I 019. I

𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒐𝒓𝒆

❝ cafe ❞

SHE BEGGED ON HER KNEES FOR THE GODS ABOVE TO KEEP HIM ALIVE. That was something she had done a few times after he went missing. No matter how much she disliked them, they were the only ones who could see where he was, and she needed that.

Ariadne reluctantly opened her eyes to see where she was.

A cold wasteland of ice and snow. There was nothing that stretched past the horizon, as if it continued on forever. Specks of bergs along with flurries of snowflakes blazed the colorless landscape.

There was no one else there, as if she was the only one alive. She shivered, even with her coat, it wasn't enough to keep her even slightly warm. She imagined her lips were a dark blue thanks to the freezing temperatures. Of course, there was no way this had to be real. There was no way she was blown all the way to Alaska.

But maybe it had happened.

Aeolus was the master of the winds, no matter how much he insisted he was a god. His powers could've surely blown each of her quest group to further corners of the nation, or even the earth.

Piper could be in the tropical jungles, Leo in the sandy desert, Jason in the middle of the ocean, and Hedge somewhere where he would end up being detained for clubbing people with his weapon out of his bloodlust. Nothing sounded good.

She somehow was in Alaska, alone.

Ariadne brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, but her eyebrows furrowed when there was no sight of the grey streak often present in her chocolate locks. Her hand searched and searched for a sign, coming up empty. So whoever she was wasn't real. Whatever had happened her body was somewhere while she was stuck in her own mind.

How ironic.

It could be worse, she supposed. At least she could possibly find her way out of the tragic weather, but even then she would have to find a way. Sometimes that was hard. Sometimes, a person's own mind won't let them escape, in fear of learning the cold truth that it was attempting to protect itself from.

Wind whipped through her hair, sending daggers of cold through her clothes, piercing her skin every second she kept walking. She had to keep moving, to keep herself warm.

It was a bland and lackluster sight for her. With every step, her foot seemed to be pulled to the ground, as if gravity was becoming her mortal enemy. She was afraid she would be pulled through and would never escape—that would be true terror for her.

She tugged her feet along the icy floor while keeping an eye out. Nothing caught her eye, minus the other shadow figure moving in her direction. It made her stop.

"Hello?"

That voice. Her body stood stiff, her hands dropping from her coat in shock, letting all excess air in her lungs escape in a sudden haste of processing that sound. She took a shaky breath in, letting it drag out slowly, painfully.

Regaining some composure, her voice let out a loud cry, "Percy?"

The figure stopped. It stared, before it grew closer, and she was able to make out the familiar eyes and hair of her beloved.

Her heart pounded in her ribcage. It seemed like a trick, but the more he grew closer, and the wider his smile grew, she knew he was there—he was right there.

Percy's eyes held a sense of relief and joy at seeing her. His other half, the girl he had been crazy about since the every beginning. Ariadne stood a few meters away, in a distance so close he could make out the unmistakable head of curls and purple eyes.

They both rushed forward. They sprinted and sprinted for their lives, begging themselves to reach the other before they disappeared. Her feet slammed against the ground, not noticing the cracks following behind her.

She was so desperate to see him clearly. To hold him, to feel his heartbeat beneath her palm, to ensure he was really there and not only a figment of her imagination. Somehow it seemed all too good too be true.

Percy outstretched his hand. The one where she had spent nights tracing the lines on his palm, laughing and joking about what his future would be based on a lousy knowledge in astrology, one that Lou Ellen in the Hecate cabin spoke of.

"This line tells how many children you'll have," she stated softly, tracing a indent in his palm, sending shivers down his spine.

Percy smiled. He doubted it was true. But he was amused at his girlfriend's teasing and laughing, it relaxed him.

She leaned against his chest while he sat on his bunk in Cabin Three. His nose tickled her cheek, pressing fluttering kisses here and there every few minutes, causing her to giggle and lean back even further into him.

"So, how many?" he asked, stringing the conversation along in a way both knew was a small joke.

Ariadne thought for a second. Her calloused fingers traced the line lightly. It was as if a butterfly was landing on his hand, itching up along his palm before leaving, flying away

She smirked. "Ten."

He choked on his own spit. Some part of gut twisted at the mere thought of having a child. Especially if it was with her.

Ariadne laughed giddily at his look of shock. Her voice seemed to be laced with the sweetest dessert he could think of, as if drawing him in with a melody that could rival a siren's. It was beautiful, just like her. She was an effortless sculpture of perfection and power.

"Kidding," she sung. "I have no idea what this says. Lou Ellen lost me at the first half when trying to teach me the Zodiac Signs. Too much for me to remember."

"Wow, surprise, surprise," Percy remarked.

"Don't be teasing me, mr. I-ate-dirt-during-training-this-morning. You couldn't even swing your sword without focusing on me teaching the other campers."

