This is dedicated to my friends Sayonara_3  is reading this. I have one honest question though. How do you do the casting here?
8000 worth of words for a goal to reach 8k reads. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE AND COMMENT ANY IDEAS. Okay guys, I edited some parts but it's not that important. Like, where Irene and Maria met.

Irene Callo's POV

The suns rays laid on my face as it rose into the golden sky. This wasn't my usual morning routine. Correction, I don't have a morning routine. Before the sun rose, I was already awake, which was quite unusual. I usually wake up 30 minutes after the sun rose, but I just couldn't continue sleeping. A horrid dream has come upon my mind. Something important was about to happen. Everything fell into pieces when my half sister, Katie Gardner, was missing from her bed. Which was unusual.
A thought raised in my mind, "Where could Katie be this early?" I wasn't allowed to go out yet because of the cleaning harpies who eat demigods. (Seriously, why do they even have eating harpies?) I had to go stealth mode.
As I put on some comfortable clothes, I slowly crept to the door.
"Irene? Where are you going?" Miranda sat up rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Cleaning harpies are still on duty."
"Yeah, I know. But take a look at your right." Miranda's head slowly turned to the bed to her right like a creepy doll. "Katie's gone."
Twenty seconds later, Miranda was dressed in a CHB shirt and a new pair of jeans. Her hair was tied up into a loose bun and her sheathed sword slung by her waist.
"Where's your sword?" Miranda asked impatiently tapping her foot.
I shoved my sword into its sheath and slung it beside my right side waist. Yes, I am left-handed. I tied my hair neatly into a pontail with a little bit of hair covering my face.
"Let's go."
Miranda brought out a weird looking pouch. "This pouch contains two invisibility stones. Hold it and my arm and we will travel to the Big House to ask Chiron KINDLY to turn off the harpy system earlier than usual." She emphasized the 'KINDLY' part as you noticed, because the last time I met Chiron, I kinda shouted because my BFF, Maria, was sent away on a quest in the underworld without me knowing about it. She brought Crystal and Clarice on the quest.
Miranda took a deep breath. "Okay, you ready?"
I slowly nodded my head as I followed her instructions.
*~*~*~*~*~* time skip *~*~*~*~*~*
Next thing I know, its noon and Miranda and I are standing in front of Hades cabin.
"Tell me, how DID we end up here, again?" I asked sarcastically.
Miranda glared at me then gave up. "Chiron."
"Exactly why we don't ask Chiron. You know deep down this is a bad idea." I shook my head when I said this in a whisper. "Hades kids don't wake up 'til one pm every Monday. Maria gets cranky. Probably let us dig our own graves." Miranda shrugged me off like a cool kid and knocked three times.
No reply
"I'll go get the shovels." I said starting to walk away when Miranda pulled me back. She knocked continously until the door creaked open revealing Maria holding an axe...a really big axe.
Miranda jumped back and fell on her bum. "What do you guys want?" Maria asked groggily. She dropped her axe just a millimeter from my feet. A MILLIMETER.
I stepped back then started talking. "Um, first of all, you nearly chopped my foot, and as your BFF, I'm pretty sure that is not a good practice. Second, we need your help. Katie's missing. Chiron told us to seek your guidance. Please don't kill us." I prepared to run incase she was getting any idea to go 'Hulk SMASH' on me.
Instead of saying mean things, like 'IT'S TOO EARLY, I'M GONNA KILL YOU.', she actually swung the cabin door 'til it was fully open.
I poked my head in the doorway and, even if the cabin didn't have any lights and the everything was black, I could see tons of glow in the dark yarn everwhere throughout the cabin. It looked like a security lazer guarding a very important artifact in a museum. Instead of an artifact, the yarns connected pictures on every wall, even the ceiling had pictures.
Maria walked outside and helped Miranda up. "Be careful next time." Maria said warning Miranda. "I just planted those Black Roses last Saturday. You could've fallen on them." Maria turned back to the door of the Hades Cabin and gestured for us to enter.
Miranda entered first brushing some dirt off her jeans, but before she entered, she gave a look and mouthed. "How do you get along with her?"
I shrugged and pushed her in.
Once we were all in the cabin, this is my first time here, the door banged itself closed. No one has entered the cabin except Nico, Maria, and Hazel. If ever someone has, they wouldn't have made it more than two feet from the door. Hint: It's a trap that slides you directly to the Underworld. They're probably in the Underworld crying, begging for mercy, and waiting for Hazel to bring them back to the mortal world. The Stolls have been there...twice.
Maria led us through the yarn and to a picture where not much yarn was attached to.
"What's all this?" Miranda asked with her eyes surveying the whole cabin.
I looked at the picture, which was hard to see. "Is this-"
"Katie?" Maria finished my question. She nodded. "I'm afraid so. I've been doing this since this morning."
"But why?" I asked.
