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Part one. Chapter five.

Bacchus

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Aris didn't sleep. She just laid in her bed and stared at the ceiling for quite some time. Of course it didn't help that the faun, Coach Hedge spent a whole hour banging on doors and yelling along the hallway the entire time.

"Lights out ! Settle down ! Try to sneak out, and I'll smack you back to Long Island !"

"I'm from California, dipshit," Aris had mumbled as she rolled her eyes.

She stared at the bronze beams on the ceiling. Her cabin was pretty nice and cool, just how she liked it. She always liked it cold so she could snuggle into blankets. Apparently, Leo had programmed their quarters to adjust automatically to the occupant's preferred temperature. The mattress and the pillows were really comfortable.

"Fuck...." Aris breathed, rubbing at her face.

She sat up and clapped, the light in her room turning on but not burning too bright. She sighed and slipped out of bed. She already knew herself well enough to know she wouldn't sleep.

Aris had trouble sleeping when she was alone. It was fine in barracks since there were bodies around her. Not as good as when she would fall asleep next to Jason though. Despite how much she hated to admit it, it was always easier to sleep when he was there. She had managed during the quest but it was because she was with Percy, Hazel and Frank. Sleeping alone was a challenge for her. When she was alone, there was nothing there to stop the demons from crawling into bed with her and clawing her with their sharp nails.

She rummaged through her bag taking in the small inventory what Hazel had packed for her. Two pairs of jeans, a few tops, a long skirt and a dress along with some clean sets of underwear, security shorts, her toiletries and the clothes she had changed into for bed (black yoga pants and a white cropped tank top) plus the hoodie she had hung on the back of the desk chair in her room.

Aris chuckled when she also noticed her copy of Anna Karenina at the bottom of the bag. Looks like she wouldn't have to spend all night staring the ceiling after all.

🖤💔🖤

"Thar she blows ! Kansas, ahoy !"

Aris raised unimpressed eyebrow at Coach Hedge before rolling her eyes and focusing on her book again. "Hey."

Aris looked up and smiled. "Hi Frank."

"You look nice."

"Your girlfriend has good packing skills," Aris shrugged. She looked down at herself, she had decided to wear her blue skinny jeans and a black tank top with her hoodie. Her knives were strapped to her thigh on a holster.

Frank smiled at her, before tilting his head. "Did you sleep okay ? You look tired."

"I'm fine. Unfamiliar environment. It'll take me a second to get used to it," Aris easily lied.

"Hey !" The pair turned to see Percy approaching with a wide grin on his face.

He looked in splendid form, dressed in a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt and faded jeans, looking as Greek as ever. Aris wrinkled her nose. "Why orange ?"

Percy shrugged. "Why purple ?"

"Purple's prettier than orange."

"Says who ?"

"Me."

Percy snorted before reaching into his pocket. "Share with me ?"

Aris sighed and let him pull her up from where she sat criss-cross-apple-sauce on the wooden deck. She leaned back against the rail, grabbing the small piece of the granola bar he held out to her.

The ship's landing gear was extending as they munched on their bar, Aris more slowly than Percy. Annabeth smiled, joining them and sliding under Percy's arm as the Argo II settled in the middle of a field of sunflowers. The oars retracted. The gangplank lowered itself.

Percy offered her more but Aris shook her head. He didn't push, only popped the last bit in his mouth.

"What are you reading ?" Annabeth wondered.

Aris pursed her lips and held out the book. The blonde blinked. "Damn. Impressive."

Aris nodded. She didn't smile but she didn't say anything overly mean or judgy. This was Percy's girlfriend. She would make a bit of an effort.

The morning air smelled of irrigation, warm plants, and fertilized earth. Not a bad smell.

"So !" Annabeth plucked the bagel out of Piper's hand and took a bite when the girl approached. "Here we are. What's the plan ?"

"I want to check out the highway," Piper said. "Find the sign that says Topeka 32."

Leo spun his Wii controller in a circle, and the sails lowered themselves. "We shouldn't be far," he said. "Festus and I calculated the landing as best we could. What do you expect to find at the mile marker ?"

Piper explained what she'd seen in the knife—the man in purple with a goblet.

"Purple shirt ?" Aris groaned.

"Vines on his hat ?" Jason added. "Sounds like Bacchus."

