Warning: Certain ancient Greek names matches words use of foul language but no foul language was intentionally used. Also if you haven't read them yet read 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Early Adventures' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters' 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Titan's Curse' and 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Olympians: The Magical Labyrinth' as well as the one shots 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Stolen Chariot' The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Sword of Hades', and The Tales of the Son of Poseidon & the Bronze Dragon' before reading this story as stuff that happened in them will be mentioned. Lastly, any one who wants to do a Demigods and Olympian reads story using 'The Tales of the Son of Poseidon' is allowed as long as you inform me about it.
Rachel Makes a Bad Deal
Michael volunteered to keep on the remains of the bridge and search for his missing siblings, but he sends his second-in-command Will Solace to help heal the injured at the hotel.
Annabeth and I took Blackjack and Porkie while Will promised me that he and the rest of his siblings will find another form of transportation. On the way I saw empty pedestals that usually held statues. Plan twenty-three seemed to be working.
It only took us five minutes to reach the Plaza—an old-fashioned white stone hotel with a gabled blue roof, sitting at the southeast corner of Central Park.
Blackjack and Porkie left us off in front of the fountain just as Apollo campers were arriving in any form of transportation they could find. My plan was to get a headcount, find out what exactly happened, and get some well deserve sleep. With the combination of the aftereffects of the Achilles' Curse, fighting the Minotaur, and destroying part of the bridge I was exhausted. I almost passed out more than once and would have on the way here if Blackjack Annabeth and Porkie didn't try to keep me awake.
The statue at the top of the fountain called down, "Oh, fine. I suppose you want me to watch you Pegasi, too!"
She was a life-size bronze statue in the middle of a granite bowl. She wore only a bronze sheet around her legs, and she was holding a basket of metal fruit.
At first I thought it was Demeter, but Annabeth said, "It's Pompona, the Roman Goddess of Plenty."
"That's right! But why would you care? Nobody cares about the minor gods," Pompona complained, "If you cared about the minor gods, you wouldn't be losing this war! Three cheers for Morpheus and Hecate, I say!"
Annabeth and I choose to ignore here as we headed toward the hotel.
I'd never actually been inside the Plaza, but I do know a lot of famous demigods stayed here at least once. The lobby was impressive with the crystal chandeliers and the passed out rich people, but I didn't pay much attentions. A couple of hunters gave us directions to the elevator—or rather they gave Annabeth directions—and we rode up to the penthouse suites, where the Campers and Hunters had token over the place.
Campers and Hunters were crashed out on sofas, washing up in bathrooms, ripping silk draperies to bandage their wounds, and helping themselves to snacks and sodas from the minibars. A couple of timber wolves were drinking out of the toilets. I was relieved to see that so many of my friends had made it through the night alive, but everybody looked beat up.
Beckendorf was assisting Silena treat some of the wounded.
"Percy, how did it go on the Williamsburg Bridge?" Beckendorf asked.
"Part of the bridge is destroyed, so if Kronos plans on using it again, he would have to use the suspension cables since the East River won't let any of the Titan's army cross the river," I explained. "Has the Dionysus' Twins returned?"
Beckendorf shook his head. "Nothing yet."
"Percy," Will said, "We just did a check over the wounded."
"how bad?" I asked.
"Nothing life threatening, but I had to send the Stoll Brothers with a few of Athena's kids to get some mortal supplies we need from Duane Reade on Fifth," Will explained. "I told Athena's kids to leave drachmas to pay for the supply."
Annabeth and I both nodded to the idea. We can't trust the Stoll Brothers to get the supplies we needed without leaving cash after all. Plus there was hardly anyone here that wasn't injured, other than me.
Still, I can't help but think about something else.
"Silena, you think you can go back to camp and try and convince Clarisse to rejoin the war?" I asked, "I don't care what she says, we need her help over here."
"I can try," Silena said. "But I'll need a ride to get there quickly and safely."
"Porkie is outside with Blackjack, you can take him," Annabeth said.
"Also, if you can convince Lenus to help immobilize the Nature Spirits who won't listen to Grover, it would be great," I responded.
