Heartache || Percy Jackson

Thalia Torches New England

Artemis assured them that dawn was coming, but you could've fooled Cassie. It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. She wondered if the teachers had even noticed the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet. Cassie sure didn't want to be around when they did. With her luck, the only name Mrs. Gottschalk would remember was "Cassandra Williams," and then she'd be the subject of a nationwide manhunt.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. Cassie stood shivering in the snow (unlike the Hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable), and Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. Cassie could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. Cassie couldn't help thinking about if she had made the right choice, to go back to camp.

Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around Percy, presumably anxious to hear what had happened in the audience with the goddess.

Thalia reached out and grabbed Cassie's arm, pulling her into the huddle. She felt kind of like a star football player, or a penguin.

When Percy and Cassie told them, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoë's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"Who can blame her?" Cassie said. "Eternity with the Hunters?" She tried to sound indifferent, not wanting to reveal that she was also thinking about following Bianca's path.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You're just saying that because you've literally never been outside of Camp before."

Cassie's eyes widened, stunned. "Well no, but that's not why! I just think that...that it's a respectable option for any girl." Cassie couldn't believe the way Thalia had been acting lately. She had pinned the unsuccess of the mission onto Cassie, and now she was insulting her.

"You're nuts," said Thalia.

"She's not totally nuts," said Percy. "I can kinda see where you're coming from Cassie."

Cassie shot Percy a grateful smile, confused that he took her side, even though she knew he agreed with Thalia. Percy just shrugged as if to say "no biggie".

***

Finally the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

"You're, um, waiting for sunrise?" Percy asked.

"For my brother. Yes."

Cassie didn't want to be rude. She knew the legends about Apollo—or sometimes Helios—driving a big sun chariot across the sky. But she also knew that the sun was really a star about a zillion miles away.

"It's not exactly as you think," Artemis said, like she was reading Cassie's mind.

"Oh, okay." Cassie started to relax. "So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—"

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

Parks?

Cassie averted her eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same. The light and warmth intensified until her winter coat felt like it was melting off. Then suddenly the light died.