It was a strange feeling to know my godly parent. It felt even odder to move from the Hermes Cabin to the Zeus cabin. The change slightly disappointed me. From the bustling and lively cabin 11 to this lonely one. I guess it had its benefits. It thundered now and then, which was sort of comforting. But the 10-foot-tall statue of Zeus destroyed any form of comfort.

Apart from the accommodations, quite a lot had changed. The other campers distanced themselves from me and Perseus. While it didn't affect me a lot, it seemed to take a toll on him.

A part of me felt terrible for him. He had lost his mother and when he finally seemed to fit in somewhere, people ostracized him. So I had begun talking to him a little. After all, I did kind of owe him one. We'd gotten closer, I guess. He'd started forcing me to call him Percy. He'd tried threatening me by calling me Rus, much to my disgust. We'd also begun sparring sessions and I could see Perseus making some genuine progress. It was something that seemed to help him find his footing here, which was a minor victory in this otherwise gloomy place.

After one such spar, we were called to the Big House again. I was getting far too familiar with the insides of it than I would've liked. Dionysus and Chiron sat across from each other playing pinochle.

Dionysus scowled.

"If it isn't the two saviors of our camp," Dionysius sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He threw a card onto the table, causing the scattered chips to rattle. Chiron maintained his calm demeanor and placed his card down.

I exchanged a weary glance with Percy. A meeting with the camp leaders is rarely a casual affair.

A few moments later, Chiron spoke, his tone measured, "Percy and Icarus, it's good to see you two, as always. We've had an eventful day, and we thought it would be best to consult you."

Dionysus grunted in response, disinterested in our affairs. "I don't understand how you handle them, Chiron. A bunch of hooligans, they are. If only you'd have allowed me to smite them,"

Chiron ignored him, "Take a seat, children."

Seeming to notice Percy's discomfort, Chiron turned to Dionysus, "Mr. D, would you mind leaving the Big House for a short period?"

Dionysus rolled his eyes, but he still got up and headed out to the fields. Percy let out a sigh of relief, and Chiron's eyes twinkled with amusement.

"What did the two of you think of the hellhounds?"

"They were scary," Percy finally admitted.

Chiron offered him a comforting smile before looking at me. "What about you, Icarus?"

"It was okay," I shrugged, "I've fought worse."

Percy, sitting beside me, shot me a sideways glance, a mix of admiration and curiosity in his eyes. Chiron furrowed his brows.

"I see Icarus…" he sighed. "It's a good thing you shall be joining Percy on the quest. The experience will be invaluable for both of you."

"Quest? What quest are you talking about Chiron?" Percy asked.

I glanced at Percy in confusion, but he seemed just as perplexed as me.

"You haven't told us much about it." I interrupted.

"The details… that's the hard part."

Finally, Percy blurted out, "Poseidon and Zeus, they're fighting over something, right? Something irreplaceable."

Chiron's eyes widened.

"How do you know about that, Perseus?"

"That doesn't matter, Chiron. Answer me, what are you talking about?" My impatience was mounting rapidly.

"Lord Poseidon and Lord Zeus are... fighting over something invaluable that was stolen. A lightning bolt," Chiron revealed.

My jaw dropped in disbelief. "Zeu—I mean, my dad's lightning bolt? The master bolt?"

Chiron nodded, and I felt a rush of dizziness wash over me.

"Wait," Percy chuckled, though a hint of fear tinged his laughter. "His lightning bolt?"

I took a deep breath, trying to wrap my head around the gravity of the situation. "Percy, it's Zeus's symbol of power, the first weapon made by the Cyclops when they were fighting against the Titans. It's powerful. Hades, calling it just powerful would be an understatement."

Chiron nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "A two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."

My confusion was palpable as I turned to Chiron.

"How? You said it was stolen... how could someone possibly steal something like that from the gods?"

