Well, here it is, chapter seven! This chapter gave me so much trouble, mostly because it explains some stuff, and it's a bit of a filler. But! I finally, FINALLY thought up a plot! It's probably not very good, but I was so proud of myself for thinking of one. Because that means I might actually finish Jay's story.

Now, I want to thank everyone who added me to their alerts and favorites! So many this time, I was really happy! But only one review! I was sad about that. Although I guess I sort of deserve it for leaving you all hanging for so long. Hopefully I'll get a little feed back this time around *hint hint*.

Here's a fact: Um, I guess I don't really have one this time...

Disclamer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians. It belongs to Rick Riordan, who is awesome :)


The first thought I had when I came back to consciousness was that I was hungry; it felt like my stomach was eating itself. The next thing I realized was that it was morning, and that I was in the infirmary, lying on a lumpy cot. And besides my complaining stomach, I felt perfectly fine.

I blinked, rubbing the crust and blurriness out of my eyes. When they finally focused again, I was met with a pair huge blue eyes staring at me point blank. I let out a yelp and pressed myself into the crisp sheets, watching as the mouth below the eyes split into a wide grin.

"Excellent! You're awake! Good thing too, all your visitors were starting to drive me batty. That di Angelo kids bad enough, but Tanner and Annabeth just wouldn't shut up! I thought I was going to go deaf with all the nagging they were doing. Oh! My names Alex, by the way. I'm a son of Apollo! I was the one who healed you after the game last night."

He threw all this at me in a single breath, talking so fast my still groggy brain could barely keep up. Plus he spoke in some sort of accent, probably British or Australian, so it just made it worse. He was a gangly kid, like his arms and legs grew too fast for his body to keep up with. His blonde hair was shaggy, like Nico's, hanging around his ears, which were slightly sticking out. It might have been a mean thought, but he reminded me of a chattering little monkey, with just as much energy as one.

"Okay, thanks for that. What am I doing in here?" I asked, feeling slow.

His blue eyes lit up. "Oh, it was totally wicked! You nailed that girl right in the head! It was such a good, shot, all my brothers and sisters wanted you to come stay with us, but since you're not an Apollo kid, Chiron said no." he pouted cutely.

'That's right,' I thought, 'my father claimed me last night.'

"Eros, huh?" I muttered, looking down at my lap.

"Yep." Alex said, "Everybody's been talking about it. Don't know why." He tilted his head to the side, giving the look of a confused dog. "I mean, your shot was good, but Eros is just a minor god, so it's not like it's a big deal. Except for the fact that there's no cabin for him here."

I looked up at him, puzzled. "No cabin?"

"Nope!" Alex chirped cheerfully, practically bouncing in his seat. "Not even a little one."

Before I could respond, the door behind us opened with a creek, causing us to turn around. Nico walked in, looking tense and pale. Well, paler than usual. His hands were buried in his jacket, and I could tell he was clenching them. His eyes instantly went to me, relief filling them.

"You're awake. How do you feel?" he asked, walking over, his footsteps quiet.

"Fine, I guess." I said, "Hungry. What's this about Eros not having a cabin?"

Nico nodded his dark eyes grave. "Yeah. Chiron wanted to talk to you. Can you walk?"

I nodded, throwing back the covers and pulling on my sneakers. I stood, wobbling slightly as a wave of lightheadedness washed over me.

Both Nico and Alex grabbed me. "Careful."

"Here" Alex handed me what looked like a small gram cracker square. "Eat some ambrosia. You'll feel better."

I ate the square, noticing he kept throwing weary glances at Nico, who glanced at him uninterestedly. I guessed someone as cheerful and friendly as Alex seemed would be uncomfortable around someone like Nico, who was more brooding and calm then anything.

I swallowed the square, noticing my stomach was calmer, and my head clearer. I took a deep breath.

"Okay. Let's go see Chiron."


The centaur, (who I still wasn't entirely comfortable around) was in the next room, gazing out the window, his face smooth and contemplative. I could tell he was thinking about something deeply.

On the counter next to him I noticed my bow, laying there on its side, looking lonely and depressing. I had the urge to rush over and snatch it up. What was it doing in here?

Nico cleared his throat. "Chiron, I've brought her."

