~ { Shadow and Beauty } ~

The Ice Palace

   He pointed below, and Leo saw that the mortals were starting to take notice. Several were pointing up—not with alarm, yet—more with confusion and annoyance, like the dragon was a traffic helicopter flying too low.

   "Which is sadly why, unless this is an emergency landing," Zethes said, brushing his hair out of his acne-covered face, "we will have to destroy you painfully."

   "Destroy!" Cal agreed, with a little more enthusiasm than Leo thought necessary.

   "Wait!" Piper said. "This is an emergency landing."

   "Awww!" Cal looked so disappointed, Leo almost felt sorry for him.

   Zethes studied Piper, which of course he'd already been doing. "How does the pretty girl decide this is an emergency, then?"

   "We have to see Boreas. It's totally urgent! Please?" She forced a smile, which Leo figured must've been killing her; but she still had that blessing of Aphrodite thing going on, and she looked great. Something about her voice, too—Leo found himself believing every word. Jason was nodding, looking absolutely convinced.

   Zethes picked at his silk shirt, probably making sure it was still open wide enough. "Well ... I hate to disappoint a lovely lady, but you see, my sister, she would have an avalanche if we allowed you—"

   "And our dragon is malfunctioning!" Piper added. "It could crash any minute!"

   Festus shuddered helpfully, then turned his head and spilled gunk out of his ear, splattering a black Mercedes in the parking lot below and making Kiara clutch onto Leo's shirt in order not to fall.

   "No destroy?" Cal whimpered.

   Zethes pondered the problem. Then he gave Piper another spasmodic wink. "Well, you are pretty. I mean, you're right. A malfunctioning dragon—this could be an emergency."

   "Destroy them later?" Cal offered, which was probably as close to friendly as he ever got.

   "It will take some explaining," Zethes decided. "Father has not been kind to visitors lately. But, yes. Come, faulty dragon people. Follow us."

   The Boreads sheathed their swords and pulled smaller weapons from their belts—or at least Leo thought they were weapons. Then the Boreads switched them on, and Leo realized they were flashlights with orange cones, like the ones traffic controller guys use on a runway. Cal and Zethes turned and swooped toward the hotel's tower.

   Leo turned to his friends. "I love these guys. Follow them?"

   Jason and Piper didn't look eager. Kiara looked as if she was about to throw up.

   "I guess," Jason decided. "We're here now. But I wonder why Boreas hasn't been kind to visitors."

   "Pfft, he just hasn't met us." Leo whistled. "Festus, after those flashlights!"

As they got closer, Leo worried they'd crash into the tower. The Boreads made right for the green gabled peak and didn't slow down. Then a section of the slanted roof slid open, revealing an entrance easily wide enough for Festus. The top and bottom were lined with icicles like jagged teeth.

   "This cannot be good," Jason muttered, but Leo spurred the dragon downward, and they swooped in after the Boreads.

   They landed in what must have been the penthouse suite; but the place had been hit by a flash freeze. The entry hall had vaulted ceilings forty feet high, huge draped windows, and lush oriental carpets. A staircase at the back of the room led up to another equally massive hall, and more corridors branched off to the left and right. But the ice made the room's beauty a little frightening. When Leo slid off the dragon, the carpet crunched under his feet.