A week before the Solstice, June 14th, the train finally arrived in Denver. We hadn't eaten since the night before, and we haven't showered since we left Half-Blood Hill, I'm sure we smelt like it. "Let's try and contact Chiron." Annabeth suggested. "I want to tell him about your talk with the River Spirit."
"We can't use phones, right?" Percy confirmed.
"I'm not talking about phones." Our group wandered around for about half an hour trying to find a place to IM Chiron. It was hot and dry, and we didn't seem to be escaping the Rocky mountains that surrounded us. We finally arrived at a do-it-yourself car wash. Keeping our eyes peeled for patrol cars, we entered the last stall.
"How much is she charging nowadays?" I asked, patting down my pockets.
"What exactly are we doing?" Percy questioned as Grover took out the spray gun.
"It's seventy-five cents." Grover grumbled. "I've only got two quarters left. Annabeth?"
"Don't look at me." She scoffed. "The dining car wiped me out."
"Aha!" I said, pulling out my last coins. A quarter and a single Drachma. "Just enough, we gotta make this one count." Grover took the quarter and fed it into the machine.
"Excellent." Grover said. "We could do it with a spray bottle, of course, but the connection isn't as good, and my arm gets tired of pumping."
"What are you talking about?" Percy asked.
"IM'ing." Grover replied as he turned the nob to 'Fine mist'.
"Instant messaging?"
"Iris-messaging" Annabeth corrected. "The rainbow goddess Iris carries messages for the gods. If you know how to ask, and she's not too busy, she'll do the same for half-bloods."
"You summon the goddess with a spray gun?" Grover pointed the nozzle in the air and water hissed out in a thick white mist.
"Unless you know an easier way to make a rainbow." Just as the afternoon shone into our stall, it hit the vapour and exploded into colour. I flipped the drachma into the air and snatched it back as it descended once more. I held it over my head and closed my eyes.
"O goddess, accept our offering." I prayed. I open my eyes and threw the coin into the rainbow. It disappeared in a gold shimmer. "Helf-Blood Hill." After a second, the Strawberry fields appeared. From the spot that we could see, we were standing on the porch of the Big House, a boy with sandy hair had his back to us.
"Luke!" Percy called. Luke turned on his heel and spotted us, his eyes wide.
"Percy!" Luke greeted happily, his face breaking into a grin. "Is that Annabeth and Mako, too? Thank the gods! Are you guys okay?"
"We're...uh...fine," Annabeth stammered. She was hurriedly straightening her dirty T-shirt, trying to comb the loose hair out of her face. "We thought-Chiron-I mean-"
"He's down at the cabins." Luke's smile faded. "We're having some issues with the campers. Listen, is everything cool with you? Is Grover all right?"
"I'm right here," Grover called. He held the nozzle out to one side and stepped into Luke's line of vision. "What kind of issues?" Just as he was about to respond, a giant Lincoln Continental pulled into the wash with his radio tuned to the max and hip-hop vibrating the equipment in our stall. I growled.
"Chiron had to-what's that noise?" Luke yelled.
"I'll handle it!" I shouted back at him. "Grover, Annabeth, come on!"
"What?" Grover started. "But-"
"Just give Percy the nozzle and come on!" Grover reluctantly handed the spray gun to Percy and followed me to the other stall. The idiot driving was a large guy, complete with a pot belly wearing nothing but a tank top, shorts and sandals. "Uh, sir, do you mind turning your music down?"
"I don't have to listen to you kid." The man snapped. My eye twitched.
"Listen, our parents are in the next stall with our baby brother and they're trying to calm him down, your music is gonna wake him up."
"Kyle, just turn the music down." A woman from inside the car said. Kyle grumbled but turned the music down.
"Thank you." Annabeth said. We went to leave, but Kyle said something that causes me to pause.
"Takin' orders from a kid." He muttered. "Should just beat 'em to shut them up." I stopped walking. I turned and to face him.
"Excuse me?" I growled. "How dare you even think about harming a kid!" I gabbed Kle by his tank top and slammed him into the stall. His girlfriend yelped in surprise. I glared up at the man, before pulling him down to my eye-level. "I don't care too much for your tone, buddy. So, how 'bout you leave here, now."
"I don't have to listen to you." Kyle said.
"Ok, listen, here's what's gonna happen. If you stay here, I'm gonna crack one of your nuts, right or left it's your choice, or you walk away and chose to be an asshole another day. Plus, if you decide to stay, your little lady's not gonna be yours anymore." I smirked at the lady in the car. She was much younger than Kyle, young enough to be his daughter or something, just a couple years older than me actually. "I'm sure I can take care of her better than you ever could." Kyle screamed, scrambled out from under me, scoured into his car and peeled away.
