For a few seconds, everyone looked at the book in Persephone's hands, then Demeter rose from her throne. "I will." She took the book from her daughter and turned to the next chapter.

Chapter Nine

I Am Offered a Quest

Silena looked a little smug, proven right. Grover looked ecstatic.

The next morning, Chiron moved me to cabin three.

I didn't have to share with anybody … and not listen to anybody else.

"That sounds so cool!" Travis said.

Percy smiled. "It's not so bad."

And I was absolutely miserable.

Sally frowned. "But you just said …"
"It's not so bad now." Percy corrected. "I'm used to it, and so are the other campers."

Just when I'd started to feel accepted … I'd been separated out as if I had some rare disease.

"That's not fair." Sally protested. "He didn't do anything."

"Well, I can see why people would be nervous." Thalia said. "I nearly got Luke and Annabeth killed."

"That wasn't your fault!" Luke argued.

"No." Thalia agreed. "But Hades would have gone through you two to get to me – who's to say he and Father won't go through the other campers to get to Percy?"

"We won't let them." Athena said, glaring at the two gods. "My children are there."

"As are ours." Hermes added, gesturing to the other gods.

Nobody mentioned the hellhound, but I got the feeling they were all talking about it behind my back.

Annabeth sighed. "Paranoid. We were not …" She trailed off. "Okay ,we kind of were talking about it, but not in the way you thought."

The attack had scared everybody … monsters would stop at nothing to kill me. They could even invade a camp that had always been considered safe.

Persephone frowned. "That wasn't your fault, Percy. It's the fault of whoever summoned it."

The other campers steered clear of me as much as possible … my lessons with Luke became one-on-one. He pushed me harder than ever, and wasn't afraid to bruise me up in the process.

Thalia glanced at Luke. She doubted Kronos had been particularly grateful for that training. Maybe some small part of him had already been rebelling.

'You're going to need all the training you can get,' he promised … 'Now let's try that viper-beheading strike again. Fifty more repetitions.'

"That kind of training will come in handy." Thalia said casually.

Luke looked confused. "Well, obviously. Why else would I do it?"

Thalia gave him a small smile, but said nothing.

Annabeth still taught me … Every time I said something, she scowled at me, as if I'd just poked her between the eyes.

"Annabeth." Thalia chided.

Athena suppressed a proud smile.

After lessons, she would walk away muttering to herself: 'Quest … Poseidon? … Dirty rotten … Got to make a plan …'

"A plan for what?" Nico asked.

Annabeth sighed. "Oh, I don't even know anymore."

Percy grinned. "I think she'd figured out I was the 'special someone' she'd been waiting for and was really wishing I wasn't."

Even Clarisse her distance, though … I'd rather get into fights every day than be ignored.

"Oh, you should have said something." Annabeth said. "I'm sure Clarisse would be more than happy to indulge you."

"You know, I think I'll live." Percy said.

I knew somebody at camp resented me, because one night I … found a mortal newspaper dropped inside the doorway, a New York Daily News, opened to the Metro page.

Thalia frowned. "Where did that come from? We don't get the paper at Camp."

"Some people do go in and out." Luke said. "I know I did a couple of times that summer for the library, and I did pick up the paper a few times, but … I didn't put one in Percy's cabin."

The article took me almost an hour to read … BOY AND MOTHER STILL MISSING AFTER FREAK CAR ACCIDENT

Sally sucked in a breath. "Oh, Percy …"

Thalia leaned towards Luke. "You didn't, huh?"

"I swear, Thalia, that wasn't me." Luke whispered. "At least … I don't remember doing it."

BY EILEEN SMITH

Sally Jackson and son Percy are still missing one week after their mysterious disappearance … Ms Jackson's husband, Gabe Ugliano, claims that his stepson … has expressed violent tendencies in the past.

"Excuse me?" Sally said icily. "Did he just imply that my son was …?"
"Yes." Percy said. "Yes, he did."

Police … urge anyone with information to call the following toll-free crime-stoppers hotline.

The phone number was circled in black marker.

