Chapter 2
Shauna couldn’t sleep that night. For a good two hours, she tossed and turned in her bed. At last, she got up and, careful not to wake her siblings, quietly slipped out of the cabin. She didn’t bother putting anything on. She decided it was warm enough.
Her steps were slow and soundless. Campers weren’t allowed to leave their cabins after dark unless there was an emergency. Shauna doubted anyone would treat her longing for Jackie as such. She needed to stay quiet.
Jackie had spent the entire previous day in the infirmary. Shauna had checked on her from time to time, but there hadn’t been many free moments. Whenever she did manage to visit Jackie, she inevitably ran into Misty or another Apollo camper on duty. They usually shooed her away. She couldn’t understand why. Jackie wasn’t that unwell, was she?
Unless Jackie didn’t want to see her.
But that seemed unlikely. Jackie had latched onto her six years ago and hadn’t let go since. Even now, Shauna wasn’t sure if she was more pleased by it or annoyed.
She slipped quietly into the infirmary wing. The room was silent and dark, so it took her a moment to spot Jackie. Apart from her, only two other demigods occupied the beds. Carefully, she pulled the curtain shut behind her and approached Jackie’s bed. She placed a hand on her shoulder, and the girl flinched. Jackie turned sharply, her fist raised, and groaned in pain.
Shauna grimaced and clamped her hand over Jackie’s mouth.“Jax, shut up.”
Leaning over her, Shauna could make out Jackie’s expression in the moonlight. Jackie’s brows were furrowed, but her breathing steadied as she recognized who was standing over her. She lowered her hand and relaxed again, though confusion lingered on her face.
“Shauna?” she whispered.
Shauna nodded and slipped under Jackie’s blanket. The bed wasn’t very large, so she had to wrap her arms around Jackie and pull her close. Her mouth was near Jackie’s ear, and her hands brushed the bare skin of her arms. Shauna felt a pleasant tingling wherever their bodies touched.
This wasn’t entirely new for them. Jackie often found excuses to initiate physical contact. Shauna knew it was nothing romantic for Jackie, but she couldn’t help her body’s reaction each time. She wondered if Jackie noticed and ignored it—or didn’t notice at all.
They’d shared a bed before, more than once. Though they weren’t supposed to. Camp rules forbade it, but that hadn’t stopped Jackie from sneaking into Athena’s cabin on occasion. Jackie always claimed the crowded atmosphere of Cabin Ten was overwhelming. Maybe it really was, but Shauna suspected there was more to it. At least, she hoped so.
Not even getting caught once had deterred Jackie. It was Chiron himself who found them that morning—they’d overslept and missed breakfast. No one had warned them about the cabin inspections. Shauna’s siblings had seen them sleeping together that night, but they hadn’t made an issue of it. Jackie had found that strange. Children of Aphrodite would have gossiped about something like that for a week.
Fortunately, not many people found out, and the worst they faced was a week of cleaning the pegasi stables. At least they were together.
“I couldn’t sleep,” Shauna murmured, pressing her nose into the hollow of Jackie’s neck. If she could, she’d have gotten even closer. “How are you feeling?”
Jackie took Shauna’s hand and began tracing small circles on her skin.
“I’ve had worse, Shipman,” Jackie replied, chuckling softly. Shauna had picked her up off the ground more than once after grueling battles.
“I’m really sorry, Jax.” Shauna pressed her lips to the back of Jackie’s neck briefly. Jackie stiffened but didn’t comment.
“It was an accident,” Jackie muttered, as if trying to convince herself. “It's not your fault.”
Shauna nodded, though the guilt gnawed at her. Jackie seemed to read her mind—she always knew when something was off, and Shauna never needed to admit it aloud.
“You don’t believe me,” Jackie stated.
Shauna shook her head, her nose brushing Jackie’s skin.
“Can we just sleep now?” she asked, avoiding the question.
Jackie tensed under her touch, and for a moment, Shauna feared she’d be told to leave and return to Cabin Six. But the words didn’t come. Jackie was clearly too tired for pointless arguments.
