Chapter 10

I let out a groan as the train came to its eventual stop, the lack of motion waking me up from my sleep.

I rubbed my eyes twice before I realized that my hood was still below my neck.

I guess I had decided to leave it off after my talk with Zoe the day before.

I cringed at the thought.

I wasn't sure if Zoe's intention had always been to unmask me when we had first started talking, but a part of me had still wished it was genuine. I wanted to feel betrayed but knew that would only make me feel like a hypocrite.

But I guess it didn't matter, because now Zoe hated me more than ever.

All the trust that had been building up between us over the past 2 years, shattered.

And I only had myself to blame.

Yet, I couldn't deny that it was what I had expected. It was what I wanted, even.

I let out a long sigh before opening the door to my car, planning on joining the others.

Before completely stepping out, I slid my hood completely over the top of my head.

Though the only person who could recognize me now knew who I was, I didn't plan on dropping my alias just yet.

Plutus had started this quest, and he would finish it as well.

As I descended the stairs, I caught Theseus on my way down.

"Morning, Plutus." He said with a yawn.

The boy looked much less cheery than usual, his hair more ruffled and bags under his eyes. Even his voice had sounded noticeably less upbeat.

I guess not even he woke up a saint.

I only grunted in response, walking side by side with him as we exited the train.

We were immediately greeted with the sigh of the rest of our party waiting for us a little past the train stations gates.

To their left, was a sign planted in the ground with the name of our current location.

Cloudcroft City, New Mexico.

My eyes scanned the city.

Snow covered the roofs off all the stores for as far as I could see, though the roads seemed to have been cleared.

To the right of the city was a thick forest of large pines, and towards the northwest was what I believed to be a ski resort. Beyond that was a steep drop off.

"You two sure take your time." Said Bianca as we approached the group.

"Sorry some of us actually enjoy sleeping." There was still a drowsy tone present in his voice.

Bianca rolled her eyes before turning around. "Boys."

I raised a brow. Had she really been a part of the hunt long enough to start acting like them.

"We are here to stock up." Said Zoe, leading the group towards the city.

I noticed her voice had changed slightly. It was more serious, uptight. She sounded less like the age she looked, and more like a lieutenant.

"We will split up into two groups and buy anything that will be of use.

I shall take Thalia with me; Bianca, I want you to take half of the money we have and lead the other group." She said.

Her voice came sharp, almost sounding like an order.

"You want me to lead the other group?" She asked, sounding like she couldn't believe it.

Zoe gave a quick nod.

"I trust you the most, Bianca."

And with that, she handed a pouch to the girl before walking off, saying not another word.

I noticed her word choice. Trust.

I also noticed that while talking, Zoe had looked at everyone in our party, even Theseus, but had skipped over me.

"What's her problem?" Asked Theseus as he rubbed his eyes as he trailing behind Bianca, but a good two steps ahead of me.

We had started walking in the opposite direction of the other group, but had yet to come across a shop that appeared useful.

"I-I don't know, but after last night Zoe seems different.

More serious, as if she's trying to finish this quest as fast as possible."

"Hmm." Theo seemed thoughtful. "It must have something to do with Artemis." He decided.

Bianca's face had turned serious.

"I don't know what it is, but I think we should take notes.

We don't have much time left."

I noticed Bianca glancing back at me after speaking, but I ignored it.

I wasn't in the mood to talk, especially not with her.

Maybe she sensed this, or maybe she wasn't looking at me in the first place, but she continued on talking with Theseus as if everything was normal.

A part of me noticed the newfound confidence the girl spoke with.

I didn't know if it was good or bad, but I noticed that as the quest went along, I found that she was relying on others less and less, even if she was still a bit shy.

I decided that it was probably for the best. The increasing difficulty of the quest was starting to become apparent to me, and I was starting to realize that I wouldn't always be by her side.

I still had to remember, two would die on this quest.

One in the land without rain, and one by a parent's hand.

Hades wasn't the greatest person I had met, but I had to admit his reputation didn't do him justice. He was decent enough that I knew that Bianca was ruled out when it came to the second line.

Besides, if Hades truly wanted her gone, then I would be here on a much different mission.

But still, Bianca wasn't guaranteed. The land without rain still worried me.

