Chapter 4

*Donna's POV*

Finally! Dinnertime. I get to get a glimpse of the new girl. I put my long blond hair into a ponytail, pull on my white converse, and head to the dining hall. Zoe is sitting with the Loki kids. Huh, that's odd. Seems like she should be sitting with the Hermes cabin. Oh, well, I'm sure I'll find out why later. In the meantime, food. I scrape some of the green beans and barbecue on my plate into the brazier as an offering to my mom, and dig in. The cute guy from Loki, Fen, is talking to Zoe. Hmm. They're laughing about something. Maybe punks do smile sometimes. Ugh, Tabitha is talking to her. Tabitha is the worst girl at camp. She'll act all nice at first, but if you get on her bad side she'll use magic to make your life absolutely miserable. She has an obvious crush on Fen, and the last girl that tried to date him almost died in a freak 'accident'. At least the Ares kids are upfront about their dislike for people, and just punch them or something. Oh, crap. Zoe just noticed me staring at her and is looking weirdly at me.

"Hey, magic-head. Fantasizing about the new girl?" Ben Wilson, a Hermes camper, sits down next to me. He is the most annoying idiot you'll ever meet but I still can't bring myself to punch him.

"Ugh. Go away Wilson. You know the only reason you talk to me is because you're secretly in love with me."

"Ha! Keep dreaming, you know the only reason you tolerate me is because you're secretly in love with me."

"Pfft. I don't tolerate you. I keep you around in case I ever need to sacrifice a human to my mom."

"Idiot, you don't have the guts to sacrifice me."

"Try me." Ben begins tickling me mercilessly, until almost every camper is staring at us. "Cut it out, Wilson. You're making a scene."

"That's how I roll, Smith." I stand up and grab his shirt.

"Come here. You can't just do whatever you want and not expect me to stand up for myself. I'm a human too and I won't just let you walk all over me like this." By now we were out of sight of the dining hall and were walking past the basketball court.

"You know, Smith, you're kinda sexy when you're mad." Ben stopped and stood in front of me, blocking my way.

"No. Wilson I'm not doing this. Get out of my way. GO!"

"Aw, c'mon Donna."

"Since when do you call me Donna, Ben?"

"Ooohh, getting on a first name basis are we now?"

"UGH!" I push him aside and run back to my cabin. I look out the window and see him walking away, looking dejected. Maybe he really does like me. Oh, well. I practice my magic until the bell rings for the campfire, then I brush my hair and go. When I arrive, Zoe is standing In the center with Fen. Huh. He whispers something in her ear, squeezes her hand, and sits down. Flirty. Percy and Annabeth come to stand by her. Percy begins to speak.

"Campers, I would like you all to welcome our newest member, Zoe Averill!" Everyone cheers and a few guys wolf-whistle. "She has not yet been claimed-" He stops short as a pillar of green smoke appears in front of him. As it dissipates, a figure steps out. A tall figure, with a horned helmet and a cape. Could it be… Loki? Oh. My. Gods. It's Loki. A god. At camp. Visits from the gods are rare, and an Asgardian god has never come to camp. "My lord! What a surprise! What is the reason for your visit?"

"I have come to claim my child. Move aside." Percy scrambled out of the way and stood in front of Zoe. "Zoe."

"Yes, my lord?" Zoe quaked as the tall god stood over her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"Father. Zoe, I am your father." Zoe stepped back. She began to grin widely, then ran to hug Fen. "Walk with me, child. I have much to tell you." They walk away, back toward the Big House, and Percy speaks again.

"Wow! Loki. Never expected him to visit. Well, shall we continue with the evening?" We light the fire and start to sing. I look up to the Big House, and see a flash of green light coming from the attic. Huh. I slip away from the fire and run as fast as I can to the Big House. As I pass the Hermes cabin, I hear grunting and moaning coming from inside. I peek in the window to see Ben and Sophie Gonzalez doing it in one of the bunks. Geez, I did not need to see that right now. Tears threaten to show themselves, and I angrily head back to my cabin. Why am I upset? I hate Ben. He's annoying. He is a complete asshole. So why am I upset? I sit on the front porch of my cabin and bite my lip.

"Hey… you okay?" I look up to see Zoe walking toward me. She looks like she just got some really bad news. Her eyes are red, her hair is a mess, her beanie is crooked, her eyeliner is smudged, and she's kind of shaking.

"Yeah, I guess. What about you? You look like you just got run over by a truck." She snorts.

"So tactful." She sits down next to me and sighs. "I guess… my whole life I thought my dad was just a lame alcoholic, and now I find out he's a god and I'm the 'savior' of his children."

"Savior?"

"Yeah. There's this curse that has haunted the children of Loki since the beginning, basically none of them are able to live past the age of 20. There's a prophecy that the true owner of the Sjövn Crystal," She pulls a shining green crystal out of her pocket. "will break the curse and let the children of Loki live their lives in peace. My mom was keeping it for me, and apparently I'm the true owner, and now I have this special power-" She throws the crystal on the ground and utters an incantation. A squirrel appears and scurries up onto her lap. "I can make it turn into pretty much anything, and if I lose it, it always turns up in my pocket." She waves her hand and the squirrel turns back into the crystal.

"That's… kind of amazing but it kind of sucks. I mean, you have this awesome weapon, but you have a ton of pressure to break the curse."

"Yeah."

"Do you know the prophecy?"

"A child of Loki will break the curse

with the Doctor of the stars traverse

The owner of the Sjövn is the key

to endless life and ecstasy

A group of four

will go explore

But only three will return

the other one will surely burn"

"Wow… not morbid at all."

"Yeah. I should probably go tell Percy."

"That might be wise."

"Well… see ya!" Zoe gets up and waves, then runs back to the campfire.

"Bye." Ugh. I can't stop thinking about Ben. Damn him, I need sleep. I go inside my cabin and lie down on my bed. Ben, Ben, Ben. "AHH!" I scream into my pillow in frustration. Damn that boy with his blond hair and bright blue eyes…

AN/ Not much to say about this chapter... I'm struggling because I think Zoe and Fen would be cute asf but they're siblings... the struggle is vv real.