DISCLAIMER: All the characters, except the OC's, belong to Rick Riordan.
Chapter 22: I break free from an enticing Casino.
Percy stood on a ledge, facing a dark expanse of sky. He was back in the foreboding, icy cavern near the abyss. The dead spirits drifted around him. A disembodied voice came from somewhere below the abyss, shrouded in mist.
"Percy Jackson," The voice was low and gravelly. It tauntingly echoed off the cliff. Percy was certain it was mocking him.
"Who—" he came to a halt. The monstrous voice calling his name gave him goosebumps. But it wasn't addressing him. It seemed like Percy had gatecrashed a gathering unannounced.
"Yes, the exchange went well, I see." said the disembodied voice with smug satisfaction. "Excellent, deception upon deception."
"Truly, my lord," a voice from behind him answered. The invisible servant's voice was the same indistinct as before. "You are well named the Crooked One. But was it really necessary? I could've brought you what I stole—"
Percy sharply turned, shifting his attention to the sound. Despite the fact that the speaker was invisible and the sound was young and indistinct, Percy was now certain that the servant was the traitor, Luke Castellan.
"You?" the voice in the abyss scoffed. "You have already shown your limits. You'd have completely failed me had I not intervened."
"But, my lord—" Luke attempted to appease, but the voice interrupted him.
"Stay calm, little servant. Our six months have gotten us a lot. Zeus' rage has grown and he has imprisoned Poseidon. We shall use it against him. Shortly you shall have your wish, your revenge. As soon as both the items are in my possession—" the unidentified voice froze.
"What happened, my lord?" Luke tensed up.
"I felt another presence at the entrance." the voice was pensive. "Strange...he's here?"
Percy looked around and dove to a nearby cliff crevice. He was nearly submerged by the shadows and held his breath in trepidation. He had no idea what the consequences of being caught in a dream were, but still...
"You summoned him...my lord?" Luke inquired.
"No," the voice said, its full force searching the area for any unidentified presence. "Poseidon is both unpredictable and astute. I assumed the boy brought himself hither."
"That's impossible," Luke cried in disbelief. Percy waited in the shadows, holding his breath.
"For a weakling like you, perhaps." the voice snarled. Percy could hear Luke choking on his words. His lips curled into a vicious sneer. They resumed their conversation, after failing to find anything noteworthy.
"Are you certain about the cursed demigod of Poseidon? Is the information from the blasted camp legible?" the evil voice sounded solemn. Percy had an impression that the voice belonged to someone cruel and cunning, who left no door unlocked.
"Yes, my lord. I double-checked the accuracy. He displayed average talent in all areas. He's just a twelve-year-old prankster who's new to the mythical world, eager to prove his worth and throw his weight around. His girlfriend, on the other hand, is a different story. She demonstrated incredible skill. We might be able to recruit her."
Internally, Percy sneered at the idea. Fat chance for Luke to turn Piper against him. She'd eat him alive first.
"Bid your time, half-blood." the voice laughed, at least Percy thought it was laughter. It sounded more like nails on a chalkboard to him. "Your time will come soon."
The dead spirits tugged at his shirt and pulled him back, deep into the darkness. Everything went blank for him.
Percy's head slipped off the backpack when the truck came to a screeching halt. He sat up groggily, unsure if they had arrived at their destination.
"The truck stopped," Piper said. The sounds of slamming doors jolted him awake. "Wake Annabeth. They'll be stopping by to check on the animals. We can't let them see us."
He shook Annabeth and told her. There was a loud cranking sound, as if the trailer bolts were being undone.
"Hide." Annabeth hissed. With her invisible cap, she had it easy. Percy and Piper dove behind the feed sack, hoping to go unnoticed.
Light flooded the trailer, temporarily blinding them. A burly man stood at the door, his gaze fixed on the feed trays. He made his way to the feed sacks, where Piper was still half-visible. They'd be discovered the moment the driver moved closer. They needed a distraction... something from the outside.
"Man," the driver sniffed a little and made retching noises. "I wish I'd hauled appliances." He filled the animal dishes with water. "You hot, big boy." he splashed the rest of the water on the lion's face. It roared in indignation. Piper clenched her teeth.
He threw a squashed-looking Happy Meal bag at the antelope and smirked at the zebra. "How ya doin', Stripes? 'Least, we'll get rid of you here. You like magic shows? You're gonna love it. They're gonna saw you in half!"
There was a loud banging on the trailer side. The buff guy screamed. "What exactly do you want, Eddie?"
Another voice outside—probably Eddie's—shouted back. "Maurice? What'd ya say?"
The terrified zebra stared at him with wild eyes. Percy stared back into its big sad eyes. There was no sound, but he heard it say: My Lord. Please, free me!
The banging outside continued. "What are you banging for?" Maurice screamed.
"What banging?" Eddie yelled from outside.
Maurice rolled his eyes, "Idiot!" he cursed and walked outside.
My Lord, release me. They're smugglers. I refuse to be sawed in half. The zebra regarded him solemnly. My Lord! Just open the cage. We've arrived in Las Vegas.
Okay, this might be strange, but Percy didn't have time to think about it. A moment later, Annabeth appeared next to him. She must've banged on the trailer side to get Maurice out.
