A web of fates | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

IV| Thalia drives a sun car

Artemis assured them that dawn was coming, but you could've fooled Daphne. It was colder and darker and snowier than ever.

Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. Daphne wondered if the teachers had even noticed the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. Daphne and Theo both 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. Daphne could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt.

"Poor boy." Theo murmured.

Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around them, anxious to hear what had happened in their audience with the goddess.

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

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

"They're Hunters, they're supposed to be sneaky." Theo deadpanned, shrugging.

"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."

"Grover, mate, I don't think Artemis will ever like you. Why don't we get you talking to some nymph or something. Hey, what about that Juniper girl?" Theo suggested.

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."

"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-"

Theo and Daphne looked at each other at smirked. There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

Daphne averted her eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same.

The light and warmth intensified until her winter coat felt like it was melting off of her. Then suddenly the light died.

Daphne looked. And she couldn't believe it. It was her car. Well, the car she wanted, anyway. 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 shoes were wet.

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, Daphne had the feeling it was Luke.

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.)