Alex was no stranger to disappointment. She'd been reprimanded by Athena at least millions of times. Getting a translation wrong, losing a sparring match with a nymph, not completing a lap in the record time, not getting a sword maneuver, or even not having the correct defensive stance was a reason for disappointment to the goddess of wisdom and war. Alex was supposed to be perfect, and she got that. She understood the importance of being flawless, especially when it concerned a prophecy as important as the one involving the Titan Lord's rise from the Pit.
But this, this was different.
This made her feel insecure.
She stood a little away from the crowd, unsure how to pick up a topic, or do something that would make her welcome. She'd heard the rumors; that she was a pawn of the gods, that she was an instrument to invite the wrath of another protogenoi, a primordial, and thus the apocalypse.
She didn't know to what extent it was actually true.
Alex had worked as an undercover spy for Athena and Poseidon before, getting recruited into Kronos's ranks as a child of a minor god, she's even worked in a high school where supposedly there had been an empousai infestation. Goode, she thought the name was. But she had never, ever expected making your rep in a demigod camp would be this hard.
She was already a week old camper, and usually she would be part of the crowd by now, impressing them with her extreme skill with the weaponry, her undefeatable way with the sword and her absolutely unmatchable wit. But the new prophecy (she had reason to believe it was another Great Prophecy) had almost completely ruined her chances with the demigods, who thought it was entirely her fault, what with being a child of the Big Three and all. Everyone either hated her, or was scared of her, or in worst case scenarios, both.
Now the only people she could hang out with were Percy, who was her brother and seemed intent on being a great sibling by bombarding her with old stories and corny jokes he'd learned from Leo Valdez; Malcolm Pace, who had been the first person she'd told her past, and seemed to trust her and was a cool person to hang out with, and, well, herself.
It was kind of ironic how the people who had guided her to camp seemed to be the only ones willing to spend time with her. She had talked to Nico di Angelo, but not about her past, only making small talk with the quite antisocial son of Hades. And now, as Percy was with Chiron on some 'urgent' business, and Malcolm was guiding his duo-consisting Cabin through a session of wall climbing, she was left alone at the arena to, as Percy childishly put it, 'make new friends'.
If only he had been in place of her right now.
Alex gulped visibly and made her way over a daughter of Aphrodite, Lacy, she thought her name was, and started with a simple, "Hey."
The girl yelped as she turned around, apparently nervous at seeing her. "Hi." She said in a meek tone.
Alex tried for a smile, but it ended up in looking like a snarl, so she dropped her façade of utmost politeness. "Gods. I hate doing this. But, well, you obviously know who I am, and are not comfortable around me, but would you like to spar?"
Lacy swallowed, and moved her head from side to side, her blond pigtails bouncing. "We-well, I'd love to, but the thing is…" she trailed off, looking unsure as she swept her gaze over the crowd. Her face brightened as she noticed something in the distance. "I gotta go! Michelle's calling me, probably some cleaning work."
She gave her an overenthusiastic smile with her pink braces, and jogged off.
Alex sighed and rolled her eyes. It was no secret to camp that the Aphrodite kids hated cleaning, so Lacy's excuse had been extremely see-through, and now the raven haired demigod had no idea what to do next.
Just as she was about to go over to an Apollo camper and try her luck, a laugh sounded behind her. She turned with narrowed eyes, determined to fix whatever camper had been amused at her hopeless conversation, but stopped, confused, when Adonis Lane's face came into view. The arena had emptied out as it was getting dark outside, so it was just them.
He smiled at her, his red eyes sparkling with amusement. So far, he had seemed to be the only camper who neither hated nor feared her, but was simply intrigued. He gave her a curt nod before he picked up a shortsword and hefted it up, gripping its leather bound hilt with both hands as he positioned himself in front of her. "Seems like you're having trouble making acquaintances. Don't worry; Lacy's just very…jittery."
Alex cocked an eyebrow and uncapped Shockwave, which turned into a three foot platinum sword. "It looks like you're not." She said, smirking.
He shrugged, a grin splitting his face, making it seem almost demonic, nothing like the scared boy who had shown up at camp a few days ago. "I'm a special case."
"Ah." She nodded in approval as she charged him, and he moved to block her strike as their blades clashed, sparking. "Nice choice of words, Lane."
He gave her a cocky smirk. "Last name basis already? Well, then, that's quite sexy, Shaw."
She blinked in confusion before remembering it was her cover name. "What can I say? Aphrodite loved me so much she gave me some of her sharp genes. Purely sexy-based, of course."
This surprised a laugh out of him, as he feinted towards her right. She saw right through his move as she took a step close, invading his personal space, raising her sword over his arm but he moved his blade to intercept hers mid-move. "I approve, sweetheart."
"Everyone loves a green eyed demigod candy." She winked at him. "Just don't mean my brother dear."
Now, she honestly liked Percy but it was alright making a little fun of him to get to flirt lightly with the hottest boy at camp. A son of Eros, no less.
