Perseus -
It was nice seeing Nico and Thalia. Refreshing, almost. The walk back to Annabeth's cabin was even nicer. Over the weekend we were going to move Annabeth into my palace, which is as incredible as I knew it would be. And after that, we would've had three weeks off together. I had kissed her goodnight at the campfire and I offered to wake up super early to take a ride with her, but she said it wasn't necessary. So when I woke up Annabeth was back at school and my mom was making eggs. Scrambled, obviously. Everything felt just a little bit off. I wasn't used to life being so... easy and rewarding. Everyone says I deserve this, but is life supposed to be this good?
I looked out the window and saw someone fishing on the beach. I hadn't seen him since my training on Olympus. Figured I should be a good son and go out there and talk to him. That is why he was here.
"Hey, Dad."
"Perseus," Poseidon said with a tight smile, "How's everything, son?"
"Too good. It doesn't feel right," I said. He wasn't expecting me to be so candid, but I expected he had bad news so might as well get through that sooner than later.
"The calm before the storm."
"Huh?"
"Bad things are coming, Perseus. I'll be needing your help at my palace. You're the Prince, the Heir. Bad omens," Poseidon mumbled.
"Dad? What's going on?"
"Come with me. I'll fill you in back home," my father said reaching his hand out to me.
"Home like underwater or like Olympus?" I asked. He grabbed my hand and I found out soon enough.
His palace was gorgeous even in ruins. He hadn't underestimated the damage done, but there was something achingly beautiful about the whole scene. It was timeless and perfect in its destruction.
"It was worth it, you know. You were right," Poseidon said. He had workers attempting to rebuild but it would take decades to return to its former glory. Time wasn't exactly an issue for a god.
"What's coming, Dad?" I asked. He wordlessly led me through the ruins. The people parted effortlessly. They began to bow and shout my name. 'Prince! Prince!' Their shouts filled my ears. He pulled me into a room that wasn't damaged and barred the door. He summoned chairs for us and we sat.
"Ancient beings are rising," he said. Not even when he was fighting was he this serious.
"Titans?"
"Younger than Titans, but more powerful. Zeus has closed Olympus to mortals because we all feel the unrest," Poseidon went on.
"But we only just defeated Kronos. The next Great Prophecy shouldn't come into play for years! Decades! Camp isn't ready for a new threat," I said. The numbers were dwindling and no one wanted to fight two wars back to back. I wasn't sure if we even could.
"Camp won't have to be. You heard the prophecy, Perseus. Six half-bloods." Names ran through my head. Annabeth. Clarisse. Nico. Thalia. Will. I didn't know who the Six would be.
"What's the threat?" I demanded.
"Giants. The children of the Earth and the Pit." Tartarus.
"When? When are they rising?"
"This summer, we believe."
"Who will the Six be?" I asked.
"I do not know, but Percy- Perseus you mustn't tell the mortals. Not even-"
"I'm telling Annabeth," I interjected. There was no question. I was not keeping secrets from her. Especially not something as important as this. And I didn't care about Ancient Laws. I stood up, ready to leave, but he grabbed my wrist. An iron-tight grip, but I shook it off.
"Perseus!" Poseidon shouted. "There's been a plot. A plot to save Olympus, by an Olympian. It's already in motion and there is no turning back. I'm afraid-" I had never heard fear in my father's voice before. It wasn't until later that I realized he was afraid of me.
"To save Olympus?" I said cautiously.
"Yes. You won't like it." My father's voice quivered ever so slightly.
"What did they do?" My voice was hard and unfamiliar.
"Don't retaliate, my son. And don't forget you're loyalties." I flashed back to my palace. My father wasn't going to give me any more information so I needed to figure it out for myself. Olympus might be closed for mortals, but I'm a god now. The phone in my palace was ringing. Annabeth was calling. Thank the gods.
"Annabeth, thank the gods. Are you alright?"
"Perseus!"
"Lizzie?" It was not Annabeth's voice. Not even close.
"Wait?" Lizzie's voice was frantic. "She's not with you?!"
"What are you talking about? Why are you on Annabeth's phone?"
"Annabeth isn't here. She wasn't here all weekend, but she always comes back before classes Monday. But she didn't and school's over now and our room is still untouched and- and she's not here."
"Okay, Lizzie. I'm coming to you, okay? I'll be there in like two minutes, alright?" I said as calmly as possible.