Thalia threw another glance at Luke, but didn't say anything. After all, with everything he'd done, this would be a pretty small thing, so why would he bother lying?

Still, that would have helped push Percy into taking that quest, just to try and get his mother back. On saying that, any camper could have picked the paper up to read it, found the article and put it in the cabin to mess with Percy's head.

I wadded up the paper and threw it away, then flopped down in my bunk bed … That night, I had my worst dream yet.

"Oh, not another one!" Thalia sighed.

I was running along the beach in a storm … Not New York. The sprawl was different ... palm trees and low hills the distance.

"That sounds like Los Angeles." Lee said.

"Yes, it does." His father agreed.

About a hundred metres down the surf, two men were fighting … Both wore flowing Greek tunics, one trimmed in blue, the other in green.

Hera sighed. "Again?"

They grappled with each other … I could hear the blue-robed one yelling at the green-robed one, Give it back! Give it back! Like a kindergartner fighting over a toy.

Hermes chuckled. "Yes, that about sums it up."

The waves got bigger … Laughter came from somewhere under the earth, and a voice so deep and evil it turned my blood to ice.

The amusement among the gods died immediately as Percy shivered.

"Don't say it." Zeus said. "It's Hades. It must be."

Persephone glared at him. "That is not my husband, and you know it."

'Come down, little hero,' the voice crooned. 'Come down!'

"No, don't." Poseidon whispered.

The sand split beneath me … I woke up, sure I was falling.

Several people let out sighs of relief.

I was still in bed in cabin three … A storm was brewing, I hadn't dreamed that.

Dionysus heaved a heavy sigh. "Wonderful. There go the strawberry plants."

"But the storm will pass round us, won't it?" Malcolm asked.

"Not if Zeus doesn't want it to." Athena answered.

I heard a clopping sound at the door, a hoof knocking on the threshold.

'Come in.'

Grover trotted inside, looking worried. 'Mr D wants to see you.' …

For days, I'd been half expecting a summons to the Big House. Now that I was declared a son of Poseidon … I figured it was a crime for me just to be alive.

"Technically it is." Thalia said quietly, pressing against Percy's side.

The other gods had probably been debating the best way to punish me for existing, and now Mr D was ready to deliver their verdict.

"No one is going to harm the demigods." Hera said firmly. "Even if their fathers did take oaths."

Over Long Island sound, the sky looked like ink soup coming to a boil … I asked Grover if we needed an umbrella.

"You shouldn't." Demeter said, frowning. "But you might."

'No,' he said. 'It never rains here unless we want to.' …

I realised he was right … But this storm … this one was huge.

"Father, don't take it out on our kids." Apollo said wearily.

At the volleyball pit … Everybody was going about their normal business, they looked tense. They kept their eyes on the storm.

"That must be terrifying." Silena said quietly. "I've never seen a storm at Camp."

Grover and I walked up to the front porch of the big house …

'Come close,' Mr D said. 'And don't expect to me to bow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father.'

Poseidon glared at him, but said nothing.

A net of lightning flashed across the cloud …

'If I had my way,' Dionysus said, 'I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames … But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission … to keep you little brats safe from harm.'

"Yes, that would qualify as harming him." Artemis said.

'Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr D,' Chiron put in.

'Nonsense,' Dionysus said. 'Boy wouldn't feel a thing.

Apollo smirked at his sister. "He has a point."

Nevertheless I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead … if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do.'

"And what do you feel he must do?" Sally asked.

Chiron sighed. "Well, if I'm right, it's where the quest comes in. But there's no point in repeating myself, so I'm sure Lady Demeter is about to answer that question."

Dionysus picked up a playing card, twisted it, and it became … A security pass … then he was gone … Chiron laid his cards laid his cards on the table, a winning hand he hadn't got to use.

Dionysus scowled. "Even when I'm not there, he wins."

'Tell me, Percy,' he said. 'What did you make of the hellhound?' …

'It scared me,' I said. 'If you hadn't shot it, I'd be dead.'

