The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

VII: I scream at a God

"You ready?" Lightning Boy called over to us as we came back into eye-shot.

"Yeah!" I grinned, forcing down a slight sense of panic at what Piper had told me. We both went over to the horses and boys, and I swung up behind Jason, holding his shoulders for support and Piper climbed onto Blackjack behind Percy.

The wind spirit went cantering down the road while Blackjack was soaring overhead. Thank the Gods there were no cars.

Okay, I love running and I usually run faster than this, but sweet Hades was it terrifying riding Tempest! Dove's comment on thinking he's gonna evaporate didn't help me either and I was so glad Lightning Boy didn't take the spirit to the skies because Zeus sure as hell would have blasted me away.

I wrapped my arms around his torso and buried my face in his back, between his shoulder blades, and resisted the urge to scream. It felt like I was totally out of control riding this horse!

Thankfully, we arrived at the thirty-two-mile marker within no time and I could get off, but I could tell that neither Blackjack (who had landed) or Tempest, who was pawing the tarmac looked pleased at stopping so soon after having just found their stride. I know how that feels. It's beyond frustrating.

The pegasi whined. "You're right." Seaweed Brain agreed as I hopped off. "No sign of the wine dude."

"I beg your pardon?" Questioned a very offended voice from the fields.

Tempest turned so quickly, he almost headbutted me! Lightning Boy reached down and pulled me by the shoulder to be back in line with him.

The wheat parted and then a man I recognised stepped into view: he wore a wide-brimmed hat wreathed in grapevines, a purple short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts and Birkenstocks with white socks (not a good fashion statement). He looked around thirty, with a slight potbelly.

"Did someone just call me the wine dude?" He demanded with a lazy drool. Yup, that's Mr D. "It's Bacchus, please. Or Mr Bacchus. Or Lord Bacchus. Or, sometimes, Oh-My-Gods-Please-Don't-Kill-Me, Lord Bacchus."

Okay... well... I'm still gonna call him Mr D... hope that's alright.

Percy urged Blackjack forwards, though the doughnut-obsessed horse didn't seem too keen on that idea.

"You look different." I noted, making to take a step closer, but Jason kept his hand on my shoulder as if to say don't you dare get yourself killed. "Skinnier. Your hair is longer and your shirt isn't so loud."

The God squinted down at me. "What in the blazes are you talking about? Who are you and where is Ceres?"

"Uh... what series?" Percy wondered and Piper, still behind him, looked like she wanted to smack him and me upside our heads.

"I think he means Ceres." Lightning Boy explained, being reasonable for once, or twice, if you count the time with Terminus, the exploding statue. "The goddess of agriculture. You'd call her Demeter." He nodded respectfully to the God. "Lord Bacchus, do you remember me? I helped you with the missing leopard in Sonoma."

The God scratched his stubbly chin, clearly thinking on it. "Ah, yes... no... yes! John Green!"

"Jason Grace."

"Whatever." He waved his hand dismissively. "Did Ceres send you, then?"

"No, Lord Bacchus." How does he have so much patients for this guy, but less for me?! "Were you expecting to meet her here?"

Mr D snorted. "Well, I didn't come to Kansas to party, my boy. Ceres asked me here for a council of war. What with Gia rising, the crops are withering. Droughts are spreading. The karpoi are in revolt. Even my grapes aren't safe. Ceres wanted a united front in the plant war."