True Blue ✷ Leo Valdez.

14: Gold...?

BLAIRE FELL ASLEEP—she must have somehow dozed off despite her chaotic mind that usually refused to rest. She came to this conclusion because the one person she prayed she'd never see again was standing before her, hand extended in greeting. And beside her, Sunny lounged on the golden sand. The appearance of the two was impossible, for both of them were dead, rotting six feet under the dark earth.

She wasn't sure why her own mind took to taunting her each night. But it did.

"Hi," Olivia Kingsley, the new Aphrodite child who was claimed a mere week before, chirped, peering down at the young duo. "I'm Olivia."

   She held out a hand for them to shake, the glittery  pink-chipped polish on her fingers glinting beneath the August sun. Olivia was the embodiment of an Aphrodite child, with dark-silky hair that fell over her shoulders, brushing the colorful puffed sleeves of her smugly cropped top. A silver chain fell over her collarbone, a heart charm attached to the end. Her light-washed jeans were held up by a sparkly studded belt. And her eyelids were illuminated by purple eyeshadow.

She looked to be around their age, twelve, just a more glammed out individual.

"I'm Sunny," The young boy reached up, shaking her hand in greeting. With his other hand, he pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his sunkissed nose. "And this is Blaire."

Olivia grinned, displaying the pink braces splayed across her seemingly perfect and pearly teeth. She studied the two intently, her gaze pausing to take in the French textbook Blaire held, the way her legs were thrown across Sunny's lap carelessly.

Olivia seemed entirely intrested in Sunny, she smirked at the disheveled state of his hair and the sunburn marring his skin.

"I always see you two together," Olivia informed them, "Are you guys like a thing?"

The both of them shook their heads frantically, suddenly flustered by her words.

"Nope," Sunny denied, "Best friends."

"Cool," Olivia grinned, her glossed lips turning up. She gestured toward the dip in the sand beside them. "May I join?"

"The more the merrier," Sunny said, missing the way Blaire rolled her eyes before turning back to the page of her book.

She didn't know that the girl would soon become her best friend. Only to hurt her in ways she'd never begin to imagine.

Then, the scene dissolved into darkness.

Blaire woke up to the loud racket of terrified screams piercing through the previously silent interior. Though she wasn't at all complaining, for they tore her away from Olivia Kingsley and their unfortunate meeting that would soon lead to much more.

"Ahhhggggggh!"

On the other side of the room, Jason leapt to his feet, apparently jarred by the sunlight bathing the room and the sudden yelps.

"Coach is awake," Leo said, which was kind of unnecessary. Gleeson Hedge was capering around on his furry hindquarters, swinging his club and yelling, "Die!" as he smashed the tea set, whacked the sofas, and charged at the throne.

"Coach!" Jason yelped in suprise.

Hedge turned, breathing hard. His eyes were so wild, Blaire thought he might attack.

"You're the new kid," Hedge said, lowering his club to glower at Jason. Then he looked toward Blaire, "And who the Hades are you?"

"Who are you?" Blaire retorted defensively, narrowing her eyes at the chubby satyr.