Hey guys sorry I haven't updated I had the bane of all things, homework.

Chapter 14 I threaten war.

When I reached the ground the police rushed forward, I was a wanted for my mother's death so I shifted into my monster form, I don't know what they saw thought the mist probably a big snake, one of the police officers pulled a pistol and fired.

I braced for pain but none came I looked down and saw a bullet hole in my shirt but no blood like the bullet had passed right through me. The officer fired again but still no effect the officer said. "What the?"

I lunged at him rapped my tail around him and pulled the gun out of his hand and slammed it in his head. The officer crumpled and the rest of the police force just backed away. I slithered away and shifted back and went to find Annabeth and Grover.

When I found them they looked scared.

"What happened and where is Percy?" Annabeth asked.

"You know that lady with the Chihuahua?" I asked.

"Yes"

"They are really Echidna and the chimera."

"WHAT!" They yelled.

"Shut up," I hissed "the police are looking for me!"

"Where is Percy?" Grover asked.

"He jumped from the arch into the river, I hope that his powers over water helped him survive."

We walked to the river passing a news lady was talking for the camera: "Probably not a terrorist attack, we're told, but it's still very early in the investigation. The damage, as you can see, is very serious. We're trying to get to some of the survivors, to question them about eyewitness reports of someone falling from the Arch."

We saw Percy and ran over to him, but when we got close Percy punched me.

"Nice to see you too." I said.

"You pushed me off a Six hundred and thirty feet drop!" he said. Then he hugged me. "I thought you died up there."

"How did you survive?" Annabeth asked.

"The chimera let me leave."

"Why."

"He said he wouldn't fight his fellow."

"What did he mean by fellow?" Grover asked.

"I do not know but we need to leave, now!"

"We got to get to Santa Monica!" Percy said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I got a summons from my dad."

Before I could say anything we passed another reporter doing a news break.

"Percy and Ulfr Jackson. That's right, Dan. Channel Twelve has learned that the boys who may have caused this explosion fits the descriptions of a young men wanted by authorities for a serious New Jersey bus accident three days ago. And they are believed to be traveling west. For our viewers at home, here is a photo of Percy and Ulfr"

We ducked around the news van and slipped into an alley.

When we went to a do-it-yourself car wash. And sent an Iris-message to camp by tossing a coin in a rainbow.

Later, we were sitting at a booth in a gleaming chrome diner. All around us, families were eating burgers and drinking malts and sodas.

The waitress came over. She raised her eyebrow skeptically. "Well?"

"We, um, want to order dinner." Percy said.

"You kids have money to pay for it?"

Grover's lower lip quivered. I was afraid he would start bleating, or worse, start eating the linoleum. Annabeth looked ready to pass out from hunger.

I was considering robing the place sense we were already wanted by the police when a rumble shook the whole building, a motorcycle the size of a baby elephant had pulled up to the curb.

All conversation in the diner stopped. The motorcycle's headlight glared red. Its gas tank had flames painted on it, and a shotgun holster riveted to either side, complete with shotguns. The seat was leather-but leather that looked like ... Well, Caucasian human skin.

The guy on the bike would've made pro wrestlers run for Mama. He was dressed in a red muscle shirt and black jeans and a black leather duster, with a hunting knife strapped to his thigh. He wore red wraparound shades, and he had the cruelest, most brutal face I'd ever seen, with an oily black crew cut and cheeks that were scarred from many, many fights. The weird thing was, I felt like I'd seen his face somewhere before.

As he walked into the diner, all the people rose, as if they were hypnotized, but the biker waved his hand dismissively and they all sat down again. Everybody went back to their conversations. The waitress blinked, as if somebody had just pressed the rewind button on her brain. She asked us again, "You kids have money to pay for it?"

The biker said, "It's on me." He slid into our booth, which was way too small for him, and pushed me into the window, witch maid me mad.

He looked up at the waitress, who was gaping at him, and said, "Are you still here?"

She turned as if she'd been spun around, then marched back toward the kitchen.

