𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐊 ❪ luke castellan ❫
⤿ 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹
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VENUS ROSALAIN SAT BESIDE LUKE ON HIS BED, CHATTERING AMONGST HIM AND HIS FRIENDS. She would've been with a few of her fellow siblings, but she never really got along with any of them. Mostly because they were just jealous.

The girl laughed at a joke Chris had made, smiling brightly as she leaned into Luke's side, her face buried in his shoulder to try and contain her laughter. Luke couldn't help but laugh too, even though it was one of the dumbest jokes he had ever heard.

"Everyone, everyone," a voice suddenly interrupted. "Everyone." Chiron clapped, trying to get everyone's attention.

Venus's laughter faded as she lifted her head from Luke's shoulder, Luke doing the same as the group's attention focused on Chiron, who had the new camper beside him.

"Your attention please. This is Percy Jackson. I trust you will see to whatever he needs," Chiron finished, speaking a few words to Percy before leaving him.

Her eyes followed Percy as he made his way to the mattress that was on the floor for him to sleep on until he'd get claimed.

"C'mon, Luke. Go talk to him," Venus urged, pushing Luke off the bed.

"What? Why me?" he questioned.

"Because I always do the talking and now it's your turn. Besides, it's not like he's gonna murder you or something," she explained, standing up and putting her hands on her hips.

"But I do think that's the kid who killed the minotaur," Chris said before Luke sighed and walked over to Percy.

Venus walked slowly behind him before stopping when he did, now standing beside Luke. Percy stood up, directing his attention from his bag to the two teenagers.

"Look, if you want to give me a hard time, just do it tomorrow. I can't do anymore today," Percy told them.

Before Luke could say anything, Venus beat him to it, interrupting him, something she did often. "And why would we give you a hard time?"

Percy shrugged before Luke finally spoke. "Yeah, we heard what happened to you on the hill. And we just. . . wanted to say we're really sorry." he paused. "I know what you're going through. Believe me." Luke held out his hand, extending it for Percy to shake. "I'm Luke."

The blonde haired boy hesitantly shook his hand before looking at Venus. "And I'm Venus." she extended her hand out as well, and Percy shook it too.

"I'm Percy."

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Venus sat on the floor of the Hermes Cabin, her head resting against Luke's bed with her eyes closed. She had snuck into the cabin in the early morning so she wouldn't have to endure her siblings.

Her eyes jolted open when she heard Luke stand up from the bed and walk over to Percy. "You okay?" Luke asked the boy.

"Super," Percy groaned, taking the off of him.

"We all have them you know. Intense, recurring nightmares. That's normal here. And the daydreams, and the ADHD, and dyslexia." Luke explained, glancing to his side when Venus appeared next to him.

"Tell me about it. It sucks," Venus commented, stretching her limbs so she wouldn't be as tired.

Luke nodded. "Demigods just process reality differently than humans do. For the first time in your life, you're just like everyone else."

"It's really refreshing, actually," Venus said. And it was, to her at least.

"So are you guys also. . ." Percy trailed off.

"Are we unclaimed?" Luke finished for him. "No, Hermes is my father."

"Aphrodite is my mother."

A small smile appeared on Luke's face when he glanced over at Venus. "That doesn't matter though. We're all on the same team here."

"Why is that okay? Why do they get to bring us here to just ignore some of us?" Percy asked.

"Spend too much time trying to figure out why the gods do whatever it is they do, you'll drive yourself crazy." Luke answered. "Sooner you stop worrying about that, the sooner you can enjoy what this place actually does offer."

"And what's that?" Percy looked confused.

Venus and Luke shared a knowing look.

"Glory."

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"Demigods have always fought for glory," Luke began before he was cut off by Venus as they exited the Hermes Cabin, a few of their friends following them.

"They used to call it kleos, but it changed. It kinda attaches itself to your name, like makes it bigger, scarier, more important in a way," Venus explained. Luke rolled his eyes playfully at her interruption.

