🌷 "We're Greek, Percy. We're all born with tragedy in our blood."
The only thing Daphne could ever be sure of was that she was not meant to be alive. Whatever you wanted to call it - a gut feeling or just some serious anxiety, she couldn't shake th...
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chapter VII
🫧 Percy was used to anger.
He was more used to it than anything else, he knew that for a fact. He knew that he probably felt it too much for a kid with the amount of issues he had, but it's not like it was a switch in his mind he could just turn off. He was used to anger because he was used to dealing with bullies and putting up with people laughing at him as he tried to do something which should've come naturally.
But no share of anger he'd ever directed at bullies like Smelly Gabe, Clarisse or Nancy Bobofit could compare to how angry he felt at Ares. He hated being tricked and laughed at almost more than he hated being outwardly punched. It messed with his head.
The war god was waiting for them in the diner parking lot. "Well, well," he grinned, mirth twinkling in his eyes. "You didn't get yourself killed."
"You knew it was a trap," Even just looking at Ares made his blood boil.
Ares gave him a wicked grin. "Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids. You looked good on TV."
He shoved his shield at him. "You're a jerk."
Daphne, Annabeth and Grover all caught their breath simultaneously.
Ares 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."
The eighteen-wheeler had a sign on the back: KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS.
"You're kidding." Percy deadpanned.
Ares snapped his fingers. The back door of the truck unlatched. "Free ride west, punk. 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 him.
Daphne peeked over his shoulder as he unzipped it. Inside were fresh clothes for all of them, twenty bucks in cash, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of Double Stuf Oreos. Yummy.
