Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Heroes

Chapter Eleven-Hockey, Ice, and Words

Jason, Piper, the mystery goddess, and Zethes left up the staircase leaving Leo, Alex, and Cal alone. Alex started talking which broke the ice and soon she was playing a makeshift game of hockey with Cal, while Leo watched from the side.

To put it simply, Cal destroyed Alex at hockey. He was at home on the icy floor while Alex struggled at first to quickly move around. While Cal was the obvious master, Alex managed to score a few points by hitting the puck in a direction he couldn't quickly turn to.

Eventually, they both tired out and joined Leo where he stood. They then started teaching Cal some more words to use when Zethes insulted him, or just in general. They started simple like the word stupid, but then they got creative, teaching him animals like baboon, hamster, and spider. They just started teaching him conjunctions like I'm, doesn't, and don't.

Soon enough the others walked back in to find Alex and Leo both cleaner than they left them. Their clothes were cleaner, and Leo no longer had oil and grease all over his face. Festus was back in his normal form, snorting fire over his scales to keep himself defrosted and ready to fly.

As Khione led them down the stairs, Alex noticed that Leo's eyes followed her. Leo started combing his hair back with his hands. She cringed at his obvious crush, a snow goddess and a Hephestus kid would not mix.

At the bottom step, Khione turned to face Piper, "You have fooled my father, girl. But you have not fooled me. We are not done. And you, Jason Grace, I will see you as a statue in the throne room soon enough."

Alex couldn't help but tense as she said that. She knew something. Something that no one else did, and Alex couldn't help herself as she felt a low growl grow at the back of her throat.

"Boreas is right," Jason said. "You're a spoiled kid. See you around, ice princess."

Khione's eyes flared pure white. For once, she seemed at a loss for words. She stormed back up the stairs—literally. Halfway up, she turned into a blizzard and disappeared.

"Well, she's not safe to be around," Alex said simply once she was gone.

"Be careful," Zethes warned. "She never forgets an insult."

Cal grunted in agreement. "Bad sister."

"She's the goddess of snow," Jason said. "What's she going to do, throw snowballs at us?" Alex could tell he didn't believe what he said, and she had a sinking feeling that Khoine could do a lot worse.

Leo looked devastated. "What happened up there? You made her mad? Is she mad at me too? Guys, that was my prom date!"

"Not to take Leo's side, really, I'd hate to do that, but what did happen up there?" Alex asked them.

"We'll explain later," Piper promised.

"Yeah," Jason agreed, "we'll explain later."

"Be careful, pretty girl," Zethes said. "The winds between here and Chicago are bad-tempered. Many other evil things are stirring. I am sorry you will not be staying. You would make a lovely ice statue, in which I could check my reflection."

"Thanks," Piper said. "But I'd sooner play hockey with Cal."

"It's not that bad actually, it was a lot of fun," Alex told them, shrugging her shoulders.

"Hockey?" Cal asked as his eyes lit up.

"Joking," Piper said, giving Alex a glare. "And the storm winds aren't our worst problem, are they?"

"Oh, no," Zethes agreed. "Something else. Something worse."

"Worse," Cal echoed.

"Can you tell me?" Piper gave them a smile.

Alex could tell that she was trying to charm him, but it had no effect this time. The Boreads shook their heads in unison. The hanger doors opened onto a freezing starry night, and Festus stomped his feet, ready to leave and start flying.

"Ask Aeolus what is worse," Zethes said darkly. "He knows. Good luck."

He almost sounded like he cared what happened to them, surprising Alex.

Cal patted Leo and Alex on their shoulders. "Don't get destroyed," he said, which was probably the longest sentence he'd ever attempted. "Next time—hockey. Pizza."

"You can count me in," Alex told him nodding, "and don't forget what you learned."

"Come on, guys." Jason stared out at the dark. "Let's go to Chicago and try not to get destroyed."

Alex could see Piper staying tense until the glow of Quebec City faded far behind them.

"You were amazing," Jaon told Piper.

She said something in French something Alex couldn't understand.

"What'd you say?" Jason asked Piper.

"I said I only talked to Boreas. It wasn't so amazing."

"Hey," Jason said, "you saved me from joining Khione's subzero hero collection. I owe you one."

Leo passed them some sandwiches from his pack back to them. He'd been quiet ever since they'd told him what happened in the throne room. "I still can't believe Khione," he said. "She looked so nice."

"But did she though?" Alex asked, remembering her cold gaze.

"I mean..." Leo trailed off.

"Trust me, man," Jason said. "Snow may be pretty, but up close it's cold and nasty. We'll find you a better prom date. Maybe Alex will go with you."

"NO! I refuse to go to any party, prom, or dance with anyone. Including Leo," Alex said fiercely.

"I'll try not to take offense," Leo said with a chuckle.

They were silent as they ate their sandwiches. Alex had no clue how he had made them midair on a dragon, but at least they had food. Whatever they were heading for in Chicago, they all knew that Boreas had told them to head there because he thought they were already doomed to fail their mission.

The moon rose overhead and the stars twinkled. Alex could tell that the others were tired from the day, but once again she felt as awake as ever. She had put together that because Artemis was the goddess of the moon, she got her energy at night in the light of the moon. She was nocturnal in a sense. She saw Piper lean against Jason's chest and fall asleep right away.

"Why don't you try to sleep a little too," Alex told Jason.

"What about you?"

"Moon's out, I'll be fine."

"Just let me sleep for an hour," Jason told her, and she agreed, letting him lean back a little onto her.