A Party from Hades

here it is! the long awated Party chapter! hope it lives up to your expectations :)

(I don't own Percy Jackson, Rick Riordan does, but I do own Vicki, Izzy, and Cody Daniels [who might possibly end up being a nice guy... if I feel like it])

Main part of story set a year after TLO but TLH and SoN never happened

Vicki's POV

The sun shone through the windows of the Poseidon cabin, shining annoyingly brightly right in my face as I was trying to stay asleep. Aren't I allowed to sleep in on my birthday? I turned over and snuggled under the covers.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY VICKI!" an extremely boisterous five-year-old jumped onto my bed, right onto my stomach. I grunted and pushed her off me a bit, rolling over and pulling the covers over my head. Then my nice warm duvet was whipped away from me, making me shiver,

"Come on, Vick," Percy said poking me in the side making me squeal, "Get up," I slowly opened my eyes to see my siblings beaming down at me. "Happy birthday, Vicki." I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes,

"What time is it?" I mumbled, still trying to wake up properly.

"Seven thirty, you have half an hour until breakfast." I groaned again and fell back onto my bed. If you haven't noticed, I'm really not a morning person. Percy sighed and left, Izzy still sat on my bed, poking me and giggling.

SPLASH! I was suddenly wide awake, sitting bolt upright in my bed. There was Percy, holding an empty bucket in one hand with a smirk on his face. I sighed dramatically and swung my legs out of bed.

"Fine, I'm up," Izzy squealed in delight and jumped off the bed, running towards a small pile of presents that were on the sofa. "Guys you really shouldn't have," I protested as Percy pulled me to my feet. He smirked down at me,

"Who said they were for you?" he teased, handing me a box wrapped in purple and green paper; "open it." I ripped off the paper and found what looked like a box you would get a necklace or bracelet in, cautiously opening the lid I found a simple chain with three small charms hanging from it; an orange seahorse, a purple octopus and a sea green V with a little green dinosaur resting inside it. I gasped,

"You seriously got this for me?" I gasped, staring down at the exquisite piece of jewellery,

"Yep," Percy sat next to me, dragging Izzy onto his lap, "I had one of the Hephaestus guys do it for me," he glanced down at his watch and cursed under his breath in ancient Greek. I frowned at him; Izzy was in the room after all! I was glad that she couldn't speak the language yet. "Open the rest of them at breakfast," Percy exclaimed, getting up and tossing me a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, "We're gonna be late!"

I quickly changed in the bathroom and put on my new necklace, admiring it in the mirror. I brushed my hair and rushed out of the bathroom, slipping on my flip-flops and following Percy and Izzy out of the door towards breakfast.

It was a bit surreal really, as I walked down to breakfast, the campers that we passed along the way smiled and wished me a 'happy birthday.' People that I didn't even know seemed to know what the day was to me and I was slightly touched that they took the time to say happy birthday.

I ate a hearty breakfast of bacon and eggs, catching Cody's eye from across the pavilion. He grinned and mouthed the words 'happy birthday' and mimed giving me a present later. I blushed and smiled back, nodding that I understood.

"Hey guys," Annabeth came over to us after breakfast, quickly pecking Percy on the cheek, "Happy birthday Vicki," she smiled down at me and handed me a book shaped parcel,

"Thanks," I blushed and tore open the package, on the front in ancient Greek were the words 'the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,' in golden writing. My eyes grew wide and I grinned, "Oh My Gods! Thank you so much!" I squealed and hugged her, making her laugh. I'd wanted that book for ages but I'd never had the money for it.

"Glad you like it!" Annabeth laughed, "You guys had better head over to your first activity, I'll see you guys later!" with a final peck on the lips for Percy, she dashed off to follow her siblings.

"Well," Percy smiled and awkwardly swung his arms, "To archery?" I laughed

"To archery."

.oOo.

Cody's POV

Oh my gods! It was Victoria's birthday today! I was really nervous that she wouldn't like my present; I had stayed up all night trying to get it right for her (much to the annoyance of my half siblings). It was a bit corny but I really put a lot of effort into it; a delicately woven friendship bracelet with a wave design on it. I'd asked one of the Hecate campers to charm it so that the waves actually moved, making a shimmering pattern on her wrist. I think that it even changed depending on the actual ocean which I thought was pretty cool.

