Lost Memories

Things Become Less Mud-dled

Before saying anything else, I raced forward and tried to punch Dionysus. He simply sidestepped my blind anger-filled strike and kicked me to the ground. I slipped in the mud as I tried to get back up and Mr. D snickered.

I slowly stood, glaring at the wine god. "You had better have a damn good explanation for all of this. Where have you been?" I demanded. "Why haven't you contacted me? Have you even tried to help me or have you just forgotten about me and hoped Poseidon would do it? Why—"

"Actually, I didn't know that Poseidon was helping you," Dionysus said. "He believed you?" I nodded. "He's more gullible than I thought."

"Mr. D."

"As to where I've been: the same place I have been since Zeus punished me. Stuck at your stupid camp watching over all those little brats."

"Why haven't you contacted me since you left me a year ago?"

"I believe you already know. Do you not remember? I told you the sooner I got you out of New York, the sooner I could forget all about you. I never said anything about helping you after that."

I shook the mud off of my arms and then folded them. "So why are you here now?"

Dionysus sighed, creating a can of Diet Coke in his hand and popping the top. He circled me, drinking it. "It seems that whoever did this to you is starting to make their move. While you were screaming at me and having your little meltdown, I was entertaining a visitor."

My breath caught. "You know who did this?"

"Mnemosyne, the Titaness of memory. I was enjoying a game of solitaire and a Diet Coke in some rare peace and quiet in the Big House when she confronted me. She didn't show up in person, just her voice, but I would recognize it anywhere. She said she has been watching us. She admitted to being the one who took everyone's memories. She offered me a deal—help her take down my father and in return, she'd take away my memories of you as well, so I would no longer have to worry about you and you couldn't come to me for help."

"So why didn't you?" I asked. "You obviously still remember me. But you hate me, why would you refuse? Especially if she wanted to attack Zeus, you're always saying how mad you are at him for making you stay at Camp Half-Blood. And why wouldn't she just take away your memories anyway, why make the deal?"

"As the kids these days say, Mr. Johnson, 'FYI,' I'm not that self-absorbed. I've been around for a long time, I've seen what happens when immortals challenge the Olympians. They always lose.

"And back when I first became a god, I made a deal with Mnemosyne. She was still looking for a husband, desperately, and I recognized what she could do if she got angry enough. We both swore on the Styx. I would consider marrying her, and she would never manipulate my memory without my permission. That is why I am the only one to remember you, unfortunately.

"Now, back to why I came here, besides doing this for yelling at me like that," Dionysus said, and before I could brace myself for any sort of attack, he flicked his finger and I went flying backward. I slid through the mud and came to a stop when I hit someone's legs. When I looked up, Dionysus glared down at me.

I got to my feet, shaking off as much mud as I could. I knew attacking Mr. D again would do nothing, so I crossed my arms and returned his glare.

"Mnemosyne made a mistake by talking to me, besides revealing who did this. From the way she was talking, I could tell she was planning an attack, and soon. We've been having frequent monster attacks at Camp Half-Blood and fewer satyrs and demigods make it across the border. Mnemosyne has an army, but she's trying to weaken us before she attacks. I wish I didn't have to say this, but we need you back. At least until we can defeat her, and then you may return to Camp Jupiter."