wrath - percy jackson

26

Perseus leaned down next to Maya's ear, the loud music still booming in the background. "Why did you act like we were together? I'd know that look in your eyes anywhere." They slipped behind the VIP section's yellow curtain.

Maya smirked and looked up at him, leaning against a nearby table. "Well, we can't have her going around spreading word you're back on the market, can we? Not when we're waiting for you and Luke to get together." Perseus flushed for the first time in weeks. He shook his head nad flung it back while he was laughing. He loosened the tie around his neck slightly, pulling it down.

"I don't think that's going to happen any time soon, Maya. It's not like he likes me back." The son of Poseidon said casually trying to keep himself from sounding dejected, forcing a smile on his face. Sadly for him, it didn't reach his eyes. The daughter of Aphrodite raised her eyebrow, challenging his statement.

"So, you admit to liking him?" She questioned as they walked closer to the more, lively area of the VIP section. The room was glamorous, it had a solid theme of gold and black. The walls were void of colour, black as Erebus' soul. The top of the walls were outlined in a glimmering gold, the same went for the chairs and tables. The place was packed with sinful, old men that looked like they were enjoying themselves, not once sparing a glance at the two youths casually walking through the room. Perseus and Maya both absorbed all the sin in the room subconsciously, boosting their energy.

"Even if I did, nothing's going to happen, and you know it. He's not gay, bi or anything like that. That stupidly handsome son of Hermes is straight as a ruler, there's no denying it Maya. I'll just admire from afar, it's the best I can do." Perseus smiled convincingly as he ran a hand through his untameable mop of black hair, but he wasn't fooling anyone. The tone he used, it was flat, like he was trying to convince himself more than Maya. The girl just shook her head.

"Just wait until you realise what kind of surprise love has in store for you, then. That's not just coming from me as the daughter of Aphrodite and the Lust Sin, it's coming from me as your friend." The blonde said softly, pressing her palm against the black door in front of them. Perseus could do nothing but sigh and nod. Maya pushed the door gently and it creaked open. Instantly putting their facades on, the pair walked through the door with an air of confidence and power.

There were three men gambling at the poker table, completely entranced in winning the game that they didn't notice the two youths walk into the room before Perseus spoke. "Do you mind if we join you, gentlemen?"

The men stood up abruptly, taking out their guns and pointing them threateningly to the youths. "Who are you?" The old white man demanded as he scowled at them, his thick New York accent powering through. He looked like Winston Churchill, but he actually had hair.

Perseus raised his hands to show he was unarmed and shook his head gently, a devilish smirk on his lips. Maya just crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow, amused. "It's not very nice to point a gun at children, is it gentlemen?"

"You're hardly children if you're here." An asian man called out from behind wannabe Churchill, his voice deep and gruff.

The son of Poseidon raised his eyebrow. "Do you treat your children the same way you're treating us, Joshua Lee?" This time it was Maya who spoke, her voice alluring and smooth, yet her words dripped with an unknown bitterness. The asian man made an unintelligible sound as he pulled the trigger accidentally, the unsilenced gun made a loud recoil sound as the bullet shot through the air, heading straight for Perseus' neck. Time slowed down as the bullet edged closer to his neck, he glanced at Maya quickly and saw her eyes flicker with a look of panic. He moved one step to his right, dodging the bullet expertly as time resumed normally. The bullet ingrained itself in the club/casino's smooth, black wall. 

The men's eyes widened considerably, one of them stumbling back out of shock. Perseus smirked, an insane look in his now bright, red eyes. "You're a brilliant shot, Mr. Lee. I take it no one's dodged your bullet before?" Maya grinned insanely, mirroring Perseus' look. The pair pulled up two spare chairs from the side of the room and made themselves comfortable at the table. 

"Let's start the game again, yes?" The asian man said after a while, gathering himself and sat down, followed by a flabbergasted Walmart Churchill.

"Now you're talking, Lee." Perseus said, the amused yet insane look in his eye never wavering. 

~ ~ ~

Perseus won the game with a grin, cashing in his tokens for some solid cash. Maya rolled her eyes at his eagerness but smiled fondly at the person she looked up to as an older brother. 

One of the men spoke up, this time it was a Bulgarian looking man who seemed like he had been birthed from stone, considering how stiff he was. "I assume you're not just here to steal my usual win." 

Perseus yawned unprofessionally, tears prickling at the corner of his eyes. Maya starts to dig into her uniform pocket, searching for a specific piece of jewellery. Her fingers grazed over a smooth stone and she grasped its chain, hastily bringing it out. In her hand was one of the world's most renowned modern pieces of jewellery, the 'Red Scarlet', made by famous James Curren and was auctioned in Hong Kong the previous November of 2012. It was stolen by Asparuh Dimitrov, the Bulgarian man who had just indirectly asked them about their intentions. 

The Bulgarian man's eyes widened, staring in shock at the Red Scarlet that he had put in his safety deposit box in the Goldman Sachs vault. Joshua Lee and knock off Churchill looked at him in curiosity. "I caught wind of what happened early this morning. Incredibly impressive. But I ask you kindly return the Red Scarlet to my hand." 

Knockoff Churchill, who had no clue what was going on, decided to rudely interrupt negotiations. "Hey, hey! What's going on here?!" Joshua Lee shook his head.

Maya ignored him. "Just this once, as an act of charity, we'll return the piece of jewellery for a simple fee. Don't let anyone take credit for our achievements, if we hear that you fools have taken our credit, or anyone connected to you, your life will be as hellish as the lives of your victims." Dimitrov scoffed.

"You be excellent in theft, but I am quite sure that you stand no match for my men. You are no one man army." His Bulgarian accent powering through quite threateningly. Maya laughed and nudged Perseus in the side.

"Do you hear this shit, dude?" The daughter of Aphrodite laughed humourlessly. "You're quite sure yeah? But you're nothing without your men, what's stopping me from putting an end to your life now?" Perseus growled at her in warning, but she brushed it off when she felt the addicting feeling of adrenaline rush through her veins. The son of Poseidon understood that she could have just enchanted these men to do her bidding but she didn't always want to rely on petty charms, but her reckless decisions might put the entire introduction at risk.

"I would like to see you try." Dimitrov sneered as he stood up, smirking smugly. Maya accepted the challenge and rose to her feet, a sinister smile on her face. She was about to blow him to smithereens when her body froze up. Her face exploded into panic.

"One more move out of line, Maya... We didn't come here to make enemies, daughter of Aphrodite." Perseus' flat voice rang through her ears as her body stiffened like a stick. The son of Poseidon let her go and her body visibly relaxed. That was the day Maya decided that the addicting feeling of adrenaline wasn't worth losing Perseus' trust, not after everything he's done for her. If there was one thing she cared about, it was making sure she didn't disappoint the people she cared about.