RED ¹ / Percy Jackson !

14

A FEW MINUTES LATER,THEY WERE SITTING IN A BOOTH IN A BRIGHT DINER.

Finally the waitress came over. "Well?" She raised her eyebrow skeptically.

"We, um, want to order dinner."Percy said.

"You kids have money to pay for it?"

Grover's lower lip quivered. Percy was afraid he would start bleating, or worse, start eating thelinoleum. Annabeth looked ready to pass out from hunger. Blake looked like she might try eating linoleum as well. Viviane looked ready to kill every person in this diner just to get a cheeseburger.Percy was in deep thought,trying to think up a sob story for the waitress,but-

Suddenly,All conversation in the diner stopped. The motorcycle's headlight glared red. Its gas tank had flames painted on it, and a shotgun holster riveted to either side, complete with shotguns. The seat was leather-but leather that looked like ... well, Caucasian human skin.

The guy on the bike would've made pro wrestlers run for Mama. He was dressed in a red muscleshirt and black jeans and a black leather duster, with a hunting knife strapped to his thigh. He wore red wrap around shades, and he had the cruelest, most brutal face ever seen- handsome,, but wicked-with an oily black crew cut and cheeks that were scarred from many, many fights.

As he walked into the diner, a hot, dry wind blew through the place. All the people rose, as if they were hypnotized, but the biker waved his hand dismissively and they all sat down again. Everybody went back to their conversations. The waitress blinked, as if somebody had just pressed the rewind button on her brain. She asked us again, "You kids have money to pay for it?"

The biker said, "It's on me." He slid into the booth, which was way too small for him, andcrowded Viviene against the window. Percy took notice of Viviene's smirk and how she bit her cheek to stop herself from laughing.

He looked up at the waitress, who was gaping at him, and said, "Are you still here?"He pointed at her, and she stiffened. She turned as if she'd been spun around, then marched back toward the kitchen.

"So he's old Seaweed's kid, huh?"The biker asked,his eyes going from Viviene to Percy.

"What's it to you?"Percy snapped.

"Percy, this is-"Annabeth's eyes flashed a warning.

"S'okay," he said. "I don't mind a little attitude. Long as you remember who's the boss. Youknow who I am,little cousin?"Percy's eyes widened.

"Percy,meet my dad." Viviene smirked at Percy over the table. "Ares,God of War and stupid people."

"Watch your tongue,Aresa." Ares told his daughter with a look."I heard you broke Clarisse's spear."Ares told Percy.

"She was asking for it."

"Probably. That's cool. I don't fight my kids' fights, you know? What I'm here for-I heard youwere in town. I got a little proposition for you."

The waitress came back with heaping trays of food-cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, andchocolate shakes.

Ares handed her a few gold drachmas.

She looked nervously at the coins. "But, these aren't..."

Ares pulled out his huge knife and started cleaning his fingernails. "Problem, sweetheart?"The waitress swallowed, then left with the gold.