Percy sputtered out a reply, red coating his cheeks in embarrassment. "How could I not! You were showing them a move and made it seem so easy. Besides, you with your hair in that ponytail makes me weak."

Ariadne threw her head back. She tucked it into the crook of her neck and smiled warmly. "Please, Kelp Head, we both know why you kept staring."

That they did.

Percy's fingers grazed hers, a tingle running up their spines. But it was cruel the way she couldn't feel it again. Her feet were pulled into the ground, and she was sent down through the icy landscape, and he was left attempting to dig for her.

For the first time since he had become a demigod, Percy Jackson felt his own heart tear itself to pieces, and he sobbed to himself for what felt like years.

She almost tore her father to pieces when he had appeared. Her rage was through the roof, and her need for vengeance could rival that of Ares. Everything seemed so cruel toward her.

Ariadne ignored his first few words. She had shouted, she had screamed, she had shredded the velvet curtains along the sides of the stage until they were mere pieces of cloth confetti. But nothing was good enough. Nothing could get her back to that icy landscape.

She would've rather been there with him.

Dionysus stood with worry while watching his daughter mutter to herself and pace back and forth. He was afraid. She was powerful.

"Ariadne," he said softly, "please, calm down."

She gave him a harsh glare that shocked him. "You want me to calm down? Bring back my boyfriend and then maybe I will. You all have done nothing, why should I calm down for your sake when he's still missing somewhere across the country? Have you even noticed what Hera did?"

"I know," he said. "But you have to listen to me—"

"Gods! I'm done listening, I just want to talk, and scream, and yell. You can tell Zeus to go find his wife or when I do I will shove my sword so far up her—"

"I'm trying to help!"

His voice cut her off. She glared at him, not in the least bit scared of Dionysus's eyes blazing with godly fire and a look that would burn most mortals. But not her.

Dionysus clenched his jaw. "I'm trying to help you. I shouldn't be here. Zeus didn't want anyone to speak to any of you, especially you. He's scared, Ariadne. He's scared of the power you wield. Frankly, the other Olympians are. When you arrived at Olympus that day he struck you down in hopes of you not hurting us. He knew you would be able to gain some knowledge, and he couldn't let that happen."

Ariadne crossed her arms. "Why? It seems so stupid, he's the King of the Gods."

"Please understand your status," Dionysus told her. He moved closer to her. "Although the children of the Big Three are powerful, there is another who wields the same level of power, maybe even more so."

His hand waved, as even applying the them.

"I have not had a daughter. People have claimed for centuries I have had one, but in the end, they have been mistaken. Ariadne, you've been my first daughter, my first daughter. It was told that a daughter of my own making would wield the power level of the Big Three children, and it seems to be right."

Dionysus hesitantly placed his hand on her shoulder. "My darling daughter, you hold a great burden in you," the god sighed. "I'm sorry this has had to happen. But, think of this, without that Jackson boy, you can be safe—"

Ariadne scoffed and slapped his hand away. "Are you serious?" Her voice was rough, deep and silky like she had the ability to charm speak even a god. "I thought you were being sincere for once and caring. But, in actuality, you only want comfort for yourself."

Dionysus grew angry. "I do not," he spat. "You need to listen—"

"I have, dad. Whatever is happening, whatever is going on with this second Great Prophecy, I expect you to be there to help me, or else I'll turn my back on you when this is all over. I'm done with this."

She turned on her heel, heading toward the wings of the stage, her feet stomping against the wooden boards across the floor.

"I can't lose you!"

Her body stopped

"I have already lost Castor," Dionysus muttered harshly. "My fears were high when I believed I would lose Pollux, as well. But, Ariadne, I cannot lose you too."

Ariadne glanced over her shoulder. She gave him a cold look, one that held no emotion, no guilt for her words or actions.

"You just did."

Then she woke up

She was at a table at a sidewalk cafe.

For a second, she almost jumped out of her seat, afraid it was another trick. It was a sunny mornin. The air was brush but not unpleasant for sitting outside. At the other tables, a mix of bicyclists, business people, and college kids sat chatting and drinking coffee.

Ariadne could smell the eucalyptus trees. Lots of foot traffic passed in front of quaint little shops. The street was lined with bottle brush trees and blooming azaleas as if winter was a foreign concept.

In other words: she was in California.

Her friends sat in chairs around her—all of them with their hands calmly folded across their chests, dozing pleasantly. And they all had new clothes on. Piper woke up and gasped. "Mother!"

She yelled louder than she meant. Jason flinched, bumping the table with his knees, and then all of them were awake.

"What?" Hedge demanded. "Fight who? Where?"

"Falling!" Leo grabbed the table. "No—not falling. Where are we?"

Jason blinked, trying to get his bearings. He focused on Piper and made a little choking sound. "What are you wearing?"

