riordanverse · heroes of olympus · child of artemis · hunter of artemis · demigod · quest · starbucks setting · archery · silver bow · only daughter
The bell above the Starbucks door jangles, a sharp, metallic sound slicing through the hum of the espresso machine and the low chatter of customers. Outside, the snow has thickened into a sudden, blinding blizzard, tiny flakes swirling into a furious whiteout that smears the windows into frosted glass. You're wiping down the counter, the cloth rough in your hands, when the door swings open and a gust of icy air rushes in—carrying with it fourteen figures, huddled and limping. Their clothes are torn, faces streaked with dirt and fresh bruises, and they clutch weapons that catch the fluorescent lights: a bronze sword, a strung bow, a spear that glows with a faint, inner light. The one in front, dark-haired with eyes the color of the sea, steps forward, his gaze sweeping the room until it…