Raging Seas [pjo au] || 1

έντεκα

CHAPTER ELEVEN 
( A WILD TRIP FROM DINERS
TO CASINOS )

BY THE TIME THEY made it back to the diner, Ares was waiting for them in the parking lot. Nothing was different about the god, but on the large motorbike's handlebars hung a blue nylon backpack.

"Well, well," he began when the four kids got closer, "You didn't get yourselves killed."

The air of casualness around him agitated her, and she once again focused on just staying calm, not wanting to let it surge up like before. It was hard yet doable for now. Percy, though...

"You knew it was a trap," he accused. Yeah, he was riding on his anger, and Kali honestly didn't blame him.

The god grinned wickedly. "Bet that stupid blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids. You looked good on TV."

Kali just barely kept herself from rolling her eyes at him as Percy all but shoved the shield at Ares and said, "You're a jerk."

Annabeth and Grover's breaths caught, though it seemed that they had nothing to worry about. Ares grabbed his shield without a word of Percy's insult, then spun it in the air like pizza dough. It's form changed, turning into a bulletproof vest before their eyes. He slung it across his back, and pointed across the street at an eighteen wheeler.

"See that truck over there? That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas."

There was a sign on the back of it that said: KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS. The words were printed in white on a black background, which made it easier to read.

Percy deadpanned, "You're kidding."

With a snap of his fingers, Ares unlatched the truck's back door. "Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job." He tossed the backpack on the handlebars at Percy.

Kali, Annabeth, and Grover inched closer to see inside when Percy caught it and zipped it open. There were fresh clothes for each of them, thirty bucks in cash, a pouch full of drachmas, and a thing of Double Stuf Oreos. Kali was surprised – by the contents of the bag and Ares' kindness. It almost made her suspicious.

Percy was still steaming with anger. "I don't want your lousy–."

Grover quickly interrupted while simultaneously giving his best friend a look, "Thank you, Lord Ares. Thanks a lot."

Percy visibly gritted his teeth. He didn't say anything, and reluctantly slung the bag over one shoulder.

Movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention. Kali looked towards the diner, which now had minimal customers, and saw the waitress who served them dinner at one of the windows. She was watching them all nervously, mostly at Ares and probably worried about him hurting the four of them. The fry cook was dragged over by her. She said something. He nodded, lifted a disposable camera, and snapped a picture.

Well, they were definitely going to be on the news again.

"You owe me one more thing," Percy told Ares. "You promised me information about my mother."