Chapter ΧΙ
My Worst Night-Mare
*On to eleven, hopefully we'll have some surprises today. I apologize for the long wait; I did not mean to wait this long, but my finals kept me busy until Christmas break, and that was spent in Arizona.
Settle for a Slowdown
Dierks Bently
I must look just like a fool here But your wheels just turn, I held on longer then I should But your wheels just turn But your wheels just turn I'd settle for a slowdown
in the middle of the road
standing there in your rearview
and getting soaked to the bone
this land is flat as it is mean
a man can see for a hundred miles
so I'm still praying I might see
the glow of a brake light.
down the road ahead
If it hurts at all
you ain't showed it yet
I keep a lookin' for
the slightest sign that you might miss
what you left behind
I know there's nothing stopping you now
but I'd settle for a slowdown.
Leaving you might change your mind
those bright lights of Hollywood
would fade in time.
down the road ahead
If it hurts at all
you ain't showed it yet
I keep a lookin' for
the slightest sign
that you might miss
what you left behind
I know there's nothing stopping you now
but I'd settle for a slowdown.
down the road ahead
if it hurts at all
you ain't showed it yet
your just a tiny dot on that horizon line come on tap those brakes
baby just one time
I know there's nothing stopping you now
I'm not asking you to turn back around
Come on just slow down
I'd settle for a slowdown.
So I got away from the airport, met up with Artemis, and headed out to search. I decided not to tell her about Tim, just in case I can ever bribe her with an autograph or something.
We didn't exactly have to search long, once we got to the coast, a dark trail of mist, faint but distinct, led off to the north. We followed it until it turned off to the east, then hit a lake with several islands in the middle. Artemis called it Stow Lake, we continued on until we came to the island in the north-east part of the lake. The mist led to the island, straight over water, I was wondering what they would do if a non-son-of-Poseidon came, when I noticed a shadow beneath the water. I stepped out, and realized there was only a few inches of water below a narrow path. We walked out to the island warily, when we reached it, we leaped up into the small grove of beech trees in the middle of the island. We snuck through the trees without making a sound, until we came to a meadow. In the meadow was Grover, sleeping, of course, and moaning about food.
I hopped down and hit him in the head, he woke up.
"Where's the cheese?" He yelled; I looked at him quizzically. He blushed, "Nothing, forget it."
"We came to get you out of here."
"We?"
Artemis leaped down, Grover stood up, I was surprised to see he wasn't bound; he started bowing and scraping all over himself. Artemis smiled at him, seeming somewhat charmed by his… Groverness.
"Grover, calm down, breathe, I'm just a normal person, deference isn't necessary." She smiled at him, and I was rather proud Grover didn't start hyperventilating.
"What inspired you to come, Artemis?" Grover asked quizzically.
Artemis smiled again, "Well, you are Percy's best friend, and I rather enjoy being on good terms with him." Unless I've gone insane, that was said with no small amount of suggestiveness. Dang, I wish she didn't know how to tug my strings like that, but I'm not sure I would have it any other way.
Grover was, understandably, confused, "What do you mean by…" He trailed off as he saw my face, I hope I wasn't blushing, but I probably was, "Oh, that explains it." He grinned at me, "How on earth did you manage that?"
"That?" Artemis questioned, her eyes narrowing in a manner reminiscent of several fanged monsters I've fought.
Before Grover could start trying to apologize and probably dig his grave deeper than it already was, I noticed something. Just a flicker at the corner of my vision, but it was enough; Chaos' training had heightened my ability to see from the peripheral. Several shreds of mist seemed to be shaking with laughter, which I knew was out of the ordinary.
"Grover," I hissed urgently, "what do you know about these night-mares, the creatures that kidnapped you."
"Oh, um, there's probably something I should explain about that…"
"No need, allow us." Several of the shreds of mist solidified into palominos, with bright eyes that seemed to glare like golden spotlights.
"Perseus Jackson, it is an honor to meet you." It was weird to hear a horse talking out loud, instead of in my head.
"What are you?"
They gave a horse approximation of a grin, "Why, we're night-mares of course."
"You don't look like it."
They gave each other nods; then changed back into dark mist, only to reform again as clowns, with razor sharp teeth and knives.
Ugh, what up with them and clowns?
They quickly formed back into horses, "Still unconvinced?" Asked the lead horse smugly, he seemed to be the leader anyway; he was taller than the others.
I drew my sword, but the night-mares seemed unaffected by it, "Put that away, Perseus, we have no intention of fighting you."
"Then why did you kidnap my friend, and send me that letter?"
"Oh, the letter," he almost seemed embarrassed, "um, that was Nick; he seems to enjoy doing that to people." He glared over at someone at the back of the pack, who bowed his head.
"Percy," Grover interrupted, "that's what I'm trying to tell you, they didn't kidnap me, I came to them."
Officially confused now, "What are you people talking about?"
"We aren't evil, Perseus," said the leader, "we needed to talk to you, but can't leave this island without some sort of cover."
"Why?" I asked quizzically.
"We feared the retaliation of Erebus, Lord of the Night."
I groaned, "Another ancient god, come to destroy us all, right?"
They looked unsurprised, "Naturally, he was taking little note of this world until Kronos summoned him. We believe he was lost in Tartarus for a time, but the energy from Kronos rising got his attention. All the primordial gods intend to make war, even those who all believed lost."
I sighed, never any peace for a hero, "So, how do we stop them."
He hesitated, "His powers must be bound by Gaia, if you are to have a chance, but she won't consent. The only way to obtain her powers of binding is by the Flames of Olympus. They are a direct conduit into her powers, and are located all over the world, in groups of three. There are 42 total, 14 groups, all must be activated by a god, and children of each of the big 3."
Me, Thalia, Nico, and Artemis, this might not be so bad.
"But the primordial gods are searching for these as well, whoever controls the majority once they are all lit will gain control of the others. They are both trying to prevent you from getting them, and attempting to gain their power for themselves."
Ah, there's the kicker. "What power exactly?"
He stared intently, "The power to control the gods of the east, and their monsters as well."
You did not guess that, if you did, you're physic and I hate you. Again, updates coming faster soon, apologize for the wait, don't eat bad star fruit, and don't hug rabid raccoons. You all rock, oh and by the by, I'm going to start making longer chapters.