In her short life as a demigoddess, Andy had come to meet two Olympian gods so far.
The first was Dionysus, also known as Mr. D, the activities director at Camp Half-Blood. He was the god of wine, vegetation, drama, and madness. Andy also believed he was the god of tacky Hawaiian shirts, but she didn't want to tell him that for fear he would turn her into a dolphin.
The second to meet him was Ares, the god of war and violence. Hot-headed, arrogant, and temperamental. If he had to fill out a sheet of paper on how he would describe Ares, Andy felt like he wouldn't know enough words to describe how unpleasant he was.
First, he interrupts her lunch, which is already annoying for her.
Second, he didn't let her finish her cheeseburger, which is twice as annoying.
And third, he does it under the pretext of recovering a stupid shield that he forgot on his date with Aphrodite.
Thalia tried, as politely as she could (although Andy could see her clench her fists until they turned white and bite her lip until it bled) to decline his offer, saying that she didn't need his help. That they could get to Los Angeles safely without any problems, but the problem came when it was discovered that Thalia's credit card, the one they had been using when they needed money, had been declined at the restaurant where they tried to have lunch.
At first, Thalia was genuinely confused. She was sure that her credit card still had plenty of funds because she rarely used it.
"Don't you think Hades has something to do with it? "Annabeth asked.
"What does Hades have to do with Thalia's credit card being rejected? "Andy asked.
"Hades is the god of wealth. I have to assume it wouldn't be unusual if he deprived some people of their wealth. He could even block Thalia's credit card with just a snap of his fingers.
Thalia's eyes widened in surprise when she heard that, then it was replaced with an angry expression that scared everyone present, including Andy and Annabeth.
"When I meet that cock-sucking faggot, I'm going to shove a red-hot iron up his ass and piss on his throne! "she exclaimed.
The electricity throughout the premises began to spark visibly, scaring everyone present.
It took all of Annabeth and Andy's combined effort to calm the irate daughter of Zeus.
And it didn't help matters that after her outburst, the god of war's thunderous and cruel laughter could be heard, which only served to further fuel Thalia's anger.
With no money, no transportation, no clean underwear (Sorry, Mom), and no way to travel the 1,500+ miles to Los Angeles, the demigoddesses had no choice but to fulfill Ares's request.
All the way to the "Waterland" water park, Thalia was loudly complaining about being a god's cocksucker, which caused a grimace of disgust in the younger demigoddesses.
Although the "mission", if it could be called that, was a joke; to recover a shield from the bottom of an attraction's empty pool.
The catch was that, upon grabbing the shield, a trap was activated that trapped them under a bronze net that prevented them from escaping. It was the same net that they had subdued Thalia with at the camp, so it was impossible for her to escape because it greatly weakened her powers. It also didn't help that an army of tiny bronze spiders appeared that sought to catch them with the nets they threw out.
Annabeth was completely panicked due to her phobia of spiders, and Thalia couldn't escape with her powers due to the celestial bronze web above their heads.
It was thanks to Andy and his powers over water that they were able to escape the metal spiders. She flooded the entire pool, killing all the mechanical spiders, and they forced their way out through the Thrilling Attraction of Love.
Thalia had to suppress the urge to vomit when she saw the Valentine's theme that adorned the entire place. It was like stepping into Aphrodite's cabin.
Seeing that the door was closed and barred by chains and two smashed boats, Thalia grabbed Andy and Annabeth and placed them under her arms as if they were some kind of luggage.
"You two better clench your teeth if you don't want to bite your tongue! "she warned, electricity beginning to spark throughout her body. "And clench your butt cheeks if you don't want to have to change your pants!
As they were about to crash into the door, Thalia jumped and, covering her entire body with electricity, moved at an alarming speed in the air and fell heavily onto the asphalt, leaving a crack one and a half meters in diameter, as if lightning had really struck the place.
Thalia lowered the trembling demigoddesses who began to spasm in their limbs.
"You better not be… Ugh!… doing that again! "Annabeth scolded.
"Yeah. It was incredibly cool, but… Ugh! That hurts! "Andy complained"... Don't do that again when you catch us.
Thalia just laughed embarrassedly and looked at the cupids who had cameras, which were transmitting live directly to Olympus.
" I hope you enjoyed the show, you bastards! "Thalia shouted with both middle fingers raised. "Rock off, and have a good night!
The cameras went off, and the park returned to its deathly silence.
"Let's get out of this place.
With that said, the three demigoddesses left the park.
" All hail the mighty god of war! "Thalia shouted shamelessly as they approached the restaurant parking lot where Ares was waiting for them". Capable of instilling fear and terror in his enemies with just one look! "She looked at him mockingly"… But he runs away terrified like a dog because of a few simple metal spiders.
Ares narrowed his eyes dangerously and let out a very animalistic growl.
"You're lucky Dad forbids me to kill you," the god of war growled. "If it were up to me, I'd turn you into the sewer rat you are and run you over with my motorcycle."
"Oh~, how scary~.
" Thalia, don't provoke him! "Annabeth whispered and tugged at the sleeves of her leather jacket.
