WINGED ₁

31

MADELEINE HAD NEVER SEEN CAMP HALF-BLOOD IN WINTER BEFORE, SO THE SNOW SURPRISED HER.

The camp had the ultimate form of magic climate control. Nothing got inside the borders unless Dionysus, the director, wanted it to. So Madeleine thought it'd be warm and sunny, but instead, the snow had been allowed to fall lightly. Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods, and a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House. 

Madeleine had to admit it was beautiful, but she didn't fuck with the cold. She had grown up in Los Angeles, California, and snow was an almost foreign concept to her.

"Woah," Nico said as he climbed off the bus. "Is that a climbing wall?"

"Yeah," Percy said. 

"Why is there lava pouring down it?"

"Little extra challenge. Come on. I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoe, have you met―"

"I know Chiron," Zoe said stiffly. "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."

"I'll show you the way," Grover offered.

"We know the way."

"Oh, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't"―he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking―"like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"

Zoe rolled her eyes, but she seemed to realize that there was no getting rid of Grover. She gave Madeleine one last once-over, then shouldered her pack and her bow with the rest of her Hunters and headed off toward the cabins. As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brother's ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away. She looked at Madeleine, her face a little pleading, but Madeleine gave her the same cold look she had given Zoe. Living in California alone in a haunted house had given her a little room for frost.

"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters. He winked at Percy. "Watch out for those prophecies, Percy. I'll see you soon."

"What do you mean?" the boy asked.

Instead of answering, Apollo turned to Madeleine. "And Madeleine, my dear girl. You have a terrible journey ahead of you this fine winter. I do hope you'll consider me when you think of tragic love stories." He winked at her. "You sure you don't just want to fly off with me?"

"I'm sure," Madeleine said, crossing her arms. "I'll consider your offer when you stop speaking in riddles."

"Mmm," Apollo said. He didn't look surprised, just a bit disappointed. Instead of responding to her in full, though, he hopped back in the bus. "Later, Thalia," he called. "And, uh, be good!"

He gave her a wicked smile, like he knew something she didn't. Then he closed the doors and revved the engine. Madeleine and her friends turned aside as the sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. When Madeleine looked back, the lake was steaming. A red car soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.

"He's certainly a better driver than Thalia," Madeleine muttered under her breath, so only Percy could hear.

Percy snorted and replied in the same undertone, "What was Apollo talking about, with all that tragic love story bullshit?"

Madeleine shot him a look. "I could ask you the same thing about prophecies, Jackson."

Before they could continue their heated conversation, Nico stomped over, looking grumpy. "Who's Chiron?" he asked. "I don't have his figurine."