Chapter Text
Olivera sighed as she disconnected the call with her older sister, Annabeth, swiping the mountains of almost illegible notes in the process. She leaned back slightly in her swivel chair, flexing her hand to try and get the sticky remnants of condensation off of her skin. When that failed, she wiped the back of her hand on her paint-stained jean shorts, and then flapped her hand a few times as if to shake off the water molecules. It helped a bit, but she could still feel the crawling of water droplets on the back of her hand.
She pulled her knees up to her chest, and pressed her forehead into the bony part of her knees in an attempt to slow down the onslaught of emotions. She knew it wouldn’t work—she was beginning to shut down—but she had things to figure out. She couldn’t shut down now. Her body and brain didn’t agree though. This was too much.
Gods, she hated this.
She grabbed her noise canceling headphones and slammed them over her ears and hugged her legs as tightly as she could, hoping the pressure would stop her from breaking. Even though Cabin 6 was empty barring her—Malcolm, her counselor and older brother, had taken the rest of the cabin to the washhouse to get ready for bed—it was as if she could hear the room itself breathing too loudly, adding to her pain.
With a shaky hand, she managed to grab her phone and type out the plan to Alice and Jerry before her brain wiped clean. She hoped that her boyfriend and Alice wouldn’t be able to see how crazed she felt. She hoped that they couldn’t tell her heart was beating a million miles an hours and that if she tried to speak no words would be able to form.
There was a slight draft as the cabin door opened and her dozen half-siblings scrambled inside at their normal loud and obnoxious level. Malcolm was scolding Claire for refusing to take her favorite pair of Mary Janes off, Amara was practically dancing as she tried to avoid the half-finished Lego sets on the floor that Alden, Cornelius, and Hermia were building. Outside, those stupid little cicadas loudly sang as they did every August, and she could hear a few campers outside screaming as they made their way to the washhouse.
She tossed her phone into the pile of parchment and blueprints and quickly stood up, her hands pressing against the ears of her headphones to try and minimize everything. Her eyes started to prickle with tears.
She caught Malcolm’s eyes, her brother slightly blurry. He made an L with his right hand, making a circular motion twice clockwise, and raised his eyebrows. It took a minute for Olivera to translate the sign, library?
Olivera nodded vigorously and, as shaky as a newborn giraffe, made her way to the Athena cabin’s hidden library.
The library was nice—soundproof walls and dim lights—entered through a hatch in the back of Cabin 6. Pretty much only the Athena kids knew about it, which made it the perfect place for Olivera to go when she was on the edge of a meltdown. If she, or anyone in the cabin, really, though she used it most often, needed to decompress, they’d just sign the word ‘library’ and escape.
As soon as the hatch shut, the floodgates opened. She pressed her back against the nearest bookshelf—the picture book shelf—and slid down, hugging her knees as tightly as she could. It hurt a bit, but if she didn’t do that then she’d end up kicking or punching something.
She wasn’t sure how long she was down there, rocking silently and clutching her calves in the hope of not lashing out, but after a bit the hatch opened back up, and a figure dropped down.
With her eyes so clouded with tears, Olivera couldn’t tell who was there, and with her voice sewed shut she couldn’t question it, so she let out a strangled cry.
Suddenly, something cold was pressed against her arm. Unlike the condensation, it didn’t feel sticky, but rather a bit metallic and small; unnaturally rectangular. She’d felt something like that before, but where? It hadn’t hurt her last time, though, she was certain. Trying to wipe her tears, she managed to look down to see an upside down pin pressed against her skin.
It was Jerry’s Hadestown pin.
She glanced up, and sure enough, her boyfriend was crouched beside her, balancing precariously on the balls of his feet while he pressed the pin against her arm, his fingers carefully around the pin part as if afraid to accidentally touch her. That’s where she knew the feeling from—sometimes she’d press the cold enamel against her hand to feel something solid, something Jerry must’ve picked up on.
Jerry smiled softly when he noticed her looking, and held out the pin, letting Olivera take it and turn it in her hands. He didn’t talk, and neither did she, he just sat down beside her as she spun the pin in her hand.
Olivera took a few shaky breaths. “Jay?” she managed to ask.
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
Jerry pressed down on his knees, almost like he was doing yoga in his criss cross position. “Don’t apologize, love.”