"Dionysus," Percy muttered. "If we came all the way to Kansas to see Mr. D—"

"Bacchus isn't so bad. I don't like his followers much....But the god himself is okay," Jason continued. Aris loudly groaned again, this time throwing her head back. At everyone's curious looks, Jason let them know, "We did him a favor once up in the wine country."

Percy looked appalled. "Whatever, man. Maybe he's better on the Roman side. But why would he be hanging around in Kansas ? Didn't Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals ?"

Frank grunted. "The gods haven't been very good at following that order," he noted. "Besides, if the gods have gone schizophrenic like Hazel said—"

"And Leo said," added Leo.

Frank scowled at him. "Then who knows what's going on with the Olympians ? Could be some pretty bad stuff out there."

"Sounds dangerous !" Leo agreed cheerfully. "Well...you guys have fun. I've got to finish repairs on the hull. Coach Hedge is gonna work on the broken crossbows. And, uh, Annabeth—I could really use your help. You're the only other person who even sort of understands engineering."

Annabeth looked apologetically at Percy. "He's right. I should stay and help."

"I'll come back to you." He kissed her on the cheek. "Promise."

Aris found herself softly smiling despite herself. They were so easy and happy together. It was nice to see Percy reunited with his mystery dream girl.

Involuntarily, her eyes met Jason's before they both blinked away. Maybe one day, they could have been something. In another reality, they probably were Camp Jupiter's Percy and Annabeth. In a world, Aris didn't betray everyone and run away. In a world where she was a little stronger and didn't let everyone get to her. In a world where Jason's love for her was enough and she didn't need other people's approval and support too.

But in this reality, they had run their course. They were never going to have what Percy and Annabeth had. Jason had a girlfriend (as insufferable as she was) and Aris had a wall built up so high around her that she would never let anyone in.

They hadn't gone from best friends to lovers.

They had gone from best friends to enemies, fighting on different sides of a war.

Aris shifted and looked down, arms crossed over her stomach, clearing her throat. She was done thinking about this.

Frank slid his bow off his shoulder and propped it against the rail next to her. "I think I should turn into a crow or something and fly around, keep an eye out for Roman eagles."

"Why a crow ?" Leo asked. "Man, if you can turn into a dragon, why don't you just turn into a dragon every time ? That's the coolest."

Aris raised a judgy eyebrow at the kid. She thought he was supposed to be smart.

Frank's face looked like it was being infused with cranberry juice. "That's like asking why you don't bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because it's hard, and you'd hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isn't easy."

"Oh." Leo nodded. "I wouldn't know. I don't lift weights."

"Yeah. Well, maybe you should consider it, Mr.—"

Hazel stepped between them.

"I'll help you, Frank," she said, shooting Leo an evil look. "I can summon Arion and scout around below."

"Sure," Frank said, still glaring at Leo. "Yeah, thanks."

There was something going on. Aris was going to have to catch Hazel and make her spill what was up. This was affecting Frank. She wanted to know. She needed to know.

Hazel turned to Percy and Aris. "Just be careful when you go out there. Lots of fields, lots of crops. Could be karpoi on the loose."

Aris pulled a face but nodded.

"Karpoi ?" Piper asked.

"Grain spirits," Hazel said. "You don't want to meet them."

"That leaves four of us to check on the mile marker," Percy said. "Me, Mal, Jason, Piper. I'm not psyched about seeing Mr. D again. That guy is a pain. But, Mal, Jason, if you're on better terms with him—"

"Nope," Aris bluntly said while Jason nodded, "Yeah."

Jason shot her a look. "What ? I'm not on good terms with him. The only god I'm on good terms with is my grandfather."

"I still can't believe how chill you and Mars are," Percy shook his head.

"I have his personality."

"I know."

"Fuck off," she shoved him, making Percy laugh.

He got closer to her face, poking at her cheek. "Is that a smile I see ?"

"No," she shoved his face away. "Chase, control your man or I'm throwing him overboard."

"Aw, you love me."

"I tolerate you."

"You love me," Percy kissed her temple. "And you not liking Mr. D makes me appreciate you even more."

Aris rolled her eyes.

Jason sighed, "If we find him, I'll talk to him, okay ?Piper, it's your vision. You should take the lead."

"Of course," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "Let's find the highway."

🖤💔🖤

Aris wanted to kill Leo, because apparently had no idea what close meant.

After trudging half a mile through hot fields, getting bitten by mosquitoes and whacked in the face with scratchy sunflowers, they finally reached the road. An old billboard for Bubba's Gas 'n' Grub indicated they were still forty miles from the first Topeka exit.

