Chapter 6

The next morning, Athena announced heavily, "We have to sent you back to Camp Half Blood to prepare for the war. We will try to aid you in the war as much as possible, but you have to go back and prepare first. We have also decided that Nico Di Angelo, the son of Hades, will be taking care and protecting Vinum Anne Dione,, the daughter of Dionysus."

After everyone had packed their items, they were immediately zapped back to camp half blood with Dionysus, where Chiron was waiting for them with their training schedule. He held a list and read out the training schedule:

Zeus Cabin: Stealth training

Poseidon Cabin: Sword training

Hades Cabin: Spear training

Hera Cabin: Spear training

Athena Cabin: Stealth training

Ares Cabin: Knife/ Dagger training

Aphrodite Cabin: Knife/Dagger training

Hephaestus Cabin: Fitness/Weights

Demeter Cabin: Fitness/Weights

Artemis' hunters: Bow and arrow training

Apollo Cabin: Bow and arrow training

Hermes Cabin: Stealth training

Dionysus Cabin: Stealth training

Each day the trainings were rotated. The unclaimed children joined Dionysus cabin for training. Vinum smiled as her eyes met Nico's. Finally. She could use the weapons. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get started!" Annabeth exclaimed. This was going to be fun. Loads of fun.

"So basically, for stealth training we'll start off with a round of 'hide and seek'. Zeus Cabin and Athena cabin versus Dionysus and Hermes (and unclaimed children) Cabin. Since Corrina and Jason are the only ones in the Zeus cabin now, they'll join the Athena kids. This will train your hiding/camouflaging skills and your ability to escape from the seekers. Each team will take turns to be the seeker," the head of Hermes Cabin explained. Just as he had finished explaining, Vinum felt a light tap on her shoulder. "Hi! Remember me? Let's go together okay?". It was Lionel, the boy who had liked her since the first day of camp. Oh crap. Where is Nico when I need him? This guy's like head over heels in love with me.

Okay, keep calm, Vinum. You don't need some emo kid to help you all the time.

Quickly, VInum snapped her fingers behind her back, making sure Lionel wouldn't see. "What the-" Lionel said, before being cut off upon the realization that there were vines literally tying him to the ground. He bent down, trying to cut himself free with his knife. Vinum took this as her chance to slip away, and swiftly, she stepped in between some Hermes kids.

"So we'll be the seekers first," Jason grinned, and some of the unclaimed half bloods grumbled unhappily. "Hey, you'll get like... More excitement!" Corrina added, hoping to cheer them up, though this only succeeded in some glares and silent threats.

"Let's start!" Jason exclaimed seconds after, before anyone could rip him apart. The Zeus and Athena kids sat in a circle with their eyes closed, though knowing them they were probably peeking. The Dionysus, unclaimed and Hermes kids dashed off into the forest, Vinum hiding amidst three tall unclaimed girls.

Lionel sulked off, and Vinum heaved a sigh of relief. She rushed back into the open, hoping to get as far from the Hermes kids as possible. She was never really a good strategist, since that was Sophia's job. So she mentally thought of a few options.

Run around blindly

Hide in the trees

Turn everyone insane

Hide in a hole underground

None of them were quite logical, but upon hearing Connor shouting they were starting, She didn't have much of a choice. She clambered up the tree closest to her, with a little aid from vines, and she sat there hugging the branches like an idiot, though her vines offered some camouflage. Great, I'll just sit here unt-

She could hear the sounds of footsteps in the distance, and she turned her head in that direction. Connor? Travis? Or Lionel even?

"You know I can still see you, right?" Came the person's retort. Nico.

"Quiet, Nico! I'm hiding. Besides, don't you have like... Super sight or something?" Vinum responded.

"No," He simply replied, before standing there silently.

"Please go away?"

"Your dad is taking this protection thing too seriously. I have to stalk you 24/7," He complained.

"Don't stand there like an idiot then, hurry up and get up here!" She hissed.

Nico sighed, making his way over to the tree. From what Vinum could see,he wasn't the best climber. Five times, he'd needed assistance with climbing, and once he got up, he was occupying the most space on the tree. Thump! Nico fell on the ground as he lost his footing. "Shhh! Do you want to be found?" Vinum hissed as she helped Nico up. "Too late, lovebirds." Nico and Vinum swung around to find a gladius and a dagger pointed at them respectively. Sophia and Corrina stood in front of them. Corrina rolled her eyes as she led them to their prison "Gosh, how loud can you get? And good thing Sophia was hiding in the tree nearby..." She smirked a little, floating in the air for a moment with ecstasy.

"Crap," Vinum cursed, before elbowing Nico sharply in the stomach. All your fault... she thought.

After the game ended, Sophia strolled back to the Athena cabin. She grabbed a notebook labelled: Dissecting Prophecies, and ran to the Aphrodite cabin. She knocked on the door and Piper's second-in-command, Amanda, answered. Sophia was immediately caught in a whiff of Gucci perfume. "Sophia! Are you looking for relationship advice? You and Connor are so cute together! We could-" Sophia cut her off, "I need your help. Not on my relationship." Amanda pouted but cleared her throat and signalled for her siblings to gather.

Most of her siblings were girls, and they were mostly blondes or brunettes. Amanda her twin sister Selene and Piper were the only ones with brown hair. They were all very beautiful, with perfect features. All of them had just come back from training and were in the midst of grooming themselves. Their faces had yet to be washed and their hair was messy and sweaty. "I hope you'll be fast, we have... things to do" Amanda complained. "As you know, Rachel has made a prophecy about Vinum. To protect her from it, I need your help. The prophecy mentioned an envious one. Did you notice anybody else other than Nico di Angelo that likes her?"

"Of course we did!" They chorused unanimously. "That unclaimed kid - that Lionel guy," Amanda replied. "Did you see the way he looks at her? He obviously likes her! But too bad for him... She's already chosen Nico." Sophia gasped, "The one in the prophecy could be him. How could we make him stop hankering after Vinum?" All the Aphrodite girls started throwing out suggestions. After all, love was their forte. The answer came to Amanda suddenly, a stroke of inspiration. "Wait! I know! Vinum and Nico could go on a rescue mission together with some other half bloods, not including Lionel. She'll be safe from him then."

"That could actually work! Thanks Amanda!" Sophia's eyes lit up as she beamed. "No problem. but I have one small request," Amanda said hesitantly. "What's that?" Sophia paused on her way to the door. "Could I come too?" Amanda pleaded. "No problem, you're the brains of this anyway." "Thanks!"