My hair whipped around in the freezing, refreshing wind along the highway shoulder. I blew out a breath, watching the mist plume into the air, and looked over at Clarisse, who was staring right back at me.
"Are you an idiot?" she asked.
"Why? Just enjoying the breeze," I said, throwing my hands up in the air.
"I can't believe you're the leader. Seriously, that mummy must have gotten confused," Clarisse said, kicking a small chunk of ice.
"Honestly, I wanted to train too, but Chiron probably wasn't gonna let me. And the gods... well, they might not like it," I noted, glancing over at Luke, who was standing still, staring intently down the highway.
"Caleb, did you offend the lady of Cabin Two?" Luke asked, making Clarisse raise an eyebrow.
"Not that I can remember," I replied.
"Argus was acting weird and Chiron was anxious. I don't know what we're about to run into, but I've got a bad feeling about this," Luke noted.
"Same here," I said, listening to the wind whistle through the moody-looking trees.
"You two are pathetic. Seriously, just don't get in my way whenever a fight breaks out," Clarisse mocked, staring me down. I simply flashed her a thumbs-up, which just pissed her off even more.
I caught the sound of an engine rumbling. A yellow bus began to pull up, coming to a halt right in front of us and kicking up a cloud of snow to the sides that caught us dead-on.
"Dammit, this moron doesn't know how to drive," Clarisse muttered, coughing as she brushed the snow off her clothes and watched the rusty door swing open with a sharp click. I felt a wave of warm air reeking of fuel waft out.
"Finally! Move it, idiot," Clarisse exclaimed, glaring at me. Man, give me patience with this irritated girl.
"Yeah, let's get on before some monster shows up," I replied, stepping up the rusty metal stairs. I checked out the driver: a bald guy wearing sunglasses despite the snow-white sky, staring at me while chewing a piece of gum at a slow, annoying rhythm.
"What are you kids doing out in the middle of nowhere?" the driver asked.
"Well, we were staying at a summer camp—"
"Mind your own business, baldy, and let's go. We're in a hurry," Clarisse interrupted, making the man pop his bubble as he stared at her like she was a total moron.
"My apologies. She has ADHD, you know, and well... some serious anger issues. I'm really sorry, sir. Can we come aboard?" I responded in a polite tone. The man stared at me, then at Clarisse, but the second he saw Luke give a nod...
"He looks of age, so it's none of my business. Get in," the driver said. I just nodded.
I pulled the envelope Argus gave me out of my jacket pocket. Sifting through the coins, I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill.
"Three tickets," I said, tapping the bill onto the iron counter next to the cash box.
"I can see that. Where to?" the driver asked without breaking his chewing rhythm, his hand hovering over the ticket dispenser. Clarisse started grumbling while Luke stared her down to keep her from thrusting her spear into the man.
"Port Authority Bus Terminal. Manhattan," I said, keeping my voice steady, trying my best to ignore Clarisse.
The man gave a single nod, took the bill, tossed my change into the aluminum tray, and spit out three thin paper tickets. I grabbed the papers and the change, clearing the way.
Luke stepped in right behind me, squeezing his shoulders so his bag wouldn't catch on the turnstile, while Clarisse brought up the rear. Her shoulder slammed hard against the iron frame, making the bus's structure creak loudly. She locked a glare on the driver, who visibly flinched.
"Excuse me," she said in a threatening voice. I just let out a sigh. We walked down the aisle to the very back rows, where a faint yellow light flickered. There were five passengers scattered throughout the vehicle, some sleeping and the rest just freezing us out.
I took a window seat, where the glass was completely fogged up from the winter cold. The bus gave a violent shudder, the engine roaring loudly as we finally hit the road. I kept a sharp eye out to see if a monster... there wasn't much room in here. I slotted my backpack right between my legs while relaxing my neck, trying to engage my Seismic Sense, but an absolute monster of a migraine exploded in my head, making me dizzy. I immediately stopped using it, figuring it wasn't a bright idea to use it inside a moving bus. I rubbed my ear, feeling the irritation.
