CHAPTER TEN:
THROUGH GLASS

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NOBODY SAID ANYTHING FOR one second, then two, then Khione was shifting behind them. Annais watched as Jason froze beside her, turning in time to see Khione place her cold fingers against the base of his neck, an alluring smile tugging at her cherry-coated lips. Annais' stomach gave a weird twist. She wanted to rip Khione's fingers off one by one until the ice bitch was begging for mercy. She wasn't sure when or how it happened but Jason was an equal to her. The thought of anyone like Khione touching him without his permission made her uncomfortable.

Then, of course, the ice bitch had to open her mouth. "My father gives me such lovely presents. Join our court. Perhaps I'll let you friends go."

In an instant, Annais saw red.

"What?" Zethes' outraged cry cut through her anger. "If Khione gets this one, then I deserve the girls. Khione always gets more presents!"

"Like hell," Ezra snarled.

"Now, children," Boreas gave a stern shake of his head. "Our guests will think you are spoiled." Too late for that. "Besides, you move too fast. We have not even heard the demigod's story yet. Then we will decide what to do with them. Please, Jason Grace, entertain us."

He said nothing for an instant, just standing there with wide eyes, Khione's fingers stroking his neck. Then, suddenly, he was clenching his jaw and electricity buzzed along his skin. There was a loud pop like someone had forced a knife into a power socket. Khione gave a shriek of fright, flying through the air to land beside her brother. Annais smiled.

"That is good!" Zethes cackled in pure delight. "I'm glad you did that, even though I have to kill you now."

Khione forced herself onto her feet, teeth bared as snow gathered in the air. "You dare—"

"Stop," Jason commanded, voice echoing around the room. Apart from his voice and Ezra's laughter, there was silence again. Annais shifted, a weird sensation coiling in her stomach. "You're not going to kill us. And you're not going to keep us. We're on a quest for the Queen of the Gods herself, so unless you want Hera busting down your doors, you're going to let us go."

"And trust me," Ezra preened. "Mother hates it when minor Gods inconvenience her."

Khione gave a startled gasp, looking between Jason and Ezra with what Annais thought to be fear. Then her expression changed to one of cool indifference, and she and Zethes paused to look at their father for guidance. Boreas' eyes twinkled as he analysed the situation — in anger or amusement, no one was sure. Eventually, he gave a hum of acknowledgment and swept a hand towards Jason.

"A son of Zeus, favoured by Hera? A daughter of the Queen herself?" he murmured. "Now these are definitely firsts. Tell us your story, Jason Grace."

Jason stumbled over his words, trying and failing to make sense of the few things he actually knew about his life. He was panicking, eyes flickering from Boreas to Annais then back again, but before Annais could make up some sort of excuse for why Jason had nothing to tell them, Piper beamed and curtsied again with incredibly poise.

"Your Majesty," she began, laying it on a bit thick but it seemed to work in her favour.

Boreas sat back and allowed her to tell the story. She started with Annais' arrival at the Wilderness School, explaining how she watched over them up until the attack at the Grand Canyon, then finishing with their arrival at Camp Half-Blood and the two prophecies. She slipped between French and English with ease, evoking an almost proud smile from Annais. Piper was getting stronger by the second, wielding her powers with such grace. She would make a great demigod with a bit more experience. Annais hoped she would be there to witness it.

"All we ask for is guidance," she concluded once the story was over. "These storm spirits attacked us and they're working for some evil mistress. If we find them, maybe we can find Hera."

"I know of these storm spirits," Boreas admitted. "I know where they are kept and of the prisoner they took."

"Gleeson?" Annais gasped. Her voice seemed to shock Jason, whose elbow bumped hers in surprise. She'd chosen to stay silent for most of the confrontation, but the mention of Gleeson Hedge had caught her attention. "Is he alive?"

Boreas hummed in thought. "For now. But the one who controls these storm spirits... it would be madness to oppose her. You would be better staying here as frozen statues."

"Hera's in trouble," Jason implored, clearly hoping the mention of her would evoke something in the man. "In three days, she's going to be — I don't know... consumed, destroyed... something. And a giant is going to rise."

