Chapter 26.
When they materialized, Percy and Calypso found themselves in his parents' throne room. Taking his seat on the throne, Percy summoned his parents to join them. As Nyx and Erebus appeared, their expressions registered confusion before settling on Calypso, who stood by Percy's side.
"Hello, my dear," Nyx greeted warmly, her eyes softening as she addressed Calypso.
Calypso returned the smile before replying, "Hello, Lady Nyx. And you too, Lord Erebus."
Erebus smiled warmly in response, nodding his head in acknowledgment. "My dear, you know you don't have to call us Lord and Lady. You're practically our adopted daughter," Nyx chimed in, her voice filled with affection as she looked at Calypso.
Calypso smiled in response before nodding in agreement. Nyx turned to Percy with a proud expression on her face. "I didn't think you had figured it out, Percy. I'm impressed," she remarked, her tone filled with admiration.
Percy laughed softly before nodding. Calypso looked at him curiously, prompting Percy to explain with a warm smile, "Theo was always meant to be the last hero to visit you. After he left, you would be alone for eternity if nobody came to get you from the island. So I did."
Calypso's expression shifted from shock to gratitude as she gently took Percy's hand, silently mouthing a heartfelt "thank you." Percy returned the smile, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze before releasing it.
"Mom, I need to return to Theo to make sure he gets back to camp safely. Can you get Caly settled in?" Percy requested, turning to his mother. Nyx smiled warmly before nodding. "Of course, Percy," she replied reassuringly.
With a grin, Percy rose from his throne and enveloped Calypso in a tight embrace. Whispering softly, he said, "I'll see you soon." Calypso smiled in return, nodding before stepping back to watch as Percy faded into the shadows, leaving her in the throne room with Percy's parents.
Reappearing, Percy found himself on Theo's raft, startling Theo momentarily before he recognized Percy with a grin. "Ah, hey Percy," Theo greeted, his smile widening.
"Sup, Theo," Percy replied, mirroring the grin.
Concern etched on his face, Theo asked, "Is Calypso gonna be okay?"
Percy's smile softened as he nodded reassuringly. "Yes, she'll be perfectly okay. She's home now."
Theo looked puzzled. "Isn't she already home on the island?" he queried.
Shaking his head, Percy clarified, "No, she's home in the only place that ever felt like home to her and not a prison."
Theo's confusion deepened, prompting Percy to explain further. "She's home in the Void."
Theo's eyes widened in understanding before a grin spread across his face. "I don't know what the Void is like, but I'm sure it's better than the island," he remarked.
Percy chuckled. "Yeah, it is. She loves it there."
With that reassurance, Theo's expression relaxed, content in the knowledge that Calypso had found her true home beyond the confines of the island.
Theo nodded thoughtfully before turning to Percy with a curious expression. "I thought she was trapped on the island. How was she able to visit the Void?"
Percy smiled warmly as he settled down next to Theo, who shifted over to make room for him. "When Calypso and I were together, I took her from the island to my home on many occasions. My parents absolutely adore her. If it wasn't for her curse, I would have taken her off that prison permanently millennia ago."
Theo nodded, absorbing the information with interest. "You both clearly care for one another. If she's free now, what's stopping you from being with her again?" he inquired gently.
Percy's smile softened momentarily before he replied, "Because I'm with somebody else now." Theo looked surprised but nodded in understanding. "Well, I'm glad she's free now. I can't even imagine the pain she's been through emotionally," he remarked sympathetically.
Percy nodded and was about to respond when he noticed land approaching. Percy smiled and turned to Theo, who had also noticed their arrival. "You're home. Let's get this show on the road," he declared with a grin.
Theo nodded in agreement as Percy grasped his shoulder and pulled them both into the shadows, reappearing in the heart of the camp. Theo looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings, while Percy shifted into his wolf form and led the way towards the amphitheater.
As they approached, they found the campers gathered around the campfire, solemn expressions on their faces as they burned a shroud made of sea green silk and adorned with a golden trident. Percy realized it must be for Theo, a gesture of mourning and remembrance.
Feeling the weight of the somber mood, Percy decided to lift everyone's spirits.
He turned to Theo and nudged him playfully, prompting Theo to look down at him with a grin. Percy dropped to the ground and transformed into a wolf the size of the Nemean lion. Theo chuckled before climbing onto Percy's back.
Once Theo was settled, Percy bounded towards a shadow in a nearby tree and disappeared, reappearing right next to Chiron, who was caught off guard by their sudden appearance. "WOOF!" Percy barked playfully before sitting down and allowing Theo to slide off his back.
"Ah, welcome home, Theo," Chiron greeted warmly. "Thanks, Chiron. Sorry I was gone. Percy had to rescue me from an island," Theo explained with a grin.
Chiron nodded understandingly as Theo patted Percy on the head before running off towards Annabeth, who was already rushing to greet him.
"WOOF!" Percy barked happily at Chiron before shrinking back to his normal size and bounding towards the Hunters of Artemis, who greeted him with delighted laughter and open arms.
After receiving hugs and head pats from the girls, Percy trotted over to Zoe, eager for attention. "Welcome back, Percy," she said warmly as she wrapped him in a hug. Percy wagged his tail happily as Zoe stood back up to give him a pat on the head.
