The engine of the muscle car rumbled quietly. Warm evening light shone into the vehicle as it pushed onwards down a backcountry road. Farmland surrounded them, tall stalks of wheat waving gently in the wind.
Anna sighed, one hand splayed loosely on the steering wheel as she leaned back against her seat, inclining her head. She blinked drowsily as her head sank into the soft leather of the seat, watching the road through half-opened eyes.
A hand gently slapped her shoulder, and Anna turned her head to regard Thalia.
The daughter of Zeus was sitting in the passenger seat, her feet up on the dash. Even as Anna glanced back at her, the demigoddess was reclining back into her seat, having pushed it as far back as it could go.
"Don't fall asleep, Anna." Thalia shot her a lazy smirk. "Distracted driving kills."
Anna blearily wiped her eyes. "I know, I know." She yawned. "But I'll be damned if I'm not tired."
"Want me to take over?" Thalia offered. Anna peered up into the rearview mirror, meeting Thalia's blue eyes. They were genuine and filled with concern.
She shook her head. "Nah. I'll be fine."
Thalia scooted forward. "You sure? I think we're the only ones still conscious right now."
She jerked a head backwards, and Anna followed the motion in the mirror. Annabeth was slumped against the window, as if regarding the landscape, were it not for her closed eyes and tilted head. Across from her sat Zoe, who was similarly slumped over on the other side. She was still sleeping off the exhaustion of using her powers to the extent that she did against Spartoi.
Percy was unconscious as well, splayed out in the third row of seats within the dimensionally extended car. The only sign of him was a hand splayed out on the back of one of the seats.
Anna felt her lips tilt into a warm smile. "I'm sure, Thalia." She paused, blinking heavily once more. "If you really want to help, come up here and talk to me. Keep me awake."
Metal softly grinded against metal as Thalia inclined her seat into a more reasonable angle, scooting forward.
"Sure." Thalia returned the smile. "What's up?"
Anna allowed her vision to wander for a few moments, looking at the fields of yellow they were passing. She smiled softly as she saw a red building in the distance.
"What do you think of farmers?"
"Hm." Thalia considered, glancing out the window for a moment, studying the distant building as it flew by. She shrugged. "I don't know. Never really thought of them all that much." She gave a rueful smile. "I'm a daughter of Zeus, not Demeter."
She glanced at Anna. "Why do you ask?"
Anna chuckled. "I've always admired them, ever since I was a little girl." She gazed out the windshield, lost in the past. "In my home, we had many farms much like these. They were beautiful."
Anna reclined further into the chair, a shadowed look crossing her face. "I loved them. My father was a farmhand for a bit, used to bring these delicious loaves of bread home every weekend."
"What happened?" Thalia ventured softly.
Anna chuckled bitterly. "Same as what happened to every other European nation in the East. We got dragged into a self-defeating war, propped up by faithless foreign promises and blinding patriotism." Anna's hand thumped the steering wheel. "In the end, we were alone. Our grand revolution didn't even last two weeks."
Anna sighed heavily, looking out onto the fields once more. "I visited my homeland a while ago. The last time I had left, it was in flames. When I returned, it was free. It was… it was strange. They have a memorial for the fighters there, you know?"
"Strange?" Thalia asked.
Anna nodded. "Strange." She smiled wanly. "It was nice too, I think. It reminds me that making a stand is always valuable."
"The meek shall inherit the Earth." Thalia murmured.
Anna glanced over her shoulder. "I didn't take you for one to be quoting bible verses."
Thalia shook her head, laughing softly. A hand trailed down one of the many chains decorating her black denim coat. "No, definitely not. Mom…" she trailed off. "Mom took us to Sunday school a few times." She snorted. "Rather ironic, given who the father was, right?"
"That sounds beautiful, Thalia." Anna said honestly. "Good memories should always be treasured."
Thalia smiled. It was a strained, sad one, but it was one nonetheless. "Thanks, Anna." She looked ahead, out the windshield. "I'm going to catch some sleep now, are you going to be okay?"
Anna nodded. "Yeah, I'll be fine."
Thalia rolled over in her seat, facing the car door. She went quiet, and for several long minutes, Anna sat in silence, staring ahead at the road.
"Anna?"
Surprised, Anna looked at Thalia's supine form. "Yes?"
