I know, I know, I'm sorry I'm late, just found a good fanfic and started a new game so I lost track of time. Also started two new stories with other authors that you can find on my profile.

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson

Last time:

"YEAH! That's what I'm talking about!" Michael shouted as the Minotaur disintegrated, before taking a spot behind a fallen car and shooting at the remaining monsters.

"Well done, Percy Jackson, I see you have grown stronger." An ancient voice spoke. I felt a chill down my spine. Three guesses who that was.

Chapter 3

"Kronos." I growled as I turned to find him mounted on a horse and holding up his banner. His eyes shone like molten gold.

The Apollo campers faltered. The monsters we'd been pursuing reached the Titan's line and were absorbed into the new force. Kronos gazed in our direction. He was a quarter mile away, but I swear I could see him smile.

"Now," I said, "we pull back."

The Titan of Harvest's men drew their swords and charged. The hooves of their skeletal horses thundered against the pavement. Our archers shot a volley, bringing down several of the enemy, but they just kept riding.

"Retreat!" I told my friends. "I'll hold them.'"

In a matter of seconds they were on me.

"Come on Percy!" They called urgently as Kronos' cavalry swirled around me, attempting to kill me so as to please their lord.

I tried to wound his men, not kill. That slowed me down, but these weren't monsters. They were demigods who'd fallen under Kronos's spell. I couldn't see faces under l heir battle helmets, but some of them had probably been my friends. I slashed the legs off their horses and made the skeletal mounts disintegrate. After the first few demigods took a spill, the rest figured out they'd better dismount and fight me on foot.

I tuned in to my battle instincts and maimed any that came close. Finally, Kronos himself had arrived. He dismounted with his scythe in his hand, grinning like a madman.

"You're dead, demigod." he snarled as he brought his scythe down upon me.

"Not yet." I replied as I met his strike mid-way. The bridge shook at impact but I stayed steady.

"I see you too bathed in the Styx. No matter, I'll just hit every inch of your body until I find your mortal point and kill you, as for me, I can just reform." Kronos threatened as he used his powers to slow me down. Even with my invincible body, I felt the force of the weapon as it hit my shoulder. The force pushed cars and demigods off the bridge and in to the freezing river below. I skid back a few metres before falling on my knees. The campers had managed to retreat to the other side. As I a saw suspension cords flying crazily, an idea formed in my head. I slammed Riptide in to the broken road and called upon my powers over the earth. I had never used them before but I thought why not? After all, Poseidon WAS the Earthshaker so that should give me power over the land. The ground rumbled before half the bridge broke off, leaving the evil farmer and his men on the other side.

The Titan lord studied the problem. He looked behind him at the rising sun, then smiled across the chasm. He raised his scythe in a mock salute. "Until this evening, Jackson."

He mounted his horse, whirled around, and galloped back to Brooklyn, followed by his warriors.

I turned to look at what remained of the Apollo cabin. About ten to fifteen were missing and the rest were injured. Now was not the time to grieve, Kronos could attack any minute. "Okay everyone, we are making the Empire State Building our base, head over there now." I commanded as they nodded and got up.

The Aphrodite cabin was nearby so I decided to check on them first. As I arrived, I found the tunnel was covered in pink smoke and outside were a dozen kids smiling. I guess they handled it better than I thought they would. I repeated my command to head to the Empire State Building before swimming to the next nearest location; the Hunters.

"Hunters, shield yourselves!" one of them called out before a single arrow was launched. It detonated on impact, killing about a hundred monsters.

"Roar!" A monster with the size of a pickup truck stood there, it's metallic golden fur and silver claws glinting in the sunlight. The Nemean Lion. Another monster I had defeated in the past. It was ironic that I was with the Hunters last time as well.

"Thalia! Can you help me take down the kitty?" I shouted to the hunter perched on the top of the bridge's tower.

"Alright, Phoebe, we need your help as well." She replied as she called another hunter as well.

"The weak spots are it's eyes and mouth. I'll try to get it's mouth while you try to get arrows through it's brain via eyes, sound fine?" I explained before heading off.

