Disclaimer: I only own Stéphanos "Stephan" Orion Archer and his tale. I also own the characters explicitly for the Lost Battalion, and their fate. I do not own the creations and stories and characters created by Rick Riordan; I am nearly using the source material provided to write fan fiction.

Warning: This story, while maybe not explicitly written in this chapter, will contain blood, death, and depression. I apologise right now if this disturbs anyone, and if so, you can merely click off this story and onto another one. You have been warned.

4

The Sun Car

16th of December, 2007

Dawn rose. Slowly; too slowly, that as Stephan climbed down the tree, fingers numb and bark-covered hair, he noticed that the Hunters had taken down camp, repacking tents into endless pockets and bags that for a split second, Stephan wondered if they all had enchanted purses like in Harry Potter. Shaking his head, the demigod hesitantly walked over to Percy, his head low, feet tracing circles in the snow. Two burning holes pierced is back, and slowly Stephan turned to find Thalia glaring directly at him, her lips pulled into a small snarl. So she was still missed off.

'The Hunters are coming to camp,' Percy said, and Stephan looked up face pale.

'Oh shit, I'll have to warn the Stolls.' he said, sighing. 'Gods know what'll happen this time.'

Percy nodded.

'Yeah, Grover told me.' he said. 'Did they really burn down the cabins?'

Stephan nodded.

'Yup, and other things,'

An award since fell between the two, as the sky lightened, turning a soft pink. Artemis walked forward, standing beside Percy, lips tight.

'About time.' she huffed, shaking her head. 'He's so-o-o lazy during the winter.'

Percy looked at her, eyebrows raised.

'You're, um, waiting for sunrise?' he asked. Artemis nodded, arms folding across her chest.

'For my brother,' she confirmed. 'Yes,'

Percy looked at Stephan sharing an expression that was somewhere between "seriously" and "what the hell!" Stephan shrugged and pulled his hoodie further around his shoulders. He just hoped that Apollo wouldn't try and give him archery points again - he was a crap teacher, and besides, Stephan could barely hold a bow and arrow without the weapon snapping back in his face!

'It's not exactly as you think,' Artemis said as if reading Percy's mind, and from what Stephan could understand, she might just as have. Percy froze, suddenly wondering if he had offended the goddess.

'Oh, okay,' he muttered, body relaxing as confidence began to fill. 'So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a—'

Suddenly the sun rose, blasting away the darkness, and the stars. A wash of warmth filled Stephan, and he suddenly felt exhausted, his body aching as he rallied just how tired he was; insomnia sucked.

'Don't look,' Artemis advised, as a golden glow appeared over the horizon. 'Not until he parks.'

Quickly, Stephan closed his eyes, pressing his hand over them, just in case. The warmth grew, his fingers tingling as the Sun God arrived, the wetness in his trainers fading until they became toasty and dry. Then, just as quickly the light faded, and with a hesitant breath, Stephan opened his eyes.

His lips drew into a snarl when he saw the car. It was red, far too red for his liking, and was one of those new-fangled things, the horrific red convertible Maserati Spyder. Did Apollo know how much damage he was producing just by driving the thing? It was so deadly that it glowed, boiling until the snow melted in a circle.

The door opened, and the owner got out. Blond haired and blue eyed, Apollo looked obnoxiously playful, with a bright smile, and casually dressed in loafers, jeans and a red sleeveless t-shirt. His smile widened when they settled on Stephan.

'Steph!' he said, walking over, loafers crunching into the grass as the snow melted beneath him. 'Long time no see. Do you need more archery training?'

Before Stephan could reply, however, Thalia muttered,

'Wow, Apollo is hot.'

Stephan glared, jaw clenching. Oh, now she was just pissing him off!

'He's the sun god,' Percy said, and Thalia smirked, turning on her cousin.

'That's not what I meant!

'Little sister!' Apollo called, taking Stephan's silence as an obvious "no", his white teeth glittering in the sun. 'What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!'

