The Child Of the Moon: The Titans Curse
Disclaimer: I do not own "Percy Jackson: The Titans Curse" all rights reserved to Rick Riordan and I don't own Pepsi or Mountain Dew, the name Balaque came from Keele and peele. The only thing I own are oc's and the dragons.
Alert: This story will have a ton of oc's and I myself will be in this suggestions will be appreciated in this story just leave a comment below and I will maybe put it in my story.
So here it is everyone The Child of the Moon: The Titans Curse I hope you all enjoy it, please leave a comment on what you thought and enjoy.
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Chapter 12: One hell of a fight
Running through the forest and over mountains into the sunset was actually quite fun especially when you're a wolf and you have an amazing looking girl on your back. Ember had her hands gripping my fur on my back not tight enough to actually hurt me but there was enough pressure to show that she was on my back. Chasing the boar had been easy to say the least, I have no clue as to how many miles we actually covered, but it was a lot to say the least. But when we reached the top of the mountains overlooking the boar running all I could see into the distance were replaced by miles of flat, dry land. The grass and scrub brush got sparser until it was just desert.
I looked back at Ember and gave her a questioning look, as she looked at my head most likely wondering why I had stopped.
"I'm fine Blake." Ember told me gently.
I let out a whine to show my disbelief.
"Really." Ember said scratching the back of my ears. "Probably a whole lot more comfortable than the boar they are on."
I nodded my head and I turned my attention back to the boar which was starting to disappear into the forest even further.
Using my sense of smell I was able to smell the boar from all the way up the mountain with ease. It was quite easy after all a wolf's sense of smell was so keen that they could easily smell up to a mile away, but since I was easily four times the size of a normal wolf (wolf standing on hind legs) my smell was four times as strong.
I then jumped down the ridge of the mountain making sure to not scratch up the pads on my paws, as I also made sure Ember wouldn't fall off. I finally got to the base of the mountain and I took off into a sprint ducking under logs and over small gorges easily, and within minutes I caught up to the boar. Riding alongside the boar I noticed the others holding on tightly afraid of falling, however I noticed Zoe slowly losing grip.
"Grover," I barked. "Zoe is falling off help her."
Grover looked back and noticed Zoe slowly losing her balance and hold. He went to reach back and grab her while still playing flute, but it was too late she was already falling from the thirty foot boar. The others all had their heads down not wanting to look up because then they would hardly be able to see anything with the wind in their faces.
So with a roar, I jumped to the side of the boar, and caught Zoe's jacket with the edge of my teeth. I slowed to a stop, I checked Zoe over to make sure she was alright and besides from the shock she was experiencing she was completely fine, so I laid flat much to Ember's annoyance, and allowed Zoe to hop on my back. Zoe was still frozen in shock until I nudged her and she finally sat on my back right behind Ember without a single word. I nodded and I stood back up on my four legs shaking off the dirt on my stomach, and pawed at the ground taking off into a sprint once again catching up with the large boar. Grover had slowed the apple's movements down and the others all looked back and noticed Zoe was fine and we then sped up once again going back to our normal pace.
As night fell, the boar and I came to a stop at a creek bed. I let both Zoe and Ember off of my back and I walked to the creek bed next to the boar and immediately took a large drink. It wasn't the cleanest drinking spot due to it being muddy water, but it was better than nothing. The boar looked pretty appetizing, but I resisted my urge to hunt and kill it. Believe me some pork or bacon sounded really good too, especially to a twenty foot wolf whom hadn't eaten in quite a while.
"This is as far as he'll go," Grover said. "We need to get off while he's eating."
Nobody argued him. So they all jumped off the boar while the boar ate some saguaro cactus. We all walked away silently, plus I was pretty sure the boar wanted nothing to do with a twenty foot wolf.
After its third saguaro and another drink of muddy water, the boar squealed and belched, then whirled around and galloped back toward the east. I wish I could do the same the forest's call was very tempting, but I knew the others needed me, and plus I needed to help my parents.
"It likes the mountains better," Percy guessed.
"I can't blame it," Thalia said. "Look."
Ahead of us was a two-lane road half covered with sand. On the other side of the road was a cluster of buildings too small to be a town: a boarded-up house, a taco shop, and a white stucco post office with a sign that said GILA CLAW, ARIZONA hanging crooked above the door. Beyond that was a range of hills, and from what I could tell it wasn't your normal rocky mountain hills. The countryside was just way too flat for that. The hills were enormous mounds of old cars, appliances, and other scrap metal. It was a junkyard that seemed to go on forever. The place sent chills down my spine, but my with my instincts playing a part in my head I didn't show an ounce of fear, fear to wolves was a sense of weakness and weakness for a wolf was not allowed, unless of course a wolf wanted to be out casted by its pack.
"Whoa," Percy said.
"Something tells me we're not going to find a car rental here," Thalia said. She looked at Grover. "Any chance Blake could take us through?"
"Blake can't carry all of us. Maybe two or three, but he wouldn't be able to carry all of us."Ember said before Grover had the chance, and scratched the back of my ear earning a low growl of appreciation.
Grover was sniffing the wind, looking nervous. He fished out his acorns and threw them into the sand, then played his pipes. They rearranged themselves in a pattern that made no sense to me, or anyone else for that matter, but Grover looked concerned.
I looked to the junkyard and sniffed, I couldn't smell or sense any monsters anywhere, so why was Grover so nervous.
I nudged Grover slightly.
"Oh right," Grover said breaking out of his stupor. "That's us, those seven nuts right there."
"Which one's me?" Percy asked.
"The little deformed one," Zoe suggested.
"Oh, shut up."
"That cluster right there," Grover said, pointing to the left, "that's trouble."
"A monster?" Thalia said.
Grover looked uneasy. "I don't smell anything, which doesn't make sense. But the acorns don't lie. Our next challenge…"
He pointed straight toward the junkyard. With the sunlight almost gone now, the hills of metal looked like something from a transformers movie (I don't own transformers). Luckily even though the sunlight was almost gone I was able to see clearly and easily at night.
"Unless Blake senses anything?" Grover asked looking at me.
I shook my large head no. I hadn't sensed anything, so the junkyard must be some sort of trap or something. I had no clue, but I knew we all had to be prepared.