Annabeth wasn't at school. Where was she? Maybe she just didn't feel like going to class today? That's perfectly reasonable, right? No, not for Annabeth. Bad things are coming, Perseus. Maybe she got called up to Olympus for some architectural emergency. Zeus closed Olympus to mortals because we all feel the unrest. Maybe she was just studying at the library and never went back to her room? The calm before the storm. Maybe she had plans with Thalia she forgot to mention. Bad omens. Maybe Chiron needed her on an emergency mission. I'd had those before. There's been a plot. A plot to save Olympus. Maybe she stopped by my mom's. Or her dad surprised her in the city. There is no turning back. They would tell me if something happened. If they sent her somewhere. You won't like it. When did I ever like the plan of an Olympian? Don't retaliate, my son. Maybe everything was okay. Maybe Annabeth was fine. Don't forget you're loyalties. But it seemed like the storm had made landfall.
I'm loyal to Annabeth and the Olympians are delusional if they thought otherwise for even a moment. Thunder rumbled overhead, but I didn't care. I tried to Iris message Annabeth, but it never connected. Something or someone was blocking her. Something was wrong. Annabeth was gone. I flashed myself onto the fire escape below Annabeth's window.
"Lizzie, open up."
"Is she gone because of you?" Lizzie accused shakily.
"What?" I climbed through the window. Her bed was untouched. Her bag wasn't even here. She never made it back to school.
"Are you involved in some sort of gang? Are people after you again? The kidnapping, the blowing places up, the blood. Something's up with you!" Lizzie said.
"I am not- This is not my fault, okay? Lizzie I'm going to find Annabeth and I am going to get her back."
"Why is she gone? Where did she go? Is she running away?"
"I don't know! I don't know, but I intend to find out. I've done it before and I'll do it again," I told the mortal.
"Was Annabeth taken?"
"Probably, yes," I said. Or killed, the darker part of my mind answered.
"And this has happened before?!"
"We were 13."
"Do I need to call the police?" Lizzie asked, scared.
"No. Trust me I'll find her. No one is getting in my way," I said. "And if anyone asks you anything about where she went, just say she's sick. Okay, Lizzie?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just find her, please?"
"I will."
And with that, I jumped out the window and flashed back to camp.
"OH MY GODS!" someone shouted. They jumped into the air, but I paid them no mind. I threw the door to Athena's cabin straight open and people screamed again.
"Perseus! What are you doing?" Annabeth's sister asked.
"Have you seen Annabeth?"
She seemed shocked, but someone else piped in, "She came in last night, but I didn't see her this morning. She usually leaves pretty early on Mondays. Is something wrong?"
I grabbed at my hair. "Everything's wrong."
I found her bed, equally untouched. But I didn't care about that. I tore through her desk in a way she would despise until I found it: her laptop. She would never go anywhere without it. Her dagger wasn't here, which was slightly better. She could protect herself, wherever she was.
But I wasn't satisfied. I had to know. I had to find her.
"Lord Perseus?" The blond-haired grey-eyed children seemed to huddle around me. Fear. Concern. Worry. "Is Annabeth alright?"
"I don't know. I don't know." I couldn't say anything else. My eyes fell on her baseball cap. Unworn and so distinctly Annabeth. I felt like crying. I felt like she was about to walk in the door and sink into my arms and tease that of course, she was okay. Nothing would happen to her while I was there. But she didn't.
"I have to go."
I was expecting the doors of Olympus to be closed. My father did say that Zeus closed it off to mortals a month ago. What I wasn't expecting was to have to break the door down. In my defense, the Olympians forced my hand. I stood there shouting at them through the door. I could feel their auras inside. I knew they heard me. So I put my hand on the door and used my powers. My father being the Earth Shaker had its benefits.
"PERSEUS!" Zeus yelled. I strolled into the throne room. All the Olympians were in the council room which was abnormal for such a day.
"Athena," I said, with a fake calm, "where is she?" Athena's gray eyes were strained. She was torn, but she stayed loyal to her father by staying silent.
"Where is she, Zeus!"
"Get your bastard under control, Poseidon!" Zeus said. I glanced at my father.
"I will not get under control. Someone will tell me where Annabeth is and why the hell you thought you could just take her!"
"You forget yourself! You are just a minor god and I am the King of Olympus! You have no right to be demanding things of this council!"
