The Quest Begins
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or HoO
Percy POV
I was in the Poseidon cabin after I had left that little meeting. I had no intention of going back to see who the quest members were, so now there I was lying on my bed hoping to for the first time in my existence drift off to dream land, but I guess it was never meant to be. After an hour of pondering the lingering clouds of my sleep logged thoughts I saw Alex entering the cabin with a glum look on his face. He did not seem to notice me when he entered, he headed straight for the saltwater spring. When he was at the spring he stood there for a moment before I saw him take a breath and threw in a coin. I stood up and walked his way, but he again did not sense my presence.
"O goddess, accept my offering," Alex said.
The mist shimmered. The light from the bedroom was just enough to make a faint rainbow.
"Show me Sally Jackson," He said. "Upper East Side, Manhattan."
And there in the mist was a scene that by the looks of it he did not expect. The strikingly beautiful woman who I assume was his mother was sitting at the kitchen table with a man. They seemed to be having a good time as they were laughing hysterically. There was a big stack of textbooks between them. The man was, I saw clearly a years or two older than Alex's mother being about thirty-six or so, with longish salt and pepper hair and brown jacket over a black T-shirt. He looked like an actor…like a guy who might play an undercover cop on a mortal television series.
Alex looked to stunned to say anything, but his mother and the man she was with did not seem to notice the Iris message, as were too busy laughing.
The man said, "Sally, you're a riot, You want some wine?"
"Ah, I shouldn't. You go ahead if you want," Sally shook her head at the offer.
"Actually, I'd better use your bathroom. May I?" the man asked.
"Down the hall," she said, trying not to laugh.
The actor guy smiled and got up and left.
"Mom!" cried Alex.
She jumped so hard she almost knocked her textbooks off the table. Finally she focused on Alex. "Alex! Oh, honey! Is everything okay?" she asked and she noticed me. "Who…who might you be?"
I smiled at her.
"I am Perseus son of Poseidon, Miss Jackson," I said.
"A…a son of Poseidon?" she asked "I thought he was sworn to an oath"
"Well he is sworn to it, but as you have noticed the Olympians are not very good at keeping promises," I said.
She nodded.
"How old are you Perseus?" she asked "You seem to be eighteen, but also timeless"
"I am too old," I said simply. "We can talk at a later time as I see your son wishes to converse with you."
She nodded, "Very well."
"What were you doing?" Alex demanded.
She was like a deer caught in headlights. She blinked once or twice or thrice. It was rather amusing, causing me chuckle softly as I watched them silently by my little corner.
"Homework," Then she seemed to understand the look on Alex's face. "Oh, honey, that's just Paul…um, Mr Blofis. He's in my writing seminar."
"Mr Blowfish?" Alex asked and I burst out laughing, true son of the sea I thought.
"Blofis. He'll be back in a minute, Alex. Tell me what's wrong." She said.
Sally seemed to have a very strong bond with Alex as she knew something was wrong. Alex told her about his little girlfriend Annabeth. The other things as well, but it was mostly about Annabeth."
Sally's eyes teared up. I could tell she was trying hard to keep it together for her son's sake. "Oh, Alex…"
"Yeah. So they tell me there is nothing I can do. I guess I'll be coming home soon," Alex stared glumly at his mother through the IM.
She turned her pencil around in her finger. "Alex, as much as I want you to come home," she sighed like she was mad herself, "as much as I want you to you to be safe, I want you to understand something. You need to do whatever you think you have to do."
Alex stared at her I disbelief. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean, do you really, deep down, believe that you have to save her? Do you think it's the right thing to do? Because I know one thing about you, Alex, your heart is always in the right place. Listen to it." She said.
"You're telling me to go?" he asked his mother.
His mother pursed her lips, "I'm telling you that…you're getting too old for me to tell you what to do. I'm telling you that I will support you, even if what you decide to do is dangerous. I can't believe I'm saying this," she said.
"Mom…" Alex said.
The toilet flushed down the apartment.
"I don't have time," his mother said. "Alex, whatever you decide, I love you. And I know you'll do what's best for Annabeth."
"How can you be sure?" he asked her.
"Because she'd do the same for you," She said and looked my direction with pleading eyes and I nodded at her.
And with that, his mother waved her hand over the mist, and the connection dissolved, leaving Alex and I with the final image of her new friend, Mr. Blowfish, smiling down at her.
After the talk with Alex's mother, Alex headed back to his back and fell asleep. And after a few hours of him being asleep I noticed him tossing and turning. He was having a demigod dream. I would not ask him about it in the morning, so I let myself fall into slumber to ponder my thoughts.
When I woke up I realised that Alex was nowhere in the cabin, so I took a look at my watched and saw that it was almost noon. I quickly took a shower and got dressed, before I went to look for Chiron. I saw Chiron sitting Alone.
"Lo Chiron!" I called as I got closer to him and his head shot up.
"Ah! Percy, how are you?" he asked.
"I'm well enough youngling," I replied. "Have you seen Alex?"
His face became grim.
"I don't know?" he said.
I smiled.
This made him confused. "Why do you smile?"
"The quest has already begun I presume?" I asked and he nodded. "Who are the quest members?"
Chiron looked up at me, "Zoë Nightshade, Bianca Di Angelo, Thalia Grace and Grover Underwood," he sighed.
I shook my head.
"They only have four members. I bet Zoë had something to do with it." I said and he nodded. "Zoë made her choice to betray her sister for a handsome stranger and in turn the stranger betrayed her, fate is cruel, it will never take pity on anyone especially not for a betrayer, she is good child regardless, she made the mistake many young girls make and her sister overreacted, but she must learn to take responsibility for her mistakes as well and atone. Anyway, where did they go first?"
"I don't know," said Chiron. "You best be on your way."
I nodded at him.
"Right you are lad and me wish me luck." I said before flashing myself to their location.
When I had flashed myself to their location, I saw that I was at the Washington Air and Space Museum and I saw Alex running into Thalia, knocking her into an Apollo space capsule.
Grover yelped in surprise.
Before he could get up, Zoë and Bianca had notched arrows, aimed at his chest. Their bows had just appeared out of nowhere. When Zoë realised who he was, she didn't seem anxious to lower her bow, "You! How dare you show your face?"
"Alex!" Grover said. "Thank goodness."
Zoë glared at him, and he blushed. "I mean, um, gosh. You're not supposed to be here!"
"Luke," Alex said, trying to catch his breath. "He's here!"
The anger in Thalia's eyes immediately melted. She put her hand on her silver bracelet, "Where?" she asked.
Alex told them about the Natural History Museum, Dr Thorn, Luke and the General.
"The General is here?" Zoë said stunned. "That is impossible! You lie!"
"Why would I lie? Look, there's no time. Skeleton warriors!" said Alex.
"What?" Thalia demanded, "How many?"
"Twelve," Alex said. "And that's not all. That guy, the General, he said he was sending something, a 'playmate,' to distract you over here—a monster!"
Thalia and Grover exchanged looks.
"We were following Artemis' trail," Grover said. "I was pretty sure it led here. Some powerful monster scent…She must've stopped here looking for the mystery monster. But we haven't found anything yet"
"Zoë," Bianca said nervously, "If it is the General…"
"It cannot be!" Zoë snapped. "Alex must have seen an Iris message or some other illusion"
"Illusions don't crack marble floors," Alex told her.