We decided to camp for the night and try the junkyard in the morning. I also decided to stay in wolf form in case anyone/anything decided to sneak up on us that tonight. I wanted my better senses to be on full alert.
Zoe, Bianca, Percy, Grover, Thalia, and Ember all pulled out their own sleeping bags. Zoe also had brought a foam mattress from her backpack. I had no clue how Zoe managed to fit it in her pack since it was so small, so it must've been enchanted or something.
I however laid down on the sandy desert ground Ember grabbed her sleeping bag and snuggled in and laid herself on my belly as I laid on my side sitting up with my ears perked. I wrapped my tail around Ember, to keep her warm and hopefully make her feel safe. I nuzzled the side of her bag and gently licked the side of her face.
"Ugh, Blake, that's nasty." Ember said moving her arm out of her bag and whipped her face. "Geez, ever heard of a tick tack?"
I gave out a wolfy howl, and the others all just laughed, all except for Zoe.
Ever since I had saved Zoe from her fall she seemed to be a little more distant from the group. The night was getting chillier, and I noticed the others shivering even more, all except Ember whom was snuggled into my side.
Grover and Percy got out of their bags and they went and collected old boards from the ruined house, and Thalia zapped them with an electric shock to start a campfire. Pretty soon everyone was about as comfy as a person could get when camping out in a rundown town in the middle of nowhere.
"The stars are out," Zoe said quietly.
Immediately I looked up into the sky basking in the moon and star light. There were millions of stars out with no pollution or other obscurities to block the beautiful lights. I then turned my attention to the moon, it still wasn't shining as brightly as it use to, but the fact it was out was kind of comforting.
"Blake." Zoe said quietly, almost hesitantly.
I immediately turned my attention on her. I barked a "yeah" showing her that she had my attention.
"Thank you." Zoe said even quieter, which I never thought possible.
I dipped my head showing her that it was no problem. With the flames illuminating my dark brown fur.
"That's what family is for." I barked out, as Grover translated for me.
I was met with silence from Zoe.
"It's Amazing," Bianca said. "I've never actually seen the Milky way."
"It is pretty amazing isn't it?" Ember asked with a small smile, as she looked up into the luminescent night sky.
"This is nothing," Zoe finally spoke. "In the old days, there were more. Whole constellations have disappeared because of human light pollution."
The thought of so many stars and beautiful sights disappearing all because of human innovation made me sad. Nature was taking a huge hit, and it saddened me. I hoped with all my being that things would get better, that it could be fixed. However the harsh reality was that most people didn't care, or were just to oblivious to see the obvious, the thought left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"You talk like you're not human," Percy said.
Zoe raised an eyebrow. "I am a hunter. I care what happens to the wild places of the world. Can the same be said for thee?"
"For you," Thalia corrected. "Not thee"
"But you use you for the beginning of a sentence."
"And for the end," Thalia said. "No thou. No thee. Just you"
Zoe threw up her hands in exasperation. "I hate this language. It changes too often!"
Grover sighed. He was still looking up at the stars like he was thinking about pollution. "If only pan were here, he would set things right."
"I am not so sure Grover." I told him gently.
Grover turned my direction and scowled.
"Just hear me out." I said. "I care for nature as much as you or Zoe, or any other nature spirit. Don't forget who my mother is. I sense the workings of mortals as much as you do. I hate it, absolutely hate it, but after years and years of damage. There is only so much you can do. Maybe if people pitched in and helped one another by ridding trash and buying certain vehicles that helped with pollution we could maybe help in some way, but I don't believe that with only one figure the whole world would change. You need to rally others whom are willing to help with change. And you know what Grover. I think pan believes in you and all his followers to help do just that."
Grover stayed silent looking up at the stars silently.
"You must take action just as you are already doing I agree Pan would help, and I think you of everyone have the best chance of finding him." I said looking up again. "You just have to believe in yourself and those you love most to take action."
"Maybe you are right, Blake. It means a lot to know you have so much faith in me. But Perhaps it was just the coffee," Grover said. "I was drinking coffee, and the wind came. Maybe if I drank more coffee…"
"Or." I said standing up leaving Ember to be sitting up. "It's because he believes in you."
"Perhaps." Grover mumbled.
"Grover, do you really think that was pan? I mean, I know you want it to be."
"He sent us help," Grover insisted. "I don't know how or why. But it was his presence. After this quest is done, I'm going back to New Mexico and drinking a lot of coffee. It's the best lead we've gotten in two thousand years. I was so close."
I didn't answer. I had talked my piece to Grover already.
I stretched my legs and looked to Ember.
"Blake." Ember said patting the spot next to her.
I grunted. "You just want your personal heater back."
Grover translated to her all the while giving out a small laugh.
Ember pouted causing me to sigh and lay back next to her using my tail to curl around her once again causing her to smirk.
"Whipped." Percy coughed into his hand.
I looked at Percy and bared my teeth at him, immediately Percy's facial expression changed into something Priceless. He looked at me and the others with a worried look.
"Watch it Percy. I still haven't eaten anything and seafood doesn't sound so bad right now." I said with a bark.
Grover gave a small laugh and relayed the message. And as soon as Grover finished I felt Ember pinch me.
"Ow." I yelped, as Ember gave me a look that practically demanded that I apologize.
"Fine," I muttered. "I'm sorry Percy." I grumbled out.
Grover translated and told Percy, who had a smirk plastered on his face as if he had just won a golden metal, however Ember sent him a glare all the while making her eyes glow purple and making them slit like a reptiles.
Percy gulped, and looked back up at the stars.
Using my tail I rubbed her arm gently calming her down.
"I have to say though I am still kind of worried." Ember said.
"I think we all are kind of worried, I mean who knows what could be in the junkyard." Thalia said looking across to the large junkyard.
"That's not what I meant. Yes I do worry about that, but what about the zombies we are facing every time we slice at them they just reform. They could be tracking us right now." Ember said.
"They didn't all reform," Thalia said looking at Bianca. "How did you destroy the zombie anyway? Was there a specific spot you hit? We need to know, there are a lot more out there, and we all need to figure out how to fight them."
Bianca shook her head. "I don't know. I just stabbed it and it went up in flames."
"Maybe there's an enchantment on your knife," Percy said.
I just shook my head. "She got the knife from Annie, it's the same daggers we have at the forage, back at camp."
