The son of the gods.

Chapter 14

(Bianca)

We arrived on the edge of a little ski town. A sign on our way in said WELCOME TO CLOUDCROFT, NEW MEXICO. Our breaths misted in front of us and the thin layer of ice on the road crunched beneath our boots. We kept close to Percy again, his waves of heat keeping us from clattering teeth and shaking bodies. I was still processing all that came with the knowledge of my heritage. There wasn't much of my past I could remember, but a lot of things made sense now.

Piles of snow lay beside the row and some cabin roofs were trying to imitate the mountains in the distance. Tall pine trees littered the valley. Percy had told us about his talk with Apollo, at least we had a lead to follow once we reached San Francisco. The only problem was getting there.

We were still a few minutes walk from the nearest building when a Iris message appeared before us. Chiron looked worried and Grover near frantic, he was chewing on one of Mr D's diet coke cans.

"I hope I'm not bothering in the middle of something important, but I have some bad news I thought you should know." We all waited in anticipation for the news we didn't really want to hear, we had enough problems already. "Luke is missing. I waited until I was sure that he really left before contacting you. We're assuming the worst."

Realisation dawned on all of us and Chiron seemed to notice that we knew something and asked us just that.

Zoe informed him, "Yesterday we saw Luke with the General, we didn't have time to ask him what he was doing there as the Nemean Lion attacked us. It seems he has defected."

Chiron lowered his head as she confirmed what he most likely assumed but didn't want to hear. He reminded us that our deadline was four days away and waved his hand through the message.

After reaching the middle of the town we could see everything it had to offer (that's how small it was) which wasn't much: a grocery store, school, cafe and a few other building necessary to just barely run a town.

Thalia pointed at the grocery store. "Percy, you and Bianca go and ask there for any useful information, while we head over to the cafe and get something hot to drink."

He nodded and we started walking. Thalia instantly regretted sending Percy away as all three started shivering, I laughed and sped up to keep next to the boys' faster pace.

What we heard didn't put us in any a better mood than when we walked into the store. The clerk looked so lonely and sad after we left I felt guilty for not talking a bit longer.

We waited outside the store for the other girls. I was much more comfortable around Percy now that I knew the truth. I had never known how it was to look up to someone, but when looking at Percy I now did. He was always confident and did not hesitate when making decisions.

He caught me looking and asked, "What 'you thinking about?"

"You. Don't give me that look, I didn't mean it like that," he laughed "Can you teach me how to use my powers?"

"Of course I will, but after this quest is over."

I nodded in understanding.

"Tell me a bit about your and Nico's history."

"I don't really remember that much, strange as it sounds. We moved around between different schools for a while then a lawyer showed up and told us there was a bank trust from our parents. They were dead apparently. We stayed in this fancy hotel for a while before the lawyer brought us to Westover and you know the rest."

He looked confused. "That's it? Your whole life story?"

I shrugged, " Like I said, I don't remember much."