To the gods!

I was playing my guitar, finally. With everything that happened regarding Annabeth, Clarisse, the lies, the bullying, not really grieving for mom's death... I need to grieve my own way.

Music has always been part of my life, it was always a method of calming down, releasing the stress and everything. When your someone who has a lot of conditions, yeah you always feel stressed, worse that dyslexia did give me a hard time trying to play the guitar, but I nailed it finally.

(Singing)

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real

I was seated by the lake, actually not caring for what's behind me if there was...

(Singing)

The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

I pick up the music a bit more, put a bit more emotion to it with the tune. When I first heard this music, from Johnny Cash, I was 8 years old, in 2005. I shouldn't have heard it, since many believe it is related to self harm and suicide... but that's what actually I've always tried to stop.

(Singing)

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end

I put a bit more emotion now, it was a quick song, not gonna sing all of it, it was just a quick relaxing moment.

(Singing)

And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

(Singing)

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

I just stopped playing after that... after "I would find a way" nothing comes after, no more lyrics or music... just a comfortable silence... a comfortable, lonely, silence.

I slowly put the guitar in the side and looked to the lake... holding my hat, letting the wind just caress my hair, it was still wet but... at least it would give me a chill feel.

"A-Are you one of the new campers?" I jumped when I heard that voice, of course, another girl.

I look back seeing the girl, she was... also beautiful, striking blue eyes and a dirty blond hair, but so wavy... like if it was ironed, her light skin had no pimples or outgrown hair anywhere, hell her hair doesn't even have loose strands. Her eyelashes were long, something very little amount of woman have, but hers were long, not like the fake or extensive ones, but they were.

"U-Um, I... am?" I was acting so shy, like... she even looked as beautiful as Annabeth... why did I think of that?

"Are you a Child of Apollo?" she asked as I looked away slightly and shook my head.

"I don't know yet, what made you think that?" I asked a bit confused still showing a saddened and also shy tone.

"Oh, because of your voice. Every child of Apollo has a beautiful voice, and also they're naturally good playing any instrument." the girl said, looking at her more she looked like a year older than me or close.

"I was taught how to play, it wasn't natural. Mom also said I had a good voice, just that I didn't like to show it."

She reassured. "Many do that."

I nodded slowly looking away.

"Why... did you come here?" I asked her as she walked closer kneeling almost by me though not shoulder to shoulder or almost touching my back.

The girl said, "I just heard your voice, the letter of the song, they sounded... you sounded a bit sad and I decided to check if... well... if your okay."

I looked down... no, I was not okay.

"I'm not. I'm just taking... I just lost mom almost a week ago, and-"

"Your losing it." she finished as I looked in a bit of shock... did she read my mind? "Before you ask, no, I didn't read your mind, but felt your emotion."

"How?"

"Well... let me quickly introduce myself. I'm Kajsa Blanchet, and well... I'm a Daughter of Aphrodite." she said with such a kind and beautiful smile to the point I didn't even realized I was blushing... wait was I?

"A-Aphrodite?" I asked still with cheeks red.

Kajsa nods and from kneeling, she sits with her legs crossed, and I slowly move away from the ledge and also do the same.

Kajsa said, "Yeah. Again, I can sort of read your emotions, is... what all of her children demigods can do, or most."

"Your god parent... it explains why-"

"I'm unnaturally beautiful? Yeah, I was sort of born this way, I am Swedish after all, and part French."

I was smiling a little and said, "You have a good American accent."

"Bit of work but... it's not perfect, some would recognize the difference between someone born here in the United States and one born outside."

"Huh." I kept a small smile as Kajsa leans a bit back looking at me.

"So... about your mom, I'm sorry for your loss, friend."

"Thank you." I said though the hint of sadness is back.

She looked at me slowly dropping her smile, has she gone through the same thing?

"I don't think that's everything." I look at her confused. "I did hear about what happened in the girls bathroom, how you broke one of Ares' daughter teeth, your outburst at Annabeth Chase, something triggered it, right?"

When she asked, I didn't answer... but I knew she already knew the answer.

"Do you want to share what caused it?" she asked though silence still remained... I did want to share it but... I don't even know Kajsa that well if not, very little. "Well, I can tell you don't trust me a lot, that's fine actually."

"You don't feel bad that... I don't?"

"I mean, I don't trust you." Kajsa said hitting my heart.

