Wisdom of the Waters

Chapter 8

-Percy-

Sighing he leaned back on the railing of the porch for the big house, gazing at Chiron and Mr. D as they explained to him that Zeus's master bolt was stolen, as the son of Poseidon he was being considered the most likely culprit, and that they were assigning him a quest to try and retrieve the bolt and clear his name. "Oh joy," he groaned as he fiddled with the straps on his new gloves "I'm guessing I don't have much choice?".

"Father has been…rather silent since your claiming," Dionysus said hesitantly "your father compared Zeus to Kronos and nobody has seen much of him since. It could be that Zeus is going through a 'soul searching' faze but it could also be that he's just plotting how to destroy you so clearing your name is probably a good idea.".

"Fine," he said with a sigh, not able to fault their logic "but what am I supposed to do?".

"Go up to the attic and consult the oracle first," Chiron said with a gesture inside "we'll move on from there.".

Nodding he climbed up the steps, feeling the power of the 'oracle' as he did so, the ancient feeling that set his skin on edge. Getting to the attic door he pushed it up, coughing at the dust cloud that was raised by doing so as he stared in shock at what lay around him. Dozens upon dozens of spoils of war filled the attic ranging from weapons, to body parts, to other random items both extraordinary and mundane. The must grotesque 'trophy' though was the mummy that sat on a tripod stool in the back, covered with beads and bangles as its lifeless marble eyes stared at him with an intensity that made him shudder. Before he could fully look around to find the 'oracle' the mummy's mouth opened with the sound of stretching leather as its decayed flesh stretched and pulled, green fog reeking of snakes spilling forth as the attic door behind him slammed shut with a bang.

"I am the Spirit of Delphi, speaker of the Prophecies of Phoebus Apollo. Approach speaker, and ask." The mummy asked him, its mouth moving out of sync with the words as the decayed body struggled to move properly.

"What must I do to clear my name Oracle?" he asked as he tried to process the fact that the spirit of Prophecy was trapped inside such a decrepit body…he could feel only pity for the spirit.

In response the fog began to swirl about until it formed the shape of a beautiful woman who stared at him curiously, "You interest me, Perseus Jackson," the woman made of mist said as she walked around him, inspecting him "most who meet me fear me, some feel disgust at this form I am trapped in, some hate me for the words of prophecy I speak…but never before have I been pitied. Why?".

"Your body," he said hesitantly, trying to find the words to explain what he was trying to convey "it feels both right and wrong at once. I can tell that it was once a living woman, a true Oracle, but it feels…out of place. Your spirit feels trapped within it…it feels like it doesn't belong.".

"You are a…interesting Hero, Percy Jackson." The Oracle said softly as she finished her inspections "I shall grant you your prophecy.

You shall go west, and face the god who was turned,

You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned,

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend,

But all for naught, the war starts in the end."

"Thank you, Lady Oracle." He said with a small bow "For giving me the prophecy that I hope shall bring me aide.".

"You do not rage and roar?" The oracle asked demandingly "You do not bemoan your fate? Do not demand for more answers or for it to be changed?".

"Prophecy cannot be changed," he said shaking his head "and it always has a meaning besides what is most obvious. It says I will face the turned god…that I will find what was stolen and see it returned. I know that my name will be cleared. It says I will be betrayed by one who calls me a friend…there are several who call me friend when I don't see the same so it could very well be one of them. As for the line about the war starting in the end…I can't stop it but thanks to your prophecy we know it will come and can prepare for it.".

"I wish you luck on your quest young hero," the Spirit of the Oracle said with a nod as it walked back over to the mummified corpse "and I offer you this. In that pouch," the spirit touched one of the many necklaces around the mummy's neck "is written the words of the Great Prophecy…the one which speaks of a child of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades. Most would not want you burdened with this until it is too late…I feel you are ready now. Read it, and I honestly pray that you live a long and full life.".

As the spirit finished she dissolved once more into a shapeless mast of mist that was sucked back inside the mummy, the smell of snakes lingering behind. Hesitantly, he stepped forward and pulled out the pouch, opening it as he removed the prophecy and read out.

