★ 。＼｜／。★

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖗𝖊 𝖖𝖚𝖆𝖙𝖗𝖊:
THE WINE GOD AND
THE EARTH MOTHER

★ 。／｜＼。★

LEO HAD SAID they were close to the Topeka 32 exit. Belle thought he needed to redefine his definition of close.

Despite it being completely hot outside, Belle and Percy still gripped to each other's hands like they normally did. It reminded her a lot of that one time they visited Geryon's ranch back in the Labyrinth before they were dating.

The group of four trudged half a mile through the hot fields while getting bitten by mosquitoes. After Jason got hit in the face with a sunflower, Belle flicked her hand and willed all of the sunflowers to move out of the way for them. Finally, they reached the road, only to find an old billboard for Bubba's Gas 'n' Grub told them they were still forty miles from the first Topeka exit.

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

Jason looked both ways down the deserted road. He looked a lot better than yesterday, thanks to the healing powers of ambrosia and nectar. Jason looked less pale and the scar on his forehead from that brick had begun to fade away. His gladius that Hera (the most annoying Goddess) had gifted him hung from his belt. Seeing him look so natural with a sword reminded Belle a lot of Percy. They were similar in a lot of ways, yet they were also starkly different.

"No cars . . ." Jason voiced. "But I guess we wouldn't want to hitchhike."

"No," Piper agreed while gazing nervously down the highway. "We've already spent too much time going overland. The Earth is Gaea's territory."

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

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

Belle rolled her eyes slightly. It was obvious that the two of them were trying to one-up each other. While Jason whistled, Percy simply closed his eyes and concentrated. Belle didn't know who Jason was calling, but she did know who Percy was calling: Blackjack, his Pegasus. She shared a look with Piper until thunder crackled in the clear sky.

Jason smiled. "Soon."

"Too late," Percy replied.

He pointed east. A black winged shape was spiraling toward them. Belle smiled at the sight of it.

"A black Pegasus?" Piper questioned. "Never seen one like that."

The figure landed in front of them. Blackjack trotted over to Percy and nuzzled his face, obviously missing him after months of Percy being gone. He then trotted over to Belle and nuzzled her face as well. She laughed slightly and pet his snout for a moment. The Pegasus then turned his head curiously toward Piper and Jason.

"Blackjack, this is Piper and Jason," Percy told him. "They're friends."

The Pegasus nickered.

"Uh, maybe later."

Belle couldn't speak to horses. However, from what Percy had told her about Blackjack, there was always one thing the Pegasus wanted: doughnuts.

"What does Blackjack want?" Piper inquired.

"Doughnuts," Percy answered. "Always doughnuts. He can carry all four of us if—"

The air suddenly turned cold and Belle's ears popped from pressure. About fifty yards away, a miniature cyclone that was three stories tall tore across the tops of the sunflowers. It finally touched down on the road next to Jason and took the form of a horse. The horse was a misty steed with lightning flickering throughout its body.

"Tempest," Jason announced, smiling widely. "Long time, my friend."

"Oh, that's Tempest?" Belle asked, remembering the story Jason had told her after their quest.

Jason nodded. Meanwhile, Tempest the storm spirit reared and whinnied. Blackjack backed up skittishly away from him.

"Easy, boy," Percy said in a soothing tone. "He's a friend too." He sent 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. Piper accepted Jason's hand and climbed on Tempest. Belle took Percy's hand and climbed on Blackjack's back, wrapping her arms around his waist to hold on.

Blackjack then soared into the air, flying in the direction of the exit. Tempest was racing down the road. In a very short amount of time, they arrived at the thirty-two mile marker. Blackjack flew down towards the pavement and landed. Both him and Tempest pawed at the asphalt, probably not happy they had to stop so suddenly. Blackjack whinnied again.

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

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

Belle looked towards the field. The wheat parted and a man stepped into view. He was so similar yet so different it almost gave Belle a headache. The man wore a wide-brimmed hat wreathed with grapevines, a purple short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, white socks, and a pair of Birkenstocks. He looked about thirty and had a slight potbelly.

"Did someone just call me the wine dude?" he continued 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 looked back to Belle for a second. She gave him a reassuring nod. He then urged Blackjack forwards, although Blackjack didn't seem very happy about it.

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

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

"Uh . . . what series?"

