RED ¹ / Percy Jackson !

69

"WHAT DID SHE WANT WITH YOU?" Bianca asked, once they'd told them about Aphrodite.

 "Oh, uh, not sure," Percy lied. "She said to be careful in her husband's junkyard. She said not to pick anything up."

 Zoe narrowed her eyes. "The goddess of love would not make a special trip to tell thee that. Be careful, Percy, Viviene. Aphrodite has led many heroes astray."

Viviene noticed Zoe glancing at Percy's palm. She grabbed his hand and Zoe's eyes snapped to her in suspiscoun.

 "For once I agree with Zoe," Thalia said. "You can't trust Aphrodite." 

Grover was looking at Percy funny. Being empathic and all, he could usually read Percy's emotions, and he got the feeling he knew exactly what Aphrodite had talked to them about.

Truth be told, Percy did feel different. Almost whole. Okay, that sounds weird, but it was the truth. It was like he finally found a piece of his soul that was missing all those years. He felt stronger.

And from Viviene's expression, he found out that she felt something  different as well. 

 "So," Viviene said, anxious to change the subject, "how do we get out of here?" 

 "That way," Zoe said. "That is west." 

 "How can you tell?" Percy asked

In the light of the full moon, Viviene was surprised how well she could see her roll her eyes at him."Ursa Major is in the north," she said, "which means that must be west." She pointed west, then at the northern constellation, which was hard to make out because there were so many other stars. 

 "Oh, yeah," Percy said. "The bear thing." 

 Zoe looked offended. "Show some respect. It was a fine bear. A worthy opponent."

 "You act like it was real."

 "Guys," Grover broke in. "Look!"

They'd reached the crest of a junk mountain. Piles of metal objects glinted in the moonlight: broken heads of bronze horses, metal legs from human statues, smashed chariots, tons of shields and swords and other weapons, along with more modern stuff, like cars that gleamed gold and silver, refrigerators, washing machines, and computer monitors. 

 "Whoa," Bianca said. "That stuff... some of it looks like real gold."

"It is," Thalia said grimly. "Like Percy said, don't touch anything. This is the junkyard of the gods."

 "Junk?" Grover picked up a beautiful crown made of gold, silver, and jewels. It was broken on one side, as if it had been split by an axe. "You call this junk?"

He bit off a point and began to chew. "It's delicious!" 

 Thalia swatted the crown out of his hands. "I'm serious!"

 "Look!" Bianca said. She raced down the hill, tripping over bronze coils and golden plates. She picked up a bow that glowed silver in moonlight. "A Hunter's bow!"

She yelped in surprise as the bow began to shrink, and became a hair clip shaped like a crescent moon. "It's just like Percys sword!"