Solis

Chapter XXXVII

The taxi dropped them off in the middle of a dark, desolate street, with woods on both sides. Ron quickly took out his flashlight, and Kayla checked her watch, revealing that it was past nine. Realizing they had no other immediate option, the three of them sprinted towards the woods and decided to camp there for the night, seeking shelter and cover from any potential threats.

Austin felt relieved that he had managed to retrieve his belongings before fleeing the scene. They set up a fire in the woods for warmth and some light.

Austin was the first to fall asleep, exhausted from the night's events. Kayla volunteered to keep watch, and they agreed to take turns every two hours to ensure their safety through the night. In the flickering firelight, they huddled together, grateful for the temporary shelter the woods provided.

If this is the way Percy experience on the quest, Ron doesn't wish to go through it again, and why on earth would Zeus imprison the minor gods? It doesn't seem fair...it's almost as if it's wrong. When it was Ron's turn to sleep, he used his bag as a pillow and quickly succumbed to exhaustion.

Suddenly, his eyes opened involuntarily. It was dark, and the air felt heavy, making it difficult for him to breathe. He sat up and tried to remember where he had been. It was obvious that this wasn't the forest. Kayla and Austin were nowhere to be seen, so Ron concluded that this must be a dream.

"Why?" A voice rang. "Why would Zeus?"

"Be silent, Nemesis," another woman's voice replied. "We do not question him."

Ron cautiously rose to his feet and found himself in a dungeon within a cave. A faint light emanated from a tunnel where the voices were coming. He cautiously took a step forward, extending his hand toward the source of the light.

"I don't understand this; I can't even recollect having a child with magical mortal," the other woman stated. "And as for the gods above, showing a favors to cast us into Tartarus...Now, I do understand why Hecate joined—"

"Do not utter his name," a man's voice interjected, and Ron could feel he was the only man present. It must be Hypnos.

"He's been gone for a long time, cast to his place, Hypnos. Are you still fearful? Don't you remember that you joined too?"

"I prefer not to discuss this, Nike."

"The gods have treated us unfairly ever since, Hpynos." Another womand remarked. "And now they suddenly care about us just because we have a child with magical mortals?"

"Zeus must have been in some sort of trance, Tyche. The god isn't normally like this; there's something amiss, I can sense it. My friend Hermes has been reaching out to me; I knew he didn't support this."

"You're correct, Iris," Tyche replied. "Hermes might be the only one who didn't support this."

"We are being observed," A new voice declared, causing Ron to freeze in his tracks, his heart pounding.

"Do not fear, Hebe," a familiar voice reassured her—the same voice from his dreams, Hecate. "I have permitted the boy."

"You trust them, do you?" Hebe asked.

"We've been cast into this place, and you still doubt my kind that you have a child with too?" Hecate exclaimed in disbelief. "I can perceive his potential, and I have chosen him. If the boy wishes to pursue the quest to find us, to the place undisclosed, then he should proceed and journey to White Plains to find my kind," Hecate advised.

Ron tried to speak, but no words formed in his mouth. 

"Your kind, it's your fault that this has befallen us—you allowed your kind—"

Suddenly, just before he could catch the rest of the words, a sharp gust of air struck him in the face, causing him to be thrown onto his back. Ron's eyes snapped open, his heart pounding loudly, and he was sweating as he tried to remember what Hecate had told him. White Plains? He should ask Kayla or Austin if they were familiar with the place. He blinked rapidly in his surroundings, which remained shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the light coming from their campfire.

"Ron?" He heard Austin's voice.

"Is it my turn?" He glanced to his side and saw his brother, struggling to stay awake on his watch.

"Not yet, you still have twenty minutes," Austin replied, stifling a yawn.

"Keep it," Ron said as he slowly patted his bag for Austin to sleep on. "Mine's soft," he explained.

"No, it's okay—"

"Austin," Ron said, as he managed to convinced his brother to sleep. "I'll keep watch until morning; I can't sleep right now," he added.

Eventually, Austin gave in and dozed off. Ron tiredly looked at his two siblings. The fact that both of them had willingly joined him on this quest clenched his heart. Oh my gods, he's being emotional again. Who wouldn't though? He had witnessed the loss of too many siblings, and he was determined to ensure that Kayla and Austin wouldn't be next. Ron loved them deeply.

Ron sat on the tree's thick roots where Austin had been sitting. He knew the sun was rising now; he could feel it. He didn't need a watch to determine whether it was morning or evening.

When the two finally woke up, feeling drowsy, the redhead immediately opened Austin's bag as they ate snackers for breakfast.

"It's only our second day, but I feel like hundreds of harpies have been chasing me to my grave," Kayla mumbled as she broke her snacket in two and gave half to Austin. He took a sip first from his canteen of water and passed it to Ron, who drank the remainder.

"And man, the woods are not a good place to sleep either," Austin shivered. "Where do you think we are now?"

"I think we're out of Manhattan now," Kayla said, tucking her empty water bottle into her bag.

"We could reach the next town by lunch and then take a taxi to White Plains," Ron told them.

"White Plains?" Austin asked, and Ron realized he had forgotten to mention his dream, where Hecate had told him to go to White Plains.

"Hecate told me to go there and find her kind...she must be talking about magical mortals. But she didn't mention the exact place," Ron answered, feeling frustrated. How would he know if someone was a wizard or a witch? He had no way of tracking them.

Kayla gave him a determined look. "That's good. We should get out of this place first; just staying here is making me feel not so good."

Ron and Austin hurriedly gathered their things and put out the fire to avoid upsetting the dryads before leaving. They managed to arrived in the next town with the sun already high in the sky, and it was scorching hot, which was expected for the summer season.

Ron bought ice creams for the two of them from the nearest convenience store. They sat down in a bench holding a large city map that Ron had also bought there. Kayla pointed at the transportation options to the next town on the way to White Plains, suggesting possible routes that could get them there within half an hour.

"We should definitely avoid any suspicious places when we get there," Austin concluded, as the two nodded in agreement.

Following Kayla's suggestion, the three of them decided to take a train. Their stomachs were rumbling, and the fact that they had only eaten snacks for breakfast left them craving for something more delicious. Some of the passengers on the train couldn't help but glance at them—three teenagers leaning together in a seat, appearing as though they had been kicked out by their parents.

The train made several stops along the way, with a few people getting on and off. Finally, they reached White Plains after six stops. They hurriedly exited the train station.

"Are you guys up for pancakes...?" Ron asked hungrily, looking at the nearby breakfast cafe they saw.

"Anything for food," Austin moaned.

While they ate, the three of them brainstormed ideas about what Hecate had told Ron. Ron was feeling pressured because he didn't know how to find a witch or a wizard and it might not even be them; it could be another child of Hecate living in White Plains. They had their map spread out on the corner table, their empty plates and glasses was set aside. No one really paid them much attention as they were all busy enjoying their meals with their families. Ron absentmindedly played with a piece of cabbage that accompanied one of the scrambled eggs they had bought alongside their pancakes.

"What about their wands? Maybe we could tell if they're carrying a wand?" Kayla suggested, scanning their surroundings.

"They usually keep their wands in their pockets when they're out," Ron explained. "They can't use magic openly around mortals. It's like a secrecy thing, my cousin told me about it before."

"It's similar to us," Austin added, "But we have the Mist to protect us. Does the Mist not hide them?"

"Not exactly. The Mist is only for us demigods; they have their own methods to hide magic from mortals. But that's going to be a challenging part for us," Ron sighed. "Maybe anything that looked suspicious?"

"Maybe something that looks...old?" Kayla suggested. "Like that man in the corner," she said, glancing at a man who, like them, was trying to hide himself from the customer, he was reading a newspaper while enjoying a plate of pancakes and a steaming mug of coffee.

"Old? That man doesn't seem old," Ron remarked.

"He looks like he's from a fashion magazine or something my mom always reads," Austin replied.

"Don't focus on his face, look at his clothes," Kayla insisted.

They examined the man's attire, noticing that he was wearing a black double-breasted suit and a long beige trench coat over it.

"What's wrong with his clothes? Aren't they in trend today?" Ron asked, then realization dawned on him. "Oh."

Kayla looked smug and said, "Exactly."

Austin remained confused, glanced between the two of them. "What are you talking about?"

