The next afternoon, June 14, seven days before the solstice, the train rolled into Denver. Group was able to eat some of the food Terry packed in Sydney's magic bag, now there somewhere in Kansas. They are able to change into clean clothes but people still notice them not showering in a week now. Mainly Nathen who body Odor being the most noticeable with Sydney spraying everyone with her perfumes.
"Let's try to contact Chiron," Annabeth said. "I want to tell him about your talk with the river spirit, but we will not tell him about Echidna and her children, he already has enough to worry about."
"We can't use phones, right?" Percy asked her, Terry pulled out his phone.
"What's his number?" Terry is ready to dial.
"I'm not talking about phones." Annabeth was annoyed at him, getting confused looks from Percy and an annoyed look from Terry, however she didn't answer them for a while. Instead, they wandered through downtown for about half an hour, though no one was sure what Annabeth was looking for.
The air was dry and hot, which felt weird after the humidity of St. Louis. Everywhere they turned, the Rocky Mountains seemed to be staring at them, like a tidal wave about to crash into the city.
"Where are we going Annabeth?! We been walking foreverrrrrr" Sydney complains to her, all following her in the heat.
Finally they came upon an empty do-it-yourself car wash. They veered toward the stall farthest from the street, keeping their eyes open for patrol cars. They were seven adolescents hanging out at a car wash without a car; any cop worth his doughnuts would figure they were up to no good.
"What exactly are we doing?" Percy asked, as Grover took out the spray gun.
"It's seventy-five cents," the goat man grumbled. "I've only got two quarters left. Annabeth?"
"Here" Kate flipped a quarter to him, Terry seeing she still has his money.
"Can I have my money back?" Terry asked, but Kate glared at him.
"So you can waste it or cause more problems, no" Kate spoke back at him, not trusting him with money, Terry rolls his eyes at her.
"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?" Nathan and Percy asked, they looked even more confused than before. Grover fed in the quarters and set the knob to FINE MIST.
"I-M'ing." Grover explains to him.
"Instant messaging?" Sydney asked.
"Iris-messaging," Terry corrected before Annabeth said anything.
"The rainbow goddess Iris carries messages for the gods and Demi-gods alike. Using rainbows and underpaid cloud nymphs to connect everyone, if you pay enough she does it" Terry explains to them, Annabeth looks at him.
"Only if you ask nicely and if she has time" Annabeth said, seeing the rainbow goddess might be busy.
"No, if you pay enough and have a source of water and light it works either way" Terry shrugs seeing Iris should work as long as you pay the price like any good business.
"Huh…now that was something I did not know." Sydney said thoughtfully.
"You summon the goddess with a spray gun?" Percy asked, not believing this. 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." Grover says, everyone looks at Terry.
"What?" Terry asked them, why is everyone looking at him now?"
"Can you make a rainbow?" Grover asked him.
"You think I can do anything now? That I have limitless powers" Terry asked him, Grover looks unsure.
"Sorry, I…." Grover spoke but Terry grins.
"Of course I can make a rainbow Grover, who do you think you're talking too" Terry proclaims with everyone face vaulting at him, Terry controls the water around them to make a rainbow.
"You could do this two Percy" Terry states to him, Percy looks interested as Annabeth walks up to Percy and holds out her hand.
"Drachma, please." Deciding to go along with it, he gave it to her.
She raised the coin over her head. "O goddess, accept our offering." She threw the drachma into the rainbow. It disappeared in a golden shimmer.
"Half-Blood Hill," Annabeth said, for a moment, nothing happened. However, Percy and the others are surprised that the coin just disappeared in the rainbow, but all things considered, they should not be.
Then they saw through the mist at strawberry fields, and the Long Island Sound in the distance. The image seemed to be set on the porch of the Big House. Standing with back to them at the railing was a sandy-haired guy in shorts and an orange tank top. He was holding a bronze sword and seemed to be staring intently at something down in the meadows.
"Luke!" Percy called.
He turned, eyes wide. "Percy!" His scarred face broke into a grin.
"Is that Annabeth and Sydney? Nathan and Grover doing alright, Thank the gods! Kate good, and…Terry's there too" Luke greets everyone in joy but looks a little frightened at Terry who winks at him.
"Looking good my boy, sticking to the shadows" Terry grins at him, Luke lets out a nervous chuckle.
"Heh, never better Lukey!" Sydney replied while smirking at Annabeth.
"We're ... uh ... fine," Annabeth stammered. She was madly straightening her ugly T-shirt, trying to comb the loose hair out of her face.
"We thought—Chiron—I mean—" Annabeth spoke, but Kate shoved her.
"We call for Chiron, where is he?" Kate asked, annoyed at Annabeth as she looked for the centaur.
"He's down at the cabins." Luke's smile faded. "We're having some issues with the , is everything cool with you?"
"Were good, what kind of issues?" Grover asked him, just then a big Lincoln Continental pulled into the carwash with its stereo turned to maximum hip-hop. As the car slid into the next stall, the bass from the subwoofers vibrated so much, it shook the pavement, making Kate's eye twitch from.
