Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians nor do I own The Heroes of Olympus.
Story: Champion of Olympus: The Maze of Death
Chapter 7: I Need a Thief and We Need a Mortal
Somewhere in the western United States - Almost four months since the end of A Titan's Secret
Athena's POV
"We need a really good thief." I stated. Artemis stared at me in disbelief.
"We can't ask Hermes for help. You know we're both going against ancient law by getting involved?" Artemis asked. I gave her an amused smile.
"When has that ever stopped us before?" I asked rhetorically, earning a laugh from my little sister.
"Quite true, so I take it that you have someone else in mind?" Artemis asked curiously. I gave her a wry smile.
"How about we ask a thief who stole the master bolt and the helm of darkness?" I asked. Artermis's eyes widened in realization.
"Luke Castellan; you're really going to ask him. He was a traitor; can he be trusted?" Artemis asked worriedly.
"I think he's learned his lesson, plus, I believe he would like to make amends." I stated. Artemis nodded in understanding. "I will go to Camp Half Blood to ask him, please prepare the hunt to go to Mount Tam."
"I will, good luck." Artemis said. I closed my eyes as I dissolved into a golden light, when I opened my eyes I was standing on the beach near the lake at Camp Half Blood. I looked around to see a young man about twenty with blonde hair sitting in the sand, it was Luke Castellan. I walked up to him and his eyes widened when he saw me. He bowed carefully as he stared at me expectantly.
"Son of Hermes, I have a proposal for you." I said.
"Yes my lady, how can I help you?" Luke asked curiously.
"I need your special gifts to assist me in the procurement of a special object." I stated. A sly smile crossed Luke's face.
"In other words you need me to steal something for you?" Luke asked.
"Yes, but this item has already been stolen by its current owner, so you will be retrieving it from a thief." I clarified. Luke laughed at my statement.
"Good, I wouldn't want to do anything illegal." Luke said. I saw Luke's eyes widen as he looked behind me. I turned around to see a tall muscular girl looking at us. She had stringy brown hair and amber colored eyes. She wore a scowl across her face as she looked at Luke. "Clarisse, were you spying on us?" Clarisse bowed toward me.
"Sorry my lady, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but you can't trust this traitor." Clarisse stated. I watched as Luke's head lowered at the word, traitor.
"I do trust him, Clarisse, is it?" I asked.
"Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares and head counselor." Clarisse answered.
"I need his expertise for this mission, do you have a better suggestion?" I asked. Clarisse looked at me curiously, and then she stared at Luke with a venomous glare.
"If you must take him, I would like to go to keep an eye on him." Clarisse said.
"This mission must remain a secret, if you promise to remain quiet about this discussion, then you may accompany us." I stated. Clarisse smiled at me, and then she gave an amused smirk toward Luke. She bowed toward me again.
"I accept the terms and you have my promise as a warrior not to mention this discussion. What will we tell Chiron?" Clarisse said.
"I will inform Chiron that you are both summoned to Olympus to speak with your parents." I said. Clarisse nodded in understanding. I looked towards Luke and he nodded in agreement as well. "Good, meet me here in an hour, we must be on our way quickly. The demigods nodded as they ran back into camp toward their respective cabins.
I walked to the big house; Chiron was sitting on the porch at a table playing solitaire.
"Lady Athena, a wonderful surprise, how are you?" Chiron asked, as he bowed his head.
"I am well. Have you seen Annabeth?" I asked. Chiron looked down at his hands for a moment before looking up at me.
"Lord Zeus hasn't informed you?" Chiron asked.
"Informed me about what?" I asked worriedly.
"Lupa arrived yesterday with her Romans. The titan army destroyed Camp Rome and now we believe that they plot the downfall of our camp." Chiron said. I just stared at him in disbelief and sadness.
"How many casualties?" I asked.
"Less than two dozen survived." Chiron said. I slumped down in the seat beside him. I had five children at that camp. I guess Chiron could see the worry and anguish in my eyes. "Two of your Roman children are here at camp." A few tears streamed down my face; I lost three children in this disaster. I wiped my eyes after a few moments.
"What does this have to do with Annabeth?" I asked.
"She volunteered for a quest to find out what happened at the Roman camp and prevent it from occurring here." Chiron said.
"She's on a quest?" I asked. Chiron nodded.
"Yes, She is on a quest with the children of the big three and Grover, the satyr. They are going into the labyrinth, that is what the Oracle told them." Chiron said, as he told me the prophecy.
"I can only pray that they succeed and return safely." I stated. Chiron nodded in agreement.