The party was supposed to be after lunch and before capture the flag. She didn't know about it and Annabeth had spread the news that no one was allowed to tell her under the threat of death. It was to be a surprise. I had volunteered myself to take her to the party so after lunch I headed over to the Poseidon table and tapped her shoulder,

"Hey Squirtle, happy birthday," I smiled as she grinned up at me,

"Thanks Sunshine," she laughed, standing up and putting her hands on her hips as she stared up at me, "Why are you so tall?" I chuckled,

"Would you prefer it if I were shorter?" I asked, bending at the knees so that I was at her eye level, "How's this?" she gave a really lady like snort,

"Yeah, this works," she smirked and leaned an elbow on my shoulder. I quickly stood up straight again and laughed at her pouting expression, leading her away from the pavilion towards the lake; which was where the party was going to be held, near the woods so we could go straight to playing capture the flag afterwards.

"I've got something for you," I said shyly, taking the hastily wrapped present, she blushed,

"Awww, Cody you didn't need to get me anything," she protested,

"Oh ok, I guess I don't need to give this to you then," I joked making as if to put it back into my pocket. Her eyes grew wide and she shook her head,

"That's not what I meant!" she exclaimed, I laughed and handed the present over, watching her face for her reaction. As soon as she saw the bracelet she gasped, her hand going to her mouth and tears sparkling in the corners of her eyes, "Oh my gods," was all she said, I immediately got the wrong idea,

"You don't like it?" I said cautiously, feeling slightly hurt, she gaped at me,

"Like it? I LOVE IT!" she laughed and flung her arms around my neck in a quick hug, leaving me feeling slightly dazed for a moment. She looked at the bracelet in awe, "Did you really make this?" she attempted to tie it onto her wrist but failed so I broke from my stupor to help,

"Um, yeah," I murmured, grinning bashfully, tying the knot around her slender wrist, "I got the Hecate cabin to charm it though so that it looks like real waves."

"Well its absolutely gorgeous!" she giggled as she admired it, walking along beside me. I gazed across at her, taking in her glistening ebony hair and her sparkling green eyes, her smooth tan skin and the spattering of freckles that covered her nose.

"Where are we heading anyway?" her voice knocked me out of my rose-tinted imaginings, was I really thinking about her like that?

"I thought we'd head over to the lake," I said, "Just to chill out a bit before capture the flag starts," she shrugged an affirmative and we carried on walking. I felt a jolt of electricity pass through me as our hands brushed as we reached the boat docks. Victoria gasped and pulled her hand away, looking at me curiously. "Um, I –,"

"SURPRISE!"

The whole camp yelled so loud that we jumped and fell in the lake, much to their amusement. We spluttered to the surface (well I did, she didn't what with her super-duper water powers) and I glared at them all. Kat and Percy each reached down a hand and helped us out of the water, trying to hide their laughter.

"Happy birthday, Vicki," Kat giggled, giving the startled Victoria a hug,

"Th – thanks," she stuttered in reply, blushing a deep red. She turned to her brother; "You didn't have to do this," she said, looking really shy. Percy laughed and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly,

"This isn't my doing," he said just as Annabeth walked up,

"Of course it isn't," she scoffed, patting his cheek, "You cant expect a seaweed brain like him to come up with something like this!" Percy frowned and crossed his arms mock angrily;

"Hey! I can be smart!" he protested, pouting comically. Vicki laughed and patted his cheek,

"Of course you are Percy!" she smiled mischievously, "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise," Percy scrunched up his eyebrows as if he was thinking about something but then he got a mischievous glint in his eyes (identical to Victoria's might I add) and grinned.

Suddenly he lifted her off the ground and over his shoulder, running around and spinning like a swing that has been wound around loads of times. Victoria squealed and held on for her life.

"Percy!" she screamed, "Put me down!" everyone laughed as Percy just shook his head stubbornly. I watched them from by the docks, happy that she was happy.

Eventually Percy did put her down and then the party festivities began; there was a huge feast set up by the cooking harpies on long tables near the lake, with picnic blankets scattered around the fields. Campers scrambled to get food and grab a place to eat; I found myself next to Kat and one of her friends from the Aphrodite cabin.

"Hey Cody," Kat said as I sat down next to her,

"Hey," I nodded in return, taking a bite of Barbecued chicken. I listened to the two girls talking and let my eyes wander around at the other campers laughing and messing around as they ate. Victoria was sat with her siblings and Annabeth, laughing at something Percy said with her sister on her lap. Its moments like that that make me feel happy about being a demigod; I mean yeah, you get attacked by monsters and have to fight titans and stuff but you also get a huge extended family that cares for you and looks out for you and is always there to make you laugh.

