Chapter 14: Curiosity

Phoebe's POV

After we got back from Olympus, we successfully guarded the Camp. The next day, Connor and I were bored, but we didn't want to go on a date. Then I remembered something.

"Can you keep a secret?" I asked.

"Thieves are the best secret keepers." Connor said.

"Thalia is supposed to go meet Luke today if she discovers that he's telling the truth about suppressing Kronos. I want to see what happens and make sure she's okay." I explained.

"Honestly, Luke was one of the best brothers I've ever had. If there's a possibility of him coming back, I would want to help." Connor promised.

So we went to the Zeus cabin and found our first clue. On Thalia's bed was a book that was from Chiron's personal collection, and it was opened to a page about possession. I read it and found out that Luke was telling the truth.

"So it is possible to get him back?" Connor hoped.

"It's possible." I promised.

Then we went to Times Square. It's a good thing Argus is my friend, otherwise we'd never get out of Camp. As we walked around Times Square, I spotted Thalia walking up to Luke. I used an old gift from a favor Hephaestus owed me to hear what they were saying and let Connor hear too.

"So you do believe me?" Luke sounded like he was choking back tears.

"I'm confused, but I believe you." Thalia hugged him. "But to test you, why do you like being electrocuted?"

"Because you accidentally electrocuted me the first time we slept together." Luke chuckled.

Thalia giggled. "Right."

"Gross." Connor commented.

"At least it's something she could use to prove it was Luke." I reasoned.

"So what do you expect me to do now?" Thalia questioned.

"I don't know, I just didn't want to lose you." Luke hugged her.

Luke's eyes suddenly glowed a golden color.

"Hello Thalia." A familiar, chilling voice spoke through Luke.

"No..." Thalia started crying.

Luke's eyes changed back to mischievous green. "I'm sorry, that occasionally happens, but I swear I can control it." He sounded desperate.

"What do you expect me to do?" Thalia asked.

"If nothing else, just don't give up on me." Luke begged.

"I won't." Thalia promised. "Is there any way of getting him out?"

"Two ways. One, he leaves willingly and takes another host. Two, I die." Luke had a grim look on his face.

Thalia just cried and hugged him tightly.

"Can you convince him to leave, trick him?" Thalia dared to hope.

"I don't know how, because except for me being a spy, he seems to know when I'm tricking him." Luke was crying too.

Thalia just sobbed into his shirt.

"Maybe I can strike a deal with Hades. As much as he dislikes his siblings, he hates Kronos more." Luke suggested.

"Please just try." Thalia sniffled.

"I promise I will." Luke agreed.

"I have to go before anyone else notices I'm gone." Thalia tried to pull herself together.

"Anyone else?" Luke questioned.

"Phoebe and Connor are across the street." Thalia said as she cleared her throat.

Luke looked in our direction and waved at Connor. Connor waved back. Then Luke threw something and Connor caught it. It was a box. Connor opened it and I saw some converse with Hermes' winged trademark on them. Connor looked at a piece of paper, then handed it to me. It was a note, and it said:

I don't think I can be trusted with these anymore, so you should keep them.

Sincerely, Luke

"Go back to Camp." Thalia said (she knew we could hear her).

So Connor and I willingly went back to Camp and talked about what just happenedd by the lake.

"Do you think he planned on me having these? He didn't even know we were there until Thalia said something." Connor pointed to the converse.

"Maybe he was going to give them to Thalia to bring here. They were either for her or you, but then why would he throw them to you if they were for her? And if they were hers, would it really bother you?" I suggested.

"Hey guys, Chiron just called another meeting." Thalia was suddenly behind us.

She looked better, relieved even. Like a weight was lifted off her shoulders.

"And thanks for keeping this to yourselves. By the way, Luke originally wanted me to bring them to you." Thalia pointed at the shoes.

Connor smiled and we headed to the Big House.

"We can't trust Luke, he's too fargone. Lets just get rid of him before he gets powerful enough to kill us and take over the world." Travis suggested.

"That's not fair, Luke was starting to chicken out before he sent me into the Labyrinth. Maybe Kronos forced him into it. We should at least try to help Luke get rid of Kronos." Chris seemed concerned.

Clarisse looked like she didn't want to talk about the Labyrinth. Annabeth was more composed, but she still looked like she was in pain when anyone mentioned Luke. Percy put his arm around Annabeth and she looked slightly relieved.

"It is possible to turn enemies into friends. Take Clarisse andme helping her with the chariot..." Percy started.

"Shut up!" Clarisse glared at Percy.

Percy gave an apologetic look to Clarisse. Chris and Annabeth smirked as if they were privy to some secret.

"I'm afraid Travis may be right." Chiron decided. "And what's this about a chariot?"

"Luke could still be saved. In one of your books about possession it says that there are ways of getting unpossessed." Thalia looked worried.

"Only two ways. Either Kronos leaves willingly or Luke dies." Chiron looked unsettled.

"But Luke can supress Kronos! I just saw him do it an hour ago..." Connor's eyes widened as he realized his mistake.

"Where did you see that?" Chiron was pale.

"In Times Square, but Connor's right. It even says suppression is possible in your book." I backed Connor up.

Thalia looked panicky, Connor looked regretful, and Chiron looked white as a ghost.

"Chiron, let's at least give Luke a chance. He does have potential to be good, and plus, Dionysus told me that Luke was a spy, so he didn't do it on purpose." Percy reasoned.

Annabeth looked grateful and surprised at what Percy said. "Please Chiron, do it for me. He was my best friend before he turned and I met Percy."

"Help Luke, Chiron. Annabeth's begging you, and Luke even mentioned being a spy when I saw him today. But if Kronos knew that, he would use Ethan as his body instead of Luke. Please." Thalia begged.

"All three of you saw him today?" Chiron paled.

Connor, Thalia, and I nodded our heads. Chiron looked confused.

"Fine, we'll give him a chance. If even Luke's worst enemy is willing to be forgiving" Chiron gestured to Percy "Then so am I."

Some people sighed in relief, others looked confused or angry.

"Can I suggest something?" Clarisse broke her silence.

"Suggest away." Chiron agreed.

"If Luke does come back to our side, we should still punish him by letting him fight me. But to make it a fair punishment, I'll fight fair. No tricks." Clarissse suggested.

A few people gasped at the idea of Clarisse fighting fair, but most nodded in agreement.

"Fine, but what does fighting him do for you?" Annabeth questioned.

"Aside from my usual violent tendencies? I think he deserves a fair, but stern punishment. And he also sent Chris into the Labyrinth, which made Chris insane, and caused my mother to call him Nutty Nacho when we found him. Let's just say I have my reasons for wanting to fight Luke." Clarisse explained.

"Sounds good to me, but why did your mom call Chris Nutty Nacho?" Percy chuckled.

"If the reasons aren't obvious, then you don't need to know." Chris smirked.