"That doesn't sound so good." Triton grimaced
"What about my quests sounds good?" Percy snorted
"Fair point." Triton snickered
The thing about flying on a pegasus…with icy rain stinging my skin.
Poseidon and Percy shivered in the cold.
I was wishing I'd brought some of that Camp Half-Blood orange thermal underwear they sold in the camp store
Everybody snickered.
"You guys have thermal underwear?" Reyna asked in amusement
The demigods laughed and nodded.
But after the story about…up their trail again
Apollo and Ares nodded.
Percy really had good instincts.
Traffic was bad with the…Can we get something to go?
Percy chuckled.
"Blackjack loves them right?" Silena asked
Percy nodded.
I tried explaining to Blackjack…what her birth date said.
Everybody snickered.
"How can you even think of such stuff at such a time?" Nico asked, shaking his head.
"Artemis manipulated the mist." Zoe said
Percy nodded.
"Well," I said…we couldn't move.
Poseidon glared at Dionysus.
"What are you doing there?" Zeus asked
"Telling me about another hero who was a little jerkish." Percy sighed
"Who?" Poseidon asked
"Oh your son." Percy said nonchalantly
"Theseus?" Poseidon asked, relating to Dionysus
Percy nodded.
"How was he jerkish?" Poseidon asked, in defense for his son
It must have shown in his tone because Percy's face darkened.
"Yeah he was a very innocent guy who definitely did not dump an innocent girl after promising to marry her. Percy said sarcastically
Poseidon winced.
Dionysus blinked at Percy who caught his gaze. Dionysus gave him a nod of thanks and Percy gave him a smile.
"Between that was just one reason?" Percy added
Triton nodded at Percy from behind his father's back which was caught by Amphitrite but she didn't bother telling her husband.
He was leaning against…It's the wine dude!
Everybody laughed.
Hermes clutched his stomach.
"I'm definitely calling you that now." He choked
Dionysus glared at him.
Mr. D sighed in exasperation. "The next person, or horse, who calls me the 'wine dude' will end up in a bottle of Merlot!"
"Blackjack is a pegasus so he can call you that." Percy pointed out as he laughed
Dionysus glared at him too.
"I'm not really a fan of Merlot." Rachel said
Dionysus raised an eyebrow at her.
"How do you know what it tastes like?"
"Parties, functions." Rachel shrugged
"Mr. D." I tried to keep…"Well…maybe."
"Do you even care?" Poseidon asked
Dionysus didn't say anything.
The Greek demigods looked at each other.
Was there a reason Mr.D didn't call them their proper names?
"I should throw you off this building, minus the flying horse, and see how heroic you sound on the way down."
"Don't you dare." Poseidon growled
"I didn't." Dionysus grumbled
I balled my fists…I need no other reason."
"Not all sons of Poseidon are traitors Mr.D." Percy said gently
His tone surprised the demigods, normally he wasn't really calm with gods. There was probably a reason as to why Percy spoke in such a tone.
Dionysus' surprise showed on his face and he raised a confused eyebrow.
"I have to go on this quest! I've got to help my friends. That's something you wouldn't understand!"
"Percy." Poseidon groaned in exasperation
Um, boss, Blackjack said nervously. Seeing as how we're wrapped in vines nine hundred feet in the air, you might want to talk nice.
"Even he knows." Triton sighed
Percy grinned sheepishly.
The grape vines coiled…way out of the Labyrinth.
"The part of the answer was already there." Percy face-palmed.
And do you know how…he dumped her.
"Wow another jerkish guy." Thalia grumbled
Poseidon glared at her but Percy glared at him and he stopped.
I found her there…away like a broken sandal."
The demigods scowled.
Castor, Pollux and Dakota had the deepest scowls.
"That's wrong," I said…. "You're…you're married?
"Surprised huh?" Travis asked
Percy nodded.
But I thought you got in trouble for chasing a wood nymph—"
Hera scowled.
Persephone gestured to Thalia, Percy, Nico, Jason and Hazel.
The demigods grinned sheepishly.
"My point is you heroes never change…betray everyone around you
"We get it Mr.D but we would never betray each other. We are trying to change but everybody compares us to the ancient heroes. How will we even manage to set an impression of who we are? Not all demigods are the same." Percy asked
Dionysus tilted his head, the boy made a fair point.
So you'll excuse me if I have…ask Zoë Nightshade."
"I hate Medea, she's evil." Apollos scowled
"Yeah, so Hercules is a jerk, Theseus was almost as bad, Jason dumped Medea." Leo summed up
"Yes basically." Percy said
"How did you guys manage to sire them and Percy, I mean they literally don't seem related." Jason shook her head and Poseidon and Zeus
"You aren't like Hercules either." Percy told Jason.
Jason grinned.
"What do you mean, ask Zoë?"… Will prove no better than the other heroes."
"You're wrong there dad." Castor told Dionysus
The god gave a small nod which nobody except his children noticed.
He wanted to know more about the boy before coming to any conclusions.
With that, Dionysus snapped his fingers…donuts in New Jersey.