“Can I ask you something?” Jackie asked instead.
“Sure.”
“Why did you attack with only two people?”
For a moment, Shauna was silent, unsure if the question was serious. Then she burst into laughter, earning a sharp jab to the ribs from Jackie’s elbow.
“Seriosuly? You’re still thinking about that?”
“Just answer,” Jackie grumbled. She tried to pull away slightly, but Shauna tightened her grip on her hips, keeping her close.
“Sorry,” Shauna murmured. “So, I figured Taissa would go all in on offense. After her last loss, where her half-and-half strategy backfired, I knew she’d want an easy win. I gambled on a strong defense. If I’d been wrong, I wouldn’t have lost much—I could’ve sent reinforcements for an attack. But Taissa did exactly what I expected. The only problem was…” She trailed off, biting her lip. “I didn’t know where you would be in the equation. Leaving you on offense or defense would’ve made equal sense.”
Jackie turned, carefully avoiding her bruises, and looked Shauna in the eye. A sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Did I mess up your plans?” she asked, moving closer. They were so close their noses almost touched.
“Yeah,” Shauna admitted. “Yeah, I guess you did, Jacqueline.”
Jackie scrunched her nose at the sound of her full name. She wasn’t fond of it, and Shauna knew that all too well.
“Stop,” Jackie said, trying to sound firm, but it came out weakly.
“Not a chance, Jacqueline,” Shauna replied with mock seriousness. But before she could say more, a soft hand covered her mouth.
“You’ll wake someone,” Jackie whispered with a smile. “Just go to sleep.”
Shauna gently pushed Jackie’s hand away, resisting the sudden urge to kiss her palm. Instead, she pulled her closer, letting out a heavy sigh. The faint scent of bandages and ointment wafted to her nose, grounding her in the moment.
***
Shauna nearly had a heart attack that morning. Taissa stood over her, hands on her hips, her expression stern and unyielding. Shauna wasn’t entirely sure what had woken her, but she suspected it had something to do with the blunt end of Taissa’s spear. She raised her eyebrows at her friend, but Tai waved her off dismissively and headed for the exit.
Shauna frowned. Her gaze drifted to Jackie, who was still peacefully asleep. Gently, she tucked the blanket more snugly around her, brushing stray hair from her forehead. Rising carefully, Shauna winced as the bed creaked softly. She glanced at Jackie again; the girl stirred but didn’t open her eyes.
Shauna padded after Taissa, stepping out of the infirmary. The rising sun blinded her, its golden light sharp against the early morning haze. She blinked rapidly, squinting against the brightness. It had to be early—far too early. Would she ever get a full night’s sleep?
She turned to face Taissa, who stood before her in training gear, spear gripped tightly in her right hand. Tai’s determined stare bore into her.
“What’s this about? And how did you even know I was here?”
Taissa scoffed. “It’s obvious. If you’re not in your cabin, you’re with Jackie. And Jackie’s in the infirmary.”
Shauna decided to let the remark slide.
“I want to talk,” Taissa said curtly. “About your dirty move during Capture the Flag.”
Shauna rolled her eyes, irritation bubbling to the surface. She folded her arms over her chest. Why did Taissa insist on dragging this up again? The matter was settled. “It was an accident,” Shauna muttered, scuffing the ground with her boot.
“Bullshit,” Taissa snapped immediately. “You did it on purpose, and I want to know why.”
Shauna bit her lower lip, deliberating her next move. She could deny it, even though Taissa already knew the truth. She could confess outright. Or she could skirt around the topic, hoping Taissa would lose interest and find something else to occupy her endless drive for confrontation.
“What’s the point?” Shauna countered. “You won. There’s no reason to dig this up.”
Taissa’s sharp gaze sliced through Shauna, her silence pressing. Shauna realized, with a sinking feeling, that she’d just admitted it wasn’t an accident.
“Just be honest for once,” Taissa said, her grip tightening on her spear. Shauna eyed the weapon and exhaled, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby.
“You figured it out because I didn’t strike until after the flag was taken?”