"People listen closer when you talk, they work harder to be your friend, and they think twice about messing with you," Luke added.

Just then, Clarisse came into view, her goonies right behind her as she bumped her shoulder into Percy's, causing him to run into Luke in the process.

"Hey!" Percy called out at her.

In retaliation, Clarisse pushed Percy back. Losing his balance, Percy fell backwards, his butt landing on the ground harshly. Venus offered Percy a hand, who gladly accepted it before Venus pulled him up.

"Knock it off, Clarisse. It's like his first day, come on," Luke scolded.

"Wait, so this is the kid who killed the minotaur. Is that right?" Clarisse asked, her eyes on Percy.

"Yeah?" Percy replied in a confused tone.

"I'll bet. Look, you want attention around here, dummy? You better be ready for it when it comes," she threatened, taking a step forward to scare Percy before she and her friends laughed. Venus glared at her, which caused the girl to scoff before walking away, her friends following behind her.

"Well, she seems nice," Percy said sarcastically as the group watched her walk away.

"Ares kids. They come by it honestly." Luke replied.

"Why don't they mess with you two?" the blue eyed boy asked.

"They know better." a slight smirk appeared on Luke's face, causing Venus to punch his arm playfully.

"Luke's the strongest swordsman at camp and Venus is great with a bow and arrow, plus she's a good fighter too, and not just with weapons either," Chris explained.

"So they leave you alone because of glory?" Percy asked.

Luke simply nodded while Venus scrunched up her face slightly, as if she were contemplating something.

"So if I get glory, Clarisse wouldn't mess with me either?"

"Well-" Luke cut off Venus this time,

"Exactly."

"And people think I'm a big deal?" Percy finished.

"Sorta, but-" this time it was Percy's turn to interrupt.

"And my dad's got no choice but to claim me" Percy perked up.

"You can't force the gods to do anything." Luke stated.

"Luke's right for once. No offense, but you're stupid if you think you can make the gods do anything you want," Venus intervened.

"For once?!" Luke looked at Venus incredulously.

Percy ignored his comment. "Well, yeah, but it would make it harder for him to pretend I don't exist, right?"

"Maybe," Luke muttered, Venus only shrugged in response.

"Well, great. Where do we start?" Percy asked, his eyes looking switching between Venus and Luke.

"I think this is where I come in."

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Venus led Luke and Percy to the archery range. Usually she'd be the instructor for the younger campers, but she had asked for a break. Luckily, Chiron had granted her the request while Dr. D was a bit more adamant about it, only because he was trying to con her into getting him some wine from the cellar.

Once the three campers arrived at the range, Venus took off the necklace she was wearing and opened the locket that was attached to the chain. The locket transformed into a bow as Venus was handed some arrows from the assistant.

Luke and Percy had helped themselves to a bow and some arrows. Of course, Luke had to help Percy put on his quiver and other supplies.

Venus drew an arrow from the quiver she had put on, lit the arrow tip on fire, and lined it up with her bow before pulling back the string. Luke watched as Venus closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"You're gonna wanna watch this," he murmured to Percy, who only glanced up at Luke before focusing back on Venus. "A good source of glory are feats of skill. So, we gotta figure out what you're good at."

As if on cue, Venus let go. The arrow flew forward for a few seconds before hitting the target right in the center. Luke smiled at the girl while Percy's eyes widened slightly at the action.

Venus nodded slightly in satisfaction and smiled when her eyes met Luke's for a brief moment before they landed on the younger demigod.

"Alright, your turn, Percy," she told the blonde.

"I wanna be very clear about this. I've never done anything like this before, and it looks super dangerous," Percy warned, uncertain about trying archery.

Luke crossed his arms. "And you never killed a minotaur before either, 'til you did."

"He's got a point. Besides, it's not as hard as it looks," Venus encouraged.

"Says the one who's been doing archery since she first got here." Luke remarked.

Venus rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Luke. I'm trying to encourage him."

