HORIZON ⸺ jason grace

vii. an ominous dream visit from pops

NOBODY DARED TO relax until the glow Quebec had faded into the clouds.

"How do you know French?" Jason asked Violet quietly.

"My grandmother was born in Cassis, France. She still spends half the year there, when she's not in California," Violet explained.

Jason hummed in understanding. "Well, you totally saved me from joining Khione's subzero hero collection, so I owe you one."

Violet laughed lightly. "I think you owe me two, considering I'm the reason you didn't drown yesterday."

"Hades, Violet," he muttered. "I've gotta start saving you, or this could get embarrassing."

She was grateful he didn't ask her about what she knew about him. Boreas had basically outed her, even more than Chiron had. Between all of these immortals bringing up her past, it was only a matter of time before her friends started asking questions—and she was not ready to answer those.

Leo passed them some sandwiches from his pack. He'd been quiet ever since they'd told him what happened in the throne room. "I still can't believe Khione," he said. "She looked so nice."

"Trust me, man," Jason said. "Snow may be pretty, but up close it's cold and nasty. We'll find you a better prom date."

Piper grinned, but Leo didn't seem pleased.

He hadn't said much about his time in the palace, or why the Boreads had singled him out for smelling like fire. Violet got the feeling he was hiding something. Whatever it was, his mood seemed to be affecting Festus, who grumbled and steamed as he tried to keep himself warm in the cold Canadian air. Happy the Dragon was not living up to his name.

They ate their sandwiches as they flew. Violet had no idea how Leo had stocked up on supplies, but considering he'd never been on a quest before, he'd done a fantastic job. He even remembered to bring veggie rations for Piper, who Violet found out was a vegetarian. He'd also somehow found out that Violet stayed away from red meat, which warmed her heart from the relentless wind.

She reached around Piper to pinch his cheek, and he swatted her hand away, grumbling, but not unhappily.

Nobody talked. Whatever they might find in Chicago, they all knew Boreas had only let them go because he figured they were already on a suicide mission.

The moon rose and stars turned overhead. Piper drifted off to sleep again leaning back into Violet.

The girl smiled. She was glad to have made friends with the daughter of Aphrodite so quickly—they agreed on many of the same things, and Piper was a kind person. Violet hoped that having her around would restore Cabin 10 to what it was before Drew's tyrannic takeover. If anyone could do it, it was Piper McLean.

Violet looked up at the stars. She thought of Percy again, of how many times they'd been this situation, together. It felt strange that he wasn't here (she'd never been on a quest without him). She wondered if he was looking at the same stars, thinking about her—that is, if he was looking at the sky at all.

She sighed lightly. She'd always looked up to her brother. He was the child of the Big Three who saved Olympus. She was his sister, his sidekick. Anything she could do, he could do it better.

Violet couldn't say it didn't sting a little. But she'd rather be second to Percy for the rest of her life than live without him.

She hoped he could see the stars.

She leaned back slightly, Jason's arms immediately wrapping around her in response. And soon, all four demigods had drifted off to sleep as they flew on.