Chapitre 8
15th June 2006
The train station erupted into a battleground, the metallic clashing of celestial bronze against manticore scales resonating through the air. Amidst the mayhem, Clarisse, the valiant daughter of Ares, and the mischievous duo Castor and Pollux, sons of Dionysos, faced off against the ferocious manticore.
"Fuck, we'll miss our train!"
Clarisse jabbed her celestial bronze spears with determination, aiming for the chimera's heads, while Pollux twirled his club in a wild dance, attempting to distract the creature.
"Whose genius idea was it to take the train?" Pollux yelled, dodging a fiery breath attack.
"Like you had a better plan!" Clarisse shot back, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the chimera's claws.
In the midst of the struggle, Castor rummaged through his backpack in a fit of panic. He pulled out a Gameboy, a quirky gift from their dad, and threw it towards the chimera, yelling, "Go, I choose you, Onyx!"
To everyone's disbelief, a burst of light erupted from the Gameboy, summoning Onyx, a colossal Pokemon, into the train station. The snake-like creature towered over the manticore, its sleek, obsidian scales shimmering in the chaotic light. Onyx's eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity, ready for a legendary showdown.
Onyx unleashed a barrage of attacks, from tail whips to seismic shakes that sent the manticore tumbling. Clarisse and Pollux seized the opportunity to regroup, using the distraction to…flee ! They nearly missed their train !
16th June 2006
Lotus Casino
"You?" said Annabeth, Percy, Clarisse, Castor and Pollux at the same time. Grover shouted "YOUUUUTHHH" in greeting.
Percy, breaking the silence, asked, "So, uh, how did we all end up in this swanky joint at the same time? Coincidence?"
Annabeth quirked an eyebrow, "Coincidence? In our lives? Please."
Clarisse scoffed, "Yeah, right. This is weirder than Hermes cabin's prank wars."
Meanwhile, Castor and Pollux, sensing an opportunity for amusement, exchanged mischievous glances. With a flourish, Pollux revealed a tray of outrageously colorful drinks.
"Come on, pals," Pollux urged, "Let's celebrate our magically synchronized arrival with some mixology. It's like the Lotus Hotel's special, demigod-approved cocktail hour!"
Percy, torn between caution and curiosity, glanced at Annabeth, who rolled her eyes but eventually relented, "Fine, but only because we've earned it. And so Monsieur D will give us a blessing in our quests"
As Clarisse and Castor enthusiastically joined in, even Grover, juggling ambrosia bits, shouted, "A toast to fate's random antics and all that jazz!"
They clinked their glasses, downed their drinks, and the atmosphere buzzed with good humor. Even Clarisse laughed a bit. Amidst the hilarity, Pollux casually asked, "So, spill it. How did you end up here?"
Annabeth then launched into the tale of Percy, Grover, and herself. It involved finding a lost dog, turning it in for $200, and deciding to embark on a budget-conscious adventure. Percy's solo expedition up the Gateway Arch, Echidna's surprise Monster delivery, and Percy's headline-making escape into the Mississippi River unfolded like a slapstick comedy.
"Percy jumps into the Mississippi to escape a Chimera and lands in the news" Annabeth narrated. She continued with encounters involving a water-loving Nereid, a peculiar directive to hit the ocean before the Underworld, and a triumphant reunion at the train station.
"With Ares making surprise appearances, we then went into a mission to find Aphrodite's scarf. And there were spiders, Annabeth was not a fan" Percy chuckled. Annabeth added, "And then Ares, gave us a ride, handed us a magical bag of goodies, and poof, here we are!"
And they talked, and talked, and talked…not realizing that several days were passing.
18th June 2006
In the vast expanse of her palace, Mnemosyne, the Titaness of Memory, rested on a majestic throne amid a symphony of forgotten of memories floated in an ethereal dance, creating a kaleidoscopic display of forgotten air bore an ancient serenity, encapsulating both cherished and faded memories.
Unexpectedly, the rhythmic footsteps of Dionysos, an Olympian known for wild revelries, echoed through the cavernous halls, disrupting the tranquil atmosphere. Mnemosyne's surprise reverberated through her, as the arrival of an Olympian at a titan's palace was a rare event, stirring a subtle tension in the once serene air.
Dionysos entered with the flamboyance of a party host, a mischievous glint in his eyes, and a grapevine wreath perched atop his head. "Hey there, Mnemosyne! Long time, no see, hottie" he chimed, cultivating an air of familiarity. And he winked at her.
What ?
Cautious, Mnemosyne eyed him. Did he know about Kronos? But why would Zeus send him, of all gods, to kill her ? Dionysos flashed a winning smile. Surprisingly, the Olympian greeted her with warmth. He made light-hearted jokes, transforming the solemn atmosphere into a divine stand-up comedy club. With a theatrical flourish, he conjured a goblet of ambrosia, initiating a toast that shifted the ambiance from uneasy to unexpectedly light-hearted.