"Correct my math," Percy said, "but doesn't that mean we have eight miles to walk ?"

"I am not walking that far," Aris immediately declared; crossing her arms over her chest. She had already pulled off her hoodie and tied it around her waist.

Jason peered both ways down the deserted road. He, unfortunately, looked better today, thanks to the magical healing of ambrosia and nectar. His color was back to normal, and the scar on his forehead had almost vanished. He had a new gladius at his belt which made Aris wonder what happened to the coin. The coin was cool.

"No cars..." he said. "But I guess we wouldn't want to hitchhike."

"What makes you think I would agree to hitchhike ?"

"Is it me, or have you gotten way more picky ?"

"Just feels that was way because you no longer have dick privileges," Aris smoothly replied, tilting her head back in the sun and letting Apollo look at her.

"What's that supposed it mean ?" Piper bristled.

"It means what you think it means. Your boyfriend used to put his dick in me before he even knew you existed," Aris shrugged.

"You never told me this."

"I did," Jason furrowed his eyebrows.

"You said you never had a girlfriend before."

"Wasn't his girlfriend," Aris shrugged. "We used to fuck. There was nothing more to it."

"I told you there was a girl. And that we had kissed and more," Jason reminded.

Piper cleared her throat, clearly not pleased with this revelation. Aris personally found that ridiculous. Her and Jason had this no strings attached, sex arrangement before Piper had entered his life. He didn't know her. He didn't know of her. Yet she was offended he did stuff with someone else. How was that fair ?

If she had a past, Jason definitely wouldn't care. And if she was worried about Jason cheating on her with Aris, that was just a lack of faith in her boyfriend who was such a rule follower and a good person that it was annoying. He would never cheat on Piper.

"We've already spent too much time going overland," Piper suddenly declared. "The earth is Gaea's territory."

"Hmm..." Jason snapped his fingers. "I can call a friend for a ride."

Percy raised his eyebrows. "Oh, yeah ? Me too. Let's see whose friend gets here first."

Jason whistled.

Percy simply closed his eyes and concentrated.

"Oh great, dick measuring," Aris muttered, rolling her eyes.

She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

Thunder crackled in the clear sky.

Jason smiled. "Soon."

"Too late." Percy pointed east, where a black winged shape was spiraling toward them.

Aris stepped up next to Percy, squinting. "The fuck is that ?"

"You'll see," Percy promised.

They waited a few seconds before it became clearer and clearer.

"A black pegasus ?" Piper recognised. "Never seen one like that."

The winged stallion came in for a landing. He trotted over to Percy and nuzzled his face, then turned his head inquisitively toward Aris, Piper and Jason.

"Blackjack," Percy said, "this is Aris, Piper and Jason. They're friends."

The horse nickered.

"Uh, maybe later," Percy answered.

Percy could speak to horses, being the son of the horse lord Poseidon. It was still weird to see it though.

Aris eyed the horse with quiet wonder. "What does Blackjack want ?" she asked.

"Donuts," Percy said. "Always donu—" The horse nickered again. Percy smirked. "Oh really ?"

"What ?" Piper asked.

"He thinks Mal's pretty."

Aris sent Percy a look. "You're fucking with me."

"Nope. He said, and I quote, 'The girl next to you is the bomb. Can she feed me the donuts ?'"

Aris snorted. She normally didn't like compliments about her looks. When she was a kid, she ate those up. She loved it when people would compliment her on her beauty. It was only when she got older that she realised her beauty was the only thing they complimented her on. That made her feel angry and have this insatiable need to prove she was more than just a pretty face.

But hearing a horse say it....it was kind of funny.

"I wanna ride on his back," Aris declared.

If a pegesus could smile, Blackjack did. Percy chuckled too. "Sure Mal." He turned to the couple next to them. "He can carry all four of us if—"

Suddenly the air turned cold. Aris put her hands on her ears as they popped. About fifty yards away, a miniature cyclone three stories tall tore across the tops of the sunflowers like a scene from The Wizard of Oz. It touched down on the road next to Jason and took the form of a horse—a misty steed with lightning flickering through its body.

"Tempest," Jason said, grinning broadly. "Long time, my friend."

Aris blinked. "Tempest ?"

Jason shrugged, not meeting her eyes. "Seemed natural."