Thalia clicked her tongue in annoyance and threw her shield at him as if it were a frisbee that Ms. O'Leary would use.
"Take your filthy shield," she snapped.
Ares grabbed his shield and it turned into a bulletproof vest that he hung over his shoulders.
"You wanted a ride? There you go" he pointed to a truck parked across the street". It will take you to Las Vegas. From there, you're on your own.
The truck appeared to be a typical moving truck. It was an eighteen-wheeler that took up almost a third of the street. On the back was a printed sign that read: "Slot Machine Transport. Delicate Material. Please Keep Your Distance."
Ares snapped his fingers and the back door of the truck opened.
"As I said, I'm a generous god," Ares said, smirking. "At least more than your respective parents. Remind me, what have Mommy and Daddy done for you on this mission?"
The three demigoddesses wanted to wipe away the stupid smile that adorned his face.
Ignoring their annoyed glances, Ares tossed a backpack to Andy. She looked inside and saw clean clothes (Mom would be happy), a fat wad of cash, a bag full of gold drachmas, a couple of chocolate-filled Oreos, and several bags of chips"even a tube of Pringles!
"We don't want your junk... Ouch!
"Thank you, Lord Ares," Andy interrupted Thalia, stomping on her foot.
"At least someone is sensible," said the god, slightly amused.
He got on his motorcycle and started it.
"One last piece of advice, Andy Jackson," Ares said."If I were you, I'd be careful around these two with you. They tend to abandon someone to save themselves.
With that said, he sped up his motorcycle and disappeared down the road from sight.
Andy looked at his fellow missionaries and was worried and scared when he saw Thalia's murderous expression. Electricity sparked all over her body, and she looked as if she would kill anyone who came near her. At the end of the street, a transformer exploded, scaring passersby.
Annabeth's eyes were dark and her fists were clenched.
Andy didn't know what to say, it was the first time he saw them both like that. Thalia's previous outburst when she found out that Hades blocked her credit card seemed like a simple tantrum compared to how she looked now.
"I think it would be better if we go," Andy said, somewhat hesitantly.
Both girls seemed not to hear her, but Annabeth gently took Thalia's hand and pulled her towards the truck without saying a word. Thalia let herself be dragged along by the younger demigoddess and the three of them climbed into the truck.
Before closing the door, Thalia looked out at the city with a nostalgic air.
"Thalia, what's wrong? "Annabeth asked.
"Nothing… it's just… This is where we met them. I asked if that church was still here.
"I doubt it," Annabeth said, her eyes glazed over. "We burned down that church, remember?"
Thalia let out a dry laugh before closing the doors.
The interior was dark, Annabeth pulled out a flashlight she got from the water park and illuminated the place. There was a row of different machines along the truck. Andy could identify slot machines, poker, Russian roulette, and he could even see a couple of paintball machines.
Before Andy could get close enough to see if any of them worked, the truck took off.
The three demigoddesses sat down and leaned against the casino machines. No one said anything. The atmosphere was heavy and somber between the three of them, Andy thought it was because of Ares' last words. She wanted to ask what he meant, but she didn't dare to open her mouth. She felt that it was a very delicate subject for them and she would respect that.
Tired of the silence, Thalia stood up and stood in front of one of the machines. She tore off the plastic cover and examined it from top to bottom with a critical eye.
"Thalia, what are you doing? "Annabeth asked.
" What do you think? I'm going to play this thing. If we're going to be stuck in this place for a couple of hours, then I might as well have some fun.
"How do you plan to do that? "Andy asked, curious. "These machines run on electricity. Unless there's an outlet around here…
To answer his question, Thalia raised her hand and sparks of electricity shot out from her body. She placed her hand on the side of the dashboard and, a few seconds later, the machine came to life throwing different shades of colors across the dark truck.
"Wow… that's great," Andy said.
"These machines operate on a certain voltage," Thalia said. "As long as you maintain the proper power level, it will be easy to play."
"But won't you get tired if you use your powers constantly?
"I've trained for years to control my powers. This means nothing to me.
Andy wanted to say that he had lost control of his powers twice today, but he refrained from doing so. He didn't want to get on Thalia's bad side.
With her free hand, Thalia reached into her leather jacket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. She placed one between her lips and then pulled out a zippo lighter to light the cigarette.
"Thalia…"Annabeth warned". We're here, you know?
"Well, they put up with it.
Ignoring her young friend's grimace of disgust, Thalia began to play the paintball game.
For several minutes, all that could be heard was the clacking of the machine indicating the points won, and the occasional annoyed grunt from Thalia for losing the ball.
"Hey," said Annabeth, who was sitting next to Andy. "I'm sorry about what happened at the water park, Andy. You know, panicking."
"Don't worry about it," Andy said with a comforting smile.
"It's just that... "she shuddered" Spiders are...
"Because of the story of Arachne?" he guessed. "She was turned into a spider for challenging your mother to see who could weave better, right?"
Annabeth nodded.