"Remember those pictures you sent us from your 'boarding school'? I was looking at the background and noticed a few people with their kids, and they were dressed exactly like that. I thought maybe you guys just really love wearing old-fashioned clothes—"

"Which is true," Ron interjected. "They stick with it."

"So, what do you think?" Kayla asked.

"Follow him?" Ron suggested.

The two of them giggled, while Austin, still a bit confused, just went along with their plan.

They patiently waited for the man to finish his meal. When he eventually stood up and headed toward the cashier to pay, they observed the man's face scrunching up in confusion as he tried to understand what the cashier was saying to him. Eventually, he took out a twenty-dollar bill, paid, and left the shop.

The three of them hurriedly paid the cashier and followed the man outside.

"Where is he?" Austin asked.

"He's there!" Ron shouted and pointed across the street between two buildings. The man was walking briskly, but the three of them were faster, so they managed to follow him without being noticed. They crossed Broadway, and suddenly the man disappeared again.

"What the—there!" Ron exclaimed, trying to spot the man.

"Hurry!"

The man had been disappearing as they tried to keep up with him. They halted and hid behind a light pole as the man came to a stop in a narrow alleyway, glancing around cautiously before proceeding further.

"I knew it, he's suspicious!" Kayla hissed as they continued to trail the man through the narrow alleyway.

They arrived on a street lined with shops and apartment buildings. The man walked to a corner and stopped in front of one of the building. If you squinted, you could see a symbol on the door that kept changing from a pointing hat to a pizza symbol.

"You're right," Ron said.

Although he expected the place to be a pizzeria, it looked like a regular café that served coffee and doughnuts. The café was furnished with many tables and chairs, and there was a door beside the cashier's counter leading to stairs above. They turned the corner to hide and observed the man sitting at one of the tables with a woman, writing something over her small notebook.

"Guys, where on gods are we?" Austin asked, bewildered, as they scanned their surroundings. They noticed that most of the customers were entering from a different door, similar to the one they had used to enter the café. The customers, like the man they had been following, wore old-fashioned attire, like the witches and wizards they are. They ordered and sat on their tables.

"This must be it," Ron said with conviction as they took a seat. "I can feel the magic here."

The witch at the cashier's counter kept giving them wary glances. Another teenager emerged from the backdoor and hurried over to the cashier, whispering something urgently.

"No-majs," Ron could discern the word from their conversation.

"They must think we're non-magical mortals who somehow got inside," Ron explained to them.

"We should hurry," Kayla urged. "What did Hecate tell you about when we get here?"

"She didn't say anything," Ron replied.

Then the teenager, a tall habdsome boy with brown curly hair, with bright dark green eyes and freckles on his face, offered them a forced smile, the three of them felt increasingly out of place, as if they shouldn't have been there. The people inside the café began to glance at them, their expressions tense. Some seemed to fidget with their hands in their pockets (ready to do something with their wands) or adjust their robes nervously.

"Could we, uh, speak with the manager?" Ron asked nervously.

"I'm the manager," the guy replied coolly. "What would you three like to order? We're closing in an hour."

"But you still have many customers, see, three more just came in," Austin pointed out.

Three men entered the café, grumbling loudly as they spoke.

"A week of putting up a barrier! A week, and the Ministry didn't even mention any additional pay!"

"It's always like this, they expect us to do something, and then they forget about us," the other man grumbled as they approached the cashier. "Ms. Klensman, pleasure to see you again. May I order the best you have here?"

"I'm telling you, Bort, they didn't even think of providing us with free tickets," one of the men complained further.

"Ignore him, Ms. Klensman, so about tickets—are you attending the Quidditch World Cup as well?" one of the men asked, flashing a charming smile at the witch behind the counter who was giving them side glances while trying to keep an eye on the three newcomers.

The guy in front of them cleared his throat and said, "So, about the orders."

"We could just ask the cashier for our orders," Ron suggested. 

"She's occupied," the guy retorted, shooting them a dirty look. "Please, hurry up."

"Yes," they heard the witch replied.

"Really? That's great. Look, I heard you're supporting the Bulgarians. I'm telling you, they're not that great, you should join me—"

"Come on, man! You don't need to say that in front of a lady," the other man scolded that sounds so very fake just to impress the witch. "The Bulgarians became famous because of their seeker, Viktor Krum. I'm telling you, that kid was skilled, I saw him play a lotta times. I've been there. Am I right, Ms. Klensman?"

"They're being rude to your cashier," Kayla observed, feeling uncomfortable.

The guy clicked his tongue and approached the three of them. "Excuse me, if you're not ordering, please leave. We have other customers," he said sternly.

"Ah, my favorite boy, handsome as ever!" The man chuckled, clearly not catching the situation, and slapped the guy named Dylan on the back.

"No-majs," Dylan hissed at them.

"Oh, oh—good gracious," one of them said. "How—"

"Well, if you'd just stop talking about Quidditch, we wouldn't have to take measures, and now we have to Obliviate them. Get out if you're hitting on my mother." 

"But—"

"Now," Dylan ordered, eyes glowing a little, and the three men quickly scrambled out of the café, under Dylan's withering glare. He exchanged some words with his mother before returning to them.

"I had to do this," Dylan explained, taking out his wand.

"You used Charmspeak on them, didn't you?" Ron asked, causing the boy to pause.

Dylan took a step back and lowered his wand. "Who are you?"

"Just like you," Ron replied. "Well, not on the wizard part, but you get it."

Dylan stared at them in disbelief, then closed his mouth. "How did you get here? I promised myself I wouldn't talk to any of you and would go back to that camp."

"We were sent here by Hecate," Ron explained. "Are you a member of Kronos's Army?"

Austin and Kayla gasped in surprise, and Kayla started to speak, "Ron—"

But Dylan was furious. "Get out."

"We won't leave," Ron stood up firmly. "We need to get to Keeseville. Hecate and the other minor gods are in danger, and I know you can sense that something has happened to Hecate—"

"I don't care about them!" Dylan snapped.

"Yes, you do care," Ron insisted. "Hecate wouldn't have suggested this place if you didn't. You know they're not the only ones in danger; all the witches and wizards here are going to die."

Dylan shook his head, his fists clenched. He refused to make eye contact with them. "Follow me upstairs," he muttered before turning and heading upstairs, leaving them to follow him.

The second floor looked quite different from the first. The entire floor was a living room, with a round table in the middle and lounge chairs arranged around it. The cozy atmosphere of the room was accentuated by a shelf tucked in one corner and a fireplace in the middle of one wall, flanked by two large arched windows. Dylan stomped over to the table and, with a wave of his wand, caused newspapers and parchment scattered there to fly into one of the drawers neatly.

"Please, sit, and we'll talk," Dylan said, and the three hurriedly took seats in the lounge chairs.

Dylan settled into one of the chairs and added, "I don't want to hear any mention of that stupid Titan. Because of him, I had to leave my siblings and live with my mom, hiding."

"You know what happened to him," Ron started.

"I know," Dylan snapped. "He lost."

"But if he lost why would you hide?" Austin asked.

"I heard you mention Keeseville, and I know you three are looking for Alabaster Torrington, son of Hecate. We may be alike in some ways, but my reasons are different. I refused to return to the camp because my siblings knew me, and I know what would happen if I went back," Dylan explained. "Alabaster is my leader; he guides us, uses his words to rally us to fight alongside that Titan."

"But he lost," Kayla said.

Dylan let out a disgruntled sound and crossed his legs. "When the Andromeda exploded, I managed to save a few of the witches and wizards who were there. I do know that Alabaster blamed himself; he thought all of his siblings had died, but no,"

"Witches and wizards joined too?" Ron inquired.

"I'm the one who persuaded them," Dylan admitted, biting his lip. "That's why I don't want to go back at the camp. I felt...terrible."

The three of them gave Dylan a pity but Kayla shook her head. "But you said you managed to save some of them, where are they?"

"Like me, hiding." He answered.

Ron felt a chilling sensation, "Do you know where they're hiding?"

"Why do you want to know? Are you going to inform the gods and let them hunt us down?" Dylan questioned.

"Only Zeus would do that," Austin chimed in. "And if we were to tell them, he'd likely kill all of you, including my brother—Ron."

Dylan clicked his tongue once more. "Of course. He detests us."

