The next morning Percy was moved to Cabin Three. He had plenty of room for all his stuff, which wasn't much. Sat at his own table, got to pick his own activities, and call lights out whenever he wanted. And he was absolutely miserable. Just when he had started to think his life was getting some semblance of normalcy back, or as normal as it could be for a half-blood, he'd been ostracized. Cut off from everyone else like some kind of animal at the zoo.
No one talked about capture the flag, but Percy was sure they were all talking about it behind his back. Without any training he had 'beaten' one of the most feared people in the camp. Now, not only was Xander ticked at him, but the Hemes kids were too afraid to have sword fighting lessons with him. So his lessons with Luke became one on one. And he wasn't afraid to bruise Percy up in the process.
"You're going to need all the training you can get." He had told him as they were training with swords and torches. "Now let's try that viper-beheading strike again. Fifty more repetitions."
Percy still studied ancient greek with Annabeth, but now whenever he said something she glared at him like he's just poked her between the eyes. After lessons she would walk away muttering "Quest…Poseidon?…Dirty rotten…Got to make a plan."
Percy knew that someone at camp resented him, because one day he'd come back to his cabin to find a New York Daily News opened to the Metro page. The article took Percy almost an hour to read, because the angrier he got, the more the words floated off the page. It told about how Percy and his mom were both still missing, and how Percy had displayed 'violent tendencies' in the past. It urged anyone who had news of the pair to call the crime-stoppers hotline. The phone number was circled in black marker. He wadded up the paper and tossed it to the side, feeling more miserable than he had since his first day. "Lights out." he told himself sadly.
That night Percy had his strangest dream yet. He was running along a beach during a storm. A city was sprawled behind him. Not New York. The sprawl was different: buildings farther apart, palm trees and low hills in the background. Further down the beach two men were fighting. Both of them were muscular with beards and long hair. They were each wearing flowing greek tunics, one trimmed in green, the other in blue. They looked like they were trying to kill each other. They kicked, grappled, and head butted. Each time they connected lightning flashed and the sky grew darker and the wind rose. He had to stop them. Percy didn't know why, but he knew that he had too.
He heard the one in blue yelling at the one in green as they fought. "Give it back! Give it back!" like a kindergartener fighting over a toy.
The more Percy ran the more the wind pushed him back. He tried to yell at them but his voice wouldn't work. The ground shook. And then a voice that was so cold it turned Percy's blood to ice. "Come down little hero!" it crooned. "Come down!" and a crevice opened in the sand and swallowed Percy whole. He woke up still sure he was falling. But he was in his bunk in Cabin Three. His body told him it was morning, but the sky was dark, and thunder rumbled. A storm was brewing. So he hadn't dreamt that. There was a clopping sound at the door, like a hoof on the threshold.
"Come in?" Percy said.
"Mr. D wants to see you." Grover said, sticking his head through the door.
"Why?
"He wants to kill…I mean, I better let him tell you." Grover stuttered.
Nervously Percy got dressed and followed him up to the big house. In truth he'd been expecting a summons from the camp director for days. Now that he's been claimed by Poseidon, one of the Big Three, the gods that weren't supposed to have kids, it must be some kind of crime for him to exist. The gods had probably been debating the best way to punish him for daring to be born and Mr. D was going to deliver the verdict.
Looking around him nervously Percy saw a large sheet of rain was headed straight for them. When he asked Grover if they would need umbrellas the satyr shook his head. "No," he said. "It never rains here unless we want it too."
"Then what's that?" Percy asked pointing at the massive storm.
"It'll go around us." Grover said, but he didn't sound sure. And neither was Percy. This storm was massive. Everyone was going around their daily routines, the Dionysus twins were walking through the strawberries making them grow, the Apollo cabin was paying a morning game of volleyball against the satyrs, but everyone was tense and kept their eyes on the storm.
Percy and Grover walked to the Big House, where Mr. D and Chiron, in his magic wheelchair, were playing pinochle against two invisible opponents. Two hands of cards were just floating in midair.
"Well." Mr. D said without looking up. "Our little celebrity." Percy waited. "Well come closer. And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because Old Barnacle-Beard is your father." A flash of net-lightning lit up the sky. "Blah, blah, blah." Mr. D said. "If I had my way," Mr. D continued, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron feels that would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm."
"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D." Chiron said without looking up from his cards.
"Nonsense." Mr. D scoffed. "The boy wouldn't feel a thing. Never the less I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father."
"Mr. D-" Chiron warned, a hint of steel in his voice.