I was stuck in my whirling thoughts when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Plutus?"

Without a thought, my instincts slapped the hand away and found its place on my sheath, though I restrained myself.

"Woah, what the heck man?" Asked Theseus as he rubbed his hand that had now turned red.

"An accident." I grumbled.

"Plutus, are you ok?" Asked Bianca from behind him.

"I'm fine." I barked out, making her let out a surprised hiccup. Even throughout this whole quest, I hadn't raised my voice once. It wasn't like me, but for some reason it had just come out like that.

"Oh- uh well then me and Theo were just saying that while I go check the general store, maybe you two could go find some food for us. I figured that you wouldn't enjoy shopping too much." She said sheepishly.

A part of me knew not to leave Bianca alone, but I also didn't want to be around her right now.

Maybe it was a result of my talk last night, but I could tell that I was more on edge than usual, and I didn't need to be snapping at her out of everybody. She was the last person I needed on my bad side.

"That's fine." I grunted out before turning and heading towards the bakery that was directly across from the store.

"We'll meet you outside after." Theo said quickly from behind before jogging to catch up to me.

"Plutus, what's up with you? What was that?" He asked as he reached my side.

I ignored the boy as we approached the store.

He furrowed a brow before stepping in front of me and opening the door wide to let out an old couple who was just leaving.

After they had left, he remained still, waiting for me to cross through.

I merely stared at him before entering the store.

He followed and continued to talk.

"First Zoe and now you?

Look, I'm sure you've been doing all this mythological stuff much longer than me, but Bianca's just a kid.

Even more so than me.

If she sees the two guys who are arguably our leaders acting all snappy, how do you think that makes her feel?

I scowled. "I'm not her leader. She made her decision to follow the hunter."

Theseus frowned. "You know, I don't really mind you being a jerk to me and all, but do you really think you can convince me that you don't care about her?

I mean, she's the only reason you're here."

The boy had stopped walking to face me, but I yet again ignored him as I made my way to the bathroom.

I glanced back before entering, and saw Theo shake his head before turning around himself and begin browsing the baked goods.

As soon as I was in the bathroom, I locked the door and made my way to the sink.

I turned the water to its coldest setting, and took off my hood, looking at myself in the mirror.

My eyes fell on the newly formed scar on my neck. The one Zoe had given me.

It had already healed, but I doubted the effect it had on my mind would leave any time soon.

I glided my finger across it, going from the right edge of my neck all the way to the middle.

I shook my head before cupping a handful of the water and splashing it on my face.

Despite the cold weather, the icy water still felt refreshing against my skin.

After taking my hood off yesterday, I had realized how suffocating it really felt.

It was as if the darkness was caving in all around me.

I splashed myself one more time before putting my hood back on and leaving the bathroom.

I was surprised to find that Theo was outside, waiting for me.

"I didn't wanna go outside and have your food get cold before you could eat it." He said as I reached him.

I watched as he reached into his bag and pulled out a muffin, still wrapped in its cover.

Through the see through plastic, I could see that it was an all black fudge brownie.

"I didn't know what you liked, but you can never go wrong with chocolate, you know?" He said as I followed him out the shop.

I didn't tell him I actually didn't like chocolate, instead mumbling a thank you.

Theseus smiled before waving at the shopkeeper, who reciprocated the gesture.

We found a small picnic bench outside of the shop, and after clearing the snow off the top, Theo placed the goods down.

I didn't see what he got the rest of our group, but he pulled out a muffin of his own.

And all blue blueberry muffin.

Though he couldn't see my face, I'm guessing Theo could sense my confusion.

"I like the color blue." He said stupidly, as if that explained the strange complexion of his food.

I made sure to eat slowly as I was worried that my hood would fall off with the constant moving of my jaw, but Theseus didn't seem to care much about getting a peak under my hood.

Instead, he busied himself completely in a one sided conversation.

Though it was partially annoying, I just let the kid talk as the noise was keeping my mind off the things that had been plaguing my thoughts.

It wasn't until I had just finished my muffin when Theo had stopped talking.

His head whipped back and forth as if he was looking for someone.

Seeing the worry on his face, I instinctively glided my hand down to my sword's hilt.

