I

[in autumno]

An autumnal breeze swept through Camp Half-Blood, lifting colorful leaves into miniature funnels before dropping them back onto the trails. Despite the training ground's magical barrier that kept the weather inside camp at a tolerable spring-like temperature, the collective morale that came from teenagers in October overpowered it.

Tessa walked through camp, tightening her now loose ponytail as she headed from the arena to her cabin. She glanced around at how camp had been decorating with Halloween just around the corner. Jack-o-lanterns with Greek fire candles were nestled around every corner, on the steps of just about every cabin, even lining the railings and steps of the Big House with carvings of the gods. A group of girls ran past, whispering excitedly about the Aphrodite cabin's annual costume party. Despite the weather being fairly normal, sweatshirts and beanies resided on nearly everyone Tessa passed, including herself.

Tessa hopped up the steps to Cabin Three, which as to be expected, was lined with pumpkins. The daughter of Poseidon loved Halloween to a certain degree, and tried to make her cabin as decorative as possible without going overboard. She'd even had the liberty to drape cute little orange and violet lights along the railings of the front porch. In all honesty, Tessa was pretty proud of herself.

She stepped into her cabin, sighing in content as she shut the door behind her and dropped her stuff on the ground. She stretched her soon-to-be sore muscles and started for her bathroom; she was not about to smell when dinner was in an hour and it was Saturday, meaning her closest friends—including Kaden Gray, her somewhat-secret crush—would be joining her at Table Three.

Tessa had just stepped foot in the mosaic-like back room when the hair on the back of her neck stood up. For some reasons, her senses were sharpening, the way they always did before an ambush or attack.

Her sea green eyes flicked around, scanning the room. Nothing seemed to be out of sorts that she could immediately discern, but if it was one thing she knew to trust as a demigod, it was her gut. And her gut was telling her to jump ship, despite being in her own cabin.

That's when she heard the footsteps.

Tessa's heartbeat sped up as she slowly crept to where she'd left her sword, Tempest, sheathed in its scabbard. All the while, she was sure to keep listening to the footsteps, which seemed to be circling around to her front door.

Tessa narrowed her eyes. What kind of ambush strategy would be successful by literally walking through the front door?

Well, it worked for the Trojans, she thought to herself, then instantly reprimanded herself. Not the time for her encyclopedic knowledge of military history.

Tessa reached the front of the room and keeping an eye on her door, crouched down to grab her scabbard. She unsheathed Tempest, its bronze glow flickering in the dimming light of Cabin Three, and approached the door.

She thought she could hear whispers outside, but just as she was reaching for the doorknob to swing the door open, her ambushers beat her to it.

A figure in a mask stood outside her door, frozen in position like it was ready to spook. Tessa shrieked, her heart stopping in her chest for a moment. Her muscles turned to stone, forgetting that unlike her masked solicitor, she had a weapon in her hands.

"HA!" The figure exclaimed. It reached up a hand and pulled the mask clean off, revealing a tousled-haired Mark Akagi standing outside her door.

All the fear in Tessa's body mutated into rage. She narrowed her eyes at her best friend, feeling the blush that came with being pranked encroach onto her cheeks. "Very funny," She mused airily. "Take you all day to think up that one?"

Mark's proud grin only widened. "Maybe." He shrugged. He took a step backwards and glanced behind him. "Oy, Carnation! It worked and she hasn't skewered me."

"Yet." Tessa deadpanned, a grip still on Tempest's leather hilt.

Mark whirled back around, as if Tessa had said something he found amusing, but she watched as what she said rang with him. The son of Iris' face dropped into one of pure fear and confusion. "Wait, what?"

Before Tessa could show him an example, Dale Alcander marched up the steps to Tessa's cabin. She crossed her arms, folding her gray cardigan over her camp shirt as she did. As always, her long brown hair was braided into a fishtail, with its signature strand of wheat braided into it.

"She hasn't killed you because she was too stunned by the stupidity of your plan." Dale said simply, watching her two best friends with amusement in her golden irises.

"And," Tessa grinned devilishly, a malicious look in her eyes. She grabbed Mark's collar, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "There are too many witnesses."

Mark jerked away from Tessa's grasp, looking up at her in what she knew was diluted horror. "You wouldn't."

"Try me."

Mark put his hands up in surrender, pacing backward until he ran into the railing of the porch.

Dale laughed, turning to lean against the stone wall of Cabin Three. "Surprised you actually got scared though, if I'm being totally honest."

Tessa sighed, sheathing Tempest and tossing it behind her onto her bunk. She emerged from the doorway, joining her two best friends outside. "Yeah, well, you guys know I hate that part of Halloween."

"And don't we know it," Mark chimed. "I still have bruises from where you punched me during The Conjuring."