"We'd all have said something like that." Luke said. "It's not something we'd expect to deal with, especially not at Camp."

'You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done.'

'Done … with what?'

'Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?' …

'Um, sir,' I said, 'you haven't told me what it is yet.'

Athena raised an eyebrow. "That was very wise. Always get the details first."

Chiron grimaced. 'Well, that's the hard part, the details.' …

'Poseidon and Zeus,' I said. 'They're fighting over something valuable … something that was stolen, aren't they?'

"Good guess." Thalia said. "And that just proves it's your quest."

Chiron and Grover exchanged looks … 'How did you know that?'

My face felt hot … 'The weather since Christmas has been weird … And … I've also been having these dreams.'

"Demigod dreams." Chiron murmured. "That would do it."

'I knew it,' Grover said …

'Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt.'

Several of the campers gasped. They had heard whispers over the course of the reading and the night before, but they had all been hoping they had misheard or misunderstood.

I laughed nervously. 'A what?'

'Do not take this lightly,' Chiron warned. 'I'm not talking about some tinfoil-covered zigzag … I'm talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives.'

"Well, that's fairly terrifying." Will said flatly.

"Yes." Thalia agreed. "One of the most dangerous weapons on the planet – you do not want it to fall into the wrong hands."

'Oh.'

'Zeus's master bolt … The symbol of his power … which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bomb look like firecrackers.'

"Okay, we've got the picture." Chris said, a little nervously.

'And it's missing?'

'Stolen,' Chiron said.

'By who?'

… 'By you.'

Percy's mouth fell open. "I didn't take it!"

Annabeth sighed. "Well, they know that now."

My mouth fell open.

'At least … that's what Zeus things. During the winter solstice … Zeus and Poseidon had an argument … The usual nonsense: "Mother Rhea always liked you best," "Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters," et cetera.

"Hey, they sound like your fights." Nico said innocently.

Thalia and Percy both stuck their tongues out at him.

Afterwards, Zeus realised his master bold was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose.

"The last council of the gods …" Annabeth said slowly. "But that was when we were there."

"Not something you want to draw attention to right now." Hermes told her grimly.

He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly – that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws.

"What happens if someone does?" Annabeth asked curiously. "Not that I'm suggesting any of you would," she added hastily, "it's just that it's technically against the rules for you to contact your children, but a lot of you do anyway."

"Those are rules, but they aren't divine laws." Athena explained. "The divine laws are governed by something much older than us. We literally can't break them."

But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it … Zeus has good reason to be suspicious …. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son … Zeus believes he has found his thief.'

"Logically, that does make sense." Thalia admitted.

"Thalia!" Percy said, looking wounded.

"I know you didn't do it." Thalia said. "I just said that I can see Father's logic. Twisted though it may be."

"Thalia." Now it was Zeus's turn, except he sounded disappointed.

"I'm sorry, Father, but Poseidon has never shown any interest in ruling Olympus." Thalia said. "In preventing some of your more – ah – intense ways, perhaps, but not in ruling. Besides, Percy and I may disagree over which the more powerful weapon is, but his trident is nothing to laugh at – why would he want the Master Bolt?"

'But I've never even been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!'

Once again, Annabeth and Thalia shifted away from him.

"How's that filter coming on?" Nico asked innocently.

Percy ignored him, smiling innocently.

Chiron and Grover glanced nervously at the sky …

'Er, Percy …?' Grover said. 'We don't use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky.'

'Perhaps paranoid,' Chiron suggested.

Hera snorted under her breath. "Yes, that would certainly work."

'Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam …' He looked at me as if he actually expected me to remember question thirty eight.

Percy frowned. "Was that … something to do with a golden net?"

"Yes, it was." Chiron said. "Well remembered."

"Just a minute!" Poseidon protested. "That was Hera's idea, not mine!"

Hera scowled at him. "As I recall, you were all in agreement."

How could anyone accuse me of stealing a god's weapon? I couldn't even steal a slice of pizza from Gabe's poker party without getting busted.