"You think I care who you are! You cannot take her from me. I saved all of you multiple times! You raised me to godhood only to take Annabeth away?!" I shouted.
"Annabeth's been taken?" Artemis said, standing from her throne. The goddess looked at me in my fury with respect.
"What's the meaning of this Zeus?" Aphrodite said. "Those kids... their story was supposed to have a happy ending."
Apollo shook his head with pity, "I tried to warn you, Perseus."
"You knew?!" I turned to him. "Did you take her?"
"God of prophecies, remember? It's a burden sometimes."
"I don't care! What have you done to her?!" I yelled. I waved my sword around me so no one tried to come close. Hades flashed into the throne room. He only raised an eyebrow at the scene before him.
"Perseus-" my father began.
"Is she alive, Hades?" I begged him to tell me. Hades was a fair man if nothing else. He wasn't cruel like the others, he was selfish, but he wasn't cruel.
"Alive, yes."
"Where is she?" My voice trembled. I felt my soul shake. I heard Lyssa's voice in my mind. She was telling me to let go. Telling me to do what I must. She would take care of my mind and my soul wouldn't let me get out of control.
"I cannot say," Hades said. His face looked pained. He glanced at Hera. It was only for a half-second, but it was more than enough. It always would come down to Hera.
"You," I spat. My sword clattered to the floor.
"Perseus, we had an agreement," Hera said.
"I agreed to keep quiet about a supposed plan you had. Your plan was to take Annabeth?!"
"No," Hera shot back icily, "I planned to take you."
"Then you should've, ancient rules be damned," I snarled, "Where is she, Hera? Don't make me ask again."
"She is gone, but she will be back. The plan's in motion, Perseus. There is nothing to be done now. Bigger things are in play now and you cannot interfere. Remember the rules," Hera said. She lifted her head high, but I saw her withering beneath my gaze. Her calm facade was cracking and I didn't care who was afraid of me anymore.
"She's going to have to be the key in the upcoming war. It's foreseen-" Zeus started.
"Do you think I give a fuck about what's foreseen?! We already fought your wars. All our lives we've lived for you. Fought for you. And for what?! The honor of dying for you?" I let my words sink in for a moment. I controlled my breathing and removed my gaze from Hera's. I spun around the room, locking eyes with each one of the Olympians. At least they had the decency to drop my gaze in shame.
"I am going to find her and I am done being your pawn." I turned to Hermes. "Your son died a hero, but he didn't die for Olympus. He wasn't your pawn either. He died for Annabeth. He died for Thalia. For Grover. For the people he loved. None of you were that. And every single demigod who turned sides were done being your pawns."
The throne room was dead silent. I could feel Zeus' anger. Hades' mirth. Poseidon's worry. Hermes' hurt. Aphrodite's sadness. Most of all shock.
"Isn't it sad? You almost lost a war because you're own children craved your death. Your demolition. They felt slighted, unloved, and resentful. And you stand here still, blinded by your arrogance, and still disrespect the children who stood by your side and were willing to die for you. Ethan Nakamura didn't die for you either. He fought beside Kronos until he realized he couldn't let Kronos destroy the world. He died for justice, for fairness, to save anyone he could. He died doing the right thing. He died right in front of me, after trying to kill Kronos, begging me not to let the minor gods and demigods be mistreated again. And I don't break my promises."
"He is correct, as much as it dismays me to say it," Athena said, carefully avoiding my gaze. She stood up from her throne and raised her voice. "We have been unwise to ignore our children. It proved a strategic weakness in this war and had almost caused our destruction. Perseus, what do you propose we do about it?"
I felt strangely honored that Athena was acknowledging me. Not just acknowledging, but agreeing. Asking for my input, my guidance. I felt too angry to assist them. I wanted Annabeth with me.
"The last time I saw Annabeth we were planning about this moment. She wanted this as much as me," I said. "I want you to swear upon the River Styx that you will recognize the children of all the gods. The minor gods will have thrones. The children of the minor gods will have cabins. Hades will not be banned from Olympus and he will get his own throne and cabin as well. Calypso and those like her will be freed from their prisons. Undetermined campers will cease to exist. Age thirteen and they will be claimed. And no more pact between the Big Three. All the children of all the gods will be treated with respect."
