ENTRAPPED ₂

98

ETHAN GAVE REYNA A MOMENT TO WAKE UP AND TAKE IN THE SCENE. After all, it was not a very pleasant one.

Once she had looked her fill at the tourists, Reyna shifted her attention to the spirits hovering all around them. She looked beyond disturbed. Ethan wondered why she was so upset, when her camp was filled with ghostly legionnaires.

"The lemures are everywhere," Ethan informed her. "They're keeping their distance for now, but I would advise that we be ready to move by nightfall. Ghosts are always worse at night."

Reyna looked like she didn't need to be reminded of that. Ethan wondered what the hell her issue was, but he wasn't going to ask.

He watched as an elderly couple in matching pastel shirts and Bermuda shorts tottered through a nearby garden. Ethan was glad they didn't come any closer. He wasn't very fond of old people. Not for any particular reason. He just wasn't. They were too touchy and they unnerved him.

Reyna shivered. Ethan's gaze shifted back to her.

"Bad dreams," she muttered.

"Care to share?" Ethan asked. He held out a plate to her. "I made breakfast. The Eggos are blueberry. I hope you like blueberry. If not, that sucks."

Beside them, Nico snored.

"I don't know why I made a plate for Nico, because we're sure as hell not waking him up," Ethan continued. "Maybe it'll stay good in the glaring sun. Let's hope for that."

For once, Ethan was the most talkative of the two of them. He had never carried a conversation in his life, and yet here he was, talking more at Reyna than to Reyna, offering her waffles. What had Madeleine done to him? Domesticated him?

"Where are you getting these supplies?" Reyna asked, her eyes passing over the pineapple and kiwi. "And yes, I like blueberry."

"I'm a very efficient packer," Ethan informed her. "It helps that my girlfriend's ex-girlfriend was a Hunter of Artemis. They know how to pack, those girls. So Madeleine picked it up, and everything she does rubs off on me. Also, Hazel might've enchanted the backpack."

Reyna smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her eyes passed over Nico. "Are you worried about him?"

"Worried about him in general, or worried about his ability to complete this quest?"

"The second."

"Yes to both," Ethan clipped off. He took a bite of waffle, chewing slowly. Oh, how he loved mortal food. Even a half-burnt Eggo tasted like heaven. "Nico is one of the strongest demigods I know, Reyna. If anyone can do this, he can."

"In my dreams," Reyna started, then paused. "Well, in my dreams, Octavian―you know, blonde, thin―"

"I know who Octavian is," Ethan interjected coldly.

"Okay, well, he plans to attack Camp Half-Blood on the same day that Gaea is supposed to rise. I don't think that's a coincidence."

"So, what?" Ethan asked. He was feeling suddenly moody. He knew he shouldn't take out Octavian's bad decisions on Reyna, but it was hard not to. "You think he's being influenced by Gaea or something?"

"He's tried to kill me multiple times," Reyna said, her lips curving downward. "Madeleine saved me once, but―"

"Yeah, she does that," Ethan snapped. "What's your point?"

Reyna was still frowning at him. She seemed only slightly affected by his attitude, which made Ethan want to hurt her more. "Look, if he is being influenced by Gaea, let's just say I wouldn't be surprised."