"This transport business can't be legal. There's a delivery area behind us."
"No kidding," he said. "The zebra says these guys are animal smugglers!" Piper looked at him like he was speaking Latin. "And we're in Vegas." Neither he nor the girls bothered to inquire as to how the zebra knew.
"We've got to get them out," Piper said. Annabeth agreed and looked at him, awaiting his decision. Outside, Eddie and Maurice were still yelling at each other outside, but they'd be back any minute.
The demigods went around and smashed the cage locks. The zebra burst out and bowed to him. Thank you very much, My Lord.
Just as Maurice poked his head back inside to investigate the noise, the zebra leaped over him and took off down the alley and into the sunny street. The two drivers yelled and chased it down. Percy had a feeling they wouldn't be able to rely on their ride any longer, whether the smugglers caught the zebra or not.
Piper flexed her wrists threateningly after they released the other two animals. "I'm going to have a quick talk with the boss. I'll be right back." She vanished behind the trailer.
When Percy came out of the alley, he saw a zebra and an antelope galloping down a boulevard lined with all sorts of buildings. It was a weird collection of structures: a massive pyramid guarded by a huge marble sphinx sat between a medieval castle and a flashy modern hotel. An Eiffel Tower replica beside a hot air balloon blinked at him from a distance.
He hadn't been duped by the zebra. They really are—in fact—in Las Vegas.
Some visitors screamed. The majority of them backed up and took pictures of the truckers chasing after the animals, with police in tow. Piper emerged from the delivery building and informed them that everything had been taken care of.
"Now would be a good time to leave," Annabeth reasoned. Together, they ventured into the desert in the sweltering heat. The Vegas strip was littered with replicas of well-known landmarks. They went by the Monte Carlo and the MGM and a miniature Statue of Liberty.
Percy anticipated Annabeth would refuse to leave the premises quickly. He cast a glance at her, only for her to stare at the landmarks vacantly.
"What is it?"
She shook her head. "These landmarks were supposed to represent worship and glory of the events, but these loud colors and perfect structures seemed like mass-produced toys. They are more for entertainment and profit." she lamented.
"Did you see it before?" he asked, gesturing to the mini statue.
"No, but it doesn't even look like the pictures. I mean, look at her," True to her words, the mini Statue of Liberty stared at them blankly, devoid of any regal grandeur. "She looked like she's forgotten her name; she's supposed to appear wise—" Percy stared at her.
Annabeth hung her head in embarrassment. "I mean, she was modeled after Athena."
"I thought she was some Roman goddess."
She raised her head. "Bartholdi was a son of Athena. Many of the best architects are. He used his mom—our mom—as inspiration."
Percy considered his mom in New York, who had most likely received the latest news from Denver. His face turned overcast. How was he going to explain everything to her?
They deviated from the main boulevard and searched for a small burger joint that wouldn't kick them out straight just from their appearance. The desert heat caused the sidewalk asphalt to sizzle. Percy was moderately fine with the heat, but the girls were sweating profusely as they walked the sideways. They hit a dead-end in one of the streets, directly in front of a hotel shaped like a massive lotus flower.
The sign at the entrance said: Lotus Hotel and Casino. The front courtyard was almost deserted, as it was less flashy than other buildings. The doors swung open onto the sidewalk, spilling out inviting, scented air-conditioning.
"Oh!" Piper halted, inhaling the blast of cool air. "Oh gods, that feels so good."
"Hey kids," the doorman was decked in a green suit with pink trimmings. Percy thought he was going to chase them away, but he smiled at them. "You look tired. Wanna come in and sit down?"
The demigods exchanged glances. They'd had enough close encounters with monsters leading them into traps.
"We're just—" he began to politely decline the invitation, while the girls looked at him pleadingly. Piper even put on a pitiful expression.
"We'd love to." he amended quickly.
"Welcome to Lotus Casino, then." the doorman ushered them in. They stepped across the threshold... and stared.
Percy had never stayed in a casino hotel before. Heck, he'd never even been inside a fancy hotel, unless you count the time he'd rescued a mermaid from the basement of a fancy conference hotel in Boston. He didn't think it mattered because he'd been too preoccupied with his mission to notice anything.
The entire lobby was one giant arcade heaven, donned with plush velvet carpets, leading to glass elevators that rose among the golden balconies. There were indoor waterslides, climbing walls, and a trampoline park. Rows of gleaming game machines, each the size of a widescreen TV, adorned the game lobby. Waitresses and snack bar stand served a variety of foods.
"Hey," a man in a Hawaiian-print shirt motioned them over to the front desk. "Welcome to Lotus Casino," he said. "Here's your room key." he held out a silver key with a lotus keychain dangling over it.
The opportunity to unwind at a luxury hotel was tempting, but he was pretty sure the twenty buck Ares had given them wouldn't cover a stay at a hotel this opulent.
"Um," he tried to explain, "We're just—"
"No, no," the Hawaiian shirt said. He pressed the key into Annabeth's hand. "The bill's taken care of. No extra charges, no tips. Just go up to the top floor, room 4001. If you need anything, like extra bubbles for the hot tub, or skeet targets for the shooting range, or whatever, just call the front desk."
What exactly was this place? A philanthropic paradise for lost kids?
