Chapter 14: I Make A Sucker-Bet with the Queen of the gods

"Mars," Frank said, and I could hear the barest hint of venom in his tone. Mars looked up impassively, which surprised me. Ares would've already begun ranting about 'be respectful to your superiors', yadda yadda. Guess Mars had a lot more control than he let on.

"Hey kid," he said, giving me a glance. From underneath his glasses, it looked like the red glow became brighter. "Come on in. Tell your friends to take a hike."

"Frank?" Hazel whispered. "What do you mean, Mars? Is your grandmother… is she okay?"

Frank glanced at me and Hazel with confusion. "You don't see him?"

As Frank was glancing at me, I saw Mars shake his head subtly at me.

"See who?" I said, pretending to be confused. "Mars? Where?"

Mars told Frank that he wanted to have a father/son talk, and that too surprised me. Ares, at least, was particularly known for not being the greatest dad. Once again, I was struck by how different Mars seemed from Ares. Frank grudgingly told Hazel and I to help ourselves to whatever we could find in the fridge, and to claim the two bedrooms. Hazel and I reluctantly walked back the way we came.

"Percy? What's going on?" Hazel asked me.

"Mars wants to talk with Frank about something, and he wants to do it without us," I said, reaching for the fridge. "It shouldn't take long. If what I know about Ares holds true for Mars, he doesn't have many words to use anyway in his vocabulary. Kill and punk making up half of it. Want some grapefruit?"

Hazel looked at me like I had just grown another eye.

"Listen, the grapefruit's expiration date says that it's still good for—" I began, jokingly looking at a tag on the side of the fruit.

"How can you just speak so freely about the god of war?" Hazel whispered, her expression still in shock. A concerned blush colored her cheeks, and she fanned her face with her hand, an old gesture that was somehow more endearing seeing her do it. "Shouldn't you be concerned?"

I shrugged. "I've fought Ares twice. Won, the first time. He never forgave me, so there's really no point in trying to be respectful now anyways. No grapefruit, you sure?"

Hazel stared at me for a few more minutes as I put the grapefruit back with a smile. Then she shook her head, snapping out of her glare. "Um, do they have any meat? Like, chicken or something?"

I looked in the fridge as she made her way over to a cupboard.

"Yeah, they got some chicken, and some beef it looks like," I said. I looked up from the fridge. "We can make cheeseburgers."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "No, silly, we don't have any buns anyways. I'm going to make some Cajun food I think, if we have the ingredients."

I stood up and pointed to the kitchen's island. A bag of hamburger buns shimmered into existence on the corner of the marble countertop.

"We have buns," I said, looking back at Hazel, who just stared at the bag of bread for a few seconds. Then she narrowed her eyes at me.

"I can't tell if you're joking or not," she admitted.

"I never joke about cheeseburgers."

She just rolled her eyes.

"Just trust me, and try some of the Cajun. I bet I can remember the recipe I used to make…" she said, beginning to pull out spices.

So I let her cook on the old stove, and I had to admit that it smelled good. She and I talked for a while, getting to know more about each other's pasts. I told her about my story, and the Battle of Manhattan. She was definitely impressed. And Hera even kept quiet in my head. Evidently, my spilling everything no longer affected her plan, since Hazel knew I was a god anyway.

She told me a little about her own past, though she didn't go into extensive details. She told me about how she met Arion, a kid named Sammy she had gotten close to, her mother's business, her curse from Hade—Pluto, I mean. She left out how she died, but I figured it was personal, so I didn't ask.

When Frank didn't show up, Hazel began to get worried. She went upstairs to check on him at one point, and bring him some food. When she didn't come back down, it was my turn to get worried. I walked up the stairs, and listened carefully.

"Dear, this cooking is delicious!" I heard an old woman's voice say. I opened the door to see that Frank's grandmother was awake, and Frank himself was snoring away at the side of her bed, a pillow propped under him and a blanket draped over him. Hazel was perched lightly on the bedside, talking to Frank's grandmother and smiling. The grandmother had Hazel's plate of food on her lap, and was eating from it. Both of them turned to me when I walked in. Hazel smiled, and Frank's grandmother eyed me warily.