"Arachne's children have been taking revenge on Athena's children ever since. If there's a spider within a mile, it'll find me. I hate those things. I owe you, though.
"We're a team, remember? We're in this together" Andy said.
A smile stretched Annabeth's lips.
"Yes… Together.
The noise of the paintball machine stopped and the lights went out. Annabeth and Andy looked curiously at Thalia, who had stopped providing power to the machine as she stood still as a statue.
"Thalia…? "Annabeth asked doubtfully.
"Is something wrong? "Andy asked.
"No… it's nothing" he replied in a low voice.
He put his hand back on the machine and it once again came to life.
Deciding to ignore Thalia's strange behavior, Andy faced Annabeth.
"Besides, I wasn't the only one who rocked the water park. Haven't you seen what Thalia did? It was the coolest thing I've ever seen.
"That's it, praise me more, girl," said Thalia.
Annabeth and Andy chuckled.
As they ate the chips and Oreos Ares had given them, Annabeth looked unsure for a second.
"Andy… about what Ares said…"Annabeth began
"Okay," he interrupted. "You don't have to tell me. I can see that this isn't an easy subject for you."
Annabeth shook her head.
"You're right. It's not easy, but… Like you said, we're in this together. And you deserve to know the truth. Besides, it's the perfect time. I wanted to ask you something related to this topic.
"Ask me something? What thing?
Annabeth looked down and shifted uncomfortably. Then she looked straight into her eyes and asked,
"Have you ever met a boy named Percy?
Maybe it was Andy's imagination, but she felt the whole atmosphere become heavier.
" You mean that demigod who turned into a tree and whose spirit protects the camp?
"The same. Have you ever met him?
"No… I don't think so. The first time I learned about him was when Grover explained to me the story of Percy's Tree. That he was a demigod who sacrificed himself to save others. He was turned into a tree by the power of some god, and that his will to protect others shaped the barrier that safeguards the camp.
Annabeth nodded sadly.
"That's the story in a nutshell, more or less. Grover was the satyr tasked with bringing Thalia to camp, but when he found her, she wasn't alone.
"Grover told me there was a group with her, three other demigods and a mortal…"Andy looked at Annabeth". You're one of them, right?
"Thalia, Percy, Luke, Sammy, and I… There were five of us." Annabeth's eyes glazed over as she spoke. "I was only seven years old at the time. I ran away from home because I couldn't stand my stepmother and father, who blamed me for everything bad that happened. They looked at me with resentment and hatred. My stepmother treated me like a monster, and one day, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away."
Andy wondered how bad that would have been. For as long as she could remember, it had always been her mother and her. No one else. Her mother had always worried about her, maybe too much, but that was to be expected considering she was a demigod. She couldn't imagine what her life would have been like without her mother's love. Would she have run away like Annabeth did? How long would she have survived if she had?
"And that's when you met Percy," Andy said.
Annabeth gently shook her head.
"I first met up with Thalia and Luke. They took care of me for a while, but it wasn't until later that we met up with Percy right here in Denver. I got sick, and we needed medicine. That's when we met up with Percy and Sammy. They helped us out.
"Sounds like it was someone very nice," Andy commented.
"It wasn't like that at first," Thalia said, turning her back to them as she played paintball and smoked. "The bastard kicked my ass and threatened to kill us all if Sammy got hurt in any way because of us. I still remember how cold his eyes were back then… It was really scary."
"Yeah, it was a bit of a tense encounter since we were being chased by a pack of hellhounds and Percy was being chased by the Minotaur himself," Annabeth said. "But we took them down, and we've been together ever since. I know we were an odd bunch. Four demigods and one mortal, all underage, traveling around the country in an old pickup truck. We slept in the woods and bathed in streams and lakes, but… I can't remember the last time I was this happy. I had people who cared about me and looked after me. Percy told me stories about the constellations at night, taught me how to play chess, and encouraged me to become an architect. We were like family… the family I always wanted."
At this point, Annabeth found herself crying and sobbing under her breath.
Andy felt bad for her and walked over to give her a supportive hug while running a hand down her back.
Thalia stopped playing, but she was still powering the machine with her powers. Her back was still turned to them both, but her shoulders were slumped, and Andy could almost swear he saw Thalia tremble.
"You have to understand one thing, Andy," Thalia said quietly. "Percy wasn't just a demigod companion we traveled with. He was our leader, a friend, and a brother to us. He was the pillar we leaned on when things got tough… And they did get tough. He never let us down, and he was there for us when we needed him the most. So when he decided to stay behind so we could get to camp, a big part of me thought we abandoned him to save ourselves. And to this day, I still think that way…"
" That's not true, Thalia! We didn't abandon him! "Annabeth interrupted through tears. "You heard it on the recording he left us, he decided to do it to give us a future. And you did it. You went to college, wrote a book, and started moving on.
Andy watched as Thalia clenched her fists tightly until they began to shake. Whether it was from anger or sadness, she didn't know. But she didn't want to see her like that.
It was at that moment that he realized something.