"So, you do know where they're hiding," Ron asserted.

"I swore to the River Styx that I wouldn't reveal their peaceful life with their families to anyone," he said. "If you want to go save Hecate, go and save her. But I don't want the three of you to return here and disturb me again."

"Well, I don't know why Hecate suggested you," Ron admitted.

Dylan rolled his eyes and stood up, opening one of the drawers to retrieve a jar.

"Floo powder," Ron explained.

"What's that?" Austin questioned.

"It's a magical means of transportation," Ron answered. "Any recommendation of a place?"

"Go to Adams, it's near Keeseville from what I know. Just say 'Victoria's Anti-Shop,' and you'll arrive at the place. Our fireplace is connected to theirs, just mention my name; that woman—Victoria knows me and my mother. " Dylan explained.

"Is she a witch too?" Kayla asked.

"I wouldn't recommend it if she's not," Dylan scowled as Ron explained to his two siblings how it worked.

"Finished?" he called out to them.

"Yeah," Ron confirmed. "Thanks, by the way. We forgot to introduce ourselves. This is Kayla and Austin; the three of us are siblings."

"Children of whom?" Dylan inquired.

"Apollo," Austin replied.

"Dylan, you need to return to the camp," Ron insisted. "They won't care if you once followed Kronos—"

"I said, don't mention that name—"

"That Titan. Many of the campers there have followed him before, and they've been welcomed back. I don't want you guys hiding..." Ron said, because he knew the camp could offer them protection.

"Don't pity us; we chose this path," Dylan replied. "Look...if you meet Alabaster, tell him to visit me and tell him I've saved a few of his siblings...and you—" he glanced at Ron. "Write to me if you guys saved Hecate but don't come back here anymore." he told Ron.

"You know, you remind me of someone," Kayla said as Ron and Austin nodded.

Dylan raised an eyebrow at them. "Who?"

"Drew Tanaka," she replied. "She'd be happy to know she has a sibling who's so much like her."

Dylan's expression softened for a brief moment before returning to its usual sternness. "Leave now."

The three of them chuckled as they held the Floo powder in their hands. Ron gave Dylan a final nod. "Hope we'll meet again."

With that, they each tossed the Floo powder into the fireplace one by one, Ron first, and called out, "Victoria's Anti-Shop in Hawthorne!" and disappeared into the swirling flames, leaving Dylan behind.

🔆

Floo Powder wasn't really Ron's preferred method of magical transportation. However, they had to use it to reach Victoria's Anti-Shop in Hawthorne. Unfortunately, the fireplace was quite small, and Ron had to crouch down to fit. Kayla and Austin had even less luck; their heads smacked against the fireplace's wall as they arrived.

Ron assisted Kayla and Austin in getting out of the fireplace, as they heard a loud thud behind them. It was only then that Ron realized where they were; they found themselves in a kind of attic, the aisles were filled with gems, necklaces, books, and a plethora of stones and teacups. The room had no windows, and there was only one door. The sole source of light in the room came from the gaps in the wooden walls.

And a woman stood in the doorway, holding a tray of teacups.

"By Merlin!" the woman gasped in surprise. She appeared to be in her middle age, with messy dirty blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail and blue eyes. She was dressed in a navy blue shirtwaist, reminiscent of old-fashioned American women from newspaper illustrations. She had been carrying a tray of teacups, which had now crashed to the ground.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. "You are...?"

"Don't worry, ma'am," Ron reassured her. "Dylan sent us."

"Oh, that boy," she sighed in disappointment. "Never visits or writes to me but lets his friends visit me instead."

"Oh no, we're, um..." Austin started.

"It's alright; come follow me outside," Victoria said. She walked out of the room, and the three of them brushed cobwebs off their clothes and grabbed their bags before following her.

Once they stepped outside, they found themselves in a shop-like room with aisles filled with old items, and there were a few customers browsing. Victoria went behind the cashier's counter and placed the tray there. Looking through the storefront window, they could see that they were now in a different place—a small town.

"No buildings, eh?" a pretty girl who had noticed them smiled and struck up a conversation. She was browsing the items next to them. "You three must be from New York?"

"How do you know?" Kayla asked.

The girl, who was undeniably pretty, was dressed in denim shorts and a jersey shirt, tucked into it, with white rubber shoes. When she smiled, her teeth were white bright, and she had cute dimples.

"Just a guess," she shrugged. "Am I wrong?" She pouted.

Austin and Ron quickly nodded, feeling a bit bashful. "No, you're right," Ron replied, feeling a bit uneasy maybe because she was the most beautiful girl he had seen.

Two girls suddenly appeared behind them, similar to the first girl, both pretty with blonde hair, dressed in the same attire. "Kiana, we should go," one of the girls giggled.

Kiana, the girl who had been talking to them, pouted. "But why?"

"You've forgotten, you still have work at the pizza shop—"

"Where?" Austin blurted out.

The two girls looked at them and smiled. "Oh, it's just two blocks from here, near the postal service. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, um, nothing," Ron quickly responded, elbowing his brother. "We just wanna know,"

Kayla shot the girls a suspicious look, the kind that said, 'I don't like the way you're talking to my brothers.' But she was just being protective, and Ron had never encountered such a pretty girl who made him feel so flustered and weird.

"Well, you could visit there later... for me?" Kiana giggled, her laughter sounding incredibly adorable.

"Sure," Ron and Austin both replied before the three girls waved at them.

"Oh my gods, you two," Kayla said from behind them. "Don't tell me you're actually going there?"

Ron touched his stomach, drooling a bit. "I think I need pizza."

"Me too," Austin agreed.

They went up to the cashier—the woman—Victoria, and asked about the pizza place two blocks away. Victoria gave them a concerned look. "Don't trust those girls," she warned.

"Why?" Kayla asked. But Ron and Austin didn't seem to care; they wanted to see the girls again, maybe strike up a conversation while enjoying some pizza. And pizza did sound pretty good to eat today.

"They were here the other day, acting as if they were expecting something," Victoria explained. "I asked them what they needed, but they just batted their eyelashes, and from their demeanor, I could tell they were those kinds of girls."

"We'll be careful," Kayla assured Victoria. "Thank you, Ms. Victoria," she added before leading her brothers out of the shop.

"We're not going to that place," she stated firmly, but her two brothers protested. "Austin, you just said to avoid any suspicious places."

"But a pizzeria isn't suspicious," Austin argued. "Come on, Kayla. Just for today."

"I really don't think this is a good idea..." Kayla said.

"Come on, it's already afternoon, why not have pizza for lunch?" Ron reasoned. Kayla grumbled under her breath but agreed to go along with them.

Following the girls' directions, they made their way to the pizza house. Inside, there were a few customers enjoying their meals, but that didn't dampen Ron and Austin's excitement. Kayla, on the other hand, looked at her two brothers with a mix of confusion and skepticism as they walked in.

They immediately spotted Kiana, who was wearing her work outfit and wiping the tables. She flashed them another charming smile. "Nice to see you two again," she purred at the brothers. "You can have Miana and Diana to take your orders." Even their names sounded so weird.

"I'll be the one to order," Kayla declared, reaching out to shield her brothers.

Kiana hissed at her, "Quiet, girl."

"What did you just say?" Kayla blinked.

"Did I say soemthing?" Kiana replied, smiling at her. "Anyways, no problem. Come over here in the cashier."

"Where's the manager? Is it just you three working here?" Kayla questioned.

"We don't have a manager here. Why would we need one?" Kiana giggled.

Meanwhile, Ron and Austin sat down at a table, giggling as Miana and Diana approached them. Kayla gave them a confusef look. "What are those two doing? I told you I'm the one ordering."

"Oh, did you? My apologies, I must not have heard that. Let the two girls take their orders. Who wouldn't want two pretty girls taking the boys' orders? Besides, you and I should have a chat," Kiana leaned forward on the counter with her elbows.

"You're weird," Kayla commented.

"Hmm," Kiana responded. "Am I?"

"Very weird."

Kiana continued to smile at her and then sighed heavily. "Well, you're right," she admitted and leaned back. "I am,"

"What?" Kayla asked, then she saw it. Kiana's eyes were glowing red, and fangs were forming in her mouth.

