It had been a wild ride. Literally.

They rode till gods-know-how-long on a giant squealing boar with anger issues. It did just about wonders for Kia's back.

They had gotten off on some deserted area, followed shortly by the boar oinking maniacally before trampling off into wherever. Yes, she was still salty about that rotten old pig.

Grover did a spell with nuts that somehow translated to them all being one, Percy being the little deformed one because of the joke he muttered to Kia.

("This sounds a little... nuts," he muttered to Kia with a grin pulling at the left corner of his lips, keeping his eyes on the rock he was kicking.

"I'm gonna see you in hell when I kill you.")

"That cluster right there," Grover said, pointing to the left, "that's trouble."

"A monster?" Thalia asked.

Grover looked uneasy. "I don't smell anything, which doesn't make sense. But the acorns don't lie," right, because acorns were capable of telling the truth, as well. Sometimes Kia questioned whether this whole demigod scheme was a fever dream. Hey, that rhymed! "Our next challenge..."

He pointed straight toward the junkyard. With the sunlight almost gone now, the hills of metal looked like the alien planets she'd seen in science fiction comics.

After unanimously deciding that no one wanted to go dumpster-diving in the dark, they'd settled on camping for the night.

The hunters of the group whipped up half a dozen sleeping bags and foam mattresses from their enchanted backpacks. Kia was mildly interested in how they worked and what else they could be used for, but she wasn't really feeling herself ever since that dream. She could tell the others could feel how she'd distanced herself a bit, namely Percy, but chose to stay quiet on the topic.

It was an odd mix of curiosity and numbness she felt, staring up at the endless galaxy above them. The stars were so beautiful; she could feel the area around her eyes start to ache slightly. Why did she want to cry? She wasn't feeling anything. Her mind started drifting to her mother. The warm embrace she would engulf her in everyday after school. Each time, she looked so tired, and yet, she still smiled and her eyes would crinkle beautifully at the corners—Kia could always see how much her mother loved her. She couldn't remember the colour of her mother's eyes, she realised morosely.

Her eyes stayed on the stars, even though she was looking at nothing. Her heart didn't hurt, it was as if it wasn't there at all. She had been fooling herself thinking that she could push her mother's death away, focusing on anything else. She regretted saying no when Chiron asked if she wanted to hear the details. It was selfish; cruel, even. Kia had been taught from a young age from her teachers and everyone around her to always look forward. She didn't want to. She wanted her mom. She wanted to hug her and never let her go.

Was that so much to ask for?

Her thoughts settled slightly. This was just the way the world works. It never stopped for anyone, even if you were on your knees begging for it. Time rushed by, each moment seeming to go by even faster than the last. One of these moments was all it took for her mom to be ripped away. No, not ripped away—let go. Kia's head hurt each time she berated herself for letting go of her mother so easily. She should have fought back. Maybe she would've still been here. Maybe it would've been Kia instead.

No matter how many time she'd tell herself otherwise, she would throw the whole world away for just a glimpse of her mother's smile. Kia didn't remember her mother's smile; she would always be staring at her mother's eyes—which she didn't even remember the colour of.

Kia's eyes started focusing on the stars. They were so beautiful, each constellation lighting up the sky in a flurry of amazing sparks. Why were they so beautiful? Her mother wasn't here; she couldn't see them—nothing should be beautiful if her mother wasn't here to see it.

She knew it was very out of the blue—her mother's death suddenly hitting her. Why was she thinking of it now? Kia remembered her blank face when she first got the news, so close to detachment. But now, it was all coming down on her like a meteor shower. The celestial splay of astral markings only made her angrier; her mom had probably never seen something like this—she would've loved it. So why, pray tell, was she seeing this now?

It seemed like it had been only a few moments that she'd spent thinking of her mother's death. She felt a warm yet calloused grip on her hand. Not moving her head, her eyes slipped to the corner, seeing Percy also staring up at the stars while silently holding her hand. It felt so natural, the way his hand sought out her own in a midst of everyone's.

It was then that she realised tears had been spilling over the sides of her face. Percy looked blurry to her, but she could faintly make out him turning on his side, his hand in her hold tightening the slightest bit while the other reached out to thumb the tiny streaks of damp skin around her eyes.

