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The spiky crust of frost had barely started to melt when Daphne realized what she needed to do, and bolted for the kitchen door.
“Where are you going?” Orion demanded, blocking her path to stop her.
“To find out what’s going on at the other camp, and to try and buy Helen some time to get Lucas back.” She dodged around him to run outside.
She heard Castor say, “Let her go,” and continued unhindered to the beach.
As she ran to the front lines she changed her appearance to hide herself. Remembering that there were Myrmidons on Tantalus’s side, she altered her body’s scent as well.
She crested a tall rise and looked down to suss out the situation. There were far too many people massing on the beach—many hundreds of men and women. As
Daphne looked closer, she realized that more than just Scions were joining the line. Regular mortals were streaming in from the center of town and from all kinds of boats gathering out on the water to swell the ranks of the gods.
Some of the god’s soldiers were even beginning to flank Orion’s soldiers to the south and west. Out on the water, Daphne saw all kinds of boats coming in to shore. Yachts, fishing vessels, even little rowboats were joining Tantalus to fight for Olympus. Sure, most of the new recruits were full mortals, and scores of them could be easily mowed down by a handful of armored Scions, but the loss of life would be staggering. Why would a full mortal even consider fighting in this war? It didn’t make sense.
Daphne got closer and noticed that the mortals all moved in a stiff and unnatural way, like puppets. When she got closer still, she saw open eyes and dead looks on all their faces. Daphne cringed. It was like they were all zombies.
Or hypnotized.
“Hypnos,” Daphne mumbled to herself. Hypnos, the god of the trancelike state in which people can be easily controlled—was obviously working with the Olympians.
It didn’t surprise her that the Olympians were making the small gods like Hypnos help the Twelve. The small gods couldn’t fight and kill mortals, but they still could use their talents to help Olympus win. Now that Olympus was open, the small gods would have to deal with the Olympians for the rest of eternity unless Helen managed to send them all to Tartarus. Helen had managed it with Ares, but Daphne could see that the small gods were not so certain Helen could do it with Zeus. They were hedging their bets by supporting Olympus.
The army of hypnotized humans coming by land and by sea was just the start. Daphne thought through all the different small gods and knew that bigger horrors awaited Helen’s loyal defenders. There were true monsters left in the world. Daphne had seen a few of them in her lifetime, and she knew that Zeus wouldn’t hesitate to unleash them.
Daphne sprinted past the hypnotized throngs, moving too fast for their dazed eyes to see even in broad daylight. She had to know if the gods were planning a war of mythical proportions, and if they were, she had to find a way to either slow it down or to at least warn Helen about what was coming.
Changing her face to match one of the Hundred Cousins, Daphne strode through the rapidly growing camp, searching the tents as quickly as she could for the only people she could ask for information. Finally, she heard the familiar voice she sought and rushed toward it.
“The gods couldn’t be happier about both Hector and Matt being dead,” Claire said, her tone heavy with bitterness. Daphne edged closer to the side of the tent and listened.
“They want this. They want us to kill each other until we’re all gone,” Ariadne sniffled. “This can’t be right. Matt couldn’t have known about this part. It’s like the gods are getting off on watching people who love each other fight to the death.”
“This is all wrong. We have to go, Ari. Now,” Claire whispered fearfully. “Matt got duped by the gods. And so did we.”
Daphne had heard enough. She hurried through the front flap of the tent, and saw the two girls looking at her, amazed. She allowed her face to shift back to her real one.
“I can get Claire out of here,” Daphne said quickly as they both gasped at her revealed identity. Daphne ignored their protests and talked over them. “Claire is just a mortal to them and not a threat. But Ariadne, I’m sorry. You’re a Healer, which makes you far too valuable. They can’t afford to let you stand with Helen, so you have to stay here.”
“Why should we trust you?” Claire said, a look of disgust on her face. “You drugged Mr. Hamilton!”
“Oh, that’s right, I forgot. Because neither of you have ever betrayed the people you love.” Daphne’s cold words made Claire and Ariadne shrink back.
“It’s not like that,” Ariadne said in a hushed tone. Daphne ignored her, knowing that everything Ariadne said from that point on would just be an excuse for her behavior, not a solution to the problem.
“What have you learned to help Helen’s cause since you joined the wrong side?” Daphne asked impatiently.
Claire and Ariadne looked at each other, conferring with their eyes. Claire was the first one to speak.
“A lot,” Claire admitted. “But I don’t think I should tell you any of it.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to confide in me, Claire. But if I brought you to Orion, would you tell him what you’ve learned?” Daphne held her hands out plaintively.
“Yes,” Claire said, nodding her head in a definite motion. “What about Ariadne?”
“Don’t worry about me, Claire. My father is here with me. Tell Jason . . .” Ariadne paused as her eyes dredged up another round of tears. “I don’t know. Make something up for me.”
“Okay,” Claire responded with a defeated shrug. “But I doubt he’ll listen to me ever again.”
