──── chapter six

{ ☀️ } · jupiter, not zeus. . ݁ ٬٬ ࣪

MUCH LIKE MOST OF HER SIBLINGS, Madeline didn't like winter. It may be the fact that their father is the god of the Sun, so cold was even worse for them. Unlike, when in the sun, the children of Apollo could look at it directly, never bothering to cover their eyes, the white of the snow started to hurt the girl's eyes as they landed.

"This cannot be good," Jason muttered, but Leo spurred the dragon downward, and they swooped in after the Boreads.

They landed in what must have been the penthouse suite; but the place had been hit by a flash freeze. The entry hall had vaulted ceilings forty feet high, huge draped windows, and lush oriental carpets. A staircase at the back of the room led up to another equally massive hall, and more corridors branched off to the left and right. But the ice made the room's beauty a little frightening.

When Madeline slid off the dragon, the carpet crunched under her feet. A fine layer of frost covered the furniture. The curtains didn't budge because they were frozen solid, and the ice-coated windows let in weird watery light from the sunset. Even the ceiling was furry with icicles. Madeline rubbed her hands together, trying to get some warmth to them. She could feel her nose turning red from the cold and her feet freezing under her boots.

"Guys," Leo said, "fix the thermostat in here, and I would totally move in."

"I prefer warm places." Madeline muttered under her breath.

"Not me." Jason looked uneasily at the staircase. "Something feels wrong. Something up there. . ."

Festus shuddered and snorted flames. Frost started to form on his scales.

"No, no, no." Zethes marched over, though how he could walk in those pointy leather shoes, the girl had no idea. "The dragon must be deactivated. We can't have fire in here. The heat ruins my hair."

Festus growled and spun his drill-bit teeth."'S'okay, boy." Leo turned to Zethes. "The dragon's a little touchy about the whole deactivation concept. But I've got a better solution."

"Destroy?" Cal suggested.

"No, man. You gotta stop with the destroy talk. Just wait."

"Leo," Piper said nervously, "what are you ─ "

"Watch and learn, beauty queen. When I was repairing Festus last night, I found all kinds of buttons. Some, you do not want to know what they do. But others. . . Ah, here we go."

Leo hooked his fingers behind the dragon's left foreleg. He pulled a switch, and the dragon shuddered from head to toe. Everyone backed away as Festus folded like origami. His bronze plating stacked together. His neck and tail contracted into his body. His wings collapsed and his trunk compacted until he was a rectangular metal wedge the size of a suitcase. Leo tried to lift it, but the thing weighed about six billion pounds. "Um. . . yeah. Hold on. I think ─ aha."

He pushed another button. A handle flipped up on the top, and wheels clicked out on the bottom. "Ta-da!" he announced. "The world's heaviest carry-on bag!"

"That's impossible," Jason said. "Something that big couldn't — "

"Stop!" Zethes ordered. He and Cal both drew their swords and glared at Leo.

Leo raised his hands. "Okay. . . what'd I do? Stay calm, guys. If it bothers you that much, I don't have to take the dragonas-carry-on ─ "

"Who are you?" Zethes shoved the point of his sword against Leo's chest. "A child of the South Wind, spying on us?"

"What? No!" Leo said. "Son of Hephaestus. Friendly blacksmith, no harm to anyone!"

Cal growled. He put his face up to Leo's, "Smell fire," he said. "Fire is bad."

"Oh." Leo said in a small voice, "Yeah, well. . . my clothes are kind of singed, and I've been working with oil, and ─ "

"No!" Zethes pushed Leo back at sword point. "We can smell fire, demigod. We assumed it was from the creaky dragon, but now the dragon is a suitcase. And I still smell fire. . . on you."

"Hey. . . look. . . I don't know ─ " he glanced at the other three desperately. "Guys, a little help?"

Having been on many extractions and fought monsters she couldn't even count on her hands, Madeline stepped forward, "Zethes, look, there's been a mistake. Leo isn't a fire guy. Tell them, Leo. Tell them you're not a fire guy."

"Um. . ."

"Zethes?" Piper tried her dazzling smile again, though she looked a little too nervous and cold to pull it off. "We're all friends here. Put down your swords and let's talk."

"The girl is pretty," Zethes admitted, "and of course she cannot help being attracted to my amazingness; but sadly, I cannot romance her at this time."