"Oh all right." Mr. D relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness." He rose to his feet, the invisible player's cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for an emergency meeting. If the boy's still here when I get back I'll turn him into an atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible option than what Chiron feels you must do." Dionysus picked up a playing card and twisted it. It shifted in his hand, becoming a credit card? No, a security pass. Then he snapped his fingers. The air seemed to fold around him. He became a hologram, then a wind, then he was gone, leaving only the smell of freshly pressed grapes behind.
Chiron smiled at them, but he seemed tired and strained. "Please sit, Percy. And Grover." They did. "Tell me, Percy" he started. "How do you feel you compare to the other campers here?"
Percy thought about lying, saying 'Heck, I could beat them all easy!' but he didn't feel like lying. "I don't." he sighed. "The only thing I'm good at is sword fighting and even then Luke is better than me."
"You'll surpass them, Percy. You'll have to before you're done." Chiron said.
"Done with what sir?" Percy couldn't help but ask.
"Your quest of course. Will you accept it?"
Percy looked at Grover who was looking worried. "Um, sir? You haven't told me what it is yet." Percy reminded him.
Chiron grimaced. "That's the hard part. The details."
Thunder rumbled. All across the sky gray clouds rolled, while the sea crashed and heaved. "Zeus and Poseidon. Their fighting over something valuable…something that was stolen, aren't they?"
Chiron and Grover exchanged looks before Chiron sat forward in his wheelchair. "How do you know that?"
Percy's face turned red. He was starting to wish he'd just kept quiet. "The weather since christmas has been weird, like the sea and sky are fighting. The I talked to Annabeth, and she's overheard something about a theft. And…I've been having these dreams."
"I knew it." Grover said.
"Hush, satyr." Chiron ordered.
"But it's his quest!" Grover was getting excited now. "It has to be!"
"Only the Oracle can determine that." Chiron said stroking his bristly beard. "Nevertheless, Percy you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lighting bolt."
Percy laughed nervously. "A what?"
"Do not take this lightly." Chiron warned. "I'm not talking about some tinfoil covered zigzag that you would see in a second grade play. I'm talking about a two foot long cylinder of high grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god level explosives."
"Oh." Percy said, feeling overwhelmed and lost all at the same time.
"Zeus's master bolt." Chiron said, getting into lecture mode. "The symbol of his power, which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the titans, the bolt that sheared the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt which packs enough firepower to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."
"And it's missing?" Percy said, finally starting to get the picture.
"Stolen." Chiron said.
"By who?" Percy asked.
"By whom." Chiron corrected. Once a teacher, always a teacher. "And by you." Percy's jaw fell open. "At least," Chiron said holding up a hand to forestall any protests. "That is what Zeus believes. During the winter solstice, the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense, 'Mother Rhea always liked you best' 'Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters.' etc. Afterward, Zeus noticed his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. No, a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly-that is forbidden by the most ancient of the divine laws. But Zeus believes that your father convinced a human hero to take it."
"But I didn't-" Percy started.
"Patience and listen, child." Chiron said. "Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of Olympus are underwater, giving your father some influence over the makers of his brothers lightning. Zeus believes that Poseidon had taken the master bolt, and is now having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays. You could have easily snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief."
"But I've never even been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!" Percy protested loudly. Chiron and Grover looked nervously at the sky. The clouds didn't seem to be parting around us as Grover had promised, instead they rolled over us, sealing us in like a coffin lid.
"Eh,Percy?" Grover said nervously. "We don't use the C-word to describe the lord of the sky."
"Perhaps paranoid." Chiron suggested. "But then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam…" he said looking for all the world like he actually expected Percy to remember question thirty eight.
But Percy was so lost. How could anyone accuse him of stealing a god's symbol of power. He couldn't even steal a slice of pizza from one of Gabe's poker parties without getting busted! "Something about a golden net?" He guessed. "Hera and Poseidon and a few other gods…they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?" Percy asked.
"Correct." Chiron said. "And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon since. Of course Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offence at the accusation. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening war. And now you've come along-the proverbial last straw."
"But I'm just a kid!" Percy protested again.
"Percy," Grover cut in. "if you were Zeus, and you already thought that your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after WWII, that he's fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you…wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?"
"But I didn't do anything." Percy said for what felt like the thousandth time. "Poseidon-my dad-he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?"
Chiron sighed. "Most observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon's style. But the sea god is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I was hoping that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus's temper. Now, neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war. And do you know what a full fledged war would look like Percy?"
"Bad?" Percy guessed, remembering the firepower the master bolt had.
