Where You Go ― Jason Grace

xiv. return of the ice bitch

OPHELIA DOUBTED PIPER meant to shoot blueberry muffins, but her cornucopia must have sensed her distress and thought she and her visitors could use some warm baked goods. Half a dozen steamy muffins flew from the horn of plenty like buckshot. 

Not the most effective opening attack, Ophelia had to admit.

Khione simply leaned to one side. Most of the muffins sailed past her over the rail. Her brothers, the Boreads, each caught one and began to eat.

"Muffins," Cal said. He was dressed exactly like Ophelia remembered him—dressed in cleats, sweatpants, and a red hockey jersey, with two black eyes and several broken teeth. "Muffins are good.

"Ah, merci," said Zethes, who stood on the catapult platform, his purple wings spread. His white hair was still feathered in a horrible Disco Age mullet.

Zethes said something in French that Ophelia only understood two words of—girl and me. Piper had been trying to teach her French when they had free time, but Ophelia wasn't the best student, especially when she got bored and zoned out constantly.

With the hand that wasn't holding a muffin, Cal grabbed Ophelia's arm, too easily disarming her and sending her Stygian iron sword clattering away, out of reach.

Ophelia blamed the shock.

"What are you doing?" Piper demanded. "Let my friends go." Her voice was rich with her charmspeak.

Zethes blinked. "We should let your friends go."

"Yes," Cal agreed. His grip loosened on Ophelia's bicep.

"No, you idiots!" Khione snapped. "She is charmspeaking. Use your wits."

"Wits..." Cal frowned as if he wasn't sure what wits were. "Muffins are better." He stuffed the whole thing in his mouth and began to chew.

Ophelia grimaced in disgust.

Zethes picked a blueberry off the top of his and nibbled it delicately. "Ah, my beautiful Piper... so long I have waited to see you again. Sadly, my sister is right. We cannot let your friends go. In fact, we must take them to Quebec, where they shall be laughed at eternally. I am so sorry, but these are our orders."

"Orders...?" Piper asked. "Guys, listen. Your sister disobeyed Boreas. She's working with the giants, trying to raise Gaea. She's planning to take over your father's throne."

Khione laughed, soft and cold. "Dear Piper McLean. You would manipulate my weak-will brothers with your charms, like a true daughter of the love goddess. Such a skillful liar."

"Liar?" Piper cried. "You tried to kill us! Zethes, she's working for Gaea!"

Zethes winced. "Alas, beautiful girl. We all are working for Gaea now. I fear these orders are from our father, Boreas himself."

"What?"

Ophelia didn't want to believe it, but Khione's smug smile told her it was true.

"At last my father saw the wisdom of my counsel," Khione purred, "or at least he did before his Roman side began warring with his Greek side. I fear he is quite incapacitated now, but he left me in charge. He has ordered that the forces of the North Wind be used in the service of King Porphyrion, and of course... the Earth Mother."

Piper looked sick. "How are you even here?" She gestured at the ice all over the ship. "It's summer!"

Khione shrugged. "Our powers grow. The rules of nature are turned upside down. Once the Earth Mother wakes, we shall remake the world as we choose!"