IX

                                                                Gabby

        Gabby’s headache grew worse with each step. Each time, Gabby would look into the sunlight, her headache would flash right behind her eyes. Although, it was kind of ironic, considering her father was Apollo, god of the sun. She was thankful for Leo’s rescue all the same. As she walked alongside him, she couldn’t help but notice those gorgeous eyes of those, a beautiful coffee brown. Gods, he was cute, Gabby thought. Although Gabby wanted to tell Leo with all her heart that he was the one for her, but she couldn’t help notice the way he looked at Ana and the way she looked at him. Even though it seemed ridiculous that a Hunter could fall in love with someone who already has a girlfriend in the first place, she noticed that look that Ana and Leo shared right before they left. It was a look of heartache. Knowing Ana couldn’t fall in love with anyone was probably tearing her apart inside. If anyone deserved Ana, it was Leo. It would be a big sacrifice for Gabby, but she had to face the truth. She didn’t deserve Leo. She had been a complete brat towards Ana. Ana was a friend, not an opponent and if Gabby couldn’t recognize that then she deserved to be isolated on an island...with no cotton candy.

        “We’re here,” said Leo, looking grim staring at a burnt house, the exact same one she saw in her dream. Everything was the same, down to the exact detail except for the poor Calypso stuck in the house. Ana looked at Leo and put her hand on his shoulder reassuringly. Leo seemed thankful for the reassurance. Saying that Gabby had no jealousy at all at that moment would have been a lie, but she didn’t let her jealousy show and kept quiet.

        “Well, hello Leo…” said an evil voice. The cold essence in her voice seemed to creep up Gabby’s spine. Ana seemed severely alarmed as if the voice brought back a terrible familiarity. Leo was frozen in place, shocked.

        “That’s right Leo, it’s your beloved Khione,” chuckled the voice. Suddenly a flurry of snow appeared to the right of them. Awestruck, both Ana and Leo stared at the evil figure walk towards them.

        “Haha, you little demigods are so pathetic! You think little Leo can save Calypso in time? Forget it!” screamed Khione. Only then, did Gabby realize a girl was trapped inside the burnt house. It was exactly like her dream…

        “Leo! HELP ME!” shrieked Calypso. Without hesitation, Leo darted towards the house full speed. Ana followed, at Leo’s heels. Instead of following them, Gabby examined the situation curiously. It didn’t seem right, Gabby thought to herself. It was too easy and simple. And when villains make a situation easy…

        As soon as Ana and Leo reached the house, Khione blasted a dome of ice, trapping Ana, Leo, and Calypso inside. Gabby screamed their names repeatedly until her throat felt as if it have been ripped out raw.

        “Now, to get rid of you foolish daughter of Apollo, who could’ve just gone with her friends and made my job a whole lot simpler,” complained Khione.

        “And mine, I mean, do you know how hard it is to pretend that you’re a poor little girl trapped in a house or being trapped on an island, period?” whined a familiar voice. Walking in, with a familiar device, was Calypso herself.

        “B-but, what are you doing here? You were inside-”

        “Oh, just a little something I made, it uses holographic technology to make it look as if I was in the house. Pretty nifty, huh?” she said, admiring her handy work. Leo, inside the icy prison, looked at her in shock, Gabby could tell he was heartbroken. His face was pale and he was on the brink of bursting into tears. Khione’s hair danced and she was grinning evilly as Calypso came to her side.

        “Now, what to do with this useless girl?” asked Khione, interrupting Calypso’s merriment.

        “Hold her as bait, she might come to some use, besides, unlike Leo she can’t melt the dome and of course, the dome can only be melted with water, which won’t happen due to the fact you put like five layers on that thing,” Calypso replied. As soon as the words left her lips, Gabby sprinted off into the opposite direction. No one was going to hold her as bait, if no one was going to save her, she might as well be her own savior. Although, being one’s savior includes running away from the enemy until coming up with a good plan. Khione and Calypso were right on her trail, running almost up to her heels. Why didn’t I take gym seriously? Gabby thought. Gabby, silently made a prayer to her father, hoping he would help her in some way. She knew, of course, that the gods couldn’t help with their children directly, but he could at least show a sign of some sort. She made the mistake of looking to where the icy dome sat. Ana’s skin was almost as white as Khione’s snow and wasn’t moving. She slowed down due to the distraction and Calypso grabbed her arm, pinning her down. Gabby writhed underneath her grasp.

        “You demigods are so foolish, thinking that they can simply do whatever you feel. And I admit it, I was on my father’s side. Then the gods cast me on that island, and ever since, I’ve been trying to find any godly creature or person who would’ve been gullible enough to whisk me off the island. Then, as revenge, I would betray that godly being. The entire time I was on that island, Khione was the only person who understood what I did and why. She even found me some twinkies!” Calypso exclaimed gratefully. Sweat beaded off Gabby’s forehead. Gods, it was hot in Texas. Oh, how much she would give for just a taste of water.

        “So, Khione, I hear you are the snow goddess, but they call you minor goddess,” Gabby started, trying to stall for some extra time. Red fury plastered the goddess’s face.

        “Say what you like, but I will show no mercy,” she replied.

        “Oh, in my language mercy means ‘thank you,” spoke up a familiar voice behind them.