"I'll go too," Beckendorf said. "I can ask my brother Jake Mason to cover for me."
I didn't like the idea of sending both campers back, but right now we needed Ares Cabin. Especially if Kronos has more monsters like the Minotaur.
"Fine," I said, "Just get Clarisse and Ares Cabin here as quickly as possible. If she tries to argue, remind her this for me."
I told them the speech I made to Clarisse when Deimos was tormenting her (Long story). I didn't tell them why I said it, because I promise Clarisse I wouldn't, but Beckendorf and Silena nodded in approval before they left.
Soon after they left, Annabeth and I went to look for the Conference room where we can set up as a temporary command base. I stumbled until Annabeth caught me. "You really should get some sleep."
"I will, once Thalia and/or Bianca gets here," I said. "I'm not about to go to bed without at least having another child of the big three to help things out."
Annabeth rolled her eyes. "You can be too stubborn for your own good, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know," I said.
"You never did ask what Hermes meant about Luke?" Annabeth asked.
"Don't worry about it. Like I said back on Olympus, I had as much blame for what happened to Luke as you do," I said.
"Still, I want to tell you. It's been bothering me for a long time," Annabeth said. "Last year, Luke came to see me in San Francisco."
"He came to your house in person?" I asked.
Annabeth nodded. "He said he couldn't go to you because Kronos would most likely suspect it and used it to his advantage."
I didn't find that surprising. Kronos told me himself that Luke's loyalty to me had Kronos question Luke's loyalty to him. That's why Luke's final test before being possess was to disown me in front of a crowd.
"When did it happen?" I asked.
"It was before we went into the Labyrinth, before…" she faltered, but I knew what she meant: before he was possessed by Kronos. "He came under a flag of truce. He said he only wanted five minutes to talk. He looked scared, Percy. He told me Kronos was going to use him to take over the world. He said he wanted to run away, like the old days. He wanted you and me to come with him."
"But you didn't," I said.
"I thought it was a trick," Annabeth replied. "I told Luke no way. He got mad. He said… he said I might as well fight him right there, before it was the last chance I get. Hermes was right. Maybe if I'd gone with him, helped him talk to you without Kronos finding out, this might of not happened. Luke told me Kronos will use him like a stepping stone, and I didn't stop him."
I remembered what Luke told Thalia that winter before, before Zoë died and Thalia became a hunter.
"It was his last chance," I said.
"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked.
"Just something Luke told Thalia when we were fighting him and Atlas on Mount Othyrus. He said Thalia joining was his last chance," I said. "He said Thalia's choice with sacrificing Tauro was his last chance. Everyone brushed it off as Luke just trying to convince Thalia to join him, but it always been bothering me."
"So Luke been trying to back out for a while," Annabeth said.
"Maybe… Kronos said Luke's loyalty not only helped him out but questioned Luke's ambition," I responded.
Before Annabeth had a chance, Connor burst though the area.
"Percy," he said. "Pollux and Castor came back with Mrs. O'Leary. They got Grover. I think you should talk to him."
"Tell him to meet us at the conference room," I told him. "And, make sure he doesn't eat any furniture."
Connor nodded and left.
…
We found the conference room shortly before Grover.
When Grover came in, I could tell he had been eating furniture, because along with his armored shirt made from tree bark and twist ties, with his wooden cudgel and his reed pipes hanging from his belt, he had stuffing all over his face.
"Percy! I heard about the Williamsburg Bridge," Grover said. "Was there any loses?"
"If you mean when the bridge was destroyed, unknown from Kronos' side, but none from ours," I said. "I had the remaining Apollo Campers retreat and assist me from a long range."
"Whoa—so then I take it you went through with your plan with the River of Styx?" Grover asked.
"You knew his plan and you didn't stop him?" Annabeth responded.
I feel myself shrinking down in my seat as I explained how Nico and I asked Grover to open up the Doors of Orpheus since it was closer than LA's entrance. Honestly, at this point I think Annabeth was more angry of the fact I let in Grover on the plan instead of her.
