Camp Half Blood

Zoë had a problem. In her thousands of years of living in Percy's universe, she had always kept her face disfigured. She liked it better like that, and it wasn't like she had a reason to keep it pristine. Percy liked her face, whether it was disfigured or not. That wasn't her problem.

Her problem was that she couldn't change it back. This wouldn't normally bother her, but the scared looks she was getting from other campers weren't ideal. They seemed to want to murder her, out of rage for monsters, or fear for their lives.

She wondered what the Norse would think about her face. They had a goddess that was half beautiful woman, and half undead corpse. She would fit right in.

But she had to do something about her face. She would hate to end up dead because some paranoid demigods judged her on her appearance. The only thing she could think of was a mask.

She walked to the forges. She entered, the heat hitting her. She smiled, before getting to work. She melted down bars of silver, watching them melt. She took them out of the fire and let them harden a little bit. It was easier to work with malleable metal than liquid.

She grabbed the semi molten metal, molding it like it was clay. She realized that it was harder to get metal right than play doh. So she stuck it back in the fire, and walked over and into the woods.

She went into the creek and brought some clay up from the surface. She worked with that, making a mask out of that instead. She found it much easier to mold. She put it to her face, making sure to get the dimensions right.

Once she was done with that, she brought it back to the forge. She held the mask over the fire, watching it harden. Once it was hard she placed it on the work desk. She poured the molten silver that had been melting the whole time over the mask.

The metal hardened and Zoë pulled the clay from the silver. She held the mask in her hand. It was half of a face, though it had no features. It would do. She placed it on the left side of her face- the disfigured part.

Just as she put it on, a boy entered the forge. His army jacket was on fire, but he didn't seem to mind. He grabbed some bars of metal before leaving. Zoë was curious.

The boy walked into the woods. She followed him, staying in the trees. She was silent, a skill from her days as a hunter that remained with her. The boy came to a giant wall of stone. Then his hand lit on fire.

Zoë raised her eyes in surprise. The last fire user caused that fire back in 1666. She remembered getting the news of that. She had immediately suspected Percy, but then she realized he was probably still in Hell.

The fire raced along the wall, outlining a giant door. The stone moved like it was a door. She jumped down from her tree as the boy went into the bunker. The door slowly slid closed. Zoë slipped in before it shut fully.

There were bright lights in the bunker. It was large. It had to be. But that wasn't the most impressive part. No, that went to the giant unfinished ship that was being built. It reminded her of Naglfar.

She ran a hand across the bottom of the hull. It seemed to be made of wood. As she walked around to the side of the ship, she realized that it more resembled an ancient Greek trireme.

"Admiring her?" A voice said.

"Hm?" Zoë asked, turning to the voice. It was the boy she had followed here.

"The Argo II. You're admiring it, aren't you?"

"Yeah. It's impressive. Though there are a couple of things you could improve."

"Like?"

"The prow of the ship is too large. It'll be more aerodynamic if you shave off a bit of it. Or, shape it into a point."

"About that," Leo paused to reach into a workbench. He pulled out a metal dragon head. "That's to fit all the wiring in order to wire Festus here to the ship."

"Then add some wood that's shaped like a triangle. That'll work."

"What's your name?" He asked. "I'm Leo. Valdez."

"Mazikeen. Mazikeen Morningstar."

"What's with the mask?" Leo asked.

Zoë took the mask off.

"Holy shit!"

"Leo?" A voice called out. "You good?"

"Yeah, Jason, I'm fine."

Zoë put the mask back on. "That is what is with the mask."

A blond guy with lightning blue eyes came up from behind Leo. He held his hand out to Zoë. She noticed that his forearm bore marks of Camp Jupiter. "Hi, I'm Jason Grace. Son of Jupiter."

"Mazikeen. You wouldn't happen to be related to a Thalia Grace, would you?" She shook his hand.

"Her brother. Why?"

"I know your sister. Good kid."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. She's my successor."

"Interesting. Successor to what?"

"Lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis."

"You left?"

Zoë shrugged. "Kind of. Never officially left, but I highly doubt I would be allowed to join the ranks again."

The conch sounded for dinner.

"That's dinner guys." Zoë said, before walking out of the bunker. She could hear a conversation behind her as she left.

"Leo, don't even think about it."

"What do you mean?"

"Did you not see the ring? She's either engaged or married."

"Yeah, but who could turn down Bad Boy Supreme?!"

"You'd be surprised."

"Fuck you."

