It seemed like only a few seconds had passed before Piper woke to the breakfast bell.
"Yo, Piper!" Leo knocked on her door. "We're landing!"
"Landing?" She sat up groggily.
Leo opened her door and poked his head in. He had his hand over his eyes, which would've been a nice gesture if he hadn't been peeking through his fingers. "You decent?"
"Leo!"
"Sorry." He grinned. "Hey, nice Power Ranger jammies."
"They are not Power Rangers!"
"Yeah, sure. Anyway, we're setting down a few miles outside Topeka, as requested. And, um..." He glanced out in the passageway, then leaned inside again. "Thanks for not hating me, about blowing up the Romans yesterday."
Piper rubbed her eyes. The feast in New Rome had been only yesterday? "That's okay, Leo. You weren't in control of yourself."
"Yeah, but still...you didn't have to stick up for me."
"Are you kidding? You're my best friend. Of course I'll stick up for you."
Leo gave her a crooked smile. "Thanks."
From above, Coach Hedge yelled, "Thar she blows! Kansas, ahoy!"
"Holy Hephaestus," Leo muttered. "He really needs to work on his shipspeak. I'd better get above deck."
By the time Piper had showered, changed, and grabbed a bagel from the mess hall, she could hear the ship's landing gear extending. She climbed on deck and joined the others as the Argo II settled in the middle of a field of sunflowers.
Percy was the first to notice her. He smiled in greeting, which for some reason surprised Piper. He was wearing faded jeans and a fresh orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, as if he'd never been away from the Greek side. The new clothes had probably helped his mood—and of course the fact that he was standing at the rail with his arm around Annabeth.
They weren't the only couple tugging at Piper's heart strings. Jason was listening to something that Daria was saying with a soft smile on his face. Maybe it was Aphrodite messing with her, but Jason was glowing in the sunlight, as if Zeus himself was saying, yeah, she's the one. Piper figured it was unlikely, from what she'd heard from Annabeth, the King of the Gods wasn't much of a romantic.
"So!" Annabeth plucked the bagel out of Piper's hand and took a bite, they had a running joke about stealing each other's breakfast. "Here we are. What's the plan?"
"I want to check out the highway," Piper said. "Find the sign that says Topeka 32."
Leo spun his Wii controller in a circle, and the sails lowered themselves. "We shouldn't be far," he said. "Festus and I calculated the landing as best we could. What do you expect to find at the mile marker?"
Piper explained what she'd seen in the knife—the man in purple with a goblet.
"Purple shirt?" Daria asked. "Vines on his hat? Sounds like Bacchus."
"Dionysus," Percy muttered. "If we came all the way to Kansas to see Mr. D—"
"Bacchus isn't so bad," Jason said. "I don't like his followers much...."
Piper shuddered. Jason, Leo, and she had had an encounter with the maenads a few months ago and almost gotten torn to pieces.
"But the god himself is okay," Jason continued. "Daria and I did him a favor once up in the wine country."
"Yeah well," Daria looked like she wanted to throttle the God. "Speak for yourself."
Percy looked appalled. "Whatever, man. Maybe he's better on the Roman side. But why would he be hanging around in Kansas? Didn't Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals?"
"The gods haven't been very good at following that order," Frank noted. "Besides, if the gods have gone schizophrenic like Hazel said—"
"And Leo said," added Leo.
Frank scowled at him. "Then who knows what's going on with the Olympians? Could be some pretty bad stuff out there."
"Sounds dangerous!" Leo agreed cheerfully. "Well...you guys have fun. I've got to finish repairs on the hull. Coach Hedge is gonna work on the broken crossbows. And, uh, Annabeth—I could really use your help. You're the only other person who even sort of understands engineering."
Annabeth looked apologetically at Percy. "He's right. I should stay and help."
"I'll come back to you." He kissed her on the cheek. "Promise."
They were so easy together, it made Piper's heart ache.
She couldn't help but wonder about trivial things like romance. She knew they were on a quest to the death blah, blah, blah, but Piper was always the type of person to live life to the fullest. First, Jason and Daria had gotten in the way of that. But seeing them now, she had to admit they were meant for each other.
Somehow, that just made everything worse.
"Don't worry Annabeth," Daria announced gleefully. She was drinking what looked like hot chocolate. "Around here, we're used to saving his ass."
Frank slid his bow off his shoulder and propped it against the rail. "I think I should turn into a crow or something and fly around, keep an eye out for Roman eagles."
"Why a crow?" Leo asked. "Man, if you can turn into a dragon, why don't you just turn into a dragon every time? That's the coolest."
