Crimson Rivers [1] - Percy jackson

Chaper 9: We meet Ares and go on a date??

Then it struck me why this guy looked familiar. He had the same vicious
sneer as some of the kids at Camp Half-Blood, the ones from cabin five.
“You’re Clarisse’s dad,” Percy said. “Ares, god of war.”

Ares grinned and took off his shades. Where his eyes should’ve been, there was only fire, empty sockets glowing with miniature nuclear explosions. “That’s right, punk. I heard you broke Clarisse’s spear."

“She was asking for it.”

“Probably. That’s cool. I don’t fight my kids’ fights, you know? What I’m here for—I heard you were in town. I got a little proposition for you.”

The waitress came back with heaping trays of food—cheeseburgers, fries,
onion rings, and chocolate shakes and one mint chocolate chip.

Ares handed her a few gold drachmas. She looked nervously at the coins. “But, these aren’t…”

Ares pulled out his huge knife and started cleaning his fingernails. “Problem, sweetheart?"

The waitress swallowed, then left with the gold.n“You can’t do that,” I snap at Ares. “You can’t just threaten people with an knife."

Ares laughed. “Are you kidding? I love this country. Best place since Sparta. Don’t you carry a weapon, punk? You should. Dangerous world out there. Which brings me to my proposition. I need you and Jackson here to do me a favor.”

“What favor could we do for a god?” Percy asked

“Something a god doesn’t have time to do himself. It’s nothing much. I left my shield at an abandoned water park here in town. I was going on a little…date with my girlfriend. We were interrupted. I left my shield behind. I
want you to fetch it for me.”

“Why don’t you go back and get it yourself ?” I ask annoyed.

The fire in his eye sockets glowed a little hotter. “Why don’t I turn you into prairie dog and run you over with my Harley?
Because I don’t feel like it. A god is giving you an opportunity to prove
yourself, Syrus Prince. Will you prove yourself a coward?” He leaned
forward. “Or maybe you only fight when there’s a river to dive into, so your little boyfriend can protect you.”

I wanted to punch this guy, but somehow, I knew he was waiting for that. Ares’s power was causing my anger. He’d love it if I attacked. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. “We’re not interested,” Percy cut in We’ve already got a quest.”

Ares’s fiery eyes made me see things I didn’t want to see—blood and smoke and corpses on the battlefield. “I know all about your quest, punk. When that item was first stolen, Zeus sent his best out looking for it: Apollo, Athena, Artemis, and me, naturally. If I couldn’t sniff out a weapon thatnpowerful…” He licked his lips, as if the very thought of the master bolt made him hungry. “Well…if I couldn’t find it, you got no hope. Nevertheless, I’m trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your dad and I go way back. After all, I’m the one who told him my suspicions about old Corpse Breath."

“You told him Hades stole the bolt?” I question.

“Sure. Framing somebody to start a war. Oldest trick in the book. I recognized it immediately. In a way, you got me to thank for your little quest.”

“Thanks,” I grumbled.

“Hey, I’m a generous guy. Just do my little job, and I’ll help you on your
way. I’ll arrange a ride west for you and your friends.”

“We’re doing fine on our own.” Percy told him

“Yeah, right. No money. No wheels. No clue what you’re up against. Help me out, and maybe I’ll tell you something you need to know. Something about your mom."

“My mom?” Percy straightened up

He grinned. “That got your attention. The water park is a mile west on Delancy. You can’t miss it. Look for the Tunnel of Love ride."

“What interrupted your date?” I asked. “Something scare you off ?”

Ares bared his teeth, but I’d seen his threatening look before on Clarisse.
There was something false about it, almost like he was nervous. “You’re lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other Olympians.nThey’re not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. Maybe if your lucky I'll tell you about you and sparky heres bond. I’ll meet you back here when you’re done. Don’t disappoint me.”

After that I must have fainted, or fallen into a trance, because when I opened my eyes again, Ares was gone. I might’ve thought the conversationnhad been a dream, but Annabeth, Percy and Grover’s expressions told me otherwise.

“Not good,” Grover said. “Ares sought you out, Percy. This is not good.”

I stared out the window. The motorcycle had disappeared. Did Ares really know something about this 'bond', or was he just playing with me? Now that he was gone, all the anger had drained out of me. I realized Ares must love to mess with people’s emotions. That was his power —cranking up the passions so badly, they clouded your ability to think

“It’s probably some kind of trick,” I said. “Forget Ares. Let’s just go.”

“We can’t,” Annabeth said. “Look, I hate Ares as much as anybody, but you don’t ignore the gods unless you want serious bad fortune. He wasn’t kidding about turning you into a rodent.”

I looked down at my shake, which suddenly didn’t seem so
appetizing. “Why does he need us?”

“Maybe it’s a problem that requires brains,” Annabeth said. “Ares has
strength. That’s all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes.”

“But this water park…he acted almost scared. What would make a war
god run away like that?”

Annabeth and Grover glanced nervously at each other. But Percy was nodding seemingly agreeing with me.

Annabeth said, “I’m afraid we’ll have to find out.”

The sun was sinking behind the mountains by the time we found the water park. Judging from the sign, it once had been called WATERLAND, but now some of the letters were smashed out, so it read WAT R A D.