"I'll take your brothers, and maybe eat you two after we suck their bloods," she snarled as Kayla backed away, drawing her bow. "You're too late," Kiana laughed as her skin turned white, and her hair burst into flames.

"Ah!" Kayla exclaimed and ran when the counter exploded in front of her.

"Ron, Austin!" she called, but it was too late. Miana and Diana had their long, pointy nails at her brothers' necks, who still seemed paralyzed. Like Kiana, the two blonde girls had transformed, their legs into donkey-like hooves and one prosthetic made of Celestial Bronze.

"Empousa!" Kayla said, her arrow aimed at Diana. "Stupid!" she muttered to herself.

"Yes, you are," Kiana said angrily. "Now, it's time for a feast!" she said and moved towards Kayla, who had rolled over close to her paralyzed brothers.

"Are we going to eat them? I'm hungry!" Miana asked.

"Idiot! Wait until I catch the girl, and then make her watch what happens to her brothers," Kiana replied.

"Oh, I like that. Having someone watch!" Diana giggled.

In a desperate move, Kayla quickly reached into her quiver and pulled out a celestial bronze arrow. She notched the arrow on her bow and, and aimed it straight at Kiana. With a powerful release, she let the arrow fly, its celestial bronze tip gleaming in the dimly lit pizzeria.

The arrow struck Kiana squarely in the chest, causing her to scream in agony as the celestial bronze pierced her. The empousa crumbled into ashes, leaving only a pile of dust in her wake.

"You little brat!" Diana said, "That's my sister!"

He heard the people inside the pizzeria screaming and fleeing. The counter that had exploded was now causing a fire, and she didn't realize that Kiana's flaming hair had touched a wire there.

"I don't want to wait any longer!" Miana exclaimed and opened her mouth to bite Austin.

Suddenly, an arrow shot towards her head, and Miana's eyes widened as dozens more arrows rained down on her, causing her to explode into dust. Diana screamed, and Kayla quickly notched an arrow and prayed to her dad, aiming it at Diana's head. The arrow struck Diana's head, and she too exploded into dust. His brothers blinked and looked around in confusion.

"Huh?"

She didn't realize the side of the wall had crumbled, revealing a group of girls with arrows aimed at them and three gray wolves with them, they were all led by the another girl with her hand raised.

Ron steadied himself, clutchinf his bleeding side and shook his head. "What... what's going on?" he gasped, coughing in the smoke.

The younger girl looked at them and said, "We need to get out of here."

Ron felt Kayla hoisted him and Austin to escape the burning pizzeria near the woods, leading them up to the hill. A girl made her way through the crowd of girls—Thalia, as she gasped.

"Ron!?" she exclaimed.

Ron sat down in the grass, looking at her dizzily. "Thalia...?"

"What happened? What are you three doing here?" Thalia asked. "Fighting an Empousa, are you three idiots—"

"I-it's my fault!" Kayla said, "I let them follow the three girls into the pizzeria."

Thalia looked at her and softened. "Oh, Kayla," she said. The youngest girl stepped forward and examined the three of them.

"We will set up a tent to aid these young demigods until they're ready to continue their quest. Reyna, get the others to set up," she ordered.

"As you wish," Reyna replied.

"The empousai managed to stab Ron before she exploded," Kayla sniffled, trying to explain what had happened while helping Austin into a tent. Ron was placed on a stretcher, and two girls wearing white t-shirts over silver jackets quickly shoved an ambrosia to him, as they healed his wound carefully. 

"You did great, Kayla," Thalia said reassuringly. "It's alright, you managed to kill two of them."

Kayla wiped her tears away while sitting beside Austin on one of the stretchers, watching Ron as he rested. She tried to explain everything to Thalia, with the girl who had led them into the tent listening intently.

"So, it is true," Thalia replied, "that the minor gods were imprisoned."

The girl stood in the middle of them, saying, "I'm afraid it is true. But I do not favor it. I do not know what came to my father's mind to do such a foolish thing."

"What about the other gods?" Austin asked, feeling a bit nervous. "I, um, goddess Artemis."

Artemis looked at him with amusement. "Only four of us did not favor it, my brother Apollo—Hermes, and surprisingly, Athena. The rest did not oppose it."

"Why would they do that?" Kayla asked, her voice weak.

Artemis looked at her and said, "Don't lose hope. Apollo didn't want to see any of you like this. He's been watching the three of you. Without him, Austin would never have defeated Dolus, and you, Kayla, would never have defeated the two empousai."

"Oh, dad..." Austin said.

"I do wish to help the three of you, but this is a quest, and I do not interfere with it and Apollo has been emotional these past few days for some reason, I had to be there," Artemis explained.

"I could help them," Thalia offered. "If you let me."

Artemis shook her head. "I am sorry, Thalia. We have our own issues to deal with."

"But it's—it's Ron!" Thalia exclaimed. "I can't—"

"He will be fine," Artemis assured her. "And I would like to speak with Kayla outside."

Thalia looked surprised but then nodded firmly. Kayla appeared confused, and even Austin was trying to understand what was happening. Artemis nodded at Kayla before leaving, making Kayla to hurry outside to follow her.

🔆

Ron's eyes slowly opened, and he immediately sat up, feeling hands on his back. He saw Kayla and blinked at his sister.

Austin was sleeping nearby, and he noticed that it was already evening outside the tent. He looked confused and his sister noticed. Kayla explained to him what had happened. Ron flushed with embarrassment and apologized, but his sister shook her head, hugging him warmly.

Ron fell asleep again after that, only to be woken up later by Austin and Thalia.

"Morning, dimples," Thalia greeted with a grin.

"Don't call me that," Ron groaned, which made Thalia chuckle. "Kayla told me everything," he added.

"Yeah, really, what an idiot you are. Well, it's already dusk, eat up," Thalia said as she handed Ron a bowl of soup.

Kayla entered the tent wearing new clothes, likely provided by the Hunters, and she was clutching her bow. She sighed in relief when she saw Ron.

"Are you guys leaving soon?" Ron asked Thalia.

"Later, after you three are prepared to leave," Thalia replied. "And I'm going to tell Annabeth about this."

Ron gasped, "No!" And Thalia smacked him in the head.

"What do you mean, no? Do you want her to die of worry? Does the camp know about this?" She asked.

"Of course, they do! But if Annabeth knew, she'd come back here all the way from New Rome, and I don't want to worry her."

"Oh my gods, Ron. You're insufferable!" Thalia exclaimed.

"It's you who's insufferable!"

"This is not my Ron!"

"I'm fourteen!" Ron declared. "Not seven!"

Their discussion lasted for an hour. Thalia exited the tent, with Ron following closely behind, carrying his quiver and a backpack filled with nectar, snacks, and extra clothing. The group of hunters gathered as some of them began to dismantle their tent. They expressed their gratitude to Artemis, and Thalia hugged the other three as Reyna approached Ron and glanced at him.

"Are you Ron?" She questioned, deep in thought. "Annabeth brought up your name in conversation before."

"Hello, that's me," Ron replied with a nod. "It's nice to meet you, um, in person." Reyna was undeniably beautiful, but Ron didn't experience the same discomfort and unease he had felt around the empousa.

Reyna suddenly flashed a smile at him. "At Camp Jupiter, we have our own term for them. We don't call them wizards and witches; we refer to them as sorcerers, like Circe," she explained. "I hope your quest brought you the answers you're looking for."

"And I believe," Artemis remarked, "You three have new companions."

As she spoke, their eyes were drawn to the sky, where two figures streaked toward them like comets, moving at incredible speed. Ron couldn't help but gasp in surprise, covering his mouth with his hands.

"Fiddlefig and Buckbeak!" Ron exclaimed as the two hippogriffs landed right beside them, and they all gazed at the majestic creatures.

"Beautiful," one of the hunters remarked in awe.

"I think it's time for us to leave," Artemis began. Ron hesitated and looked at Artemis with a questioning gaze.

Artemis seemed to understand his unspoken question and shook her head. "I stand firm and did not favor with my father," she affirmed, reassuring him. "Give it your all, heroes. Return safely."

Thalia offered a reassuring grip on Ron's hand before she joined the group of hunters, who swiftly vanished into the woods. The three of them stood there, gazing in its direction. Ron cleared his throat and said, "Kayla, if you spot an Empousa, please give us a good punch if they try to hypnotize us."