Artemis sighed, pressing her thumb and forefinger in-between the bridge of her nose, auburn plait falling around her shoulder.

'I'm fine, Apollo,' she said. 'And I am not your little sister.'

Apollo shrugged.

'Hey, I was born first.'

'Technically I was,' Artemis muttered, eyes rolling, and then louder. 'We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue—'

'So what's up?' Apollo interrupted. 'Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?'

Artemis grit her teeth.

'I need a favour.' she instructed. 'I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood.'

Apollo grinned.

'Sure, sis!' and then, he raised his hands. 'I feel a haiku coming on.'

The Hunters, along with Stephan, all groaned. No, anything but!

Ignoring his audience, Apollo cleared his throat and held up one hand dramatically.

'Green grass breaks through snow.

Artemis pleads for my help.

I am so cool.'

He grinned. No one applauded.

'That last line was only four syllables,' Artemis said, eyebrow raised. Apollo frowned.

'Was it?'

'Yes!' Artemis instructed, and a wicked smile rose to her lips. 'What about I am so big-headed?'

Apollo shook his head.

'No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm.'

He started muttering to himself.

Zoë turned, shaking her head.

'Lord Apollo has been going through this haiku phase ever since he visited Japan. 'Tis not as bad as the time he visited Limerick. If I'd had to hear one more poem that started with, There once was a goddess from Sparta—'

'I've got it!' Apollo suddenly announced. 'I am so awesome. That's five syllables!'

And then he bowed, looking pleased with himself, before turning to look at Artemis.

'And now, sis!' he said, smiling. 'Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll.'

Internally, Stephan groaned. Why was Apollo so chipper? It was the morning for Zeus' sake!

'These demigods will also need a ride,' Artemis said, indicating to Stephan. 'Some of Chiron's campers,'

'No problem!' Apollo began to check the others out. 'Let's see… I can see Steph, and who's that standing behind you? Thalia, right? I've heard all about you.'

From behind him, Stephan heard Thalia.

'Hi, Lord Apollo!'

He winced. He didn't even have to turn to see that she was smiling.

'Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister.' Apollo exclaimed, and for a split second, Stephan ginned. He could just imagine Thalia's expression. 'Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time—'

Thankfully, before he could go one about Daphne, the nymph he had tried to rape, Artemis coughed.

'Brother,' she instructed. 'You should get going.'

'Oh, right!' he said and looked at Percy, his eyes narrowing. 'Percy Jackson?'

'Yeah,' Percy muttered, and then suddenly he corrected himself. 'I mean… yes, sir.'

Apollo's eyes narrowed, but not in a way that meant "you fucking disrespected me, I'm now going to blow you up kind of way", but more of a "what's your life going to be." He turned away and clapped his hands.

'Well!' he cried. 'We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way—west. And if you miss it, you miss it.'

'Cool car,' Nico said staring at the car.

'Thanks, kid,' Apollo said, smiling. Then he frowned. 'Why do I recognise you?'

'I'm Nico, Nico di Angelo,'

The colour drained from Apollo's face, his golden tan turning to a milky grey, and even in that warm winter morn, the golden star above faded for a brief second.

'So you're Rosa's little brother.' Apollo muttered. 'Funny, last I heard of you, you were in Italy, and she was in Germany,'

'Germany?' Bianca muttered, and she stepped forward, frowning. 'Why would she go there? Mama told us never to venture there.'

'Well—' Apollo began, but before he could, Artemis coughed, glaring.

'Brother,' she hissed, voice suddenly ice. 'The Oath!'

Whatever "The Oath" was, it was enough to have a capital "The" in Stephan's mind. Apollo sighed deeply, ran his hands through his hair and smiled. Suddenly wishing the conversation would go backwards, Stephan walked forward, hands in pockets.

'Lord Apollo,' he said, and the said god turned, smiling. 'If we're all coming with you, how are we supposed to fit?'