"Yes, thank you Nico." The centaur said, turning to look at us. "How are you feeling, Miss. Cooper?" he asked kindly.

I had to fight the urge to take a step back from him as he approached, but Nico placed a hand on my back, keeping me in place.

"I'm alright." I said hurriedly "Is that my bow?" I asked, motioning over at it.

"Ah, yes." Chiron said, picking it up "I was just examining it. A gift from your father I expect."

He handed it to me, seeming to ignore the fact had I practically ripped it from his hand. I was overcome with an incredible feeling of annoyance that he had looked over it, keeping it all night. It didn't belong to him. How dare he touch it without my permission? Didn't he have any sense of privacy?

"So it's really from my dad then?" I asked voice tight.

Chiron nodded. "Yes. I was informed that you did not have a bow in your possession while fighting . And see here"-he motioned to the front of the shaft, right on the grip-"the mark of Eros."

I turned it so I could see. The bow itself was beautiful, but simple. Made of dark wood, it twisted up to the points, slightly curved, and big enough that I could sling it over my shoulder without being bothered. Etched into the leather grip was a tiny white heart with wings.

'A gift from Dad,' I thought, 'I never got a gift on my birthday, but he sends me this when I'm about to be killed? Talk about priorities.'

I looked back up at Chiron. "You wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yes, there are a few issues we must discuss. Nico, would you kindly fetch for us, please?" Chiron asked, looking over at the boy.

Nico looked reluctant, pursing his lips together like he would rather do anything else. He shot me a hesitant look, shifting on his feet.

"What?" I asked, puzzled.

He looked away quickly, shoving his hands back in his jacket. "Nothing. I'll be back."

He walked out, shoulders hunched and grumbling to himself. I looked at Chiron.

"What's wrong with him? He was fine a second ago."

The centaur just shook his head and motioned to the ping-pong table in the middle of the room.

"Have a seat, ." He said.

It annoyed me that he ignored my question, but I did as he said and sat. "I heard there wasn't a cabin to Eros here." I started.

Chiron nodded. "You are correct. We do not have a cabin to Lord Eros at the moment."

"Well, why?" I asked, trying hard not to get anymore irritated with him.

I didn't particularly care that there wasn't a cabin to my dad at camp, if I was going to be honest. I was more worried about where I was going to sleep.

Chiron walked to the other side of the table, putting his hands behind his back, the look on his face weary. He looked like he needed a goodnights sleep. Or a Redbull. Maybe he would grow wings, like in the commercials. But then what would that make him? A centases? A pegataur? Hmm…

"You see, "- I jumped, shaken from my musings as he spoke –"there are so many gods. And these gods tend to produce a numerous amount of children. In the last two years, we have had to add an entire new wing of cabins just to make room for everyone. Sometimes, if a child of a particular god is not found, we simply do not create a cabin for that god. Do you understand?" he asked.

"Are you telling me that I'm the only child of Eros here?" I asked eyes wide.

Chiron nodded. "That we know of, yes."

"So," I sounded out slowly "Where am I going to stay? I can't stay in the Hermes cabin anymore, can I?"

"No, you are right. The Apollo cabin offered to take you in, but you are not a daughter of Apollo. Therefore, I spoke with the head of the Aphrodite cabin, and they seemed delighted to take you."

"The Aphrodite cabin?" I asked, a bit puzzled.

"Yes. I have already had your things moved."

Somehow, I felt like an unwanted pet, being shuffled to one home to another. The Apollo campers were the kids that wanted me, but Chiron was the parent that said no. The Aphrodite cabin was the place he would send me, but it was only temporary, until I found my permanent home.

Just then Ruth Thompson stomped in, looking angry and sick. Her usually light skin was paler, but her cheeks were blotchy and her eyes red. I couldn't help but notice the small bruise in the middle of her forehead.

Nico followed in after her, looking ruffled and irritated. His usually neat clothes were wrinkled and dusty, his shaggy hair a mess. He looked like he had been wrestling in the dirt. I raised my eyebrows at him in a silent question, but he just sent a glare at Ruth, who plopped into the seat next to Chiron, arms crossed.

She didn't seem to notice me at all, but I figured she was just ignoring me because she was embarrassed. I couldn't help the feeling of smugness that washed over me.

