Percy POV

I'm sitting at the ping pong table, eleven pairs of eyes looking at me with various degrees of emotion. In the time gap in which I have received the prophecy, Chiron and Mr.D have assembled all the best councillors for an emergency meeting, which in my opinion is the best thing they could have ever done. It's better they know it beforehand from us than finding out later which would have resulted in a camp dispute. The camp would have been plunged into a civil war following their parents.

"Well what are you waiting for Perry Johnson?" Mr.D asks and I roll my eyes inwardly at his mispronunciation of the campers' names. But still my eyes soften as I remember why he does it. It pains him less when a camper dies if he is not too familiar with them. Hence his deliberate attempts at mispronunciation. It's his way of coping and really my heart goes for him. I couldn't imagine being in this camp as a director for another century when your own children are here and there is a huge chance they might die before you and you would be helpless to aid them. That's something I wouldn't wish even on my greatest enemy let alone a god who I grew up with in my past life. My eyes avert to Luke as understanding dawns in his eyes as he comes to the same conclusion as me. It seems he is getting what I have said about the gods.

"I take it all of them know what's happening?" I ask.

"Of course Percy. That's why they are all here. Now if you could please repeat the prophecy?" Chiron asks raising an eyebrow.

"Ah yes.. of course. Here it is." And I recite the lines of the prophecy. The first two lines sound good but the next two are confusing. Friends? Truths? The last line has made my heart beat so loud I was afraid it was gonna burst and the knowing look Chiron gave me when I said the last line is nerve wrecking.

"It's a good thing right? It says we would find the Bolt and return it." Silena says looking at everyone with cautious hope.

"As it may be Silena. The line says 'are' and not 'is'. It seems the quest is not about finding one missing object but more than one." Chiron says and everyone falls silent thinking about what might have been stolen.

"But if we ignore it for now, the first line must have been referring to Lord Hades." And the confident edge in his voice irks me. I felt my blood rush to my ears at his words. Nobody has any right to blame uncle Hades. How dare he.

"Lord Hades?" Annabeth asks hesitant and Chiron nods.

"Tell me my dear. If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to

gain?"

"Somebody else who wants to take over?" She guessed.

"Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was

divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who

hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have

now broken. The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."

And I snap. "Are people in this camp generally biased or is it only you Chiron?" My tone shocks everyone to their core as is evident by their gaping mouths. But I ignore them as my anger at the unfairness increases.

"Why can't it be Athena or Hera? They too were part of the plan to strip Zeus from power aren't they? It could even be Hephaestus!! He surely must want some revenge on Zeus for toppling him out of Olympus." And while I know it was Hera who did it in a moment of anger, the other demigods do not know that.

"It could be Ares. He would be at an advantage if everyone goes to war. It could even be Hermes. Isn't he the Good of like literally bloody thieves!!? Hell!! It could even be Mr.D at this point. Maybe he wanted revenge for stripping him off his major domain which was very cruel by the way." I argue.

I felt Dionysus' power weighing on me in fury."What are you implying Jackson?" He snarls.

"I am in no way accusing you of anything Lord Dionysus. I was merely stating the possible suspects instead of placing all the blame on one person." I snark.

"You seem hell bent on defending Hades." He says looking at me calculatingly and a little suspicious. I hold back a grimace at that. Of course he was suspicious. I used to be very close with Uncle Hades in my past life. Always defending him just like how I did...just now.

But I won't bow down to their suspicions. So I look him squarely in the eyes and say "Well of course I have to defend him. He won't steal his own helm would he?" I drop the bomb and take a little satisfaction at his widening eyes and the shocked gasps throughout the room.

"Hades lost his helm?" He asks and I nod. "Why is it we haven't been informed of it yet you seem to know of this?" He demands.

"Lord Hades has informed my father who in turn informed me. They seem to be close enough with each other to share this information. Aren't they?" I challenge and he deflates looking confused.

"Yes they were... But not since..." He grimaces looking pained and I wince in guilt. Dad and Uncle H haven't been on good terms since my previous death? I file this information for later as Dionysus shakes his head.

"Never mind that. I have to go and inform the council of this. But before I go, tell me Perseus Jackson. Who are your companions on this quest?"

I don't hesitate for even a moment before saying their names. " I chose Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase as my companions."

ZEUS POV

I am looking at Dionysus in shock resisting the urge to massage my head at the brewing headache.

"Why is it we are hearing about this now?" I growl out.

"The son of Poseidon informed us at the meeting just now. It seems he knew about it from his father who in turn knew about it from Hades." Dionysus says and I glare at Poseidon in barely concealed anger.

"You dare hide this information from the council?!" I roar and my ire increases at his non-chalant expression.

"It wasn't mine to share" he says and I felt electricity crackle in my hands at my steadily growing anger.

"This is a huge problem Poseidon. A problem that should have been informed to the council immediately." I snarl and he shrugs!! He literally shrugs!!

"Well you would have known about it if you could have just given Hades freedom to come to Olympus as he wishes." He says glaring at me and I felt incredulousness rise within me.

"You are supporting Hades instead of us?" I ask in disgust. Since when have these two become buddy buddy again?

"Well he hasn't even thought to blame me when his helm is stolen unlike you who put the blame on me without an ounce of proof. So yes I support Hades more than you Zeus."

"Be careful with your words brother. You speak of treason."

"Treason?" He scoffs. "It would have been treason if it was someone else but in case you have forgotten he is family. He is your own brother. Is supporting our family a bad thing now too?!" He growls standing up and my blood turns cold, his words hitting close to home. I lean forward in my throne glaring at him.

"Yet it hasn't stopped you or Hades from hating me when I supported my daughter brother." My voice freezing cold. I felt the Council stiffen at the topic I brought. The trident materialised in his hands and his eyes turned into pits of hate at my words.

"DONOT compare these two situations. She" he points his trident at Artemis "killed him. And you supported her when she killed my son!!" He shouts and I too stand up now, our faces inches apart and faces bursting with fury.

"She is my daughter!!" I say fiercely.

"Does Perseus ever mean anything to you?" He asks his voice accusing and I stiffen feeling as if he has punched me.

"He was like a son to me Poseidon. I too raised him. I loved him dearly."

"Loved?" He scoffs. "Yes I have seen how much you have loved him when you supported his murderer." He sneers.

"That's enough brother." I snap. "Think whatever about me but one thing is true. I cared very deeply for him."

"If that is what you call care, then I pity all your children. Face it Zeus, you don't care about your children much less Perseus." And I felt my control snap.

"I maybe your brother but I am your King first. You know nothing of me. So never presume to know about me. You would do well to remember that." I say and flash off leaving a baffled and shocked council in my wake.

TIME SKIP

I am drinking a goblet of nectar in my chambers, my mind reflecting back on the council meeting a few hours ago. The arrival of this demigod had us bring our long back forgotten arguments to the forefront of our minds. The topic of Perseus much less his death hasn't been uttered in years but the familiar face on the young demigod is upsetting the reluctant peace that resided between the council members. I fear what his arrival means to Olympus. And I fear what would happen of the world when he dies. I still remember the day Perseus died vividly. The world nearly ended at the rage of seas and I don't think it would survive if anything happens to this boy.

I close my eyes and I feel my eyes burn with the familiar regret and guilt every time I think of Perseus.

I should have saved you that day, my boy and I wish you hadn't made me promise to not save you. I regret the decision till now and I know I will regret it all my immortal life.