div style="box-sizing: border-box;"The next morning, Percy moved to cabin three./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Luke was the only one I could hang out with from my cabin. He was also the one who took care of my wounds after the thing happened./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Nobody mentioned the hellhound, but I got the feeling they were all talking about it behind my back. The attack had scared everybody. It sent two messages: one, that I managed to command a hellhound; and two, I came with the son of Poseidon. They all assume I would be as great as Percy./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"The other campers steered clear of me as much as possible. Only Luke struck around. Yes, even Percy started ignoring me. I figured it had something to do with water and stuffs./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Cabin eleven was too nervous to have sword class with him after what happened in the woods, so he had one-on-one with Luke. I usually sit in to watch them in hopes of Percy talking to me again. But nada./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""You're going to need all the training you can get," Luke promised, as they were working with swords and flaming torches. "Now let's try that viper-beheading strike again. Fifty more repetitions."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Annabeth still taught Percy and I Greek but on different times I had mine in the mornings./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Even Clarisse kept her distance, though her venomous looks made it clear she wanted to kill me. I wished she would just yell or punch me or something. I'd rather get into fights every day than be ignored./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I stayed with Luke most of my time. We'd gotten close that talking about gods wasn't such a touchy subject. He also told me stuffs about himself, like how he got his scar and small stuffs./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I was still in bed in cabin eleven. My body told me it was morning, but it was dark outside, and thunder rolled across the hills. A storm was brewing. I hadn't dreamed that. It was so early that most of the campers were still asleep./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Good morning?" I saw Luke standing near the door./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Eh... good enough I guess." I said sitting on my bed. "It's really boring since I don't do anything."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Not sure if I'm bringing you good news or bad," He smiled taking the seat beside me. "But Mr. D wants to see you."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Really? Will I finally get to do something fun?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I feel like I should be offended." He gasped dramatically. "Why? Am I not fun?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I laughed, "Pretty much yeah."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Ouch. Anyways, I'd better let him tell you what's up."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Walk with me?" I asked with an UwU face./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I would, but commitment and all that." He joked./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Aight then. I'll get ready, wait for me outside."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I said I won't!"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Geez don't need to be in a hurry. I won't take long." I got dressed and went out to see him with an exaggerated frown./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""You better walk fast. I'll leave as soon as you get there."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"For days, I'd been half expecting a summons to the Big House. Now that Percy was declared a son of Poseidon, one of the Big Three gods who weren't supposed to have kids, I figured it was a crime for him just to be alive. They're probably suspicious of me now as well with Percy and I's relation. 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./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""So... with Percy being a big three material. What would that make me?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Well, putting aside the fact that you suck, you drown at every body of water that's at least a foot deep, you don't smell like a half-blood. I'd say you're... one of the big three's. Maybe Zeus's."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Har har. I'm just really worried you know? With Percy getting claimed as Poseidon's... and I came with him. And water just loves me so much. I'd assume I'm somewhere along the lines of Zeus and... Zeus. Is there someone stronger than Zeus?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Depends on who you asked."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""If I asked Zeus he'd definitely answer Zeus." I heard a loud thunder echoed./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Someone's brave." Luke laughed./p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Over Long Island Sound, the sky looked like ink soup coming to a boil. A hazy curtain of rain was coming in our direction. I asked Luke if we needed an umbrella./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""No," he said. "It never rains here unless we want it to."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""So my kiss under the rain fantasy is a no?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""If it has to be here... probably."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I pointed at the storm. "What the heck is that, then?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Bad news. But don't worry, it'll pass by us."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I realized he was right. In the week I'd been here, it had never even been overcast. The few rain clouds I'd seen had skirted right around the edges of the valley./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"But this storm... this one was huge./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"At the volleyball pit, the kids from Apollo's cabin were playing a morning game against the satyrs. Dionysus's twins were walking around in the strawberry fields, making the plants grow. Everybody was going about their normal business, but they looked tense. They kept their eyes on the storm./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"When Luke saw the front porch of the Big House./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Whatever they say. Don't choose the option where you'll die."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Half a promise. Depends on the other option."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Well I'll give you an easier promise. Don't die."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Not really easier but okay."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"After he ruffled my hair, I walked up to the front porch of the Big House. Dionysus sat at the pinochle table in his tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt with his Diet Coke, just as he had on my first day. Chiron sat across the table in his fake wheelchair. They were playing against invisible opponents-two sets of cards hovering in the air./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Y/N!" Grover greeted./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Well, well," Mr. D said without looking up. "Our little celebrity finally got his request."