"Here, kitty! Would you like some more astronaut food?" I taunted as it turned towards me. It growled before attempting to pounce on me. It had gotten faster and judging by the craters in the bridge, stronger as well. Silver arrows shot it from behind me, causing it to turn to the source. Multiple arrows sprouted out of it's eyes. As it roared in pain, I quickly stabbed it in it's mouth. The cycle continued over and over again with the other hunters covering us from the rest of the monsters. Finally, with one final thrust, the monster was sent to Tarturus. The lion wasn't the only one of my old enemies here. I had found a new hunter being silently approached by three Laistrygonian Giants: Joe Bob, Skull Eater and Marrow Sucker.

"You aren't getting her that easily!" I cried as I quickly ran up to them and managed to kill one before they could turn around. The other two jumped back and pulled out their cannonballs, throwing them at me with deadly accuracy. I slowly closed in on them which made them switch from cannonballs to wooden clubs. Luckily, they weren't skilled with the weapon and I destroyed the sticks before they could touch me. Finally defenceless, I easily killed them as well. I observed and found other hunters in similar situations and saved the lives of twenty hunters. Bonus points with Artemis, yes! We quickly finished off the monsters before heading back.

The demigods had taken over the entire first ten floors of the Empire State Building when I had arrived. There were thirty wounded campers out of which two were in a really bad condition, Michael and Annabeth. Michael hadn't been able to move off the bridge when I destroyed it and Annabeth had taken a poisoned dagger for a fellow camper. I quickly apologized to Michael for causing him to get injured and headed off to an empty room to get to sleep. The battles had taken a lot out of me. Of course, since I was a demigod, I couldn't sleep peacefully as I had demigod dreams which are usually shown for a reason.

Three old ladies dressed in white robes and sat in a dark cave around a campfire. Between them was a thread which the one on the left spun, the one in the middle measured and the last one cut. They reminded me of the old ladies back at the fruit stand when I used to go to Yancy Academy, a lifetime ago. "Perseus Jackson" they said creepily as one voice. Apparently, they knew me too and they could interact with me.

"Um... Who are you and what am I doing here?" I asked hesitantly.

"We are referred to as the Morai, or the Fates, the primordial goddesses of destiny, Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos,"They began, still speaking as one. "As to why you are here, we have summoned you here as you play a great role in the future and so we have decided to give you the chance to have a glimpse of the possible future." They explained as they cut the string and moved on to the next cord.

"What? Again? I'm already part of a huge prophecy right now!" I complained before realizing who I was talking to. Even Zeus didn't defy the Fates.

"Sorry, there's just a lot on my mind right now." I said quickly, trying not to get them on my bad side.

"So would you like to view your fate?" They asked, ignoring my non-stop rambling.

I stayed silent as I thought it about it for a minute. What harm could knowing the future do, right? If anything, it would help us out. "Alright, I would like to." I replied.

"Close your eyes, we'll do what's required and remember, this is only one of the possible futures" They said as they started muttering words quickly in a language I couldn't understand.

I obliged and the area suddenly switched from the cave to a forest. Running through the trees was the Goddess of Hunt. She appeared to be alone before I spotted a black shadow beside her. I squinted at the figure before reeling back in shock, it was me! After recovering, I continued to watch and I realized we were either running from something or chasing after it. Knowing Artemis, it was most likely the latter. In a while, we stopped in an open clearing and examined the area. I guess my hypothesis was wrong about someone or something else being involved. My future self set up two tents before settling down to start a fire. Meanwhile, Artemis had gone to catch some food. After we finished what looked like a bear for dinner, Artemis had whipped out her two hunting knives and came at me. I was once again surprised when future me pulled out two knives of his own. We sparred for a while before Artemis kicked me to the ground and quickly sat on me, pinning my arms above my head. 'First the Styx and now this? What is going on?' I thought as I saw the goddess lean down and kiss me/him. Oh, I can't wait for the future.

A wave of darkness washed over us and the scene changed.