"That's a low blow." she giggled at my comment. "So... how long have you been here?"

"Me? Oh, since I was nine. I sort of... escaped home and well... I ended here." Kajsa said surprisingly, not showing a sign of regret, nor in actions or voice. She slowly released some pink energy from her hands smiling a little. "It's also how I discovered that Aphrodite claimed me."

"Claimed? Isn't she already your mother?" I asked her but she chuckled.

"Yeah she is, but sometimes gods don't claim their children, just like many of Cabin Eleven. But please tell me... have you done something unnatural, apart from your strength? Something that might show who your hod parent is?" when she asked that... I only thought of one thing...

I said, "I... sometimes hear the voices of people, like whispers behind my ear. I heard a bully named Josh's voice like if he was behind me... but he was a few meters away... I couldn't have heard him, not without hearing everyone else, but I did... I understood every word. I also heard mom's voice when she was downstairs... and when I heard Tommy's... there was a difference. Mom's voice was again... like by ear, but Tommy's voice was normal, I was hearing him from downstairs."

"Hmm... that's not much of a good help. Only person that comes to mind is Echo, a nymph, but your Half-Blood, you couldn't have gotten in the camp without being it, sorry."

I reassured, "It's fine, just... it doesn't feel good to live so long without knowing some secrets. Mom always said father left so she could find someone better... must be a god with a lot of responsibilities."

Kajsa tightened her lips looking away slightly. Until the smell of barbecue went through my nostrils. I was so hungry that I could smell it like if it was directly in my face... I need to eat so badly.

"Barbecue?" I stood up smiling right after I asked with Kajsa looking at the same direction I looked.

She said, "Of course, just cause we're a camp for weird people does not mean we eat weird food."

I didn't even think twice, I just ran quickly to the smell, though I felt Kajsa grab by wrist and stops me, forcing me to look back.

"Easy, handsome. Don't waste more energy that you have already wasted." I looked shocked at what she called me... how could I not? I've never been called that... less from someone as beautiful as... her...

"H... Hand... some?"

"You've never been called that?" she asked me, definitely trying not to laugh at my question...

I shook my head not saying a word... as she giggled... almost laughed at me due to my comment.

She said, "I-I'm sorry, just... I gotta be honest here, you are very handsome." Her comments were making me blush, I could feel the heat in my cheeks, almost covering my face. "Are you sure your not a Child of Apollo?"

"I-I don't... I don't..."

"Guess that's a no. Though there might be a chance your father is one of the Big Three." she walks away still grabbing my wrist though in a kind way... nothing that involved super strength or anything. "I'll tell you along the way a bit more of what I think..."

She couldn't finish as we heard a horn... oh please tell me that's for food, please god, please lord of heaven hear my prayers-

"Come on, that means is finally time to eat." Kajsa said that, which in that moment... pure happiness entered my heart as she sort ran faster and followed her pace. We walked to the Dining Pavilion as Kajsa told me during the way. She theorized that I could maybe be the son of one of the Big Three, Zeus, Poseidon or Hades... mainly due to my handsomeness as she says it and brute strength, as from what read, the Big Three have always been the strongest Olympians in the exception of Hades who isn't one and isn't very handsome either from what Chiron has told the campers, so I don't think it can be him.

Another way she thinks I can find out who it is, is by what they call 'Fatal Flaw.' Being honest... I just want to eat... as much as I can. I saw many Satyrs walking to the pavilion, also some nymphs and naiads as well.

At the pavilion, torches blazed around the marble columns. A central fire burned in a bronze brazier the size of a bathtub. Each cabin had its own table, covered in white cloth trimmed in purple. Four of the tables were empty, but cabin eleven's was way overcrowded. Kajsa walked to one of the tables, the one of Aphrodite as I had to squeeze in to cabin eleven's table, but I barely fit in. I decided to put my hat and guitar between my legs.

Luckily I saw Percy seated close to me, but still separated by someone.

Annabeth was seated in table six with a bunch of serious-looking kids, they had athletic bodies with their grey eyes and blond hair.

Thomas and Grover were sitting at table twelve with Mr D, and a couple of kids who for some reason looked like him, must be Mr D's kids, with Chiron seated one side since he was too big... I mean, he is a centaur after all.

Clarisse and her friends were seated... behind me, awesome. At least she hasn't made a move cause of the flying teeth and Percy completely destroying the toilet and completely soaking all of us.

