Disclaimer: I don't own the Percy Jackson series.
Luke
"They ignored me. When I returned from my quest they all ignored me. If I had succeeded, there would have been grand celebrations and glory. But because I failed, there was nothing. It's not like I had done it just for the attention, but when you expect something and then you're let down, it hurts. I wish you were here Thals. You would have stood by me. You would have come with me. And then we'd probably have succeeded together. It was a stupid quest anyways. Pointless. Why would my father just want me to repeat Heracles' deeds? Probably just tossing me a quest so I feel good about myself." I heard a conch horn in the distance. "I have to go now, but I'll be back Thals, I promise. I'd never give up on you."
That night, I lay down on my bunk, preparing for the dreams, yet none came. Instead, I was standing in a dark cavern. The whole place seemed to emit an evil aura and I could feel someone else there too. "Who's there?" I asked. "What do you want from me?" A disembodied voice replied from the darkness, "I am just a friend child. Who wishes to offer you their condolences - "
"You can skip that part," I cut in wearily. "What do you want?"
"I do not want anything, young one. Unlike the gods, I do not speak only when I require something. I am your friend Luke." Unlike the gods... That must mean he's something else of course, but what? His voice, his presence, his power felt old. Ancient. Yet he wasn't a god. "Who are you?" I ventured. "That I cannot reveal yet. It is too dangerous I'm afraid. But know that I am on your side."
"Thank you," I replied, yet the voice still seemed to be waiting for me to say more. And strangely, I found myself trusting him. I wanted to tell him everything. The only person I could confide in was Thalia and she wasn't exactly good conversation. "I - I know this is going to make me sound self-centred, but I just wish people looked at me after my quest. I wish it had succeeded of course, but even though it didn't, the least they could do was be supportive. Instead, they just look at me like I'm a wimp."
"It's natural to seek approval for our deeds. And even more natural to seek comfort when we need it."
"It's all my father's fault," I burst out, unable to contain my anger. "He sent me on this stupid quest. To retrieve the stupid golden apple. That Heracles had already done. If he'd given me something better, something more important, I could have done it!"
"I agree with you Luke. I would even go as far as to say it's the gods fault for all of this. Do you think they're good rulers?"
That caught me off guard. "Wh-what? Those are dangerous allegations."
"No one can hear us here. It's just you and me. I know how you must feel. The gods have wronged you greatly."
"They act so childish all the time. They never help demigods yet demigods do countless things for them." I was getting really riled up now. "How hard would it be for them to help once in a while? Or even just talk to us? Thalia, Annabeth. They had such horrible lives. Zeus or Athena could have helped them with the snap of a finger, but did they ever do that? No! Hermes could have helped my mom. Or at least saved me from her insanity, but he never did. He barely even talked to me..."
"Your thoughts are completely correct young one. The gods are too selfish to even help their own children. This has been going on for millennia. Many have felt the same way as you, but nobody has attempted to actually change anything."
"Change?" I asked, suddenly cautious. "What do you mean change?"
"I mean to overthrow the gods. Do you never get sick of how incompetent my children are?"
"Your children?" I asked incredulously.
The voice realised he had slipped up and tried to say, "I meant the gods."
But it was too late. I knew who he was. "Kronos," I whispered. "You're Kronos! That's why you were trying to get me to overthrow the gods. Well, even if I don't like them, I'll never join you!"
"Why?" he mused. "Because you think I am evil? Because history is written by the winners? I am trying to help you Luke. This is not about me. I am doing this for the demigods. That's more than any of the gods have ever done. Am I really evil?"
I shook my head, "That doesn't matter. Mark my words; I'll never join you!"
