𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

VI

LEO set to work right after he and Andy had lowered the gleaming metal wings from the chains. Andy decided to explore the bunker while Leo attached the wings to Festus. 

It was obvious the place was a war bunker. Dozens of battlemaps and formation ideas filled the bulletin boards. Some of the tunnels lead to supply closets – tar, oil, celestial bronze – the other tunnels, she decided to leave for later. 

Once she got a vague idea of where most stuff was, she decided to go back to Festus and Leo. By the time she got back, lugging a barrel of a-century-old oil, Leo was halfway through fixing the second wing. He frowned at the barrel.

“It’s for Festus,” she answered his unasked question. “He’ll need that for the fire.”

Leo nodded as Festus chugged the entire barrel in one go. Roaring, he opened his mouth and blew fire onto the ceiling. 

“Whoa there!” Andy yelled.

“You okay?” Leo asked, worried.

“Yeah, yeah, fine.”

A few hours went by as Leo worked and Andy sat by, watching him. He seemed content to be left alone, humming to himself and talking to Festus. Before she knew it, she had dozed off.

***

Andy saw the giant again.

It looked just as ugly as the last time. The purple fire burned higher.

"I'm waiting for you, demigod," it growled.

"As fascinated as I am to meet you," Andy snapped, "I have better things to do."

The giant laughed its loud, ugly laugh.

"I knew you'd say that." It stepped back, as if to give Andy a better view. "So I got a little gift for you."

The giant moved. Andy's stomach dropped. She wanted to scream.

There, tied to a stake close to the fire, was Nico di Angelo.

Nico looked too weak to even look up. How the giant managed to capture him, Andy didn't know. All she wanted to do was pull him away from the mountain and the giant.

"Like what you see?" The giant laughed. "I challenge you, demigod, find me. Come here on the 21st, or this little vermin will be my dinner."

It sat down before Andy, staring into her eyes.

"My brother will rise on the day of the winter solstice, and you will not be there to stop him."

***

Andy woke up in cold sweat. She couldn't breathe. Tears threatened to spill. Her head spun. Nico. He was being held ransom by a giant. She had to find him. She had to leave, right now.

"Morning Sleepyhead," came a voice from beside her. Andy's reflexes went up, and before she could register it, she had her sword out, its point pressing into the chest of a shocked Latino boy. 

"Please don't kill me," Leo squeaked, and Andy dropped her sword, eyes wide. The events of the past night came back to her as she returned her Swiss Army knife to her pocket.

"I'm so sorry," she said, hoping her voice wasn't wobbly. "Sorry."

Leo frowned. "Something wrong?" 

"No. Nothing." Andy shook her head to clear it. They had a quest. And it was meant to start today. Realizing how filthy she was, she said, "Do you mind if I go back for a shower? Maybe grab a bunch of supplies?"