Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I do own Jade, Grant, and any other characters that you don't recognize from the series, as well as the story plot.


When Opportunity Strikes – 07 – I Play Cards with Monkey-Men

Despite the fact that we were on a mission that may mean the end of one of us, the boys didn't seem worried about it. Grant was excited. We were going to his hometown. Nico slept most of the train ride…or tried to, I should say. I drummed my fingers loudly and constantly – a nervous habit. Even though I knew it was getting on their nerves, they were being pretty kind about it. It was my first quest and they once felt how terrifying it was.

At one point Grant had found a deck of cards someone left behind. Nico had actually fallen asleep, so I decided to show the guy how well I knew my way around a deck. Somewhere between a tie-breaker match of 5-card draw and me blowing him out of the water in Texas Hold Em', he asked me about my family again.

"So, I take it your mother doesn't know about camp?" I was silent for a bit.

"My family probably thinks I'm either dead or kidnapped by now."

"Oh," He seemed sorry he brought it up, "You said you've been in BMX competitions. How good are you?" I was thankful for the change in subject, even if it was obvious.

"Not too bad. I've placed in about fifteen, and came in first about three times. Not all of them were official matches though. My forte is flatland, but I can hold my own on a street course."

"You lost me." I laughed, then winced as my right wrist became limp. The cards flew everywhere.

"Anyone for 52-Pick-Up?" I said nervously. Grant became worried and picked up my hand to examine it. I would've blushed if not for the injury.

"Did you sprain it?" He was in full 'doctor-mode' now, "Has this happened before? What caused it?"

"No, I didn't sprain it, it just gave out. Yes it's happened many times before at random moments or when it's under extreme pressure. I broke my wrist when I was learning to ride a bike, it never healed right. It'll be over in a little bit, I just have to relax it. And you're not helping with the relaxing part."

"Oh, sorry!" He said as he dropped my hand. His concern soon became curiosity, "So, if you're wrist does this all the time, then why do BMX? Or do archery for that matter? Both could easily trigger, it." I'd heard this question before. My doctors, teachers, friends, family, they all asked at some point.

"I see it as a challenge. When it makes things harder, I want to prove I can still do it." He nodded like this made perfect sense.

"I know the feeling. When you can't have something, that's when you want it. I broke my leg once, and all I wanted to do was get up and walk."

We didn't have much of a conversation after that. When my wrist was better, we just picked up the cards, played one more hand and decided to get some rest before we reached Detroit.

XxXxX

I woke up at high noon. I wasn't much of a morning person. In fact the only people I knew who were, were the children of Apollo. I didn't want to get up, but as soon as I was about to fall back to sleep the guy across from me kicked my shin a little. It wasn't enough to hurt, but enough to annoy me.

"Go back to sleep Grant! Wake me up when we get to Detroit." I grumbled.

"We are." I sighed. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and glared at him. Then I looked to my right and saw that I wasn't the only one who wanted to sleep in. Nico must've found a pillow at some time during the night because he was leaning against one now.

"Wake up!" I yelled as I yanked the pillow from behind his head, then I smacked him with it, "If I have to get up at this hour, so do you!" He groaned and removed the pillow from his face to glare at me.

Thankfully we didn't need a map since Grant knew the city like the back of his hand. We actually decided that since we didn't have much money for another train-ride west, we'd stop at his dad's to get his car. I was jealous that Grant had a car – I either had to walk, ride my bike, or borrow my mom's car when I needed transportation. True, there were city busses, I just didn't trust them all that much. Along the way, he pointed out areas of the city – where the best restaurants were, where you could get the best deals for your money.

Soon enough we arrived at his house. I couldn't help but stare! It was two stories and probably had three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The whole place looked like something out of a postcard. Sure, I guess a bunch of people have these kinds of houses, but it was a dream home for me! My parents' house had two bedrooms and one bathroom. We had to build an extra room in the basement just so me and Hunter (the youngest of my three brothers) could have a place to sleep.

