The Poseidon Girls

Chapter 10 ~ I Guess A God Wants To Kill Us Then? (CASS)

Boreas was still smiling amiably, as if he had delivered fantastic news.
"Kill us?" Jason repeated. "Why?"
"Because," Boreas's English was heavily accented. "My lord Aeolus has commanded it." Boreas rose. He stepped down from his throne and furled his wings against his back. As he approached, Zethes and Khione bowed. Coral, Jason, Piper, and I followed their example. "I shall deign to speak your language," Boreas announced, "as Piper McLean has honoured me in mine. Toujours, I have a fondness for the children of Aphrodite. As for you, Jason Grace, my master Aeolus would not expect me to kill a son of Lord Zeus nor a daughter of Poseidon... without first hearing you out." My pen grew heavy in my pocket. If we were forced to fight, I seriously didn't like our chances. Two seconds at least to summon my sword. Then I'd be facing a god, two of his children, one of whom was a goddess, and an army of ice warriors. At this point I was almost wishing it was the Doctor Who ice warriors, then I might be able to think of something to do to fight them.
"Aeolus is the master of the winds, right?" Jason asked. "Why would he want us dead?"
"You are demigods." Boreas seemed to think that simple answer explained everything. "Aeolus's job is to contain the winds, and demigods have always caused him many headaches. They ask him for favours. They unleash winds that cause chaos. But the final insult was the battle with Typhon last summer..." Boreas waved his hand, and a sheet of ice like a flat-screen TV appeared in the air. Images of a battle flickered across the surface - a giant wrapped in storm clouds, wading across a river towards the Manhattan skyline. Tiny, glowing figures - probably the gods - swarmed around him like angry wasps, pounding the giant with lightning and fire. Finally, the River erupted in a massive whirlpool (curtesy of my dad, probably), causing the smoky form to sink beneath the waves and disappear. "The storm giant, Typhon." Boreas explained. "The first time the gods defeated him, eons ago, he did not die quietly. His death released a host of storm spirits - wild winds that answered to no-one. It was Aeolus's job to track them all down and imprison them in his fortress. The other gods - they did not help. The did not even apologise for the inconvenience. It took Aeolus centuries to track down all the storm spirits, and naturally, this irritated him. Then, last summer, Typhon was defeated again -"
"And his death released another wave of venti." Jason guessed. "Which made Aeolus even angrier."
"C'est vrai." Boreas agreed.
"But, Your Majesty, the gods had no choice but to battle Typhon." Piper reasoned. "He was going to destroy Olympus! Besides, why punish demigods for that?" Boreas shrugged.
"Aeolus cannot take out his anger on the gods. They are his bosses, and very powerful. So he gets even with the demigods who helped them in the war. He issued orders to us: demigods who come to us for aid are no longer to be tolerated. We are to crush your little mortal faces." There was an uncomfortable silence.
"That sounds... extreme." Jason commented. "But you're not going to crush our faces yet, right? You're going to listen to us first, 'cause once you hear about our quest -"
"Yes, yes," Boreas agreed. "You see, Aeolus also said that a son of Zeus and two daughters of Poseidon might seek my aid, and if this happened, I should listen to you before destroying you, as you might - how did he put it? - make all of our lives very interesting. I am only obligated to listen, however. After that, I am free to pass judgement as I see fit. But I will listen first. Khione wishes this also. It may be that we will not kill you."
"Great. Thanks." Jason replied.
"Do not thank me." Boreas smiled. "There are many ways you could make our lives interesting. Sometimes we keep demigods for our amusement, as you can see." He gestured around the room to the various ice warriors. Piper made a strangling noise.
"You mean - they're all demigods? Frozen demigods? They're alive?"
"An interesting question," Boreas conceded, as if that had never occurred to him before. "They do not move unless they are obeying my orders. The rest of the time, they are merely frozen. Unless they were to melt, I suppose, which would be very messy."
"My father gives me such lovely presents. Join our court. Perhaps I'll let your friends go." I looked around to see who Khione was talking to, and saw her standing with her fingers on Jason's neck.
"What?" Zethes cut in. "If Khione gets this one, then I deserve Piper! Khione always gets more presents!"
"Now, children," Boreas said sternly. "Our guests will think you are spoiled! Besides, you moved too fast. We have not heard the demigod's story yet. Then we will decide what to do with them. Please, Jason Grace, entertain us." Suddenly, there was a loud pop, and I saw Khione flying backwards. Zethes laughed.
"That is good! I'm glad you did that, even though I have to kill you now." For a moment, Khione was too stunned to react. Then, the air around the snow goddess began forming a mini blizzard.
"You dare -"
"Stop," Jason ordered forcefully. "You're not going to kill us. And you're not going to keep us. We're on a quest for the queen of the gods herself, so unless you want Hera bursting down your doors, you're going to let us go." He sounded insanely confident, and it got the attention of Zethes and Khione. Khione's blizzard swirled to a halt. Zethes lowered his sword. Both siblings looked uncertainly at their father.