It'll be okay, he mouthed.

She appreciated him not saying it out loud, as well as not saying it was okay. She wasn't, she knew, but it was reassuring to be told that she would be, at some point.

Despite herself, she smiled. A bright grin, unlike any facial expression she'd made in the past couple of days. The minute actions made her not happy, but something close, something her mother would make her feel.

She could make out Percy's eyes widen a fraction, before he smiled back, his cheeks pushing up against the mattress and his eyes. He had tiny dimples, the left slightly deeper than the right and his eyes automatically closed. He had a beautiful smile, incomparable to those she'd seen on anyone else.

They looked at each other, unable to control their poorly-tightened grins.

Suddenly, they were hit with a blazing light from down the road. Kia squinted her now dried eyes, finding the obnoxious headlights of a car. Her first guess was Apollo, but it was nighttime; despite it, she got a sense that she'd be seeing him soon. Everyone scrambled to pull away their sleeping bags and mattresses away from the road as a bone-white limousine slid to a stop in front of them.

It was like in slow motion as Kia felt her heart stop while the door opened the point of a sword met the Adam's apple of Percy's throat. It bobbed unsurely.

Zoë and Bianca drew their bows, Thalia's hand touched her bracelet, Grover's flying to his pockets and reaching for his pipes. The person in the car moved out, Percy following his movements by inching back, not keen to see the sword piercing through any flesh.

Kia tensed, feeling her expression hardening.

The guy winced slightly, his head lolling lazily to look at Kia. "That you, kid?"

She must've looked confused, because he sniffed like it was funny before turning back to Percy, smiling cruelly. "Not so fast, are you, punk?"

He was a big man with a crew cut, a black leather biker's jacket, black jeans, a white muscle shirt, wearing combat boots and a permanent scowl despite the amusement his features tried to display. Percy seemed to know who he was, which was weird because all Kia could see was a hefty dude who picked fights with fourteen-year olds.

"Ares," Percy growled.

With not even close to enough time to process the fact that this was Ares, a literal god, Ares' gaze flitted over the others. "At ease, people."

He snapped his fingers and all the weapons fell to the floor, clanging noisily.

"This is a friendly meeting." He dug the point of his blade a little farther under Percy's chin. "Of course I'd like to take your head for a trophy, but someone wants to see you. And I never behead my enemies in front of a lady."

"What lady?" Thalia asked.

Ares looked over at her. "Well, well. I heard you were back."

He lowered his sword and pushed Percy away. Kia stumbled catching him and holding him by the shoulders protectively.

"Thalia, daughter of Zeus," Ares mused. Wasn't he also a child of Zeus? "You're not hanging out with very good company."

"What's your business, Ares?" she said. "Who's in the car?"

Ares smiled, enjoying the attention. "Oh, I doubt she wants to meet the rest of you. Particularly not them." He jutted his chin toward Zoe and Bianca. "Why don't you all go get some tacos while you wait? Only take Percy and Kia, here, a few minutes."

Kia looked to Percy confusedly. What could Ares or whoever's in that limo want with her? Percy shrugged, looking equally as perplexed.

"We will not leave him alone with thee, Lord Ares," Zoe said.

"Besides," Grover managed, "the taco place is closed."

Ares snapped his fingers again. The lights inside the taqueria suddenly blazed to life. The boards flew off the door and the CLOSED sign flipped to OPEN. "You were saying, goat boy?"

"Go on," Percy told them, even though he looked at Kia unsurely.

She nodded.

"We'll be fine," he added.

"You heard the boy," Ares said smugly, as if detecting falsities in what Percy said. "He's big and strong. He's got things under control."

The others reluctantly bounded over to the taco shop, Thalia in particular looking the most opposed to leaving them there. Her eyes met Kia's, and Kia nodded reassuringly. She doubted it helped but Thalia dipped her chin back.

Ares regarded Percy with an unjust amount of loathing for a grown man looking at a child that didn't even come up to his neck, and then opened the limousine door. "You," he said to Percy. "Get in, punk. And mind your manners, she's not as forgiving of rudeness as I am."