Grant knocked on the door, and I heard a man inside yelling, "Just a minute!" I figured that was his dad. In fact, I was pretty sure that was the case when the man opened the door. He looked almost exactly like Grant. They both had the same color hair, pale skin, they even stood the same way! The only differences I could see between he and Grant was his eyes. Brown eyes that lit up when he saw his son.

"Grant! I thought you'd be at camp! It's a nice surprise. Come in! Come in! Make yourselves at home." He led us to the living room, which was neat and tidy…yet another improvement to my own. Then he turned Nico and I, "And who might you two be?"

"I'm Jade. It's good to meet you Mr. Nelsen." I said as I shook his hand.

"Nico." The boy said simply, also shaking the older man's hand.

"Dad," Grant started, "I need my car."

"Of course," His father replied, "But why exactly?" Grant tried to explain quickly, leaving out certain parts, and soon enough we were treated to the first decent meal we had since we left camp. I excused myself to start cleaning the dishes. I heard him come in, but I didn't really think much of it.

"What are you doing?" Came Evan Nelsen's voice. He seemed amused. "You're my guest, you shouldn't be cleaning the dishes!"

I shrugged, "My mom taught me that the cook doesn't clean. Besides, it keeps me busy."

"At least let me dry them." He didn't even give me a chance to protest. It was silent for a moment, and he looked like he was trying to figure out how to say something.

"Just say it." I told him. I couldn't help get the feeling I was going to regret that.

"Alright. If you say so." He looked at me straight in the eyes, "I noticed you watching my son since you arrived here," I dropped the dish I was holding back into the sink, "Are you two dating?" Yep, instant regret.

"No!" I said quickly. He didn't believe it. "I-I mean…I wish." This is embarrassing. He seemed to understand. I wondered where the boys were at this very moment. If they were watching I swear I'd strangle them.

"You should tell him."

"I've only known him for a short time! What –"

"He does." He smiled knowingly. "You may not have noticed, but he was watching you the entire time, too." I blushed more than I ever had in my life. "I may not be the expert on love, but I can tell you two fit together pretty well." I heard someone walking toward the kitchen.

"Jade," Just my luck, "We've already spent too much time here. We need to get going."

"Let me finish up here, Grant." I was sure he could see my red face even though I wasn't facing him. But if he did, he didn't say anything.

XxXxX

It was both a good and a bad idea to leave. Good because we weren't putting his father in danger and drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves – bad because the roads were jammed. I didn't know if it was some wreck or if there was a really good sale I was missing out on, but it was driving me insane! I told Grant to take the next turn, and even though he complained that it would take us in the opposite direction that we needed to go, he went without question. Soon enough we came upon a small park that was completely empty. There weren't any other roads except the one behind us. When Grant stopped the car for a second, I immediately got out and started walking to stretch my legs. The boys must've wanted to do the same because I heard the sound of two car doors slamming.

It wasn't the only sound I heard. Behind us two men were walking toward us laughing their heads off. They were both short and for some reason they reminded me of monkeys. I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between them if not for one of them being more muscular. As if I had just called him he looked at me.

"Hey! You got to hear this joke – it's hilarious!" He said, still laughing. He didn't give us time to decide if we wanted to hear it or not. "Okay, so a string walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender says, 'I'm sorry, but we don't serve strings here.' The string goes back to his table. He ties himself in a knot and messes up the top of his hair. He walks back up to the bar and orders a beer. The bartender squints at him and says, 'Hey, aren't you a string?' The string says back, 'Nope, I'm a frayed knot.'"

The two men started laughing at again. I didn't really get how the joke was funny, but their laughter was contagious. Soon enough the five of us were laughing so hard we had tears in our eyes. I don't know how long it lasted but when we were finally able to compose ourselves, they said their goodbyes and left. We were about to follow their lead too when I noticed something different about Nico.

"Nico," I started slowly, "Where's your sword?" He looked at me in confusion, quickly reaching to his side where he always carried it. His face quickly turned to one of surprise, and Grant and I decided to check for our weapons, too. My dagger! It was gone! Grant was looking toward the area the men disappeared off to with a blank expression. I guessed he was trying to put all the pieces together. And Nico…I thought he was scary enough with the sword, but now he looked absolutely murderous.