Piper blushed. She was wearing the turquoise dress she'd seen in her dream, with black leggings and black leather boots. She had on a silver charm bracelet and her old snowboarding jacket, which amazingly went with the outfit pretty well. She pulled out Katoptris.

"It's nothing," she said. "It's my—" She stopped. "It's nothing."

Leo grinned. "Aphrodite strikes again, huh? You're gonna be the best dressed warrior in town, beauty queen."

"Hey, Leo." Jason nudged his arm. "You look at yourself recently?"

"What...oh."

All of them had been given a makeover. Leo was wearing pinstriped pants, black leather shoes, a white collarless shirt with suspenders, and his tool belt, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a porkpie hat.

"God, Leo." Piper tried not to laugh. "I think my dad wore that to his last premiere, minus the tool belt."

"Hey, shut up!"

"I think he looks good," said Coach Hedge. "Course, I look better."

The satyr was a pastel nightmare. Aphrodite had given him a baggy canary yellow zoot suit with two tone shoes that fit over his hooves. He had a matching yellow broad brimmed hat, a rose colored shirt, a baby blue tie, and a blue carnation in his lapel, which Hedge sniffed and then ate.

"Well," Jason said, "at least your mom overlooked me."

Jason was dressed simply in jeans and a clean purple t-shirt, like he'd worn at the Grand Canyon. He had new track shoes on, and his hair was newly trimmed. His eyes were the same color as the sky.

"Coach," Ariadne spoke up, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed, "you look like you should be a Looney Tunes character."

He didn't know what that was, so he took the compliment. But his mouth went slack at the sight of her. The other three joined him the next second.

Ariadne didn't look real.

She had on a black wrap shirt, with a fishnet underneath that covered her stomach, tucked inside a pair of black cargo pants. The pants were underneath a pair of black combat boots that were laced up tightly. A few gold rings sat on her fingers across both hands, while her multiple ear piercings dawned a few gold hoops and vine earrings, along with the wave cuff on her ear.

The septum piercing wasn't there. That had ripped out during the Battle of Olympus, and she hadn't bothered to ever fix it. So now she was left with her earrings.

Tight curls were pulled back into two separate braids, ending with some thick part of her hair flooding off from its hair tie. Her gold necklace with the pearl laid across her neck, dipping into the valley along her chest, where a sea of freckles gathered.

Dark red lipstick covered her lips, with the sharpest eyeliner along her eyes. Her eyelashes seemed much longer thanks to the perfectly applied mascara on them.

Once again, Aphrodite proved that Ariadne was her favorite.

"What?" she asked the star struck group.

Piper smiled kindly. Some part of her heart fluttered. Even if she liked Jason, she admitted that Ariadne could be a girl crush for her. But when had she not been one for anyone?

Piper sighed. "Well, my mom did say you were her favorite person to dress up, because you're so adaptable to any style or look. Guess it's the blessing."

The brunette hummed and nodded. Jason blushed while looking away, and Leo scratched his neck nervously. People were stopping to stare at her but a glare sent their way and they continued walking.

"Anyway," Ariadne said uncomfortably," how did we get here?"

"Oh, that would be Mellie," Hedge said, chewing happily on his carnation. "Those winds shot us halfway across the country, I'd guess. We would've been smashed flat on impact, but Mellie's last gift—a nice soft breeze—cushioned our fall."

"And she got fired for us," Leo said. "Man, we suck."

"Ah, she'll be fine," Hedge said. "Besides, she couldn't help herself. I've got that effect on nymphs. I'll send her message when we're through with this quest and help her figure something out. That is one aura I could settle down with and raise a herd of baby goats."

"I'm going to be sick," Piper said. Ariadne had to agree. Her nose scrunched. "Anyone else want coffee?"

"Coffee!" Hedge's grin was stained blue from the flower. "I love coffee!"

"Um," Jason said, "but—money? Our packs?"

Ariadne looked down. Their packs were at their feet, and everything seemed to still be there. Piper reached into her coat pocket and felt two things she hadn't expected. One was a wad of cash.

Leo whistled. "Allowance? Piper, your mom rocks!"

"Waitress!" Hedge called. "Six double espressos, and whatever these guys want. Put it on the girl's tab."

It didn't take them long to figure out where they were. The menus said Cafe Verve, Walnut Creek, CA. And according to the waitress, it was 9 AM on December twenty-first, the winter solstice, which gave them three hours until Enceladus's deadline.

They didn't have to wonder where Mount Diablo was, either. They could see it on the horizon, right at the end of the street. After the Rockies, Mount Diablo didn't look very large, nor was it covered in snow. It seemed downright peaceful, it's golden creased marbled with gray-green trees. Here they were—in California—with sunny skies, mild weather, laid back people, and a plate of chocolate chip scones with coffee. And only a few miles away, somewhere on that peaceful mountain, a super powerful giant was about to have Piper's father for lunch.