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I turned to see Percy who was looking at me and then moved away. I waited for him to greet.../div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Come closer, both of you," Mr. D said. "And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"A net of lightning flashed across the clouds. Thunder shook the windows of the house./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Blah, blah, blah," Dionysus said./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron feigned interest in his pinochle cards. Grover cowered by the railing, his hooves clopping back and forth./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""If I had my way," Dionysus said, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D," Chiron put in./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Nonsense," Dionysus said. "Boy wouldn't feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Mr. D—" Chiron warned./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Oh, all right," Dionysus relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness." Dionysus rose, and the invisible players' cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Dionysus picked up a playing card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle. A credit card? No. A security pass./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"He snapped his fingers./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"The air seemed to fold and bend around him. He became a hologram, then a wind, then he was gone, leaving only the smell of fresh-pressed grapes lingering behind./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron smiled at me, but he looked tired and strained. "Sit, Percy, please. You too Y/N and Grover."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"We did. Grover sat between us./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron laid his cards on the table, a winning hand he hadn't gotten to use./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Tell me, Percy," he said. "What did you make of the hellhound?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""It scared me," I said. "If Y/N hadn't told it to stand down, I'd be dead." I saw Percy turn to my direction, which made me roll my eyes./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Done... with what?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I glanced at Grover, who was crossing his fingers./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Um, sir," I said, "you haven't told me what it is yet."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron grimaced. "Well, that's the hard part, the details."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the edge of the beach. As far as I could see, the sky and the sea were boiling together./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Poseidon and Zeus," Percy said. "They're fighting over something valuable... something that was stolen, aren't they?"./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron and Grover exchanged looks./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron sat forward in his wheelchair. "How did you know that?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth, and she'd overheard something about a theft. And... I've also been having these dreams."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I knew it," Grover said./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Hush, satyr," Chiron ordered./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""But it is his quest!" Grover's eyes were bright with excitement. "It must be!"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Only the Oracle can determine." Chiron stroked his bristly beard. "Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. 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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I laughed. "A what?"/p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Do not take this lightly," Chiron warned. "I'm not talking about some tinfoil-covered zigzag you'd see in a second-grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Oh."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Zeus's master bolt," Chiron said, getting worked up now. "The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""And it's missing?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Stolen," Chiron said./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""By who?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""By whom," Chiron corrected. Once a teacher, always a teacher. "By you."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""At least"—Chiron held up a hand—"that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, 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. Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. 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. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""But I didn't—"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Patience and listen, child," Chiron said. "Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays. You could easily have snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""But I've never even been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron and Grover glanced nervously at the sky. The clouds didn't seem to be parting around us, as Luke had promised. They were rolling straight over our valley, sealing us in like a coffin lid./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Er, Percy...?" Grover said. "We don't use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky."/div
div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Perhaps paranoid," Chiron suggested. "Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam..." He looked at Percy./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron was waiting for an answer./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Something about a golden net?" He answered. "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?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Correct," Chiron said. "And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offense at the accusation. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening war. And now, you've come along—the proverbial last straw."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""But I'm just a kid!"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Percy," Grover cut in, "if you were Zeus, and you already thought your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after World War II, that he's fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you... Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""But I didn't do anything. Poseidon—my dad—he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron sighed. "Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon's style. 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. 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. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus's temper. Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Bad?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Bad," I repeated./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"It started to rain. Volleyball players stopped their game and stared in stunned silence at the sky./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I had brought this storm to Half-Blood Hill. Zeus was punishing the whole camp because of Percy. I was furious./div