Maria shook her head. "All I can say is that Demeter assigned Katie to find something that belongs to the Demeter kids. I followed her tracks after she asked a favor to shadow travel her to Los Angeles."
Miranda's eyes grew big. "What could she be searching for?"
Maria's eyes showed no hope. "I don't know. She just said it was urgent and that she asked Chiron for permission. My mistake was bringing her to LA without asking Chiron first. After I brought her there, I came back to talk to Chiron but he was still...um...sleeping."
There was a complete silence after that when a thought popped out in my head. "What if she was looking for a missing heirloom? Mom's been talking about who's gonna search for a certain thing. I bet she gave the responsibility to Katie. We have to go help-"
I was interrupted by a sleep walking Nico who seemed to have tangled himself in the yarn on the other side of the cabin. He was still snoring.
"Nico!!!" Maria said rushing to his aid doing some gymnastics through the yarn. I taught her that. She was probably the stiffest person I ever knew when we first met in Georgia, before school started. But she is a quick learner and now she is practically better than me, because when you insult her with something she can't do, she adds it to her to do list every single day. I hate/love her for that. IstillhateyouthoughMaria.Notreally. I mean she still does it. Five am wake up and stretch to your limits, except Mondays.
ANYWAYS, getting off topic here, this isn't about her, it's about me.
Maria started slowly untangling Nico from all the yarn. Now that I see him clearly, he...is wearing the same thing he wears every single day. Doesn't he have like some kind of black skull pajamas or something?
"Here, let me help you." FYI, I have no idea why my brain decided to remember this but, I did the exact same moves as Maria did, landing on the exact same spot. I have good memory I guess.
Miranda's mouth opened. "You guys have to teach me someday."
Maria and I carried Nico to a bed made of black shadows.
"Sorry for the disturbance." Maria said throwing a blanket at Nico. "Follow me." She took my hand and led me to a path cleared of yarn.
Wait, she just made all that gymnastics when we could've passed through here?! "Why the Hades did you make me do that gymnastics?" I practically screamed at her ear but she just smirked.
Miranda was laughing at my face. I looked like an angry, no, annoyed gorilla.
Maria ignored me and started explaining why Nico happened to be sleep walking. "When I figured out that Katie lied, I woke Nico up and discussed it with him. He traveled to LA and followed Katie to LAX, where he got stopped because he can't enter the departure area without a passport and boarding tickets. I just started all this when he came back at 6:30 am. He told me where he followed Katie and I continued the search. I sent ghosts for every city in the world just to find out where she went. I am extremely tired and lacked sleep, but I just have to do this." She closed her eyes and opened them again. She then walked over to a picture of the White House, opened a thick red marker, and slashed it.
Just before I could ask her what we could do to help, a ghost with an axe on her head and bloodied ghost wear appeared out of nowhere between Miranda and I.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!" Miranda jumped back while I brought out my sword but quickly sheathed it when I remembered that, one, we're in the HADES cabin, two, I've been held by a ghost before, and three, I've learned never to mess with Maria and her ghost buddies. (Maria just punched me in the arm and said that she will give me a ghost buddy to follow me everywhere...I don't want that.)
Maria quickly flipped her head to the screaming girls who sound like Athena campers who saw a spider. Then she smiled. Smiled. SMILED.
The ghost bowed to her and asked permission to speak.
"Granted." Maria said formally. "I hope you brought good news to us, Axe, important enough to disturb our, ahem, guests?" The ghost's name was Axe. AXE for Hades' sake.
Axe the ghost floated straight through the yarn and spoke in a very ghostly voice. "The girl was spotted by the patrolling ghost hovering near Georgia. She seems to be taking route to Winston Highschool. I'm sorry." Wait, did just say sorry? But why?
Maria sucked up the information slowly. "Winston?"
Axe the ghost nodded solemnly. "Yes."
"Then, you're dismissed."
Axe disappeared without a word.
Miranda jumped up. "They found Katie?" The delight in her eyes was noticeable. Her mouth open wide waiting for an answer. Now, we didn't expect Maria to be overwhelmed with joy but her reply was shocking.
Maria walked to us and nodded with her saddest most disappointed face. "Sadly, yes." Then we were all enveloped in shadows and were whisked away to another place.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*_*
Once my body crashed to the ground, I turned away from Maria and barfed out my breakfast. She may have traveled me a lot of times, but this was totally different. The shadows were stronger. Miranda and I were spinning in the shadows like we were in a tornado. Whilst Maria was just in the middle surrounded by a really black aura. It was a thick massive aura that can barely make you see through it, but I could've sworn Maria was curled up and she was crying. Unlikely her.
After I finished, I lost it all on Maria. I walked furiously to her. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!? You could've killed us. Do you have any idea how scared I was?"
I immediately stepped back when I saw Maria's state. She was lost in her own world. Her eyes were completely black. Nothing white. Nothing left. "Maria?"