Kayla chuckled and hugged them, saying, "I'd never do that! I care about both of you so much that I even turned down Artemis' invitation to join her."

Ron and Austin were taken aback, exchanging surprised glances. "You did what!?" they exclaimed in astonishment.

Kayla took a step back, scratching her cheek nervously. "Well, they sort of asked me to become a hunter," she admitted.

"Kayla!?" Ron and Austin both exclaimed in disbelief.

After that, Ron assisted Kayla in mounting Buckbeak, while he and Austin climbed onto FiddleFig's back. Riding a hippogriff was similar to riding a Pegasus, so Kayla didn't require much instruction. They ascended into the sky, gazing at the rolling hills and taking in the breathtaking scenery around them.

The two hippogriffs joyfully soared forward, darting through the air and ascending above the clouds.

The two hippogriffs descended into the thick clouds, and as they closed their eyes, the riders held their breath. When they felt they were safe, they opened their eyes to a breathtaking sight that left Austin and Kayla in awe. Below them lay Ilvermorny Castle, perched atop a hill and surrounded by pine trees, the castle resembled something out of a fantasy. Unlike Hogwarts, this castle radiated a brighter and different charm.

"Don't tell me your school is like that?" Kayla exclaimed.

"Yeah, you could say that!" Ron replied as they descended beneath the castle. They continued their flight, leaving the castle slowly fading into the distance behind them. They reached another set of hills, followed by farms. Ron narrowed his eyes and spotted a town in the distance.

"I see a town!" Ron exclaimed. The Hippogriffs sped towards it and soon found themselves diving into the nearby woods. 

"That was an amazing ride!" Austin exclaimed, while FiddleFig affectionately nuzzled his beak against his hair.

"Where are we?" Ron asked casting a quick glance around.

"Did you guys hear that?" Kayla added.

"Don't tell me there's a monster lurking," Austin sighed.

"No, it's just cars. There must be a street nearby. Let's go," she suggested.

"What should we do about them?" Austin asked, his gaze shifting to the two hippogriffs.

"It's alright," Ron reassured them. "They couldn't go any farther," he explained.

The hippogriffs bowed as a farewell gesture, and Austin fought back tears as he waved goodbye them, watching the creature soar overhead.

"I'll miss them." He sniffled as the two of them follow Kayla furthe rin the wood. Truth to her words, they came behind a lined up house, they squeeze therself in between them as saw a street. 

"Where do you think are we?" Ron asked.

"Come on, let's find a nearest store." She said.

They stumbled upon a grocery store and noticed a travel map for sale. Ron bought it and immediately unfolded it. "Glens Falls," he remarked, pointing at the location. "We're just near Keeseville."

"I'll ask around if there's a taxi available to take us there," Kayla offered.

They waited for Kayla outside the store and noticed that she had a plastic bag in her hand.

"Kayla?" Austin called out.

Kayla shook her head and laughed, "I have no idea why I bought these snacks."

"What about the taxi?" Ron asked.

"There are no taxis or buses available in this area, so I guess our only option is to walk," Kayla replied with a sigh. "So, we might as well enjoy these recommended snacks for tourists while we rest a little."

The three of them ate while sitting on the lawn before they start walking to their next destination— Keeseville. Along the way, they encounter several markets and shops, but most of the buildings they see are residential houses located close to the streets. They also come across a park where a few children are playing unsupervised by their parents.

They stopped at a mall for half an hour but decided against going inside since they needed to reach Keeseville as quickly as possible. As they continued walking, they all snacked on some chips.

Finally, they came across an amusement park on the right corner and Ron, who had never been curious before, couldn't help but be intrigued by the roller coaster and ferris wheel. A metal fence blocked their way from entering, but it didn't stop the redhead from looking around. There were a few people enjoying the rides.

"Oh no, Ron," Austin stated.

Ron bit his lip. "Do you think...?"

Kayla glanced at her watch, "It's already past eight, that explains why the park is open," she suggested, "Well... we could go, but..." Ron's two siblings exchanged a look. They were aware that the redhead had never been to the rides before, since they knew Ron had been to the camp for ten years.

Thus, they ended up buying tickets and Ron bought some souvenirs. He wore a mouse headband and donned rainbow shutter glasses as the redhead excitedly pointed out ride after ride. After three rides, Ron was quite dizzy, but he was smiling broadly.

"I've never been here before, it's fun!" Ron exclaimed, as he crammed some caramel popcorn into his mouth.

Austin bought up some tee shirt for them that had 'RIDE FOR YOUR LIFE' printed on the front. The three of them giggled as they wore them. 

"This is fun!" Kayla exclaimed, as they joined him in the shooting gallery. They were so good at it that they nearly won all the prizes, but noticing the disappointed faces of the waiting children, they decided to give the rewards to the kids instead, much to their delight.

However, Ron held onto the small bear keychain, tucking it into his jacket pocket as he joined Austin for the roller coaster ride.

When it was their turn, a guy stood next to them. He was wearing a cap and an oversized sweater that seemed too large for him. Ron also noticed something unusual about his legs, but he was clad in jogging pants and sneakers. He was so nervous that he continually bit his lips and kept glancing at the teenager standing in front of them.

"Hey, buddy. You'll be okay," Austin reassured the man.

"Y-Yes, I know I will," the man responded nervously. "It's my first time,"

"Riding a roller coaster?" Ron asked with enthusiasm, "Me too."

"No," The guy clarified. "Looking for one, and its smell, the smell—" he couldn't finish his words, breaking down when it was their turn to ride the roller coaster.

Ron was caught between anxiety and excitement. But when the ride started moving, his face filled with terror. At the peak of the ride, they saw it—about twenty birds swooping down towards them. The man from earlier was in tears, struggling to escape from his seat.

"I'm going to get thrown out, I'm going to get thrown out!" he exclaimed.

"Duck!" Kayla shouted as the birds started to swoop down, aiming for their heads. The passenger let out a scream of terror upon seeing the birds. He wasn't sure what the mists have made them saw, but then another twenty-one birds joined the flock.

"Stampylian Birds! By the gods, why are they here!?" Kayla cried out in shock.

"There's a demigod!" Ron exclaimed, "Here. Besides us!" He added.

Suddenly, the man's cap flew off his head. Austin and Kayla, who were just behind the man, along with Ron who was next to him, stared in shock when they saw the horns.

"A SATYR—"

"Ron!" Both Austin and Kayla yelled, as they all screamed when the roller coaster swerved to the left, mirroring the movement of the Stampylia birds. The birds were quick but couldn't catch up with them as the roller coaster sped on, causing Ron to feel increasingly dizzy, especially when it came to a halt.

And then, disaster struck.

It was a disaster as the birds began pecking and biting at them when they reached the platform.

Screams erupted from the passengers, including them, as Ron fought off the birds with his celestial bronze. Kayla tried to load an arrow into her bow, but was distracted by five birds attacking them. Austin was using his saxophone to smack them off.

"Diego, Diego, where are you!?" They heard a girl's voice call out.

Ron quickly looked around and noticed a girl who appeared to be about fifteen years old. She was wearing a green knitted jacket, crouching down with her arms up in defense against the onslaught of birds. The Satyr attempted to play his pipe, but was interrupted when a bird bit his arm.

"We have to leave! I can't keep them all at bay!" exclaimed Ron.

Kayla nodded, pulling Austin and the Satyr who had grabbed the girl's arm, as they all sprinted towards the nearest woods. They continued to run, their faces marked with injuries and bleeding. Their hair was disheveled, and their shirts and jackets were torn and riddled with holes from the bird attacks. 

Ron cried out, "Our bags!" He said.

"No, we can't go back!" Diego declared, "There are hundreds of them now! I can smell it." He bleated.

The girl in the pink knit sweater was sniffling, "My dad..."

"What's your name?" Kayla asked as they stopped for a moment.

"J-Jamaica..." She responded. "The birds had been following me from Washington, I thought I was just hallucinating."

"Oh, Jamaica..." Diego wept. "It's my fault!"

"Diego, it's not your fault, you're my friend." She said gently.

"Here, I have some band-aids," Ron said, pulling out a band-aid and applying it to the girl's facial wound.

"Do you know what you are?" Austin wuestioned.

"I've known since last week," she replied. "I knew who my mother was, but the more I knew, the weirder it gets."

