1460 words

Raiden P.O.V.

We were traveling over the Potomac when Percy registered the helicopter, an elegant, ebony helicopter, similar to one the military used.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Orion growled. "That thing is following us. Lemme get out and burn it."

"No, Orion," Zoë said firmly. "As much as that would be helpful, it would only slow us down."

"Why is the General using mortals?" Percy gazed at the helicopter.

"Easy troops," I grunted. "Many of them will fight for money. There were several mercenaries when I was growing up and even more now."

"Where'd you grow up?"

I didn't answer. Percy studied me before comprehension flickered across his face.

"You grew up on the Princess Andromeda?" he whispered.

I grunted in response, praying for a distraction. Fortunately, Grover provided one. "Where are we supposed to go?"

"The parking lot!" Bianca pointed left. "Over there!"

I swerved across two traffic lanes and parked in a mall parking lot on the Potomac's southern bank. We jumped out of the van and trailed behind Bianca as she guided us down a few stairs.

"It's an entrance to the subway," Bianca explained. "Let's go south to Alexandria."

"I'll buy the tickets." Orion removed a credit card from his rucksack.

He proceeded over to the ticket booth and purchased seven tickets. We walked through the turnstiles and boarded the train. The helicopter emerged, searching for us as the train surfaced. Thankfully, it didn't pursue us.

Grover sighed. "Good idea, Bianca."

"Thanks." Bianca smiled. "It's been a while since Nico and I have been here. We came here last summer. I was kinda shocked that it was here because we never saw it as little kids when we lived here."

Orion frowned. "That doesn't sound right, Bianca. You're, what, twelve?" I'm forty, and this station was here when I was ten."

"You're forty?" Thalia said.

"Yes. Don't I look it?"

"I'm confused now. Earlier you were a boy, and now, you're an adult?"

"Yes. The gods gave me the gift of manipulating my age and appearance so I could care for my daughter. I can appear as a twelve-year-old boy and or my chronological age, which is forty right now."

We hurried off the train and onto two others. The only thought in our minds was to lose the helicopter, and we did eventually. At the end of the line, we only arrived at an industrial area with railway tracks, warehouses, and snow. So much snow. We meandered around for a long time, searching for another train to take west. Unfortunately, all we found were endless lines of freight cars.

There was a toothless and homeless man crouching around a trash can fire. He glanced over at us and called, "Y'all look pretty cold! Come and warm up!"

Grover, Thalia, Bianca, and Percy scrambled over and huddled around the fire. Orion, Zoë, and I stood back, unbothered by the cold. My bear skin coat I had gotten the previous winter blocked out most of the icy wind, while Orion warmed the air around him and Zoë.

I reached into my rucksack and removed a baggie of Ambrosia. I broke off a corner and chewed it, savoring the taste of my mom's brownies. My finger bones snapped back into place, and I shouldered my rucksack again.

"We should send an Iris message to camp," Bianca said.

Zoë shook her head. "They cannot assist us now. We must act alone." 

"There's always help around when you need it," the homeless guy said. "Y'all looking for a westbound train?"

"Yes." I gripped my axe. "Why?"

"'Cause there's one here." He pointed.

As if it appeared out of thin air, we abruptly noticed a glittering, snowless freight train. It was the type of train that transported noticed a glittering, snowless freight train.

The type transported vehicles, with a triple deck of cars in its interior and steel-mesh curtains. Its side read SUN WEST LINE.

"Oh, thank you," Thalia muttered, turning to face the homeless man. "Mr...?"

But the man had vanished along with the flames.

Nobody had to drive this time. I crashed in a Mercedes Convertible with my bearskin blanket wrapped around me. Orion and Snow were in front of me in a Ferrari. The wolf was already asleep, curled up in the passenger seat. Zoë and Bianca were on the top deck in a Lexus, speaking in hushed tones. Grover was in a Lamborghini, entertaining himself by pretending to be a race car driver. Thalia and Percy were in a Mercedes SLK, also speaking in hushed voices.

I crossed my arms and lay my head down upon them. I gazed at the stars, wondering if Ainsley was staring at them too. We used to do that all the time, and I hoped we'd get to do it again. My ADHD was acting up, and I shifted my positioning restlessly.

"Can't sleep?" Orion whispered.

"No," I muttered. "I'm worried. And my ADHD is acting up."

"Hang on." He shape-shifted into a robin and soared over to land by the front passenger seat. He transformed back into his human form and turned to me. "What's worrying you? Why don't we talk about it?"

"What do you think? Ainsley is somewhere and...and she's hurt and Artemis...I don't even know where she is....and-"

"I know." Orion leaned over the armrest and pulled me into a hug. "I know. I'm worried too, but we'll find them."

I gulped, and a burning started at the corners of my eyes. "Th-thanks, Orion. What about Aidan?"

Orion's muscles tensed. "We'll deal with him when we get there." He released me from his embrace. "I love you, Raiden, and I'm always here if you need me."

I managed a smile. "I know. I love you too, Orion. You're a great per...father to me. You're a great father to me."

Orion smiled and squeezed my hand. "And you're a great daughter to me. Now get some sleep. I have a feeling we're gonna need it."

He transformed back into a bird and returned to his car. I wrapped my blanket tighter around, climbed into the backseat, and closed my eyes. Almost instantly, I was asleep.

In my dreams, I stood on a hillside shrouded in shadow and fog. There was no sky above, only dense darkness. Ancient, ruined Greek columns of ebony marble were spread around me. My eyes darted around, and I spotted...

"Ainsley!" I cried.

My best friend was crouched on the stony earth, shackled to the rocks by Celestial Bronze chains. Her clothes were tattered, covered in slashes from what appeared to be swords. Her arms were raised, lifting the dense darkness. As I watched, the darkness started to fragment, and she was pushed against the ground. The ceiling plummeted, but Ainsley grunted and raised it again. I rushed forward and attempted to yank the chains out; but alas, I was in a dream, so I couldn't help her.

A blur of carmine captured my attention. I had been too focused on Ainsley to notice that her wolf, Agro, was pacing in front of her as a guard. She was the size of a cart horse with her fangs exposed and hackles raised.

"Agro," Ainsley rasped. I was petrified by how frail and exhausted she sounded. "You need to leave."

Agro hurried over and lowered her face so she was close to Ainsley. I'm not leaving you. It's my job to protect you.

"No. You need to go."

Chief, I-

"Sis, I have something for you." The wolf's statement was interrupted by Aidan's voice.

He appeared from the shadows, dressed in Celestial Bronze Armor with a sheathed sword at his side. He carried a tray with steak and fruit. "I have food."

"I don't know want your food." Ainsley raised her head, and I gasped. Her face was covered in purple bruises and soaked in sweat, and her unscarred eye was blackened and swollen shut. Then she rasped in the language of the animals. "Agro, get him!"

The wolf obeyed and charged at Aidan. Agro's weight caused him to go flying, and he landed on a ruined column. Aidan jumped to his feet and unsheathed his sword. His eyes dilated to three times the normal size and a snarl appeared on his face.

"I'll kill you, Agro!" Aidan screamed, and he sprinted at her.

The dreams began to dissolve into shadow.

"No!" I roared. "No! No! Don't end it, Morpheus! I need to know what happens!"

I woke up, drenched in sweat. The morning sunlight blinded me as I quaked with fury. Ainsley was in agony, that much I knew. And I was going to force Aidan through a thousand times her suffering.