"So," the grandmother began. "The god who's traveling with my grandson, eh? Didn't know that this quest warranted that kind of attention. Couldn't you have brought him back sooner? Then we could have solved this gift of ours in some peace."

Hazel smiled at me as I walked in and sat in a spare chair near the door.

"I was only sent by Hera two days ago," I said, trying not to smile as the grandmother took another bite while she gave me a suspicious glare.

"And when are you telling Fai about your immortality?" she asked.

"He said he'd tell us tomorrow, but I'd already figured it out," Hazel interjected.

"Well dear," the grandmother said, suddenly much tenderer than a moment ago. "Either you're the most observant soul I know, or he's not very good at hiding his powers."

Hazel and I both laughed a little, and Frank stirred in his sleep.

"A little of both, I think," I admitted. "They're harder to control when I haven't had much practice."

The grandmother's expression told me to continue, but Hazel beat me to it.

"Percy is a relatively new god. He said he was only given his immortality about a year ago," Hazel said.

"Hmm, rather a loose cannon waiting to go off, don't you think, dear?" the grandmother said, eyeing me again.

"No, Percy is the one I would trust most to be a god, if what he's told me is true. He fought the Titans as a mortal demigod and won."

The grandmother studied me again with a new sort of grudging respect in her eyes.

"That…" she said, in her raspy voice. "That is an impressive past. It's a good thing that my Fai should have you with him, then. What is your mission?"

"We have to go to Hubbard glacier and unchain Death, so the monsters can return to Tartarus when they die," I explained.

"Do you have an escape from the ogres outside?" the grandmother asked. Then she seemed to ponder something. Hazel began to reply, but the grandmother cut her off, answering her own question. "That's a stupid question. You're a god. Of course you'll be able to escape."

I nodded. "And then, I can try to teleport to Hubbard, but I don't know if I'll honestly be able to cross into Alaska. Mars said it was the land beyond the gods, and I don't know if that includes me."

"Of course it doesn't include you, godling!" the grandmother said sharply, though there didn't seem to be malice in her tone. But I could hear years of sarcasm on her voice. "You're Greek! Those Greeks never stuck to the orthodox rules!"

I smiled, realizing that, compared to the Roman camp I had only spent a single night in, that was most likely true. Just comparing their war games, and our capture-the-flag… we Greeks were much more laid back, it felt like.

Yet Hazel and Frank felt just as laid back as many of the campers I'd met at camp Half-Blood, so I guess I couldn't generalize.

We talked a little while longer with the grandmother before she told us that we'd need our energy tomorrow, and we needed sleep. While I could still probably have gone a few days, I could see that Hazel was visibly tired. We both thanked her for her hospitality, and I walked with Hazel to her room. I stopped outside the door, and she turned to face me.

"Percy," she began slowly, yawning. "I just have one more question for tonight."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I was just wondering…" Hazel said softly, to make sure we weren't heard. "Why are you helping me and Frank? Wouldn't it be easier, if Juno was already sending a god to free Death, that you just pop over there, snap whatever ropes are holding him, and just pop back out? Why do you need Frank and I?"

I wondered over that for a minute.

"I think," I began slowly, "that if it was that easy, that she would've sent just anyone. But she wanted me to come and go with you guys on your quest. But then it got easy. You guys became good friends of mine, even in the few hours that I first knew you. You guys don't deserve to fight on your own all the time, going on these quests that have a high chance of us dying. I mean, look at our group of three; surrounded on all sides by an entire platoon of maniacal, bronze-exploding-dodgeball-wielding cannibals who think that if they eat Frank they get magic powers.

"That's why I wanted to be a god in the first place. I was fed up with the gods treating demigods like disposable dime-a-dozen heroes that could easily be replaced. I was sick of the casualties, and I didn't want another demigod to ever be killed in one of these quests, where nobody of any consequence will help."

Hazel blinked. Her mind was slowing down for the night, and I could see her brain trying to process my long explanation. "Which means?"

"I'm here because you guys need me, and because I want to be here with you," I summed up. "I don't let friends get in trouble. I've been told it's my fatal flaw, but I don't care."

