RECLUSE ?Leo Valdez?

Piper is pretty. Shocker.

Nobody answered, but Annabeth and Chiron seemed to be having a silent exchange.

Annabeth took a deep breath. "It's Jason's quest." She announced. "Obviously he's the child of lightning. According to tradition, he may choose two companions, but with the wording of this prophecy, you may need to choose three."

The camp broke out in muttering. Truthfully, Maisie hadn't been playing too close of attention to what had been discussed, but for some reason that final line of you may need to choose three shook her to her core. This whole situation made her uneasy.

Travis Stoll called out, "Well, you, obviously, Annabeth. You have the most experience."

"No Travis," Annabeth called back. "First off, I'm not helping Hera. Every time I've tried, she's deceived me, or it's come back to bite me later. Forget it. No way. Secondly, I'm leaving first thing in the morning to find Percy."

"It's connected." Piper blurted out in a random burst of confidence. "You know that's true, don't you? This whole business, your boyfriend's disappearance, — it's connected."

"How?" Demanded Drew. "If you're so smart, How?"

Piper looked shocked and tried to form an answer, but was unable to speak. Confidence diminished.

Annabeth saved her. "You may be right, Piper. If this is connected, I'll find out from the other end — by searching for Percy. As I said, I'm not about to rush to go save Hera, even if her disappearance sets the rest of the olympians fighting again. I can't go. The prophecy says otherwise."

"It says who I pick." Jason agreed. "The forge and dove shall break the cage. The forge is a symbol of vul— Hephaestus."

Nyssa shoulders slumped under the cabin 9 banner, like a large burden had set itself along her slender shoulders. "If you need to beware the earth, you should avoid traveling overland," she spoke. "You'll need air transport."

"The flying chariot is broken," Nyssa continued, "and the pegasi, were using them to search for Percy. But maybe the Hephaestus cabin can figure out something to help. With Jake incapacitated, I'm senior camper. I can volunteer for this quest." She unenthusiastically spoke.

The Leo shot up. Maisie had almost forgotten he was there, which seemed uncharacteristic for him. "Its me." He spoke.

Several of his siblings attempted to pull him back down into his seat, but he resisted. "No, it's me. I know it is. I've got an idea for the transportation problem. Let me try. I can fix this!"

Jason looked as if he was going to deny Leo. He stared for a second before smiling. "We started this together, Leo. Seems only right you come along. You find us a ride, you're in."

"YES!" Leo pumped his fist into the air.

"It'll be dangerous." Nyssa warned. "Hardships, monsters, terrible suffering. Possibly none of you coming back alive."

"Oh." Suddenly Leo didn't look as enthusiastic. But he then made eye contact with Maisie and spoke again. "I mean ... Oh, cool! Suffering? I love suffering! Let's do this."

Annabeth nodded. "Okay then, Jason, you only need to choose the third and fourth quest member. The dove—"

"Oh, absolutely!" Drew was on her feet and flashing a smile to Jason. "The dove is Aphrodite. Everybody knows that. I am totally yours."

Piper stood, hands clenched by her sides, stepping forward to say "no."

Drew rolled her eyes, "Oh, please, dumpster girl. Back off."

Were Drew and Maisie looking at the same person? Piper was the last person Maisie thought to be called Dumpster girl.

I had the vision of Hera; not you. I have to do this."

"Anyone can have a vision," Drew sneered. "You were just at the right place at the right time." She turned to Jason. "Look fightings all fine, I suppose. And people who build things ..." she looked to Leo with distain. "Well I suppose somebody has to get their hands dirty. But you'll need charm in your side. I can be very persuasive. I can help a lot."

The campers started muttering about how persuasive she was. Charmspeak. It made Maisie sick to her stomach. She watched as the camp fell under her spell, like a witch.

"Well ..." Annabeth started. "Given the wording of the prophecy—"

"No!" Pipers voice began to sound strange — more insistent, richer in tone. "I'm supposed to go."

Everybody began to mutter about how Pipers point made sense too. Maisie leaned back and smirked as Drew turned around, incredulous. Some of her own campers were nodding along.

"Get over it!" Drew snapped. "What can Piper do?"

Piper sat silently. Mouth moving but no words coming out, like she had just let go of the confidence and power she just held.

"Well," Drew said smugly. "I guess that settles it."

Suddenly, Piper was enveloped in a reddish glow. Everyone turned to ogle at her.

"What?" She demanded.

She looked down at herself and yelped. She was adored in a beautiful white sleeveless gown that went down to her ankles, with a low v-neck that was definitely embarrassing for her. Gold armbands circled her biceps, and an intricate necklace of amber, coral, and gold flowers glittered against her chest.

Maisie could faintly hear Cora whisper out how much she wanted that dress.

"Oh, god," she muttered out. "What's happened?"

She pulled out her danger that sat nicely oiled on a golden cord, and gazed into her reflection. Her hair was perfect: lush and long and chocolate brown. And she wore makeup that brought out the many colors in her eyes.

"Beautiful," Jason exclaimed. "Piper you ... You're a knockout!"

Maisie had to agree. Piper had always been pretty, but that flattering dress and plump cherry red lips just make her 100 times better.

Drew's face drained of color. Full of horror and revulsion. "NO!" She cried, "NOT POSSIBLE!"

"This isn't me," Piper protested. "I — I don't understand."

Chiron folded his front legs into a bow as the other campers followed his example.

"Hail Piper McLean," Chiron announced. "Daughter of Aphrodite. Lady of the doves. Goddess of love.

Called it. Again.

Unedited
7/6/24
1502 words