"Definitely not one of mine then." Hermes said, his smile taking any insult from the words.

Chiron was waiting for an answer.

'Something about a golden net?' I guessed. 'Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods … they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?'

"Completely unnecessary." Zeus muttered under his breath.

'Correct,' Chiron said. 'And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon since.

"No, I haven't." Zeus said, glaring at his brother.

"Oh, but you'll trust Hera, even though it was her idea." Poseidon repeated.

Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt … And now you've come along – the proverbial last straw.'

'But I'd just a kid!'

'Percy,' Grover cut in, 'if you were Zeus … your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath … Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?'

"Exactly!" Zeus said. "For once, the satyr talks sense."

"And what am I?" Thalia asked. "A figment of everyone's imagination? Uncle Poseidon was not the first to break the oath, Father."

"Thalia, I expect you to …"

"I will side with my family." Thalia said firmly, a storm brewing in her eyes. "Percy and I have been through a lot together. Besides, it is thoroughly unfair of you to condemn your brother for doing exactly what you did twice."

"Twice?" Athena repeated. "What do you mean, twice?"

"Thalia." Hera said icily. "I suggest you stop there."

Thalia glared at her. "No, I won't stop there. The word brother may not mean much up here, but it does to me. Jason was the only reason I stayed with my mother, I raised him, and he's gone. I still don't know why. I still don't know where. All I know is he was a child of Zeus, just as I was, and Mother decided to offer him up to you in some kind of appeasement and now my brother is dead!"

Percy put a hand on her shoulder. "Thals? You okay?"

Thalia drew in a shaky breath. "No, Percy, I'm not. I want my brother back."

"Your brother is alive." Hera said suddenly. "I can tell you that much. Your father," she gave Zeus a very sour look, "did something incredibly stupid and I needed to smooth things over."

For a moment, Thalia looked as though she would argue – or even hit her stepmother. Then she relaxed, sagging into Percy's side. "He's okay?"

Hera nodded. "Yes, child. And I know you won't believe me, but I wasn't trying to cause you pain. Your brother had his own path to follow." She glanced at the box of books. "Your paths may yet meet."

Thalia nodded jerkily. For now, that was enough. "I apologise, Lady Demeter. Could you continue please?"

Demeter didn't look convinced, but after a quick glance at her sister, she did as requested.

'But I didn't do anything. Poseidon – my dad – he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?'

Chiron sighed. 'Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon's style.

"Thank you." Poseidon said smugly.

But the sea god is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, ten days from now.

"Ten days." Katie said slowly. "But that doesn't make sense. That would make this June 11th, and it implied that Percy had been in Cabin 3 for longer than a day."

"It may have been speaking generally." Annabeth suggested. "Today's the 9th. Tomorrow he experiences the beginning of the chapter. Day after that, this happens. He wouldn't have long to settle, not if Lord Zeus believes he stole the bolt."

Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I hoped that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense.

"Your faith in us is appreciated." Hera said. "However, no one can make them see sense when they get going."

But your arrival has inflamed Zeus's temper … unless the master bolt is found and returned to the solstice, there will be war.

The campers all shuddered.

'And do you know that a full-fledged war look like, Percy?'

'Bad?' I guessed.

'Imagine the world in chaos … Western civilisation turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight.'

"In hindsight," Percy said seriously, "I'm not entirely sure that wouldn't have been better."

Thalia rolled her eyes.

Ares was almost glowing with excitement, something Aphrodite didn't fail to notice.

'Bad,' I repeated …

It started to rain. Volleyball players stopped their game and stared in stunned silence at the sky.

"I'm not surprised." Lee said faintly. "I've never seen rain at Camp."

I had brought this storm to Half-Blood Hill …

'What better peace offering,' Chiron said, 'than to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus's property?'

"Again, that does make sense." Thalia said. "Except you don't know where it is."

'If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is the thing?'

I believe I know … Part of a prophecy I had years ago … well, some of the lines make sense to me, now.

"You know, I'd be really interested to hear that prophecy." Rachel said. "It's the same one that said Annabeth had to wait for someone special before a quest, right?"

