"What do you mean she isn't the daughter of Aphrodite?" Britani said skeptically. The people in Cabin 10 who had so often tormented Aricia over being an Aphrodite, did not really believe Aricia truly WASN'T an Aphrodite in reality. They were just insults.

"Ari, what is she saying?" Rahl asked.

"Clarisse is kidding." Aricia said, hoping that was the case. "Right Clarisse?"

"I'm not kidding." Clarisse said firmly. "Time to tell them the truth, because it may be important to the quest."

Thunder roared louder overhead, a storm was approaching unnaturally fast. Aricia looked out the window at the blackening sky and panicked. "Di immortals Clarisse you are going to get me killed!" Aricia hissed nervously, with a touch of unsteady rage encroaching in on her voice.

"Ari what is she talking about?" Rahl asked again and grabbed her arm. "How is that possible? You live in Cabin 1o right? You can't just not live in your real parent's cabin."

"I….I…." Aricia bowed her head in defeat. "Damn you Clarisse." She cursed and shot the daughter of Ares a murderous glare. "It's true." She said at last.

Rahl and Britani stared at her in horror. Britani squealed; "Whaaaat?"

Rahl looked hurt, his dark eyes looking at Aricia as if she were a stranger. "Who is your real Olympian parent Aricia?" He said slowly.

"I am the true daughter of Hera, Queen of Olympus." Aricia admitted. "My mother created me as she did Hephaestus, or so I thought. Turned out Zeus was my true father after all. Zeus ordered her to get rid of me, and so I was forced to leave Olympus when I was five. If I were to claim my true identity, as a daughter of Hera, Zeus feared I would raise rebellion. So Aphrodite offered to claim me, because she blessed my creation when she thought I was the product of pathogenesis.

Silena, Annabeth and Percy were the only ones to know the truth at first. Silena, because she was Aphrodite's favorite and assigned to protect me. Annabeth and Percy were told as extra protection. Thalia was told, and sent to kill me though at the last moment she decided against it. Over time, Clarisse found out. The fewer people who knew, the fewer people Zeus could hurt to get to me."

Aricia paused and pointed to her purple irises.

"This is what happens when Zeus is suspicious of you. He chains you by your wrists to the mountainside, anvils on your ankles and sends his lightning through your body. And you cannot die when Zeus tortures you, not until he wants you to die. If it wasn't for Thalia, and Silena and Annabeth…I would still be there."

The two who were just learning the truth stared at Aricia in a mix of horror, awe and fear. Rahl reached over and gently brushed her hair back. "Ari…" He said softly. "You should have told me."

"Another thing…my real name is Aricia."

"Aricia." Britani said slowly. "Do you even have a last name?"

Aricia nodded slowly. "Technically, I have no last name because my parents do not. But this summer, after her death…Silena's father adopted me."

"Whoa what?" Now it was Clarisse's turn to be shocked. "Aricia, what?"

"Mr. Beauregard and Silena wanted me to be parent of their family, legally. That way, even though Silena was dead I had a home to go to when I wasn't at camp." Aricia smiled softly. "So I guess by mortal standards, my name is Aricia Beauregard."

"So….that's why you never challenged Drew." Britani said slowly. "Because you aren't really a daughter of Aphrodite."

"Yes, I promised my mother that I would not." Aricia said plainly. "Besides, to be honest I do not think I am qualified to run a cabin. I would never want to take Silena's place as the leader of her siblings anyway."

Rahl took Aricia's hand and held it tightly. "So, this whole time you've been terrified that Zeus was going to strike you down just for living?"

"Yes, well before I was, but now that he knows I am his child and not just Hera's, he does not see reasons to kill me, especially when most of the Olympians favor my life. Aphrodite and Athena like me, Artemis and Hestia do as well. The male gods don't care much either way except Hades and Poseidon who most likely use my life as means to snicker behind their brother's back." Aricia rubbed the sides of her head and sighed again.

Britani looked shell shocked, as if she had been sucker punched. "All this time, I just thought you were a bitch." She admitted. "That you didn't even care to get to know any of us because you only bothered to know Silena. That you hated us because we were not warriors, that you loathed us for we were cowards."

