Percy couldn't be for sure how long they had been in the dungeons. The only light they got was from the torches in the hallway and once in awhile some slop would appear through the door. Tyson had stopped crying, but Percy was sure that he didn't feel any better. Percy had tried the door, the metal slot in the door, checked every stone slab in the walls to no avail. He even jumped up to test the ceiling, only resulting in a bruised hand. He wasn't going to force his way out, that was clear. Percy slumped against the wall, dreading the worst.

They were jolted out of their sleep when the loud clank of their cell door opened and several soldiers grabbed Percy and Tyson without a word. His heart hammered in his chest as the soldiers led them up the stairs. Were they going to execute them? Were they going to whip them? One scenario after another flooded Percy's mind. Percy had to hide his eyes when they broke the surface. After being in the dark for so long, the bright sun stung his eyes. By the time his eyes adjusted they were being led through a side door into the palace. Everywhere they looked there were paintings, statues, and ornate furniture. Percy barely had time to take it all in when they were led into a large room, with high ceilings. The windows lined each side and rose from floor to ceiling. At the end of the room sat Zeus. There was a tall woman with black curly hair standing just to the right of him as though Zeus had taken her seat. Next to her sat a boy older than Percy dressed in his finest clothes, and on the left sat a girl with blond curls in a beautiful blue dress. Percy was led right to the foot of the king and dumped unceremoniously on the floor with Tyson beside him.

"I understand you attacked my soldiers." Zeus accused.

Percy didn't dare look up. Tyson was shaking in terror beside him. "I only wanted to defend my brother."

"From what I hear, he doesn't need defending, boy." Zeus growled.

"He, he panics when unpredictable things happen. He isn't a violent person, he just gets scared easily. Please, lord, it's my fault. Please don't punish him for my mistake." Percy made the mistake of looking up at Zeus.

Zeus recognized him. "You're the boy who stole my lightning!" he bellowed.

"Huh?" Percy had that strange sensation that he just got caught up in some big mystery and he was the only one who had no idea what was going on.

"Don't play dumb boy. You were there, in my chambers, you stole it."

"I put you're strange metal objects on the bed. I didn't take anything, let alone lightning. You were there."

"So you admit you were there."

Percy looked at the other royals beside Zeus questioningly, like did I just hear him correctly? That's when he realized that the pretty girl next to Zeus was Wise Girl. He swallowed his temper. "I placed every object on the bed as you instructed and left when dismissed. I took nothing."

"That doesn't mean that you didn't sneak back in when I wasn't there and stole it."

Percy opened his mouth in shock and asked, "Why would I take your strange metal objects." Wise Girl rolled her eyes at this.

"Because they are powerful." Zeus insisted.

Percy could see that there was no reasoning with him. Instead he resolutely repeated, "I didn't steal anything."

Zeus thundered, "You did steal it and you will return it." The black haired woman put a hand on Zeus's shoulder. Zeus deflated a little at that and continued. "But to show that I am a merciful king, I will give you twelve hours to return it to me or I will kill your brother." He motioned to his soldiers who grabbed Tyson forcefully and picked him up off the ground. Percy tried to stop them, but the other soldiers grabbed him and held him firmly on his knees.

"Percy? Percy! Percy!" Tyson struggled against the soldiers.

"It's okay, big guy. I'll get you out. Everything's going to be okay." Percy called as they led Tyson back out the way they came in. Once they were gone, Percy couldn't help the look of pure hatred as he glared at Zeus.

"Twelve hours." Zeus glared back. "I'd hurry if I were you. You have until sunrise tomorrow."

The soldiers let go of Percy and he stood up. He wanted to attack the king, but he knew he wouldn't stand a chance. Percy resolutely turned on his heel and left the room. Now he had to go and find lightning that once was in Zeus's bedroom that Percy had handled at one point. There were so many metal objects that he didn't have a clue what it even looked like.

He went to the only place that he really knew, his bunk. When he got there, he saw his bunk neatly made and his trunk gone. All of his belongings were gone.

"Jackson!" Percy recognized Castellan's voice. He turned and saw him standing in the doorway. "We all thought you were a gonner. They ordered your belongings back into circulation."

Percy sighed at that. "I might as well be. Tyson is in prison and I have twelve hours to get Zeus's lightning back or we'll both die."

"Woah, that's pretty bad. Beckendorf told us what happened. It's not right. We all have your back, if you need it."

"Do you know what Zeus is talking about? I don't even know what I am looking for. I mean if Zeus's entire army couldn't find it . . ." Percy let it hang.

"Sorry, I don't." Castellan hung around for a moment then shuffled his feet. "Well, look, I got to go. I just saw you and wanted to . . ."

Percy nodded. He was a dead man. Castellan left and Percy used the quiet of the barrack to think. If he only knew what he was looking for, he might have a better chance of finding it. Then Percy remembered that he wasn't the only one that saw all of the metal objects. Maybe he could get some help from someone who might know. Time to visit Grover.