↳ chapter seven ₊˚.༄
[# ice b*tch]

SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT HIM ALONE, SHOULDN'T HAVE LEFT HIM ALONE. IANA worried Leo might've said the wrong words and ended up getting a bruise from riling Cal up too much.

Zethes stayed behind them as they climbed up the frozen steps, his blade drawn. Iana was sure just a millimeter of contact with the weapon and she'd turn into an ice sculpture right then and there. Then came the ice princess. Every now and again she'd turn around and give them a smile that held anything but warmth.

This, of course, only made her more anxious. Her stomach churned and she felt the need to shrink away. This Iana, she wouldn't have dared anyone see her like this. Weak and scared. She was notorious for getting into fights in the wilderness school, but behind the tough front she put up for herself and those she cared for, a sliver of vulnerability always crept through.

"Hey," Piper said, slipping a hand through Iana's. "You okay?"

Turns out she didn't excel at hiding her worry as much as she thought. With a small nod, the short haired girl softly squeezed her hand, reassuring the girl that she was fine. At the top of the stairs, the ice princess looked back and noticed them holding hands. Her smile faded. Out of the blue, Iana's hand had turned burning cold as it rested in Piper's. She quickly let go and found her entire hand trembling, smoking with frost. So were Piper's.

"Warmth is not a good idea here," the princess advised, "especially when I am your best chance of staying alive. Please, this way."

Piper shot her a nervous frown at Iana, silently asking her. What was that about? Iana could only shake her head lightly. Freezing winds blew back and forth, and the two girls saw Jason lost in thought, eyes vacant.

"Jason." Piper tapped his arm. "Not lost, are we?"

"Yeah... yeah, sorry," he muttered.

At the end of the hallway they found themselves in front of a set of oaken doors carved with a map of the world. In each corner was a man's bearded face, blowing wind. The princess turned. "This is the throne room," she said as her brown eyes glittered. "Be on your best behavior, Jason Grace. My father can be... chilly. I will translate for you, and try to encourage him to hear you out. I do hope he spares you. We could have such fun."

"Um, okay," Jason managed uncomfortably. "But really, we're just here for a little talk.We'll be leaving right afterward."

The girl smiled. "I love heroes. So blissfully ignorant."

Piper rested her hand on her dagger. "Well, how about you enlighten us? You say you're going to translate for us, and we don't even know who you are. What's your name?"

The girl sniffed with distaste. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you don't recognize me. Even in the ancient times the Greeks did not know me well. Their island homes were too warm, too far from my domain. I am Khione, daughter of Boreas, goddess of snow."

She stirred the air with her finger, and a miniature blizzard swirled around her— big, fluffy flakes as soft as cotton.

"Now, come," Khione said. The oaken doors blew open, and cold blue light spilled out of the room. "Hopefully you will survive your little talk."

The throne room felt like the winter's air had amplified, mist hanging in the air and icicles attaching themselves to every bare surface. A thin yet dangerous layer of snow covered the floor, and Iana resisted the temptation to reach for Piper's hand again. Along the walls, purple tapestries showed scenes of snowy forests, barren mountains, and glaciers. High above, ribbons of colored light— the aurora borealis— pulsed along the ceiling. At first glance, the entire room seemed to be filled with life-size ice sculpture warriors— some in Greek armor, some medieval, some in modern camouflage— all frozen in various attack positions, swords raised, guns locked and loaded.

Once she looked closer and saw the two spearmen block Jason's path, Iana thought otherwise. Their joints cracked and sprayed ice crystals as they crossed their javelins.

The room stretched far into the hall and at the end, a man's voice rang out in a language that sounded like French. A thick layer of mist combined with the steam her breath produced was enough to blur her vision, but whatever the man said, the ice guards uncrossed their javelins.

"It's fine," Khione said. "My father has ordered them not to kill you just yet."

"Super," Jason muttered before his lips turned into a line.

Zethes prodded him in the back with his sword. "Keep moving, Jason Junior."

"Please don't call me that."

"My father is not a patient man," Zethes warned, "and the beautiful Piper, sadly, is losing her magic hairdo very fast. Later, perhaps, I can lend her something from my wide assortment of hair products."

"Thanks," Piper grumbled.