Taissa grunted in affirmation. Few people would have noticed such a detail, and even fewer would care enough to press the issue. But not Taissa.
“I was mad because you won. Jackie was just... unfortunate victim,” Shauna replied evasively, shrugging. It wasn’t the full truth, but why should she bare her soul to Taissa?
Honestly, Taissa looked as if she was hunting for some grand conspiracy or, at the very least, sabotage aimed at her, Jackie, or who knew who else. But the truth was simpler: Shauna didn’t know if she wanted to kiss Jackie or knock her unconscious. Maybe both. Shauna was sure there's had to be a some kind of sexual kink that satisfied both urges, right?
It wasn’t that Shauna hated Jackie. No. The problem was that Jackie didn’t want her in the same way. Friendship wasn’t enough for Shauna. Every time she tried to cut Jackie out of her life, she’d change her mind. She was certain that without Jackie’s touch, her kisses, her laugh—Gods, her everything—she’d lose what was left of her sanity.
Maybe she was a daughter of Athena, but she was also an eighteen-year-old with heartbreak and tons of emotions. Her mother would’ve called it pathetic, and Shauna already felt awful enough about it.
This was the one puzzle she couldn’t solve. Jackie wasn’t an equation, a logic problem, or a poem to interpret, so Shauna couldn’t work out how to fix it.
Taissa didn’t look entirely convinced, but she nodded and took a step back. Shauna let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Fine, but next time, I’m reporting it.”
“Do what you want,” Shauna grumbled, turning back toward the infirmary. She listened as Taissa’s footsteps retreated before lifting the flap and stepping inside.
Jackie was still sleeping soundly. Shauna was about to crawl back under the blanket beside her warm body but stopped when she noticed Apollo’s kids gathering outside the pavilion. Instead, she leaned down and gently shook Jackie. “Jax, I’ll see you later.”
Jackie mumbled something incoherent, burying her face in the pillow. Shauna gave her one last glance before leaving.
The walk to Athena’s cabin was short. She changed quickly, careful not to wake her siblings, and retrieved her journal from beneath her pillow. Grabbing a pen, she headed toward the water at a brisk pace.
Camp Half-Blood stretched along Long Island, perched right by the sea. Shauna often visited the old wooden dock, especially in the mornings, to steal a moment of peace. But more often, it was Jackie dragging her, Van, Nat, Lottie, and Jeff to the beach. Shauna hated Jeff’s posturing, his stupid jokes, and his constant touching of Jackie.
Still, she could never say no to Jackie. At least watching Jackie in a bikini made those trips tolerable.
Sitting cross-legged on the worn planks, Shauna flipped through her journal, searching for a blank page. Most of it was already filled, and she reminded herself she’d need a new one soon. The parchment tickled her fingertips as she found a clean spot and began to write. The pen scratched against the paper, her thoughts flowing out, until five minutes later, something pulled her attention away.
The wind came first. A gentle breeze at first, then growing stronger. Next, Shauna’s eyes were drawn to the water. Just moments ago, it had been calm and serene. The day promised to be hot, certainly not stormy. But now the surface churned violently, as if heralding an approaching tempest. It made no sense.
Snapping her journal shut, Shauna slipped the pen into her pocket, her gaze fixed on the restless sea. A flicker of unease crept through her.
And then, unbidden, the image of the mysterious guest at Friday’s breakfast returned to her mind.
***
Jackie left the infirmary the following morning. She was still bruised and battered. Misty had stitched up the wound on her forehead, leaving a small bandage in its place. Otherwise, she seemed to be doing better. Shauna could only hope there wasn’t any internal damage.
Still, Jackie clung to Shauna even more than before—if that were even possible. And it was Shauna, specifically, whom she had chosen as her target, not Van or Nat. Her training sessions had been canceled, and some of her responsibilities lifted for the next week. Jackie needed something to occupy herself.