'Oh,' Apollo said as if realising how many people actually were. 'Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose…'

He reached into his pocket, and pulled out a car key, and clicked a button. A loud, chirp, chirp ran around the forest, and for a second the car glowed, and when Stephan looked again, the Maserati was gone. A Turtle Top shuttle bus stood in its place.

'Right,' he said, grinning. 'Everybody in,'

The Hunters began to land their things inside, camping bags going in the trunk. Turning away, Stephan felt Artemis looking at him, her eyes narrow and thin.

'Why did you stop the di Angelos knowing?' he asked, and the goddess sighed.

'You'll learn soon enough, Stéphanos,' and then. 'Brother! You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart.'

Stephan turned and saw Apollo spread his hands.

'Sorry. I forgot,' he said, in a voice that was less than sorry. 'Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?'

'Hunting,' Artemis snapped. 'It's none of your business.'

'I'll find out.' Apollo chortled. 'I see all. Know all.'

Artemis snorted, rolling her eyes.

'Just drop them off, Apollo. And no messing around!'

'No, no!' the god cried, grinning. 'I never mess around.'

Artemis shook her head, before looking at Zoë.

'I will see you by winter solstice,' she instructed. 'Zoë, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do.'

Zoë straightened, before bowing slightly.

'Yes, my lady,'

Artemis smiled and knelt and touching the ground with her fingers, palms running over the melted earth. Her eyes were closed, her hair fluttering in an unmoving breeze, and then quite suddenly, she stood, lips taut.

'So much danger. The beast must be found.' and then she looked at Stephan, smiling slightly. 'Stéphanos, consider my offer,'

And then she was gone, sprinting towards the woods, wolves flanking her side. The snow and shadows shimmered as she disappeared, her body vanishing as the trees gathered around her. Apollo, on the other hand, suddenly cheerful that his sister left, grinned, jangling the car keys on his finger.

'So,' he said. 'Who wants to drive?'

'Not me,' Stephan muttered, and pushed passed the god and sat down. He chose a seat by the window and prayed that he wouldn't be killed. Nico plonked himself in the driver's seat, as Bianca and the Hunters moved to the back, leaving the campers and the "men" behind.

'This is so cool!' the preteen cried as he jumped up and down in the driver's seat. 'Is this really the sun? I thought Helios and Selene were the sun and moon gods. How come sometimes it's them and sometimes it's you and Artemis?'

'Downsizing,' Apollo said, as he closed the doors, leaning on the door with a vacantly bored expression. 'The Romans started it. They couldn't afford all those temple sacrifices, so they laid off Helios and Selene and folded their duties into our job descriptions. My sis got the moon. I got the sun. It was pretty annoying at first, but at least I got this cool car.'

'But how does it work?' Nico asked. 'Rosa told me the sun was a big fiery ball of gas!'

Apollo chuckled and ruffled Nico's hair.

'That rumour probably got started because Artemis used to call me a big fiery ball of gas. Seriously, kid, it depends on whether you're talking astronomy or philosophy. You want to talk astronomy? Bah, what fun is that? You want to talk about how humans think about the sun? Ah, now that's more interesting. They've got a lot riding on the sun… er, so to speak. It keeps them warm, grows their crops, powers engines, makes everything look, well, sunnier. This chariot is built out of human dreams about the sun, kid. It's as old as Western Civilisation. Every day, it drives across the sky from east to west, lighting up all those puny little mortal lives. The chariot is a manifestation of the sun's power, the way mortals perceive it. Make sense?'

Nico shook his head.

'Nope.'

Apollo sighed.

'Well then, just think of it as a really powerful, really dangerous solar car.'

A wicked grin suddenly rose to Nico's lips, and for a split second, Stephan saw the boy's eyes flood a deep black.

'Can I drive?'

Apollo must have seen his eyes too, for he stepped back a little, and shook his head.

'No. Too young.'