Belle sighed. "No, Percy. Ceres. Roman persona of Demeter. Goddess of the harvest? Also my mother? Ring a bell?"

"Oh."

Jason nodded respectfully to the God. "Bacchus, do you remember me? I helped you with that missing leopard in Sonoma."

Bacchus scratched at his stubbly chin. "Ah . . . yes. John Green."

"Jason Grace."

"Whatever. Did Ceres send you, then?"

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

Bacchus snorted in amusement. "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 repeated. "You're going to arm all the little grapes with tiny assault rifles?"

Belle smacked his shoulder. "You've seen first-hand from me and the Demeter Cabin what plants are capable of. Don't underestimate them."

The God narrowed his eyes at Percy. "Have we met?"

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

"Agh!" Bacchus winced and pressed his hands to his temples, making Belle blink in surprise. His image flickered for a moment. She saw a very familiar person who was fatter and dumpier in a loud leopard patterned shirt. Dionysus then faded away and returned to being Bacchus. "Stop that! Stop thinking about me in Greek!"

"Uh, but—" Percy began.

"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," Belle scolded.

Bacchus' nostrils flared and one of the grape leaves on his hat burst into flames. "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 replied. "I think you were just too lazy to do it."

"Percy, you are not helping!" Belle yelled. "I really do not want to bring you back to the ship as a dolphin, thank you very much."

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Lord Bacchus!" Piper exclaimed, getting off of Tempest's back.

"Piper, careful," Jason warned.

She shot him a glance to say I've got this and turned back to Bacchus. "Sorry to trouble you, my Lord, but actually we came here to get your advice. Please, we need your wisdom."

Bacchus frowned, the purple glow fading from his eyes slightly. "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," Piper interrupted. "Although that's incredibly useful advice, Lord Bacchus. We were hoping you'd help us on our quest."

Piper then explained how the Argo II was on a voyage to stop the Giants from waking up Gaea. She told the God how Nemesis had said in six days Rome would be destroyed. Finally, she described the vision Katoptris had shown, where Bacchus had offered her a silver goblet.

"Silver goblet?" Bacchus recalled.

He didn't sound very excited about it. Out of nowhere, he grabbed a can of Diet Pepsi and popped open the top.

"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.

"Percy!" Belle scolded again.

Bacchus snarled. His Diet Pepsi can transformed into a staff five feet tall that was wreathed in ivy and topped with a pinecone. Belle reached down and clutched Sunflower's keychain in her hand. If her stupid idiot boyfriend caused a fight with a God, she was seriously going to kill him.

"A thyrsus!" Piper cried. "Oh, what a mighty weapon!"

"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!"

Belle saw Jason flinch. He probably wasn't thrilled to be reminded that the wine God was technically his big brother.

Bacchus swung his thyrsus through the air, although 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 politely suggested.

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

Belle straightened up. Brother. She shared a look with Piper. Apparently, they were both thinking of the same thing.

"Lord Bacchus," Piper began. "Those two Giants, Ephialtes and Otis . . . would they happen to be twins?"

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

Twins snuff out the angel's breath. This was linked to the Prophecy.

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

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

"But Giants can only be killed by heroes and Gods working together. 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!"

Bacchus glared at her. Belle winced at her poorly chosen words. If she had learned anything, it was that the Gods didn't like being told what to do.

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

Blackjack whinnied uneasily. Belle couldn't blame him. The word tribute didn't sound very good.

"What kind of tribute?" Percy questioned.

Bacchus waved his hand in dismissal. "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."

Piper hesitated for a moment. "You mean Atlanta?"

"That's the one."

"But this Phorcys," Jason cut in. "Is he a Giant? A Titan?"

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

"Salt water . . ." Percy trailed off. "In Atlanta?"

"Yes. Are you hard of hearing? If anyone can give you insight on Gaea and the twins, it's Phorcys. Just watch out for him."

"What do you mean?" Jason inquired.

Bacchus glanced up at the sun, which was almost to high noon. "It's unlike Ceres to be late, unless she sensed something dangerous in this area." His 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 didn't wait. Instead, he shimmered and disappeared in a sound of a soda can being popped. Belle looked around. The wind was rustling through the sunflowers and the horses were pacing in agitation. That cold feeling she had yesterday suddenly came back and she shivered. Her eyes widened.

"We have to leave," Belle announced. "Mr. D — I mean, Bacchus is right."