"Yes," Boreas nodded, a strange cloud of anger flashing through his eyes. "Many horrible things are waking. Even my children do not tell me all the news they should. The Great Stirring of monsters that began with Kronos—" A sly glance in Ezra's direction. "Your father, Zeus, foolishly believed it would end when the Titans were defeated. But just as it was before, so it is now. The final battle is yet to come, and the one that will wake is more terrible than any Titan."

Annais hung her head. Worse than the horrors they endured when facing Kronos. She wanted to be sick.

"Storm spirits, these are only the beginning. The earth has many more horrors to yield up. When monsters no longer stay in Tartarus, and souls are no longer confined to Hades, Olympus has good reason to fear."

It had never occurred to Annais that this was also possible. Her father's realm was endless. The idea of him losing control of it, of monsters being able to return... even the powers Annais had inherited would not be enough to stop them. Like her father, she would be useless. All of the Mins would be. She supposed that was the biggest threat to their own quest. How could they guide the seven if they were powerless? Why was this their problem?

"So, you'll help us?"

Boreas scowled. "I did not say that."

"Please, Your Majesty," Piper said desperately. "If you tell us where the storm spirits are, we can capture them and bring them to Aeolus. You'd look good in front of your boss. Aeolus might pardon us and the other demigods. We could even rescue Gleeson Hedge. Everyone wins."

Until they didn't.

"She's pretty," Annais heard Zethes whisper. "I mean, she's right."

"Father, don't listen to her," Khione shouted when she saw her father's thoughtful expression. She seemed furious, like she would lash out and kill them at any given second if it wasn't for Boreas sitting on the throne and not her. "She's a child of Aphrodite. She dares to charmspeak a God? Freeze her now!"

Annais slipped off her ring as Jason reached for his pocket. Both in tune. Much like the Min girls downstairs, they were ready to fight, even if it meant they got turned into statues and stuck with Khione forever. At least they didn't stand there and just let it happen. But the movement seemed to catch Boreas' attention. He stared at Jason's wrist with wide eyes, a strange smile suddenly forcing his lips to curl.

"What is that on your forearm, demigod?"

At the sight of Jason's tattoo, he let out a loud booming laugh. Where his children stepped away from Jason in disgust, Boreas smiled again, his form beginning to flicker like a projector. His beard shrank into faint grey stubble dotted along his jaw, his body grew thinner and impossibly taller, his suit transforming into a purple Roman toga. On top of his blonde hair was a crown of frosty laurel wreaths while a sword much like Jason's hung proudly at his side. Annais stumbled back at the sight. It wasn't often a Greek demigod stood in the presence of a Roman God and lived.

"Aquilon," Jason greeted him mindlessly.

The God clapped his hands together. "You recognise me better in this form, yes? And yet you said you came from Camp Half-Blood."

"Uh... yes, Your Majesty."

"And Hera sent you here..." Suddenly, everything made sense to him. At least someone had the answers. "I understand now! Oh, she plays a dangerous game. Bold, but dangerous. No wonder Olympus is closed. They must be trembling at the gamble she has taken with you, and not to mention claiming this girl as her daughter. I'm surprised Zeus hasn't struck you down in your spot, Ezra Min."

The girl scowled but said nothing, too busy trying to fight down the chaos that brewed at the edges, trying to find weak spots in her control. Meanwhile, Piper was rocking back and forth on her heels, all her previous confidence long gone. "Jason, why did Boreas change shape? The toga, the wreath... what's going on?"

"It's his Roman form," Jason and Annais said in unison. Both of them paused, Jason eyeing Annais in confusion while she stared at him in a whole new light. Quickly ducking his head, the blonde boy continued, "But what's going on, I don't know."

Boreas — or Aquilon as Jason had called him — only laughed again. "No, I'm sure you don't. Well, this should be very interesting to watch."

"Does that mean you'll let us go?"

"My dear, there is no reason for me to kill you," he laughed at Piper. "If Hera's plan fails — which I think it will — you will tear each other apart. Throwing her long-lost daughter in the mix... she must know the inevitable. Aeolus will never have to worry about demigods again."

