The Poseidon Girls

Chapter 9 ~ Boreas (CORAL)

None of us were too keen on leaving Leo behind, but I was starting to think that being left alone with Cal might be the least dangerous option in the palace. Especially after what the dark-haired girl (more likely a goddess though, how else would she know Leo and Jason's names?) said about not being able to guarantee the safety of Jason, Cass and I.

As we climbed the icy staircase, Zethes stayed right behind us, his jagged sword drawn. I figured that one hit from his sword would turn me into a Coral-flavoured Popsicle.

Then there was the ice goddess. Every once in a while, she'd turn and smile at us, but there was no warmth in her expression. She regarded Jason, Cass and I like we were especially interesting science specimens that she couldn't wait to dissect.
"Coral?" Cass asked me.
"Yeah?"
"Remember how Jason almost didn't call our dad Poseidon?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know who he nearly said?" I raked my brains, trying to remember another name for Poseidon that started with 'Nep'. I figured it would be his Roman name - after all, Jason had originally called Hephaestus Vulcan. I tried to think of the Big Three's Roman forms. Zeus was Jupiter, Hades was Pluto and Poseidon was...
"Neptune."
"Poseidon's Roman form? What makes you say that?"
"Well, remember Jason originally called Hephaestus Vulcan?"
"Oh yeah, he did. Probably did want to say Neptune then. But why the Roman forms?"
"Beats me." At the top of the stairs, the ice goddess glanced back at us, and her smile faded.
"Warmth is not a good idea here," she advised. "Especially when I am your best chance of staying alive. Please, this way." Wondering what that even meant, we followed the goddess down a massive hallway decked with frosty tapestries. Freezing winds moved back and forth.
"Hey." Piper touched Jason's arm. "You still with us?"
"Yeah... yeah, sorry."

At the end of the hallway, we found ourselves standing in front of a set of oak doors carved with a map of the world. In each corner, a bearded man's face blew wind. The goddess turned. Her brown eyed glittered, and I felt like a birthday present that she was desperate to open.
"This is the throne room," she told us. "Be on your best behaviour, Jason Grace. My father can be... chilly. I will translate for you, and try to encourage him to hear you out. I do hope he spares you. We could have so much fun."
"Um, okay," Jason sounded nervous. "But really, we're just here for a little talk. We'll be leaving right afterward." The goddess smiled.
"I love heroes. So blissfully ignorant."
"Well, how about you enlighten us?" Piper rested her hand on her dagger. "You say you're going to translate for us, and we don't even know who you are. What's your name?"
"She's some sort of goddess, Piper. The goddess of snow, probably." I announced. "I just wish I could remember her name, she wasn't mentioned much..."
The goddess sniffed with distaste. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you don't recognise me or remember my name. Even in the ancient times the Greeks did not know me well. Their island homes were too warm, too far from my domain. I am Khione, daughter of Boreas, goddess of snow." She stirred the air with her finger, and a miniature blizzard swirled around her - big, fluffy snowflakes as soft as cotton. "Now, come." Khione ordered. "Hopefully, you will survive your little talk."

If the entry hall had been cold, the throne room was like stepping into a freezer. Mist hung in the air. I shivered, and my breath steamed in front of me. Along the walls, purple tapestries depicted scenes of snowy forests, barren mountains, and glaciers. High above us, colourful ribbons of light - the aurora borealis - pulsed along the ceiling. A layer of snow coated the floor, so I had to step carefully. All around the room, I saw life-size ice sculpture warriors. Some wore Greek armour, some wore modern camouflage. Each one was frozen in various attack poses - swords raised, guns locked and loaded. At least, I thought they were only sculptures. That lasted until I attempted to step between two Greek spearmen. They moved with surprising speed, their joints cracking and spraying ice crystals as they crossed their javelins to block my path, and causing me to jump backwards in shock. Jason tried with another pair straight after, and the same thing happened. From the far end of the hall, a man's voice rang out in French. Well, at least it wasn't Italian or something, otherwise I wouldn't be able to understand a word they were saying. But even with French, I only know a little. The room was so long and misty, I couldn't see the other end, but whatever the man, who I assumed was Boreas, said, the ice guards uncrossed their spears.
"It's fine," Khione assured us. "My father has ordered them not to kill you just yet."
"Merci." I smiled.
"Super." Jason said. "Wait, Coral, you know French?"
"I know a little, yeah." Zethes prodded Jason in the back with his sword.
"Keep moving, Jason Junior."
"Please don't call me that."

"My father is not a patient man," Zethes warned, "and the beautiful Piper, sadly, is loosing her magic hairdo very fast. Later, perhaps, I can lend her something from my wide assortment of hair products."
"Thanks." Piper grumbled. We kept walking, and the mist parted to reveal a man sitting on a throne made of ice - Boreas. He was sturdily built, dressed in a stylish white suit that seemed woven from snow, with dark purple wings spreading out to either side. His long hair and shaggy beard were encrusted with icicles, so it was impossible for me to tell if his hair was grey or just white because of the frost. His arched eyebrows made him look angry, but his eyes twinkled more warmly than Khione's - as if he had a sense of humour buried somewhere within him. Connor would like him, I thought. Okay, Coral, you've got to stop with the Connor thoughts. It's not normal to think about a boy as much as you think about Connor. I sure hoped he did have a sense of humour.
"Bienvenu," Boreas said. Okay... I think he said something about good? "Je suis Boreas le Roi. Et vous?" Let's see... he is Boreas... and he asked who we are. Khione was just about to translate for us, but Piper stepped forward and curtsied.
"Votre Majesté," she said, "je suis Piper McLean. Et c'est Jason, fils de Zeus, et Cass, et Coral, le filles de Poseidon." Boreas smiled in pleasant surprise.
"Vous parlez français? Très bien!"
"Piper, you speak French?" Jason asked.
"No. Why?"
"You just spoke French." I told her.
"I did?" Boreas said something else in French, and Piper nodded. "Oui, Votre Majesté." Boreas laughed and clapped his hands, clearly delighted. He said a few more sentences, then swept his hands towards Khione, as if he was shooing her away. Khione looked miffed.
"The king says -"
"He says I'm a daughter of Aphrodite," Piper interrupted, "so naturally I can speak French, which is the language of love. I had no idea. His Majesty says Khione won't have to translate now." Behind us, Zethes snorted, and Khione shot him a murderous look. She bowed swiftly to her father and stepped back. Jason bowed to Boreas, and began to speak.
"Your Majesty, I'm Jason Grace. Thank you for, um, not killing us. May I ask... why does a Greek god speak French?" Piper asked the question to Boreas.
"He speaks the language of his host country," Piper translated. "He says all gods do this. Most Greek gods speak English, as they now reside in the United States, but Boreas was never welcomed in their realm. His domain was always far to the north. These days he likes Quebec, so he speaks French." The king said something else, and Piper paled. "The king says..." She faltered. "He says -" Piper looked to me for help.
"Sorry, I have no clue what he just said."
"Oh, allow me," Khione said. "My father says he has orders to kill you. Did I not mention that earlier?"