He poked his sword point farther into Leo's chest, and the others could see the frost spreading across his shirt.

"Destroy him now?" Cal asked his brother.

Zethes nodded. "Sadly, I think ─ "

"No," Jason insisted.  "Leo's just a son of Hephaestus. He's no threat. Piper here is a daughter of Aphrodite. Madeline's a daughter of Apollo and I'm the son of Zeus. We're on a peaceful ..."

Jason's voice faltered, because both Boreads had suddenly turned on him. Isa dropped her hand and the barrier disappeared.

"What did you say?" Zethes demanded. "You are the son of Zeus?"

"Um. . . yeah," Jason said. "That's a good thing, right? My name is Jason."

Cal looked so surprised, he almost dropped his sword. "Can't be Jason," he said. "Doesn't look the same."

Zethes stepped forward and squinted at Jason's face. "No, he is not our Jason. Our Jason was more stylish. Not as much as me ─ but stylish. Besides, our Jason died millennia ago."

"Wait," Jason said. "Your Jason. . . you mean the original Jason? The Golden Fleece guy?"

"Of course," Zethes said. "We were his crewmates aboard his ship, the Argo, in the old times, when we were mortal demigods. Then we accepted immortality to serve our father, so I could look this good for all time, and my silly brother could enjoy pizza and hockey."

"Hockey!" Cal agreed.

"But Jason ─ our Jason ─ he died a mortal death," Zethes said. "You can't be him."

"I'm not," Jason agreed.

"So, destroy?" Cal asked.

"Boy, chill out." Madeline said, shaking her head with a frown.

"No," Zethes said regretfully. "If he is a son of Zeus, he could be the one we've been watching for."

"Watching for?" Leo asked. "You mean like in a good way: you'll shower him with fabulous prizes? Or watching for like in a bad way: he's in trouble?"

A girl's voice said, "That depends on my father's will."

Madeline snapped her eyes at the voice.

Her father had described her well. From time to time when Apollo is bored with his duties as he says, he likes to keep his children up on whatever is happening on Olympus. Maybe gods were not good when it came to parenting, but Madeline couldn't complain. She got good one. So, her father told his children about the new article in the magazine that kept demigods and other minor deities about happenings ( The Olympus ─ quite original ) and lets say, they didn't write good things about the goddess of snow.

The goddess looked at Jason, "Father will want to see the one called Jason."

"Then it is him?" Zethes asked excitedly.

"We'll see," the woman said. "Zethes, bring our guests."

Leo grabbed the handle of his bronze dragon suitcase, but before he could take a step, the woman froze him with a look. "Not you, Leo Valdez," she said.

"Why not?" he asked.

"You cannot be in the presence of my father," the goddess said. "Fire and ice ─ it would not be wise."

"Daughter of Apollo?"

The goddess of snow turned towards the black-haired girl. Madeline could see her unnaturally pale, the color of snow, her hair was a lush mane of black, and her eyes were coffee brown. There were no expression on her face, no smile, no friendliness.

"She does not posses any power that could destroy our domain." she said to her brothers, "Only a curse she's bonded to."

Madeline raised an eyebrow at the goddess. "I can see why my father ditched your ass."

Khione glared at the girl, her eyes flashing with anger at her statement. She tried to act like it didn't bother her, but no one was fooled by her act, "Your father did not leave me. I left him."

"Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night." the demigod said with a shrug, "But we all know it was nothing for him. Just a fling amongst many."

With the murderous look in her eyes, Madeline could see she pushed the right buttons. It was no secret that her father had many lovers ─ some that lasted for millenniums, some for a few days or hours. The goddess of snow was the short-lived ones.

The daughter of Apollo could feel the other three looking at her, but she paid them no mind. She was staring at the goddess. The silence was suffocating. Both women didn't say anything.

Behind her, Jason cleared his throat, "We're going together or not at all."

The goddess tilted her head, and tore her eyes away from Madeline, "He will not be harmed, Jason Grace, unless you make trouble. Calais, keep Leo Valdez here. Guard him, but do not kill him."

Cal pouted. "Just a little?"

"No, and take care of his interesting suitcase, until Father passes judgment."

Madeline, Jason and Piper looked at Leo, their expressions asking him a silent question: How do you want to play this?

"It's fine, guys," Leo said. "No sense causing trouble if we don't have to. You go ahead."