"I-I really thought you three were sent by Grover!" Diego exclaimed, "I've been sending messages! But all of the satyrs were too busy, and I needed to be near one, so I thought small towns like this would have them. Bla—ha! I was wrong!" He cried. 

"Diego, you need to bring Jamaica to the camp," Kayla instructed.

"I know," Diego responded, sounding exasperated. He sniffed the air. "But first, we need to leave this place, I can smell them—they're getting near."

They all started running again while Ron pulled out his travel map. "We're heading in the right direction towards Keeseville," he announced, as they paused for another break.

Diego was becoming frantic, "The smell is getting strong!" He yelled.

"Diego, relax," Jamaica shouted.

They continued their run and Diego let out a loud cry when they spotted a huge dinosaur, which was completely still. They approached it and Jamaica reached out to touch it.

"It's a statue." She sighed in a relief.

Diego is becoming more anxious by the second, as Ron leaned against the statue, wiping the blood off his face.

"It looks like we're in another amusement park," Kayla observed as she looked around. "Why are there so many amusement parks here?"

"That's why my dad moved here, there are so many attractions, much better than the city," Jamaica explained, "Do you have a phone? I really need to get in touch with him and I don't think I'll be going back there."

"We don't use phones," Ron responded. "They attract monsters."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

Austin shrugged, "It's sort of like giving the monsters your place."

"Wow," Jamaica remarked. "These monsters and things, I know they're real but...this camp, what is it?"

Diego paced nervously around them, "It's a camp for people like you—demigods! It's safe there, we need to get you there, quick!"

Jamaica looked down at his legs and took a step back. "Um, what are you, Diego?"

"He's a Satyr," Kayla answered. "They're like...protectors, they escort demigods back to the camp."

"Um, guys," Austin interjected.

"Demigods are like...half human and half god, right? So they really exist?" 

"Yes. We are one of them."

"Guys."

"Well, I was kind of excited. My mother left me when I was born."

"Most of our godly parents do that," Ron replied as he felt something shift behind him.

"G-g-guys—" Diego started, his eyes widening as he looked behind Ron and began to step back, mirroring Austin's actions.

"So who are your parents?" Jamaica asked curiously.

"Apo-po-po-llo..." Kayla stuttered as she noticed something.

"Who?" Jamaica asked as Kayla shakily pointed at something behind them.

Ron looked at them in confusion before spinning around. His mouth immediately open and he collapsed onto his back. The dinosaur was moving, its nostril right in front of Ron. His mind screamed at him to run, but he was frozen in shock.

Then, in a swift motion, its tail flung Ron against a tree. The redhead clutched his side where the Empousa had stabbed him.

"Ron!" Kayla and Austin yelled, drawing their weapons.

The dinosaur roared and charged towards them. They shot arrows at it until it got too close, forcing them to run in separate directions. Jamaica screamed as she rolled to the side. The Satyr quickly pulled out his pipe and roots sprouted from the ground, wrapping around one of the dinosaur's feet.

The dinosaur let out another loud roar as Austin sprinted towards Ron. The dinosaur appeared to be focused on something, but when it noticed Ron and Austin, it abruptly turned left and charged in their direction, causing the tree roots to break. Austin quickly lifted Ron and they both dove to the other side, while Kayla helpe Ron in getting out as the dinosaur smashed on the tree.

"What's happening!?" Jamaica screamed. "This isn't a monster!"

"Yeah! The one controlling the dinosaur is the real monster!" Kayla exclaimed. "Hey, you with the ugly snout! I'm over here!"

Austin muttered in Grerk curae when he realized they didn't have their bags with them, which contained their nectar and ambrosia. Meanwhile, Kayla was attempting to divert the dinosaur's attention away from them.

Diego played a different tune on his pipe that only irritated the dinosaur and redirected its focus toward the satyr instead. Diego let out a loud, frightened bleat and hurriedly moved to another location. Ron attempted to sit up, but the pain in his side from the Empousa's stab was too much.

"I can still fight," Ron gritted through the pain. "I can—"

"No, you can't," Austin said firmly.

"It's my fault, I shouldn't have—" Ron began, "We shouldn't have—" but then they heard Kayla scream.

"Go to Kayla!" Ron instructed his brother.

Austin nodded and quickly rose to his feet. "I'll be right back," he said and ran towards the sound, bow in hand.

Ron clenched his teeth until they bled as he struggled to stand up, drawing his handle which transformed into a bow.

"Diego, do slow him down," he told the satyr.

"I'm trying!" Diego cried out and blew into his pipe, causing thick, vine-like roots to ensnare the dinosaur's tail.

Jamaica took shelter behind another tree and Ron, while Ron notched an arrow onto his bow, squinting his eyes to spot anything unusual on the dinosaur's body. Despite the pain in his side, Ron remembered something Harry had done in their first year.

Ron disregarded the pain and dashed toward the dinosaur, launching himself onto its back.

"Ron!" Kayla cried out."I'm okay! I just need to—" Ron began to reply, but the dinosaur abruptly spun around, causing him to grip its neck tightly.

Ron rushed toward the dinosaur head as it continued to spin, trying to dislodge him. He drew his celestial bronze weapon, but the dinosaur suddenly jerked its head to the left, throwing Ron to the ground along with his celestial bronze.

Their arrows had no effect as the statue raised its foot and flung Diego aside. Jamaica screamed, tears welling up in her eyes as the Satyr's body tumbled like a ragdoll. "No! Stop! Stop!"

Ron tried to stand up, but he felt surprisingly weak, with a bleeding head, he bent down, and tried to regain his composure.

Something was really wrong.

It wasn't just Zeus; there was a problem with everything.

From his pocket, Ron retrieved something he had never used before, his wand. But then again, maybe, just maybe. He pointed it at the dinosaur and shouted a curse he had heard from Hermione before. A binding light emerged from the tip of his wand and struck the dinosaur on its side.

The dinosaur let out a final roar before collapsing to the ground, frozen in place.

Kayla and Austin's quivers were nearly empty, with dozens of arrows scattered on the ground. Ron made his way over to them, his steps heavy, and he burst into tears.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed.

They were still staring at the frozen dinosaur on the ground, only snapping out of their trance when they heard a voice. The three of them turned and saw Jamaica hovering over the Satyr. Ron limped towards them, and they joined her.

The Satyr lay on his back, and Ron immediately knelt down to check his condition. "We need to heal him..." he muttered weakly.

The Satyr was writhing in pain, his eyes wide open, his mouth contorted in agony as Diego's gaze remained fixed on the sky.

Ron gently placed his jacket under the Satyr's head, trying to comfort him. "It's okay, Diego," he reassured and placed his hand on the Satyr's chest. Tears welled up in Ron's eyes as he closed his eyes and offered a heartfelt prayer to his dad.

"Just this once, if you love me."

As Ron began to hum a hymn for his dad something had just happened. The Satyr suddenly relaxed under his touch, ceasing to writhe in pain. Diego's breathing returned to normal, and his eyes returned to their normal size. Ron then took out his wand.

"Ferula," he said, trying to mimic Lupin's wand movement. A bandage materialized in the air and began wrapping itself around the Satyr's broken leg and bleeding head.

"How...?" Jamaica asked, her eyes widening in astonishment.

Ron slowly stood up, blinking away his tears. "I'm a wizard," he admitted, "And I'm a big idiot."

Then, they heard an applause from behind and turned to look. Jamaica knelt down to ensure their Satyr friend was resting properly on the jacket. Ron stood up with his wand drawn, positioning himself in front of his two siblings. There, they saw a woman with long, silky black hair. She had a pale complexion and deep brown eyes, wearing a long brown chiton. She wore a smile, but it was so insincere that it stirred anger within Ron.

"It's you," he fumed.

The woman ceased clapping, replying, "It is indeed me."

"How dare you—" Kayla grabbed his arm, pulling him back to restrain him.

"Amazing," the woman replied, ignoring his anger. "You managed to stop my creation," she said, her tone devoid of amusement. She glanced at them and then at his wand and gave a disgusted sound. 

"I will kill you!" 

