It sounded like an animal howling in pain.

After a while, she tried another crack at controlling her breathing. She pushed the other thoughts away, focusing on breathing in and out.

Finally, she fell into a restless sleep.