The Legacy of Aphrodite.
Kathrépti̱s
Lily rushed up to me, ponytail flying, whooping. Amy walked up too, smiling. "OHMYGODS!", she squealed, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GOT CLAIMED SO QUICKLY!" and then, after jumping up and down in excitement, "YOU LOOK SO PRETTY!" ", then "But thats just the blessing of Aphrodite, Most kids get that when they're claimed by her. I didn't actually think you would be Aphrodite, you know, I mean, you're pretty enough, but you seem pretty normal, not, well, mean and stuck up, like some of your siblings are. I thought you might be Demeter or something, or maybe Athena. But oh well, you're CLAIMED!" she finished breathlessly. "oh, oh, I'll take you to your cabin!" She gripped my arm, and dragged me away from the hall, Amy flanking my other side.
"Aphrodite's the goddess of Love, right?" I asked Amy.
"Mmhm. A lot of her children are really pretty, since she's also the goddess of beauty. Her symbols the dove. Sometimes they have the power to charmspeak. Which means they basically have the power to talk most people into doing anything they want. And that blessing? It'll fade away after a couple of days. Enjoy the attention while you have it", she said, smirking slightly. I could feel the eyes on me as we were dragged through the crowd of people, still buzzing about my claiming. MY claiming. In my unnaturally beautiful dress, I stood out uncomfortably in the sea of orange. Not that I didn't LIKE the attention, it was just uncomfortable. I had only just got here, after all. I didn't know much of these people. I didn't need to be judged before people knew who I actually was.
We walked back to the cabins. It was fairly empty, but the a gaggle of girls stood outside one of the cabins. Mine, apparently, because we were heading straight towards it.
The girls, and a couple of guys, stopped talking when they saw me head towards them. A stunning girl with braided, uneven hair, and multicoloured, kaleidoscope eyes that shifted from brown to green to deep blue and back again, stepped forward. She smiled warmly. "I'm Piper McLean", she said, her tone friendly. "Welcome to the Aphrodite cabin. I'll be your head counsellor for your time here. I'm sure you will find that we are ALL very welcoming here." At this, she shot a dirty look at one of the girls at the back, with incredibly pretty and slightly Asian-looking features, spoiled by the haughty, arrogant look in her eyes. She sniffed and turned up her nose. Beside me, I noticed Lily glaring at her too. I'll ask her about it later, I thought. "Your things are already on the bed", the girl called Piper continued. "I've also put a couple of spare shirts and jeans too, just in case you want to change out of that dress. The hairdo and make-up's permanent, though, I'm afraid." She sounded sympathetic, as if she had been through the blessing too-which she probably had. I nodded, taking it all in. "Come on in!" she said, "If you were anything like me, I would guess you would want to change into something slightly more….easier to move in." I made my way past the group of people to get my first actual look at the cabin.
The whole building was painted soft grey, with steps leading up to a blue-and-white checkered verandah supported by creamy white pillars. Lace curtains framed windows that held potted pink, white, and red carnations . The door was wooden, and painted light pink, with an exquisitely carved silver door handle in the shape of a dove. I stepped up and grasped it, opening the door wide.
Inside it was a WHOLE different story
I was hit by a powerful reek of too much perfume. The walls were painted completely pink, and posters of shirtless male actors dominated the walls. Each bed, unlike the Hermes cabin, was individual and held a fluffy, thick, grey blanket. Dressers were everywhere, cluttered with make up and mirrors. An en suite bathroom's door was flung wide open. Clothes and shoes were EVERYWHERE. Some were arranged in neat, tidy, colour coded, rows, but some where just flung out everywhere. I swear those high heels sticking straight up on the ground was a safely hazard. My heart sank. This felt like the aftermath of some rich, popular girls slumber party. HOW was I supposed to LIVE here? I felt Piper materialise next to me and put a hand on my shoulder sympathetically. "I know how you feel", she said quietly, amused, "I didn't think I could survive a week in this place either. Luckily for you, though, I've put you next to me. You'll get some quiet."
"Thanks," I said gratefully. "For everything".
"No problem", she said, her mesmerising eyes sparkling. "Thats what half-sisters are for, right?" I smiled in return.
I changed into the t shirt and shorts that Piper had put on my bed. The dress shimmered, then faded away as it left my skin. Oh well. It wasn't like I wanted it, anyway. There was a bracelet on my wrist though, that I couldn't take off, no matter how hard I tugged on it. It was sort of pretty, though. Piper was about the hair, and make-up too. I couldn't get any of the pins or hair ties out, and the lips tip and mascara seemed waterproof. So I had to go around looking like goddess-wannabe. She had given me a hoodie, too, but it wasn't that cold yet. I might save it for later. I headed outside to Lily, who was waiting outside. "Thanks for waiting", I said.