Finally, Chiron pounded his hoof against the marble floor of the pavilion, and everybody fell silent. He raised a glass. "To the gods!"

Everybody but Percy and I raised their glasses. "To the gods!"

Wood nymphs came forward with platters of food: grapes, apples, strawberries, cheese, fresh bread and yes, barbecue! I felt a tap behind the shoulder, just to look, realizing the person separating me and Percy was... Luke... Annabeth's boyfriend from what I think.

Luke said, "Speak to it. Whatever you want – non-alcoholic, of course."

He said that to both me and Percy, I looked at my glass... is it that easy? Just say what I want to drink? "Um, Sprite?"

I saw how the drink was filled with sparkling transparent drink, it sort of looked like water but I knew what it was... definitely it was Sprite, the soda and sparkles was there. I took a sip of the drink, it WAS Sprite.

I kept a smile as I drank the Sprite at full speed. I was incredibly thirsty and hungry, until someone puts a plate in front of me filled with brisket, one that I was about to completely devour in seconds.

I see Luke who also handed a plate to Percy and one for himself. "Come on."

I looked at Percy, just for the two of us stand up. As we got closer, we saw that everyone was taking a portion of their meal and dropping it into the fire, the ripest strawberry, the juiciest slice of beef, the warmest, most buttery roll.

Luke leaned to Percy's ear but also I could hear what he said. "Burnt offerings for the gods. They like the smell."

"You're kidding." Percy said after his statement.

His look warned me not to take this lightly, but I couldn't help wondering why an immortal, all-powerful being like them would like the smell of burning food.

Luke approached the fire, bowed his head, and tossed in a cluster of fat red grapes. "Hermes."

It was Percy's turn... I could see he was a bit hesitant, probably cause he didn't know who was his god-parent... I didn't either. He threw a big slice of brisket to the flames, with him walking... my turn.

I cut a bit smaller size that Percy's, as I look to the fire.  I went to throw it, making a silent plea. Please... tell me who you are.

I threw it as when the whiff of smoke hit me, I actually didn't gag. It smelled nothing like burnt food. Though I don't know if it was my hunger, but when I threw the brisket, the fire for a split second turned... black. Nobody saw that, but I still decided to just walk away and eat as much and fast as I can.

When we all finished our meals, let me tell you, I ate like a cow, Chiron pounded his hoof again for our attention.

Mr D got up with a huge sigh. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels."

A bunch of ugly bastards from the Ares table rose cheering.

"Personally," Mr D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also, I should tell you that we have a two new campers today. Peter Johnson and... and..."

That son of a-

"Er, Percy Jackson and Y/N Galinis." Mr D corrected after Chiron murmured something to him. "That's right. Hurrah, and all that. Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on."

Everybody cheered. We all headed down towards the amphitheatre, where Apollo's cabin led a sing-along. We sang camp songs about the gods and ate toasted marshmallows and joked around, it was funny, that nobody looked at me weird anymore, I managed to talk with Percy and also Kajsa.

What caught me by surprised was that someone of Apollo's cabin actually wanted me to play with them, Kajsa encouraged me as well... but... if they are natural playing instruments, better not make a fool of myself, still, it felt good that they actually wanted me to play with them. Kajsa also told me a bit more about the whole camp, with me actually in a blank more state of mind.

I still held the Minotaur horn, I still was thinking heavily about mom... but actually, being with Kajsa, Percy... and Thomas... maybe the end wasn't that bad, I did make a new friend... one who is supposedly from Aphrodite's cabin, I mean... very hard to think she isn't.

When the horn blew, we all went back to our cabins. For when I arrived, Luke did tell me that he managed to 'borrow' two sleeping bags for Percy and I. I got in my corner holding by hat and the guitar by my side, definitely not letting it go.

Luke's hospitality for Percy and I was in my eyes... good. Maybe he isn't like Annabeth... but he is still Son of Hermes, and I would definitely trust a Centaur or the Daughter of Aphrodite more than the Son of Hermes...

I still don't trust him fully.

Hallelujah! 5th chapter is finally here. Sorry took so long, I was writing my new Spider-Verse book for those who didn't know. Hope you enjoyed it, vote for it, leave a comment if you want, to leave your opinion and good night.

And to say it quickly, yes. Kajsa Blanchet is an OC.