𝐃𝐄𝐉𝐀 𝐕𝐔 • Percy Jackson.

III - 06

act III━━━━
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗

   

❝ I really hate big cats.  ❞

        WITNESSING THE WINE GOD BEFORE HIM, he felt a little uneasy despite the ever so familiarity he disdained. "Really, what's with you heroes and leaving without permission?"  Amani shrugged, though it was a little hard when he was being held down by grape Vines. "Mr. D, you mind loosening the vines? It's a little–" He took a breath. The vines tightened even more he was worried he'd pop like a balloon if he was squeezed a little more.

"Mr D." Percy's voice gave the feeling of calm, but it fluctuated when he spoke revealing his inner annoyance. "What do you want?" He asked and Mr D smiled, mockingly. "Oh, what do I want? You thought, perhaps, that the immortal, all-powerful director of camp would not notice you leaving without permission?"

"Well… maybe."

"I should throw you off this building, minus the flying horse, and see how heroic you sound on the way down." Amani stayed silent, he wasn't as powerful as Percy, and he knew he couldn't stand up against the god. Not as someone with no known father that at best could see a distant unchangeable future.

"I have to go on this quest! I’ve got to help my friends. That’s something you wouldn’t understand!"
The grapevines coiled tighter around them. Amani took a sharp breath, giving a side-glance at Percy, as if to warn him.

"Did I ever tell you about Ariadne?" Mr D asked. "Beautiful young princess of Crete? She liked helping her friends, too. In fact, she helped a young hero named Theseus, also a son of Poseidon. She gave him a ball of magical thread that let him find his way out of the Labyrinth. And do you know how Theseus rewarded her?"

"They got married," Percy replied. "Happily ever after. The end." Mr D sneered. "Not quite. Theseus said he would marry her. He took her aboard his ship and sailed for Athens. Halfway back, on a little island called Naxos, he – what’s the word you mortals use today? – he dumped her. I found her there, you know. Alone. Heartbroken. Crying her eyes out. She had given up everything, left everything she knew behind, to help a dashing young hero who tossed her away like a broken sandal."

"That’s wrong," Percy said. "But that was thousands of years ago. What’s that got to do with me?" Mr D regarded him coldly. "I fell in love with Ariadne, boy. I healed her broken heart. And, when she died, I made her my immortal wife in Olympus. She waits for me even now. I shall go back to her when I am done with this infernal century of punishment at your ridiculous camp." Percy and Amani's eyes met before staring at the god. Percy opened his mouth, "You’re… you’re married? But I thought you got in trouble for chasing a wood nymph –"

"My point is you heroes never change. You accuse us gods of being vain. You should look at yourselves. You take what you want, use whoever you have to, and then you betray everyone around you. So you’ll excuse me if I have no love for heroes. They are a selfish, ungrateful lot. Ask Ariadne. Or Medea. For that matter, ask Zoë Nightshade." Amani listened on, quietly, and couldn't help but wonder.

Are the gods not the same?

He waved his hand dismissively. "Go. Follow your silly friends." The vines uncurled from around their legs. Percy blinked in disbelief, "You’re… you’re letting me go? Just like that?"

"The prophecy says at least two of you will die. Perhaps I’ll get lucky and you’ll be one of them. But mark my words, Son of Poseidon, live or die, you will prove no better than the other heroes." The god sneered before glancing at Amani, "and while I don't mind if you live, the rest of them don't." And with that he snapped his fingers. His image folded up like a paper display. There was a pop and he was gone, leaving a faint scent of grapes that was quickly blown away by the wind.