𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. ── 𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞

𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬

KORI FELT LIKE SHE WAS STANDING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S PLACE. She really tried to believe that she didn't belong here, but whenever she tried to think of somewhere she did belong, she just got herself a headache. It didn't help that Jason, (her supposed boyfriend), didn't remember anything either— except for her full name, and that thought made her feel sick to her stomach. Why couldn't she remember anything? Why couldn't she remember him?

She assumed that Piper and Leo felt the same way, since they were leaning on the chariot's ledge like a board of chopped liver. Butch handled the reins, and Annabeth, the scary blonde who Kori assumed she would have to throw hands with soon, adjusted a celestial bronze navigation device. They rose over the Grand Canyon and headed east, icy wind ripping straight through Kori's jacket. Behind them, more storm clouds were gathering.

The chariot lurched and bumped. It had no seat belts and the back was wide open, so Kori had an irrational fear she was going to fall out. As little as she knew about herself, her instincts told her that heights made her wary.

Another reason not to trust the light haired boy. Why, in all the god's names, could he fly? Disregarding Kori's mermaid act, getting suspended in midair above a river was possibly the weirdest thing that had ever happened to her, but in an ironic twist of fate, she didn't remember if that was true.

Jason stood right next to her, as she studied his face. Sky blue eyes, close-cropped blond hair, that cute little scar on his upper lip. His face was kind and gentle, but a little sad, and he was staring at the horizon. Kori wondered if he was thinking the same thing she was: where did they come from? Why were they here? Or worse... what if something sinister was in the mix?

Leo didn't seem to be questioning his existence, though. "This is so cool!" He spit a pegasus feather out of his mouth. "Where are we going?"

"A safe place," Annabeth said. "The only safe place for kids like us. Camp Half-Blood."

"Half-Blood?" Piper was immediately on guard. "Is that some kind of bad joke?" She questioned, as if tormented by the word in the past.

"She means we're demigods," Jason said, rubbing a mark on his forearm. "Half god, half mortal."

Annabeth looked back. "You seem to know a lot. But, yes, demigods. My mom is Athena, goddess of wisdom. Butch here is the son of Iris, the rainbow goddess."

Leo choked. "Your mom is a rainbow goddess?"

"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.

"Demigods," Kori muttered under her breath. The word felt familiar on her tongue, but once again, it was like accessing damaged files. "How did you know that—"

Lightning flashed. The chariot shuddered, and Jason yelled, "Left wheel's on fire!"

Kori stepped back. Sure enough, the wheel was burning, with white flames lapping up the side of the chariot. The wind roared. Kori glanced behind them and saw dark shapes forming in the clouds, more storm spirits spiraling toward the chariot—except these looked more like horses than angels.

Piper stepped back, her face pale with fear. "Hey, Annabeth? What are those... things?"

"Anemoi come in different shapes," Annabeth said. "Sometimes human, sometimes stallions, depending on how chaotic they are. Hold on. This is going to get rough."