Chapter 59 – I Talked Too Much
The morning light filtered through the car windows as the group hit the highway again, the engine humming steadily while the desert landscape stretched endlessly ahead. The scent of fresh coffee from a drive-thru cup lingered in the air, mixing with the faint smell of motel soap still clinging to their clothes. Everyone was a little groggy from the early start, but the excitement of heading to Las Vegas kept the energy alive.
The next day, everyone was in the car driving toward Las Vegas.
Dante, with his head resting comfortably on Annabeth's shoulder in the back seat, sighed dramatically and said: "Seriously, I really hate waking up early. For a dragon, sleep is one of the best parts of life curled up, no worries, just pure rest. Having to wake up early is everything a dragon would want to avoid. It's torture."
Annabeth smiled softly, her hand gently stroking his hair, and said: "That's not a dragon thing at all. It's just you being lazy admit it already."
Dante smiled lazily, nuzzling closer into her shoulder, and said: "You could just not call me out on it. You were supposed to agree with my lies, right? Be supportive of your boyfriend."
Annabeth smiled wider, teasing him: "Well, that's true. So you're right you're lazy because you're a dragon. Perfect excuse, I guess."
Dante gave a weak, playful smile and said: "Well, thanks for trying to back me up. I appreciate the effort even if it's half-hearted."
Percy, from the front passenger seat, seeing that cozy exchange, laughed softly. He then turned to Grover behind the wheel and asked curiously: "Grover, where exactly are we going to find the next pearl? I know it's in Las Vegas, but where in the city? The map isn't super specific."
Grover then looked at them through the rearview mirror and said smiling broadly: "Get your money ready, everyone, because we're going straight to the Lotus Hotel and Casino. That's where the map is pointing loud and clear."
Percy said with a mix of surprise and amusement: "Well, I never imagined my quest to rescue my mom would involve a casino. Feels like the gods have a weird sense of humor sending us to Sin City."
Dante smiled mischievously from the back: "What's wrong? Want to gamble a little? I'll pay for the first round my treat, no strings."
Annabeth said firmly, crossing her arms: "No gambling. We have to focus on the mission no distractions, no side quests."
Dante said teasingly: "Why not? With my reaction time, the world seems stopped when I want it to. I can make good money at dice and blackjack with that advantage easy wins, guaranteed."
Percy said smiling, half-serious and tempted: "Seriously? So that means we can bet without fear of losing? Like, guaranteed profits?"
Grover said excitedly, eyes lighting up at the thought: "I want in on that. Don't leave me out, guys goat man needs some fun too!"
Annabeth, looking at this group of excited idiots in the car, said exasperated but fond: "You know we can't. We have a mission priorities first."
Percy said reminding everyone seriously: "You forgot we have to save my mom. Focus, people no detours."
Dante said innocently: "I don't blame you for wanting to use god-level power to win money from ordinary people. It's just business fair game."
Annabeth looked at him with a sharp "do you think I believe that?" look, eyebrow raised high.
At that moment, Grover shouted happily as the city skyline came into view: "Everyone, welcome to Las Vegas!"
They all then looked out the windows at the bustling city ahead towering hotels, flashing neon signs even in daylight, the famous Strip coming alive with energy and promise.
Dante said thoughtfully: "I wonder if I can have a legendary bachelor party here sometime epic one for the ages."
Annabeth, hearing that, smiled dangerously and said: "Only over my demigoddess corpse. Try it and see what happens."
Grover then pointed ahead excitedly: "Everyone, look the Lotus Casino. We're here!"
They then parked in the massive casino parking lot and walked toward the grand entrance, the building glowing with lights and buzzing with activity.
Dante thought as they approached the doors: Now the question is whether I'll get high from these lotus flowers they give out or not. Well, I'll try. If I get a little buzzed, I can enjoy it after all, beer never even tickled my body. Might as well test the limits.
Annabeth looked at thoughtful Dante walking beside her and asked: "What is it? You're thinking hard again spill it."
Dante said smiling: "Nothing. Let's go after the pearls mission first, fun later maybe."
At that moment, a friendly casino employee appeared at the entrance smiling warmly and said: "Here, take this lotus guide it's free. Valid for everything in the hotel: food, games, rooms, shows. Enjoy your stay!"
Percy said politely but firmly: "Sorry, friend, but we're not staying long just passing through."