Her eyes closed and she laid back on the concrete floor. I noticed her clothes changed into camouflage jeans with chains swung from each side 'round the pocket, a plain black t-shirt, combat boots, and a black hi-top leather jacket with metal inscriptions 'D-Slayer'. Maria's hair was tied up into a high ponytail. A silver necklace with an obsidian stone in the middle hung on her neck. That must be her weapons concealed. She told us about it.
Still with her eyes closed, Maria surprisingly spoke. "Don't look at my wardrobe. Check yours out." I was confused and looked down. Wow, I didn't know Maria knew fashion. I had the same type of pants she wore and my t-shirt changed from a CHB shirt to a dark grey t-shirt. Around my neck, a silver chain hung with something like the probation tag in the military. Inscribed was my name in black. My hair was tied up into a high ponytail too.
I stopped admiring my clothes and looked around for Miranda. "Where's Miranda?" I panicked.
"I may have thrown her to Alaska." Maria said trying not to laugh. She stood up and walked to a bush in front of a tree. "Miranda you okay?"
Miranda appeared out of the bushes wearing the same thing I was wearing. "D-Slayer?" She stared at Maria's jacket.
Maria gave Miranda a confused look and looked down. She cursed in Ancient Greek. "Crud. I picked the wrong jacket. Why now?!" I saw a tear fall from her cheek then she wiped it away. She shook her head and muttered something like, "I can't let them know."
She quickly stood up and masked her emotions. As a daughter of Hades, I didn't know Maria could have such emotions. "Nico gave it to me as a birthday present. You know, because I slayed the last monster."
I could tell she was lying even if it did make a lot of sense. I just had to confront her. "Maria, I know when you're lying. Right now, even if that made perfect sense, it just doesn't click together."
Maria shook her head apologetically. "I will explain later. As for the change of wardrobe, get used to it. This school is an anti-demigod school. CHB and SPQR shirts are known here. Minor gods and goddesses who are against Olympians help this school. If they knew you were a demigod, students and teachers will torture you." She took a deep breath, "Weapons are concealed in the tags of your necklace." Her foot made a step towards the school building in front of us. She stopped, seeing a figure walk towards the front door. Katie.
I was about to speak up when my voice got mysteriously stuck in my throat. My eyes hurried to look at Miranda. Apparently, she was suffering the same thing I was. The only person actually doing something was Maria, who was making a fist resembling as if she were really grabbing something. Again, I looked over at Katie who was now struggling against the bonds of a shadow hand that imitated Maria's hand.
Katie's hand managed to escape, she, of course, was unaware of who she was battling, she stabbed the shadow with her poison knife. Maria winced when I noticed her hands veins were turning black and it was traveling upwards. I felt the restraint in my voice relax and I was able to speak again.
"KATIE!!!" Miranda and I shouted in unison.
Her eyes followed our voices until she met my eyes. The knife dropped and the shadow hand released her. "Guys? What are you doing here?" Her gaze followed to where Maria was now spasming like she was turning into a zombie. "Oh dear." Katie's hands moved quickly and did some demigod first aid on Maria.
Minutes passed and Maria was back to being pale, except paler. Her hands were still shaking from what Katie did to her. Not a word left her mouth until two girls were seemingly pushed out the door forcefully.
"Ouch." A girl with red hair responded as she fell continuosly on the stairs.
Maria quickly waved her hand and Katie was now wearing the same attire as me and Miranda. The two girls were too preoccupied to notice anything and soon they started walking up again the stairs. They left in a serious mood.
"What's with the 'dress up like Barbie' day?" Katie asked looking at her clothes.
Maria explained everything to her. Like, everything. Including the weapon concealer tag and how to use it. "You used me." She stood up.
Katie gave an apologetic look. "I didn't have a choice. I'm sorry."
Maria ignored this apology and continued to walk to the front steps. She gestured us to walk with her as she put on a fingerless glove in her right hand to conceal the poison wound. "Act tough." she said pushing both doors open revealing students pacing around. Now that I noticed, Maria looked like Thalia. Punk.
The students noticed the doors open to a normal thirteen year old eigth grade student. I was expecting someone to mock us or like throw us out. But instead, it seems Maria made a clearly scary impression to the students. Even the seniors.
I was caught off guard when Maria said something sueprising.
She smirked evilly. "I'm back, Winstoners." WAIT WHAT!?
The whole hall froze. Even those in the middle. It was packed with students that made it impossible to pass through.
Then, there was a single screechy voice that was shouting, "Move out of the way losers!!! What the hell is wrong with you!!!" Maria's gaze followed the voice as she stepped forward through the students. The students parted where she walked, slowly, until it revealed a girl with brown hair and tight fit clothes. She was thin and she was using tight fit clothes to show her features. One word, GROSS.
"Who are you to stop these students against their will? I, only, can do that," she was sounding very annoyed but Maria stood firm.
Maria's voice was so soft but loud. Every student watched her as she spoke. "Alice Crondle," her voice trailed off into a whisper. "The girl who always got what she wanted instead of her step sister. You don't remember me at all?"
