Ch8
Chrysaor rubbed his temples as the train made its way to Denver. Well we got out of that fiasco. Should've been more careful two sons of Poseidon attract all kinds of attention.
"So is Triton usually stand offish?" Percy asked.
"Oh yeah he is don't take it personally," he said rolling his eyes. "Our eldest brother despite bragging about being the heir is pretty insecure at times. You should've seen how he reacted during the Napoleonic wars, Horatio Nelson was our father's favorite son at the time and Triton was so pissed that father praised him every day he paid me to hunt his ship."
"I see," Percy said resting in his seat.
"But he is loyal to our father," he said. "He and his mother usually get along with our father's other children more than some other spouses so long as they aren't neglected or overshadowed."
"Good to know," Percy said. "Is he strong?"
He nodded, "Very strong. He is our father's first born and a fearsome adversary, I should know we fought various times in the past."
"I see. Well hopefully whatever he has is useful," Percy said as he looked out the window. "If we are to confront Hades we'll need all of the help we can get."
By the time they arrived in Denver they were all exhausted and mostly out of cash. "How are we going to get to LA?" Percy asked.
"We'll think of something," he said as they entered a burger shop. I doubt he'll like the idea of extortion but if we need to get money I can get it one way or another.
They sat down when they heard the door open and an imposing figure walked in, "Oh great now him," he muttered as Ares walked in and looked at them. Last thing we need is a nosy god,
"Who is he?" Percy asked softly
"Ares," Grover said softly. "Clarisse's dad. Be careful we don't want any trouble from him."
The god of war sat across from them and looked at them from beneath his glasses. "Well I didn't expect to find you three here." He ordered food for all of them, just being in the god's presence made him want to stab something.
"What do you want?" Percy asked his voice betraying irritation.
Ares chuckled and looked at them, "I need some help and figured you all could do it." The god of war then turned to face him, "Long time no see Chrysaor, looks like your father really did punish you."
"Lord Ares," he said frowning.
Ares laughed, "Don't be so formal kid. Remember back in the day when we worked together and backstabbed each other in the Caribbean?"
"His kids fought for the Spanish while I worked with the English," he explained to Percy and Grover.
"Yeah you were the biggest pirate in the Caribbean though some of my kids took that title once you were kicked back to the Mediterranean," Ares laughed.
He gripped his fists as he remembered some of the times the children of Ares bested him, "Lord Ares with all due respect we are busy with a quest."
The god of war smirked at them, it made him want to stab him with his blade. Calm down his influence is strong, even when I was immortal I couldn't defeat him.
"Well you need a ride I can take you to Vegas but first you must get something for me at an amusement part," Ares said folding his arms as he smirked at them. "Think of it as a small quest. Get some stuff for me and I give you guys a lift."
"Why would we do some quest for you?" Percy asked sounding more irritated than usual.
"I wasn't really asking," Ares growled his gaze turning dangerous
"Lets just do it," he sighed. No point in getting on a god's bad side. Ares is a real piece of work too. "We need the ride anyway."
Percy sighed, "Fine what do we need to do?"
"You just need to retrieve an item that belongs to my wife," Ares said folding his arms. "Retrieve it and I'll arrange a ride for you guys."
"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. With that, they followed Ares out of the restaurant. They eventually arrived at an abandoned water park that looked like it had been abandoned for a while.
"Alright kiddos my shield and my lady's scarf are in there don't take your time now," Ares said with a smirk on his face. "Should be somewhere in the end."
"We'll be right back," Percy said.
Keeping his hand on his pen they walked through the decrepit amusement park. He scanned the area for potential threats but found none as they made their way to the tunnel of love.
"There it is down there!" Grover said pointing to the abandoned ride with the shield and scarf in view.
"So we just go down there and get them?" Percy asked scratching his head.
"Wait! " he said holding his arms out. "Hephaestus likes to prank Ares and Aphrodite, I should know one time he rigged one of my ships to capsize on them for a date. This is most likely another trap we have to be careful."