Zoë took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. It was perfectly reasonable why she would be so freaked out by the General, but Alex looked confused why she would freak out like this. "If Alex is telling the truth about the skeleton warriors," she said, "W have no time to argue. They are the worst—most horrible—we must leave now"
"Good idea," Alex agreed.
"I was not including thee, boy," Zoë said. "You are not part of this quest."
I just sighed at her prejudice.
"Hey, if I hadn't come, you'd all be dead and bathing in a pool of your own blood," Alex said.
Grover looked like he was close to fainting.
"You shouldn't have come, Alex," Thalia said grimly. "But you're here now. Come on. Let's get back to the van."
"That's not thy decision!" Zoë snapped.
Thalia scowled at her. "You're not the boss here, Zoë. I don't care how old you are! You are still a conceited little brat!"
"You never had any wisdom when it came to boys," Zoë growled. "You never could leave them behind!"
I was tired of their arguing, so decided to make myself know. "Enough! You two are giving me a headache" I hissed and they were shocked to see me standing before them.
"The prophecy says six shall go west, not four," I reminded Zoë.
Zoë looked irritated at what I said, because she glared at me. "Why are you here?" she asked "And how did…"
I heard a growl so loud I thought one of the rocket engines was starting up.
Below us, a few adults screamed. A little girl's voice screeched with delight: "Kitty!"
Something enormous bounded up the ramp. It was the size of a pick-up truck, with silver claws and golden glittering fur. The Nemean Lion I thought to myself.
"The Nemean Lion," Thalia staggered warily. "Don't move!"
I let out a humourless chuckle.
"Like that's going to help you," I said.
The Lion roared so loud it parted my hair. Its fangs gleamed like stainless steel.
"Separate on my mark," Zoë said, "Keep it…"
I summoned a golden 3 and half foot long Xiphos that seemed to gleam in the light. The others just stood there looking with surprise at my sword and I charged at the monster. When I swiped at its head, I intentionally missed and it tried to let out a roar to distract me, but before it could I pulled out a golden throwing knife and aim it at it's left paw. When I threw the knife, it tried to evade it but it was too slow and the knife hit its mark, and the Nemean Lion roared in pain.
I stood there for a while. The lion than tried to hit me with it's right paw which I ducked and threw another two knives at it's hind legs and when the knives collided with its hind legs the beast buckled and fell. I swiftly lunged swiftly at it and thrust my sword to it's temple and I saw the life in it's eyes slowly leaving it until it dissolved to a golden dust, leaving it's Pelt as a spoil of war. The pelt was normal size. I put it on and it changed into a black duster.
When I walked toward the group after I killed the Nemean Lion, I noticed that they were in a state of shock. "Yoo-hoo! Anybody home?" I asked waving my hand over theirs and they snapped out of their daze.
"H—h…how?" asked a mystified Grover
I sighed.
"I have had eons of practice," I said and the just nodded. "We should get going."
I noticed Grover some horrible song on his reed pipes. "We have to get out of here," Grover said when he stopped playing his reed pipes. "The security guards won't stay confused for long."
I saw that the guard were running all over the place except our direction, like they were madly searching for something. A few were running into walls or each other. I saw that the others had noticed that same thing. He played a confusion song.
"You did that?" Alex asked Grover.
He just nodded, looking a little embarrassed, "A minor confusion song, I played some Barry Manilow. It works every time. But it only lasts a few seconds."
"The security guards are not our biggest worry," Zoë said. "Look!"
Through the glass of the museum, I could see a group of men waking across the lawn. Grey men in grey camouflage outfits. They were too far away for us to see their eyes, but I could feel their straight at Alex.
"Go," Alex said. "They'll be hunting me. I'll distract them."
"No," Zoë said.
Alex stared at her. "But, you said…"
"You are part of the quest now, Alex. Perseus you can leave as you are not part of it" Said Zoë Grudgingly. "I do not like it, but there is no changing fate. You are the fifth quest member. And we are not anyone behind except Perseus."
I laughed at her. "Zoë without me going you won't reach your destination" I said.
Zoë scowled and summoned her bow and aimed it at me. "You dare question our skill?" Zoë asked.
I smirked at her, but shook my head. "No I am not" I said. "I just wish accompany you as a companion to the quest."
Zoë narrowed her eyes. "Why?" she asked.
"I want to keep Alex alive of course," I said. "And you—all of you."
Zoë huffed.
"Fine, thee may accompany us," she said.
"Well thank you hambone," I said, "Now lets get moving shall we"
With that, we left the Museum.
We were crossing the Potomac when we sported the helicopter. It was a sleek, black military model just like the one we'd seen at Westover and heading straight towards us.
"They know the van," I said calmly. "We need to leave it behind."
Zoë swerved into the fast lane. The helicopter was gaining.
"Maybe the military will shoot it down," Grover said hopefully.
"The military probably thinks it's one of theirs," Alex said. "How can the General use mortals anyway?"
"Mercenaries," Zoë said bitterly. "It is distasteful, but many mortals will fight for any cause as long as they are paid."
"But don't these mortals see who they are working for?" Alex asked. "Don't they notice all the monsters around them?"
Zoë shook her head, "I do not know how much they see through the mist. I doubt it matters to them if they knew the truth. Sometimes mortal can be more horrific than monsters."
I nodded. "I agree with you there, Zoë," I said, "Avarice is the bane of all mortals. They would move mountains to acquire wealth and they have in a manner. Some do well to resist the temptation of wealth and some go as far as to sell their own families. Humans have many flaws and the greatest among them are Avarice, Hubris and Ambition. Humans of today stew in the pool of their own hubris like the Lucifer from those Abraham religions did. The pride of those who have begun to accomplish some significant feats will always cause them to rebel against their creators as they begin to elevate themselves to that level. One day most of humanity will cease believing in gods all together as they continue to advance in their science. And the gods will never take kindly to such action. For how could they take kindly to people denying your very existence? The fury of the gods will one day burn this world to cinders. The gods are not kind-hearted saints with halos above their heads."
They all nodded at my words.
The helicopter kept coming, making a lot better time than we were through D.C traffic.
Thalia closed her eyes and prayed hard. "Hey, Dad a lightening bolt would be nice about now. Please?"
But the sky stayed grey and snowy. No sign of a helpful thunder storm. So I decided to help a little. I created a thick veil of fog around the helicopter, causing the helicopter to fly higher and I created a gust of wind and snow, which forced the people inside to look for a place to land. Alex gave me grateful look.
"There!" Bianca said, "That parking lot!"
"We'll be trapped," Zoë said.
"Trust me," said Bianca.
Zoë shot across two lanes of traffic and into a mall perking lot on the south bank river. We left the van and followed Bianca down some steps.
"Subway entrance," Bianca said. "Let's go south. Alexandria."
"Anything," Thalia agreed.
We bought tickets and got through the turnstiles, looking behind us for any signs of pursuit. A few minutes later we were safely aboard a southbound train, riding away from D.C. As our train came above ground, we could see the helicopter circling the parking lot, but it didn't come after us.