Disappearing magic hairdo won't stop her from looking pretty, Iana thought.

They kept walking, and the mist parted to reveal a man on an ice throne. He was sturdily built, dressed in a stylish white suit that seemed woven from snow, with dark purple wings that spread out to either side. His long hair and shaggy beard were encrusted with icicles, making it difficult to identify if his hair was gray or just white with frost. His arched eyebrows made him look angry, but his eyes twinkled with more warmth than his daughter's.

"Bienvenu," the king said. "Je suis Boreas le Roi. Et vous?"

Khione the snow goddess was about to speak, but Piper stepped forward and curtsied.

"Votre Majesté," she said, " je suis Piper McLean. Voici Iana Hwang, fille d'Hécate. Et Jason, fils de Zeus."

The king smiled with pleasant surprise. "Vous parlez français? Très bien!"

"Since when did you speak French, Pipes?" Iana looked at her curiously.

Piper frowned. "Since never. Why?"

"You just spoke French." Jason informed her.

Piper blinked. "I did?" The king said something else, and Piper nodded. "Oui, Votre Majesté."

The king laughed and clapped his hands, obviously delighted. He said a few more sentences then swept his hand toward his daughter as if shooing her away.

Khione looked miffed. "The king says—"

"He says I'm a daughter of Aphrodite," Piper interrupted, "so naturally I can speak French, which is the language of love. I had no idea. His Majesty says Khione won't have to translate now."

Behind them, Zethes snorted, and Khione shot him a murderous look. She bowed stiffly to her father and took a step back.

Jason bowed as the king sized him up. "Your Majesty, I'm Jason Grace. Thank you for, um, not killing us. May I ask... why does a Greek god speak French?"

Piper had another exchange with the king.

"He speaks the language of his host country," Piper translated. "He says all gods do this. Most Greek gods speak English, as they now reside in the United States, but Boreas was never welcomed in their realm. His domain was always far to the north. These days he likes Quebec, so he speaks French."

The king said something else, and Piper turned pale.

"The king says..." She faltered. "He says—"

"Oh, allow me," Khione said. "My father says he has orders to kill you. Did I not mention that earlier?"

Iana felt her entire body going stiff. The king was still smiling amiably, like he'd just delivered beneficial news.

"Kill us?" Jason repeated. "Why?"

"Because," the king said, in heavily accented English, "my lord Aeolus has commanded it."

Boreas rose. He stepped down from his throne and furled his wings against his back. As he approached, Khione and Zethes bowed. Iana, Jason and Piper followed their example.

"I shall deign to speak your language," Boreas said, "as Piper McLean has honored me in mine. Toujours, I have had a fondness for the children of Aphrodite. As for you, Jason Grace, my master Aeolus would not expect me to kill a son of Lord Zeus... without first hearing you out."

"Aeolus is the master of the winds, right?" Jason asked. "Why would he want us dead?"

"You are demigods," Boreas simply stated, as if this explained everything. "Aeolus's job is to contain the winds, and demigods have always caused him many headaches. They ask him for favors. They unleash winds and cause chaos. But the final insult was the battle with Typhon last summer..."

Boreas waved his hand, and a sheet of ice like a flat-screen TV appeared in the air. Images of a battle flickered across the surface— a giant wrapped in storm clouds, wading across a river toward the Manhattan skyline. Tiny, glowing figures— perhaps the gods— swarmed around him like angry wasps, pounding the monster with lightning and fire. Finally the river erupted in a massive whirlpool, and the smoky form sank beneath the waves and disappeared.

"The storm giant, Typhon," Boreas explained. "The first time the gods defeated him, eons ago, he did not die quietly. His death released a host of storm spirits— wild winds that answered to no one. It was Aeolus's job to track them all down and imprison them in his fortress. The other gods— they did not help. They did not even apologize for the inconvenience. It took Aeolus centuries to track down all the storm spirits, and naturally this irritated him. Then, last summer, Typhon was defeated again—"

"So, because of that, another group of storm spirits were released." Iana realized. "And it made Aeolus even angrier."

"C'est vrai," Boreas agreed.

"But, Your Majesty," Piper objected, "the gods had no choice but to battle Typhon. He was going to destroy Olympus! Besides, why punish demigods for that?"

