WHO HAS READ THE HOUSE OF HADES?

hehe I HAVE! oh my gods, CALEO

*fangirling and screaming head off*

"Don't be ridiculous," Mitchell says gingerly picking a berry and placing it in his other palm. "Are you sure he wasn't just giving it to you because he thought you were pretty?"

I roll my eyes at his comment. "Does it look like I would joke about this?" He still looks unconvinced and gives me a look. "Mitchell! I'm being serious, he actually believed me! I told him that I didn't have anything to trade and he said it was fine and gave me the bread."

Mitchell claps his hands in applause. "Well bravo! I suppose you could just ask the butcher for a whole turkey, without trading anything!"

I scold. He thought I was joking. He thought I was lying. Well I don't think I can blame him. But the thing was that I wasn't lying. I cross my arms. "Firstly, I do not eat meat and you know that. And secondly, I am not kidding. You know what; I guess I'll just have to show you."

He smirks and crosses his arms, copying my pose. "Please do. Go ask for a loaf of bread."

I narrow my eyes at my cousin. "Fine, but just this once to prove it to you."

ATTACKING DUMMIES IS NOT as easy as it looks.

I feel beads of sweat on my forehead as I try to stab them with my dagger.

Aim: make the thing fall onto the ground.

The trainer makes it look so simple. Just swing your weapon at them and they should fall. Unfortunately, that wasn't my case.

The dummies remind me of the mannequins I used to see at the Factory, only instead of dressing them up all pretty we torture the life out of it. Not that it really had a life anyways, but...you get the image.

I keep attacking it and it still won't do anything. I grit my teeth in frustration and finally make it fall. I smile at my work, but I realise that we're only just getting started. I groan as I see more dummies waiting to be thrown onto the ground.

One dummy down, nineteen more to go

I wipe the sweat off my forehead and start swinging at the next one, hoping that this one will be easier to knock down. I swipe at its feet and it falls, much to my satisfaction. Maybe there is a particular way to defeat each one. I am trying multiple attacks on the next one when Leo yells a battle-cry of some sort then kicks the dummy onto the ground.

I stop hitting the dummy and turn around, looking at him accusingly.

"Hey, that's against the rules! You're supposed to use your weapon!"

He shrugs. "At least I knocked it down now." Leo says pointing to the dummy, lying on the ground lifelessly.

True.

I grunt as I fix the armour Chiron has handed to us. It's heavy and I don't appreciate how much it weighs me down. I brush the strands of hair sticking to my face and strap the knife back to my waist. Some say that it's usually the first day of things that's the worst, I think they're wrong. The second day of training is definitely harder.

"I need a drink," I say. Leo wipes some sweat off his face as well.

"Yeah, I think I need one too,"

"I'll get us both a bottle." I say and I walk to the snack area. My mind wanders back to yesterday when I saw strange things in my knife...particularly Silena's badge. I kept checking Katropis to see if it would appear again but it didn't. So I just came to the conclusion that I had just been imagining things or that I just was going crazy. It would be a little strange if I have become crazy because we haven't even gone into Tartarus. Apparently most people that go in never come out the same, even if they survive. I find that hard to believe because when I watch Annabeth and Percy train because seem normal, like everybody else.

I grab two bottles of water, ice cold water. I take a sip and love how refreshing it is. This is exactly what I need.

I hand Leo his drink and he takes it. But instead of drinking it, he pours it all on himself. If he was wet from sweat before, he is drenched now. "Ahh...that feels so much better."

"You were supposed to drink the water genius, not take a full on shower," I say laughing. "What will the trainer think if he sees you like that?"

"That I work super hard and now I'm drenched in sweat to prove how amazing I am?" he says.

I snort. "No. That you're a soaked idiot who has just wasted water." Leo just smirks as if he is happy with such an answer. I shake my head then rest my hands on my hips. "Do you want to work on something else?"

Leo shrugs. "I don't really care,"

"Me neither and I know it's better to work on this-"I gesture to the dummies. "-but I think we need to pick up other skills."

"Yeah okay, but what do you want to do?"

We've already gone to every station and I still don't feel really confident in anything yet.

"Let's ask Chiron," I say. "He'll know what to do."