Hazel smiled a little.

"So, I really have nothing to worry about from you?" she asked slowly, still uncertain.

"Absolutely," I said. "I'll even swear on Styx, if you want."

"No, I believe you," Hazel said, her smile growing a little. "Like you said, I can spot a bluff."

I grinned at her. "Now go on. I can see you need sleep, Hazel."

Seeing she was about to protest, I rolled my eyes.

"I'll take first watch. I'll even wake you up earlier than Frank, if you want," I said.

Hazel nodded. "Okay. Earlier than Frank then."

"You got it. Sweet dreams."

"Good night, Percy."

Hazel went in and shut the door to her room. I turned, walking down the hall. I meandered through the stairways and halls until I found myself staring at the cold and empty fireplace.

'Hera,' I sent the mental thought to her royal Pain.

'What is it now, godling?' Hera thought back, exasperatedly.

'Who set Frank's curse in motion?' I thought. Hera fell silent for a few minutes.

'I do not know. Perhaps it was the Fates. They at least knew about it ahead of time, and warned me in time to warn the Zhangs. But where the Fates learned it is unknown to me,'Hera thought back. I was actually kind of surprised that she was so responsive to this question, especially when just a moment ago she had sounded so fed up with me. 'Why?'

'I'm trying to figure out a way to break the tie between his lifeline and the stick,' I thought. 'It's too easy of a weakness to take advantage of, in a fight.'

'That's why they call it a "curse", godling,' Hera scoffed. 'It wouldn't be so terrible if there wasn't any effects or consequences.'

'But why does it have to be terrible?' I thought to her. 'Why couldn't he just be… Frank?'

'He has too many gifts. Balance must be held,' Hera thought back, but I could've sworn I heard a note in her voice that sounded suspiciously like regret.

'What do you want to bet that Annabeth could solve his lifeline problem?' I wondered aloud in my thoughts. 'I'm betting she could.'

'The Athena girl? Breaking the Zhang boy's curse? Ha!' Hera scoffed. 'She has no magic to call her own! There is no way that she could do it!'

'If there's ever one thing I learned, Lady Hera,' I thought to her royal high-horse, 'It's that appearances are not always what they seem.'

'What, so suddenly she has an ability rivaling Hecate?' Hera thought back.

'If I was able to list a second one, it's that you should never, under any circumstances, bet against Annabeth,' I thought with a grin. How many times had that been proven to me already?

'Y'know, godling, I don't make bets lightly. But this one is too easy to pass up. If I win, you have to wipe Frank's and Hazel's memories of you being a god, and you can't do anything to give them the idea you are a god until I give you leave to.' Hera thought.

'I win, you have to make a public apology to Annabeth,' I thought, smiling. 'And you have to advocate that I can make up to… let's say ten gods of the Unclaimed, if we stay as far off the radar as we can.'

'Deal. There is no way that I can lose, though, godling,' Hera thought back again.

'We'll see,' I thought. I hoped Annabeth would have some sort of idea.

I felt the earth for my particles, which seemed suspended over the entire continents of North and South America at the moment. I began pulling particles together at a focal point where I felt Annabeth was. She was alone at the moment, walking in the woods of Camp Half-Blood.

I shimmered into existence, falling in step with her. She squeaked with surprise for just a single moment, before a giant grin bloomed on her face.

"PERCY!" she laughed, throwing her arms around me in a big hug. When her arms actually latched onto my form, she smiled even wider. "I was wondering what was taking so long!"

"Hey Wise Girl," I said, giving her a hug as well. "Oh, you have no idea how much I missed you."

"I bet I missed you more," she teased.

"Mm, not possible," I said, giving her a kiss.

We just walked hand-in-hand through the forest for a few minutes, just silently enjoying each other's company. After a few minutes of silence, however, I put my question to her.

"So Annabeth," I began, rubbing the back of my neck. She eyed me curiously.

"Seaweed Brain, what did you do?" she asked me suspiciously. I held up my hands in surrender.

"Nothing, I swear," I said. Automatically, my brain added 'yet.'

