The Altered Seven

The Wind God

Aelin looked up the staircase and her eyes narrowed. At the top stood a girl in a white silk dress; her skin was unnaturally pale, the color of snow, but her hair was a lush mane of black, and her eyes were coffee brown. She focused on Leo with no expression, no smile, no friendliness.

"My Father will want to know why two of his sons now lie dead in the streets," the girl said.

"You can tell him they crossed the wrong girl," Aelin shot back.

The girl's eyes flashed. Before she could say anything, Jason said, "Who are you?"

She turned towards him, her eyes scanning him critically.

"I am Khione," she said. "And my father will wish to see you, Jason Grace. Follow, please." Leo made to take a step, but she froze him with a look. "Not you, Leo Valdez."

"Why not?" He probably sounded like a whiny kindergartner, but he couldn't help it.

"You cannot be in the presence of my father," Khione said. "Fire and ice-it would not be wise."

"We're going together," Jason insisted, putting his hand on Leo's shoulder, "or not at all."

Khione tilted her head, like she wasn't used to people refusing her orders. "He will not be harmed, Jason Grace, unless you make trouble."

"It's fine, guys," he said, sounding a tad defeated. "No sense causing trouble if we don't have to. You go ahead."

"Listen to your friend," Khione said. "Leo Valdez will be perfectly safe. I wish I could say the same for you, son of Zeus. Now come, King Boreas is waiting."

"Let's go," Aelin ordered. "Khione said Leo would be fine, so he'll be fine. Just don't screw up with Boreas."

She began to follow Khione, but Jason saw that she was fiddling with her bracelet. He didn't want to leave Leo, but Jason knew that it was the least dangerous option, so he followed Aelin and Aria after Khione.

They followed her until they reached the throne room, which was somehow colder than the entry hall. Aelin walked right behind Khione, a hand on her bracelet, ready to spring at a moment's notice. She remembered her Uncle Percy mentioning her name, but she couldn't exactly place why she was told about the goddess of snow. She didn't seem like a big threat, but Aelin knew that harmless-looking beings were usually the most dangerous. Artemis was normally in the body of a twelve year old girl, yet she was one of, if not the most dangerous Olympian.

She was brought out of her thoughts when they neared the end of the hallway. They found themselves in front of a set of oaken doors carved with a map of the world. In each corner was a man's bearded face, blowing wind. Jason was pretty sure he'd seen maps like this before. But in this version, all the wind guys were Winter, blowing ice and snow from every corner of the world.

The goddess turned. Her brown eyes glittered, and Jason felt like he was a Christmas present she was hoping to open.

"This is the throne room," she said. "Be on your best behavior, Jason Grace. My father can be ... chilly. I will translate for you, and try to encourage him to hear you out. I do hope he spares you. We could have such fun."

Jason guessed Khione's definition of fun was not the same as his.

"Um, okay," he managed. "But really, we're just here for a little talk. We'll be leaving right afterward."

She smiled. "I love heroes. So blissfully ignorant."

She stirred the air with her finger, and a miniature blizzard swirled around her-big, fluffy flakes as soft as cotton.