"You wanted to ask me something, my lady?" Chiron asked. I remembered why I came, I had to put aside my grief and worry.
"Yes, Luke Castellan and Clarisse La Rue are both wanted on Olympus by their parents. I was on my way here to see my daughter, so I thought I would transport them." I said.
"I understand, do you need me to find them?" Chiron asked.
"No, I found both of them on the beach; they are packing a few things for the trip. I'm not sure how long they will be gone." I stated.
"I understand," Chiron said. I stood up, but before I could go Chiron said, "I'm sorry about your children; Lupa said that they all died like Romans, but I rather say that they died bravely." I gave the old centaur a warm smile of thanks, and then I nodded before I walked back to the beach. When I arrived there, Luke and Clarisse were waiting.
"Gather around me children and close your eyes." I said, as Luke and Clarisse stood beside me with their bags in their hands. We disappeared from the beach in a golden light; a moment later we reappeared in the forest near Mount Tam.
"This is Mount Tam," Luke said nervously. Clarisse looked around as her spear extended into her hand.
"Yes, we will meet the hunters and my sister here." I said.
"My lady, why are we here?" Clarisse asked.
"We have a mission; we must steal the Eye of Odin." I stated. Luke stared at me in disbelief.
"Hecate has it in the Black Fortress." Luke said. I nodded in understanding.
"Why do we need it?" Clarisse asked. A smile crossed my face as I remembered the reason for our mission.
"We need it to bring Percy back to this realm." I stated. Luke and Clarisse both stared at me in wonder.
"Percy," Clarisse said.
"Yes, he is trapped on Asgard and we need to get the Eye by the day after the summer solstice." I stated. Luke stepped forward with a confident look on his face.
"I'll do everything I can to steal they Eye." Luke stated confidently.
"Good; now here's the plan." I said.
Manhattan, New York
Thalia's POV
Argus dropped us off in front of Dare Tower. Annabeth, Jason and I left the van to find the mortal. Annabeth thought it best, if only a few of us went to find her. We didn't want to scare her off. The three of us rode the elevator up to the penthouse floor. The doors opened to reveal an ornate hallway with beautiful furniture and famous paintings lining the walls. I watched as Annabeth looked at the architecture; she was definitely in her element.
"Which penthouse is hers?" I asked. Annabeth looked at the computer print out in her hands.
"This one," Annabeth said, as she pointed to the door on the right.
"Are you sure its a good idea to bring a mortal with us?" Jason asked again for the tenth time today. Annabeth gave him the death glare. "Sorry," Jason said as he raised his hands in defeat.
I walked to the door passed Annabeth and Jason as they continued to glare at each other. I knocked on the door carefully. I heard movement from behind the door, and then a few choice curse words. I heard the door unlock and pull open to reveal a tall red headed girl. Her curly red hair was tied up in a bun and she wore a painters smock. The smock was covered in dozens of paint colors and the girl had a few wisps of pain on her face as well. She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen and she had green eyes the color of limes. She looked at me in surprise, and then she stared at Annabeth and Jason.
"Who are you?" She asked suspiciously.
"Rachel Elizabeth Dare?" Annabeth asked.
"Yeah, that's me." Rachel said.
"Can we come in to talk?" I asked. Rachel looked at me carefully, but then her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"You're not some teen magazine kids here to get an interview, because if you are then forget it." Rachel stated.
"No, we're here to talk to you about what happened at Hoover Dam." I said. That got her attention. She looked at the three of us, up and down.
"Does this have anything to do with Percy Jackson?" She asked. Annabeth and I both looked at her in surprise. "I'll take that as a yes, come on in." She stepped away from the door. The three of us walked in and we were all blown away at what we saw. Rachel's apartment was huge. The ceilings were at least twenty feet tall. A metal spiral stair case curved up to a second floor area that must have included a bedroom and bathroom. The first floor was a complete open floor plan, almost like a warehouse. The kitchen was in the center, surrounded by bar top counters and stainless steel appliances. The living room was positioned near the floor to ceiling windows with a view of the New York skyline. The rest of the first floor was a studio space. Dozens of easels were positioned around the room. Finished and unfinished paintings were all around the space.
"Follow me; I have a feeling that I'll need to sit down for this." Rachel said. I had to smile at how casual she was about us being here. Jason and I sat on the couch, while Annabeth sat in a chair across from Rachel.
"Ms. Dare, do you see strange things?" Annabeth asked. Wow, talk about to the point, I thought. Rachel narrowed her eyes as she looked at Annabeth.