Grover let out a sigh. "Nice job, Bianca, thinking of the subway."
Bianca looked pleased.
"Yeah, well. I saw that station when Nico and I came through last summer. I remember being really surprised to see it, because it wasn't here when we used to live in D.C"
Grover frowned. "New? But that station looked really old."
"I guess," Bianca said. "But trust me, When we lived here as little kids, there was no subway."
Thalia sat forward. "Wait a minute. No subway at all?"
Bianca nodded.
"Bianca," Zoë said. "How long ago…" Her voice faltered. The sound of the helicopter was getting louder again.
"We need to change trains," Alex said. "Next station."
Over the next half hour, all we thought about was getting away safely. We changed trains twice. I knew where we were going, but it would change the prophecy if I told them, so I kept it to myself. After a while we lost the helicopter.
Unfortunately, when we finally got off the train we found ourselves at the end of the line, in an industrial area with nothing but warehouses and railway tracks. And snow. Lots of snow. It seemed colder here. I offered one the girls my duster, but Zoë and Bianca didn't want it. Thalia on the hand was more than happy to take it.
We wandered through the railway yard, thinking there might be another passenger train somewhere, but there were just rows and rows of freight cars, most of which were covered in snow, like they hadn't moved in years.
A homeless guy was standing at trash-an fire. We must've looked pretty pathetic, because he gave us a toothless grin and said, "Y'all need to get warmed up? Come on over!"
I mentally chuckled at the scene.
"How pathetic we must look," I said to myself.
I saw the other huddled around his fire, Alex's teeth were chattering. He said, "Well this is g-g-g-great."
"My hooves are frozen," Grover complained.
"Feet," Alex corrected, for the sake of the homeless guy.
"Maybe we should contact camp," Bianca said. "Chiron…"
"No," Zoë said. "They cannot help us anymore. We must finish this quest ourselves."
Alex gazed around the rail yard.
"You know," the homeless man said, "You're never completely without friends."
His face was grimy and his beard tangled, but his expression seemed kindly.
"You kids need a train going west?"
Yes, sir," Alex said. "You know of any?"
He pointed one greasy hand.
Suddenly I noticed a freight train gleaming and free of snow. It was one of those car carrier trains, with steel mesh curtains and a triple deck of cars inside. The side the freight train said SUN WEST LINE.
I rolled my eyes.
"That's…convenient," Thalia said. "Thanks, uh…"
She turned to the homeless guy, but he was gone. The trash can in front of us was cold and empty, as if he'd taken the flame with him, which he did. Selfish sod.
An hour later we were rumbling west. There was no problem about who would drive now, because we all got our own luxury car. Zoë and Bianca were crashed out in a Lexus on the top deck. Grover was playing race car driver behind the wheel of a Lamborghini. Thalia and Alex had hot-wired the radio of a black Mercedes SLK so she could pick up alt-rock stations from D.C. I was in an Aston 1-77.
"Oh don't be afraid of dreams," I heard someone say. So went over to the direction of the voice and saw it was the homeless man.
"If it weren't for dreams," he said "I wouldn't know half the things about the future. They're better than Olympus tabloids"
"You say it as if it is good thing to know the future" I said and he looked startled. "Which fool would rejoice in the knowledge of the things yet to pass? Ignorance is bliss for a reason. Knowledge is truly heavy burden to bare and not everyone is meant to."
The fool ignored me.
"Dreams are like a podcast,
Downloading truth in my ears.
They tell me cool stuff"
"Apollo?" Alex guessed, because nobody else could make a haiku that bad.
"He put his finger to his lips. "I'm incognito. Call me Fred."
"A god named Fred?"
"Eh, well…Zeus insists on certain rules. Hands off, when there's a human quest—even when something really major is wrong. But nobody messes with my baby sister. NOBODY!"
"Well Fred it's rude to ignore people." I said.
Fred just shrugged and looked at Alex.
"You shouldn't ignore allies Apollo," I said to him.
"Shh, or you will get me caught" he said.
"Then don't pretend to ignore me, this is no game," I said and his eyes went aflame.
"Watch yourself demigod. I may be laid back, but I'm still a god and you will treat me as such from here on out. Do we understand each other?" he asked with all kindness gone from his voice, but I just rolled my eyes at him. "Know your place, before I smite you."
"You don't have the power too," I said looking at him, "And I know my place. I am an immortal the same as you—hah, well…not exactly the same, but I care not for status and nor am I here to seek a fight with you."
He looked at me funny.
"What do you mean same as me?" he asked. "I am a god. But…but that would…impossible. She would never cheat on father."
I laughed.
"Oh come on Apollo, you and I know Zeus is not your father. Brother" I said and he looked shocked.
Alex was stunned.
"H-h-h…how do you know that?"
"Father told me of course and he obviously told you too" I said and he nodded. "Father would never have granted you dominion of Oracles or prophecy otherwise."
"You are a son of Poseidon, so who was your mother?" he asked
"My mother is alive and well. Okay not well, but very much alive" I said hoping he would connect the dots.
"Hera is your mother isn't it?" he asked. I nodded. "Then… then you're a god."
"Yes I am," I said. "But I know you are not here to converse with me. We may talk later. I just hate being ignored—Pisses me off!"
Then I walked away.
The next morning we'd arrived on the outskirts of a little ski town nestled in the mountains. The sign said Welcome to CLOUDCOFT, NEW MEXICO. The air was cold and thin. The roofs of the cabins were heaped with snow, and dirty mounds of it piled up on the sides of the streets. Tall pine trees loomed over the valley, casting pitch black shadows, though the morning was sunny.
I noticed that the quest members were freezing when we got to the main street so I summoned a coat, scuff and gloves for each of them, "Guys! I have something for you" I said and they all turned to look at me. "I have coats for everyone"
"Where did thou get those coats?" asked Zoë. Thalia, Grover and Alex took them without question.
"I summoned them," I said.
"How?" Bianca asked while taking a coat.
Zoë nodded her question. "I too would like to know"
"I'm immortal, so I have certain abilities" I said.
Zoë narrowed her eyes. "Bianca and I are immortal, but be can't summon things"
"Zoë. You and the other hunters are ageless, not immortal" I said. "Immortality can not be taken away once it is given."
Bianca gasped. "Campers, Hunters and Balancer combined shall they prevail. A progeny of the Sea and the Heaven queen guides all." Bianca said.
Zoë's eyes widened. "Thou a god?" she asked
I nodded at her.
"Why don't you flash us to our destination?" asked Bianca and the others rolled their eyes.
"Ancient laws," I said. "And I can't interfere with the prophecy, so I can only help you with godly powers so long as it does not change the quest. I tried blow the helicopter up, but that didn't work, so have to choose the right moments. Now let's keep walking."
Grover looked happy that he was on a quest with a god.
When we stopped in the middle of town, you could pretty much see everything from there: a school, a bunch of tourist stores and cafes, some ski cabins and a grocery store.
"Great," Thalia said, looking around. "No bus station. No taxis. No car rental. There is no way out."
"There is a coffee shop!" said Grover.
"Yes," Zoë said. "Coffee is good."
"And pastries," Grover said dreamily. "And wax paper."