"You cannot kill me," the woman, replied, spreading her arms. "I'm a spirit of art, craft, and technical skill. Forget about the art and craft—I have to work under Hephaestus, and I was paid a high salary to make his creation come alive with my skill—" 

Ron lowered his wand, glaring at her. "To kill us, yeah, we understand. "

Techne narrowed her eyes at him. "Do not speak to me like that. It's an improper way to address a spirit."

"Well, almost all of the spirits we've met have been rude," Kayla remarked. "You're now on the list."

"I don't come from the underworld," she hissed. "My main responsibility is to fulfill Hephaestus' orders."

"Orders?" 

"You should be grateful," Techne replied. "Hephaestus has been waiting for this opportunity to see if your kind is worth saving. He may have favored imprisoning Hecate, but he's not foolish; he understood the consequences of her imprisonment. Don't you realize? When Hecate was imprisoned, spirits from the Underworld escaped," Techne explained.

"Why—?"

"Oh, you foolish boy," Techne shook her head. "Spirits from the Underworld have been striving to gain control while Hecate was imprisoned. They were still weak, but once they regain their power, they will do everything to deceive the gods and mortals."

"Then you must know where Hecate was imprisoned?"

"Even Hephaestus himself does not know where she was imprisoned, but it's not my duty to know," Techne said. "Well, I'm going to go. I am wasting my time."

"Wait!" Ron exclaimed, looking at Jamaica and Diego in a panic.

Techne raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Can you help get them back to Camp Half-Blood?" Ron asked.

Techne pursed her lips in disbelief. "I only take orders from Hephaestus."

"I'm not ordering you; I'm asking if you could help get them to the camp," Ron clarified.

Techne stared at him for twenty seconds before straightening up. "Well then," she said. "Follow me, and give me a minute to work."

They followed Techne, with Jamaica and Austin hoisting the Satyr up. Ron took his jacket, and they trudged deeper into the woods. Along the way, they encountered some dragon statues. As they followed a path, they came across a few people. The spirit eventually stopped by a statue of a theropod with bat-like wings, perched on a small plastic boulder rock.

Techne reached out her hand, which appeared to phase into the statue, she looked like someone fixing a broken washing machine. True to her words, it only took a minute before the dinosaur reacted, coming to life as she flapped its bat-like wings. Ron then used his wand to conjure mist.

Techne stood with them, wearing a smug expression as she gazed at her own creation.

"A-are you sure this is safe?" Jamaica asked nervously.

"All my work is safe, unless I design them otherwise," Techne replied confidently.

The dinosaur lowered its head. "Now, be on your way," she said. "I'm called back to my work."

They helped Jamaica climb onto the dinosaur's back with the Satyr. "He's brave, tell him that," Ron said to Jamaica.

The girl nodded at them but then hesitated. She asked if she would meet them at the camp. Ron responded that it depended on circumstances and told her to inform Chiron, should she meet him, that they were on their way to Keeseville and would arrive there by tomorrow. He reassured her that they were safe, so there was no need to worry.

Jamaica nodded again and let out a scream as a dinosaur soared into the sky. Techne had already vanished, leaving the three of them to exchange glances.

The three of them walked silently through the woods, too exhausted to converse. They looked like beggars who had just survived a fight with both a dinosaur and birds that could devour you down to your bones. They carried only their weapons and no money. When they came across a barbecue smokehouse, they had to quickly turn away without looking.

He couldn't even send an Iris Message to Lou since he didn't have his pouch of golden drachma; it was in his bag left behind at the Amusement Park.

Finally, they took a break by the lake. Austin was wiping his face while Kayla sat on the grass. The view was beautiful, with hills in the distance.

"What's our plan now?" Kayla asked.

Well they didn't know if they were near Keeseville yet and he had no idea how he would make his way back to New York. After resting for an hour, after an hour they resumed their journey in the late afternoon. They passed by various shops, resisting the temptation of food and desserts on display, but they walked further, they reached a small lodge with two cars parked in front. An elderly woman was sweeping the front steps with a broomstick. Just as they were about to cross the street, Ron suddenly halted.

"Ron?" Austin called.

"I have an idea," Ron exclaimed, then hurried towards the lodge where the old woman was diligently sweeping with a broomstick. He realized he should have asked Techne to bring two live dinosaurs to transport them to Keeseville within an hour and Ron tended to act impulsively, just like the others. 

They hid behind a tree, while Ron impatiently waited for the old woman to put down the broomstick. It took twenty minutes before the old woman halted in her tracks as another car pulled up. She quickly left the broom to assist her new customers.

"What's our plan?" Kayla asked, confused.

"Wait here," Ron instructed, then stealthily made his way to hide between the two parked cars while the old woman was occupied with the man from the new car.

The redhead crawled toward the lawn, grabbed the broom, and sprinted back to his two siblings, heart racing.

"Um," Austin scratched his head.

Ron pulled out his wand. "We need to fly," he declared and tapped the broomstick in his hand. He mounted the broom, ran a bit, and raised his feet, but he fell onto the grass, letting out a yelp.

"Ron!" Kayla and Austin shouted.

"No, it's okay! I'm okay!" Ron assured them, dropping the broom. "Up!" he commanded, but the broomstick didn't budge.

Ron pointed his wand at the broomstick, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He focused on channeling his magic to the tip of his wand. When he felt the energy was ready, he shouted a loud "Up!" The broomstick shot towards him, and he caught it with one hand.

"Whoa!" Austin exclaimed.

"I enchanted it," Ron said, a sense of amazement in his voice. "But it might not be faster than other brooms, and it's temporary, I think."

"So, will we all fit on it?" Kayla inquired.

Ron climbed onto the broom. "Let's give it a shot," he said. Austin mounted behind him, and then Kayla joined, all of them gripping onto Ron.

"Okay, we can do this," the redhead reassured himself, focusing on their balance.

"Ah! My broom!" They heard the old woman shout, causing Ron to kick off the ground. The broomstick shot into the sky, making them all scream as it veered toward the lodge. The old woman looked up, her dentures dropping from her mouth in surprise.

They continued to scream as Ron struggled to gain control, but their combined weight was too much for the broom, and it couldn't ascend.

"You can do it, you can do it!" Ron encouraged the broomstick as he made every effort to ascend. The redhead held onto the broomstick tightly. Slowly but surely, the broomstick started to climb higher and higher, and then suddenly, they broke through the air, causing Kayla and Austin to scream again. Ron couldn't see what lay ahead; there was too much wind battering them.

Until they found themselves just below the clouds, and Ron managed to steady himself on the broomstick. He looked down and saw mountains and a lake below. It was a breathtaking view, but they're too focus on staying alive.

Austin and Kayla clung tightly to Ron, all three of them feeling the intense pressure of riding the broomstick. It was different on riding a pegasus or a hippogriff; the space was too cramped, and the broomstick kept bouncing up and down, making them yelp in surprise.

They soared over the lake and toward the mountains. "Are we there yet?" Austin shouted from behind.

"I don't know! I don't know where we are!" Ron cried out.

"What—what is that?" Kayla screamed.

"What!?"

"There! Up ahead!"

Ron and Austin looked ahead and saw a dark cloud forming with thunder in the distance. It was just a portion of it, but Ron panicked.

"Keeseville," He told them.

Ron had a sinking feeling as he urged the broomstick to pick up speed. Their eyes squinted against the fierce wind, and they huddled lower on the broom. As they reached the area, they felt drops of water on them, and the air was so strong it nearly bent them over, but they managed to descend.

"Do you guys see anything?" Ron shouted over the wind.

"No! I can't see—ack!" Austin yelled when a tree branch hit them.

"I'm gonna go down! Hold on!" He said, gripping the broomstick tightly and swiftly heading below the roofs of the nearby houses. Everyone screamed as they descended towards the lake, approached a cliff, and then Ron steered left towards the woods.

"Ron! Go right!" Kayla screamed, but it was too late before Ron could veer to the right; the broomstick continued straight into the wall of one of house there, and they were all thrown back by a sudden force. 

Ron rolled onto the wet ground as rain continued to fall. He blinked at the darkening sky above, groaning as he tried to get up. Something on his head made him wince, and when he touched it, he saw blood. He groaned loudly and struggled to sit up, feeling dizzy.

"Kayla? Austin?" He called out.

"Ron! Ron, over here!" He heard Kayla's voice. He hurried toward her and found Kayla and Austin, both looking worsevlike him. Ron hugged them tightly in the rain, and the three of them shivered in the cold.

