Trials of the Gods (A Percy Jackson Series)

Chapter 2 (Apollo)

"Who are you? Tell me!" Apollo pulled the bowstring back just a little tighter. He gritted his teeth, preparing to attack the new kid. He thought of all of the ways to get out, but there weren't very many in this small alleyway.

"You couldn't tell by my," The teen flexed his non-existent muscles. "muscular physique?"

The kid had no muscular physique of any kind. He had skin the color of peach ice cream. He was very skinny and seemed younger than Apollo had thought previously; maybe 14 or 15? Although his face was pure, almost child-like, his eyes read older and radiated pure hatred. His blonde hair was parted in the middle. He was wearing a pale, blue button-down shirt that was buttoned up to the top button, jeans, and formerly, clean white shoes.

"I repeat. Who. Are. You."

"You... don't recognize me?" The kid looked confused for a second.

"If you're one of the Olympians, which I believe you are, you won't look like yourself. You'll look mortal."

"I- well, it's me. Ares."

Apollo stood there in disbelief. Then he began to laugh. It started as a chuckle, then became a loud belly laugh. Ares glared at him.

"What's so funny?" Ares snarled at Apollo.

Apollo took a couple of deep breaths to calm his laughter, then pointed a shaking finger at Ares.

Ares looked down at his body and his eyes bugged out. He poked random places around his body and began muttering curses under his breath. Apollo had the sudden urge to wash out his mouth with soap.

"N-now you kn-know how I f-felt-" Apollo said through laughs.

Ares held up his fists threateningly, but Apollo didn't feel threatened.

"Keep in mind who has the weapon here." Apollo managed to stop laughing.

Ares patted down his pockets and possible hiding places for weapons, finding nothing. "Dang."

Apollo removed the arrow from the bowstring and slung the bow back across his back. Gods, was Rhea the best. Apollo would have to pay her some respects at dinner tonight... if they could get to Camp Half-Blood, of course.

Apollo reached a hand out for Ares to grab. Ares grabbed it and attempted to leap out of the dumpster. Instead, he tripped on a banana peel, flew over the side, and fell directly into Apollo's arms. Ares' face was level with Apollo's shoulder.

Apollo pulled Ares' head out of his shoulder and looked down at him. Ares had tears in his eyes. "Are you okay? You look like you're crying..."

Ares pushed Apollo away. "I'm fine. This weak mortal body isn't fit for pain."

Apollo stared, worriedly, at Ares. Ares crossed his arms and stared down at the ground, his usual confidence and recklessness gone.

"I don't like this," Ares stated bluntly, not looking up.

"Neither did I at first, but it gets better. Speaking of which, do you have an ID? It might have your mortal name." Apollo looked expectantly at Ares.

Ares rolled his eyes, sighed, and pulled out a wallet he had kept secret from Apollo. He opened it and pulled out an ID. It was a picture of the mortal Ares had become and the name, "Alexander Rose."

"Well, hello, Alexander," Apollo teased.

Ares glared at Apollo, then read his ID. "It says I was born in 2006 and that I'm 14."

"Hmmm... you look like you've just started high school."

"I'm... um... I feel like it, too." Ares sighed, again.

Apollo was tempted to hug his brother, but he had a totally strange feeling that Ares wouldn't appreciate it.

"Where are we going to stay?" Ares looked Apollo in the eyes, which he had to crane his neck to do.

Apollo contemplated his answer. "Camp Half-Blood, probably."

"Because it's nearby?"

"No, because they're my best friends- of course, it's because they're nearby!"

"Shut up."

"No." Apollo turned around and headed out of the alley. His bow bounced across his back a few times like my back was a trampoline.

"How are we going to get there?" asked Ares. "Aren't the Jacksons nearby?"

Apollo stopped and regret washed over him remembering the Blofis family. He hadn't gone to see them in a while and he felt bad about it. Not to mention, he wasn't about to go drag innocents into his life again.

"We aren't getting the Blofises involved. They don't deserve it. I've already dragged them into it." Apollo stared glumly at the ground, remembering their kind faces and warm smiles.

"Gone soft, eh?"

"Gone reasonable and not expending mortal lives."

Ares raised an eyebrow, then rolled his eyes. "Again, how are we going to get there?"

Apollo scratched his chin dramatically, as if thinking. "We could, I dunno, walk there?"

Ares socked him in the arm. "Stop being a know-it-all and just take us to Camp Half-Blood."

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Because I- I'm strong...er." Ares punched him halfheartedly, then stared at the ground.

"We're still going to Camp Half-Blood, don't worry." Apollo walked forward. He felt Ares run up behind him to keep up.

"This mortal body is not prepared for fitness... or walking," Ares panted behind him.

"Then shut up. Talking takes oxygen. And your ankles aren't weak like Achilles'. You should be able to keep up."

"You shut up."

"Ugh. I hate being bossed around by you."

"Oops."

Ares stopped to catch his breath. He bent over and put his hands on his knees. Apollo stopped and waited for Ares. He leaned against the wall and pulled out his ukelele, playing a few strings.

"Knock it off."

"But I like my ukelele."

"I said knock it off."

"Ugh." Apollo put his ukelele away and stretched.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of Apollo's neck began tingling. Apollo looked up, down, and at all the sides, but he couldn't find any attackers. However, he felt danger coming and it was worrying him.

"Ares, come here." he hissed. Ares looked up and walked next to Apollo.

"What is it?" he whispered back.

"Do you feel that?"

Ares took a few seconds and then shuddered. "Is that what danger feels like?"

"A tingle on the back of your neck? Yes." Apollo pulled out his bow.

"I don't have a weapon," Ares whispered in Apollo's ear.

Apollo fished around in his pack and found, among the ukelele, snacks, and water, nothing. He shook his head

"Any makeshift weapons?" Ares looked around and tried to find anything sharp.

"Dammit. Um, quick." Apollo took an arrow out of his pack and handed it to Ares. "Maybe you could use the tip as a dagger or something? I don't know-"

"Five minutes in and already a monster. I hate this,"

"Welcome to the demigod life, brother," Apollo said brother like Loki would say brother to Thor.

Ares spun the arrow a few times in his hand. "Nice tip, thick branch. Could be a very powerful ally."

Suddenly, a loud noise came from the roof. Apollo nocked an arrow in his bow. Ares held his arrow-dagger threateningly.

That's when, whatever it was, fell from the roof and Apollo shot his arrow from his bow.