"Hmm," Boreas pondered. His eyes were twinkling, but with anger or amusement? "A son of Zeus, favoured by Hera? This is definitely a first. Tell me your story."
"Your Majesty," Piper curtsied again with incredible poise, especially considering her life was on the line. She told Boreas their entire story - from the Grand Canyon to the prophecy, and with fantastic speed and skill. "All we ask is for guidance." She concluded. "These storm spirits attacked us, and they're working for some evil mistress. If we find them, maybe we can find Hera." Boreas stroked the icicles in his beard. Night had fallen outside, so the only light coming in through the window was the aurora borealis overhead, turning everything red and blue.
"I know of these storm spirits," Boreas told us. "I know where they are kept, and of the prisoner they took."
"You mean Coach Hedge?" Jason asked. "He's alive?"
"For now." Boreas answered. "But the one who controls the storm winds... it would be madness to oppose her. You would be better staying here as frozen statues."
"Hera's in trouble," Jason stated. "In three days, she's going to be - I don't know - consumed, destroyed, something. And a giant is going to rise."
"Yes," Boreas agreed. WAIT. Did he just shoot Khione an angry look? That was weird. "Many horrible things are waking. Even my children do not tell me all the news they should. The Great Stirring of monsters that began with Kronos - your father Zeus foolishly believed it would end when the Titans were defeated. But just as it was before, so it is now. The final battle is yet to come, and the one who will wake is more powerful than any Titan. Storm spirits - these are only beginning. The earth had many horrors to yield up. When monsters no longer stay in Tartarus, and souls are no longer confined to Hades... Olympus has good reason to fear." I had no clue what all that meant.
"So you'll help us?" Jason asked Boreas. The king scowled.
"I did not say that."
"Please, your Majesty," Piper began. Everyone's eyes turned toward her. Surely she was scared out of her mind, but she looked gorgeous and confident - and that wasn't anything to do with the blessing of Aphrodite. She looked liked herself again, wearing day-old clothes with her choppy hair and no makeup. Yet she almost glowed with warmth in the cold throne room. "If you tell us where the storm spirits are, we can capture them and bring them to Aeolus. You'll look good in front of your boss. Aeolus might pardon us and the other demigods. We could even rescue Gleeson Hedge. Everyone wins."
"She's pretty," Zethes mumbled. "I mean, she's right."
"Father, don't listen to her," Khione warned. "She's a daughter of Aphrodite. She dares to charmspeak a god? Freeze her now!" Boreas considered this. I wrapped my hand around my pen and got ready to uncap it if necessary. If things went wrong, I'd have to move fast. 
"What is that on your forearm, demigod?" Boreas asked. I assumed Jason's sleeve had rolled up, revealing the edge of his tattoo. Seeming reluctant, he showed Boreas his strange marks. The god's eyes widened. Khione actually hissed and stepped away from Jason. Then Boreas did something seriously unexpected - he laughed. In fact, he laughed so loudly that an icicle cracked from the ceiling and crashed directly next to his throne. The god's form began to flicker. His beard vanished. He grew taller and thinner, and his clothes transformed into a Roman toga, lined with purple. His head was crowned with a frosty laurel wreath, and a sword like Jason's hung at his side.
"Aquilon," Jason stated. Okay then... Roman name for Boreas: now registered as Aquilon. The god inclined his head.
"You recognise me better in this form, yes? And yet you say you came from Camp Half-Blood?" 
"Uh... yes, Your Majesty."
"And Hera sent you there..." The winter god's eyes were filled with mirth. "I understand now. Oh, she plays a dangerous game. Bold, but dangerous! No wonder Olympus is closed. They must be trembling at the gamble she has taken."
"Jason," Piper said nervously, "why did Boreas change shape? The toga, the wreath. What's going on?"
"Well, this is Boreas's Roman form - Aquilon." I explained. "Jason, do you have any idea what's going on?"
"No." Aquilon laughed.
"No, I'm sure you don't. This should be very interesting to watch."
"Does that mean you'll let us go?" Piper asked.
"My dear," Aquilon answered, "there is no reason for me to kill you. If Hera's plan fails, which I think it will, you will tear each other apart. Aeolus will never have to worry about demigods again." I could've sworn I heard Coral swearing under her breath, and I couldn't blame her. If whatever Hera's plan was did fail, and we did tear each other apart, that would be bad. But what on earth could Hera's plan be? And maybe, just maybe, if her plan succeeded, everything would be peaceful, and all the horrible monster stuff Boreas mentioned would go away.
"I don't suppose you could explain?" Jason asked.
"Oh, perish the thought! It is not for me to interfere with Hera's plan. No wonder she took your memory." Aquilon chuckled. "Oh, and daughters of Poseidon?" Coral and I both nodded. "You shall find your brother at the place Jason is originally from."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." I smiled.
"Oui, merci." 
