THE NEXT DAY, LILY AND VICTOR were in the strawberry fields, picking some berries.  Apparently, from what Lily heard, Percy had allegedly stolen Zeus' lightning bolt (classic Zeus) which made no sense. Percy had just been claimed, so why would he steal it? There was a feud going on between Zeus and Poseidon, making Percy a victim of such accusations.

"I feel bad for him. He hasn't even been here for a week and he's involved in a war between the gods? That's terrible." Liliana stated as she bit into a strawberry.  Victor gave her a small smirk, causing her to look at him in confusion.  "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I think you like him." Victor answered in a very teasing manner, causing Lily to hit him.  "Shut up, Vic! I do not!"

"Okay, okay! Ow!" Victor exclaimed through laughter.  Liliana joined him as she was lying on the grass.  The fun was cut short, however, as Grover trotted over to them.  Victor sat up, noticing the young satyr.  "Hey, Grover.  What's up?"

"Chiron wants you guys back at camp. Percy has to choose who to take on his quest." Grover explained, sending a chill to Victor's spine. The young boy himself had never gone on a quest before and he wanted to keep it that way. Finishing their strawberries, he and Lily left the strawberry field, heading to camp.

Victor and Lily, along with the other campers, were standing in a circle.  Chiron was telling Percy about what he must do on his quest.  The man didn't even get to finish when Percy stated, "Annabeth.  I also choose Victor and Liliana to join me."  Victor just stood there, shocked that the blonde even said his name.  Lily, on the other hand, was furious.  "Chiron, with all due respect, Aphrodite kids don't really go on quests, let alone, fight.  He has to choose someone else."

"He's already chosen, Liliana.  Besides, it's just one quest.  After that, you won't have to go on another mission again."  The young girl sighed in defeat, forced to hear Chiron go on about the rest of the quest.

VICTOR WAS IN HIS CABIN, packing his bag for the quest.  So far, he packed some clothes, ambrosia, bandages, a book, and a picture of him, his mom, and his stepfamily.  Clarisse entered the room, making the silence quite loud.  "What do you want?" Victor asked, annoyed that she was in his presence.  "This is my cabin too, dummy.  Anyways, I wanted to see what you're taking on your quest." she answered, noticing what he packed.  "It seems like you have everything set."

"Yeah, I do.  Anything else you want to say?" Victor asked her.  "Uh... I'm sorry for what happened the other day.  I shouldn't have said what I said to you." Clarisse stated apologetically.  This surprised Victor.  I mean, Clarisse apologizing? That's something she never did.  "But you did, Clarisse.  You said those things and they hurt me.  I don't forgive you."

Clarisse nodded her head, "I understand if you don't." Silence filled the room again, only to be broken by the sound of Victor zipping up his bag. "I'm gonna go now." Victor stated, only to be greeted by Clarisse's embrace.  "Don't die, okay? Many demigods don't come back from these quests but I want you to promise me that you won't die, you understand me?"

"I promise, I promise.  Can I go now?" Clarisse removed herself from his body, staring at him with teary eyes and a hard stare.  "You can go."

Victor was in the Aphrodite cabin, sitting at Lily's desk while she packed her stuff on her bed. "Wait, wait. She hugged you? Like actually hugged you?" Lily asked in disbelief as she folded her baby blue cardigan and neatly placed it in her bag. "Yes! It felt weird. And then she made me promise to her that I wouldn't die. Too much happened in that moment. I'm still trying to process it. I mean, Clarisse hugged me?"

"I know! Maybe she's trying to change for the better?" Lily inquired, earning a bitter laugh from Victor. "Changing for the better? She's never going to! As long as I live in that cabin, she's in charge and she's always going to pick on me."  Silena, Lily's sister, entered the cabin.  The girl was a bit older than Victor and Lily but unlike Clarisse, she was actually nice to them.  "Hey, Lils! Victor, long time no see! Are you two ready for the quest?"