Chiron nodded. "That's right." He glanced at the campers. "But seeing as several prophecies are becoming obsolete, I see no point in throwing another into the mix."

Rachel smiled. "Fair enough. I'd like to talk to you about it later in private, if I may?"

"Of course." Chiron agreed.

But before I can say more … You must seek the counsel of the Oracle.'

'Why can't you tell me where the bolt is beforehand?'

'Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge.'

"Well, that's comforting." Nico said bluntly.

I swallowed. 'Good reason.'

'You agree then?'

I looked at Grover, who nodded encouragingly.

Easy for him. I was the one Zeus wanted to kill.

Grover blushed. "I'm not entirely sure about that." He muttered.

"Father's not going to kill you." Thalia said firmly.

'All right,' I said …

'Then it's time you consulted the Oracle … When you come back down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more.'

"Assuming you're still sane?" Will repeated, looking at Rachel.

She smiled at him. "You've seen my prophecy. Trust me when I say that my predecessor is nothing like me."

"She's a mummy." Will said. "We knew that, didn't we?"

"You're thinking about an Egyptian wrapped in bandages, aren't you?" Rachel asked, getting a nod.

"Yeah, she's nothing like that." Percy said with a shudder. "Oh, no offence, Lord Apollo."

"Oh, none taken." Apollo said. "I wish she'd moved on before now. A curse makes sense."

Four flights up, the stairs ended under a green trapdoor … The attic was filled with Greek hero junk … old leather steamer trunks plastered with stickers saying ITHAKA, CIRCE'S ISLE …

Percy grimaced.

… and LAND OF THE AMAZONS. One long table was stacked with glass jars … By the window … was the most gruesome memento of all … a human female body shrivelled to a husk.

Several of the campers cried out in horror.

"It's alright." Hestia said softly. "She won't harm you."

"Can't she be laid to rest?" Katie asked hesitantly.

"Not as long as the Oracle continues to inhabit her." Apollo said sadly. "Until then, she will never find rest."

She wore a tie-dye sundress, lots of beaded necklaces, and a headband over long black hair … she'd been dead a long, long time.

"Sounds like the sixties at the latest." Thalia murmured.

Looking at her sent chills up my back. And that was before she sat up on her stool and opened her mouth … I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker,and ask.

"Okay, that's creepy." Chris said flatly.

"I'm just glad we have you now, Rach." Percy said.

I wanted to say, No thanks, wrong door, just looking for the bathroom. But I forced myself to take a deep breath.

"What would have happened if he had?" Silena asked.

"When the Oracle has a prophecy for you, you will hear it." Thalia said. "She probably would have followed him."

The mummy wasn't alive. She was some kind of gruesome receptacle for something else … It felt more like the Three Fates I'd seen … ancient, powerful and definitely not human.

Rachel nodded. "Yeah, that about sums it up."

But not particularly interested in killing me, either.

"The Oracle won't harm anyone." Apollo said. "Except with her words. She speaks only the truth."

I got up the courage to ask, 'What is my destiny?'

Annabeth sniggered. "Bit melodramatic, wasn't it?"

Percy shrugged. "Well, it covered all the bases."

The mist swirled more thickly, collecting right in front of me … Suddenly there were four men sitting around the table … It was Smelly Gabe and his buddies … Gabe turned towards me and spoke in the rasping voice of the Oracle: You shall go west, and face the god whohas turned.

"Hades!" Zeus growled.

"It didn't say it was him." Persephone said fiercely. "Just that he would meet the god in the West. It could be any of you!"

Thalia glanced at Luke, silently urging him to say something soon. She had no idea when Ares was revealed, but when he was, as Percy had said, he would sell Luke out in a heartbeat.

His buddy on the right looked up and said in the same voice: You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned.

Zeus settled at that, breathing a sigh of relief.

The guy on the left … said: You shall be betrayed by one who calls youa friend.

Hestia frowned. "That doesn't sound good."

Finally, Eddie, our building super, delivered the worst line of all: And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.