"Like we are not trying to have a conversation here with Luke through some mist." Nathan grumbled before he shook his head, realizing how crazy that sounded.
"Chiron had to—what's that noise?" Luke yelled.
"I'll take care of it.'" Kate yelled back, glaring at the car.
"I'll come with you" Annabeth said, looking very relieved to have an excuse to get out of sight towards the car.
"Should we be worried?" Nathan points out but Terry waves him off.
"I'm sure it's fine" Terry nonchalantly said turning to Luke
"Chiron had to break up a fight," Luke shouted over the music. "Things are pretty tense here. Word leaked out about the Zeus—Poseidon—Hades standoff. We're still not sure how— probably that demon who summoned the dead here. Now the campers are starting to take sides. It's shaping up like the Trojan War all over again. Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo are backing Poseidon and Hades, more or less. Athena is backing Zeus."
"Oh great COUGH COUGH just what we need." Nathan coughs out, throwing his hands above his head while Percy shivered at the thought of the Ares cabin backing him, but that more for Kate than anything else. Luke looked fearful looking around.
"But I think everyone is still scared about that shadow demon ... .they think they see him around the camp" Luke spoke in fear, the Chaos demi-gods frown at the mention of Be'lakor.
"Maybe he is there scaring everyone, spreading his ugly face around" Sydney spoke out to him, Nathan looks concerned.
"Has anyone been taken?" Nathan asked if Be'lakor took anyone, Luke looked unsure.
"I'm…..I don't know" Luke looking around scared about any missing demi-gods.
CRASH
In the next stall, Kate is smashing some guy's head into the radio, and then the music shuts off.
"What happened?" Luke asks, hearing the crash, Annabeth freaks out at Kate but she ignores her.
"Just Kate bashing some blokes' heads in" Terry mentions Luke's eyes widened but shakes his head.
"So what's your status?" Luke asked. "Chiron will be sorry he missed you guys."
They began to relay everything to their friend, including the dream of a voice but not mention Percy's chaos dreams, again time is messy if you involve Percy dreaming of the future. However, Luke was more surprised at the battle they had.
"I wish I could be there," Luke said "We can't help much from here, I'm afraid, but listen ..., but it had to be Hades who took the master bolt. He was there at Olympus at the winter solstice. I was chaperoning a field trip and we saw him."
"But Chiron said the gods can't take each other's magic items directly." Percy said,
"That's true," Luke said, looking troubled. "Still ... Hades has the helm of darkness. How could anybody else sneak into the throne room and steal the master bolt? You'd have to be invisible." They were silent hearing him say that.
"Way to throw Anna under the bus Lukey" Sydney mentioned as he realized what he said.
"Oh, hey," Luke protested. "I didn't mean Annabeth. She and I have known each other forever. She would never….mean, she's like a little sister to me."
"I doubt that she would do that anyway, too loyal to her mother" Nathan said, thinking that her personality would not let her do that.
"Unless she is doing it for Athena?" Terry points out, getting looks from the others.
"Why would Athena want the bolt?" Percy asked him, Terry shrugging.
"Power, revenge, women's rights, daddy issues, our parents" Terry giving his own reason, some make sense but others.
"While that might work, let's focus on the current issue" Nathan spoke out, not wanting this to get more complicated than it already is.
"You'd better go see what that was," Luke said. "Listen, are you wearing the flying shoes? I'll feel better if I know they've done you some good"
Percy nervously chuckled and said, "Yeah, I am wearing them. They are pretty handy"
"Really?" Luke grinned. "They fit and everything?" Percy nods as Sydney looks annoyed.
"I'm still annoyed you didn't get one for me" Sydney complains making Luke laugh
"I'll order another for you, take care of yourself out there in Denver," Luke called, his voice getting fainter. "And tell Grover it'll be better this time! Nobody will get turned into a pine tree if he just—"
But the mist was gone, and Luke's image faded to nothing. They were now alone in the empty car stall.
"Smooth lie." Nathan commented, but was frowning at the spot Luke moments ago. Luke seemed too cheerful, and the fear of Terry, something up.
Annabeth and Kate come around the corner, Kate looks annoyed while Annabeth tries to berate her.
"You didn't need to knock him out" Annabeth berates her, Kate grunts.
"He didn't listen to you and only responded to force" Kate states, ignoring Annabeth as she tried to continue the conversation but stopped when they saw their faces. Annabeth's smile faded.
"What happened? What did Luke say?" Annabeth asked,
"Not much," Percy lied, making Nathan raise an eyebrow, wanting to protect her feelings but Sydney can't hold her mouth.
"Luke said you might be the thief because of your invisible hat" Sydney said to her shock.
"WHAT?!" Annabeth calls out; Percy and Nathan glare at Sydney.
"You could have been a little more gentle" Nathan said to her, Sydney smiled sheepishly.
"Well he's not wrong, she could do it on her mother's order" Terry states, Annabeth glares at him.