Alice tried to stare at Maria, but she immediately stepped back once she met her eyes. "Maria Reynon." She smiled at her discovery, "You finally got the courage to redeem your title?"
Maria shook her head slightly and motioned for us to come closer. "No. That was four years ago when I was nine." I noticed she winced at four years ago. What could that mean?
"And yet, you return. Where's the nine year old girl who thought like a seventeen year old?" Alice smiled and laughed. "We really missed those 'torture times'."
I was taken aback. Maria was tortured here? No wonder she was very sad about going to this school. I spoke to Maria in Ancient Greek. "You were tortured here? This very school?" My face was getting more serious and angrier as I prepared to attack these students. My hand reached for my necklace or tag when Maria caught it.
"No, I wasn't tortured." Maria said in Ancient Greek, holding my hands back. Then she said the following sentence in English. "I was the torturer."
---------------—•–•—----------------
I had just learned that Maria is a torturer of demigods. This explains her hating the jacket. D-Slayer means DEMIGOD SLAYER.
We sat in the cafeteria unwanting any attention from teachers. It was currently empty because of the classes going on and the cafeteria lady was in the kitchen.
I could tell Katie was shaking at the thought Maria was torturing demigods when she herself was a demigod. "We need a proper explanation." Katie said glaring at Maria.
"Fine, you want the story!?" Maria said glaring back at us. She dropped a drachma on the table and it dissolved into a 360 degree screen. There, I saw Maria, an eight year old Maria, walking down the snow trying to keep her balance. "I woke up as an eight year old in the middle of the street. My rebirth. I didn't know anything except my name, age, and my feet were cold from the snow. I tried to find something warm because I was in ragged clothes. Then I stumbled upon this very school."
The scene changed to Maria dressed well and warmed. "A lady opened up to me and cared for me. I studied in the school for free. I was smart for average, they had said. Then, after a year, the lady was extremely sick so her husband took charge of the school. He made me into a weapon." The scene changed to Maria wearing the same black leather jacket, only, it was still too big for her. In front of Maria was a cage with a person in it. I noticed it to be one of the old campers, Jessica Moon, daughter of Aphrodite. "They realized I had the capability to bring priority first, before my emotions. None of the students could do what I do. My words were as sharp as a sword. I taunt them. Scare them. Traumatize them. Then, Jessica was there. She told me in a very strong voice while she was smiling. 'Why do you do this to your kind? We were family in the hunt. Why do you do this to family, Maria? Or should I say, Bianca di Angelo?' I was hit with a painful headache and memories of my past life. I opened the cage setting her free before I blacked out."
I was taking pity on her when, the scene changed again, revealing me and Maria as kids on the street staring at each other.
We heard the two youngsters talk in the screen.
Mini me walked over to Mini Maria. "Hi!" Mini me said in a sad yet cheerful tone. "Why are you here?" I asked curiously.
Mini Maria just turned her back away form Mini me. "GO AWAY!"
Instead I plopped down beside her and said something I wouldn't have said if it were a stranger. "It's okay. I'd probably be living in the streets with you so we'd better get to know each other. I'm here because I ran away."
This caught Mini Maria's attention. "I ran away too!"
"From family?" I asked.
"No," her tone was very sad. "I have no parents. I just woke up one day with somekind of amnesia. This lady took care of me. She run's a school in Georgia. I just ran away because...sorry, I can't tell you."
Mini me shrugged. "It's okay, I ran away because my father died a year and a half ago. I've been surviving because whenever I need food there's always this tree nearby I can eat from. One time, one tree grew different kinds of fruits."
Mini Maria gave me a confused look and just accepted it. "Maybe, we can travel together."
Mini me laughed. "To where? Canada?"
Mini Maria laughed. "Yes."
The screen dissolved without a trace when the cafeteria doors started opening. "And that's how Irene and I met and end up in the Hillside Orphanage." Maria said. "And since I knew I was a demigod daughter of Hades, I slowly learned how to use my powers and traveled to CHB right before the war ended. And I was claimed. At least I didn't die again. So, in the summer, I begged the orphanage mom to send me to a camp in New York. While Irene was busy with the summer plans in a beach house of Clarice. I sent a shadow to protect all of you and, I didn't want you guys to give off my scent so I distanced myself from you." Chatter from students loudened when the bells rang.
They walked passed us stopping to stare then walked to a table.
"Ahem," a boy about the age of sixteen coughed to get our attention. Behind him were a group of average muscled boys. "This is our table. GET OUT." Maria lowered her head to avoid him see her.
I have no idea why, but, I just did. "Hmm? I don't see your name on it." I looked around the corners in search for a name plaque.
This must've made the boy annoyed. "I can have you all framed for demigods." He said this in defense. "My girlfriend practically owns this school."
Miranda and Katie stared at him. "We got here first."
