𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

II

AS ANDY stepped into the chariot, a voice seemed to resonate in her head. “It’s starting,” the voice said. She felt dizzy. It was the same voice again. She shook her head. She didn’t need that voice in her head right now.

Butch was handling the reins, and Annabeth was adjusting the navigation device. Andy stood to the back with Leo and Jason. She would’ve sulked for the whole ride, but when the wind rushed past them as they headed east over the Grand Canyon, she couldn’t help but enjoy it. She had always loved speed.

The chariot lurched and bumped, but Andy had enough practice to keep her ground. An overly enthusiastic Leo, on the other hand, was swaying around. Andy pulled him away from the back of the chariot and made him hold onto the side.

“This is so cool!” He spit a pegasus feather out of his mouth while grinning at Andy. “Where are we going?”

“The organ-harvesting center, duh,” Andy replied.

Leo stared.

“A safe place,” Annabeth said, her tone stern. “The only safe place for kids like us. Camp Half-Blood.”

“Half-blood?” Leo questioned. “What’s half-blood?”

“She means we’re demigods,” Jason said. “Half god, half mortal.”

Annabeth looked back. “You seem to know a lot, Jason. But yes, demigods. My mom is Athena, goddess of wisdom. And Andy is a daughter of Apollo, god of the sun.”

“And plague,” Andy cut in, “and music and prophecy and archery and truth and medi–”

“Yes all of that too,” Annabeth interrupted. “And Butch here is a son of Iris, the rainbow goddess.”

Leo choked. “Your mom is a rainbow goddess?”

Andy face-palmed.

“Got a problem with that?” Butch said.

“No, no,” Leo said. “Rainbows. Very macho.”

“Butch is our best equestrian,” Annabeth said. “He gets along great with the pegasi.”

“Rainbows, ponies,” Leo muttered.

“I’m gonna toss you off this chariot,” Butch warned.

“Now, now rainbow dude,” Leo laughed, “I’ve got my Valkyrie bodyguard here.” He put an arm around Andy’s shoulders. “She won’t let you throw me off.”

Andy shrugged his arm off.

“I never agreed to not let Butch throw you off,” she stated. Leo threw a hand to his heart, gasping.

“Betrayal,” he shrieked.

Lightning flashed. The chariot shuddered, and Jason yelled, “Left wheel’s on fire!”

Andy jumped back. The wheel was indeed on fire. Flames were licking the sides of the chariot, ready to swallow them all.

“No,” she screamed. “No, no, no.”

The wind roared. Andy looked back. More storm spirits were following them, these ones in horse form.

“Hold on,” Annabeth yelled. “This is going to get rough.”

Butch flicked the reins. The pegasi put on a burst of speed, and the chariot blurred. Andy closed her eyes as her face and hair seemed to peel off. They were going at supersonic speed now. She would know, she’d done it a few times.

By the time they slowed, they were already in New York. She could see Long Island sound stretched below them, the green valley of Camp Half-Blood standing out like an island of springtime among the snow covered hills.