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Previously - Hazel POV

"However, I will reveal myself to you," the goddess said.

After a second, the goddess reappeared with wooden torches with the brightest fire. The fire seemed to expel the mist from the cave revealing the goddess more clearly than before.

She had a slim figure, her tunic was navy blue and she had black hair and forest-green eyes. She radiated this hypnotic and mystical energy.

The goddess smiled serenely, revealing her pearly white teeth to me. "I am Trivia," she said. "The goddess of magic. We have much to discuss if you're to live through today."

Hazel POV
Trivia's Cave

That explanation made so much sense now! How she attracted the mist and her bright torches. I was definitely going to get combusted for not bowing, so I immediately did that. How did I not figure that out?

"I'm sorry, Lady Trivia for the disrespect. It won't happen again," I said firmly, hiding my fear. Gods appreciated bravery.

I heard a giggle. I lifted my head up and saw Trivia full-blown laughing. I wasn't sure what to do, but at least I didn't get combusted.

"Oh, my! You are one interesting half-blood," Trivia said, pointing her finger at me. "It will be fun training you today."

I was so confused. Why was I even here in the first place, and what did Trivia mean by 'training me today'?

Like she could read my mind, Trivia answered my questions! "Ah, daughter of Pluto. You are here so I can train you in the usage of the Mist."

Wait, can she read my mind? This conversation turned into a whole new level!

"Oh, seriously? You don't know that gods can read mortal's minds?! Half-bloods these days, always so ignorant." Trivia sighed. Don't doubt any deity!

"I'm sorry milady." I apologized. "I did not know you could do that. Why are you choosing me to train?"

"Well, there are many reasons why. You are special, Hazel Levesque."

She paced around the cave. "I work closely with Hades, so this is a sign of goodwill between us. Many half-bloods use the Mist, but they don't use it to its full advantage. Half-bloods use it as a tool, to get around mortal problems. But, the Mist can be used for anything in the world. Even with the gods. It can be more dangerous than a weapon."

Trivia came towards me, eyes glinting like a madwoman. "But you, you have real potential for it. And with your power over riches, this would make you a very powerful demigod. My disappointment with your kind could end?"

"Why didn't you choose Jason? Or Nico? They're more powerful than me!" I shot back. I didn't want any more power! That would make me more of an outcast, and I just wanted to fit in! It was hard enough that people die because of me from my powers.

Trivia laughed. "You really don't understand, do you?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but Trivia snapped her fingers. I couldn't speak or make any sounds! What the hell?!

I glared at the goddess, but she just looked amused.

She wagged her finger in front of me. "Tut tut! You are going to listen, not talk!"

"You are very powerful, Hazel. You can summon any weapon or riches, and can control tunnels and caves. You also were once dead, making manipulating the Mist much easier. It's easier when you traversed multiple planes."

"You know what, how about you create another entrance for this cave? As practice? To see if my choice was right?"

I was not going to do that. At all. I was not Trivia's, or any gods, experiment! I just needed to go back to the quest and finish it, and then I could go home. None of this nonsense!

Trivia glared at me when I didn't do anything. "You do forget that I am keeping you alive. The empousa poison is killing you, but I am stopping its flow. You will do as I tell you, or I will release my hold on the poison. You know what will happen next."

"Your will die in minutes, your body will rot, your friends will have to abandon you to continue the quest. Think again, daughter of Hades."

I was completely at her mercy. Regardless of the things I thought, I still wanted to live. And if this was all I had to do, I could do it.

I held my hands out, trying to shoot out my power to mold the earth. I called it up from my core, extending it out of my body and arms and into the cave's wall.

The power erupted out, and I fell to my knees, breathing deeply. That was the most amount of power I ever used since I was resurrected. And it hurt like hell. My chest hurt and my arms hurt.

I looked back to see what it did, but I could only see a hole with pieces of rock on the ground. The hole was barely three foot tall! Just that for all the effort?

Trivia sighed. "Well, you're a beginner. Camp Jupiter does not encourage to train your powers, but I will fix that later. Let's see your manipulation of metals."