Then he pulled Maria without looking at her. "This looks like a shy one. Add her to the pack." He pushed her into the other boys hands. Maria still looked down avoiding them all to see. Students were now watching four girls against six boys.
I stood up angrily. "Leave her alone." He slapped me in the face but I wasn't even moved. "You think a slap to my face can make me cry and beg for mercy?"
Miranda and Katie stood up in my defense. Geez, that boy was gay. He punched me in the face and kneed Miranda and Katie to the ground. Blood trickled down from my nose and, hehe, I kind thought Gaea would rise, but just for a second.
But, when a drop of blood touched the ground, Maria's head went alert mode and she elbowed the two boys holding her back where the sun doesn't shine. It sent them to the ground.
The boy looked away for a second then, I used this as an opportunity to hit him. He was caught off guard, but he fought me. Miranda and Katie fought off the two remaining boys.
Maria went to my side once I pinned the boy to the ground. "I'll take it from here." I let go of his shirt and Maria pulled him to stand. She glared at him.
"Maria?" the boy asked shaking. "But, this can't be."
Maria smirked. "Oh yes."
Then, from the cafeteria doors came in the same pair of students who were thrown out come inside.
"That's enough, Maria." The voice came from the redhead who was pushed out the door. She walked to us. "Francis, scoot." Maria let him go as he quickly crawled away.
The students stared at the redhead in astonishment. "What are you all looking at?" She glared at them as she sat down on our table. Her hand gestured for us to join her. We all sat down.
"Who are you?" Katie quickly asked as the redhead handed us some sandwiches to eat. I quickly took a bite and it immediately gave my a quick memory of Crystal's sandwiches. Must be a coincidence. If you guys don't know Crystal, she's a daughter of Poseidon. Full blood sister of Percy. Black hair, has beautiful highlights that change color according to her usage of powers. And shimmering eyes that change color according to her emotions She has a long story which I wouldn't delve into because she has another book to describe just her life and how she's a child of Order. Ruler of Larsofia, the land of energy. Being a child of Order gave her extraordinary powers, she became a princess and has her own palace under the sea, but she sleeps in CHB because monsters. She is also more powerful than everyone. But she doesn't call herself powerful and everyone just thinks she's a regular demigod in training, that's because her power is shared to every good demigod in the world which makes us stronger than before. But she gets to keep the title of slapping Aphrodite twice and more superior than the gods. And of course her powers and features. You know what? That's what you call ADHD kids. I'll stop talking about her.
"I'm Macy Vahler and this is Eva Winston." The girl beside her had black hair and stormy blue sapphire eyes. She wore a blue square framed glasses that was decorated with her name on it.
Eva waved shyly. "Hi." Her gaze stiffened when she met my eyes, but she quickly looked away. "I'm the step daughter of the school owner. Alice Crondle is my step sister."
Maria bit into the sandwich and stared at Macy. "Have you been lurking around my things? My temporary hair dye went missing after you went on a quest. It's quite the same shade as your hair."
Macy visibly stiffened. "I don't know what you are talking about." She tapped on the table with uneven beats. ADHD.
"CRYSTAL?!" Miranda, Katie, and I asked in unison.
Eva stared at 'supposedly Macy'. "Your real name is Crystal?"
Crystal groaned in defeat. "Yes. Welcome to my quest undercover."
Wait, this is her quest?
"What gave me away?" Crystal asked Maria.
Maria smiled. "First, the sandwich had the same things you placed when we had a get together. The toasts had a burned trident in the middle-" I took a look and saw the trident. How could I have missed that? "-, you placed the same kind of salt water dressing only made by the your family, and there is literally no fish essense here but it tastes like fish because of the salt water dressing."
Eva looked disgusted. "Your tongue is as sharp as your words."
Crystal gave her a questioning look.
"She's the Demigod Slayer." Eva was trembling.
Crystal smirked. "So, you won't mind if I tell her-" Eva went alert mode and covered her mouth. Then she spoke in Greek. "Do you have any idea how she can hurt people with her words? Plus, you are too."
Eva must've been the new demigod to be brought to camp. I understood her completely.
Maria smirked like Crystal and spoke Greek in return. "You must've told Crystal all about me. Now that I know you're a demigod."
Eva screamed like she was a horror movie victim. She was muttering so quickly in Greek. "Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my gods. She's gonna kill me, she's gonna kill me." Everyone in the cafeteria looked at her weirdly.
Crystal and Maria laughed together. "Dude, it's fine." Crystal said patting a hyperventilating Eva in the back, while Maria assured everyone it was okay. As soon as everyone was back to eating lunch, Eva calmed down.
Maria gave Eva a reassuring smile she never gave to anyone but her friends. "Eva, it's okay. I'm a demigod too." Maria said in Ancient Greek.
Alice walked pass us saying, "Great, more Greek freaks."
Maria shrugged and continued to speak in Ancient Greek. "Anyways, Eva, I should properly introduce myself. I'm Maria Reynon, daughter of Hades."