Thalia sighed, "Fine. How about you two go get us something to eat, Alex, Percy, Bianca and I will check in the grocery store. Maybe they can give us directions."
"No dice, Thalia, I think I will go with these two" I said pointing at Grover and Zoë.
Grover, Zoë and I went into the coffee shop and bought some coffee, hot chocolate and a few muffins. When we walked out of the shop I saw Bianca and Alex talking and Bianca had her eyes narrowed at Alex.
"We should do a tracking spell" Zoë said. "Grover, do you have any acorns left?"
"Umm," Grover mumbled. He was chewing on a bran muffin, wrapper and all. "I think so. I just need to…"
He froze.
I was about to ask what was wrong, when a warm breeze rustled past, like a gust of springtime had gotten lost in the middle of winter. Fresh air with seasonal wildflowers and sunshine, and something else…almost like a voice trying to say something—A warning.
"We need to leave now," I said.
"Why?" asked Bianca.
"Persephone is trying to warn us. Something is coming and we need to leave." I said.
Grover dropped his coffee cup and moments later he too collapsed next to it. We gathered around him and tried to wake him up.
He groaned, his eyes fluttering.
"Hey!" Thalia said, running from the street. "I just…What's wrong with Grover?"
"I don't know," Alex said. "He collapsed."
"Uuuuuuhhhh," Grover groaned.
"We need to leave. Let's get him up and go" I said.
We made it to the edge of the town the first two spartoi appeared. They stepped from the trees on either side of the road. Instead of grey camouflage they wore blue New Mexico State police uniforms, but they had the same transparent grey skin and yellow eyes. They drew handguns and pointed them at the others. I flicked my wrists and the handguns turned to a puddle of sea water.
"Run!" I shouted.
They didn't need to be told twice. But as we were about to run two more Spartoi had come from the road behind us. One of the spartoi took out a phone and raised it to his mouth and spoke into it. Except it wasn't speaking, it made a clattering, clicking sound, like dry teeth on bone. The spartoi was calling it's brethren. Soon we'd have a full party on our hands and was waiting for it as it would allow me to kill all of the at once.
"It's near," Grover groaned.
"The gift of the wild isn't it, Grover?" I asked.
He nodded.
"The what?" asked Alex.
"Just wait and see" I said.
I summoned a trident that was made for me by Briaries. I shot at two of the spartoi and they dissolved into sea water. Bianca, Zoë, Thalia and Alex started going after the other two. Bianca managed to stab on of the spartoi in the chest and it erupted into flames, leaving a pile of ashes and a police badge. After a minute the one spartoi was in a pile so I hit it with my Trident and it dissolved into the air.
"Bianca, how did you do that?" Zoë asked.
"A gift," Grover muttered.
And then, with a mighty roar. The Erymanthian Boar.
"It's the Erymanthian Boar!" Zoë said trying to stay calm. "I don't think we can kill it."
"You can't and I won't" I said. "We must use it!"
The Boar came charging at us until I pointed my Trident at it. "We need a ride and you are giving it to us or I will gut you up, skin you and then roast you on a spit then I will serve you with arugula, apples, baked potatoes and gravy. Now do as I say pork chop," I said with finality in my voice and it quickly bent over and I was getting hungry too. Oh what a shame. "Get on!"
The others quickly nodded and did what I said.
"Get us to the desert and I will give you a gift of food and water," I said. "Eternally."
We rode the Boar until sunset, which was not very pleasant even for me. Imagine riding a giant steel brush over a bed of gravel all day. That's about as comfortable as boar riding was.
After a few hours we reached across a desert and he stopped running as he looked extremely tired. "Thank you," I said and gave him my blessing of food and water. And we got off his back. Then we waddled away as best as we could with our saddle sores.
After its third saguaro and another drink of water, the boar squealed and belched, then whirled around and galloped back towards the east.
"It likes the mountains better," Alex said.
"I can't blame it," Thalia said. "Look."
Ahead of us was a two lane road half covered with sand. On the other side of the road was a cluster of buildings too small to be a town: a boarded-up house, a taco shop that looked like it hadn't been open in a very long time. A white stucco post office with a sign that said: Gila Claw. ARIZONA hanging crooked above the door. Beyond that was a range of hills…but then I noticed they weren't regular hills. The countryside was way too flat for that. The hills were enormous mounds of old cars, appliances and other scrap metal. It was a junkyard that seemed to go on forever.
"Something tells me we're not going to find a car rental here" Thalia said. She looked at Grover. "I don't suppose you got another wild boar up your sleeve?"
Grover was sniffing the wind, looking nervous. He flashed out acorns and threw them into the sand, then played his pipes. They rearranged themselves in a pattern that makes no sense to me, But Grover looked concerned.
"That's us" he said. "Those five nuts right there."
"Which one is me?" Alex asked.
"The little deformed one," Zoë suggested.
"Oh shut up," said Alex.
"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. Our next challenge…"
He pointed straight toward the junkyard. With the sunlight almost gone, the hills of metal looked like something from an alien planet. We decided to camp for the night and the try the junkyard in the morning. None of them wanted to go through the junkyard at night, which was a wise choice.
I snapped my fingers and six medium size tents that were made from silk emerged and there was a small campfire to keep them warm. There was also a picnic table with food to eat on it, as I noticed that we hadn't eaten all day. They were all surprised that I created tents for them to sleep and food for them to eat. Grover was especially happy about eating.
"Thank you," Grover said.
"You are most welcome Grover," I replied.
That night after we had eaten, I saw Zoë looking up at the sky.
"The stars are out," Zoë said.
She was right. There were millions of them, without city lights to turn the sky orange.
"Amazing," Bianca said. "I've never actually the milky way."
"This is nothing," Zoë said. "In the old days, there were more. Whole constellations have disappeared because of human light pollution."
"You talk like you're not human," Alex said.
Zoë raised an eyebrow. "I am a Hunter. I care what happens to the wild places of the world. Can the same be said for thee?"
"For you," Thalia corrected. "Not thee."
"But you use you for the beginning of a sentence." Thalia continued.
"Actually, Thalia, I dare say she speaks better English than you," I said.
Thalia just huffed and puffed and kept quiet.
Grover sighed. He was still looking up at the stars like he was thinking about the light pollution problem. "If only Pan were here, he would set things right."
Zoë nodded sadly.
"I hate to burst your little bubble, Pan is a minor god, nowhere near powerful enough to set any of this right," I said.
Grover looked at me with tears in his eye. "How can you say that?" he asked.
"I was alive long before his father was even born and I saw how the world was, before he came and after." I said. "Only Gaea or another proper earth god can change things. Only problem is Gaea is as evil as her son."
"Pan would help heal the wilds," Zoë said.
"You are right about that, but only to preserve what remains," I said. "But you also have to help. You will find your Patron god Grover, just believe you will."
Grover nodded with a smile. "I will."
He said it with uncharacteristic fire in his eyes.
"We should plan our nest move," Zoë said. "When we get through this junkyard, we must continue west. If we can find a road, we can hitchhike to the nearest city. I think that would be Las Vegas."
"No!" she said. "Not there!"
She looked really freaked out, like she'd just been dropped off the steep end of a roller coaster.