"Stay awake. Don't kill us all with your driving, old woman."
Anna laughed quietly.
Bright headlights shone in the darkened road, the car continuing to rumble down yet another backcountry road.
Night had fallen a few hours ago, and yet Anna remained awake, now the sole conscious person in the car. She yawned once more, before shaking her head.
She needed some sleep too. Her eyelids heavy with exhaustion, Anna pulled the car to the side of the road. Gravel crunched underneath the wheels as the car came to a stop.
She had just finished reclining her hair and settling into it when someone knocked on her window.
Immediately Anna reached to her side, drawing her bow from where it was leaning against her. She jolted upwards, traces of silver fire beginning to burst into existence - and then she settled down, a small smile dawning on her face.
She rolled down the window, meeting the pair of green eyes glittering in the darkness outside.
"Gods Percy, you scared the Hades out of me." She looked around, behind him. "How did you even get out here?"
Percy gestured to the back of the car with a grin. Anna looked, seeing a hatch in the roof opened, and sighed. "Of course." Anna admitted defeat ruefully.
Percy laughed softly. "Woke up as you were pulling to a stop." He reached out, squeezing her shoulder. "Thanks for driving us for so long. You can get some rest now. I can take it from here."
Anna bit her lip. "You sure?" She glanced at his still torn and scuffed clothing, and at his arm, still unnaturally offset from his shoulder.
Percy looked to his shoulder, as if just realizing that fact. "Yeah, I'm sure." He replied. "Thanks for reminding me about this."
He reached up, grasping his shoulder, and reset it after a brief effort. Several loud cracks and grinding metal sounds were released as the joint slid back into its socket. Anna winced at the sounds. Percy chuckled at her expression, patting her head.
"I'll be fine." Percy reassured her once more. He gently tugged the huntress out of the driver's seat. "Get some sleep, alright? You must be exhausted."
"I am." Anna yawned, lithely slipping around him and into the hatch he'd exited, closing it behind her. Percy slipped into the seat she'd vacated, wrapping his hands around the steering wheel. His fingers settled comfortably into well-worn divots in the leather coating.
"Night Percy." Anna softly said, her voice a whisper as to avoid waking the other occupants of the car.
"Night." Percy shot a smile at her through the rear window even as he pulled away from the side of the road, continuing on. Percy reclined into the chair, feeling under the dash with a free arm. He flicked a switch, and a grin crossed his face as he felt the car vibrating underneath his feet.
The volume of the engine's sound didn't change from inside the cabin, but Percy knew it must be roaring loudly as the engine began to spooling up to its full power. The car surged forward, the sound of the engine ceasing to be a low rumble and becoming a low hum, resembling a muffled jet engine. No regular car was supposed to be able to travel at these speeds, let alone remain drivable, but Percy's car wasn't a normal car, and he wasn't a normal person.
In the darkness of the night, the matte black car resembled a homeward bound meteor on the empty road, ferrying 2 huntresses and 3 demigods into the unknown.
It was early in the morning when the party finally woke up in full. The dawning rays were just beginning to shine through the tinted car windows when Zoe opened her eyes, closely followed by Thalia and Annabeth. Anna remained firmly asleep in the back, softly snoring away.
"Morning everyone." Percy said, absentmindedly turning the wheel and taking an exit.
"Where are we?" Zoe asked.
Even after nearly 12 hours asleep, the huntress was immediately alert after raining consciousness, onyx eyes bright and aware.
"Just getting off the highway." Percy easily responded. "We're entering California now."
"California?" Annabeth asked, rubbing her eyes. "How fast does this thing drive?"
Percy grinned. "Just over 500 km/h. Would easily break land speed records, were someone to officially measure it."
Thalia rolled her eyes. "Congratulations, you have a fast car."
"Hey, c'mon now, I don't have a fast car." When Thalia turned a gimlet eye to Percy, his grin widened. "I have the fast car."
Thalia chuckled despite herself, rolling her eyes. She leaned into her seat. Zoe shook her head, a fond smile crossing her face. "I see that in some areas, you really are just a man."
Percy smiled ruefully.
The good natured robbing continued for another few kilometers, until Percy sighed heavily, his brow furrowing as he gazed out of the windshield. A frown crossed his face.
"What is it?" Thalia asked, scooting forward in her chair once more.
"Aphrodite." Percy muttered.