Chiron placed a hand on her shoulder. "Now , I would like it if you could please tell us again what happened in the woods last night."

Ruth set her mouth in a firm line, and for a second I didn't think she was going to say anything. But then she opened her mouth and began to speak. I noticed her voice sounded a bit quivery.

"Like I said before," she ground out forcefully "I was mad about what happened the other day, so I planned to get her during the game. But when I saw her standing out there, I blacked out. Next thing I know, I'm in the infirmary!" she said, outraged.

I frowned. "Hang on. You're saying that you blacked out before you attacked me?"

"That's what I said, stupid. And I didn't attack you." she indignantly.

"You lair! You almost killed me!" I shouted, jumping up.

Ruth jumped up as well, her angry eyes focused on me. "Don't you call me a lair, you little spit wad! You did something to me! Because of you, I'm the laughing stock of the whole camp!" she yelled, slamming her hands on the table.

"I didn't do a thing to you, you war hungry psycho bully! That bull's-eye in the middle of your forehead is exactly what you deserve! You attacked me!" I yelled back, slamming my hands down as well.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" a booming voice shouted, causing us all to shut up and spin around.

Mr. D stood in the doorway, a wine magazine in one hand and an angry look on his face. I instantly sat back down, anger evaporated. I had no idea his voice could get so loud.

"I don't particularly care what the problem is here," he said in a deadly calm voice, "and if I had my way, I'd turn the both of you into a pair of gerbils and let you fight it out. But unfortunately"- he sighed, like he was disappointed-"I can't. So either sort this problem out quietly or get out."

Chiron cleared his throat. "Mr. D is correct. We need to sort this out calmly."

Ruth sat back down, crossing her arms. "I don't care what you say. I didn't attack that stupid girl."

I grit my teeth. "The whole camp saw you."

"Perhaps she went mad with rage and decided to kill you. It happens all the time. Oh! Merlot is on sale!" Mr. D said giddily, nose in his magazine.

He was sitting at the table now, between Chiron and me. Nico, who had moved to stand behind me, put a hand on my shoulder. Wither he was trying to comfort or warn me, I didn't know.

"What do you mean, Mr. D?" Chiron asked carefully.

Mr. D sighed, looking up at him blandly. "I mean, perhaps Rudy there lost her mind. There is a twinge of madness in her eyes." he said, casting a glance at Ruth, who scowled at him.

"I'm not crazy. And my name is Ruth." she growled.

Nico spoke up for the first time then. "But aren't you the god of madness?" he asked.

His hand on my shoulder stiffened a little as Mr. D looked at him. "What's your point?"

"Did you drive Ruth insane?" Nico asked voice tentative.

The room grew tense for a second as Mr. D's eyes glowed purple. But then he plopped his magazine down and crossed him arms.

"Oh, relax. I'm not going to blast all of you. You, however," –he pointed at Nico, who tensed-"I should turn into a pile of bones and send down to your father. But I'm sure that will just add years on to my probation." He huffed, reminding me of a pouting little kid. "As much as I would love to turn every single little cretin here into raving lunatics, I'm afraid that this time I was not the one to drive Ronda over the edge."

"My name is Ruth!"

"If it wasn't you, then who else could have done something like that?" I asked carefully.

Mr. D shrugged, picking up his magazine again. "Hades if I know. Anyone, really. But look at the facts. Janelle there is the only demi-god child of that fluttery twit, Eros. Now who do you think would be upset about that?"

Then he disappeared behind his magazine again, grumbling about imbeciles and how he had to do everything. The three demi-gods in the room (Nico, Ruth and I) glared at him, but Chiron seemed thoughtful.

"It's not uncommon for a god to be…err…displeased by a demi-gods existence." he said. "But most gods would act outright to destroy you. This leads me to believe we are dealing with a goddess."

"Hang on a second." I said, putting my hands up. "Are you saying that there's a god out there who wants me dead? And that's why Ruth went nuts?" I asked, feeling queasy again.

"It is only a speculation. But unless is lying, which I do not believe she is, that seems to be the case." Chiron said.

