Ch8

The next morning they all took a train to St. Louis. Percy didn't know why but the tension between Magnus and Annabeth was high and the two refused to speak to each other. I know she broke a rule and all but she said she wouldn't help anymore but still why are they like this? He thought as they all boarded the train to St. Louis. Annabeth sat in the train bar behind them and didn't speak to them.

Percy sighed as he sat back in his chair and looked at Magnus was staring out the window thinking about something. Grover sat in front of them and was praying that nothing bad happens to them.

The train started and soon they were off. Magnus sat in his seat and occasionally read a book or looked out the window as if in thought. "Hey Magnus so why did you want to come on this quest?" He asked, his question seemed to snap Magnus from his thoughts as he looked up at him his eyes looking to the side quickly before meeting his. "Not that I have a problem with you being here," he said quickly.

Magnus smiled, "Oh no problem. I just wanted to prove myself and you know I have been at the camp for a while and I wanted to get out a bit," Magnus then appeared to look at the car where his cousin was at. "I also don't want her to suffer," he murmured.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well you heard about what happened to Luke right? Magnus asked in a low voice. Percy nodded, he heard things from his short time at camp. "Well I don't want that to happen to her. I will protect her at any cost," he said with a serious look in his eyes.

"Is she your only family left?" He asked.

A sad look spread across Magnus's face, "Yeah, my mom died when I was young. Her family took me in even though they already had a half blood in their family. Her dad, my uncle was a great guy but things didn't work out and she left," Magnus sighed as his face looked sadder. "I decided to come with her, I couldn't just leave her. Don't tell her this but if I wasn't there I doubt she would have left, me being there increased the strain in my uncle's family."

Percy felt sad about what he heard, "No problem I won't tell her and I am sure you didn't cause all the problems," he didn't know what his home life was like but he wanted to say something encouraging.

Magnus gave him a small smile, "Thanks but things just happened and well I am here now. The only downside is that I have to stay in that cramped cabin like I don't even care about getting claimed but that cabin is a black hole at times. I sometimes wonder if I could just sleep outside or something."

Percy and Magnus laughed as they continued to talk a bit. Percy then decided to walk around the train for a while to kill off all the energy he had in him. He eventually made it to Annabeth's car and found her looking out of the window. "Hey are you ok?"

"Yeah fine," she said not looking at him.

Percy sighed as he sat down next to her, "Listen I know you wanted to go on this quest but is this really ok?"

Annabeth looked at him with a blank stare, "Percy this quest was supposed to be my opportunity. I needed to have gone on it. It was meant for me," she said as she stared out at the sky. "Though I guess the fates had something else in store," she said with a sad look.

Great how did I become a counselor? He thought as he took a deep breath, "Annabeth you are a great person and good demigod i am sure you will have another opportunity at a quest in the future," he said.

"Thanks," she said with a smile.

Percy smiled back at her, "So have you and your cousin been together for a while?"

Annabeth nodded, "Yeah ever since my dad adopted him he stayed with us. However, we eventually ran away since our stepmom didn't care for us," she said as she told him the story of her home life and her life on the run. "Magnus has grown up so much, I know he cares about me and he is like a little brother to me. He is the only one I consider family now, my father doesn't care about us," she said bitterly.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he said. "Out of curiosity do you know who his father is?" It was a question he had wondered since he found out that Magnus was unclaimed. He could never understand why a person's father would never recognize him after all this time.

He watched as Annabeth's expression turned to one of frustration, "No I don't and my father doesn't know either. He swore he knew nothing whenever he asked though my cousin doesn't seem to care; unlike me, he still has a good relationship with my dad."

Annabeth sighed as she looked up, "I actually wonder about it sometimes, I could swear that he was a son of Hermes but he doesn't seem to match up with any of the cabinmates and Hermes never claimed him. His father might just be a minor deity though I don't really care; Magnus is happy at camp and we are safe so I am glad," she said with a sigh. "Though I can tell that he is irritated living with all of those people."

"Yeah it is hectic," he said with a nod. I can't believe some people just stay there for years not getting claimed and living in that cramped cabin. I would go insane. "Who knows maybe his dad will recognize him with this quest?"

Annabeth smiled and laughed, "Yeah maybe." With that, he continued to talk with Annabeth for a bit before she said she wanted to rest. He then walked around a bit more and talked with Grover and Magnus some more before taking a quick nap in his seat.

The St. Louis Arch wasn't far from the train station and all four of them made it. Annabeth talked about some interesting facts that neither he nor Magnus really cared for. They explored the top of the Arch but while going up they ran into a lady with a chihuahua barking at them while they were waiting for another elevator.

"Um lady is that your chihuahua?" Magnus asked eyeing the creature suspiciously as they got out onto the deck.

The dog's owner smiled at them, "No dear it is a chimera." The two of them drew their weapons as the woman and her dog transformed. The woman into some snake-like creature while the chihuahua turned into some sort of lion-like creature as they both looked in shock and horror at the monsters.

"Be honored Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase. For I Echidna the mother of monsters will test your resolve," she said with a hiss.

