IX Even after a hundred years, Chiron can still get surprised

We waited at the foot of Chiron's bed in the Big , being the best healer, was watching over Chiron and muttering incantations. After half an hour, Chiron still wasn't awake. Will said that he had suffered a great shock, so he would wake up in an hour or so. He had already used a magic salve, which would increase the process. "Tell me when he wakes up, will you?" he said before going out.

Obviously, training was over. But unfortunately, Annabeth still didn't have a plan. So we left her and the other counsellors to it, while I tried to talk to Drew. He was really shaken when he saw Chiron faint, and it was evident that he was upset. So I said, "Drew, don't feel bad. I had a similar reaction 4 years ago when everyone found out I was the son of poseidon. It was as if I was a big mistake."

Drew replied, head in his hands, "yeah, but all that is forgotten now. You will be remembered as the saviour of Olympus, not a mistake. But the way Chiron reacted to me, i- it was as if I was a curse. Being dyslexic and ADHD, I didn't fit into the mortal world. I thought I would fit in better here, but it doesn't seem so."

"Maybe," I said, "it's because people doubt us, we become great."

"but if Chiron is dead," he said, voice muffled by his hands, "I will never be able to forgive myself."

"I'm sure he won't be," I said keeping his spirits up, "do you want to show me some magic tricks to pass the time?"

He punched me in the arm, but I could see that he had cheered up a bit. "Tell you what,

" I said, "why don't you tell me about your past before camp?"

"yeah, okay," he said. "But why don't I show you it instead? It won't hurt." He said, when he saw my wary expression. "just lie on the bed and close your eyes," he instructed. The dream will come to you."

He rested his hands on my forehead as I closed my eyes. For once, my dreams weren't messages that haunted me. I kept falling and falling, until I fell down on a street. It was a sunny day, and lots of kids were playing on the street, all apart from one. I assumed that would be Drew. All demigods were excluded. I was mesmerized by the scene in front of me, but when I tried to interrupt their game or talk to drew, I either got thrown back by something like an invisible beach ball, or the kids didn't even hear me. A voice behind me suddenly said, "you can't interrupt a dream Percy. But what do you think of Los Angeles? It's every kids' dream home. Hollywood, Santa Monica...Apart from mine." he added bitterly

"no kidding," I said. "it must suck, living near mount tam and right above the underworld."

"yeah, and it's really hard to fit in with the kids. They all take advantage of the fact that they're rich. I can't help that my dad is just a psychiatrist for dreams and a writer for dream books. I mean, I was rich, but apparently not in the right way. They call me Dreamy Drew at school, and only Grover and Flavia were my friends."

That shocked me. Grover was his satyr? He must have been the powerful kid Grover was talking about in the last letter when he was in California. Chiron had been really worried about being near the Bay Area last year, but Grover had insisted. But that wasn't the thing that had caught my attention. It was actually the name Flavia. It was just like the girl's name in my dream. So I asked, "Flavia? Is she a demigod?"

"At first I thought she was. I mean she showed all the signs: she believed in the gods, was ADHD and she was dyslexic. But her dyslexia was always better than mine. But the strange thing was, she wasn't good at Greek, but she aced all her Latin exams. I mean, that's normal, but she believed in the gods in their Roman aspect."

"but the romans faded a long time ago. And anyways, why didn't Grover pick her up?"

"I don't know. But when I didn't see her at camp halfblood, I decided she wasn't a demigod."

"Hmmph. But she sure sounds like one. If she is, who do you think her godly parent is?"

"I'd say Athena. You know, with the blond hair and gray eyes? And she was a really good strategist. In PE, she would never let a competition start without a plan. And they'd usually work, so you always want to be on a team with her. She's a really good artist too, like buildings and stuff."

I smiled. That sounded exactly like Annabeth. But one thing was still bothering me. How could the gods have not found out who he was? For Grover to notice his scent- he must have had a bad monster after him. "Who was the monster who chased you to camp?" I asked. Seeing the dark look on his face, I could guess who it was. "No, not the cyclops." I said, mentally face palming myself. A cyclops is a satyrs' worst nightmare, because cyclops tend to eat them. Grover has had a bad experience with Polyphemus, and he's still slightly terrified by Tyson. "can I see what happened?" I asked. Bad question.

He clenched his fists, and his face turned livid. He said, through clenched teeth, "Percy, I can sense the reason why you want to know. But some things are better not to be learnt about. If you really have the desire to know about my past, then go ahead. But would you mind," here his voice cracked, " me leaving the dream? I-I can't bear seeing it again."

"Sure Drew. I really don't mind not seeing it though, if it upsets you."

