The Daughter of War

Chapter Six

*Miley's POV*

We get off the bus at the first location of the pearls and look around at all the statues. Grover nudges me, "This place definitely needs an extreme makeover." I nod, having a bad feeling about most of the Ancient Greek sculptures. We walk in and look around the front part. "Hello!" Percy calls out. Grover and I keep walking forward and Grover puts on an accent, "Hello? Anyone home in Auntie-ville?" I snicker and walk over to a chest cooler, "Hey, check this out! Complimentary sodas." I open the lid to find multiple rats. "Ahh!" Grover and I scream together as Annabeth jumps back, looking horrified. "Okay. That's nasty. The health department needs to give this place an F." Grover said, looking disgusted.

Annabeth walks over to the side, "Hey guys, check this out." Percy and I look at each other and follow her as Grover follows her in front of us. Annabeth stops in front of a fountain, raises her sleeve, and picks up some gold drachmas. I play with them in her hand, "Gold drachmas." Grover smiles, "That means we're on the right track." 

Annabeth hands Percy the drachmas, "Here. How are we supposed to find a Pearl in this place?" Grover nods, "That's a good question." Percy sighs deeply, "Okay. Let's split up. Check everything." I mockingly salute Percy as we all head in different directions. 

I walk around, almost feeling like I'm in a maze, but one statue catches my eye. I walk close, squinting at it, confused about why it looks so much like my mother. 

Flashback - Ten-year-old Miley.

I open a letter that Chiron handed me. "Your mother asked me to give it to you." I sneered, not really wanting anything to do with my mother after she treated me like trash, but I opened it anyway. 'Dear Miley, I understand you are very angry with me, but you have to understand that I needed you to run away. I knew who your father was and monsters would come after you. I couldn't provide that protection that Camp Half-Blood can. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I feel guilty every day for treating you like that. I just needed you to hate me so you would be safe. I'm heading to Auntie Em's Garden Emporium to pick up a statue for my garden. I'll write you another letter when I get back home. I'm not expecting you to forgive me, just please understand. With Love, Your Mommy.' I sobbed into Luke's shoulder as he read the letter for himself. He knew what I went through, but to hear that she did it to protect me, I felt so upset at myself for hating her and not knowing the reason. 

I waited for a letter for almost a month, but nothing came. I left camp to go back home to see my mom and when I arrived, no one was home. Almost like she disappeared and never came back. I never knew what happened to my mother.

Present Day

I paled and stepped back. This statue didn't just look like my mom, she is my mom! That means we are in Medusa's lair. "Grover! Percy! Annabeth!" I started sprinting around trying to find them. "Miles!" I heard Grover. I suddenly hit something and was knocked down onto my back, gasping for air. I groaned as I sat up, seeing that I slammed into Grover and Percy. 

"Come on man. Watch where you're going," Percy groans as he lectures Grover. I stand up quickly and help Grover up, "Grover, my mother. She's here." Grover nods, "My Uncle Ferdinand too. Percy!" We both help Percy up as Percy grumbles and Grover tries to get his attention, "Perce! Listen!" 

I grab Percy's shoulders, "We're in Medusa's lair, Jackson." Percy looks around in a panic, "Annabeth!" We run off to find her and as we turn a corner, I yanked the boys back, seeing Medusa. 

"Galileo," I whispered in fear for her, knowing that Medusa was still angry about what Athena did to her. "Okay, now, how are we supposed to fight something we can't look at?" Grover asked, then they both look at me. "What?" I said frowning. 

Percy smiles, "You're the daughter of Ares, while Athena is the battle strategy expert, you have a level head. What's the plan?" I grin, "Percy, she was involved with your father, she'll go after you because of it and monsters think you have the lightning bolt. Distract her while Bermuda and I help Galileo. Just look at her reflection and don't get turned to stone. Be safe." 

Grover looks impressed, "Pretty good. Let's do it." Grover and I snuck around to wait until Percy got Medusa to get away from Annabeth. Percy ran off with Medusa right behind him and Grover and I quietly ran over to Annabeth.

Annabeth yelped as Grover set a hand on her shoulder and Grover grinned, "Need a hand?" Annabeth sighed in relief as she looked at both of us, "Oh, Grover. Leia." Grover used one of his crutches to cut off the statue's hand stuck to Annabeth's wrist. "Thank you, guys. Now let's help Percy." 

We ran outside to look around to see if we could use anything to help Percy defeat Medusa. "Miley Aetos!" We all stopped and turned around to see a man in his early thirties. I smiled and looked back at Annabeth and Grover, "Go help Jackson. I have someone to meet up with." Annabeth smiled and nodded, "Say hi for us." I nodded and walked over to him, "Hello Father." 

My father, Ares, smiled and hugged me, "I know I shouldn't be meeting up with you, but Hera convinced me to do so. For some reason, she likes you more than the other demigods." I smiled and then frowned, "Dad. So much has happened. I found Mom finally. Medusa killed her. The trio is dealing with her now. But, I'm engaged!" Dad smiled and laughed, "I thought that Castellan would never do it! Everyone was rooting for you two. Aphrodite was always gushing over you two and how perfect you two were." 

I smiled sadly, "Luke is still angry with Hermes." Ares sighed, "I know. It's unfortunate, but thankfully he doesn't hate you for having a slightly better relationship with me." I nodded, "He's understanding. I love that about him, but Dad you need to pay attention to my half-siblings." 

Ares smiled, "I was just about to do that after we got done. The gift I have is extremely helpful and Hera actually told me to give this to you from her," Ares gave me a pearl, "It's a replica of Persephone's, I'm not sure how mom got it, but this way you can get home without the rest of them worrying about it. You guys still have one missing pearl, but I know you guys can find a solution. And this is a wedding gift from Aphrodite." 

I oped the box that he handed me and blushed hard, closing it quickly, "Oh my god!" Ares snickers and snapped his fingers, making the box disappear, "I'll send it to your room." I finally giggled and we both looked off to the side to see Annabeth and Grover drive a truck through the wall. I sighed, "Well it looks like I have to go. Have fun with the Brady Bunch dad. Be safe." 

Ares kissed my forehead and smiled, "Be safe, Miley. Please find the bolt and bring it to Olympus before the summer solstice. I believe in you guys." With that, dad disappeared.