Clarisse was on the other side, sprawled across her seat like she owned the entire space, clutching her spear between her shins. She leaned her forehead against the glass, trying to look outside, which was pretty much impossible.
"Hey, little flower?" Clarisse said, not even bothering to turn her head. "Are you just gonna stare at the snow or are you gonna explain how we're supposed to climb up to the mortal lands of the North?"
"Well, you can't see a single thing out there," I said, running a hand over the freezing glass. "But something feels off. Chiron said the gods sent a message, that there was something in New Jersey," I continued, looking over at Luke, who was watching me.
"Do you know anything about that, Mr. Veteran? Because unlike Chiron, the Oracle specified north," I asked Luke, who let out a sigh.
"Unlike Chiron, the Oracle never misses. If she said north, it means heading up New York State toward the deep, isolated forests of the Adirondack Mountains, or crossing into neighboring states like Connecticut, Vermont, or all the way up to the Canadian border," Luke answered, making me glance over at Clarisse, who was twirling her hair.
"I couldn't care less where we go, as long as neither of you gets in my way," Clarisse said. Luke shot me a look as if to say, Congrats on picking her.
"Well, if the Oracle said north, we're going north. The route to the northern border leaves from Manhattan," I responded, tapping my index finger against my denim knee. "Once we hit Port Authority, we'll catch an interstate bus straight headed North. Vermont or the Canadian border—we'll figure it out once we get there."
"Works for me, you're the leader," Luke said, smiling with a thumbs-up. Clarisse just let out a scoff.
"The second we step into Port Authority, even if you're somewhat tough, little flower, the scent of the three of us in a city packed with mortals is an all-you-can-eat buffet for monsters," Clarisse noted excitedly.
"Is that so? Don't tell me you're looking to fight every single one of them," I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Duh! Don't worry, I'll be protecting you, leader," Clarisse replied with a smirk, already getting on my nerves.
"You're an idiot, but we need a plan. We can't just engage every monster we cross paths with; we don't have infinite stamina," I told her, staring her down.
"He's right, we aren't gods. If a horde shows up, we run. Got it, Clarisse?" Luke spoke up, looking at her dead seriously, which only made Clarisse flash a mocking grin.
"If a horde shows up, we use the crowd for cover. We catch the fastest bus North and get out of sight. If any monster makes a move, we drag the fight into the alleys," I said seriously, looking at both of them. Luke gave a nod while Clarisse just snorted, her nose up in the air.
After a few minutes of riding in silence, I peered out the window trying to get a visual. I could see the trees starting to give way to the first overpasses illuminated by yellow lights. We were entering the city.
In a discreet movement, I reached down and tightened the strap of the backpack crammed between my thighs. I looked over at Clarisse and Luke, who were already gearing up to disembark. The bus finally coasted down the underground ramp, the tires screeching loudly on the smooth concrete until it pulled up next to one of the dark platforms of Manhattan's Port Authority Terminal. The air brakes let out a deafening hiss. A few seconds later, the door swung open.
I stood up first, adjusting the weight of the bag on my back. I slid past Clarisse, who was pushing herself up, and Luke, who let out a yawn.
"Let's stay sharp," I murmured under my breath.
We stepped off the bus. Clarisse slotted herself to my left, striking the butt of her wrapped spear against the ground with a sharp click, letting out a heavy sigh of relief as she escaped the bus's stale air. Luke covered the rear, his blue eyes already scanning every single corner of the platform.
We started going up the escalators and entered the main concourse. Port Authority was a massive place of concrete and glass, filled with a freezing draft and the smell of cheap coffee, stale pretzel grease, and cigarette smoke. The crowd was moving in a frantic rush, wrapped in heavy dark wool coats, scarves covering their chins, and beanies pulled down to their eyebrows. Nobody was paying attention to us, but the noise was incredibly grating and made me feel slightly weak—it must be a nature deity thing, since this place is a total concrete jungle. The muffled announcements from the boarding loudspeakers began to echo.