"Listen to your friend," Khione said. "Leo Valdez will be perfectly safe. I wish I could say the same for you, son of Zeus. Now come, King Boreas is waiting."

As they climbed the icy staircase, Zethes stayed behind them, his blade drawn. The guy might've looked like a disco era reject, but there was nothing funny about his sword.

Every once in a while, Khione would turn and give Jason a smile, but there was no warmth in her expression. She regarded Jason like he was an especially interesting science specimen ─ one she couldn't wait to dissect. There was a burning feeling in the pit of the girl's stomach ─ one she hadn't felt in a while. Ever since Silena Beauregard got together with Charles Beckendorf ( may they rest well in Alyssum ).

It didn't help with the dreams she was getting. Seeing herself in the Roman territory with her friends, talking about the new prophecy she's involved in didn't help. Seeing herself sitting next to the son of Jupiter ─ not Zeus, Jupiter, he's Roman for gods sake! ─ their knees brushing and hands inching closer didn't help.

It didn't help she couldn't say a word about it to him.

She was forbidden to.

A warm hand grasped her own cold, and Madeline snapped her eyes at Jason, who was by her side. He too, seemed lost in his thoughts and the movement came from his reflexes. She raised an eyebrow at him, "You alright?"

Jason looked down at their hands then back at her eyes. He nodded slowly. Behind them, going unnoticed to the pair, a frown sat upon Piper's face, her eyes sparkling with sadness, her mind understanding the situation. Gods played with her. They used her like a puppet. Planted false memories creating more struggle for the girl to deal with. 

"Don't worry," the black-haired girl said, "It's just a talk."

At the top of the stairs, the ice princess looked back and noticed them holding hands. Suddenly their hands turned ice cold ─ burning cold. She let go, and her fingers were smoking with frost. So were Jason's.

"Warmth is not a good idea here," Khione advised, "especially when I am your best chance of staying alive. Please, this way."

Madeline only glared at the goddess. The soft brushing of Jason's hand made her look at him and the boy gave her a soft smile. No matter how many times she had seen it in her dreams, the real one was better in ways she couldn't describe.

Zethes poked the boy in the back with his icicle sword, and they followed the princess down a massive hallway decked in frosty tapestries. Freezing winds blew back and forth and Isa could feel her hands numbing.

At the end of the hallway they found themselves in front of a set of oaken doors carved with a map of the world. In each corner was a man's bearded face, blowing wind. Madeline was pretty sure she'd seen maps like this before. But in this version, all the wind guys were Winter, blowing ice and snow from every corner of the world.

Khione turned. "This is the throne room," she said. "Be on your best behavior, Jason Grace. My father can be. . . chilly. I will translate for you, and try to encourage him to hear you out. I do hope he spares you. We could have such fun."

"Um, okay," Jason said. "But really, we're just here for a little talk. We'll be leaving right afterward."

The goddess smiled. "I love heroes. So blissfully ignorant."

Piper rested her hand on her dagger. "Well, how about you enlighten us? You say you're going to translate for us, and we don't even know who you are. What's your name?"

"Well, Madeline, you knows who I am," Khione said with her chin held high, "And I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you don't recognize me. Even in the ancient times the Greeks did not know me well. Their island homes were too warm, too far from my domain. I am Khione, daughter of Boreas, goddess of snow."

She stirred the air with her finger, and a miniature blizzard swirled around her ─ big, fluffy flakes as soft as cotton.

"Now, come," Khione said. The oaken doors blew open, and cold blue light spilled out of the room. "Hopefully you will survive your little talk."

If the entry hall had been cold, the throne room was like a meat locker.

Mist hung in the air. Madeline felt her whole body shaking from the cold - her nose and ears frozen, her lips loosing their pink tint. Along the walls, purple tapestries showed scenes of snowy forests, barren mountains, and glaciers. High above, ribbons of colored light ─ the aurora borealis ─ pulsed along the ceiling. A layer of snow covered the floor, so Madeline had to step carefully. All around the room stood life-size ice sculpture warriors ─ some in Greek armor, some medieval, some in modern camouflage ─ all frozen in various attack positions, swords raised, guns locked and loaded.

At least that's what the thought the sculptures were. Jason tried to step between two Greek spearmen, and they moved with surprising speed, their joints cracking and spraying ice crystals as they crossed their javelins to block Jason's path.