The storm spirit reared and whinnied. Blackjack backed up skittishly.

"Easy, boy," Percy said. "He's a friend too." He gave Jason an impressed look. "Nice ride, Grace."

Jason shrugged. "I made friends with him during our fight at the Wolf House. He's a free spirit, literally, but once in a while he agrees to help me."

Percy and Jason climbed on their respective horses. Aris took Percy's hand and climbed up behind him. Gods, she loved horses. She was a not-so-closeted-closeted horse girl.

Blackjack flew overhead making Aris hold out her arms like a plane and whoop happily. Percy laughed in front of her.

"Want to try something ?" He asked.

"Sure."

"Hold on."

Aris wrapped her arms around Percy's waist, laughing and squealing with delightful as Blackjack zigzagged and spiralled around in the air. When he stabilised, Percy and Aris were giggling like children, faces flushed from the wind. The girl pushed her hair away from her face, shooting Percy a wicked smile.

"Can he go higher ?"

"Yeah. Why ?"

Percy looked at Aris and for once her face wasn't that usual mask of boredom and snark. It was pure delight with a glint of mischief. A glimmer of hope shone on her face. "Catch me ?"

The boy caught on immediately. But instead of scolding her and telling her not to be ludicrous like Jason would have, Percy smiled at her. "Always."

He urged Blackjack higher and nodded to Aris. The Roman girl gave him a two fingered salute with a smile before letting herself tilt off the pegasus' back. She fell from the heavens, the wind whipping at her face and clothes but Aris had never felt so happy and free, hurtling towards the asphalt of the road. She was maybe ten meters from crashing when a hand caught her arm and hoisted her back up onto Blackjack's back.

Aris laughed some more, hugging Percy's waist as she caught her breath. Percy laughed with her as they arrived at the thirty-two-mile marker. Blackjack landed while Piper and Jason pulled up next to them.

"Are you insane ?" Piper yelled.

"What ?" Aris shook a hand through her hair to try and fix it from what the wind had done to it.

"You voluntarily fell off a flying horse ?"

Aris shrugged.

She whirled onto Percy. "And you let her ?"

"You don't let Mal do anything," Percy countered. "I learned that the hard way."

Aris whacked his shoulder. Percy wasn't fazed. He had developed an incredible tolerance for pain since becoming friends with her.

"I don't see what you're complaining about anyways," Aris rolled her eyes. "If Percy hadn't caught me, I would have become a pancake and all your worries—" Aris cut herself off, eyes widening in realisation.

Piper wasn't yelling at her because she had been worried. She was yelling because she hadn't been. She wasn't worried about Aris dying or even hurting herself. If anything, she wanted it. And as soon as she realised how she felt, Piper had felt bad like any normal person who and well...that led to the yelling. She wasn't yelling at her for not being careful. She was yelling because Aris had made her feel like a bad person.

Aris smirked while Piper glared. "What ?"

"Nothing...Let's just get this over with."

Piper didn't seem happy about that. She huffed petulantly and turned back to the front.

Jason shot Aris a look. Aris shot one right back.

Both horses pawed the asphalt. Neither looked pleased to have stopped so suddenly, just when they'd found their stride.

Blackjack whinnied.

"You're right," Percy said. "No sign of the wine dude."

"I beg your pardon ?" said a voice from the fields.

Tempest turned so quickly, Piper almost fell off. Aris was disappointed that she didn't and unlike her sister, she didn't feel guilty about her intrusive thoughts.

The wheat parted, and the man from her vision stepped into view. He wore a wide-brimmed hat wreathed in grapevines, a purple short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, and Birkenstocks with white socks. He looked maybe thirty, with a slight potbelly, like a frat boy who hadn't yet realized college was over.

"Did someone just call me the wine dude ?" he asked in a lazy drawl. "It's Bacchus, please. Or Mr. Bacchus. Or Lord Bacchus. Or, sometimes, Oh-My-Gods-Please-Don't-Kill-Me, Lord Bacchus."

Percy urged Blackjack forward, though Aris could tell the pegasus wasn't happy about it.

"You look different," Percy told the god. "Skinnier. Your hair is longer. And your shirt isn't so loud."

The wine god squinted up at him. "What in blazes are you talking about ? Who are you, and where is Ceres ?"

"Uh...what series ?"

"Ceres," Aris said. "As in the goddess of agriculture."