"My mother would never do this!" Annabeth, angry at Terry, pulls his glass up his nose, shining in the sunlight.
"But would you like it if she orders you too?" Terry asked her, looking right at her but Annabeth didn't know what to say.
"Welll….I…she wouldn't….I" Annabeth conflicted if her mother order her to steal Zeus lightning bolt. Kate grunts shoving her, snapping her out of it
"Stop thinking about it, we made the call and the report, we got a quest to finish" Kate snaps her fingers, wanting them to get back on track.
"Fine, let's find some dinner." Percy said, seeing Annabeth needs a moment.
"Fine but I'm paying." Kate points at herself, Terry glares at her.
"With my money" Terry states knowing she stole her money
"Yes" Kate states, not caring at the other, following her with a slight laugh at Terry.
LINE
A few minutes later, they were sitting at a booth in a gleaming chrome diner. All around them, families were eating burgers and drinking malts and sodas. Finally the waitress came over looking at them.
"Well?" She raised her eyebrow skeptically.
"We, um, want to order dinner." Percy offered.
"You kids have money to pay for it?" She asked them, before Kate could use Terry's money, a rumble shook the entire place, a motorcycle the size of a baby elephant had pulled up to the curb.
"O..k…" He got out as all conversation in the diner stopped. The motorcycle's headlight glared red. Its gas tank had flames painted on it, and a shotgun holster riveted to either side, complete with shotguns. The seat was leather—but leather that looked like ... well, Caucasian human skin.
The guy on the bike would've made pro wrestlers run for Mama. He was dressed in a red muscle shirt and black jeans and a black leather duster, with a hunting knife strapped to his thigh. He wore red wraparound shades, and he had the cruellest, most brutal face they have ever seen.
Brutal in a human way at least.
And he also had an oily black crew cut and cheeks that were scarred from many, many fights. Percy got the feeling he had seen this person.
As he walked into the diner, a hot, dry wind blew through the place. All the people rose, as if they were hypnotized, but the biker waved his hand dismissively and they all sat down again. Everybody went back to their conversations. The waitress blinked, as if somebody had just pressed the rewind button on her brain. She asked us again,
"You kids have money to pay for it?"
The biker walks to them said,
"It's on me." He slid into their booth, which was big enough for all of them but now it is getting crowded with Annabeth against the window. He looked up at the waitress, who was gaping at him.
"Are you still here?" The biker pointed at her, and she stiffened. She turned as if she'd been spun around, and then marched back toward the kitchen. He then turned his attention to Percy and Kate.
Percy may have not been able to see his eye but that had a bad feeling about this guy. He felt an energy that made him want to hurt someone, Anger, resentment, bitterness were what they felt and it made Percy want to hit the wall, it felt like…..Kate
Percy turns to see Kate glaring at his man, this feeling almost felt like when he was at Kate's father's place, only instead of getting angry and punching a wall Percy wants to grab his sword, stab the biggest guy, show his strength and domination to everyone. Rip the man's head off and mount it for all to see. Prove once and for all no one is stronger than Percy….
What the fuck is he thinking?! Percy shakes his head, scared of the thoughts he feels when remembering Khorne's aura compared to Ares.
The man frowns a little seeing the two but points at Percy first.
"So you must me old Seaweed's kid" The man said, his aura bursting at him but Percy isn't affected by it, comparing Ares to Khorne is like comparing a heater to a burning house.
"That's right, and your Clarisse's dad, right" Percy questions him, Annabeth's eyes flashed Percy a warning while saying, "Percy, don't —"But the biker raised his hand.
"S'okay," he said. "I don't mind a little attitude. I'm impressed actually" The bikers turn to Kate who glares at him.
"But it you I'm most interested in meeting" the biker states looking at her in interest.
"Ares…the God of War." Kate states with contempt, Annabeth looks concerned.
"Kate please don't" Annabeth tries to help but Terry stops her, shaking his head as he watches what happens. Ares grinned and took off his shades. Where his eyes should've been, there was only fire, empty sockets glowing with miniature nuclear explosions.
"Heh, got that right brat, and you're the daughter of Khorne, the chaos god of war" Ares states, a slight aura of power appeared, scaring a few people and frighten Annabeth and Grover.
"I heard you broke my daughter's spear and beat the rest of my children" Ares states to her, Kate grunts without care.
"She and your bastards were asking for it, bullying the weak is dishonourable" Kate spoke out to him, Areas frowns at little but smirks
"Oh Please, what a little rough play with family. It's cool. I don't fight my kids' fights, you know? Actually a little jealous not having a badass kid like you" Ares spoke with envy at how powerful Kate is but Kate glared bloody murder at him.
"You really shouldn't" Kate growls, gripping a knife, looking ready to stab the god of wars, but Nathan steps in.
"Soooo…what brings you here, my Lord?" Nathan asked, making his presence known as Ares covers his nose.
"By pits of Tartarus! You smell revolting, no wonder everyone runs away from you" Ares comments his stick, Percy glares at him.