This was my forte. I could do this. "Summon some gold," Trivia ordered.

Luckily, there were lumps of gold in the cave. I summoned a big, lumpy one. That would satisfy her.

Trivia clapped, looking more like a child than an adult. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Now, mold it into two bars of gold."

I looked at her in disbelief, but she wasn't joking. Could anyone do this? This was the first time I've ever done this. But I tried.

I called out the molecules in the gold, and separated them into two pieces. I focused on the first piece, molding the gold to the shape of a bar I saw from old movies. Then I did it to the second bar.

It didn't take as much energy as the tunnel, but there were two perfect gold bars. I whooped in my head, since I still couldn't make any sound. I did it! Yay!

Trivia clapped again. "Wonderful! Your strong suit is metals. Let's see if you can bury the first bar 5 feet below the earth, and the second one 10 feet below. And distance should be exact."

I sighed. This was going to be less difficult that the gold bars, but still nothing I ever did before.

I started sinking the first bar, but Trivia interrupted me. "You have to do them both at the same time!"

I groaned, but complied with her request. I sunk both bars at the same speed, and stopped sinking the first one when it felt like 5 feet. When the second bar reached 10 feet, I stopped sinking it too.

I checked the height of them (I can feel how far away any precious metals are), and they were only a few inches off. I fixed their location, and nodded to Trivia.

Trivia waved her hand at the ground above the bars and sprinkled some purple dust. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed, looking up. "You have passed my test!"

My two bars of gold shot up from the ground and landed by her feet. "You will become my protege. Thank you for the gold."

I wanted to ask why I was here, but I still couldn't talk.

Trivia read my mind and answered, "Hazel Levesque, you are the only half-blood on this quest, Greek or Roman, that has not trained their powers. For this quest to succeed, all half-bloods need to master their powers. Including you."

Fine, I wanted to say.

"You will need help on this quest as the least experienced one, and I want the Mist to be used properly. You were dead and traversed planes, so the Mist will come naturally to you. Like it does to my children."

"Any questions?" Trivia snapped her fingers, allowing me to talk. Finally!

"Are you going to get rid of my poison?" I asked. Please say yes, please say yes.

"Maybe. My plan will make you cured, so succeed." Oh, now I had to do another trial. Ugh!

"Let's go to your friends!"

Trivia clapped. All of our surroundings disappeared, the cave and the bars, leaving us in a black, white space. It looked like a void.

We left the void, but I felt like I was tumbling around and around like in a washing machine. I rolled in circles and circles, and I wanted to regurgitate everything I ate for breakfast back at camp. Moments later, the turbulence stopped.

Reno, Nevada

After throwing up everything I ate for breakfast, I looked up from the ground I fell on and saw the same place where we fought the empousa. Nico, for some reason, was with Octavian, Jason, and Reyna, and he was force-feeding me nectar or ambrosia.

But it wasn't doing anything.

My body had a tint of green and was shriveled like old ladies' skin, but my left arm was nothing compared to that.

It was green, shriveled, and all around disgusting, and the wound was clean, but inside it looked like rotten meat. Vultures were going to eat my arm if I was left alone! I can't describe it any more or I'm going to throw up again.

I quickly looked away from my dying self back to Trivia. (AN: DH is the dying Hazel.)

"Hazel Levesque, you have great stamina. Most would be sick for a few minutes after the trip, but you recovered quickly. You are definitely worthy of being my protege."

That comment blew my fuse. I wasn't some test subject or lowly creature that had to prove my worth; I was a legionnaire of Camp Jupiter and I didn't need to do anything for Trivia!

Ok, maybe to live, I had to do something for her. But that didn't mean I was her test subject or protege! I just want to live!

"So, how do I cure myself from the poison? With the Mist?" I spit out. Trivia should have practically felt my anger and distaste.

Trivia raised an eyebrow, bringing up her hand as if to silence me again. Like I was a subject. My anger grew, but I didn't voice it.

"The Mist can't fool the poison into stopping poisoning you. Even it has limits. No, you will have to guide your quest-mates to where the cure is found. There, you will use the Mist to find the cure."