I walked at a fast pace through the central corridor of the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan, pushing my way through the crowd and heading straight toward the Greyhound long-distance ticket counters for the North route on I-95. I kept my fists buried deep inside my jacket pockets.
After a few minutes of fast walking, I used my Seismic Sense as much as I could—I didn't want to be caught off guard. Everyone's footsteps felt like ants crawling inside my brain: every single step, every rolling suitcase, every kid running around, all vibrating through the concrete beneath my feet.
Until, seven meters away, I registered a heavy impact. I stopped, feeling it again—it wasn't human. It was a disproportionate weight, massive and fast. It kept disappearing and reappearing further ahead, almost like it was teleporting. I glanced toward the side arrival corridor. Holy shit, this just turned into Solo Leveling.
"Fuck, monster incoming! Clarisse, flank right! Luke, watch the rear, another one might pop out of the dark! The bastard teleports through shadows!" I called out, already tensing my wrist. My axe materialized with a low ring of metal against metal, the handle warming up in my palm as if it were alive.
"Hellhound," Luke said, drawing his sword in a smooth, almost silent motion as he took the rear, his eyes already scanning every dark corner of the corridor. Clarisse, wearing a grin that showed zero fear, ripped her spear out with an electric crackle that shredded her burlap wrapping, blue sparks jumping and illuminating her face for a split second.
The Hellhound twisted its body, unleashing a breath of sulfur into the air. Its eyes locked onto me with a faint glow—I found it strange, as if I were its primary target. It tensed its hind legs, its entire body coiling for a second pounce.
Before it could leap, Clarisse let out an excited battle cry and charged ahead. She advanced straight down the right flank and unleashed a violent thrust, the celestial bronze tip of her electric spear flashing brightly toward the monster's left eye. The strike landed fast and with enough force to twist the hound's head to the side, completely aborting the pounce it was setting up.
The hound wasn't stupid. And it didn't seem to fall for brainless frontal attacks. I let out a low growl, and before Clarisse could pull her spear back, it vanished into the shadow cast by a concrete pillar.
"Clarisse, behind you!" I yelled, but she reacted on pure instinct—I guess being a daughter of Ares has its perks after all—spinning her body and raising the spear to parry. The monster reappeared exactly where I sensed it, its jaws snapping shut just inches from her neck, its teeth brushing against her wool scarf.
Luke moved at a speed I could barely track. He crossed three paces in a single step, his sword slicing through the air with a whistle, slashing the hound across its back. The celestial bronze seared its black hide, making the monster howl in agony and leap backward, creating three meters of distance.
The hound shook itself, its fur bristling, and its crimson eyes locked right back onto me. It began to circle us, vanishing and reappearing in different shadows, as if it were testing our defense.
I tried to use my Seismic Sense to track it, but a massive migraine exploded in my head with even greater force. The surrounding crowd, the footsteps, the panic, everything turned into a deafening roar in my brain. My vision blurred slightly.
It took advantage of my temporary weakness.
It vanished again. I registered a violent vibration right beneath my feet, coming from the front. I raised my axe instinctively, but it was faster. It reappeared a single meter away, lunging with all its weight, claws extended straight for my chest.
I was thrown backward, crashing hard onto the concrete floor. The air was knocked clean out of my lungs. The weight of the hound pinned me down, its jaws wide open just inches from my face, its sulfur breath burning my eyes. I held the shaft of my axe horizontally against its neck, blocking it from biting down, but its strength was absurd—my arms shook, giving in inch by inch.
Clarisse screamed in rage. She ran and leapt onto the monster's back, driving her spear with all her might into its right flank. The weapon's electricity crackled violently, causing the hound to writhe in pain. It unleashed a loud bark that echoed through the terminal, but it wouldn't let go of me.