Zoë sat down at Artemis' table. Whispers accumulated from the other tables. She heard each and every one. They were all from new campers, one's who weren't aware of the part she played in the second Titan War.

"...Devil's consort…"

"…marred by a deal with Satan…"

"What do you think she made a deal for?"

"...Hiding her true identity?"

Zoë rolled her eyes. Percy's quest couldn't be over quick enough.

LINE BREAK

"Well this is just offensive." Percy said.

He, Frank, and Hazel were all looking at the docks of a local beach, and all they had to offer was a rinky dink rowboat.

Percy looked around, making sure that no regular mortals were around to see what he was about to do. He really didn't want to have to manipulate the Mist so early in the morning. Luckily, it was just past dawn, and the beach was empty.

He concentrated.

Frank and Hazel grasped as the rowboat transformed into a yacht. Percy grinned.

"That's more like it." He said.

They boarded the vehicle, Percy leading them. The demigods settled into rooms as Percy went to the cockpit. He smiled giddily as he saw the steering wheel. He rubbed his hands together like a little kid who was about to play with a new toy.

He looked down at his outfit and realized that a nice suit wouldn't do. He flicked a non-existent piece of dust off his shoulder as the suit morphed into a captain's outfit. He even gave himself the little hat.

He reached the steering wheel. As he placed a hand on it, the yacht seemed to hum.

"Let's see what you can do." He said.

The yacht began to glide through the sea effortlessly and smoothly.

LINE BREAK

Hazel was sick of the sea. It didn't matter that the boat was cutting through the water without any rocking. Just being on the sea was enough to make her nauseous. Memories of the last time she was on a boat began to resurface.

That wasn't fair! This was nothing like the boat she took to that cursed island! She left her room, hoping some fresh air would do her good. She went up to the deck. The sun was beating down on the ocean.

Percy was in the cockpit wearing a whole new set of clothing. Percy. He was an enigma. He shows up, displays knowledge that no one else knew, says that he's working on orders of those in power above the gods themselves. He carried himself with a faux arrogance. It bordered on the cusp, only not falling due to the fact that he backed up everything he said. Every threat was meant, and every word was truth.

But there was also a more innocent, childish side. Like the way he was smiling as he steered the boat. Pure joy. He seemed so burdened before, but now he was free, like a bird flying for the first time.

And then there was Frank. He was… well, Frank. He obviously had secrets, which Percy apparently knew. They both hadn't spilled what it was, and it wasn't her place to know. She had her own that she would take to her second grave.

Hazel walked to the bow of the yacht. She gripped the railing. The smell of the sea was invading her senses. She closed her eyes, trying to block it out, but it only revealed memories.

And too late, she realized what was about to happen.

LINE BREAK

Their house in Alaska was small. It was also suspended on pillars over the bay. Definitely an OSHA violation, but OSHA didn't exist yet, so there was no one to tell them otherwise.

It was only one room. Hazel only had a corner to herself, her walls made of curtains. She would pin pictures from New Orleans on her wall, which made her homesick every time she looked at them.

Her mother was never home. She was out, doing whatever odd jobs she could. At least, during the day.

At night, when she was home, she also wasn't. No, it was the voice that was home. It would give Hazel orders, telling her what she had to do for a dream to come true.

Winter was the worst. Due to the prolonged darkness, the voice would stay longer. More orders, and the dream coming to fruition faster.

When summer came back around again, Hazel couldn't get enough of the sunlight. She would stay away from the shack for as long as she could. Well, away from town in general. The other kids called her names and threw rocks. 'The witch who lives in a shack.' They would say, before chucking stones.

She could've ruined their lives. Each and every single one of them. One day of her being in a charitable mood, and boom, all of her problems solved. But she didn't. He already had one terrible thing happening. Didn't need another.

She ran to the hills. She attracted ravens. They'd wait for her, wait for her to summon jewels for them. The curses didn't affect them.

It didn't matter. Eventually, each day, she would be forced to go home. And each day, more work was done.

One day, in the middle of the summer, she came across a horse. It was a tan stallion, just like the one she had seen forever ago. It was just off of a dirt path, eating something. She thought for a second that it looked like a golden nugget, but decided that it was a carrot. She decided to approach it.

The horse was wary of her approach.

She noticed that his hair was well groomed. Too well done. He must've belonged to someone. Should she return him to his owner? In the end, she said no.

She got within ten feet, and the horse left quickly. She chased it, wanting to ride a horse again.

She lost track of time. The thing that brought her back to reality was the whistle of a train. It had to be the evening run, meaning it was ten at night. She was late. Fuck.

