Children of the Lost Ruler- Ghost Goddesses Book One

An "Ice" Hand To Hold

Evidence that the world is going to hell in a handbasket:

1• Melaena just disappeared 

2• Blob Man is fucking with us, but the mortals are dumb enough to believe it and ignore me

3• We just lost Andy

I was honestly tired of it.  So, I decided to turn to the only reasonable person left in my life.  The random girl in front of me who seemed to know me.
"My name is Harper.  Andy isn't with you, is he?"
I grimaced.  "No.  Why do you ask?"
"He promised he'd come here.  Now I have no Andy and what, seven other fucking people that I've never met?!"
I chuckled.  "I can see why you and Andy get along."
She smiled.  "You're the girl he was telling me about.  His sister, right?"
"That depends on which one y--"
"Lara, who's this?" Percy said, coming up behind me and cutting me off.  I glared at him.
She rolled her eyes and introduced herself.  "Harper. Now, I was trying to talk with Lara, so quit being an ass and let us have our conversation."
Percy didn't quite know how to respond to that, so Harper made her point clear by grabbing his collar and used inhuman strength to drag him back next to Annabeth.  Damn, I liked this chick already.  In the dark it was hard to make out her features, but it was obvious that she was pretty, and around the same age as me.  I heard the near whisper of "I guess y'all can come inside," and then felt her hand on my arm.  "This way, Ligeia," she whispered to me.  Shocked, I obliged.  She made everyone sit in the living room, while she took me up to her bedroom.
As soon as the door closed, I wheeled on her.  "How the fuck did you--"
"Andy.  He told me that you needed help.  And he said that if he couldn't, then I should."
"How can I know you aren't lying to me?"
Harper pulled up her sleeve to reveal Andy's bracelet.  The imperial gold glinted in the LED light of her room.  "Is that enough for you?"
Dammit.  I hated being at a loss for words.  I nodded.  "He clearly trusts you a lot."
"You've got that damn straight.  Andy was the only person who welcomed me to Camp Jupiter.  He and I have been friends ever since."
"Who's your godly parent?" I blurted before I could stop myself.  If Andy trusts her, then so can I.  
She grinned wickedly.  "Chione.  And I really wanna thank the guy who broke my mom's nose."
I laughed openly.  I really liked her.  Andy had good taste in who to trust.  "Trust me, you'll like him.  But if you try to steal him, you're dead."
"Noted," she said with a chuckle.  "So, about this quest…"
I gave her the short rundown without having to leave out many details since she already knew about me being a goddess. I kept Melaena's secret safe, and didn't tell her about blob man's identity.  She pretty much knew everything else when I was done, though.
She didn't seem fazed in the slightest.  "Man, that dude's an ass, isn't he?"
"Which one are you referring to?"
"Blobby."
I snorted.  "We should go talk to the peasants now, shouldn't we?"
She sighed.  "I suppose."
They were all waiting impatiently.  "Where are we?" Was the first thing out of Anna's mouth.
"Baltimore," Harper responded apathetically.
Now I really like her.  I don't know why, but my best guess would be the amalgamation of Andy trusting her, her attitude towards the mortals, and the fact that she looks like she wants to stab you with a knife at every second.
They all started clamoring for answers.  Harper sent a wave of cold through the room.  "Shut the fuck up and I'll answer your questions, okay?!" The room went silent.  "My name is Harper Oresme, daughter of Chione.  I've served three years in the legion, and I hate most of you already.  I'm fifteen years old, and I live alone.  This house is mine and only mine.  Any other unnecessary questions?"
Leo raised his hand.  "Define unnecessary."
She shot an ice disc at him, shaving off a small layer of his curls.  "All questions are unnecessary, because I already know why the hell you're here."
Leo was shaking slightly.  "Then no."
Piper and Annabeth stepped forward to protest, but we sent them a glare that froze them in their tracks.  "We clearly came here for a reason, so we need to figure it out."
"Maybe it has something to do with the letter?" Frank suggested.  I rolled my eyes. 
"For fuck's sake, you guys!  The letter is a distraction!"
Percy shook his head.  "Why would he do that? All of the letters have been true so far."
I wanted to scream.  "It's all a game to him, don't you see that?"
"I think it's true," Anna piped up.
Harper and I shared a look of wanting consent to murder them.  Unfortunately, we couldn't.  They were supposedly important to the quest.
"All right, fine.  Say that it isn't a distraction.  We can't all go and figure it out.  It's bad luck.  There's eleven of us since Mel, Andy, and Salem are gone."
"It's still unlucky to have fourteen of us," Piper chimed.
"Not if the Game's Master wills it.  That dude is fucked.  He'll do anything to get his way," Harper replied curtly.
"Then why wouldn't--"
Harper stopped Jason with a glare.  "Lara's trying to make sure you're safe! I'd listen!"
They all looked very upset with the person who agreed with me. I chuckled under my breath.  "I suppose y'all should get going, then.”
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When they thought it over and left, Harper turned to me.  “I have an idea, but you aren't going to like it."
"What?"
"We're going to take a visit to Salt Lake City."
"Why?"
"Because that's the location of the international peace gardens."
"Oh?"
"We need to go to the Danish section of the gardens.  The statue there is made out of celestial bronze."
"And that's important because?"
"It's a powerful place.  We'll probably find something there."
"Like what?"
"Like a way to track down your father."
She didn't have to say anymore for me to shadow us there immediately.  What I saw took my breath away.