All right new chapter is here. Well change of plans seeing as I can't seem to decide on the harem choices I decided to use all of the ones from the poll, Because I didn't hit the play on profile *cue slap upside the head from Percy and Revan.* Ow. Anyways here's the new chapter.
The very next day Chiron ushered Revan and I into the Poseidon cabin. Revan and I could call light out whenever we wanted and choose what classes to take and at what time. Though it was kind of depressing due to the fact people avoided us like the plague. Ah who am I kidding we loved it!
No one tried to snoop around us. We could talk freely without people trying to listen in. Well people seemed more content to talk about the hellhound behind our backs. It proved two things though. One was we were sons of the sea god the second being monsters would stop at nothing to kill us. It scared the campers out of their minds; well all except Thalia she didn't really care apparently. We had met each other during free time and talked.
She said she didn't give a damn just as long as we didn't do anything to bother her. But she was but one of many, cabin eleven was scared shitless of us and Luce was the only one willing to duel me, well besides Thalia.
Luce tried to push me harder but in the end we ended in draws most of the time. I hadn't been able to fight Thalia yet or even see her style. Annabeth and I still discussed ancient Greek things but she seemed distracted like she was deciding to hate me or just be indifferent, probably because of the issues between my father and her mother.
And when she would be leaving I could catch her muttering. "Quests...Poseidon...Dirty rotten…got to make a plan…" Clarisse and her cabin kept their distance though she glared at me like she wanted to kill me. Well good luck for better than her have tried and failed.
Two nights after moving into my brother's and mine new cabin Sam and Colin managed to sneak over. Revan got up after hearing a knock at the door and opened it letting the two inside. "So what's up?" I asked sitting on the edge of my bed cleaning one of the bolt action rifles.
"Well nothing really. We came to tell you we managed to start getting electricity running throughout the bunker. We just put in a long distance radio and brought our stuff over to the bunker." Sam explained while Colin took a seat on one of the chairs we had. "Good, that's good news anything else?" I asked as I put the rifle back together. "Yes sir reports indicate that our agent in Brooklyn was able to set up a small bureau with just him so far. He is also requesting additional forces." Colin said.
"Granted we need to hold Brooklyn and keep the templar's busy. Send in a few of the more experienced veterans along with the message to hold out as long as he can." I said setting the rifle down in the corner of the room. I pulled out a map from my pack and set it down on a table we set up along the far wall.
"Alright here's the situation." I said gaining their undivided attention. "We are here at CHB." I pointed to an area of the map with the CHB abbreviation on it. "The mansion is up here in upper New York. We hold New York City with the templar's trying to constantly get in any way they can." I pointed to the ocean around New York. "The templar's are planning to move a cargo ship into harbor to try and get a foothold. Sam, you are going to meet up with our agents in New York City more specifically in Brooklyn. From there you and whatever people you can round up are to make sure that ship never makes it there." I said with Sam nodding while Revan studied the map closely.
"Why don't we go?" Revan asked. "We are sons of the sea god we would be better for making sure it doesn't survive." I sighed and looked at my brother. "That is exactly why we can't go. The campers along with Chiron are going to watch us like hawks and if we leave we can be certain the gods are going to send someone or something after us. While Sam here is an unknown faceless camper that they'll never look for."
Revan nodded in agreement. "Very well, so where is this boat?" Revan asked after a moment of silence. "It's out in the middle of the Atlantic. Sam this is going to be a heli drop. In and out in a matter of minutes, plant the charges get out then detonate once you're off the ship." Sam nodded his head.
"You'll need to bring some weapons to take care of monsters if there are any on that ship." I stated looking at Sam. "Got it covered already." Sam said as he pulled out small black stone and squeezed it. After a second darkness engulfed the hand that held the stone. Then the shadows lengthened into a five foot long abject.
The shadows cleared to show a deadly spear seemingly made of shadows with wisps of shadows around the tip of the spear. The shadows suddenly shrunk back into the black stone form and he pocketed it. "Let's do this." He said I nodded and stuck out my hand. Sam took my hand and shook it. "Good luck see you when you get back."
"Yes sir, when do I leave?" Asked Sam. "As soon as you're able to." I said and ushered Sam and Colin to the door. They exited and went back to cabin eleven while I closed my cabin door and sat down on the bed.
"So what now?" Asked Revan. "Now, now we wait Revan and train and prepare for the coming battle. Though now we sleep and prepare. Lights out." I called out to him as I turned the lights off and went to bed.
Have I told you how much I hate demigod dreams? No? Well then I hate them with all my heart and soul. Though they do have their uses.