"Son-"
"You ask for a lot. You are just a minor god yourself. Why should we do such a thing?" Zeus demanded. I stepped closer to him.
"I'm a weapon, aren't I? The loose cannon. You've debated my death since Day 1. You want my loyalty, don't you? So swear to it. Swear to my terms and I won't burn Olympus down myself." The gods looked around the room nervously. I dared them to call my bluff.
"All in favor," Hermes announced. I looked at him gratefully. I watched as hands were raised around the room. Zeus' hand was the last to be raised, but he grunted in ascent.
"Very well. In the name of the Council we swear to the River Styx to grant your request," Zeus said, "Now you swear your loyalty."
"I swear to the River Styx to be loyal to Olympus as long as the Olympians are loyal to the deal." Thunder rumbled overhead as it sealed the deal. I glared at them all.
"I am going to find her," I told Hera, "and just because I won't rip you to pieces doesn't mean I'll lift a finger in your defense." She opened her mouth to reply, but I wasn't done. "And Demeter. You're daughter Melissa says she's sorry she wasn't at the Battle of Manhattan. She's a kid and she's tearing herself up about the possibility that she disappointed you, the mother she's never met."
Demeter looked at me with wide eyes. She was too shocked to respond and I was too upset to stay in their presence a second longer. I wasn't powerful enough to take on thirteen gods, but I was more powerful than any of them knew.
"Grover," I shouted. He was at camp and he was one of the first people I needed to talk to.
"Hey Percy," Grover said. "You okay?"
"Not at all. Grover, I need you to have all of your satyrs out finding demigods. Even the ones with less noticeable scents. I made all of the gods, major and minor, promise to claim their children by 13, so there will be a lot of newcomers. I need you on top of that. Please," I said. Grover blinked at me.
"Of course, but are you sure you're alright?" His voice was shaky. "I can smell the fear and anxiety coming off of you..."
"I'll be fine," I said. Once I find her, I finished. "I'll catch up with you another time, Grover, but this is important. I gotta run!"
"Take care, Perce!" he shouted as I power-walked away. He looked at me like I was a delicate flower, but I didn't have time to pretend I was alright. I needed to find Malcolm Pace.
Normally that wouldn't be awfully hard to do. Unfortunately, Malcolm is in college. One of Annabeth's sisters told me which college it was exactly, which was helpful. So I flashed over to Columbia University. Thankfully not too far. A lot of people went there, but I wasn't going to let anyone get in my way.
"DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE MALCOLM PACE IS?!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. The crowded area I was in was silenced. I made my voice project as loud as godly possible. People looked around and then at me. When no one responded, I went to the next place. And then the next. I wouldn't stop until I found him.
"Percy?" I saw his floppy blond hair in the crowd. The son of Athena pushed his way through to get to me. "What's wrong?"
"Look, Malcolm, I don't have a lot of time. Annabeth- she said she talked to you about our plan. I got the gods to agree to it. I'm going to need you to go ahead with the building plans. And they need to be done as soon as possible. You can use the cyclops army. Tyson'll help you. The satyrs are all our searching for kids. Got it?"
"Yeah, yeah. Annabeth and I were almost done designing them anyway. I'll send them over to Annabeth and we'll start tomorrow," Malcolm said.
"No, you don't understand. Annabeth can't help you with this part. Enlist the rest of your cabin or- or beg for your mother's guidance or something. Just make sure it's done soon. Please," I said.
"What's going on? Why are we rushing this? Wasn't this supposed to be reviewed on the winter solstice?"
"We're preparing for war and Zeus shut down Olympus."
"What?!" Malcolm said, "Against who? And where's Annabeth?"
"I can't say," I said bitterly, "and Annabeth's been taken so I'm going to find her."
"Taken? Again? By who?" He sounded so scared. So concerned for his sister and it broke my heart to be the bearer of bad news.
"The Queen of the Gods."
"Hera? But why?" I bit my lip.
"Because she couldn't have me. Now I need to find Rachel. I need a prophecy."
"Let me come with you!" Malcolm offered.
"I can't. I need you at camp. Someone needs to lead in Annabeth's place. I'll ask Thalia and the Hunters to search. I'll have Nico search. I'll have Rachel search. I'll be searching. I need you to take care of camp. We've got a war to prepare for."
"Find her, Perseus, and bring her home," Malcolm said finally. I nodded at him and flashed back to camp. Thank the gods for the Mist.