"Maybe that's why Percy's Tree branch works in your apartment, Thalia" Andy contributed, drawing the attention of both demi goddesses". Percy sacrificed himself to give them a future, and if the barrier works only on you, it means that a part of him still lives inside the tree, and watches over you even now. He wants you to have a long life, Thalia.
Andy listened as Thalia took a quick breath through her nose and ran the back of her hand over her face. For a few seconds, she didn't say anything until she turned slightly and looked at Andy with slightly reddened eyes, but she had a sincere smile.
"Thanks, Andy. That was very nice of you.
She couldn't help but blush.
"I… uh… you're welcome. I just didn't want to see you sad." She winced in pain as Annabeth pinched her side. "Obviously not you either, Annabeth! I didn't want to see you both sad! You're the closest thing I've ever had to friends in my entire life…"
Annabeth opened her eyes in surprise.
"Do you consider me your friend? "she asked surprised". Even after everything we've been through?
"It would be weird not to after everything we've been through," she said, with a small smile that then faltered a little."Or do you not consider me one?
" No! I mean, yes! Of course, I consider you a friend. A friend that I have to constantly keep an eye on so she doesn't do stupid things.
" Hey! When did I do stupid things?
Annabeth raised an eyebrow.
"The hellhound the day we met?
"Eh… I did it to save you.
"The hellhound that attacked you on Capture the Flag day?
"I did it to save Clarisse! "she replied vehemently.
"Fighting Echidna and the Clazmonian Pig atop the Gateway Arch, causing the destruction of a national monument?
"They attacked me! "she exclaimed indignantly". I had to defend myself!
Annabeth and Thalia just laughed as Andy turned away indignantly while crossing his arms and grumbling under his breath.
A few minutes passed in a comfortable silence between them. Thalia went back to playing paintball and the machine started to clack with each point she scored.
No one said anything until Andy decided to ask Annabeth something that had her a little confused.
"So why are you asking me if I ever met Percy? I would obviously remember him if I ever came across someone like him.
She decided to answer after a few seconds of hesitation.
"The reason is… Andy, you look a lot like him.
" Huh?
Andy opened his eyes in surprise. Did she look like such a notorious demigod from the past?
"What I mean is that you look a lot like him physically, except that you're a girl" Annabeth explained". You have the same eyes, the same hair color, and even your facial features are similar. If I didn't have my doubts, you'd say you were siblings.
"But I don't have any siblings," said Andy". I'm an only child. And I don't have any other relatives apart from my mother.
"Maybe not necessarily from your mother…
"You mean… that Percy boy… was a son of Poseidon?" she asked, perplexed.
"I don't know. He never told us who his father was"Annabeth looked a little sad about that"But, you look so much like him that I thought… If you just saw what he looked like you'd understand… But I don't have any pictures of him with me.
A sound caught both of their attention and they saw something fall in front of them. It was a black leather wallet with the image of a lightning bolt printed on it.
"Look inside," Thalia said, while continuing to play with the paintball machine.
Annabeth picked up the wallet and rummaged through it. She pulled out a small photo, her face crumpled in sadness. She studied it dreamily for a few seconds, then handed it to Andy to look at.
"This is Percy," she said as she wiped away the tears that formed at the corner of her eyes. "He was around fifteen years old in this photo. If he were alive now, he would be around twenty years old. And I would have no doubt that he would be the most powerful demigod alive."
Andy studied the photo and his eyes widened in surprise.
It was a selfie. In it, Percy was holding the camera. His eyes were as green as hers and looked tired, with dark circles under them. His smile was tired, but also kind. Behind him, a much younger Thalia could be seen, along with Annabeth, Luke, and Grover. They all looked younger, but they had smiles on their faces, as if they were truly happy. But there was a girl she didn't know standing next to Percy, with a big smile on her face.
"That's him…" Andy muttered under his breath, surprising Annabeth and Thalia. "I saw him…"
"What?! "Annabeth exclaimed in surprise". Where?!
"When I consulted with the Oracle" she explained"a green mist came out of his mouth and took the form of my mother, a little girl I couldn't see because her back was turned and… him" she pointed at Percy". He looked exactly the same, but he was holding some strange weapon. It was like a knife, but it looked more like a tooth.
"You mean this? "Thalia asked.
She pulled the hellhound's tooth out from inside her leather jacket and showed it to Andy.
"Yes, it's the same one," he said, studying the tooth.
"It was Percy's weapon. It's made from the tooth of a hellhound, and it's capable of harming both mortals and immortals. It's a truly dangerous weapon, and Percy used it in a unique way. His aim when throwing it was so impeccable that it could even make the children of Apollo jealous. Even to this day, I think he'd be able to beat me in a fight. That is, if I didn't use my powers.
" Was it that impressive? "she asked, amazed.
Thalia smiled bitterly, although the others couldn't see her because her back was turned.
"More than you think. He was once able to knock down an entire mansion with a single stomp.
"Wow… And you think I'm related to him in some way?
Annabeth nodded.
"That's what I think. I think they're both children of Poseidon.
"So…" Andy studied the photo carefully". That would make him my brother… I would have liked to meet him. I always wanted an older brother.