"Hey! It's not his fault!" Percy standing by his friend as Ares turns to him with a frown, Sydney looks at him.
"You're here for the food too, Lord of War?" Sydney asked, giving him a glass of water, as Ares smirked looking at her, taking the glass.
"I was actually hungry, Sweet pea, But what I'm really here for—I heard you were in town. I got a little proposition for you." Ares offered, looking at Percy.
The waitress came back with heaping trays of food—cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, and chocolate shakes. Ares handed her a few gold drachmas. She looked nervously
"But, these aren't..." Ares pulled out his huge knife and started cleaning his fingernails. "Problem, sweetheart?"
The waitress swallowed, then left with the gold.
"You can't do that," Percy told Ares. "You can't just threaten people with a knife." Terry rolls his eyes.
"Why not? It's a free country and it's our second amendment right" Terry states making, Ares laughed.
"That's right, nerd, I love this country. Best place since Sparta! Don't you carry a weapon, punk? You should. Dangerous world out there. The nerd carrying a good side arm" Ares notes, seeing Terry's Glock 19, Terry pulls it out.
"It's a classic, straight from the black-market" Terry brags to him, Ares nods in approval.
"Yes it is, anyway about my proposition. I need you to do me a favor." Ares turns to Percy.
"What favor could I do for a god?" Percy asked rudely, annoyed at this guy.
"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." Ares explains to them.
"Why don't you go back and get it yourself, or summon it even" Percy asked, but the fire in Ares' eyes sockets glowed a little hotter.
"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?" He leaned forward. "Or maybe you only fight when there's a river to dive into, so your daddy can protect you."
Percy's face turned into an angry scowl but he was calmed when Kate put a hand on the boy's shoulder and he felt calmer. Somehow absorbing the rage he's getting from Ares,
Percy knew then and there that Ares was angry, Ares wanted him to attack, but thanks to his friend, and he saw some reason, he would not give the man that satisfaction, Kate glares at him.
"We are not your servants or your slaves" Kate glares at him.
"We have a more important quest then simply returning your lost toy" Kate spoke out against him,
"To be fair, the whole quest is finding Zeus's lost toy" Terry notes to Ares, which is true as they are looking for the gods lost toy.
Ares's fiery eyes made the girl see things, both glaring at one another as Ares looks impressed.
"I know all about your quest, Kate. When that Bolt was 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 ..." He licked his lips, as if the very thought of the master bolt made him hungry, then turned to the children.
"Then your brother showed up, scared the shit out of everyone, now we're all trying to find him" Ares spoke to them.
"Good luck, that bastard isn't our damm brother" Nathan states, wishing there the daemon prince, Terry grins at him.
"I'm sure out of everyone here, you stand the best chance at finding him" Terry winks at Ares, making his eyes widen in shock but quickly turns to Percy.
"Well ... if I couldn't find it or that dark bastard, 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 one who told him my suspicions about old Corpse Breath; of course me being the God of War, I enjoyed seeing the little fight they caused amongst themselves."
"You told him Hades stole the bolt?" Sydney asked.
"Sure. Framing somebody to start a war. Oldest trick in the book. I recognized it immediately. In a way, you got me to thank you for your little quest." Ares points out himself
"Gee thanks." Percy grumbled, Kate narrows her eyes at him.
"So you frame your family to cause conflict" Kate's question is disapproving, Ares looks at her.
"You disapprove? Wouldn't your dad be impressed by me?" Ares asked, but Kate turned to him.
"Using trickery and misdirection? Instead starting it yourself? He would only look down on you before breaking you" Kate growls at him, Ares looks back with a frown looking at Percy.
"Anyway, I'm a generous guy. Just do my little job, and I'll help you on your way. I'll arrange a ride west for you and your friends." Ares said to him.
"We're doing fine on our own." Percy glared.
"Yeah, right. You got some money but 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." Ares spokes, getting his attention.
"My mom?" asked Percy. Ares grinned.
"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." Kate and Nathan snort.
"What interrupted your date?" Percy asked with a smirk. "Something scares you off?"
Ares bared his teeth, but Percy had seen his threatening look before on Clarisse. There was something false about it, almost like he was nervous but Kate glared back at him.
"You're lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other Olympians. They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. I'll meet you back here when you're done. Don't disappoint me" Ares said that, they blinked and he was gone! Percy wanted to believe that was just another dream, but the others told him otherwise.
"Not good," Grover said. "Ares sought you out, Percy. This is not good."
"Eh, I hate side quest, it nothing but a waste of time from the main story" Nathan annoyed at this,
"You never know Nathan, if we do the entire side quest we could one shot the final boss" Terry points out but Nathan crossed his arms.
"We are a little pressed for time you know" Nathan makes another point; they can't do all the side quests if they run out of time.
Percy looked out the window to see that Ares' motorcycle was gone as well and he frowned, that man liked to mess with people's emotions. He doubted the man knew anything about his mom.
"It has to be bullshiting," Percy said. "Forget Ares. Let's just go."