Leo pulled something out of his pocket—the old crayon drawing Aeolus had given him.

Percy's letter was tucked away in her back, as she made sure to find it and keep it safe.

"What is that?" Piper asked.

Leo folded it up gingerly again and put it away. "Nothing. You don't want to see my kindergarten art work."

"It's more than that," Jason guessed. "Aeolus said it was the key to our success."

Leo shook his head. "Not today. He was talking about...later."

"How can you be sure?" Piper asked.

"Trust me," Leo said. "Now—what's our game plan?"

Coach Hedge belched. He'd already had three espressos and a plate of doughnuts, along with two napkins and another flower from the vase on the table. He would've eaten the silverware, except Ariadne had pushed his hand away.

"Climb the mountain," Hedge said. "Kill everything except Piper's dad. Leave."

"Thank you, General Eisenhower," Jason grumbled.

"Hey, I'm just saying!"

"Guys," Piper said. "There's more you need to know. Our real enemy—"

"Gaea," Ariadne finished.

"Gaea?" Leo shook his head. "Isn't that Mother Nature? She's supposed to have, like, flowers in her hair and birds singing around her and deer and rabbits doing her laundry."

"Leo, that's Snow White," Piper said.

"Okay, but—"

"Listen, cupcake." Coach Hedge dabbed the espresso out of his goatee. "Piper's telling us some serious stuff, here. Gaea's no softie. I'm not even sure I could take her."

Ariadne scoffed. "Wow, really?"

Hedge nodded. "This earth lady—she and her old man the sky were nasty customers."

"Ouranos," Piper said.

"Right," Hedge said. "So Ouranos, he's not the best dad. He throws their first kids, the Cyclopes, into Tartarus. That makes Gaea mad, but she hides her time. Then they have another set of kids—the twelve Titans—and Gaea is afraid they'll get thrown into prison too. So she goes up to her son Kronos—"

"The big bad dude," Leo said. "The one they defeated last summer."

Memories of the terror throughout camp. Silena dying, seeing others fall to their knees before monsters. A drakon crawling along the side of the building. Gold eyes that haunt her everyday, Luke's voice tainted with cruel intentions and wicked smiles.

"Right. And Gaea's the one who gives him the scythe, and tells him, 'Hey, why don't I call your dad down here? And while he's talking to me, distracted, you can cut him to pieces. Then you can take over the world. Wouldn't that be great?"

Nobody said anything. Ariadne was the only one still drinking her beverage. It made it a lot easier to hear about it when she had faced the Titan the previous summer.

"Definitely not Snow White," Piper decided.

"Nah, Kronos was a bad guy," Hedge said. "But Gaea of literally the mother of all bad guys. She's so old and powerful, so huge, that it's hard for her to be fully conscious. Most of the time, she sleeps, and that's the way we like her—snoring."

"But she talked to me," Leo said. "How can she be asleep?"

Ariadne placed her cup of hot chocolate down, pursing her lips. "It's the same as Kronos. He spoke to me multiple times, even before he rose again. Even in their sleep, part of their consciousness is active—dreaming, keeping watch, doing little things like causing volcanoes to explode and monsters to rise and ruining demigods lives. Even now, Gaea's not fully away. Believe me, it won't be good if she is."

"But she's getting more powerful," Piper said. "She's causing the giants to rise. And if their king comes back—this guy Porphyrion—"

"He'll raise an army to destroy the gods," Jason put in. "Starting with Hers. It'll be another war. And Gaea will wake up fully."

Gleeson nodded. "Why is why it's a good idea for us to stay off the ground as much as possible."

Leo looked warily at Mount Diablo. "So...climbing a mountain. That would be bad."

"Guys, I can't ask you to do this," Piper said. "This is too...dangerous."

"You kidding?" Gleeson belched and showed them his blue carnation smile.

Ariadne gazed over at a store window. She could see three figures, holding balls of yarns and cutting strings, causing her to glower at them.

She stood to her feet, causing the others to look up at her.

A sinister smile crossed her face. As if the girl was about to take Gaea on herself at that very moment. "Come on," she said in her raspy, silky voice, "I'm tired of this. Let's go kill a giant."

authors note:

So, it's been a while.

I lost som motivation and caught up on a few shows, and I AM IN LOVE WITH ATTACK ON TITAN

I MEAN

LEVI ACKERMAN

HDNDNDND

HE COUKD STEP ON ME OLEASE IM DYING HES EVERUTHING

but anyways.

Sorry for making you all wait. We're getting closer to the end of this act. Cant believe I've been working on it for three months and we're still not finished

Sorry I'm so slow and a lack of updates. I'm trying but ya know, seasonal depression and all

Q: Favorite song right now?
A:

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Tell me what you loved and stuff!

Love you guys!