Chapter Thirteen:
"I don’t trust them at all," Demeter paced back and forth in front of Persephone.
"They’re cruel and vicious, and they’ve already threatened to bring down Olympus once before. How can you let them wander around in my garden?"
Persephone rolled her eyes in response and undid her braid, only to weave it again.
"I trust Adonis on this matter, mother. We’ve already talked about this a million times! If Ares and his little half-blood find us here, they won’t be able to defeat us. I didn’t like the idea either, but I promised Adonis that if he kidnaps Aphrodite, I would provide him with whatever protection he wanted." Her tone was bored, yet tinged with anger, as if this wasn’t the first time they’d had this discussion.
"I just don’t know if we made the right choice, sweetheart. You know I only want what’s best for you, but if Zeus finds out? If the gods discover we were involved?" Demeter stopped her pacing and stood upright in front of Persephone.
"They won’t find out. Ugh, you’re always so paranoid!" Persephone stood up in defiance. "Adonis said he’d take all the blame if something goes wrong, so stop ruining everything all the time! Have you forgotten whose fault it is that I’m stuck in the Underworld for half the year? It’s all because of her. So if Aphrodite is so scared of the rise of the virgin goddesses on Olympus that it drives her to plan a kidnapping, she shouldn’t be surprised when revenge comes her way. Besides, Adonis keeps her company all day long. Spoiled." Persephone’s eyes narrowed in anger and hatred. She tossed her hair back and brushed imaginary dust off her dress.
"Ares and his little pet demigod can keep searching for us, but even if they find us, they won’t come out of it so easily. Let’s get ready, mother. Midsummer and the council of the gods are tomorrow, in case you forgot, and after that, someone’s going to have to find a replacement for Love." She giggled at the thought and exited the marble structure they were staying in.
Demeter looked at her beloved daughter and sighed in surrender, following her out.
***
“They’re going to pay for this.” Ares was so furious that his hands crackled with red, electric energy.
“Calm down. Losing your temper won’t help us.” Percy yanked the god back by his black shirt.
The two of them were hidden behind a line of tall vegetation, rocks, and trees. In front of them, a massive marble wall rose high, with a giant golden gate at its center.
“Jackson, you’re being disrespectful. Do you even know who you’re dealing with?”
“A brainless, hot-headed god?”
“You’re provoking me.”
“Nice of you to notice.”
Ares grabbed Percy by the ear and yanked him down forcefully.
“Owww! Okay, okay! I was just joking!” Percy shoved him away.
“Now’s not the time for your jokes, loser. These are the Gigantes’ sons, and not just any Gigantes. These guys are the sons of the same ones who threatened Olympus back in the Titan War centuries ago.” Ares gestured back toward the golden gate and the two giant creatures guarding it.
The truth was, when Percy saw how Ares reacted to the monsters, he tried to diffuse some of the tension and fear but failed miserably. Ares was worried, which could only mean one thing.
Things were bad. Really bad.
In front of the enormous gate stood two monsters, each roughly the same height as the gate itself. From the waist up, they looked like muscular, naked men, their exposed torsos rippling with muscles from their abs up to their broad shoulders.
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War Within the Depths (PercAres)
Fanfiction*New chapter every Wednesday *Author's note after the summary Percy is in love, and Ares is the last god he wanted to know about it. But when the target of Percy's affection ignores his feelings, that's all he can think about. Percy has no time to...
