𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩

Chapter δ

Delta - 4
§

Visiting New England...

  Artemis assured them that dawn was coming, but you could've fooled (y/n). It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. (y/n) wondered if the teachers had even noticed the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet. He didn't want to be around when they did. With his luck, the only name Mrs.
Gottschalk would remember was "(y/n) de la Cruz" and then he'd be the subject of a nationwide manhunt… again.

  The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. Percy stood shivering in the snow, beside unmoving Cyrus and (y/n) whose bodies didn't even feel the cold, like the hunters behind them, and Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. (y/n) could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. He couldn't help thinking how selfish it was of her, abandoning her brother like that.

  Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around (y/n), anxious to hear what had happened in his audience with the goddess.

  When he told them, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

  "How'd they even show up here?" Cyrus wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

  "And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoë's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

  "Who can blame her?" Grover said. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

  Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

  "But she's so… into nature," Grover swooned.

  "You're nuts," said Thalia.

  "Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

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?" (y/n) asked.

  "For my brother. Yes."

  (y/n) didn't want to be rude. I mean, he knew the legends about Apollo—or sometimes Helios—driving a big sun chariot across the sky. But he also knew that the sun was really a star about a zillion miles away. He'd gotten used to some of the Greek myths being true, but still… he didn't see how Apollo could drive the sun.

  "It's not exactly as you think," Artemis said, like she was reading his mind.

  "Oh, okay." (y/n) 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?

  (y/n) averted his eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same. The light and warmth intensified until he felt a warm tingle in his whole body. Then suddenly the light died.

  (y/n) looked. A red convertible Maserati Spyder. It was so awesome it glowed. Then he realized it was glowing because the metal was hot. The snow had melted around the Maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why he was now standing on green grass and my shoes were wet.

  The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, (y/n) had the uneasy feeling it was Luke, his old enemy. This guy had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. But it wasn't Luke. This guy was taller, with no scar on his face like Luke's. His smile was brighter and more playful. (Luke didn't do much more than scowl and sneer these days.) The Maserati driver wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.