From the far end of the hall, a man's voice rang out in a language that sounded like French. The room was so long and misty, Isa couldn't see the other end; but whatever the man said, the ice guards uncrossed their javelins.

"It's fine," Khione said. "My father has ordered them not to kill you just yet."

"Super," Jason said.

Zethes prodded him in the back with his sword. "Keep moving, Jason Junior."

"Please don't call me that."

Madeline snorted a bit, "You gotta admit it's funny."

"My father is not a patient man," Zethes warned, "and the beautiful Piper, sadly, is losing her magic hairdo very fast. Later, perhaps, I can lend her something from my wide assortment of hair products."

"Thanks," Piper grumbled.

They kept walking, and the mist parted to reveal a man on an ice throne. He was sturdily built, dressed in a stylish white suit that seemed woven from snow, with dark purple wings that spread out to either side. His long hair and shaggy beard were encrusted with icicles, so Isa couldn't tell if his hair was gray or just white with frost. His arched eyebrows made him look angry, but his eyes twinkled more warmly than his daughter's ─ as if he might have a sense of humor buried somewhere under that permafrost.

"Bienvenu," the king said. "Je suis Boreas le Roi. Etvous?"

Khione the snow goddess was about to speak, but Piper stepped forward and curtsied. "Votre Majesté," she said, " je suis Piper McLean. Etc'est Jason, fils de Zeus et c'est Madeline, fille de Apollo."

The king smiled with pleasant surprise. "Vous parlez français? Très bien!"

"Piper, you speak French?" Jason asked.

Piper frowned. "No. Why?"

"You just spoke French."

Piper blinked. "I did?"

The king said something else, and Piper nodded. "Oui, Votre Majesté."

The king laughed and clapped his hands, obviously delighted. He said a few more sentences then swept his hand toward his daughter as if shooing her away. Khione looked miffed. "The king says ─ "

"He says I'm a daughter of Aphrodite," Piper interrupted, "so naturally I can speak French, which is the language of love. I had no idea. His Majesty says Khione won't have to translate now."

Behind them, Zethes snorted, and Khione shot him a murderous look. She bowed stiffly to her father and took a stepback. The king sized up Madeline and Jason.

"Your Majesty," Jason said, "I'm Jason Grace. Thank you for, um, not killing us. May I ask. . . why does a Greek god speak French?"

Piper had another exchange with the king.

"He speaks the language of his host country," Piper translated. "He says all gods do this. Most Greek gods speak English, as they now reside in the United States, but Boreas was never welcomed in their realm. His domain was always far to the north. These days he likes Quebec, so he speaks French."

The king said something else, and Piper turned pale. "The king says. . ." she faltered. "He says ─ "

"Oh, allow me," Khione said with a side smile. "My father says he has orders to kill you. Did I not mention that earlier?"

Madeline breathed out, "You know what? I'm not even surprised."

The king was still smiling amiably, like he'd just delivered great news.

"Kill us?" Jason said. "Why?"

"Because," the king said, in heavily accented English, "my lord Aeolus has commanded it." Boreas rose. He stepped down from his throne and furled his wings against his back. As he approached, Khione and Zethes bowed. The three demigods followed their example.

"I shall deign to speak your language," Boreas said, "as Piper McLean has honored me in mine. Toujours, I have had a fondness for the children of Aphrodite. A daughter of Apollo. . . and a peculiar one. I can't say I like your father very much. As for you, Jason Grace, my master Aeolus would not expect me to kill a son of Lord Zeus. . . without first hearing you out."

"Aeolus is the master of the winds, right?" Jason asked. "Why would he want us dead?"

"You are demigods," Boreas said, "Aeolus's job is to contain the winds, and demigods have always caused him many headaches. They ask him for favors. They unleash winds and cause chaos. But the final insult was the battle with Typhon last summer. . ."

Boreas waved his hand, and a sheet of ice like a flat screen TV appeared in the air. Images of a battle flickered across the surface ─ a giant wrapped in storm clouds, wading across a river toward the Manhattan skyline. Tiny, glowing figures ─ the gods. They swarmed around him like angry wasps, pounding the monster with lightning and fire. Finally the river erupted in a massive whirlpool, and the smoky form sank beneath the waves and disappeared.

Madeline winced at the memory. So many lives were lost on that day. So many demigods. Her brother. . . It's still a sore subject for them.