This time I was running along a beach in L.A. I remembered the place very well after all that I did there. Around one hundred yards away from me two men were fighting. They looked like wrestlers from TV complete with big muscles, and beards along with wearing flowing Greek tunics. One tunic was trimmed with sea green while the other was an electric blue. They grappled with each other, kick, punched, wrestled, and head butted and each time a blow would land lightning arced across the sky, the sky would darken and the wind would pick up another notch.
I had to stop them for some reason so I started towards them; though the harder I ran the harder the resistance was until I was literally running in place. Over the sound of the howling wind, and rumbling thunder I heard the blue one start to yell. Give it back, give it back! Like a kindergartners fighting over a toy. Honestly I'd taught seven year olds with more maturity.
I started to yell at them Stop it! Stop it both of you! Stop damn you! I yelled over the storms howling. The ground shook and a deep evil laughter filled the air coming from below ground. This laugh chilled my blood to ice.
Come down little Hero! The voice called out to me Come down! With that the sand split apart making a rupture across the ground causing my feet to slip and for me to fall down into the awaiting abyss of darkness.
I shot up in my bed into a sitting position knife in hand waiting for someone or something to attack me. I fell down onto my back after waiting for an attack and getting none. I was coated in a cold sweat lying in my bed. Outside was dark but my watch said it was still morning. I looked over at the bed where Revan was to see him sitting on the ledge of the bed sharpening a sword. He was decked out in black cargo pants, combat boots, a black t shirt and a military jacket with a vest on.
"Morning." Was all he said not looking up from sharpening the blade. "Sam left last night and made it to Brooklyn. Mr. D wants to talk to us something about a quest I think so get ready." He said before leaning the sword on the bed post and getting up. I nodded and put on blue jeans, tan work boots, an orange camp half-blood t shirt with my brown leather jacket over it.
I walked over to the door and opened it letting Revan outside first before closing it and heading up to the big house. I'd heard about the pact on the Styx of Hades, Zeus and Poseidon not having children, now that we were known to the gods they'd probably be settling on a death sentence. If I was lucky I'd be able to buy us sometime using the liquor over Mr. D and give us some time to get out of here before they tried to carry out the sentence.
The skies over long Island were boiling with storm clouds and a hazy curtain of rain was making its way towards us. I'd noticed that no matter the weather it was always nice at camp, no rain and such. But I had a feeling Zeus was the cause of the storm along with an arguing Poseidon.
In the volleyball pit Apollo campers played against satyrs. Dionysus's twins were walking about the strawberry fields overall everything was the norm. But Revan and I could see the tenseness they had about them all watching the coming storm, just like in war troops preparing for the imminent assault that they knew was coming.
We walked up to the front porch to see Chiron and Mr. D playing invisible opponents in pinochle, two hands of cards were just floating mid air. Revan walked up to Mr. D and pulled a metal flask from one of his vest pockets and gave it to him. Mr. D took the flask and nodded his head towards us.
Revan and I took our seats at the table. "So what's up?" I asked leaning back into my seat. "Well nothing much other than your uncle, my father, throwing a fit because of you two being alive." Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder rumbled like a volley of artillery pieces.
"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah." Mr. D said rolling his eyes. At least I think, I couldn't tell with those shades on. If anything that only pissed off Zeus more, Chiron looked at his cards in fake interest, Revan face planted on the card table with a groan. "Suicide mission?" Revan asked, his voice muffled by the table.
"Yes well Daddy dearest wants you to retrieve his bolt that was stolen. Don't worry though I'll be rooting for you, now I've got to go to a meeting on Olympus ta." Mr. D said getting up and picked up a playing card that when he twisted it, it became a security card. I noticed Revan looking at it with half lidded eyes.
Then Mr. D snapped his fingers and his form flickered like a dying hologram, then he was gone, leaving behind the scent of crushed grapes. Chiron looked at both Revan and I and smiled though it looked strained and sad. "Tell me Percy what did you think of the hellhound?" He asked me.
"Nothing I haven't seen before." I answered. "Before we came here Revan and I lived with an adopted figure of sorts he had experience with fencing and taught us a bit. We ran into the occasional monster but otherwise we lived in peace." It wasn't a lie but it wasn't the truth either.
"I see." Chiron said looking at us curiously. "Well anyways you'll meet worse, both of you, before you're done." My suicidal mission sense is tingling…never mind false alarm. "Done with what?" Revan asked his face still grounded to the table. "Why your quest of course. Will you accept?"
