𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖊𝖋

THE FIENDISHLY HANDSOME (PHOENIX'S WORDS) WAR GOD awaited them in the parking lot when they returned.

"Well, well," he said. "You didn't get yourself killed?"

"You knew it was a trap," Percy hissed before anyone else could speak. His face pinched in anger.

Ares gave him a wicked grin. "Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid ass teens. You guys looked good on camera. Except maybe birdie here, hey you look better now kid? I can't believe a demigod like you was scared of a little ride—"

Phoenix inhaled sharply, she opened her mouth but was interrupted,

Percy shoved his shield at him. "You're an asshole."

Annabeth and Grover caught their breath. Phoenix's eyes widened slightly. "Woah Percy—"

Ares held up a hand. Phoenix fell silent.

They all expected Ares to shoot him down then and there.

Ares stared Percy straight down before he smirked, He grabbed the shield and spun it in the air. It changed form, melting into a bulletproof vest. He slung it across his back.

"So. Where's the ride you promised." Phoenix interrogated.

"See that truck over there?" He pointed to an eighteen-wheeler parked across the street from the diner. "That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas."

The eighteen-wheeler had a sign on the back, Phoenix read.

KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS.

"Wild animals? Cool." Phoenix smiled slightly, "Can I have one?"

The god looked surprised "Um—Sure, have your pick."

Percy quickly took his attention away and Ares immediately looked annoyed.

Percy said, "You're kidding."

The god snapped his fingers. The back door of the truck unlatched. "Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job."

He slung a blue nylon backpack off his handlebars and tossed it to him.

Inside were fresh clothes for all of them, twenty bucks in cash, 2 vials of nectar, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of Double Stuf Oreos.

He said, "I don't want your lousy—"

"Shut Up!" Phoenix interrupted, Percy almost thought she was going to warn him. "I want the twenty bucks." She grabbed the bill and pocketed it.

"Thank you, Lord Ares," Grover interrupted, laying on the kindness thick. "Thanks so so so so much!"

Percy gritted his teeth.

"Hey, I know it's mostly barnacles up there but use your head." Phoenix actually did warn him this time. She knew it was an insult to refuse something from a god, and that insulting a god usually resulted in a demigod's demise. Her quest would become really boring if Percy got turned into a boar before they had any answers.

Percy looked at Ares like he didn't want anything that he had touched. Reluctantly, he slung the backpack over his shoulder.

He inhaled sharply. Phoenix could feel his anger radiating before the war god's presence, he was itching to punch him square in the face.

Phoenix smiled, she honestly wanted to see it...

Percy looked back at the diner, which had only a couple of customers now. The waitress who'd served them dinner was watching nervously out the window, Phoenix could feel the fear rippling from her in waves.

She dragged the fry cookout from the kitchen to see.

She said something to him. He nodded, held up a little disposable camera, and snapped a picture of them all.

"Erm. What was that light?" Phoenix tilted her head inquisitively.

Annabeth quickly explained what a camera flash was.

"You owe me one more thing," Percy told Ares, his voice leveled but trembling slightly. "You promised me information about my mother."

"You sure you can handle the news?" He kick-started his motorcycle. "She's not dead."

Percy's face became shades lighter. "What do you mean?"

"I mean she was taken away from the Minotaur before she could die. She was turned into a shower of gold, right? That's metamorphosis. Not death. She's being kept."

"Kept. Why?"

"Hostage." Phoenix thought out loud. "She's a hostage?"

"Bingo birdie. You gotta teach this punk about war. Hostages. You take somebody to control somebody else."

"Nobody's controlling me." Percy snapped bitterly.

He laughed. "Oh yeah? See you around, kid."

Phoenix shook her head, Don't take that was written all over her face. Percy seemed to agree.

He balled up his fists. "You're pretty fucking smug, Lord Ares, for a guy who runs from Cupid statues and sends off teenagers to do his dirty work."

Behind his sunglasses, the fire glowed.

"We'll meet again, Percy Jackson. Next time you're in a fight, watch your back."

He revved his Harley, then roared off down Delancy Street.

Annabeth turned to Percy wide-eyed, "That was not smart, Percy. None of it. You've insulted the god of war!"

"I don't care."

"It was powerful. He stood up for himself."

"Do not encourage him Phoenix! You don't want a god as your enemy. Especially not that god. Both of you need to stop and use your brains."

"I use my brain, fists just translate often." She shrugged,

Annabeth scoffed, "You're not funny."

"Funny?" Phoenix questioned, "No, I'm Phoenix. For someone so smart you keep forgetting my name."

"I—" Annabeth tried to defend,

"Hey, guys," Grover said. "I hate to interrupt, but..."

He pointed toward the diner. At the register, the last two customers were paying their checks, two men in identical black coveralls, with a white logo on their backs that matched the one on the KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL truck.

"If we're taking the zoo express," Grover said, "we need to hurry."

They all ran across the street and climbed in the back of the big rig, closing the doors behind them.

The first thing that hit Phoenix was the smell. It was intense and burned the inside of her nostrils. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she stepped deeper into the dark trailer.

Percy uncapped Anaklusmos. The blade casts a faint bronze light over a very depressing scene. Sitting in a row of filthy metal cages were three zoo animals: a zebra, a male albino lion, and an antelope with a broken horn.

Someone had thrown the lion a sack of turnips, which he didn't want to eat. The zebra and the antelope had each gotten a Styrofoam tray of hamburger meat.

The zebra's mane was matted with chewing gum like somebody had been spitting on it in their spare time. The antelope had a stupid silver birthday balloon tied to one of his horns.

It was obvious that no one had the guts to get close to the lion, the poor thing was pacing around on soiled blankets, in a space way too small for him, panting from the stuffy heat of the trailer. He had flies buzzing around his pink eyes and his ribs showed through his white fur.

"I'm not an animal expert but that doesn't seem right." Phoenix pointed.

