“This way, sir.” The man said with a bright smile which seemed to contradict the tragicness of recent events. Hunter followed the man, carrying Philippa in his arms, through the lobby toward an elevator on the opposing wall. Hunter glanced around. There were hundreds of people milling around a plethora of game machines, paying Hunter and the parade of injured no mind. Some of them kids, running around playing video games or racing each other to the next ride they were going to do. Adults, relaxing with some leisurely bowling, gaining some piece of mind away from their rabid children. Other people absorbed into casino games. Slots. Roulette. Blackjack. Hunter felt slight movement as the previously limp Philippa seemed to shift slightly. He wasn’t sure if it was his mind tricking him, showing him that she was okay or if she actually was okay. Either way, she needed to get fixed up.
“Can we maybe hurry this along, please?” Hunter insisted, looking at the man with pleading eyes. He nodded and picked up the pace to the elevator where they got on. The man pressed the button for the top floor and handed him two plastic cards.
“These are your room keys and cash cards. We, here, at the Lotus casino want you to have the most fun and enjoyment as possible, so if those cards run out of money please see one of us and we’ll take care of it. If you go to the garage you’ll find your pegasi there as soon as you’re ready to leave.” The man’s brilliant smile almost distracted Hunter. It seemed inappropriate considering the state of the two other people in the elevator were in, but it was comforting in a way. Reassuring. Hunter felt happy to be there for a second before remembering what he needed to do. He needed to make sure Philippa was okay. There was chatter from the man’s walkie-talkie and he listened before barking out a quick response. “Our best healers are working on your pegasi and there are a couple waiting in your room for you and your girlfriend. Your pegasi should be back in the sky in a few hours.” He said as the elevator dinged to a stop and the doors open. “Right this way, please.”
“Come on, Philippa. Wake up.” Hunter whispered to the unconscious girl in his arms. He followed the man, but he didn’t really pay attention as the man explained some of the features of the casino. He lead them through some hallways before stopping at room 1121. The door was open. Hunter walked right inside and quickly laid Philippa down on the bedspread before turning his attention to the other people in the room. “We were attacked by Stymphalian birds and I’m not sure how injured she is, but she passed out.” Hunter said before feeling a pain in his back. In hurrying to get her taken care of, he had forgotten about his own injuries.
“Sir, why don’t you have a seat? Darren will take care of your girlfriend and I’ll take care of you.” A woman with light brown hair that was tied up into a bun said. She was wearing a loose sweater and trousers that seemed to either fit her badly or be made to not flatter her in anyway. Hunter looked over at Darren who had greased back blonde hair and was wearing a red cardigan with a large ‘A’ on the back that seemed to be stitched on. They were an odd pairing, but if they could heal then Hunter didn’t really care. “Could you take off your shirt, please?” Hunter nodded and pulled off his shirt, gasping as the blood that had dried it to his back. He pulled it over his head and took a deep breath as he leaned forward, giving the woman a view of his biggest wound. “That’s quite the wound you have…what was your name, sir?”
“Hunter. Just Hunter.” Hunter said, groaning a little as she washed the area around the large gash in his back.
“I’m Helen. Nice to meet you.” Hunter nodded and cringed as she continued washing it. She stood straight and pulled out a familiar canteen. Hunter watched as she poured nectar onto a cloth and prepared to apply it to his back.
“Ummm…Don’t do that.” Hunter said, backing away slightly. She looked at him oddly.
“It’s just nectar. You know Nectar, right? It heals demigods like us.” Hunter sighed.
“I’m not a demigod.” Hunter said with a nod. She froze for a second and opened her mouth to speak, but soon closed it.
“Then what were…So you don’t have a godly parent?” Helen asked quietly, almost as if she were breaking a rule or something. Hunter shrugged.
“Nope. I’m a mortal. Well, immortal, actually.” Her eyes widened. “It’s a really long story.” She cleared her throat and nodded, trying to refocus on her job. She set the cloth down and brushed her hand off on her jeans before placing her hand on Hunter’s head. Hunter took a deep breath and closed his eyes, familiar with the typical demigod healing process.
“Απόλλωνα, προσεύχομαι να σας ζητήσει να σας θεραπεύσει αυτό το άτομο από τις πληγές του.” She muttered, tightening her hand a little. Hunter winced a little as he felt his wounds close into little white scars, only adding to the many preexisting scars that riddled his body. She took a step back and leaned against the wall, catching her breath. Hunter felt better, but he was suddenly tired. Typical of being just healed. He took a deep breath and examined the scar on the palm of his hand, now just a white scar surrounded in dried blood.
“Thanks, Helen.” Hunter said with a small smile before hearing a soft moan come from Philippa as Darren stepped away. Hunter stood up quickly and hurried over to where she was lying. “How is she?” Hunter asked nervously as he softly brushed some hair out of her face.
“She’ll be okay. She just needs some rest.” Darren said, taking a deep breath. “You could probably use some too. However, if you’re feeling okay, please take part in the games and activities in the lobby.” Darren said with a smile as he collected his things and stood by the door. Helen took her place next to him. Hunter nodded and sighed, looking down at Philippa.