Too late, a sleepy voice spoke, humming through the fields all around them and resonating through the ground.

Percy drew Riptide while Jason drew his gladius. Belle unclipped Sunflower's keychain and flipped it in the air, gripping the green hilt of her sword once it appeared. She slowly slid off of Blackjack and walked up to a scared Piper. The sunflowers turned to look at them and the wheat bent toward them like a million scythes (and after the last war, Belle wasn't too happy with that.)

"Belle . . ." Piper whispered.

She flicked her hand. The plants turned away from them, but only for a few seconds.

Belle lowered her hand. "It's not working."

Nice try, daughter of Demeter, Gaea murmured. But alas, I am the Earth, and your powers have no control over me.

"What do you want?" Belle demanded.

Welcome to my party, Gaea continued. What did Bacchus say? A simple, low-key affair with organic snacks? Yes. For my snacks, I need only two: the blood of a female Demigod, and the blood of a male. Piper and Belle, my dears, you can choose which one of you will die and which hero will die with you.

Belle shook her head. "You're insane."

"Gaea!" Jason yelled. "Stop hiding in the wheat. Show yourself!"

Such bravado, Gaea hissed. But the other one, Percy Jackson, also has appeal. Choose, Piper McLean and Belle Adair, or I will.

Her heart racing, Belle shared a look with Piper. Gaea wanted to kill one of them, that was no surprise. But choosing only one of the boys . . . there was no way Gaea would let either of them go. It was a trap.

"Belle's right, you're insane!" Piper shouted. "Neither of us are choosing anything for you!"

Suddenly, Jason gasped and sat up straight in his saddle.

"Jason!" Piper exclaimed. "What's wrong—?"

Piper stopped mid sentence as he looked down at her. His eyes were no longer blue. Instead, they glowed solid gold. Piper stumbled back from Tempest and Belle gripped the girl's elbow in her free hand to stabilize her.

"Percy?" Belle inquired.

She turned. Percy galloped away from them, stopping thirty feet down the road. He wheeled Blackjack around, raising Riptide and pointing the tip towards Jason. Just like Jason's, Percy's eyes were gold, unlike the familiar sea-green Belle had fallen so in love with. For the first time in her life, Percy was truly scaring her.

"No . . ." Belle breathed out.

"One will die," Percy voiced, but it wasn't his. Instead, it was deep and hollow.

"I will choose," Jason answered in the same hollow voice.

"No!" Piper screamed.

The fields all around them crackled and hissed, laughing in Gaea's voice. Percy and Jason then charged at each other with their weapons ready. Her eyes widening in realization that they were in the crossfire, Belle wrapped an arm around Piper's waist and yanked them away. They both rolled to the edge of the road and watched the boys in a dazed horror.

Percy and Jason crossed swords, sparks flying from Celestial Bronze hitting Imperial Gold. Their blades blurred — strike and parry — and the pavement trembled. The first exchange was only took a second, but the two were fighting fast. The horses pulled away from each other with Tempest thundering in protest and Blackjack flapping his wings.

"Stop it!" Piper yelled with charmspeak.

For only a moment, Jason heeded to her voice. His golden eyes turned towards the two. However, Percy charged at him, slamming his blade into Jason. Thank the Gods, Percy had turned Riptide — maybe on purpose, maybe accidentally, Belle didn't know — so the flat of it hit Jason's chest. However, the impact was still enough to knock Jason off his mount.

Blackjack cantered away while Tempest reared in confusion. Tempest charged into the field of sunflowers and dissipated into vapor. Meanwhile, Percy struggled to turn his Pegasus around.

"Percy, hey, listen to me," Belle called. She didn't have charmspeak, but maybe a voice he knew would be able to snap him out of it. His golden eyes met her blue ones. She tried her best not to flinch. "Drop Riptide. Jason is your friend, all right?"

Miraculously, Percy's arm holding Riptide dipped. Maybe with a little bit of Piper's charmspeak would be enough to get him under control, but Jason unfortunately got to his feet. He roared, and a bolt of lightning arced out of the clear blue sky. It ricocheted off of his gladius and blasted Percy off Blackjack.

"No!" Belle yelled.

Blackjack whinnied and fled into the wheat fields. Percy was now on his back with his clothes smoking from the lightning blast. Jason charged at him.

For a long, horrible moment, Belle had no words to say. Gaea seemed to whisper to her: Either of you must choose. Why not let Jason kill him?