The king shrugged. "Aeolus cannot take out his anger on the gods. They are his bosses, and very powerful. So he gets even with the demigods who helped them in the war. He issued orders to us: demigods who come to us for aid are no longer to be tolerated. We are to crush your little mortal faces."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"That sounds... extreme," Jason ventured. "But you're not going to crush our faces yet, right? You're going to listen to us first, 'cause once you hear about our quest—"

"Yes, yes," the king agreed. "You see, Aeolus also said that a son of Zeus might seek my aid, and if this happened, I should listen to you before destroying you, as you might— how did he put it?— make all our lives very interesting. I am only obligated to listen, however. After that, I am free to pass judgment as I see fit. But I will listen first. Khione wishes this also. It may be that we will not kill you."

"Great. Thanks."

"Do not thank me." Boreas smiled. "There are many ways you could make our lives interesting. Sometimes we keep demigods for our amusement, as you can see."

He gestured around the room to the various ice statues.

Piper made a strangled noise, stepping back slightly. "You mean— they're all demigods? Frozen demigods? They're alive?"

"An interesting question," Boreas conceded, as if it had never occurred to him before. "They do not move unless they are obeying my orders. The rest of the time, they are merely frozen. Unless they were to melt, I suppose, which would be very messy."

Khione stepped behind Jason and put her cold fingers on his neck. "My father gives me such lovely presents," she murmured in his ear. "Join our court. Perhaps I'll let your friends go."

"What?" Zethes broke in. "If Khione gets this one, then I deserve the girls. Khione always gets more presents!"

"Now, children," Boreas said sternly. "Our guests will think you are spoiled! Besides, you moved too fast. We have not even heard the demigod's story yet. Then we will decide what to do with them. Please, Jason Grace, entertain us."

Jason looked like he had frozen with fear. Khione purred and stroked his neck. Then, there was loud pop, and Khione flew backward, skidding across the floor.

Zethes laughed. "That is good! I'm glad you did that, even though I have to kill you now."

For a moment, Khione was too stunned to react. Then the air around her began to swirl with a micro-blizzard. "You dare—"

"Stop," Jason ordered with as much force as he could muster. "You're not going to kill us. And you're not going to keep us. We're on a quest for the queen of the gods herself, so unless you want Hera busting down your doors, you're going to let us go."

The blond sounded a lot more confident than he looked in Iana's eyes, but it got their attention. Khione's blizzard swirled to a stop. Zethes lowered his sword. They both looked uncertainly at their father.

"Hmm," Boreas said. His eyes twinkled, with something along the lines of anger and amusement. "A son of Zeus, favored by Hera? This is definitely a first. Tell us your story."

Piper saved the once again speechless boy. "Your Majesty." She curtsied once more with incredible poise, considering her life was on the line (why did everything she did make Iana like her even more?). She told Boreas the whole story, from the Grand Canyon to the prophecy.

"All we ask for is guidance," Piper concluded. "These storm spirits attacked us, and they're working for some evil mistress. If we find them, maybe we can find Hera."

The king stroked the icicles in his beard. Out the windows, night had fallen, and the only light came from the aurora borealis overhead, washing everything in red and blue. A sudden thought that she had thrust to the back of her mind peeked up again. I hope Leo is okay.

"I know of these storm spirits," Boreas said. "I know where they are kept, and of the prisoner they took."

Iana furrowed her brows. "Are you talking about Coach Hedge? Is he alive?"

Boreas waved aside the question. "For now. But the one who controls these storm winds... It would be madness to oppose her. You would be better staying here as frozen statues."

"Hera's in trouble," Jason reasoned. "In three days she's going to be— I don't know— consumed, destroyed, something. And a giant is going to rise."

"Yes," Boreas agreed. Iana caught the angry look he shot at Khione. "Many horrible things are waking. Even my children do not tell me all the news they should. The Great Stirring of monsters that began with Kronos— your father Zeus foolishly believed it would end when the Titans were defeated. But just as it was before, so it is now. The final battle is yet to come, and the one who will wake is more terrible than any Titan. Storm spirits— these are only beginning. The earth has many more horrors to yield up. When monsters no longer stay in Tartarus, and souls are no longer confined to Hades... Olympus has good reason to fear."

