Chapter 10: War, What is it good for?
Chiron requested the campers to resume their regular activities, while Ben, Percy, and Jason went to the infirmary. Jason and Percy laid down on a couple bunks that looked heavily indented. Ben sat in one near them.
"Your injuries are severe," Chiron stated. He grabbed a tube of some sort of cream and handed it to Ben. "This should help with your skin issue." Ben squeezed some cream on to his hand and began rubbing it on his face. As he went for another application, he saw his fingers were starting to brighten to his skin tone. He applied and reapplied the cream all over his upper body. In fifteen minutes, his body was looking like its normal color.
"You look so much better now," Alicia said, coming in the doorway. She tackled Ben in a bear hug, only for him to wince in pain. She loosened her hug and settled in on the bed, leaning on him. "I'm glad you're back."
"Yeah…" Ben smiled as a bright light began shining in front of him. Chiron backed away as the light shined brighter. Jason and Percy shielded their eyes as Ben covered Alicia with his body. He felt a warm feeling on his back and it disappeared. He sat up and found a strong looking biker standing before him.
"Ares…" He heard Percy mutter. Ben instantly felt angry at the god. His fists clenched up and his jaw tightened. He yelled out in rage and time seemed to skip. He found his hand around the god's neck in a fiery grip. Ares was being held off the ground.
"I hope you enjoyed watching the little fight," Ben growled. "Now it's your turn." He squeezed tighter around Ares' neck.
"Easy, kid," he strained. "You won that little scrap, didn't you?"
"I don't care. I almost died!"
"Well, thats the risk you take when entering battle."
Ben got so angry at that remark. His fire turned pure white in heat and Ares screamed in pain. Ben glanced at around. Jason, Percy,and Chiron were stunned. Alicia looked afraid. She seemed to be sending him a silent plea: Stop.
Ben released Ares, extinguishing the blaze. The war god crumpled to the floor, clutching his neck. Ben crouched down and whispered, "If you ever force any demigod into a fight again, it'll be a lot worse." Ares smacked Ben away. There was another warm feeling on Ben's back before it went cold. Ben looked and the god was gone.
Ben went back to the bed and hugged Alicia, giving her a silent message. She answered with a hug back. No one spoke a word, keeping things quiet. Ben fell asleep in the infirmary bed, resting his sore body.