"You'd call her Demeter," Jason added. He nodded respectfully to the god. "Lord Bacchus, do you remember us ?" He gestured to himself and Aris. "We helped you with that missing leopard in Sonoma."

Bacchus scratched his stubbly chin. "Ah...yes. John Green and Arielle Micheals."

"Jason Grace and Aristea Mallory," he corrected.

"He doesn't care," Aris rolled her eyes.

"Exactly," the god pointed to her then inquiring, "Did Ceres send you, then ?"

"No, Lord Bacchus," Jason said. "Were you expecting to meet her here ?"

Aris rolled her eyes again. Had Jason lost part of his brain with his memories ? Of course he was expecting to meet her there if he was asking about her.

The god snorted. "Well, I didn't come to Kansas to party, my boy. Ceres asked me here for a council of war. What with Gaea 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."

"The plant war," Percy said. "You're going to arm all the little grapes with tiny assault rifles ?"

Aris snorted while the god narrowed his eyes. "Have we met ?"

"At Camp Half-Blood," Percy said, "I know you as Mr. D—Dionysus."

"Agh !" Bacchus winced and pressed his hands to his temples. For a moment, his image flickered. Aris saw a different person—fatter, dumpier, in a much louder, leopard-patterned shirt. Then Bacchus returned to being Bacchus. "Stop that !" he demanded. "Stop thinking about me in Greek !"

Percy blinked. "Uh, but—"

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay focused ? Splitting headaches all the time ! I never know what I'm doing or where I'm going ! Constantly grumpy !"

"That sounds pretty normal for you," Percy said.

Aris had to press a hand to her mouth to stop her from laughing too loud. Gods she loved this guy.

The god's nostrils flared. One of the grape leaves on his hat burst into flame. "If we know each other from that other camp, it's a wonder I haven't already turned you into a dolphin."

"It was discussed," Percy assured him. "I think you were just too lazy to do it."

Aris was dying. She was wheezing as she bit her lip to keep from the god hearing her (she was Roman at the end of the day). Her closed fist hit Percy's back as she supported herself against it, laughing a wheezing and uncontrollable laugh. She had tears running down her face from the effort of keeping quiet and just how funny she found the situation.

"Lord Bacchus !" Piper interrupted, slipping off Tempest's back.

"Piper, careful," Jason said.

She sent him a look which made her boyfriend back off.

"Sorry to trouble you, my lord," she told the god, "but actually we came here to get your advice. Please, we need your wisdom."

She used her most agreeable tone, pouring respect into her charmspeak.

Aris pulled a face. She didn't like charmspeak. It made her think of the sirens her, Jason and Reyna had encountered during their quest to fight the Trojean sea monster. The way those pretty voices lulled you in and could make you drown yourself. In a way, Aris always felt like charmspeak was a way of taking away a person's free will. A power she wasn't surprised her mother had and could give her children.

Love a removal of free will in a way. It ensnarled you and caught you until it destroyed you. Nothing good came from love. Only pain and suffering and walls being built.

The god frowned, but the purple glow faded in his eyes. "You're well-spoken, girl. Advice, eh ? Very well. I would avoid karaoke. Really, theme parties in general are out. In these austere times, people are looking for a simple, low-key affair, with locally produced organic snacks and—"

"Not about parties," Aris interrupted, getting tired of the god's voice.

"Although that's incredibly useful advice, Lord Bacchus," Piper saved, shooting Aris a glare. The daughter of Venus fakely smiled back as she laid her chin on Percy's shoulder. Piper looked back to Bacchus, smiling pleasantly. "We were hoping you'd help us on our quest."

She explained about the Argo II and their voyage to stop the giants from awakening Gaea. She told him what Nemesis had said: that in six days, Rome would be destroyed. She described the vision reflected in her knife, where Bacchus offered her a silver goblet.

"Silver goblet ?" The god didn't sound very excited. He grabbed a Diet Pepsi from nowhere and popped the top of the can.

"You drink Diet Coke," Percy said.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bacchus snapped. "As to this vision of the goblet, young lady, I have nothing for you to drink unless you want a Pepsi. Jupiter has put me under strict orders to avoid giving wine to minors. Bothersome, but there you have it. As for the giants, I know them well. I fought in the first Giant War, you know."

"You can fight ?" Percy asked.

Aris hid her face in Percy's back to hide how hilarious she found the face that her friend sounded so incredulous.

