Everything had been going according to plan. Ares had gotten them the backpack that held the master bolt. Luke had been able to convince Percy to wear those winged shoes. They were so close to getting the bolt to Kronos, and then they'd be able to fix the world and make it a place safe and friendly for demigods. This was what Luke had been working towards for two years. He should be excited about this, and yet he felt absolutely terrible.
Luke knew that sacrifices had to be made to achieve what he wanted. He had reluctantly come to terms with the fact that many of the demigods that he had recruited would end up dying in the upcoming war. He didn't want any demigods to get hurt at all, but they all knew what they were signing up for when they joined his army. They understood the risks, and they, like Luke, believed that it would be worth it to make the world better.
But this was different. Percy wasn't one of his soldiers. He wasn't a demigod recruit who was willing and waiting to give his life for the betterment of demigods as a whole. Percy was just a kid who had been scorned by the gods and didn't deserve all of it. Luke hadn't thought twice about it when Kronos had told him to use Percy. Somebody had to take the fall, and a powerful half-blood child of Poseidon was the perfect candidate.
But Percy wasn't just a son of Poseidon, he was a kid. Percy was kind, protective of his family, and fierce. Under different circumstances Luke would have tried to recruit Percy to join them, but Kronos had other plans for him. Luke had little choice but to obey, and he'd convinced himself that it would all end up okay.
But then he'd gotten to know Percy, and he'd become really fond of him. Luke was reminded of why he was doing all of this. It wasn't just for him, and it certainly wasn't for Kronos. The titan was just somebody who was helping Luke achieve what he wanted. All of this was for kids like Percy, and yet the kid had been the one who had almost taken the fall, and Luke had almost let it happen.
It made Luke feel sick to his stomach. Percy didn't deserve any of this. Luke knew that Kronos would be absolutely furious, but he could deal with that later. Luke was the one who had agreed to help Kronos in the first place, it was his responsibility to deal with him.
First though he had to make sure Percy was okay. After all, demigods like Percy were the reason why Luke was doing all of this. Kronos was just a means to an end.
"Percy, I can explain," Luke said. He flinched even as he said it. He felt like one of the gods, about to give one of their meaningless excuses.
"Oh, I can't wait to hear it," Percy growled with as much hurt and fury as a twelve year old could muster. "Really, I'm all ears."
Luke was about to give him assurances and explanations, but Grover cut in before he could. "Don't listen to him, Percy," Grover's voice trembled. He was clearly scared, but still fierce. He really was one of the best demigod protectors. Luke had always admired that about him, but he didn't appreciate having his fury directed at him.
"No, I want to hear what he has to say," Percy insisted. He glared at Luke, his eyes wet with distress and anger. "Why did you steal the master bolt, and why did you blame me?"
"It wasn't my idea," Luke said desperately. He was responsible, but he had never meant to hurt the kid. "I was following orders."
"That voice in the cave," A very small conflicted look appeared in Percy's eyes. His anger was fighting with concern. "So you were the boy in my dream." Coming from anybody else, this would be a confusing and slightly concerning knew what it meant though. Half-bloods had meaningful, almost prophetic, dreams all the time. Percy must have had a dream about one of Luke's conversations with Kronos. That was concerning.
"What dream?" Luke asked. Percy started to explain what he could remember about a cave, a threatening voice, and a scared servant who was being punished. Luke actually remembered that particular dream. He wouldn't soon forget Kronos torturing him through manipulation of his dreams. It was unfortunate that Percy had seen that.
"Who was your lord?" Percy asked once he had finished his explanation. He still sounded upset and frustrated, but he seemed to be in a better space to listen to what Luke had to say.
"Kronos," Luke said without hesitation. He wasn't going to hide anything from Percy anymore. He liked Percy, he still wanted to be his friend, which meant that the kid had to trust him. Luke couldn't expect Percy to trust him if he wasn't honest with him first.