“Thank you.” Hunter said with a nod as he looked up at the two healers. “Thank you.”
“We’ll let you know when your pegasi are ready to go.” They nodded and quietly exited, closing the door behind them. Hunter sighed and looked around the room. It was huge. There were several TVs each with a game system attached. A snack bar and fridge, fully stocked. Everything someone could want in this room. This is what Hunter imagined when he heard campers talking about their winter vacations staying in nice hotels. Hunter sat down and placed Philippa’s head on his lap. She moaned a little and shifted on the couch where she was laying. “Shh…You’re okay.” Hunter said quietly as he ran his fingers through her hair. Hunter took a deep breath and leaned back in the couch, closing his eyes, feeling relaxed now that he knew Philippa was going to be okay. Before he could stop himself, he fell asleep.
Hunter found himself in the woods. Not Camp’s woods, but some other woods. Hunter took a deep breath, inhaling the smell. He wasn’t sure how, but he knew he was near the Atlas mountains in Morocco. He was surrounded by green cedar trees and foliage that seemed to be humming with life. It was quiet and peaceful, considering how treacherous the Atlas Mountains used to be with the Titan holding up the sky at the top. Hercules could have stood on that very spot. With everything that had gone on over the past day, Hunter was glad that he could take some time, even though he was sleeping, to just be in these woods where it was so calm. He was curious why his dream had brought him here though.
“I brought you here, Hunter.” Hunter turned around at the familiar voice. The very familiar voice. There, a few feet away from him, stood a girl with silver eyes and long brown hair, tied behind her head in a ponytail. She had a bow around her torso and a quiver of arrows slung on her back and at her feet was a silver wolf that made Hunter’s heart ache a little for the familiar feel of Orion’s fur.
“How can I help you, ma’am?” Hunter said, suddenly standing at attention. He knew that Artemis wasn’t happy with him and with the look she was giving him, she was making It pretty obvious. He was still a hunter though and he was obedient to her.
“I’ll be honest and say that I’m unhappy with you, right now.” She said firmly.
“Yes, ma’am. Sorry, ma’am.” Hunter said, keeping eyes straightforward.
“Yes, well, as you know we’re trying our hardest to keep Typhon down in Tartarus, but we were too late to stop all of the other monsters to escape as well. My time is limited, so listen closely. When you wake up, you need to leave the hotel and find the other hunters in Colorado. They’ll be hunting the—“
“I can’t do that, ma’am.” Hunter interrupted. Artemis fumed for a split second before stepping toward him.
“What do you mean you can’t do that? You’ll do what I say, Hunter.” Artemis said firmly, looking into his eyes intensely. Hunter swallowed and tried not to look at her.
“Ma’am, I’m in the middle of the quest. I need to return to camp and finish the quest. I can’t stop to—“
“You will do as I command, Hunter!” Artemis shouted. Her picture seemed to flicker for a moment before refocusing. “I’m ordering you to—“
“Ma’am, my friends could be in danger and camp could be in danger. That’s my friends and my home. I need to return to camp and make sure that they’re safe. I will do everything in my power to make sure of that. Whatever beast that is being hunted can wait. We have a war on our hands and I’m not going to go chasing some creature around when I could be saving my friends. The Hunters don’t need me. They’ve never even wanted me. I was welcomed at camp. It’s my home.” Hunter said, finally studying his feet. He realized how fast-approaching the time he was going to be leaving camp was. Now, he regretted it a little bit. He regretted committing. He glanced up at Artemis whose image flickered again this time more significantly.
“Return to camp.” She said quietly. “Return to camp. As soon as you’ve made sure things are safe, meet up with the hunters and join them. I don’t want to waste my time explaining this to you again. Do as I say, Hunter.” She said before flickering again and finally disappearing. Hunter felt a small pop and a hiss before rushing back to Las Vegas where he woke up to the feeling of movement on his legs. He rubbed his eyes and looked down just as Philippa was opening her eyes.
“Hey.” She said quietly, her voice a little scratchy from not using it in so long. Hunter smiled and brushed some more hair out of her face. “Where are we?” She asked, starting to sit up, but wincing and laying back down.
“We’re in a casino. The room was free and everything was free. They’re healing up Ulysses and Dixie as we speak. We’ll be back at camp in no time.” Hunter said with a smile. She smiled at him and ran a few fingers along his jaw line, making Hunter blush.
“Gee, I hope so.” She said, sitting up and looking around. “I’ll be back.” She muttered before heading off toward the bathroom. Hunter sighed a little and looked down at the floor. Now that they were both awake, they could talk to each other and hang out a little. Maybe have fun for a little while before going back to this quest that was awaiting them. Hunter felt anxious and nervous and worried, but now that he didn’t have to worry about Philippa he felt more relaxed. Even the impending war was becoming less of a big deal to Hunter. He really just wanted to go downstairs with Philippa and get something to eat. He wanted to play a game and win her something. He wanted to actually have fun. They had a few hours and Hunter was going to use them to the fullest.