Lily shook her head, "Not really.  This is our first quest and I'm scared.  What if I don't make it back?"  Silena held her sister's hands, linking them with hers.  "Lils, don't say that, okay? You're going to come back from your quest and show everyone that us Aphrodite kids are more than pretty faces.  And you can tell me all about it while I do your hair."

"Really?" Lily asked with joy.  "Yes, Lils.  I promise, okay? Pinkie swear." Silena stated, holding up her pinkie and interlocking it with Lily's.  Victor couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of their close bond.  Don't get him wrong, he was happy that Lily and her siblings were able to get along.  But no one in his cabin liked him.  They all thought he was too "babyish" or annoying, not letting him join in their activities that often.

"We should probably get going, Vic.  We don't want Chiron to get mad at us." Lily instructed, breaking Victor out of his head.  The boy just nodded his head, gripping the straps of his backpack. 

PERCY, GROVER, ANNABETH, Victor, and Liliana were on a bus, heading to Los Angeles.  Percy and Annabeth constantly bickered, making it hard for Grover to stop them from arguing. "Can you both stop it for once? Ever since we got on this bus, you've been making it very hard for me to read my book in peace. Now, it's either you listen to Grover or get us kicked off the bus." Victor ordered, making the two go silent. "Sorry."

Annabeth had left the bus to get them snacks which made sense because Percy was a son of the big three, meaning that if him and Annabeth went to the store together, they would've been easier targets for monsters.  She eventually came back with the snacks stuffed in her bag, now talking to someone in one of the rows.  The girl returned to her seat, angry and a bit fearful.  "Guys, we have to get off of this bus now!"

"Why? We still need to get to Los Angeles." Victor stated, quite confused.  "There's a monster and she knows that we're here."  Percy, in a panic, broke the window, climbing out.  Grover and Lily followed suit, noticing Victor and Annabeth still on the bus.  "Vic, what are you doing? Get Annabeth and let's go!"

The monster was now in their view, with feathers and ugly looking eyes.  Annabeth threw her dagger at the beast, watching it disappear.  She quickly retrieved her weapon.  "Come on, let's get out of here!" Victor exclaimed, grabbing her hand and helping her out the window.  "Thanks."

"No problem."  The five of them continued on their journey, now on foot.  "Something smells like burgers." Grover stated.  "Grover, this isn't the time to be thinking about -"

"No, no! I actually smell something, Percy." the young satyr explained, sniffing his nose.  The delicious aroma was coming from a place called "Aunty Em's Gnome Emporium."

Lily fastened her pace, whispering to Victor.  "This is starting to creep me out.  Why are there so many statues?"

"It feels like we're in an episode of Goosebumps with all these weird garden gnomes."  Annabeth knitted her eyebrows in confusion, "What's that?"

"What's what?"

"Goosebumps? Don't you get those when you feel cold?"

"It's a show by R.L. Stine.  You must've read the books at least." Annabeth shook her head, even more confused.  "You've never watched Goosebumps? Or read the books? When we get back to camp, I have to watch it with you." Victor stated.  "Really? You're going to do all that if we get back to camp."

"Not if, we are getting back to camp.  I'll even make popcorn for you.  I just have to convince the Hermes kids to steal some kernels."  Annabeth felt her stomach getting butterflies again, trying to ignore the feeling.  The door slowly opened, revealing a woman in white with a hat covering her eyes.  "Poor dears, you must be hungry.  I have some burgers and fries ready if you want them."

"I don't think we should trust her." Annabeth whispered, causing the others to nod in agreement.  "Well, I'm hungry and plus, I think we shouldn't jump to conclusions.  Maybe she's just a nice lady who makes good burgers." Percy stated, walking up the stairs to the door.  Lily turned to the others, "We should probably follow him if we want to make sure he's safe."

Annabeth sighed, rolling her eyes.  "Fine.  We're eating food from strangers, yay." she muttered under her breath as they went inside.

If only they had listened to her.

Maya Speaks 💫:

Vic and Annie how I've missed my babies ☹️

Also how do you guys feel about Clarisse apologizing to Victor? Do you think he should've accepted it?

What will happen now that they meet Aunty Em? Will things go well?

Stay tuned!!