Stark's Protective Daughter (S.P.N.D. Book 5)

Chapter 8: Traffic Jams Caused by Pegasi, A Wine Dude, and Evil Dreams

"They got married," Percy said. "Happily ever after. The end."

Mr. D sneered. "Not quite. Theseus said he would marry her. He took her aboard his ship and sailed for Athens. Halfway back, on a little island called Naxos, he... What's the word you mortals use today?... he dumped her. I found her there, you know. Alone. Heartbroken. Crying her eyes out. She had given up everything, left everything she knew behind, to help a dashing young hero who tossed her away like a broken sandal."

"That's wrong," I said. "But that was thousands of years ago. What's that got to do with me and Percy?"

Mr. D regarded me coldly. "I fell in love with Ariadne, girl. I healed her broken heart. And when she died, I made her my immortal wife on Olympus. She waits for me even now. I shall go back to her when I am done with this infernal century of punishment at your ridiculous camp."

I stared at him. Percy says, "You're... you're married? But I thought you got in trouble for chasing a wood nymph-"

"My point is you heroes never change. You accuse us gods of being vain. You should look at yourselves. You take what you want, use whoever you have to, and then you betray everyone around you. So you'll excuse me if I have no love for heroes. They are a selfish, ungrateful lot. Ask Ariadne. Or Medea. For that matter, ask Zoe Nightshade."

"What do you mean, ask Zoe?"

He waved his hand dismissively. "Go. Follow your silly friends."

The vines uncurled around Percy's legs.

Percy blinked in disbelief. "You're... you're letting me go? Just like that?"

"The prophecy says at least one of you will die. Perhaps I'll get lucky and it will be one of you two. But mark my words, Son of Poseidon, live or die, you will prove no better than the other heroes."

With that, Dionysus snapped his fingers. His image folded up like a paper display. There was a pop and he was gone, leaving a faint scent of grapes that was quickly blown away by the wind.

I saw Percy nod at Blackjack, and I shake my head. What just happened?

The fact that he'd let us go meant he really believed we stood a fair chance of crashing and burning on this quest. Maybe being dragged off to camp would have been better.

"Come on guys," I said, trying to sound upbeat. "I'll buy you some donuts in New Jersey."

***

As it turned out, we didn't buy Blackjack donuts in New Jersey. Zoe drove south like a crazy person, and we were into Maryland before she finally pulled over at a rest stop. Blackjack darn near tumbled out of the sky, he was so tired. I ended up having to join Percy on Blackjack after they caught me nearly falling out of the sky. I was still hesitant to ride, mostly because it was risky to be touching Percy, but he eventually convinced me. Then again he thought it was just because I didn't want to fly something else with wings, but that was definitely part of it. It felt unnatural.

"Stay here," Percy told Blackjack. "I'm going to scout. Lillian, you should come with."

Percy put on his cap of invisibility as I pulled the Mist once again and we walked over to the convenience store. It was difficult not to sneak. I had to keep reminding myself that nobody could see me. It was hard, too, because I had to remember to get out of people's way so they wouldn't slam into me. You think I would be better at this by now.

Percy whispered and asked whether it would be too risky to go inside for a hot chocolate, and I said we could, but the whole plan was ruined by Zoe, Thalia, Bianca, and Grover all coming out of the store.