A blonde boy with sky blue eyes and close cropped hair stood at the front of what looked like an army of him. Beside him was a beautiful Native American girl who had choppy, uneven hair and had thin strands braided down on the sides. Her eyes seemed to change colour like a kaleidoscope, going from brown to blue to green. Next was a short, elf-like guy with curly, black hair, pointy ears and an impish smile across his face. It was then what looked like a sixteen year old Annabeth and I followed by an huge Asian dude with a close-cropped black hair and a dark-skinned girl with curly shoulder-length hair and golden eyes. In front of the seven of them were the Olympians and three feminine beings I didn't recognise, all of which were facing a larger army of monsters led by twelve Giants ranging from twelve feet to fifty feet tall. Behind the army was a twenty foot tall woman. She had porcelain white skin, brown hair that resembled tangled roots and solid green eyes.

It then moved on to show the war take place, the gods fighting the Giants along with one of their kids while the rest of the demigods tore through the monsters' ranks. The woman at the back had her hands raised as she muttered chants and spells to raise more monsters to take the place of the fallen so not matter how many fell, they didn't reduce but the same couldn't be said about the demigods. Although they used all of their demigod powers, it was not match for the never-ending monsters. I saw that the giants were slowly being defeated by the gods and their champions before moving on to the monsters. The giant woman at the back suddenly raised her hands higher before slamming them on the ground, causing an earthquake which brought all the demigods tumbling down. As if that wasn't enough, a wave of earth then flew towards them until not a single being could be seen except the earth lady.

'I couldn't believe it, that was how we were all going to die?' I thought as I returned back to the cave.

"Did you see that? That woman just killed all the gods and demigods with one sweep of her hand! How is that possible? And-" I asked the Fates wide-eyed before being interrupted. If they knew that was how it was going to end, why didn't they say anything to us?

"Perseus Jackson, we do not now the final outcome of this battle that may or may not come, we just showed you something that could happen. Now go back, you have a war to win." They said as their auras flared.

'Great, so my vision of Artemis was just fake.' I thought as I felt my dream-self lift off the ground.

I lurched up as soon as I returned back to my body, causing a tray to fall.

"Percy, you're awake!" I heard Annabeth shout as I swivelled my head to find the blonde with a tray that had held what looked like a bowl of soup on the floor.

"Good morning." I said as I yawned before remembering where we were and what was going on. I sat up, disoriented. The bed was too comfortable, and I hated sleeping in the middle of the day.

"Percy, come quickly!" Annabeth hurriedly replied before leaving the room.

"What's up?" I inquired but she had already gone too far ahead. I quickly got up and caught up to her, wondering why she was in such a rush.

"Percy," she said. "Come on. It's late afternoon. We've got visitors."

"Visitors?" I asked.

Annabeth nodded grimly. "A Titan wants to see you, under a flag of truce. He has a message from Kronos."

"Titan!?" I said, shocked. Kronos and truce had just been used in the same sentence.

"Yes Percy, now come along, before he decides it was an easy way to get in to the city and starts wrecking the place."

LINEBREAK (the rest of this is from canon, just replacing a few stuff and making it sound a little better so it fits my story. Those who don't remember what happens can read it)

Four figures approached, a thirty foot tall Hypoborean Giant with bright blue skin and icy grey hair, a demigod in armour, an empousa demon in a black dress and flaming red hair along with a tall man in a tuxedo. The man in the tux, who I assume is the Titan, stepped forward.

"Percy Jackson," he said in a silky voice. "It's a great honor."

His lady friend the empousa hissed at me. She'd probably heard how I'd destroyed two of her sisters last summer.

"My dear," Tux Dude said to her. "Why don't you make yourself comfortable over there, eh?"

She released his arm and drifted over to a park bench.

I glanced at the armed demigod behind Tux Dude. 1 hadn't recognized him in his new helmet, but it was my old backstabbing buddy Ethan Nakamura. His nose looked like a squashed tomato from our fight on the Williamsburg Bridge. That made me feel better.

"Hey, Ethan," I said. "You're looking good."

Ethan glared at me.

"To business." Tux Dude extended his hand. "I am Prometheus."

I was too surprised to shake. "The fire-stealer guy? The chained-to-the-rock-with-the-vultures guy?"

