AN: Alright, so the poll opens up now. You can find it on my profile. Added a part centered around Eris because we haven't really gotten much perspective on her. Enjoy!
Eris sat in the middle of the dance studio, reflecting on the events of capture the flag. She was having trouble coming to terms with it. Trying to keep her mind off of it, she began to stretch and warm up. The thought of her loss was really angering her and she couldn't take it anymore.
She grabbed mp3 and plugged it into the speakers. And with that, she began to dance. She danced side by side with her anger; the two mirroring each other's every move. Her jumps and leaps were higher and her pirouettes were faster and more precise. On nights like these, during dances like these, Eris could forget all about her godly parentage and the loner status that came with it. The dancing just felt right. Coming out of one of her ballet and contemporary-fused move, Eris' hair came loose.
As the music reached a climax, Eris mind went into another world. The room was full of flames that she danced through and around. Her transitions from move to mover were marked by the flames rising and falling. Every spin caused her hair to spin around her head in a deathly halo.
Most people's happy places were calming, soothing, serene, but not Eris'. The raging inferno around her that threatened to engulf her was where she was happiest. Eris had never gone to a dancing class; her ADHD couldn't handle the structure and discipline of a class, but her mom had understood that. And she taught her. Eris hadn't really spent extensive time with her mother, only every other weekend in the evenings. Her mother was part of the Sydney Ballet Company and was too busy for the mistake that was her daughter. She'd told Eris so, just not in those exact words. It had hurt, but as Eris grew up, she began to understand and relished the short time that she did spend with her mother.
Right before she began her final move, she heard the door to the studio open. She gave the intruder a curt "wait' and finished her dance. Her chest was heaving and the sweat on her face was very palpable.
"Sometimes, you children of the Big Three have the biggest egos." The man said as he took a drink of his can of Diet Coke.
Eris crossed her arms, not exactly in the mood for Dionysus' commentary. He continued. "I should've turned you into a bottlenose." He shrugged. "Oh well, missed opportunities and all that." Eris stayed silent, her arms still crossed. "You're wanted at the Big House. Chiron has requested your presence." Eris picked up her duffel bag and walked quickly out the door, leaving the god behind.
Onesimus furrowed his brow as Chiron smiled. Onesimus was always quiet out of habit, so how had Chiron heard him? Chiron gave a slight chuckle and, as if he was reading Onesimus' mind, said "Remember that I knew your father when he was a child; and he was much more mischievous than you." Onesimus nodded at him, grinning at the thought of his father as a child.
As he followed Chiron, Onesimus mentally noted that his grin was kind of permanent. His grin was never the same, though; it changed with mood and intent. The grin he'd given Chiron a few moments before, for instance, was the grin of a lightly scolded child.
Chiron looked back at Onesimus and Onesimus saw so much care in his eyes. Onesimus had never been able to understand that much care or replicate it. When they reached the main room of the Big House, Onesimus sat down on the couch while Chiron . . . kneeled? It was pretty awkward watching Chiron in horse form.
The silence was broken by Chiron before it could get awkward. He looked at Onesimus' shoulder and said, "Here. Let me." And he approached Onesimus with what looked to be an oversized first aid kit. He did some sort of healing magic that Onesimus never understood, wrapped the shoulder in gauze and put his arm in a sling.
"Thanks. Might need that arm later." Chiron gave a half-hearted chuckle at Onesimus' quip. It was clear there was something bothering him.
Chiron got right down to business. "Mind telling me how that happened?"
Onesimus hesitated for a split-second. It was a long hesitation, but he knew that Chiron had caught it. Onesimus heaved a sigh and gave Chiron a full rundown of the battle between him and Eris.
After Onesimus finished his retelling, Chiron was visibly distraught. "Foolish, Onesimus." His voice was quiet, but chastising all the same. "One or both of you could have been killed. The two of you fought like mortal enemies." He paused. "Tell me: do you have a history that has pitted you against Eris?"
Onesimus shook his head and said "Nope, but I think this might be the start of it."
Chiron's lips tightened into a thin line and he spoke carefully. "I pray to the gods that it isn't." Onesimus cocked his head in interest. He understood that Chiron cared and all but why would he care about a rivalry between two campers? Entire cabins had small wars at times, so what was so important about him and Eris getting along?
Onesimus voiced this concern and Chiron responded with "We had a godly visit today; but I'm sure you already knew that." The look on Onesimus face told Chiron that he was correct. "Hades mentioned you by name, Onesimus. History has shown us that any special mention by a god is unfortunate, but this is especially true with Hades. Though I'm sure I don't need to tell you that." Onesimus nodded. "Hades came here after he visited you . . . and he's assigned you a quest." Onesimus' eyes widened in fear and shock. Chiron held up his hand before Onesimus could speak. "I know. I don't like it any more than you do." The look on Chiron's face made Onesimus believe him. "But this is a quest from a god; we can't ignore it."
A brave grin was forced onto Onesimus' face. "No worries, Chiron. I'll get it done quick so there's no time for me to be killed." Chiron shook his head.
"There's more." He said sadly. "Eris is one of your quest companions." Onesimus tried as hard as he could not to react to this information but didn't know how well he was doing. "The last piece of dread I have for you" Chiron said with a sad tone. "There will be five people on your quest." Onesimus' face fell and he became jittery. He suddenly had the desire to run.
Barely keeping himself in his seat, Onesimus asked "When do we leave?"
Chiron seemed to age thirty years before he responded. "Three days." Onesimus stood quickly and Chiron made no move to stop him.
When he reached the door, Onesimus nearly ran right into Eris. Eris' anger rose very suddenly as she looked into the eyes of the kid who'd humiliated her earlier. She saw Chiron inside when she looked over his shoulder. Chiron motioned for her to enter and she walked past Onesimus without looking at him.
Chiron quickly gave Eris the same news she'd given Onesimus. Eris heard him and understood the gravity of the situation but could only think about the fact that her father had been at camp.
She turned to Onesimus and yelled "You mean my father, my father, visited you and just totally ignored his own daughter?!" Eris knew her cheeks were getting red and she interrupted Onesimus as he began to speak. "Never mind! He must have decided to give you his blessing instead of his daughter who asked for it." Eris had had enough. Not only had she been humiliated, but the same guy who humiliated her had gotten alone time with her father, something shed never had. "I'm not going." She said. "It's obvious who my father favors, and it isn't me." She resisted the urge to spit on Onesimus.
Onesimus gave her a grin and said "Well it's kind of hard not to like me, don't you think?" Eris lunged at him but Chiron was quick enough to grab her and hold her back.
"Listen, Eris." Chiron said in a tone that demanded respect but wasn't unkind. "You have no choice. You will, sadly, be on this quest. A god has assigned you a role in this quest. He mentioned you specifically. If you want his attention, you have it." Eris stopped struggling against Chiron and he released her. "Now, Hades hasn't left any choice for the other three quest members. The other three are Krea of the Athena cabin, Clif of the Athena cabin, and Alex of the Ares cabin. Onesimus, I leave it to you to tell them." When no one said anything, Chiron said "You are dismissed. Goodnight." The two left, careful not to get in each other's way.
At that moment, neither camper cared about the other. They were too busy thinking about the impending death of two campers.
AN: Well, another long one. I'll try to keep them long from here on out. To the readers that keep coming back, thank you guys! I'm glad you like it. As always, if you have any questions about the authors or the story, just private message me and I'll respond as quick as possible. If you have any praises or criticisms about the story, please review. I especially want the criticisms.