Grover took a deep breath after a bit. "At least you guys made it out of this battle alive. I've mobilized most of the nature spirits in the city—well, the ones that will listen to me, anyway." He rubbed his forehead. "I had no idea acorns could hurt so much. Anyway, we're helping out as much as we can."
He told us about the skirmishes they'd seen. Mostly they'd been covering uptown, where we didn't have enough demigods. Hellhounds had appeared in all sorts of places, shadow-traveling inside our lines, and the dryads and satyrs had been fighting them off. A young dragon had appeared in Harlem, and a dozen wood nymphs died before the monster was finally defeated.
As Grover talked, Thalia Bianca and another Hunter I recognize as Zoë's first choice for fifth member for the quest to save Artemis instead of me: Phoebe.
At first glance you would be confuse to why she didn't go. Phoebe was a big girl and was fierce. But at the time without knowing, Aphrodite encouraged the Stoll brothers to give Phoebe through Zoë a t-shirt soaked in centaur blood, which can be deadly to half-bloods and hunters in order to get me involved to save Annabeth.
Anyways, Thalia must have asked Annabeth to check something out with her shield because during Grover's and my chat, Annabeth started scanning her shield with Thalia Bianca and Phoebe watching.
"We lost twenty satyrs against some giants at Fort Washington," Grover continue, his voice trembling. "Almost half my kinsmen. River spirits drowned the giants in the end but…"
"Percy, Thalia had me checked every bridge and tunnel," Annabeth said, "Kronos' army is gathering, and he's not the only Titan."
Thalia nodded pointing at the shield at the image. "That's the one my hunters spotted alright. Golden Armor and radiates power."
I didn't need to look to know who it was: Hyperion.
"Send the Dionysus twins to the Empire State Building and watch over Bob. Tell them to make sure he has no contact with his former Titan brethren," I said. "Thalia, get your best trappers to close off the Subways in Manhattan."
"Already on it," Bianca explained.
Thalia continued, "Also it seems like the enemy is waiting for tonight to attack. I think Luke"—she caught herself—"I mean Kronos needs time to regenerate after each fight. He's still not comfortable with his new form. It's taking a lot of his power to slow time around the city."
"I wouldn't be surprise if the side effects Achilles Curse on Luke's body is also taking effect," I said. "Any word on how the gods are doing with Typhon?"
Thalia shook her head. "The last I heard, Typhon was destroying the Ohio River Valley. He should reach the Appalachian Mountains by midday."
"So we only have two days until he arrives," Annabeth calculated, "Also we still have our unknown spy and double-agent."
"That's why we're sending the Dionysus twins to check on Bob," I said, "If the spy has informed Kronos about his brother being on our side, he might have got contact with him. For now, tell everyone set up rotation for the watches. We should rest up while we can. We've got a long night ahead of us."
No one argued against the idea.
"You better go get some sleep too," Annabeth reminded me, "Thalia and I can keep things under control."
I didn't argue against her. I found the nearest bedroom and crashed on the canopied bed and fell asleep immediately.
In my dream, I saw Nico di Angelo alone in the gardens of Hades. He'd just dug a hole in one of Persephone's flower beds, which I didn't figure make the queen very happy.
He poured a goblet of wine into the whole and began to chant. "Let the dead taste again. Let them rise and take this offering. Maria di Angelo, show yourself!"
White smoke gathered but instead of showing a ghost it showed a scene. In the mist, I saw Nico and Bianca as little children, playing in the lobby of an elegant hotel, chasing each other around marble columns.
A woman sat on a nearby sofa. She wore a black dress, gloves, and a black veiled hat like a star from an old 1940s movie. She had Bianca's smile and Nico's eyes—if you don't include the burning look of a mad genius Nico got from his father.
On a chair next to her sat a large oily man in a black pinstripe suit. With a shock, I realized it was Hades. He was leaning toward the woman, using his hands as he talked, like he was agitated.
"Please, my dear," he said. "You must come to the Underworld. I don't care what Persephone thinks! I can keep you safe there."