"That sounds worse." Sally said, looking at her son. She had a feeling that she was 'what mattered most', but then Nico, Thalia and Annabeth all knew her in the future, so she must have escaped, mustn't she?

The figures began to dissolve … I cried, 'Wait! What do you mean? What friend? What will I fail to to save?'

Apollo smiled grimly. "Sorry, kid. The Oracle doesn't explain her prophecies, she never has."

"And I can't." Rachel said, grimacing. "Hang on, I think I'm getting that …" She went rigid once more, her eyes glowing the same vivid green.

"You shall go west, and face the god who has turned.

You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned.

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end."

The light disappeared and Rachel drew in a breath. "Well, that was …" She paled. "Oh gods, here we go again!" She doubled over with a gasp, before straightening back into her prophecy trance.

"The thief shall speak 'fore tale is through

Then three more heroes join you too

Who bridge the empires now divided

And soon will see them reunited."

Luke and Nico caught her as she collapsed, the latter tapping her face until her eyes opened.

"I'm okay." Rachel said, waving them off. "That second one was real. The first one was the Oracle re-providing Percy's, but the second one …"

"Here." Annabeth said, pushing it into her hands.

Rachel read it over, frowning. "What is it with the rhyming today? Divided and reunited?"

Percy rolled his eyes. "Do you know what it means?"

"Yeah, it means that whoever stole the Master Bolt and the Helm of Darkness is going to confess before we finish this book." Rachel said. "And we're getting three more readers, but I'm not sure when. But this second part, about empires divided … I have no idea."

The gods glanced at each other. The obvious answer was Rome and Greece, but the two camps had been separated for nearly a hundred and fifty years – what would make them change that now?

For a few seconds, the room was silent, waiting for either a knock at the door or for someone to suddenly confess that, yes, it was they who stole the items.

But neither happened, and Demeter picked up the book once more. "Before I begin, does anyone wish to speculate on Percy's prophecy?"

Everyone looked at Rachel who shook her head. "Oh no. You're on your own with this one."

"I think we'd drive ourselves crazy." Athena said sensibly. "Especially since the book is going to explain it all anyway."

Demeter nodded and found her place again.

The tail of the mist snake disappeared into the mummy's mouth … My audience with the Oracle was over.

'Well?' Chiron asked me.

I slumped into a chair … 'She said I would retrieve what was stolen.' …

'What did the Oracle say exactly?' Chiron pressed. 'This is important.'

"The Oracle is rarely that succinct." Chiron said.

My ears were still tingling … 'She … she said I would go west and face a god who has turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned.' …

Chiron didn't look satisfied. 'Anything else?'

"You knew, didn't you?" Annabeth asked.

"I assume so, child." Chiron said. "She often adds in warnings when she speaks."

I didn't want to tell him.

What friend would betray me? …

And the last line … What kind of Oracle would send me on a quest and tell me, Oh, by the way, you'll fail.

"It's disconcerting." Luke said. "But try not to dwell on it, or you'll make it come true."

His voice sounded flat to his own ears, but no one else seemed to notice.

No one except Thalia, who was watching him.

He had an awful feeling that he was the friend who would betray Percy, but what could he do?

Rachel telling him to confess was all very well, but Zeus would murder him on the spot.

What kind of hero are you? A voice in his head asked – Thalia's, for once, not Kronos. Alright, you'll be dead, but you know it won't end with the Master Bolt. At least if you die now, you'll spare Thalia and Annabeth from whatever horrors lie ahead.

He was decided. That evening, he would go to Zeus and he would tell him everything.

How could I confess that?

'No,' I said. 'That's about it.'

He studied my face. 'Very well, Percy … The truth is not always clear until events come to pass.'

"You can say that again." Percy muttered.

I got the feeling he knew I was holding back something bad, and he was trying to make me feel better.

"They do have double meanings as well though." Rachel said.

'Okay, I said, anxious to change topics. 'So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?'

'Ah, think, Percy,' Chiron said. 'If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?'

