The Blazing Fate

Chapter Eight

Astrid was freezing. She and Leo were keeping their distance. Both had gotten freshened up, which did make Astrid feel better, but they had been waiting for what felt like hours. Festus was back in action, snorting over his scales to keep himself defrosted.

Finally, Jason and Piper appeared back in the entry hall. They looked unharmed, but like they had a fight. Astrid was worried about what they had gotten themselves into.

Khione was leading them down the stairs and Astrid saw Leo try and fix his hair. She rolled her eyes before she could stop herself.

At the bottom of the step, Khione turned to Piper. 'You have fooled my father, girl. But you have not fooled me. We are not done. And you, Jason Grace, I will see you as a statue in the throne room soon enough.'

'Boreas is right,' Jason said. 'You're a spoiled kid. See you around, Ice princess.'

Khione's eyes flared pure white. She seemed at a loss for words. She stormed back up the stairs—literally. Halfway up, she turned into a blizzard and disappeared.

'Be careful,' Zethes said. 'She never forgets an insult.'

Cal grunted in agreement. 'Bad sister.'

'She's the goddess of snow,' Jason said. 'What's she going to do, throw snowballs at us?'

Astrid hoped Khione couldn't hear that.

Leo looked devastated. 'What happened up there? You made her mad? Is she mad at me too? Guys that was my prom date!'

Astrid scoffed. 'She barely even glanced at you. She wasn't your prom date.'

'We'll explain later,' Piper said, with an expectant glance at Jason.

'Yeah,' Jason agreed, 'we'll explain later.'

'Be careful, pretty girl,' Zethes said. 'The winds between here and Chicago are bad-tempered. Many other evil things are stirring. I am sorry you will not be staying. You would make a lovely ice statue, in which I could check my reflection.'

'Thanks,' Piper said. 'But I'd sooner play hockey with Cal.'

'Hockey?' Cal's eyes lit up.

'Joking,' Piper said. 'And the storm winds aren't our worst problem, are they?'

'Oh, no,' Zethes agreed. 'Something else. Something worse.'

'Worse,' Cal echoed.

'Can you tell me?' Piper gave them a smile.

This time, the charm didn't work. The purple winged Boreads shook their heads in unison. The hangar doors opened onto a freezing starry night, and Festus stomped his feet, anxious to fly.

'Ask Aeolus what is worse,' Zethes said darkly. 'He knows. Good luck.'

He almost sounded like he cared what was going to happen to them, but Astrid knew better.

Cal patted Leo on the shoulder. 'Don't get destroyed. Next time—hockey. Pizza.'

'Come on, guys,' Jason said, staring out into the dark. 'Let's go to Chicago and try not to get destroyed.'

Astrid didn't know if that was exactly what should've been said. It was usually a bad omen to say anything about being destroyed.

As Jason and Piper told them what had happened in the throne room, Astrid suddenly got much more nervous. If what Jason said happened is true, then this is even worse than she thought.

Could there be Roman demigods? Could there be a second camp? Is that where Percy is?

And what did Boreas mean when he said they'd tear themselves apart? Astrid was lost and confused. She felt like there was a whole new world that she didn't know. That hasn't happened since she was five years old. How is she supposed to handle it now?

Greek and Roman have never been able to co-exist. If this was Hera's plan, Astrid had a strong feeling it wasn't going to work. Maybe this really would be their doom.

'You were amazing,' Jason told Piper. Piper responded in French, which was shocking that she could speak. 'What did you say?'

'I said I only talked to Boreas. It wasn't so amazing.'

'Hey,' he said, 'you saved me from joining Khione's subzero hero collection. I owe you one.'

Leo passed some sandwiches from his pack. He hadn't really spoken since Jason and Piper told their story. Astrid still felt mad at him.

'I still can't believe Khione,' he said. 'She looked so nice.'

'Trust me, man,' Jason said. 'Snow may be pretty, but up close its cold and nasty.'

Leo did not look pleased. Astrid couldn't really understand him. There used to be a lot of fire wielding Hephaestus kids. Astrid had never met one personally, but they always had a legend. A story made about them before they died.

That's the only reason Astrid could think would make any sense about Leo smelling like fire. That would also explain how he survived Festus and the fire breath. She even understood why he wouldn't want to tell them about it. But she didn't need him to yell at her. She was trying her best. She was simply trying.

Astrid tried to focus on the fact that Hedge was still alive. The old goat was head strong and annoying, but a satyr is a satyr. He did his job, and he did it well. He deserves to live.

Astrid felt Piper lean back against Jason, but she didn't look. She wasn't tired, even though the sun was no longer out. She had too much to think about to be able to sleep. She wondered what Annabeth was doing. She hoped her old friend was doing well. Not overworking herself to find the love her life.

Astrid thought Annabeth and Percy were the luckiest pair in the world. Yes, they have to fight hard every day. Yes, they have almost been killed. But they've done it all together. They've had each other to lean on. Astrid has never really had that with anyone. She sees the same thing between Piper and Jason, though maybe not as strong. She could see it with Travis and Katie. Astrid wished she could feel it herself.

The first time she met Aphrodite, she was called her favorite experiment. Astrid didn't know what she meant. Then she had turned down Connor and things got much more complicated. She's thought about joining the Hunters of Artemis a billion times. Go off with Thalia and hope for the best.

Things stop her, though. Like not being able to see Will every day at camp. Leaving Annabeth and Percy to work all the problems out on their own. She has always stopped herself. She never knew what to do. How to act.

Astrid was ready to be done with this part of her life. She was done with the fighting and constant stress. She was done with prophecies that don't make sense. So, she told herself, this is her last quest. No matter what Hera thinks she is. Astrid didn't care about the fate's big plans for her. She just wanted to rest.

Almost as if the gods were laughing at her, that is when Festus hit some invisible wall in the sky, and they all started free falling.