Jackie followed Shauna everywhere, from morning to night. The crunch of gravel under Jackie’s boots was an almost constant companion. She helped Shauna prepare the training pavilion, setting up dummies, clearing out shredded ones, and bringing in replacements. Together, they inspected the weapons, with Jackie narrating every thought that came to her mind. She was always close—sometimes too close. Her hands brushed Shauna’s arms, hips, waist, and occasionally her neck, sending sparks through Shauna every single time.
The worst part of it all was Jackie’s occasional groans of pain and sharp intakes of breath. Shauna couldn’t stop worrying. Should she tell Jackie the truth? Stop pretending it had been just a foolish accident?
Shauna had struck her. Impulsively, and not even in self-defense—just out of sheer frustration. Jackie’s current kindness only made the guilt burn hotter. It coiled tighter in Shauna with every passing hour. She couldn’t stand Jackie’s laughter or her touch, yet she found herself drawn to it, helpless, like a stray dog to a warm hearth.
“Can you hand me the brush?” Shauna muttered, extending her hand toward Jackie. Moments later, she felt the coarse bristles in her fingers and resumed brushing the pegasus’s coat. Jackie stood nearby, her gaze boring into Shauna’s back with such intensity that Shauna felt heat rising to her cheeks.
Jackie wanted to help, but Shauna had explicitly forbidden her from interfering directly. So, Jackie hovered close, trying to make herself as useful as possible. Shauna ran the brush over the pegasus’s coat again, only to feel hands settling on her waist. Jackie rested her chin on Shauna’s shoulder. Shauna froze but didn’t let on that anything was amiss, continuing her work as if nothing had happened.
The stable was dimly lit by the faint glow of lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling. This particular stable had a few stalls, which Shauna was tasked with handling today. Besides her and Jackie, the space was empty. Muffled laughter and distant shouts floated in from outside. Shauna wondered what the rest of the girls were up to.
“Hey,” Jackie whispered near her ear.
“I’m a bit busy,” Shauna replied, slipping out of Jackie’s grasp.
Jackie sighed and stepped back, grabbing the handle of a stall wall and rocking on her heels. She reminded Shauna of her twelve-year-old self, restless and bored. “You don’t have to stay here with me,” Shauna said.
“But I want to.” Jackie’s reply was instant, accompanied by a playful nudge to Shauna’s arm, earning a deep sigh in response. “I miss him, Shipman.”
Shauna silently thanked the Olympian gods that Jackie couldn’t see her expression in that moment. “I know. You’ve mentioned it five times today.”
“Because I’m worried!” Jackie’s voice rose defensively. “He should’ve been back by now. He’s not even answering Iris messages.”
Thank the gods, Shauna thought, biting her tongue before the words escaped aloud. “Jax… He’s probably fine. Maybe it’s just one of his moods or something…”
Jackie moved closer, making it impossible for Shauna to ignore her. Shauna glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. In one swift motion, Jackie snatched the brush from her hand, fixing Shauna with a serious look. Lightning practically shot from Jackie’s eyes, and Shauna rolled hers in response. “You’re not taking me seriously,” Jackie accused.
Shauna clenched her teeth, debating whether to snap back. Ultimately, she shook her head and pulled Jackie into a tight embrace.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Shauna said, forcing a calm tone. Jackie wrapped her arms around Shauna’s neck. “He’ll be back with you soon.”
Jackie didn’t reply. Shauna couldn’t tell if it was because she didn’t know what to say or because her throat was too tight to speak.
***
The breaking point came two days later.
Shauna was seated at her desk in Athena’s cabin, poring over one of the maps. Chiron had assigned them the task of creating the most detailed map of the United States, highlighting locations crucial for demigods. The project had begun back when Shauna was still learning the basics of swordsmanship.
Because of this, Chiron occasionally sent Shauna or one of her siblings, accompanied by other demigods, to various parts of the country. Their mission was to gather information and refine the map. Shauna hadn’t been on one of those expeditions for over a year.
Jackie always found it frustrating. She was rarely chosen to help with such tasks.
Once again, she sprawled across Shauna’s bed. Her left leg dangled off the side, and she clutched one of Shauna’s books, studying it with a furrowed brow while bouncing her other leg restlessly. Shauna was certain Jackie couldn’t stay still for even a moment.
