¹On This Spring Day.

009.

A few minutes later, they were safely aboard a southbound train, riding away from D.C. As their train came above ground, they could see the helicopter circling the parking lot, but it didn't come after them.

Grover let out a sigh, slumping down in his seat. "Nice job, Bianca, thinking of the subway."

The girl looked pleased with herself. "Yeah, well, I remembered that station from when Nico and I came through last summer. I was really surprised to see it because it wasn't here when we used to live in D.C."

Violet frowned and leaned forward in her seat. This hadn't been the first time she had heard Bianca or Nico say something odd like that. "What do you mean 'new'? That station looks really old."

"I guess," Bianca said with a shrug. "But trust me, Vi, when Nico and I lived here as little kids, there was no subway."

Thalia sat forward, her elbows on her knees. "Wait a minute. No subway at all?"

Bianca nodded.

Violet will admit, she knew practically nothing about D.C., but she knew enough there was no way a whole subway system could be built in less than twelve years. She guessed everyone else was thinking the same thing, because they looked pretty confused.

"Bianca," Zoë said. "How long ago ...?" Her voice faltered. The sound of the helicopter was getting louder again.

"We need to change trains," Percy said, standing up quickly. He grabbed Violet's arm, pulling her out of her seat. "Next station."

Over the next half hour, all the six thought about was getting away safely. They changed trains twice. Violet had no idea where they were going, but after a while, they lost the helicopter.

Unfortunately, when they finally got off the train they found themselves at the end of the line, in an industrial area with nothing but warehouses and railway tracks. And snow. Lots of snow. Violet was happy she had taken the lion fur coat from Percy after all—even if it totally clashed with her outfit.

Bianca stepped in line with Violet, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her teeth were catering slightly. "I just wanted to say thanks for helping Zoë through the turnstiles back there. She can get pretty heated about mortal stuff."

Violet tried to smile. "I could guess that."

"But Zoë's cool," Bianca said, as if the girl beside her had made an attack on the lieutenant's character. "Just rough around the edges."

She peered at the new hunter. "Is this some second attempt to get me to join the Hunters?" she asked, her voice taking on a teasing tone to it.

Bianca smiled. "No, no," she said quickly, shaking her head. She waved her hand, as if trying to summon the right words. "It's just ... I guess I also wanted to ask why you went on this quest."

Violet found the question odd. She found it odd that Bianca would care any, it wasn't like they were close. Sure, the daughter of Eros had been hanging around the edge of Westover Hall for the past few months but she had never become friends with the di Angelos. That was always suggested to campers going on expeditions; be friendly, but it's best not to be friends—it'll hurt worse when they die a horrific death before you can get them Camp Half-Blood.

Instead of answering honestly ( there were too many possible replies rolling through her head to answer honestly ), Violet deflected. "I could ask you the same thing. You haven't been a Hunter very long."