𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

23

They landed in Kansas in the early morning. All the demigods had gathered up on the deck. Hadrian tried to act awake and alert, but he could see even Percy was having trouble hiding his lack of sleep.

Last night felt like a dream, there was no way that had been real.

Annabeth (rather rudely) interrupted his thoughts, "We're here now, what's the plan?"

"I want to check out the highway," Hadrian said, stealing the donut from her. In two bites he had finished it and smiled at her when she frowned. "Find the sign that says Topeka 32."

Leo spun his Wii controller in a circle, and the sails lowered themselves. "We shouldn't be far," he said. "Festus and I calculated the landing as best we could. What do you expect to find at the mile marker?"

Hadrian explained what he'd seen in his dream—the man in purple with a goblet. He kept quiet about the other images, though, like the vision of Percy, Jason, and himself drowning. He wasn't sure what it meant, anyway; and everyone seemed in such better spirits this morning, he didn't want to ruin the mood.

"Purple shirt?" Jason asked. "Vines on his hat? Sounds like Bacchus."

"Dionysus," Percy muttered. "If we came all the way to Kansas to see Mr. D—"

"Bacchus isn't so bad," Jason said. "I don't like his followers much...."

Leo and Jason shuddered. There seemed to be some backstory that they failed to provide.

"But the god himself is okay," Jason continued. "I did him a favor once up in the wine country."

Percy looked appalled. "Whatever, man. Maybe he's better on the Roman side. But why would he be hanging around in Kansas? Didn't Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals?"

Frank grunted. The big guy was wearing a blue tracksuit this morning, like he was ready to go for a jog in the sunflowers. There was another person that had pissed Hadrian off with his stupid questions and pointing out whenever Hadrian's hair colour changed.

"The gods haven't been very good at following that order," he noted. "Besides, if the gods have gone schizophrenic like Hazel said—"

"And Leo said," added Leo.

Frank scowled at him. "Then who knows what's going on with the Olympians? Could be some pretty bad stuff out there."

"Sounds dangerous!" Leo agreed cheerfully. "Well... you guys have fun. I've got to finish repairs on the hull. Coach Hedge is gonna work on the broken crossbows. And, Annabeth of course. I was thinking we should work on the engine, I have a few new ideas about how we can touch it up-"

Annabeth looked apologetically at Percy. "He's right. I should stay and help."

"I'll come back to you." He flashed her a smile.

Hadrian winked at Percy when he caught his eye. Ask her out. He mouthed to the boy. Percy just snorted and shook his head.

Frank slid his bow off his shoulder and propped it against the rail. Hadrian frowned at it and slung off his own bow, pulling at the string.

He looked at Frank. "Can I?" He gestured to the bow.

Frank seemed hesitant but gave in.

Hadrian handed his own bow over to Frank and took his. It was pretty standard, nice grip, the wood was supple, flexible but strong. Even the string was well maintained.

Percy watched Hadrian's fingers glide over the bow. His mind kept going back to last night. His eyes were half closed and he was tempted to down some coffee even if coffee usually made him sleepier.

"Nice bow" Hadrian complimented, "Do you polish it yourself?"

"Yeah" Again, Frank seemed hesitant to interact with Hadrian.

"Cool"

"Yours is nice too" Frank offered, "It's a bit too... flexible isn't it?"

"Nah, it's specially made. Apollo gifted it to me" Hadrian shrugged, "What about your arrows?"

Frank slung off his quiver. His eyes bulged as he stared, "Apollo- like the god, gave you the bow?"

Hadrian tucked his lips in and nodded. That never failed to get a few reactions. He took Frank's quiver and examined the arrows.

"Holy shit man, the wood?"

Percy snorted and Hadrian glared at him. "I mean the shaft- er. Yeah I'm not making it better. The arrow shaft is seriously high quality."

"Thanks... I like how weightless your bow seems" Frank offered.

From there it was just them exchanging bow compliments that no one else really understood. Frank seemed to be warming up to Hadrian, but then Hazel cleared her throat.

"Oh yeah," Frank looked around sheepishly, "I think I should turn into a crow or something and fly around, keep an eye out for Roman eagles."

"Why a crow?" Leo asked. "Man, if you can turn into a dragon, why don't you just turn into a dragon every time? That's the coolest."

Frank's face looked like it was being infused with cranberry juice. "That's like asking why you don't bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because it's hard, and you'd hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isn't easy."

"Oh." Leo nodded. "I wouldn't know. I don't lift weights."

"Yeah. Well, maybe you should consider it, Mr.—"

Hazel stepped between them.

"I'll help you, Frank," she said, shooting Leo an evil look. "I can summon Arion and scout around below."

"Sure," Frank said, still glaring at Leo. "Yeah, thanks."

Hadrian wondered what was going on with those three. The boys showing off for Hazel and razzing each other—that he understood. But it almost seemed like Hazel and Leo had a history. So far as he knew, they'd met for the first time just yesterday. He wondered if something else had happened on their trip to the Great Salt Lake—something they hadn't mentioned.

Hazel turned to Percy. "Just be careful when you go out there. Lots of fields, lots of crops. Could be karpoi on the loose."

"I hate those guys" Hadrian scowled.

"Grain spirits," He nodded at Leo who looked confused. "You don't want to meet them."

"That leaves three of us to check on the mile marker," Percy said. "Me, Jason, Hadrian. I'm not psyched about seeing Mr. D again. That guy is a pain. But, Jason, if you're on better terms with him—"

"Yeah," Jason said. "If we find him, I'll talk to him. Hads, it's your vision. You should take the lead."

It was like being continuously bombarded with a sense of Deja vu. Why did everyone suddenly adopt his nickname?

"Of course," he said, trying to sound upbeat. "Let's find the highway."

Hadrian trying to set up Percabeth 😐 as if we don't know whom he's going to end up with. Like okay 👍 live in delusion bbg