"What?" Annabeth exclaimed. She leaned up in her chair, looking over Thalia's shoulder. "Where?"
Percy nodded towards the limousine parked on the side of the road. "Right there."
Zoe groaned, having looked for herself, as the goddess lifted herself off the hood of the limousine and began to gesture at them.
"May as well pull over." Zoe grumbled.
Thalia looked at Zoe strangely. "Don't you huntresses hate the goddess of love? Swearing off men? All of that?"
"Yes." Zoe confirmed. "But to ignore such a blatant summons is the height of folly or arrogance."
"She's right." Percy sighed. "I'm pulling over now."
The car ground to a halt right behind the limousine. Percy glanced into the rearview mirror. "Is Anna still sleeping?"
Annabeth glanced into the back. "Yeah. You want me to wake her?"
Percy shook his head. "Leave her be. Stay in the car though, watch her."
Annabeth nodded. "Got it Percy. She's safe with me."
"Thanks." Percy gave her a brief smile, before exiting the vehicle.
Zoe and Thalia filed out behind him, the two flanking him as they walked out to the love goddess.
The form Aphrodite had chosen was a tall, blonde woman. In any other circumstance, she could easily be mistaken for a Californian model, were it not for the glowing kaleidoscopic eyes.
The were affixed on the trio, and Percy couldn't help but feel exposed before the gaze. Many people would discount the goddess of love as an irrelevant or weak goddess. Not him. Love was one of the strongest forces in the human psyche. People killed each other for less.
"Thalia. Zoe." Aphrodite spoke. She smiled. "Perseus."
"Ma'am." Percy saluted, bringing his heels together.
"Take it easy." Aphrodite waved a hand. "I'm just here to talk."
"Talk?" Percy echoed, his brow furrowing as he lowered his hand and relaxed his stance.
"Yes. Talk." Aphrodite walked over to the door of the limousine, opening it.
Percy glanced at Zoe, and then Thalia. He could tell from their facial expressions that didn't like it. Nor did he, if he were being honest.
"I don't trust this." Zoe hissed quietly.
"You think?" Thalia quietly agreed.
Percy closed his eyes. "Not much of a choice here." He sighed. "I'm going. Stay with the car. Should the worst happen -"
"Perseus." Zoe interjected. "Nothing will happen. You will be fine."
Percy gave a half-smile. She'd said it so confidently, as if she were simply stating an immutable fact of the universe, that he couldn't help but agree with her. His half-smile grew into a soft chuckle.
"Of course. Wait for me, then." Percy smiled warmly at Zoe. He turned, nodding to Thalia, and she nodded back.
Percy reluctantly entered the limousine, closing the matte black door behind him. He eyed his surroundings. Lush mahogany lined everything, with red satin seats and mats. He supposed that a goddess would spend no expense, even on something as relatively simple as a mortal automobile.
"Perseus." Aphrodite said.
Percy tried to conceal his startlement as best he could, as the goddess suddenly appeared in the seat in front of him, but judging by the sly smile that crossed Aphrodite's face, he'd failed.
"I'm here, ma'am." Percy said. "What is it? Please understand, we are on a timetable here. We have to rescue the goddesses of the hunt. Is this urgent?"
Aphrodite gasped. "Of course it's urgent!" She leaned forward. "It's above your love life."
Percy sighed, leaning backwards and crossing his arms. Of course. "Ma'am, I'm an automaton. I don't know what you're talking about."
Aphrodite grinned like a cat who'd killed the canary. "You and I both know that's a lie."
Percy sighed again. He knew it was unlikely he could hide from the goddess of love, but he had given it a shot anyway.
"Fine. I like Zoe. She's a dependable, loyal woman, an incredibly skilled warrior, and a good friend. But please, avoid meddling in this."
"But this is the kind of romance I could only dream about. A machine learning how to be human through love! It's something spectac-"
Aphrodite was interrupted by a loud snap. Percy's grip around one of the mahogany dashboards had increased so much while she was talking that it had snapped in his hand.
"Ma'am. With due respect. It was Lady Hestia that taught me to be human." He looked up, artificial eyes glinting with rage and grief. He stared into Aphrodite's kaleidoscopic eyes. "After your boyfriend took the chance from me. After your boyfriend indoctrinated me into over half a century of war. After your boyfriend treated me no better than a weapon, to point at our adversaries for his amusement."
