ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

79

KAT'S BEEN TO the Mediterranean numerous times, so she could semi-confidently say that it wasn't supposed to freeze in July.

Two days out to sea from Split, gray clouds swallowed the sky. The waves turned choppy. Cold drizzle sprayed across the deck, forming ice on the rails and the ropes.

"It's the scepter," Nico murmured, hefting the ancient staff. "It has to be."

Kat wondered. Ever since Jason and Nico had returned from Diocletian's Palace, they'd been acting nervous and cagey. Something major had happened there — something Jason wouldn't share with her or Piper. Which was fine, but like still.

It made sense that the scepter might have caused this weather change. The black orb on top seemed to leach the color right out of the air. The golden eagles at its base glinted coldly. The scepter could supposedly control the dead, and it definitely gave off bad vibes. Hedge had taken one look at the thing, turned pale, and announced that he was going to his room to console himself with Chuck Norris videos.

So, yes . . . maybe the scepter could cause a freak ice storm. But this felt different. Kat fiddled with the ruby pendant she had around her neck — that she put on for once in her life.

"We can't talk up here," decided Jason. "Let's postpone the meeting."

They'd all gathered on the quarterdeck to discuss strategy as they got closer to Epirus. Now it was clearly not a good place to hang out. Wind swept frost across the deck. The sea churned beneath them.

Kat didn't mind the waves so much. The rocking and pitching reminded her of surfing with Piper in better waters. But she could tell Hazel wasn't doing well. The poor girl got seasick even in calm waters. She looked like she was trying to swallow a billiard ball.

"Need to—" Hazel gagged and pointed below.

"Yeah, go." Nico kissed her cheek, which Kat found surprising. He hardly ever made gestures of affection, even to his sister. He seemed to hate physical contact. Kissing Hazel . . . it was almost like he was saying goodbye.

"I'll walk you down." Frank put his arm around Hazel's waist and helped her to the stairs.

Kat hoped Hazel would be okay. Their friendship was really growing. Piper had joined them in their late night conversations, and it was a really nice time.

Nico brushed some ice from his hair. He frowned at the scepter of Diocletian. "I should put this thing away. If it's really causing the weather, maybe taking it below deck will help . . ."

"Sure," said Jason.

Nico glanced at Piper, Leo, and Kat, as if worried what they might say when he was gone. Kat almost saw his defenses going up, like he was curling into a psychological ball, the way he'd gone into a death trance in that bronze jar.

Once he headed below, Kat studied Jason's face. His eyes were full of concern. What had happened in Croatia? She glanced over at Piper, who shrugged.

Leo pulled a screwdriver from his belt. "So much for the big team meeting. Looks like it's just us again."

Just us again.

Kat remembered a wintry day in Chicago last December, when the four of them had landed in Millennial Park on their first quest.

Leo hadn't changed much since then, except he seemed more comfortable in his role as a child of Hephaestus. He'd always had too much nervous energy. Now he knew how to use it. His hands were constantly in motion, pulling tools from his belt, working controls, tinkering with his beloved stupid sphere. Today he'd removed it from the control panel and shut down Festus the figurehead for maintenance — Kat didn't know what for, she didn't have the brain cells to understand. Leo usually had them, but even then he used 25% of their power. The rest? Pure stupidity.