Lilith walked a few feet back from Thomas, on their way to the Dining Pavilion. As she did, two girls walked up to Lilith from either side.

The one on her left side, had long curly brown hair, tied up into a messy ponytail, perfect skin, perfect makeup and bright blue eyes.

The other had shoulder length, straight blonde hair with blue eyes. They both had cut their jeans into fashionable jean shorts that showed more skin than Lilith would have been comfortable in.

"Hey!" Said the blonde girl in false interest. "You're Lilith, right?" She asked and Lilith didn't answer, but nodded. "My name is Tina," The blonde hair girl said, then motioned to her brunette friend, "She is Lauren." Lauren waved also in false interest. "We were wondering, how do you always keep your skin so clear and smooth?" Lilith rose an eyebrow. "If you mean blemishes, I just don't get them." They continuously bombarded Lilith about questions about her appearance. Eventually, they sporadically changed topics, "Have heard what some of the boys have said about you?" Said Lauren and Lilith became nervous. "..N..No.." She made a face. "Oh, really?" She said, then glanced at Tina. "I was just wondering.." Tina perked up. "What's the deal with you and Lucas, anyways? You're like, always together, is there something going on?" Lilith hadn't thought of Lucas in that light, but she was happy to have him as a friend. "Is it true you were the special girl in the mortal world that Chris liked?" Asked Lauren.

"Hey, answer us." Said Tina, but Lilith was getting aggravated. "Please… don't mention Chris right now." Lauran shrugged. "Why? I totally don't get why people are still upset that he died, we've already burned his funeral shroud. Get over it." Tina seemed to falter. "Don't say that, Lauren, come on now." Lilith stopped walking, her anger rising. "You can pester me as much as you want," She said, "You can talk about me all you want, you can do whatever you want to me," She turned to face Lauren, who took a step back, "..but," a pulse of black energy rippled off of Lilith. "Don't you ever," Lilith took a step towards Lauren, "ever," another ripple of black energy and the grass at Lilith's feet wilted, "talk like that about Chris!" Another pulse of black energy, and Lauren seemed absolutely terrified. "Lilith." Said a voice and she turned to see Thomas. "Come on." He grabbed her by her arm and pulled her along.

Thomas forced Lilith to tell him what happened while they ate. It was unusual, Lilith was good at keeping her true feelings and thoughts hidden, but Thomas seemed to be the only one that could weed it out of her with ease.

"You can't get so upset every time someone mentions, Chris. We're human, we're not always so nice." He scolded her and she pouted. "I know.." Thomas shrugged. "Well, you know, you aren't bad with a shield and spear, but those two Aphrodite campers have been around a couple of months. In your current state, they probably could beat you, your only advantage is your power." Lilith glared at him, but he didn't falter, he knew that she knew he was just being honest. "Besides, you still can't control your power. You are as likely to hurt yourself and others before you can use it battle effectively." Lilith hated to hear it, but she also knew it was right. "...It's impossible to picture me as anything like the heroes in the stories… I shouldn't even be here.." She said Thomas shook his head.

"You severely lack confidence in yourself, which, believe it or not, affects everything you do. My philosophy is always; aim high, that way, if you shoot for the stars and only hit the moon, that's a feat in of itself. There is much you still have to learn and discover, first step is instilling confidence and pride into you." Lilith's frown only deepened. "That's impossible for me, I've always been shy and timid, always running away…" She said and Thomas smiled. "You don't understand, not everyone can admit that about themselves, being able to say that only shows that you have the strength to change. I think your main problem is underestimating yourself." Thomas said, which lifted Lilith's spirits a bit, but she continued to frown. "Even so, a hero's life is just not for me. I'm a side character." Lilith said bitter. Thomas shook his head, "The star of the Lilith O'Hara show is you. Who is your father?" Thomas said Lilith fidgeted. "...Hades.." Thomas nodded. "Who is he?" Thomas asked. "...God of the Underworld.." Lilith said, sheepishly and Thomas nodded.