"No, my love," she spoke with an Italian accent. "Raise our children in the land of the dead? I will not do this."
"Maria, listen to me. The war in Europe has turned the other gods against me. A prophecy has been made. My children are no longer safe. Poseidon and Zeus have forced me into an agreement. None of us are to have demigod children ever again."
"But you already have Nico and Bianca. Surely—"
"No! The prophecy warns of a child who turns sixteen. Zeus has decreed that the children I currently have must be turned over to Camp Half-Blood for proper training, but I know what he means. At best they'll be watched, imprisoned, turned against their father. Even more likely, he will not take a chance. He won't allow my demigod children to reach sixteen. He'll find a way to destroy them, and I won't risk that!"
"Certamente," Maria said. "We will stay together. Zeus is un imbecile."
Now, I don't know any Italian, but I was pretty sure she just called Zeus an imbecile, which would be an insult, which Zeus doesn't take lightly. Still, I can't help but admire her courage.
Hades glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Maria, please. I told you, Zeus gave me a deadline of last week to turn over the children. His wrath will be horrible, and I cannot hide you forever. As long as you are with the children, you are in danger too."
Maria smiled, and again it was creepy how much she looked like her daughter. "You are a god, my love. You will protect us. But I will not take Nico and Bianca to the Underworld."
Hades wrung his hands. "Then, there is another option. I know a place in the desert where time stands still. I could send the children there, just for a while, for their own safety, and we could be together. I will build you a golden palace by the styx."
Maria di Angelo laughed gently. "You are a kind man, my love. A generous man. The other gods should see you as I do, and they would not fear you so. But Nico and Bianca need their mother. Besides, they are only children. The gods wouldn't really hurt them."
"You don't know my family," Hades said darkly. "Please, Maria, I can't lose you."
She touched his lips with her fingers. "You will not lose me. Wait for me while I get my purse. Watch the children."
She kissed the lord of the dead and rose from the sofa. Hades watched her walked upstairs as if her every step away caused him pain.
A moment later, he tensed. The children stopped playing as if they sensed something too.
"No!" Hades said. But even his godly powers were too slow. He only had time to erect a wall of black energy around the children before the hotel exploded.
The force was so violent, the entire mist image dissolved.
When it came into focus again, I saw Hades kneeling in the ruins, holding the broken form of Maria di Angelo. Fire still burns all around him. Lightning flashed across the sky, and thunder rumbled.
Little Nico and Bianca stared at their mother uncomprehendingly. A fury appeared behind them, hissing and flapping her leathery wings. The children didn't seem to notice her.
"Zeus!" Hades shook his fist at the sky. "I will crush you for this! I will bring her back!"
"My lord, you cannot," the Fury warned. "You of all immortals must respect the laws of death."
Hades glowed with rage. I thought he would show his true form, but at the last moment he seemed to gain control.
"Take them," he told the Fury, choking back a sob. "Wash their memories clean in the Lethe and bring them to the Lotus Hotel. Zeus will not harm them there."
"As you wish, my lord," The fury said. "And the woman's body?"
"Take her as well," he said bitterly. "Give her the ancient rites."
The fury, the children, and Maria's body dissolved into the shadows, leaving Hades alone in the ruins.
"I warn you," a new voice said.
Hades turned. A girl in a multicolored dress stood by the smoldering remains of the sofa. She had short black hair and sad eyes. She was no more than twelve. I didn't know her, but she looked strangely familiar.
"You dare come here?" Hades growled. "I should blast you to dust!"
"You cannot," the girl said. "The power of Delphi protects me."
With a chill, I realize I was looking at the Oracle of Delphi, back when she was alive and young.
"You killed the woman I loved!" Hades roared. "Your prophecy brought us to this!"
He loomed over the girl, but she didn't flinch.
"Zeus ordained the explosion to destroy the children," she said, "because you defied his will. I had nothing to do with it. And I did warn you to hide them sooner."
"I couldn't! Maria would not let me! Besides, they were innocent."