"This is kindness?" Grover yelled. "Humane zoo transport?"

He was ready to go outside and beat up the truckers with his reed pipes, Phoenix prepared herself to join him.

But then the truck's engine roared to life, the trailer started shaking, and they were forced to sit down or fall.

They huddled in the corner on some mildewed feed sacks, trying to ignore the smell the heat, and the flies. Grover talked to the animals in a series of goat bleats, but they just stared at him sadly.

Annabeth was in favor of breaking the cages and freeing them on the spot, but Percy pointed out it wouldn't do much good until the truck stopped moving.

Phoenix decided they had to at least do something. She walked over, wobbling as she did her best to balance in the moving vehicle. With her Poleaxe she dragged the mismatched food out of their cages.

The lion puffed when she gave him the meat and dug in, the zebra and the antelope ran over before she could even get the food down. Percy pointed out the water jugs and helped by refilling their bowls.

Grover calmed the antelope down, while Annabeth used her knife to cut the balloon off his horn.

She wanted to cut the gum out of the zebra's mane, too, but Phoenix told her it might not end pretty with the truck bumping around and that scared her off. Phoenix might have gone into a little too much detail about what could happen with a knife that close to a Zebras throat.

According to Grover, the Zebra didn't appreciate the image either.

Finally, Grover promised the animals they would help them more in the morning, and then they all settled in for the night.

Grover curled up on a turnip sack; Annabeth opened their bag of Double Stuf Oreos and nibbled on one halfheartedly; Phoenix took out her sketchbook and started doodling the animals mindlessly.

Percy was up thinking about how the gods kept toying with him.

"Hey," Annabeth said, "I'm sorry for freaking out back at the water park."

"That's okay." Percy reassured, "We're all scared of something."

Phoenix shrugged but kept drawing, "Not me."

Percy rolled his eyes, "What about water—Oof—"

Phoenix jabbed his side. She held an icy glare, "I wasn't scared! I was weakened. You and your powers do not scare me. You got that?"

"Noted." He groaned. "Everyone but Phoenix." He mumbled sarcastically.

Annabeth shuddered, too lost in her thoughts to notice the exchange between the duo.

"Spiders." Phoenix guessed, "Athena kids hate them... I remember when the Stoll brothers filled your cabin with spiders and you guys refused to sleep until the room was triple-checked."

"Wait...You remember that—How—"

"Because of the Arachne story?" Percy interrupted. "She got turned into a spider for challenging your mom to a weaving contest, right?"

Annabeth looked at Percy wide-eyed, shocked at his sudden knowledge, she nodded and took that moment to explain. "Arachne's children have been taking revenge on the children of Athena ever since. If there's a spider within a mile of me, it'll find me. I hate the creepy little things. Anyway, I owe you Percy."

"We're a team, remember?" He said. "Besides, Grover did the fancy flying."

They thought he was asleep, but he mumbled from the corner, "I was pretty amazing, wasn't I?"

Annabeth and Percy laughed.

Phoenix muttered "Eh."

"Ah, C'mon Phoenix!"

The corner of her lips curved up slightly, not quite a smile but much more expressive than her usual face.

Annabeth stared at the Oreo before parting it into three parts. Phoenix stared at the cookie piece Annabeth handed her before reluctantly eating it.

"Good huh."

"Mhm." She hummed, continuing her drawing

Annabeth giggled as she watched her. Finally, she faced Percy and handed him his piece. "In the Iris message did Luke truly say nothing?"

Percy munched his cookie and thought about how to answer. Phoenix wondered if it was best to tell Annabeth the entire truth. She felt like it was, but she also knew it would make her sad. Which was not good. Not good at all.

"Luke said you and him go way back. He also said Grover wouldn't fail this time. Nobody would turn into a pine tree." Percy glanced at Phoenix, it was decided then to tell Annabeth only half of the story.

Phoenix was going against her very nature by choosing to not cause discord in Annabeth's mind. If she wanted to, she could taunt her. Tell her how Luke suspected her...

Phoenix knew that any choice they made would involve some sort of chaos, but this time she chose to not invoke the option that would torment Annabeth the most.

Weird, She thought

In the dim bronze light of the sword blade, it was hard to read her muddled expression.

Grover let out a mournful bray.

"I should've told you the truth from the beginning." His voice trembled. "I thought if you knew what a failure I was, you wouldn't want me along."

"You were the satyr who tried to rescue Thalia, the daughter of Zeus," Percy stated.

Grover nodded glumly.

"And the other two half-bloods Thalia befriended, the ones who got safely to camp..." Percy looked at Annabeth. "That was you and Luke, wasn't it?"

She put down her Oreo, uneaten. "Like you said, Percy, a seven-year-old half-blood wouldn't have made it very far alone. Athena guided me toward help. Thalia was twelve. Luke was fourteen. They'd both run away from home, like me. They were happy to take me with them. They were... amazing monster fighters, even without training. We traveled north from Virginia without any real plans, fending off monsters for about two weeks before Grover found us."

"I was supposed to escort Thalia to camp," Grover said, sniffling. "Only Thalia. I had strict orders from Chiron: don't do anything that would slow down the rescue. We knew Hades was after her, see, but I couldn't just leave Luke and Annabeth by themselves. I thought ... I thought I could lead all three of them to safety. It was my fault the Kindly Ones caught up with us. I froze. I got scared on the way back to camp and took some wrong turns. If I'd just been a little quicker."

"Stop it," Annabeth said. "No one blames you. Thalia didn't blame you either."

"Yeah. She could have easily died just by herself. A daughter of Zeus has a strong stench." Phoenix mumbled, still drawing.

Percy cleared his throat, "She tried."

Grover nodded, "Thalia sacrificed herself to save us," he said miserably. "Her death was my fault. The Council of Cloven Elders said so."

"Because you wouldn't leave two other half-bloods behind?" Percy said. "That's not fair."