Grover relayed and everyone became thoughtful.
"Never mind," Zoe said. "We will find the answer. In the meantime, we should plan our next move. When we get through the junkyard, we must continue west. If we can find a road, we can hitchhike to the nearest city. I think that would be Las Vegas."
"No!" She said. "Not there!"
She looked really freaked out, and honestly I couldn't blame here. She just like Percy, Grover, Percy, Annabeth, and I, she and her brother had both been trapped in that place for gods know how long. I felt kind of bad for not pulling them out with us, but I suppose you couldn't really change the past.
Zoe frowned. "Why?"
Bianca took a shaky breath. "That is where, what did you call it Blake, the Lotus Hotel and Casino?"
I nodded my head.
"The place was freaky. I remember you saying something about the place at the museum, but…honestly I wasn't paying too much attention, my mind was kind of somewhere else." Bianca said.
Then I realized, I never really explained to Bianca what the place was, I told Nico somewhat, what the place was, but Bianca was with my mother when I told him. So all this time I had been telling her it was because of the casino, and she had no clue what I was even talking about, good thing she wasn't paying attention to what I was saying because otherwise I would've felt really guilty for telling her things she didn't even know.
"Wait, I remember Blake mentioning the lotus hotel and casino in the subway, what is that place?" Ember asked.
"Before Blake found you Em, and a couple years back actually," Percy said, "Grover, Annabeth, Blake, and I got trapped there. It's designed so you never want to leave. We stayed for about an hour. When we came out, five days had passed. It makes time speed up."
"What," Bianca said. "No, that's not possible."
"Unfortunately it is. You and your brother were in there for a very, very long time." I said, as Grover translated.
Bianca looked sick, as if she wanted to throw up.
"You said somebody came and got you out," Percy said.
"Yes." Bianca said.
"What did he look like? What did he say?"
"I…I don't remember. Please, I would rather not talk about this."
Zoe sat forward, her eyebrows knit with concern. "You said while I drove that Washington, D.C., had changed when you went back last summer. You didn't remember the subway being there."
"Yes, but—"
"Bianca," Zoe said, "can you tell me the name of the president of the United States right now?"
"Don't be silly," Bianca said. She told us the correct name of the president.
"And who was the president before that?" Zoe asked.
Bianca thought for a while. "Roosevelt."
Zoe swallowed. "Theodore or Franklin'?"
"Franklin," Bianca said. "F.D.R."
"So like FDR Drive?" Percy asked, and it took all of my strength to not bop him on the head with my tail.
"Bianca," Zoe said. "F.D.R. was not the last president. That was seventy years ago."
"That's impossible," Bianca said. "I…I'm not that old."
Bianca stared at her hands and then had her hands travel up to the sides of her eyes, as if to feel if any wrinkles were on her face.
Thalia's eyes turned sad. I guess she knew what it was like to be sucked into another time period, that wasn't exactly where she left off. "It's okay Bianca, the important thing is you and Nico are safe. You both made it out."
"But how?" Percy said. "We were only in there for an hour and we barely escaped. How could you have escaped after being there for so long?"
I looked at Percy and glared. I knew Percy was curious, but he shouldn't keep pushing the girl, she was uncomfortable with this topic and I felt bad for everyone pressuring her to answer.
"Guys that is enough. Bianca you don't have to answer anymore. I am so sorry we pushed the topic so much." I said, as Grover translated looking sadly at Bianca.
Bianca wiped her eyes, she looked like she was going to say something, but stopped, as we were hit with a blazing light from down the road. The headlights of a car appeared out of nowhere. I was half hoping it was my uncle Apollo, come to give us a ride again, but the engine was way too silent for the sun chariot, and besides, it was nighttime. Percy and the others grabbed their sleeping bags while I picked Ember up by her sleeping bag with my teeth making her sway slightly in the bag and we all moved out of the way of the limo as it pulled up, and stopped in front of us.
Ember got out of the sleeping bag and grabbed it from my teeth thanking me for moving me out of the way.
The back door of the limo opened up right next to Percy and I. Before Percy and I could step away, the point of a sword touched Percy's neck, and immediately a growl emanated from my throat.
There was a familiar smell in the air, the smell of rage, pig, and leather.
I heard the sound of Zoe and Bianca both pulling out their bows. As the owner of the sowrd got out of the car, Percy moved very slowly, mainly due to the fact the sword was moving forward to make him move back, however I stayed were I was my head high, my teeth bared and my claws out ready to strike.
The man smiled cruelly as he was now fully out of the limo. "Not so fast now, are you, punks?"
He was a big man with a crew cut, a black leather biker's jacket, black jeans, a white muscle shirt, and combat boots. Wraparound shades hid his eyes, but I knew what was behind those glasses—hollow sockets filled with flames.
"Ares," I growled low.
"I wouldn't move boy. Or Percy here will be sushi." The god of war growled and then turned his attention towards the others. "At ease, people."
He snapped his fingers, and their weapons fell to the ground. Ember however summoned a black flame to her hand, which only caused Ares smirk to widen.
"This is a friendly meeting." He dug the point of his blade a little farther under Percy's chin causing me to give a low growl. "Of course I'd like to take both your heads for a trophy, but someone wants to see Blake here." Ares said pointing strait at me. "And plus I never behead my enemies in front of a lady."
"What lady?" Thalia asked, I couldn't tell if she was upset at the fact Ares possibly called her a lady or the fact I could smell some blood coming from her way.
"Well, well. I heard you were back."
He lowered his sword and pushed Percy away, and before he fell I used my tail to catch him.
"Thanks, Blake." Percy said as I nodded my head and looked back at Ares and dug my claws into the sand leaving large divots into the sand. It was taking all the strength I had not to tear him a new one, I mean after what I had found out last year with Clarisse and her dad I had promised myself that If I ever saw him again I would rip him in two.
"Thalia, daughter of Zeus," Ares muttered. "You're not hanging with very good company."
"What's your business, Ares? Thalia said. "Who's in the car?
Immediately I looked behind Ares at the limo and focused my sense of smell on the limo instead of the pig on two feet, and the scent that immediately hit my snout was perfume, cotton candy, and something else I couldn't quite put my claw on.
I looked at Ares once again and began to pace in front of him.
