𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗, 𝚔𝚒𝚍 - percy jackson x oc

005

V - WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS

THEY ENTERED THE diner parking lot and found Ares waiting for them.

"Well, well. You didn't get yourself killed." The god smirked.

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

"Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids," Ares said with a grin. "You looked good on TV."

Percy practically threw the shield at him. "You're a jerk."

Maybe it was because he had not almost died, but Grover anxiously shook his head for him to stop. Valeria, however, glared at the god with the same intensity as the boy.

"I wouldn't do that, kid," the god laughed at her crossed arms and angry expression. "Wait 'til your friends find out about you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded but he only laughed.

"See that truck over there?" He pointed to a semi across the street. On the back was a sign that read, KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS.

"You're kidding," Percy said.

Ares snapped his fingers and the back door opened. "Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job."

He tossed Percy a backpack. Inside were drachmas, $20, fresh clothes, and a pack of Oreos.

"I don't want your lousy—"

"Thank you, Lord Ares," Grover cut Percy off, sending him a look. "Thanks a lot."

Percy frustratedly put the backpack on. They looked inside the diner and saw the waitress take a picture of them.

"You owe me one more thing," Percy said as calmly as possible. "You promised me information about my mother."

"You sure you can handle the news?" Ares asked, starting his motorcycle. "She's not dead."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean she 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 being kept."

"Kept." Percy frowned. "Why?"

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

"Nobody's controlling me."

Ares let out a deep laugh. "Oh yeah? See you around, kid."

"You're pretty smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues."

Ares' eye sockets burned brighter. "We'll meet again, Percy Jackson. Next time you're in a fight, watch your back."

He revved the motorcycle's engine and sped off in a cloud of dust.

"He definitely dislikes you," Valeria said to him.

"I don't care."

"Something is strange about him."

"You think?" Percy said sassily.

"That is not what I—"

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