"During the winter solstice, Zeus and Poseidon argued. Later, Zeus discovered that his master bolt had mysteriously vanished. His initial suspicion was Poseidon."

He paused for a moment.

"Since the ancient laws forbid any god from stealing another's symbol of power, Zeus assumed that Poseidon sent a mortal to steal it for him." His eyes met Percy's. "Your claiming has cemented his beliefs."

Percy bit his lip. "So… you're telling me that Zeus thinks I stole his lightning bolt?"

Chiron gave a wry smile in reply.

"Is my dad actually stupid?"

Instantly, the sound of thunder rumbled with such intensity that it felt like the very earth was quaking in response. From the window, you could see the skies darken as clouds swirled.

"Icarus, he's your father. And he's the lord of the Sky… you don't call him such stuff," Chiron reprimanded. But I could only roll my eyes in reply.

"He thinks that a kid who didn't even know about his godly heritage stole his dumb bolt?"

"Icarus." He warned.

I took a deep breath. "Alright. I'm sorry, Dad." The sky calmed down.

This guy was my father? He threw more tantrums than a toddler. What was my mother thinking?

"Icarus, Zeus has his reasons for being suspicious of Poseidon," Chiron explained. "I believe both of you might be aware of how Poseidon had attempted to overthrow him, along with other gods?"

"Yeah," Percy mumbled, "The golden net thing?"

Chiron nodded in affirmation. "He was already cynical about Poseidon because of this. And now he learns that he broke his oath, and sired a child. Wouldn't it seem dodgy?"

"My dad also broke the oath, though. It's kind of why I'm here," I interjected with a scowl.

Chiron took a sip of water before addressing me. "That's another issue. Two of The Big Three broke their oath. Now, it would seem Hades is angry. And he has reason to be so."

I let all this information settle in, feeling the weight of everything on me. Resting my head on the table, I allowed myself a second to clear my thoughts.

"You have ten days from now," Chiron murmured. "Zeus demands Poseidon to give his bolt back to him, but Poseidon is furious at being called a thief, and he demands an apology from Zeus on the same date."

"I don't have a choice, do I? I'll just have to take up this quest if I don't want to be burned to pieces," Percy grumbled.

"You're correct, young Percy. And that's where Icarus comes in. The Son of Zeus and the Son of Poseidon working together to achieve a common goal."

"Do you have any idea?" Percy asked hesitantly, "Where could the bolt be right now?"

He shook his head, his face solemn. "I have a hunch, but I'm afraid I cannot tell you. You'd be too scared to go."

My heart dropped. How could he be sending two children on such a quest? And what could this place possibly be?

"The oracle is in the attic, young heroes."

I glanced at Percy. His eyes almost seemed vacant.

"Let's go, Icarus."

I nodded in reply.

The moment we stepped foot in the attic, a sense of unease entered me. The entire place seemed like something straight out of a horror movie. Cobwebs covered all the corners, and a layer of dust lay on everything. The air was musty, and I felt sickly in the room.

A long table held a macabre collection of glass jars filled with pickled monstrosities–severed hairy claws, giant yellow eyes, and various other gruesome monster parts.

By the window, an eerie figure caught our attention. It resembled a mummy, but calling it that might be a stretch. It was more like the desiccated remains of a human wearing a tie-dyed sundress and adorned with multiple beaded necklaces. A headband held back what was left of her long black hair. Her face had shrunk to a thin, leathery mask over her skull, and her eyes appeared as eerie, glassy white slits. She looked very dead by the looks of it.

As we approached, the withered figure suddenly sat up. Her mouth opened, releasing a thick green gas into the air. I glanced at Percy. Pale and petrified, he stood.

"You okay there?"

"Can you not hear it?"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Hear what?" But he ignored me and moved towards the mummy.

"What is my destiny?"

Wait… was he talking to himself? Was that healthy?

Percy's voice trembled with urgency as he called out, "Wait! What do you mean?"

