ENTRAPPED ₂

54

THAT NIGHT, ETHAN DREAMED.

He dreamed of a pale boy with brown eyes. He dreamed of a pale boy with dark, feathery hair. He dreamed of a pale boy, hunched over and hollowed out.

He dreamed of his mother, pomegranate seeds, and a jar. He dreamed of twin giants.

When he woke, he was short of breath. Daylight was beginning to shine in through the porthole in Madeleine's cabin. For a moment, Ethan savored the way she fit in his arms.

Then, he murmured, "Madeleine. Wake up."

She blinked, cautious and sleepy. She was a sight in the morning, with her brown hair tousled and her eyes clouded. "What's wrong?"

"Nico," Ethan said. "He's in danger."

She was awake almost immediately, sitting up. She was dressing before Ethan had even moved. "Tell me everything."

She was Madeleine Aetos, the love of his life. He told her everything.

After they had both properly dressed, they sparred on the deck until sunrise. Finally, Madeleine collapsed in his arms, exhausted and sweaty.

"I figured it out," she whispered. "Twins snuff out the angel's breath, who holds the key to endless death."

"Nico di Angelo," Ethan breathed. "di Angelo. Angel. Son of Hades, endless death."

They stared at each other. The flecks in her eyes were the same color as summer.

"This is hell," she told him.

"Always," he told her.

College was a fever dream.

⎯⎯ ୨ entrapped ୧ ⎯⎯

Just as they were sitting down to eat breakfast, Leo burst in. "Percy and Annabeth aren't in their cabins."

"Good morning to you too, Leo Valdez," Ethan said. He was sharing a plate of French toast with Madeleine, but neither of them had much of an appetite. "Do you make it your personal job to be everyone's alarm clock?"

Madeleine was watching Leo coolly, her fork impaled in a piece of toast. She seemed to be warming up to him, but Ethan knew she would be wary for a while. He felt the same way about Frank and Hazel, especially after Frank had neglected to catch Leo last night. Leo could have taken a very hard fall, and Ethan was very protective of his friends.

He wasn't angry this morning. In the cool light of day, the worst thing in his mind was Nico's fate. The possession problem buzzed around him like flies, light and annoying. He would not hate others for things they could not control. It was good that Percy, Jason, and Leo weren't as hardened as Ethan was. They didn't need to fear manipulation like he did.

"Have you checked the other cabins?" Madeleine asked.

Leo frowned. "Some of them."

Madeleine waved her hand dismissively. "Send out a search party."

Leo stared at her. Ethan could tell he was still a little unnerved by Madeleine.

"You're not worried?" Leo asked.

"Not really," Madeleine told him. "Now, go away. I'm eating my French toast."

Madeleine's tone was dismissive, but not unkind. That was progress.

Leo seemed to think so, too. He flashed Ethan a grin, then disappeared back through the door he had come.

Twenty minutes later, when Madeleine and Ethan were finishing their breakfast, Frank burst into the mess hall. He was extremely red in the face.