"Where is the cure?" I tried to put as little hate in my voice as possible.

"The Peppermill Casino. Go there, and you can cure yourself. It's where the sign is." Trivia pointed to a small sign in the distance that said Peppermill.

Trivia shooed me away to DH and the others. But when I arrived, they didn't even look at me or acknowledge me. They were still trying to cure DH. I said some words, but they didn't even look at me. Could they not see, or sense me? Even Nico couldn't recognize me!

I turned towards Trivia and asked, "What's wrong with them? Why can't they see me?"

Trivia snickered. "Look at yourself, Hazel."

I looked down. At my transparent body. My transparent body!

I knew right then that the poison did its job and killed me, my body and this form. I was going to die and I was going to go down to-

Trivia put a hand on my shoulder, grounding me to Earth. She was keeping me from the underworld! But why?

"Calm down, Hazel Levesque. Calm down. You are not dead and I am not keeping you from death. Well, not yet."

I calmed down, reassured I was not dying. "What's happening?"

"I summoned your soul from your body, so you cannot communicate with the others. That's why you are transparent."

"But, how will I guide them to the Casino?"

Trivia laughed, evading my question. "You have powers over metals, don't you? I will show up when you and your group have reached the Peppermill Casino."

I wanted to question her more, but Trivia disappeared in a puff of purple dust.

I stomped my foot on the ground. How would I guide them to the casino? How could I communicate with them without the five senses? Trivia was going to pay when I saw her again!

Every time I stomped my foot, a small gemstone appeared.

What were they doing here? They deserved to perish like the goddess of magic!

Wait... I just figured out how to guide them to the casino. Just using metal! I was going to summon metals leading to the casino. Hopefully, they would follow the gold and not touch it. Then they would die.

I summoned some gold next to DH to get them to notice. They first didn't notice it, so I summoned some other gold. Finally, Octavian noticed the gold and alerted the others.

Everybody rushed towards the gold. Octavian put his index finger as if to examine it, but that would spell death for him.

Death.

I'll confess the reality of my power.

I know Trivia wants me to explore this, but there's a reason I never did.

Any person who isn't from the underworld who touched my metals will die days after.

Yeah, I call it a curse, not a blessing. Summoning riches is cool, but not when anyone who touches it dies. What's the point?

Why do I have it?

Who knows. I think it was something due to my mom's wishes, but I can't remember much of her.

With Trivia's supposed training, hopefully all that curse power will be directed onto monsters, not demigods or innocent mortals. Hopefully. With Octavian, the curse would kill him in hours for spite.

Octavian was inches away from death, but Nico slapped his hands away and explained to Octavian the dangers of touching unknown substances. Oof! Jason and Reyna laughed at Octavian's berating.

Nico looked in my direction and smiled sadly, putting his finger over his mouth.

Could he see me? Or was that a coincidence? Was that because of his status as the Ghost King?

Before the group left my hint of gold, I summoned some more on the path to the casino. They argued about what to do, but Nico kept telling them to follow the lead. He knew I existed!

The others finally relented and followed my path of gems. Reyna led it while Jason and Nico carried me. I sank the pieces that were left behind so no mortals would touch them. Everything was going well.

In approximately 2 miles, we reached the Peppermill Casino with its big sign. The group were wondering why they were at a casino, but none of them left the spot. All they had to do was ask the goddess of magic.

With a bright flash of white light, the goddess of magic appeared.

"Ah, wonderful, Hazel Levesque! I see you have successfully guided them to the Peppermill Casino!"

"So, now that I'm here, how will I cure myself?" I asked, pointing to DH. I was cutting to the chase, since I was still angry at Trivia and because I looked disgusting.

"We will go to that! First, make sure you and your friends follow me!"

Why was she delaying this? My future, my body, my life depended on the cure!

My friends followed more summoned gold which was leading them to where Trivia was. Some while later, we arrived at a poker table.

Trivia looked enraptured in the 4-player game. I stood there awkwardly, not knowing how Poker worked. (The only game I know how to play is Blackjack.)