"We need shelter," Ron stated.

"We don't have any money," Austin replied, clutching his injured arm.

"Austin, are you okay!?" Ron exclaimed, quickly checking Austin's arm.

"It's not too bad. Just broken," Austin hissed in pain.

Suddenly, a blinding light appeared in front of them. They squinted through it and saw a tall guy standing there, wearing a raincoat over his T-shirt, which seemed strange with runes written on it. He held a flashlight, and amidst the thunder above, they could make out his face. He had brown hair, green eyes, and a freckled face, and he looked exhausted. Ron could sense anxiety emanating from him.

"Who are you?" He asked, voice raspy.

Ron stared at him. "Alabaster?"

The guy tilted his head in confusuon, asking, "How do you know?"

"We need your help."

🔆

The house appeared quite ordinary to Ron. Alabaster had them sit on the couch in the living room. At first, they hesitated, as the place looked clean and well-kept. However, Alabaster told them to make themselves at home as he disappeared into a room. He soon returned with towels and bandages as Ron tended to Austin's injury and applied a bandage.

They huddled together for warmth while Alabaster went to the kitchen to prepare some cups of tea and a large bowl of cookies.

Alabaster watched with amusement as the three of them immediately pounced on the cookies. Being the only adult in the room, he found it entertaining to observe the kids devouring the treats. He settled on one of the couches with his own cup of tea and sipped it leisurely.

"This is Keeseville," he began, "How did you three manage to come here?"

Ron, who was sipping his tea, relaxed a little and looked at the guy. "With some help," the redhead replied."How did you know we were just outside your house?" 

"I've set up a defensive magical barrier around my house. Anything that hits it forcefully alerts me. I was in the middle of my research when I sensed it," Alabaster explained. "So I checked and found the three of you. Well, I'd appreciate an explanation. It's been a while since... I've had any visitors," he said with a hint of curiosity.

"Do you live alone?" Austin questioned.

"Ah, no," Alabaster replied with a smile. "I live with someone, but he's quite busy, up on the second floor, and I'd rather not trigger his arrogant side," he added.

"I know him," Ron said, setting his cup down carefully. "Dr. Claymore, right?"

Alabaster hummed behind his cup of tea, "I take it, you already knew who I am?"

"Lou told me. Do you...know her?"

"Lou Ellen Blackstone? I do. I'm aware of her, my sister," he replied. "I knew my mother had been talking to her about me, as she did that same to me about her, but I refused to listen because I didn't want to hear anything about the camp. However, my mother insisted, so I had no choice, well, I know you're aware of what I did before."

"We do," Kayla said. "But we don't really hate you..."

"Hate or not, it doesn't matter," Alabaster said. "It's been strange weather outside, don't you think?"

"Alabaster," Ron began, trying not to get distracted, "Do you know what happened to Hecate?"

Alabaster took a sip of his tea. Despite his formal appearance and calm posture, his eyes revealed his anxiety about his mother. "I was told that she was imprisoned," He replied. "A stupid move, if I were a god."

"It's true," Ron confirmed. "Wait, how did you—"

"My mother spoke to me before she was imprisoned. Not only was she thrown in prison, but her role was taken as well," Alabaster explained, clicking his tongue. "Hades was furious because Hecate is the one who keeps the Underworld separated from the mortal realm and guides souls and spirits. She's the gatekeeper, the threshold, and yet Zeus removed her from that position."

"How is that even possible?" Austin questioned. "Can Zeus just do that...easily?"

"Hades could have, but Zeus somehow made him do it," Alabaster explained.

"How do you even know about all this...?" 

The guy's green eyes met his blue ones as Alabaster looked at him. "The spirits told me that when Hecate was imprisoned, some of the spirits who were cast into the Underworld escaped through the gates. Now, they're trying to regain their power in the mortal world."

"But weren't they just personifications?" Ron asked.

"What you first see isn't their true form. They consume the souls of humans and inhabit their bodies, gaining power and control," Alabaster explained.

"So...Mormo and Dolus," Kayla began, "just stole a mortal body?"

"Ah, you've met a Mormo?" Alabaster remarked. "They are attendants of my mother in the Underworld, spirits that delight in feasting on the souls of children but fear inhabiting the bodies of children."

"Gee, no wonder Mormo is a grandmother," Austin remarked.

"Yeah, but...we've met Techne. She's a spirit too," Ron mentioned.

"She's not from the Underworld. Spirits thrown into the Underworld don't return with their original forms. Techne, however, was under Hephaestus's control as she worked with him, so her true form remained unchanged," Alabaster sighed, and put down his cup, and leaned on the back of his couch. 

Ron placed his hand on his lap, "Do you happen to know where Hecate is?"

"Not precisely," he replied, "But I can sense her presence below."

Ron then gazed at him, his eyes widening. Could this be the reason for Hades' anger? Zeus had taken away Hecate's role. They were still gods, after all. The Underworld was the only realm that could confine gods, and Hades didn't want to use his domain for this purpose. But Zeus had somehow compelled him to do so. 

Ron rose from his seat and declared, "The Underworld. That's where she is."

Alabaster, while idly tracing his finger along the armchair of his couch, "Are you on a quest?"

"Yeah," Ron affirmed. "I don't understand what makes Zeus and the other gods support this decision,"

"Artemis doesn't support it," Kayla started, "Neither do Hermes, Dad, or Athena."

"That's why," Alabaster replied, "You must change the gods' perception of you."

"Their perception?"

"Only four gods have opposed it; the rest had no alternative—"

"But they hates us!" Ron interjected. "They have a strong dislike for witches and wizards—"

"Then show them your capabilities," Alabaster declared firmly, rising from his seat. "They have no option but to align with Zeus's; his words must have deceived them."

"Deceived them...?" Ron settled back into his chair, deep in thought.

"Don't you see, Zeus isn't stupid. He wouldn't do such a thing unless someone made him do it."

Then he recalled Dolus and the lyre, the gift he had received along with the promise of victory if he used it. "Not only has this someone had managed to made Zeus do it, but they've also been helping and manipulating the spirits that escaped from the Underworld," Ron stated.

Alabaster agreed, "Now you get it."

Ron didn't say anything for an hour while Alabaster let them stay in his house during the storm. Then, Alabaster returned to the room with three golden drachmas and a book.

"I assume your first part of quest ends here?" Alabaster asked.

Ron nodded weakly, saying, "Yeah, I need to return to Lou and fill her in on everything." He didn't realize that his siblings had dozed off together on the couch, he accepted the golden drachma from Alabaster and gave a nod before heading to the nearby bathroom. Inside, he summoned a rainbow and used it to contact Lou.

Lou's face appeared on the rainbow, her hair disheveled, mud on her face, and bags under her tired eyes. She appeared as though she hadn't slept in a week, which was likely the case, given the crowded noises behind her.

"Lou?" Ron called out.

Lou's head snapped towards his voice, and her eyes widened. "Ron!" she exclaimed frantically. "What happened? How are you? Are you okay? Where are you?"

"I have the answers. I'm fine, I'm at Alabaster's house," Ron reassured her. "Where are you?"

"I'm at the Quidditch World Cup. We're trying to strengthen the barrier since you left on your quest," she replied wearily. "Is Zeus...?" She left the question hanging.

"Yeah, he's aware of everything," Ron confirmed. "Someone informed him, which is why. We only have a few minutes, and I think I'll need to explain this to your siblings and the rest...Are they there?"

"Freya and the others? Yes, they're here to help us," Lou replied. "I think you need to come here!"

Suddenly, he heard a loud explosion and screams behind Lou, causing Ron to widen his eyes."We need your help!" she exclaimed. "Fetch a chariot; we can't let them kill mortals!"

"What—but, my stuff is back at an amusement park—" Ron tried to explain.

Lou's face brightened as if a light bulb had lit up above her head. "Alabaster! He could help you. He can teleport anything through the mist; he's the most powerful child of Hecate with a wealth of magic. Tell him that we're not angry with him, that he's the best," she urged. "I don't care what the gods say about him, exile or not, he's still my brother!"

"Lou—"

"Tell him what's happening here!"

Ron stared at him and nodded determinedly. "You got it, there's something I need to tell with him as well. We'll see you there."