"Quest for what?" I asked interlacing my fingers and kicking my feet up on the table. "Well that's the hard part, the details to be exact." Chiron grimaced. The thunder made its self known once again across the valley. The storm had made its way to the beach. It looked like the sky and sea were boiling together.
"Poseidon and Zeus are fighting for something yes?" I asked. "Now why would you say something like that?" Asked Chiron. "It's like the sea and skies are warring with each other and we're caught in the middle of it all. That and the weather since Christmas, that and Annabeth mentioned something along the lines of a theft, also I've been having weird dreams." I said.
"You are correct Percy. Your father and Zeus are having their biggest quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise a lightning bolt." Revans' head had risen with the conversation and now he stared at Chiron. "Bullshit." Was all Revan said. Chiron looked at him dumbfounded.
"Revan make no mistake this is no light matter." Chiron said. "This is no tin foil second grade prop but a two foot long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped at both ends with Olympian grade explosives."
"I don't care I'm still calling bullshit." Revan said without a single emotion in his voice. "Revan, this bolt is Zeus's symbol of power; all other lightning bolts are pattered after this one. It was the first weapon made by the Cyclops's in the titan war, the bolt that sheered off the top of Mt Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers." Chiron ranted.
"You done lecturing yet, I have a pretty good idea of what comes next. Someone stole it and by who you have no idea."
"Whom." Chiron corrected. Revan glared at him. "And since daddy dearest claimed us they figured it was us. So how close was I?" Revan asked putting an arm on the table. Chiron nodded his head. "Zeus believes that you did it." Revan groaned and started banging his head against the table repeatedly. "I don't suppose there's a way for us to make an alibi?" I asked pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Well yes it's an oath on the river Styx." As soon as Chiron said that thunder rumbled outside. "It's the most binding oath." Chiron continued. "Well then, I was in England during the winter solstice I swear it on the Styx." Revan said. Thunder rumbled and yet nothing bad happened, yet.
"I was down in Florida for the solstice I swear it on the Styx." I said. Thunder rumbled and nothing else happened. "Well then I guess this means you aren't the thieves. But none the less Zeus still believes you two to be the thieves."
"BULLSHIT! Zeus is nothing but a big old pansy sitting up on his all high and mighty throne being nothing but a dumbass bratty child! This is complete and utter bullshit I tell you! Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit, bullshit!" Revan ranted, and then he turned to the sky.
"Do you hear me you oversized child?!" Revan yelled at the sky. "This is complete and utter bullshit for no other purpose that to entertain yourself you oversized pompous ass!" Thunder rumbled and the clouds covered the camp like a coffin lid. "You done yet?" I asked bored out of my mind. Chiron had wide eyes and an open mouth staring at Revan. "Yeah I'm done." Revan said slumping down in the chair.
"So what does mister air for brains what us to do about this cluster fuck?" I asked. "Um… Well… Zeus wants his bolt returned by the summer solstice or war will be declared." Chiron said eyes still wide at Revans' rant.
Then it started to rain. The campers at the volley ball pit stopped mid game just to look up at the sky. How lovely. "So just so we're clear, we have to find the bolt return it to Zeus and then we're good?" Revan asked. "Yes that is essentially the plan."
"Alright any guesses as to where it is?" I asked. When I asked Chiron's expression became grim. "Yes I believe so; you must take up a council with the oracle." Revan and I looked at each other and Revan shrugged his shoulders. I nodded my head and stood up as did Revan.
"Percy you alone shall consult the oracle." Chiron said. I was about to protest when Revan waved me off and put his head down on the table to nap again.
After four flights of stairs they ended under a green trapdoor. I pulled the cord down and a wooden ladder fell down allowing me to climb up. I ascended up the stairs and found something I wasn't expecting. Old Greek armor and weapons lay around the attic along with old armor stands, rusty old shields; some of the items had stickers on them such as ITHAKA, Circe's Isle, and Land of the amazons.
There was a long table alongside the wall with glass jars filled with a greenish/yellowish liquid as well as various objects. Like hairy clawed hands, yellow eyes, and other various monster parts. A dusty mounted trophy was actually a hydras head. It reassembled a snakes head, but with horns and rows of sharp razor like teeth.
By the window on a tripod stool was probably the creepiest thing yet. An old shriveled up husk of a human dressed in tie-dyed sundress, lots of beaded necklaces. She had a headband over long black hair, the skin on her face was thin and leathery over her skull, her eyes were glassy white slits, and more likely was that the eyes were replaced with marbles. Whoever or whatever this was it had been dead a long time.