I could only watch, feeling a sense of helplessness as he continued his one-sided conversation with the lifeless mummy.

"What friend? What will I fail to save?" He seemed desperate for answers, but he was only met with silence. The Oracle was yet again dead.

His face held a stunned expression, and he breathed softly as if processing what had just occurred.

"Percy? What happened?" I gently prodded.

"Y-you couldn't hear what they said?"

I shook my head, still puzzled by the whole situation.

"I think maybe it's just something the hero can hear?"

Then Percy began to recite the prophecy;

"When two gods' offspring unite their might,

To thwart a war, embrace the eternal fight.

In shadows of the west, heroes shall descend,

Through betrayal's path, they'll strive to mend.

A life hangs on the edge of breath,

As destinies entwine, foretelling of death."

The words hung heavy in the air. Percy's face had paled considerably. I pointed to the stairs, and he nodded.

"What were the words again, Percy?" Chiron asked.

Percy carefully recited the prophecy once more.

"Icarus, do you remember anything else?" Chiron inquired, turning his attention to me.

I could only shrug in reply. "I couldn't hear the prophecy. I couldn't see the mist either."

Chiron studied my face as if trying to gauge if there was any hidden information in my expression.

"So the west? That's where the lightning bolt is?" asked Percy, thankfully interrupting Chiron's stare.

"Yes, Perseus."

"Are there even any specific gods that live in the West? I mean, can't they just live wherever they want to? They are gods, aren't they?"

Chiron chuckled lightly at that. "The god's realm lies in the west."

Wa-wait a second… hell no.

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Chiron had said that revealing the location of the lightning bolt would scare us. And now, with the knowledge that the god's domain was in the West, it became clear as day.

Well, we were dead.

Literally and figuratively.

"The Underworld," I groaned.

Chiron did his best to hide his shock. He raised his eyebrows. "You know the location of the underworld, Icarus?"

I tried to act casual, not wanting to reveal too much. "Uhm, yeah, I heard a couple of kids from Cabin 11 discussing it back when I was there," I quickly replied. The real reason, of course, was because every monster knew where they'd go when killed. So if you ever really chatted with one of them, they'd tell you a little about the Underworld.

Chiron hummed in reply, seemingly accepting my explanation.

"Hades has the lightning bolt," Percy looked at us as if he was hoping that we'd suddenly scream out 'sike!' and start joking. But alas, none of that happened.

"The Lord of the Underworld is the only plausible option. A fury had chased you, Percy, remember? And of course, how can we forget the hellhound? They're creatures of the underworld."

He gnawed at his lips. "You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend. That line, what's it meant to mean?"

Chiron's eyes darkened. "It makes sense. Someone had to have summoned the hellhound from inside the camp. Both of you should be careful with whom you interact."

"Whatever, it's not like others talk to us, anyway. We'll be fine," I shrugged.

Chiron frowned but didn't press the matter further.

"The both of you should get ready and choose another quest member. It will be helpful for the two of you. I would suggest Annabeth. She would be a valuable addition."

Before Percy could say anything, I immediately denied Chiron's suggestion to Annabeth. There was no way I was gonna go with that know-it-all kid. With that, Percy and I got up to get going.

"Icarus… sit down. I have other matters to discuss with you."

I turned towards Chiron, quirking my eyebrow at that. Percy seemed confused, and he looked at me expectantly, asking me if he should leave or not. I gestured for him to continue walking and sat down again.

Was Chiron going to scold me or something? I didn't do anything wrong yet. Whatever, I hardly cared about what he said.

"Icarus," Chiron began, "Before anyone's quest, their godly parent gives them a gift of sorts. Zeus, he wanted me to give this to you."

He got up from his chair, and his towering figure moved towards the cupboard. He retrieved a box and laid it on the oak table.

"Open it."

I glanced at the fancy-looking velvet box.

"I don't need any gifts."

"Icarus, just open it, child. It'll prove to be useful to you."