A crestfallen expression spread across Nico's lips, and he moved on, sitting next to Stephan.

'Oo! Oo!' Grover raised his hand. Apollo hummed.

'Mm, no — too furry,'

He looked past Percy, eyes landing on Stephan, who gave him a glare which said, "try, and you're dead" before setting on Thalia.

'Daughter of Zeus!' he said, grinning. 'Lord of the sky. Perfect.'

'Oh, no,' Thalia suddenly looked sick. 'No, thanks.'

'Actually!' Stephan cried, standing up. 'I'll have a go!'

"C'mon," Apollo said. "How old are you?"

Thalia hesitated, and then frowned, looking at Stephan.

'We don't know.'

Stephan sighed, and looked down, knowing that the tips of his ears were burning. Why did she have to say we?

Apollo, obvious to Stephan's embarrassment, tapped his finger to his lips.

'Your seventeen,' he stated. 'Almost eighteen; the tree messed up you're age for about two years. Lucky, others aren't,'

Thalia blinked, mouth open.

'How do you know that?'

Apollo shrugged.

'Hey, I'm the god of prophecy. I know stuff.' he said, grinning. 'You'll turn eighteen in about a week.'

A relieved expression flashed across Thalia's face as if she suddenly remembered what day it was.

'That's my birthday! December twenty-second!' she said, turning on Stephan. 'Lukos we can still celebrate!'

'I thought she was annoyed at you?' Nico muttered, as Apollo looked through the glove compartment, pulling out a card. Stephan shrugged.

'This is Thalia were talking about,' Stephan said. 'She has the dramatic tendencies of her father.'

No one winced as she sky rumbled. Apollo turned, pulling out a shiny card.

'Which means you're old enough now to drive with a learner's permit!'

Thalia froze.

'Uh—'

'I know what you're going to say,' Apollo said. 'You don't deserve an honour like driving the sun chariot.'

Thalia bit her lip.

'That's not what I was going to say.'

Apollo shook his head.

'Don't sweat it! Maine to Long Island is a really short trip, and don't worry about what happened to the last kid I trained. You're Zeus's daughter. He's not going to blast you out of the sky.'

Apollo laughed good-naturedly. No one joined him.

Five minutes later, and much to Thalia's protest, she found herself behind the wheel. Even before they set off, Stephan had strapped himself down and was desperately praying to every single sky god, Zeus included, not to let them die! He even begged to his unknown parent, whoever the fuck they were!

And then the engine roared, and with a blast as loud as drakon, the bus shot into the sky. Stephan's back slammed into his seat, the wind knocked from his lungs, and for the first time in a long while, he thanked his intuition that he'd put on his seatbelt. Nico, who had banged his head on the headrest, was quickly pulling his belt accosts him, and form the middle of the bus, Stephan heard a hunter groan.

'Ow!' Grover said, rubbing his head.

'Sorry,' Thalia winced.

'Slower!' Apollo instructed.

'Sorry!' Thalia said again. 'I've got it under control!'

Outside, Stephan could see smoke spluttering from the forest, and his stomach dropped, as Percy said,

'Thalia, lighten up on the accelerator.'

Thalia's breathing was harsh, but even though she was absolutely terrified, she could still snap.

'I've got it, Percy,'

'Loosen up,'

'I'm loose!' Thalia snapped, shoulder stiff and locked.

'We need to veer south for Long Island,' Apollo explained. 'Hang a left.'

The bus veered right, and everyone slammed into each other.

'The other left,' Apollo said, and Stephan looked outside.

The sky was black, almost pitch.

'Shit!' he muttered.

'Ah…' Apollo said. 'A little lower, sweetheart. Cape Cod is freezing over.'

Thalia tilted the wheel. Her face was box-white, forehead beaded with sweat, and although several feet away, Stephan could see the faint crackle of electricity that danced between her fingers. Something had also changed in the air-current, for the wind was howling, the air ripping through Stephan like a rocket, and around them, the clouds bubbled and churned, yellow-white bolts forming under the grey folds.

