Veronica Sawyer was an iconic name. And so that was what she called herself.
She would've liked to be simple, with the basic life of demigods for a backstory-mortal parent didn't want her, she ended up a year-rounder. But the Fates didn't like Veron...
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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝟑: 𝐀𝐒𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐨𝐟𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐟𝐃𝐚𝐲
December 15, 2007
CAMP HALF-BLOOD LOOKED BEAUTIFUL IN THE WINTER. Veronica made sure to ask her dad to let snow within the camp boarders, at least for a few days.
Light frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields in a way that made them shine like crystals. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights made from actual balls of fire, making them look like Christmas lights. More lights glowed in the woods, but Veronica was most confused by the fire flickering in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt, imprisoned in an old mummified body.
Maybe Veronica would pay her another visit.
"Whoa," Nico said, his face awestruck while he climbed off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"
"Sure is, kid," Veronica said.
"Why is there lava pouring down it?"
"Unnecessary challenge," Veronica replied. "Chiron says it'll be useful in battling against monsters. Don't see how we'll use it against monsters if we're dead."
"Yikes," Nico said, turning to Veronica with a vaguely disturbed look.
"I'm gonna get out of here because I'm still covered in monster dust and blood. Percy can introduce you to Chiron," Veronica said. "Jackson, let him know the Hunters are stayin' in Cabin Eight.
Zoë nodded in Veronica's direction. "Thank you. Hunters, follow me."
"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.
"We know the way," Zoë said dryly.
"Oh, really, it's no trouble," Grover insisted. "It's easy to get lost here, if you don't"—he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking—"like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"
Zoë rolled her eyes, but sighed as she and the other Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins. Before Bianca joined them, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.
Veronica understood both siblings. It was an unfortunate event, but if Veronica blamed anyone, it was the Hunters. Maybe Veronica was being dramatic, but the way they'd recruited Bianca felt a little... cultish. They'd seemed to know what she wanted and preyed on it to convince her to join. Did she even process the fact that being forever twelve while she had to watch her only family grow old and die was a fate worse than death?
"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters, snapping Veronica's attention to him. She saw him right as he winked at Percy. "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon."