Reluctantly, I grabbed the box. A delicate golden clasp adorned the front of it. And upon opening it, I couldn't help but chuckle. Inside, nestled side by side, were two bracelets. They had a thunderbolt charm at their center gleamed with a divine radiance, and the sky-blue gemstones encircling them sparkled.

Definitely a gift from my dad. Only he'd be the type to think that showering me with sparkly gifts would appease me.

"Bracelets? Chiron, tell me. How exactly will two bracelets help me?" I asked, my tone laced with a touch of amusement.

Chiron, ever the patient and wise centaur, offered a reassuring smile. "Icarus, these aren't just any bracelets. Wear it, and you'll understand."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't deny that there was something captivating about the bracelets. I picked one up and examined it more closely, the sparkles of the gemstones catching the light. I slid the bracelet onto my wrist, feeling the cool metal against my skin. It felt comforting. I slid the other one on as well. They didn't feel special to me.

"Fine," I conceded, "I'll wear your fancy bracelets, Chiron. But don't expect me to suddenly start acting like a model demigod."

Chiron only chuckled, "Icarus, there's more to them than meets the eyes of these."

I hummed in reply.

"I was meant to give this to you right before you left for the quest. But I figured you'd be skeptical about it."

"So, it's not just a flashy piece of jewelry?"

His eyes twinkled, and his face held that look that said he knew much more than he was letting on. "Maybe it is young Icarus or maybe it isn't, but that's for you to figure out."

I laid my head on the table.

"Chiron, tell me. Why did you seem so confused when I told you that I couldn't hear the prophecy?"

His breathing stilled, and he hesitated before answering, "... It's highly unusual for a hero to be unable to hear the prophecy. In fact, I can't recall a single instance where this has happened."

"Well, that clears things up. I guess I'm not the hero of the prophecy. I might be a part of it, but Percy's the main hero."

"You're all heroes, Icarus," Chiron laughed, "In different ways."

I scowled. Oh, my god. Could he not answer a question properly? I could feel my anger simmering beneath the surface.

"So, why couldn't I hear the prophecy? And shouldn't I at least have been able to see the mist?"

"I'm unsure about that as well, Icarus. It's certainly odd."

I clenched my fists in frustration, my patience running thin.

"What exactly do you know, Chiron? Because, till now, I haven't really seen any of the wise stuff everyone always talks about. And hell, even if you do know something, you just seem to refuse to say it."

He sucked in his breath, but the smile never left his face. That infuriated me further. I couldn't take it anymore.

I pushed my chair forcefully, causing it to scrape against the floor, and stood up in a fit of anger. My voice seethed with irritation. "Well then, unless you have anything else to say, I'll head off."

"Icarus," he called out, "Sometimes, it does us good to stay grounded."

He was comparing me again.

I didn't look back. Rage engulfed me. I would rather not hear his bullshit advice any longer.

"I'm not the Icarus you knew, Chiron, and that's the end of it."

I sat on the edge of my bunk in the Zeus Cabin, the two golden bracelets securely fastened around my wrists. Chiron had told me that it could be useful for me, but he had kindly forgotten to mention whatever the hell they did.

Frustration welled up within me, and I reached out to tap one of the bracelets lightly with my index finger. It was a hesitant touch as if I expected the bracelet to spring to life in response. But, of course, nothing happened. I twisted them, but still nothing.

Was Chiron joking? Well, he didn't joke about stuff like this, so probably not. But what could the stupid bracelets possibly do? Was it some symbolism or some stupid thing?

Whatever. This could wait. I might as well practice some archery.

"Icarus, you alright?" Percy asked. His face was scrunched up with worry.

"Of course," I replied curtly, pulling out another arrow from my quiver, "Why wouldn't I be?"

He continued to stare at me, concern evident in his eyes.

"You've been, uh, shooting arrows… quite violently," he observed.