He exhaled, a harsh, rasping sound. His hand clenched further down on the wreckage of the polished wood, reducing it to splinters and dust. His voice came out ragged. "So, don't you ever imply that it will be anybody else that will teach me to be human. Lady Hestia deserves more respect than that."
Percy closed his eyes. He inhaled a deep breath. He found himself counting to four as he exhaled. He opened them, fixing his eyes upon Aphrodite. His hand unclenched, and wood chips and splinters fell to litter the floor of the limousine.
"I apologize for my conduct here, ma'am. But please, again with all due respect, stop wasting our time."
He opened the door. He knew he was walking out of a summons from an Olympian without express permission, but he was done. After all his years of service, was this still how he was treated? As an object for their amusement? A sickening thought crossed him. Hestia had said the other gods were ignorant of what Ares did to him, that it was ignorance not malice that led to them not intervening.
How much of that was true?
A hand caught his wrist as he was leaving. He turned to regard Aphrodite. She looked particularly contrite.
"I apologize, Perseus."
Percy turned towards her, still halfway out of the car, and Aphrodite continued to speak, her head bowed low, as if in shame.
"I got ahead of myself."
Percy sighed, as Aphrodite's eyes teared up. He got back into the car, closing the door behind himself once more.
"Don't beat yourself over it, ma'am." Percy softly said. "I know this is your domain, and where matters of the heart are concerned, you are… particularly free spirited." He sighed for what seemed like the third time in as many minutes, as he decided to give her something.
"Look, you're right. I do like Zoe. And maybe she likes me back. Maybe she doesn't. We can find that out at a later date, maybe even with your help. But please, this isn't the time. We have to rescue Lady Artemis, your half-sister and fellow Olympian. Zoe cannot afford the distraction right now, and to be honest, neither can I."
Aphrodite nodded. A small smile crossed her face. "I understand Perseus." She reached out to touch his shoulder. "You're a good man. Her hand rose, and she softly brushed her knuckles against Percy's cheek." Her smile became something bittersweet. "If I had known what Ares was doing to you, I would've intervened. You didn't deserve that. I swear it on the Styx."
Percy sat there frozen, eyes wide as thunder rumbled outside, as Aphrodite softly caressed his cheek. "Thank you." He finally said, his voice hoarse.
"Anytime, Perseus." Her hand glowed softly against his cheek, and Percy abruptly felt the last of the damages from his fight with Atlas disappear, as Aphrodite flooded his body with divine energy.
She responded to his stunned look with a smile. "You have more supporters in the pantheon than you think, Perseus." Her hand withdrew from his cheek, and despite himself Percy felt himself missing the contact.
Something was pressed into his hand, and Percy looked down, seeing a chunk of alabaster marble. His eyes widened upon seeing the inscriptions written upon it. He looked up at Aphrodite, only for her to wink at him. "For later."
"Thank you." Percy said once more.
Aphrodite merely nodded her head, a surprisingly regal movement.
And then both the limousine and Aphrodite were gone, and Perseus was standing alone on the side of the road, in front of his car.
"What happened?" Zoe asked. She and Thalia were still standing where he'd left them.
Percy shook his head as he began walking towards the car. "I'll tell you on the way. C'mon, we still have a ways to go."
Hello everyone. New chapter. I'm sorry for the delay between updates. Things have gotten very busy for me. Shits rough right now.
A few people I knew were killed in Ukraine recently. That may have influenced parts of my chapter. Pointless death. Killing for the sake of killing at this point. Regardless of who wins the war, who actually gains anything? Who wins anything? In the end all that's left is the dead and the shelled out cities. Who gives a shit about what flag flies over the rubble in the end? All this western support, in the long run, is just going to lead to more instability. We will fight for Ukrainian independence to the very last Ukrainian. It's no longer about humanitarian relief, or about ending this war as fast as possible. It's about feeding Ukrainians to Ivan until he has enough, until he is weakened as to not pose a threat to the Western monopoly of power of the region. It's just so unethical and horrible.
I apologize if the above rant offends you. If you disagree, that's fine. I know I'm not exactly a beacon of stability and rational thought. Its just fucked man, regardless of your political views. Life is a valuable thing, not something to be spent like currency to buy peace for a few decades.