Sun kissed - Apollo.

58: Thalia Torches New England.

Artemis assured us that dawn was coming, but you could've fooled me. It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. I wondered if the teachers had even noticed the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet. I didn't want to be around when they did. With Percy's luck, the only name Mrs. Gottschalk would remember was "Percy Jackson," and then he'd be the subject of a nationwide manhunt . . . again.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. I stood shivering in the snow (unlike the Hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable), and Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. I could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. I knew Nico would be sad to hear so, but I also knew that Nico would be alright, he wouldn't be alone.

Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around me and Percy, anxious to hear what had happened in our audience with the goddess.

When I told them, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoë's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"She was within her own rights to make that choice, regardless if you like it or not, Thalia." I told her quietly.

"Who can blame her?" Grover said. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so . . . into nature," Grover swooned.

"You're nuts," said Thalia.

"Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

Finally the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

"You're, um, waiting for sunrise?" Percy asked.

"For my brother. Yes."

I couldn't wait to see the ball of gas in person again. I missed him the last couple of days when we had to set this rescue up and get ready to come all this way. I think I hadn't seen Apollo for about a week. Which is quite a long time lately. Normally I don't go longer than three days without him. He is quite attached to me since I returned from camp last summer.

"It's not exactly as you think," Artemis said, like she was reading Percy's mind as she looked intently at him.

"Oh, okay." Percy started to relax. "So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—"

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

"Parks?" Percy asked.

I averted my eyes, and saw that the other kids were doing the same. The light and warmth intensified until my winter coat felt like it was melting off of me. Then suddenly the light died.

I looked. And I couldn't believe it. It was his car. The same car as when I first got to ride around the world with him, the car I wanted, anyway. A red convertible Maserati Spyder. It was so awesome it glowed. Then I realized it was glowing because the metal was hot. The snow had melted around the Maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why I was now standing on green grass and my shoes were wet.

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about sixteen or seventeen, and for a second, I had the uneasy feeling in my stomach, something my mom explained to me two months ago was butterflies in my stomach. He had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks as he did every time he visited me. He looked like he was taller then when I saw him a week ago, and his eyes sparkled the moment they met mine. His smile was brighter and more playful. I felt my heart hammering in my chest, like it was doing most of the time I saw him now. The Maserati driver wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.