The dealer laid down a fifth card, and everyone showed their two cards. The third player smiled, and gathered all the chips on the table. The others sighed and left the game.

Trivia turned around towards me. "Hello, Hazel. Isn't Texas Hold'em Poker (AN: I will call it THEP.) so fascinating?"

I was pretty angry at her flippant attitude, so I ditched the politeness. "How will I get the cure, Trivia?"

Trivia wagged her fingers like a mother. "Treat your elders with respect, Levesque. But I do understand your rush. I will explain."

I waited for the explanation, but it didn't come. I waved my hands and demanded, "Well? Tell me!"

Trivia glared at me. "Don't make me silence you again, Levesque. To get the cure, you must win the next game of THEP. You will then gain enough chips to exchange for the cure. You will also receive lots of mortal money."

Just winning a poker game to save my life. Good. But, there was one problem. "I don't know how to play! How will I win?"

Trivia looked genuinely surprised and raised her eyebrow. "You don't know how to play THEP?"

I shook my head.

"This is going to be way more complicated." Trivia said, bending down to my level. "I am going to implant you with the knowledge of the game."

Before I could give my consent or anything, Trivia put her finger on my forehead.

My anger rose to the surface for a moment, but then overwhelming wonder took over. In front of me, a thousand scenarios of THEP played out, each with their own cards and players, and after they finished, they entered my head! That implanted me with all the knowledge of THEP and how to win.

It was a wonder. How could that happen? Were all gods this powerful?

I was pulled out of the room, and I knew how to win and play THEP! I had a minor headache, but that must have been due to the rapid influx of information.

"Congratulations, Hazel Levesque! Now you know how to play THEP, and you can win that cure!" Trivia exclaimed.

"But, how will I win a game of THEP? None of the mortals can see me."

"Nice observation! Of course, I will make sure you can talk to the mortals."

I sighed in relief, thinking I could talk to Nico and the others. Maybe say how crazy the goddess of magic is.

"But not to the demigods!"

I frowned, balling up my fists. She should not control all my actions! "Why not?" I spat out.

"I am tired of your questions, young girl!" Trivia yelled. "Now go! Win the game of THEP, and get the chips that will give you money and the cure!"

Before I could argue or apologize or walk away, Trivia disappeared into a swirl of purple mist.

Not again! I stomped my foot on the ground. I looked over and saw my friends about to leave. I summoned some gold so the group would stay there.

I went over to the nearest THEP table that didn't already have a game started. I sat down on the third chair, waiting for the last person to arrive so I could win.

"Young lady, this is poker. You're too young to play this. Go with your mama somewhere else!" The dealer drawled patronizingly, pointing to the food section.

Oh! I forgot I looked like a 14 year old. That's why I couldn't play.

"Well, go!" The dealer ordered.

I apologized to him, embarrassed, and left.

I had to use the Mist to change my age to play, but didn't know how. It was my first time I had to!

I went to a mirror first to test my knowledge of the Mist. I decided to start small, shifting my age by a few years. I tried making myself look 18, but it didn't work. I tried harder and it still didn't work.

I put all my willpower, my thoughts, and my powers on making myself look 18, but it still didn't work! I was still a panting, 14-year-old. Ugh!

Right! The Mist only works against living things, not mirrors! No wonder!

I went over to a nearby bar and asked the bartender for a mojito.

"Girl, I think you're underage. Show me your ID." the bartender asked as expected, opening her hand for my ID.

Now, I used all my willpower to make her think I was 19, waiting to see the results. I connected our minds using the Mist for him to see what I want him to.

But the bartender was still waiting. "Well? I don't have all day! Show ID, or leave!"

Why did it not work? I ran back to the mirror, and I looked 18 or 19! Why did the bartender think I couldn't drink? Was the legal age of drinking not 18, like in 1942? Maybe things got more conservative nowadays.

I went up to an old man. I asked him, "Sir, what's the drinking age here?"

The old man sighed. "It's 21. You're a little too young for that, young lady. I swear, you Millennials want to drink every hour of every day!"