"You weren't actually gonna do that if he stayed, were you?" Annabeth asked.
"I guess we'll never know." I mused. There was a pause before the three of us broke into laughs. We returned to our stall. The IM was gone, and Percy's face was flat. We stopped laughing.
"What happened, Percy?" Annabeth asked. "What did Luke say?"
"Not much." He said. "Come on, let's find some dinner."
TIMESKIP
We managed to find ourselves in a chrome diner. We were sitting in a booth in the corner of the restaurant, out of the way of any prying eyes. I kept lookout though, in case any police spotted us or we were recognised. The waitress approached us soon after and raised an eyebrow. "Well?" She implored.
"We, um, want to order dinner." Percy said.
"You kids have money to pay for it?" Grover's lip started to tremble, and Annabeth looked like she was about to pass out, but as Percy was about to say something when a thundering rumble shook the entire building. I looked out the window to see a motorcycle pulling up to the curb. The headlight was like hellfire red, and the gas tank had flames painted onto it. The diner shut up. The man riding it was dressed in a red muscle shirt, a black leather duster and a hunting knife strapped to his thigh. He wore red-wrap around shades to cover his eyes. Ares. He dismounted his bike and strode into the diner. When he walked in, the Mortals in the diner stood, as if hypnotised. Ares waved his hand and everyone sat back down. The Waitress turned back to us. "You kids have money to pay for it?" She repeated.
"It's on me." Ares said. He pulled a chair from another table and sat on it backwards. He glanced at the waitress, who was looking at him, slack-jawed. "Are you still here?" Ares pointed at the waitress. She stiffened, turne on her heel and marched back towards the kitchen. "So you're old Seaweed's kid, huh?" Ares asked, turning to Percy.
"What's it to you?" Percy snapped. I elbowed the young boy as Annabeth shot him a look.
"Percy, this is-" She started, but stopped once Ares raised his hand.
"S'okay." Ares assured. "I don't mind a little attitude. Long as you remember who's the boss. You know who I am, little cousin?"
"You're Clarisse's dad." Percy realised. "Ares, God of war." Ares took off his sunglasses to reveal empty eye sockets, glowing with tiny nuclear explosions. How he saw, I had no idea.
"That's right, punk. I heard you broke Clarisse's spear."
"She was asking for it."
"Probably. That's cool. I don't fight my kids' fights, you know? What I'm here for-I heard you were in town. I got a little proposition for you." The waitress returned with a heaping tray filled with cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, chocolate shakes and even a basket of mozzarella sticks. Ares handed the woman a handful of gold Drachma. She eyed the coins.
"But, these aren't..." She started. Ares pulled his hunting knife out of it's holder and started to clean under his fingernails.
"Problem, sweetheart?" The waitress swallowed nervously before she scurried away.
"You can't do that." I told Ares. "You can't just threaten people with a knife."
"Percy, dude, he's a God." I told him. "You can't just tell him what to do."
"Are you kidding?" Ares laughed. "I love this country. Best place since Sparta. Don't you carry a weapon, punk? You should. Dangerous world out there. Which brings me to my proposition. I need you to do me a favour."
"What favour could I do for a God?" Percy asked.
"Something a God doesn't have time to do himself. It's nothing much. I left my shield at an abandoned water park here in town. I was going on a little...date with my girlfriend. We were interrupted. I left my shield behind. I want you to fetch it for me."
"Why don't you go back and get it yourself?"
"Why don't I turn you into a prairie dog and run you over with my Harley? Because I don't feel like it. A god is giving you an opportunity to prove yourself, Percy Jackson. Will you prove yourself a coward?" Ares leaned forward. "Or maybe you only fight when there's a river to dive into, so your daddy can protect you."
"We're not interested." Percy said. "We've already got a quest."
"I know all about your quest, punk. When that item was first stolen, Zeus sent his best out looking for it. Apollo, Athena, Artemis, and me, naturally. If I couldn't sniff out a weapon that powerful..." Ares turned to me. "Even your mother's ben helping." I scoffed, turning my head. "Well...if I couldn't find it, you got no hope. Nevertheless, I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your dad and I go way back. After all, I'm the one who told him my suspicions about Old Corpse Breath."
"You told him Hades stole the bolt?"
"Sure. Framing somebody to start a war. Oldest trick in the book. I recognized it immediately. In a way, you got me to thank for your little quest."
"Thanks."
"Hey, I'm a generous guy." Ares said. "Just do my little job, and I'll help you on your way. I'll arrange a ride west for you and your friends."
"We're doing fine on our own."
"Yeah, right. No money. No wheels. No clue what you're up against. Help me out, and maybe I'll tell you something you need to know. Something about your mom."