We ran after them, but they were nowhere in sight! How could they move so fast? It was dusk when we couldn't search any more. All I knew was that we were in some back alley, the rest of me was too angry to notice anything else. I had just gotten that dagger! I decided to vent it on the walls.

"Passalos and Akmon, the Cercopes." Nico growled. "It has to be. Those damn thieves are worse tricksters than children of Hermes."

"I don't care who they are! I'm going to wring their necks when I find them." I yelled. Both of the boys looked at me in surprise. I didn't often lose my cool like this. It only happened once since I got to camp and neither of them were there to see it.

The two of them explained, as we started walking again, that Hercules had once captured them, but let them go when they told him some joke. I didn't really pay attention. We didn't need to look much farther for Passalos and Akmon, they cruised by – completely oblivious to us – in Grant's own car. Now Grant was the one who was steaming.

"My car…" he seemed beyond sentences, "they…" He regained his ability to speak properly and resorted to call them names I'd rather not repeat as we ran after them. For once I was glad for the traffic jam. Eventually we lost them again after they turned a corner into a much-less-crowded area. However, it wasn't hard to find them again – just follow the hysterical laughter.

We ended up near some warehouses (I wasn't sure if we were still in Detroit or not). Inside one of the buildings, surrounded by their loot, sat the two monkey-men playing cards. I suddenly had a great idea: why wring their necks when you can hurt their pride? I turned to my two companions.

"Hey guys, listen…"

XxXxX

"What's up!" I exclaimed loudly, breaking the Cercopes out of whatever conversation they were having. They looked at the three of us in amused surprise as we walked in.

"How did you find us?"asked the smaller of the two.

"It was pretty easy. We followed the sound of dying donkeys." They laughed again but it had an edge to it. I guess they don't like it when the joke's on them.

"If you came to get your stuff back, you're out of luck. Akmon and I aren't just going to give it to you," said the larger one, Passalos, "We aren't idiots. You'd just try to kill us."

"Try?" Nico scoffed. Thankfully, the twins either didn't hear him or just ignored him.

"So," I started, hoping to change the subject. Thank the gods that the Hermes cabin taught me the ways of deceit, "Speaking of killing, I bet I could absolutely destroy you both in poker." I pointed at the cards on the table. I saw the two thieves' eyes light up with the challenge. Just as I thought.

"We'll take you up on that." Akmon said.

"What do you have to bet with?" Passalos replied. He seemed to be a little doubtful now.

"Absolutely nothing. You two took everything valuable that we owned."

"I see. You want us to wager your things on the match. What if we win?" I smiled.

"We leave. Simple as that," before, Passalos looked doubtful but now they both were, "I swear." The brothers relaxed a bit. Even monsters knew the weight of that kind of oath. If they only knew….

"Alright, we accept – but only if one of you sits out. Two on two is only fair." We faked being uncomfortable about that. But we all agreed that it was only fair. Nico was the one who was left out, saying that he was never very good at the game. I almost felt sorry for the guy. We only left him out because people could forget he was in a room.

The game started. I was so happy that I had so much practice betting on M&Ms in the schoolyard when I was a kid. As we continued our game I didn't even see Nico get our weapons and into the car. Soon enough Grant had left the group and joined Nico. It was my turn. I had all four eights in my hand, but I knew it was risky letting the trick go on any longer. I hated it, but I folded. The monkey-like men started laughing like crazy. I shot up, knocking down my seat in the process.

"Now, now kid," Akmon scolded playfully, "You made a promise. Leave." I started laughing, too. That caught them so off guard, they actually stopped laughing and stared at me like I'd gone insane. At that moment the car growled to life, and started peeling out of the warehouse. I ran after it, the Cercopes right behind after a moment's hesitation, and jumped into the back. My pursuers were too slow to catch us.

Now, you might've figured out how I was able to bypass the oath. For those of you who didn't, I only promised I would leave not how I did it. I might've even worked if I was specific seeing as the river Styx was all dried up. Either way, the three of us were pulling a Cercopes, laughing our heads off as we drove out of the city.