Dionysus snarled. His Diet Pepsi transformed into a five-foot staff wreathed in ivy, topped with a pinecone.

"A thyrsus !" Piper said, trying to sound impressed. "Oh, what a mighty weapon !"

Aris wasn't sure what was so impressive about it. It was a stick. She could probably do more damage with a pencil than Bacchus could with his stick.

"Indeed," Bacchus agreed. "I'm glad someone in your group is smart. The pinecone is a fearsome tool of destruction ! I was a demigod myself in the first Giant War, you know. The son of Jupiter !"

Jason flinched. Probably he wasn't thrilled to be reminded that the Wine Dude was technically his big brother. Aris found that both amusing and disturbing.

Bacchus swung his staff through the air, though his potbelly almost threw him off balance. "Of course that was long before I invented wine and became an immortal. I fought side by side with the gods and some other demigod...Harry Cleese, I think."

"Heracles ?" Piper suggested politely.

"Whatever," Bacchus said. "Anyway, I killed the giant Ephialtes and his brother Otis. Horrible boors, those two. Pinecone in the face for both of them !"

"Lord Bacchus," she said. "Those two giants, Ephialtes and Otis...would they happen to be twins ?"

"Hmm ?" The god seemed distracted by his thyrsus-swinging, but he nodded. "Yes, twins. That's right."

Percy and Aris shared a look. Twins snuff out the angel's breath.

"That's why we're here," Piper told the god. "You're part of our quest !"

Bacchus frowned. "I'm sorry, my girl. I'm not a demigod anymore. I don't do quests."

Aris knew this wasn't going to end well. She closed her eyes and focused on Piper's emotions. The girl was immediately hit with a wave of desperation, nervousness and...the need to prove herself.

Danger combinations.

The daughter of Venus opened her dual coloured eyes and focused on the interaction.

"But giants can only be killed by heroes and gods working together," Piper insisted. "You're a god now, and the two giants we have to fight are Ephialtes and Otis. I think...I think they're waiting for us in Rome. They're going to destroy the city somehow. The silver goblet I saw in my vision—maybe it's meant as a symbol for your help. You have to help us kill the giants !"

Aris cringed slightly as Bacchus glared at her.

"My girl," he said coldly, "I don't have to do anything. Besides, I only help those who give me proper tribute, which no one has managed to do in many, many centuries."

Blackjack whinnied uneasily.

Aris rolled her eyes. Of course the god required prayer and grovelling. That was the only way he would help save the world. Stupid gods. It was truly a wonder Aris hated them.

"What kind of tribute ?" Percy asked.

Bacchus waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing you could handle, insolent Greek. But I will give you some free advice, since this girl does have some manners. Seek out Gaea's son, Phorcys. He always hated his mother, not that I can blame him. He didn't have much use for his siblings the twins, either. You'll find him in the city they named after that heroine—Atalanta."

"You mean Atlanta ?" Aris deadpanned, unimpressed.

"That's the one."

"But this Phorcys," Jason said. "Is he a giant ? A Titan ?"

Bacchus laughed. "Neither. Seek out the salt water."

"Salt water..." Percy said. "In Atlanta ?"

"Yes," Bacchus said. "Are you hard of hearing ?"

"No, just an idiot," Aris supplied.

Percy sent her a look. She teasingly puckered up her lips and pretended to give him a kiss.

Bacchus ignored them. "If anyone can give you insight on Gaea and the twins, it's Phorcys. Just watch out for him."

"What do you mean ?" Jason asked.

The god glanced at the sun, which had climbed almost to high noon. "It's unlike Ceres to be late, unless she sensed something dangerous in this area. Or..."

The god's face suddenly went slack. "Or a trap. Well, I must be going ! And if I were you, I'd do the same !"

"Lord Bacchus, wait !" Jason protested.

The god shimmered and disappeared with a sound like a soda-can top being popped.

The wind rustled through the sunflowers. The horses paced in agitation.

"Bacchus is right," Piper said, shivering. "We need to leave—"

Too late, said a sleepy voice, humming through the fields all around them.

Pari Speaks !

I kind of hate this chapter but oh well.

Percy and Aris have my entire heart though. They are besties. I love them.

Also, Aris and Jason AKA Arson (yes, that is their official ship name now, fight with the wall) are so Casual by Chappel Roan coded. Like, is it casual that you named your horse after Aristea Tempest Mallory, Jason ?

Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed ! See you !

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