Eva's face was priceless. "But I thought there was the pact."
Maria laughed a bit speaking in Greek.. "Yes, but, I am the rebirth of Bianca di Angelo. I was born born before the pact. Got trapped in a casino with my brother, I never aged for seventy years."
I laughed too. "Yes. She died getting stomped by a big giant because she stole a statue of her father. Has Crystal said she was the daughter of Poseidon? Her dad actually broke the pact...twice." I kind of stood up to emphasize. Also spoke in Greek. Basically, we had a Greek conversation.
Cue priceless face. "Wait, so you didn't die of old age, cuz, that would be hilarious."
"That was only because Nico loved Mythomagic and that was his only missing connection. Back to present," Maria said glaring at me. "These are Miranda and Katie Gardiner and Irene Callo, daughters of Demeter." Eva's face stiffned at my name.
I took fast notice of it. "What's wrong? Does my name give you the creeps?"
She nodded. "Yes. Because, When Irene Callo's father died, she ran away leaving her twin sister, step sister, and step mother together. Six years, three months, seventeen days, ten hours, fifty-two minutes, and nine seconds. Ten seconds..."she continued counting till she said this. "Not only did I cry for the loss of one person but the loss of two, which soon became three when Myka left to go to the Philippines. But she died fighting in the war against Gaea. I've been told by Crystal. Then it became five when Maria left, my mom's 'child not child'. Maria and I used to play. But when mom got sick and Mr. Crondle became head, my second step dad we needed him to help us, he made Maria into a weapon. I couldn't play with her anymore because she would always push me away. When she ran away, we tried not to tell mom. But she noticed Maria wasn't coming in a week already. Then she figured it all out and had one of her attacks in the immune system and she just died. All in all, sad life."
I was shocked. I remembered her. Six years ago my father died, she was my step sister. "Eva..."
Eva stood up and hugged me tight. "Ooohhh, I missed you so much." A tear from Eva fell onto my shirt. "You have no idea how glad I am."
The school bell rang and every student in the cafeteria stood up and prepared to walk to their classes. Except us.
When everyone left, a girl in red, Alice and Francis walked up to us.
Maria groaned. "What do you want?"
The girl in red smirked and nodded to Francis. "Take Eva away. She's not one of them. Though, bring her to the torture room. She'll watch what happens to demigods who lurk around the school." Francis reacted quickly and grabbed Eva's arms.
Eva tried to escape but Francis just held her in place. My ADHD reacted and I bolted for Eva. "Let her go!!!" I realized I was held back by a golden net thrown above us other demigods.
Maria, Crystal, Katie, and Miranda stood up and tried to escape the net. "What is this?!" Maria tried to use her powers but it won't work. Katie and Miranda were struggling to use their concealed weapons while Crystal was trying to use charmspeak on Alice. I told you, she had a lot of powers, GET USED TO IT.
The girl in red laughed. "FOOLS!!! That net is made by my brother Hephaestus himself. The one that trapped Aphrodite and Ares together." Did she just call Hephaestus BROTHER?! Well technically, he's my cousin. So I'm her COUSIN? "You are powerless in those bonds."
"Who are you?!" I screamed at her.
The girl laughed. "Daughter of Demeter. I'm surprised you have not noticed me." Her form shifted into an adult woman.
"I know you." Crystal said with confidence. "You're Eris. Goddess of chaos, strife, and discord. Daughter of Zeus and Hera. I met you at the side of Izft. Before I defeated Izft, you left without a trace." Long story short, Crystal gathered different worlds to defeat Izft or Chaos, counterpart of Order. Did I say get used to it? Yes, yes I did.
The goddess smiled in delight. "Yes. After you defeated my lord Chaos, I was crushed. And, I decided to kill the demigod who brought him down myself. Crystal Shine Jackson herself. Luckily, I stumbled upon Maria Reynon and you three daughters of Demeter. But what is the fun of death without a little torture?" Eris smiled and magically brought us to the cage of doom in the middle of the gym. "Just to let you know, all students are coming to watch and your mortal friend Eva will have front row view."
Just as she said that, students were coming from every door of the gym. All their eyes widened as they saw us, especially Maria and Crystal. Some were mocking us, throwing food at us, and some just kept quiet.
"We've been running Winston differently now. We don't just use words anymore, we use these." Her hand floated above a lot of tools such as tazers, needles, et cetera. "Words gave me such a bore and ever since Maria left, there was no demigod on sight, until Ms. Jackson herself showed up. I can't help contain my anger against you." Wow, she is the goddess of strife.
Her hand grabbed two tazers and started walking towards me. I couldn't think less but of Eva watching her sister get tortured. "Eva!" I called to her. I noticed tears started streaming down her face. "Do me a favor and don't look."
Eva was non stop crying now. "I can't. I can't." She struggled to move her head and close her eyes but Eris placed some kind of spell to keep her from moving and keep her eyes open.