"I hated some of you only because those few hated me back. I did not hate anyone because they weren't fighters. Aphrodite creates and loves, she does not destroy like warriors. I understood your reluctance, but I did not hate you because of it." Aricia chuckled suddenly. "But I simply and plainly just hate Drew."

"I don't blame you." Clarisse said smugly. "I do too."

"You hate everyone."Rahl jested.

"Shut up Apollo boy, you're lucky I didn't tear you apart when I found out the two of you were dating." Clarisse gave Rahl's arm a half-hearted punch.

"You two date?" Britani asked. "For how long?"

"A year and it was wise not to tell the Aphrodite at all." Aricia's eyes turned hard. "Lest you all screw it up like you oh so love to do."

There was an awkward silence after Aricia's words were spoken. Outside the Canadian landscape flew by. The building architecture was changing, going from modern in to that of an entirely different world. French style, Quebec City was nearing.

"The entrance is in the basement of the Le Fantôme Hotel." Aricia explained. "Which quite appropriately is said to be the most haunted area of the country. We will wait until midnight, the most auspicious hour to enter. After that, it is up to Fate to lead us on our merry way."

"What are we going to do until that time?" Rahl asked.

"We are walking into Hades itself, maybe never to return. Spend the time until midnight as if it were your last day on earth." Aricia said softly and looked at each of them. "That being said, if I am to die I wish to say I beg forgiveness for any and all grievances I have committed against each of you, and wish wholeheartedly you return to camp as heroes."

They all exited the cab and split in to their separate ways, agreeing to meet back at the haunted hotel at ten in the evening.

Rahl looked at Aricia and gently touched her face. "I want to spend my last day with you." He said. "And I'm glad I know the truth now. I want to love everything about you, even the parts you are afraid to talk about."

"You…love me?" Aricia awed. "Even after…"

"Especially after; you've been so strong, and you've given up and lost so much, I love all of you and all you stand for. " He kissed her. They didn't have to hide anymore and for the first time felt truly free in their relationship.

"Rahl, I love you too."Aricia admitted.

"Let's go inside the hotel and grab a bite before we spend our final day together." Rahl suggested. "We'll eat until our stomachs want to explode."

"Good idea."

They linked arms and walked inside together and sat in a booth in one of the back corners. When the waitress placed bread in front of them she also offered olive oil and salt for dipping. Aricia felt her mouth water and eagerly ripped an edge off her piece before soaking it generously in the oil.

"It's my favorite, besides chocolate of course." She blushed and offered Rahl a piece. "My mother would feed me this, and at times Aphrodite would give me honey." She licked her fingers. "And yet none was as sweet as nectar and ambrosia."

"That stuff is truly food of the gods." Rahl agreed and took a bite of the bread. "This is good too though."

Aricia looked around and listened to the wafting sounds of talk from the other customers getting food or drinks. There were tourists, locals….

"Hey, there are some hunters in here." Rahl said and pointed across the room.

"Where? I see no one with guns." Aricia looked around.

"No, there's a bow and some arrows at that table." Rahl nodded his head.

Aricia looked to where his head was directing her and felt her golden blood run cold. "That is no hunter Rahl." She said slowly as her eyes instantly recognized the bow. "It is the Huntress."

"I figured you of all people would recognize it." A soft voice said from behind Aricia.

There, looking like a fourteen year old girl with midnight black hair and sparkling silver eyes was the Goddess Artemis, who apparently had not been limited to her earthly wanderings for the moment being. Aricia and Rahl ducked their heads in respect.

"Goddess." Rahl said respectfully.

"Goddess." Aricia said as well, though with a smile she added, "And sister."

"Little sister, such a shame you have fallen in love." Artemis shook her head and smiled. "What a Hunter you would have made."

"My mother is the goddess of marriage; the maiden path was not for me." Aricia admitted. "And one day I would like to grow older and have a child."

"Not for many, many more moons." Artemis jested and gestured for Aricia to scoot over so she could sit in the booth. She looked across at her bow and smiled at Aricia. "It seems only yesterday you were a little baby teething on my sacred bow."