He looked completely calm, but I could see the worry in his eyes. Behind me, Nico's grip on my shoulder had grown so tight he was practically fisting my shirt. Even Ruth looked nervous, her eyes widening and her skin growing even paler. She was a bully for sure, but I'll bet even she didn't want to mess with someone who could drive her to the loony bin.

I swallowed, my throat feeling tight, stomach squirming. "So, what do we do?"

"For now try not to worry." Chiron said, looking into my eyes. "Go to the Aphrodite cabin and get settled. I will try to contact Lord Zeus and find out what I can."

So we left, Ruth darting off as soon as our shoes touched the dirt. It looked like she wanted to get away from us as quickly as she could. Not that I cared. Insane or not, she had still tried to kill me.

Nico, however, stayed next to me. He looked how I felt; sort of green around the edges, like he was about to be sick. I wondered why. It's not like he had an angry god after him.

He took a deep breath and spoke. "So Chiron is putting you in the Aphrodite cabin?"

Despite how he looked, his voice was calm, so I gave him points for that. "Yeah."

"Make's sense. Eros being the god of love an' all."

"Yep."

We didn't speak as we walked, not wanting to talk about that big pink elephant riding on my shoulder. The topic of some random god might possibly wanting me dead was not what I call a topic for friendly conversation. My head was spinning with too many panicky thoughts to talk anyway. The wheels in Nico's head seemed like they were spinning as well.

Finally, the Aphrodite cabin came into view. It was a cute cottage style house with a low porch and awning. It had a porch swing (which I thought was cool), with colorful flowers growing in patches around it. The only thing that put me off was that it was painted a bright pink. I had nothing against pink, but the poor thing stood out like an emo at cheerleading camp.

"I have to go." Nico said as we approached. "There's something I want to check out."

I looked at him. "Are you lying to me?"

He blinked, looking puzzled. "About what?"

"Are you sure you just don't want to go near a pink cabin?" I smiled, trying to lighten the gloomy mood.

Nico snorted. "That's not it. I just need to go find something. I think it might help you out."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Yeah? What?"

"I'll bring it by once I find it. See you later." He said, walking off, hands in pockets.

I turned and walked up the porch steps, feeling slightly nervous meeting new people all alone. As soon as I knocked on the door, it swung wide open, and I was roughly yanked inside a world of makeup, frills, and Twilight.


Now, I'm not sure what you might have heard about the Aphrodite campers, but let me tell you, they actually weren't that bad. Sure, they liked makeup and some of them were a little snobby, and they for sure did not like getting dirty if they didn't have to, but really, they were okay. It was a little embarrassing when one of them asked me if I liked Team Edward, and I had thought she had been asking about Edward Scissorhands, but the Aphrodite children were actually pretty cool.

They were completely willing to help and (if you didn't count the few stuck up ones) friendly. They were pretty, but not in an over the top way. Everybody always talks about Aphrodite children being ridiculously beautiful, but I didn't think they were. They defiantly had looks, but I didn't think they were anything to fawn over. Most girls are pretty anyway.

And they weren't as obsessed with boys and makeup and Justin Beber as most people think. From what I learned from a few of them (the ones who didn't stay year round) they were pretty smart. One girl told me she wanted to take over her father's export company when she graduated college. One of the boys wanted to be a police officer. So really, don't believe everything you hear.

The next week was pretty hectic. I spent a lot of time practicing archery with the Apollo kids. They were amazing with the things they could do with a bow. I saw one boy shoot a target dead on from twenty yards away. And the target had been an apple sitting on a tree branch. I'm sorry to say I wasn't that good, but I did hit a bulls-eye nearly every time at the target.

I spent a lot of time with Annabeth and Tanner, who taught me all about the Greek language and myths. Annabeth talked so much about Greek history and architecture I thought I was going to throw up. Percy was there too, but he mostly made snide comments and jokes in the background, causing the two siblings to chase him out.

Nico helped me out the most though. When he said he had something that would help me, he had meant a book. It was really thick and smelled moldy and gross. The leather was icy cold in my hands, like I was holding a block of ice. It wasn't labeled at all, so when he gave it to me, I had no idea what it was.

"It's a history book." He said.

I groaned and held it back out to him. "I've had enough history with Tanner for a lifetime. No thanks."

He smirked and shoved the book back at me. "It's not exactly a history book. It's more like a book of myths. I found it once when I was walking through the library in the Underworld. It's more complete than anything we have here."