Finally, Percy headed over to Artemis and playfully weaved himself in and out of her legs before wagging his tail at her. Artemis chuckled and crouched down to hug Percy tightly. "Welcome home, Percy," she said warmly.
"Woof," he replied, his tail wagging even more vigorously. Artemis laughed as she stood back up. "Come on, girls, let's go to bed now that we have our guardian back for the night," she said with a smile, addressing the group.
The girls nodded in agreement, their spirits lifted by Percy's return. They followed Artemis and Percy back to the cabin for the evening.
The following morning, Percy was gently awoken by Artemis, who was shaking him with a soft touch. Percy slowly opened his eyes and let out a sleepy yawn, before meeting Artemis's gaze with a wolfish grin, which she returned with a smile of her own.
"Good morning, Percy," Artemis greeted. "The questers are ready to continue their journey. They've discovered that Kampe has Ariadne's string, and she's located somewhere in the maze."
Percy's eyes widened with renewed determination as he absorbed the information. He nodded in acknowledgment and rose from his dog bed, stretching his limbs before padding over to the door.
Once Artemis opened the front door, Percy nuzzled her legs affectionately as a farewell gesture before bounding off towards Zeus's Fist, where he knew the questers would be eagerly awaiting their next move.
When he arrived, the group was gathered there, examining the rocks. "Woof," Percy greeted them, his tail wagging in excitement. The group turned and smiled as he approached. "Good morning, Percy," Annabeth said, her smile warm.
Percy grinned before transforming back into his 17-year-old form. "Alright, round two of the maze, let's go," he announced with a smile. The group nodded in agreement, ready to continue their quest. With determination, they entered the rocks once more.
Once they were inside, Percy turned to Thalia and Grover. "So, guys, what did you find on your mission?" he asked curiously.
Both of them looked crestfallen, and Grover spoke up. "Pan was there, but he was fading. He had time to tell us to inform the satyrs that he was gone before he faded." Percy's smile faded as he listened to the somber news.
"I'm sorry, Grover," Percy said sincerely. "If it makes you feel better, Pan will have a nice home in the Void," he added with a gentle reassuring smile. Grover looked up, and Percy could see some light returning to his eyes. "Thank you, Percy," he replied sincerely, a hint of gratitude in his voice.
Percy nodded, turning his attention to Annabeth. "Annabeth, any thoughts on where Kampe might be?" he inquired. Annabeth nodded in response. "Kampe is the Titans' jailer. If we assume they'd keep their prisoners close to their fortress, it's safe to assume Kampe is probably on Alcatraz Island in California."
Absorbing her words, Percy nodded. "Alright. So, how do we navigate through the maze to get to California? I can shadow travel us there, but I don't think Fate would be happy if we skipped traveling through the maze ," he explained.
The group exchanged thoughtful looks until Annabeth suddenly gasped. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a familiar-looking disk. "Hephaestus gave this to me after you left, Percy. It's like the one he gave Theo, but it's meant to lead us to the string," she explained, a smile spreading across her face.
Percy grinned as he took the disk and pressed the button, observing as it transformed into a dog bot before he released it onto the floor. The mechanical canine finished its formation and stood upright, emitting a playful bark in Percy's direction before turning around and setting off with purpose. "Well, at least it's not a spider," Percy quipped, chuckling at the sight.
Annabeth laughed in agreement as they set off to follow the dog through the maze's twisting corridors.
They trailed behind the mechanical dog for what seemed like hours, navigating the maze's intricate pathways until they finally reached a door. Percy pushed the door open slowly, leading the way as they stepped through it. As they emerged on the other side, they found themselves standing in what appeared to be a jail cell.
"Looks like we made it," Theo remarked, his voice tinged with relief.
"Yeah, but the question is, where is Kampe? This prison is large, but Kampe is a massive monster. She shouldn't be able to hide very easily," Annabeth reasoned, scanning their surroundings.
The group proceeded cautiously through the maze, tension mounting with each step. Percy's senses prickled as he detected Kampe's presence drawing near. "She's close. Be prepared," he warned firmly.
The demigods nodded in unison, drawing their weapons, while Grover rummaged through his pack and retrieved some cans.
As they turned a corner, Percy's heart skipped a beat. There, in the center of the room, sat Kampe on a ruined makeshift throne, her gaze fixed upon them. "Ahhh, hello, demigods. Have you come to join Lord Kronos, or have you come to die meaningless deaths?" she hissed, her voice slithering like a serpent's. Percy could see the string in the middle of her belt, in a metal lion's head.
"Give us the string, Kampe. Or I'll make you," Percy said, his tone steeling and his gaze hardening. Kampe laughed before standing up from her seat and stepping forward towards the demigods.
"Foolish demigods. You will never have the string, or leave this place alive!" she responded before drawing her twin scimitars. The doors behind her crashed open as monsters flooded into the room.
"You guys handle the monsters. Kampe is mine," Percy declared as he summoned his spear and shield to his hands. "Nice weapon choice, Percy," Thalia remarked with a grin as she summoned her own spear and shield. Percy grinned back before turning and charging headfirst at Kampe.