Tessa shrugged indifferently. Sure, she was brave and courageous in most walks of life, but when it came to Halloween, she wasn't the boldest. Ever since she was little, she'd been nearly petrified of ghosts, zombies, phantoms, anything that correlated with the holiday that could somehow spook her. She always carried a flashlight when she went trick-or-treating, and as a believer in the mystical since a young age, she made sure she was back by dark. Nighttime was when the monsters walked among humans, and Tessa wanted nothing to do with it.

Of course, as she grew older and eventually discovered her identity as a demigod, she knew that the real monsters were the ones of ancient times. But even knowing that hellhounds and Minotaurs could be destroyed with a swing of her sword did nothing to satisfy her premonitions of the supernatural beings of Halloween. It always had scared her and probably always would.

Dale giggled, fiddling with the ends of her braid. She flicked her golden gaze to Tessa and instantly, the knowing that can only come from girl best friends filled her eyes. "I suggest you freshen up because Kaden's joining us for dinner." She wiggled her eyebrows at Tessa, who promptly looked away to mask her blush.

"He joins us every weekend, I don't see the problem." She retorted, even though she knew the answer.

"Because," Dale pushed off the wall. "the Aphrodite cabin's party is in exactly one week, which is Halloween, which means that you need a date and couple's costumes are cute."

Tessa blinked lazily at her best-friend; on some days, her best friend seriously reminded her of the stereotypical child of Aphrodite instead of Demeter. She shook her head and sighed. "Oh, Dale, what am I gonna do with you?"

"Nothing, because you need to go change." Dale pointed back into Cabin Three. "Go."

Tessa looked to Mark for back-up, but the son of Iris only looked away. "Why should I help you? You wanted to skewer me."

Tessa rolled her eyes but laughed. "Alright, alright, jeez. Meet you guys at the pavilion, then." She sauntered back into Cabin Three and shut the door behind her.

The daughter of Poseidon sighed, looking around her cabin. She bit her lip, forcing her insufferable fears from her mind. She hurried into the bathroom, feeling as if her fears were crawling up and down her spine like spiders, unable to be shaken.

Maybe it was Tessa's imagination as she showered and got ready, but part of her felt unsafe without Tempest at her side. Sure, it was safe on her bed, but what if when she went to go grab it, she was jumped by something that wasn't Mark? What then?

Tessa groaned, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around herself. She walked over to her mirror and wiped off the condensation, half expecting to see a figure standing behind her, just as she always did around this time of year.

~~

The pavilion had to be Tessa's second favorite spot at camp, preceded only by the shores of the Sound and the canoe lake. No matter the time of day, she could count on having her spirits lifted by the laughter, the chatter, the general camaraderie of the place. Fear and worry did not exist in a place that was dominated by light.

Tessa looked up as she spotted her friends parade to her table, mid-conversation. She tried to fight the radar that she possessed when Kaden could be present, she really did, but she frowned when the son of Aphrodite was not walking alongside Dale, Mark, and Reese, son of Apollo.

The blond boy met Tessa's gaze as he reached Table Three. "Hey, Tessa," He smiled, nodding in acknowledgement. "How are you?"

"Can't complain," Tessa shrugged. "You?"

Reese made a somewhat pained face as he sat down beside Tessa. "Flynn's trying to get me to help him ask Amelie to the Halloween party. The kid said something about fireworks, and that's where I needed to talk some sense into him."

Tessa laughed. Reese and Flynn were twins, with Reese being more outgoing and Flynn more reserved. The latter was hopelessly in love with Amelie, one of Tessa's Hecate friends, who was just as introverted and shy as Reese's brother. The two would be adorable, and were often seen talking to one another around camp.

"Well, I wish him the best of luck." Tessa laughed. She glanced over at Dale and Mark, who were seated on the opposite side of the table. They seemed to be in the middle of a heated debate, and Tessa took that as her cue to play mediator.

"What's the problem?" She asked, exhaling as she reached forward to snap under their noses.

Mark threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. "We can't decide on a costume. That's it. There goes Halloween. We have a week and this one—" He jerked a thumb at Dale, "—Can't decide."

"I can't decide?" Dale repeated. "You want to go as Mario and Luigi."

"An exception can be made for Mario and Princess Peach."

Dale groaned, burying her face in her hands. She looked back up, pleading in her golden irises.

Tessa opened her mouth to speak, but her eyes locked on the figure moving towards them, clad in jeans and a black hoodie. His emerald eyes flickered like the lanterns illuminating the pavilion, his chestnut hair windswept to perfection as always. Kaden Gray.

"Hey, Kaden," Tessa smiled in greeting.

The son of Aphrodite reached the table, his signature grin on his face. "Hey, Tessa," His eyes locked on hers, and Tessa's heart did a little Irish jig in her chest. "Mind if I join you?"

"Go ahead," Tessa motioned to the opposite bench.

Kaden sat down beside Dale and looked around. "Did I miss anything?"

Reese made a considerate face. "Aside from Dale and Mark's costume crisis, not necessarily."

Kaden chuckled, dragging a hand through his hair. "Sounds dire."

"Indeed it does."

