𝐄́𝐊𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒² || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐕𝐈𝐈

✦ 𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐒 ✦

PIPER WOKE UP IN THE APHRODITE CABIN, Piper woke up in the Aphrodite Cabin, frustrated by her unchanging appearance despite her attempts to look less perfect.

Drew and the other campers mocked her, highlighting her differences and their superficial standards. Mitchell, however, showed a hint of kindness by standing up for her, which surprised Piper.

Lacy then approached with supplies for Piper's quest and shared them secretly. Drew interrupted, continuing her belittling comments, and revealed some of Piper's personal fears about her dreams and her father's kidnapping.

When Piper revealed her famous father, Tristan McLean, the cabin's reaction changed dramatically, shifting from disdain to awe. Piper felt a mix of satisfaction and guilt for using her father's fame to win their approval.

During the chaos, Drew tried to reassert her control over the cabin, emphasizing her power of charmspeak and claiming Piper was trying to charm the others. Piper defended herself, arguing that Aphrodite's true essence was not reflected in Drew's shallow interpretation. Drew's mockery intensified, but Piper decided she would never return to the Aphrodite Cabin.

Then— she saw the dragon swooping down from the sky.

"Leo?" she yelled.

Sure enough, there he was, sitting atop a giant bronze death machine and grinning like a lunatic. Even before he landed, the camp alarm went up. A conch horn blew. All the Satyrs started screaming, "Don't kill me!"

Half the Camp ran outside in a mixture of pajamas and armor. The dragon set down right in the middle of the green, and Leo yelled, "It's cool! Don't shoot!"

Hesitantly, the archers lowered their bows. The warriors backed away, keeping their spears and swords ready. They made a loose wide ring around the metal monster. Other demigods hid behind their cabin doors or peeped out the windows. Nobody seemed anxious to get close.

Piper couldn't blame them. The dragon was huge. It glistened in the morning sun like a living penny sculpture — different shades of copper and bronze—a sixty-foot-long serpent with steel talons and drill-bit teeth and glowing ruby eyes.

It had bat-shaped wings twice its length that unfurled like metallic sails, making a sound like coins cascading out of a slot machine every time they flapped.

"It's beautiful," Piper muttered. The other demigods stared at her like she was insane.

The dragon reared its head and shot a column of fire into the sky. Campers scrambled away and hefted their weapons, but Leo slid calmly off the dragon's back. He held up his hands like he was surrendering, except he still had that crazy grin on his face.

"People of Earth, I come in peace!" he shouted.

He looked like he'd been rolling around in the campfire. His army coat and his face were smeared with soot. His hands were grease-stained, and he wore a new tool belt around his waist. His eyes were bloodshot. His curly hair was so oily it stuck up in porcupine quills, and he smelled strangely of Tabasco sauce. But he looked absolutely delighted.