"So you'll help us?" Jason asked the king warily.

Boreas scowled. "I did not say that."

"Please, Your Majesty," Piper said.

Everyone's eyes turned toward her. She had to be scared shitless, Iana knew, but she looked beautiful and confident— Aphrodite's blessing long gone. She looked like her usual self again, in day-old traveling clothes with choppy hair and a bare face. But she almost glowed with warmth in that cold throne room. "If you tell us where the storm spirits are, we can capture them and bring them to Aeolus. You'd look good in front of your boss. Aeolus might pardon us and the other demigods. We could even rescue Gleeson Hedge. Everyone wins."

"She's pretty," Zethes mumbled. "I mean, she's right."

"Father, don't listen to her," Khione said. "She's a child of Aphrodite. She dares to charmspeak a god? Freeze her now!"

Boreas considered this before something caught his eye. "What is that on your forearm, demigod?"

Jason's coat sleeve had gotten pushed up, revealing the edge of his tattoo. Reluctantly, he showed Boreas his marks. The god's eyes widened. Khione hissed and stepped away, like the mark was a disease. Then Boreas did something startling. He laughed with such force, an icicle cracked from the ceiling and crashed next to his throne. The god's form began to flicker. His beard disappeared. He grew taller and thinner, and his clothes changed into a toga, lined with purple. His head was crowned with a frosty laurel wreath, and a sword hung at his side.

"Aquilon," Jason said with a hint of familiarity.

The god inclined his head. "You recognize me better in this form, yes? And yet you said you came from Camp Half-Blood?"

Jason shifted his feet. "Uh... yes, Your Majesty."

"And Hera sent you there..." The winter god's eyes were full of mirth. "I understand now. Oh, she plays a dangerous game. Bold, but dangerous! No wonder Olympus is closed. They must be trembling at the gamble she has taken."

"Jason," Piper glanced at him nervously, "why did Boreas change shape? The toga, the wreath. What's going on?"

"It's his Roman form," Jason explained. "But what's going on— I don't know."

The god laughed. "No, I'm sure you don't. This should be very interesting to watch."

"Does that mean you'll let us go?" Piper asked.

"My dear," Boreas said, "there is no reason for me to kill you. If Hera's plan fails, which I think it will, you will tear each other apart. Aeolus will never have to worry about demigods again."

Iana squinted her eyes at him. "Do you mind explaining?"

"Oh, perish the thought! It is not for me to interfere in Hera's plan. No wonder she took his memory." Boreas chuckled, still enjoying the thought of demigods tearing each other apart. "You know, I have a reputation as a helpful wind god. Unlike my brethren, I've been known to fall in love with mortals. Why, my sons Zethes and Calais started as demigods—"

"Which explains why they are idiots," Khione growled.

"Stop it!" Zethes snapped back. "Just because you were born a full goddess—"

"Both of you, freeze," Boreas ordered. Apparently, that word carried a lot of weight in the household, because the two siblings went absolutely still. "Now, as I was saying, I have a good reputation, but it is rare that Boreas play an important role in the affairs of gods. I sit here in my palace, at the edge of civilization, and so rarely have amusements. Why, even that fool Notus, the South Wind, gets spring break in Cancún. What do I get? A winter festival with naked Québécois rolling around in the snow!"

"I like the winter festival," Zethes muttered.

"My point," Boreas snapped, "is that I now have a chance to be the center. Oh, yes, I will let you go on this quest. You will find your storm spirits in the windy city, of course. Chicago—"

"Father!" Khione protested.

Boreas ignored his daughter. "If you can capture the winds, you may be able to gain safe entrance to the court of Aeolus. If by some miracle you succeed, be sure to tell him you captured the winds on my orders."

"Okay, sure," Jason agreed. "So Chicago is where we'll find this lady who's controlling the winds? She's the one who's trapped Hera?"

"Ah." Boreas grinned. "Those are two different questions, son of Jupiter."

Didn't he call Jason a son of Zeus? Iana wondered with furrowed brows.