"Which reminds me," Kaden bit his lip and looked to Tessa. He opened his mouth to speak, but shouts and screams interjected him.

Everything in the pavilion stopped. People stopped eating and drinking, one person's golden goblet clattered to the ground. Some kids stood and drew their weapons, and even Chiron and Mr. D at the head table seemed to be frozen with concern and confusion.

Then, the source of the piercing din appeared. A trio of young halfbloods, maybe ten or eleven years old, tore up the hill to the pavilion. They skidded to a stop, breathing heavily. Their cheeks were flushed with red, from exhaustion and the biting breeze.

"Help!" One of them panted. "You've gotta help us!"

Campers stood from their tables, gravitating towards the new social situation that was these three boys. Tessa was among them, her friends closely behind her. Chiron trotted towards them, a grim expression on his face.

"My boy, what happened?" The centaur asked, his tail swishing as he looked down at the trio.

The boy who had spoken earlier straightened up, and Tessa matched a name to his face: Parker, an Athena kid. He had a mop of blond hair and frightened gray eyes that were locked on the director before him.

"We...we were playing in the forest..." Parker wheezed. "And we were...a-about to head...back to camp for dinner...when we saw this...this thing!"

Tessa felt her heart sink to her stomach. She blinked, forcing herself to listen to Parker's story. She would not let her overactive imagination get the best of her this time.

"You are aware that the woods are always stocked with small monsters?" Chiron asked, his voice far from condescending.

Parker nodded frantically. He looked to his friends, but the two other boys looked traumatized, like they'd seen a ghost.

Maybe they did, the obnoxious little voice whispered at the back of Tessa's mind. She told it to shut up.

"This wasn't anything that...that I've seen in monster fighting class." Parker took a deep breath, his breathing ragged. "I didn't get a good look at it, but it was tall and dark a-and," Parker tried to speak again, but Chiron held a hand up. The centaur snapped his fingers, and a few older Athena kids surged forward. They took Parker and instantly exited the pavilion.

Chiron turned back to the rest of the camp, and Mr. D had walked forward as well. The two camp directors engaged in a hushed conversation, but Tessa noticed a few of the campers around her age begin to slip away. Curiosity was getting the best of everyone, and save Tessa, who didn't love a spooky story like this at Halloweentime?

Tessa's hand gravitated to her waist, where Tempest sat in its hilt. She curled her fingers around the hilt, met her friends' gazes, and before they could piece together what she was about to do, she took off after the others.

Tessa bolted down the pavilion's hill, and she could hear her friends chorus her name, but she kept up with the others. The small group consisted of an Apollo girl named Sierra, and two of Parker's siblings—a tall boy named Ben, and Sophia, Tessa's sworn mortal enemy.

However, she didn't care about her rivalry right now. The ground changed from the trails to the forest ground, and before Tessa knew it, she had Tempest drawn for some illumination.

She whirled around, waving the blade around. The forest seemed to have taken on a different mood, and tufts of fog were weaving in through the trees. An owl hooted in the distance, and wind rattled the leaves on the trees like a chorus of phantom chains.

"Any idea as to what it could be?" Sierra, the Apollo girl, asked, a silver arrow drawn on her bow. She scanned the horizon carefully, stepping in a circle to get a full scope.

Sophia bit her lip in thought, something she and Tessa unfortunately did in common, and shook her head. The daughter of Athena's red hair was tied up in a loose bun, and strands were falling out of it like the lanky limbs of some monster of Tessa's nightmares. "No," She hummed. "No sign of anything anywhere."

Tessa turned around, unable to shake an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach. Maybe it was her imagination, but it felt like she was being watched. Before she could voice her worries, a stampede of footsteps broke her out of her reverie. Not too long after, Chiron and Mr. D emerged into the forest, followed by Tessa's friends and the rest of camp.

"What was that?" Dale asked, surging forward to Tessa. "I know you're bold but you've never been one to step into something like this, guns blazing."

Tessa shook her head, lowering her sword. "Something just felt...off." She met her best friend's gaze, trying to gauge the girl's reaction.

"Any sign of anything?" Kaden asked, a hand on his golden sword. He glanced around the forest, but whatever it was must had been frightened off by the sudden influx of armed teenagers.

Chiron looked distressed to say the least, but he cantered in front of the group. "Heroes, we'll need a night patrol. Four groups of six, stationed at the major points of the borders." He ordered. The booming of his voice caused some small animal to flee, the noise of its takeoff loud enough to make everyone jump.

"Yes, and until we can decipher what this was, entry into the forest will be off-limits." Mr. D decided, his arms folded behind his back. "No ifs, buts, nothing. Understood?"

The camp chorused 'understood' and the two leaders ordered everyone back to camp. Tessa, on the other hand, felt like she was split in half; part of her wanted to stay to investigate, but the sane part of her wanted to run, run and never look back.

But she found herself moving. She trudged back to camp, and even if she tried to convince herself she was brave, she found herself glancing over her shoulders as if to confirm that nothing was behind her.