If that wasn't crazy enough the mummy sat up and her mouth opened and a green mist poured out that coiled over the floor in thick tendrils, hissing like thousands of snakes. Bang! I looked behind me to see the trap door slam shut. Then I heard a voice inside of my head. 'I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask.'
The voice sounded distorted with overlying voices mixing in. I shrugged my shoulders and turned to face the mummy hippy. "Where do I find the bolt?" I asked. With the question asked the mist swirled more thickly, collecting in front of me. The mist rose slowly like a wall and when it cleared four people faced me.
The four figures all wore assassin robes. They drew their hoods back revealing their faces. The far left one was Revan, the next one was Sam, the one after that was Colin, and the last one was Thom. 'You shall go west and find the god who has turned.' Revan spoke swinging his sword back and forth. 'You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned.' Sam spoke planting the butt of the spear onto the floor. Colin pulled out a knife and ran his thumb over the edge of it. 'You shall be betrayed by the one who calls you friend.' Then Thom stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back. 'And you shall fail to save what matters most in the end.'
The figures pulled their hoods on and turned around and started to walk towards the mummy before dissolving. The mist from all over the room came together shaping into a giant serpent and slithered into the mummy's mouth. When the last of the serpent's tail was unseen the mummy leaned back onto the wall and her mouth clamped shut. Then it was like nothing happened at all.
I turned and opened the trap door and climbed down. I sat down at the table after shutting the trap door. "Well?" Asked Chiron. "Well what?" I asked in return. "What did the oracle say?"
"She said…I would go west and face the god who has turned and I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned." I said still recalling that raspy distorted voice. "Anything else?" Chiron asked.
"Nope." I said "Very well but do remember that the words of the oracle often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. Often the truth won't be revealed until the end." I knew that he knew I was holding something back but he had the decency to leave it to me. For that my already great respect of him grew.
"So what god or gods reside in the west?" I asked. "Think about it Percy who stands to gain if Poseidon and Zeus go to war?" Chiron asked. "Hades maybe?" Revan asked. "Correct, the Furies obey only one lord, Hades. A hellhound entered the forest; they are from the fields of punishment and can only be summoned by someone inside camp. He must have a spy here, he probably suspects Poseidon will use you two to try and clear his name. Hades would love to kill you before you can take the quest."
Revan and I shared a look. Looks like we're going to hell early this summer. We would be able to get Thom back. Revan grinned and sat up. "When do we leave?" Revan asked grinning at Chiron. "When Percy chooses his two companions." Chiron said.
"What do you mean two companions?" I asked him. "You may only take two people with you." He said staring right at him. "No." I stated. "What?"
"I said no. I want three people with me." I demanded. "I'm sorry Pe-" I didn't let him finish as I slammed my hands down on the table. "I will take two others with me along with Revan or I will not go on this quest just to appease a god who thinks himself so high and mighty." I stated.
Chiron stared at me for a while before sighing and nodding his head. "Very well though I must warn you, you already have a volunteer." Before I could ask who I felt something stir beside me. In a flash I had my sword pointed at the source of the disturbance and Revan did the same.
The air shimmered revealing Annabeth there both our sword points at her neck. We both lowered our blades and put them back. "I've been waiting for a quest for a while, Athena is no fan of Poseidon but if you two are going to save the world then I'm your best bet to keep you both alive." She stated.
"Actually I was planning on asking you anyways." I said. "I also ask for Grover Underwood." Chiron and Annabeth looked surprised. "Now why are you asking this of him?" Chiron asked. "He can smell monsters and demigods he should be a very good early warning system." I shrugged.
Before Chiron could say anything else someone yelled. "Wait!" Thalia came up on the porch and glared at me. "My father has ordered me to go with you on this quest." Oh joy we get a babysitter. "I'm sorr-" Chiron started before thunder rumbled and Chiron looked up and sighed. "Very well you all will leave in about two hours for now get packed."
Revan and I nodded and we dashed down towards our cabin. We both dashed inside. "What are we taking with us?" Revan asked. I picked up my pack and threw it on my bed and put some clothes, food, a few weapons, drachmas, and about two thousand dollars in mortal cash inside the pack. "Whatever you see fit, just no fire arms." Revan looked a little miffed with that. "Why?" I sighed and turned towards him. "Do you feel like explaining where we got firearms that fire celestial bronze rounds to Chiron or the campers as well as telling them we hid them in camp?" I asked.
He slowly shook his head no. "Well then there's your answer." With that I turned back to packing my bag. We eventually left the cabin after packing various weapons and Revan eventually convincing me to let him bring a pistol as did I just in case of templar's.
