LOST AT SEA | jason grace

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐱.

𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙽𝙰 𝙷𝙾𝙿𝙴𝙳 that hanging out with Cal the hockey jock wouldn't make Leo lose any more braincells.

As they climbed the icy staircase, Zethes stayed behind them, his blade drawn. The guy might've looked like a discoera reject, but there was nothing funny about his sword. Lorna figured one hit from that thing would probably turn her into a Popsicle. Then there was the ice princess. Every once in a while she'd turn and give them a smile, but there was no warmth in her expression.

They followed the princess down a massive hallway decked in frosty tapestries. Freezing winds blew back and forth.

The princess turned. Her brown eyes glittered.

"This is the throne room," she said. "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."

Lorna guessed this girl's definition of fun was not the same as hers.

"Um, okay," Jason managed. "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.

"Stay here," Khione said, the oaken doors blew open, and cold blue light spilled out of the room. She stepped in and the door closed behind her, leaving Lorna, Jason, and Piper in a awkward silence.

At least, Piper though it was awkward. It had just came to her notice that her and Jason's relationship was fake, a trick of the mist. But in her eyes, Jason was still her boyfriend, she had thought so for the last few months, how could she suddenly stop? She also noticed how Jason talked to Lorna more than he talked to her. It hurt, but it hurt a little less knowing that their relationship was fake. Moreover, Lorna made it hard for Piper to be angry at. Her bubbly personality combined with her sharp-wit and occasional flirtatious remarks made Piper want to be her friend.

Jason was also aware that Piper thought he was her boyfriend, but Jason had no recollection of that. In the last day, he had found Lorna and him to have a better chemistry. He conversed with Lorna more than he did Piper: bantering with each other.

Lorna broke the silence, "Would you guys say that snow is just frozen water?" She bent down to touch the snowy floor.

"Um... Yes?" Piper answered, although it sounded more like a question.

Lorna's wrist flicked in Piper's direction and a ball of snow hit her squarely in the face.

As Lorna giggled, she failed to notice a certain blonde gathering a heap of snow and dropping it on her. Lorna gasped dramatically and Jason pointed an accusing finger at Piper.

Piper made her own snowball and tossed it at Jason.

The three demigods threw snow at each other, Lorna (being able to control the snow) was obviously in the lead.

The sound of someone clearing their throat snapped them out of their fun. At first, Lorna thought it was Chiron, or her mother, getting ready to chide her and Percy for fooling around.