"He's the eldest Olympian. Have pride in him, that you are his daughter. Never forget that." Thomas said Lilith pondered his words.

Have pride in her father? She would love nothing more, after all, she finally knew who he is. But just that, she had briefly met him in person, only just learned who her father was. Sure saying that her father was Hades was one thing, but he didn't seem much of a parent, just a name attached to hers.

Her powers that she inherited from him were real enough, she had witnessed it herself multiple occasions. However, that was all she had that connected her to him. But is that fair? He's Hades, Lord of the Underworld, Eldest Olympian, he's probably got to be extremely busy, right? Lilith tried to convince herself with that logic, but it didn't work. No matter how busy he is, he still had time to court her mother, whoever she was, conceive the baby, and claim her in camp. If he could do all that, he could at least visit her on her birthdays.

She came to the conclusion that it was still too early to make a decision, she'd have to wait and learn more. Despite that, she was feeling better and, slightly more confident.

After breakfast, Thomas lead Lilith towards the cabins, stopping at one that had what seemed like a bank vault for a door. Thomas pressed a red button on the side and a camera jutted out above the door. "Who requests entry?" Asked a voice through a microphone. "Thomas Goldstein, son of Hades and Lilith O'Hara, daughter of Hades. We wish to place an order." After a pause, long enough for Lilith question if they heard him, the door hissed and steam burst out of exhaust pipes.

The large door slowly swung open, revealing Nyssa, the acting counselor in Leo's absence.

Lilith had only heard about Leo second-hand, but she understood that due to certain circumstances he was away from Camp.

"You want to place a custom order from my cabin? Do you have the drachma to make an order?" Thomas reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver coin with a skull on it. "Beneath the hills and wrapped in night, the cavernous plains below, the realm of Hades, Mystic Hades, Holder of the Keys of Earth, Incline Thy sacred ear, unlock Thy deep and adamantine gates, and bring abundant fruits to bear." He sang and flicked the coin. It shimmered and glowed as it flew through the air. It sunk into the ground and with a small tremor, two wooden chests burst out of the ground, which quickly closed beneath it. "What was that?" Nyssa asked. "Patronage from Hades. It only works with silver drachma from Ancient Athens. He won't accept any other currency to exchange." Thomas bent down and picked up one of the chests and carried it over to Nyssa and plopped it at her feet.

"I believe this should be enough to cover the cost of your finest." Thomas said confident. Nyssa bent down and unlocked the chest and opened it, her face lit up with a golden light, her eyes widened. "There has got to be thousands of drachma… Are you sure you can give this out?" She asked and Thomas nodded. "He is the god of wealth and riches beneath the Earth. This is pocket change to him." Nyssa glanced up at the other chest. "What about the other chest then?" She asked and he walked back over and opened the chest, chilly ghostly fog poured out. "I want you to use this metal." Nyssa glared it, a little nervous, but her face remained stoic. "That's Stygian Iron, right?" She asked and Thomas nodded. Nyssa was silent as she pondered. "Very well, we accept your order."

Thomas nodded. "Good. I want a spear and shield, to fit her." He pointed to Lilith. Nyssa rose an eyebrow at him, "Is this about last night?" She asked and he nodded. "More than just that now." Nyssa seemed interested, but didn't breach the topic. "Very well… Should we make it in the likliness of the Spartan version?" She asked and Thomas pondered. "Yes, but with a few changes." Lilith didn't quite get what they talked about, but eventually they seemed to reach an accord.

"What's the quickest you can do?" Thomas asked and Nyssa sighed and put her hands on her hips. "I would say two days if this was a normal order, since we have all the necessary measurements and enchantments ready to go. We'll need to adjust both, especially for the metal we are working with… I'd say, if we rush without skirting anything, this Friday." Thomas pondered it, but nodded. "I'll leave it to you then." She nodded and they shook hands. "Pleasure doing business." He nodded and she called for others to help carry in the chests as Lilith and Thomas walked away.

"What now?" Lilith asked as they walked. "Practice in using your powers, then we need to get you versed in Ancient Greek."