Grover looked like he couldn't decide whether he was angry or terrified. "You were working for Kronos?" The poor satyr sounded just moments away from attacking Luke. His goat legs were shaking.
"Do you actually want to know why, or do you want to burn me at the stake?" Luke asked. Percy gave Grover a stern look. Grover probably didn't want to listen to Luke at all, but Percy clearly wanted to hear what he had to say, which Luke appreciated. Grover huffed and crossed his arms, but he nodded.
"I'm tired of living under the gods rule." Luke said. Percy nodded. He already knew that much. "The gods took power from the titans, because they didn't like how they ran the world, and Kronos and his brothers claimed the world from their father. It's the natural order of things, for children to inherit power from their parents, but the gods are resisting that. They push us down with an iron fist because they know it's our right to claim the world from them."
"We can't possibly be strong enough to defeat the gods." Percy said.
"Which is why we need Kronos," Luke said. "With his power and our numbers, we might actually have a chance."
"But then we'd be stuck with titans ruling the world instead," Grover spoke up. "They're evil."
"Have you heard of the five ages of man?" Luke asked. "The golden age, the silver age, the bronze age, the heroic age, and the iron age." Grover frowned and nodded, but Percy shook his head. Luke wasn't surprised. They didn't talk about the ages of man at camp, because there they were taught to care about the gods above anything else. Luke hadn't heard of them until he'd looked into what the mortals believed about the gods. It was completely different from reality.
"The golden age was the time when the titans ruled." Luke said. "It's called the golden age because it was a time of peace and hope for mankind. They were able to thrive without having to work. They didn't have to fight the land for their food. Everything just grew in abundance, because Kronos was the titan of the harvest.
"After the golden age ended, things just got worse and worse, and now we're stuck in a new age that is a cross between the silver age, where the gods punished anybody who didn't worship them, the bronze age, where humans were made for war and nothing else, and the iron age, where the strong could do anything they wanted, just because they had the power to force others down."
"You can't possibly want humanity to go back to the golden age," Grover said. "Mortals were completely oblivious, no better than animals. Prometheus and Pandora may have brought misery to mortals, but only because they brought them knowledge. That has nothing to do with Kronos or Zeus."
"Zeus and the gods interfere in the business of mortals," Luke said. "Kronos didn't care enough about the mortals to medle. The titans minded their business, the mortals minded theirs. With the gods gone, we might finally have the chance we deserve to fix the world."
"Do you really think that Kronos would let us do that?" Percy asked in disbelief. "Chronos said-"
"Has anyone at any of your schools said that history is written by the victors?" Luke asked. Percy stared at him numbly. "Just because the gods won doesn't mean they're right, it just means they're powerful. Do you understand?"
"I...kinda understand wanting to overthrow the gods," Percy said slowly, cautiously. "But I don't understand what that has to do with me."
Luke sighed. "Nothing." Percy just had the misfortune of being born from the wrong god at the wrong time, catching the attention of everybody who hated him just because of who he was. "You didn't deserve any of this. I didn't mean for any demigod to get caught in the middle of all this, I just lost sight of what really mattered."
Percy was quiet for a moment. He seemed to be struggling internally. Luke kept quiet. Percy deserved the chance to consider this himself and come to his own conclusion. Luke had done enough to hurt Percy.
After a minute or two Percy sighed and loosened his grip on the backpack. "Kronos forced you to have a nightmare. Was he responsible for all of your nightmares?"
Luke was reluctant to answer, because he didn't like to admit vulnerability, but he couldn't lie to Percy, not when he'd asked him a direct question. "Yes, he was,"
"How long did this abuse go on for?" Percy asked. Luke blinked. That sounded like an exaggeration.
"I wouldn't call it abuse," Luke said. Grover gave him an odd look.
"Dude, I've been going to schools for 'troubled' kids for years." Grover said. "I've seen plenty of abuse of all kinds, and trust me, being threatened by somebody who is more powerful than you is abuse. And so is being given nightmares and losing sleep."