Belle turned to Piper, her eyes wild and desparate. "Piper, please."

"Jason, stop!" Piper screamed with more charmspeak.

He froze with his sword six inches from Percy's face, the gold light in his eyes flickering uncertainly. "I cannot stop. One must die."

There was something different about that voice. It wasn't Gaea, and it definitely wasn't Jason. Whoever it was spoke haltingly as if English wasn't their first language.

"Who are you?" Piper demanded.

Jason smiled gruesomely. "We are the Eidolons. We will live again."

"Eidolons," Belle repeated, not finding the name familiar despite all of her years at Camp Half-Blood. "Are you a kind of ghost?"

"He must die."

Jason turned his attention back to Percy. However, Percy had recovered more than any of them had realized. He swept out his leg and knocked Jason off his feet. Jason's head hit the asphalt with a nauseating conk, and Percy rose.

"Stop it!" Piper yelled again, the charmspeak in her voice being replaced for sheer desperation.

Percy raised Riptide over Jason's chest. Belle gripped the hilt of Sunflower and pressed the tip of it into the ground, prepared to bent plants to her will to trap him if need be. She had thought about fighting Percy since they always sparred at Camp, but she wasn't sure about doing that when he was in this condition. At least Percy had enough sense to not injure her. The Eidolon didn't.

"Eidolon, stop," Piper ordered, and Percy froze. "Face us."

Percy turned. Seeing his gold eyes up close were even more chilling to Belle now. His face was pale and cruel which was very unlike Percy.

"You have not chosen," he told them. "So this one will die, and one of you will die with him."

"You're a spirit from the Underworld," Piper guessed. "You're possessing Percy Jackson. Is that it?"

Percy sneered in a very un-Percy way. "I will live again in this body. The Earth Mother has promised. I will go where I please, control whom I wish."

Another wave of cold settled over Belle. "That's what happened to Leo. He was also being controlled by an Eidolon."

The Eidolon in Percy's body laughed humorlessly. "Too late you realize. You can trust no one."

Jason still wasn't moving. Belle's eyes flickered to the wheat. Something was rustling in it. There was the tip of Blackjack's wing peeking through. Percy began to turn towards the sound.

"Ignore it!" Piper yelped. "Look at me."

Percy obeyed her command. "You cannot stop me. I will kill Jason Grace."

Blackjack emerged from the wheat field behind him, moving with a lot of stealth for a large animal.

"No you won't," Belle voiced, making eye contact with Blackjack, hoping the Pegasus would understand her. "Instead, you're only going to knock him out."

Percy sneered. "What?"

Belle nudged Piper in the ribs.

"You will knock him out," Piper repeated.

The charmspeak washed over Percy and he shifted his weight indecisively. "I . . . will knock him out?"

"Oh, sorry." Piper smiled. "I wasn't talking to you."

Blackjack reared and knocked his hoof against Percy's head. Percy crumpled onto the pavement next to Jason. Belle breathed a sigh of relief and flipped Sunflower in the air, clipping her keychain back to her belt loops once it appeared. She then ran over to the boys with Piper in tow.

"Oh, Gods!" Piper exclaimed. "Blackjack, you didn't kill him, did you?"

Blackjack snorted. Once again, Belle didn't speak Horse, but she was almost positive that Blackjack had said he had known his own strength. Tempest was also nowhere to be seen, apparently returning to wherever storm spirits go on a clear day.

Belle sunk to her knees. While Piper checked on Jason, Belle checked on Percy. She put his face in her hands and gently examined his head. There was no blood, but a large knot was forming where Blackjack had kicked him.

"Blackjack, we have to get them back to the ship," Belle told the Pegasus. "Are you all right with carrying four of us?"

The Pegasus bobbed his head in agreement. He knelt to the ground so Belle and Piper could drape Percy and Jason over his back. After a lot of hard work (unconscious boys were heavy), they got the boys reasonably secured. Belle and Piper climbed onto Blackjack's back, and Blackjack soared off, heading in the direction of the Argo II.

—  [  ♡  ]  —

I think it's funny how belle's faceclaim was almost olivia rodrigo but now liv's a faceclaim in another book of mine

also guys I think I gotta try and shift maybe I'll be happier at hogwarts dating ron weasley

gifs by 1-800-SIMPINGFORSEB !