created →jason grace

forty

{Piper}

PIPER DIDN'T REMEMBER MUCH about the rest of the night. They told their story and answered a million questions from the other campers, but finally Chiron saw how tired they were and ordered them to bed, she also saw the look Chiron gave Will and knew that Lina would not be asked anything from the boy until she recovered. Which knowing who her father and her siblings were could very possibly be soon.

Piper could honestly say, with every fiber of her being, how good it felt to sleep on a real mattress. She immediately crashed embarrassment nowhere in sight as she slept. Even when she woke up the next day the sun coming in through the window brought a lazy smile on her face. Smells from breakfast wafted in from the dining pavilion making her mouth water as she stretched her body.

Drew's face swam into her field of vision as the girl and her friends stood over her, frowning as she crossed her arms.

"Morning." Piper sat up her lazy smile growing on her face. "It's such a beautiful day isn't it."

"You're gonna make us late for breakfast." Drew said flatly but then her face changed as if she realized something. "Which means you get to clean the cabin for inspection."

A week ago, Piper would have punched Drew in the face, or hidden back under her covers. Now she thought about the Cyclopes in Detroit, Medea in Chicago, Midas in Omaha, she even thought about Lina, how brave the blonde was. Now looking at Drew, who used to bother her, Piper could only laugh.

Drew's expression crumbled as she started to step back, but remembered she was supposed to be angry. "What are you—"

"Challenging you," Piper said. "How about noon in the arena? You can choose the weapons."

She lightly stepped off her bed, stretching fully as she beamed at her cabin mates. Looking around she spotted Lacy and Mitchell who had helped her pack. They were smiling tentatively as if scared, but their eyes flew from Piper to Drew as if they playing the most interesting tennis match.

"I missed you guys!" Piper clapped cheerfully. "We're gonna have such a great time when I'm senior counselor."

Drew's face changed, growing horrified and turning fire hydrant red. Even her minions behind her looked nervous. This wasn't what they rehearsed.

"You—" Drew sputtered. "You ugly little witch! I've been here the longest. You can't just—"

"Challenge you?" Piper raised an eyebrow. "Sure, I can. Camp rules: I've been claimed by Aphrodite. I've completed a quest, which is one more than you've completed. If I feel I can do a better job, I can challenge you. Unless you just want to step down. Did I get that right Mitchell?"

"Just right, Piper." Mitchell was grinning while Lacy next to him was bouncing up and down.

"Step down!?" Drew sputtered. "You're crazy!"

Piper shrugged. Then as quick as she could she pulled Katoptris out from under her pillow, unsheathing it and thrusted the point underneath Drew's chin. The action made everyone back up.

"A duel, then," Piper spoke cheerfully raising her hand slightly making Drew eyes connect with hers. "If you don't want to wait until noon, now is fine. You've turned this cabin into a dictatorship, Drew. Silena Beauregard knew better than that. Aphrodite is about love and beauty. Being loving. Spreading beauty. Good friends. Good times. Good deeds. Not just looking good. Silena made mistakes, but in the end she stood by her friends. That's why she was a hero. I'm going to set things right, and I've got a feeling Mom will be on my side. Want to find out?"

Drew went cross-eyed as she glanced down at the dagger.

A second passed. Then two. Piper didn't mind. She was confident and it must've shown in her smile.

"I.... step down," Drew spat. "But if you think I'm ever going to forget about this, McLean—"

"Oh, I really hope you don't," Piper told her. "Now, go get a head start towards the dining pavilion. I want you to tell Chiron there's been a change in leadership."

Drew backed towards the door. Her earlier friends made no movement to join her. She was about to leave when Piper spoke again. "Oh, and Drew, honey?"

The former counselor turned reluctantly.

"Just a little FYI, don't even look at Jason Grace. Don't talk to him, nothing. If you even try to make a move I will call Lina down here and ask her to melt all of your make up products, as you watch."

Drew spun on her heel at record speed as she ran out the door.

The cabin was silent. The other campers gawking at Piper. This was the part that had her on edge. She didn't want to lead with fear. She wasn't like Drew, but she didn't know if they would accept her and her new methods.

Then, spontaneously, the Aphrodite campers cheered so loudly, they must've been heard all across camp. They herded Piper out of the cabin, raised her on their shoulders, and carried her all the way to the dining pavilion—still in her pajamas, her hair a mess, but she didn't care.

She'd never felt better.