Luke wasn't completely convinced, but the two of them didn't seem as angry at him, and he didn't want to disagree with them about that. If they wanted to call his relationship with Kronos abusive, so be it. "This has been happening one and off for two years, since I returned from my quest."
"So Kronos found you while you were at your most angry and vulnerable, and used that to manipulate you for two years," Anger returned to Percy's tone, but it wasn't aimed at Luke anymore. He was getting angry on Luke's behalf, and he appreciated it. This was definitely preferable to his friend hating him.
"You can't keep working for him." Grover said. Percy nodded in agreement.
"I can't just give up what I've been working on for two years," Luke said.
"I'm not saying you have to stop trying to make the world better for demigods." Percy said. "But I really don't think you should continue working for somebody who hurts you and couldn't care less about the people that you're trying to help."
"You've changed a lot since two years ago," Grover said quietly. "You used to care so much about the other half-bloods,"
"I still do," Luke said almost desperately. The demigods were some of the only people he cared about.
"But you haven't been acting like it," Grover said. "You're distant and angry. Kronos has been changing you."
Luke wanted to disagree, but he knew that Grover was right. He wasn't the same person that he used to be. He had convinced himself that it was just one of those sacrifices that were necessary to achieve what he wanted, but maybe he'd taken things too far.
"I can't promise to stop working for Kronos," Luke said. He had dedicated so much time and energy to this. "But I'll tell you what. It'll take him some time to put another plan into action. While he plans, I'll take a break from him and focus just on the other demigods." He thought that was a more than fair compromise, but neither Percy nor Grover looked completely happy with it.
"You need to focus on yourself too," Percy said. "You're just as important as everybody else."
"Alright, alright," Luke sighed. "I'll think about it. Right now though, maybe we should think about getting out of here." Luke had spent far too much time in his nightmares being in these cabins. He didn't want to be here while he was awake too. Especially since Kronos was probably absolutely furious about this sudden change in plans. Luke didn't think he'd be getting any sleep for the next few weeks, at the very least.
"Uh...wait a second," Grover looked around almost anxiously. "We came here to get the master bolt back from Hades, and we thought that he was sending his monsters after us to stop us from taking them back,"
"But he wasn't the thief," Percy realized. "Why was he attacking us?"
"Uh, about that," Luke rubbed the back of his neck. At that moment they heard a loud, all too familiar screech. Luke acted quickly. He grabbed Backbiter and stood up. He stepped defensively in front of Percy as a fury came flying towards them. Luke was more than ready for a battle, but she didn't seem ready to attack. She just glared at them, her eyes lingering on the master bolt in Percy's hands.
"Percy Jackson," The fury growled. "You can't run anymore, honey. My lord is eager to have a few words with you."
Percy looked equal parts scared and angry as he got to his feet to stand next to Luke. "Yeah? Well, I've got a few things to say to him too."
Luke put a hand on Percy's shoulder. It wouldn't be right to let Percy take on the lord of the dead on his own. "Let me talk to him." Unlike Percy, Luke actually knew what Hades wanted. He may be able to talk him down.
Percy looked at Luke cautiously. "Are you sure?"
Luke smirked and gave Percy a confident look. "Hey, I know a thing or two about appeasing angry lords." If Luke could face and angry Kronos with his head held high, he could definitely stand up to Hades.
Percy and Grover both seemed incredibly nervous, but as they followed the growling and screeching fury towards Hades' palace, Luke could only feel like the weight of the world had been taken off his shoulders. Every step he took brought him further away from the cave and pit to Tartarus and further away from Kronos. He knew that the titan would make him pay for this defiance, but he could deal with that later.
Luke knew that he shouldn't underestimate Hades and his anger, but he couldn't possibly be as bad as Kronos. Regardless of how angry Hades was, Luke would shoulder the blame himself. Percy had nothing to do with any of this, and he didn't deserve Hades' wrath.
