CHAPTER 5
STUPID BERMUDA TRIANGLE
Dreams suck.
It's the worst thing ever. Especially if you're a demigod. It's like you're really there, and that is not a good thing.
I didn't exactly remember what the dream was about, though, I just recalled parts of it.
I saw a guy with sandy hair. Right away, I knew it was Luke. It was the same cruel, painful face I saw a year ago. It looked like he was on an island or hilltop. There was a river beside him and he wasn't alone. There were about 2 dozen… creatures. I wasn't sure what they were, but they looked tough.
"Will we do it now, sir?" one of the creatures asked Luke.
Luke was sitting on a rock. Looking toward the creature, he said, "No. I've told you already. In a few days; the summer solstice."
"Are you sure no one will stop us?" The creature asked.
Luke snorted, "Please. How will anyone know where we are? No one can find us. We are beyond the gods."
The creature looked as if he were about to say something, but didn't. His expression was uncertain.
"Now," Luke said, standing up, "In a matter of days, we will be unbeatable. He will rise and Mount Olympus will become ours."
The creatures all clapped their hands in triumph.
The last thing I saw was a golden coffin; the very one Kronos was in.
I woke up, sweating. What the Hades was that? I thought.
But I did know what it was. It was Luke. It was Luke trying to bring back Kronos. And he would succeed unless someone stopped him.
I sat up on my bed and took a deep breath. What did he say? Land beyond the gods? Where was that?
I had way too many questions buzzing in my head. I decided to try to forget that for the time being, or else my head would explode. Just relax, I told myself.
I got up, took a shower, got dressed and headed to the Pavilion for breakfast. It really was a wonderful day. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I instantly smiled. If it weren't for the dream, this would've been an amazing morning.
As I was walking toward the Pavilion, I saw Annabeth talking to her brother, Malcolm. I always thought Malcolm was pretty cool. He looked like surfer dude. He had honey colored hair and was kind of tall.
I strolled toward them and I realized that Annabeth was smiling. I was glad she wasn't still hung up from the meeting yesterday.
When I got close, Annabeth noticed me and waved, "Hey, Percy." She called.
I grinned, "Hey."
We stood there, a little awkwardly.
"Well, I should go," Said Malcolm. For some reason he was smirking.
When Malcolm left, I asked Annabeth, "So, um are you ok?"
Her eyes turned stormier than usual and her smile wiped off. "I guess."
I sighed, "Annabeth, really. You can tell me."
She hesitated, but eventually gave in. She crossed her arms and looked down. "I just can't believe he would do that." She said, quietly.
I can, I wanted to say so badly. But if I did, I knew she would get angry.
Instead, I replied, "Look, I know it stinks, but what's done, is done. You can't fight it."
I thought she was going to snap at me, but she smiled, which surprised me. "When did you become the logical one?"
I laughed, "I've learned a lot these last few months."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, teasingly, "Not enough, Seaweed Brain."
Feeling great, Annabeth and I walked toward the Dining Pavilion together. Just like old times. I couldn't stop smiling.
The rest of the morning went smoothly. I can't believe I forgot how amazing the food was. After breakfast, I went to my first activity: archery. I wasn't exactly the best at archery. I had terrible aim, and I never could even come close with hitting the board with a bow. In fact, I never could shoot a bow to anything, well except that girl from the Ares cabin. That was a painful day.
Next, was Sword Fighting. That was the only activity I actually looked forward to because I knew how to fight. I was also excited since Annabeth had that too. We were always partners, and even though she would always beat me, I got better every time.
"So, Annabeth," I said as we were sword fighting, "We hadn't really had a chance to catch up. What's up?"
"Nothing much," she answered, she was beading with sweat like me, "You?"
"Nada."
It was really fun, fighting with Annabeth. We always seem to know each other's moves; which makes it more difficult.
When we were done with the swords, Annabeth and I decided to take a rest. We decided to head down to the beach. We sat and just hung out. We laughed and talked. Just normal stuff.
Which is why I regretted when I brought up my dream.
"The Land beyond the gods?" Annabeth questioned.
I nodded, "Yeah, that's what Luke said." I saw that she flinched a little when I said his name.
"Well, that's only 2 possible places." She said. I couldn't help but notice how cute Annabeth looked when she was thinking. She pouts and her nose gets all crinkled, and the way her golden hair flows when the wind blows-
"Percy!"
I got interrupted from my thoughts when I saw Annabeth waving her hand in front of my face. "Earth to Percy!"
I blushed, hoping she didn't noticed I was staring at her, "Uh… sorry."
Annabeth sighed and rolled her eyes. "Did you even listen to what I said?"
"Um… no."
She shook her in disapproval, "Honestly, Percy, how do you just space out like that?" She expressed, "Anyway, I said that there are only 2 places that the gods can't enter: Alaska and the Bermuda Triangle."
I thought about the setting in my dream. There were trees, hills, and water. No snow or Eskimos or cold weather. Finally I said, "I'm pretty sure Luke's not at Alaska."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow, but didn't question me. "Ok, then. He's at the Bermuda Triangle. At least we've figured that out."
"Well, yeah, but what else? I mean, I saw Kronos's coffin and Luke said something about the summer solstice…" I trailed off.
Annabeth kicked some sand, "Percy, don't you remember what Chiron said yesterday? Luke has the Silver Sword. He can open the sarcophagus, and Kronos will rise. And he has to do it on the summer solstice because it's the most powerful day of the year. And when Kronos rises they're going to gather up an army, declare war on Mount Olympus and…" She stopped slowly. I could hear the ache in her voice.
I swallowed. How did Annabeth know all that? I was pretty sure she knew a lot more than she leads on. But it doesn't have to be like that.
"Look," I said confidently, "None of that has to happen. Not if I can stop it."
Annabeth craned her neck to face me. She looked at me like I was a lunatic. "Are you crazy?" She exclaimed. "Do you have any idea how incredibly dangerous that is?"
"What's so crazy about it? All I have to do is get the Sword back before the summer solstice so Luke can't help Kronos." I believed that was a pretty simple plan but Annabeth didn't.
"All you have to do?" She repeated. "Do you know why the Bermuda Triangle is forbidden to the gods? Because it's almost impossible to enter the island. And there are too many monsters guarding that place."
I sighed, defeated, "You always have to rain on parade, don't you?" I muttered as I stared at the ocean view.
I thought Annabeth was going to defend herself or yell or something, but she totally caught me off guard when she placed her hand on mine. It sent shivers down spine. (in a good way.) When I turned to her, she looked at me straight-forward. Her eyes were sparkling. "I'm not trying to, Percy." She said softly.
I swallowed, hoping my hands weren't as sweaty I thought they were.
Annabeth continued, "Look, I just don't want you to get hurt, that's all."
I couldn't speak. I forgot how to. Annabeth was saying some other things, but I couldn't focus. Her hand was still on top of mine, my eyes were wide.
"Er… Percy? Are you ok?" Annabeth's louder voice brought me back to reality.
"Yep." I answered a little too quick and high pitched.
She raised an eyebrow, her eyes calculating. I could tell she knew I was lying, but left it alone. Instead, she got up, shook the sand off her legs, and offered a hand to me, "C'mon, lets go. It's almost dinner."
I checked my watch; she was right. I took one last look at the sun setting at the horizon, and took Annabeth's hand.