"My mom?" My head fell into my hands. He just had to think about his mum when we're on a dangerous mission to steal the most powerful object in the world.
"That got your attention. The water park is a mile west on Delancy. You can't miss it. Look for the Tunnel of Love ride."
"What interrupted your date? Something scare you off?" I kicked Percy under the table. "Hey!" He glared at me, massaging his leg.
"You're lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other Olympians." Ares told us. "They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. I'll meet you back here when you're done. Don't disappoint me." We blinked, and Ares was gone.
"Not good." Grover said shakily. "Ares sought you out, Percy. This is not good."
"It's probably some kind of trick." Percy stated. "Forget Ares. Let's just go."
"Woah, woah, woah." I said, leaning forward. "You can't just go around ignoring a God! Do remember Pasiphaë? What happened to her because of her husband? She gave birth to the…" I made horn gestures with my hands on the top of my head. "Big bull boy you fought before you came to Camp. And then don't mention about all of Zeus' mistresses who were punished severely by Hera."
"you don't ignore the Gods unless you want serious bad fortune." Annabeth agreed. "He wasn't kidding about turning you into a rodent."
"Why does he need us?" Percy asked.
"Maybe it's a problem that requires brains. Ares has strength. That's all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes."
"But this water park...he acted almost scared. What would make a war god run away like that?" Annabeth, Grover and I glanced nervously at each other.
"I'm afraid we'll have to find out."
TIMESKIP
It was late that night when we finally stumbled upon the Water Park. The smashed sign one read Waterland. I cringed, the place looked eternally worse for wear. The main gate was topped with barbed wire and was chained shut, massive waterslides were dry and seemed to have been for years, pools were filled with debris, leaves and rubbish in a congealed mess that had green rainwater mixing them together. Tickets and advertisements fluttered around the cracked asphalt. The lights weren't on which made everything look ten times creepier. "If Ares brings his girlfriend here for a date, I'd hate to see what she looks like." Percy commented.
"Percy. Be more respectful." Annabeth warned.
"Why? I thought you hated Ares."
"He's still a god. And his girlfriend is very temperamental."
"You don't want to insult her looks," Grover added.
"Who is she? Echidna?"
"No, his girlfriend is Aphrodite, Goddess of Love." I sighed, "As tough and hardened as I am, I would not turn down a day with her in any context."
"I thought she was married to somebody. Hephaestus."
"And your point is?"
"Oh. So how do we get in?"
"Maia!" Grover shouted and his shoes sprouted wings. He flew over the fence, did an unintended somersault in midair, then stumbled to a landing on the opposite side. "You guys coming?"
"You just..." I sighed. I pressed a button on my ring, causing my Short Spear to form in my grasp. I grabbed the chains locking the thing together and with a simple slice, they fell easily. I opened the gates with a creak, and ignored the worried looks that I got from the loud noise as I entered the park. "Didn't think, did you?" Grover flushed scarlet. I had managed to find a map, and as we walked through the park and inspected each attraction, I crossed them off the list. There weren't any monsters, which I was grateful for. We came across a souvenir shop that had thankfully been left open. Merchandise still cluttered the entire thing, but what stood out most were the racks and racks of-
"Clothes." Annabeth said greatfuly. "Fresh clothes."
"Yeah. But you can't just-" Percy started to protest.
"Watch me." Annabeth grabbed an entire row of the thins and disappeared into one of the changing rooms. She emerged a couple minutes later decked as a walking advertisement. Waterland flower-print shorts, a big red Waterland T-shirt, and commemorative Waterland surf shoes. A Waterland backpack was slung over her shoulder that was filled with more items. I elt ridiculous after I had changed. A hot-pink Waterland polo shirt, yellow jean shorts and the same surf shoes Annabeth was wearing. I flushed red when everyone eyed me,
"Not a word." I growled. I managed to pick the lock of the cash register, and managed to find fifty dollars in change. I grinned. "Score!" I shoved the money into a Waterland wallet and we continued on our way.
"So Ares and Aphrodite." Percy started. "They have a thing going?"
"That's old gossip, Percy." Annabeth told him. "Three-thousand-year-old gossip."
"What about Aphrodite's husband?"
"Well, you know. Hephaestus. The blacksmith. He was crippled when he was a baby, thrown off Mount Olympus by Zeus. So he isn't exactly handsome. Clever with his hands, and all, but Aphrodite isn't into brains and talent, you know?"
"She likes bikers."
"Whatever."
"Hephaestus knows?"