When they got to the palace Luke made sure that Grover and Percy were behind him. The least he could do was keep Hades attention off of them, and he thought he had an idea on how to do just that. He just hoped that the god of the underworld remembered his father's old weapon after all this time.
When they stepped into the throne room and Luke saw Hades he felt a wave of fury come over him. This gods' curse was the reason why his mom was the way she was. He pushed that anger down. He couldn't think about his mom right now. Percy was the one in immediate danger at the moment. He was the one that Luke had to focus on.
When Hades saw Percy his eyes flashed with fury and he looked like he wanted to destroy him right then and there, but Luke stepped in his way. "I have a few things to say that may interest you."
Hades narrowed his eyes at Luke. "Who are you."
"Luke Castellan," He said. He didn't say his father's name, as he was sick and tired of being identified by who his dad was. He didn't expect Hades to know him at all, but the god narrowed his eyes in slight recognition. He didn't say anything,so Luke continued. "You can't believe that this kid, who hadn't even known that the gods were real a month ago, actually stole anything from you."
"Wait a second," Percy frowned and looked at Luke in confusion. "You stole from Hades too?" Grover squeaked and cowered ever so slightly. Luke flinched and Hades glared at all of them. This wasn't exactly how Luke wanted things to be revealed.
"You?" Hades growled.
Percy grimaced and gave Luke an apologetic look. "Sorry."
"It's fine," Luke said. He was pretty good at winging it. He could do this. He turned to Hades, clutching his sword tightly. "Yes, my lord, me. I'm the one who stole your helm of shadows and the master bolt last winter."
Hades got up from his throne and walked slowly towards them. Luke swallowed thickly and pushed the other two behind him. He stood up as straight as he could as Hades approached him. He wasn't going to let himself show his fear.
"Bold of you to steal from me and trespass in my realm," Hades said quietly. His tone almost made him sound soft spoken, except it was incredibly threatening and intimidating. It sent shivers down Luke's spine. "I hope you've come to return my property to me, boy."
"I can't," Luke said. Grover and Percy looked at him in shock. He quickly continued before Hades had the chance to destroy him where he stood. "Because I don't have it on me. I only needed to bring the master bolt down here."
"Then where is my helm?" Hades asked slowly. It was clear to Luke that the only thing keeping Hades from killing him was that he needed to know where to find his helm.
"Ares has it." Luke said.
"I knew it!" Percy exclaimed angrily. "Gods, it makes so much sense now! No wonder he gave us the backpack. And he was blackmailing you."
"Perce, now's not the time to get mad at the god of war," Luke reminded him. He wanted the focus on him, not on the kid.
Hades raised an eyebrow at them. "Ares put you up to it?"
"He shouldn't have been involved at all," Luke said. "He really gave me no choice."
"Then who was responsible for putting you up to it, boy?" Hades asked. "Who's idea was it to steal from me?" The god took a step closer to Luke, and he instinctively raised his sword to keep him back. Hades scoffed for a moment at Backbiter, but then his eyes widened as he took a closer look at it.
"Is that-?" The pale god somehow seemed to pale even more.
"You want to know who I was working for?" Luke asked. "Take a wild guess."
"You have no idea the powers you are working with, boy," Hades' voice shook from anger and fear.
"I know," Luke said. If he'd known two years ago just what Kronos would put him through, he probably would have never agreed in the first place. He would have found a different way to make the world a better place for demigods. "But I've been messing with them for two years anyways."
"Foolish child," Hades growled. A desperate, angry fire was burning in his eyes. Luke finally couldn't help but flinch and pull back slightly. This was it. Hades was going to blast him into a million pieces, and then probably move right on to Percy and Grover.