Luke capitalized on the distraction. He rolled across the floor, slipping beneath the monster's belly, and delivered a precise upward slash, cutting into the hound's stomach. The monster howled even louder, its weight lifting slightly off my chest.
I managed to gain some leverage. I kicked the hound's chest with both legs, using every ounce of strength I had, launching it backward. I pushed myself up quickly, coughing, tasting blood in my mouth. The axe was still in my hand, gripped tight.
The hound was wounded, golden dust bleeding from the bronze slashes. But it didn't back down—it was furious, yet it seemed to be analyzing the situation. It locked its eyes on the three of us, calculating. Then, all of a sudden, it focused on Clarisse. She was on her feet but wheezing, completely unaware of a superficial gash on her arm.
"This son of a bitch is smart," I said, glancing at Luke, but the hound just growled as if it understood me.
"Looks like it," Luke replied.
With a deep snarl, the hound lunged at her, but it was a feint. Midway through, it vanished into a shadow and reappeared on my right flank, slashing down with its paw. I dodged, but not completely—its claws shredded my jacket sleeve and tore into my forearm, leaving four deep marks that burned like fire.
I roared in pain but didn't give an inch. I swung my axe with everything I had, striking the hound's front leg. The bone cracked with a sickening snap. The monster howled, balancing awkwardly on three legs. I guess I've gotten way too dependent on my Seismic Sense; everything happening around us was a complete blur.
Clarisse capitalized on the moment. She charged forward with her spear lowered, putting her entire body weight behind the strike, and drove the celestial bronze tip straight into the hound's chest, right between its ribs. The electricity erupted again, surging through the monster's frame.
Luke didn't waste a second. He spun his sword in his hand and, in a smooth, surgical motion, sliced the hellhound's throat clean open.
The monster let out one last low bark, almost a whimper. Its body began to dissolve into shimmering golden dust, cascading onto the concrete floor like fine sand. The three of us stood there in silence for a few seconds, breathing heavily, staring at the empty space where it had just been. I triggered my Seismic Sense, expecting the same sensation. But then I felt it. The ground was vibrating. Those weren't casual footsteps. There were multiple signatures. Heavy, almost synchronized, coming from every direction.
My blood ran ice-cold.
"Fuck," Luke murmured, reading the expression on my face.
"How many?" Clarisse asked, dropping back into her stance, spear ready, blood dripping down her arm and splashing onto the floor.
I clamped my eyes shut, ignoring the migraine that felt like it was trying to split my skull in half. I tracked every single vibration, every heavy mass.
"Why the hell didn't you mention you could feel the damn ground? I think the team had a right to know," Clarisse questioned, glaring at me with rage, but I just froze her out.
"Six," I answered, snapping my eyes open and looking at the surrounding shadows that were beginning to warp. "Maybe seven. And they're moving fast."
The crowd around us kept rushing past, some looking anxious, others completely oblivious. We were totally isolated in the middle of the crowd, surrounded, and the terminal was a breeding ground for shadows.
"Dammit," Clarisse snorted, tightening her grip on her spear. "I can take two at once."
"No, idiot," I whispered, yanking her arm and quickening my pace toward the south wing. "We only fight if there's no way out. We aren't taking down seven hellhounds in the middle of a crowd, let alone without any room to move."
Luke was already ahead, carving a path through the commuters, his sword still drawn but concealed beneath his coat. He checked his shoulder, his blue eyes darting frantically.
"Emergency exit at the end of the hall, right side," he said in a low voice. "Less light, but it dumps right onto the street. If we can make it there, we can melt into the sidewalk."
Before I could even reply, a shadow next to a newsstand expanded. A hound materialized, larger than the first, its crimson eyes glowing as it unleashed a loud roar. The mortals nearby flinched for a split second, but the Mist made them see nothing more than a large, angry stray, and they immediately went back to walking. My axe reverted back into a bracelet on my wrist.