Chiron gives us a warm smile, which makes me wonder if he really is a Titan. Maybe he is, Calypso was and she turned out to be nice. Or maybe he's just pretending to be nice. Surely he knows that he cannot warm up to us and in the end expect us all to live. Surely he understands that we are not to survive. Surely he must know how horrible it is to lose close people in these games, he's been here for a long time. Surely he must realise that getting closer only will hurt all of us more.

Apparently not, because he still approaches us kindly. Leo asks for his recommendation on our next activity.

I watch as he looks at us thoughtfully while I'm in my own mind of reflection.

Everybody here is so friendly. I do not understand, do they plan on making us all come out alive? That would be an impossible streak. A ridiculous idea, because at least three people will die on the first day. Or more. You can't be sure. And that would be just the first day of the games. So the chances are that more than half of us will die, which means no more than six will make it out alive.

I look back at Chiron who seems to be looking around the stations.

Doesn't he feel worried for Percy and Annabeth? Shouldn't he be? He's known them from the past years; he should feel mostly worried for Percy. I wonder if he'll be able to escape the clutches of Tartarus a third time. Highly unlikely. But then he was one of the youngest to come out alive in the first games-

"-you do get what I mean when I say you need to work more on that don't you?" Chiron is saying.

I nod, not really knowing what the topic is on but pretending I do.

"Yeah, but sword-fighting with dummies is getting a little too..." Leo makes a face. Chiron gives him an amused smile.

"Boring? Uninteresting?" he offers.

"Well if you put it that way...yes."

Chiron scratches his beard. "Well I'm afraid that's the one main thing you should learn. Why don't you try practising with each other." Me? Battling it out with Leo? I don't even know how to properly attack a wooden dummy properly, let alone a person.

I walk to the range with Leo and unsheathe Katropis. Leo takes out a sword and stands opposite me. He frowns.

"Now what?"

I scan the area for a trainer to help, but I can't see one that's free. My eyes fall on Annabeth who sits on a bench nearby, she is looking at us. She helped me out to pick a weapon, so maybe I can ask her for advice on attacking.

"Uh, sorry but do you think you could help us?"

Annabeth tilts her head slightly then smiles. "Sure." She gets up, her hands gripping tightly onto her knife ready in case somebody launches an attack from behind. She walks towards us and clasps her hands together.

"So, what do you need help with?"

"We're having trouble...well starting a fight. We would like to know the basics of sword-fighting-"

"And how to kill ugly monsters." Leo adds. Annabeth's grey eyes twinkle.

"Alright, but I don't think we have actually met properly. I am Annabeth Chase," she says.

"Piper," I say. "And this is Leo."

She nods then she observes us. "Stand a little bit straighter."

"What?" Leo says.

"I said stand straighter, your posture needs a little more work." She puts a hand behind his back and fixes his stance.

"What's next?"

Annabeth looks at me and purses her lips tightly, as if she is thinking. She gestures for us to follow her.

She brings us over to watch the other people train, which is a good way to starting off. I see Percy and the buff girl circling each other at one spot. The girl has a fierce determined look in her eyes. Her hands holding onto her weapon; her

"Any time now Jackson," she sneers. "You're a victor? Prove it. I bet I could beat you any day." I look at the tribute incredulously at how brave she must be. This is a two-time winner after all. But Percy Jackson just smiles and doesn't say anything. The girl isn't satisfied at this unmoved reaction and after narrowing her eyes at him angrily she launches the first attack

He immediately defends himself and does one of his own.

I watch as they move quickly and swipe at each other. The girl yells out a battle cry before swinging her sword at him. When Percy dodges, she seems to just get angrier and launches out more moves.

"My gods, who is that?" Leo exclaims.

"That's Clarisse, I think from district 5. They're just having a little battle."

I purse my lips together and continue watching their 'little' battle.

"Man, she is full on exploding. I would never want to get that lady angry." Leo mutters. Annabeth looks at him a little amusedly, and then she points.

"Do you see how they block each other's attacks? That's basically what you have to do, and defending yourself is more important than repeatedly launching attacks." I try to stay focused as she explains the different techniques. She leads us back over to where we started.