"Don't play with us Ares." I growled. "I am not in the mood for games."
Ares turned to me. "Mutt be quiet. If it were really up to me you two would be dust, but can't really disappoint the lady. She however isn't too fond of meeting the rest of you particularly the hunter girl." He said jutting his chin toward Zoe. "Why don't you all go get some tacos while you wait? Only take Blake here a few minutes."
"If you haven't noticed you fucking baboon I can't exactly fit in the car." I said stopping my pacing my fur bristling and rising making myself look bigger than I actually was.
Ares looked like he wanted to blast me to smithereens, and he probably could, but I didn't care he both hurt my friend and abused his own kid. This man, no this monster had no right to live, to be called a god.
"We aren't going to just leave him here alone with you Ares." Ember said growling, her eyes glowing brightly and changing to slits and then back to normal.
"Besides," Grover managed, "the taco place is closed."
Ares then snapped his fingers once again. The lights inside the taqueria suddenly blazed to life. The boards flew off the doors and the CLOSED sign flipped OPEN. "You were saying, goat boy?"
"Guys," I said as Grover translated. "I will be just fine. Go ahead, I can handle this I promise."
"You heard the boy," Ares said. "He's a big boy. He has it under control."
Ember and the others looked reluctant. But soon they all headed over to the taco restaurant Emer put her head to mine telling me to be careful, as she kissed my furry check and gave Ares one last glare. Ares however waved the glare off and gave me a loathing and withering glare, then opened the limousine door like a chauffer.
"Get inside punk." Ares said.
"Ares are you as blind as you are deaf. I cannot fit." I said. I know I could've easily transformed back to normal, but this gave me an opportunity to annoy the war god, and I would take any opportunity to do so.
Ares glowered and snapped his fingers, and immediately something tugged at my gut I could feel myself changing back to normal. It felt unnatural, and make me feel sick, I could've fought the change, but A kept telling me in the back of my head not to. I have no clue why, but I decided to listen to his advice.
And within seconds I was back to normal. Only I found that my hidden blades weren't on my wrists, however I still had my ring and watch.
I was about to ask Ares what the hell had happened to my hidden blades, but he held up a hand.
"Your blades are in the bag your friends took with them when they went to the taquaria." Ares said.
It made me angry that he did that, I felt naked without the twin blades on my wrists. I pulled down my jackets arms and hid the crown like tattoo on my wrist and pushed forward to the limo, and before I entered Ares grasped my arm.
"You best mind your manners boy. She's not exactly as forgiving of rudeness as I am." Ares said.
I sneered at the pig and I ripped my arm out of his grasp, and entered the limo and as soon as I entered and I looked at the woman my gasp got caught in my throat.
She looked exactly like Ember, only this Ember was older, probably in her mid-twenties. Her hair was up in a ponytail, she was wearing a red satin dress. Her face was beautiful: she had no make-up on and looked completely natural, just as Ember always was. Ember had a knack for going with a natural look instead of using make-up and honestly when she did it just always seemed worked, it actually would work better than her actually wearing make-up (don't tell her I said that). Her eyes were the beautiful violet color I have come to love, but what was intriguing was one of the eyes were slit and the other was a normal pupil. I had no clue why, but it just seemed to work, the only thing missing was the choker I had gotten Ember for Christmas a year back.
She gave me a small smile with her perfect white shiny teeth which just seemed to illuminate the whole car.
"Ah there you are Blake," The goddess said. "I am Aphrodite."
I slipped into the seat across from her and bowed slightly. "Hello Lady Aphrodite it's an honor to meet you."
"Hmm, Sweet, Handsome, and so respectful too. It's quite hard to believe someone such as you are a child of that prude and such a pity none of my children have gotten to you." Aphrodite said with a gleam in her eyes.
"Lady Aphrodite may I ask, why am I here? I mean no disrespect, but you must know what we are doing out here." I said.
Aphrodite ignored my question. "Hold this, please." She said as she handed me a polished mirror the size of a dinner plate and had me hold it up for her. She leaned forward and dabbed at her lipstick, but none of the lipstick appeared on her lips, which I thought quite weird. That is until I finally figured out why she looked so much like Ember. Aphrodite looked like the one person you loved most in the world and the lipstick must be appearing on her actual looks rather than the look I find most appealing.
"You are much like your mother. Straight to the point. And you look much like your mother, but so much handsomer. Your father must've been quite the looker." Aphrodite said.
"I wouldn't know." I muttered.
Aphrodite stopped dabbing her make-up. "Yes I heard of the way Artemis had been raped. Can you please raise the mirror a little higher dear."
I lifted the mirror slightly getting the right angle she wanted.
"However I didn't bring you here to discuss the reason you were born. We are here to discuss something a bit more important, and I will need your help with my little project." Aphrodite said.
"What project?" I asked.
"Well project Percabeth of course." Aphrodite said.
I sweat dropped. "Percabeth?" I asked with a tilt of my head in confusion.
"Oh you know Percy and Annabeth. I wish to bring those two together, and I need your help. I plan on having those two's love lives bigger than even Paris and Helen of troy. Besides yours and Embers of course. I am just surprised your mother even lets you in a relationship considering how much your mother cherishes chastity, it's despicable really." Aphrodite said as she grasped the mirror from my hand and snapped her fingers and made the mirror disappear. "And of course I can tell you some information you want. I may even bless you."
"What do you mean?" I asked, I wasn't against Percy's and Annabeth's relationship in fact I approved of it out of everyone I approved of it would be Percy. However the boy was dense and didn't have a single romantic bone in his body.
"Well when I bless someone, they tend to gain a perfect look." Aphrodite said.
"No lady Aphrodite, that's not what I meant. I assumed your blessing meant better looks, but what information could I possibly want?" I asked.
"Think child I am the goddess of love. What could I tell you that no one else could possibly know?" Aphrodite said.
I thought for a minute, but nothing popped up. I loved Ember, I already knew that. I suppose I had no clue whom my father was, but he didn't actually love my mother. The monster was like Ares he had raped my mother out of lust and nothing more. I actually hoped with all my being that the man was in the fields of punishment for what he had done to my mother.
"I do not know Lady Aphrodite." I said.
She smiled gently. "I wish all my daughters could break the heart of a boy as nice and cute as you."