"Here are your Lotus Cash cards. They work in the restaurants and on all the games and rides." he gave each of them a green plastic card. Percy knew it had to be a mistake. Obviously, the Hawaiian shirt mistook them for some millionaire's children.
"How much is on here?"
Hawaiian shirt knitted his brows together. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, when does it run out of cash?"
"Oh, you're making a joke," he laughed. "Hey, that's cool. Enjoy your stay." he steered them towards the elevators. During the elevator ride, Annabeth mumbled something about the elevator and the Gateway Arch.
Their room was on the fortieth floor, the first door. It led to a suite with three bedrooms and a sitting room, filled with cushioned leather sofas. A plasma TV covered one wall, hooked up to the home entertainment system and a satellite box. The coffee table in the center had a channel guide and remote controls lying side to side.
"Oh goodness, this is..." Piper couldn't even find the right word to describe its grandeur.
Percy entered one of the open bedrooms, with a king-sized four-poster-drawn bed with creamy silk curtains. A stack of fuzzy, velvet towels lay at the foot of the bed, along with a conditioning shampoo. He immediately discarded his old clothes and soaked in the shower for an hour, washing away the four days' grime. The bathroom was incredible, with a small pool-sized tub. The shelves were stacked with all kinds of beauty products imaginable.
He recalled the spare clothes from Ares' backpack. However, the bedroom closets were stuffed with enough clothing to last a year. Something about that snagged at his mind when he realized how well they fit him. He quickly changed into a set of hood and cargo and returned to the living room. He threw the backpack in the trash can on his way out. He wouldn't need it any longer.
The snack bar was fully stocked with sodas and snacks. There was a hotline to call for room service. Annabeth was flipping through satellite channels, munching on Mrs. Fields' cookies. Percy sipped his coke, recalling the dream from the night before. The details became a little fuzzy, but he was certain it could wait till Piper returned.
He flipped the curtains on the side. Indeed, there was a skeet-shooting machine and a shotgun, allowing you to launch clay pigeons right out the Las Vegas skyline and plug them with your gun. The view of the Strip and the desert were breathtaking, though he doubted they'd have the time to enjoy it.
He turned back to Annabeth, her eyes glued on the television show. A panoramic shot of a sprawled city with stadiums and marble monuments was displayed on the screen. The announcer reminded him of Mr. D, except without the pot belly.
"The Ancient Romans had very clever designs of underground waterways, which were rarely explored." the announcer stated. "The city's hollowed labyrinth still stands intact." the cameras switched to an underground cavern, filled with stalactites dangling from the ceiling.
He sat down at the snack bar and popped another can. "There was a slew of contradictory stories emerged about what could be found underground: a path to the Underworld, or worse. The Romans believed in a fate even worse than Hell: a vast prison capable of containing an immortal. They call it the Tartarus."
The announcer gave an overview of the battle between the gods. The defeated were cast into Tartarus, the pit of the gods. "One of the earliest inmates of the prison was said to be Kronos, the lord of Time. Kronos was overthrown and sentenced to Tartarus in what could be considered the first revolutionary war between gods and Titans, limiting the time on earth to move linearly."
"I needed that.." Piper crowed, drawing his attention away from the television. She came out of her room wearing a smart button-down shirt and jeans. "Crockets, that's what I'm talking about," she said happily, taking a huge bite.
"In one version of the myth," the announcer mysteriously paused. "Kronos' prison sentence has a limit. But what happens when Father of Time is set free? Will time and age cease their meaning? Will the civilization grind to a halt? To find out..."
"All those stations and you turn on National Geographic? Are you insane?" Piper stared at the TV screen in disbelief.
"It's interesting," Annabeth defended, then a scattered look crossed her face. "Yeah, you're right." she switched off the television.
Percy couldn't help but feel perplexed. He couldn't figure out why he was watching Greeks and Romans argue about a silly pit and a time freeze on TV.
What, after all, was time? It's not that significant.
"So," Annabeth shook her head. "What now? Sleep?" she proposed.
Rest sounded good, considering their long journey... but hadn't they been sleeping all day in the trailer to Vegas? Why did they come to Vegas again? Their sleep schedules were probably all messed up from the start of their journey four days ago.
Or had it been longer?
"Playtime," Piper said.
Percy had to agree, the idea had merit. Annabeth made a beeline for the quiz machine; the big-time, high-stakes, Jeopardy-style games. Piper went to the recreational activities and screamed her head off. How could she still want to go down the water slide after their Waterland Thrill Ride was beyond him. Then she tagged him to the action stations.
Percy couldn't remember the last time he'd had that much fun. Video games, movies, and other fun stuff were far removed from the lives of demigods, where each day was a struggle. His idea of splurge was to order a butt-load of food from a nearby Burger King or Pizza hut and a movie rental.
A five-star casino in Vegas? Forget it.
He switched between the trampoline park, an artificial snowboard ski, and virtual-reality laser tag. He noticed Piper as she moved from game to game before settling on the dance floor with other girls to work up a sweat. Annabeth became bored with the trivia games and went in search of something else. Percy inserted his Lotus Cash card into the shooting game slot and took his position. A VR console created an entire stage with a jungle theme and a plethora of options to choose from.