Annabeth was bringing her Yankees baseball cap. She said it was a gift from her mother on her twelfth birthday. On top of that she was bringing an architectural book on famous classical structures that was written in Greek for when she got bored, as well as a large bronze knife hidden up her shirt sleeve.
Grover had his fake feet and pants to pass off as a normal teenager. He wore a green beanie on top of his head, because when it rained his hair would flatten revealing the top of two little horns. His backpack was full of scrap metal and apples to snack on. In his pocket was a set of reed pipes his daddy got carved for him, even though he knew only two songs: Mozart's piano concerto no. 12 and Hilary duff's "So yesterday" both sounded awful on the reed pipes.
Thalia brought her spear that turned into a canister of mace and her shield Aegis that turned into a bracelet. The spear was electrified so that was a plus. She was wearing an old army jacket and blue jeans with combat boots and a Greenday shirt.
We were on top of the hill with Chiron next to us. "You need to go to Los Angeles, that's the entrance to the underworld." He told me. Next to Chiron was the surfer dude with way to many eyes, apparently he was head of security. He was wearing a chauffeur's uniform so I could only see the eyes on his hands and face. "Argus will take you to the city and keep an eye on things." Revan and I struggled to hold in our laughter.
Luce ran up to us carrying a pair of shoes. "Hey glad I caught you guys." Annabeth blushed, Revan snickered, Thalia smirked, I smiled and Grover just stood there. "Good luck and I thought you could use these." She said as she handed me the shoes. I took them and Luce said "Maia!"
The shoes sprouted wings at the heels. "Awesome!" Shouted Grover. Luce smiled. "These served me well on my quest, gift from dad; Of course I don't use them much these days…" She looked sad.
I looked at the shoes which were still struggling to get away from me. "Thank you, Luce these will take us a long way I'm sure of it." I said sincerely bowing my head slightly towards her. Luce blushed a little bit before smirking at me. Then her face saddened a little bit. "Listen Percy… a lot of hopes are riding on you… just be careful and kill some monsters for us, okay?"
I nodded my head. "By the way how do I get these to quit it?" I asked indicating to the shoes. "Oh that? Maia." She said. When she said the last word the shoes wings disappeared. After that she rubbed Grover's head, in between the horns, hugged Annabeth, who looked ready to feint, and then shook hands with Thalia and nodded towards Revan. We shook hands last before she left back towards camp.
"You're hyper ventilating Annabeth." Revan stated. I smirked at him. "Am not!" She said failing to cover up her red face. "There's no denying it." He said before walking down the hill. "Hey Grover come here." I said. Grover came over and looked at me, I handed him the shoes while he sported a gaping mouth and wide eyes.
"What?" He asked. "I can't take to the sky and you have no magical items so it's a win, win. So here." I said before turning to Chiron who smiled at me. "Very wise of you Percy." He stated. "No." I shook my head. "Just common sense."
"Maia!" Grover said. He slowly raised off the ground then fell sideways so his backpack dragged across the ground then the shoes shot off down the hill with Grover yelling. "Practice is all he needs." Chiron stated.
I was about to take off down the hill before Chiron grabbed my arm. "Forgive me Percy I should have trained both you and Revan better." He said slightly sad. "Heracles, Jason they all had more training." I smiled at him. "Its fine Chiron we'll be fine. Revan and I both have a few tricks of our own." He nodded before getting a serious face.
"Here this was meant for you. Your father left it with me if I ever met another child of Poseidon." He handed me a ball point pen that normally would've cost thirty cents, but then again nothing is really normal in my life. I took the pen from him and uncapped it. I watched as it turned into a three foot long blade of celestial bronze.
The blade was double edged, leather wrapped grip, and a flat hilt riveted with golden studs. On top of that it was perfectly balanced. "This sword has a long and tragic history though we won't go into that just yet." Chiron said. "Its name is Anaklusmos."
"Riptide." I said as I studied the blade. "Correct, now should you lose the blade it will return to your pocket in pen form." Chiron said. 'Cool just like my other weapon.' I thought as I recapped the sword and twirled it in my hand. "Use it in emergencies only and against monsters only. No hero should harm mortals, unless absolutely necessary, of course this sword won't harm a mortal anyway." I fidgeted when Chiron said heroes shouldn't harm mortals. 'Too late.' I thought.
"Thank you Chiron, see you whenever we get back." I said as I ran down to the van. I slipped Riptide into my left pocket on my thigh.
I smiled as I jumped in the back seat of the van. Argus started the van and we drove down the road. I turned my mp3 and 'highway to hell' came on. The fates must have a sense of humor.