"I don't suppose you could explain?" Annais sighed.

"Oh, perish the thought." He seemed genuinely amused by her request. A flush crept up her neck as he looked down at her. His laughter was mocking, knowing, and there she stood in the dark. "It is not for me to interfere in Hera's plan. No wonder she took your memory, Jason Grace. You know, I have a reputation as a helpful wind God. Unlike my brethren, I've been known to fall in love with mortals. Why, my sons Zethes and Calais started as demigods."

"Which explains why they're idiots," Khione remarked.

"Stop it," Zethes snapped. "Just because you were born a full Goddess—"

"Both of you, freeze!" Boreas commanded, running a hand along the side of his face in frustration. In an instant, the two were silent, their wide eyes stuck on each other. "Now, as I was saying, I have a good reputation. But it is rare that Boreas plays an important role in the affairs of Gods. I sit here in my palace, at the edge of civilisation, and so rarely have amusements. Why, even that fool Notus — the South Wind — gets spring break in Cancun. What do I get? A Winter festival with naked Quebecois rolling around in the snow!"

"I like the winter festival," Zethes muttered, jutting out his bottom lip. While much smarter than Cal, Zethes reminded Annais a lot of the 'dumber' brother. He was so childish, so in his own head and out of touch with reality.

"My point," Boreas snapped. "Is that I now have a chance to be the centre. Oh, yes, I will let you go on this quest. You will find your storm spirits in the windy city, of course. Chicago—"

"Father," Khione protested.

"If you can capture the winds, you may be able to gain safe entrance to the court of Aeolus. If by some miracle you succeed, be sure to tell him you captured the winds on my orders."

"Sure," Jason nodded. "So Chicago is where we'll find this lady who's controlling the winds? She's the one who's trapped Hera?"

"Ah," Boreas smirked. "Those are two different questions, son of Jupiter."

Jupiter.

Not Zeus. Not the Lightning God.

Jupiter.

If Boreas' sudden change in form hadn't been an indication of what Annais presumed to be the truth, this was. Jason Grace was the son of a Roman God. And yet, he shared the same last name as Thalia, the daughter of Zeus. Indirectly, he was claimed by his Greek counterpart too. It answered a lot of Annais' questions but it also left new ones in their place, like always.

"The one who controls the winds, you will find her in Chicago. But she is only a servant. A servant who is very likely to destroy you, no matter how strong you claim to be, Ezra Min. If you all succeed against her and take the winds, then you may go to Aeolus. Only he has knowledge of all the winds on the earth. All secrets come to his fortress eventually. If anyone can tell you where Hera is imprisoned, it is Aeolus. As for who will meet you when you finally find Hera's cage — truly, if I told you that, you would beg me to freeze you."

The cold sting of truth in his voice was jarring.

"Father, you can't simply let them—"

"I can do what I like," Boreas interrupted Khione furiously. "I am still Master here, am I not?"

Khione looked ready to protest again but wisely chose to keep her mouth shut. "As you wish, father."

Schooling her with one last annoyed glare, he turned away. "Now go, demigods, before I change my mind. Zethes, escort them out safely."

The boy nodded, watching as his father dissolved into mist before he took his sword and pointed towards the door. The group didn't need to be told twice. Slipping and sliding across the floor, Annais led Jason, Piper and Ezra after Khione and Zethes. If she spent a minute longer in this hellhole, she might just go insane.

Downstairs, Cal was slumped on a bench watching blankly as Leo and Mel whispered back and forth with each other heatedly. In the time it had taken them to speak to Boreas, Leo had found a bathroom and cleaned up the mess that Festus had made. His clothes looked freshly cleaned and his skin was unmarked by its usual oil and grease. Speaking of Festus, he was curled up by Mel's feet, snorting fire over his scales as frost threatened to creep up his sides. At their presence, Leo tore his gaze from Mel and subconsciously turned his back on her. Like earlier, her face shuddered for a second before she forced a smile for Ezra and Annais. Leo's attention being on Khione hurt more than she cared to admit, it seemed.