Prometheus winced. He touched the scratches on his face. "Please, don't mention the vultures. But yes, I stole fire from the gods and gave it to your ancestors. In return, the ever merciful Zeus had me chained to a rock and tortured for all eternity."

"But—"

"How did I get free? Hercules did that, eons ago. So you see, I have a soft spot for heroes. Some of you can be quite civilized."

"Unlike the company you keep," I noticed.

I was looking at Ethan, but Prometheus apparently thought I meant the empousa.

"Oh, demons aren't so bad," he said. "You just have to keep them well fed. Now, Percy Jackson, let us parley."

He waved me toward a picnic table and we sat down. Annabeth stood behind me.

The blue giant propped his white flag against a tree and began absently playing on the playground. He stepped on the monkey bars and crushed them, but he didn't seem angry. He just frowned and said, "Uh-oh." Then he stepped in the fountain and broke the concrete bowl in half. "Uh-oh." The water froze where his foot touched it. A bunch of stuffed animals hung from his belt—the huge kind you get for grand prizes at an arcade. He reminded me of Tyson, and the idea of fighting him made me sad.

Prometheus sat forward and laced his fingers. He looked earnest, kindly, and wise. "Percy, your position is weak. You know you can't stop another assault."

"We'll see."

Prometheus looked pained, like he really cared what happened to me. "Percy, I'm the Titan of forethought. I know what's going to happen."

"Also the Titan of crafty counsel," Annabeth put in. "Emphasis on crafty."

Prometheus shrugged. "True enough, daughter of Athena. But I supported the gods in the last war. I told Kronos: 'You don't have the strength. You'll lose.' And I was right. So you see, I know how to pick the winning side. This time, I'm backing Kronos."

"Because Zeus chained you to a rock," I guessed.

"Partly, yes. I won't deny I want revenge. But that's not the only reason I'm supporting Kronos. It's the wisest choice. I'm here because I thought you might listen to reason."

He drew a map on the table with his finger. Wherever he touched, golden lines appeared, glowing on the concrete. "This is Manhattan. We have armies here, here, here, and here. We know your numbers. We outnumber you twenty to one."

"Your spy has been keeping you posted," I guessed.

Prometheus smiled apologetically. "At any rate, our forces are growing daily. Tonight, Kronos will attack. You will be overwhelmed. You've fought bravely, but there's just no way you can hold all of Manhattan. You'll be forced to retreat to the Empire State Building. There you'll be destroyed. I have seen this. It will happen."

I thought about the picture Rachel had drawn in my dreams—an army at the base of the Empire State Building. I remembered the words of the young girl Oracle in my dream: I foresee the future. I cannot change it. Prometheus spoke with such certainty it was hard not to believe him.

"I won't let it happen," I said.

Prometheus brushed a speck off his tux lapel. "Understand, Percy. You are refighting the Trojan War here. Patterns repeat themselves in history. They reappear just as monsters do. A great siege. Two armies. The only difference is, this time you are defending. You are Troy. And you know what happened to the Trojans, don't you?"

"So you're going to cram a wooden horse into the elevator at the Empire State Building?" I asked. "Good luck with that."

Prometheus smiled. "Troy was completely destroyed, Percy. You don't want that to happen here. Stand down, and New York will be spared. Your forces will be granted amnesty. I will personally assure your safety. Let Kronos take Olympus. Who cares? Typhon will destroy the gods."

"Right," I said. "And I'm supposed to believe Kronos would spare the city."

"All he wants is Olympus," Prometheus promised. "The might of the gods is tied to their seats of power. You saw what happened to Poseidon once his undersea palace was attacked."

I winced, remembering how old and decrepit my father looked.

"Yes," Prometheus said sadly. "I know that was hard for you. When Kronos destroys Olympus, the gods will fade. They will become so weak they will be easily defeated. Kronos would rather do this while Typhon has the Olympians distracted in the west. Much easier. Fewer lives lost. But make no mistake, the best you can do is slow us down. The day after tomorrow, Typhon arrives in New York, and you will have no chance at all. The gods and Mount Olympus will still be destroyed, but it will be much messier. Much, much worse for you and your city. Either way, the Titans will rule."