With that last statement, Andy closed her eyes and fell asleep leaning on Annabeth's shoulder, much to her slight nervousness.
Not long after, Annabeth also fell asleep, lying on top of Andy.
Thalia looked at both demigoddesses with a small smile on her face. She stopped providing power to the paintball machine so as not to disturb them and picked up the photo that was in Andy's hands.
As she had done countless times in the past, she studied the photo for hours, reminiscing about all the memories they had spent together until she fell asleep with a sad smile on her face.
Las Vegas.
The Entertainment Capital of the World.
The Capital of Second Chances.
The Marriage Capital of the World.
Sin City.
It's not a place where two twelve-year-old demigoddesses and an eighteen-year-old demigoddess addicted to cigarettes and alcohol should go. Especially the latter, it was a bad combination.
Andy didn't know what to expect from Las Vegas. He had seen it so many times in movies that he had a pre-established idea of what it would be like. With newlyweds riding in luxury limousines and well-dressed people cruising the streets enjoying life.
What she didn't expect was normal people, walking normally on the sidewalk. She was disappointed that at least there was no police chase or zebras running through the streets.
They passed by various tourist sites in Las Vegas such as Mount Casio, the MGM, the Luxor Hotel, and the Treasure Island pirate ship.
Both Andy and Thalia, being New Yorkers, were a little offended by the replica of the Statue of Liberty. The original was twice as big compared to the one at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino.
"Stop insulting the stupid statue and let's move," Annabeth urged as she pushed them both.
"And where exactly are we going? "Andy asked. "We don't have a car, we don't have enough money, and Thalia ate all the fries! I wanted some too!
"Then sue me, kiddo"Thalia said". But you're right, we need to find a ride to Los Angeles" a predatory smile formed on her face". And I know exactly how to do it.
Before I could ask what she was talking about, Thalia crossed the street and went straight to a huge building whose entrance was a huge neon flower, with the petals of the flower lighting up and flashing with different lights.
As they stood in front of the venue, Andy could see the name above the flower, even in the bright neon lights; Hotel Casino Lotus.
"Hey, girls," the doorman called out with a friendly smile. "You look tired. How about you come in and sit down for a while? There's air conditioning inside."
Andy could feel the cool, flower-scented air conditioning coming from inside. It was as if it was drawing her in, calling her to stay and get some rest.
"Finally, some kindness, "Thalia said.
"Hey, Thalia," Annabeth said, tugging lightly on her jacket to get her attention. "Do you think this is a good idea? We have somewhere to go."
"Annabeth, please. We need to get some rest before we continue. This place is a hotel, so we can stay at least one night to get some proper rest.
Andy raised an eyebrow.
"And the fact that it's also a casino has nothing to do with it, right?
Thalia shrugged.
"I could make some extra money since someone blocked my credit card. I've always been lucky at gambling. Plus, we need a shower. Both of them stink.
Both Andy and Annabeth blushed in embarrassment.
"Well, you're not far behind either! "they exclaimed in unison.
"And that settles it," he said, chuckling."Walking.
The three demigoddesses moved forward, not noticing the wary glance the doorman gave the daughter of Zeus. He put his hand on his sleeve and whispered a few things. But the demigoddesses had already entered.
Thalia stepped out of the shower, drying her hair with one of the fluffiest towels she had ever owned. She felt absolutely amazing after a week of traveling without a proper bath.
"Man, I feel great! "she exclaimed, as she emerged in nothing but underwear and a tank top.
Andy, who was eating chips, dropped the bag and gaped when Thalia entered the room. She blushed red at the sight and quickly looked away, even Annabeth had a slight blush on her cheeks as she looked disapprovingly at her old friend.
" Thalia, don't go out like that! "she scolded". Have a little more decency!
"Ehhh, why?" she whined. "We're all girls here. There's nothing to be ashamed of. In the future, if you eat right and exercise properly, maybe you'll have an ounce of the kind of body I have," she said, striking a pose to further highlight her defined body. Her tribal tattoo that covered her right arm from her elbow to her completely exposed neck only further emphasized her exotic beauty.
Thalia headed towards the bar in the suite. Andy and Annabeth watched the beautiful demigoddess walk away. They blushed deeply when she leaned over to rummage through the fridge and pulled out a can.
" Aha! Lottery! "Thalia exclaimed, opening the can and taking a deep sip. " Ah! There's nothing better than a nice cold beer after a nice shower! Gods, life is good!
"So what do we do now? "Andy asked, trying not to look at Thalia who had sat on the couch watching TV with her beer in her hand.
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to take a well-deserved nap, "Thalia said, yawning". I really need it.
And it wasn't a lie, there was a faint trace of dark circles under her eyes.
"Well… I saw a couple of attractions that caught my eye" Annabeth said.
"Let's go then! "Andy said with a big smile, grabbing Annabeth's wrist and dragging her along.
Thalia watched the two demigoddesses leave with an excited air, leaving Thalia behind.
She chuckled and took a deep drink of her beer.