"And stupid. Those old goats don't know anything. Unless you are the Cyclops that did it to her. You aren't to blame at all. They're giving you way too much credit."

"Percy's right and Phoenix is um— close," Annabeth said. "I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you, Grover. Neither would Luke. We don't care what the council says."

Grover kept sniffling in the dark. "It's just my luck. I'm the lamest satyr ever, and I find the two most powerful half-bloods of the century, Thalia and Percy."

"You're not lame," Annabeth insisted. "You've got more courage than any satyr I've ever met. Name one other who would dare go to the Underworld. I bet Percy is really glad you're here right now."

She kicked him in the shin. Phoenix glanced up from her sketchbook before looking back down.

"Yeah." He said, which he would've likely done even without the kick. "It's not luck that you found Thalia and me, Grover. You've got the biggest heart of any satyr ever. You're a natural searcher. That's why you'll be the one who finds Pan."

Phoenix heard a deep, satisfied sigh. She waited for Grover to say something, but his breathing only got heavier. When the sound turned to snoring, She realized he'd fallen asleep.

"How does he do that?" Percy marveled.

"I don't know," Annabeth said. "But that was a nice thing you told him."

"I meant it."

They rode in silence for a few miles, bumping around on the feed sacks. The lion licked the last of the hamburger meat off his lips and stared at Phoenix hopefully.

She looked at Annabeth and Percy with wide curious eyes. "Where can I get meat without going on a hunt?"

"Well." Annabeth started "Usually a supermarket...but uh it'll be a while till we get to one of those."

"Well, we should we need to feed her." Phoenix looked around the mess of a truck and saw a toy dog bone. She walked over and handed it to the albino lion. "Take this I'll find you something better soon."

The lion purred in response and chewed on the tiny bone.

Annabeth rubbed her necklace as she watched the interaction intently.

"That pine tree bead," Percy asked from beside the blonde. "Is that from your first year?"

She looked down. She hadn't realized what she was doing.

"Yeah," she said. "Every August, the counselors pick the most important event of the summer, and they paint it on that year's beads. I've got Thalia's pine tree, a Greek trireme on fire, a centaur in a prom dress—now that was a weird summer..."

Phoenix walked back and sat on a feed sack. She nodded, remembering past summers and muttering. "Not the weirdest..."

"And the college ring is your father's?"

"That's none of your—" She stopped herself. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."

"You don't have to tell me," Percy said

"No..... it's okay." She took a shaky breath. "My dad sent it to me folded up in a letter, two summers ago. The ring was, like, his main keepsake from Athena. He wouldn't have gotten through his doctoral program at Harvard without her...That's a long story. Anyway, he said he wanted me to have it. He apologized for being a jerk and said he loved me and missed me. He wanted me to come home and live with him."

"That doesn't sound so bad."

"Yeah, well ... the problem was, I believed him. I tried to go home for that school year, but my stepmom was the same as ever. She didn't want her kids put in danger by living with a freak that Monsters attacked. We argued. I didn't even make it through winter break. I called Chiron and came right back to Camp Half-Blood."

"You think you'll ever try living with your dad again?"

She wouldn't meet his eyes. "Please. I'm not into self-inflicted pain."

"You shouldn't give up," Percy told her. "You should write him a letter or something."

"Thanks for the advice," she said coldly, "but my father's made his choice about who he wants to live with."

"He's an idiot if he doesn't want you around," Phoenix grumbled as she kept her eyes on the sketch pad sitting on her lap. She wasn't drawing anymore, just avoiding Annabeth's eyes.

The wise girl chuckled. "Glad you think so too Nix."

They passed another few miles without talking.

"So if the gods fight," Percy broke the silence, "will things line up the way they did with the Trojan War? Will it be Athena versus Poseidon? Will Eris—I don't know what side Eris was on..."

Annabeth put her head against the backpack Ares had given them and closed her eyes. "I don't know what my mom will do. I just know I'll fight next to you and Phoenix."

Phoenix froze. Her neck almost snapped by how fast she looked at the two of them. Her face scrunched up in confusion.

"Why?" Percy questioned.

"Because you're my friends, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?"

The raven-haired girl gave up on her sketch pad, feeling her stomach get hit by a mild queasy sensation. She moved it to the side, as she looked over at Annabeth.

Friends.... Annabeth Chase is my friend...

For years, she wanted Annabeth to look at her and not see right through her. Now she wasn't invisible to her...but for some reason, being called her friend frustrated her to no end.

Percy and Phoenix didn't get the chance to respond, she fell asleep quickly after she muttered the last word.

The Poseidon boy looked at the only other person that remained awake.

"Eris didn't choose a side. She just loved the strife. encouraged both sides to keep fighting..." Phoenix muttered a delayed answer.

"Why did she start it then? Just cause she felt like causing problems." He speculated.

Phoenix shrugged, "Mostly, She was not invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. You might know them better as Achilles's parents. Mom was not happy that she was being excluded, so she threw a golden apple inscribed with "To the Fairest" into the wedding banquet. The apple caused a fight among Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite over who deserved it, which sparked the judgment of Paris, then the war."

"She got that angry because she wasn't invited to a party?" Percy scoffed in disbelief.

"She was that angry because she was the only one who was not invited to a party. Even Hades and Persephone attended. All the gods were invited to the wedding except for Eris..."

"That still seems dramatic." Percy frowned, "It's just a dumb wedding."

"Sure, to you maybe, but isolation can make anyone bitter—even the goddess of discord... That's why solitary confinement is used against prisoners. There's nothing more cruel than sticking someone with nothing but their own thoughts and feelings, cutting them off from the world and society. For Eris, it wasn't about being left out of a celebration—it was about being denied the chance to be discord, to do what she does. It was a rejection of her purpose, of the role she plays in existence. Without discord, without her influence, the gods thought they could have perfect harmony. She wasn't going to let that stand. Ignoring her wasn't just an insult; it was an act of denying her."

