We soared through the clouds for hours. I rested my head against the Pegasus's neck and closed my eyes, my intention not to sleep but slipping into dreamland anyways. In my dream I saw Dad sitting in a barred cell somewhere below decks. His breathing was shallow and his eyes were slightly open. The ship lurched as it hit a wave and he groaned, hand moving to his head. I wanted to badly to reach out but my arm stayed frozen to my side. What did they do to you?
I was pulled back to my body by someone calling, "Caitlin, wake up! We're almost here!" I straightened myself on the back of my flying horse. The coast of South Carolina sped by below us. By straining my eyes I could just see the outline of an expensive-looking yacht on the horizon. We flew in that direction. My heart thumped faster the closer we approached. What if they were waiting for us? What if they had Dad somewhere else or what if he was... Stop it right now, I internally slapped myself. Focus.
Nobody was on deck when we gently landed. The three Pegasus took off again as quickly as possible. I couldn't blame them, really. Percy and Annabeth took the lead, seeing as how they had been on this boat before. Neither of them seemed pleased to be back. We ran into nobody as we navigated the stairwells and corners. Everything about this felt wrong. We were obviously walking straight into a trap, but options were limited at this point.
Stealthily we descended to the lower deck. Little light penetrated down here but the cells lining the walls could still be seen. About halfway down one of them was occupied.
"Dad!" I hissed. He was leaning against the opposite wall in the same position as my dream. His eyes slowly focused and he sat up straighter.
"Caitlin? Is it really you?"
My voice cracked, "Its really me." Annabeth picked the lock with her knife and the door swung open. I waited with bated breath for alarms to sound or feet to clomp down the steps. Nothing happened. Percy and I each took a side and together hoisted my dad onto his unsteady feet. He leaned heavily on us as we led him to freedom.
Freedom lasted until the top deck.
That was when we found ourselves surrounded by monsters and demigods alike. They all carried weapons pointed at us. I gulped and shifted my spear in my hand. There was no way we could take on all of them at once and protect Dad at the same time. A break formed in their circle and Luke stepped up to us, smiling as though we had just arrived for a dinner party. "I was beginning to worry you wouldn't come." He was dressed in a white polo with khaki pants and loafers. Sunglasses had been pushed to the top of his head. The only thing wrong with him (besides the whole trying-to-bring-down-the-gods thing) was the scar running down his face.
"Let us go, Luke," I growled. He looked taken aback.
"What, no hellos? Personally, I am glad to see that the three of you are fine."
"Cut the crap," Percy snarled. "What do you want?"
"I don't want anything from either of you. But Caitlin-" he turned to me "-I have a proposition for you."
"What kind of proposition?" I asked warily.
"All of you can leave if you pledge allegiance to Cronos and his army." The expression on my face probably looked like I had been slapped. This guy really was insane. But then I glanced at the assembled monsters. How else would we get out of here alive if Luke did not let us?
"Why me?" I stalled.
He shook his head sorrowfully. "Oh, Caitlin, there is so much you do not understand. These two have made it quite clear they are against me. I cannot reach Talia or else I am sure she would join me. But if the daughter of Hera, queen of the heavens, joined me, think of how powerful we could be! Cronos would rule and we would have a place beside him in the new era. That is what you want, to be respected and looked up to?"
I bit my lip. I did crave respect from everyone, even those whom I did not know.
"No," Annabeth said, grabbing my arm. "He's tricking you. Don't listen to him. Cronos will destroy everything."
"Annabeth's right," Percy added, "he won't care about his followers. Do not do this. You are respected already."
I looked into each of their eyes, then up to Dad. He was barely hanging on. "Its your choice, but I highly recommend not accepting this offer," he heaved.
I exhaled, thinking rapidly, then sprung on the first bright idea that came to mind. "I will make you a different deal," I ventured. Luke's eyebrow rose. "If you leave my family alone, I will stay neutral. I won't fight for either side but I will not go to Camp either." It broke my heart saying that. Percy's eyes were wide and Annabeth pleaded with me but I refused to listen.
Luke paced, deep in thought. At last he stopped. "Well, I suppose this is the best I can hope to get, isn't it? Alright, deal."
"If you keep your word, then I will keep mine, I swear on the River Styx," I promised. We shook hands. "And you also have to let us all go free," I added hastily.
He clucked his tongue. "I can't do that. You and your dad may go, but not those two," he nodded to Annabeth and Percy.
Percy leaned close to my ear. "Get him out of here. We've got this." I started to argue but he gave me a shove. Annabeth calmed my frantic look with a nod. I bit my lip but went along. Whatever they were doing, they didn't need me in the way. The crowd parted as I led Dad to the railing. A small motorboat was following the yacht by a rope, peacefully bobbing in the water. Painstakingly, I lowered Dad into it and then myself. The whole time it was silent.
"I'll see you soon," I called to my friends. Then I started the engine and we were off in the direction of shore. Tears sprung to the corners of my eyes and I brushed them away with the inside of my wrist. When I turned around, there was a great commotion on board. Two Pegasus were soaring into the sky. Spears were thrown into the air but came back to the deck uselessly. I raised a hand and Percy and Annabeth did so in response.
Only then did I realize I had not thanked them for everything they did for me.
"Thank you," I said but they could not hear me.
I know, it has been a really long time since I last updated. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, even though it is not my favorite. Now Caitlin is out of the action, right? Wrong! But I'll leave it for the next update.
Please review; I really appreciate any helpful feedback that could improve my writing. Thanks! :)