"Imagine chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western Civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water balloon fight." Chiron illustrated.
"Bad." Percy repeated.
And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath."
It started to rain. Volleyball players stopped their game to stare up at the sky in stunned silence. Percy was well aware that it was because of him. Zeus was punishing the entire camp because of him. He was pissed. "So I have to find this stupid bolt," he spat "And return it to Zeus."
"What better peace offering," Chiron said, "Then to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus's property.
"If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is the thing?" Percy asked.
"I believe I know." Chiron said grimly. "Part of a prophecy I had some years ago…well, some of the lines make sense to me now. But before I say more you must officially take up the must seek the counsel of the oracle.
"Why can't you tell me where the bolt is beforehand?"
"Because if I did you would be too afraid to accept the challenge."
Percy swallowed. "Good reason."
"You agree then?" Chiron asked.
Percy looked at Grover who nodded encouragingly. "All right. It's better than being turned into a dolphin."
"Then it's time you consulted the oracle." Chiron said. "Go upstairs Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more."
Four flights up and the stairs ended with a green trapdoor leading up to the attic. Percy pulled the cord and the door swung down, and a wooden ladder clattered into place. The warm air smelled of mildew, rotting wood and something else…something Percy remembered from biology class. Reptiles. The smell of snakes. He help his breath and climbed the ladder. The attic was filled with greek hero junk. Suits of armor covered in cobwebs, once bright shields now covered with rust, old leather steamer trunks plastered with stickers saying ITHAKA, CIRCE'S ISLAND, and LAND OF THE AMAZONS. One long wooden table was covering by jars that held what looked like pickled-severed hairy claws, yellow eyes and other severed monster parts. A dusty mounted trophy on the wall looked like a snakes head, except with horns and a full set of shark teeth. The plaque read HYDRA HEAD #1, WOODSTOCK, N.Y. 1969.
But by the window, sitting on a wooden tripod stool was the most gruesome momento of all: a mummy. A green mist fell from the mummy's mouth coiling over the floor in thick tendrils, hissing like twenty thousand snakes. Percy scrambled backwards, trying to get back to the trapdoor, but it slammed shut. Then he heard a voice inside his head, coiling and slithering around his brain. I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo. Approach, seeker, and ask. Percy wanted to tell the mummy that he was in the wrong room, but forced himself to take a deep breath and step forward. This presence didn't feel like the Fury or the Minotaur. It felt more like the three fates that he'd seen knitting the socks of death, ancient, powerful, and definitely not human. But also not interested in killing him either.
Finally Percy worked up the courage to blurt out "What is my destiny?"
Green smoke came thick and fast out of the mummy's mouth, but now instead of coiling around on the floor, it formed a picture. Percy felt his fists clench when he realized that he was looking at one of Smelly Gabe's poker parties, that was probable happening right now.
Gabe turned and spoke in the raspy voice of the oracle: You shall go west, and face the god who has turned.
His buddy on the left turned and spoke in the same voice: You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned.
The guy on the right turned: You shall be betrayed by those who call you friend.
Finally Eddie, the apartment super turned and spoke a line that chilled Percy's blood: And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.
Percy was too stunned to speak for a moment, as the picture began to dissolve. "Wait!" he shouted, getting his bearings back as the mist formed a giant snake and began slithering into the mouth of the mummy. But the mist disappeared into the mummy's mouth and the mouth shut tight, as i it hadn't been open for a hundred years. His audience with the Oracle was over.
"Well?" Chiron asked as Percy came down.
Percy slumped into a chair at the pinochle table. "She said I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."
"I knew it!" Grover said, but Chiron didn't look satisfied.
"Anything else?" he asked. Percy didn't want to tell him. What friends would betray him? He didn't have that many. And that last line. Failing to save what matters most in the end? He just didn't want to bring that up. "No." he said at last. "That's it."
Chiron studied his face closely. "Very well." he said. "But know this Percy, the Oracle's words often have a double meaning. Don't dwell on them. The truth is often not clear until it comes to pass." Percy got the feeling that the centaur knew he was holding something back and was trying to make his feel better.
"Okay," Percy said, eager for a change of topic. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"
"Ah, think Percy." Chiron told him. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other, who stands to gain?"
"Someone who wants to take over?" Percy guessed.
"Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow more powerful with the death of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath the both of them have now broken."
Percy thought about his dream, and the evil voice that had spoke from under the ground. "Hades." he said at last.
Chiron nodded. "The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."
A scrap of aluminum dribbled out of Gravers mouth. "Whoa, wait. Wh-what?"