"Okay what do we do?" Percy asked as they carefully walked over to the ride.
"I dealt with these things many times before don't worry," he said as he analyzed the area intensely. He was a pirate and knew his way around booby trapped treasure like the back of his hand. "It most likely will activate once we try to move it be careful."
Once they arrived down he could see what looked like cameras hidden near the entrance of the ride. "Yeah this is another trap of his," he muttered as they went to the scarf and carefully examined it. "This is safe."
He threw it to Percy and went over to examine the shield. He noticed a light string attached to it along with the Greek letter H. Enough to fool a mortal or an amateur at godly pranks. "Stay back this thing is a trap," he said as he carefully examined the tripwire.
"Can you undo it?" Percy asked.
"Trust me I was a pirate I know how to deal with booby-trapped loot," he said as he removed a Swiss army knife from his backpack along with a small toolkit both gifts from Chiron. "You see the gods are hoping to humiliate us but don't worry I've stumbled out of traps like this before. Can you get something of similar shape to replace this?"
"Sure Grover come on," Percy said.
Carefully examining the trap as Percy went to find something to replace the shield with it. A simple trip wire most likely activates once I try to take it. He ran his finger through it carefully examining the wire and its components.
"Hey I got the hood of a bumper car should it work?" Percy asked.
"It should," he said. "I'll deactivate it soon. Place it next to the shield.
His brow sweated as he carefully undid the wire and quickly tied it to the broken hood Percy brought. He wiped the sweat off of his brow and carefully picked up the shield, "Come on lets get out of here."
They found Ares outside who looked surprised that they were back so early, "Here is your stuff," Percy said tossing the shield and scarf at him.
Ares frowned at them, "Figured you would all be sneaky."
"I was a pirate I've seen many traps in my life," he said. "So where is our ride?"
Ares pointed to an animal truck, "There it is. It will take you to Las Vegas. Here are some backpacks, good luck." The god of war through them each a backpack, he didn't check the contents but he noticed Ares eye Percy carefully. "So long punks."
The god of war went back to his bike and drove off. "I really don't like him," Percy said as he put his backpack on.
"Me either but come on lets get going," he said as they grabbed their bags.
The truck ride was hot and uncomfortable, the various animals inside obviously did not want to be there. "Are you nervous?" He asked.
Percy nodded looking at a zebra, "Yeah a bit. I can't believe we are almost there. Thanks for coming with me, I honestly couldn't have done half of this stuff without you and Grover."
He smiled at his brother, "No worries. This is your first quest and you're doing great already. We'll save your mother and bring back that thunderbolt in time."
"I know. I just hope this prophecy ends well for us," Percy said looking up at the ceiling. "Oh you mentioned Pegasus was your brother right?"
He nodded while clenching his fist. "Yeah but we aren't exactly on speaking terms."
"Did something happen?" Percy asked.
He sighed. A part of him wanted to get angry but he could tell Percy was just curious. "A lot of things happened." A lump formed in his throat but he swallowed it. "We used to get along but he got famous and we fought a lot, I haven't spoken to him in ages."
"I see," Percy said. "Do you think he is still angry at you?"
"I don't know," he muttered. Pegasus didn't hold grudges a lot but he didn't feel like facing his older brother even if he would come to help him for an apology. "Who knows maybe we'll meet him one day." He always was famous and I hated that. Though thinking about it I also have had my own adventures. "We haven't spoken in ages since we fought and I honestly don't know if I am ready to talk to him."
Percy looked at him his eyes looked curious and sympathetic. "Well I don't know much about your life but whatever happened in the past I hope you can move past it."
"Thanks," he said not knowing how to respond to it.
"I mean you lived an entire life too even if you didn't have any myths to your name. Don't tell me you never had fun or adventure even if no one wrote about them," Percy said. "I mean fame isn't everything."