Immediately I felt my face heat up, the goddess of love was complementing me.
"Well I already have a fantastic girlfriend." I said.
"Yes the dragoness, I know about the two of you. It's a classic tale really. Not too boring, but not as entertaining as Percabeth, so hunter boy do we have a deal?" Aphrodite asked.
"I-I suppose, but lady Aphrodite, however I will not interfere to much. I want Percy to go about this on his own, I will only push I will not throw the two of them in a closet and tell them both to tell each other their feelings." I said.
Aphrodite gained a hopeful expression.
"Let me repeat, I will not do that." I said.
She pouted lightly. "You're such a spoil sport, fine. And as for telling you that tidbit of info, I changed my mind. I have a feeling you will discover that for yourself soon anyways. Also Blake do be careful in my husband's territory. Don't take anything he is awfully fussy about his trinkets and trash."
I nodded my head in agreement, and as I was about to say something the limo door immediately opened.
"Time's up kid." Ares said in a gruff tone and grabbed my arm roughly.
"Wait! Lady Aphrodite may I please have one more word?" I asked.
"Very well, let him go babe." Aphrodite said to Ares with a kind look.
Ares immediately as if under some sort of spell let me go, and shut the door.
"Lady Aphrodite," I said and released my orbs and made them flat against the doors so Ares couldn't hear. "May I ask why do you stay with Ares?"
"I do not believe that is any-"
"He is just using you, do you not see this. All he basically is doing is using you as a sex object. For god's sake do you really want to stay with the man whom abuses his own children? And it wouldn't surprise me if he had hurt you before as well. I won't name whom he hurt, but I will tell you this much the man is horrible. I get that Hephaestus isn't the greatest looking god, but I thought beauty was both internal and external. "I said.
Aphrodite looked shocked, probably from the fact I was the first ever demi-god to actually question her judgment on love. A boy questioning the goddess of love, about love. I shook my head.
'How twisted is that?' I thought to myself.
She looked about ready to argue with my thoughts, but with both courage and stupidity I raised my stopping her from talking.
"Just think about it Lady Aphrodite." I said and brought all my orbs back from blocking the doors back to my pocket, and I opened the door and slipped right out, with a shocked goddess of love, and an angry God of War.
"What did you say to her punk?" Ares asked as he closed the door.
"Nothing you need to worry your pig brain of yours Ares, don't want you losing the rest of the cells left in your head." I said.
Ares roared at me in anger, about ready to chop my head off, but I stood there unafraid. Ares.
"Ares," a melodic voice said from the window of the limo. "I am tired I wish to head home."
"You're lucky, punk." Ares pushed me away from him and the limo. "Be grateful."
"For what, not having the chance to kick your ass, again?" I said.
"No the fact we are being so nice. If it were up to me-"
"Go ahead Ares take your best shot. I am not afraid of an abuse piece of shit like you." I shot back angrily. The man was one of quite a few whom give us guys bad reps and it sickened me, but also reminded me that the world was unfortunately not a just world as a matter of fact it could be quite cruel.
Ares sneered at me. "I'd love to kill you, really I would, " he said. "But you see, I got a situation. Word on Olympus is that you might start the biggest war in history. I can't risk messing that up. Besides, if I did go after you then Athena and Artemis would be on my tail, plus Aphrodite really enjoys seeing you with that dragon. I don't see it, but its her decision. I kill you, that makes me look bad with her. But don't worry. I haven't forgotten my promise. Someday soon, kid—real soon—you and Percy are going to raise your swords to fight, and the two of you are going to remember the wrath of Ares."
"Ha I'm not scared Ares, trust me on that. By the way how's your stomach and heel feel, no more gaping holes?" I asked smirking slightly, I wasn't trying to be arrogant, but in fact just trying to rile up the god of War.
Ares grinned crookedly. "Not bad, punk. But you got nothing on the master of taunts. I'll start the fight when I'm good and ready. Until then… Get lost."
He snapped his fingers and the world seemed to just spin in a three-sixty, spinning in a cloud of red dust, I fell to the ground.
When I stood back on my feet, the limousine was gone, as if it were never there. The road, the taco restaurant, the whole town of Gila Claw was gone. My friends and I were standing in the middle of the junkyard, with Ember holding a burrito for me, while Grover munched on a taco, and mountains of scrap metal stretched out in every direction.
"So what did Aphrodite want?" Ember asked with her eyes glowing slightly roaming me as if to see something out of the ordinary.
I sighed walked up to her and hugged her tightly. "Nothing happened. She just wanted to let me know not to take anything from the scrap yard." I said out loud, but gave Ember a look that said we would talk later.
She nodded and handed me my burrito, as I grabbed a small water from my backpack, along with my twin hidden blades which I placed back on my wrists.
Zoe narrowed her eyes. "The goddess of love would not make a special trip to tell thee that be careful, Blake. Aphrodite has led many heroes astray."
I smiled happily. "Why Zoe if I didn't know any better it would seem you actually care." I said.
Zoe gained a small look of hurt, but as soon as it appeared it disappeared. "I just don't want the leader of this quest dying, without thee we may never find Lady Artemis."
I smirked lightly. "Whatever you say Zoe."
Zoe gave out a frustrated groan and glared.
I untangled myself from Ember giving her a light kiss on the forehead.
"So," I said turning to everyone, feeling my face heat up a bit. "how do we get out of here?"
"That way," Zoe said. "That is west."
"How can you tell?" Percy asked.
Zoe rolled her eyes at Percy. "Ursa Major is in the north," She said, "Which means that must be west."
She pointed west, then at the northern constellation, which was hard to make out because there were so many other stars.
"Oh, yeah," Percy said. "The bear thing."
Hearing that my eyes immediately started to twitch.
Zoe however looked offended. "Show some respect. It was a fine bear. A worthy opponent."
"You act like it was real." Percy said.
I was about to voice my thoughts, but Grover stopped me.
"Guys," Grover broke in. "Look!"
We'd reached the crest of a junk mountain. Piles of metal objects glinted in the moonlight: broken heads of bronze horses, metal legs from human statues, smashed chriots, tons of shields and swords and other weapons, along with more modern stuff, like cars that gleamed gold and silver, refrigerators, washing machines, and computer monitors.
"Whoa," Bianca said. "That stuff…some of it looks like real gold."