He warmed up with beginner-level shooting and did a few rounds of grabber arm games. He once got lucky and won a rare item card. It provided unlimited and unrestricted access to the VR game.
"Sweet," he praised. "The design's pretty sick though."
"Hey man," the boy in the next station looked over. "You okay? You said you're sick or something, I remember," he inquired, concerned. Percy stared at him blankly and assured the guy he was alright.
Something about the guy nagged at his mind, but he brushed it off; sure it could wait a while. A passing waitress offered him a special condiment. He popped open the lotus flower candy and walked off, searching for his next game.
Percy!
He ignored the nagging inside his head and returned to grabber-arm and board games. He came across many teenagers, with various hairstyles: including braids, side parts, and perms. They wore knit tops, denim skirts, and tailored slacks. They all had one thing in common: a scattered, broken expression and silly laughs while playing.
"Groovy, man." praise the guy in the VR sharpshooter in the next booth. He was probably thirteen, but he was dressed in bell-bottomed jeans and a red t-shirt with black piping. His hair was permed and jelled like a homecoming queen's in New Jersey. "'Been here for two weeks and the game keeps getting better and better."
Groovy?
The guy reminded Percy of Elvis' impersonator. He said his name was Darrin, but as soon as Percy asked a few more questions, he got bored and returned to the screen.
Percy! Percy, wake up.
"Hey, Darrin?" he ignored the indistinct nagging and approached the arcade station.
"What?"
"What year is it?"
Darrin frowned at him. He punched the screen to set the category. "In the game?"
"No, in real life."
He had to think about it. "1977."
"No, it's not."
Darrin got a faraway look. "Hey, man. Bad vibes. I got a game happening." he ignored Percy after that.
Percy! Snap out of it! It's a dead-end!
Percy clutched his head. Who has been warning him? Percy, who was that? Where is the dead-end? He decided to listen to it for once and asked around, but it wasn't easy. everyone was glued to the TV screen, or the video game, or the Lotus flower snacks, or whatever. One guy told him it was 1985, while another one told him it was 1993. They all claimed to have been in the hotel for a few days, if not a few weeks.
They didn't know and they didn't care exactly.
He came across another boy while asking around. A ten-year-old boy literally ran into him and dropped a small figurine. Percy picked the toy, a trident-wielding figurine. The youngster rose from the floor and brushed his clothes. His dressing was unusual; he was dressed in shorts with button-down suspenders and a golf cap.
"There you are," a girl said as she ran after the little boy. She was dressed in a collar-fitted knee-length dress and a newsboy hat, so she had to be his sister. The boy snatched the figurine from Percy and dashed away from her.
Percy obstructed the girl. She was probably the same age as him, with pale skin and dark glossy hair. The girl came to a halt and straightened her oversized cap.
"What do you...want?" she panted, clearly annoyed.
"What year is it?" he asked directly, moving slightly out of the way to indicate she was free to leave with an answer.
"1940," she said as she passed him, chasing after her brother.
Percy clutched his head. The nagging voice grew but became indistinct. Slowly it dawned on him: how long had he been there? It seemed like only a couple of hours, but was it?
He tried to recall why he was there. He came with two girls, looking for a missing... somewhere in...he didn't seem to remember the crucial information. Who was he? What was his name?
For a scary second, he didn't even remember his own identity. The indistinct nagging called him something... Penny? Percy.
Perseus Jackson.
That jolted him awake. The missing Lightning bolt and Helm of Darkness! He needed to stop the gods from starting World war III. He went around looking for his friends.
He found Annabeth at a huge 3D simulation building game in a deserted row between the grabber-arms and deer-hunting station. Her face was glued to the holographic building on the display board. He found her while she was designing a mini-tower in a grand city. He shook her shoulders when she didn't respond to her name.
"What?" she tore her eyes away from her tower.
"Come on," he told her. "We've got to get out of here."
No response. Annabeth was once again engrossed in building her masterpiece. He shook her again.
She looked up, annoyed. "What?"
"We need to leave."
"Leave? What are you talking about? I've just gotten to the towers..." she turned back to the screen. He tried to remind her of their quest and everything, but her face remained vague and scattered.
"Annabeth, there are people here from 1940. Kids who have never aged. You check in, and you stay forever."
She appeared slightly disturbed but quickly returned to her scattered-brain self. "So," she pressed. "Can you think of a better place?"
He responded by yanking her away from her game. She made an attempt to push him away.
"Let me go!" she screamed, but nobody bothered to look at them. They were preoccupied. Annabeth tried to hit him again.
He grabbed her head and forced her to look directly into his eyes. Desperate times call for desperate measures. "Spiders," he shouted. "Large, hairy SPIDERS!"
That jarred her. "Oh my gods," she gasped for breath. "How long have we—"
"I don't know, but we've got to find Piper."
Percy had to physically carry Piper from the dance floor. She fought the entire time. The Hawaiian-shirt guy who'd given the Lotus Cash cards hurried over as they struggled to get a screaming Piper across the lobby, but he neither offered any help nor obstructed their path.
"Well, now, are you ready for your platinum cards?" he held out three silver cards.
"We're leaving," Percy told him tersely.
"Such a shame," he said, honestly sorry for them leaving. "We just added an entire floor full of games for platinum-card members." Piper reached for the cards, but Annabeth smacked her hand.