"It's been a while since I last saw Annabeth smile like that," she said to herself. "That's good. She needs a friend. I haven't seen her get that close to someone since Sammy."
Drinking the last of her beer, she got up from the couch and went to her room. Ready to take a nice nap.
Drip.
Drip.
- Hmm?
Drip.
Drip.
"Did I forget to turn off the faucet in the bathroom? "Thalia muttered to herself.
Drip.
Drip.
" Ugh! How annoying!
She opened her eyes with the intention of getting up, but something prevented her from moving.
" Huh?
It was then that she realized something, she was not lying in her hotel room where she had fallen asleep.
" What the hell?
It was definitely not his room. It looked like a machine room. Thick metal pipes ran along the walls and he could hear the humming sounds of fumes. It was from one of the pipes where water was dripping onto the concrete floor.
She tried to move, but saw that her arms and legs were chained to the wall. And from the feeling of weakness she felt, those chains were made of heavenly bronze.
She also noticed that she was dressed the same way she had gone to bed, in her black underwear and a tank top.
"Where the hell am I? "he growled in annoyance.
"You are in the water heater room.
Thalia looked towards where the voice came from and from behind some thick, curving metal tubes, a grown man emerged. He was around thirty years old and wore a smart grey two-piece suit with white stripes. That didn't hide his promising belly though. He had a round, fat face, so much so that his neck couldn't be seen. He was bald except for the sides of his head where his sparse black hair could be seen.
In short, for Thalia, he looked like the typical fat and corrupt politician.
At his side were two guards dressed in black suits and sunglasses.
"Sunglasses indoors?" Thalia thought mockingly. "How stupid are these guys?"
"I'm sorry we have to find ourselves in this situation, Princess of Lightning," said the fat man.
" You mean with me half naked and tied up with chains?
Thalia felt a little uncomfortable being so scantily clad in front of three grown men. She only had two items of clothing on, her underwear and her T-shirt. Not to mention that she was chained to the wall with celestial bronze, which weakened her powers and physical strength greatly. If those men decided to overstep their boundaries with her, there was nothing she could do.
She steeled her nerves and stared defiantly at the three men in front of her when the fat man spoke again.
"You must understand that we must be cautious with a descendant of the Big Three. And even more so with someone as powerful as you.
Thalia gave him an annoyed look.
"And who in my father's immortal balls are you?
"Oh, allow me to introduce myself, I am the general manager of the Lotus Casino. You can call me Mr. Adrian" the man said haughtily". I am aware of everything that happens within this place. And that includes your arrival at my establishment along with your two companions.
"Where are Annabeth and Andy?! "he demanded to know, the chains creaking under his strength. "I swear, if you lay a finger on her, you'll wish you'd never been born, you fat ball!
The fat man involuntarily took a step back at the sight of the ferocity of the daughter of Zeus. The guards stood in front of him protectively.
"It's okay. It's okay," Mr. Adrian soothed. "There's no need to be alarmed. I don't wish to harm those young demigoddesses. In fact, quite the opposite, I want them to enjoy their stay at my casino. Why do you think I gave them cards where they can buy whatever they want? I gave them comfortable rooms and free access to all the games. I want them to feel welcome."
"And a fucking pegasus! "Thalia spat. "What's the catch?
"Ah, my child"Thalia had a tick at being called a child". I understand your distrust. After all, I know very well what the gods are like. Tell me, what brought you to Las Vegas? A mission entrusted by the gods? You are not the first demigoddess to come here with the intention of fulfilling their will.
"And what did you do with them? Did you eat them?
"Eat demigods? Oh, for the love of lotus, no," Mr. Adrian said, looking green at the thought. "All the demigods whoever came to my casino are still here. Alive and kicking. Enjoying the attractions I offer my guests. They are happy and content. They don't go hungry, they have a safe place to be, and no gods interfere in their lives with impossible, suicidal missions. This place is heaven for all of them. Your companions are already enjoying the various attractions throughout the casino. You don't have to worry about them."
Thalia was still hesitant about the idea. It sounded too good to be true. If there was one thing she had learned in her life, it was that everything had a price. She knew that all too well.
" Then why do you chain me up? If you have no intention of harming me, then free me.
Mr. Adrian shook his head sadly.
"I'm afraid she hasn't been able to do that yet. But don't worry. Soon enough, you'll see the charm of this place. And you'll decide to stay of your own free will. You'll know that it's best for both you and your companions." With that said, he turned and walked away, leaving a few last words to his guards in a low voice. "Make sure she stays as comfortable as possible. Provide her with food, drink, whatever she desires. And release her when the magic takes effect."
" Hey, fatty! Wait! "Thalia shouted. "Don't leave me here with these idiots wearing sunglasses indoors!
The Lotus Casino CEO ignored her screams. The sound of a door closing could be heard and Thalia was left alone with the two guards who took off their sunglasses, looking embarrassed.