Ignoring their playful banter, Percy grabbed an arrow from his quiver and walked forward a few steps, mentally preparing himself for what he's about to do.

Percy, too, took a deep breath before pulling back the string after he had lined up the arrow with the bow. The younger campers dropped to the ground after Percy had somehow shot the arrow in the opposite direction.

"Should I try again?" Percy asked.

"No's" were shouted from practically every camper at the archery range.

"To be fair, your form could use some work," Venus told Percy.

"Ya think?"

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"Luke, do you really think allowing Percy to work with fire is such a great idea? I mean, look at how he performed at the archery range," Venus explained to the older boy as they arrived in the area most of the children of Hephaestus worked at, the blacksmiths.

"He'll be fine," Luke shrugged, looking at Venus.

"That's what you said on the way to the archery range, and look at how that ended," Venus argued.

"Just trust the process."

Venus rolled her eyes at Luke's words before she saw him push Percy forward slightly. Percy was handed the supplies, a hammer and scrolling pliers. He used the pliers to hold down the piece of metal before striking it with the hammer.

Percy did it one more time before the metal flew into some burlap sack, which started smoking before going up in flames.

"I told you, Luke."

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Venus had once again snuck away from the Aphrodite table. With her tray of food in hand, she made her way over to the table Luke was sitting at.

She walked through the maze of tables and campers before she heard a sudden voice from behind her, which startled her, causing her to jump slightly. Venus turned around.

"Hey, Ven," Oliver greeted, holding his own tray of food.

Venus mentally cringed at the nickname. She only allowed two, no, one person to call her that and that person was Luke.

"Hey, Ollie," she replied. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Oh, um. I was just wondering if you wanted to come sit with me," Oliver offered, looking slightly nervous.

"Uh, sorry. I was already planning on sitting with Luke, but maybe I can take a rain check?"

"Of course, yeah. I'll see you later then?" Oliver responded.

"Yeah, see you." the two gave each other an awkward smile before Venus turned back around.

Venus sighed in relief as she continued on her way to Luke's table. It wasn't that she didn't like Oliver. He was a good person and all, shy and mostly introverted, but he wasn't Luke.

A smile appeared on Venus's face when she saw Luke. Even just seeing him made Venus's day. Sensing eyes on him, Luke looked up from his food and made eye contact with Venus. A smile immediately showed on his face.

"What is he smiling about?" Percy asked, taking a bite of his dinner.

Chris smirked. "Just Venus, the girl he's basically in love with."

Luke groaned. "Can we not talk about this? Especially here?"

"Not talk about what?" Venus asked when she took a seat beside Percy, across from Luke.

"Nothing," Luke answered quickly, a little too quickly as he picked at his food.

Venus sensed that there was more to the matter, but decided not to push it, so she simply shrugged.

Percy sighed in annoyance. "Is there a Greek god of disappointment? Maybe someone should ask him if he's missing a kid."

"Oizys. . . but she's a goddess. And her whole thing isn't really disappointment, it's more like failure." Chris explained.

Luke ignored Chris. "We're gonna find the thing that you're good at. I know it."

"Yeah, don't worry about it right now. There's plenty more things to try." Venus reassured.

The bell soon chimed as the Hermes campers began to gather up their trash and belongings. Percy just looked confused at what was going on.

"It's our turn," Luke informed him.

"Our turn for what?" Percy asked, looking up at Luke.

"Burnt offerings," Luke answered. "The gods like the smell, so it gets their attention before you say a prayer."

"They like the smell of burnt mac and cheese?"

Venus chuckled softly at Percy's question. "They like the smell of begging."

"You burn what you'll miss the most. Then they know you really mean what're you're about to say, so they listen," Luke explained before getting ready to walk away with Chris.

"Have fun, Lukey," Venus taunted, a small smirk playing on her lips.

Luke rolled his eyes playfully at her nickname for him. Even though he hated being called that, he didn't really mind it from Venus.

So really, he didn't hate it, not when it came from Venus.