"Crap that thing look tough," Magnus said as he activated his shield. "Percy try to run behind me I'll use my shield to block any attacks."

Percy nodded as the Chimera lunged at them. The chimera sunk its claws into Magnus's shield causing a loud screeching sound. Percy took the opportunity to slash at it causing it to roar in anger.

"There is no use foolish demigods," Echidna hissed as the beast continued its assault on them. Magnus blocked its attacks with his shield while both of them stabbed at it. One of the chimera's tails hit him to the ground and fell a few feet.

"Percy!" Magnus yelled as he stabbed the chimera in the leg and it roared in anger and tossed Magnus to the side causing him to hit the wall with a loud thud. Percy tried to get up but the Chimera charged at him and the next thing he knew he was shoved out of the broken window by the chimera.

"NO!" Magnus yelled as he saw Percy get thrown off of the arch.

Echidna laughed, "Foolish boy for defying the gods. Now die in your father's realm Percy Jackson. Now you will join him Magnus Chase," she hissed at him with a glare.

Magnus glared at the woman as he felt his anger rise, his sword was knocked to the side so he activated his bracelet and the long ax appeared in his hand. "You will pay for that," he said glaring at the woman.

"Don't worry you will join him now," Echidna said as the Chimera lunged at him.

Magnus felt his vision go white as his body was fueled by the desire to stay alive. He ran and charged at her and swung the axe hard at the creature and sliced off half of its paw sending its talons falling off. Another claw tried to grasp his leg but he felt nothing and soon that claw was detached from its arm. He knew that he was hurt but he felt nothing and could care less at the moment

The creature roared in pain but Magnus did not stop, he sliced and hacked at the creature with his ax taking off a few limbs. He ignored all of the cuts and the blood falling from his body, he tried his best to dodge the attacks but he felt nothing as his body moved on its own to avoid the attacks and charge at the creature. He felt like he was a ball of energy, all of which was directed at the creature.

I wont let you He thought as he heard Echidna's scream he lunged at the creature and brought the ax down on the Chimera's neck. The creature let out a roar as he drove the ax through it severing its head as if it were butter. He didn't know what was up with the ax but it appeared to have no problem cutting and hurting the Chimera.

"No how could you do this to my creature," Echidna shrieked in anger. Magnus glared at her, he lunged at her while she tried to escape however he brought his ax down on her torso just missing her heart.

Echidna yelled in pain, she tried to block some of the attacks and eventually threw him off her with all of her strength before disappearing in a black portal. "Magnus!" He heard a voice call as he slowly felt himself lose consciousness and collapse.

When he awoke he was on the grass in what appeared to be a park. "Magnus!" Annabeth said as she hugged him, "Thank gods you are ok, don't scare me like that again," she said in a tone that meant she had been crying a lot recently.

"Annabeth what happened? Where is Percy?" He asked he felt exhausted he looked around and saw Grover who looked relieved and then Percy. "Percy how did you escape?" He asked in surprise.

Percy smiled, "Well I fell into a river I'll explain it in a bit first how did you kill that Chimera?"

Magnus sighed as he told them how he used his weapons and hacked at the Chimera, "It was like I had an infinite amount of strength and I didn't feel pain though I know I got injured," he said looking at the bandages on his arms and legs.

"Yeah we found you right as you finished off the chimera and attacked Echidna, I was able to heal you though," Grover said as he pointed to his weapons that they had gotten for him.

"Well thanks, guys," he said with a sigh as he ate some ambrosia and felt much better. "Well so should we continue on to Los Angeles? He asked as he lay on the grass.

"You should rest first dude," Grover said cautiously. "Just enough you were pretty banged up. I thought I was going to lose you but you healed really quick."

"Fine," he said with a sigh. He then looked at his cousin whose face was red and appeared to still be close to tears. "Its alright Annabeth I am alright now," he said reassuringly.

"No its not this is my fault," She said shaking her head. "I shouldn't have come, me being here has brought this consequence. You were so badly hurt we thought that you were going to die," she said sounding as if she were close to tears.

"Annabeth it isn't your fault," he said reassuringly as he saw tears fall down her cheeks.

"But it is," she said looking at him her eyes tearing up again. "I broke tradition by coming, three is a sacred number. Forgive me Magnus because of my pride you were hurt."

"Annabeth I don't blame you for me getting hurt," Magnus said reassuringly while Percy and Grover tried to calm her down.

Annabeth smiled at him, "Magnus you are the only family I have left I cannot stand to see you hurt."

"Don't worry I will be safe, I have you all here," Magnus said with a smile.

Annabeth smiled, "Thanks but I still think I should leave."

"No Annabeth you are already here you might as well stay," Percy said.

"Yeah Annabeth, besides we both need you to watch out for ourselves," Magnus said.

Annabeth smiled at him and looked at Grover who sighed, "Fine we all just need to be very careful."

"Fine then I shall join you all as a temporary member," Annabeth said with a smile.

"Great glad to have you here," Percy said with a smile

Man this trip can't get any weirder Magnus thought as they continued on their quest. After making a small call to Luke who told him that they should be hurrying up they made their way to a diner in hopes of food but they found out that they didn't have much money left. Percy was about to explain their situation when suddenly the door opened and a big biker guy came in and said he would pay for them. It didn't take too long for them to figure out that the person sitting in front of them was Ares the God of War.

