𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑒¹

𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑑𝑒

‧̍̊˙· 𓆝.° ｡˚𓆛˚｡ °.𓆞 ·˙‧̍̊

ASTORIA, PERCY, ANNABETH, AND Grover were not happy. Not one bit. So it was easy to imagine the fury in Percy's eyes as he saw Ares waiting for the children up ahead.

"Well, well," the war god said, "you made it alive."

"You knew it was a trap," Percy seethed. In response, he received a wicked grin. Something about it made Astoria want to pounce on someone and start a fight. Hands were rated 'E for everyone.'

"Bet that crippled black-smith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids. You looked good on TV."

Percy shoved the shield into Ares' chest. "You're a jerk," he spat.

"That's too nice to call him that," Astoria shook her head. "Something like dickwad would be more accurate."

The girl could've sworn that the fire in Ares' eyes burned furiously brighter. Annabeth and Grover held their breath. Would Astoria and Percy be punished?

Instead, Ares just grabbed the shield and spun it in the air like pizza dough. It changed form, melting into a bulletproof vest. He slung it across his back.

"See that truck over there?" He pointed to an eighteen-wheeler parked across the street from the diner. "That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas."

"Oh boy," Astoria sighed. She saw the horrible, and illegal, animal transportation not too far from where she and her friends were.

"You're kidding," Percy gaped.

"I wish," Astoria commented.

"There's no way the ride is safe," Annabeth sputtered.

"The poor animals..." Grover's eyes sympathized with the creatures stuck inside.

Ares snapped his fingers. The back door of the truck unlatched. "Free ride west, punks. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job."

He slung a blue nylon backpack off his handlebars and tossed it to Percy. In wonder, the preteen examined the bag. Inside were fresh clothes for everyone, twenty bucks in cash, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of Double Stuf Oreos.

Even with all the resources, Percy held a look of disdain. "I don't want your lousy-"

"Thank you for the gift." Astoria swiped the bag and eyed Percy warily. "We'll use it well." When she looked directly towards the god in front of her, the negative emotions began bubbling up inside her again. Hastily, she looked away.

"You owe me one more thing," Percy told Ares, trying to keep his voice level. "You promised me information about my mother."

"You sure you can handle the news?" He kick-started his motorcycle. "She's not dead."

"What do you mean?" In complete and utter shock, he shifted his head towards Astoria. Not only him, but Annabeth and Grover as well.

"I mean she was taken away from the Minotaur before she could die. She was turned into a shower of gold, right? That's metamorphosis. Not death. She's being kept," Ares answered leisurely. "Isn't that right, sunshine?"

Astoria cringed at the nickname. He and Clarisse are definitely related. "...right."

"Kept. Why?" Rather than asking just Ares, the poor sea god's son expected an explanation more so from Astoria.

"You need to study war, punk. Hostages. You take somebody to control somebody else."

"Nobody's controlling me."