The Hidden Follower

23.

"Oh, pish," Aeolus said interrupting the side conversation. "I was just grumpy. Rescind that order, Mellie, and um, who's on guard duty—Teriyaki?—Teri, take these storm spirits down to cell block Fourteen E, will you?"

  "Why are they all named after food?" Delta muttered as a harpy swooped out of nowhere, snatched the golden bag, and spiraled into the abyss.

  Aeolus grinned at Jason. "Now, sorry about that kill-on-sight business. But gods, I really was mad, wasn't I?" His face suddenly darkened, and his suit did the same, the lapels flashing with lightning. "You know ... I remember now. Almost seemed like a voice was telling me to give that order. A little cold tingle on the back of my neck. "

  Jason tensed slightly. "A ... um, voice in your head, sir?"

  "Yes. How odd. Mellie, should we kill them?"

  "No, sir," she said patiently. "They just brought us the storm spirits, which makes everything all right. "

  "Of course. " Aeolus laughed. "Sorry. Mellie, let's send the demigods something nice. A box of chocolates, perhaps. "

  "A box of chocolates to every demigod in the world, sir?"

  "No, too expensive. Never mind. Wait, it's time! I'm on!"

  Aeolus flew off toward the blue screen as newscast music started to play.

  "Mellie," Jason asked, "is he ... always like that?"

  She smiled sheepishly. "Well, you know what they say. If you don't like his mood, wait five minutes. That expression 'whichever way the wind blows'—that was based on him. "

  "And that thing about the sea monster," Jason said. "Was I here before?"

  Mellie blushed. "I'm sorry, I don't remember. I'm Mr. Aeolus's new assistant. I've been with him longer than most, but still—not that long. "

  "How long do his assistants usually last?" Piper asked.

  "Oh ..." Mellie thought for a moment. "I've been doing this for ... twelve hours?"

"Holy shit, what do you think was the shortest amount of time?" Leo asked Turning to Delta.

  A voice blared from floating speakers: "And now, weather every twelve minutes! Here's your forecaster for Olympian Weather—the OW! channel—Aeolus!"

  Lights blazed on Aeolus, who was now standing in front of the blue screen. His smile was unnaturally white, and he looked like he'd had so much caffeine his face was about to explode.

  "Hello, Olympus! Aeolus, master of the winds here, with weather every twelve! We'll have a low-pressure system moving over Florida today, so expect milder temperatures since Demeter wishes to spare the citrus farmers!" He gestured at the blue screen, but when Delta saw the monitors, he saw that a digital image was being projected behind Aeolus, so it looked like he was standing in front of a U. S. map with animated smiley suns and frowny storm clouds. "Along the eastern seaboard—oh, hold on. " He tapped his earpiece. "Sorry, folks! Poseidon is angry with Miami today, so it looks like that Florida freeze is back on! Sorry, Demeter. Over in the Midwest, I'm not sure what St. Louis did to offend Zeus, but you can expect winter storms! Boreas himself is being called down to punish the area with ice. Bad news, Missouri! No, wait. Hephaestus feels sorry for central Missouri, so you all will have much more moderate temperatures and sunny skies. "

  Aeolus kept going like that—forecasting each area of the country and changing his prediction two or three times as he got messages over his earpiece—the gods apparently putting in orders for various winds and weather.