“Hey,” Will interceded. “We’re all on the same side here. Let’s take a breath.”
Hazel scowled, clearly in no mood to take a breath. “Arielle did nothing wrong. Can we at least agree that she isnotthe empousa who killed Savannah’s parents?”
“Of course she isn’t,” said Frank, but then he hesitated. “I think?”
Nico shook his head. “I saw the way she reacted when Savannah accused her. She was surprised, shocked, even insulted. There’s no way it was her.”
“And yet…” Frank scanned the room. No laughter tonight. No smiles. Just hushed conversations and grim expressions. Fear hung in the air, sharp and heavier than the grease from the deep fryers.
With impeccably bad timing, Asterion and Johan chose that moment to walk into the mess hall. The whispering died. Heads turned. Asterion froze like…well, a bull in headlights. He touched Johan’s arm, perhaps about to suggest they turn around and settle for tea and cookies back at their quarters.
Nico’s anger boiled to the surface. He stood and called, “Asterion! Johan! Come join us!”
“Nico…?” Will murmured. Nico assumed the rest of his question would have beenare youtryingto start a riot?
After a moment’s hesitation, Asterion and Johan made their way to the praetors’ table. The legionnaires returned to their meals, trying to ignore the mythics. Nico had to give the Romans credit for one thing: they were more disciplined than the Greeks. If this had been Camp Half-Blood, he was pretty sure the mess hall would have devolved into name-calling, hamburger-throwing, and fistfights.
“Hello, demigods,” Asterion said, his voice somber. “I’ve told Arielle to stay within the confines of our shelter tonight. How is the girl?”
“She’s okay,” said Will. “She’s resting in her barracks right now.”
“I am glad.”
The bull-man remained standing. It was clear to Nico that Asterion didn’t know what to say or do next, any more than they did.
“Ooh,” Johan said, apparently not reading the mood. “Will Solace, I would like to eat your hamburger.”
Will pushed his tray over. “Have at it.”
Johan took a seat and rubbed his hands eagerly. “Thank you. I am learning to set boundaries!”
Nico started to say something about boundaries not extending to other people’s food, but he decided not to. It wasn’t polite to correct people. Also, at least one of them should enjoy dinner.
“Asterion,” Frank said, shifting in his chair, “there isn’t any possibility that Arielle—?”
“No.”
“You didn’t let me finish my question.”
“Because I already know what you will ask. Could Arielle indeed be the empousa who stole that young girl’s parents from her? The answer is no. Arielle is my oldest friend. She was, in fact, the one who convinced me that we did not have to hunt and kill demigods.”
Hazel gave Frank a pointed look. Nico tried not to do the same, because he didn’t want to kill the guy with pointed looks.
“I’m sorry for doubting,” Frank said.
The bull-man bowed his head. “I do not blame you, Praetor Zhang. Wewereonce monsters. Our entire purpose was to bring torment and death to your world. Many of us have returned over and over to act out this destiny. And, let us be honest, my friends and I are the exceptions. Most of our kindred in Tartarus arestillmonsters. Can we blame mortals for despising the sight of us?”
“I think I’ve been too hung up on that,” said Frank, and he bowed his head. “My anger…sometimes it gets the best of me.”
“That is understandable, demigod,” said Asterion. “We mythics are constantly in touch with our anger, and we know how easily it can distract us.”
“But I should know better,” he said, and then looked to Hazel. “Remember how hard it was for me to control my shape-shifting when I was younger?”
Her eyes went wide. “Oh.Oh. I kinda forgot about that. You’re such an expert these days!”
Johan furrowed his mighty, muscular brow, which was a sight that Nico’s mind couldn’t quite wrap itself around. “I am confused, Praetor Frank. Shape-shifting? Is that something all demigods can do?”
Frank laughed. “Very few, actually. It’s one of the neat things about being a legacy. My family is descended from Poseidon’s grandson Periclymenus, so most of us can shape-shift.”