Percy considered that for a moment. "So, she threw a golden apple and said, 'I'll make sure you can't forget me.'"

Phoenix nodded. "The gods were already divided, already full of pride and jealousy. Hera, Athena, Aphrodite—they couldn't resist. Eris didn't do anything but speed up the inevitable."

"Still feels extreme," Percy muttered. "Starting a war because you didn't get to do the electric shuffle?"

"I don't know what that means but I still know you're being a barnacle brain," Phoenix muttered with a disinterested look on her face,

"Discord isn't destruction for destruction's sake. It's chaos...instability, and a break in harmony that makes people choose sides, take action, and do something. Nothing ever changes in tranquility. Eris threw the apple to prove a point: you can't ignore her, or what she represents. Without discord, nothing moves forward. Nothing happens. The Trojan War may have been bloody and awful, but without it where would we be today? Zeus would likely still be having kids via golden showers." Her lip curled in disgust at the final image.

Percy was quiet for a moment, the weight of those words sinking in. His brows furrowed. "So, by throwing the golden apple, she was just... doing her job?"

"Not her job," Phoenix sighed. "Her nature. They left her out because they thought they didn't need her, that discord had no place in the perfect union. But that's not how life works. Even love, even unity, comes with conflict. By writing 'To the Fairest' on the apple, she didn't pick a fight—she exposed the fights that were already waiting to happen. Hera, Athena, Aphrodite... their rivalry was already there, under the surface. Eris just reminded them of it."

Percy exhaled slowly, trying to wrap his head around it. "So, if the gods fight again, is she going to do the same thing? Stir up the discord, watch the strife unfold?"

Phoenix crossed their arms. "Maybe. But Eris doesn't need to stir anything. Discord isn't something she imposes—it's already everywhere. She just... amplifies it, and shows people what they don't want to see. That harmony can't exist without tension. That every alliance, every love story, every victory, comes with its fractures."

Percy leaned back, overwhelmed. "So, basically, you're saying there's no way to avoid her."

Phoenix gave a small smile. "Not really. Because as long as people—and gods—exist, there'll always be discord. And once there's discord, strife may follow."

Percy groaned. "So, what, we just invite her to everything now? Keep her happy?"

Phoenix laughed lightly. "You think the goddess of discord ever stays happy?"

Percy gulped, his eyes widening. He'd never heard Phoenix laugh. He didn't even think she was capable of it. But now that he heard the faint little giggle come from her, he wanted to hear her laugh more often. "So what's your role? ...Will
you fight against me..."

"Maybe, Maybe not." She shrugged, "I'm not my mother. If you haven't figured that out yet. I hardly even know the goddess."

Percy frowned, "Phoenix. I know you're not. But, Are you? Yknow? Willing to forgive me and I don't know... would you consider being friendly or at least a—er acquaintances?..."

"I'll think about it." She mumbled, "Don't keep your hopes up."

He laughed, "Don't tell me what to do."

Phoenix examined his face, her stare was stuck on the indentation on the sides of his cheeks. Her hand involuntarily reached over and poked the side of Percy's face.

A current ran through them. Percy winced and Phoenix pulled her hand back. She cleared her throat.

"I didn't mean to"

"They're called dimples," Percy explained, he set out his right hand.

Phoenix looked at the outreached hand. She slowly placed her hand in his. A tingly feeling ran through both of their skins. It was almost painful, but dull enough that they didn't mind keeping their skin on each other.

Percy smiled and brought Phoenix's hand back to his face. She gently touched the indentation, her fascination growing at how soft his warm flesh felt under her cool fingertips. She pulled away suddenly once they made eye contact again, a harsher shock running through her fingertips.

"Some people are born with them. Genetics or something. My mom has them too." He tried to explain.

"Nice." Was all she could say, "Thanks..."

"For?"

"Explaining." She shrugged, "I don't get a lot of explanations at camp, just orders."

His jaw clenched, his upper lip curled up into a scowl, "Well you can count on me. If I know something you don't I'll explain what I can. But you might want to look to Annabeth if you wanna know more than just how to blow up a bus."

"It's important to have a broad range of knowledge according to Annabeth," Phoenix stated.

Percy laughed, "Oh she's so regretting telling you that."

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, What a barnacle brain.

Dimples are nice though. I think I like dimples.

Percy yawned, he stretched his arms out to the side. Before resting his head back on the truck.

"Go to sleep." Phoenix said, "You look terrible."

"Jeez, Thanks, sweetheart."

"How many times do I have to tell you to not call me that."

"Wanna find out?" He challenged.

"You're insufferable."

"Good, You're getting to know me." Percy quipped, "That's the first stage of a friendship you know?"

Phoenix glared at him, she was unimpressed, "Go to sleep, Percy. Rest."

He fought to keep his eyes open, "No—You never get any sleep."

"I get enough." Phoenix challenged.

Percy wanted to keep arguing, but unlike Phoenix, he had difficulties denying the exhaustion of the day.

He couldn't resist closing his eyes as he fell asleep. Phoenix felt his head roll over and she caught it before he could knock it into the ground. She laid him down softly.

After she did that, she looked at her hands in disbelief. She rubbed them against her black leggings as if that could get the feel of Percy off her skin.

"Dumbass." She grumbled to Percy's drooling figure.

Suddenly, she felt a growing ache in her head. She sniffled, her hand coming up to her nose and going down to reveal blood.

She gasped, as the pain shot harder through her skull. Her vision got grainy until finally, she collapsed.

Phoenix watched Percy back in the dark cavern, spirits of the dead drifting around him. Unseen in the pit, a monstrous thing was speaking, but it wasn't addressing him. The numbing power of its voice seemed directed somewhere else.

And he suspects nothing? It asked.

Another voice, one she almost recognized, answered at Phoenix's shoulder.

Nothing, my lord. He is as ignorant as the rest.

