BLOODSHOT . . . piper mclean

32.

EDEN FUCKING HATED it here.

Her bestest friend in the entire world was frozen at her feet. She was surrounded by monsters. She had to save the person who ruined her fucking life. She had approximately five minutes until the king of the giants busted out and destroyed them. Her only assets were one whiny imprisoned Princess Peach, one hero complex fueled dude with a plank of wood, a nosy ass bitch with a dagger, and Fire Boy, who apparently thought he could defeat the armies of darkness with breath mints. Eden couldn't deny him of that opportunity, though. There was one time she believed that she could do the same thing and had defeated a harpy with the container it'd came in.

The enemy was absolutely gorgeous. Khione smiled, her dark eyes glittering, as a dagger of ice grew in her hand.

"What've you done?" Perfect Jason demanded.

"Oh, so many things," the snow goddess purred. "Your sister's not dead, if that's what you mean. She and her Hunters will make fine toys for our wolves. I thought we'd defrost them one at a time and hunt them down for amusement. Let them be the prey for once."

The wolves snarled appreciatively.

"Yes, my dears." Khione kept her eyes on Perfect Jason. "Eden Achilles-Fairchild almost killed their king, you know. Lycaon's off in a cave somewhere, no doubt licking his wounds, but his minions have joined us to take revenge for their master. And soon Porphyrion will arise, and we shall rule the world."

"Traitor!" Princess Peach wannabe shouted. "You meddlesome, D-list goddess! You aren't worthy to pour my wine, much less rule the world."

Khione sighed. "Tiresome as ever, Queen Hera. I've been wanting to shut you up for millennia."

Khione waved her hand, and ice encased the prison, sealing in the spaces between the earthen tendrils.

"That's better," the snow goddess said. "Now, demigods, about your death—"

"You're the one who tricked Hera into coming here," Muscle Boy said. "You gave Zeus the idea of closing Olympus."

The wolves snarled, and the storm spirits whinnied, ready to attack, but Khione held up her hand. "Patience, my loves. If he wants to talk, what matter? The sun is setting, and time is on our side. Of course, Jason Grace. Like snow, my voice is quiet and gentle, and very cold. It's easy for me to whisper to the other gods, especially when I am only confirming their own deepest fears. I also whispered in Aeolus's ear that he should issue an order to kill demigods. It is a small service for Gaea, but I'm sure I will be well rewarded when her sons the giants come to power."

"You could've killed us in Quebec," Perfect Jason said. "Why let us live?"

Khione wrinkled her nose. "Messy business, killing you in my father's house, especially when he insists on meeting all visitors. I did try, you remember. It would've been lovely if he'd agreed to turn you to ice. But once he'd given you guarantee of safe passage, I couldn't openly disobey him. My father is an old fool. He lives in fear of Zeus and Aeolus, but he's still powerful. Soon enough, when my new masters have awakened, I will depose Boreas and take the throne of the North Wind, but not just yet. Besides, my father did have a point. Your quest was suicidal. I fully expected you to fail."

"And to help us with that," Fire Boy said, "you knocked our dragon out of the sky over Detroit. Those frozen wires in his head — that was your fault. You're gonna pay for that."

"You're also the one who kept Enceladus informed about us," Kaleidoscope added. "We've been plagued by snowstorms the whole trip."

"Yes, I feel so close to all of you now!" said Khione. "Once you made it past Omaha, I decided to ask Lycaon to track you down so Jason could die here, at the Wolf House." Khione smiled at him. "You see, Jason, your blood spilled on this sacred ground will taint it for generations. Your demigod brethren will be outraged, especially when they find the bodies of these three from Camp Half-Blood. They'll believe the Greeks have conspired with giants. It will be . . . delicious."

"You'll set demigods against demigods," Perfect Jason said.

Wait. Hold up. What? Eden didn't claim to be smart, and she really didn't in that moment.

"It's so easy!" said Khione. "As I told you, I only encourage what you would do anyway."

"But why?" Kaleidoscope spread her hands. "Khione, you'll tear the world apart. The giants will destroy everything. You don't want that. Call off your monsters."

Khione hesitated, then laughed. "Your persuasive powers are improving, girl. But I am a goddess. You can't charm-speak me. We wind gods are creatures of chaos! I'll overthrow Aeolus and let the storms run free. If we destroy the mortal world, all the better! They never honored me, even in Greek times. Humans and their talk of global warming. Pah! I'll cool them down quickly enough. When we retake the ancient places, I will cover the Acropolis in snow."

"The ancient places." Fire Boy's eyes widened. "That's what Enceladus meant about destroy the roots of the gods. He meant Greece."

"You could join me, son of Hephaestus," Khione said. "I know you find me beautiful, and so do you, Eden Fairchild." She turned to Eden and stared at her. "It would be enough for my plan if these other two were to die. Reject that ridiculous destiny the Fates have given you. Live and be my champions, instead. Your skills would be quite useful. You're so tired from being a hero anyway, why don't you join me?"

Fire Boy looked at Eden, who shrugged. The offer was tempting . . .

He laughed so hard, he doubled over. Well then. "Yeah, join you. Right. Until you get bored of us and turn me into a Leosicle and Eden into a . . . something? Lady, nobody messes with my dragon and gets away with it. I can't believe I thought you were hot."

Khione's face turned red. "Hot? You dare insult me? I am cold, Leo Valdez, Eden Fairchild. Very, very cold."

She shot a blast of wintry sleet at the demigods, but Fire Boy held up his hand. A wall of fire roared to life in front of them, and the snow dissolved in a steamy cloud. Thank the gods.

He grinned. "See, lady, that's what happens to snow in Texas. It—freaking—melts."

Khione hissed. "Enough of this. Hera is failing. Porphyrion is rising. Kill the demigods. Let them be our king's first meal!"

Eden smirked as the monsters charged, bringing out a silver javelin.

haha today was shit so here's an update for u all fun and just bc im so sad here's a teaser for one of  my fics that ive changed the plot to about fifty times

there is no plot. just grumpy reyna x a sunshine girl. that's it. it gives me serotonin. i will probably delete it later but i adore it.

<3 maybel