And I lied yet again! I know I'm evil :P but at least you get to know who shows up

Have fun and thanks for reading!

Nico walked outside to join his sister for the walk to the center of camp. The Hades cabin was a bit more out of the way than you would think considering he's one of the famed Big Three, but that just shows how much their blood was sneered at by others.

"So who do you think is going to show up at the bonfire today?" Hazel asked with a hint of an unknown emotion in her voice as she asked.

"Do you... Do you think dad will?"

Hazel shook her head, "No, I think that our pa has his hands busy. You know, being the lord of the dead and whatnot." She said it with a coldness that surprised him. She stopped him and made him look at her, and Nico wasn't sure what he saw in her eyes. Anxiety, fear, anger? Maybe a little hope?

"I don't know Hazel. At the rate we're crawling, we probably won't make it anyway." He didn't know what to say to her, that he hoped he would, that he hoped he'd stay away? Regardless, they were going to be late if they kept idling and twiddling their thumbs.

She smiled at him halfheartedly. "Yeah, you're right. Lead the way oh great and wise Nico!" She jokingly punched his arm.

"Hey! No touching the great and wise one, peasant!"

"Whatever you say." She rolled her eyes.

When they arrived at the special gathering, their eyes widened simultaneously at what they saw before them.

To the left of the clearing, there were massive tables that looked like they would collapse under the weight of the amount of food that was laid on them. Pizza, sandwiches, burgers, chicken, steak, and too many others to name were piled on. The smell alone was something that sent Nico into a stupor.

Hazel however, was slightly appalled by the sight on the right side of the clearing. All the houses were there. However, there was a very significant separation between the cabins, each in their own little clique. That didn't happen much, everyone usually mingles with each other.

They went over to talk to Percy who looked just as lost as they felt.

"Percy, what's going on? Everyone's so... separated." Hazel crossed her arms, expecting an answer.

"I- I have no idea Hazel. I just think it's today's tension that has everyone riled up, since no one knows which gods are going to show up." He raked a hand through his hair in exasperation, wanting an explanation himself.

Nico was about to add a retort about the gods that would probably have him smote to smithereens, when Chiron stepped to the middle of the clearing in front of the bonfire with Mr. D at his heels.

"Alrighty dingbats, everyone pay attention." Mr. D was actually Dionysus, but he was charged with the task of helping Chiron direct Camp Half-Blood.

Of course, no one paid attention.

He turned bright red and yelled as loud as a foghorn, "BE QUIET AND LISTEN UP YOU NINNYS!"

. . . And still no one paid attention.

"Everyone, may I have your attention please." Everyone went quiet after a bit of finishing conversations. He was a really respected member in the camp, having been the director for a long time. Some people may disagree with how he runs things, but he can hold people's attention quite easily. They were all used to Mr. D yelling, so it was automatically tuned out by now.

Chiron spoke in a grave and serious voice. "We're gathered here today in the holy matrimony of Dionysus and this shrub." He gestured towards his left where a stray holly bush was.

Everyone roared in laughter at that. He turned a beet red and purple color, looking like he was going to throttle Chiron.

Laughing, Chiron placated him. "Don't worry, I'm just jesting! I wanted to ease up the tension between the cabins."

Mr. D huffed and cleared his voice, counting to ten in his head. Don't throttle him, one, two, don't throttle him, three, don't throttle him!

"Now, we're gathered here for the tutoring of some of the other gods and-"

"Who is it?"

"What are they going to teach?"

"How many are going to show up?"

The crowd starting shouting out different questions, working up Dionysus so much that the veins in his head started pulsing. Sensing the imminent danger, Chiron raised his hands and called for silence again.

"Settle down everyone. They wanted to keep it a surprise, so we're not aware of who it is either. Lets light the bonfire, and then your questions will be answered." He turned to D and inquired, "Would you have the honors?"

"Sure." He snapped his fingers and the giant pile of wood was aflame instantly.

And...! Nothing happened. They all looked at each other. Now to wait... They stood about, fidgeting and whispering to each other.

Chiron glanced at D in a worriedly and asked, "Are you sure they're coming?"

"They should be! They're always late and they don't ever-"

The fire roared blinding everyone momentarily. As everyone blinked tears away, they noticed three shapes that were now standing next to Chiron and Dionysus. They all regained their vision and standing before them were...

Athena, Hermes, and Aphrodite.

Part of the crowd cheered for their patron goddesses, happy that they were the ones to arrive. Nico was a bit disappointed, but not that much that he was upset about it. Then they began to notice something.

The two goddesses were glaring at each other with hatred clear on their faces while Hermes looked really awkward standing in between. What was going on? Percy looked at Hazel with a question in his eyes, and she shrugged.

Chiron cleared his throat. "Welcome, I'm very glad that you took the time to come to us."

Aphrodite smiled radiantly at him. "It's our pleasure Chiron. It's nice to stretch out once in a while."

Athena scowled at her, something obviously eating her up. "Let's just get this over with, shall we?"

Hermes looked sheepishly at Chiron and mouthed sorry while holding his palms up in a placating gesture.

Hope you enjoyed! In the next chapter will be the explanation for their seething blood.