CATHARSIS, jason grace¹ [EDITING]

𝟬𝟮𝟭. i'll hate you forever

ANYONE WITH A BEATING HEART knew Aera had Olympus high standards for love. There was a long list of things she liked and disliked about boys, girls, nymphs, satyrs, half-donkey, half-vampire cheerleaders, anyone who had the guts to pursue her. She didn't like it when they chewed obnoxiously at the dinner table or had poor hygiene. She liked it when they danced and had cute, snorty laughs that sounded like pigs. If their style didn't fit her tastes like a glove, she would put on a new one. Aera loved herself so much, she had to select the best of the best from her romantic partners.

To first qualify for her regime of romance, the potential amour had to have at least three checks in her list of turns on and no more than one on her list of turn offs. Then they had to pass a number of secret screening tests during the relationship itself, kind of like a performance evaluation, where Aera wouldn't tell them they were being quizzed and see if they could handle the pressure of not giving her the ick in certain simulated situations.

The only person who had flouted her system of romance was Luke Castellan, for reasons that need not be stated.

Everyone else had to show they were worthy of being her new beau through an endless series of random, unknown tests and check boxes, so it was only natural Aera would have a hunk like Lit put on a show for her.

Aera still had on her Chanel under-eye patches when the cornhusker came charging into the room.

He was dressed in loose pajama pants with a sleeveless shirt that said Cornhuskers on it. His arms had just the right amount of muscle to acquire Aera's attention. His ripped arms were covered in scars, as was his handsome face, which was framed by black curly hair (so hot and mysterious, right?) He hefted a large sword that Aera would love to get her hands on.

The old man who introduced himself as a king—King Midas?—she could care less about (Gold touch? Yawn. Eternal wealth? Yawn). It was his son Aera was more interested in.

"Lityerses?" Aera exclaimed, a firework exploding in her heart when she heard his name. "As in The Reaper of Men?"

Jason scowled next to her. "You know this guy, Aera?"

They were sitting on the sofas now while the king reclined on his gold throne. Aera hoped the old man knew how stupid he looked in his white bathrobe and old-fashioned sleeping cap. No wonder she couldn't take him seriously. His fashion was terrible. King Midas could turn anything he touched into gold, and yet boring Boreas was more iced out than him. Tragic.

Meanwhile, Lit stood behind the throne, both hands on his sword, glancing at Aera and flexing his muscular arms. His slightly yellow teeth could have looked a little less like corn and his curly hair could easily be frizz-less with any run-of-the-mill hair product, but he would do. Aera could fix him right up.

"Of course." Aera gave Lit her most pleasing smile, deciding then that he would be her next target. "He's number 9 on Cabin Ten's Top Ten Hero Hunks."

"This guy?" Piper raised her eyebrows dubiously. "He is?"

"Top Ten what?" Jason asked.

Aera ignored them. She leaned forward, twirling her hair with her finger and keeping eye contact with Lit. "Didn't you slay like ten, twelve men in your prime? You used to offer corn to those who wandered by then challenged them to a harvesting contest. When they lost, you beheaded them and wrapped their bodies in the sheaves. Talk about artsy."

Lit huffed and puffed out his chest. "You know much, girl—fortunately for your friends, or I would've run them through."

"Appreciate it," Leo mumbled, annoying as ever. "I try not to get run through before lunchtime."