𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ― j. grace ² ✓

twenty-four

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EIGHT LETTERS

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
[ P E R C Y ]

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PERCY HAD NEVER thought of Mr. D as a calming influence, but suddenly everything got quiet. The machines ground to a halt. The wild animals stopped growling.

The two leopards paced over — still licking their lips from Piper's pot roast — and butted their heads affectionately against the God's legs. Mr. D scratched their ears.

"Really, Ephialtes," he chided. "Killing Demigods is one thing. But using leopards for your spectacle? That's over the line."

The Giant made a squeaking sound. "This — this is impossible. D-D—"

"It's Bacchus, actually, my old friend," said the God. "And of course it's possible. Someone told me there was a party going on."

He looked the same as he had in Kansas, but Percy still couldn't get over the differences between Bacchus and his old not-so-much-of-a-friend Mr. D.

Bacchus was meaner and leaner, with less of a potbelly. He had longer hair, more spring in his step, and a lot more anger in his eyes. He even managed to make a pinecone on a stick look intimidating.

Ephialtes's spear quivered. "You — you Gods are doomed! Be gone, in the name of Gaea!"

"Hmm." Bacchus sounded unimpressed. He strolled through the ruined props, platforms, and special effects.

"Tacky." He waved his hand at a painted wooden gladiator, then turned to a machine that looked like an oversized rolling pin studded with knives. "Cheap. Boring. And this . . ." He inspected the rocket-launching contraption, which was still smoking. "Tacky, cheap, and boring. Honestly,
Ephialtes. You have no sense of style."

"STYLE?" The Giant's face flushed. "I have mountains of style. I define style. I — I—"

"My brother oozes style," Otis suggested.

"Thank you!" Ephialtes cried.

Bacchus stepped forward, and the Giants stumbled back. "Have you two gotten shorter?" asked the God.

"Oh, that's low," Ephialtes growled. "I'm quite tall enough to destroy you, Bacchus! You Gods, always hiding behind your mortal heroes, trusting the fate of Olympus to the likes of these."