"Run!" I yelled.
Clarisse didn't hesitate: she surged forward and delivered a lightning-fast strike to the hound's face, not intending to kill, but to blind it for a moment. The tip of her spear grazed the monster's snout, making it howl and recoil. We barreled right past it. Through my Seismic Sense, I could feel every single step of the other hounds closing in, the migraine throbbing harder with every passing second.
The corridor felt endless. The people moved like turtles. I picked up a hound appearing to our left, and another trailing behind, closing the gap fast.
"Right!" I warned, yanking Clarisse behind a pillar.
"Watch it, imbecile," Clarisse snapped.
A hound materialized exactly where she had been a fraction of a second before, its claws slamming into the concrete and cracking it. It growled, locking its gaze on us, but the dense crowd seemed to be hindering its movements as well.
"This son of a bitch won't quit," Clarisse grunted, trying to wrench her arm out of my grip to attack.
"No!" Luke grabbed her other shoulder, his grip rock-solid. "If you stop, they'll box us in. Keep running."
"The only reason I'm running is because you guys asked. I'm no coward," Clarisse barked in anger.
We pushed further ahead. I could feel the hounds fanning out, trying to cut off our escape routes. They were smart—they knew we were trying to break for it, and they were locking down the exits. I had no fucking clue they were this intelligent.
"The main exit up ahead is blocked," I said, picking up two heavy vibrations waiting right there. "They're waiting for us."
Luke scanned our surroundings rapidly and spotted a sign: Service Corridor - Upper Level Access. The letters on the sign began to blur and dance around.
"Through there," he decided, abruptly shifting directions.
We ducked into a narrower corridor with less foot traffic, concrete walls, and flickering lights. The harsh smell of lemon and heavy-duty cleaning products hit us hard. I felt a hound tearing down the hall behind us, fast, and another one materializing right in front.
"We're cornered," Clarisse murmured, finally looking a bit concerned, though she still seemed hyped up for a brawl.
"Not yet," I replied, looking toward a metal door right next to us marked Storage.
Luke caught on instantly. He sprinted to the door and yanked the handle—locked. He rammed his shoulder against it hard, once, twice. The door gave way with a loud snap.
"Inside, quick!"
We scrambled inside. It was a tiny room packed with cardboard boxes, cleaning supplies, and a metal ladder in the corner leading to a ceiling hatch. I slammed the door shut behind us, shoving a heavy crate against it.
A fraction of a second later, we caught the sound of claws scratching against the metal, followed by a muffled bark from the other side.
"That's not gonna hold them for long," Clarisse said, looking around.
"It doesn't need to," I replied, pointing to the ladder. "Up we go. The upper level has more light and more people. They won't be able to use the shadows as easily where it's wide open."
Luke climbed up first, opening the hatch slowly. He peeked through, then nodded his head. "Clear. Let's move."
Clarisse climbed up next, and I brought up the rear. I had barely slammed the hatch shut behind me when I heard the storage door downstairs get busted open with a loud crash. The hounds were inside.
We found ourselves in an upper-level corridor, much brighter, with a few gift shops and fast-food spots open. People were sitting down eating, and kids were running around.
"Where to now?" Clarisse asked, wiping the blood from her arm with her jacket sleeve.
I clamped my eyes shut for a second, sensing. The hounds were on the lower level, searching. But two of them were already moving toward the stairs, climbing up.
"We don't have much time," I said. "The exit to Eighth Avenue is at the end of this hall. If we can make it there, we hit the street. The New York snow and the crowd will help us disappear."
We started walking fast, but without breaking into a run so we wouldn't draw attention, our muscles tense and ready to react. I felt the two hounds coming up the stairs, getting closer by the second. My Seismic Sense actually felt sharper now.
"They're coming," I warned under my breath.
Right after, a shadow beneath a flickering light bulb expanded. A hound materialized right in front of us, growling. The surrounding crowd panicked, some people screaming and scrambling away.