"No, thanks." she snapped.
They made their way towards the exit. No one tried to stop them, but the few steps to the door seemed to stretch on forever. The incongruent smell of food and the blaring arcade sounds became increasingly appealing. The air was almost solid in its resistance. Percy thought about their room upstairs, the warm and fluffy bed pleading him to stay the night.
Then a blast of heat slapped their faces when they stepped out of the doors and ran down the sidewalk. It appeared to be afternoon, about the same time they'd gone into the casino, but dark clouds churned overhead, giving him the same impression as he'd had when he first arrived at the camp.
Camp!
He snatched up a newspaper from a nearby stall. "It's still the same year!" he cried, relieved.
"Hey, you gotta pay for that!" the seller growled. Piper dug out of quarter from her pocket and shoved them at the seller.
"Thank the gods!" Annabeth grabbed the paper from him. Her face then turned pale. "No way!" she whispered despondently.
Percy snatched the paper to double-check the year. It was the same year. Then he saw the date. June twentieth, the eve of the Summer Solstice.
They'd spent five days in the Lotus Casino and had only one day left to complete their quest. They were almost out of time, with a few hundred miles to go and no way to get there.
And fail to save what matters the most, in the end. The Oracles cursed prophecy line resurfaced in his head.
Everything was exactly as it had been before they were sucked in by the Lotus Casino. They were back in the scorching Vegas heat. Annabeth was back in her merchandise clothing. Ares' backpack hung over his shoulders, which seemed suspicious. He was certain he'd thrown it in the trash can in room 4001. It was as if the previous five days had never happened. The only proof that remained was the plastic green Lotus Cash card in his hand.
"Come on," Annabeth said. "I've got an idea."
She led them back to the main boulevard where she flagged down a cab that was about to leave the drop-off bay and loaded them into it. The driver looked at them dubiously.
"Los Angeles, please," she said in the poshest tone he'd ever heard her say.
The driver chewed his cigar. "That's three hundred miles. For that, you gotta pay upfront." he sized them up like he knew they couldn't afford it.
Piper appeared contemplative in her attempt to charm the driver to drop them off, but Annabeth beat her to it. "Do you accept casino debit cards?" she asked as if she did it every day.
"Some of 'em. Same as credit cards. I gotta swipe 'em through, first."
She gave him the Lotus Cash card. The driver looked at it skeptically.
"Swipe it," she invited.
The three of them held their breaths. The meter rattled and blinked like a slot machine's lights. The number spun like a slot reel until an infinity symbol appeared.
Jackpot.
The driver looked back at Annabeth in surprise. "Where to in Los Angeles...uh, Your Highness?"
Annabeth sat up straighter like it was no big deal. "Santa Monica pier," she told him. "Get us there quickly, and you'll be rewarded handsomely," she promised.
Maybe she shouldn't have told him that. The driver took off immediately, racing through the Mojave Desert at top speed, but it was still a journey of several hours.
"You," Percy breathed. "are brilliant."
The long journey gave them plenty of time to talk. He told the girls about his latest dream, but the details got sketchier the more he tried to recall. The time spent back in the Casino seemed to have hampered his memory. It was all a jumbled mess inside his head that he had to take a few minutes to sort all out.
He tried to recall the conversation between the voice in the abyss and his servant, but couldn't remember the details. "It's all kind of fuzzy, after the Lotus Casino. There was this huge pit again, and the voice was talking to...a servant." he clicked his tongue.
"A Kindly One?" Annabeth supplied. Percy exchanged a glance with Piper.
He shook his head. "I didn't see him—it—err, whoever. The servant said something about...he called his master some sort of special title..." he let out strings of curses. "Jeez, why can't I remember this..."
"The Silent One? The Rich One? Both are nicknames for Hades."
He wanted to tell her that Hades wasn't the criminal in their quest, but that would lead to a lot of clarification and answers on their part. A lot of questions might lead to the true culprit, Luke Castellan. Percy didn't want to jeopardize the quest by raising the stakes at the last minute.
"No, it wasn't Hades. We only suspected Hades because Chiron had mentioned it. We don't have any conclusive evidence that he stole the bolt." he stated. "Hades wasn't the issue here. The voice in the pit, it just didn't feel like a god's or anything," he muttered.
Annabeth's eyes widened.
"What?" he narrowed his eyes.
"Oh...nothing, I was just—" she halted abruptly. "No, it has to be Hades. Perhaps, he sent his thief, this invisible person, to get the master bolt, and something went wrong..." she pressed.
"Like what?" he watched Piper's annoyance flare up from a mile away.
"I—I'm not sure." she shook her head, extremely spooked. "But if he stole the master bolt from Olympus, a lot of things could go wrong, with the gods hunting him down." She conjured a number of logical possibilities. "Anyway, the thief failed to bring the bolt to Hades. Isn't that what the voice said in your dream? That would explain why the Furies were after us. Maybe they thought we'd found the bolt."
He had no idea what was wrong with Annabeth. She appeared pale, and all her assumptions seemed too far-fetched and implausible.
"But if we'd already retrieved the bolt," Piper asked. "Why would we be going to the Underworld?"