Percy and Phoenix looked over, but no one was there. The speaker was invisible. That was when Percy made eye contact with Phoenix. His breath steadied a bit.

"What are you doing here?" Percy asked.

Phoenix looked around and shrugged. "You tell me Barnacle brain."

"Gods even in my dreams you're mean....and hot."

Phoenix placed the back of her hand on her forehead, "I don't have a fever?"

"Wait, shit, You're here—" Percy tried, but was soon interrupted.

Deception upon deception, the thing in the pit mused aloud. Excellent.

Truly, my lord, said the voice next to them, you are well-named the Crooked One. But was it necessary? I could have brought you what I stole directly—

You? the monster said in scorn. You have already shown your limits. You would have failed me completely had I not intervened.

But, my lord—

Peace, little servant. Our six months have brought us much. Zeus's anger has grown. Poseidon has played his most desperate card. Now we shall use it against him. Shortly you shall have the reward you wish, and your revenge. As soon as both items are delivered into my hands... but wait. He is here.

"What is going on..." Percy asked,

What? The invisible servant suddenly sounded tense. You summoned him, my lord?

No.. Blast his father's blood—he is too changeable, too unpredictable.

The boy brought himself hither.
Impossible! the servant cried.

For a weakling such as you, perhaps, the voice snarled. Then its cold power turned back on me.

So... you wish to dream of your quests, young half-bloods? Then I will oblige.

The scene changed.

They were standing in a vast throne room with black marble walls and bronze floors. The empty, horrid throne was made from human bones fused. Standing at the foot of the dais was an older woman, around her early 30s—maybe mid.

She was frozen in shimmering golden light, her arms outstretched.

Percy tried to step toward her, but his legs wouldn't move. He reached for her. He was screaming. Percy became frantic, yelling out to his mom as he was stuck in place.

"Calm down." Phoenix said, "It's a nightmare..."

"It's real!" He screamed, "My mom they have her!"

"Yes, You're right. But breathe...Control your fear."

"H-How!" He asked, his eyes filled to the brim with tears.

"By understanding that fear will only get in the way of her survival and yours." Phoenix said, "Percy...You need to take control of the nightmare the best you can. That's the only way you can get through it."

"I can't—"

"You already are." Phoenix challenged, "Just keep going. I'm here."

Percy groaned, he looked down as his hands were withering to bones. Grinning skeletons in Greek armor crowded around them.

One skeleton grabbed Phoenix and pulled her away from him.

The others were preoccupied with silk robes, wreathing his head with laurels that smoked with Chimera poison, burning into his scalp.

"Stop!" He commanded, "Phoenix!"

"I'm here! Just remember!"

The golden apple of discord appeared in her hands at that moment. Phoenix gasped as the apple lit up, letting out tiny wisps of smoke. She threw it away from herself out of instinct. The apple rolled away from her. Stopping at Percy's feet.

The evil voice began to laugh. Hail, the conquering hero! Hail the harbinger of chaos!

Phoenix started screaming, she felt the heat come. The familiar, terrible heat that ran up her arms every night.

"Phoenix! Phoenix I'm here! Phoenix!"

Hail! Hail!

𓌪

PHOENIX AND PERCY WOKE UP at the same time, shooting up like vampires rising from their coffins.

Grover was shaking Percy's shoulder. Meanwhile, Annabeth checked on Phoenix. She would have slammed her head against the blonde's forehead if it wasn't for Annabeth holding her shoulders in place.

"You're safe." She whispered, her hand softly running through Phoenix's mangled locks. "I promise..."

Phoenix nodded, and she swallowed without responding. Her eyes met Percy's for a moment. He looked at her warily, his eyebrows crinkled together...

So it was true, they were sharing a nightmare...

That's new... Phoenix thought,

"You bled a bit," Annabeth commented, patting Phoenix's nose with a Kleenex. "Do you often get nose bleeds?"

"Uhhh—Annie, did you forget the truck stopped," Grover warned. "They're coming to check on the animals."

"Shit—Hide!" Annabeth hissed.

She had it easy. She just put on her magic cap and disappeared. Grover and Percy had to dive behind feed sacks and blend in with the turnips.

The trailer doors creaked open right after Percy and Grover pulled a stubborn flailing Phoenix behind the sacks. Sunlight and heat poured in through the inside of the truck.

"Man!" one of the workers said, waving his hand in front of his ugly nose. "I wish I hauled appliances." He climbed inside and poured some water from a jug into the animals' dishes.

"You hot, big boy?" he asked the lion, then splashed the rest of the bucket right in the lion's face.

The lion roared in indignation.

Phoenix was only stopped from attacking the man because of Percy's quick grab to hold her down.

He covered her mouth with his hand. Holding her to his chest. Grover looked over and pursed his lips into a flatline, he clearly wanted Percy to release her.

Percy whispered in her ear, "We can't."

She grumbled out an angry muffled response,

The trucker threw the antelope a squashed-looking Happy Meal bag. He smirked at the zebra.

"How ya doin', Stripes? At least we'll be getting rid of you this stop. Do you like magic shows? You're gonna love this one. They're gonna saw you in half!"

There was a loud knock, knock, knock on the side of the trailer.

The trucker inside with them yelled, "What do you want, Eddie? What are you banging for?"

Knock, knock, knock.

Outside, Eddie yelled, "What banging?"

Maurice rolled his eyes and went back outside, cursing at Eddie for being an idiot.

Phoenix shook herself off of Percy, she glared back at him, "Shrimp." she snarled. 

Percy scoffed, "You mean wimp?" he muttered.

A second later, Annabeth appeared next to them.

Her banging had successfully got Maurice out of the trailer. She said, "This transport business can't be legal."

"No kidding," Grover said. He paused as if listening. "The Antelope says these guys are animal smugglers!"

"Snugglers?" Phoenix questioned. "That's a job? I thought Bella just made the word up...."