I paused for a second, having just realized what he said. "You got this from the Underworld?"

He shifted on his feet, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Yeah. I thought it might help, since you're clueless about things you should know about."

"Ah. So that's where you disappeared to the other day." I said, looking down at the cold book.

He nodded, not looking at me. "I used it when I was learning too. I had to sneak it out though. Things that belong to the Underworld aren't supposed to leave."

"Won't you get in trouble if someone notices it's gone?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Only if they notice. Don't worry about it. Just read it. It'll help."

I felt incredibly touched. Nico was willing to get in trouble in order to help me out, someone he had only known for a week. And it wasn't like he would get in trouble with a school principal or something. He'd probably get in trouble with his father. His father, the god of death. I thought it was really stupid and sweet of him. I smiled.

"Thanks, Nico. I'll make sure to read it tonight."

He turned away, shoving his hands in his pockets as usual. I couldn't help but notice the slight blush on his cheeks.

That book really did help me a lot. I learned more than I ever wanted about Greek mythology. It was all so confusing. This guy did this, someone killed that monster, but then this happened and he was killed, and on and on. There were so many different versions of different myths; I didn't know what was true and what was a lie. I doubted the gods themselves really knew what happened during some of these adventures.

But what really got me was the myth about Eros and Psyche. The info I found on my father was confusing. He was a primordial god, but at other times he was the child of Aphrodite. It wasn't really clear on which he was, but it was clear that he is the god of love and likes to shoot people with love arrows and cause lots of mischief.

The story of my dad and Psyche was really drawn-out and long, but the gist of it was that Psyche was too beautiful for her own good. Aphrodite (who I guess is like my grandmother…weird.) got jealous and ordered Dad to shoot her and make her fall in love with something nasty. Instead, he accidently got pricked himself (the idiot) and fell in love with her. So after some more stuff, he has Zephyrus take her away, visits her at night, and tells her she can't look at him (what was the point of that anyway?). But she does (with some influence by her sisters) and he flies away. After that, a lot of things happen, but basically Aphrodite makes her do a bunch of ridiculous tasks, which she does until she goes to the Underworld and looks in a box she's not suppose too. She falls into a coma or something, then Dad comes and saves her, they get married, Psyche and Aphrodite make up and everyone lives happily ever after.

At least until I was born.


It was just after dinner a few days after I read the Eros/ Psyche myth when I followed Nico back to his cabin. The last week and a half I had spent in the Aphrodite cabin was driving me insane. Like the Hermes kids, there was a lot of them, and next to no privacy. I felt like I needed some quite time.

The Hades cabin was cool and quite, like a cave. It wasn't as dark as you might expect it to be, being made of obsidian and all; Nico had a few lights in the corners, as well as a black light hanging from the ceiling.

I had sprawled myself across his four-poster bed, dozing from my full stomach. Nico himself sat across a throne like chair at a desk against the wall. I heard the hiss and pop of a soda can opening.

"You know, you're really not supposed to be in here." He said quietly.

"Says who?" I yawned, glancing at him.

Nico shrugged. "Those are just the rules."

I rolled over so my back was facing him. "I don't care." I said, "I'm not use to sharing a room with a bunch of other people."

I heard him snicker. "I knew you wouldn't last long in there."

"Shut up." I grumbled "I just need a nap undisturbed by giggles and whispers. Now shut up so I can sleep."

"You said that."

I snatched one of his dark blue pillows and chucked it over my shoulder at him. I'm pretty sure I missed because he scoffed.

"I said shut it, Dead Head."

He snickered again but didn't say anything. I heard him slurping his soda, but ignored it. I closed my eyes with another yawn and was instantly asleep.

My dream was weird. I was standing at the edge of a huge pool, the water of which was blue and steamy, giving off a smell of flowers. There was a waterfall coming from a gathering of rocks on the bank across from me. Beyond that was a balcony, opening up into a pure blue sky.

On the balcony stood a woman, her back facing me, looking out into the sky. Her long hair was the color of caramel and wavy, falling below her waist. She wore an eggshell white dress, and I could she on her arm a gold band.

"Come forward, Jamie Cooper." She called.