"Because we don't have it." Annabeth countered. "Hades was the last person—er, god, whatever—to have known the master bolt's last position. We need to persuade him to return it and call off the war."
She was suggesting borderline crazy now. She had a fearful glint in her eyes, silently begging him to not ask her any questions.
"You have an idea what might be in the pit, don't you?" he needed to know. "I mean if it isn't Hades...?"
Annabeth sagged in her seat, visibly deflated. "Percy...let's not talk about it. Because if it isn't Hades..." she shook her head firmly. "No, it has to be Hades."
Percy caught the driver's eyes darting to them in the rearview mirror, looking suspicious. He realized they were talking too loudly. Annabeth followed his line of sight.
"We've got a role-playing game going on," she told him. "You know, back from the Casino."
The driver shook his head. "S' not my business," he muttered and trained his eyes on the road. "Almost there, Your Highness," he said out loud.
She reassured the pair about the quest and offered suggestions for sneaking into the Underworld. Her plans appeared to be sound, but there were many unknown variables in them. He'd had a clear plan at the start of his quest, but now he was almost as lost as Annabeth. It was like cramming for the wrong subject's exam.
The taxi dropped them at the Santa Monica pier at sunset. The Pier was lined with carnival rides, palm trees lined the sidewalk, and homeless beggars slept on the dunes. The beach itself was a mess. Amid the surfers waiting for perfect waves, the shore was littered with trash: aluminum soda cans, and plastic wrappers. The waters were decidedly uninviting, with an oily sheen hung over the surface.
"With great power, comes greater responsibility," he muttered, looking at the golden setting sun.
"What now?" Annabeth asked once they were at the edge of the surf.
"You both wait here. I'll see what he has to tell." he reluctantly stepped into the polluted waters, grateful for his ability to stay dry, and went under. He walked forward into the shoals and sand-dollar colonies dotting the sandbars. He gradually worked his way through the murk and came across a massive Mako shark.
"Urgh..." Surprised, he stumbled back and tripped. Above him, a burst of warm current passed. Something brushed up against his leg. Percy cast a downward glance and nearly shot out of the water like a ballistic missile. The Mako gaped at him with its enormous maw.
The shark, however, was nuzzling him and heeling like a dog. Percy gently stroked its dorsal fin. The shark bucked slightly as if inviting him to grip harder. It took off, dragging him into the darkness. It dropped him in the middle of the ocean, on the edge of a precipice, leading to a massive chasm with unknown depths.
"Perseus," from the darkness below, a female voice called to him. The voice grew louder as he descended until he came across a woman on a stallion-sized armored seahorse. The woman was seriously beautiful with dark hair and bright green eyes. She was dressed in a flowing green silk dress under light armor.
"Perseus." she dismounted her horse and greeted. "You finally arrived. I'm Faora." The sea horse and the Mako took off and began playing tag.
Looking at her, Percy was reminded of the Nereids, a group of fifty or so stunningly beautiful women in Poseidon's court. The one in front of him could be one of them.
He wasn't sure about the proper protocol, so he simply bowed. "You're the river spirit who spoke to me in the Mississippi River?"
"No, child. I am a Nereid, a sea spirit. I was the one who spoke to you in the Iris message. It wasn't easy to appear so far upriver, but the naiads, our freshwater cousins, help sustain our life force. They respect Lord Poseidon even though they do not serve in his court." She took a breather.
"A child of the Sea has not been born in many years. We've been keeping a close eye on you."
Percy remembered seeing faces in the waves off Montauk Beach when he was a little boy, reflections of smiling women. Like so many of the weird things in life, he'd never given it much thought before.
"We tried scouting the rivers inland to intercept you. I've been waiting here for five days now."
"Sorry. I've been caught in a trap. Why were you looking for me?"
"Yes, about that..." she paused. "Lord Poseidon has been held up on Mount Olympus. Zeus has forbidden him from assisting you, even as an indirect influence. He is now on the verge of an unwanted war."
"I kinda already know that. Some rando told me about it. What I'm curious about is why I was specifically asked to come here, before entering the Underworld?"
"I see. I came here to issue you a warning." She extended her hand and two pearls flashed across her palm.
"Alright, let's hear it."
"Hades' realm is extremely dangerous. Few people have ever done something like this and survived. The oracles back in the empire have foretold a great and terrible future for you, should you survive to manhood. Poseidon wouldn't have you die before your time, so he sent me here to assist you. In your hour of need, smash those pearls at your feet."
"How do they work?" he rolled a pearl between his fingers. It was about the size of a thumbnail and milky white in color.
"It depends, on your need. But keep in mind, what belongs to the sea will always return to the sea," she said cryptically.
"That's good to know." he joked. "Now, I'd like to know the real person behind the prompt assistance." he gave her a hard stare.
Poseidon had never revealed more than was absolutely necessary during the missions assigned to him, and he'd never made a personal appearance. It was always in the form of dreams or forced possession. Aside from that, those assignments had always had a shady element to them that required someone like him to deal with. He could understand Poseidon's absence due to his imprisonment on Olympus, but this...something about the current setup is suspicious.
As she stared at him, the Nereid's eyes flickered with green light. Percy returned her stare, refusing to back down and let her weasel out. He wouldn't—couldn't—use any assistance on his quest without reassurance; he'd been duped far too many times.