"No probs," she replied. "I would've come in with you, but Tanaka over there," she jerked her head to the Asian girl from before, spitting the name out like it tasted bad in her mouth, was acting all bi…..stuck up, and told me I wasn't allowed to go in, because I wasn't a child of Aphrodite", she mimicked, using a high-pitched voice. "No offence to you, of course, but some of Aphrodite's cabin are seriously bad news." She stamped away, fuming.
Amy was standing near the steps. We watched Lily march off. "Who was that?" I asked her, slightly bewildered at Lily's sudden outburst. "That's Drew Tanaka."she said gravely. "She and Lily seriously hate each other. Well, actually, most girls in the right mind do. She is one of those people who will act all sweet and innocent, then stab you in the back. Think of the worst popular girl you've encountered. That's her, except five times worse. She thinks she's the best of us all. She used to be the head counsellor, until Leo, Jason, and his girlfriend, Piper, came along, and she challenged her. You had best stay away from her. She isn't a very nice person, if you haven't gathered already." Amy said, shrugging her shoulders. "Most girls would get angry just by looking at her, with all the stupid things she's done, but I don't see the point. She wants the attention, and I'm not going to waste my energy giving it to her." I marvelled at her logic. "There's still a couple of hours until the campfire", she said. "Do you want to come to the armoury? Maybe there's we can find something there for you. I'll take you, since Lily is a little….indisposed at the moment.. Don't worry though. She'll get over it, She always does. " I nodded and followed her to the armoury.
It was a stout, metal, shed-like structure, just off to the side of the Athena cabin. Amy opened the door quietly, and ushered me inside. She flicked a light switch, which lit up the dark room. I gasped. Inside were different arrays of daggers, swords, spears, bows and arrows, shields, and even some shotguns. They were all bronze, giving off a dull sheen in the yellow light of the light bulb. "This is where the campers get their weapons", Amy said. "Take your pick. You have plenty of time." I walked along the neatly arranged shelves, running my hands over the sharp blades. There couldn't have been more different. Some swords were double edged, foot long and glinting with the promise of bloodshed. Then there were the small, dainty throwing knives that looked like they could impale you from a miles away. Long, elegant bows hung in rows along a wall, their respective quivers laid out under them, filled with sharp, bronze-tipped arrows. "All of these are made from Celestial Bronze," Amy said behind me. "It's the only metal known to camp that can cut through monsters." After a short pause, she said "Most children of Aphrodite use a bow or a dagger. You don't see many that charge straight into battle wielding a sword." All of the weapons were cool, but none of them appealed to me in any special way. If what I saw of Amy and Lily's weapons were anything to go by, then I would guess that the weapon was a very important part of the demigod life. There wasn't anything here, though. After browsing for another half an hour or so, I gave up. "I can't find anything!" I cried out to Amy helplessly.
"It's ok", she said. "I didn't expect you to find something that quickly anyway." Then she lifted a slender bow and it's small quiver off its hook and offered them to me. "In the meantime, use these. They're light enough for you to train with, and until you get a proper weapon, you'll have to make do." I took them off her. They were fairly light, just as she said. "I'll tell Lily to teach you how to shoot. She's a natural at it, being a daughter of Apollo, and everything." I slung the bow and quiver over my shoulder. By the time we got out of the armoury, it was already dark. I guess we had spent more time in there than I gave credit for. "It's almost time for the campfire", Amy said. "Why don't you go back to your cabin and put your stuff down? I'll meet you up with Lily later." she zoomed off to her own cabin.
I made my way back to the Aphrodite cabin. I walked over to my bed and put the bow and arrows under it. I walked over to the bathroom to try and make another vain attempt to wash off the make-up, and to take a shower. After I came out, smelling clean, and slightly of roses, with the make up still on, I crashed into someone halfway to my bed, who was holding a ton of makeup. I looked up to see the girl that Lily hated so much, Drew, glaring at me. "You watch where you're going, new girl", she snarled. "McLean might be fond of you, but you mess up with me and I'll make sure you won't be able to show your face outdoors for a month. At this, she raised her hand, as if to slap me, but I threw up my arm instinctively, and….
A huge disc of bronze expanded out from my bracelet, and stopped Drew mid-hit. As I watched, she froze in terror, staring transfixed at the surface of the shield, then ran out, dropping her make up again, shrieking. I felt confused. I lowered my hand, and the circular shield snapped back into the bracelet. I peered closely at it. A charm I hadn't noticed before swung from it, with the letters καθρέπτης τρόμος engraved onto it. Mirror of Terror. Kathrépti̱s. Looks like I HAD found a weapon, after all.
