A/N: Yes hello I've returned sorry I think we all know I'm really not that great at time management and AP Chemistry is a very hard class so if the 4 month mini hiatus didn't tell you this then I will now: I'm gonna be a bit slow at updating here, sorry, thanks for being so understanding, just bear with me :)

Aphrodite's Game

Chapter 9

Camp Half Blood:

Piper sat still with shock.

"What!?" she exclaimed, jaw hitting the floor. If Annabeth wasn't so preoccupied, she would have been disgusted by the unchewed bon-bon in Piper's mouth.

To the naked eye Annabeth would have looked perfectly calm, but anyone who knew her would recognize the sparkle of anger in her eye. "The game is simple. The gods have invited all of us to spend a romantic weekend with our boyfriends, right?"

Piper nodded as Annabeth continued, "Well, that's just part of the story. In Ancient Greece, the gods would invite men from all over to participate in a game known as 'Aphrodite's Game,' where they would attempt to seduce their beaus without them knowing. There would be two winners to the game, the first boy to get his girl in bed, and the last girl to unknowingly not sleep with her boyfriend."

Piper sat angrily still.

"The gods would also present honorable mentions," Annabeth continued, "one to the boyfriend of the female winner, one to the funniest attempt, and one to the performance Zeus deems 'sexiest.'"

"Oh GOD!" Piper exclaimed, "Zeus is going to watch?!"

Annabeth cringed at the words on the paper. "It appears to be so."

"But why would they do this?" Piper asked, shoving another bon-bon into her mouth. "Like, what's the benefit?"

"The benefit?" Annabeth asked, confirming Piper's muffled words. Piper nodded. "I'm not sure," she said, frowning, "in the past it appeared there was some kind of cattle reward, but I wouldn't think that the boys would agree to participate for some cows," she pondered.

Piper nodded, swallowing her bon-bon. "More importantly, though, what are we gonna do about it?"

Annabeth smiled. "I might just have an idea."

#*#*#

The girls arrived at Olympus the next day, the girls chattering excitedly at the pretty carriage, the white ponies, the blue skies, and anything else in their wake. Thalia and Hazel exchanged deadbeat dad stories, Calypso and Juniper discussed different kinds of organic pesticides, and to any bypasser, it looked like Annabeth and Piper were giggling about a good book.

"This plan is so genius, Annabeth!" Piper exclaimed, laughing.

Annabeth smiled, looking down at the pile of grey fabric concealed in her book. "This is gonna be one hell of a weekend."

#*#*#

At the gates of Olympus, a nice looking satyr took their bags and lead them into the throne room, escorting the girls away from the carriage.

The gods sat regally in their throne room, towering over the group of boys waiting below.

"I hear the ladies coming down the hall now!" Aphrodite exclaimed.

Zeus smiled knowingly from his throne. "Well, gentlemen, let the games begin!"

Next Time: The boys begin seducing their women and Juniper must deal with the heartbreak of going home.