The Grace Curse

Chapter Eighteen

I HONESTLY DIDN'T EXPECT BETHANY TO BE SO KIND TO ME. After the Zoe incident, my expectation of finding allies was about zero. We emerged from the Labyrinth into a stone plaza on some kind of Greek mountainside. Weren't we just in D.C.? Wind roared from the warm sea port in the distance, it felt very Mediterranean, or was it? I could definitely tell it was nightfall now, or at least it looked a lot like it. I liked the salty breeze for a change, it was refreshing. The Labyrinth was all stuffy and dry, and felt more like a dragon's stomach than a tunnel.

I turned to Bethany. "So, your Mom is Demeter?"

She nodded. "Yeah, the crazy grain lady,"

"She can't be that bad," I laughed. In all honesty, I remembered the grain goddess on Olympus, she seemed rather cranky; and annoyed with Apollo's drought. Bethany didn't look too much like her mother, maybe she was more like her father?

Bethany looked dead serious. "You'd be surprised what she would do to her own children," I would have asked more but something told me it was a sore subject for Bethany. I couldn't be more curious wondering where Bethany came from and how she survived so...long as a demigod.

"What about your Dad?" I asked.

The Demigod smiled. "My Dad is really awesome, Triptolemos was a Greek prince...he helped my Mom out when she was searching for Persephone, and so she made him Immortal for his help. He and I get along great,"

"This is Delphi?" I asked calmly while looking around.

Bethany nodded happily and started skipping around. "Yeah, the sanctuary in the mountains is sacred to Apollo and Phoebe the Titaness of Prophecy,"

My stomach turned at the thought. "D—did you just say...Apollo?"

Bethany nodded while looking confused. "Yeah, what's wrong with him?"

I made a dark face. I remembered I hadn't told her about him yet. "Maybe we need to have a talk," I said. Bethany made a face looking for an explanation. "Apollo's after me, he's obsessed with me" I went on a long string about my encounters with Apollo and how I lost my mother and Hera's proposition; Bethany just listened the whole time not uttering a single word.

"So you think by getting your father back you can stop Apollo?" She finally asked.

I smiled and nodded. "Hopefully, Zeus is the big boss, if anyone could stop Apollo, he could,"

Bethany frowned; she had a distant look in her eyes. "That's why we are here, to find out where your father is, I believe that's why those bird brained Fates led us both here," Her eyes glanced at something behind me, her mouth dropping down in horror as if she was saying oh my god.

"Chase Grace," A female voice said from behind me. "I hear you've been causing a lot of trouble with my son," I turned around and almost fainted, the figure's blonde hair and soft smile made my body tremble with a familiar feeling of dread. Furthered by this was her eyes; they seemed to glow bright like molten gold bars. I knew this lady; she had to be at least thirty or thirty-five. Her smile seemed so...distinct.

"Leto?!" Bethany shouted shockingly.

Leto made a softer smile. "Bethany," She said and gave her a giant hug.

"You know this nutcase?" I asked.

Leto looked at me, a small o formed around her mouth when she saw my face. "Yes she knows me. I can tell your attitude is quite unsettling," She reached her hand out to my face and touched it gently. "This is horrible what has happened to you. Here, allow me to help heal it a little,"