'River Anise was like the morning sun. Her rays were gentle and calm, accompanied by a light breeze. Her light painted the skies with a beautiful array of colors that Percy thought no painter could ever truly capture.'
-
(Percy Jackson)
(The Lightn...
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chapter thirteen: perseus reigns victorious
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River was shivering by the time the Coast Guard boat had came and picked them up. She was pulling at the fabric of her clothes, trying to get them off her skin as it was starting to become a sensory nightmare.
Once they reached dry land, the group stumbled onto the beach, watching as the city burned against the sunrise.
"I don't believe it. We went all that way-"
Percy cut her off, "It was a trick. A strategy worthy of Athena."
"Hey," Annabeth warned.
"You get it, don't you?"
Annabeth looked away, "Yeah. I get it."
"I get it," River piped in.
"Well I don't!" Grover complained, "Would somebody-"
"Percy, I'm sorry about your mother."
Percy winced and River noticed the way he blinked a little harder to get rid of the water in his eyes. She reached forward, grabbing the sleeve of his shirt despite the chill that threatened to go up her spine from the feeling of wet fabric. She wished she could take away the sadness of her friend. She hated to see people she cared about hurt.
"Percy..." River's voice trailed off when she noticed the way he forced himself to relax and move on.
"The prophecy was right. 'You shall go west and face the god who has turned.' But it wasn't Hades. Hades didn't want war among the Big Three. Someone else pulled off the theft. Someone stole Zeus' master bolt, and Hades' helm, and framed me because I'm Poseidon's kid. Poseidon will get blamed by both sides. By sundown today, there will be a three-way war. And I'll have caused it."
River dropped her hand when she realized what he was saying. There was only one other god they had met on their journey. But the only thing she could think about was Clarisse. She would be upset. For her sake, River didn't want it to be true.
"But who would be that sneaky? Who would want war that bad?" Grover wondered.
Percy stopped in his tracks, "Gee, let me think."
"Ares. The God of War," River breathed out, seeing the deity waiting for them with his motorcycle.
"Hey, kid," Ares smirked, seeming genuinely pleased, "You were supposed to die."
"You tricked me. You stole the helm and the master bolt," Percy accused.
Ares shrugged, "Well, now, I didn't steal them personally. Gods taking each other's symbols of power--that's a big no no. But you're not the only hero in the world who can run errands."