"You all can call me Rachel; who are you three. I like to know who I'm talking to before I spill any deep dark secrets." Rachel stated sarcastically. I think Percy would have liked this girl. I looked at Annabeth and she was glaring daggers at her. That clinches it, Percy would have liked her.
"My name is Thalia and this is my brother Jason. Percy was our brother." I said, as I tried to hide my sadness. Rachel must have picked up on my words.
"He was your brother?" She asked.
"Yes, he died a few months ago." I said sadly, as Jason wrapped his arm around me protectively. Rachel looked sad for a moment, and then she looked expectantly toward Annabeth. Annabeth looked at me and I could see the pain in her eyes.
"I'm Annabeth Chase, Percy was my best friend." She said, as she looked down at her hands.
"I'm sorry for your loss. I only met him the one time, but I could tell he was special." Rachel said sincerely. She smiled at all of us, but then she put on a serious face. "Now back to your question."
"Sometimes do you see strange things?" Annabeth asked again. Rachel looked at her, and then to Jason and I. It was almost like she was trying to gauge whether she could trust us.
"Yes, I see strange things sometimes." Rachel said. A small smile appeared on Annabeth's face.
"Do you see strange creatures sometimes as well?" Annabeth asked. Something flashed across Rachel's green eyes.
"You mean like the monster on the dam?" Rachel asked expectantly.
"Yes, monster is a good word for them." Annabeth answered.
"So, these monsters are real. I take it that Percy was a monster hunter, or something." Rachel said.
"Something like that." I said. Rachel looked at the three of us closely.
"Are you three monster hunters as well?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, we are." I said. Annabeth looked at me closely. I gave her a reassuring nod.
"Have you ever heard of the Greek gods?" I asked.
"Or Roman gods?" Jason inserted. I elbowed in the ribs, so he'd shut-up.
"You mean like Zeus, Apollo, those gods?" Rachel asked. A hopeful smile crossed Annabeth's face.
"The gods are real and here in the United States." I said. Rachel looked at me closely, she was trying to read, if I was telling the truth. I guess she saw enough, as she gave me a thankful smile.
"So, I'm not crazy after all." Rachel said. We all looked at her closely. "That's what my dad and all the shrinks think." We all nodded in understanding. "So why did you come here, just to tell me this?" Annabeth sat on the edge of her chair.
"We came her to ask you for help." Annabeth said. Rachel's eye grew big in surprise.
"How can I help you?" Rachel asked curiously.
"If you know about the gods, then you know about demigods, right?" Annabeth asked.
"Half god and half mortal." Rachel answered. Rachel's eyes grew even bigger. "You're demigods." We all smiled at her.
"Yes, we are." I said, as Annabeth sat back in her chair.
"Rachel, you are what we call a clear sighted mortal. You can see through the mist; the mist is what causes normal mortals not to see the gods or monsters. It allows our world to stay invisible from yours." I said. Annabeth nodded approvingly at my explanation.
"So you need my help seeing through the mist, but why?" Rachel asked. I knew this was Annabeth's turn.
"The mist is strong, it can even hide things from demigods. We have a quest to find the labyrinth, the same one in the stories of Theseus. We need a clear sighted mortal to help us find the entrance and to guide us through." Annabeth stated. Rachel took in all of this without question, but then she did the unexpected. She stood up quickly and ran toward her studio. We all ran after her. "Rachel, its ok, I didn't mean to scare ..." Annabeth said before stopping to look at the paintings in front of us. There was a finished painting of Jason on the back of hippocampus with the Roman camp burning in the background. There was a painting of the mummified oracle giving Annabeth the prophecy. Another painting showed us standing by a large rock in a burned out ruin, the delta symbol glowed on the side of the massive boulder. The last painting showed us walking through a dark tunnel with Rachel in the lead. Jason and Annabeth holding torches to light our way.
"You saw all these images in your head?" Annabeth asked. Rachel turned toward us, a look of complete shock, understanding and happiness in her eyes.
"Yes, these images just come to me sometimes." Rachel said. I looked at Annabeth and I could tell that she had an idea what was going on. We all looked back at Rachel. She was just standing in front of us with a far off look in her green eyes.
Suddenly, she seemed to snap out of her trance. "I'll help you." She said. We all nodded as we gave her hopeful smiles, I guess our first mission was a success.
AN: So Luke and Clarisse will help Artemis, Athena and the hunters get the Eye of Odin. It appears our quest team has a new member. More to come next chapter, plus an update on Percy's new weapons, so stay tuned.