div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;""So he has to find the stupid bolt," I said. "And return it to Zeus."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""What better peace offering," Chiron said, "than to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus's property?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is the thing?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I believe I know." Chiron's expression was grim. "Part of a prophecy I had years ago... well, some of the lines make sense to me, now. But before I can say more, you must officially take up the quest. You must seek the counsel of the Oracle."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Why can't you tell me where the bolt is beforehand?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Good reason."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""You agree then?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"He looked at Grover, who nodded encouragingly./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Easy for him. He wasn't the one Zeus wanted to kill./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Percy then turned to me, "All right," he said. "But, I'll go when Y/N comes with."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Woah there! I am not going anywhere." I hissed. You ignore me for days and now you want me to die with you now? "Why do I have to go with you?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Percy-"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I don't want to leave without her." He looked down./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I felt guilty about turning him down. Which was stupid since he's the one at fault. I gave a sigh, I hope Luke won't get mad at me./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""It's better than you being turned into a dolphin." I mumbled. "I'll go."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Then it's time you consulted the Oracle," Chiron said. "Go upstairs, Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more."/div
div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Before Percy came up he took my arm and pulled me in a hug. "I wanted you there, so we could save our parents together. After this quest, you me your mom and dad and my mom, will stay together."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I hugged him back and nodded. "Thank you."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Four flights up, the stairs ended under a green trapdoor./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Percy pulled the cord. The door swung down, and a wooden ladder clattered into place./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"After he went up. Chiron turned to me./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Hmm? Something to say?" I asked in a hopefully not rude tone. "I've had enough of people staring at me thinking, I summoned that hellhound."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Y/N, I assure you I don't think you'd do that. I am just confused as to why it followed your command."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Did you maybe forget to tell us something? I really can't seem to find out who you are."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Well... I don't think I forgot to mention anything. Maybe the fact that water hates me, I've never been on a plane, and I am low-key kinda scared of the dark depending on the situation."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Water hates you?" Grover asked./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""First time swimming, beach, I was 5. I drowned at a supposedly 3 feet deep water. I haven't been near any bodies of water ever since. Until I met Percy, I drowned at the beach again. If I wasn't mistaken I was few meters away from the water and it pulled me and I almost drowned."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""It would seem, Poseidon hates you. Why would he?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""My parents must've realized that fish god hates me and didn't take chances on the others."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I could tell Chiron wanted to continue but Percy came down, "Well?" Chiron asked./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"He slumped into a chair at the pinochle table. I could see he wasn't happy./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Are you okay?" I asked him./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"He looked at me warily and nodded. "She said I would retrieve what was stolen."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Grover sat forward, chewing excitedly on the remains of a Diet Coke can. "That's great!"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""What did the Oracle say exactly?" Chiron pressed. "This is important."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I knew it," Grover said.../div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron didn't look satisfied. "Anything else?"/div
div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""No," He said. "That's about it."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I took a hold of Percy's hand. And he gave me a look that said, 'I'll tell you later.'/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Very well, Percy. 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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Okay," I said, anxious to change topics. "So where do we go? Who's this god in the west?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Ah, think, Percy," Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Somebody else who wants to take over?" he guessed./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Yes, quite. 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 him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I thought about my dreams, the evil voice that had spoken from under the ground. "Hades."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron nodded. "The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"A scrap of aluminum dribbled out of Grover's mouth. "Whoa, wait. Wh-what?"/p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Yes, but—but Hades hates all heroes," Grover protested. "Especially if he has found out Percy is a son of Poseidon... ."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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 to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Great," Percy muttered. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Hey, I beat you, I got all of them." I smirked./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I was trying to lighten up the mood and Percy finally cracked a smile./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"A strange fire burned in my stomach. The weirdest thing was: it wasn't fear. It was anticipation. I wasn't feeling scared of anything right now. I felt like I could face anything./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I was ready to take him on. Anyone in a matter of fact./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Besides, if my mom and dad might be in the Underworld... which would be unlikely. Who knows maybe I could bribe him and talk him into reviving them./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Or what if he's misunderstood? What if there's a plot twist somewhere here, and it actually wasn't Hades's fault?