Chapter Text
Artemis had explained to the Hunters about me and my companions. They had passed the information from one person to another except for Bianca, Nico, Percy, and Grover.
I helped the Hunters break camp. When we finished Artemis was staring into the east. Nico and Bianca sat of in one side, talking. From the look of Nico's gloomy face, I could tell she was explaining her decision to join the Hunters. Thalia, Grover, and Percy were huddle together, talking.
I looked around looking for Vince and Logan. Logan was standing beside Artemis staring into the east as well. Vince was hovering around Luna trailing her like a loyal guard dog.
I walked towards Artemis and Logan and the sky finally began to lighten.
Artemis: "About time. He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."
Percy: "You're, um, waiting for the sunrise?"
Artemis: "For my brother. Yes. . . It's not exactly as you think."
Percy: "Oh, okay. So it's not like he'll be pulling up in a -"
A sudden burst of light and warmth came from the horizon.
Artemis: "Don't look. Not until he parks."
Everyone averted their eyes. Once the light died we all looked.
"A red convertible Maserati Spyder." Said convertible was glowing because of the temperature of the metal. The snow around the Maserati had melted to form a perfect circle.
Artemis's brother got out, smiling. He looked seventeen or eighteen. He has sandy hair and a fit body. His smile was bright and playful and he wore jeans, loafers, and a sleeveless T-shirt.
Thalia: "Wow. Apollo is hot."
Percy: "He's the sun god."
Thalia: "That's not what I meant."
Apollo: "Little sister! What's up? You never call. You never write. I was getting worried."
Lady Artemis sighed.
Artemis: "I'm fine Apollo. And I'm not your little sister."
Apollo: "Hey, I was born first."
Artemis: "We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue -"
Apollo: "So what's up? Got the girls with you, I see. You all need some tips on archery?"
Artemis: "I need a favour. I have some hunting to do, alone. I need you to take my companions to Camp Half-Blood."
Apollo: "Sure, sis!"
Apollo raised his hand as a stop motion.
Apollo: "I feel a haiku coming on."
The Hunters groaned. How often do the Hunters meet Apollo? He cleared his throat and held up one hand for dramatic effect.
Apollo: "Green grass breaks through snow. Artemis pleads for my help. I am so cool."
Apollo grinned, waiting for an applause.
Artemis: "That last line was only four syllables."
Apollo: "Was it?"
Artemis: "Yes. What about I am so big-headed?"
Apollo: "No, no, that's six syllables. Hmm."
Apollo started muttering to himself.
Zoë turned to Percy, Thalia, and Grover. I'm calling them the tree trio from now on.
Zoë: "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 -"
Apollo: "I've got it! I am so awesome. That's five syllables!"
He bowed, clearly pleased with himself.
Apollo: "And now, sis. Transportation for the Hunters, you say? Good timing. I was just about ready to roll."
Artemis: "These demigods will also need a ride. Some of Chiron's campers."
Apollo: "No problem! Let's see Thalia, right? I've heard all about you."
"Thalia blushed."
Thalia: "Hi, Lord Apollo."
Apollo: "Zeus's girl, yes? Makes you my half-sister. Used to be a tree, didn't you? Glad your back. I hate it when pretty girls turn into trees. Man, I remember that one time -"
Artemis: "Brother. You should get going."
Apollo: "Oh, right. Percy Jackson?"
Percy: "Yeah. I mean . . . yes, sir".
Apollo: ". . . Well! We'd better load up, huh? Ride only goes one way - west. And if you miss it, you miss it."
Nico: "Cool car."
Apollo: "Thanks, kid."
Nico: "But how will we all fit?"
Apollo: "Oh. Well, yeah. I hate to change out of sports-car mode, but I suppose . . ."
Apollo took out his car keys and pressed a button. The car glowed brightly again, for a moment. When the light subsided, a small bus had taken the place of the Maserati.
Apollo: "Right. Everybody in."
Zoë ordered the Hunters and I to get on. She picked up her camping pack.
Apollo: "Here, sweetheart. Let me get that."
Zoë recoiled and her eyes flashed murderously.
Artemis: "Brother. You do not help my Hunters. You do not look at, talk to, or flirt with my Hunters. And you do not call them sweetheart."
Apollo: "Sorry. I forgot. Hey sis, where are you of to anyway?"
Artemis: "Hunting. It's none of your business."
Apollo: "I'll find out. I see all. Know all."
Lady Artemis snorted.
Artemis: "Just drop them of, Apollo. And no messing around!"
Apollo: "No, no! I never mess around."
Lady Artemis rolled her eyes, then turned toward the tree trio.
Artemis: "I will see you by winter solstice. Zoë, you are in charge of the Hunters. Do well. Do ass I would do."
Zoë: "Yes, my lady."
