BABY DON'T CUT - jason grace

Chapter Nine

  The last thing Estella wanted to do was leave Leo behind, but she was starting to assume that being with the dumb hockey jock might have been the least dangerous option in this place.

Estella shivered, pulling her jacket tighter, even though she wasn't even the least bit cold—which she found odd, but didn't say anything about her immunity to the cold. Even if being immune to extreme weather made complete sense considering everything else that happened the past few days, Estella didn't want to risk any questions like: then why are you wearing a jacket? Estella wouldn't know how to answer that.

As they climbed the icy staircase, Zethes stayed behind them, his blade drawn. The guy might've looked like a disco-era reject, but there was nothing funny about his sword. Estella could only imagine what would happen if she touched the sword.

Then there was the ice princess. Every once in a while she'd turn and give Jason a smile, but there was no warmth in her expression. She regarded Jason like he was an especially interesting science specimen—one she couldn't wait to dissect.

Estella absolutely hated the look she was giving him, but she bit her tongue.

Estella was sure she didn't want to meet their father. Nerves overcame her and she was starting to wish that she stayed back with Leo and Cal.

Suddenly, Jason grabbed ahold of Estella's hand, causing her to look at him with widened eyes, completely aware with Piper being next to her, Zethes behind them and Khione in front of them.

Estella noticed Jason's grim expression so she forced a smile and whispered to him, "Hey, it's going to be okay. It's just a talk, right?" Even if she herself was terrified, she tried not to show it too much.

At the top of the stairs, the ice princess looked back and noticed them holding hands. Her smile faded. Suddenly Estella's hand in Jason's turned ice cold—burning cold. Like, Estella—who doesn't feel cold—felt the extreme coldness on their hands and she hated it. Jason quicklylet go, and his fingers were smoking with frost. So were Estella's. She felt it.

"Warmth is not a good idea here," the princess advised, "especially when I am your best chance of staying alive. Please, this way. "

Piper gave Estella and Jason a nervous frown like, What was that about?

Estella didn't have an answer. Zethes poked Jason in the back with his icicle sword, and they followed the princess down a massive hallway decked in frosty tapestries.

"Are you okay?" Estella asked Jason who had a deep frown on his face.

"Yeah ... yeah, sorry," Jason answered.

At 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.

The princess turned. Her brown eyes glittered.

"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. "

Estella gritted her teeth.

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

The girl smiled. "I love heroes. So blissfully ignorant. "

Piper rested her hand on her dagger. "Well, how about you enlighten us? You say you're going to translate for us, and we don't even know who you are. What's your name?"

The girl sniffed with distaste. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you don't recognize me. Even in the ancient times the Greeks did not know me well. Their island homes were too warm, too far from my domain. I am Khione, daughter of Boreas, goddess of snow. "