“I won’t be useless,” Olivera insisted.
“You’re not.” Jerry said.
“On the quest? I won’t have a meltdown.”
“You don’t control—”
“I won’t,” Olivera practically hissed. She loosened her grip on her legs and stretched them out. “Annabeth told me that plans go array, that sometimes monsters will mess up my meticulous schedule. I won’t cry over that, I’ll just make a new plan. This is my quest.”
Olivera knew Jerry didn’t believe her, or at least had doubts, but thankfully he didn’t comment on it.
She passed the pin back over. “I’m going to pack, we leave early.” Her knees popped as she stood.
Jerry scrambled to stand up too, “I’ll help. And Alice and Julia too, they're upstairs, talking to Malcolm.”
Olivera hummed acknowledgement before she reached up to reopen the hatch.
***
Packing wasn’t too bad. Annabeth had given her a questing essential list, and she, Alice, Julia, and Jerry scrambled around Cabin 6 to grab what they needed. Julia was abnormally silent, and guilt gnawed at Olivera, but she couldn’t bring herself to talk to the daughter of Hermes. She was certain she’d end up crying if she did.
Alice, Julia, and Jerry made a run for it after they finished packing, hoping to avoid the harpies. Jerry managed to sneak a quick peck on the lips while Malcolm was reading Alden his nightly bedtime story, which made her feel slightly better.
After text confirmation from the three confirming no one had been eaten, Olivera changed into her pajamas and sat on the edge of her bed, fiddling with the ears of her favorite stuffed rabbit her step-mom had given her.
“Hey.”
Olivera looked up for a second, her fingers still fiddling with the rabbit’s ears as Malcolm sat beside her.
“Big day tomorrow, huh?”
She nodded.
“I’m proud of you, you know?”
“I couldn’t let Hayden take a quest,” she whispered, “I don’t know why Urania thought that could happen. He’s eight!”
“I know,” Malcolm sighed. “Hug?”
Olivera scooched over so Malcolm could wrap his arms around her.
“The gods don’t always remember how old we are,” Malcolm admitted. “If it were up to me, you’d also be too young for a quest.”
“Will’s mad at Jerry,” Olivera glanced at the window towards Cabin 7, “But Jerry insisted on coming.”
“He’s a good kid,” Malcolm said, “Even if he did sneak a kiss when I was reading to Alden, don’t think I didn’t see that.”
Olivera’s cheeks reddened, and she tried to hide it in the rabbit’s fur. “Shut up.”
Malcolm chuckled, unwrapping his arms from around Olivera to press a kiss to the crown of her head. “You should go to sleep now, you’ve gotta get up early.”
“Read?” She whispered.
“‘Course.” Malcolm went to go find a book, but Olivera was out before he even returned.
***
All of Olivera’s siblings woke up to say goodbye to her, even Cornelius, who was notorious for not being able to wake up until the breakfast bell rang. They wished her luck one at a time, so as to not overwhelm her, and Amara even did two intricate French braids in her hair.
“Plaits will be the easiest to take care of,” Amara had said. “You won’t get as many knots that way.”
After the goodbyes—some a bit tearful—with her siblings, Malcolm walked her over to Half-Blood Hill. The morning sun was blistering, and it would only get worse as the day progressed, she knew.
She and Malcolm were the first to arrive, and they sat beneath Thalia’s tree. Olivera pulled out a pencil and doodled on the mini sketch pad she had brought. It wasn’t painting, but it was pretty fun.
“You’ll take good care of Bunny, right?” Olivera asked.
She could feel Malcolm’s gray eyes, deep and owl-like from behind his spectacles, on her. “Yeah. You sure you don’t want to bring him?”
“I don’t want him to get dirty or lost.” She almost had brought her bunny, but she wouldn’t know what she’d do if he went missing, so decided against it. “Make sure Hermia doesn’t change his clothes again.”
“Promise.” Malcolm shifted enough that she could hear the pines rustling. “There’s Will and Jerry!”
Olivera glanced up, and sure enough, her boyfriend and his oldest brother were walking towards the tree. Malcolm helped her stand up to greet them.