"Smugglers." Annabeth informed "It means they're illegally taking them across the border into another country. They're likely getting paid a  hefty amount."

"We've got to free them!" Grover said.

"No kidding, Goat boy," Phoenix grumbled.

Grover and Annabeth both looked at Percy, waiting for his lead.

Phoenix didn't wait for anyone; she rolled her eyes and ran forward. She opened the cage of the lion first by hacking her pole axe down on the lock.

Everyone started yelling out frantically to Phoenix when the lion sped past them and burst through the metal doors.

The lion leaped over a terrified Maurice and ran into the street. There was yelling, screaming, cars honking, and a guttural roar.

The campers rushed to the trailer's doors in time to see the lion running down a wide boulevard lined with hotels, casinos, and neon signs.

"You just released a lion into Las Vegas Boulevard," Percy muttered in disbelief.

Phoenix shrugged. "So?"

Grover held his hands up and said something to the lion in goat talk, like a blessing.

Annabeth stared out at the chaos the lion left behind, her eyes wide. She bit her lip. "Uhh now would be a good time to get the hell out of here,".

"The other animals first," Grover said. "Phoenix."

"On it, goat boy." Phoenix chopped the other locks with her weapon. Grover raised his hands and spoke the same goat-blessing he'd used for the lion.

"Good luck," Percy told the animals.

Phoenix bowed to the zebra and antelope. The animals looked at each other and ran past Phoenix, escaping into the Las Vegas street.

Some tourists screamed. Most just backed off and took pictures, probably thinking it was some kind of stunt by one of the casinos.

"Will the animals be okay?" Percy asked Grover. "I mean, the desert and all--"

"Don't worry," he said. "I placed a satyr's sanctuary on them They'll reach the wild safely," he said. "They'll find water, food, shade, whatever they need until they find a safe place to live."

"Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?" Percy asked.

"It only works on wild animals."

"So it would only affect Percy," Annabeth reasoned. She high-fived Phoenix, who already had her hand out. "Ha!"

"Hey!" He protested,

"Come on, it smells like shit in here," Phoenix grumbled,

𓌪

PHOENIX FELT THE HEAT OF THE SUN warm her olive skin the moment they left the truck. She fanned herself with her hand in an attempt to cool down.

At camp, the temperature was usually regulated due to the protections around it. This desert was a brutal hundred and four degrees, and she was not loving the heat. 

They passed the Monte Carlo and the MGM. Phoenix stared in disbelief as she passed pyramids, a pirate ship, and finally the Statue of Liberty.

"Woah!" She said, "This place is pretty cool." She muttered as she looked up at the liberty statue.

"Wait till you see the actual statue." Percy muttered, "It's like double the size... You haven't seen much of Manhattan, have you? That's crazy."

"Technically, it's 2.03x the size." Annabeth corrected, "A gift from the French. And it's not that crazy Seaweed brain. A lot of campers don't know much of anything besides camp. Especially ones without mortal parents."

"Is that fair?" Percy defended

"It's just the way it is." Annabeth shrugged,

"And it's shitty." Phoenix muttered, "Trust me."

Annabeth frowned, she bit her lip as they kept walking.

The group trudged along in silence through the heat until they found themselves at a dead end.

Instead of more sidewalks, in front of them flashed a neon pink sign.

Lotus Hotel and Casino.

Under the sign was a huge neon flower, the petals lighting up and blinking. No one was going in or out, but the glittering chrome doors were open, spilling out air-conditioning that smelled delicate and clean with a hint of sweetness.

The doorman smiled at them. "Hey, kids. You look tired. You want to come in and sit down?"

"What's the catch." Phoenix raised an eyebrow.

The doorman laughed, "No catch, Just want to help some kids get out of the heat."

"Hm. Do you have milkshakes in this Kass Ino?" She pronounced, squinting as she read the bright neon lights.

The doorman smiled, "We have about 100 flavors."

Phoenix smiled at her quest mates, and she nodded.

Percy nodded back, "We'd love to come in."

𓌪

THEY TOOK ONE LOOK AROUND, and Grover said, "Whoa."

A massive indoor waterslide twisted and looped around a sleek glass elevator, which shot straight up at least forty floors, giving riders a heart-pounding view of the action below. An entire wall was dedicated to an LED-lit climbing course with shifting holds and obstacle sections, while an indoor bungee-jumping bridge stretched across the ceiling, daring anyone to take the leap.

In one corner, a full-scale boxing gym rumbled with the sound of fists hitting punching bags. Across from that, a miniature-sized basketball court had hoops that could shift height at the press of a button. Next to it, a parkour zone featured trampolines, angled walls, and zip lines for free-running stunts.

Then there were the games. Rows of massive widescreen arcade machines flashed and buzzed with everything from retro classics to the latest releases. A holographic air hockey table projected a glowing puck that zipped around unpredictably, while a futuristic mini-golf course featuring moving obstacles and neon tunnels.

There were multiplayer racing pods with real driver's seats and steering wheels, a battle arena for motion-controlled sword fighting, and even a robotic claw game where winners could grab high-end prizes instead of cheap stuffed animals.

And for those who wanted something even wilder, a full-scale laser tag arena sprawled across two floors, complete with glowing barriers, fog machines, and sound effects that made every round feel like an action movie.

The virtual reality zone took things to another level, offering immersive battle simulations, zero-gravity flight experiences, and co-op fantasy quests with haptic suits and motion-tracking weapons.

At the center of it all stood a candy bar unlike anything else—rows of self-serve dispensers overflowing with every kind of sweet imaginable, from giant gummy snakes to soda-flavored popping candy. Chocolate fountains drizzled over marshmallows, while slushy machines churned out every flavor under the sun. For those who wanted something savory, there were trays of loaded nachos, soft pretzels, and popcorn coated in crazy flavors like spicy cheddar and caramel bacon.

You name it, this place had it.