"We can't," Annabeth said. "Look, I hate Ares as much as anybody, but you don't ignore the gods unless you want serious bad fortune. He wasn't kidding about turning you into a rodent." Kate grunts while taking the burger.
"Stupid worthless war god, forgetting his bloody shield, waste of our time" Kates glares at the spot Ares was. Percy looked down at his cheeseburger and sighed, "Why does he need us?"
"Maybe it's a problem that requires brains," Annabeth said. "Ares has strength. That's all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes."
"Or he is just lazy and like the other gods just gave his chores to us." Sydney said in a bored tone while leaning on her hand.
"But this water park ... he acted almost scared. What would make a war god run away like that?" Nathan mentions to them, seeing fear in Ares' eyes when mentioning it.
Annabeth and Grover glanced nervously at each other. Annabeth said, "I'm afraid we'll have to find out."
LINE
The sun was sinking behind the mountains by the time they found the water park. Judging from the sign, it once had been called WATERLAND, but now some of the letters were smashed out, so it reads WAT R A D.
The main gate was padlocked and topped with barbed wire. Inside, huge dry water slides and tubes and pipes curled everywhere, leading them to empty pools. Old tickets and advertisements fluttered around the asphalt. With night coming on, the place looked sad and creepy.
"If Ares brings his girlfriend here for a date," Percy said, staring up at the barbed wire, "I'd hate to see what she looks like." Percy got looks from the others.
"Percy," Annabeth warned. "Be more respectful."
"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?" Percy asked them.
"We already killed her early," Nathan reminds him.
"Yes," Percy said.
"She is Aphrodite, Goddess of love " Grover said, a little dreamily, which annoys Sydney.
"Overrated if you asked me, always Aphrodite this and love that" Sydney annoyed at the goddess to Percy's surprise.
"Aren't you friends with her children?" Percy asked, Sydney befriends all of Aphrodite's children.
"And I love them but the way they talk about their mother….She is not a woman you want to follow, bad example" Sydney states, knowing the children of Aphrodite have a complicated relationship with their mother, some she has in common. She thinks?
"I thought she was married to somebody," Percy said. "Hephaestus."
"What's your point?" Grover and Sydney asked him.
"She was forced to marry Hephaestus without much warning" Terry states, knowing the history of Aphrodite and her obsession with others' love life leading to trouble.
"Oh." Percy suddenly felt the need to change the subject. "So how do we get in?"
"Maia!" Grover's shoes sprouted wings. He flew over the fence, did an unintended somersault in midair, and then stumbled to a landing on the opposite side. He dusted off his jeans, as if he'd planned the whole thing. "You guys coming?"
Kate walks forward and pulls out a hammer from Sydney's bag, smashing the lock and opening the gate. Following Grover they walked through the park, checking out the attractions.
Luckily for them, there were no monsters on site so they were safe. Nothing made the slightest noise.
"This could make a good business, what did it shut down?" Terry thought out loud, seeing what he could do with this water park.
"Who knows, the gods or monster must have affected it" Sydney spoke out; They found a souvenir shop that had been left open. Merchandise still lined the shelves: snow globes, pencils, postcards, and racks of—
"Clothes," Sydney said. "New and fresh clothes to try" Annabeth nodded as well.
"Yeah," Percy said. "But you can't just—"
"Watch me."
Sydney and Annabeth snatched an entire row of stuff from the racks and disappeared into the changing room. A few minutes later they came out in Water-land flower-print shorts, a big rack of water-land T-shirts, and commemorative Water-land surf shoes. A Water-land backpack was slung over her shoulder, obviously stuffed with more goodies.
"Stealing clothes? What a waste" Kate states to them, Sydney holds the clothes to them.
"What the heck." Grover shrugged.
"Come on guys, brand new clothes to try" Sydney said, grabbing Terry and Nathan, about to grab Kate.
"Touch me again and I'll snap you fuckin neck" Kate growls at her, stopping her as she frowns holding a top.
"But it will fit you fine, show off your feminine side" Sydney leans up to Kate's ear.
"It matches Percy and you would look cuter, might get his attention" Sydney whispers, Kate glares at her with a blush but takes the clothes.
Soon, all Annabeth, Percy, Grover, Terry, Nathan, Sydney and Kate were decked out like walking advertisements for the defunct theme park.
They continued searching for the Tunnel of Love. Percy got the feeling that the whole park was holding its breath.
"So Ares and Aphrodite," Percy said, to keep his mind off the growing dark, "they have a thing going?"
"That's old gossip, Percy," Annabeth said. "Three-thousand-year-old gossip."
"What about Aphrodite's husband?" Percy asked her.
"He is a cuck sadly, Hephaestus. the god of forges, fire, technology, craftsmen, sculptors, volcanoes, and blacksmiths. After Hera somehow impregnating herself was disgusted with herself throw him off the mountain, making the poor guy worse than before but he still worked hard and became a god of Olympus. A real working man and husband but Aphrodite unable to settle down with a good man does what all women go through her twenties" Terry explains to them but Annabeth looks at him.