A few people chuckled.
Zoë drove south like a crazy person, and we were into Maryland before she finally pulled over at a rest stop.
Zoe snickered.
Blackjack darn near…I can do that
Percy smiled and everybody laughed.
I put on my cap of invisibility... wouldn't slam into me.
Annabeth nodded.
I thought I'd go inside and warm up…all coming out of the store.
Everybody chuckled.
"Yeah that was quite a plan." Travis snickered.
"Grover, are you sure?" Thalia was saying…I'd forgotten."
Hades winced.
"I dislike this," Zoë said…What the heck is a scullion?
Everybody roared with laughter.
"Zoe you need better insults." Percy choked out
"So do you." Clarisse snorted
"I don't call anybody a scullion." Percy protested
"Fine she needs it a bit more." Clarisse admitted
The laughter increased.
"Thalia's mad about it but she doesn't know what it is." Nico laughed
"I know now." Thalia said
"Okay scullion." Nico said
Thalia chucked five cushions at him.
"Whoa, you two,"… Let us go."
Leo and Beckendorf whistled.
As Blackjack and I continued south…and hunted dinosaurs.
"Percy what-?" Annabeth shook her head
Percy stuck his tongue out.
How old was Zoë? And what had Mr. D been talking about? What bad experience had she had with heroes?
"You actually thought about that?" Dionysus asked
Percy nodded.
As we got closer to Washington, Blackjack started slowing down and dropping altitude. He was breathing heavily.
"He's tired." Poseidon grimaced.
"You okay?" I asked him…I'm a tough one
"He definitely is." Percy smiled
I figured he was right…And thanks a ton.
"That's kind of you, despite knowing it might be risky." Lee said
The demigods nodded.
A ton of hay, maybe, Blackjack mused.
Everybody chuckled or laughed.
That sounds good…It had been following the van.
"Thorn?" Nico asked
Percy nodded.
Poseidon bit back a groan.
The guy took out his mobile phone…Manticore from Westover Hall.
Poseidon didn't bother this time.
Invisibility cap on…being held prisoner
"You still thought that it was fake?" Grover asked
"I hoped so." Percy sighed.
Thorn kept well back…. I made a split-second decision and followed him.
"It was a good but very risky decision." Percy said
Poseidon buried his head in his hands.
Why was his son always in danger? He thought
Thorn crossed the street…though it had recently been reopened.
Hermes winced.
The demigods gasped and shuddered.
Next to him, sitting down…even though he wasn't yelling.
Zoe winced.
Dr. Thorn took off his shades…"As you say, sir."
"I bet he hates calling him sir." Katie said
Dr. Thorn glared at Luke…"Thalia," Luke said.
"I'm glad they hate my shield." Thalia smirked
"And two other girls…playmate to keep them occupied."
"Yeah he was very fun to play with." Grover said sarcastically
That made Poseidon feel worse and Zeus and Jason were feeling anxious.
"But—"…Let me finish them off."
A few people snickered.
"No." The General rose…he could even move.
Artemis and Zoe cringed.
"You have already failed me, Thorn," he said.
"Big time." Hades said
"But, General—"…He was a born commander.
"That's very accurate." Zoe said
"I should throw you into the pits of Tartarus…a scrawny daughter of Athena."
"Annabeth isn't scrawny." Athena scowled
"She's one of the best." The demigods agreed
Annabeth blushed.
"But you promised me revenge... awkwardly and left the room.
"He is still under the General." Apollo said
"He can't go against him." Artemis nodded
"Now, my boy"… that little boat look insignificant.
"That boat is way too powerful to look insignificant." Beckendorf said
"That means that is something very dangerous." Jason paled
Luke clenched his fists…playing in the dirt.
Everybody laughed.
"I don't think that was the plan." Silena snickered
"But the worrying part is what and how he's growing all of that." Hades said
The laughter stopped at once.
Everyone stared at them in disbelief…And never let me see your face again."
"Please tell me he didn't succeed." Poseidon said
Nobody said anything.
A few weren't sure and the others weren't sure what to say.
The terrified guard dropped…"I love them."
Rachel growled.
"That's a very low reason." Piper said
Everybody nodded.
A minute later…under his leather shoes
The demigods'' mouths hung open.
"Shit." Nico swore.
He stood, wincing…"More Tylenol?"
The seriousness disappeared.
Everybody snickered.
"He has neck pain." Travis snickered.
"No! It will pass"… like X-ray images.
Everybody shuddered.
"That is very creepy." Apollo said
"I agree and I control skeletons." Nico said
One of them looked straight…hunters until they were extinct.
Artemis scowled.
I didn't have time to think…scarf out of the air.
"Thank you Percy." Artemis said gratefully.
Percy grinned.
"That's soo risky." Triton said, grimacing and holding his head.
"What's this?" bellowed the General…"It has to be."
"It's creepy yet obvious as to how he knows that?" Beckendorf said
I sprinted for the exit…And then I ran.
The sea gang paled.
The others nodded.
"Done." Chris said
"I'll read." Athena said
Chris gave her the book.