Olympus Drive Book 3: According to Plan

Chapter 70

Omar

We are meeting in what I can only describe as a highly sophisticated tree fort. It appears to be a regular hide out of the lesbian street gang. There are many packets of snacks namely crisps and marshmallows. We who are meeting are the gang themselves, Dean, his sophisticated girlfriend, a little boy on crutches with leg braces who is Luna's brother, and the Brianna who was trailing along with Axel and Phoenix the other day. I think she's a cousin though I'm not quite clear on the relationship which they've never bothered to explain whatsoever.

"He used his one phone call to call Phoenix's phone,"  Brianna says, holding up the phone as evidence, "I picked up and he was pissed but---the point is he's not at all okay. He's bent on killing Felix."

"I say we let him," Luna says, shrugging. She's the leader of the gang, I've discovered. She's also not at all natural. Her movements are too fluid, eyes a bit too deep, face a bit too set. She's like Dean, just on the edge of this world. The other girls look to her. Her bow is made of silver, and is a fine looking instrument. I have no doubt she's entirely capable of using it.

"Agreed. But first we need to get him out," I say.

"Felix or Axel?" Dean's sophisticated girlfriend, Ariadne, says, raising a hand.

"Both," Dean says, taking a drink. She pets his hair idly.

"Felix we can get out. I have a plan," I say.

"It should work—I'm game for trying anyway. The main thing is to get past the gates and into the Wall's house, there we can route out Troy and Felix and send Felix in Axel's general direction I'm sure he'll take it from there," Luna says.

"We need to get him weapons," I say, "He can't kill someone with his bare hands—well he probably can but—I'd rather he be able to defend himself at least."

"My brother can get him a shield and spear," Luna says like that's a typical thing to get someone, "And my other brother deliver it at the appropriate time. I vote midnight. I'll be at my strongest to protect my girls."

"I can make him something, and Gale can deliver it. It won't take more than the afternoon," the boy on crutches says.

"Fine," of course she's strongest at midnight. Of course she is. "I'll run interference with the police for Axel—Dean?"

"Oh yeah count me in, distraction is my middle name," he says.

"How are we getting him out though?" Ariadne asks.

"He can get out of the cell, he just needs our support on the outside---Isa can cover that," Luna says, to the boy in the braces.

"Done," Isa says, cracking his knuckles.

"How is he going to know though—what we're planning? We can hardly tell him you said his one phone call is over," Dean says.

"That's where I come in," Ariande says, raising a hand, "I can pretend to be a lawyer long enough to get the message across."

"All right, then, we need to get busy," I say, "Let's go tell Axel then get ready to get in the Walls mansion."

"First, here," Dean says, pouring from a label-less wine bottle into shot glasses.

"What is it?" I ask, it's clearly not wine.

"Ambrosia," Luna says, picking up a shot glass.

"What is it for?" I ask, looking at the thick golden liquid in my glass.

"It will increase our strength and helps us to focus our powers---for you mortals, it weakens our influence on you, which will be helpful if our dad gets involved to break things up---it also can accelerate your healing," Luna says. For us mortals. Okay. So they're just admitting their gods now, all right.

"So you'd still DIE from being hit with a lightening bolt, but it wouldn't be as painful a death as otherwise," Isa says, helpfully, since this is clearly something they tested.

"How long does it last?" I ask.

"Twenty four hours or forever, honestly depends," Dean says, shrugging.

"Where did you get it?" I ask, the liquid seems to glow and almost—move, swirl all on its own in the glass.

Luna and Isa point to Dean who makes 'I don't know' noises

"Huh okay, just curious," I say, nodding

Luna nods, raising her glass, "Phoenix, you'd be completely against this plan but you'd also be glad we're making Axel happy. So. Let's show the bastards what wrath looks like."

"Phoenix," we all say then drink. The liquid is thick as honey, but millions of times sweeter, so thick is it that it sticks in my throat going down. But it doesn't feel wrong there, just absorbing into to my chest, cementing and working its way through my lungs until my entire torso feels thick with the stuff. I'm honestly not sure if I can breath. Everyone else looks fine though. They've clearly done it before.

"Let's do this," Luna says, and she smashes her glass. We follow suit. Yes, let's do this.