As they sipped divine ambrosia, Dionysos, steering clear of seriousness, shifted the conversation to a more down-to-earth matter — his own memory issues. "Hey, so I've been having these memory lapses, you know? Like, one minute I'm partying on Olympus, and the next, I can't remember where I put my wine cup. Any chance you've got some memory tricks up those immortal sleeves?" he asked, mischief twinkling in his eyes - but she could feel the underlying seriousness.
Her gaze shifted, a flicker of wariness rekindling in her eyes. Dionysos, ever the chill party god, just leaned back and winked, "Come on, Mnemosyne, spill the ambrosia. What's the deal with my brain playing hide-and-seek?"
Mnemosyne, scrutinizing him, shook her head. "It's not of my making, Dionysos. Your memories, they're peculiar, different. Some seem... chained, yet I can't delve into them," she confessed, her honesty evident. Of course, she could not see the content of the memories - Dionysos barred her access - but…the chained memories felt different.
As Dionysos raised an eyebrow, intrigued, Mnemosyne continued, "But, breaking those chains? That's within your power. If you can decipher what's held within, time might unravel the mysteries. However, I'm afraid I can't assist. My abilities only stretch so far," she lied, a subtle deceit masked by a facade of regret. Mnemosyne, secretly harboring enmity toward Dionysos, chose not to dispel the chains, leaving the god of revelry to unravel his own enigmatic memories, a task laden with both mystery and potential peril.
Dionysos shrugged, and offered another drink.
19th June 2006
Castor did not know how it had happened, but he had kissed Clarisse, and he liked it. Well, she had kissed him. But he liked it. So, basically, it was the same.
In the spirit of clandestine romance, the teens decided to explore the service corridors of the hotel with the specific goal of making out in the laundry room. Like in the movies. Their adventurous pursuit led them to a mysterious locked door.
Luckily, Pollux, having acquired some lock-picking skills through his friendship with Hermes' kids confidently stepped forward. Hehe. Time to impress his crush. With a deft touch, he maneuvered the tools and successfully unlocked the door, revealing the eagerly anticipated laundry room. However, as the door swung open, the duo was met with an unexpected and slightly awkward scene that shattered the romantic atmosphere they had envisioned.
"Eeeeeww…Don't look, Pollux". Clarisse covered her soon-to-be-boyfriend's eyes with her hands.
Instead of an empty laundry room, they found a woman who defied conventional norms with a bold and vibrant display of individuality. Her multicolored hair was a kaleidoscope of hues, each strand seemingly telling a story of its own. It was as if a group of mischievous pixies had decided to host a paint party on her locks. She was hot as fuck, thought Clarisse. In a leather corset that showed both boobs and crotch, she writhed against the wall - which she was chained to. What ? Her surprise died down as she realized the woman's alluring appearance was juxtaposed against her apparent captivity. The riot of multicolor paint served as an unintentional body paint, accentuating her curves, but the intricate leather links that bound her securely to the wall told a different story.
The woman, radiating an air of playful confidence, locked eyes with the trio and threw them a saucy wink, as if to declare, "Well, look who stumbled upon my impromptu fashion show! Caught me in the middle of a wardrobe malfunction, didn't you? Aha, just kidding, darlings. Truth is, I'm a prisoner. Help me, pu-lease... Wait, did you hear that dramatic pause? It's crucial for maximum effect!"
She looked at Pollux.
"You're Daddy Dio's son?".
As Pollux slumped into unconsciousness from blood loss from his nose, Clarisse couldn't help but sigh. "So much for boyfriend material." And she answered with another question
"And I guess you're a Maenad ?"
In response to Clarisse's inquiry, the Woman Bound gracefully lifted her head, revealing an enigmatic smile that played on her lips. "Darling, I'm not your run-of-the-mill Maenad. I happen to be the Chieftain of our merry band. No queens here; we disdain that institutionalized hierarchy nonsense. Just go ahead and call me the Maenad in Chief, if you fancy. Or by my name. Angèle Lovegood. Because, darling, I love very good."
Her voice resonated with confidence, carrying a sultry tone, while mischievous sparks danced in her eyes.
"Now, dear heroes, how does the daring rescue party plan to liberate the Maenad in Chief today? I'm stuck, you see. St-u-ck." Leaning in, she shared the sordid tale of the Lotus Casino. "Now, let's wipe the slate clean. Some Loki-esque character - but definitely not Loki himself, darling demigod, as, of course, other Pantheons do not exist - abducted us Maenads, tossed us into this fanciful den of debauchery, and we've been blissfully lost in the Lotus eaters' illusions for a decade. Well, the other Maenads were, because they are slutty and debauched, so they were the best prays for the Lotus Eaters. But Angèle Lovegood doesn't succumb easily to imprisonment by those lotus-eating tricksters. After personally escorting about thirty of them to the afterlife, they decided to cage me. And I was weakened…". She pointed tattoos of chains against her neck. "The…immortal that kidnapped us sealed our magic, you see. So all I had left was good ol' fashioned Muay Thai".
Her eyes glinted with defiance as she continued, "So, here I am, the untamed Maenad they couldn't quite shackle. Ready to break free and unleash a whole new level of chaos. Now, heroes, spill the beans—how do you plan to liberate the one and only Maenad in Chief today? With your Big Knife ? Mmmm…"
"Okey. You're disturbing. And clearly disturbed. Let's grab the other Maenads, and get the hell out of here". And she grabbed the passed out boy and put him on her shoulder, before taking a knife and undoing Angèle bond's - the Maenad moaned as she did. Creepy.