And she was right. Just as Shauna turned back to sketching another bronze landmark, the book snapped shut with a loud thud and landed on the floor with a dull thump. A moment later, the bed creaked, and Jackie was beside her.
Her wound was healing. It showed no concerning symptoms, and she was only required to visit the infirmary for stitch removal. Shauna wondered how the scar on her forehead would look. Would it be noticeable? Would Aphrodite allow her daughter to have a glaring mark across her face?
“Hmm?” Shauna murmured, aware of Jackie’s close presence.
“How much longer will this take?” Jackie asked, tapping the map with her finger. Shauna fought back a wave of irritation and nodded.
“Probably a while.”
Jackie bit the inside of her cheek, turning on her heel.
Jackie clearly wanted to help with everything Shauna did, but sometimes she simply couldn’t. And her constant comments and teasing didn’t make the work any easier. Not to mention the unpleasant knot in Shauna’s stomach whenever she glanced at Jackie’s forehead.
“Shaunaaa…” Jackie drawled in a playful tone.
Shauna leaned back in her chair and looked Jackie straight in the eye.
“I could…” Jackie began, pausing briefly to choose her words. Without hesitation, she perched on Shauna’s lap, wrapping her arms around her neck. Shauna could feel her cheeks heating up. “Take a peek?”
Shauna followed Jackie’s gaze to the spot she was gesturing toward. Without a word, she stood, forcing Jackie to rise as well. Pulling a journal from beneath her pillow, she tossed it onto the table. “No.”
Clenching her jaw, she sank back into her chair. She didn’t know why Jackie was bringing this up and wasn’t sure she wanted to continue the conversation.
“Oh, come on,” Jackie sighed. “I tell you everything. I’ve been talking non-stop for days.”
“I don’t owe you anything,” Shauna muttered, knowing she had hit a nerve.
Jackie’s smile disappeared. Shauna glanced at her and, seeing her wounded expression, rubbed her temples. “Jackie…”
“We’ve known each other for six years, Shipman,” Jackie began, crossing her arms. “This isn’t fair.”
“Don’t start again…”
They had these conversations every few months, and they never led anywhere. Both were stubborn—Jackie insisted that Shauna needed to open up to her (but why?), and Shauna maintained that it wasn’t her obligation and didn’t see why Jackie was pushing so hard. Everything between them was fine, wasn’t it? Really, what was Jackie so insistent about? Inevitably, Jackie would accuse her of not valuing their friendship, sulk for days, and Shauna would eventually apologize, even though she didn’t know what for.
These arguments were exhausting, but what was worse were the days without Jackie.
Someday, they’d need to have a serious conversation about all of this, but Shauna was postponing it as long as she could. She was certain that talk wouldn’t end without Jackie confessing she was in love with her.
“Why?” Jackie scoffed, acting like a rebellious teenager. “I have every right to be upset. We’re best friends, Shauna.”
“You have the right to be upset?” Shauna countered, shaking her head. “I should be the one angry because you’re always forcing this on me. I’m not your lapdog,” she snapped.
Jackie bit the inside of her cheek again, trying to keep her composure, but Shauna could see the cracks forming, so she pressed on.
“I’m glad you can’t use charmspeak. I bet you’d exploit it constantly. Little Miss Perfect can’t stand it when things don’t go her way. Maybe Jeff had enough of it too—ever think about that?”
Shauna knew she had hit deep and hard. She could see it in Jackie’s expression, in her movements, in the way her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Fuck you,” Jackie mumbled before storming out of the cabin. Shauna heard her quick, determined steps fading into the distance, leaving her alone.
She wanted to call out to Jackie, to stop her and apologize, but her body refused to cooperate. She hadn’t meant any of it. She didn’t want to hurt her.
Shaking her head, she turned back to the map, but the silence in the cabin felt unnatural now. She tossed the pencil aside and slammed her fist against the desk.
