Blind Sun

Chapter 11 Dark Ride to Vegas

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The war god was waiting for us in the diner parking lot. Percy decided to take the lead, I like Ares less now. Part of my clothing was still wet and I didn't want to bother Iona with it. Also I discovered that a spider managed to bite my walking stick which damaged it.

"Well, well," he said. "You didn’t get yourself killed."

"You knew it was a trap," Percy said.

Ares gave a wicked grin. "Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a blind kid. You looked good on TV."

Percy shoved his shield at him. "You’re a jerk."

Annabeth and Grover caught their breath.While I hid myself behind Iona.

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

"See that truck over there?" He asked and I resisted the urge to say no. "That’s your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas."

Percy said, "You’re kidding."

Ares snapped his fingers and I heard something unlatch. "Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here’s a little something for doing the job."

"I don’t want your lousy –" Percy got cut off by Grover.

"Thank you, Lord Ares," Grover interrupted. "Thanks a lot."

"You said you'd tell me and Percy something." I meekly said from behind Iona.

Unknown to me back at the diner, which had only a couple of customers now. The waitress who’d served us dinner was watching nervously out the window, like she was afraid Ares might hurt us. She dragged the cook out from the kitchen to see. She said something to him. He nodded, held up a little disposable camera and snapped a picture of us.

"You sure you two can handle the news?" He kick-started his motorcycle. "One isn't dead, and the spirit of the other ain't passed on just yet."

The ground seemed to spin beneath me. "What do you mean?"

"I mean one 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 and the other being kept."

"Kept. Why?" Percy asked.

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

"Nobody’s controlling me."

He laughed. "Oh yeah? See you around, kid."

"You’re pretty smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues." Percy said his tone clearly telling me he didn't like Ares.

The fire glowed. I felt a hot wind in my hair. "We’ll meet again, Percy Jackson. Next time you’re in a fight, watch your back."

He revved his Harley, then roared off down Delancy Street.

Annabeth said, "That was not smart, Percy."

"I don’t care."

"You don’t want a god as your enemy. Especially not that god."

"Hey, guys," Grover said. "I hate to interrupt, but…"

I didn't know what he was referring to, probably pointing at something. I wasn't really paying attention. Ares said Mama's soul was being kept... does that mean-