tHE gIRL wITH tHE iRON fISTS

cHAPTER 3

cHAPTER 3

Piper McLean, Daughter of Aphrodite

I helped Hazel back to her cabin and left her there to sleep for awhile. I meant to go look for Nico to tell him about his sister, but I stopped by my cabin first. Just to check in.

"Hey." I said walking in. "Sorry I took a bit longer. Hazel wasn't feeling good. Where's Drew?" Drew had calmed down a bit after I became head. Everyone was lounging around. A few girls were doing some ridiculous makeup, and some were straightening their bed.

"Piper!" Tatem, a new demigod greeted me. "Drew's out right now. She should be back in a few." I smiled.

"Thanks." As if it were magic, Drew walked in.

"Hey Piper, Chiron wants you." She told me and went to her bunk. I nodded and headed out the door. As I approached the Big House, I saw Nico standing out there.

"Nico!" I jogged to him.

"Hello." He mumbled.

"I was trying to find you earlier. Hazel wasn't feeling to good, so she's in her cabin." Nico looked down.

"Oh, thanks." He walked off. Huh. Usually he'd ignore me and walk away. I opened the door to the Big House.

"Piper! Oh thank gods you're here." Annabeth gave me a half hug.

"We saw each other 2 minutes ago." I laughed a bit. But being the daughter of Aphrodite I am, I could tell something was up. Annabeth was biting her lip, which is what she does when she's nervous or anxious. "What happened?" She dragged me in. The big house was practically empty, other than Will, Annabeth and Chiron. They were running around- or Chiron was- as Will followed him everywhere, giving him medical supplies. They moved out of the way. I gasped.

B lay there, bruises and hand marks covering her and a bloodied shirt clinging to her.

<Piper sighs>

That was the first sign that we knew that B was different. She was unusual. Unique. Peculiar. Whatever strange word you wanted to call her. My mind went back to what Hazel said before I felt her forehead. This was the turning point.

And we all knew it.

***

After we had gotten B cleaned up, and had her spill her story a hundred times (causing her to write down the story rather than move her hands every time.

"Are you sure that was what happened?" Chiron asked once again. B threw her hands in the air.

"No, I'm hiding valuable information from you." She signed with a sarcastic ring to it.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Chiron spoke again.

"I'm glad it took no time at all."

"Piper, would you be so kind to give her a tour?"

"Sure," I spoke and took B outside.

"So," I tried to lighten up the mood. "Camp." B smiled. "Annabeth told you all the stuff you need to know for now, but I'll answer whatever other questions you have. These are the cabins." I gestured with my hand. "You're grouped based on your godly parent. Each cabin has a head counselor which calls lights out and takes you to classes." Her eyes lit up.

"You actually learn here?" She was pretty excited.

"Yeah, but nobody really liked that stuff."

"I haven't been to school for awhile. I went to the library a lot and read the books there, but the ladies never really liked me." B smiled at the thought.

"They're building a library somewhere on camp grounds. Tiffany and Leo said it wouldn't be done for a few days, but hopefully, it goes faster."

"Oh goodness, can we go?"

I laughed a bit. "Sure, why not? It's over there." As soon as I pointed over there, she started sprinting. She suddenly skidded to a stop. "What's wrong?"

"I just caught a whiff of myself." B signed. She looked over, a bit sheepish. "Is there any chance I could shower first?" 

The adventure continues!