¨Oh, Zeus's underwear! This burger is delicious! ¨ thought Thalia as she took a bite of her cheeseburger ¨ And the cheddar and bacon fries are a godsend¨
At least the guards had been kind enough to bring her a pair of black jeans. She wanted her leather jacket with her and her other belongings, but that took a backseat when they brought her food that looked like it had come from a buffet. And the best part was that they were all her favorite foods; burgers, pizzas, fries, pork ribs with barbecue sauce, spaghetti with lots of sauce and grated cheese, burritos, tacos, baked chicken with vegetables and potatoes, etc. For drinks, she had sodas, milkshakes, beers, wine, even whiskey!
Needless to say, Thalia gorged herself on food until her stomach was begging for her to stop.
" Cry and beg, bitches! "Thalia exclaimed happily. " Four of a kind!
He showed his cards and indeed, he demonstrated a winning hand.
The other two guards groaned in annoyance and showed their cards, proving that they only had three-of-a-kind fives and a double pair of sevens and nines.
" HA! I win! Fred, Luis, pay up!
"Damn, that was close! "Luis complained, sliding several hundred dollar chips towards Thalia.
"That's what you get for betting too much," Fred said, handing over the same amount, but unlike his partner, he still had plenty of chips.
"Don't sound so arrogant, Fred"Thalia said, with a predatory smile" Because I'm going to bankrupt you! Get ready because I'm going to make you my bitch!
Thalia began shuffling the cards in a professional manner with enthusiasm.
She and the guards had started playing poker on a round table they brought over because they were so bored. Thalia still had the chains on her hands and feet that were anchored to the wall, but she didn't even notice that, as if she found it perfectly normal.
Instead, she just decided to take another sip of her beer before she started dealing the cards again. What neither of them noticed was the two cards she was holding for herself at the bottom of the deck.
That's right. Even with the influence of the Lotus Casino on her mind, she was still a hopeless cheater.
As he played and ate a couple of cheddar chips, there was a throbbing sensation at the back of his head, like an annoying itch. Something that told him he had to be somewhere else, but he ignored it as something unimportant. If he didn't remember it, it meant it wasn't important.
The sound of the door opening caught the guards' attention, but Thalia didn't even look away from her food and her letters.
"Mr. Adrian is back? "Luis asked.
"I'll go and see," said Fred, rising from his chair. "And don't you dare think of changing cards!"
Fred disappeared into the machinery, while Thalia and Luis stared at each other until a tacit agreement occurred between them and they decided to exchange their cards for some better ones that were in the deck.
" Hey! "they heard Fred's alarmed voice". Who are you?! You're not supposed to be here… Ugh!
The sound of several knocks was heard until everything fell into a heavy silence.
Luis, alarmed by his partner, quickly stood up and went to see. Thalia didn't care about that in the slightest, she even looked at the cards Luis had left behind and took advantage of that moment to improve her hand.
"Ha ha. This game is mine," she thought.
He was brought out of his dream state when a body was thrown hard against the table where the cards and chips were, spilling his cheddar chips, beer, and burger.
" Hey! What the hell?! "she screamed angrily". I was going to win this game!
She looked closely and recognized Luis's body, who was innocent with potatoes and beer all over his body.
The sound of footsteps caught her attention and caused her to turn to look.
From among the machinery, a figure emerged wearing jeans and a dark sweatshirt with the hood pulled up so that his face could not be seen, the most he could see was his mouth and part of his nose. He had a backpack hanging over his shoulder. From the build of his body, he appeared to be a boy.
"Thalia Grace," he said in a male voice". You have to go.
" What? Who are you? "she asked.
"That doesn't matter" he approached her until he was only a few meters away". You have to go now. You have a mission to accomplish.
" Mission? "he said, his head still foggy. " What the hell are you talking about?
"Recover your father's lightning bolt that has been stolen. You, Annabeth, and Andy have to leave now before it's too late.
"Get the lightning back… Annabeth… Andy…
His eyes widened in realization. In that moment, he remembered everything. Annabeth, Andy, the mission. Recovering Zeus's lightning bolt and preventing World War III. And most importantly, peeing on Hades' throne.
" The mission! We have to go to Los Angeles! I have to piss on that necrophile bastard's throne!
Maybe it was her imagination, but Thalia thought she saw a sad smile on the hooded boy's face.
"Then you better get going," the boy urged.
"In case you haven't noticed, Sherlock, I'm chained, "Thalia said, pushing at the chains that refused to budge". If you know all about my mission, I assume you know that these chains are made of celestial bronze, they won't break easily unless you bring the key.
"Let me take care of that.
From between the right sleeve of his sweatshirt, a blade as long as his forearm emerged. He immediately recognized it as celestial bronze. Perhaps he had a gauntlet under the sweatshirt with a hidden blade.
With confidence and ferocity, she swung the blade and cut the chains that fell uselessly to the floor. Thalia massaged her wrists that were slightly irritated.
She looked at the strange boy with distrust.
"I still don't know who you are.
"You can think of me as an ally," the boy said, taking off his backpack and tossing it to Thalia.
Inside the backpack, Thalia saw that all of her belongings were there. Her black leather jacket, her Aegis shield in the form of a bracelet, her spear in its spray can form, even Percy's knife, and her wallet where her most precious treasure was. She felt infinitely calm seeing it.