Annabeth pounded her fist on the table. "The campers will fight to our last breath. Percy, you're not seriously going to listen to this slimeball, are you?"

I figured Prometheus was going to blast her, but he just smiled. "Your courage does you credit, Annabeth Chase."

Annabeth stiffened. "Don't try to play mind games with me, titan"

"As you wish," Prometheus said casually, but I could tell he'd gotten to her. Annabeth was usually strong willed but one compliment not related to Athena and she could become putty in your hands.

"At any rate," the Titan said, "you need not be my enemy. I have always been a helper of mankind."

"That's a load of bullshit," Annabeth said. "When mankind first sacrificed to the gods, you tricked them into giving you the best portion. You gave us fire to annoy the gods, not because you cared about us."

Prometheus shook his head. "You don't understand. I helped shape your nature."

A wiggling lump of clay appeared in his hands. He fashioned it into a little doll with legs and arms. The lump man didn't have any eyes, but it groped around the table, stumbling over Prometheus's fingers. "I have been whispering in man's ear since the beginning of your existence. I represent your curiosity, your sense of exploration, your inventiveness. Help me save you, Percy. Do this, and I will give mankind a new gift—a new revelation that will move you as far forward as fire did. You can't make that kind of advance under the gods. They would never allow it. But this could be a new golden age for you. Or . . ." He made a fist and smashed the clay man into a pancake.

The blue giant rumbled, "Uh-oh." Over at the park bench, the empousa bared her fangs in a smile.

"Percy, you know the Titans and their offspring are not all bad," Prometheus said. "You've met Calypso."

My face felt hot. "That's different."

"How? Much like me, she did nothing wrong, and yet she was exiled forever simply because she was Atlas's daughter. We are not your enemies. Don't let the worst happen," he pleaded. "We offer you peace."

I looked at Ethan Nakamura. "You must hate this."

"I don't know what you mean."

"If we took this deal, you wouldn't get revenge. You wouldn't get to kill us all. Isn't that what you want?"

His good eye flared. "All I want is respect, Jackson. The gods never gave me that. You wanted me to go to your stupid camp, spend my time crammed into the Hermes cabin because I'm not important? Not even recognized?"

He sounded just like Luke when he'd tried to kill me in the woods at camp four years ago. The memory made my hand ache where the pit scorpion had stung me.

"Your mum's the goddess of revenge," I told Ethan. "We should respect that?"

"Nemesis stands for balance! When people have too much good luck, she tears them down."

"Which is why she took your eye?"

"It was payment," he growled. "In exchange, she swore to me that one day I would tip the balance of power. I would bring the minor gods respect. An eye was a small price to pay."

"Great mum."

"At least she keeps her word, unlike the Olympians. She always pays her debts—good or evil."

"Yeah," I said. "So I saved your life, and you repaid me by raising Kronos. That's fair."

Ethan grabbed the hilt of his sword, but Prometheus stopped him.

"Now, now," the Titan said. "We're on a diplomatic mission."

Prometheus studied me as if trying to understand my anger. Then he nodded like he'd just picked a thought from my brain.

"It bothers you what happened to Luke," he decided. "Hestia didn't show you the full story. Perhaps if you understood . . ."

The Titan reached out.

Annabeth cried out a warning, but before I could react, Prometheus's index finger touched my forehead.

Suddenly I was back in May Castellan's living room. Candles flickered on the fireplace mantel, reflected in the mirrors along the walls. Through the kitchen doorway I could see Thalia sitting at the table while Ms. Castellan bandaged her wounded leg. Seven-year-old Annabeth sat next to her, playing with a Medusa beanbag toy.

Hermes and Luke stood apart in the living room.

The god's face looked liquid in the candlelight, like he couldn't decide what shape to adopt. He was dressed in a navy blue jogging outfit with winged Reeboks.

"Why show yourself now?" Luke demanded. His shoulders were tense, as if he expected a fight. "All these years I've been calling to you, praying you'd show up, and nothing. You left me with her." He pointed toward the kitchen like he couldn't bear to look at his mother, much less say her name.