"Luke, hold him off for a second! Clarisse, with me, let's carve a path!" I yelled.
Luke lunged forward first, his sword flashing. He delivered a swift slash to the hound's paw, making the monster recoil and howl. But the hound vanished into the shadow and reappeared right at Luke's side, snapping at his arm. Luke dodged agilely, spinning his body and landing another slash across the monster's back.
Clarisse and I sprinted through the gap that opened up. But I felt the other hound tearing after us, fast.
"Watch your back!"
Clarisse spun around instinctively, raising her spear. The hound lunged, and she drove the tip of her weapon straight into its shoulder. The monster howled, but the sheer momentum of its leap still threw her backward, sending her crashing to the floor. The hound closed in, its jaws wide open.
Without thinking, my axe materialized. I swung it with everything I had, striking the hound across the side of its head. The blow wasn't fatal, but it knocked it off balance, sending it staggering sideways.
"Get up!" I yanked Clarisse by the arm, pulling her to her feet.
Luke sprinted over to join us, having managed to break away from the other hound for a moment. "Let's go, the exit is right there!"
We ran the final few meters. The glass exit doors were right ahead, the streetlights filtering through, with the snow cascading outside.
We shoved the glass doors open with force, stepping out onto the sidewalk of Eighth Avenue. The freezing wind slapped our faces, the snow falling hard, plastering itself to our hair and clothes. The street was alive with honking cars, pedestrians rushing past, and neon signs glowing through the blizzard.
"Where to?" Clarisse yelled over the city noise.
"Anywhere far from here!" I shot back, yanking them to the left, melting into the thick crowd of heavy coats and umbrellas.
I closed my eyes for a split second, sensing. The hounds had reached the exit doors but hesitated; my nose started to bleed. The street had too much light, too many people, and the shadows were short and chaotic because of the streetlamps and cars. They probably couldn't shadow-travel with any real precision out here. I felt them pacing near the terminal entrance, trying to pick up our trail.
We kept moving fast, crossed a street, and ducked into a narrow alleyway between two towering buildings, where the snow drifted into the corners and the city noise faded a bit.
We stopped there, leaning against the brick wall, panting for breath. Clarisse let herself slide down until she was sitting on the snow-covered ground, clutching her wounded arm. Luke leaned against the opposite wall, sword still in hand, keeping his eyes glued to the mouth of the alley. I stand firm, trying to steady my breathing, my migraine still throbbing but slightly weaker now that we were clear of the terminal. I wipe the blood from my nose.
"They won't follow us out here," I said after a minute, opening my eyes. "Too many lights, too many people. They must despise places like this."
"Dammit," Clarisse muttered, glancing at the gash on my forearm, which was still bleeding a little. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," I replied, shrugging it off despite the burning sting. "You are too."
She looked at her own arm, wincing slightly, but she didn't complain. Luke slipped his sword back into its invisible sheath and walked over to us, pulling a small roll of bandages from his pack.
"This'll hold for now," he said, starting to wrap my arm first, then Clarisse's. "But we can't stay put. They're gonna keep hunting until they find us if we stick around."
I gave a nod, watching the snow blanket the entrance of the alley. The Port Authority terminal was already behind us, but the sense of danger hadn't faded. This whole thing felt incredibly off.
"You were right about running," Clarisse said suddenly, her voice low, almost a whisper, as if she absolutely loathed admitting it. "Fighting them inside there would've ended horribly."
I just let out a grunt of agreement, deciding not to tease her right now. I stood up, stretching my back, feeling every single aching muscle along with that damn headache.
"Let's move," I said, looking at the two of them. "We need to buy some hot food, we already have the cash for the next bus, and we need to vanish from this city before they figure out where we're heading."
Luke gave a nod, helping Clarisse push herself up from the ground. We stepped out of the alley, back into the crowded sidewalk, blending right back in and disappearing into the chaotic blur of a snowy New York.