Andromeda Jackson

Piper

After a morning of storm spirits, goat men, and flying boyfriends, I should be losing my mind. Instead, all I feel is dread.

It's starting, just like the dream said.

I stand in back of the chariot with Leo, Jason, and Andy, while the bald guy, Butch, handles the reins, and the blond girl, Annabeth, adjusts a bronze navigation device. I try to ignore Andy's intense glaring as we rise over the Grand Canyon and head east, icy wind ripping straight through my jacket. Behind us, more storm clouds are gathering.

The chariot lurches and bumps. It has no seat belts and the back is wide open, so I wonder if Jason would catch me again if I fall. That was the most disturbing part of the morning—not that Jason can fly, but that he held me in his arms and yet doesn't know who I am.

All semester I worked on a relationship, trying to get Jason to notice me as more than a friend. Finally I got the big dope to kiss me. The last few weeks have been the best of my life. And then, three nights ago, the dream ruined everything—that horrible voice, giving me horrible news. I didn't tell anyone about it, not even Jason.

Now I don't even have him. It's like someone wiped his memory, and I'm stuck in the worst "do over" of all time. I want to scream. Jason stands right next to me: those sky blue eyes, close-cropped blond hair, that cute little scar on his upper lip. His face is kind and gentle, but always a little sad. And he just stares at the horizon, not even noticing me.

Meanwhile, Leo is being annoying, as usual. "This is so cool!" He spits a pegasus feather out of his mouth. "Where are we going?"

"A safe place," Andy says.

Annabeth adds, "The only safe place for kids like us. Camp Half-Blood."

"Half-Blood?" I'm immediately on guard. I hate that word. I've been called a half-blood too many times—half Cherokee, half white—and it's never a compliment. "Is that some kind of bad joke?"

"She means we're demigods," Jason says. "Half god, half mortal."

Annabeth looked back. "You seem to know a lot, Jason. But, yes, demigods. My mom is Athena, goddess of wisdom. Butch here is the son of Iris, the rainbow goddess-"

Leo chokes. "Your mom is a rainbow goddess?"

"Got a problem with that?" Butch says.

"No, no," Leo says. "Rainbows. Very macho."

"Butch is our best equestrian," Andy says, glancing at Butch with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "He gets along great with the pegasi."

"Rainbows, ponies," Leo mutters.

"Super macho." Andy nods. She and Leo exchange a fist-bump.

"I'm gonna toss you both off this chariot," Butch warns.

"Demigods," I say. "You mean you think you're...you think we're—"

Lightning flashes. The chariot shudders, and Jason yells, "Left wheel's on fire!"

I step back. Sure enough, the wheel is burning, white flames lapping up the side of the chariot.

Andy mutters a curse in what I somehow recognize as Ancient Greek. She pushes us behind her and uncaps her red pen again. A thin, delicate sword springs into her hand. "I hate flying."

The wind roars. I glance behind us and see dark shapes forming in the clouds, more storm spirits spiraling toward the chariot—except these look more like horses than angels.

I start to say, "Why are they—"

"Anemoi come in different shapes," Andy says. "Sometimes human, sometimes horses, depending on how chaotic they are." She turns to look at Annabeth. "What's the plan, bird-brain? Are we fighting or running?"