CHAPTER 4

I GET GROUNDED FOR LIFE

If my eyes could get any more wide, my lashes would fall off.

I couldn't believe it. Luke? Luke? I can't imagine him coming back to Camp. Then again, he's done some pretty despicable things.

But… how? How did he get into Camp, unseen, and stole the sword from the Big House. I asked Chiron that, but he said he didn't know either.

"Honestly, Percy," Chiron had said, his eyes sad, "I do not know. There are many possibilities of how he could have gotten into the camp unnoticed. He could have used an invisibility charm, he could have had a spy, who knows."

"Wait," I said, "how do you even know it was Luke?"

Chiron sighed, "He left a note."

"A note?" I exclaimed. "Seriously?"

He nodded, "Well, it wasn't much of a note, actually. He just wrote about 2 words." I was about to asked what those 2 words were, when he walked over to his brown leather backpack at the other side of the room. He grabbed a small piece of paper from the pocket, it was about the size of a 3x3 note card. He turned back to us and handed the note to me. Chiron was right, it was exactly 2 words:

BEWARE,

LUKE

"'Beware?'" I wondered, "Is that a threat?"

"I don't know." Chiron said, shaking his head at the ground. "It could be a warning, maybe he wants to protect us, save us."

I snorted, "Yeah, and Darth Vader just wanted to dance around in a tutu and sing karaoke."

Chiron frowned, "Percy, I've told you what you need to know, alright? You may leave."

"What do you mean 'told you what you need to know'? Not that I'm complaining, but why did you tell me?"

He paused, "I thought you should know because you are part of the prophecy whether you want to accept it or not. Whatever happens between now and the summer solstice will affect the destiny of Mount Olympus and the Camp. And you."

I wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about the summer solstice or the 'destiny' stuff, but I decided to let it go. I looked to my left and saw that Grover was biting his nails, what he always does when he's scared or nervous.

On my right, I saw Annabeth still staring out the window. Her eyes looked like Chiron's: gloomy and upset. She looked miserable. I tapped her arm, trying to get her attention, but she didn't seem to notice.

I said, "Annabeth, you okay?"

She glanced at me, and I didn't know if I saw a tear or not, "I'm fine." Was all she said. Then she muttered something about getting back to her chores and got up and headed toward the door.

I stood up too, "Wait, Annabeth!" I yelled for her to come back but she kept walking. I tried to follow her when I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Chiron's.

"No, Percy. Let her be." He said sadly.

I wanted to protest, but I knew Chiron was right. Annabeth always had a soft spot for Luke. I guess understood it; she grew up with him and Thalia, and she's all protective of him. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't get why Annabeth still thought Luke was the same cool, trusting guy. Unfortunately, I did know. It's because she had a crush on him.

When she talked so highly of him, I feel like there's a big, dark, black hole in the pit of my stomach. I didn't know what that was, but then I thought it was jealousy. Can you believe it? I was jealous of Luke.

It made me sick. This guy betrays us and the whole Camp, and still, Annabeth liked him. She always thought he could change. He never will. Ever. I was mad that Annabeth liked him. I was angry. But every time I would bring it up with her, she would just snap at me and scream in my face.

Girls.

Me and Grover left the Big House after Chiron told us he needed some time to think.

As Grover and I were walking back to the cabins, he asked, "Are you ok?"

I turned to him, "What do you mean?" I said, "The part where I find out the most powerful weapon in the world is stolen or the part that Luke was the one who stole it?" It came out a bit harsher than I meant to, but hey, I had a lot on my mind.

"Could of just said no." Grover muttered.

I sighed , "I'm sorry, man. But doesn't this suck? Luke, of all people."

He nodded, "Yeah, it does."

We walked the rest of the way in silence.

When I arrived at my cabin, I figured I should get settled in. And then I remembered I didn't have anything to settle into. I didn't have any of my clothes or other stuff because I had that run-in with the Panda Monster. All I had were the clothes I was wearing and my backpack. I was supposed to pack when I came back from school, but I never did.

Instead, I just lied on my bed. I looked around my cabin, it was all familiar. The walls were white with some aqua details. I had my nightstand next to my bed. My dad's blue-gray Trident was on the corner of the cabin.

I was about to take a nap, when someone knocked on the door. I got up to see who it was, and it was Chiron.

"Uh, hi Chiron. I thought you needed to think?" I said.

He chuckled lightly, "Yes, well, I could do that any time." He said, "I wanted to check on you, see how you are handling."

"I'm fine, I guess." I could tell that wasn't what he wanted to tell me.

Chiron stood there for a while, unsure what he wanted to say. It was like he was having an argument with himself. Not certain if he should tell me or not.

Apparently, he made his decision because he took a breath, "Actually, Percy, I came here because I wanted to make sure you won't do anything rash."

I tilted my head, "What?"

Chiron sighed, "Percy, as much as I know and trust you, you can be a little… unpredictable."

"Unpredictable?" I repeated.

He nodded, "Much like your father. I know you want to do what is right and get the Sword back from Luke, but you can't."

"How do you know I was going to get it?"

Chiron smiled a little, "Because I know you, Percy." He said, "But please, whatever you do, do not go after him. It is much too dangerous."

No kidding, I thought. But one thing was still uneven. "Chiron, what did you mean back at the House? You know, about the solstice and my destiny? "

He grimaced, "I've told you more than you needed to know."

"I don't care!" I suddenly exploded. I don't know why, I just hated that no one was telling me everything. "I'm not a little kid, Chiron! You don't have to protect from whatever is happening. If the prophecy is about me, I deserve to know." I crossed my arms.

Chiron stayed calm, like he always did, "You are right. You do deserve to know everything about this. I will tell you, but when the time is right. That is the only promise I can make."

"But…"

"That is final." He stated. He gave me a look that clearly meant I shouldn't argue. I didn't.

"Fine." I grumbled.

Chiron was just about to leave, when he turned around and said, "By the way, Percy, you should probably message your mother. Tell her that you're alright."

I nodded and he left.

I totally forgot about Mom! She must be worried sick. I fished through my pockets to find a golden drachma. When I finally found one, I walked over to the other side of the cabin and threw the coin in the fountain.

As the drachma splashed in the water I said, "Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering; show me Sally Jackson in Manhattan."

The water shimmered and a few seconds later, my mother was right there. It looked like she was waiting the phone to dial because she was holding it and tapping her toes impatiently.

"Mom!" I called out.

She looked so startled that she dropped the phone and turned around. "Percy!" she screeched, "Oh, thank god! My baby, are you alright? I was so worried."

I was glad she wasn't mad, but I guess I spoke too soon because just after she said that and noticed I was in Camp safely, Mom was not happy. She turned to inferno-mode.

"'Perseus Jackson!" She yelled, her hands on her hips, "How dare you go off to Camp without you telling me! Do you have any idea how scared I was? That was so irresponsible of you, mister."

I gave her a sheepish smile, "Sorry?" I tried.

That did not help.

She started the tantrum with, "When you get home, you will be grounded the rest of your life!"

Then my mom went on and on about how 'arrogant' and 'selfish' I was. I would tell you the whole screaming story, but I don't think that would be a good idea.

Basically, it was about how stupid I was. I'm guessing you've learned that already.

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