Percy made a mangled sound of protest. "There's no way in hell I'm leaving her out here alone with you!"

Ares rolled his eyes and grit his teeth impatiently. "She'll be fine, you're the one who should be worried."

Percy glared at him, stubbornly unmoving. The air formed a tense atmosphere and Kia realised they would likely start fighting if she didn't intervene. She pursed her lips hesitantly and clasped a hand on Percy's shoulder.

He turned to her, his gaze softening slightly, but still looking fiercely protective of someone he'd barely even talked to. Kia squeezed his shoulder, "Hey, I'll be fine."

He didn't looked convinced, so she added, "I mean, you are the one in the limousine. I think that's where most murders happen."

Percy deadpanned, "I really feel the love."

"Just go, I'll be fine."

Percy conceded reluctantly. He slipped in, but not before throwing Ares one more look, as if to say, She better be fine when I'm out.

Ares huffed like he was tired of the interaction. He turned back to Kia, whatever that was behind his black wraparound shades seeming to be burning. If Kia could guess, it was probably hollow sockets.

"You're the vision girl," Ares said haughtily.

"You make it sound like a superhero name," Kia said, crossing her arms. Better to get it out that if Percy disliked him, so did she.

Ares' lips stretched into a grin. "You've got spunk."

Ignoring the compliment, she asked, "Why am I here?"

She got no answer, because the next second felt dizzy, her head spinning and for a second, she felt weightless. She could feel her atoms break apart and become intangible, all until she found herself back into one piece, her body laying in a field of irises.

The grass looked a healthy shade of green and the scenery reflected gold in her eyes. The irises sparkles like the glare of the sun on water, the speckled flowers marbling blue and white abstractly. She was leaning against a tree, it's branches thick with leaves and pink flowers Kia couldn't name.

She heard humming coming from her right. The tune was something otherworldly, each note wrapped firmly with adoration and the voice of someone who had sung a million harmonies.

Her hand crept up to push hair out of her face. As the finger made contact with the lock of hair, she noticed it was curled perfectly, like the hair you would see on a princess. Kia finally realised that she was wearing a dress—a pretty one at that. Sunflowers speckled the flowy white dress that reached her thighs. Not that she didn't like the dress, but it felt a little weird on her; she wasn't used to wearing dresses since kindergarten.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

She turned and saw a man around nineteen, with majestic sun-streaked hair that was as golden as the lyre in his hands, features shaped and shredded like it was the result of a sculptor obsessed with his art. A straight nose, eyes as blue as the skies his chariot drove across, lips moulded like the world itself, cheekbones that glided across any wrinkles of aging on his forehead. He wore a Greek chiton, the ones you'd see painted on the vases dictating stories of the old heroes. Apollo looked much more of a god than he had last time, and yet, his eyes shone the exact same.

Apollo looked at her lazily, his eyes reflecting a playful glint. "Miss me?"

Scratch that, Kia regretted regarding his features with such appreciation. She deadpanned, "No."

"Ah, don't be so bitter, darling!" Apollo said breezily, like she didn't have a literal nightmare because of him. "You love me."

Yeah, she totally loved a dude she'd met for, like, five minutes once. His logic was flawless.

Ignoring the annoyance bubbling inside her, she asked, "Why did you bring me here?"

His perfect face morphed into something grave. "You're feeling angry. You cannot, under any circumstances, allow it to control your actions."

Kia wanted to ask what on Earth that meant but Apollo's intense gaze burned through her, the blue piercing through like the lightning that could strike you any moment. He's a son of Zeus, Kia realised. His eyes were similar to Thalia's, perfectly electrifying. Kia found herself nodding, despite wanting know what he meant.

As if he'd read her thoughts, he said, "You'll know it when the time comes."

He started humming again, the tune she didn't know the name of yet still was entanced by. His finger's started strumming the cords of his lyre and Kia started absently humming along with him. The rhythm was that of the gentle crashing of waves against the shore, the swoop of eagles flowing over the valley, the moments have you realise the one you're humming with is the one who would be there forever.

"Thank you, Apollo."