***
Jeff was still missing, and Shauna was acting like a complete jerk. So before Jackie could think better of it, she found herself standing outside the Hades cabin, pounding on the door. She had no idea if Nat was inside, but the campers had a few hours of free time, so she assumed she would be.
The door to Cabin Thirteen swung open, and Jackie met Natalie’s sharp gaze. Before she could say a word, Nat grabbed her by the arm and pulled her inside. The door slammed shut, and it took Jackie a moment to adjust to the dim light within. Lottie, who had arrived the day before, was sprawled on Nat’s small bed, dressed in her usual rich - looking clothes. Van and Taissa were seated on the floor, their eyes now fixed on Jackie.
“Where’d you leave Shauna?” Van quipped with a smirk, but Jackie sniffled and averted her gaze.
“We had a fight,” she admitted, avoiding Nat’s eyes as the girl settled beside Lottie. Nat placed Lottie’s head in her lap, absently threading her fingers through her hair. The sight reminded Jackie of when she and Shauna used to do the same, back when they were fourteen. “It’s nothing serious. What kind of cult is this, anyway?”
Taissa and Nat didn’t get along, so seeing them together in the Hades cabin was strange and a little unsettling.
“We’re talking,” Lottie replied as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
Jackie rolled her eyes. “I can see that. That’s not what I meant.”
Apart from the odd truce between Nat and Taissa, the fact that Natalie had invited people into her cabin—and didn’t seem to mind their presence—was unusual too.
The cabin was small, with just one bed, a desk, and an overall gloomy atmosphere. Natalie lived there alone, something Jackie occasionally envied.
Natalie and Taissa exchanged a look, likely debating whether to involve Jackie in whatever was going on. They seemed to argue silently until Taissa finally patted the floor beside her. Jackie sat down, scanning the group again.
At least she didn’t have to think about Shauna.
“So, it turns out,” Natalie began, still running her fingers through Lottie’s hair, “that the strange guy at the head table that morning was Hermes.”
Jackie waited for more, but when the others stared at her expectantly, she realized they were waiting for a reaction. “And?”
Natalie rolled her eyes, leaning toward Jackie slightly. “And that means if Hermes is crashing breakfast at Camp Half-Blood and no one’s making a big deal about it…”
“And chatting casually with Dionysus,” Taissa added.
“…then something’s fucking up,” Natalie finished, leaning back again.
Jackie frowned, still not fully grasping their point. “And what does that have to do with us?”
Lottie sighed, rolling over onto her stomach to face Jackie directly. “Jackie, you’re a demigod. Anything that happens on Olympus affects you. That’s why we’re trying to figure out what’s going on.”
“I just don’t see why we’re doing this without Athena’s kid,” Van muttered, earning a sharp look from Taissa. “She has that big brain for a reason, okay? We should use it.”
“I don’t think Shauna wants to talk about anything right now,” Jackie sighed.
“Maybe not with you,” Nat sniped, prompting Jackie to narrow her eyes.
“Can’t you just ask your dad?” Jackie suggested, turning to Van. She often wondered what it was like to see your godly parent every day. “Or, I don’t know, use your access to the Big House. You could probably find something out.”
Taissa shook her head. “No one’s going to tell us anything, especially if we start poking around.”
“Unless Jackie uses her charmspeak, and I try a bit of magic,” Lottie proposed.
A heavy silence filled the room. All eyes turned to Lottie, digesting her suggestion. Jackie felt Nat’s gaze settle on her clasped hands. “Even if I could use charmspeak, it wouldn’t work on a god.”
Lottie waved dismissively. “We’re talking about Chiron, not a god.”
“Chiron’s a lot sharper than you give him credit for,” Taissa grumbled. “And besides, Jackie doesn’t even know how to use her charmspeak.”
Jackie bit her lip. Taissa was right, but the words still stung, shame blooming hot in her chest. It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t even know what was wrong.
“We could practice,” Lottie suggested, her gaze steady on Jackie. “We know you have the gift. We just need to figure out how to access it, right? It’s a little like magic.” The daughter of Hecate sat up, flashing Jackie an encouraging smile. “It’s a rare talent. It’d be a waste not to try.”
