The Altered Seven

Another Quest

In the midst of the legion, a column of silver light sprung into the air. Heat seared Piper's eyelashes. Everyone scrambled backward as a huge huntress stepped out of the light.

Piper's dark hair stood on end. The huntress was ten feet tall, dressed in a silver bodysuit. Her black hair was braided down her shoulder. She was beautiful, yet radiated something that made Piper think, Don't do anything stupid. A bow hung on her back with a quiver of silver arrows. Strapped to her thighs were hunting knives, and atop her head was a tiara with a crescent moon.

Piper desperately wanted to run away and hide, but she couldn't. She took three more steps. Then she sank to one knee. The other campers followed his example and knelt. Even Reyna dismounted.

"That's good," the huntress said. "Kneeling is good. It's been a long time since I've visited Camp Jupiter."

Piper noticed that one person wasn't kneeling. Killian Vixon, his sword still in hand, was staring at the huntress in a mixture of annoyance and respect.

"You're Artemis," Killian said. "Where are your hunters?"

A collective gasp went up from two hundred campers and an elephant. Piper wanted to say something to excuse Killian and placate the god, but she didn't know what. She was afraid the war goddess would shoot her new friend with that extra-large bow.

Instead, the goddess bared her brilliant white teeth.

"Hello again, Killian," she said. "Artemis is my Greek form. But to these followers, to the children of Rome, I am Diana, hunter of monsters and maiden goddess, and without a hunt."

"We've met," Killian said. "We...we had a fight...."

The goddess rolled her eyes. "Yes, your friends said you were the greatest warrior to ever walk the earth, and I had to see for myself. You are a formidable opponent, Killian Vixon, but you have yet to defeat me, or face me in my Roman form."

Diana scanned the crowd. "Romans, lend me your ears!" She laughed—a laugh so infectious it almost made Piper smile, though she was still shivering with fear. "I've always wanted to say that. I come from Olympus with a message. My father, Jupiter, is against us gods communicating with you demigods, especially now, but times are dire. I have been permitted to speak for but a few minutes, so listen carefully."

She pointed at Gwen. "This young maiden should be dead, yet she's not. The monsters you fight no longer return to Tartarus when they are slain. Some mortals who died long ago are now walking the earth again."

Was it Piper's imagination, or did the goddess glance at Killian?

"Thanatos has been chained," Diana announced. "The Doors of Death have been forced open, and no one is policing them—at least, not impartially. Gaea allows our enemies to pour forth into the world of mortals. Her sons the giants are mustering armies against you—armies that you will not be able to kill. Unless Death is unleashed to return to his duties, you will be overrun. You must find Thanatos and free him from the giants. Only he can reverse the tide."

Diana looked around, and noticed that everyone was still silently kneeling.

"Oh, you may rise now. Any questions?" Reyna rose uneasily. She approached the god, followed by Octavian, who was bowing and scraping like a champion groveler.

"Lady Diana," Reyna said, "we are honored."

"Beyond honored," said Octavian. "So far beyond honored—"

"Shut it, boy," Diana snapped. "Out with it, daughter of Bellona."

"Well," Reyna said, "Thanatos is the god of death, the lieutenant of Pluto?"