"Not me." Hades grumbled. "I have enough to do. And my Helm is missing."

"Be fair, darling, they didn't know that part." Persephone said. "But they shouldn't automatically blame you."

'Somebody else who wants to take over?' I guessed.

'Yes, quite. Someone who harbours a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided aeons ago …'

I thought about my dreams, the evil voice that had spoken from under the ground. 'Hades.'

"That voice was not me." Hades said.

"There is no one else it could be." Zeus said stubbornly.

Thalia rolled her eyes.

Chiron nodded. 'The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility … Furies only obey one lord: Hades.'

"He does have a point on that one." Athena said.

"I was trying to get the Helm back." Hades said. "Why would I kill Percy if I'd stolen the Master Bolt, hmm? I could understand it if I thought he'd stolen it to frame me, but where's the logic otherwise?"

'Yes, but – Hades hates all heroes,' Grover protested …

'A hellhound got into the forest,' Chiron continued. 'Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment … Hades must have a spy here. He … would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest.'

"The hellhound definitely had nothing to do with me." Hades said. "At least, I'm not planning on it. Anyone could have summoned it. I don't doubt someone has a spy there."

'Great,' I muttered. 'That's two major gods who want to kill me.'

'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.'

A couple of the campers chuckled nervously.

"Satyrs don't do well underground." Grover said, chewing on a fork.

'Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt,' Chiron insisted. 'He hid it in the Underworld … Percy must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth.'

"Oh, not much then." Percy said. "Piece of cake, really."

A strange fire burned in my stomach … It was his fault my mother had disappeared … Now he was trying to frame me and my dad for a theft we hadn't committed.

I was ready to take him on.

Percy snorted. "I'm really not. I was twelve. And stupid."

"Hey!" His younger self protested.

"I stand by it." Percy said. "He's a god."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Anger is quite a powerful motivator." Hera said wisely.

Besides,if my mother was in the Underworld …

Whoa, boy, said the small part of my brain that was still sane. You're a kid. Hades is a god.

Sally shook her head. "Percy, honey, forget about me. Just get yourself out of there alive."

Grover trembling … how could I ask him to do this quest, especially when the Oracle said I was destined to fail? This was suicide.

"There must be another option." Sally said.

"There is." Percy said. "Becoming a dolphin."

"We'd feed you." Thalia said, straight-faced. "You could be like Flipper."

'Look, if we know it's Hades,' I told Chiron, 'why can't we just tell the other gods?

"Because we don't know." Chiron said. "We suspect. It isn't the same thing. And, as it turns out, we're wrong."

Zeus or Poseidon could just go down to the Underworld and bust some heads.'

'Suspecting and knowing are not the same,' Chiron said. 'Besides … Gods cannot cross each other's territories except by invitation … No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?'

"And here I thought it was just convenience." Thalia said.

"Well, it is." Annabeth pointed out. "They just don't have another choice. Most of the time."

'You're saying I'm being used.'

'I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now … He needs you.'

My dad needs me … Poseidon had ignored me for twelve years. Now he needed me.

"Chiron, that wasn't worded very well." Poseidon said with a frown. "Percy, I held off claiming you to keep you safe, until it was obvious you were my child, but …"

"Dad," Percy interrupted, "I love you, but you've never been the best at explaining this." He turned to his younger self. "He loves you, he's proud of you, he's got a bad habit of occasionally putting his foot in his mouth."

Several of the campers looked horrified, as though they expected him to vaporise on the spot, but Poseidon laughed, a booming chuckle that echoed around the hall. "Strangely enough, your stepmother says that as well."

"I know." Percy said with a grin. "Where'd you think I got it from?"

I looked at Chiron. 'You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?'

'I had my suspicions …'

I got the feeling there was a lot he wasn't telling me about his prophecy, but I decided I couldn't worry about that right now. After all, I was holding back information too.

"We never did learn about that prophecy." Percy mused.

"I think if we needed to know, Chiron would have said something." Annabeth said. "Rachel only wants to know due to professional curiosity."

