The Forbidden Daughter | PJO Book One

ten

ARES AND THE TUNNEL OF LOVE

The next afternoon, June 14, seven days before the solstice, their train rolled into Denver. They hadn't eaten since the night before in the dining car, somewhere in Kansas.

They hadn't taken a shower since Half-Blood Hill, and Ariana was sure that was obvious.

"Let's try to contact Chiron." Annabeth said. "I want to tell him about your talk with the river spirit."

"We cant use phones, right?" Percy asked

"I'm not talking about phones."

They wandered through downtown for about half an hour. The air was dry and hot, which felt weird after the humidity of St Louis.

Everywhere they turned, the Rocky Mountains seemed to be staring at her, like a tidal wave about to crash into the city.

Finally they found an empty do-it-yourself car wash. They veered towards the stall furthest from the street, keeping their eyes open for patrol cars.

They were three adolescents hanging out at a car wash without a car; any cop worth his doughnuts would figure they were up to no good.

"What exactly are we doing?" Percy asked as Grover took out the spray gun.

"It's seventy-five cents." he grumbled. "I've only got two quarters left. Annabeth?"

"Don't look at me." she said. "The dining car wiped me out and Ariana is the only one with a backpack remember."

Ariana sighed as she fished out some change and passed Grover a quarter.

"Excellent." Grover said. "We could do it with a spray bottle, of course, but the connection isn't as good, and my arm gets tired of pumping."

"What are you talking about?" Sometimes Ariana forgets Percy was new to all of this.

Grover fed in the quarters and set the knob to fine mist. "I-M'ing."

"Instant messaging?"

"Iris-messaging." Ari corrected. "The rainbow goddess Iris carries messages for the gods. If you know how to ask, and she's not too busy, she'll do the same for half-bloods."

"You summon the goddess with a spray gun?"

Grover pointed the nozzle in the air and water hissed out in a thick white mist. "Unless you know an easier way to make a rainbow."

Sure enough, late afternoon light filtered through the vapour and broke into colours. Annabeth held her palm out to Ariana

"Drachma, please."

"Yeah just rob me that's fine!" Still, she gave Annabeth to Drachma.

She raised the coin over her head. "O goddess, accept our offering."

She threw the drachma into the rainbow.It disappeared in a golden shimmer.

"Half-Blood Hill." Annabeth requested.

For a moment, nothing happened.Then Ariana was looking through the mist at strawberry fields, and the Long Island Sound in the distance.

They seemed to be on the porch of the Big House. Standing with his back to them at the railing was a sandy-haired guy in shorts and an orange tank top.

He was holding a bronze sword and seemed to be staring intently at something down in the meadow.

"Luke!" Ariana called, gaining his attention quickly.

He turned, eyes wide. "Ari!" His scarred face broke into a grin.

"Is that Annabeth and Percy too? Thank the gods! Are you guys okay?"