DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE PERCY JACKSON CHARACTERS AND/OR PLOTLINE. ALL RIGHTS GO TO RICK RIORDAN!
Chapter Seven! Hope you guys like it!
Chiron moved Percy to cabin three the next morning. Normally, he would've been moved right away, but I guess with everything he's been through, it was an exception. He was like Thalia, I realized one day, a demigod who wasn't supposed to be born. As much as I hated him, I didn't want him to end up with Thalia's fate...or worse.
Everyone avoided him, even the Ares cabin. I knew people were talking about him. I overheard Beckendorf from Hephaestus once questioning whether it was a good idea to accept him into camp, considering the amount of danger he seems to have put on the camp.
Not that I felt bad for him.
It's not natural for a child of Athena to befriend a child of Poseidon. Even Ava, one of the nicest Athena kids, steered clear of him. Our parents are mortal...well, immortal...enemies. What would my mother say if I went on a quest with him? But I really wanted a quest, and I was sure Percy could give one to me.
I groaned aloud as I remembered I still had to tutor Percy. It was almost breakfast, which meant I only had about two more hours before I had to endure the inevitable.
Lexi's head popped down from the bunk above me. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," I replied. "Just thinking."
"As always," she grinned, climbing down and getting ready for inspection.
I sighed and got up as well, straightening my bed as the sound of campers waking up to the morning filled the cabin.
Great. Another day begins.
"So what are we doing today?" Percy asked cheerfully.
I scowled at him. "What do you think?"
Percy shrugged and started to say something, but I cut him off. "Homer, duh!"
"But-"
I shoved the book at him and he shut up, sighing loudly.
I sat down next to him, not even pretending to pay attention as he stumbled through the book. I could be getting in some actual practice if I wasn't teaching him how to read, I thought resentfully.
After what seemed like hours, I stopped Percy in the middle of a sentence and decided that it was enough for one day. Without speaking to him, I took the book away from him and stalked back to the cabins.
"A quest with a son of Poseidon?" I muttered to myself. "With that dirty, rotten seaweed brain? There has to be another way. I've got to make a plan, but how?"
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice Luke in front of me until it was too late. I crashed into him, the book flying from my hands and landed on my butt.
How embarrassing.
Luke laughed and helped me up, scooping the book in his hands in one fluid motion.
"You okay?" he asked, still chuckling.
I blew a strand of my blond hair away as I felt my face reddening. "I'm fine."
"You usually pay more attention than that," Luke observed. "Is something wrong?"
I debated in my head whether to tell him anything, but then scolded myself. This is Luke. If I couldn't tell him, who else could I tell?
"It's Percy," I said, letting out a long breath. "You know the rivalry with Athena and Poseidon, right?"
He nodded.
"Well," I continued, "I really want a quest, and I feel like he could be the one I'm waiting for, but how am I supposed to act all friendly with him without my mother blowing me up?"
Luke's face darkened. "I understand what you mean."
I stepped back from him. There was just something in his face that seemed...off.
He shook his head. "Sorry, I was just thinking."
He walked away after giving me a small nod. I frowned. Something was definitely not right with him these days. I sighed, wondering just how complicated my life was going to get. I was about to find out.
A few days later, things began to change. Big time.
I got up a little earlier that day to go for a run along the beach. Grabbing my Yankees cap (you never know!) I headed outside, jogging towards the beach.
A few Apollo campers playing an early morning game of volleyball with the satyrs. I would've bet a couple of drachmas that the satyrs were going to win, judging from what was going on so far. The Aphrodite kids were heading towards the lake, probably to catch up on the latest gossip.
I was starting up a steady pace when I heard thunder roaring in the distance, making me jump. I slowed to a walk and stared up at the sky. It was dark with storm clouds, but I pushed my uneasy feeling away. The camp had magical borders to ward off weather like that. But still...
I looked up for a couple more seconds then began to run again. I heard the campers back at the volleyball pit screaming in frustration. I laughed aloud, forgetting about everything that was going on in that moment.
But of course, the Fates had other plans.
Thunder boomed again, this time louder than the first. I ignored it and continued running. It was only after I felt water on my nose that I began to worry.