"It is," Thalia said grimly. "Like Blake said, don't touch anything. This is the junkyard of the gods."
"Junk?" Grover picked up a beautiful crown made of gold, silver, and jewels. It was broken on one side, as if it had been split by an axe. "You call this junk?"
Ember grabbed the crown out of his hands. "Come on Grover, this is serious!"
"Wait a minute." Percy said as he raced down the mountain, almost tripping up on a bronze coil. He picked up a bow that glowed silver in the moonlight. "This bow looks like yours Zoe."
However Percy was startled when the bow started to shrink and became a hair clip shaped like a crescent moon.
"It's just like Blake's bow." Ember said looking at the bow in awe.
"As amazing as the bow is we have to leave it." I said.
"What, but, Blake it-"
"We can't Em remember what Aphrodite told me, Hephaestus doesn't like people taking items, that and the fact it might be cursed. This place is a place where the gods throw stuff away. Either it be defective or like I said previously cursed." I said.
Percy set down the hair clip and buried it under the other rubble so none of the others would be tempted.
"I don't like this place," Thalia said. She gripped the shaft of her spear.
"Well what do you think is going to happen? You think we are going to get attacked by some sort of killer refrigerators?" Percy asked with a joking tone.
Ember punched Percy in the arm. "Perseus Jackson, that is not funny. This is a serious situation."
Thalia nodded with a small glare at Percy.
I sighed. "Alright guys, we need to keep moving. If we stay here any longer I really do think something might just attack us." I said.
Percy just mumbled something about trying to lighten the mood. And I understand he wanted to help unease everyone's nerves, but at the same time, now was not the time or the place.
We started picking our way through the mountains and valleys of junk. The stuff seemed to almost go on forever, ad if it hadn't been for Ursa Major, we most likely would've just stayed lost in the piles of junk. All the hills pretty much looked the same.
Some of the stuff found in these mountains of junk were amazing. From statues to weapons, the list just went on and on. I had even found this amazing stygian iron sword with sharp ridges on the top and curved forward at the middle of the blade was a hole which was rimmed with a blue glow and a leather handle. The piece was amazing; Ember had to pry me away before I could take the sword. Percy had found an electric guitar much like Apollo's lyre that was pretty cool, but I wasn't really a music guy so I wasn't really into it. I mean don't get me wrong I love listening to some good music, but at the same time I would rather not be the one playing, but don't let my Uncle know that he would tar me a new one. Grover had founda broken tree completely made of metal, and surprisingly I was able to control the metal, or at least the tree beneath the metal, apparently it was just a branch just completely covered in metal. It had been chopped to pieces, but some of the branches still had golden birds in them, and they whirred around when Grover picked them up, trying to flap their wings.
Finally, we saw the edge of the junkyard about half a mile ahead of us, the lights of a highway stretching through the desert. But between us and the road….
"What is that thing?" Bianca gasped.
Ahead of us was a hill much bigger and longer than the others. It was like a metal mesa, the length of a football field and as tall as a goalpost. At one end of the mesa were a row of ten thick metal columns, weeded tightly together.
Bianca frowned. "They look like-"
"Toes," Grover said.
Bianca nodded. "Really, really large toes."
Ember grasped my hand nervously and I tightened my grip in reassurance. I pulled up my right hand to where it was in front of my face and lifted my wrist releasing my hidden blades, I looked it over, for some reason I had a feeling I would be needing it and I wanted to make sure it was in tip top condition.
The blade was not cracked. Thank the gods, but there were scratches, and some splotches of monster blood, which I had made a mental note to take it into Beckendorf as soon as we got back to camp and ask for some help with the stains. I then retracted my blade, and looked to the sky for some reason I had a feeling of being watched.
As if sensing my uneasiness Ember looked at me.
"What's wrong Blake?" Ember whispered to me.
"I don't know Em, but I just have a really bad feeling." I whispered back.
"Well let's go around then," Thalia said. "Far around."
"But the road is right over there," Percy protested. " Quicker to climb over."
Ping.
Thalia hefted her spear, Zoe drew her bow, Ember let go of my hand and pulled her blade, but then I realized it was only Grover. He had thrown a piece of scrap metal at the the toes and hit one, making a deep echo, as if the column were hollow.
"Why did you do that?" Zoe demanded.
Grover cringed. "I don't know. I, uh, don't like fake feet?"
"Come on." Thalia looked around Percy. "Around."
Nobody argued. I was pretty sure the toes were starting to just about freak everyone out. I mean it was kind of strange that anyone would make a ten-foot-tall structure of feet, in a junkyard.
After several minutes of walking, we finally stepped onto the highway, an abandoned but well-lit stretch of black asphalt.
"We made it out," Zoe said. "Thank the gods."
But she spoke just too soon, and the gods weren't exactly happy with us. At that moment, I heard a sound like a thousand trash compactors crushing metal. The sound made my better than normal hearing feel as if they were about to bleed.
I whirled around. Behind us, the scrap mountain was boiling, rising up. The ten toes tilted over, and I realized why they looked like toes. They were toes. The thing that rose up from the metal was a bronze giant in full Greek battle armor. He was impossibly tall—a skyscraper with legs and arms. He gleamed wickedly in the moonlight. He looked down at us, and his face was deformed. The left side was partially melted off. His joints creaked with rust, and across his armored chest, written in thick dust by some giant finger, were the words WASH ME.
"Talos!" Zoe gasped.
"Who-who's Talos?" Percy stuttered.
And before anyone could answer a loud howling was made from above and something black started to dive bomb at us, making everyone roll away, from the speeding black figure.
"Talos is a creation Hephaestus made. But it obviously isn't the original." Thalia said as she looked between the figure that was flying and the large metal statue. "My question is what the hell is that thing?" She said pointing at the figure flying around.
Luckily with my night vision I could clearly see what it was and boy was it scary. The creature had black fur and was shaped as a wolf; the wolf was about the same size as I was when I was in my wolf form. The beast however had reptilian wings, and had four horns that shot back from the center of its head. Its tail wasn't reptilian, but it wasn't all wolf either, as instead of it being fur on the tail it was spikes. The wolf also had scars which marred its muzzle and a long lash on its side.
"You guys remember me telling you about the creature Ginarth sent our way." I said. "Well it looks like it's here."