It wasn't long before I too sensed something in the air. They're was something in the city, and I was sure it was a familiar presence.

I immediately shot up from my seat.

"Bianca!" I yelled out, frantic to find the girl.

It was at this point that I had realized that the girl had still not exited the shop, despite the fact it had been nearly a half hour.

How could I have been stupid enough to leave her alone?

"Help me find her." I said to Theseus, and he nodded, his usual demeanor replaced with a serious look.

I sprinted off towards the corner of the shopping block, but before I could turn the corner, I ran into the girl in question, literally.

I caught Bianca in stride to stop her from falling on her back.

"Bianca, where the hell did you go?" I asked, speaking quickly.

The girl still seemed to be in shock, but she stammered out a response.

"I-I sensed something, but… but I don't really know what it was. I tried to find the others because I thought we should leave."

I nodded once before picking up the girls bow that had transformed after her hair clip had fallen out.

As I did this, I heard steps coming from our side, and turned to see Zoe and Thalia running up to us.

As they reached us, I spoke.

"The Spartoi are here."

"There is something approaching from the woods."

Zoe had spoken at the same time as me, making the rest of the group look between us as they tried to hear what we both had said.

This seemed to fluster Zoe for a moment, but she quickly composed herself.

"I sensed it too, those skeletons." Said Theo with a shiver. I had just remembered that it was actually him they were after.

"But the woods? I could've sworn they were here in the city…"

As soon as the words left the boy's mouth, all hell had seemed to break loose.

A loud roar of sound seemed to echo from the woods behind us, and simultaneously the group of Spartoi made themselves visible from the parking lot to our side.

"Di immortales." Said Thalia as she equipped her spear and shield. I felt myself flinch.

The rest of us followed her lead, branding our weapons.

The Spartoi, despite their frail looks, rushed at us, and as Theseus was the closest to them, he was the first to make contact with their own police batons.

I didn't know why they had taken this form, but I couldn't complain.

I doubted we could handle the group if they wielded real swords.

As the rest of the skeletal patrol caught up with the first, I rushed forward to help Theseus not get overwhelmed.

Before I could make contact with one, an arrow wizzed dangerously close to my cheek and found its mark in one of the warrior's kneecaps, forcing it to collapse.

But I knew it wasn't gonna stay down for long.

I glanced back to see Bianca had fired the arrow, and figured that she didn't mean for the arrow to come so close to me based on her expression, but didn't have the time to make a comment.

I turned my attention to the nearest Spartoi and raised my blade.

With two expert slashes, I cut the warriors baton with the first, and sliced it in half with the second.

I heard movement to my side and was about to turn around to defend myself, but before I could a spear protruded from the monster's chest, making it drop.

Thalia scowled at the fallen warrior before raising her spear in the air.

"Rahhh!" She yelled out, and immediately the sky rumbled, being followed by three bolts of lightning being sent down towards the nearest skeletons, striking them down.

However, though the attack was effective, it had left the girl vulnerable, and a nearby spartoi pounced.

Before they could reach her, Bianca appeared from nowhere and planted a knife through its chest.

Though to my surprise, the creature burst into flames, and truly perished.

I heard Zoe whisper something from behind.

I noted that it was in Greek.

Hades spawn, she had said.

Before the rest of us could say something, there was a shriek from the woods that pierced our ears.

Even the Spartoi stopped from the noise.

We all turned our attention towards the sound, and moments later the tree line was shattered into two.

From the forest came a great beast, a boar that was at least twice the size of the buildings around us.

"The Erymanthian Boar." Said Zoe from my side, and I was surprised to hear fear in her voice.

"Bianca, move yourself!" She yelled, but it was too late.

The boar, who was moving much too fast for its size, was making a b-line for the young huntress.

The girl stood there, shocked from fear, and I knew based on the board's sporadic charge that she was in no position to dodge.

My heart dropped.

I completely ignored the Spartoi around me and rushed for the girl, but was stopped in my tracks as a baton hit me on the side of my torso, sending me to the floor.

I glanced up with a sickening feeling just before the boar reached the girl, but to my relief somehow, Zoe was able to reach her in time, diving into her.

I ducked my head as the creature passed us, creating a small fog from the snow it had kicked up while charging by.

