Hello there, gods, half-bloods and friends, welcome to the next chapter of The God Hunter.
Hope you enjoy and now review time.
GreatAce50: I thought it would be fitting. And with my casting choices we have Wolverine as Zeus and Spider-Man as Hermes. As for Korsica, she's an OC. But I did took the name from Hi-Fi Rush. I'm going to reveal more about her in the future.
CalmSilence: I don't think I did... Wait let me check. No, I didn't.
And now story time.
Hope you enjoy and now story time.
It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless.
The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they'd set it up. Artemis stared into the east like she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. Matt could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt.
Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around, anxious to hear what had happened in during the audience with the goddess.
When Percy told them, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."
"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered, "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."
"And Bianca joined them." Thalia said disgusted, "It's all Zoe's fault."
"Something we agree on." Matt said with his hands in his pockets.
"Come on, who can blame her?" Grover said, "Eternity with Artemis?" he heaved a big sigh.
"Grover, sometimes you make it very difficult for me to like you." Matt said annoyed.
"Your not the only one. All satyrs are in love with Artemis." Thalia said as she rolled her eyes, before turning to Grover, "Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"
"But she's so..." Grover swooned, "Into nature."
Matt let out a disgusted noise, "Your such a... I believe there is a word for that." he said, "It's just escaping me. That one song had it as an acronym, we listened to it on the way here."
"Squirrel In My Pants?" Percy suggested.
"I'm not sure." Matt said, tapping his chin before the sky finally began to lighten.
"About time." Artemis muttered, "He's so lazy during the winter."
"So, it's not like he'll be pulling up in a..." Percy said.
There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.
"Don't look." Artemis advised, "Not until he parks."
Averting their gaze, the light and warmth intensified. Then suddenly the light died.
Looking up and parked in front of them was a car, a red convertible Maserati Spyder. It was one of Percy's favorite cars. The snow had melted around the Maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why they where now standing on green grass.
The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen. This guy had sandy hair and outdoorsy good looks. His smile was bright and playful. The Maserati driver wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.
"Oh no." Thalia muttered, "Apollo is hot."
"He's the sun god." Percy said.
"That's not what I meant." Thalia said much to Matt's amusement.
"Little sister!" Apollo called, if his teeth were any whiter he could've blinded them without the sun car, "What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried!"
"I'm fine, Apollo." Artemis sighed, "And I am not your little sister."
"Hey, I was born first."
"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue..."
"So what's up?" he interrupted, "Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"
"I need a favor." Artemis grit her teeth, "I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."
"Sure, sis!" Then he raised his hands in a stop everything gesture, "I feel a haiku coming on."
The Hunters all groaned as he 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 at them, waiting for applause.
"Wait." Matt said as he counted on his fingers, "That's not right. The last line was only four syllables."
"Indeed it was." Artemis said, "What about I am so big-headed?"
"No, no, that's six syllables." He started muttering to himself.
Zoe Nightshade turned to them. "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! I am so awesome. That's five syllables!" Apollo announced, he bowed, looking very pleased with himself, "And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll."
"These demigods will also need a ride." Artemis said, pointing to them, "Some of Chiron's campers."
"No problem!" Apollo said before checking them out, "Let's see... Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."
"H-Hi Lord Apollo." Thalia said with a blush.
"Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad you're back." Apollo said, "I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember one time..."
"Brother." Artemis said sternly, "You should get going."
"Oh, right." Apollo said, then he looked at Matt, and his eyes narrowed, "Matt Hauer?"
"What?" Matt said.
Apollo studied him, but he didn't say anything, which was even more creepy.
"Well! We'd better load up, huh?" he said at last, "Ride only goes one way, west. And if you miss it, you miss it."
"Cool car." Nico said, "But how will we all fit?"
"Thanks, kid." Apollo said just when he seemed to notice the problem, "Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose..."
He took out his car keys and beeped the security alarm button. For a moment, the car glowed brightly again. When the glare died, the Maserati had been replaced by one of those Turtle Top shuttle buses like the once used for school basketball games.
"Right." he said, "Everybody in."
Zoe ordered the Hunters to start loading. She picked up her camping pack, and Apollo said, "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."
Zoe recoiled, her eyes flashed murderously.
"Brother, you do not help my Hunters." Artemis chided, "You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."
"Sorry. I forgot." Apollo said as he spread his hands, "Hey, sis, where are you off to, anyway?"
"Hunting." Artemis said, "It's none of your business."
"I'll find out." he said with a cheeky grin, "I see all. Know all."
Artemis snorted, "Just drop them off, Apollo." she told him, "And no messing around!"
"No, no! I never mess around."
Artemis rolled her eyes, then looked at them. "I will see you by winter solstice. Zoe, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do as I would do."
Zoe straightened, "Yes, my lady." she said.
"And Korsica." Artemis said turning to her, "Do try to stay out of trouble."
"I'm not making promises I can't keep." Korsica said with a smile, "It's what you thought me."
Artemis gave her a small smile of her own before turning away and kneeling low so she could touch the ground as if looking for tracks. When she rose, she looked troubled.
"So much danger. The beast must be found." she said before she sprinted toward the woods and melted into the snow and shadows.
Apollo turned and grinned, jangling the car keys on his finger. "So," he said. "Who wants to drive?"
The Hunters piled into the van. Aside from Korsica, they all crammed into the back so they'd be as far away as possible from Apollo and the rest of the highly infectious males, Bianca sat with them, leaving her little brother to hang in the front.