"What is it though?" Ember asked worriedly.
"I have no clue, it looks like a wolf, but it has wings and horns. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but I do know it's after me. You guys take care of Talos; I'm going to take of the wolf dragon thing." I said as I noticed out of the corner of my eye Talos making its way towards us. The metal giant apparently didn't really take to kindly however to us ignoring its presents.
He moved one hand to his sword belt and drew his weapon. The sound of it coming out of its sheath was horrible, metal screeching against metal. The blade was a hundred feet long, easy. It looked rusty and dull, but I didn't figure that mattered. Getting hit with that thing would be like getting hit with a battleship.
The wolf in the air however just circled us waiting for an opportunity to pick me off by myself.
Ember didn't look very happy with my decision.
"Blake there's no way in Hades I'm letting you fight that thing on your own." Ember said.
"Ember I'll be fine we are going to need as many people as we can fight Talos or else we all are screwed." I said.
Ember bit her lip still obviously not liking the idea.
"Good then Bianca, Percy, Grover, Ember, Zoe, and I will take care of Talos. While you take care of the wolf." Thalia said. "Blake you better not get yourself killed then."
"Someone must've took something." Zoe said. "Who took something?"
She looked at me accusingly.
"Oi, now is not the time to be at each other's throats." I said. "Right now we need-MOVE!"
I then pushed Ember out of the way as a hundred foot sword came crashing down where we once were, luckily we all were able to move out of the way in time, but the ground seemed to be completely totaled.
I then split myself apart from the others.
'A I need some info!" I thought loudly.
'The dragon your about to fight is a drakon lupus, or wolf-dragon. They were protectors of the royal family. Since Ginarth is the apparent leader of dragon's now he is using this power to control them. The wolf-dragons are very loyal to the royal family, but they must know his evil deeds, so even though he is the leader it's still kind of confuses me why they would allow one of their members to be at his command.' A said.
The wolf then dived once again and blew a large column of flames at me. I then used my orbs in my pocket to absorb the incoming strike and then used another to hit into the wolf's wing making the wolf lose balance and made it land in a heap in the sand.
'It can also breath fire.' A said.
'No shit.' I thought back as the wolf was finally regaining its bearings.
"You took something," I heard Percy say from far away. "That sword we saw earlier."
"No!" She said, but her voice obviously quivering.
"Give it back!" Percy said. "Throw it down!"
I looked back and noticed Ember was shooting black flaming arrows at the monster, but the arrows just broke in half on impact and the flame would stick, but it would only seem to make the large metal giant angrier, with my distraction on Ember it proved to be a large mistake, as apparently the wolf was back up and launched itself at me, giving me only a couple of seconds to dodge, the claws caught on my leg, but I was able to get out of the way of its large teeth that were aimed at my face.
The claws raking my leg almost made me scream out in pain, but I held it in.
'Kid!' A shouted in my head.
'Dammit I need to pay more attention.' I thought.
'Kid undo your blades and show the wolf the mark on your wrist.' A said.
'Why wou-'
'Don't question me just do it.' A said.
The wolf turned back around and as it was running at me I undid my hidden blade on my arm and just as it was a foot away I held my arm up to block my face showing my wrist to the creature.
'This is how it ends, huh, being chowed down by my mother's favorite animal, or at least partial favorite animal.' I thought to myself.
But the nothing came only hot breath came from the creature I just was fighting. I lowered my arm and opened my eyes. The wolf's yellow eyes were wide with shock, and was looking at my wrist as if it were the greatest thing it had ever seen.
And then another voice filled my head.
'My liege, but how?' The wolf questioned.
"NO!" I heard Thalia shout from across the way. I looked around the large wolf and noticed Ember was about to get crushed by the large monster as it lifted its foot about to make Ember a stain on the floor. She somehow had been knocked unconscious and was about to get crushed. Immediately rage filled me I had to get to Ember. Immediately I felt power course through me, a new yet familiar power, and my wrist started to glow another color, pain unbearable pain coursed threw me and I cried in pain, but I forced myself to focus on her and only her and immediately I felt a tug at my gut and right then I was next to her within seconds and I hefted her up and then I looked Percy and I was there just as the foot came crashing down. I wheezed in exhaustion as I sat on the floor with my back up against a pile of junk.
Thalia then gave a shout and lightning arced down and hit the behemoth in the chest sending the creature to the floor, above the clouds the wolf I had been fighting earlier came diving down at the downed monster and flew flames at the creature. The wolf howled in the night sky as if in rage.
The monster landed down on its butt and made the ground rumble as it landed down I used my remaining orbs to cover everyone up so the dust wouldn't suffocate anyone. One orb wrapped around Ember, Percy, Bianca, and I. my second orb raced to Thalia and wrapped around her, then another went to Zoe and wrapped around her, my last orb came down from the wolf that had flown back into the sky and wrapped around Grover, after a few minutes and I sensed the dust had settled I un wrapped the orbs around my friends and came back to me. Ember whom was just then coming back around.
"Aw man what hit me?" Ember asked and then her eyes landed on me and they widened. "Blake what the hell happened. To you."
And sure enough I look down at my body and noticed that lines of blue were all around my body, the crystal on my wrist glowed a light blue and I could sense another square had filled the inside of my eyes. Using an orb I had it go to the spot I had originally teleported from and grasped my hidden blade I had taken off earlier and brought it back to me. I put it on my wrist and looked at Talos, whom was still on its behind. On its foot was a maintenance hatch which said: FOR MAINTENANCE ONLY.
I tried to stand, but I couldn't I had spend all of my energy just teleporting and the pain was just now getting to me. I felt as if I had just gone through two rounds against Mike Tyson. I tried to stand, but it was just no use.
"Crazy-idea time," I heard Percy mumble.
Percy told us about the maintenance hatch. "There may be a way to control the thing. Switches or something. I'm going to get inside.
"How? You'll have to stand under its foot! You'll be crushed." Bianca said.
"Distract it," Percy said. "I'll just have to time it right."
"Percy are you crazy!" Ember said tears in her eyes. "There has to be another way, there is no way I'm losing my brother to some over grown statue."
"You won't." Bianca said. "Because I'm going this is my fault to begin with. If I hadn't grabbed this stupid thing." Bianca said showing us a metal figurine, a statue of a god. "It… it was for Nico. It was the only statue he didn't have."