"Thank you," she said honestly.
"Walking.
The boy turned around and walked towards the exit.
Thalia had her doubts about following him, but he helped her. Maybe he was a god in disguise? She could feel the power emanating from him, but it wasn't the kind of power that would overwhelm you to your knees like a god. No, it was different. It was warm and comforting.
He decided to trust the boy. He put on his jacket, his bracelet and put Percy's knife and his spray can inside his jacket.
He followed the boy and they both left the engine room.
They had to take an elevator to go to the ground floor where all the casino attractions were. Thalia had to endure the horrible elevator music while tapping the floor with her toe impatiently.
If you like Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain…
If you're not into yoga, if you have half a brain…
"Shitty music… So, you're a god? "Thalia asked, wanting to distract herself from the horrible music and learn a little more about her mysterious savior.
"No, I'm a demigod," the boy replied in a low voice.
Now that Thalia was fully aware of the situation, she noticed that his voice was painfully familiar, as if she had heard it before, but couldn't place it.
"Did some god send you to help us?
"No. I decided to help you by my own choice. You don't belong here.
Thalia raised an eyebrow.
"It sounds like you know this place very well.
"It's because I live here. I've been here for quite some time. I know this place very well. It's the lair of the lotus eaters, the lotus eaters. They draw people in with their attractions and before you know it, you're under their spell, causing you to never want to leave. Time doesn't pass in this place, so for you it might be a few days but it might actually be months outside, maybe years.
Thalia paled at that. She had been in this place for several hours, or so she thought. How much time had passed in the real world?
"Don't worry, there's still time" said the boy, as if he read Thalia's thoughts". There's still time before the summer solstice.
"How do you know all that? And if you know what this place is like, why do you decide to stay?
The boy lowered his head. Thalia still couldn't see his face clearly, but she guessed he was distressed by the way his lips were pressed together.
"I have something important to do, so I can't leave yet. Not yet. As for how I know about your mission, you'll have to trust me.
Thalia frowned at the boy beside her. She didn't like being kept in the dark, but she recognized that there were more important things to do right now than interrogate this mysterious demigod.
The boy reached into the pocket of his sweatshirt and pulled out a green plastic card. Thalia recognized it as the LotusCash card she had been given when she entered the casino.
"Here's this. You'll need it now that your credit card is blocked.
She was shocked. How did that boy know that her credit card was blocked?
A little hesitant, she accepted the card.
When the elevator doors opened and revealed the ground floor where all the attractions were, both demigods immediately began searching for Annabeth and Andy.
Finding Annabeth was easy. They were immersed in a 3D building game where they saw holographic buildings on a board.
" Annabeth! We have to go! Now! "Thalia demanded in a voice that left no room for argument.
"Hey, why?" she complained. "I'm building my own city."
"I don't care. We're leaving.
" No! I want to stay!
Tired of her attitude, Thalia grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look into her eyes.
"Annabeth Chase. If you don't stop playing this instant, I swear to the gods I'll put spiders in your bed while you sleep.
Annabeth opened her eyes in fear, turned ghostly pale, and began to tremble.
"What happened? "she whispered". How long have I been…?
"I don't know, but we have to find Andy.
"Here it is.
Thalia and Annabeth turned to see the hooded boy dragging Andy who looked dazed and very confused, but calmed down when she saw her companions.
"You have to go. There's no time," the boy said quickly.
Andy and Annabeth wanted to know who the mysterious boy was, but Thalia didn't give them time to ask questions and pushed them towards the exit.
The three demigoddesses and their mysterious companion quickly made their way to the door, ignoring the workers' attempts to get them to stay and try out the new attractions. Thalia even punched an overly insistent worker in the face, leaving him stunned on the floor. The people around didn't even turn to look at what was happening.
As they left Casino Loto, the warm desert air hit them in the face, making the air conditioning emitted by the casino that much more tempting.
Before crossing the sidewalk, Thalia turned to see the mysterious boy who had helped her at the entrance of the casino, waving goodbye to her gently with a smile.
It was then that he noticed something strange on his hand. He seemed to be wearing some kind of glove that was glowing slightly. He had seen that same glow before and knew how to identify it as the glow that celestial bronze gave off.
She looked at his face, trying to at least remember the face of the demigod who saved her, but he still had his hood on and she couldn't see him very well. But she did see a liquid running down his cheeks.
I was crying.
Why was I crying?
How did that boy know her?
How did you know your credit card had been blocked?
How did he know about their mission, and the names of Annabeth and Andy?
Now that he thought about it, he could tell what Andy looked like since he found her and brought her to where they were.
Who was that boy?
She didn't have time to dwell on it when Annabeth and Andy grabbed her wrists and pulled her along, telling her that five days had passed inside the casino, and there was only one day left until the summer solstice.
She turned around to look at the boy again, but he had disappeared.
…
..
.
[T/N: If you like this chapter then leave a comment, drop some stones, and write a review! If you want to read some advanced chapters then check out my Patreon!]
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