"Have I?" I asked, pretending innocence just as the arrow I notched made a resounding 'thud' noise as it hit the target. Percy raised his eyebrow in reply.

"Did Mr. Brunn- Chiron, I mean, say something bad?"

My scowl deepened, and I couldn't contain my growing anger. "No," I snapped. Well, it wasn't just Chiron, I suppose. The stupid bracelets fueled my anger further.

Percy looked doubtfully at me but didn't press the matter further.

"I like your bracelets," he said.

I took a deep breath, but I reminded myself I shouldn't be screaming at Percy.

"Thank you," I replied.

After realizing that he was getting nowhere with the conversation, he picked up his own practice bow and searched for some bows.

"Hey, could you help me-"

"Icarus!" a voice shouted.

We turned to meet Luke. He stood there all smiles, looking like the perfect golden boy that he was. So annoying.

"What?" I raised an eyebrow, my focus still on the target as I notched another arrow. Luke's presence had disrupted my practice, and I was not in the mood for casual conversations.

He hesitated for a moment before speaking again, "Listen, Icarus, can we talk? It's important."

Percy, ever the intuitive one, sensed the tension and cleared his throat. "I think I remember Annabeth wanting to talk to me. I should go before she gets angry."

Luke chuckled. "You should, Percy. Trust me, an angry child of Athena is not fun to deal with."

As Percy made his exit, Luke turned to face me, running a hand through his hair in an uncertain gesture.

"I heard about your quest, Icarus,' he began.

"Amazing. Would you like a prize?" I retorted, my tone laced with sarcasm.

Luke raised an eyebrow, his eyes shifting to the bracelets on my wrists. "Didn't take you for the type to like sparkly stuff," he commented.

I sighed, lowering my bow but not turning to face him fully. "Listen, Luke, if you don't have anything important, don't interrupt my practice session. I'll be going on a quest soon, and I'll need all the training I can get."

He persisted, his expression growing more serious. "Icarus, I think you might've noticed the state of Hermes Cabin at the moment."

I didn't interrupt him this time, choosing instead to pluck another arrow from my quiver.

"It's filled with unclaimed demigods," he continued. "There are so many of them that there's no space for the actual Hermes kids."

My grip on the arrow tightened. "I thought you didn't mind. What happened to 'having an open heart for a friend'?"

Luke's somber expression deepened. "Icarus, you aren't hearing me out," he cried in exasperation. "It might not affect me much, but it's impacting the rest of us. We have so many empty cabins right now just unused. And it's not just about Hermes' kids. It's about all the unclaimed demigods who are struggling."

"What are you trying to say, Luke?"

"The gods, the ever-strong Olympians, don't have enough time to even claim their own children?" Luke's frustration was evident in his voice.

"They're gods," I reminded him. "Besides, you seem to be focusing solely on the Olympians. Minor deities also have children, and they don't claim them either."

Luke's brow furrowed. "And what would happen if the minor gods claimed their children, Icarus? They don't even have their own cabins. What change would the minor gods claim them make?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm just pointing out flaws in your argument."

He sighed, clearly exasperated. "Look, Icarus, take Percy, for example. He wasn't claimed by Poseidon until he needed Percy's help. Do you think he would've claimed Percy otherwise?"

"Who knows?" I replied, my tone aloof.

"I thought... I thought you'd be more understanding about this, Icarus," disappointment laced his voice.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Boohoo, sorry to disappoint, I guess. I seriously cannot understand why you care about the gods so much, Luke."

"You've not met Zeus yet, have you?" he said suddenly. Blood rushed into my face, and Luke grasped at this opportunity.

"Has he ever made any attempt to reach out to you before, Icarus?"

I took a deep breath. "I don't think you understand, Luke. I honestly do not care about him. And even if I haven't met him, how does that affect me? What? You think just because they left me in an orphanage for so long, I'd grow angry at Zeus for it?"

