The Heroes Of Olympus

Chapter 24

Lights. By lights, he meant like really awesome lights. Lights of all colors dazzled from the roof. And not those irritating, too bright disco lights. These were real lights. Golden, silver, white and all colors of the rainbow. It looked like the inside of a beautiful kaleidoscope.

Annabeth felt really proud. After all, this had been her work. Athena looked at her. And, she knew that her mother was finally admiring something done by her. Oh, so this is what satisfied feels like, she thought.

Frank's stomach was rumbling. 'When are we getting the dinner?' It sounded rather rude, but he was feeling very hungry.

'Yes, son. Now, we are going to have the dinner.' Ares said.

Zeus clicked his fingers and said 'Voila!'

'Woah' was all everyone managed to say. Right before their eyes, on the table, food appeared. All kinds of cuisine lay on it.

There were sizzlers, barbeques, stew, pies, (Mince pie, especially, since it was Apollo's favorite) breads, sandwiches, burgers, subs, pastas, bagels, tacos, burritos, sushi, pizzas, beans and basically, every edible thing you can think of.

'We'll start with the appetizers. We shall call the chef to list the main appetizers and snacks. We have vegetarian and non- vegetarian.'

As soon as Ares said this, an Asian woman stood in front of them, who apparently was the chef. She started speaking like a robot.

'Good evening, in today's appetizer's list, we have: Crab cakes with radish cream, Caramelized onion dips, eggs with ham, fish fingers, Caesar salad spears, spinach dips with spiced Pita chips, canapés, fried pickles with mayonnaise, potato wedges, nachos with dip, cucumber tea sandwiches, jalapeño cream cheese platter, party roll-ups, boiled peanuts and fried mushrooms. These are the main snacks. Other than that, you can try whatever you want.'

'Just the main! We have thousands more.' Zeus said excitedly. Hera grinned. Her husband loved to show- off and she loved him for that.

'Yes.' Aria said expressionless. 'Just name whatever you want and it will appear in your plate.'

'Thank you, Aria, you may go now.' Aphrodite said. Aria bowed and went away.

'So, what are we waiting for?' Hephaestus said licking his lips. 'Let's start.' He had been quiet for a long time. It seemed to Leo that he was more interested in the food than he was in the demigods.

Everyone started mumbling, ordering food in their plates. Nobody said anything for a long while except for the food names.

'Well?' asked Zeus. 'No compliments for the chef?'

'This food...' Percy began.

'Is amazing.' Thalia completed.

'Delicious,' Rachel commented, her mouth full.

'Awesome!' Jason said.

'Very well,' Zeus said, 'but, don't get your stomachs full already. We are left with the main course. Aria!'

Aria appeared immediately.

'What is main in the main course?'

'In the main course, we have: Seared cod with garlic sauce, Turkey sausage, mushroom baguette pizza, Steak fajitas, Bronx house pie, Citrus herb turkey and gravy, Lamb chops with grape sauce, mini meatloaves with chili sauce, American chop suey, chicken with olives, vegetarian mushroom tacos, cheese burgers, Tortillas, Pasta, Crawfish boil, salmon, Penne rigate with smoked salmon, shrimp scampi and parsley potatoes.'

'Great. You may go' Zeus said.

'Did she prepare all of this by herself?' Clarisse asked. And everyone gave her the stop-being-stupid-for-god's-sake-you-are-in-Olympus-anything-can-happen-here look. That shut her up.