He looked surpised, as if he hadn't expected to be thanked. Eventually, a warm smile overtook his features. Kia didn't know how, but she knew, in that moment, that Apollo would always love her. There wasn't anyone alive who Kia loved, but with the fatherly tenderness Apollo showered her with, even without words, Kia could believe that, one day, she would love him back.

"You're welcome, amore," Apollo said, his eyes displaying the most affection Kia had ever seen. It was the type you would see a father show his child when they're born, using the gentlest hand to rub against their soft flushed cheeks.

Before she had the chance to say something back, the world folded in on itself, her vision going dark. Like that, she was back, standing in front of Ares. Kia had to wait for her pupils to adjust to the dark environment, a stark contrast to the golden field she was in.

As her vision focused, she saw Ares yank Percy out of the limousine.

"You're lucky, punk," Ares grouched. He seriously needed to come up with more creative insults, punk was becoming more parts nickname than a rude name. "Be grateful."

Percy completely ignored him, which turned Ares' face into something reminiscent of a tomato in anger. Percy fussed over Kia and whether she was okay, which she repeatedly assured. He grabbed her shoulders, looking her over like a concerned mother chicken to her chicks.

"Perce," she said tiredly. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" he asked, for what felt like the millionth time.

"Yes, Barnacle Face."

Even in his fit, he took the time to be thouroughly offended about the insult. His features scrunched up, "Barnacle Face?"

"I'll call you worse if you don't calm down."

Percy rolled his eyes at the threat.

Ares seemed to get tired of their unrelenting banter. He interrupted, rudely, "Word on Olympus is that you might start the biggest war in history. I can't risk messing that up. Besides, Aphrodite thinks you're some kinda soap-opera star or something. I kill you, that makes me look bad with her. But don't worry. I haven't forgotten my promise. Some day soon, kid—real soon—you're going to raise your sword to fight, and you're going to remember the wrath of Ares."

Percy balled his fists. "Why wait? I beat you once. How's that ankle healing up?"

He grinned crookedly. "Not bad, punk. But you got nothing on the master of taunts. I'll start the fight when I'm good and ready. Until then... get lost."

Ares snapped his fingers and disappeared in a swirl of dust. The two stumbled back, using each other as stability.

It was altogether about ten minutes before things went to shit again. Giant toes are a clear sign of evil; what was Kia? An amateur?

The giant metal buck-boy Talos had the three of them, Bianca, Percy and Kia crouched behind a wrecked chariot. Percy said to Bianca, "You took something. That bow."

"No!" she said, but her voice was quivering.

"Give it back!" Percy said. "Throw it down!"

"I... I didn't take the bow! Besides, it's too late."

"What did you take?"

Before she could answer, they heard a massive creaking noise, and a shadow blotted out the sky.

"Move!" The three of them tore down the hill, as the giant's foot smashed a crater in the ground where they'd been hiding.

"Hey, Talos!" Grover yelled, but the monster raised his sword, looking down at Bianca, Percy and Kia.

Grover played a quick melody on his pipes. Over at the highway, the downed power lines began to dance. Kia understood what Grover was going to do a split second before it happened. One of the poles with power lines still attached flew toward Talos's back leg and wrapped around his calf. The lines sparked and sent a jolt of electricity up the giant's backside.

Talos whirled around, creaking and sparking. Grover had bought them a few seconds.

"Come on!" Percy told Bianca, but she stayed frozen. From her pocket, she brought out a small metal figurine, a statue of a god. "It... it was for Nico. It was the only statue he didn't have."

Kia's expression softened slightly. Despite herself, she felt a little understanding of Bianca. She just wanted to make her brother happy. She must have really cared for the kid.

Percy didn't seem to share similar sympathies. "How can you think of Mythomagic at a time like this?"

There were tears brimming the edge of her eyes.

"Drop it on the pavement," Kia said more calmly. "There's a chance it might leave us alone."

She dropped it reluctantly, but nothing happened; the giant kept coming after Grover. It stabbed its sword into a junk hill, missing Grover by a few feet, but scrap metal made an avalanche over him, and then he disappeared amongst the chaos.