"Luke, do not dishonor her," Hermes warned. "Your mother did the best she could. As for me, I could not interfere with your path. The children of the gods must find their own way."

"So it was for my own good. Growing up on the streets, fending for myself, fighting monsters."

"You're my son," Hermes said. "I knew you had the ability. When I was only a baby, I crawled from my cradle and set out for—"

"I'm not a god! Just once, you could've said something. You could've helped when"—he took an unsteady breath, lowering his voice so no one in the kitchen could overhear—"when she was having one of her fits, shaking me and saying crazy things about my fate. When I used to hide in the closet so she wouldn't find me with those . . . those glowing eyes. Did you even care that I was scared? Did you even know when I finally ran away?"

In the kitchen, Ms. Castellan chattered aimlessly, pouring Kool-Aid for Thalia and Annabeth as she told them stories about Luke as a baby. Thalia rubbed her bandaged leg nervously. Annabeth glanced into the living room and held up a burned cookie for Luke to see. She mouthed, Can we go now?

"Luke, I care very much," Hermes said slowly, "but gods must not interfere directly in mortal affairs. It is one of our Ancient Laws. Especially when your destiny . . ." His voice trailed off. He stared at the candles as if remembering something unpleasant.

"What?" Luke asked. "What about my destiny?"

"You should not have come back," Hermes muttered. "It only upsets you both. However, I see now that you are getting too old to be on the run without help. I'll speak with Chiron at Camp Half-Blood and ask him to send a satyr to collect you."

"We're doing fine without your help," Luke growled. "Now, what were you saying about my destiny?"

The wings on Hermes's Reeboks fluttered restlessly. He studied his son like he was trying to memorize his face, and suddenly a cold feeling washed through me. I realized Hermes knew what May Castellan's mutterings meant. I wasn't sure how, but looking at his face I was absolutely certain. Hermes understood what would happen to Luke someday, how he would turn evil.

"My son," he said, "I'm the god of travelers, the god of loads. If I know anything, I know that you must walk your own path, even though it tears my heart."

"You don't love me."

"I promise I . . . I do love you. Go to camp. I will see that you get a quest soon. Perhaps you can defeat the Hydra, or steal the apples of Hesperides. You will get a chance to be a great hero before . . ."

"Before what?" Luke's voice was trembling now. "What did my mom see that made her like this? What's going to happen to me? If you love me, tell me."

Hermes's expression tightened. "I cannot."

"Then you don't care!" Luke yelled.

In the kitchen, the talking died abruptly.

"Luke?" May Castellan called. "Is that you? Is my boy all right?"

Luke turned to hide his face, but I could see the tears in his eyes. "I'm fine. I have a new family. I don't need either of you."

"I'm your father," Hermes insisted.

"A father is supposed to be around. I've never even met you. Thalia, Annabeth, come on! We're leaving!"

"My boy, don't go!" May Castellan called after him. "I have your lunch ready!"

Luke stormed out the door, Thalia and Annabeth scrambling after him. May Castellan tried to follow, but Hermes held her back.

As the screen door slammed, May collapsed in Hermes's arms and began to shake. Her eyes opened—glowing green—and she clutched desperately at Hermes's shoulders.

"My son," she hissed in a dry voice. "Danger. Terrible fate!"

"I know, my love," Hermes said sadly. "Believe me, I know."

The image faded. Prometheus pulled his hand away from my forehead.

"Percy?" Annabeth asked. "What . . . what was that?"

I realized I was clammy with sweat.

Prometheus nodded sympathetically. "Appalling, isn't it? The gods know what is to come, and yet they do nothing, even for their children. How long did it take for them to tell you your prophecy, Percy Jackson? Don't you think your father knows what will happen to you?"

I was too stunned to answer.

"Percy," Annabeth warned, "he's playing with your mind. Trying to make you angry."

Knowing her, she probably studied reading emotions, so she probably knew Prometheus was succeeding.

"Do you really blame your friend Luke?" the Titan asked me. "And what about you, Percy? Will you be controlled by your fate? Kronos offers you a much better deal."