Zoë frowned. "Why?"
Bianca took a shaky breath, "I…I think we stayed there a while. Nico and I. When we were travelling. And then, I can't remember…"
"Bianca?" Alex said, "That hotel you stayed at. Was it possibly called the Lotus Hotel and Casino?"
Her eyes widened. "How could you know that?"
"Oh, great," Alex said.
"Wait," Thalia said. "What is the Lotus Casino?"
"A couple off years ago," Alex said, "Grover, Annabeth and I got trapped there. It is designed so you never want to leave. We stayed there for about an hour. When we came out, five days had passed. It makes time speed up."
"No," Bianca said "No, that's not possible."
"You said somebody came and got you out," Alex said.
"Yes."
"What did he look like? What did he say?"
"It was Alecto," I said.
"Who," Alex asked and I rolled my eye.
"One of the Erinyes," I said.
Zoë and Grover looked shocked, while Thalia looked pissed.
"Bianca is a daughter of dear Uncle Hades," I said. "She was in the Lotus Casino for seventy years ago."
After I said that we were hit with a blazing light from down the road. The headlights of the car appeared out of nowhere. I snapped my fingers and the tents disappeared. The car that appeared was a white limousine. It slid in front of us.
The back door of the limo opened right next to Alex and I. Before Alex could I saw the point of a sword was piercing upon the throat of Alex, I heard the sound of Zoë and Bianca drawing their bows. As the owner of the sword got out of the car, Alex moved back very slowly.
He smiled cruelly. "Not so fast now, are you, punk?"
"Ares," Alex growled.
Ares glanced at us. "At ease, people."
He snapped his fingers and most the weapons fell to the ground, but I summoned my Xiphos in response.
"This is a friendly meeting." He dug the point of his blade a little further under Alex's chin.
"Then lower your weapon, god of war." I said firmly. "I am aware you would like to kill him and take his head as a trophy. So state your business or leave"
"Ah yes you are right," Ares said, "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 Alex away.
"Thalia, daughter of Zeus," Ares mused "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, doubt she wants to meet the rest of you. Particularly them," he said pointing at Zoë and Bianca, "Why don't you go get some chalupas, tacos or churros while you wait? It will only take Alex and Pretty boy here a few minutes."
"We will not leave them alone with thee, Lord Ares," Zoë said.
"Besides," Grover managed, "The taco place is closed"
Ares snapped his fingers again. Lights inside the taqueria flickered to life. The boards flew of the door and the Closed sign flipped to Open. "You were saying, goat boy?"
"Go on. Alex will be fine," I said.
When the others were gone Ares regarded Alex with loathing, then opened the limo door like a chauffeur.
"Get inside punks," he said, "And mind your manners. She's not as forgiving of rudeness as I am."
I saw Alex jaw drop when he saw her and I just rolled my eyes.
"Ah, there you are Alex and Perseus," she said "I am Aphrodite."
"Yes. Yes. I am aware who you are now lets get to business, because he is to stunned to formulate words," I said.
"Little demigod don't interrupt me," she said glaring at me.
"Don't glare at me, I'm not a television," I said.
"I should turn you into a puddle," she said with anger evident in her eyes.
I rolled my eyes. "What is it with you Olympians and threatening people?" I asked. "Foam head tell us why we are here."
"We don't take kindly to disrespect," she said.
"Ha, by being here with him," I said pointing at Ares. "You dishonour yourself, by sleeping with every man on earth you dishonour yourself. So cut crap and state you business Foam head."
My eyes started glowing with power.
She gulped. "Your reputation proceeds you dear dark breath," she said with a laugh. "You're still good, Perseus."
Alex looked stunned at how I was talking to another Olympian.
"Let me guess you are here about Annabeth and Alex," I guessed.
She smiled than nodded. "Alex, why are you on this quest?"
"Artemis has been captured!"
Aphrodite rolled her eyes, "Oh, Artemis. Please. Talk about a hopeless case. I mean, if you were going to kidnap a goddess, she should be breathtakingly beautiful, don't you think? I pity the poor dears who have to imprison Artemis. Bo-ring!"
I couldn't help but laugh.
"But she was chasing a monster," Alex protested, "A really, really bad monster. We have to find it!"
"There is always some. But you my dear Alex, that is why the others are on this quest. I'm more interested in you."
"Annabeth is in trouble," Alex said.
Aphrodite beamed at him, "Exactly!'
Aphrodite and Alex went back and forth about love, well mostly Aphrodite did and they took a long time talking like girlfriends and I very nearly fell asleep, before she said. "Now, you both better go. And be careful in my husband's territory, Alex. Don't take anything. He is awfully fussy about his trinkets and trash."
"What?" Alex asked. "You mean Hephaestus?"
I rolled my eyes, this boy's idiocy is amazing.
The door opened and Ares grabbed Alex and I by the shoulder and pulled as out of the limo and into the desert night.
"You're lucky, punks," Ares said pushing us from the limo or should I say pushing Alex away, "Be grateful."
"For what?" Alex asked.
"That we're being so nice. If it was up to me…" he said.
I flicked my wrist and flashed him the limo away from my sight. When I looked around I saw that the whole town was gone and the others were standing next to us, "Bye-bye Granny Goodness!"
"Bianca! Take this," I said giving her a bracelet.
"Thanks, but what is it for?" she asked.
"You will soon find out," I said. "I cannot enter the junkyard, ancient laws forbid a god from enter the domain of another without permission. Good luck and see you on the other side of the junkyard"
I gave each of them ambrosia squares, then I flashed myself to the other side of the junkyard.
When I arrived to the other side of the junkyard I summoned a Range Rover that seemed to only be able to go to Las Vegas. Now I wait for them to come out the junkyard with one less member.
After a half hour I saw them running out with tears in there eyes. They did not seem to notice me.
"Hey guy! Over here!" I shouted and the turned and saw me on the hood of the car.
"I see one was lost in the land without rain." I said and they nodded glumly. "Lost doesn't have to mean death."
"Is she alive?" asked Zoë.
"I can't answer that until the quest is over." I said and the nodded and I threw the keys at Thalia. "It will only go until Las Vegas."
"Well guys I must leave for now," I said. "The fates have ordered it. So I will see you in San Fran. Bye."
Then I flashed myself to the Poseidon cabin at camp and I went to bed knowing full well I would not wake up for a few hours. The fates didn't really order it, my thoughts were still clouded from my eons of sleep and so I must ponder them until I wake them fully. When I ended pondering my thoughts I realised that it was midday and the next day was the winter solstice. I took a shower and then flashed myself to the location of the quest members. Who were talking to the Old man of the sea Nereus.
"Well hello guys," said pulling of some Ambrosia squares for them to eat.
"Well nice of you to join us Perseus," Zoë said with a smile.
"All right Nereus. Tell me where I could find this terrible monster that could bring an end to the gods. The one Artemis was hunting." Alex demanded.
Nereus smiled. "Oh that's too easy" he said deviously "He's right there"
Nereus pointed to the water at Alex's feet.
"Where?" Alex asked.
"The deal is complete!" Nereus gloated.
With a pop he turned into a goldfish and did a back flip into the sea.
"You tricked me!" Alex yelled.
