¹𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 ━ 𝗽. 𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗼𝗻

042

⋆ ˚｡⋆ʚ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎 ɞ⋆ ˚｡⋆
─── ❛ a god takes them for a ride ❜ ───

PERCY LEFT THE TENT without sparing a glance at isabella.

the girl sighed but stiffened when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "do not mind him, he doesn't understand." artemis said with a reassuring smile.

isabella nodded and left. she felt troubled.

artemis assured them that dawn was coming, even if it was colder, darker, and snowier than ever. up on the hill, westover hall's windows were completely lightless. isabella wondered if the teachers had even noticed the di angelos and dr. thorn were missing yet. she didn't want to be around when they did.

the hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. she stood shivering in the snow (unlike the hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable), and artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. bianca sat off to one side, talking with nico. the girl could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the hunt.

after some time she decided to walk up to her friends, the tension between percy and her was really obvious.

thalia gave her a tight smile, isabella knew that percy must've already told them about their little chat with artemis. she shifted uncomfortably, looking at the sky.

finally the sky began to lighten. artemis muttered, "about time. he's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

"you're, um, waiting for sunrise?" percy asked.

"for my brother. yes."

isabella was nervous, she hasn't met the god personally, she has only seen him on the field trips camp took. she didn't know what to expect.

"it's not exactly as you think," artemis said, like she was reading percy's mind.

"oh, okay." he started to relax. "so, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—"

there was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. a blast of warmth.

"don't look," artemis advised. "not until he parks."

parks?

isabella averted her eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same. the light and warmth intensified until her sweater felt like it was melting off of her. then suddenly, the light died.

she looked. and she couldn't believe it. it looked exactly like one of the cars her mother had, a red convertible maserati spyder. it was so awesome it glowed. then she realized it was glowing because the metal was hot. the snow had melted around the maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why she was now standing on green grass and her heels were wet. well shit.

the driver got out, smiling. he looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, isabella thought she was looking at luke hemmings. this guy had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. but it wasn't him. this guy was a bit taller, his smile was brighter and more playful. the maserati driver wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless t-shirt.

"wow," thalia muttered. "apollo is hot."

"he's the sun god," i said.