/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Grover was trembling. He'd started eating pinochle cards like potato chips./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"The poor guy needed to complete a quest with us so he could get his searcher's license, whatever that was. This was suicide./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""It might not be him you know." I added./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""She's right, suspecting and knowing are not the same," Chiron said. "Besides, even if the other gods suspect Hades—and I imagine Poseidon does—they couldn't retrieve the bolt themselves. Gods cannot cross 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?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""You're saying I'm being used."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Damn, my parent doesn't? I'm going on a deadly quest thanks to Arthur Curry right here. Least they could do is support me and let me know They'll be proud of me saving the world." I huffed./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"/p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I had my suspicions. As I said... I've spoken to the Oracle, too."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I got the feeling there was a lot he wasn't telling us about his prophecy, but I decided I couldn't worry about that right now. After all, I was holding back information too./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""So let me get this straight," I said. "We're supposed go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Check," Chiron said./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Check."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""That's about right."/div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /Percy and I looked at each other then we looked over at Grover, who gulped down the ace of hearts./p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?" he asked weakly./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""You don't have to go," Percy told him. "I can't ask that of you./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Oh..." He shifted his hooves. "No... it's just that satyrs and underground places... well..."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"He took a deep breath, then stood, brushing the shredded cards and aluminum bits off his T-shirt. "You saved my life, Percy. Both of you did. If... if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I felt so relieved I wanted to cry, though I didn't think that would be very heroic. 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 us./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""All the way, G-man." Percy turned to Chiron. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Where?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Chiron looked surprised. "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Oh," I said. "Naturally. So we just get on a plane—"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""No!" Grover shrieked. "Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your life?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I shook my head, feeling embarrassed. My mom had never taken me anywhere by plane. She'd always said we didn't have the money. Besides, her parents had died in a plane crash./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""We're not allowed to fly because Zeus is a stuck up who doesn't want others touching his stuff without permission."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Y/N!" Grover panicked when loud thunder echoed above us./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I wanted to yell, 'Oh shut up thunder boy.' But I still wanted try fulfilling my promise to Luke with all I can./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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 again alive."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Overhead, lightning crackled. Thunder boomed./div
div class="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;""Okay," I said, determined not to look at the storm. "So, I'll travel overland."/p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""That's right," Chiron said. "Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other is Y/N. But someone else has already volunteered, if you will accept her help."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Gee," I said, feigning surprise. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"The air shimmered behind Chiron./p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Annabeth became visible, stuffing her Yankees cap into her back pocket./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""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."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'll gladly give you my spot and all but... Percy and I are a duo." I lifted my fist which he bumped. "But she's right, we can't leave the world at the hands of two idiots and a scaredy-cat."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Can't we have four people on a quest?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""You can also pick more than two people to join, but this is considered dangerous as three is a sacred number. Any more than three on a quest could result in a catastrophe, including a member of the quest going missing, dying, or the quest failing."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Willing to risk it Peabody?" She gave me a glare./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"No. I assure you no one shall be lost in this quest./em/p
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"They were all looking at me weirdly./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""What did you say?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I asked if you were willing to risk it...?" I was confused./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Y/N you're doing it again."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Doing what? I am literally not doing anything wrong. Wanna fite me? I will back out of this quest." I gave an exaggerated glare./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Annabeth turned to Chiron, who was looking down on me./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I suppose... if Percy is willing to risk it and all parties approve. I could allow this as a four person quest."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Well, I call not it to the dying person." I raised my hand. "But you can come Peabody. We need a not so stupid guy."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Well, if she say yes..."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I-I... don't really..."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I want to come."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I suppose you have a plan, wise girl?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Her cheeks colored. "Do you want my help or not?"/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""A quartet," I said. "Hopefully it works."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""Excellent," Chiron said. "This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"Lightning flashed. Rain poured down on the meadows that were never supposed to have violent weather./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""No time to waste," Chiron said. "I think you should all get packing."/div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;"I took Percy's hand and gave him a look to remind him about his quest./div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;" /div
div style="box-sizing: border-box;""I'll tell you later."/div
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"~~~/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px;"I'm back :)/p