Oh shit, she was going to blow.

Although rare, Stephan had only ever seen his friend's grip on her gift explode once — and it wasn't pretty. Quickly, ignoring Nico's pretests, Stephan unbuckled his belt and lunched forward. At that exact moment, the bus pitched down. Someone shrieked, and Stephan's arms lurched out, twisting as he tried to grab the back of a seat. Something cracked, and he yelled, pain erupting along his right shoulder as the bone snapped. In his fear, his control of the monster broke, and he heard Grover gasp as this nails bit into the seat, slicing through the foam as if butter.

New England's coastline was to the right; the Atlantic Ocean right in front, and it was boiling. Apollo was somewhere in the back and was struggling to climb over. He'd never make it in time. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard Grover begging Apollo to take the wheel, but that didn't matter to Stephan. What did, was making sure that Thalia didn't blow them all up to high heaven.

Gathering up his courage, Stephan ripped his claws out of the seat, eyes transforming to a deep, golden yellow, as he walked forward, ignoring the screams that surrounded him, and the smell of burning wood as the houses on the mainland began to burn. He reached out, fingers brushing against Thalia's back, and then someone had the audacity to yell "Pull up!"

And by Hades she did! Thalia yanked back on the wheel, and the bus zoomed upwards. Thankfully, Stephan had enough sense to hold onto one of the straps above his head; otherwise, he would have crashed into Apollo.

'There!' Apollo pointed. 'Long Island, dead ahead. Let's slow down, dear. 'Dead' is only an expression.'

Stephan growled, and suddenly wished he could knock the god uncurious. He really wasn't helping. Thalia's nails were digging into her palms, and Stephan smelt the blood before he saw it. Her grip only intensified as they neared the coastline and Camp Half-Blood.

'Thals,' Stephan breathed. 'Let go!'

She shook her head.

'I'm under control, I'm under control.'

The bus was only a few hundred yards away now, and Stephan's stomach dropped when he saw the lake. Shit! He'd need to do it now!

'Brake,' Apollo said.

'I can do this.'

'BRAKE!'

Thalia slammed her foot on the brake and the sun bus spin. People screamed, Stephan closed his eyes, and before anyone could stop him, he lunged forward and pulled Thalia from the seat. The Sun Chariot smashed into the canoe lake. Water flooded the bus, steam rising like a cooking pot, and in the boiling water, and freaked out kids, Stephan's grip on Thalia tightened, his body tensing as she sent a thousand amps of electricity through his body.

And then they were breaking the surface, capsized, half-melted canoes coming up along with them. Apollo smiled, swiping his hair back as he looked at Thalia.

'Well,' he said, stepping over the two. 'You were right, my dear. You had everything under control! Let's go see if we boiled anyone important, shall we?'

For once, Stephan hoped it was Mr D; the doors opened, and a warm light shone through, and it was as Stephan stood up, helping Thalia to his feet that he heard it: the sound of a bowstring tightening. He barely had time to turn, to shove Thalia behind him, before the arrow was lodged in his chest. Blood curled down his charred shirt, the coppery taste of death lingering in his mouth. He heard Thalia scream, her voice calling out his name as he stumbled back, hands pressing to the arrow, as stared into the disgusted eyes of Zoë Nightshade.

And that's when the lightning storm really began.

Dear All,

I apologise for the wait, and I hope you like this. I'm sorry I haven't uploaded in a while, I was stuck on how to start this chapter, and I also have started Uni. I've been ill, again for a few days, so I spent most of the day trying to catch up on my first Archaeology lessons. Thank god the lessons are recorded. Anyway, enjoy, and I hope to see you all in the next chapter.

Review answering:

Guest man 125: Thank you for your lovely comment, and your suggestion.

The Sorrowful Deity: Yeah, a lot of people seem to forget the myths, and thank you for your suggestion.

from,

Lily