"Wait," Thalia's eyes widened. "What is that?"
"MOOOOOOOOO!"
The Ophiotaurus came and nudged Alex's shoe and gave him sad brown eyes.
"Alex he is the Ophiotaurus and he seems to think you as his protector" I said.
"The Ophi-what?" Alex asked.
"The Serpent Bull," Thalia said. "But what is it doing here?"
"He is running away from the titan army of course," I said.
"Wait," Zoë said, "You know this cow?"
Alex told us the story of how he met the Ophiotaurus.
Thalia shook her head in disbelief. "And you forgot to mention this before?"
"Well…Yeah" Alex said.
"I am a fool," Zoë said suddenly. "I know this story!"
"What story?" Alex asked.
"From the War of the Titans," she said. "My…my father told me this tale, thousands of years ago. This is the beast we are looking for."
"Bessie?" Alex said looking at the Ophiotaurus. "But…he's too cute. He couldn't destroy the world."
"That's how wrong you are," I said. "You all have been anticipating a huge dangerous monster, but the Ophiotaurus does not bring Olympus to it's knees that way. He must be sacrificed."
Zoë nodded my reasoning.
"How can anyone hurt him?" Alex said "He's harmless."
"That's the point Alex, there is power in the sacrificing of innocence. Terrible power. The fates decreed a prophecy eon ago, when this creature was born. They said that whoever killed it and sacrificed its entrails to fire, they would have the power to destroy the gods."
Thalia stared at the Ophiotaurus with wonder, "The power to destroy the gods…how? I mean, what would happen?"
"No one knows," Zoë said. "The first time, during the Titan war, the Ophiotaurus was in fact slain by a giant ally of the Titans, but thy father, Zeus, sent an eagle to snatch the entrails away before they could be tossed into the fire. It was a close call. Now, after many millennia, the Ophiotaurus is reborn."
Thalia's expression bothered me. She looked like she lusted to feel the power of the sacrifice.
"We have to protect him," Alex told her. "if Luke gets hold of him…"
"Luke wouldn't hesitate," Thalia muttered, "The power to overthrow Olympus. That's…that's huge"
"Yes it is, my dear." Said a man's voice in a heavy French accent, "And it is power you shall unleash."
The Ophiotaurus made a whimpering sound and submerged.
I looked up and saw that we were ambushed.
Standing behind us was, his heterochromatic eyes gleaming wickedly was Thorn the Manticore himself.
"This is just purr-fect." The Manticore gloated.
He was wearing a ratty black trench coat over his Westover Academy uniform, which was torn and stained. His militaristic haircut had grown out spiky and greasy. He hadn't shaved recently, so his face was covered in silver stubble. Basically, he didn't look any better than the guys at the soup kitchen.
"Long ago, the gods banished me to Persia," The Manticore said. "I was forced to scour for food on the edges of the world, hiding in forests, devouring insignificant human farmers for my meals. I never got to fight heroes. I was not feared and admired in the old stories! But now that will change. The Titans shall honour me, and I shall feast on the flesh of half bloods!"
On the other side of him stood two security guys, some of the mortal mercenaries I'd seen in D.C two more stood on the boat on the dock, just in case we tried to escape that way. There were tourists all around…walking down the waterfront, shopping at the pier above us…but I knew that wouldn't stop the Manticore from acting.
"You are nothing more than the pet of the titans," I said. "And I've grown rather tired of you. Don't worry about reforming."
"Ha! You could barely fight me with a goddess on your side. And, alas…that goddess is preoccupied at the moment. There will be no for you now." He said laughing.
I summoned my Trident. "This is the end for you monster." I said. "As I said you won't be coming back."
He changed back to his true form and I could see that his tail had grown back. He launched a dozen spikes towards me, but I just used my Trident to blast all of them away. His face contorted to anger. I charged at him, tried to dodge my attack, so I threw the Trident, knocking him off his feet. He groaned and tried to get up but I willed all the shadows around up to wrap around him.
"Let me see you off thorny," I said mockingly.
"No…nooo! Please show me mercy!" he begged.
I shook my head. "Creatures such as you, I show no mercy. Ta-Ta!" I waved him a sad goodbye.
I took the Trident out of his chest and raised it, the shadows seeped from the earth and cocooned him then I slammed the bud of the Trident on the floor creating an opening of pure darkness on the ground and the shadows along with the Manticore disappeared into the ground and when they completely gone, the ground closed itself. Leaving the bewildered mortals, "Leave here mortals or suffer the same fate," I ordered.
They gulped and scattered away like a flock of birds as fast as their legs could carry them. The ones on the boat climbed back inside the boat and rode off into the winds and they would probably never stick their noses where they don't belong, but then again mortals love poking their noses where they shouldn't. They are funny like that.
"Grover this is the end of your quest." I said and they all looked at me. "Take the Ophiotaurus back to camp. I shall give you safe passage through the seas."
Grover took a deep breath. "Well, no time to lose!"
He jumped in the water and immediately began to sink. The Ophiotaurus glided next to him and Grover took hold of his neck.
"Be careful," Alex told them.
"We will," Grover said. "Okay, um…Bessie? We're going to Long Island. It's east, over that way."
"Moooo?" Bessie said.
"Yes," Grover answered, "Long Island. It's this Island. And…it's long. Oh, let's just start."
"Mooo!"
Bessie lurched forward. He started to submerge and Grover said, "I can't breathe underwater! Just thought I'd mention…"
Under they went. Like I would say I am giving someone safe passage and skip to give him the ability to breathe underwater. "These kids," I said, shaking my head.
"We need to get to the garden of Hesperides by sunset," I said.
"I don't get it," Alex said "Why do we have to get there by sunset?"
I was about to answer, but Zoë beat me to it. "The Hesperides are the nymphs of sunset," Zoë said. "We can only enter their garden as day changes to night."
"What happens if we miss it?" Alex asked.
"Tomorrow is the winter solstice. If we miss sunset tonight, we would have to wait until tomorrow evening. And by then the Olympian Council will be over. We must free Lady Artemis tonight."
"We need a car. But there is nobody to help us here. Unless we ste…I mean borrow one," I said.
"Wait," Thalia said. She started riffling through her backpack. "There is somebody in San Fran who can help us. I've got the address."
"Who?" Alex asked.
Thalia pulled out a crumpled piece of notebook paper and held it up, "Professor Chase—Annabeth's father."
Thalia led us to through San Fran and we stop at an ordinary looking house and rang the door bell in front. A man came and stood at the door. He was wearing a 1940s aviator cap and goggles. He looked odd with his eyes bugging out through the glasses, we all took a step back on the front porch.
"Hello," he said in a friendly voice, "Are you delivering my airplanes?"
Alex, Thalia and Zoë looked at each other warily and I just yawned.
"Um, no sir," Alex said.
"Drat," he said. "I need three more Sopwith Camels."
"Right," Alex said and I couldn't help but chuckle. "We're friends of Annabeth."
"Annabeth?" he straightened as if Alex had just given him an electric shock. "Is she alright? Has something happened?"
We didn't answer.
"You'd better come in," he said.
The house looked rather homely and it had the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. There was jazz music coming from the kitchen. It seemed like a messy happy kind of home.