As they reached the bottom of the staircase, Khione reached out to grab Piper's arm in a firm grip. "You have fooled my father, girl, but you have not fooled me. We are not done." Her eyes flashed to Jason's, a sickly sweet smile tugging at her mouth. "And you, Jason Grace, I will see you as a statue in the throne room soon enough."

With Boreas no longer there to listen, Annais finally erupted. "You can try, Khione, but one word to my father and I can find you a special place in Tartarus."

It wasn't often that Annais threatened someone so angrily. Mel and Ezra found it strange, but Piper and Leo seemed unphased as they stood side-by-side. Perhaps they'd seen a different side to Annais in her time away from camp. It made Mel turn her nose up at Leo again, but this time for a different reason.

"Boreas is right," said Jason. He saw the fury Annais had provoked and couldn't resist making it just that little bit worse. "You're a spoiled kid. See you around, ice princess."

"Hey, that's a good one," Annais chuckled and nudged his arm playfully. "Personally, I've been calling her ice bitch this whole time, but princess works too."

Khione's eyes flared pure white. She seemed shocked, embarrassed as Jason beamed down at the girl beside him, truly at a loss for words before she gave a scream and stormed back up the stairs. At the very top, she flashed them one last snarl before disappearing into a blizzard. Annais threw her head back and laughed, a hearty kind of sound that had Jason smiling strangely. Zethes, on the other hand, seemed less than amused.

"Be careful," he warned them. "She never forgets an insult."

"Good," Annais retorted. "I hope that bitch remembers what I said for millennia."

And she meant it.

"She's the Goddess of snow," Jason's scoff was doubtful. "What's she going to do, throw snowballs at us?"

When Zethes didn't reply, the group approached where Leo and Mel were waiting. The former looked devastated at Khione's absence but Mel couldn't have looked any happier.

"What happened up there?" Leo whined. "You made her mad? Is she mad at me too? Guys, that was my prom date!"

Ezra snorted. "Please, as if she would go to prom with you."

"We'll explain later, okay?" Piper said when Mel repeated Leo's first question, only without the pout the boy now sported. Mel simply nodded, slipping away from Leo to climb onto Festus' back. Eventually, the others began to do the same, their order slightly changed but no one seemed to care. They just wanted to get out of there.

"Be careful, pretty girl," Zethes warned Piper as she went to climb up between Melanie and Ezra. "The winds between here and Chicago are bad-tempered. Many other evil things are stirring. I am sorry you will not be staying. You would make a lovely ice statue, in which I could check my reflection."

"That's pathetic," Annais whispered into Jason's ear. She was sitting behind him now, at the very back of the group, and he tensed at the sudden proximity but just nodded. Sitting in front of him was Ezra, then Piper, then Mel and Leo.

"The storm winds aren't our worst problem, are they?"

"Oh, no," said Zethes solemnly. "Something else. Something worse."

It always had to get worse.

"Can you tell me?" Piper gave them a sultry kind of smile. Annais didn't even know she could look like that, though it suited her.

But this time, the charm didn't work. Both Zethes and Cal shook their heads, and that was the end of the conversation. They reached for their orange flashlights again, approaching where the roof opened and allowing the panels to slip away one by one. Above them, the sky was a dark shade of purple dotted with the occasional star. So much time had passed and all they had done was speak to Boreas. The others noticed this too. They exchanged grim glances and got comfortable for a long trip on Festus' back.

Once the roof was opened completely, Zethes returned to them. "Ask Aeolus what is worse," he advised, almost sounding genuine. "He knows. Good luck."

Cal reached up to pat Leo on the shoulder. "Don't get destroyed. Next time, hockey and pizza."

"Come on, guys," Jason said once Leo had responded to his new friend, his back pressing against Annais as Festus began to rise at an angle into the air. "Let's go to Chicago and try not to get destroyed."

And without so much as a glance back at the Boreads, they finally left the dreaded family behind. But Annais had a feeling she'd be seeing them again, much much sooner than she hoped.