"You know, I have a reputation as a helpful wind god. Unlike my brethren, I've been known to fall in love with mortals. Why, my sons Zethes and Calais started out as demigods -"
"Which explains why they are idiots," Khione growled.
"Stop it!" Zethes snapped back. "Just because you were born a full goddess -"
"Both of you, freeze," Aquilon ordered. Apparently, that word carried a lot of weight in Boreas's family - the two siblings became completely still. "Now, as I was saying, I have a good reputation, but it is rare that Boreas plays an important role in the affairs of the gods. I sit here in my palace, at the edge of civilization, and so rarely have amusements. Why, even that fool Notus, the South Wind, gets a spring break in Cancún. What do I get? A winter festival with naked Québécois rolling around in the snow!"
"I like the winter festival," Zethes muttered.
"My point," Aquilon snapped, "is that I now have a chance to be the center. Oh yes, I will let you go on this quest. You will find your storm spirits in the windy city, of course. Chicago -"
"Father!" Khione protested. Aquilon ignored her.
"If you can capture the winds, you may be able to gain safe entrance to the court of Aeolus. If, by some miracle, you succeed, be sure to tell him you captured the winds on my orders."
"Okay, sure," Jason agreed. "So Chicago is where we'll find this lady who's controlling the storm spirits? She's the one who trapped Hera?"
"Ah." Boreas grinned. "Those are two different questions, son of Jupiter." Jupiter? I wondered. Isn't Jason the son of Zeus?  "The one who controls the winds, yes, you will find her in Chicago. But she is only a servant - a servant who is very likely to destroy you. If you succeed against her and take the winds, then you may go to Aeolus. Only he has knowledge of all the winds on the earth. All secrets come to his fortress eventually. If anyone can tell you where Hera is imprisoned, it is Aeolus. As for who you will meet when you finally find Hera's cage - truly, if I told you that, you would beg me to freeze you."
"Father," Khione protested, "you can't simply let them -"
"I can do what I like," Aquilon retorted, his voice hardening. "I am still master here, am I not?" The way Aquilon looked at his daughter made me think that the two of them had some sort of ongoing arguement. Khione's eyes flashed with anger, but the snow goddess clenched her teeth.
"As you wish, Father."
"Now go, demigods," Aquilon told us, "before I change my mind. Zethes, escort them out safely." We all bowed, and the god of the North Wind dissolved into pure mist.

Back in the entry hall, Cal and Leo were waiting for us. Leo looked cold, but unharmed (thank the gods). He'd even gotten cleaned up, and his clothes looked freshly washed, as if he'd used the hotel's valet service. Festus was back in normal form, snorting fire over his bronze scales to keep himself defrosted.

As Khione led us down the stairs, I noticed Leo's eyes following her. He started combing his hair back with his hands, and I felt a small pang of jealousy.  At the bottom step, Khione turned to face Piper.
"You may have fooled my father, girl. But you have not fooled me. We are not done. And you, Jason Grace, I will see you as a statue in the throne room soon enough."
"Boreas is right," Jason declared. "You're a spoilt kid. See you around, ice princess. Khione's eyes flashed pure white. Just for once, the snow goddess seemed to be at a loss for words. She stormed back up the stairs - literally. Halfway up, she transformed into a blizzard and disappeared.
"Be careful," Zethes warned. "She never forgets an insult." Cal grunted in agreement.
"Bad sister."
"She's the goddess of snow," Jason replied. "What's she going to do, throw snowballs at us?"
"Yay, I love snowballs!" Coral cheered. I laughed.
"Coral, I think she'd do much worse than throw snowballs at us." Leo looked utterly devastated. 
"What happened up there? You made her mad? Is she mad at me too? Guys, that was my prom date!"
"We'll explain later," Piper and I promised.
"Yeah," Jason agreed, "we'll explain later."
"Be careful, pretty girl," Zethes advised. "The winds between here and Chicago are pretty bad-tempered. Many other evil things are stirring. I am sorry you will not be staying. You would make a lovely ice sculpture, in which I could check my reflection."
"Thanks, but I'd rather play hockey with Cal."
"Hockey?" Cal's eyes lit up with hope.
"Joking," Piper answered. "And the storm spirits aren't our worst problem, are they?"
"Oh, no," Zethes agreed. "Something else. Something worse."
"Worse," Cal echoed.
"Can you tell me?" Piper smiled at the two Boreads. This time, however, Piper's charm didn't work. The brothers shook their heads in unison. The hangar door opened onto a freezing, starry night, and Festus stomped his feet, anxious to fly again.
"Ask Aeolus what is worse," Zethes told us darkly. "He knows. Good luck." He almost sounded like he cared about what happened to us, even though, a few minutes ago, he'd wanted to turn Piper into an ice sculpture. Cal patted Leo on the shoulder.
"Don't get destroyed," he advised, which was most likely the longest sentence he'd ever attempted. "Next time - hockey. Pizza."
"Come on, guys." Jason was staring out at the dark night. "Let's go to Chicago and try not to get destroyed."