"Hey!" a man said. He wore a white-and-yellow Hawaiian shirt with lotus designs, shorts, and flip-flops. "Welcome to the Lotus Casino. Here's your room key."

Percy stammered, "Um, but."

"No, no," he said, laughing. "The bill's taken care of. No extra charges, no tips. Just go on up to the top floor, room 4001. If you need anything, like extra bubbles for the hot tub, skeet targets for the shooting range, or whatever, just call the front desk. Here are your LotusCash cards. They work in the restaurants and on all the games and rides."

He handed them each a green plastic credit card.

Phoenix bit hers. She cringed and glared at him. "This tastes gross."

"You don't eat it." Annabeth explained, "It's money."

"Here you go" The bellhop handed a chocolate to Phoenix, "Apologies for the confusion."

Phoenix stared, Grover grabbed it from her hands and unwrapped it for her. She ate the chocolate while Grover sneakily munched on the wrapper.

Percy asked, "How much is on here?"

His eyebrows knit together. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, when does it run out of cash?"

He laughed. "Oh, you're making a joke. Hey, that's cool. Enjoy your stay."

They took the elevator upstairs and checked out their room. It was a suite with four separate bedrooms and a bar stocked with candy, sodas, and chips. A hotline to room service. Fluffy towels and water beds with feather pillows. A big-screen television with satellite and high-speed Internet.

The balcony had a hot tub, and sure enough, there was a skeet-shooting machine and a shotgun, so you could launch clay pigeons right out over the Las Vegas skyline and plug them with your gun.

When Phoenix saw that last perk, she immediately got to taking advantage of it.

"Ha!" She grinned, "Take that! Three in a row!"

Annabeth grinned. "This place is ..."

"Sweet," Grover said. "Absolutely sweet."

There were clothes in the closet, and the sweaty, tired, grime-filled campers immediately took advantage.

Phoenix was the last to shower and change. She took the longest to pick something out of the filled closet. It was hard for her to decide because she had never been given such a wide range of options. She stared at the clothes until she finally picked out a pair of jean shorts and a baby pink tank top.

When she came out of her room and met with the rest of them, they all stopped what they were doing to look at her.

Grover stopped munching mid-potato chip, while Percy coughed out the Coca-Cola that went down the wrong pipe. Annabeth turned her head away from the National Geographic Channel to see what all the fuss was about. Her mouth fell open.

They all stared at her.

"Why are you all being so weird." She glared,

"Pink?" Grover mumbled, He looked at Percy who ignored him. Percy's gaze kept falling from Annabeth in her floral romper to Phoenix in her pink shirt. He adjusted his shirt away from his neck.

"Cute top." Annabeth smiled, "Who knew you were a pink girl..."

"Thanks." She grumbled, "I like it, sometimes...Now stop staring at me you freaks."

"I—Uh—I er— threw Ares's backpack in the trash can. I'm gonna charge a new one at the hotel store." Percy mumbled,

"Sounds good." Phoenix nodded, "So when can I get a milkshake."

Grover and Percy looked at each other and grinned. They both held up their green plastic LotusCash cards.

"Playtime," Percy said.

𓌪

PHOENIX TRIED SO MANY NEW THINGS THAT DAY, she could hardly count them on one hand.

First, she tried 10 different milkshakes. Deciding that plain chocolate was her favorite. She also had a plate full of loaded Nachos and swore they were the god's best creation.

She got lost from the group at one point and briefly played a game with some kid she met by the candy bar. The game involved card versions of the gods and battling with them. She swore she could have won if the kid's older sister hadn't come to pull him away. Let's just say, Phoenix gets really into games.

Phoenix boxed in the mini gym, throwing quick jabs and dodging imaginary opponents.

She played darts, tested her aim in knife throwing, and battled it out in a fake sword duel.
Percy found her before she could use her pole axe last minute. Which she was not happy about.

Her last challenge was taking on an arcade punching machine and hitting it hard, sending the score soaring.

Phoenix's eyes sparkled with mischief.

She looked over at Annabeth, who was standing nearby with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"Bet you can't beat that," Phoenix said with a playful challenge in her tone. "Come on, show me what you've got."

Annabeth smirked, clearly amused by Phoenix's competitive streak. "I think I'll pass on embarrassing myself in front of a crowd," she said, glancing around at the few other people in the area. "Not after you made that twenty-year-old man cry."

Phoenix raised an eyebrow, "So you're saying you can't handle it? That's a shame."

Annabeth shot her a look, her expression a mix of amusement and something else Phoenix couldn't quite place. "You really like to rile people up, don't you?"

Phoenix shrugged nonchalantly. "What can I say? Keeps things interesting."

Annabeth laughed softly, but there was something in her voice—something a little warmer than before. "You're definitely... different."

Phoenix grinned, feeling a little bolder now. "Yeah? I can be a lot of fun if you let me. You seem like you might like a little fun, right?"

Annabeth tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "Are you saying I'm boring?"

Phoenix shrugged again, her smile a little sly. "No, I'm saying you could be a lot more fun if you just let go once in a while."

Annabeth paused for a second, her gaze drifting over Phoenix before meeting her eyes again. "I know how to let go," she said with an edge of challenge in it.

Phoenix's pulse quickened at the way Annabeth said that—like she wasn't just talking about the punching machine anymore.

Annabeth studied her for a moment before nodding toward a quieter corner of the casino. "Come on. Let's talk."

Curious, Phoenix followed her through the neon-lit halls of the Lotus Casino until they reached a secluded lounge, far from the flashing lights and the buzz of games. Soft jazz played in the background, and the faint scent of pastries lingered in the air. Annabeth grabbed a cookie from a table that was conveniently filled with baked goods. She broke it in half, offering Phoenix a piece.

Phoenix raised an eyebrow. "Bribing me with sweets?"

