DIVINE » l. valdez

ix

❝angry gods are in the sky

no safe places to be found  ❞

Hina scoffed at Leo as he pouted. While Leo moped, Phoebe got to work breaking camp. In under six seconds, there was no evidence of the tent in sight. Only a small chewing gum sized piece of white fabric was left over from the tent.

Hina could see the wonder in Leo's eyes as he stared at the folded tent. She smiled softly, before turning to follow Thalia up the mountain.

After getting a nice rest, and warm jacket, Hina ran with ease behind the Hunters. They ran as close to the side of the mountain as possible on an impossibly small ledge.

The cold air nipped at Hina's exposed cheeks, turning them an angry shade of red.

To make matters worse, Coach Hedge pranced around the group, coaxing them on as they ran.

"Come on, Valdez! Pick up the pace! Let's chant. I've got a girl in Kalamazoo—"

"Let's not," Thalia snapped.

So they ran in silence.

Phoebe slowed her pace to fall beside Hina. 

"Any thoughts on joining the Hunters?" she asked.

Hina grinned, trying to keep her breathing even. 

"Not yet, but I'll keep it in mind. What is it like? Travelling all over and not having to worry about anything except your duty."

Phoebe let out a chuckle, a smile growing across her face.

"It is a great duty but it is worth every trouble. I know I have my Hunters behind me no matter what may happen."

Having someone behind her no matter what sounded amazing, but could she risk putting the Hunters in danger if she joined them?

"Are you really immortal?" Hina tried to ask calmly.

"Yes. We are gifted with immortality until we die in battle or break our oath."

"And if you are attacked unprovoked?" 

"Then we will die with the honour of serving Artemis," Phoebe replied calmly, sending a chill down Hina's spine.

Before she could ask anymore questions, the group came to an abrupt stop. Looking forward to see what was going on she saw Leo slam into Thalia, nearly sending them tumbling over the ledge.

Hina let out a small gasp in relief as Thalia caught them both, sending a nasty glare to Leo. Thalia then pointed upwards.

They stood before the summit of Pikes Peak. Beneath them the world was blanketed in clouds. The air had become so thin, Hina struggled to continue her conversation with Phoebe. Night had fallen leaving the demigods surrounded in an inky black sky, littered with stars. It was mesmerizing. 

Hina wished she could stay staring up at the stars forever. And with Hunters she could.

Above them, hovering in the sky was a massive free floating purple island of stone. It was impossible to grasp the size of the island. The sides were rugged cliffs, riddled with caves, and every once in a while a gust of wind burst out with a sound like a pipe organ blast. At the top of the rock, brass walls ringed some kind of a fortress.

The only thing connecting Pike Peak and the fortress was a thin bridge of ice that glistened in the moon light. Only, Hina realized, it wasn't ice. The bridge floated with the wind, changing directions and shape as the winds changed.

"We're not seriously crossing that," Leo said.

Thalia shrugged. "I'm not a big fan of heights, I'll admit. But if you want to get to Aeolus's fortress, this is the only way."

"Is the fortress always hanging there?" Piper asked. "How can people not notice it sitting on top of Pikes Peak?"

"The Mist," Thalia said. "Still, mortals do notice it indirectly. Some days, Pikes Peak looks purple. People say it's a trick of the light, but actually it's the color of Aeolus's palace, reflecting off the mountain face."

"It's enormous," Jason said.

Thalia laughed. "You should see Olympus, little brother."

"You're serious? You've been there?"

Thalia grimaced as if it wasn't a good memory. "We should go across in two different groups. The bridge is fragile."

"That's reassuring," Leo said. "Jason, can't you just fly us up there?"

Thalia laughed. Then she seemed to realize Leo's question wasn't a joke. "Wait ... Jason, you can fly?"