"Nevertheless, they are your children, which makes them dangerous. Even if you put them away in the Lotus Hotel, you only delay the problem. Nico and Bianca will never be able to rejoin the world lest they turn sixteen."
"Because of your so-called Great Prophecy. And you have forced me into an oath to have no other children. You have left me with nothing!"
"I foresee the future," the girl said. "I cannot change it."
Black fire lit the god's eyes, and I knew something bad was coming.
"Then, Oracle, hear the words of Hades," he growled. "Perhaps I cannot bring back Maria. Nor can I bring you an early death. But your soul is still mortal, and I can curse you."
The girl's eyes widened. "You would not—"
"I swear," Hades said, "as long as my children remain outcasts, as long as I labor under the curse of your Great Prophecy, the Oracle of Delphi will never have another host. You will never rest in peace. No other will take your place. Your body will wither and die, and still the Oracle's spirit will be locked inside you. You will speak your bitter prophecies until you crumble to nothing. The Oracle will die with you!"
The girl screamed, and the misty image was blasted to shreds. Nico fell to his knees in Persephone's garden, his face white with shock. Standing in front of him was the real Hades, towering in his black robes and scowling down at his son.
"And just what," he asked Nico, "do you think you're doing?"
A black explosion filled my dreams. Then the scene changed.
Rachel Elizabeth Dare was walking along a white sand beach. She wore a swimsuit with a T-Shirt wrapped around her waist. Her shoulders and face were sunburned.
She knelt and began writing in Ancient Greek, which confused me because Rachel didn't know any ancient Greek.
Rachel finished writing a few words and muttered, "What in the world?"
I tried to read it, but the sea washed most of it away, leaving: _. My name: Perseus."
Rachel stood abruptly and backed away from the surf.
"Oh, gods," she said. "That's what it means."
She turned and ran, kicking up sand as she raced back to her family's villa.
She pounded up the porch steps, breathing hard. Her father looked up from his Wall Street Journal.
"Dad." Rachel marched up to him. "We have to go back."
Her dad's mouth twitched, like he was trying to remember how to smile. "Back? We just got here."
"There's trouble in New York. Percy's in danger."
"Did he call you?"
"No… not exactly. But I know. It's a feeling."
Mr. Dare folded his newspaper. "Your mother and I have been looking forward to this vacation for a long time."
"No you haven't! You both hate the beach! You're just too stubborn to admit it."
"Now, Rachel—"
"I'm telling you something is wrong in New York! The whole city… I don't know what exactly, but it's under attack."
Her father sighed. "I think we would've heard something like that on ne news."
"No," Rachel insisted. "Not this kind of attack. Have you had any calls since we got here?"
Her father frowned. "No… but it is the weekend, in the middle of the summer."
"You always get calls," Rachel said. "You've got to admit that's strange."
Her father hesitated. "We can't just leave. We've spent a lot of money."
"Look," Rachel said. "Daddy… Percy needs me. I have to deliver a message. It's life and death."
"What message? What are you talking about?"
"I can't tell you."
"Then you can't go."
Rachel closed her eyes like she was getting up her courage. "Dad… let me go, and I'll make a deal with you."
Mr. Dare sat forward. Deals were something he understood. "I'm listening."
"Clarion Ladies Academy. I'll, I'll go there in the fall. I won't even complain. But you have to get me back to New York right now."
He was silent for a long time. Then he opened his phone and make a call.
"Douglas? Prep the plane. We're leaving for New York. Yes… immediately."
Rachel flung her arms around him, and father seemed surprised, like she'd never hugged him before.
"I'll make it up to you, Dad!"
He smiled, but his expression was chilly. He studied her like he wasn't seeing his daughter—just the young lady he wanted her to be, once Clarion Academy got through with her.
"Yes, Rachel," he agreed. "You certainly will.
The scene faded and I was still tossing and turning when Thalia shook me awake. Both her and Annabeth were there, which wasn't a good sign.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"We got visitors," Annabeth replied.
"Visitors?" I asked.
Thalia nodded grimly. "A Titan wants to see you, under a flag of truce. He has a message from Kronos."