They then continued walking inside, looking for any sign of the pearl among the chaos of slot machines chiming, tables bustling, and crowds of excited tourists.
Percy looked around at this giant place that even had an amusement park inside roller coasters, arcades, restaurants everywhere and said: "Well, I can't deny this place is incredible. Like a dream world come to life."
Annabeth said realistically, scanning the massive interior: "Yeah, the place is cool, but the problem is how we're going to find a green pearl in the middle of all this it's massive and overwhelming."
Grover said, looking at passing women with trays: "Well, we could start with a waitress or dancer—maybe they know something or have seen it."
At that moment, they were stopped by a beautiful blonde waitress who smiled brightly and said: "Would you like anything to drink or eat? Try the lotus flower it's our specialty. Very relaxing, highly recommended."
They then took the offered lotus flowers, curious and unsuspecting.
Dante looked at the lotus flower in his hand and thought: Well, since it's not poison and more like an aphrodisiac or hallucinogen, it shouldn't hurt. Maybe my body's defenses won't block the effect completely let's see what happens if I let it in a little.
They then ate it, the taste sweet and floral, almost instantly soothing.
Grover said almost immediately: "Man, that's the best thing I've ever eaten in my life pure bliss."
They then started laughing out of nowhere, the effects hitting fast and hard, giggles spreading through the group.
Annabeth said dreamily, eyes glazing a bit: "Guys, why don't we stay here a bit longer? It's so nice… so relaxing."
Grover said happily: "Yeah, let's stay why rush anywhere?"
Percy said trying to fight the haze: "No way. We're on a time-sensitive mission focus, guys."
Annabeth said smiling crazily, already half-gone: "I don't remember any mission. What mission?"
Dante, whose eyes were already shifting to dragon form from the intensity of the lotus, said slowly: "No, we came to have fun here, right? That's the plan now."
Percy said, giving in completely: "Yes, we came to have fun. So let's go, everyone."
They then started going crazy lost in the lotus haze that dulled time and worries.
Dante pulled Annabeth to the dance floor, bodies moving close to the pulsing music, while Percy pulled random girls to dance around him, laughing freely, and Grover started drinking heavily at the bar, shots after shots.
Dante then pulled Annabeth to several places arcade games where he won prizes effortlessly, shows with bright lights, bars with colorful drinks and after what felt like an eternity of fun and blurred time, pulled her to a private suite room upstairs.
He then kissed her on the neck passionately, hands roaming over her body.
Annabeth hugged Dante's neck tightly and asked breathlessly: "Am I the woman you love? The only one?"
Drunk Dante said without thinking, voice slurred: "Yes, you're one of the most important women to me."
At that moment, Annabeth sobered up instantly, the haze clearing like cold water, and looked at Dante with a dangerous look and asked sharply: "One of them?"
Dante, who was controlling his body's defenses to stay high and enjoy the buzz, then told her everything about Alice, Jasmine, Amber, and Margaret, the other women in his life.
Annabeth, knowing about her boyfriend's secret harem, got furious. She thought about leaving him right there, storming out, but then thought: If I leave him now, I'll just be giving him to those sluts and walking away like a loser. But letting him off without punishment is too light he needs to learn a lesson.
She then grabbed Percy's sword that she had borrowed when Percy wasn't looking earlier and attacked Dante's private parts with full intent to punish.
Dante, seeing that deadly swing, snapped out of the haze instantly his defenses kicking in full force.
He then looked at her trying to kill him and remembered the shit he said in his drugged state.
The good side: if she didn't leave immediately and wants to kill him, she just wants to vent her anger still cares enough to fight.
The bad side: she's aiming at a man's most dangerous places with a sword.
Annabeth smiled dangerously at Dante and said: "Why do you need to dodge? I know your defense can handle it right?"
Dante twitched the corners of his mouth and said carefully: "It's not because it can handle it that I want to test it especially not there."
Dante then quickly put on his clothes and ran out of the room to look for Percy so they could leave this casino and finish the mission soon after all, several days must have passed since he got high, and time was slipping away fast.
Annabeth, seeing Dante run away like that, grabbed her things quickly and went after him down the hallway while thinking furiously: I can even accept your other girlfriends eventually, but get ready to be punished hard until I feel better again, you perverted dragon. The only thing in your favor is that you're honest with your feelings and don't go around picking up anything random, unlike Zeus. That's why you're still alive, you perverted dragon.
She then went after him, sword still in hand.