"Thanks, Mum", I whispered quietly.
Then I hurried out of the cabin, grabbing my hoodie on the way and pulling it on over the t-shirt. I was going to be late for the campfire. As I stepped outside, I could see that the campers were all gravitating to the centre of the courtyard, where the huge bundle of sticks I had seen before was blazing up in a huge, unnaturally golden flames. I jogged over, and saw Lily and Amy huddled together, on the other side of the fire. I plopped myself onto the log next to them. Lily smiled at me apologetically. "Sorry about earlier", she said. "Its ok", I told her. "I don't blame you. I ran into her just then. I get why you were so annoyed. NOT a pleasant experience. Not at all." She grinned in reply. "Oh, Amy told me you would need lessons in archery", she said. "I can help with that. Do you want to start tomorrow?"
"I would love to, but the thing is…." I told them about the way the shield had spiralled out of the bracelet, and the way Drew had ran away screaming after taking a mere glance at it. Lily smirked, and Amy looked thoughtful. "I've heard of shields that can be contained in a bracelet, but the running away in terror part? I don't know. There are shields that have terrifying designs marked onto them though. Maybe thats yours. Maybe try it on one of us?" I wasn't so sure. "I wouldn't want you to be terrified, though…." I said hesitantly. "Hah, it's fine." Lily said casually. "We've faced plenty of bone-chillin' stuff before. This shouldn't be too bad."
"Ok, I said, relenting. I led them away from the crowd. "Ok", I said. "Who's my guinea pig?" Lily stepped forward. Amy shrugged, and turned her back. I raised my arm carefully, like I did in the Aphrodite cabin, and watched as the shield unravelled again. Lily watched in awe as the huge piece of bronze unfolded. Then her eyes focused on the surface, and she blanched. The colour left her cheeks, and she took a step backwards, trembling. I quickly bring my hand down, making the shield fold up. "Are you ok?", I asked Lily, who was still shaking. "What did you see?" Amy rushed over to her friend, placing her hand on her shoulder comfortingly and murmuring in her ear until she stopped shaking. "Ok", she said, taking deep breaths. "Your shield-it doesn't have a permanent design on it. In fact, it's perfectly smooth. But when I looked at it….." she shuddered. "It showed the most terrifying thing I had ever seen."
"Hmm", Amy pondered. "So, something like a mirror, then? But showing something terrifying?
Lily nodded vehemently. "Exactly like that."
"A mirror that invokes terror in the victim…." Amy said. "An interesting weapon. How it was made, I have no idea. It's definitely made out of celestial bronze, though. But how it knows how to target the victims mind…" she went on, muttering about magic and logic. "You ok?" I asked Lily guiltily. It WAS my shield that got her in this state. "Yeah, I'm fine. Glad I'm your friend and won't ever have to experience that again. I hope."
We were interrupted by Chiron's deep voice. We dragged Amy, who was still mumbling to herself, and rejoined the rest of the campers.
"As you know, we have had a new camper here today, who was claimed as a daughter of Aphrodite at dinner. I won't call Jess out now, but I hope you will ALL make her feel welcome.", his voice boomed. "I'm sure that Miss Lang is very tired, and that you all are, after all this excitement today. So I highly recommend you make use of the time I'm giving you to sleep, to well, sleep. I expect you all to be returning to your duties tomorrow. You are all dismissed. Chop chop!" He swished in tail and stamped his hoof. The crowd groaned, disappointed that they were't going to have any fun before bed, but not raising any complaints. I went along with them too, glad for some time to rest. Before Lily left me for her own cabin, she said, "I will expect you at the archery field at 8:30 tomorrow, sharp!", copying Chiron's tone of voice. I giggled, and said I would. Just then, Michael, the black haired boy from Hermes, whooshed by and flicked her hair, stealing the hair tie, and making her hair fall down in a long, thick, curtain of black. She ran after him, cursing.I rolled my eyes, and waved to Amy. Then I made my way back to the Aphrodite cabin. I lay down on the fluffy blanket and closed my eyes, the past day just whizzing around in my brain. Before I knew it though, despite the jumbled thoughts, I had fallen fast asleep.
-PurplePegasus
AN: Hi guys! Thanks for reviewing! It meant a lot to me! Also, sorry for the cliched ending, but it was all I could think of. ._.
P.S I'm sorry that this chapter took slightly longer than the other 3, but I was caught up in schoolwork-can't blame me though!