Frank's face looked like it was being infused with cranberry juice. "That's like asking why you don't bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because it's hard, and you'd hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isn't easy."
"Oh." Leo nodded. "I wouldn't know. I don't lift weights."
"Yeah. Well, maybe you should consider it, Mr.—"
Hazel stepped between them.
"I'll help you, Frank," she said, shooting Leo an evil look. "I can summon Arion and scout around below."
"Sure," Frank said, still glaring at Leo. "Yeah, thanks."
Piper wondered what was going on with those three. The boys showing off for Hazel and razzing each other—that she understood. But it almost seemed like Hazel and Leo had a history. So far as she knew, they'd met for the first time just yesterday.
Hazel turned to Percy. "Just be careful when you go out there. Lots of fields, lots of crops. Could be karpoi on the loose."
"Karpoi?" Piper asked.
"Grain spirits," Daria said. "You don't want to meet them."
Piper didn't see how a grain spirit could be so bad, but Daria's tone convinced her not to ask.
"That leaves four of us to check on the mile marker," Percy said. "Me, Dars, Jason, Piper. I'm not psyched about seeing Mr. D again. That guy is a pain. But if you guys are on better terms with him—"
"Yeah," Jason said. "If we find him, I'll talk to him. Piper, it's your vision. You should take the lead."
Piper shivered. She'd seen the four of them drowning in that dark well. Was Kansas where it would happen? That didn't seem right, but she couldn't be sure.
"Of course," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "Let's find the highway."
***
Daria glared at her boyfriend. "Never have I ever stolen Hannibal and attached balloons to his harness to see if he could fly like Dumbo."
"I don't know, Dars, that one might be targeting."
"Might be?" Jason said incredulously, putting a finger down. "Percy, bro, are you for real?"
Piper laughed at the two boys' antics beside Daria. Kansas was unbearably humid, they kept getting whacked in the face with scratchy sunflowers and bitten by mosquitos, except Percy. It seemed like the insects didn't like the taste of sea salt, lucky bastard.
Daria had, truthfully, been baiting Jason for the entire walk; trying to get him to respond with their usual bickering. So far he had just smiled and gone along with it.
Adoration. That was the word she was looking for. And she hated it. She bumped into his shoulder as they continued anyway; there were worse things, she supposed.
They walked for what seemed like a half hour. Leo dropped them down saying that they were close. His idea of "close" needed some work, they had just passed a sign stating they were forty miles from the first Topeka exit. "Correct my math," Percy said, "but doesn't that mean we have eight miles to walk?"
Jason peered both ways down the deserted road. He looked better today, his color was back to normal, and the scar on his forehead had almost vanished. A new gladius that Daria didn't recognize hung at his belt, making him look ridiculous.
"No cars..." he said. "But I guess we wouldn't want to hitchhike."
"No," Piper agreed, gazing nervously down the highway. "We've already spent too much time going overland. The earth is Gaea's territory."
"Hmm..." Jason snapped his fingers. "I can call a friend for a ride."
Percy raised his eyebrows. "Oh, yeah? Me too. Let's see whose friend gets here first."
Jason whistled. Daria had no idea what was going on. She had met neither of their so-called "friends". She looked at Piper, "do you...?"
She nodded as Percy closed his eyes and concentrated. "Yeah there's this spirit, horse thing that Jason met when we were at the Wolf House. You'll see." She didn't sound thrilled.
Thunder crackled in the clear sky.
Jason smiled. "Soon."
"Too late." Percy pointed east, where a black winged shape was spiraling toward them. At first, Daria thought it might be some sort of large crow. Then she realized it was much too big to be a bird.
"A black pegasus?" she said. "Never seen one like that."
The winged stallion came in for a landing. He trotted over to Percy and nuzzled his face, then turned his head inquisitively toward Daria, Piper, and Jason.
"Blackjack," Percy said, "this is Piper and Jason. They're friends. And Daria, my cousin"
The horse nickered.
"Uh, maybe later," Percy answered.
"What does he want?" Daria asked, unfazed about Percy speaking to an animal. She couldn't say the same for Piper.
"Donuts," Percy said. "Always donuts. I don't know that he can carry all four of us but—"
Suddenly the air turned cold. Daria's ears popped. About fifty yards away, a miniature cyclone three stories tall tore across the tops of the sunflowers like a scene from The Wizard of Oz. It touched down on the road next to Jason and took the form of a horse. Since when had he been able to control venti?
"Tempest," Jason said, grinning broadly. "Long time, my friend."