"The one who controls the winds," Boreas continued, "yes, you will find her in Chicago. But she is only a servant— a servant who is very likely to destroy you. If you succeed against her and take the winds, then you may go to Aeolus. Only he has knowledge of all the winds on the earth. All secrets come to his fortress eventually. If anyone can tell you where Hera is imprisoned, it is Aeolus. As for who you will meet when you finally find Hera's cage— truly, if I told you that, you would beg me to freeze you."

"Father," Khione protested, "you can't simply let them—"

"I can do what I like," he said, his voice hardening. "I am still master here, am I not?"

Even though he had shot his daughter a simple glare, the anger his eyes held made it obvious that there was an unresolved argument between the pair. Khione's eyes flashed with anger, but she clenched her teeth. "As you wish, Father."

"Now go, demigods," Boreas said, "before I change my mind. Zethes, escort them out safely."

They all bowed, and the god of the North Wind dissolved into mist. Back in the entry hall, Cal and Leo were waiting for them. Leo looked cold but unharmed, which was such a relief for Iana. He'd even gotten cleaned up, and his clothes looked newly washed, like he'd used the hotel's valet service. Festus the dragon was back in normal form, snorting fire over his scales to keep himself defrosted.

As Khione led them down the stairs, Iana noticed that Leo's eyes followed her. Leo started combing his hair back with his hands. The short haired girl rolled her eyes and made sure to smack him until his two brain cells started working again. She was not someone to get a crush on.

At the bottom step, Khione turned to Piper. "You have fooled my father, girl. But you have not fooled me. We are not done. You," the ice princess faced Iana with an unreadable expression. "I hope you make your choices carefully. And you, Jason Grace, I will see you as a statue in the throne room soon enough."

"Boreas is right," Jason said. "You're a spoiled kid. See you around, ice princess."

"More like ice bitch." Iana muttered, but it wasn't low enough to avoid a reaction from the goddess.

Khione's eyes flared pure white, her gaze directed toward Iana and Jason. For once, she seemed at a loss for words. She stormed back up the stairs— literally. Halfway up, she turned into a blizzard and disappeared.

"Be careful," Zethes warned. "She never forgets an insult."

Cal grunted in agreement. "Bad sister."

"She's the goddess of snow," Jason shrugged. "What's she going to do, throw snowballs at us?" But as he said it, Iana had a feeling Khione could do something much worse.

Leo looked devastated. "What happened up there? You made her mad? Is she mad at me too? Guys, that was my prom date!"

Iana's jaw dropped as she bored her eyes into the short boy's disappointed face. Without any thought, she slapped his shoulder before advising, "Get a better prom date, Leo."

"We'll explain later," Piper promised, glancing at Jason for support.

Jason looked away from Piper, but it was clear that the boy was unnerved. "Yeah," he agreed, "we'll explain later."

"Be careful, pretty girls," Zethes said. "The winds between here and Chicago are bad-tempered. Many other evil things are stirring. I am sorry you two will not be staying. You both would make a lovely ice statue, in which I could check my reflection."

"Thanks," Piper said, shooting a panicked look at her silent best friend. "But I'd sooner play hockey with Cal."

"Hockey?" Cal's eyes lit up.

"Joking," Piper said lightheartedly. "And the storm winds aren't our worst problem, are they?"

"Oh, no," Zethes agreed. "Something else. Something worse."

"Worse," Cal echoed.

"Can you tell me?" Piper gave them a tight lipped smile.

This time, the charm didn't work. The purple-winged Boreads shook their heads in unison. The hangar doors opened onto a freezing starry night, and Festus the dragon stomped his feet, anxious to fly. "Ask Aeolus what is worse," Zethes said darkly. "He knows. Good luck."

He almost sounded like he cared what happened to them, even though a few minutes ago he'd wanted to make Piper into an ice sculpture. Cal patted Leo on the shoulder. "Don't get destroyed," he said, which was probably the longest sentence he'd ever attempted. "Next time— hockey. Pizza."

"Come on, guys." Jason stared out at the dark. "Let's go to Chicago and try not to get destroyed."

author's note!

i have something planned for iana, but i don't know if i'm going to go through with it

also a life update nobody wanted, my brother went to a boarding school and now i can only call him once a week and he goes home every 3 months 😭😭😭 never thought i'd miss him so much :((

anyways, stay safe guys, cherish your siblings, ily <33