"The storm giant, Typhon," Boreas explained. "The first time the gods defeated him, eons ago, he did not die quietly. His death released a host of storm spirits ─ wild winds that answered to no one. It was Aeolus's job to track them all down and imprison them in his fortress. The other gods ─ they did not help. They did not even apologize for the inconvenience. It took Aeolus centuries to track down all the storm spirits, and naturally this irritated him. Then, last summer, Typhon was defeated again ─ "

"And his death released another wave of venti," Jason guessed. "Which made Aeolus even angrier."

"C'est vrai," Boreas agreed.

"Your Majesty," Madeline said, "the gods had no choice but to battle Typhon. While we all know that he was the distraction for the gods, us demigods fought bravely to save the Olympus. We lost so many yet we still defeated the enemy. So why punish us? Why punish the demigods?"

The king shrugged. "Aeolus cannot take out his anger on the gods. They are his bosses, and very powerful. So he gets even with the demigods who helped them in the war. He issued orders to us: demigods who come to us for aid are no longer to be tolerated. We are to crush your little mortal faces."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"That sounds. . . extreme," Jason ventured. "But you're not going to crush our faces yet, right? You're going to listen to us first, 'cause once you hear about our quest ─ "

"Yes, yes," the king agreed. "You see, Aeolus also said that a son of Zeus might seek my aid, and if this happened, I should listen to you before destroying you, as you might ─ how did he put it? ─ make all our lives very interesting. I am only obligated to listen, however. After that, I am free to pass judgment as I see fit. But I will listen first. Khione wishes this also. It may be that we will not kill you."

"Great. Thanks."

"Do not thank me." Boreas smiled. "There are many ways you could make our lives interesting. Sometimes we keep demigods for our amusement, as you can see." he gestured around the room to the various ice statues.

Piper made a strangled noise. "You mean ─ they're all demigods? Frozen demigods? They're alive?"

"An interesting question," Boreas conceded, as if it had never occurred to him before. "They do not move unless they are obeying my orders. The rest of the time, they are merely frozen. Unless they were to melt, I suppose, which would be very messy."

"Gods. . ." Madeline muttered

Khione stepped behind Jason and put her cold fingers on his neck. The hairs on his arm stood up and despite the cold around them, the boy felt warmth radiating from the girl next to him. "My father gives me such lovely presents," she murmured in his ear. "Join our court. Perhaps I'll let your friends go."

"What?" Zethes broke in. "If Khione gets this one, then I deserve the girls. Khione always gets more presents!"

"Now, children," Boreas said sternly. "Our guests will think you are spoiled! Besides, you moved 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."

Madeline stepped away from the blonde boy, moving to Piper's other side, making the said girl be in the middle. Piper looked at the girl with a raised eyebrow and Madeline didn't say anything. Suddenly, there was loud pop, and Khione flew backward, skidding across the floor.

Her dreams were slowly starting to come to life.

Zethes laughed and Isa didn't even try to hide her smile, "That is good! I'm glad you did that, even though I have to kill you now."

For a moment, Khione was too stunned to react. Then the air around her began to swirl with a micro-blizzard. "You dare ─ "

"Stop," Jason ordered, with as much force as he could muster. "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."

He sounded a lot more confident than he looked, but it got their attention. Khione's blizzard swirled to a stop. Zethes lowered his sword. They both looked uncertainly at their father.

"Hmm," Boreas said. His eyes twinkled and the girl didn't know if it was from anger or amazement, "A son of Zeus, favored by Hera? This is definitely a first. Tell us your story."

"Your Majesty." Piper sand and curtsied again with incredible poise, considering their lives were on the line. She told Boreas the whole story, from the Grand Canyon to the prophecy. "All we ask for is guidance," Piper concluded. "These storm spirits attacked us, and they're working for some evil mistress. If we find them, maybe we can find Hera."

The king stroked the icicles in his beard. Out the windows, night had fallen, and the only light came from the aurora borealis overhead, washing everything in red and blue.

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

"You mean Coach Hedge?" Madeline asked. "He's alive?"

Boreas waved aside the question. "For now. But the one who controls these storm winds. . . It would be madness to oppose her. You would be better staying here as frozen statues."

"Hera's in trouble," Jason said. "In three days she's going to be ─ I don't know ─ consumed, destroyed, something. And a giant is going to rise."

"Yes," Boreas agreed. Was it Madeline's imagination, or did he shoot Khione an angry look? "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 ─ 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 who will wake is more terrible than any Titan. Storm spirits — these are only 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."