The storm spirit reared and whinnied. Blackjack backed up skittishly.
"Easy, boy," Percy said. "He's a friend too." He gave Jason an impressed look. "Nice ride, Grace."
Jason shrugged modestly. "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. Realistically, she knew she should join Jason but air spirits....Riding full gallop on a beast that could vaporize at any moment made her a bit nervous.
Daria looked at Piper, "If you want to ride Tempest, be my guest. I really don't mind."
"No, no," she protested. "He's all yours, really."
"Are you kidding me?" Jason rolled his eyes, some of his old bite back. Hey, maybe her annoyingness was working. "It's a horse." Tempest whined, agreeing with his master.
Blackjack snorted and Percy stroked his mane, grinning superiorly. "I know Blackjack. Not everyone can be as cool as you are." The son of Neptune pointed at Daria. "Come on, Tempest is basically like your son now."
Piper's eyes pleaded with her.
"Fine," Daria muttered, accepting Jason's hand and climbing onto the death machine. The missing comfort of the earth below her was palpable.
Tempest raced down the road with Blackjack soaring overhead. Fortunately, they didn't pass any cars, or they might have caused a wreck. In no time, they arrived at the thirty-two-mile marker.
Blackjack landed. Both horses pawed the asphalt. Neither looked pleased to have stopped so suddenly, just when they'd found their stride.
Blackjack whinnied.
"You're right," Percy said. "No sign of the wine dude."
"I beg your pardon?" said a voice from the fields.
Tempest turned so quickly, Daria almost fell off. Now, who looked stupid?
Her. It was still her.
The wheat parted, and the man from her vision stepped into view. He looked maybe thirty, with a slight potbelly, like a frat boy who hadn't yet realized college was over. Yep, Bacchus hadn't changed one bit.
"Did someone just call me the wine dude?" he asked in a lazy drawl. "It's Bacchus, please. Or Mr. Bacchus. Or Lord Bacchus. Or, sometimes, Oh-My-Gods-Please-Don't-Kill-Me, Lord Bacchus."
Percy urged Blackjack forward, though the pegasus didn't seem happy about it.
"You look different," Percy told the god. "Skinnier. Your hair is longer. And your shirt isn't so loud."
The wine god squinted up at him. "What in blazes are you talking about? Who are you, and where is Ceres?"
"Uh...what series?"
"I think he means Ceres," Jason said. "The goddess of agriculture. You'd call her Demeter." He nodded respectfully to the god. "Lord Bacchus, do you remember us? We helped you with that missing leopard in Sonoma."
Bacchus scratched his stubbly chin. "Ah...yes. John Green and Dwayne Johnson."
"Jason Grace."
"Oh yeah, as if your name was the biggest problem.
"Whatever," the god said. "Did Ceres send you, then?"
"No, Lord Bacchus," Jason said. "Were you expecting to meet her here?"
The god snorted. "Well, I didn't come to Kansas to party, my boy. Ceres asked me here for a council of war. What with Gaea rising, the crops are withering. Droughts are spreading. The karpoi are in revolt. Even my grapes aren't safe. Ceres wanted a united front in the plant war."
"The plant war," Percy said. "You're going to arm all the little grapes with tiny assault rifles?"
The god narrowed his eyes. "Have we met?"
"At Camp Half-Blood," Percy said, "I know you as Mr. D—Dionysus."
"Agh!" Bacchus winced and pressed his hands to his temples. For a moment, his image flickered. Daria saw a different person—fatter, dumpier, in a much louder, leopard-patterned shirt. Then Bacchus returned to being Bacchus. "Stop that!" he demanded. "Stop thinking about me in Greek!"
Percy blinked. "Uh, but—"
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay focused? Splitting headaches all the time! I never know what I'm doing or where I'm going! Constantly grumpy!"
"That sounds pretty normal for you," Daria said.
"Daria," Jason said her name in warning. Now that was annoying. Like he wouldn't have done the same thing eight months ago.
The god's nostrils flared. One of the grape leaves on his hat burst into flame. "Dwayne Johnson, it's a wonder I haven't already turned you into a dolphin."
"It was discussed," Daria assured him with a sarcastic smile. "I think you were just too lazy to do it."
Piper had been watching with horrified fascination, the way she might watch a car wreck in progress. She was probably realizing that the Jackson cousins were not making things better, and Annabeth wasn't around to rein Percy in. Daria figured she would never forgive them if she brought Percy back transformed into a sea mammal.
"Lord Bacchus!" Piper interrupted, slipping off Blackjack's back.
"Piper, careful," Jason said.