"Wait no Zeus throw Hephaestus off the cliff" Annabeth spoke, remembering her lesson as Terry smirks at her.
"That was a rumor make by Hera herself" Terry mentions to her shock,
"She does a lot of shit to children and other cruel stuff" Nathan not really surprised, Percy looks at them.
"But Hephaestus knows?" Percy asked.
"Oh sure," Annabeth said. "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 ..." She stopped, looking straight ahead. "Like that."
In front of them was an empty pool. It was at least fifty yards across and shaped like a bowl.
Around the rim, a dozen bronze statues of Cupid stood guard with wings spread and bows ready to fire.
On the opposite side of them, a tunnel opened up, probably where the water flowed into when the pool was full. The sign above it read, THRILL RIDE O' LOVE: THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS' TUNNEL OF LOVE!
"Could have just divorce her and found a more loyal wife" Kate states, finding all this as childish. Sydney smirks.
"Maybe he's into it? You never know" Sydney gives her opinion to him, to everyone's disgust.
"Please don't add to it" Percy holds his mouth in disgust as Nathan finds a bin nearby, vomited inside it.
Grover crept toward the edge. "Guys, look."
Marooned at the bottom of the pool was a pink-and-white two-seater boat with a canopy over the top and little hearts painted all over it. In the left seat, glinting in the fading lights was Ares's shield, a polished circle of bronze.
"This is too easy," Percy said. "So we just walk down there and get it?"
Annabeth ran her fingers along the base of the nearest Cupid statue. "There's a Greek letter carved here," she said. "Eta. I wonder ..."
"It clearly a trap set up by Hephaestus, Eta is H in Greek, Ares saw it and thought it would be funny for us to set it off" Terry figures it out, seeing what's going on after all the information about Hephastus catching his wife dating Ares.
"And if we trigger it, it will trap us and send our pictures to everyone" Nathan states, everyone stops as they look at the obvious trap.
"Yeah…I see that now" Annabeth too late to see it was a trap after recalling Ares and Aphrodite were on a date before so it was a trap for sure.
"Grover," Percy said, "you smell any monsters?"
Grover sniffed the wind. "Nothing."
"The last time you said that, Echidna and three of her children were right next to us, you better be right about this" Kate glares at Grover, proving to be useless at tracking monsters so far.
"I told you that we were underground." Grover looked hurt, but Kate doesn't care.
"No excuses, I'm going in" Kate is about to walk but Percy stops her.
"Wait, we know it's a trap so let's not trigger it" Percy states, noting wanting to set off the trap.
"I'll go," Grover said, wanting to prove himself to the group with Kate's words hurting him.
"No," Percy said. "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"
"It always doesssss" Nathan groans, taking a few more pills with a grunt, holding his stomach in pain.
Grover puffed up his chest a little. "Sure. But what could go wrong?" Nathan hits himself.
"Do you have any self-awareness Grover, never say those words" Nathan points at him, Grover looks away.
"I don't know. Just a feeling. Annabeth, come with me—" Percy said but Annabeth freaks opt.
"Are you kidding?" Annabeth looked at Percy as if he had just dropped from the moon. Her cheeks were bright red.
"What's the problem now?" Percy demanded.
"Me, go with you to the ... The 'Thrill Ride of Love'? How embarrassing is that? What if somebody saw me?" Annabeth is embarrassed at this, Kate glares at her.
"You not in a relationship with him and are going to get a bloody shield, that it! IF you can't walk through a tunnel because of your feelings then you should have never left the camp" Kate growls at Annabeth, who glares back at her.
"I am ready to leave camp" Annabeth glares at Kate, not taking this lying down.
"Crying at someone seeing you, I see weakness" Kate states, both glare at one another.
"At least I'm not a brute who attacks anything that moves, going off and beating anything that only a minor annoyed at best" Annabeth argued back at her. Before anything could happen Sydney jumps on Percy.
"Let's go Percy! Through the tunnel of love let's have a thrill of a ride" Sydney jumping on Percy as he does in the water.
"Fine," Percy said. "I'll do it myself." He starts down but Sydney jumps in after him, with Terry following.
"Nathan keeps them from killing each other" Terry said to him, Nathan signs standing between Kate and Annabeth from stabbing one another.
They reached the boat. The shield was propped on one seat, and next to it was a lady's silk scarf. Percy picked up the scarf. It shimmered pink, and the perfume was indescribable- rose or mountain laurel. Something good. He smiled, a little dreamy, and was about to rub the scarf against his cheek when Sydney ripped it out of his hand, looking at it with a grin. Wrapping it around her neck.
"Oh this I like, What do you think Percy" Sydney posting with the silk scarf, Percy is looking at her with a dreamy look until Terry slaps water in his face, snapping him out of it.
"Stay away from that love magic Percy" Terry states, looking at the shield on the boat.
"What?" Percy scowled as Terry looked at the shield as he noticed something.
"STOP!" Terry stops them, everyone looks to see what Terry is pointing at.
A Trip Wire.