Jerry had a small pack with his spare change of clothes thrown over his shoulder, as well as one of the first aid fanny packs on his waist. It was a bit ironic, seeing as Jerry knew next to nothing about first aid.
“Hey,” Will called as he walked over. “Olivera, I’ve given Jay some simple first aid stuff, but you know him.”
Jerry rolled his eyes. “You’re lucky I’m not throwing this bumbag out the window.”
“You better not,” Will scolded.
“Yeah, Jerry.”
Olivera turned quickly at the sound of the new voice. She didn’t recognize it, nor did she recognize the man in front of her. He had long blond hair, braided down his back, skin so tan it looked almost unnatural, and bright blue eyes, the exact same shade as Jerry's, she noted.
“Dad,” Jerry complained, and Olivera’s eyes widened, and she stumbled a bit away from the man, or god, who had just appeared.
“You actually came,” Will whispered, a bit in awe. Olivera could understand that, she would probably keel over if Athena came over. “You can’t interrupt quests.”
“I’m not going to,” Apollo said. He walked over to Jerry and pulled him into a hug. “Just wishing him good luck.”
Soon, the god’s eyes were turning towards her, and Olivera hid behind Malcolm. “You must be my darling Jerry’s girlfriend, Olivera!”
“Dad,” Jerry hissed.
“I’m just saying hello and wishing her a good quest,” Apollo countered. “I wasn’t going to say anything about the thousand times you gushed about her to me.”
“Dad!”
Olivera felt her face heat up, but she didn’t even peek out from behind her brother. She felt like a toddler again, playing in an intense game of hide and seek.
“What?” Apollo questioned. “You don’t have to be scared of me, Olivera, I really am just here to wish you a good quest. Trust me, after last year I know all about quests.”
Malcolm sidestepped enough so that Olivera was visible, and with a squeak she jumped behind him again.
“Ollie, thank Apollo.” Malcolm scolded. “He came all the way from Olympus to wish you a good quest.”
“Thanks,” she whispered, but she still hid. Sure, Apollo said she didn’t have to fear him, but not only was he a deity, but also his boyfriend’s father. They may have fought side by side when he was mortal, but Apollo had looked human then, and younger than Malcolm, rather than the god-like parent age he appeared now (which based on the copious amounts of myths she’s read, was a bit abnormal for him. Maybe it was to appear more fatherly to Jerry, she wasn’t sure).
“Holy Hermes, Apollo’s back.”
Olivera hadn’t noticed, but Connor and Alice had arrived, and both stared at the god a bit confused.
“Came to wish you guys good questing!” Apollo repeated, giving his younger son a second hug. “I can’t say long, but I promised Jerry I’d come and say hello before you left since I can’t interrupt quests.”
Olivera could see Alice twitching slightly, though she wasn’t sure why. “Well, thanks Apollo. Did my dad say anything?”
“Oh, I nearly forgot!” Apollo snapped his fingers, and Olivera peeked to see two letters appear in his hands. “I talked to Hermes and Athena, but they both had prior engagements, so they wrote you guys a letter each.”
Apollo reached over to hand Olivera hers first, almost like a kid feeding a skittish farm animal for the first time. Olivera snatched it, mumbled thank you, before clutching it to her chest. Her mom had never written to her before.
Alice must’ve felt similar, because she grabbed the letter and wrapped the sun god in a hug, which he gladly reciprocated.
“Thank you!”
“‘Course!” Apollo grinned. “Now, I’ve really gotta skedaddle myself, I have this poetry lecture I just can’t miss, but I’ll be watching your progress!”
He gave Jerry a kiss on his hair, and Will a quick hug.
He glanced towards Alice, “Though, I’d like my wallet back, Miyazawa, before I leave.”
Olivera stared in awe as Alice produced a slick black wallet and tossed it back a bit guilty. When had she even grabbed that?
“Hermes would be proud,” Apollo said, pocketing his wallet. “See you!”
Will turned to Alice as soon as Apollo was left. “You tried to pickpocket a god?”
She shrugged. “We could use the extra cash.”
Her older brother high fived her, “I can’t wait to tell Travis about this when I get back to the cabin.”
Alice smiled, but before she could reply, Chiron clopped over, announcing Argus was ready to leave. He gave the three questers time to say goodbye to their counselors before scurrying them off to the camp van to begin their quest.