The nereid sighed after a brief bout of staring contest. "You're more perceptive than I expected." Her eyes glowed with a hint of appreciation. "Her Highness has been correct about you. She was the one who put this together..."
Her Highness?
Percy didn't have the patience or time to enquire further. "And?"
The nereid took out a gem-studded box and picked two corals for him: blue and red. "The corals are known as fate plaques. Using divination techniques, the Oracles and Seers of Atlantis create them for emergencies. In Atlantis, noble families distribute them to their direct in-line descendants. They're extremely difficult to obtain."
"How do they work?" he picked the blue coral. It was teardrop-shaped and slightly cold to touch.
"They crack and break if something untoward happens to you. They were made from your life string linked to your godly domain. This is the most one can conjure for you. Don't leave them with unimportant personnel."
"Please convey my thanks to your mistress," he said, gratefully. "And the warning?"
Her eyes flickered uncertainly. "Follow your heart, or you will lose everything. Should you choose to confront it, a tribulation awaits you in the Underworld. Put your faith in your intuition and judgment. The line between truth and false distorts even more in the Underworld. Hades thrives on insecurity and hopelessness. Once you've entered his domain, he'll never willingly let you leave. Maintain your faith. Perseus Jackson, best of luck."
Then she conjured up a vial of red liquid and handed it to him. "Perhaps, this might be of help." he reluctantly took the vial. The red liquid sloshed slightly.
The Nereid summoned her seahorse and rode away, disappearing under the darkness. A cold current erupted from the depths. Percy clenched his fist and came across and plastic card in his pocket. He pulled out the Lotus Casino card.
"Wait," he called. "At the river, you said not to trust the gifts. Is this it?" he waved the card to show her.
"Perhaps," the Nereid answered tentatively, her voice fading. "Goodbye, young hero. You must listen to your heart." she became a speck of glowing before fading away.
Percy looked up at the sunset darkening on the surface. He has so little time to ponder over things and proceed cautiously. He kicked upwards toward the shore.
Instead of anxiously waiting for his return, Percy found Annabeth and Piper playing in the sand, building sand castles.
"Hey," he called. "I got presents from Atlantis."
oOo
Back at camp Half-Blood, the atmosphere was tense, as if an argument had just ended. The four cabins that had gotten involved in the Trojan War were once again gearing up for battle. Someone had leaked the news about Zeus' stolen Lightning bolt, and the Athena cabin had immediately pointed their fingers at Poseidon.
Their counterparts, the Ares cabin arrived to support the lord of the Sea, countering the goddess of wisdom. One argument led to another, and within no time, the camp had basically split into Zeus and Poseidon camps, with the remaining cabins acting as neutrals and mediating the conflict. Small skirmishes and large clashes resulted from heated arguments.
Except for Hermes, all cabins were involved in the issue. The de facto cabin for unclaimed demigods has become unusually quiet as they await their—interim—counselor. The remaining counselors were either assigned to reconciliation tasks or served as arbitrators.
Meanwhile, Chris Rodriguez, the Hermes interim counselor, slipped away from the campgrounds and into the forest. He wandered aimlessly through the woods until he came to the creek that separated the deeper layers of the forest. He took a few detours around the creek until he came to a large group of precariously perched boulders.
The structure resembled a raised fist from the ground. The previous generation of campers had thus named the location Zeus' fist and the tradition was carried on.
Chris arrived behind the boulders and carefully sat down. He waited for a while as if expecting someone to appear, but his gaze wandered to the depths of the forest.
"Did you complete the task?" he almost jumped in shock, thinking he had been caught sneaking around the camp. He turned to face his visitor.
A young man, about nineteen years old, leaned lazily against the boulders. He was dressed casually in slacks and a polo shirt. His dashing appearance was ruined by a white, jagged scar that ran from his eye to his jaw. He appeared slightly older than a young adult.
Chris hesitated, looking into the hard and steely eyes. "Yes, we've leaked information about the missing weapon. It was extremely effective. I didn't think many people would fall for fake news so easily." He shuddered at the older boy's taunting sneer.
"Chris," the visitor's voice was low and deep. "I never said the rumor was fake or fabricated. Zeus' master bolt has indeed been stolen from Olympus. Remember the Winter Solstice field trip? Why did you think I brought out in a hurry?" he stated.
Chris stared at the young man for a long time. "Luke.. you didn't, right?" he asked, trembling.
"We'll leave once the quester return." Luke, the Hermes cabin counselor, who was supposed to be on an away mission given by Hermes, avoided the question. "If she knows what's best, remind her again to keep her end of the bargain."
"How many?" he asked after a while.
"Fifteen in total, excluding us," Chris confirmed. "But is this safe? We'd be leaving the camp's protected grounds to venture into the mortal world. You're well aware of the dangers. Why the last time you'd gone..." he stopped abruptly.
Luke's eyes flashed dangerously for a moment before settling into his easy-going smile. "Relax, brother. I've found a safe place and backer for us. No monster will ever come near us," he promised. "You'll see when they heed our orders. Always look ahead."
"...Alright," Chris conceded. "Did you find anything about the questers? How are they doing?"