He lead Lilith to the large dead oak tree outside the cabin. "Each demigod inherits powers from their godly parent different." Thomas began. "For example, Nico's revolve around reanimation, summoning the dead to fight for him, King of Ghosts. My powers are mostly curses and hexes. We need to figure out how your powers have manifested. We have dominion over all aspects of our father's power, but some things come easier and more natural than others." Thomas said Lilith gulped. "Understood."

He nodded, "Let's try invoking your power." He said and handed Lilith her spear and shield from the arena. "We're going to spar until you can draw out your power. Go!"

Thomas lunged and Lilith blocked it with her shield, but he continued to batter her until she was exhausted and beaten. "I-I can't-" She tried to say, but blocked another swing. "No time to rest!" He replied without hearing her out. "The world moves around us with or without us! It won't wait for you to catch up!" He continued until Lilith couldn't lift her shield anymore, but he didn't stop and continued to whack her with the flat of his blade. She continuously tried to tell him to stop, but he never listened.

Thomas rose his sword again, "STOP!" She cried out, a painful desperate plea, a black ripple of energy buffeted Thomas, surrounding Lilith.

Lilith had closed her eyes as he was swinging at her, bracing, but she noticed that he hadn't hit her. She opened her eyes to see a black ring of energy surrounding her. "Shadows." Thomas said, staring at the shadows morphing around her. Lilith looked to her left and right the pitch black shadows following her every movements.

She reached out with her hand towards tree and the shadows responded.

Swiftly, the shadows surged forward and slammed into the tree, splintering it's bark. Lilith quickly pulled back her hand and the shadows retreated back to the floating ring around her. "I've never seen a technique like this." Thomas said, studying her. "How do you feel? Does it feel delayed, or slow to respond?" He asked and she shook her head. "I feel… normal, and," She moved with her hands, the shadows following her movements. "It moves before I even complete mine." Lilith clapped her hands and the shadow ring lowered to the ground and disappeared.

"That was…" Thomas said, awed to her affinity for darkness and latent skill. "Amazing!" Lilith proclaimed, shocking Thomas. "I like it! It's pretty cool!" Thomas was stunned, "You know, usually children of Hades hate their power… You love it?" He asked and she nodded. "Of course!" She focused and with a churning sensation, the shadow ring appeared again. She walked around and it followed, always a perfect distance away from her body. However, she stepped into the sunlight, away from the shade of the cabin, and her power seemed to wane. She stepped back into the shade and it rejuvenated. "It seems your weakness is extreme light." Thomas noted and Lilith nodded. She clapped her hands and released her power.

Thomas and Lilith practiced up to dinner, completely forgetting learning Ancient Greek, and ate without an issue, aside from murmurs from the counselor table.

After dinner, Thomas and Nina headed back to the cabin. Lilith was inclined to join them, but decided to go with Oliver to the Singalong. As she walked with Oliver, who excitedly told her all about how much fun it is, someone spoke to her right. "Hey." She looked over to see Lucas. "Hi." She replied. "You were busy today, I couldn't find you or Thomas all day." He said and she nodded. "He's training me." Lucas gave her a shocked look, "Really? He didn't seem like that kind of person. Well, I'm happy for you. Any progress?" He asked and Lilith smirked. "You bet! Watch this!" She stopped him and dragged him away from everyone else and Oliver who continued rambling despite her not being there.

She focused and the shadows surrounded her again. Lucas stared at the ring of shadows, but it seemed to writhe more violently in the growing darkness of the setting sun.

"This is your power as a child of Hades?" Lucas asked and Lilith nodded, smiling. "I'm proud of it." Lilith wasn't too confident in herself, but she found that it was easy to have confidence in her inherited power.

Lilith's eyes widened as something resonated inside of her, but it quickly vanished as soon as it arrived. It broke her concentration and the ring of shadows dispersed.

"Come on, let's go meet up with everyone." Lucas said, holding out his hand and Lilith smiled and took it, allowing him to pull her along.