"Hera!" Artemis stormed down the hallways with a small babe clutched firmly under one arm and her bow in another. "Hera!" She fumed.

"What do you want, you insufferable child?" Hera appeared and stopped short when she saw her baby in Artemis' grasp. "Aricia?"

"Hello Mama!" The little one giggled, not yet a year old.

Artemis let the child go and planted her hands firmly on her hips. "She is teething." She said crossly. "And has chosen to do so on my sacred bow."

"Naughty little thing." Hera playfully scolded her baby and lifted her in to her arms. "Apologize to the goddess and pray she does not turn you into a little rabbit."

"Sorry Artemis." Aricia said pitifully, fearing being turned in to something small and fuzzy. She quivered her little lower lip out of both fear and the pain from her newly forming teeth.

Artemis smiled and nodded. "Come here little rabbit and I will give you something to ease your pains."

Hera passed her baby to her step-daughter gingerly and kissed her face. "Be good, don't anger Artemis."

"I'm still shocked you didn't destroy me." Aricia admitted.

"I had hopes I could make you a disciple, since you loved that bow so much." Artemis chided. "But you are far too much like your mother, though from her treatment by our father, I would imagine you would have quite willingly taken the Hunter's vow."

"I am not Zeus." Rahl said firmly.

"Nor are you like my brother and your father Apollo." Artemis agreed. "You don't sicken me."

"Thank you?" Rahl said uncertainly.

"Trust me Rahl, from Artemis that is a compliment." Aricia smiled. "Please Goddess; tell me your reasons for seeking me out here."

"Right to the point I see." Artemis said and nodded gravely. "May we speak alone?" She looked at Rahl.

"Rahl can hear." Aricia said firmly.

"This is between two goddesses, and two sisters." Artemis pressed.

"It's okay Ari, I'll go see what the others are doing." Rahl stood up but Aricia grabbed his arm.

"Don't go too far." She begged.

"I won't."

When he was gone Artemis took his seat so that she was across from Aricia. "Thalia sends her good wishes, and hopes you are well. But I do not come as a messenger for her. I come to beg you to forsake this quest."

"No!" Aricia slammed her fist on the table. "You cannot ask this of me!"

"Then I can demand it Aricia." Artemis threatened. "If you go, you will not survive."

"You can't be sure of that." Aricia hissed through gritted teeth. "No one can be."

"I have foreseen your death little rabbit." Artemis' voice was sad. "And I know you have had a most evil dream."

Aricia flinched at the mention of her fever dream. "A voice told me Zeus wishes to destroy me still, and that he made sure Silena died."

"Do you believe that?"

"That he killed Silena? No, he did not kill her." Aricia admitted. "But that he still wants me dead? Of course."

"Father, the Lord of the Sky doesn't want to kill you." Artemis promised. "I beg you again, join my Hunters and forget this life."

"I love Rahl." Aricia said firmly. "I'm sorry sister, but I cannot forsake him; as you said, I am my mother."

"Then you are going to die little rabbit." Artemis repeated. "I will weep for you, as will your mother."

"I will not die; I swear on Styx that I will not die in the Underworld."

"For your sake, and that of Olympus you better hold to your oath. Your mother will tear down the mountain if she loses you."

"I will."

Artemis stood up and left the table, taking her bow with her. "When you die, I'll only have your teeth marks to remember you by." She said sadly and disappeared.

Rahl returned to the table a minute later. "What did she want?"

"Just to wish me luck, and another attempt to make me a Hunter." Aricia smiled widely. "Her luck I took, her offer politely refused."

"I'm glad."

Rahl and Aricia spent a simple day together in one another's company, wishing the hours would ever end. Unfortunately, like all things good and bad, it had to end. The clock tolled midnight as the quest members gathered at the basement door. Aricia was in the lead and clutched the door handle as tight as she would her sword. "Ready?"

Everyone nodded and Aricia smiled and threw the door open to reveal the pitched blackness beyond. "Welcome to the Underworld."