19th June 2006
Annabeth found herself utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events. One moment, she was engrossed in discussions and revelry with her friends, and in the next, Clarisse stormed in with an unconscious Pollux draped over her shoulder. But that wasn't the most perplexing sight – beside them stood a painted and tattooed woman adorned with a crown and a leather corset. What the hell was going on?
As Clarisse began to spill the disconcerting details about the Lotus Casino and its treacherous enchantments, Annabeth's comprehension deepened, and a wave of realization crashed over her. Four days! How had they not noticed? A mix of frustration and anger surged within her. They had been ensnared by the Lotus eaters' illusions for four days, and she cursed herself for failing to recognize the trap earlier.
Fueled by urgency, Annabeth directed her attention to Percy and Grover, still ensnared in the Lotus-induced trance. The weight of the situation bore down on her, and with determined swiftness, she resorted to slapping both Percy and Grover, aiming to jolt them from their entranced stupor. Clarisse, equally resolute, administered a resounding slap to her boyfriend's face, the sharp sound echoing through the room.
As Pollux began stirring awake, he declared having an idea and promptly initiated a thorough search for his cherished Gameboy. The six children, now under the guidance of the enigmatic Woman in the corset—the Maenad Chieftain—trailed behind her through the winding corridors of the Lotus Casino. Along this labyrinthine journey, she issued a stern caution, warning them vehemently against the temptation to peek inside the royal suite.
When the door creaked open, the royal suite unfolded before them in all its opulent glory, a decadent dreamscape that blurred the lines between excess and fantasy. Gilded accents adorned the room, casting a golden glow upon luxurious furnishings that beckoned indulgence. Sumptuous drapes, rich in color and texture, cascaded from ceiling to floor, creating an ambiance of extravagant decadence that enveloped the space. At the heart of this lavish setting lay a golden bed, adorned with plump cushions and draped with silken fabrics—an emblem of opulence and lavish indulgence. The air itself seemed to shimmer with an aura of luxury and excess, inviting the onlookers into a world where boundaries were meant to be pushed.
"Oh, yes ! Harder!"
Approximately fifty women, each a canvas of intricate tattoos and draped solely in elaborate body paint, were engaged in an uninhibited and passionate lesbian orgy. Bodies intertwined, limbs entangled, the women reveled in a symphony of pleasure and laughter that echoed through the room. The air pulsated with a heady mix of sensuality, their celebratory revelry creating a palpable energy that seemed to dance between the boundaries of reality and fantasy.
However, the passionate revelry abruptly shifted to chaotic pandemonium as a dozen Lotus Eaters barged.
"Capture them!", one of them screamed.
"Fishman Karate - First Form"
In a dazzling performance, Angele turned the Lotus Eaters into corpses. With each kick and punch, she sent the four intruders flying, as if auditioning for a mythical martial arts comedy.
"Mind keeping these folks entertained for a bit?" Angele quipped to the demigods, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I've got my sisters to wake up".
"Fuck", swore Percy as he uncapped Riptide.
"AAAAAAAH", screamed Pollux while dodging a chief that was attacking him with a big spoon. "Fuck ! Why is it a Magikarp"
19th June 2006
Thoas lit his cigarette. He had received the green light from his father through the floating screens.
"Go!", he ordered the unruly satyrs.
Hodge, hooded and dressed in commando gear, opened the Van's door, while he yelled at the other satyrs to get out. Three units of four goat-men, armed to the teeth, entered from the rear of the Hotel Casino.
"Ehe. That's what I call a hostile takeover." Thoas took another drag on his cigarette. A casino with booze, orgies and unlimited money run by anyone other than a son of Dionysus? He was going to remedy that. As the Businessman (he tried very strongly making that title stick, so, maybe, the game would stop calling him a failure. But for the moment, it was not working very much).
He looked at Silenus, who was also donning a balaclava.
"Do you have any secondary objectives in your quest, you?" asked Thoas, thinking of his own: to recover two children, Nico and Bianca, and bring them back along with the Maenads to the Playboy Mansion, which Dionysus had recovered on the death of his son Hugh Hefner. He had made it one of the Club's HQs and one of his main residences after Camp…
The Satyr nodded and pointed to a large box, "Yeah, something with a bag. Apparently, I have to put the bag in this box that Dionysus gave me, wait ten seconds, take the bag out and put it back. Simple. And then bring back the Maenads, if Clarisse and the Boss's kids have delivered them properly."
"And why did we need to send kids on this mission?"
Silène shrugged. "Apparently, the blonde kid wanted it. And for the boss' kids to gain experience. But we could just as easily have done it on our own. Well, if we had found where the fuck the Maenad were. We're only here because Pollux used the Gameboy to send a text".
Thoas heard gunshots. It was time to get off his fat ass. He grabbed two guns and climbed out of the van.
"It's M&A time, motherfuckers!".