Eris was dangerously getting close now.
I closed my eyes waiting for the tazers to touch my skin but instead, I heard an earsplitting anger scream.
My eyes opened to see Eva being claimed right before our very eyes. With her glasses gone, her tears were becoming lightning and she was flying. As if the spell was nothing. Eva's hair was flowing beautifully by the air surrounding her and in her hands were...lightning bolts.
Eva looked down on Eris who was throwing a fit of rage. Her eyes were now like fully charged lightning. "ERIS!!!"
"HOW COULD THIS BE??!! That was one of my greatest curses." Eris shot some black magic with lightning towards Eva. Since Eva was new at this, she got struck down but she quickly stood up firing some lightning bolts at Eris.
Eva steadied her gaze at Eris. "I am Eva Winston. Daughter of Zeus and Elisa Winston. And you mess with the wrong school." She dove straight down and opened our cage.
"NOOOOOO!!!" Eris tried to keep us at bay but we immediately used our powers.
Crystal started riding a wave from the school fountain. Maria immediately summoned the skeletons of dead warriors while we Demeter kids wrapped Eris with vines.
Eris, being a goddess and all, broke from our bonds and blew us Demeter kids to the walls of the gym.
I caught a glimpse of Eva looking worried in my direction and she lost it. "You shall not hurt my friends, sister. I will end you." Crystal, Maria, and Eva started individually attacking Eris but it doesn't work. Then I realized, they were the big three's children. They could do a lot more when they help each other.
I stood up, looked at the golden net and got a bright idea. "Eva! Crystal! Maria! The net!" They all seemed to understand me and headed for the net but Eris blasted the net before they reached it and it disintegrated.
"HAHAHA!!!" Eris shouted. "Now you can't even trap me."
I ran towards the fight and tried to tie her with the vines but I noticed she was gonna go reveal her true self because she was shining really bright. It would've burned everyone's eyes if Maria hadn't covered Eris in a thick blanket of shadows.
When she finished, Eris gave Maria a punch and knocked her out cold as her body violently hit the ground.
"MARIA!!!" I quickly ran to her aid. Right now, Miranda and Katie were back on their feet and were trying to attack Eris.
Crystal was looking at all the students and focused her eyes on a girl with brown hair and light brown eyes. "Arianne!" Crystal jumped to the so called 'Arianne' and forced her up. Arianne was visibly struggling not to go with Crystal. BTW, ARIANNE SEEMS SUPER FAMILIAR.
"Crystal I won't!" Arianne said trying to escape her grip.
I was annoyed with this girl right now. Who? Both of them. "Listen to Crystal! WHEN SHE SAYS YOU ARE HELPFUL, BELIEVE HER!!!" I said pulling Maria to a safe part.
As if on cue, Arianne immediately groaned in defeat as she pulled out a rope. A golden one.
Crystal smiled and thanked Arianne as she went to tie Eris up.
Arianne sat beside me as we watched our friends defeat Eris. Before they finished, I started a conversation with Arianne.
"Soooooo, have I met you before?" I asked and curiosity.
Surprisingly she nodded. "Daughter of Hephaestus. I've been studying here since the start and Crystal just came a few weeks after classes started. We worked together to find the missing demigod." She sighed. "She's a daughter of Zeus, huh?"
I smiled in agreement. "Yep. He broke it three times." We both laughed together in unison as Crystal finished tying the knot with Eris fully tied up.
Eris growled. "You won't get away with this."
I stood up and approached her. "No, silly. You won't get away with this." I said as Crystal duct taped her mouth. My head turned awkwardly to her. "Why the Ha. . .HAY do you bring duct tape around?"
Crystal frowned and taped a piece of duct tape on my mouth.
"Mhmmnmmhnhmhhhm," I tried to exclaim along with Eris. I tried to remove it with my bare hands but it just wont come off. Crystal was getting on my nerves. "MHMMMHMHMHHMMHNMHMM!!!"
She smirked saying, "Because, you'll never know when you'll need it."
-------CHB-------
We all sat down by the campfire listening to Crystal and Maria tell our adventures today. I was currently rubbing my stinging mouth after the Apollo cabin removed the duct tape on my mouth. You know why? That duct tape was made by the Hephaestus cabin with extra extra adhesive to keep someone shut. It literally said it on the pack. They told me to just let the pain go away overnight and that they had worse cases of the first prototype of the cabin.
I am so mad at CRYSTAL because one, my mouth hurts, and two, I can't speak without it hurting so much.
"We found two new demigods." Crystal said. "Arianne Ramirez, daughter of Hephaestus. We met each other in Winston High School orientation day, a week before school started. Her mother recognized me and asked me a favor to bring Arianne here where it is safe. Arianne and I returned to Winston right before school had started. She was claimed by Hephaestus but was not able to meet all of you because of our lack of time. Before we went back, I was busy helping Arianne train under my surveillance so that she and I can fend off monsters as we search for more demigods. Eva is a daughter of Zeus. We met her on the first day of school. She told us about how she never met her dad and how she always felt like someone was following her all the time. Arianne and I told her about how she could be a demigod. I masked Arianne and Eva's scent but mine was too hard to cover. I was the only known demigod in that school by Eris. In exchange for keeping Eva safe, she told us about minor god and goddesses helping this school torture demigods and how they used to have a Demigod Slayer, Maria."