I clenched my fists. As much as I hated what Prometheus had shown me, I hated Kronos a lot more. "I'll give you a deal. Tell Kronos to call off his attack, leave Luke Castellan's body, and return to the pits of Tartarus. Then maybe I won't have to destroy him."

The empousa snarled. Her hair erupted in fresh flames, but Prometheus just sighed.

"If you change your mind," he said, "I have a gift for you."

A Greek vase appeared on the table. It was about three feet high and a foot wide, glazed with black-and-white geometric designs. The ceramic lid was fastened with a leather harness.

Annabeth gasped. "That's not—"

"Yes," Prometheus said. "You recognize it."

Looking at the jar, I felt a strange sense of fear, but I had no idea why.

"This belonged to my sister-in-law," Prometheus explained. "Pandora."

A lump formed in my throat. "As in Pandora's box?"

Prometheus shook his head. "I don't know how this box business got started. It was never a box. It was a pithos, a storage jar. I suppose Pandora's pithos doesn't have the same ring to it, but never mind that. Yes, she did open this jar, which contained most of the demons that now haunt mankind—fear, death, hunger, sickness."

"Don't forget me," the empousa purred.

"Indeed," Prometheus conceded. "The first empousa was also trapped in this jar, released by Pandora. But what I find curious about the story—Pandora always gets the blame. She is punished for being curious. The gods would have you believe that this is the lesson: mankind should not explore. They should not ask questions. They should do what they are told. In truth, Percy, this jar was a trap designed by Zeus and the other gods. It was revenge on me and my entire family—my poor simple brother Epimetheus and his wife Pandora. The gods knew she would open the jar. They were willing to punish the entire race of humanity along with us."

I thought about my dream of Hades and Maria di Angelo. Zeus had destroyed an entire hotel to eliminate two demigod children—just to save his own skin, because he was scared of a prophecy. He'd killed an innocent woman and probably hadn't lost any sleep over it. Hades was no better. He wasn't powerful enough to take his revenge on Zeus, so he cursed the Oracle, dooming a young girl to a horrible fate. And Hermes . . . why had he abandoned Luke? Why hadn't he at least warned Luke, or tried to raise him better so he wouldn't turn evil?

Maybe Prometheus was toying with my mind.

But what if he's right? part of me wondered. How are the gods any better than the Titans?

Prometheus tapped the lid of Pandora's jar. "Only one spirit remained inside when Pandora opened it."

"Hope," I said.

Prometheus looked pleased. "Very good, Percy. Elpis, the Spirit of Hope, would not abandon humanity. Hope does not leave without being given permission. She can only be released by a child of man."

The Titan slid the jar across the table.

"I give you this as a reminder of what the gods are like," he said. "Keep Elpis, if you wish. But if you decide that you have seen enough destruction, enough futile suffering, then open the jar. Let Elpis go. Give up Hope, and I will know that you are surrendering. I promise Kronos will be lenient. He will spare the survivors."

I stared at the jar and got a very bad feeling. I figured Pandora had been completely ADHD, like me. I could never leave things alone. I didn't like temptation. What if this was my choice? Maybe the prophecy all came down to my keeping this jar closed or opening it.

"I don't want the thing," I growled.

"Too late," Prometheus said. "The gift is given. It cannot be taken back."

He stood. The empousa came forward and slipped her arm through his.

"Morrain!" Prometheus called to the blue giant. "We are leaving. Get your flag."

"Uh-oh," the giant said.

"We will see you soon, Percy Jackson," Prometheus promised. "One way or another."

Ethan Nakamura gave me one last hateful look. Then the truce party turned and strolled up the lane through Central Park, like it was just a regular sunny Sunday afternoon.

Okay, that's the end of this chapter. I know more than half of it is copied from the canon but it was required for the story to continue. From the next chapter, I'm drifting away from it.

Also, since I started on other stories, I can't update this story weekly but I'll try to post whenever I can. I am not ending this and I will post at least once in a month. Review! It really helps me write faster and I was thinking could you guys comment on how I can improve the story since that also helps my writing.