'So let me get this straight.' I said. 'I'm supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead.'

'Check,' Chiron said.

'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.'

"Like I said," Percy said, "piece of cake."

"Percy, would you be serious?!" Sally said shrilly. "You could be killed, you could be vaporised, you could be …"

"Right here." Percy interrupted gently. "Mom, I'm right here. You know I survive it." He was stretching the truth a little bit. After all, Luke was right there as well. But what his mother didn't know wouldn't hurt her. "And I'm fairly sure getting vaporised and getting killed is the same thing anyway."

Sally relaxed at that, but only a little.

I looked at Grover …

'Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?' he asked weakly.

Malcolm smiled grimly. "Nice try, Grover." Quests were undertaken in groups of three generally, and he had a feeling he knew who the third would be.

'You don't have to go,' I told him. 'I can't ask that of you.'

'Oh … it's just that satyrs and underground places … You saved my life, Percy … if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down.'

"You're my best friend." Percy said. "Of course I want you along."

I felt so relieved I wanted to cry … I wasn't sure what good a satyr could do against the forces of the dead, but I felt better knowing he'd be with me.

"Not very much, I'm afraid." Grover admitted. "But I will do my best."

'All the way, G-man,' I turned to Chiron. 'So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west.'

'The entrance to the Underworld … is in Los Angeles.'

"Hence the dream." Percy said, then frowned. "But if it isn't actually in the Underworld, then why was I dreaming about it?"

"Probably because you were going there." Thalia said.

'Oh,' I said. 'Naturally. So we just get on a plane –'

"No!" Sally and Poseidon shouted.

"Percy, you cannot get on a plane!" Sally continued. "Never, do you understand?"
"But we've only got ten days." Percy said. "To get across the country. Surely a plane is quicker."

"You see, Percy," Thalia said, glaring at her father, "I can get on a boat or go swimming and your father will do nothing. However, if you get on a plane, my father will blast you out of the sky. You need to keep your feet on the ground. Or in water. Anything but the air."

'No!' Grover shrieked. 'Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your life?'

I shook my head … My mom had never taken me anywhere by plane … her parents had died in a plane crash.

"That's not the only reason." Sally murmured.

'Percy, think,' Chiron said. 'You are the son of the Sea God … You would be in Zeus's domain. You would never come down again alive.'

Thalia scowled. "No, you wouldn't."

Overhead lightning cracked … 'Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help.'

Athena sighed. She knew this was coming.

'Gee … Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?'

The air shimmered … Annabeth became visible … 'I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain,' she 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.'

"True." Percy said.

"Which bit?" Athena asked.

"All of it, ma'am." Percy said. "I know you're no fan of my father, and that he's no fan of yours, but I can honestly say that without Annabeth, I would not be sitting here right now."

"Be fair." Annabeth said, blushing slightly. "That goes both ways."

'If you say so yourself,' I said … I needed all the help I could get.

Annabeth snorted. "Thanks."

'A trio,' I said. 'That'll work.'

'Excellent,' Chiron said. 'This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal … After that, you are on your own.'

Lightning flashed. Rain poured down on the meadows that were never supposed to have violent weather.

Apollo frowned. "Would you stop taking it out on our kids? We haven't done anything."

'No time to waste,' Chiron said. 'I think you should all get packing.'

"Not that it did us much good." Percy muttered under his breath.

"Annabeth," Athena said, "would you mind looking through the book for me? I think it would be a good idea if we break for dinner now, then read another chapter before turning in, but I don't think finishing on any sort of cliff-hanger would be a good idea."

"Of course." Annabeth said, taking the book from Demeter. She flipped through the next few chapters, glancing at the titles and the last sentences of each. "Okay, I would say," she glanced at the clock, "that idea sounds good. The chapter after the next one doesn't end on a cliff-hanger, but it's probably the sort of chapter we should read on fresh eyes."

"Which is it?" Percy asked.

"Auntie Em." Annabeth answered.

"Oh." Percy flinched. "I agree, let's do it that way."

Their parents were not going to like that one.

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