Percy nudged Luke's wrist. The older boy wondered if Percy was trying to hold his hand, but when he opened his hand Percy slipped something small and round into his grip. "Shatter it," Percy muttered. Luke didn't entirely understand it. He turned his head ever so slightly to look at Percy out of the corner of his eye. The boy nodded at him.
Well, what did he have to lose? Luke clenched his fist around the pearl, feeling it give a little bit. It wasn't nearly enough though. Luke grew tense and harshly threw the pearl against the ground. He heard Percy and Grover do the same. Suddenly Luke was hit with a strong scent of salt water. It smelled like the ocean, but overwhelmingly so, like water from the sea went up his nose and wouldn't leave.
Luke felt a rush and pull. Percy clung tightly to his arm as they were pulled up. Luke heard Hades scream in fury, and then everything that he heard became really muddled. They were under the water. Percy started to swim up to the surface, pulling Luke and Grover with him. One wouldn't think that a twelve year old would be strong enough to pull a nineteen year old and panicking satyr behind him. Percy's water powers must be helping him.
When they got to the surface Grover started coughing and flailing around in a panic. Luke blinked rapidly. His limbs felt incredibly heavy and didn't want to move at all. It suddenly hit him just how much he had angered Hades, as well as Kronos. Considering how furious Ares, Zeus, and probably also Poseidon, would be as soon as Hades told them what Luke had said, and he would be lucky to live through the week. The gods and titans were going to be lining up to kill him, or curse him, or just send him straight to either the fields of punishment or Tartarus.
"Luke," Percy nudged him. "In the middle of the ocean is not the best place to be freaking out. Just keep it together for a few minutes until we're on dry land, and then we can all freak out together."
"Freaking out sounds nice," Grover said, his voice trembling. Luke nodded weakly. He couldn't do a lot to help swim to shore, but he did his best to try swimming. Grover kicked wildly next to him. Percy and his powers ended up doing most of the work. It wasn't too long before they were coming up onto shore. Grover gasped for breath and crawled onto the beach. Luke groaned and brushed his hair out of his face.
Percy took a deep breath and tilted his head back. "Okay, now we can freak out." Percy pulled out his pen and uncapped it. He swung it towards Luke, who quickly raised Backbiter to block the attack.
"Guys, do you have to do this now?" Grover anxiously looked between the two of them.
"Yes," Percy growled. His eyes were full of nothing but anger.
"I was wondering when that fury was going to come back," Luke said. He wasn't going to hurt Percy, but he had to defend himself.
"You used me!" Percy yelled. "The oracle was right all along."
Luke narrowed his eyes. He hated prophecies so much. "What did the oracle say?"
"She said I would be betrayed by a friend," Percy's voice cracked. He lowered Riptide ever so slightly, though his grip was just as tense as ever. "And she was right. You...you…" Percy trailed off into a whine and he brought his free hand to his eyes.
Luke frowned and lowered his sword. "Kid-"
"No," Percy said with a shake of his head. "I don't want to hear it. I just...I can't."
Luke sighed and sheathed Backbiter. "Okay." He couldn't force Percy to hear him out if he didn't want to. Luke wanted to explain himself, but he could get the chance later. After all, they had to get all the way back to New York to return the master bolt and clear up Percy's name once and for all. It will take several days to get back. Luke could find the chance to talk then.
"Come on," Luke said. He walked past Percy and put a hand on Grover's shoulder. The satyr gave him a sad look. "We've gotta get back before the solstice, and we've got a long drive ahead of us." Percy didn't move for a long moment, and Luke was worried for a bit that the younger boy would refuse to follow him. It would be very understandable, but it would be a lot easier if he cooperated just until they got back to New York. Luke didn't want to try to find a new way for Percy to get back. Especially not when Zeus was still so furious with him.
After a few long moments Percy sniffled, put the cap back on his sword, and turned to follow Luke. Percy refused to look at him, and he made sure to have Grover between the two of them at all times, but this was better than Luke had expected, and much more than he deserved.