"Good think you saw that Terry" Percy states as Terry pulls Ares shield without setting the trip wire.
"I know, this trap would be aired on the Hephaestus TV, being the laughing stock of the entire Greek world and no one in camp would ever let you live this down" Terry grins as he looks tempted to pull the trip wire but Sydney stops him.
"Don't even think about it, Grover pulled me and Percy out of this now" Sydney calls out to him, as Grover flies over grabbing both Percy and Sydney out of the pool and stands with Nathan, Kate and Annabeth.
"Thanks Grover" Sydney gives Grover a kiss on the cheek, making him float in the air, until Nathan catches him.
"Come on lover boy" Nathan grabs a flying satyr away, Kates looks to see Terry messing with the cupid.
"The hell are you doing?" Kate calls out; everyone turns to see Terry ripping off a camera from the cupid, looking it over.
"This is the camera that can broadcast a video to the entire Greek world" Terry explains, using magic to float towards them.
"What are you thinking COUGH COUGH" Nathan coughs not liking the grin.
"It's annoying how Ares expects us to take the embarrassment meant for him and Aphrodite" Terry spoke out, getting looks for them.
"So I want to mess with them" Sydney grins at what Terry's getting out, seeing nods.
"No way, whatever you are going, stop, will not work well for us" Grover wants to stop whatever they are trying to do, but Percy glares at Ares' shield and looks at the cameras on the other cupid, turning to Terry.
"What have you had in mind" Percy is interested in getting back at Ares for this.
"NO Please Percy, Annabeth please say something" Grover looking at Annabeth as his only hope seeing Nathan and Kate are in on this, Annabeth looks unsure.
"You sure it won't hurt us?" Annabeth asked, wanting to get back at Ares too but not if they have to face grave consequences.
"ANNABETH?! GUYSSS?!" Grover spokes out, but they ignore him.
"Oh don't worry Anna, it won't affect us at all" Terry grins as he starts to mess with the camera Sydney jumps near him.
"I know the perfect video to mess with them" Sydney grins at him, as they all look at what Terry will do.
LINE
Zeus glares at the clouds on his throne at Mount Olympus, glaring at a cloud with no lighting to it. Gripping his hands trying to throw his lightning bolt again, only to feel his empty hand, Zeus glares at his brother's temple, knowing either he or even Hade are conspiring against him again. Maybe the other gods or even monsters too.
But that's not the biggest threat right now, Zeus glares at the shadow with rage and slight fear. That…daemon Be'lakor and the Chaos gods, four chaos gods and their demi-god children, Zeus knows not to mess with the powers of Chaos itself. For it is the dawn of all creation, now it takes from it many gods.
Zeus has enough to fear with his family and even the demi-gods trying to take over now the primordial beings are here and already made 4 demi-god children. Zeus would have destroyed them if he had his lightning bolt but now fear what would happen to anger the gods of chaos.
Would Khorne attack them all for killing his daughter, would Nurgle child release a deadly plague and be killed, having heard from Hermes of his brother's illness, from a bite of the demi-god of Nurgle.
And those are the threats he sees, Tzeentch could prove to be more troublesome if he makes plots or plans using his family and this Slannesh…..Zeus won't lie and say he has no weakness for the flesh and pleasure but this Slannesh might be too much for him.
Nothing to say about his other family members and worst his virgin siblings and daughters
No Zeus will keep an eye on them all, insure they don't destroy everything he fought so hard and long for.
RING RING
Zeus looks up to see Hephaestus TV is on, a TV program is starting, Zeus looks curious about it, is it another joke of Hephaestus catching Ares and Aphrodite again. It must be an act compared to when they first started.
As a few other lower gods gather around, watching what is new on the show as it turns on.
Zeus gets curious about it, not seeing any gods or monsters but mortal humans, two girls actually. Maybe they should put more mortal shows on.
Zeus looks on more curiously and bizarre as the two mortal women and a…..cup?
Zeus widens in shock and horror watching the mortals as does the lower gods watching.
"Oh my ... .two girlsss" A lesser god spoke in repugnance.
"And a cup" Another lesser god covers her mouth, Everyone on Olympus and beyond watch the video of two girls and one cup in horror and repulsion. Watching the video sponsored by Hephaestus and Ares.
Zeus's face would turn beet red, and electricity would start crackling around him. He'd slam his fist down, causing a few of the lesser gods to jump.
"What is this? What kind of mockery is this of Olympus?" Zeus shouted. Upon realizing this was created by Ares and Hephaestus, he'd go ballistic.
"Those two are going to pay for this. Hephaestus has no taste... and Ares should know better than to get involved in such filth!" Zeus would immediately start planning how to discipline both of them, swearing revenge for their embarrassing stunt.
The others aren't better.
Hera, the queen of the gods is absolutely disgusted.
"What is this... disgrace?" Hera's fume, looking at the screen in horror.
"Ares... and Hephaestus?! They think they will stoop so low!" Hera states, she'd start pacing, trying to keep her composure, but her rage would be evident.