"Hey Cody," the Aphrodite girl dragged me out of my thoughts, I turned my head away from Victoria and looked across at the stunning brunet a few feet from me,

"Hey Vanessa," I said smiling; she was pretty, wait scratch that she was gorgeous, with long chestnut hair and eyes like a kaleidoscope, changing in the light. She had a nice body too; curvy in all the right places and not stick thin like some of the Barbie's in that cabin; and with her witty humour and bubbly personality it was hard not to smile when she was around.

"Would you like to try some of my drink?" she asked, smiling coyly, "It's a blueberry blitz," I was slightly suspicious but I didn't think anything was wrong, plus I love blueberries.

"Sure," I said, taking a sip of the milkshake. It was slightly tart but sweet as well with an under taste of something that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I licked my lips of the foamy liquid and grinned, "Yum."

Vanessa and my sister laughed and I felt my gaze wandering again. It almost immediately went to Victoria. Gods, she was beautiful; her long black hair shone in the afternoon sun and her green eyes sparkled with humour. I noticed that she was wearing a cute t-shirt with a picture of a whale on it saying 'having a whale of a time' and a pair of denim shorts with her usual blue and green flip-flops.

I had the sudden urge to go over to her and tell her how I felt about her, how couldn't I have realised that I really liked her? Gods I was an idiot sometimes. But I couldn't just go over there and just spurt my feelings at her; I had to give it a bit more flare than that. That was when I noticed Will tuning up his guitar near the makeshift stage.

I had a brain wave.

Excusing myself from the girls, I made my way over to the stage; "Hey Will," I said, "Do you mind if I borrow your guitar for a bit?" he looked at me a bit funnily but then he shrugged,

"Sure," he handed it over, "As long as you don't do anything stupid." I nodded my thanks and got up onto the stage. A hush fell over the crowds; Victoria looked at me curiously.

"Hey everybody! How're you liking the party?" I called out, receiving a resounding cheer from the crowd, I grinned, "Awesome! I've got a little song here for you guys, dedicated to our birthday girl, Victoria Corset!" aforementioned girl blushed and ducked her head, glaring at me slightly.

I started strumming the guitar, improvising the chords and hoping that the words wouldn't be a huge pile of Minotaur dung. After a few bars of chords I started to sing;

Whatever I said to make you cry

I hope you will forget

Cos I'll love you until I die

So I hope you don't regret

Victoria, you make my life worth living,

My heart beats only for you

I am so glad that you're forgiving

Cos my love for you is true.

The time that we sat there out on the beach.

Looking for things that we thought out of reach.

I hope I don't run out of time

Cos I still hope to make you mine

So all I want to say is; I love you.

A hush fell over the crowds as I sang those last three words. I suddenly realised what I had just said; Victoria's eyes were wide with shock and Percy's face was slowly darkening in anger (who'd have thought he was so protective). The rest of the crowd suddenly started cheering, especially the Aphrodite cabin.

Victoria blushed a brilliant burgundy and stood up, trying to get away from the attention that was being sent her way. I suddenly felt slightly dizzy, so I shook my head to clear the fuzziness that had formed….

Oh My Gods what had I done?

I put the guitar down and pushed through the campers towards where Victoria was backing away towards,

"Victoria!" I called; she started at the sound of my voice and stumbled backwards into a wood nymph carrying a bowl of strawberry trifle. The pudding went all over her, making the surrounding campers laugh in amusement, oblivious to the mortification on Victoria's face. She turned and ran….

….right into the forest.

Sensing the danger of the situation, Percy jumped to his feet and ran after her, calling her name over and over again. I followed his example and called out for her. I had never taken into consideration how fast she was when she wanted to be.

After a while others joined in the search (I had a feeling that capture the flag would be cancelled) mostly people from my cabin and the Athena cabin. I looked high and low for her, all the while kicking myself for saying how I felt and embarrassing her in front of the whole camp. I know that I could be an idiot sometimes but this was taking the cake (not literally of course; that cake was still on one of the buffet tables); I had managed to get one of my new friends lost in the woods!

"Hey! I've found something!" a young Athenian camper called from near the camps boundary. Oh gods please don't tell me she had crossed the border…. I reached the source of the voice at the same time as Percy did; I stopped short as soon as I saw what was there.

A few metres outside of the boundary there was a circle of carnage; broken branches, scattered monster dust, a few scraps of dirty cloth. I wouldn't have usually thought anything of it but this time it was different. This time there was human blood on the floor.

And a bracelet with a wave design sat in the middle of the wreckage.

OOOOO! OMG whats happened? lol i know that but you dont :P sorry this is a bit late, i've had to revise for a french oral exam and i did that yesterday so this chapter is sort of like my reward for that. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! otherwise Izzy might cry and flood the bathrooms.

If you like it review it!

HolySnail OUT!