Within a reasonable timeframe, the waitress delivered two plates of waffles to the table. Grim immediately dug in, shoveling food into his mouth like he hadn't eaten in almost a day (which he hadn't). Artemis was less enthusiastic, nervously poking at his plate.

"Grim..." Artemis started, staring at his waffles like they had killed a man, "Grim, we're in hot water. This isn't a game. Eris is free, and she's gonna destroy everything." His voice was hollow, a stunted recollection of their current situation.

Grim avoided his haunted gaze. "You sound like my father," he murmured, a note of defensiveness in his tone. Artemis worried too much. That's all it was, he assured himself.

At the word "father", a shadow passed over Artemis's face. His glasses slipped further down the bridge of his nose. "Grim, please, we need to get Hades right now. He will know what to do."

Grim let out a heavy, agitated sigh. He didn't dare meet Artemis's eyes. He grabbed his coffee cup, and just as luck would have it, it exploded. Scalding liquid splashed down his hand as Grim muttered curses.

"All he's gonna do is yell and at me blame me for everything. That's all he does."

Something changed in Artemis's placid expression. "And?" he hissed, "You may not have meant to crack it, but you disobeyed a direct order from Hades."

Grim didn't know how to refute that. So he diverted the conversation: "Why are you always sucking up to my dad, Artemis? It makes me sick!"

"Well, Grimslay," Artemis growled, his breathing turning rapid, "I just think you need to be a little more thankful for your father."

"And why is that?" Grim shot back, words like acid.

Artemis stood, slamming his hands on the table. "Because not everyone has a father that cares for them!" he blurted.