Annabeth just eyed me suspiciously for another moment or two.

"I just have a problem that kinda needs solving. Thought you might like a crack at it, since I've got nothing."

Annabeth turned to face me, the moonlight glimmering in her excited stormy gray eyes.

"Hit me with it," she said.

"So, there's this guy I'm going on a quest with. Frank Zhang. He's a good friend, kinda reminds you of a panda sometimes. I really like him, and I think you would too. But his life is tied to a piece of firewood. If it burns out, well… so does he."

Annabeth put a hand over her mouth, her eyes shining with pity. "That's awful."

"Yeah, and too easy to take advantage of," I agreed. "So the question is this. Is there any way that we could potentially solve this problem?"

Annabeth thought about that for a minute.

"Is the tie between the firewood and his lifeline breakable, in this scenario?" she asked.

"Not that I'm aware of," I said.

She thought a little more.

"I might have to think about that a little more later," she admitted. "It's an interesting dilemma."

'I knew she would not be able to solve it, godling,' Hera said, almost cackling even. 'Make sure Hazel does not see through your disguise again when you wipe her memory.'

'Annabeth didn't throw in the towel yet, Lady Hera,' I thought, smiling again. 'She only said she needs to think about it.'

'Tomato, tomato,' Hera said*, before going quiet in my head once again.

Annabeth looked at me again, studying me and my body language.

'She's talking to you too, isn't she?' Annabeth thought to me.

'Yeah,' I admitted. 'and we may or may not have a bet going on that you can solve Frank's issue.'

Annabeth's eyes narrowed at me. She sent another thought my way.

I backed up quickly, smiling again at her suspicious glance. 'I swear, I bet on you! I learned the hard way not to bet against you a long time ago.'

'And Her royal pain of the gods? She bet against me?' Annabeth thought.

I grinned. 'Said you'd never figure it out.'

I saw Annabeth's whole mind go into overdrive. Now that it was also a competition against Annabeth's least favorite goddess, she was determined to figure out a solution. I knew she'd be thinking of any sort of clever solutions as soon as I left.

I sighed, knowing what came next. "Annabeth, I have to go again soon. Frank and Hazel will need me to take the first shift."

Annabeth's mind went on pause as she walked over to me again, and put a hand on my cheek.

"Do you have to go right now?" she asked.

"I probably should," I admitted. "We are in a house at the moment, surrounded by Canadians."

Annabeth's eyes gleamed. "So, Canada. Anywhere in particular, or should I just comb the country for your whereabouts?"

"I promise you won't have to look long. I'm coming straight for you as soon as I'm able."

"Bet I come for you first," Annabeth said, grinning. But the grin faded. "How long until I see you again?"

"I wouldn't say long. We're almost to our destination," I said. Annabeth nodded.

She wrapped her arms around me again and kissed me in the dark of the woods. Nobody was around to whistle loudly or howl at us. It was serenely quiet. It reminded me of our shared underwater kiss.

"Don't be gone too long, Seaweed Brain," she said, as she finally pulled away. "I'm leaving some of my heart with you."

Some small part of my brain, in a corner in the back, acknowledged that that was romantic and mushy and sweet. It also knew that it was my turn to say something equally witty, romantic, and debonair. The other 94% of my brain was completely burned out from the kiss, and I just hung there, standing and staring like an idiot.

"Unmmhh…" I said, sounding like a very short-circuited Seaweed Brain.

Annabeth laughed and hit my shoulder. "I'll take it. Be careful, Percy."

And with that, I knew that if I didn't leave soon I never would. I broke out of the trance I was in, and hugged Annabeth.

"You be careful too, Wise Girl," I said. I pulled my particles back together in the house in Vancouver, Canada. It was still dead quiet in the house. I could hear the ogres outside.

For what could be a long night, I sat down on the couch and waited, listening for any signs that the ogres were growing impatient. I patiently waited the night through, ready at a moment's notice to begin protecting the people in the house who had quickly become two of my best friends.

*(AN: I know that in writing, the phrase 'tomato, tomato' just looks like… well, me saying the word twice and looking like an idiot. XD)