"No. I think it's time for me to share about my past. There's no point of fearing it, since it's done. Now, all you have to do, is to hold on tight to your memories. You don't want your to mix up with mine, because they are fairly similar." He then snapped his fingers, and I felt like I was falling into an eternal black hole. The last thing I remembered was him whistling and vanishing from the dream.

When I finally fell on solid ground again, I found myself on Santa Monica facing Drew and Grover. Drew was holding a piece of paper and was trembling as they stood on the beach. Grover was munching a tin van staring fearfully. I guess he was reminiscing the time when I defeated Ares. Suddenly, the fog cleared and we could see a man tied to a lifeguard pole. Drew saw him, and cried, "Dad!" The man groaned. Seeing Drew, he sent a clear message with his eyes: stay away. But Drew wouldn't listen. He dropped the note and ran forward, untying the ropes which bound his father. I picked up the note, and I saw that it said: Come to Santa Monica beach, if you ever want your father to live again. That was typical of Cyclopes. They would lure the demigods in, and try to-

I heard a scream. It was Drew's. A cyclops had appeared, and he said in his father's voice, "Well, come on Drew. I won't hurt you. I'm your father remember? Your father who's about to eat you!" I snarled and lunged at Drew and his father. His father reached out and materialised a sword, black as night. Colours danced on it, as if it had a life of it's on. He charged at the giant, yelling, "For Morpheus!" Unfortunately, after he had slain one Cyclopes, another appeared. "Lesson number one, Marcus," he snarled in Drew's voice. "Cyclops travel in families. Number two," he said, "we stop at nothing to get our prey." he then ripped his father in two.

"No!" Drew screamed defiantly. Suddenly, ropes curled from his hands, but they were deep violet. They reached out for all the Cyclopes, 3 of them, and ensnared them as Mr D had done with the Manticore a few years ago. When their immortal essence finally dispersed, Drew broke down crying, with Grover at his side. A woman suddenly appeared on the beach, and with a flick of her hands, transported Drew to camp. Then scene suddenly changed to the borders of Camp Halfblood.

There was Drew, holding his father's sword, back to back with Grover, fighting the monsters off. Drew was slashing and hacking like some Ares kid. But most kids get an adrenaline rush when they meet monsters. If I didn't have mine, I would be in the Underworld, and the Titans would be reigning. A dracaena suddenly lunged at Grover's throat, her talons wrapping firmly around it, dragging Grover to the back of the monster lines. Drew saw this happening out of the corner of his eye, and yelled, "Leave him be! Take me! I know you're the one that you want! I surrender!"

The dracanae's eyes widened, and she hissed with a grin, "You are brave, young one. Porphyrion will reward and honor you greatly for coming with us. As for your friend," she said dismissively, "He is your enemy. We will save your trouble by killing him now. Eat him." she commanded her army.

"You will not eat my friend." said Drew, in a terrifyingly calm voice. He seemed to be wrapped in layers of darkness, engulfing him. In the darkness, the monsters could see their worst fears- ghosts of themselves in Tartarus. Even the dracaena looked uneasy. Grover was lying on the ground, forgotten, as the monsters stared at what seemed to be their hell. With a terrible scream, Drew unleashed the power within him. The place was engulfed with darkness, and he rose, the only light, chanting incantations, chanting about the birth of Gaea and Ouranos from Chaos, and Tartarus from Gaea and them being lovers. Then, with the final sentence, "I bind you to the chasm of Tartarus, where you will be locked away for eternity." the monsters wailed as their essence was sucked away into the darkness. Drew fell to the ground in exhaustion, and Grover lay beside him muttering Hellp. Percy. Outside. . Fallen. Desperate. Please. Help.

Smoke was curling off Drew's body, and he was breathing raggedly. 3 figures emerged from the boundaries of Camp Halfblood. One was definitely Chiron in his centaur form. But, I couldn't make out who the other two were. They both had familiar figures. Suddenly, one said, "Chiron, I'm sure I felt something with my empathy link. Grover must be in trouble." With a jolt, I realized I was staring at myself. Black hair, green eyes. Who else could it be?

"But how is that possible Percy?" said Chiron. "Grover was last heard of in California. Unless-"

The 3rd figure suddenly swayed, and staggered towards the body of Drew and collapsed. I (in that scene) ran over, and shook him by his shoulders. "Nico, Nico can you hear me? What's happening?"

"His life force Percy," he said urgently and weakly, "it's fading fast. Bring him in. Get will or Chiron to work on him before it's too late. He's still conscious."

The dream abruptly ended with me staring at my own sea green eyes. I felt like I was being ripped out of something, and I suddenly woke up, gasping for breath, sweat trickling down my forehead. I sat up from the bed, and I faced Drew. "sorry for taking you out og your blissful dream Percy," he said with a half smile, "but you see-"

"I'm fine Percy." a voice interrupted. I sighed in relief.