"Di immortales!", I yelped.
Well, forgive me if I freaked out because of a rain drop, but I couldn't help myself. It never rained unless we wanted it too. I ran for the Big House, wanting to demand Chiron for answers. As I got closer to the porch, Chiron opened the door, almost like he expected me.
"Ah, Annabeth," he said, waving me in. "I was going to find you."
"What's going on?" I demanded as soon as I dried myself.
Chiron put his hand on my shoulder, wheeling his wheelchair back inside. "Sit, and then I'll explain."
I plopped down on a chair around the pinochle table and noticed Grover sitting a few seats away from me. "Hey," I greeted.
Grover nodded at me miserably, chewing on a Diet Coke can. I frowned. Something was definitely wrong.
"So," I began. "Why did you need me?"
"You want a quest, right?" Chiron asked me.
I sat up straighter. "Yes...?"
"Before I tell you anything, you have to tell me that you want this quest, no matter what," he warned.
I nodded eagerly. Finally! "I volunteer for whatever quest you have in mind." I paused. "Wait...does this have something to do with Percy and whatever crazy stuff is going on today?"
Chiron smiled. "Right as always, child."
I groaned. "So I'm going to save the world with him?"
Chiron chuckled. "Annabeth, you'll learn to settle your differences with him one day. In the meantime, I'll explain everything to you."
He went to say how Zeus' lightning bolt, the lightning bolt, was stolen. Zeus had accused Poseidon of setting Percy up to steal it. I honestly couldn't disagree less. Percy couldn't steal a hair if it was right in front of him. Chiron also explained that Percy had agreed to take up the quest to find and return the lightning bolt by the summer solstice. He was up in the attic getting his prophecy from the Oracle right now.
I grimaced, remembering when I had snuck up to the attic when I was seven and found the Great Prophecy. It still gives me nightmares.
"So that's it?" I asked when Chiron had finished. "Just find the lightning bolt?"
Chiron nodded. "And avoid...trouble."
It was the way he said it that got my gears working. Trouble we haven't faced before during training. We all knew that it wasn't Percy who stole the lightning bolt and he got attacked by a Fury and a hellhound, so the only possibility would be...
Chiron looked at me and I knew he knew that we had the same conclusion.
I took in the news in my head. Go to the outside world, find the lightning bolt, avoid Hades' monsters, all in ten days.
Easy.
I gave Chiron a thumbs up. "I'm in,"
"I assumed so," Chiron said, smiling. "And I believe it would be wise to put on your cap. Percy's coming down, and I don't want to surprise him just yet."
I sighed, remembering the down side of this quest. "Sure," Then I put on my cap, getting up from the chair to stand behind Chiron.
A few moments later, Percy came down, his face grim and a bit horrified. That's what meetings with the Oracle does to you.
"Well?" Chiron asked him.
Percy slumped into the chair I was sitting on earlier. "She said I would retrieve what was stolen."
Grover sat forward excitedly. "That's great!"
I wasn't so sure. The Oracle would never give prophecies if it were that easy.
Chiron voiced my doubts. "What did the Oracle say exactly? This is important."
"She...she said I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."
"I knew it," Grover said.
Chiron looked doubtful, like me. "Anything else?"
Percy hesitated, and I could tell both Chiron I knew he was holding something back. "No," he said finally. "That's about it."
"Very well, Percy," Chiron said, deciding not to press on the matter. "But know this: the Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass."
"Okay," Percy said, not buying it. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"
I rolled my eyes. I had to travel with this seaweed brain?
"Ah, think, Percy," Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"
"Somebody else who wants to take over?"
I rolled my eyes again.
"Yes, quite," Chiron replied patiently. "Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing into an oath to have no more children, and oath both of them have now broken."
"Hades."
That took a while.
Chiron nodded. "The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."
"Whoa, wait." Grover protested, aluminum scraps dribbling out of his mouth, "Wh-what?"
Guess he didn't catch on earlier.
"A Fury came after Percy," Chiron reminded him. "She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades."
"Yes, but-but Hades hates all heroes," Grover stammered. "Especially if he has found out Percy is a son of Poseidon..."