"A Fury came after Percy. She waited until she was sure of his identity, then she tried to kill him. The Furies obey only one lord. Hades." Chiron reminded him.
"Yes, but Hades hates all heroes." Grover protested. "If he found out Percy was a son of Poseidon…"
"A hellhound got into the forest," Chiron continued. "Those can only be summoned from the fields of punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone inside the camp. Hads must have a spy here. He must suspect that Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill the young half-blood before he can take on the quest."
"Great." Percy muttered. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."
"But a quest to…" Grover swallowed. "I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in a place like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year."
"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt." Chiron insisted. "He has hid it in the Underworld knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Dead's motives perfectly, or why he chose this moment to start a war, but one thing in certain. Percy must go to the underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth.
A new fire started burning in Percy as the thought about this. It wasn't the fear that had been gnawing away at his stomach since his arrival. It was anticipation. Hades had tried to kill him three times now, and Percy wanted some payback. Besides if they really went to the underworld, the master bolt might not be the only thing he found there. But a more sane side of him spoke up, reminding him that he was a kid and Hades was a god. "Look, If we know it's Hades, why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads." he suggested.
"Suspecting and knowing are not the same thing." Chiron said. "And even if the other gods did suspect Hades-and I'd imagine Poseidon does-they couldn't retrieve the bolt themselves. Gods cannot cross each others territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone so long as they are bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be responsible for a heroes actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?"
"You're saying I'm being used." Percy surmised.
"I'm saying that it's no accident Poseidon had claimed you now. It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situation. He needs you." Chiron replied.
Emotions rolled through Percy. He wasn't quite sure how he felt at hearing that the dad he's never even met, now needed him to risk life and limb to clear his name. Then something clicked in his head. "You've know I was Poseidon's son all along haven't you?" he asked Chiron.
"I had my suspicions." Chiron nodded. "As I said…I've spoken with Oracle too."
Percy figured there was more to this prophecy that Chiron wasn't telling him, but decided not to push the issue. After all, he was holding back information too. "So let me get this straight." he said. "I'm supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of Dead."
"Check." Chiron said.
"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."
"Check."
"And get back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."
"That's about it." Chiron nodded. Percy looked at Grover for support, but what he saw was worry and fear. "I know you would like Grover to come, but quests are reserved for demigods." Chiron told him.
Percy nodded. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west."
"The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus."
"Where?" Percy asked.
Chiron looked at him. "I thought that would be obvious. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."
"Oh." Percy said. "Naturally. So we just get on a plane and-"
"No!" Grover shrieked. "Percy what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your life?"
Percy shook his head. His mom had always said they didn't have the money. Besides her parents had died in a plane crash.
"Percy, think." Chiron said. "You are the son of the Sea God. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus's domain. You would never come down again alive."
Lightning cracked overhead accompanied by the boom of thunder. "Right." Percy said determinedly not looking at the growing storm. "So I'll travel overland."
"That's right." Chiron nodded. "Two companions may accompany you if you will accept their help."
"Gee. I wonder who one of them is." Percy said sarcastically. The air shimmered behind Chiron, and Annabeth became visible, stuffing her Yankee's cap in her back pocket.
"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain." she told him. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best Person to keep you from messing up."
"If you say so yourself." Percy snarked. "I take it you have a plan wise girl?"
Annabeth's cheeks colored. ""Do you want my help or not?" she snapped.
"Fine." Percy nodded. "So who's the other guy."
The answer he got was not one he was expecting. "That would be me." A voice growled from behind him. Xander stood behind him, at the back door, leaning against the doorframe.
Percy gulped. He still remembered how Xander's calm expression could be replaced by a mask of wrath so seamlessly. He also remembered that It was his fault that Xander hadn't been able to stop Shin-Li from capturing the Ares flag. And to be perfectly honest, there was just something about the white haired, red eyed boy that scared him. But, that also meant that that kind of power would be used to fight off amy monsters they may happen to come across during the quest.. "A trio." he said at last. "That'll work."
"Excellent." Chiron said. "This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own." Thunder rumbled in the distance. Rain poured down on the valleys that were never supposed to have violent weather. "No time to waste," Chiron said. "I think you should get packing."
*Yes, I know that Satyrs and other creatures are allowed to go on quests, but for the sake of having the trio remain a trio I had to cut one person. Don't worry. Grover will have a more serious role in 'Demigod Tales: Another Side Another Story' written by Matthias the Wanderer.
And If anyone has a guess as to who Xander and Shin-Li's godly parents are, I'd be happy to hear them.