Artemis knelt down and looked for tracks. When she rose her expression was troubled.
Artemis: "So much danger. The beast must be found."
She dashed of toward the woods and melted into her surroundings.
Apollo grinned while jangling the car keys.
Apollo: "So. Who wants to drive?"
Everyone piled into the van. I sat beside Bianca with the other Hunters all crammed into the back. Nico seemed to ignore Bianca's actions and seemed content with hanging out with the others. Logan was standing beside me, holding on to the seat while Vince sat on the floor beside Luna holding the seat as well.
Nico: "This is so cool! 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?"
Apollo: "Downsizing. The Romans started it. They couldn't afford all those temple sacrifices, so they laid of 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."
Nico: "But how does it work? I thought the sun was a big fiery ball of gas!."
Apollo chucked and ruffled Nico's hair.
Apollo: "That rumor probably got started because Artemis used to call me big fiery ball of gas. Seriously, kid, it depends on whether your talking about astronomy or philosophy. You want to talk astronomy? Bah, what fun is that? You want to talk about how humans think about the sun? Ah, now that's more interesting. They've got a lot riding on the sun . . . er, so to speak. It keeps them warm, grows their crops, powers engines, makes everything look, well, sunnier. This chariot is built out of human dreams about the sun, kid. It's as old as Western Civilization. Every day, it drives across the sky from east to west, lighting up all those puny little mortal lives. The chariot is a manifestation of the sun's power, the way mortals perceive it. Make sense?"
Nico shook his head.
Nico: "No."
Apollo: "Well then, just think of it as really powerful, really dangerous solar car."
Nico: "Can I drive?"
Apollo: "No. Too young."
Grover: "Oo! Oo!"
Apollo: "Mm, no. Too furry. . . Daughter of Zeus! Lord of the sky. Perfect."
Thalia: "Oh, no. No, thanks."
Apollo: "C'mon, how old are you?"
Thalia: "I don't know."
Apollo tapped his fingers on his lips.
Apollo: "You're fifteen almost sixteen."
Thalia: "That's my birthday! December twenty-second."
Apollo: "Which means your old enough to drive with a learner's permit!"
Thalia: "Uh -"
Apollo: "I know what your going to say, you don't deserve an honour like driving the sun chariot."
Thalia: "That's not what I was going to say."
Apollo: "Don't sweat it! Maine to Long Island is a really short trip, don't worry about what happened to the last kid I trained. Your Zeus's daughter. He's not going to blast you out of the sky."
Apollo laughed. Thalia made an effort to protest but Apollo seems to be a stubborn person. their interaction is similar to my brothers when they bicker. Apollo hit a button on the dashboard, and a sign appeared on top of the front window. The sign read: WARNING: STUDENT DRIVER.
Apollo: "Take it away! You're gonna be a natural!
*&E!$@%#e%^!*@%#!^#E!&#%^*!%#!^&=e#%@
I fiddle with my new jacket and look out the window blocking out the noise around me. Until the bus took off. Vince and Logan were holding on to the seats. If they didn't they most likely would have tumbled towards the back of the bus and cause a commotion.
Apollo: "Slower!"
Thalia: "Sorry! I've got it under control!"
Percy: "Thalia, lighten up on the accelerator."
Thaila: "I've got it, Percy."
Percy: "Loosen up."
Thalia: "I'm loose!"
Thalia had a death grip on the wheel and ignored Percy's advice.
Apollo: "We need to veer south for long island, hang a left."
Thalia pulled on the wheel sending Percy onto a yelping Grover.
Apollo: "The other left."
Logan was rubbing his head as if he had a headache. Which he most likely did. He tends to get headaches when he spends an extended amount time in closed vehicles.
Apollo: "Ah . . . A little lower, sweetheart. Cape Cod is freezing over."
Thalia looked frightened. She tilted the wheel and the bus went headlong towards the Atlantic Ocean.
Apollo was thrown towards the back of the bus and my Logan as well as Vince were struggling not to follow him.
Grover: "Take the wheel!"
Apollo: "No worries. She just has to learn to - WHOA!"
Percy: "Pull up!"
Thalia jerked on the wheel and we went up. I look down to find me holding hands with Bianca. I must have reached for her hand on instinct at some point.
Apollo: "There! Long Island dead ahead. Let's slow down, dear. 'Dead' is only an expression."
I closed my eyes and tried to relax myself. There is a high chance Thalia will end up crashing.
Apollo: "Brake."
Unless something cushions us then, we won't exactly be safe.
Apollo: "BRAKE!"
Thalia slammed the brake and the bus pitched and crashed into a lake. Several naiads scrambled away from the now boiling water carrying partially woven wicker baskets.
The bus resurfaced with the company of melted canoes.
Apollo: "Well, you were right, my dear. You had everything under control! Let's go see if you boiled anyone important, shall we?"