The Path Of Glory (Annabeth Chase x Male Reader)

44. New England Catches Fire

Artemis assured them that dawn was coming, but it was hard to believe. It was colder and darker and snowier than ever. Up on the hill, Westover Hall's windows were completely lightless. Y/N wondered if the teachers had noticed the di Angelos and Dr. Thorn were missing yet. He didn't want to be around when they did.

The Hunters broke camp as quickly as they had set it up. Y/N stood shivering in the snow (unlike the Hunters, who didn't seem to feel at all uncomfortable), and Artemis stared into the east as if she was expecting something. Bianca sat off to one side, talking with Nico. You could tell from his gloomy face that she was explaining her decision to join the Hunt. She was just selfish; nobody had the right to abandon their family like that.

Thalia and Grover came up and huddled around Y/N and Percy, anxious to hear what had happened in their audience with the goddess.

When Y/N and Percy told them, Grover turned pale. "The last time the Hunters visited camp, it didn't go well."

"How'd they even show up here?" Percy wondered. "I mean, they just appeared out of nowhere."

"And Bianca joined them," Thalia said, disgusted. "It's all Zoë's fault. That stuck-up, no good—"

"No," Y/N cut in. "It's Bianca's fault only. She couldn't bear the responsibility she had with her brother, so she dropped him aside like . . . like an empty packet of chips."

"Put yourselves in her place," Grover said. "Eternity with Artemis?" He heaved a big sigh.

Thalia rolled her eyes. "You satyrs. You're all in love with Artemis. Don't you get that she'll never love you back?"

"But she's so . . . into nature," Grover swooned.

"You're nuts," Thalia said.

"Nuts and berries," Grover said dreamily. "Yeah."

Y/N sighed and rolled his eyes. He didn't know whether he had to laugh.

Finally the sky began to lighten. Artemis muttered, "About time. He's so-o-o lazy during the winter."

"You're waiting for sunrise?" Y/N asked.

"For my brother. Yes."

Y/N didn't say anything; better to avoid being rude, now. He knew the legends about Apollo—or sometimes Helios—driving a big sun chariot across the sky. But he also knew that the sun was a star about a zillion miles away. He had gotten used to some of the Greek myths being true but still . . . he didn't see how Apollo could drive the sun.

"It's not exactly as you think," Artemis said, as if she was reading his mind.

"That's what I thought," he said.

There was a sudden burst of light on the horizon. A blast of warmth.

"Don't look," Artemis advised. "Not until he parks."

Parks?

Y/N looked away, and saw that the others were doing the same. The light and warmth intensified until his winter coat felt like it was melting off of him. Then suddenly the light died.

He looked. And he couldn't believe it. A red convertible Maserati Spyder was there. It was so awesome it gleamed. Then he realized it was glowing because the metal was hot. The snow had melted around the Maserati in a perfect circle, which explained why he was now standing on green grass and his shoes were wet.

The driver got out, smiling. He looked about seventeen or eighteen, and for a second, Y/N had the uneasy feeling it was Luke. This guy had the same sandy hair and outdoorsy looks. But it wasn't Luke. This guy was taller, with no scar on his face like Luke's. His smile was brighter and more playful. He wore jeans and loafers and a sleeveless T-shirt.