When it had cleared up, to my horror, I saw that Bianca and Zoe were nowhere to be seen.

I quickly got up and slashed the wrist skeleton as it had tried to swing at me.

"We have to go!" Yelled Thalia as she pressed her own back against mine.

"I don't know why, but as it passed by, Zoe and Bianca grabbed onto the boar.

We have to reach them and get out of here!"

"Did you not see where they were heading?" I yelled over my shoulder as I cut down another spartoi that had just regenerated.

Thalia followed the point of my finger and watched as the boar leaped into the air, directly off the steep cliff near the ski resort, descending down the mountain.

For a brief second, there was a flash of silver visible on its back, and I knew it was the two hunters.

"Our first priority is to deal with these guys." She said as kicked the knees of one before bashing it with her shield.

I gave a slight nod. Though fighting back to back like this was effective, it was clear we would tire out much faster than the skeletons, and once that happened we were done for.

"Hey, Thalia!"

My attention brought me to Theo, who for some reason had stopped fighting alongside us.

"I need your help." He yelled. "Use your lightning against this!"

He pointed towards a frozen fountain to his side.

"What the hell is he doing?" I growled. "We need him here."

"I don't know, but if he has an idea, it's better to trust him then to wait for these guys to chop us down.

Cover for me."

I mentally groaned before I separated our backs and faced the same direction as the girl.

She raised her spear upwards, and I could tell the distance between her and the fountain was taking her longer to summon a bolt.

The spartoi tried to capitalize after seeing this, but I wouldn't let them get to her.

As Thalia continued to summon her lightning, I turned my sword into a weapon of destruction, swinging it in a wild fury to completely eradicate the skeletons around us. I cleaved through them effortlessly, but the fact was less impressive considering they were getting up within moments of hitting the ground.

Thankfully, I had given Thalia enough time as she yelled out one more time, conjuring a large bolt that completely decimated the frozen over fountain, destroying its head peace.

Thalia's body immediately slouched, and I could tell that she too was getting tired, especially with the cold weather.

I struggled to catch the girl as she stumbled in place.

"Thanks." She mumbled out.

"Don't mention it." I said with a strained breath.

"Let's just hope that kid knows what he's doing."

And apparently, he did.

I watched as Theseus, with closed eyes, raised his hands.

A moment later, the water that was previously frozen had lifted up, circling itself into a ball.

"Get away from there!" He yelled.

I didn't quite know what he was planning, but the both of us listened, darting away from the spartoi.

With a struggle, Theseus floated the ball of water towards the group of warriors, and engulfed them completely.

I watched as the boy then dropped his hands, letting out a breath of relief right after.

Moments after Theo had realized his grip over the water, it had immediately frozen over, completely locking the spartoi in place.

Theseus wobbled his way over to us, huffing away as he struggled to catch his breath.

"I- I didn't think that would work, to be honest." He said as he made his way to us.

"Well it did, though I don't know why you didn't do that from the start."

"Well, I can't really change ice into water, but I can at least stop it from freezing, though it's pretty hard.

After seeing Thalia use her lighting, I just tried my best to think of a way I could use my own powers to help." He said while rubbing his neck.

"But it won't last forever."

I nodded. "You're right. We have to catch up to the others."

With that, we jogged towards the direction the boar had run to.

"Y'know, we fought pretty well back there, back to back." Said Thalia from my side.

"I'm just glad you didn't hold me back."

She frowned. "And he's back. Debby Downer.

At least you learned to take some advice. Maybe your ears do work after all."

I couldn't think of anything to say, so I remained quiet.

We slowed our jog as we reached the edge of the mountain.

"Sheeeesh." Said Theo with a whistle as he glanced down.

There was a clear path of destruction left behind by the boar, a line throughout the trees where the wood had been split.

Though to our surprise, at the base of the hill there was the boar, completely docile.

On the creature's back, there were the two hunters, looking back up at us.

"It looks like those two got things handled." Said Theseus slowly, just as confused as me.

"Should we really go down there?" Asked Thalia, sounding nervous.

I shared her suspicion, though I didn't think going back towards the spartoi was the best idea.

"We have no choice.

We have to keep going west."