The biker looked at me. I couldn't see his eyes behind the red shades, but bad feelings started boiling in my stomach. Anger, resentment, bitterness. My monster side wanted to rip everything a part, but I pushed it back.

He gave Percy a wicked grin. "So you're old Seaweed's kid, huh?"

"What's it to you?" Percy said.

Annabeth shot a warning look. "Percy, this is-"

The biker raised his hand.

"s'okay," he said. "I don't mind a little attitude. Long as you remember who's the boss. You know who I am, little cousin?"

"You're Clarisse's dad," Percy said. "Ares, god of war."

"That explains the smell." I said.

He glared at me. The waitress came back with heaping trays of food, cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, and chocolate shakes.

Ares handed her a few gold drachmas.

She looked nervously at the coins. "But, these aren't..."

Ares pulled out his huge knife and started cleaning his fingernails. "Problem, sweetheart?"

The waitress swallowed, then left with the gold.

"You can't do that," Percy told Ares. "You can't just threaten people with a knife."

"Why not? Your brother was going to do the same."

The rest of my group glared at me.

"What?!" I asked.

"We were hungry and are trying to save the world!"

"Hey that reminds me, I need you to do me a favor." Ares said.

"What favor could I do for a god?" Percy said.

"Something a god doesn't have time to do himself. It's nothing much. I left my shield at an abandoned water park here in town. I was going on a little ... Date with my girlfriend. We were interrupted. I left my shield behind. I want you to fetch it for me."

"Why don't you go back and get it yourself?" Percy asked.

The fire in his eye sockets glowed a little hotter.

"Why don't I turn you into a prairie dog and run you over with my Harley? Because I don't feel like it. A god is giving you an opportunity to prove yourself, Percy Jackson. Will you prove yourself a coward?"

"Or are you the coward?" I said. "Let me guess you and your girlfriend got scared away and now are sending a group of kids."

Fire in his eye sockets glowed white hot but he seemed to restrain himself.

"You got guts kid, but you better learn your place."

"We're not interested," Percy said. "We've already got a quest."

"I know all about your quest, punk. When that item was first stolen, Zeus sent his best out looking for it: Apollo, Athena, Artemis, and me, naturally. If I couldn't sniff out a weapon that powerful... Well ... If I couldn't find it, you got no hope. Nevertheless, I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your dad and I go way back. After all, I'm the one who told him my suspicions about old Corpse Breath."

"You told him Hades stole the bolt?"

"Sure. Framing somebody to start a war. Oldest trick in the book. I recognized it immediately. In a way, you got me to thank for your little quest."

"I'm not sure whether to thank you or curse you." I said.

"Just do my little job, and I'll help you on your way. I'll arrange a ride west for you and your friends."

"We're doing fine on our own."

"Yeah, right. No money. No wheels. No clue what you're up against. Help me out, and maybe I'll tell you something you need to know. Something about your mom."

"My mom?" Percy and I asked.

"That got your attention. The water park is a mile west on Delancy. You can't miss it. Look for the Tunnel of Love ride."

"What interrupted your date?" I asked.

Ares bared his teeth, but I'd seen his threatening look before on Clarisse. There was something false about it, almost like he was nervous.

"You're lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other Olympians. They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. I'll meet you back here when you're done. Don't disappoint me."

"If we lose even one of our group I will kill you!"

"I'd like to see you try." Then he disappeared in a flash of light.

"Not good," Grover said. "Ares sought you out, Percy. This is bad."

"I don't trust him" I said. "Forget Ares. Let's just go"

"We can't," Annabeth said. "Look, I hate Ares as much as anybody, but you don't ignore the gods unless you want serious bad fortune. He wasn't kidding about turning Percy into a rodent."

"Why didn't he turn me into a rodent I pissed him off more than Percy?" I asked.

"Ulfr you are a monster, monsters are able to resist godly energy so if he wanted to hurt you he would have to cut you or punch you." Annabeth said.

We ate are lunch and left to find Ares shield.