"This is so cool!" Nico said, jumping 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, the Romans started it." Apollo said, "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."
"Can I drive?" Nico said.
"No, too young." Apollo said, "No, too furry." he directed at Grover who had raised his hand.
"Me! Me! Me!" Korsica said excited, holding up her hand.
"Korsica, let someone else have a bit of fun." Apollo said with a laugh, he looked past Percy and Matt and focused on Thalia, "Daughter of Zeus! Lord of the sky. Perfect."
"Oh, no." Thalia said, shaking her head, "No, thanks."
"C'mon." Apollo said, "How old are you?"
Thalia hesitated, "I don't know." she admitted.
"That actually is a good one." Matt thought.
Apollo tapped his finger to his lips. "You're fifteen, almost sixteen." he said, "Hey, I'm the god of prophecy. I know stuff. You'll turn sixteen in about a week."
"That's my birthday!" Thalia said, "December twenty-second."
Take notes, Matt.
"What do you mean by that?" Matt thought, "Why would I note down Thalia's birthday?"
He had a distinct feeling Asherah had her knowing smirk on her face at this very moment.
"Which means you're old enough now to drive with a learner's permit!" he said holding up a hand, "I know what you're going to say. You don't deserve an honor like driving the sun chariot."
"That's not what I was going to say." Thalia muttered.
"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." Apollo said, "You're Zeus's daughter. He's not going to blast you out of the sky."
Apollo laughed good naturedly but the rest didn't join him. Thalia tried to protest, but Apollo was absolutely not going to take "no" for an answer.
"Oi." Matt said, getting his attention, "No, you don't got shit in your ears, maybe you have it in your eyes because you can't see Thalia doesn't want to drive your car."
Once again, Apollo didn't say anything, but studied him, it looked as if the god was contemplating something, weighting the pro's and con's to the situation.
"Oh, scary boy." Apollo finally said, mockingly raising his hands, "Don't let the fact you took down Ares go to your head. That attitude could get you into trouble one day."
He took his seat behind the wheel, with Thalia letting out a relieves sigh before taking a seat next to Matt.
"What was that?" she said demanded to know.
"I'm sorry." Matt said, "What do you mean?"
"I don't need you to defend me, Matt." she said turning her face away from him as if hiding something, "But... Thank you."
Matt nodded just as the bus lurched upward so fast he was pressed back into his seat. Looking out of the window, he saw a smoking ring of trees from the clearing where they had taken off. He felt someone grab his hand. With a raised eyebrow he looked amused at Thalia who had grabbed his hand, and who looked like she was going to be sick.
"What's wrong?" Matt said.
"Nothing." she said shakily, "N-nothing is wrong."
Her face was chalk white, her forehead beaded with sweat. Something was definitely wrong.
The bus landed at Camp Half-Blood, Matt had never been there during the winter before, and the snow was actually surprising.
The camp has the ultimate magic climate control. Nothing gets inside the borders unless the director, Mr. D, wants it to. The snow had been allowed to fall lightly. Frost covered the chariot track and the strawberry fields. The cabins were decorated with tiny flickering lights, like Christmas lights, except they seemed to be balls of real fire. More lights glowed in the woods, and weirdest of all, a fire flickered in the attic window of the Big House, where the Oracle dwelt.
"Is that a climbing wall?" Nico said as he climbed off the bus, "Why is there lava pouring down it?"
"Yes, it is." Matt said, "As for the lava, a little extra challenge."
"Come on." Percy said, "I'll introduce you to Chiron. Zoe, have you met..."
"I know Chiron, foolish fool." Zoe said stiffly, "Tell him we will be in Cabin Eight. Hunters, follow me."
"I'll show you the way. No, really, it's no trouble. It's easy to get lost here, if you don't" Grover offered, he tripped over a canoe and came up still talking, "Like my old daddy goat used to say! Come on!"
Zoe rolled her eyes, but she figured there was no getting rid of Grover. The Hunters shouldered their packs and their bows and headed off toward the cabins. As Bianca di Angelo was leaving, she leaned over and whispered something in her brothers ear. She looked at him for an answer, but Nico just scowled and turned away.
"Take care, sweethearts!" Apollo called after the Hunters.
"Later Apollo!" Korsica said with a wave.
Apollo grinned before turning to the campers, "Take care, Matt The God Hunter. Do take care." he said, "Oh and Percy. Watch out for those prophecies. I'll see you soon."
"What do you mean?" Percy said.
Instead of answering, he hopped back in the bus. "Later, Thalia." he called, "And, uh, be good!"
He gave her a wicked smile, as if he knew something she didn't. Then he closed the doors and revved the engine. The sun chariot took off in a blast of heat. The lake was steaming and a red Maserati soared over the woods, glowing brighter and climbing higher until it disappeared in a ray of sunlight.
Nico was still looking grumpy.
"Who's Chiron?" he asked, "I don't have his card."
"Wait, Chiron doesn't have a card? Sound's disrespectful." Matt said, "Anyway, he's our activities director."
"If those Hunter girls don't like him." Nico grumbled, "That's good enough for me."
Matt was silent before he turned to Percy and Thalia, "I like this one." he said with a smirk.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed.
Many thanks to everyone who reads, reviews, favorite, or follows this story.
By now you know the drill, take care of yourself, get some rest, drink plenty of water, and I will see you people next time.