"Dad!" a little boy screamed. "He's taking apart my robots!"
"Bobby," Annabeth's father called absently, "don't take apart your brother's robots"
"I'm Bobby," the little boy protested. "He's Matthew!"
"Matthew," he called, "Don't take apart your brother's robots!"
"Okay, Dad!" Matthew nodded.
Mr Chase turned to us. "We'll go upstairs to my study. This way,"
"Honey?" a woman called from the living room, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She was a pretty Asian woman with red highlighted hair tied in a bun.
"Who are our guests?" she asked.
"Oh" Mr Chase said. "This is…"
He stared blankly.
"Frederick," she chided. "You forgot to ask them their names?"
We introduced ourselves and Mrs Chase seemed rather nice. She asked if we were hungry. They admitted they were, and she told us she'd bring us some cookies and sandwiches and sodas.
"Dear," Mr Chase said, "They came about Annabeth."
She pursed her lips in worry. "All right. Go on to the study and I'll bring some food." She smiled at Alex. "Nice meeting you Alex. I've heard a lot about you."
Upstairs, we walked into Mr Chase's study and Alex said, "Whoa!"
The room was littered in books and war toys. There was a table with miniature tanks and soldiers fighting along a blue painted river, with hills and fake trees and other things. Old fashioned biplanes hung from the ceilings, tilted at crazy angles like they were in a dogfight.
Mr Chase smiled. "Yes. The Third Battle of Ypres, I'm writing a paper, you see, on the use of Sopwith Camel to strafe enemy lines. I believe they played a much greater than they were given credit for."
He plucked a biplane from it's string and swept it across the battlefield, making airplane engine noises as he knocked down German soldiers.
"A grown man, yet still a child at heart, amusing, amusing," I said to Alex. "He is more like father and Uncles Hades when Grandma Rhea visits. Mother tend to turn men back into little boys."
Alex raised his eye brows. "No way, the lord of the dead acts like a child," he said.
I laughed and he joined too.
The others all looked at Alex and I strangely, but said nothing of it.
Zoë cave over and studied the battlefield. "The German lines were further from the river."
Mr Chase stared at her. "How do you know that?"
"I was there," she said matter of factly "Artemis wanted to show us how horrible war was, the way mortal men fight each other and how foolish, too. The battle was a complete waste."
"Now, Zoë is there ever a war that is good?" I asked. "War may be necessary, but it can never be called good. You still have to take lives in war and by that alone war should be dreaded and mourned."
She shook her head. "I was…"
Mr Chase was staring at Zoë and I oddly, "You…"
"They are both immortal, sir" Thalia said "But that's not why we are here. We need…"
"You saw the Sopwith Camels?" Mr Chase said. "How many were they? What formation did they fly?"
"Frederick!" I said. "Your daughter Annabeth is in danger, child."
That got his attention and the fact I called him a child. He set the biplane down.
"Tell me everything," he said.
Alex told him everything that led up to this point, including the dreams. I noticed that it was almost sunset.
"Mr Chase we need a car to Mount Tamalpais," Zoë said "And we need it urgently."
"I will drive you," he said.
Thalia shook her head, "We only need the car, you don't want to end up getting in danger."
Mr Chase frowned uncomfortable. "Now wait a minute young lady. Annabeth is my daughter. Dangerous or not, I…I can't just…"
"Snacks," Mrs Chase walked into the room and she could see that tension that had built up. She was holding a tray full of sandwiches and cookies fresh out of the oven and sodas. "I can drive, sir, I'm not as young as I look. I promise not to destroy your car."
Mrs Chase looked on warily. "What's this about?"
"Annabeth is in danger," Mr Chase said, "On Mount Tam. I would drive them, but…apparently it's no place for mortals."
It sounded like it was really hard for him to say the last part.
Mrs Chase had a thoughtful look for a moment before she nodded. "Then they'd better get going."
"Right!" Mr Chase jumped up and started patting his pockets. "My keys…"
His wife sighed, "Frederick, honestly. You'd lose your head if it weren't wrapped inside your aviator hat. The keys are hanging on the peg by the front door."
"Right!" he said.
Zoë grabbed a sandwich.
"Thank you both. We should go. Now!" Zoë said.
We shuffled down stair with the Chases right behind us.
"Alex," Mrs chase called.
I stepped outside not wanting to hear things that were not meant for my ears. We ran out to the yellow convertible parked in the driveway and Zoë drove us to mount Tam.
When we were a few miles a way Alex pointed at the mountain. "So that's the Mountain of Despair?" he asked
"Yes!" Zoë said tightly.
"Why is that?" Alex asked.
"After the war between the gods and Titans, many Titans were punished and imprisoned. Kronos was sliced to pieces and thrown into Tartarus. Kronos' right hand man, the general of his forces, was imprisoned up there, on the summit, just beyond the garden."
And we drove on.
"Look!" but we turned a corner and the ocean disappeared behind the hills.
"What?" Thalia asked.
"A big white ship," Alex said, "Docked near the beach. It looked like a cruise ship"
Her eyes widened, "Luke's Ship?"
We drove for another few minute until were at the top. We go out the car and I pulled Zoë towards me. "Zoë I have a proposition for you." I said and she looked at me confused. "I need a lieutenant of the night."
Zoë looked shocked.
"Why me?" she said, "Why not Alex?"
"Alex is young and the fates have already chosen his path," I said. "You will still be able to stay with The Hunters, just not as one of them anymore or you could forge your own future, what do you say?"
She looked at me like she wanted to cry, "I accept," she said and I gave her a bracelet.
"Good, but now, lets get moving," I said and she nodded.
We stepped into a foggy plain and then the fog disappeared and we were in a beautiful garden. The grass shimmered with silvery evening light. The flowers were all vibrant colours. The stepping stones were polished black marble and they led to a five story tall apple tree golden apples.
"The apples of immortality," Thalia said. "Hera's wedding gift from Zeus."
I saw massive dragon coiled around the apple tree. It had a hundred heads, with coppery scales and thick body. Then the shadows in front of us began to move. There was a beautiful, eerie signing, like voices from the bottom of a well. Four figures shimmered into existence, four young women who looked much like Zoë. They wore white Greek chitons. Their skin was like caramel.
Zoë stepped forward. "Sisters," Zoë said.
"We do not see any sister," one of the Hesperides said coldly, "We three half-bloods and a Hunter. All of whom shall die soon."
"Hesperides," I said, "I see you have been helping the Titans. You shall be punished. You have defiled the beauty of this garden with your malice and hate. Now be gone from my sight."
The girls studied me and then they were horror struck. "Please Milord," one said.
"I said be gone from my sight," I told. "We will have a nice chat later I won't kill you, you will be punished but not badly. Worry not though it will not hurt at all, but it will teach you the beauty of forgiveness."
After I said that I turned to Ladon and walked over to the tree and pick up an apple. "Let's go guys, he won't hurt you with me around." I said to them. As we walked I was surprised that Othrys was rebuilding itself. "I see the Titans are indeed gaining strength."
When we had reach the summit, a few yards ahead of us, a grey cloud swirled in a heavy vortex, making a funnel cloud that almost touch the mountaintop, But instead rested on the shoulders of a twelve year old girl with auburn hair and tattered silver dress. Artemis and her legs were bound to the rock with celestial bronze chains.