Jackie hesitated. She couldn’t imagine how Lottie could actually help her, but maybe she had a point. Charmspeak relied on some kind of magic, and as a daughter of Hecate, Lottie was skilled in manipulating reality. Maybe they could figure something out.
Jackie had tried plenty of times before but had never thought to ask Lottie for help. They weren’t particularly close—just friendly enough. Jackie often felt like Lottie was judging her, though. She usually ended up with Shauna, trying to find logical, scientific solutions. Maybe that approach was all wrong.
Shauna always viewed things through the lens of science and history. It was strange that she and Lottie were so close, given that. Or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe Jackie was just jealous. Sometimes.
“We could,” Jackie admitted finally. “But it’ll take a while before I’m good enough to influence anyone.”
“That’s why we need Shauna Shipman,” Van said, clapping her hands and starting to rise, only for Taissa to shake her head.
“Later. Free time’s almost over.”
Jackie groaned, collapsing dramatically onto the wooden floor of Natalie’s cabin.
***
That night, Jackie slept in the Aphrodite cabin. She lay on the bottom bunk, covered by a thin blanket, the heat making anything heavier unbearable. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she shifted restlessly, searching for a cool spot on her pillow.
Demigods often had dreams—whether prophetic or ominous warnings. Jackie rarely experienced them, considering her status as a hero, but lately, they'd been occurring more often than usual. She kept telling herself it was because of Jeff. She was just worried about him, that was all. Everything would go back to normal soon… right?
She rolled onto her side again when the sound of gravel crunching outside roused her from her light sleep. A shadow flickered past her window. For a moment, she thought she was imagining things and was about to drift off again when she heard footsteps. Louder this time.
Jackie clung to a silent hope that it was Shauna trying to wake her up. But no—Shauna wouldn’t have given up so easily after their argument unless something had happened. And if something had happened, she wouldn’t be sneaking around. Whoever was outside didn’t want to be seen.
Running through a mental list of people who might be lurking beyond the door, she came up empty. None of it made sense.
Frowning, she slid a hand under her pillow. Shauna might have slept with her journal—the keeper of all her secrets—but Jackie always kept her dagger close. Fingers curling around the hilt, she quietly slipped out of bed.
She was surprised she’d even managed to fall asleep at all that night. Restless as it had been, she’d been certain she’d end up grabbing her blanket and sneaking over to Nat’s cabin. She sometimes crashed there, though Natalie didn’t always appreciate it. Lottie was a much more frequent guest in Cabin Thirteen.
Barefoot, she silently pulled on her sneakers. Fighting was easier in shoes. Tightening her grip on the blade, she cracked the door open.
The night air greeted her, a welcome relief against her overheated skin. She made a mental note to open a window when she got back. Stepping outside, she let the door shut softly behind her and scanned the surroundings. At first, she saw nothing. The path remained undisturbed, the cabins were dark and silent, the only sounds the rustling trees and the distant trickling of water. The whole camp seemed fast asleep.
Rubbing her eyes, she was about to turn back when something caught her attention. A figure on the path leading toward the lake.
Jackie frowned and moved toward the silhouette, her steps cautious. The person must have heard her, because they turned.
For a fleeting moment, Jackie thought she had lost her mind. Maybe the head injury hadn’t fully healed. Maybe she was still lying in the infirmary, delirious, unable to distinguish dreams from reality. Maybe she’d tripped and suffered a concussion on the way out.
The woman standing before her looked about thirty. She was breathtaking.
And, most unnervingly, she looked almost exactly like Shauna.
For a heartbeat, Jackie believed it was Shauna. But there were too many things that didn’t add up.
She lowered her dagger slightly.
Then, the woman smiled.
And Jackie finally understood who she was looking at.
“…Mom?”
Their smiles were eerily similar. Almost identical, in fact. But there was something in Aphrodite’s expression—something Jackie had seen before. Something in the way her lips curled. It was almost exactly like Shauna’s.