"Okay, Leo I want you to show me how you would hold your sword." She says. Leo looks a little nervous, or rather self-conscious, as he slowly lifts up the weapon. Annabeth adjusts where he is gripping the handle and stands opposite him.

"I saw you fighting the dummies, now imagine I'm one." She says. Leo blinks hard as if trying to morph her appearance into a wooden, lifeless mannequin. He frowns but nods. Annabeth holds onto her knife and gestures for him to start.

Leo charges forward with his sword, but Annabeth simply stops it from hitting her.

She nods a little. "Good," With one swipe Leo falls to the ground. "But remember to protect yourself." She wags her finger. "Rule number one, don't forget to defend."

He groans and rubs his chest. Annabeth helps him up. "Let's try it again," Leo swings again, but she makes him fall once more.

"Why is this so hard?!" He moans. "I think I like hitting dummies better."

Annabeth smiles. "Oh but it is like attacking dummies, only this dummy fights back." Leo groans and gets up again.

I don't think this dummy is dumb at all.

She hands Leo a shield. "I think you'll find that this will help."

He takes it and observes it."Oh. This looks cool-"he's interrupted when Annabeth suddenly lashes out. Leo, who is completely and utterly shocked, screams and hides behind the shield.

Annabeth smirks. "Rule number two, always be ready."

I laugh at his reaction that I almost have tears in my eyes. He narrows his eyes. "Yeah. Ha ha ha. Is this funny to you?"

I try to bite down my smile. "Apparently so?"

He pouts. "Well, how would you like to have a scary girl suddenly attack you with a sharp knife?" he says waving his arms about. I laugh even harder when this time Annabeth stops laughing and narrows her eyes at him.

"Okay then, Piper's turn." She says. I'm still giggling, recalling the high-pitch scream he produced. I can't stop and my stomach hurts so much. I look up at Annabeth.

"I-I am so sorry-I'm just getting a little...distracted." She nods and I stop laughing to try and focus on what I need to learn. But then I remember seeing his terrified, panicked face and crack up all over again.

"Piper it's not funny anymore," Annabeth drawls out resting her hands on her hips. But she smiles as well. "I'm kidding, it was actually hilarious. But seriously, you wanted my help, didn't you?"

I stop laughing and clear my throat. "You're right, sorry. I'm good, now."

Annabeth shakes her head and hands me a shield too-and I am determined not to be unprepared...like Leo.

I swing Katropis and she ducks before swiping for my feet. I jump back quickly and yelp a little. I think I've made myself look squeamish and immediately curse myself for retreating. I can't do that in the arena. I realise that I really do need more lessons.

Annabeth stops and gives a small laugh. "It's alright, don't be afraid. You'll get the hang of this. I mean, Percy used to say that he was terrible at this."

"Yeah, but at least he was a career tribute," Leo grumbles. Annabeth turns to him.

"Well that is true, but it took him time to get the hang of battling-and even I eventually got better. So basically, I just know these things from experience. It's not like you're immediately good at something, you know."

I nod and prepare for another try, gripping the handle of the knife. I stop when Leo yells, like Annabeth did, runs from behind her ready to swing...

But she turns around and hits him to the ground.

Annabeth sighs. "What was rule number two again?"

"Always be ready." He mumbles.

"Good, you're getting better though." Leo huffs and crosses his arms.

Annabeth teaches me what to do, and what not to do. We try practising once more, and I still jump back a few times, but eventually I get the hang of it.

I'm still not good enough, which disappoints me a little. But I guess Annabeth may be right-practise does make perfect. Well, at least almost perfect.

A trainer comes forward to tell us that today's session is over, so we pack up and leave.

I approach Annabeth just before heading to my cabin. "Thank you for helping us, we really needed that."

"No problem, but mind you-I'm still going to be hanging around. There's still much to learn, but you did a great job today."

I smile at her and head back. Annabeth is much nicer than I thought she would be. I thought she might be different like one of the victors from years ago. His name was Hercules and he thought he was a gift from heaven. He was up himself, selfish, boastful...just utterly horrible. Hercules may have survived hell, but if I am to become a victor I will never be as arrogant as him. And thankfully, Annabeth isn't like him either.

