The Winters

Trouble

Scarlett's POV:

Ren jerked awake, tears falling down her cheeks. Sobs racked her body. As mad as I want to be at her for using her powers on Dionysus, it proved hard to see her like this. I knelt down next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder and ignoring the fact that everyone was staring at us.

"I'm sorry, Ren," I whispered, gazing past her at the collapsed form of Mr. D. "But you left me no bloody choice."

She was still sniffling but already regaining her composure. "I did what I knew I had to do in order to help Cassius. I thought you of all people would understand, but I guess I was wrong." Ren stood up shakily and stalked off.

Once I knew Dionysus wasn't dead, I decided to delay his temper tantrum as long as I could.

I left the eating pavilion, wandering around the camp in search of Ren. I figured she'd probably headed to the Hades cabin, wanting some peace and quiet. I knocked gently on the door before heading in.

"Lauren?" I flicked on the light switch. "Look, I know you're upset with me, and I want you to know I tried everything short of stabbing you before resorting to my power." My voice dropped to a whisper. "I want Cassius back just as much as you do." I peered around the large cabin. "Ren?..."

I climbed the bunk beds and checked the top, but they showed no sign of her. I frowned, hoping Ren hadn't done something rash. Then I realized who I was talking about. Of course she'd done something foolish— that was her signature move.

I mutely jumped to the ground and went out the door. The sound of laughter guided me towards a huge bonfire. I stood in the flickering shadows, feeling my body meld into them and render me virtually invisible. Two demigods came and sat down a few feet from me. I only listened to their conversation with halfhearted interest until I heard the words "the Winters". Then my ears strained to pick up every word.

"-you think about them?" One of the two, a blonde girl, asked. The other, a black-haired guy, shrugged.

"They seem pretty powerful," he shrugged. "But that doesn't make them evil. I'm reserving judgment."

The girl rolled her eyes. "The one girl, Lauren, attacked Mr. D, and they're Pluto's children. Not even Hades. I think they're probably up to something terrible." The boy just shrugged again, not arguing with the girl.

Someone tapped my shoulder, and I whirled around, hand on a dagger. As soon as I saw who it was, I relaxed, shaking my head and glaring. "Nico!" I hissed, "You're going to get me caught!"

My half-brother, Nico Di Angelo, smiled halfheartedly. "We've got a problem." He murmured, casting an anxious glance at the couple sitting a few feet away. "Do you have a moment?" He asked, concerned. I nodded, putting a hand on his shoulder and shadow traveling us to Cabin Thirteen.

"What is it?" I asked, wondering what trouble Ren had gotten herself into now.

"Father's having some... trouble, in the Underworld. The monsters don't like having Cassius locked up with them. They consider it an insult, and they're getting the spirits all worked up. A few monsters found their way up to the Underworld and are disrupting things." Nico paused, gathering his thoughts. "I know you tried to convince the gods to help get Cassius out already, but can you try again?"

I stared at him like he was insane. "There's no bloody way they're going to help us, Nico. I doubt Ren would even want to try again."

Nico grumbled to himself, dashing his fingers through his hair. "Fine." He snapped. "Just...." His voice softened and he twisted his fingers together. "Just tell me if you need help getting him out. I know we've never been on the best of terms, but I don't want the world to end, so I'll be here if you call." I nodded, and he vanished into the shadows.

Lauren's POV:

I slung my quiver over my back as I left the cabin, silently fuming. I couldn't believe Scarlett would betray me like that, I thought we were in this together. Not anymore. 

I slammed the door behind me and looked back to the dining pavilion where I'd last seen her. No one was there now, of course, and Scarlett would probably come looking for me soon, which meant I had to get out quickly. If she found me, she would most likely try to stop me, and I couldn't let that happen. No more setbacks. I would get Cassius out alone if I had to.

I limped into the shadow of Thalia's pine and willed myself to melt into it. Everything went dark for a moment and all I could hear were the ominous sounds in the shadows, and then a new image appeared. Central Park.

My good leg collapsed and for a moment I relied solely on my crutches to keep me from falling, but once I took a few deep breaths I was fine. Shadow travel never failed to do that to me, though Scarlett always seemed fine when she did it. Either way, I'd never worried about it before, there was no reason to start now.

I limped to a large cluster of boulders also known as the Door of Orpheus. The way Orpheus had gotten into the underworld, charming the earth with his music to open a pathway. I would have to do the same, as creepy as it sounds.

After making sure no one was around to see me, I knelt next to the rocks and sang a short song, smiling when the doorway opened at my voice.

Without so much as a backward glance, I stood and walked the path to the Underworld.