“Oh, Jackie,” Aphrodite sighed, her voice honeyed with warmth. “It’s been so long, my love.”
She smiled so radiantly that Jackie felt herself shrink under its glow. Shame crept up her spine.
How could she have harbored such bitter thoughts about her mother? She was stunning—impossible not to adore.
Jackie briefly wondered if people thought the same about her.
Then, before she could stop herself, the words left her mouth. “Why do you look like Shauna?”
Where had that come from? What made her assume Aphrodite even knew who Shauna Shipman was? And why, of all things, was she asking that?
Too late to take it back.
Aphrodite’s brow furrowed slightly as she raised a hand toward Jackie. “Shauna?” she echoed, the name rolling off her tongue with delicate curiosity. Her expression shifted, her hand freezing midair. Then, a small, knowing smile touched her lips. “Oh, so you see it.” She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with interest. “Even better.”
Jackie had no idea what that meant. And, frankly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She could figure it out later. She could tell Shauna—when they made up.
She considered apologizing in her head.
Instead, she asked, “What are you doing here? Why now?”
There was so much she wanted to say. So much she had been waiting to say. She wasn’t sure if she should bow, bolt, or scream. But she forced herself to push down the irritation bubbling inside her. This was a chance—a chance to talk to her mother for the first time in her entire life.
It felt like some kind of joke.
But Aphrodite merely waved a dismissive hand, brushing off the gravity of the moment like it was nothing.
“No time for catching up,” she said, her voice abruptly sharper. Her eyes flickered—blue for a heartbeat, then back to warm brown. For a moment, Jackie felt like she was staring into Shauna’s deep, doe-like gaze. And for some inexplicable reason, warmth coiled in her stomach.
“Your boyfriend…” Aphrodite sighed, a touch too dramatically for Jackie’s liking. “The son of Poseidon. He’s in danger.”
Jackie’s brow furrowed, more confused than alarmed. “Jeff? In danger?”
“He’s in the Underworld.”
Jackie’s breath hitched. “He’s dead?!”
The words left her in a near-shout, her voice slicing through the quiet night. Aphrodite exhaled sharply and seized her by the arm, dragging her a few steps aside. Where her fingers met Jackie’s bare skin, a tingling sensation flared up. Jackie fought the urge to recoil.
“He’s alive,” Aphrodite clarified, though her tone carried no particular relief. If anything, she sounded… disappointed. Jackie squinted at her. “But he’s in trouble. He needs your help. We need your help.”
“…Excuse me?” Jackie blurted, gaping at her mother like a complete idiot.
Aphrodite rolled her eyes, as though suddenly exasperated by her own daughter. “I’m sending you on a quest, darling. I can’t give you the details. I’m sorry.”
Jackie doubted she was actually sorry. But her heart still stuttered at the mention of a quest.
Heroes were sometimes chosen for missions. Jackie had never been picked for anything major. It frustrated her to no end—especially since Natalie had already been on several. Shauna, too.
She needed to prove herself. She needed to show she was capable.
And sure, maybe Aphrodite’s proposal sounded reckless. Maybe she should be taking this to Chiron first. Maybe there was no guarantee he’d even allow it. And maybe, just maybe, Aphrodite’s complete lack of details was sketchy as hell.
But this was Jeff.
Jeff, who was apparently alive in the Underworld.
And she was supposed to… get him out?
“But—” Jackie started.
Aphrodite pressed a finger to her lips, shaking her head. “Trust me. I’ll give you guidance along the way. You leave tomorrow.”
There was no room for argument.
Jackie wasn’t sure she even wanted to argue. She wanted to prove herself. She wanted to save Jeff. But this was all too much. The sudden reappearance of her mother. The bizarre resemblance to Shauna. The fight from earlier still weighing on her mind.
Jackie took a slow, deep breath.
And when she looked into her mother’s—not Shauna’s—eyes, she saw nothing but certainty.
The cards were dealt. Aphrodite had practically handed her the winning hand.
All Jackie had to do was play it.
Her mother’s irises shifted back to deep brown.
Jackie nodded.
“Allright.”