I knocked on the entrance to the cave. I felt the need to keep moving. Standing still felt unproductive. I had to be doing something to distract myself. I needed to find her.
"I've been expecting you, Perseus." Rachel's voice was slippery. Like at any moment it would be taken over by the Oracle.
"Do you know anything, Rach? Can you see anything about Annabeth?" I asked.
"You need to ask the Oracle. She's blocked from me. Maybe the Oracle can tell you what you seek..." She was doubtful. The look of pity on her face said everything. My stomach sank.
"How can I find Annabeth Chase?" I asked. For a second, nothing happened. Then the green gases enveloped Rachel once more.
"The false god shall set west on trickery's trail
Led by the heart to his queen, he cannot fail
Seek out the forgotten boy lacking a shoe
Do not lose her or the world will burn fast and true
He must watch his back, day bleeds into the night
Life becomes death, remember when not to fight."
Rachel stumbled forward and collapsed into my arms. I carried her over to a purple couch and set her down. She should awaken momentarily, but it still scared me watching her pass out like that. I sat down on the couch opposite her and waited. All of a sudden I felt horribly tired and rest didn't seem so bad.
"Oh, Percy. What did I say?" Rachel asked. I repeated the prophecy to her with my head in my hands.
"Oh," she said, "well prophecies always have double meanings. You know that better than anyone."
"Yeah, I do. It doesn't make the pressure of causing the world to burn 'fast and true' any easier," I said.
"You haven't failed so far and I can't imagine anyone doing it better than you do."
"Doubtful, but it doesn't matter. I have to do this. But the prophecy doesn't tell me where to go. Nearly all of the United States is west of here," I said.
"That I can help you with. I think, at least. When I passed out I just saw the image of one place in my head. It was unmistakable," Rachel said with a small smile. "The Grand Canyon."
"You know, I think the Fates are trying to get me to travel more. Every quest is to some new monument or landmark. Maybe I should just save myself the trouble of saving the world and just go on a trip one day and never come back." I meant it as a joke, but it just came out as depressing. Rachel frowned at me.
"Now where would that have left me? Alone and purposeless in my loft?" Rachel said, "People need you for reasons other than being a hero, you know. Now go find your queen."
I smiled at her, "Thanks, Rachel. I'll see you soon."
"Be safe, Lord Perseus!" I laughed as I left. It sounded so ridiculous coming from her. I missed Rachel. She always knows how to make things easier for me. Make the world a little less daunting. My smile faded as I returned home. My mom and Paul were sitting on the deck enjoying a glass of wine.
"Mom, I'm leaving," I said.
My mother's face paled. "But Percy, I thought you were done now. I thought that was over because you're a god now?"
"Annabeth's gone, Mom. She was taken and I'm going to find her," I said, biting my lip. "I don't know when I'll be back."
"Not Annabeth!" My mother covered her mouth.
"I'm going to find her," I said. I pulled her into a tight hug, "I love you."
"I love you too, sweetie. Bring her back safe, okay? Do what you need to do," she said. I nodded. I hugged Paul too and ran inside to get my things. I had my sword, but Annabeth was usually the prepared one. I had to think. What would she do? Nectar. Ambrosia. Water. Matches. Yankee's Cap. I grabbed a picture of us too and threw it into the bag. I didn't know what I was going up against and I probably was unprepared, but it didn't matter. There was one last person I needed to speak to.
"Chiron, I'm leaving," I said. He saw the worry on my face.
"Where to?"
"The Grand Canyon. I received a prophecy from Rachel."
"Why were you getting a prophecy?"
"Annabeth's been taken. I've confirmed it with the gods. Her roommate called me-"
"What did the prophecy say exactly?" He and I had been in this sort of situation before. But interpreting the prophecy never did anyone any good. I had to do this and I had to do this alone.
"It doesn't matter, but Chiron there is something else you must know. The gods have agreed to recognize all of the gods and all of their children. Malcolm has designed new cabins and Grover has sent all the satyrs out to find the new demigods. Expect a lot of newcomers."
"Lord Perseus, you've been busy."
"I have. And I need to go. I can't waste any more time, but there is a new threat coming. The gods won't allow me to say what it is, but I think you know. History repeats itself after all. So be ready. I'm going to find Annabeth." And with that, I flashed away. Grand Canyon here I come.