"So you kids are on the quest huh," he said eyeing them all up and down. "Three is a sacred number you know?"

"Yeah well things happened," Percy said rolling his eyes before glaring at the man.

Ares laughed, "True though even I would be crazy to break the rule of three." Ares looked all of them over. Magnus couldn't explain it but he felt anger and resentment. He felt as if he wanted to push and beat someone against the wall. Looking at the others he could tell that they were having the same thoughts.

"Hey blondie," Ares asked eyeing him up and down.

Magnus glared at the man, he didn't know where these feelings of anger and violence were coming from but he figured that it must be Ares's influence. "What?" He asked, sounding ruder than he intended.

"Who is your parent? You look like the Athena girl," Ares said eyeing him as if he wanted to ram a dozen spears through him to see what he was made up of.

"Don't know and don't really care, what's it to you?" He retorted harsher than he intended.

Ares laughed, "Nothing, just curious. Us gods have so many kids we lose track of them sometimes." He then turned his gaze to Percy, "Listen, son of Poseidon I have a mission for you," he said as he explained what he wanted them to do. He wanted Percy to retrieve something that belonged to his wife from some theme park. Percy rejected it and Ares got pissed and Annabeth managed to convince him to do it, especially since Ares was willing to help them and give a bit of information in return.

So they went to an abandoned amusement park while they decided what to do. Percy, Grover, and Annabeth decided to go and retrieve the item they needed while Magnus would stay out and watch the place for monsters.

As he watched his friends go into the abandoned ride he felt the presence of Ares again. "Going in with only three, wise choice."

He turned and saw Ares standing there looking at him from underneath his sunglasses. Just ignore him it is better than to get killed. "Yeah we decided to split this one up."

Ares chuckled, "You seem gutsy for an unclaimed child. No offense though." Magnus only nodded as he fought the urge to pull a weapon, he didn't know why but something about Ares made him want to lodge an ax in his body.

"You know kid something about you is different," Ares said in a low tone.

"What do you mean by that sir?" He asked trying to be as polite as possible.

"Can't figure it out but you just seem different, not that I care maybe your godly parent is some kind of minor deity or," Ares paused as if he were recalling some horrible memory. Magnus felt his gaze on him for what appeared like forever and when he noticed Ares grip his side he instinctively grabbed his sword. "Don't worry kid if I wanted you dead you would already be dead. I feel like I've seen your eyes though, eyes that can easily go berserk and break their way through anyone and anything. I saw those eyes many times back in the day; the Middle Ages were crazy."

Ares chuckled, "That is interesting you look just like them, where are you from kid?"

"Boston," he said curtly.

"Hmm maybe its just a coincidence or maybe you have some ancestry from them," Ares said as if he were thinking of something.

"Ancestry from who?" Magnus said curiously.

"Oh nothing kid just me rambling about my past. Days when I fought against pillagers and launched crusades," Ares said with a smile on his face. "Those were the days, oh look your friends are back." Magnus turned to seen Percy, Annabeth, and Grover walk towards them looking thoroughly pissed off.

After a tense argument with Ares, they returned his wife's scarf. "Well here you go kids," he said pointing to an animal truck that will carry them to LA via Vegas along with a bag of supplies. "Oh your mother isn't dead Percy Jackson Hades is just holding her," Ares said as he walked away. "Hades likes to bargain so be prepared to face him when the time comes."

As they were about to leave Magnus was surprised to see Ares stop behind him, "Hey kid whether you are really descended form them or just a passerby a word of advice; don't play for both sides, one will eventually end up killing you," Magnus was about to ask what he meant by that but by then he was already gone.

So they got into the truck which rode them to their destination but in Las Vegas, they found out that their truck was full of smuggled animals and that the owners were probably not the best of people. So with Percy, Grover, and Annabeth's help, they freed the animals and ran out into the streets of Vegas trying to figure out what to do next.

They eventually found a place called the Lotus Casino, it was amazing and everything was free. Magnus played a bunch of cool games and ate at a bunch of cool restaurants while he hung out with Annabeth and Percy. Everything went well, why was I worried again? He thought as he played some shooting game where he could shoot a bunch of stray wolves that were attacking him.

Suddenly he felt someone shaking his arm, he looked and saw Annabeth and Percy, "We have to leave now," he said.

"What? We just got here?" He said, he tried to think of how long he had been there but his mind could not calculate it, all he wanted to do was have fun.

"No man we have to leave now, remember our quest?" Percy said urgently while shaking him. He looked at Percy as if he were trying to remember something.

"Magnus we have to leave this place isn't normal," Annabeth pleaded as she grabbed his arm.

Our quest Magnus looked at Percy and Annabeth and realized that something wasn't right. He didn't know why but he allowed himself to be pulled as he got closer to the door he realized that this place wasn't normal. They managed to get Grover and the four of them got out of the casino.

It felt like they had been in there for a few hours but in reality, they had been there for five days. Shit he thought as they all realized that they had been in a trap.