Love is War, Love is Death, Love is Power

by aliasramsay

Summary:

Piper McLean believes she understands what it means to be a daughter of Aphrodite—love, kindness, and standing by her friends, just like Silena Beauregard did. But when she challenges Drew Tanaka for control of Cabin 10, she quickly learns she’s been seeing only half the truth. Love isn’t just gentle—it’s consuming, destructive, and powerful. Drew and the other Aphrodite campers remind her that their mother is more than romance and beauty.

Notes:

• For CassieWolfe, WardofWinters (QoLife).

Piper didn’t remember much about the rest of the night. They’d told their story and answered about a million questions from the other campers, but Chiron had finally noticed how tired they were and ordered them to bed.

It felt so good to sleep on a real mattress, and Piper was so exhausted, she crashed immediately, which spared her any worry about what it would be like returning to the Aphrodite cabin.

The next morning she woke in her bunk, feeling reinvigorated. The sun came through the windows along with a pleasant breeze. It might’ve been spring instead of winter. Birds sang. Monsters howled in the woods. Breakfast smells wafted from the dining pavilion—bacon, pancakes, and all sorts of wonderful things.

Drew and her gang were frowning down at her, their arms crossed.

“Morning.” Piper sat up and smiled. “Beautiful day.”

“You’re going to make us late for breakfast,” Drew said, “which means you get to clean the cabin for inspection.”

A week ago, Piper would’ve either punched Drew in the face, or hidden back under her covers. Now she thought about the Cyclopes in Detroit, Medea in Chicago, Midas turning her to gold in Omaha. Looking at Drew, who used to bother her, Piper laughed.

Drew’s smile dropped into narrow eyes. “What are you—”

“Challenging you,” Piper said. “How about noon in the arena? You can choose the weapons.”

She got out of bed, stretched leisurely, and beamed at her cabinmates. She spotted Mitchell and Lacy, who’d helped her pack for the quest. They were smiling tentatively, their eyes flitting from Piper to Drew like this might be a very interesting tennis game.

“I missed you guys!” Piper announced. “We’re going to have a great time when I’m senior counselor.”

Drew’s eyes narrowed further and her lips twisted into a sneer. “You can’t just challenge me like that there’s-

“Sure, I can. Camp rules: I’ve been claimed by Aphrodite. I’ve completed a quest, which is one more than you’ve completed. If I feel I can do a better job, I can challenge you. Unless you just want to step down. Did I get all that right, Mitchell?”

“Er- well mostly but…”

“I will not be stepping down,” Drew interrupted a look of fury on her face. “And-“

Piper shrugged. Then fast as a viper she pulled Katoptris from under her pillow, unsheathed the dagger, and thrust the point under Drew’s chin. Everyone else backed up fast. One guy knocked over a makeup table and sent powders scattering over the floor.

Piper kept Katoptris steady under Drew’s chin. “Silena knew better than that. Aphrodite is about love and beauty. Being loving. Spreading beauty. Good friends. Good times. Good deeds. Not just looking good. Silena made mistakes, but in the end, she stood by her friends. That’s why she was a hero. I’m going to set things right, and I’ve got a feeling Mom will be on my side. Want to find out?”

Drew’s lips curled into a smirk. “A duel, then? You don’t want to wait until noon?” She laughed, soft and mocking. “I don’t need a duel, sweetheart. You’ve already lost.”

Then she moved.

It was effortless. One sharp twist of her wrist, and Piper’s fingers spasmed open. The dagger clattered to the wooden floor. Before she could react, Drew caught her wrist, pulling her forward just enough to knock her off balance. Piper gasped as she stumbled to one knee, Drew towering over her.

The Aphrodite campers didn’t rush to help. They just watched. Not afraid. Not surprised. Just waiting to see what their leader would do.

Drew crouched down, her perfectly manicured nails still wrapped around Piper’s wrist, her voice dangerously low. “You think love is just kindness? That it’s about being nice?” She scoffed. “You have no idea who our mother is.”

Piper clenched her jaw, trying not to show weakness. “Aphrodite is about more than just power plays, Drew.”

Drew’s grip tightened—just enough to make Piper wince.

“Aphrodite is Anosia,” Drew murmured. “Unholy Love. The kind that makes you betray your family, abandon your duty, do things you never thought you were capable of.”

Sebastian, a boy with brown hair and piercing blue eyes, stepped forward. “She’s Tymborychos—the Grave-Digger. Do you know how many have died because of love? Helen of Troy? Paris? Patroclus?” Her lips curled into a smirk. “Our mother’s love kills.”

“She’s Areia—Warlike,” another girl—Valentina, with dark curls and sharp eyes—added. “You think you can lead us, Piper? You think you can ‘set things right’? Love is war. It’s strategy. It’s knowing who to cut down before they cut you first.”

Piper’s breath came fast, but she refused to look away. “Silena didn’t believe that,” she said through gritted teeth. “She was a hero.”

Drew tilted her head, her smirk widening. “Oh, Piper.” She let go of her wrist and stood up to her full height, looking down at her with something like pity. “Silena lied. She spied. She led people to their deaths. And in the end? She died because of love.”

Piper’s stomach twisted, but Drew wasn’t finished.

“She wanted to be a hero, sure. But you can’t erase the parts of her story that make you uncomfortable.” Drew spread her arms wide, gesturing to the other campers. “Silena understood something you don’t. Love isn’t just about healing. It’s about control. It’s about knowing what people want and using it. It’s about passion that turns to obsession, loyalty that turns to ruin. Do you really think she was some innocent, wide-eyed fool? You didn't know our sister, but she was anything but a fool.” She scoffed. “She played the game, Piper. And she lost.”

Silence filled the cabin, heavy and unshakable.

Piper’s hands curled into fists, but she knew—she knew. Drew had won. Because as much as Piper wanted to fight it, there was truth in what she was saying. She thought of her mother, of all the myths, of the gods themselves. Love was never just gentle. It was raw and consuming. It burned. It destroyed.

Drew leaned down, her voice like silk. “You thought you were taking over this cabin?” Her smirk turned razor-sharp. “Cute.”

Piper swallowed the lump in her throat.

Drew straightened and turned her back on her, already dismissing the challenge. “Pick up your little dagger and get out of my sight,” she said airily. “Come back when you understand who Aphrodite really is.”

The Aphrodite campers didn’t laugh. They didn’t cheer. They just watched. Because they knew the truth.

And now, Piper did too.