☼

AFTER ANNABETH AND PERCY LEFT, Lucia found herself giving her all at camp. She wouldn't miss a single archery lesson with Chiron. And spent hours in the infirmary with her little brother.

She found herself close to reaching the top of the climbing wall, canoeing with naiads and swimming with nereids. She also tried volleyball (the ball almost burned through a Demeter kid's head). Along with sword fighting (she almost stabbed a Stoll brother). But found out in an instant that neither was for her.

The next on her list this summer was Pegasi Riding. That's why Silena Beauregard was now guiding her to the Pegasi Stables for her first lesson. When she walked in Lucia was pleasantly surprised to see it didn't stink as much as she thought it would. Instead, it seemed pretty well kept, a classic stable compound, except with extra wing room.

"You can pick." Silena smiled kindly, "But I recommend avoiding the white one. She likes to spin."

Lucia took her time to look around the stables when one pegasus caught her eye. she walked forward and stood in front of him "Blackjack, right?"

The pegasus looked up at her from his hay and snorted

"I'm Percy's friend, remember?" Lucia held a careful hand out

Blackjack gave her a funny look before snorting again. He placed his chin atop Lucia's hand. Lucia reached into his mane and started petting him.

"Could I borrow you?" She smiled

Blackjack whinnied

"So you chose Percy's Pegasus..." Silena gave her a knowing smile. Her blue eyes were basically sparkling. "you're close to him aren't you?"

"What." Lucia's cheeks flushed "I mean, yes he's been my best friend for years. I don't think he'll mind.."

"Oh, I don't think he'll mind either honey." Silena let out a laugh

Blackjack whinnied in agreement

"I don't know what either of you is trying to say" she pointed to the two of them. Her hands were now clammy. "But can I learn how to ride now?"

"Come on Lovergirl." Silena walked out of the stables

"Don't call me that!" Lucia squealed as she guided blackjack behind her.

"My mom's Aphrodite" Silena turned to her. She was clearly beautiful and when she looked at Lucia she exuded excitement and giddiness. "I know love when i see it."

"I don't know what you mean" Lucia shook her head, but the way her heart slammed against her rib cage betrayed her words "no idea."

"Oh, nothing." Silena hummed "Why don't we start with our lesson."

☼

THE RIDE STARTED RATHER BUMPY, they almost crashed into the trees many times, and one time they did. Let's just say a specific tree nymph isn't too fond of Lucia.

But after a while, Lucia got the hang of it and started gliding through the air with blackjack. Throughout the camp, they could hear her harmonious laughter.

"I see why Percy likes you." Lucia giggled into his mane

Blackjack whinnied in response almost like he was saying 'me too'

"We should get down now. Silena's waiting." Lucia began until something caught her eye "Wait-"

Blackjack stayed steady in the air. Lucia leaned down to see a figure stumbling in the forest

"Blackjack could you go down there" Lucia pointed to Zeus's fist "I'll get you donuts."

Blackjack dived down toward Zeus' fist

"Easy!" Lucia shrieked "I can't get you donuts if I'm dead!"

Blackjack snorted

"Ha ha." Lucia faked a laugh "You really are Percy's"

She hopped down from his back, the figure was now stumbling to sit down on a rock. Lucia half expected Blackjack to fly away but he followed behind her as she made her way to the seated boy.

"Nico?" Lucia whispered

The boy's head snapped up to look at her, but it wasn't Nico.

"Ethan?" Lucia gasped "Oh my gods what happened to you."

Lucia fell to her knees next to him, a hand reached up to touch his pale cheek. he looked down at her a little sad and a little hopeful. a black eyepatch now replaced his left eye.

"Ethan who did this" Lucia furrowed her eyebrows "H-How."

"I'm okay." He said, "I'm better than ever."

"B-But your eye—"

"It's okay Golden Girl" he smirked "It's nice to see you worry about me."

"Of course, I'm worried you're my friend." Lucia blushed "My first friend here in fact. But—"

"I don't want to talk about it." He nodded "Could we not. Please."

Lucia nodded, "Of course. I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" He furrowed his eyebrows "This isn't your fault"

"I don't know" She frowned " I've lost a lot of people and saw, even more, get hurt in the span of a week... I'm sorry you got hurt too."

"How was the quest?."

"It was...successful" Lucia sighed "It was, we saved Annabeth and Artemis. But Bianca died and Zoe...Zoe died too.. and Bianca's brother— someone who was like a brother to me, completely hates me now."

"That's not your fault."
"I've already heard that but..."
"It's the Olympians."

Lucia's face twisted in confusion "Be careful Ethan."

"I'm not afraid of them." His face shifted into anger, he leaned forward his two hands reached out for hers "It's the truth Golden girl. They don't care about us. You went fourteen years unclaimed. How much did you suffer because your dad wasn't there? I know I have. And he might have claimed you now but what's the first thing that happens? you're thrown in to doing their dirty work. To lose your friends and suffer even more. We are pawns in their game. And they'll either deceive you or hurt you to get what they want. Your dad doesn't love you. Not really, he's incapable of it ."

Blackjack stepped forward protectively

"Blackjack it's okay." She reassured, "You can go."

Blackjack responded by sitting down in front of them and folding his wings over each other. He squinted his eyes at Ethan.

"Or not."

Lucia looked down toward the golden bow disguised as a charm bracelet. (a feature she only recently found out about).

She thought of her mortal dad's death, the years with her stepmother and her team, Westover hall, the pain of losing her friends, of losing Nico, she thought of Aphrodite's words, and the prophecy that could rip her best friend away from her... maybe Ethan was right? maybe it was their fault...

"I'm sorry." He said, "I didn't mean to make you upset."

Lucia regained her senses and looked toward the boy in front of her. She realized he had some traits she noticed in Aphrodite back in Arizona. His hair was dark and glossy like hers, his jaw seemed to match too, even his upturned nose...

"You didn't make me upset." Lucia shook it off "I was thinking."

He smirked "of?"

Lucia became timid "Nothing, forget it. Why don't we talk about something else?"

Ethan stared at her. Lucia only now realized how close he was to her. His hands still holding hers. "I don't want to talk."

Lucia gulped,

Blackjack squealed. Lucia sprung back and almost got whiplash at how fast she turned to look at him.

"What!" She asked, "What's wrong?!"

Blackjack tipped over and stuck his tongue out in dramatics.

Lucia got up and let go of Ethan, she kneeled in front of the pegasus "what is it? want to fly back to the stables?."

he whinnied

"Okay, we'll get your donuts too."

Lucia turned around to look at Ethan "Hey um. I have to make sure he gets back alright. Could we continue this another time"

"What part specifically," He said, her eyes widened. An impish smile formed on his lips "Don't be a stranger Golden girl. I'm looking forward to spending the next few months with you."

Lucia let out a small nervous laugh " I am too."