A half-blood of the eldest gods,

Shall reach twenty against all odds,

And see the world in endless sleep,

The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap,

A single choice shall end his days,

Olympus to preserve or raze.

Sighing he sat down on the windowsill next to the mummy, "Thank you," he said sadly to the spirit within the corpse "for telling me.". It could have been his imagination but he could have sworn he felt a small tendril of thought brush against his mind, as if trying to thank him.

Getting back down to the porch he stared blankly at Chiron, "Ah Percy," Chiron said when he arrived "did you get your prophecy? What did it say?". Taking in a breath he told the newer prophecy he had gotten word for word to Chiron as well as his take on it. "Then why do you seem so…shaken?" the centaur asked nervously.

"Because the Oracle also gave me this." He said as he handed the small written prophecy to the centaur who paled upon seeing it "And…now I know that my days are numbered. There may be multiple different meanings to 'a single choice shall end his days'…but I can only think of one.".

"So what are you going to do?" Chiron asked sadly as even Dionysus looked at him with regret "And who will you bring with you on the quest?".

"I…I'd like to leave tomorrow." He said as he gripped the railing "There's…there are a few things I need to do first. As for who…I don't know.".

"You're not going to bring Clarisse and Lou?" Chiron asked in surprise.

"They're part of what I have to do today," he said softly as tears began to well in his eyes "I can't…I can't be with them If I know I'm just going to die in a few years.". Before walking off towards the beach where he knew the two girls were waiting for him.

Getting there he saw them laughing happily as they shared, from what he could tell, stories about their dates with him as he felt his heart break just a little bit more. "Percy!" Lou said happily when she saw him only for that happiness to leave when she saw the tears in his eyes and the serious expression that he wore.

"What happened?!" Clarisse demanded as the girls rushed over to him.

Collapsing onto the sand he explained "I…I'm being given a quest to clear my name and recover the bolt. But more than that…the oracle gave me this." He handed Lou the slip of paper with the prophecy "The Great Prophecy…the one that says I'm to die in three years.".

"WHAT?!" Lou screamed as she took the paper and read through it as fast as she could with her dyslexia, Clarisse copying her as they both stared at him with horror.

"That's why I came to talk to both of you," he said as the tears that had been growing in his eyes finally began to fall "I…I can't…I can't be with you if I know that I'm just going to die later on anyway.".

"No!" Clarisse yelled vehemently as she grabbed him, tears welling in her eyes as they did in his "We aren't going to let you do this!".

"But-" he tried to protest only for Lou to grab his face and silence him by slamming her lips onto his, Clarisse doing the same a moment later when Lou pulled back for some air and he was left gasping.

"No buts Percy," Clarisse said as both girls held onto him, wrapping their arms around him as he lay nestled between them, their tears sliding down his body as he could feel their pain through each one, "we…we'll find a way. We'll save you. We aren't going to let you go that easily.".

"Prophecies can have double meanings," Lou said as she buried her face into the crook of his neck "this one might as well.".

"How many meanings can there be for 'a single choice shall end his days'?" he asked as he didn't even try to stop the tears pouring down his face.

"Maybe they're saying that you'll become a god, or partially immortal and that it will end your days as a mortal," Lou suggested desperately "or maybe it isn't you the prophecy is talking about.".

"Maybe this will show you that no matter what you say we aren't going to abandon you." Clarisse said as she stared into his eyes before saying clearly "I swear upon the River Styx that I will not abandon Percy Jackson, that I will not leave him just because of this prophecy…that I will stay by his side and try to find a way for him to live.". As thunder boomed to seal her oath she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly, trying to pour all of her raw emotion through that one simple contact. An action that Lou copied as well moments later, both the oath and the kiss.

"We aren't going to abandon you Percy," Lou promised him as she cradled his head against her chest "not now…not ever.". Unable to speak he merely held her close and cried out his pain and joy as they held him. His pain from fear of having to leave them…and joy of having women as amazing as them in his life.