"She's fine," Daria said lowly. Jason shot her a worried glance all the same.
"Um okay. Sorry to trouble you, my lord," she told the god, "but actually we came here to get your advice. Please, we need your wisdom."
She used her most agreeable tone, pouring respect into her charmspeak.
The god frowned, but the purple glow faded in his eyes. "You're well-spoken, girl. Advice, eh? Very well. I would avoid karaoke. Really, theme parties in general are out. In these austere times, people are looking for a simple, low-key affair, with locally produced organic snacks and—"
"Not about parties," Piper interrupted. "Although that's incredibly useful, Lord Bacchus. We were hoping you'd help us on our quest."
She explained the quest, her vision. Daria hadn't heard the entirety of it. She wondered if that knife was laced with a hallucinogen.
"Silver goblet?" The god didn't sound very excited. He grabbed a Diet Pepsi from nowhere and popped the top of the can.
"You drink Diet Coke," Percy said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bacchus snapped. "As to this vision of the goblet, young lady, I have nothing for you to drink unless you want a Pepsi. Jupiter has put me under strict orders to avoid giving wine to minors. Bothersome, but there you have it. As for the giants, I know them well. I fought in the first Giant War, you know."
"You can't fight." Daria muttered.
Jason audibly groaned.
Dionysus snarled. His Diet Pepsi transformed into a five-foot staff wreathed in ivy, topped with a pinecone.
"A thyrsus!" Piper said, trying to distract the god before he inevitably whacked Daria on the head. "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!"
Jason flinched. Probably he wasn't thrilled to be reminded that the Wine Dude was technically his big brother.
Bacchus swung his staff through the air, though his potbelly almost threw him off balance. "Of course that was long before I invented wine and became an immortal. I fought side by side with the gods and some other demigod...Harry Cleese, I think."
"Heracles?" Piper suggested politely.
"Whatever," Bacchus said. "Anyway, I killed the giant Ephialtes and his brother Otis. Horrible bores, those two. Pinecone in the face for both of them!"
Piper gasped at that, like she had just put together several pieces of an age old puzzle
"Lord Bacchus," she said shakily. "Those two giants, Ephialtes and Otis...would they happen to be twins?"
"Hmm?" The god seemed distracted by his thyrsus-swinging, but he nodded. "Yes, twins. That's right."
Piper turned to Daria and Jason. Daria didn't know about him, but she was following Piper's thoughts: Twins snuff out the angel's breath.
"That's why we're here," Piper told the god. "You're part of our quest!"
Bacchus frowned. "I'm sorry, my girl. I'm not a demigod anymore. I don't do quests."
"But giants can only be killed by heroes and gods working together," she insisted. "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. "My girl," he said coldly, "I don't have to do anything. Besides, I only help those who give me proper tribute, which no one has managed to do in many, many centuries."
Blackjack whinnied uneasily.
Daria couldn't blame him. She didn't like the sound of tribute. She remembered the maenads, the crazed followers of Bacchus, who would tear up nonbelievers with their bare hands. And that was when they were in a good mood.
Percy voiced the question that she was too scared to ask. "What kind of tribute?"
Bacchus waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing you could handle, insolent Greek. But I will give you some free advice, since this girl does have some manners. Seek out Gaea's son, Phorcys. He always hated his mother, not that I can blame him. He didn't have much use for his siblings, the twins, either. You'll find him in the city they named after that heroine—Atalanta."
Daria hesitated. "You mean Atlanta?"
"That's the one."
"But this Phorcys," Jason said. "Is he a giant? A Titan?"
Bacchus laughed. "Neither. Seek out the salt water."
"Salt water..." Percy said. "In Atlanta?"
"Yes," Bacchus said. "Are you hard of hearing? If anyone can give you insight on Gaea and the twins, it's Phorcys. Just watch out for him."
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
The god glanced at the sun, which had climbed almost to high noon. "It's unlike Ceres to be late, unless she sensed something dangerous in this area. Or..."
The god's face suddenly went slack. "Or a trap. Well, I must be going! And if I were you, I'd do the same!"
"Lord Bacchus, wait!" Jason protested.
The God didn't listen. In front of them, the crop rustled. Daria shared a glance with Percy.
"Well," he said. "I really hope it's not karpoi."
I'm gonna post the follow up chapter this weekend because they're like the same plot point. Also hope y'all like Piper's lamenting-it's fun for now.
Also, also, hope y'all liked that little mention of TOA in the last chapter :)) hehe.
Anyway happy Friday! Leave a comment-any other theories about our bland boy Jason?