He sighed, "True. I did have a lot of fun on the high seas." It may have been his mortal body but the memories of his immortal life passed through his head like an old movie. Well to be honest a certain famous demigod who guards the Mediterranean is a super bitter person so in a way I guess it worked out. I would hate to be stuck in some old place; I like my freedom.
"I mean you seemed to have had an amazing life I'm sure it had its benefits," Percy said. "I mean you sailed all around the world I think that's cool enough."
He laughed, "It is. There are a lot of cool places on the sea."
"Hey guys I don't think these animals are being trafficked," Grover said. "We have to help them."
"Wouldn't surprise me," he said. I know a bit of the trafficking business myself. Looking at the animals they were the kind that definitely could be sold at a private auction and not just because he sold a lot of them in his life.
"Maybe we can help them once the truck stops?" Percy suggested. "Sort of like a diversion."
He nodded, "Sounds good. Once we are in Vegas we'll need to find a way to get to LA."
As soon as they heard the truck stop they all began to work on freeing the animals, "Alright it looks like we are in the middle of the Vegas strip," Grover said looking through a peephole.
"Alright on three we run," Percy said as they opened the cages. "One, two, three!"
He and Grover pushed open the doors, the bright Nevada sun hitting them along with the hot desert air. At the first sight of fresh air, the animals bolted for the door and ran out into the street. "Come on lets go!" Grover said as people in the streets screamed.
They immediately jumped out of the truck and ran through the streets of Vegas. As the sounds of the crowds dispersed they slowed down and quickly entered a building called the Lotus Casino.
"Lets hide in there," Percy said as he quickly went inside.
He was greeted by cold air and the smell of lotuses. His hair stood up as he looked around and saw the inside of what appeared to be a carnival with many types of mortal games and rides. Breathing in the air he felt numb and blissful as they were greeted by a lady, "Welcome to the Lotus Casino," She said as they were greeted by a group of her coworkers. "Please enjoy your stay on us," she said as they each were given a card.
"Thanks," Percy said as they looked at their cards.
Lotus oh shit. He quickly ran after Percy and Grover as they began to merge with the crowds of people dressed in a variety of clothes. He called out to hem as his brain started to become numb to the excitement. Crap focus we'll die if we stay here. He shook his head and eventually saw Percy and Grover about to enter an elevator. He ran over to them and grabbed their arms, "We can't be here this is a trap!" His mind was beginning to become number.
"What do you mean?" Percy asked while resisting his grip. "This place seems cool"
"This is run by the Lotus Eaters," he said as loud as he could. "This place is meant to trap us here."
Grover's face widened but his face was starting to glaze over. I have to play this right. Taking a deep breath he looked his half brother in his eyes. "Percy think of your mom, if we stay here she will be in danger! Trust me she may not live if we stay here." He tried his best to put the emphasis on his words, he had been trapped by the lotus eaters before and didn't want to be trapped again.
Percy blinked his eyes but slowly nodded, "F-Fine." His voice did not sound sure. The three of them made their way out of the casino but started to get mobbed by the workers.
"Please stay we can upgrade your rooms?" One lady said.
"Screw yourself," He said pushing her out of the way and making it onto the streets of Vegas.
"What was that about?" Percy asked sounding irritated.
He pointed to the sky it was already dark, "This place is meant to keep people trapped there. It has been a stumbling block for heroes since ancient times." His heart was racing as they went over to a newsstand, "See we were there for a day," he said pointing to the newspaper. A day had passed and they were in there for such a short amount of time.
Percy's eyes widened, "Oh my god good thing you got out of there. How did you know about it?"
"We were almost trapped there," Grover said in shock. "We could've spent ages there and not know it."
"I was trapped on the Lotus island during the late Roman period," He said catching his breath and taking his card out of his pocket. "Don't worry these things are limitless, we'll leave first thing tomorrow."
"Alright sounds good," Percy said. "Thanks for keeping an eye out."
He smiled at him, "No problem little brother." I think I'm getting used to this older sibling stuff.