She ran home. As soon as she got there, she was relieved. Her mother wasn't home. Maybe she wouldn't have to make the journey tonight. Then she saw the state of the cabin. Her curtain was pulled down, her chest open, her pictures ripped. Worst of all, her birthday present from her father, Pluto, the coloring pencils and sketch pad had been destroyed. Written in red color pencil on the last page was a note. It wasn't in her mother's handwriting.

Wicked girl. I'm waiting at the island. Don't disappoint me.

Solemnly, she made the journey to the island. She took a rowboat, and it wasn't long before the ominous landmass made its appearance. She was fifty feet from shore when a raven landed on the stern of the boat.

"Tonight, the last night." It said.

"Are you from my father?" Hazel asked.

"Tonight, the last night." It repeated before flying off.

She docked the boat. Over the last months, she and her mother had worn down a trail to the working place. She followed it through the forest and into the cave. It was the only warm place in Alaska. She called it the heart of the Earth.

The cavern was as big as a church sanctuary. The walls glowed with moss of different colors. There was a boom every few seconds, resembling the berating of a heart.

In the middle of the cavern was a pit. Her mother stood on the edge, staring down into it. "It's too late." She murmured.

"Mother?" Hazel asked.

She turned to her daughter. "What have I done to you? Hazel, what have I done?" She cried helplessly.

They both stared into the pit. A spire grew out of it, with a tulip bulb at the top. It reached two stories high, with rocks jutting out of it.

Hazel decided that tonight would be the final night. She was going to end this. She concentrated. She felt the Earth above her, around her. She pulled with her consciousness, bringing the ground down on top of them.

Hazel's mother cuddled her daughter close to her, trying to comfort them in their death.

Hazel closed her eyes as she waited for the crushing weight. But this time, it never came. She opened her eyes. The ground was falling above her, but it was stuck midair.

Standing with his back turned to them was a man. He wore a nice suit, not unlike the one Percy was wearing earlier. A cigarette was lit in his right hand. He brought it up to his mouth and took a drag. He blew out the smoke.

It wafted into Hazel's face. It smelled like… chocolate chip cookies.

"You know. I've seen a lot of selfless things in my years. But this…this was one of the most impressive." The man spoke.

Hazel's eyes widened as she recognized the voice. It was Percy.

"A thirteen year old daughter of Pluto, foiling the plans of a primordial. You should be proud of yourself."

"Why? I caused this? It's my fault." Hazel said.

"It is, yes." He said, turning around and looking at the spire. "You have created this… Monstrosity. It is of your own making, that can't be denied." He took another drag on his cigarette. "But you also stopped it."

"And?"

Percy sighed. "I heard this saying once. 'You see, in their last moments people show you who they truly are.' And in your last moments, you brought down a cavern on your sins, killing it. That is who you are."

She was silent.

"Hazel, I have done a lot of things that I'm not proud of. I have problems with anger, and I have harmed many people close to me. Even killed some of them. My brother…" Percy breathed in. "But I regret it. I think about what I've done, and I realize that it wasn't the best. But I know, that that is no longer me. I've grown and become a better person. Am I perfect, hell no. But we can all improve, if we learn from our mistakes. And that, Hazel, is why you're one of the seven. You deserve it as much as anyone."

"But-"

"No buts. Now, Frank is worried sick about you. I'll leave you with one more lesson before we return to the land of the living." He breathed in on last time.

"If the Devil can be redeemed, then anyone can."

A/N. Starting this back off strong with a 2.7k chapter. First chapter since the little mini hiatus I took to work on The Sea's Storm, and I feel great. I have more ideas, and more scenes I'm excited to get to. I hope you guys are ready, because this is gonna be fun.

So, we saw some development from Zoë, although not much. I want to make her a bit more comic accurate, and this is a step in the right direction. For sure I'm giving her the ability to do blood magic. She also is known to have Demon Physiology, which is basically a bunch of powers, so I might add some from there, we'll see. I also might give the ability to turn invisible, since that is a known power of mazzikin (Which is a type of demon, and it is what Mazikeen's name is based on).

As for Percy, I want to give him a more dynamic character. I don't want to have characters be stale pieces of bread, so that's kind of my goal with this story. To explore my abilities in how a character will react to things that happen. It won't be obvious at first, but there will definitely be a change in character later in the story.

The last line is really important to me. I feel like it encapsulates what the show Lucifer is all about. That is the main point that I feel like the writers were trying to prove. (Not so much in the comics, Lucifer just wanted freedom, and was willing to do anything to get it.)

Thoughts?