Her voice was soft and sweet, alluring, and before I knew it, I was standing right next to her. She looked down at me and I couldn't help but gasp.

She was truly beautiful. I know I said that the Aphrodite children were pretty, but they paled in comparison next to this woman. She looked young, maybe in her early to mid-twenties, with a heart shaped face and clear blue eyes that gazed at me coldly. Her pink lips were tiled downward at the edges.

I had to look away. There was no way I was worthy enough to look this woman in the face. I looked down at my shoes, feeling wrinkled and unkempt.

"It is good to finally meet you, Jamie Cooper." Her voice sounded like music, soft and pleasant, but she really didn't seem all that pleased to meet me.

A cold shiver ran down my back. "I'm sorry," I whispered, "but I don't know who you are."

"Don't you?" she asked tersely "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. You have only just learned of me, after all."

I couldn't think of anything to say. It was like this woman was making my brain shut down. I wanted to just disappear.

"Lift your head, girl." She said, sounding impatient, "I want to look at you."

Her hand cupped under my chin and yanked my head up so we were face to face. Her hand was hot on my skin, much hotter than should be normal, but not painful.

Her blue eyes searched my face, lingering on my hair and eyes. Tanner's intense stare was nothing compared to this woman's. I wanted to yank away from her and run and hide.

"Yes, but I would find you." She said quietly, making a chill of fear run down my spine.

Finally she let go, and I instantly looked back down at my sneakers. Somehow, they seemed much more ratty than usual.

"Yes, you are his." She said "I was hoping it was a lie, that he was just playing a cruel joke, but it seems you are indeed his child."

I could hear the cold anger in her voice, and I had the sudden urge to drop to the ground and cover my head.

"Since that is indeed the case, I have a task for you, Jamie Cooper." She said coldly.

"A task?" I whispered, feeling shaky.

The warm air had suddenly gone cold, the blue sky darkening. I started to shiver, wrapping my arms around myself and breathing on my fingers.

"Yes. I recently loaned out my mother-in-laws girdle. If she finds out I did so without her permission, she will be terribly irate. I want you to return it to me."

"A girdle?" I asked, confused.

"Aphrodite's beautifying girdle, you stupid girl!" she snapped angrily, causing my lungs to freeze. I fell to the ground, gasping.

She kneeled down next to me and started to stroke my hair gently, her fingers like ice. I curled into a ball, whimpering in fear, struggling to breathe the frigid air.

"Now now," she crooned softly, "It's very sensible of you to be frightened of me. You should have been killed that day I took control of Ares' daughter, but it seems my husband took pity on you."

She leaned down so her breath caressed my ear, making me shiver harder. "Bring me Aphrodite's girdle, and I will not destroy you. Consider this your only chance to win my favor, Jamie Cooper. If you fail in this, your new home will be Tartarus."

My lungs suddenly constricted and I gasped, shooting up, my eyes going wide. My forehead hit something hard and I rolled over, moaning in pain. My lungs felt frozen, my chest sore.

I heard Nico's voice, cursing. I blinked blurredly and saw him standing at the edge of his bed, holding his forehead. He looked at me, eyes irritated but concerned.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked, "You suddenly started gasping and"-he looked down at my clothes, frowning-"there's ice on you."

I looked down at my clothes and saw he was right. My clothes were damp, as well as my hair and face. I felt my eyes widen, realization hitting me like a brick.

"Nico," I rasped, "I think I just met my step-mother."

His dark eyes hardened, his body tensing. "What?"

I nodded, one hand going to my chest, feeling the soreness there. I swallowed thickly.

"My step-mother, Psyche."


So how was it? I hope I got my stuff down right, what with the myths and all.

I tried to make this chapter have a little more Nico/Jay action, since a few of you expresssed that you wanted them to get together. But let's keep in mind that they are both fourteen, and probably kinda shy when it comes to that kind of stuff. Just because Jay's dad is the love god doesn't mean she's an expert on love.

And now that she has met her lovely step-mommy, you know what that means...a quest! But who should come? Let me know in a review, as well as any questions, comments, concerns and issues you may have. I'm not going to be one of those authors who threatens not to write if I don't get reviews, but I would really like some. They feed my brain and help this story grow. Like fertalizer, but better smelling :)