Aphrodite is waiting for me when I arrive, sitting on the lounge and reading some book. She grins. "You seem happy, what's up?"

I stop to think for a moment. I actually do feel happy, an emotion I thought I would never feel after the Reaping. Should I really be happy? I have made two friends after all...

I guess Leo and Annabeth are now my friends.

For some reason, that doesn't seem like something bad. I actually had fun today.

"Did you improve in something? Are you better?" Aphrodite asks. Then she pauses. "Or have you met a boy?"

The smile immediately falls from my face. A boy? Well I have met Leo but I do not intend on starting something romantic with him, and the same must go for him too. And to be honest, I don't think I would like to fall in love in, of all places, here.

I look at Aphrodite incredulously at why should would say that. "No! I was just happy because I learnt some new tricks from Annabeth and I think I'm improving!"

"Oh." Aphrodite frowns a little, but then perks back up. "Well that's still good!" I shake my head and toss Katropis onto my bed.

"How was training today?"

I shrug and order myself a glass of sparkling water. "It was better than yesterday because I actually did something a bit useful."

"That's good." I take a drink out of my glass and order a some rice crackers as well.

Aphrodite hums and pats the seat next to her. I sit down. "So Piper, I've been thinking...why don't you tell me what you do every day, like let's start with when you wake up. It's just to give me an idea of what you are used to. And I already understand that you pick fruit with your cousin, but I would like you to tell me the schedule you follow."

I eat my crackers and nod. It's not hard remembering. I recite my daily routine, I usually wake up at dawn. I leave some breakfast out for Lacy and eat a bit of food before going to the Factory and working my shift for two hours. After that I go to the fields with Mitchell, eat a proper breakfast and then sell things.

"Sell what exactly?"

"Well, the food," I say. "But sometimes we trade with others, they don't always pay."

"Alright, go on." I continue: I spend three hours at school learning home duties, to cook, sew, wash clothes...

I took these lessons since I didn't think I would have much use of learning other things like mathematical problem solving.

"And after that, I start trading again if we have anything left or I leave them for the next day."

"How do this trading work, as in where do you trade things?" Aphrodite asks.

"In the market or we go to people's houses and they trade or pay us."

"What would happen if you didn't have anything to trade?"

I hesitate at the thought. "Well, I would still try and ask the market people for food..."

"And do they give it to you?" she says.

"After some discussion...yes."

"So, we're talking about high class people...they actually give the food, without you paying?"

"Yes."

"You don't trade?"

"No."

Aphrodite leans back and looks at me thoughtfully. "So you just ask...but how do you do it, really?"

I bite my lip. "I, uh, sort of talk them into giving things to me."

"Really?" she says.

"Yes, but I only rarely do it. And...I'm pretty good at convincing people."

I watch as she considers what I have said and stays quiet for a while. I don't really see where this is going, but I hope she does see something she can work with because I surely can't. I swallow the last of the crackers and finish my drink slowly. I wonder what she must be thinking right now. I hope it's something good, or maybe she might think I am selfish for simply asking things and receiving it without giving it to others. But the thing is, I do help others, and I don't tell people this because they might get the wrong idea.

"You know..." she starts off. I look up."I think I know what we can do with you..."

I blink a couple of times. "What?" Aphrodite stands up and gives me a grin. Her eyes twinkle and she's started to get really excited. I eagerly wait for her answer.

"Piper, we're going to turn you into an actress."

Hello everybody, I am BACK! Yeah, you might realise that I update every week or every second week-but I try to update real quick :)So there's more Annabeth here, as you can see, and there will be more of her and Percy and Leo and other people soon! Just please be patient, I know how annoying it is to wait but I couldn't write that much about them just yet...

And Jason...OH MY GODS WHERE'S JASON?-that seems to be the question most of you are asking. Well I can tell you that he will be come in but you MUST stay tuned because when he does appear the story will be fabulous!...er hopefully. -_-

And when he does appear it will be 'JASPER WONDERLAND' HAHAHAhahahehe...uh it's an inside joke.

Anyways thank you to those who are continuously giving their support :D I love all of you! And thank you for putting the Titan Games on your favourite's list!

Alright I'm talking too much, just please review. I love reviews :D BYE!