"A hellhound got into the forest," Chiron continued. "Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone within the camp. Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like the kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest."
"Great," Percy muttered. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."
I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
"But a quest to..." Grover swallowed. "I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year."
"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt," Chiron insisted. "He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Dead's motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain. Percy must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth."
There was silence around the table as Percy and Grover took this all in. I saw Percy's fists clench. There was some strong emotion he was emitting. Grover, on the other hand, was eating the pinochle cards like the does when he's nervous.
I sighed. I knew the only reason Grover wanted to go was so he could get his searcher's license. This was definitely not on his "Finding Demigods List".
"Look, if we know it's Hades," Percy told Chiron. "why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads."
I wanted to punch him. Coward.
"Suspecting and knowing are not the same," Chiron answered. "Besides, even if the other gods suspect Hades-and I imagine Poseidon does-they couldn't retrieve the bolt themselves. Gods cannot cross into each other's territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they're bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?"
Not for the first time, I felt resentment. Resentment towards the gods for using us only for their purposes. We weren't going to be pawns in their games.
I felt an unexpected stab of anger and took a deep breath, getting my emotions under control. Besides, I chided myself. The gods aren't all that bad. I guess.
Percy voiced what I was thinking. "You're saying I'm being used."
"I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situation. He needs you."
Percy fell silent. I waited for his next retort, but it never came.
Instead he asked Chiron, "You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"
"I had my suspicions," Chiron replied. "As I said...I've spoken to the Oracle, too."
I bit my lip. Why didn't Chiron tell me earlier? I could've avoided him all together if I had known for sure in the very beginning.
"So let me get this straight," Percy said. "I'm supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."
"Check," Chiron clarified.
"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."
"Check."
"And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."
"That's about right."
For a few seconds, I rethought my decision to join the quest. It did kind of seem like an impossible mission. I shook my head. I am Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena. I will not back out on my first quest. Like I said earlier, easy.
Grover spoke up. "Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?"
"You don't have to go," Percy told him. "I can't ask that of you."
I scoffed. What a loyal friend.
"Oh..." Grover shifted in his seat. "No...it's just that satyrs and underground places...well..."
I gulped as I realized what he meant, even if Percy didn't. Last time we were underground, well, it wasn't a pleasant experience. Led us straight into a cyclop's den. I almost watched Luke and Thalia get eaten alive. I felt my eyes blur and blinked the tears away before they could fall, focusing back on the present.
Grover took a deep breath and stood up. "You saved my life, Percy. If...if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."
I could see Percy's face light up. Oh, wow. Bromance right there.
"All the way, G-man." Percy turned to Chiron. "So where do we go? The Oracle said to go west."
"The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America."
"Where?"
Chiron looked surprised, but I wasn't. It took about oh, a couple of years, for Percy to catch on. "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."
Duh.
"Oh," Percy said smartly. "Naturally. So we just get on a plane-"
"No!" Grover shrieked. I almost wanted to hold him back. Let Percy figure it out himself. He didn't seem to get anything otherwise. And it wouldn't be such a loss if he got fried by lightning. "Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your life?"
Percy shook his head, his face turning pink.
I rolled my eyes. This is going to be a long quest.
"Percy, think," Chiron said. "You are the son of the Sea God. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus's domain. You would never come down alive."
As if on cue, lightning crackled and thunder boomed.
"Okay," Percy said. "So, I'll travel overland."
"That's right," Chiron replied. "Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help."
"Gee," Percy said, feigning surprise. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"
I figured that was probably the time to take off my cap, so I did, stuffing it into my back pocket.
"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain," I said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."
"If you do say so yourself," Percy said. "I supposed you have a plan, wise girl?"
I flushed with anger. How dare he mock me. "Do you want my help or not?"
Percy hesitated, and I could see the desperation in his eyes. "A trio. That'll work."
"Excellent," Chiron said. "This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own."
I looked out the window and saw rain pouring down in sheets. Awesome. My first quest in a few hours.
"No time to waste," Chiron continued. "I think you should all get packing."
As always, reviews are always welcomed! :)
~annabeth669