At the mention of Percy and the others, Luke's face became unreadable. "I'm not entirely sure. The outside world is filled with perils. You did everything you could." he said. "About them...tell me something..."
"Hmm?"
"Did...did Percy say anything after you gave him the shoes? Like, did he act, I don't know, cautious or something..."
"No, Luke," Chris said. "Percy is cool. He was a lot of fun to be around. He gladly accepted your shoes and told me to thank you when you got back." He told the truth. "Do you think...the shoes would be of any use to him?" he wondered. Something didn't feel quite right to him.
Luke visibly relaxed. "That's good. Everything according to plan," he muttered. "Yes, Chris. Remember, Hermes is the messenger to the Underworld too. When they arrive in Hades, they should be helpful." Luke assured him. "Don't be too concerned about them and focus on the task. I'm sure they'll be fine."
Chris didn't inquire how Luke about the specifics of the quest. It's sometimes better to be the simple guy who follows instructions than to disturb a hornet's nest "Did you talk to Annabeth too? Is she coming with us?" He assumed Luke had postponed just for Annabeth and last-minute stragglers.
Luke hesitated. "No, not yet. She has the potential to be an excellent strategist, but not right now. We'll pick her up when she's old enough. She'll come to us eventually." he asserted confidently.
"It's time for you to return. Don't let anyone doubt your whereabouts at camp. When you're ready, make your move." Chris nodded and turned to leave. He took a few steps and realized he had forgotten something.
"Luke, about.." he turned around, but Luke was nowhere. Zeus' fist was empty. "Luke.." he called.
No response.
Where could he have gone so fast? With that, Chris turned and headed back to camp.
oOo
In some unknown location, a colossal mountain range stood underwater. Sunlight shone through the gaps in the mountains and into the deeper canyon. Even though it was early summer, the cold here was exceptionally long, with only a few faint beast roars to be heard on occasion.
On the surface of the mountain valley, stood a magnificent city.
Because of its remote geographical location, the city has been well preserved for ages. The motley walls surrounding the city demonstrated a rare indomitable will to preserve in the face of adversity. Based on the population and living standards, the city was divided into outer and inner regions.
A woman stood in one of the inner region's castles, facing the vast expanse of the world before her. She was tall and dressed in a lavender dress that was tightly wrapped around her body, emphasizing her distinctive curves. Her eyes were filled with pride and arrogance, but she maintained a solemn and dignified demeanor as she hovered above the ground.
A horse's piercing neigh could be heard from afar, rippling the surface. In an instant, a black shadow flew towards the castle and landed in the courtyard. It was a rainbow-colored hippocampus with glowing golden eyes. Despite its smaller size, no one from the guards found any trace of it.
The hippocampus exploded into a golden shower as soon as it reached the courtyard of the castle, transforming into a tall and imposing woman. The newcomer wore a golden ceremonial dress and her long dark hair was perfectly combed, not a single strand out of place; it billowed behind her like surging ocean waves. She was breathtakingly beautiful but paled in comparison to her mistress. She regarded the woman from the courtyard solemnly.
"My Lady, I've seen to your instructions, and carefully erased all traces. Nonetheless, he'd gleaned the truth from the messenger's words. Fortunately, he accepted your timely 'help' and expressed his appreciation."
Her voice was rich and strong, and she bowed slightly. Her bearing and demeanor were refined and courteous, so flawless that there was nothing to criticize.
"Hmm," said a voice that was both magnetic and feminine. "It's within my expectations for him to find out. I'm honestly surprised it took him so long to reach his destination though."
The messenger was silent.
The woman spoke again, after a long pause. "The Heavenly Seer predicted that the upcoming times are quite chaotic for the empire, and unprecedented tribulations await us. Have you heard of this?"
The messenger bowed. "I have. I've also heard that Hierarch Crimson Blood has been in contact with some enigmatic organizations and was planning something. The Hidden Temple, on the other hand, has left no traces of their involvement."
"Oh? That fellow from the Forbidden City of Ascale Red Demon Shark clan?"
"Correct."
A school of fish swam by. She raised her slender and flawless hand, causing ripples around her. On her perfect dainty finger was a strange black gemstone ring that looked like an open eye, a sight that would make anyone shiver inside.
"Send someone from the elder's council to retrieve him once the external affairs are taken care of. Instruct them to give him a chance to enter the Blood Kill camp."
The messenger shivered, clearly aware of how daunting the task would be. But she didn't say anything out of turn.
"What? You think it's impossible for him to accomplish?" the lady asked, clearly aware of what her messenger was thinking.
"My Lady, if I may," she added. "I believe it's still too soon to introduce him to this side of the world. He's yet to comprehend the gravity of the situation and the weighty responsibilities that could be thrust upon him at any time. So..."
The lady took her time responding as if she was deep in thought. A long silence fell over them.
The messenger eventually became agitated. "Trite—"
"Time will prove you incorrect. Every single one of you. You're unaware of his potential." the lady was adamant.
The messenger refrained from speaking anymore and walked away. In a flash of shadow, she vanished from the castle.
"...how intruiging..." the magnetic voice seemed to quiver with excitement, as if sensing something, but was near impossible to read.
xXx
A/N: why do you think Annabeth refused to believe it was Hades? Tell me about it. You know the drill. Reviews are always appreciated.