Annabeth smirked but her expression turned serious. She ran her thumb along the edge of her cookie, hesitating before speaking. "Look, I just... I wanted to say sorry. If I've been insensitive or—" She sighed like she was annoyed with herself. "I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with. I'm not one to have a lot of friends. People come to me for my brain but not friendship if that makes any sense.."

Phoenix took a bite of the cookie, watching Annabeth closely. "You're fine. I get it." She wiped some crumbs off her hands, her eyes thoughtful. "I'm not exactly the easiest person to figure out either."

Annabeth let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. "I guess that's true. But, um..." She paused, glancing at Phoenix like she was trying to figure out how to say the next part. "I've heard a lot of things about you, you know? Rumors, mostly. I won't lie, I've been guilty of believing some of them." She looked down at her cookie, her voice quiet. "But I know better now."

"What kind of rumors?" Phoenix asked.

Annabeth's eyebrows knitted together. She looked to the side in thought. "For some reason, I can't remember a lot right now."

Phoenix began to get lost in thought, She looked to the side. "Yeah. I can't remember much either. How did we get here?"

Annabeth shrugged,

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter much huh?"

Annabeth's gaze lingered on Phoenix, "I'm having fun."

Phoenix's lips curved into a small smile at Annabeth's words. She was trying not to be too obvious, but there was something magnetic about the way Annabeth looked at her. There was a vulnerability behind her eyes, a softness Phoenix wasn't used to seeing.

Annabeth nodded, her fingers playing with the remnants of the cookie in her hand. Her voice dropped, barely above a whisper. "I didn't expect to be talking to you like this... but I'm glad we are."

Phoenix tilted her head, studying Annabeth. "You know, I don't usually have these kinds of... serious conversations. Or at least, I didn't used to. But you're making it easy."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow, the smallest smirk pulling at her lips. "Am I? You're not so bad yourself."

Phoenix's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she forgot where they were, or what they were doing. The loud, bustling noise of the casino seemed far away, as though it was just the two of them in the world.

She didn't want to admit it, but her thoughts were suddenly filled with her, with this moment.

Phoenix's hand found Annabeth's, their fingers brushing lightly.

Phoenix almost panicked at her sudden boldness, but Annabeth squeezed her hand softly in response.

"I'm starting to think you might just be the best kind of trouble," Annabeth said, her voice a little quieter, a little more deliberate.

Phoenix's breath caught in her throat. She shifted her weight, trying to ease the tension in her body, but she couldn't look away from Annabeth's gaze.

"Trouble's fun," Phoenix said with a half-smile, her voice low. She didn't want to overthink it. She didn't want to ruin the moment by saying the wrong thing.

Annabeth leaned a little closer, "I don't know how much I agree, Khaotikomi" She challenged, "Convince me."

Annabeth's eyes flickered down to her lips, and Phoenix instinctively leaned just slightly forward. It was only a small movement, but it felt like an unrecognizable force was pulling them toward one another.

And before Phoenix could respond, Annabeth leaned in, closing the space between them, her lips brushing against Phoenix's with a softness that was both tentative and loving at the same time. It was quick, like a spark, a flash of heat that left Phoenix breathless. The raven haired girl kissed her harder.

After a few seconds, The sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway outside, pulling them both apart instantly.

The tension evaporated in an instant as they turned toward the sound. They both flushed and scooted away from each other.

Percy sighed in relief when he saw them, He moved forward while pulling along a peeved Grover. The son of Poseidon was breathless, "We've got to get out of here."

Phoenix glared, "What? Hell no Fish Face."

"We need to leave."

Annabeth looked annoyed. "Leave? What are you talking about? It's amazing here."

"This place is a trap."

They didn't respond until Percy stepped forward, "Hello! Did you hear me? Listen. The Underworld. Our quest!"

"No offense but you're killing my mood right now." Annabeth sighed,

"Annabeth, there are people here from 1977. Kids who have never aged. You check in, and you stay forever."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." Phoenix said, "Why would you ever want to leave a paradise!"

Percy sighed, he pulled Grover with him as he grabbed Phoenix's hand. She gasped on impact.

"Fuck! That hurt you ass!" She smacked his hand away.

"I'm sorry! I had to wake you!" He said,

Annabeth frowned, "Hey, Could you maybe leave?  We were talking..."

Phoenix's eyes widened. She remembered everything, and they were not doing much talking.

"Spiders!" Percy yelled at her "Big hairy Huge spider!."

That jarred her, her eyes cleared.

"Oh my gods," Annabeth gasped. "How long have we—"

"Come on! We need to go!" Percy pressed.

Together, they dragged Grover. Annabeth and Percy held his arms. Phoenix held his ankles and pushed as his flying shoes sprang to life and started tugging his legs in the other direction as he shouted, "No! I want to play more! No!"

The Lotus bellhop hurried up to them when they saw them moving toward the entrance. "Well, now, are you ready for your platinum cards?"

"We're leaving," Phoenix spat, "Move!"

"Such a shame," He said, his voice cracking in pain. "We just added an entire new floor full of games for platinum-card members."

He held out the cards, and Phoenix really wanted one.

Grover reached for the card, but Annabeth yanked back his arm and said, "No, thanks."

They walked toward the door, and as they did, the smell of the food and the sounds of the games seemed to get more and more inviting.

Phoenix thought about the moment with Annabeth and gulped. If they stayed...It could happen again...

Then they burst through the doors of the Lotus Casino and ran down the sidewalk. It felt like afternoon, about the same time of day they'd gone into the casino, but something was wrong.

The weather had completely changed. It was stormy, with heat and lightning flashing out in the desert.

Ares's backpack was slung over Percy's shoulder, which was odd,

Percy ran to the nearest newspaper stand and read the year out. Thank the gods, it was the same year it had been when they went in. Then he read the date.

He looked up at his quest mates who gathered around him.

"We were in there for five days." He muttered, his voice dwindling to a whisper. "The summer solstice is a day away... A day to complete this quest."