"Of course." Said boy smiled his razor smile as he attempted to slash her torso with a cutting-edge move.
She sidestepped easily and when he was off-balance, thrust the tip of the blade under his chin, a little smirk playing on her lips. "I win."
He didn't move for some time, and Alex was involuntarily trapped by the intensity of his eyes, him being so close she could pick out the flecks of gold and onyx in them. She moved her sword a little so that the side of its blade was across his neck, but didn't move.
Adonis leaned in close, so close she could raise her head and the top of her head would brush his white hair. She stood frozen there for a moment, everything deathly quiet around them. He moved closer, enough to kiss her before she could respond. Alex was so damn surprised she just stood there with wide eyes, unable to do anything. She wondered whether this was the ability of the son of Eros.
She did enjoy it, though.
When he pulled away, a smile, a real, non-flirtatious or a dangerous smile, rested on his lips. His smile widened at her surprised expression as he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "The green-eyed demigod candy does have irresistible lips."
His tone was so drawing that Alex swallowed, feeling a fluttering in her stomach, as he pulled back, giving her another of his smiles as he walked out, leaving behind an extremely confused and extremely aroused demigod, a blush still coloring her cheeks.
Line Break
The demigod stood uncertainly in the new cabin, Connor Stoll next to her as she took in the interior of the Hermes Cabin.
It was an extremely spacious cabin, bed bunks lined on either side, even a staircase at one end of the room, suggesting a second storey to the cabin. Idly, she wondered whether every unclaimed demigod ended up here, or the Greek god of thieves had as many kids as he had professions.
The kids seemed kind of cruel, though.
A blond boy deliberately bumped into her as he walked past. A black haired girl gave her a once over and sniffed in distaste. The demigod felt her face burning with embarrassment and shame.
Then a boy with brown eyes pushed her a little from behind, grunting as he looked at her in complete and utter disgust. "Get out the way, girl. We have stuff to do rather than look at your face all day long."
She blushed in embarrassment as Connor gave the guy a warning look. "Leave her alone, Adam. She's new."
"Or what?" the kid, Adam, said. "You'll hit me with your brother? Oh, right, your brother isn't here. College?" He gave Connor a smug look, and the younger Stoll pressed his lips together and scowled at the boy.
Adam turned back to her. "Whatcha lookin' at? I said, get out the way, Nika."
And that was it. One thing Andronika hated was someone calling her Nika.
A sharp crack sounded in the room as her knuckles connected with Adam's jaw. He collapsed instantly, and she cracked her knuckles again. "It's Andy."
The room was silent.
Connor Stoll gave her an approving grin, and mouthed, I like you. He handed her a neatly folded orange shirt and a pair of jeans to change into, slipping her a can of Coke under the supplies. He grinned at her surprised expression and quickly reassured her. "Don't worry. Our dad is quite literally the god of smuggling, and you seem to be a cool girl. So, relax and take that bunk over there"- He pointed to one on the end-"And I'll steal you some toiletries."
She wondered, briefly, whether he was kidding or not. She decided not. What? The boy had the look of a prankster.
She nodded slightly as he smiled at her reassuringly and left the cabin, shutting the door behind him. For a moment, everyone stopped what they were doing, turning to look at her.
She suddenly felt nervous. Her throat was dry, even though the old centaur had given her a drink of water when she arrived at camp, injured and barely conscious. This was the hard part. Getting people to like you.
Then a girl with brown hair and sparkling sky blue eyes suddenly grinned. "Hey, you're the new girl, aren't you? The one everyone think is Ares?"
She didn't know about the Ares part, but she nodded, very slowly and carefully.
The girl's grin, if possible, turned even wider. "Come on then! Your bunk is right below mine, and if Connor likes you, then I'm sure we will too!"
The campers of the Cabin started smiling and welcoming her, and she just stood there, her eyebrows slightly raised, stunned. The blue eyed girl rolled her eyes good naturedly, and slipped her hand into hers. "Well, don't just stand there! Come on!"
Andy smiled just a bit as he was led to the designated bunk, thanking the girl. "Um, thanks…?"
"It's Kira." The girl, who now had a name, said, using the same tone Andy did when she was addressing the recently punched camper, Adam. "And this," she gestured round the room, "Is the party cabin! No matter what the Dionysus kids say." She grinned. "You'll love it." She said, handing her a rubber band and a Green Day t-shirt, winking before she disappeared up the stairs.
Andy smiled at her retreating form, thankful that she had a friend. As she entered the bathroom and slipped into the new orange t-shirt and jeans, she smiled to herself. Making her way back to the bunk, she popped open the can of Coke and looked at the Pegasus and Camp Half-Blood print on the t-shirt.
For once, she couldn't help thinking, that she had found a cool place to crash.
She laughed a little darkly. Or to call home.
Foe those who have yet not realised this, Adonis Lane is an albino.
As you see, I'm complicating Alex's love life. Still who do you think is Andy's godly parent? It's been hinted at in the chapter. Twice!
So? Like it? No? Review, whichever one it is!