"Oh sure. He caught them together once. I mean, literally caught them, in a golden net, and invited all the Gods to come and laugh at them. Hephaestus is always trying to embarrass them. That's why they meet in out-of-the-way places, like...like that." We had made it to the TUnnel of Love. If I had my skateboard, I'd be able to do some sick tricks. It was over fifty years across, with bronze Cupid statues dotted around the edge. On the opposite side from us, a tunnel opened up. I cringed at the large sign above the tunel. 'THRILL RIDE O' LOVE: THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS' TUNNEL OF LOVE!'. Grover crept toward the edge.
"Guys, look." He called. We followed him and spotted a two-seater boat that was painted pink and white, though the paint was chipping form no maintenance. The canopy had little hearts painted over it and a glinting item on the left seat caught my attention. Ares' shield.
"This is too easy." Percy muttered. "So we just walk down there and get it?" Annabeth was running her fingers along the Cupid statue closest to us.
"There's a Greek Letter carved her." She informed. "Eta. I wonder…"
"Grover, you smell any monsters?" An experimental whiff of the air from Grover gave him a quick assessment.
"Nothing."
"Nothing-like, in-the-Arch-and-you-didn't-smell-Echidna nothing, or really nothing?"
"I told you, that was underground."
"Okay, I'm sorry." Percy took a deep breath. "I'm going down there."
"I'll go with you."
"No. I want you to stay up top with the flying shoes. You're the Red Baron, a flying ace, remember? I'll be counting on you for backup, in case something goes wrong."
"Sure. But what could go wrong?"
"I don't know. Just a feeling. Annabeth, come with me-"
"Are you kidding?" Annabeth exclaimed. Her cheeks were tinted bright red.
"What's the problem now?"
"Me, go with you to the-the 'Thrill Ride of Love'? How embarrassing is that? What if somebody saw me?" Percy's cheeks turned red as well.
"Look, no one is gonna see you." I said, crossing my arms. "This place is abandoned.
"Fine." Percy muttered. "I'll do it myself." As Percy descended into the pool, Annabeth muttered angrily as she followed. They approached the boat. I walked around the perimeter of the pool that I could reach to survey for anything. I could faintly hear Annabeth and Percy muttering, and then noise erupted from the pool. I instinctively called my Halberd onto my hands as I spun towards the boat. Gears ground as the entire pool came to life.
"Percy! Annabeth!" I shouted. I turned on the Cupid statue beside me as it pulled it's arrow back, and shot at each other, creating a net. I raced back over to Grover. I paled as the Cupid's heads snapped open and out emerged cameras. Spotlights blinded us as they turned on and somewhere, a loudspeaker boomed.
"Live to Olympus in one minute…" It echoed. "Fifty-nine seconds, fifty-eight…"
"Hephaestus." I realised. Grover looked over to me with wide eyes. "Eta, H, he made this to catch Aphrodite and Ares in the act, Ares didn't want to be caught! That's why he sent us!" I heard a high pitched scream, and turned back to the pool to see lions of tiny metallic spiders pouring in. I paled. Damn it! I watched as Percy and Annabeth made it to the top of the boat and started to kick the spiders away. Annabeth wasn't able to do anything, paralyzed in fear at the little things.
"Thirty, twenty-nine..." The loudspeaker called. "Fifteen, fourteen..."
"Mako! Grover!" Percy shouted at us. We turned to him. "Get into that booth! Find the 'on' switch!"
"But-" Grover started.
"Do it!"
"I hope you know what you're doing Jackson!" I screamed down at him as Grover and I raced over to the booth. We punched every button, flicked every switch and pulled every lever. We looked over to Percy and shrugged helplessly, nothing was turning the thing on.
"Two, one, zero!" The loudspeaker finished, and water exploded into the pool. It swept away the spiders, short circuting some and destroying others. The boat spun with the force of the water, and before it could reach high enough to shred them with the golden net, the boat turned towards the tunnel and disappeared down it.
"Exit! Now!" I exclaimed, racing away from the pool to the exit of the tunnel. Grover bleated before running to follow. We managed to get to the exit when we saw Percy and Annabeth shooting ver the gate. "You grab Percy, I've got Annabeth." I pressed my ring and it became a spear. I turned my spear-point to the ground, and when I was in position, I thrust it down and used the momentum to launch myself upwards. I grabbed Annabeth midair, but her own force was greater than mine so we continued in her direction. I curled myself around her as my back crashed through a booth, and landed beside Percy and Grover next to one of those boards where tourists take their picture with their face in a hole. I groaned in pain, letting my arm falling down to release Annabeth. The statues were still filming, their cameras trained on us from a hundred feet away. I shakily rose to my feet and glared at them as Annabeth and Percy got Grover out of the photo board. "You've all had your fun!" I shouted at them, my arms wide. "We're done here! Goodnight!" The cupids returned to their original positions.
"We need to have a little talk with Ares." Percy said.