"But, Bianca you can't. Nico-" Percy started.
"It's my responsibility. Here" She handed Percy the little god statue and pressed it into his hand. "If anything happens, give that to Nico. Tell him, I love him and I'm sorry."
"Bianca, no!" Percy shouted.
I tried to stand once again to go after Bianca, but I just physically couldn't I had pushed my body already beyond its limits anymore and I would be dead.
Ember had an arm around me keeping me still as she patched up my leg.
Thalia had the giant monsters attention for a moment. She'd learned that the monster was big, but slow. If you could stay close to it and not get smashed, you could run around it and stay alive. At least, it was working so far. The wolf whom had blew fire at the create was flying back towards Ember and I and Ember seeing the creature jumped in front of me used her body to block, in fear that the wolf was going to attack, but instead the wolf landed beside us, and before Ember or Percy was about to attack I shout them both down telling them not to, and that I would explain later. And then I turned my attention back to Bianca.
Bianca had gotten right nex to the giant's foot, trying to balance herself on the metal scraps that swayed and shifted with his weight.
Zoe yelled, "What are you doing?
"Get it to raise its foot!" She shouted.
Zoe shot an arrow toward the monster's face and it flew straight into one nostril. The giant straightened and shook its head.
"Hey, junk boy!" Percy yelled. "Down here."
Percy ran up to its big toe and stabbed it with Riptide. The magic blade cut a gash in the bronze.
Percy's plan seemed to work like a charm. Talos looked down at him and raised its foot to squash him. I couldn't quite see what Bianca was doing, but Percy was knocked into as Talos's foot came crashing down behind Percy by just a couple of inches and he would've hit his head on a metal fridge, but I used my orb as a baseball mitt and caught him in mid air.
The monster was about to snatch Percy up, but Grover started to play his pipes frantically, and his music sent another power line pole whacking against Talos's thigh. The monster turned. Grover should've run, but he must've been too exhausted from the effort of so much magic. He took two steps, fell, and didn't get back up.
"Grover!" Percy, Thalia, Ember and I shouted. I tried to get that familiar tug in my gut to teleport like I had earlier for Ember, but someone was blocking the connection. I knew it was A, I knew if I teleported one more time I would die, but helping save Grover was way more important to me than anything that would happen to me.
The monster raised his sword to smash Grover. Then he froze. Bianca must've made it into the maintenance hatch. I took in a deep breath and used my the rest of my strength and focused on my orb that was next to me and sent it soaring under the feet of Talos I made it thin to where it could slip under the hatch and made it surround Bianca like an armor.
Talos cocked his head to one side, like he was hearing strange new music. He started moving his arms and legs in weird ways, doing the Funky Chicken. Then he made a fist and punched himself in the face.
"Go, Bianca!" Percy yelled.
I felt Bianca using her limps to pull stuff apart from the inside. Using my orbs I could tell every movement that she made in the creature.
The mosnter staggered around, and I realized we were still in danger. Thalia and Percy rushed and grabbed Grover and ran with him toward the highway. The wolf dragon picked me up by my jacket, while Ember hopped onto its back electing a low grow, but the creature took off up into the air and came down beside Percy and Thalia while Zoe was ahead. She yelled, "How will Bianca get out?"
The giant hit itself in the head again and dropped his sword. A shudder ran through his whole body and he staggered toward the power lines.
Inside the machine Bianca was still wrecking havoc.
"Look out!" Percy, yelled but it was too late.
The giant's ankle snared the lines, and blue flickers of electricity shot up his body. I hoped the inside was insulated. I had no idea what was going on in there. The giant careened back into the junkyard, and his right hand fell off, landing in the scrap metal with a horrible CLANG!
Inside of the creature I felt a powerful radiation circle around Bianca and then all of a sudden she was gone, just gone not blown to bits by the machine but gone, my orb still inside the monster. Using its power I had it form spikes going throughout the system.
His left arm came loose, too. He was falling apart at the joints.
Talos began to run.
"Wait!" Ember shouted. The wolf then started to fly after the machine, knowing that I wanted to get to the monster.
Don't ask me how I knew what I wanted, I just could.
The giant crumbled from the top down: his head, his chest, and finally, his legs collapsed. When we reached the wreckage we searched frantically, yelling Bianca's name. The wolf set me down ears flattened to its head. We crawled around in the vast hollow pieces and the legs and the head. We searched until the sun started to rise, but no luck. I had hoped that Bianca had somehow slipped out of my orb and just scampered out, but nothing.
Zoe sat down and wept. I was stunned to see her cry. I heard her mumble. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't made her come on this quest."
I walked to Zoe with a slight limp, I even fell once, but when I made it to her I hugged her tightly. I met with little resistance, but soon she was crying into my chest, her hands slamming into my already bruised chest.
I cringed, but I didn't let go. This was my sister, albeit she treated me like shit, she needed someone to at least be there for her. She may have been living for thousands of years, but at heart I could tell she was still a teenage girl with a broken heart. From whom I had no clue, but I swore I would figure out whom.
Ember walked up to us and gently slipped a hand onto my shoulder and kissed the back of my head. Her hand rubbing my back. She had tears in her eyes.
Thalia yelled in rage and impaled her sword in the giant's smashed face.
"We can keep searching," Percy said. "It's light now. We'll find her."
I finally let go of Zoe as she had passed out from exhaustion and stood up with the little strength I had.
"No we won't," Is said miserably. "When I had my orb around her to protect her while she was in the monster she disappeared. I have no clue how or why, she may be captured, dead, or I have no clue what, but right now. We have to keep moving."
I know I sounded like an ass for not wanting to search for Bianca, but I couldn't sense her with my nature ability and I was about three seconds from passing out.
"The prophecy." Grover said. "One might just perish in a land without rain."
Disdain washed over everyone's face. The wolf howled in a sad cry knowing we had just lost a pack member. Spirits were low and Bianca was nowhere to be seen, and then my vision filled with a welcoming black.
And that ladies and Gentlemen is a wrap on this chapter. Man I will say this was a hard chapter to write, mainly because, and I will be honest I was experiencing some writers block, but its getting better. I thank you all for your patience and your reviews. They all mean a lot.
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