Maria blushed as all eyes went to her, followed by questions and hate comments. I could sense her nervousness and decided to speak up.
I stood up and jumped to the side of Maria. Despite my stinging mouth, I want to side with my BFF. "And yet, without, ouch, her, this would have gone way bad. She searched for Katie this whole time. Without her ghosts, we wouldn't have even gone back to her past and fix this school. I wouldn't have met my step sister whom I regret to have left, six years ago." After speaking at least thirty words, I got used to the sting and felt like it was gone. Thank the gods. Though it was still there, but I ignored it.
Maria gave me a smile. "Thanks." She turned her head to the other campers. "And, without Irene, there wouldn't be a big show at that school. The big little three's children would be non existent. At least we can all agree that we saved this school from the influence of Eris, who has now been turned in to the Olympian Council. We will send demigods to see if they are still behaving. Right now, let us meet, Arianne and Eva!!!" She gestured for them to join her in front.
Everyone stood up and knelt to the floor as they stepped up.
"Thank you so much." Eva said wiping her eyes. "I'm glad to be reunited with my family and I have one thing to say. . . Thank you, Irene, for reminding me of my family. I remembered something just today that we were proud about when we were kids. . . Happy Birthday, Irene."
Oh yeah, it's my birthday and I never told anyone about it here at camp. June 11. I seemed to have forgotten I even had a birthday of my own. Lately it's just focusing on the more important demigods.
I smiled and replied. "Happy Birthday, too, Eva." And, no, it doesn't end there.
What do you mean, Irene?
The whole community of demigods awed. Except for a few who stood up in complete shock
"WHAT?!" Nico, Hazel. Steffi, Elyza, Clarice, Arianne, Maria, and Crystal exclaimed. Everyone looked at those who were gaping at what Eva and I said. (For those who read the other story, just think I changed it.)
I shrugged and laughed. "Yeah. So? We have the same birthday, big deal." I immediately regretted speaking to loud and flinched by the sudden pain to my lips. "Crystal, I really hate you." I muttered rubbing my lips again.
I was totally ignored by Chiron, but rather he eyed those who exclaimed one by one. "Girls. . . and Nico, do you have something to say?"
They all spoke rapidly that we couldn't understand them anymore. Other demigods began covering their ears in annoyance while others shouted along with them. Chiron seemed annoyed and sided with the shouting demigods. Then, I noticed Percy standing up holding a big ball of water, Leo creating a massive ball of fire, and Jason controlling the wind.
My guess is that: Percy will drop the ball of water then midair Leo will make it into steam and then Jason will control it to the demigods so that there will be zero visibility and it will catch their attention silencing them.
Am I for this? Oh hell no.
Before they started, as much as this would hurt, I shouted at the top of my lungs. "CRYSTAL! PJL CYCLE SYSTEM DISMANTLE!!!" It's a code word my friends and I devised. In case our 'heroes' do something. My mouth shut immediately preparing for the pain to come. I really hate it when they say don't speak but you have to speak.
Crystal stop talking and turned her head like a robot with cat eyes towards Percy, Jason, and Leo. She raised her arms and over controlled the big ball of water to fall out of plan. Leo, Percy, and Jason were shocked and were not able to continue the cycle.
Crystal maneuvered the water ball and dropped it on all of us. Including herself. Though, she was able to keep me and my friends dry.
Well, that caught everyone's attention.
Yes, you are absolutely right. Even Percy got wet but he eventually dried himself up.
I exasperatedly sighed. "Finally. Okay, now that I have your attention, Maria, please tell me what you're going to say."
Maria took a deep breath. "Yes. I freaked out it was your birthday, because it's my birthday today. Nico and Hazel were the only ones who knew that so they freaked out with me. Right?" She turned to Nico and Hazel who were nodding.
I have a confession, I freaked out along with Eva, Steffi, Clarice, Elyza, Arianne, and Crystal. "WHAT?!" I immediately covered my mouth and stared at my other friends who were too much in shock. All the other demigods stared at us like we were weirdos.
I felt like I was drunk but I'm not when I said this. "Okay, this may sound funny." I took a deep breath. "Who else says it's their birthday today, raise their hand."
To be honest, I didn't expect anyone to take me seriously and laugh their heads off. But, ta da, Steffi, Eva, Clarice, Elyza, Arianne, Maria, and yours truly, raised their hand. Demigods stared at us.
I had a bad feeling about this. This might mean like, we were brought here by fate.
Oh no.
"Haha. Happy birthday to me." I silently muttered fainting.