What were Millennials? Maybe a new thing. But at least now I knew what the legal age was! I decided to go back to the bar.

Once I arrived there, I did the little trick with the Mist to make the bartender think I was 23.

I asked again for a glass of beer, and the bartender got beers, to my relief.

Yes! I could play THEP without anyone being suspicious! And I controlled the Mist!

I left so I didn't spend the only money I had on drinks. I exchanged my money into chips at the stand and went over to the THEP table.

Before I sat down, I checked on the others to make sure they weren't going off in random directions.

But Reyna was gone.

I ran my eyes through the giant casino, trying to find out where she was. Reyna was close to the roulette, with her hand on her sword.

I ran towards her and summoned some metals to bring her back to the group, but she didn't notice. I summoned some more, but mortals were starting to look at us so I stopped.

How was I supposed to bring Reyna back to the table? I needed them to be all in one place.

I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Nico walk towards Reyna and tell her some words I couldn't hear. I think Nico convinced Reyna to come back to the group.

As Nico walked past me, he whispered, "Get the cure, Hazel. I believe in you."

My mouth opened wide in shock. How did he notice me? Was this all because he was the Ghost King? Impossible. Something had to be going on.

Whatever. I had to win a game of THEP to get the cure for my body. Nico's perceptiveness was not a priority.

I went back to the THEP table and sat down on the third chair. Luckily, the Mist trick worked since the dealer didn't kick me out. I sighed in relief.

The last person, an old woman, came, so we started the game. The dealer gave us each our two cards. I had some good ones, but they weren't a winning combination.

The dealer laid down the first three common cards. They were good for me to win, but I was certain one of the others could win.

I looked at the players to see my chances at winning the game. The first player had a solid poker face, but the second was out of the competition. He even sighed! The third kept looking down at her cards, her face covered by a purple hat.

The dealer laid down the fourth card. That was a great combination for me, but you never know what could happen. We were always taught not to get our hopes up, otherwise something bad would happen.

The dealer laid down the fifth card.

And it wasn't good for me.

I could win, but I bet the fourth or first player could win as well.

The dealer waved his hand, signalling for us to show cards. The first player laid down his two cards. They were a good combination, but I had better cards. The second had the first cards and didn't gamble that much money.

Next, I laid down my winning cards. But it all depended on the fourth player.

The old lady laid down her cards, and they were the best so far. That meant she would win.

But she wouldn't win. I didn't gamble all of our money just to lose a poker game.

The Mist was handy this time around as I convinced everyone that the old lady's hand was mine and vice versa.

That way, I won all the chips at the center. I took all the chips and stuck them in my bag.

Now I could get the cure! Finally.

The fourth player kept staring at me, even as I was getting up from the table. I ignored her, thinking that it was a dementia thing that was affecting her.

However, my ignorance would prove to be near disastrous in the near future.

In the very near future.

Hear is the seventh chapter of Greek Meets Roman!

Summary: Hazel is Trivia's protege and she will get a cure for her empousa poisoning. Hazel now knows how to control the Mist, and she will control much more under Trivia. We find out Hazel is afraid of dying, ironic right?! Hazel has won a game of THEP, so she has enough money for the cure.

In HOH, Rick introduces the goddess of magic as Hecate, not Trivia. I went with Trivia because Hazel is Roman, so they can relate. And because it makes more sense. I just don't understand why Rick would introduce her as Hecate and not Trivia. Magic can be different across mythologies!

I chose THEP as the poker game because it is the only casino game I kinda know how to play. (AKA I watched two episodes of Studio C about THEP and now I'm an expert.) I'm sorry for any mistakes I made about casino gaming, THEP, or the Peppermill Casino.

What's the deal with the fourth casino lady? What's the deal with Trivia's attitude? Will Hazel finish her mini-quest of getting the cure for her poisoning? Or will she fail? Is Annabeth going to survive the attack?

The Greeks will get the moment in Chapter 10, 11 & 12, so don't worry about them.

Have a great day and let's all Mystify!