"I'll have a word with both of them—and Aphrodite. They are bringing shame to Olympus!" Hera is plotting some kind of punishment for the gods sponsoring this rubbish, disgusted at how far things have gone.
Poseidon on his temple on the other hand is letting out a booming laugh.
"That... is something I didn't expect from Hephaestus and Ares!" Poseidon laughs, slapping his knee and chuckle, completely entertained by the sheer chaos unfolding.
"It's about time someone got the gods to laugh like this," Poseidon mutters to himself, a little humour in such troubling times. But as the video went on, and the gods grew more and more uncomfortable, Poseidon's grin would fade.
"Still, we've got to make sure they know this isn't funny to everyone." Poseidon he'd still find the situation far too amusing to let go of.
Athena, goddess of wisdom, watches with a mix of disgust and disapproval. However, I would immediately start strategizing how to regain control of the situation.
"This is a distraction. Ares and Hephaestus have made a mockery of themselves... and of Olympus, but it couldn't be just them, they wouldn't be this stupid….I'm sure" Athena mutters, pacing around. She'd start formulating plans to clean up the mess, taking it as an opportunity to lecture Ares on discipline and proper behaviour.
"They'll regret this, but I see they're not alone on this" Athena says with a cold, calculating tone. But she wouldn't be above secretly admiring the ingenuity of whoever managed to pull it off—though she'd never admit it aloud.
Apollo, being the god of music and entertainment, finds this situation hilarious. He'd laugh so hard it might even echo through the halls of Olympus.
"Oh, this is rich! I can't believe Ares and Hephaestus thought this was a good idea!" Apollo found the whole thing a bit too funny to take seriously, as he started repeating the video for the other gods to see and commenting on it, much to their embarrassment.
"I mean, really? These two are gods and they thought this would work?!" Apollo's sarcastic remarks would only add fuel to the fire, laughing again.
With Hermes ever the trickster and playful god, would love the prank, even if it wasn't his doing.
"I know, this is a funny prank!" Hermes says with a grin, thoroughly enjoying the drama with Apollo, also spreading the video to even more gods, making the situation explode even further, making copies of it and everyone's reaction to it.
"Ares and Hephaestus? This is gold! But I wouldn't have done it this way... I think I'll give them a little nudge later," Hermes says with a sly smile, Apollo nods.
"Can you imagine if two dudes did it" Apollo asked, this got Hermes thinking as well.
"yeah, I'll search it up" Hermes is now curious if there a male version of this video.
Artemis is outraged about this video from her temple.
"Ares and Hephaestus... this is what they've resorted to?!" Artemis states, her face twisting in disgust.
"This is why I can't stand dealing with the male gods." She'd be absolutely furious with them both, muttering about how they've tarnished Olympus' dignity.
"This is vulgar," she'd say, turning her back on the screen. "I want nothing to do with this." She'd probably storm off, eager to leave the disgrace behind, and stopping her huntress from looking at the video too.
Hestia, being the goddess of the hearth and family, is mostly disappointed. looking at it with concerned sadness.
"Why would they do this?" Hestia whispered, her gentle voice tinged with disbelief. She'd look at her fellow gods with sadness in her eyes, wishing for a return to the times when Olympus was nobler. She wouldn't hold grudges, but she'd definitely be disappointed in how far some of her fellow gods had fallen.
Aphrodite is mortified, this video also has her name on it, her reputation will be shattered in front of the entire pantheon. She'd let out a shriek,
"How dare they?!" In her fury, she'd snap at anyone around her, gods and goddess all fleeing her wrath,
"This is a public disgrace! Do you think I want my name associated with such filth?" Aphrodite is deeply upset, both by the video and by the fact that Ares and Hephaestus had been so careless with her image.
Even the underworld saw this video as Hades himself watched this with an unreadable expression. After a moment of silence, he'd simply mutter,
"The gods really are pathetic COUGH COUGH sometimes." Hades is still sick as he sees himself getting worse as time goes on, he wasn't exactly a fan of Ares or Hephaestus. finding the entire spectacle amusing on a deeper level—watching Olympus unravel over something so trivial.
"Let them tear each other apart over this, COUGH COUGH" Hades coughing again, starting to cough out golden blood now.
Now with the god whose name the show after him, Hephaestus is utterly mortified.
"What? No... this wasn't me!" Hephaestus exclaimed, as if trying to clear his name, his attempts would fall on deaf ears. The gods would be too focused on the sheer audacity of it all to listen to his protests. He'd probably stammer through a defence,
"I didn't set this up! This is not—this is not my work!" Hephaestus tries to say, cutting off the show but it replays elsewhere, He'd be left to stew in his embarrassment, as he glares at Ares name. Getting his own vengeance against him.
Speaking of the God of war in question back at the dinner he looks affronted at the video in his name.
"Oh shit" Ares states, knowing he will not take this one laying down, seeing it has his name on it with Hephaestus.
"Those little shits!" Ares glares at the video, knowing this has the works of Percy Jackson and the chaos brats as well.
They're going to be hell to pay for them all.