"Milady," Zoë rushed, but Artemis said, "Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now!"
Her voice was strained and heavy and looked like she was going to fall over. The weight of the sky was too much for Artemis. Zoë was crying. She ran forward despite Artemis' protests and tugged at the chains.
A booming voice spoke behind us. "Ah, how touching."
We turned. The General was standing there in a brown silk suit. At his side there was a half blood and a half dozen Dracaenae bearing a golden sarcophagus. That emitted a lot of power. Annabeth stood at the boy's side. She had her hands cuffed behind her back, a gag in her mouth, and the boy was pointing his sword at her throat.
The General took one look at me and he stepped back. "Y…you!" he said.
"Hello Atlas," I said with smile. "Long time no see huh?"
He gulped in fear. "No. Not you," he said and everyone looked shocked beyond belief at the sight of a whimpering General.
"How do thee know my father?" Zoë asked.
"I was the one to defeat him and the reason he was put under the sky," I said. "But alas the fate have forbidden me from this fight unless provoked."
"Thalia you handle your friend," I said. "Alex, Zoë get Atlas."
They nodded and raced to fight their opponents. I summoned my Trident and blasted all of the Dracaenae and they turned to dust and I watched the fight unfold. Thalia summoned her spear and Luke unsheathed his sword and charged forward to fight Thalia. The boy was skilled. He had skill, strength, speed and agility, but lacked power in his attacks. He would lose soon. But I sensed his life would not end today.
Over to where Alex and Zoë where, I saw Atlas taunting them and Alex was getting angry at how he was talking to his daughter. As was I could not fight him. It would be against the plans of the fates and more importantly the balance. Oh sometimes I hate the balance. Alex charged at Atlas and Zoë did the same a few moments later. They parried for a few minutes, before I saw Atlas knocking Zoë to the ground with his spear and was getting ready to impale her with it. I flashed myself to where Zoë was and gave her the golden apple to eat. "Eat it Zoë," I said.
She did as I asked and looked at me with grateful tears in her eyes. A moment later she was engulfed with a golden light. She was now a full immortal without domains. "Thank you Perseus," she said.
"My pleasure," I said to her.
Alex was close to losing the fight with Atlas, before I saw him running over to where Artemis was. At first I saw her protest saying, "She had the spirit of a true huntress. You will not last so long."
I rolled my eyes at the sexist sister of mine.
"I'll die anyway," Alex said. "Give me the weight of the sky!"
Alex didn't wait for her answer. He took out his Xiphos and slashed through her chains. He then stepped next to her and raised his hand to the sky and for a moment they held it together. Then Artemis slipped out and went over fight Atlas, but I was watching Alex struggle under the sky's weight.
I looked over to the fight and I saw Thalia knocking off the edge of a cliff and I saw Annabeth crying over him. That made me angry. While on the other side I saw that Artemis was on the ground.
"The first blood in a new war," Atlas gloated. And he stabbed downward with his spear.
As fast as thought, Artemis grabbed his javelin shaft. It hit the earth right next to her and she pulled backwards, using the javelin like a lever, kicking the Titan and sending flying over her head and next to Alex and a moment later pulled away from the sky. The weight of the sky dropped onto the back of Atlas.
"Noooooo!" He bellowed so hard the mountain shook. "Not again!"
Atlas was trapped under the sky once more.
I Saw Artemis walking over to Alex and I head the same direction as well. When I saw Alex's eyes, he looked dead tired and his jet black hair now had a few white strands. I gave him and Artemis some Ambrosia and nectar.
"We need to get to Olympus," I said, "Immediately!"
They nodded.
"I would take you on my chariot, but it is not big enough to carry so many of you."
"No worries," I said, "I have it covered."
A black chariot with shadowy horses descended from the sky and it changed into an SUV. "Climb in and lets get a move on," I said and they climbed into the chariot.
I started flying to Olympus once they had entered the car. I saw Annabeth cuddling into Alex and Thalia was fast asleep. Zoë was sitting shot gun. Alex and Annabeth were not asleep, they talking about her father and her family. I rode the chariot until I was on the walk way of Olympus. The city was a vibrant as ever.
We started walking towards the throne room of the Olympian Council. And it was beautiful, but it was too stately and didn't really feel much like a home. It was a scenic white Palace outlined with gold and celestial bronze, it gleamed in the moonlight. We made our way inside the through the massive door and stepped into a massive room with twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations. All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about twenty five feet tall. And all of their eyes were trained on us, as we walked in. I could see my parents smiling subtly at me.
"Welcome, Heroes," Artemis said.
"Mooo!"
That's when I saw Grover and the Ophiotaurus. A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room next to the hearth and the creature inside looked to be have the time of his life as he was swishing his tail back and forth. Grover ran over to us and gave each of us a hug. "Perseus, Bessie and I made it! But you must convince them! They can't do it!"
"Do what?" I asked confusedly.
"We should blast them to oblivion," Ares shouted from his throne. "Those three are dangerous."
"Ares," father interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my sons to bits."
"Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well."
Thalia blushed. She studied the floor. I saw Alex doing the same thing.
The goddess Athena cleared her throat and sat forward. "I am proud of my daughter as well. But there is a security risk here with the other three" she said and looked at me. "Who are you?"
I just ignored her.
"Mother!" Annabeth said. "How can you…"
Athena cut her off with a calm firm look. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my Uncle, Poseidon chose to break their oath not to have anymore children. Only Hades kept his word, a fact that I find ironic. As we all know from the Great Prophecy, Children of the three elder gods…such as Alex and Thalia and um…the other one are dangerous. As thick-headed as he is, Ares has a point."
"Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute, who you callin…"
I laughed. "That would be a stupid idea." I said "Prophecies and fate cannot be changed, no matter how much you may try. And you shouldn't even try to avoid it."
"My son is right," Poseidon said.
"Yes I agree with him too. We are gods and should act like it." Hera said and it surprised everyone.
"Still," Ares grumbled. "He has no respect."
Ares looked like he wanted to kill me and I just gave him a bored look and this shook them even more.
"Oh shut up Ares," Artemis said. "When we were at Othrys Atlas was Afraid of him. I could see true fear from the titan lord's eyes for the very first time."
"Okay then. Who is he?" Zeus asked.
"He's my son," mother came over to embrace me and Zeus looked livid as can be, Ares and Hephaestus looked beyond shocked.
"He's my f—" Hermes said before being interrupted.
"You cheated on me?" Zeus bellowed reaching for his master bolt.
"No I did not," she said. "He was born a year after you freed us from father's stomach."
"Then he is a god," Athena said.
"Yes he is," she said, "He is a very powerful god, he is infinitely more powerful than his father, Poseidon who is the man I love and have loved my whole existence."
Aphrodite squealed like a little piggy. "Aww, mommy and daddy." she said and All of the people in the throne room rolled their eyes at her not quite catching her words.
"What are your domains?" Athena asked in a cold voice.
"He is the High god of the deep oceans, darkness, night, weather, creation and The Lord of the Balance," Aphrodite said, "And my twin brother!"
Chapter 3 done!
ADDIO!
