Eye of Hecate

Jason

After the fight on Mount Diablo, I didn't think I could ever feel more afraid or devastated.

Now my sister is frozen at my feet. I'm surrounded by monsters. I've broken my golden sword and replaced it with a piece of wood. I have approximately five minutes until the king of the giants busts out and destroys us. I already pulled my biggest ace, calling down Zeus's lightning when I fought Enceladus, and I doubt I have the strength or the cooperation from above to do it again. Which means my only assets are one whiny imprisoned goddess, one sort-of girlfriend with a dagger, one Egyptian magician, and Leo, who apparently thinks he can defeat the armies of darkness with breath mints.

On top of all this, my worst memories are flooding back. I know for certain I've done many dangerous things in my life, but I've never been closer to death than I am right now.

The enemy is beautiful. Khione smiles, her dark eyes glittering, as a dagger of ice grows in her hand.

"What've you done?" I demand.

"Oh, so many things," the snow goddess purrs. "Your sister's not dead, if that's what you mean. She and her Hunters will make fine toys for our wolves. I thought we'd defrost them one at a time and hunt them down for amusement. Let them be the prey for once."

The wolves snarl appreciatively.

"Yes, my dears." Khione keeps her eyes on me. "Your sister almost killed their king, you know. Lycaon's off in a cave somewhere, no doubt licking his wounds, but his minions have joined us to take revenge for their master. And soon Porphyrion will arise, and we shall rule the world."

"Traitor!" Hera shouts. "You meddlesome, D-list goddess! You aren't worthy to pour my wine, much less rule the world."

Khione sighs. "Tiresome as ever, Queen Hera. I've been wanting to shut you up for millennia."

Khione waves her hand, and ice encases the prison, sealing in the spaces between the earthen tendrils.

"That's better," the snow goddess says. "Now, demigods, about your death—"

"You're the one who tricked Hera into coming here," I say. "You gave Zeus the idea of closing Olympus."

"Who is this?" Ozzy asks, lighting the end of her staff ablaze. 

"She's Khione, the goddess of snow." Piper says. "We ran into her in Quebec."

Ozzy shrugs. "Never heard of her."

The wolves snarl, and the storm spirits whinny, ready to attack, but Khione holds up her hand. "Patience, my loves. If they want to talk, what matter? The sun is setting, and time is on our side. Most have not heard of me, Osiria Kane, but I've heard of you. Yes, Gaea doesn't appreciate your participation in this quest. I'll give you the chance to walk away now. Return to your little home in Brooklyn and it'll be like none of this ever happened."

I glance at Ozzy. Despite looking cold, she doesn't look tempted to run. A flicker of fire runs down the edge of her wand, and her eyes flash defiantly. "Not a chance."

Khione shrugs. "No matter then. I'll make sure your death is painful." She turns back to me. "Of course, Jason Grace. Like snow, my voice is quiet and gentle, and very cold. It's easy for me to whisper to the other gods, especially when I am only confirming their own deepest fears. I also whispered in Aeolus's ear that he should issue an order to kill demigods. It is a small service for Gaea, but I'm sure I will be well rewarded when her sons the giants come to power."

"You could've killed us in Quebec," I say. "Why let us live?"

Khione wrinkles her nose. "Messy business, killing you in my father's house, especially when he insists on meeting all visitors. I did try, you remember. It would've been lovely if he'd agreed to turn you to ice. But once he'd given you guarantee of safe passage, I couldn't openly disobey him. My father is an old fool. He lives in fear of Zeus and Aeolus, but he's still powerful. Soon enough, when my new masters have awakened, I will depose Boreas and take the throne of the North Wind, but not just yet. Besides, my father did have a point. Your quest was suicidal. I fully expected you to fail."

"And to help us with that," Leo says, "you knocked our dragon out of the sky over Detroit. Those frozen wires in his head—that was your fault. You're gonna pay for that."

"You're also the one who kept Enceladus informed about us," Piper adds. "We've been plagued by snowstorms the whole trip."

"Yes, I feel so close to all of you now!" Khione says. "Once you made it past Omaha, I decided to ask Lycaon to track you down so Jason could die here, at the Wolf House." Khione smiles at me. "You see, Jason, your blood spilled on this sacred ground will taint it for generations. Your demigod brethren will be outraged, especially when they find the bodies of these two from Camp Half-Blood, and this little girl magician. They'll believe the Greeks have conspired with giants and Egyptians. It will be...delicious."

Piper, Ozzy, and Leo don't seem to understand what she's saying. But I know. My memories are returning enough for me to realize how dangerously effective Khione's plan can be.

"You'll set demigods against demigods," I say.

"It's so easy!" says Khione. "As I told you, I only encourage what you would do anyway."

"But why?" Piper spreads her hands. "Khione, you'll tear the world apart. The giants will destroy everything. You don't want that. Call off your monsters."

Khione hesitates, then laughed. "Your persuasive powers are improving, girl. But I am a goddess. You can't charm-speak me. We wind gods are creatures of chaos! I'll overthrow Aeolus and let the storms run free. If we destroy the mortal world, all the better! They never honored me, even in Greek times. Humans and their talk of global warming. Pah! I'll cool them down quickly enough. When we retake the ancient places, I will cover the Acropolis in snow."

"The ancient places." Leo's eyes widen. "That's what Enceladus meant about destroying the roots of the gods. He meant Greece."

"You could join me, son of Hephaestus," Khione says. "I know you find me beautiful. It would be enough for my plan if these other three were to die. Reject that ridiculous destiny the Fates have given you. Live and be my champion, instead. Your skills would be quite useful."

Leo looks stunned. He glances behind him, like Khione might be talking to somebody else. For a second, I'm worried. I figure Leo doesn't have beautiful goddesses make him offers like this every day.

Ozzy glances at him too, her eyes narrowing. I get a very strong feeling that Leo's next move could be very bad for his health if Ozzy doesn't like it.

Then Leo laughs so hard, he doubles over. "Yeah, join you. Right. Until you get bored of me and turn me into a Leosicle? Lady, nobody messes with my dragon and gets away with it. Besides, I've got the most beautiful girl in the world, who also happens to be a badass magician. I can't believe I thought you were hot."

Khione's face turns red. "Hot? You dare insult me? I am cold, Leo Valdez. Very, very cold."

She shoots a blast of wintry sleet at us, but Leo holds up his hand. A wall of fire roars to life in front of us, and the snow dissolves in a steamy cloud.

Leo grins. "See, lady, that's what happens to snow in Texas. It—freaking—melts."

Khione hisses. "Enough of this. Hera is failing. Porphyrion is rising. Kill the demigods. Let them be our king's first meal!"

Ozzy draws a circle in the snow around her, and it begins to glow blue. I heft my icy wooden plank—a stupid weapon to die fighting with—and the monsters charge.