"So you'll help us?" Jason asked the king.

Boreas scowled. "I did not say that."

"Please, Your Majesty," Piper said. Everyone's eyes turned toward her. "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."

"She's pretty," Zethes mumbled. "I mean, she's right."

"Father, don't listen to her," Khione said. "She's a child of Aphrodite. She dares to charmspeak a god? Freeze her now!"

Boreas considered this. Jason slipped his hand in his pocket and got ready to bring out the gold coin. If things went wrong, he'd have to move fast. The movement caught Boreas's eye. "What is that on your forearm, demigod?"

Madeline looked over at Jason. His coat sleeve had gotten pushed up, revealing the edge of his tattoo. Reluctantly, he showed Boreas his marks. The god's eyes widened. Khione actually hissed and stepped away.

Madeline knew the gods had figured out Jason's origin.

Then Boreas did something unexpected. He laughed so loudly, an icicle cracked from the ceiling and crashed next to his throne. The god's form began to flicker. His beard disappeared. He grew taller and thinner, and his clothes changed into a Roman toga, lined with purple. His head was crowned with a frosty laurel wreath, and a gladius ─ a Roman sword like Jason's ─ hung at his side.

Daughter of Apollo paled at the sight.

"Aquilon," Jason said.

The god inclined his head. "You recognize me better in this form, yes? And yet you said you came from Camp Half-Blood?"

Jason shifted his feet. "Uh. . . yes, Your Majesty."

"And Hera sent you there. . . " the winter god's eyes were full of mirth. "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."

"Jason," Piper said nervously, "why did Boreas change shape? The toga, the wreath. What's going on?"

"It's his Roman form," Jason said. "But what's going on ─ I don't know."

The god laughed. "No, I'm sure you don't." his eyes went to Madeline and she felt herself sinking into her skin, "Sure you don't. . ." he said in such tone that made the girl shake slightly. She could see Jason's and Piper's eyes upon her, but she didn't look at them. She shook herself from the once fear, holding her chin high ─ never show emotions, that's when you're vulnerable. Countless nights of not sleeping taught her that, "This should be very interesting to watch."

"Does that mean you'll let us go?" Piper asked.

"My dear," Boreas said, "there is no reason for me to kill you. If Hera's plan fails, which I think it will, you will tear each other apart. Aeolus will never have to worry about demigods again."

"I don't suppose you could explain?" Jason asked.

"Oh, perish the thought! It is not for me to interfere in Hera's plan. No wonder she took your memory." Boreas chuckled, apparently still having a great time imagining demigods tearing each other apart. "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 are idiots," Khione growled.

"Stop it!" Zethes snapped back. "Just because you were born a full goddess ─ "

"Both of you, freeze," Boreas ordered. Apparently, that word carried a lot of weight in the household, because the two siblings went absolutely still. "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 civilization, and so rarely have amusements. Why, even that fool Notus, the South Wind, gets spring break in Cancún. What do I get? A winter festival with naked Québécois rolling around in the snow!"

"I like the winter festival," Zethes muttered.

"My point," Boreas snapped, "is that I now have a chance to be the center. 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.

Boreas ignored his daughter. "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."

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

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

Jupiter. Roman. War.

"The one who controls the winds," Boreas continued, "yes, you will find her in Chicago. But she is only a servant ─ a servant who is very likely to destroy you. If you 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 you will meet when you finally find Hera's cage ─ truly, if I told you that, you would beg me to freeze you."

"Father," Khione protested, "you can't simply let them ─ "

"I can do what I like," he said, his voice hardening. "I am still master here, am I not?"

The way Boreas glared at his daughter, it was obvious they had some ongoing argument. Khione's eyes flashed with anger, but she clenched her teeth. "As you wish, Father."

"Now go, demigods," Boreas said, "before I change my mind. Zethes, escort them out safely."

They all bowed, and the god of the North Wind dissolved into mist.

niki speaks!

long time no see
here's the new update for
save me save you !!
I've been on vacation so i didn't
update much + preparing
for college and finding an apartment
to live while i study
but, here it is
also, i've been working on
remus lupin fic (marauders era
but it will continue to golden
trio era with a lot of happenings)
also shadow and bone/six of crows
fic is in the works
so... it's a lot

have a nice day/night!
bye!