His eyes widened in shock at my outburst.

"I'm so sorry, Luke, that I was unable to meet my dad, or even my mother, for that matter. But trust me, I am absolutely okay with it."

He took a step back.

"That's… not what I meant, Icarus, and I think you know that," he shook his head.

"Think about what I've said," he mumbled. "You're not in a clear state of mind at the moment. Meet me when you want to hear me out." And with that, he walked away.

I took another deep breath, trying my best to pacify myself, but it failed. It felt like a storm was raging inside my chest. I couldn't contain it any longer. My vision began constricting, closing in on me like a vice, and before I knew it, I was on the ground, my knees hitting the cold earth.

Stupid Chiron. Stupid Luke. Stupid Zeus.

I hated them so much at that moment. The weight of the quest pressed down on me, and I felt utterly powerless against it. I didn't want to go on this idiotic quest. I couldn't care less about it.

Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and angry. I gritted my teeth, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness.

With a deep breath, I wiped away my tears and pushed myself to my feet.

Everything was okay.

I grabbed another arrow, my focus on my target, when a hesitant voice murmured, "Icarus?"

Startled, I pivoted on my heel swiftly, my heart pounding, only to meet no one but two people. Annabeth and Percy gazed at me with concern etched across their faces.

I froze, a sense of vulnerability washing over me. "How much did you guys see?"

They glanced at each other, exchanging a silent conversation.

"N-not a lot," Percy stammered.

I pressed, my voice tense with anxiety. "How much?"

"Not a lot, Icarus," Percy repeated, his tone gentle. "It's okay though. W-we're here for you."

I didn't know how to respond.

"Actually… we didn't see anything, Icarus," answered Annabeth, causing Percy to look at her in confusion. I blinked.

"We didn't?" Percy asked, a bemused expression crossing his face.

"No, Percy, we saw nothing," Annabeth clarified. When realization dawned upon Percy, he nodded, a sheepish smile forming on his face. What a goof.

"Don't mention it," Annabeth added, her eyebrow raised, as if sensing my discomfort.

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "You didn't see anything."

"Oh wait, Annabeth," Percy blurted out, changing the topic expertly. The real question was whether he intended to do so or not. From what I know of Percy, probably not, but I still appreciated it, nonetheless. He shot me a pleading look, much to my confusion.

"Will you join us in our quest?"

Ohh. That's what he meant. Well, whatever I guess, I'd deal with her, even though it would exhaust me a lot. Her idiotic questions… my gods.

She rolled her eyes. "Of course, seaweed brain. Who else would join you two idiots in your quest? Clarisse?"

Percy attempted to protest, but she quickly silenced him.

"I've been waiting for a quest for a long time. If the chance comes, I sure won't reject it just because two idiots are a part of it." I frowned at that but refrained from saying anything.

"I suppose you have a plan then, wise girl?" he grumbled.

Her cheeks flushed. "Of course I do."

"Well then, I guess, we have our trio ready," I sighed.

Percy laughed, and even Annabeth had a hint of a smile in her expression.

"Here's to not dying."

"Hip hip hooray, I guess," Percy shrugged.

"Hip-hip-hooray," Annabeth repeated, and silence settled.

"Alright," Percy interrupted, "I know we're having a moment right now, but I'm crazy hungry, so can we just go eat dinner?" Annabeth facepalmed, shaking her head. And we went to have dinner.

chapter 3 done!

Thanks to Magnus, and Cam, the two best betas one could ever ask for. Without the two of you, I would've forgotten to update so thanks for that. :sob: And thank you sm Cam for the prophecy.

Also thanks to HPfanfictioneer for checking the chapter!

Thanks to Dev again for giving me the story!

And finally, "DarknessEnthroned" if you're reading this. I ban you from reading the next chapter. If you do, I'll annoy you till you have tears flowing down, mark my words. #JusticeForKatie

I'm out. Byeeee guys, have a great day.