FINALLY!!!! I finished!!!!!! Sorry it took so long guys. Hope you enjoy it! :)
Seven
He Makes The Decision
I couldn’t believe it. I had just been offered a quest! My dream had finally come true. I was going to leave Camp Half-Blood to save the world. I was so happy! But at the same time worried. What Chiron had told me was terrible. Although, I still accepted the quest.
I strolled down to my cabin, reviewing the instructions Chiron had given me to do the next morning. I had so much planning to do.
Once I reached my cabin, I sat at my desk which was crowded with papers. I stared at my drawing of a big white three story building with six columns in each story. Two statues of Eros, best known as ‘ Cupid’ ( stupid Romans)were at the top facing different directions.
Suddenly, I heard a scream at the front of the cabin. My siblings all turned their head to find Silena standing at the door with her dark hair pulled back in a pony tail, her brown eyes gleamed. She wore a pink tang top and jean skirt. I looked at her face again as a tear fell from her cheek.
“ Annabeth…” she whimpered
I sighed and walked up to her. “ Yes?”
“ I need to talk to you.”
Oh, boy. Silena was the kind of person that can’t stop talking.
I stared at her face, opening my eyes a little wider than usual.
She was giving me puppy-dog eyes. Now, let me ask you a question. Have you ever seen an Aphrodite child’s puppy dog face before? Well, let me tell you it’s hard to resist.
“ Fine.” I walked her to my bunk and we sat down.
“ So what’s going-”
“ Well, for starters, today when I went to get my pink and red armor I found out that Abigail already took it. And when I was at archery practice I accidentally chipped my nail…” I sighed and listened as she kept blabbing on and on about this new guy from the Hermes cabin and how much she wished her dad had gotten her a new “Coach” purse instead of a new “ Louis Vuitton” one, for her birthday.
Eventually, I got bored of listening to the Aphrodite girl and fell asleep.
The only dream that crossed my mind was the dark face of an evil being. It’s aura was horrible yet powerful.
I woke with a start and looked at the clock. It was six A.M. Chiron had told me to go to the Big House at five! I sprung out of bed and quickly got dressed. Then I ran to the Big House as fast as I could. Suddenly, I stopped and looked at the sky. It was unusually dark and a little stormy, the gods must have been angrier then I had anticipated. I stared at the campers who looked just as confused as I was. Once again Chiron opened the door for me. “ Annabeth, where were you? Percy is going to be here any second!”
“ Sorry, Chiron I overslept.”
“ Yes, yes. Now quickly, get into place.”
I put on my Yankees hat and stood by the table Mr. D was playing pinochle at. In case your wondering why we were doing all this, it’s not because it was a surprise birthday, or some sort of prank. It was because, Percy didn’t know he was about to be offered a dangerous quest. The same quest Chiron had offered me just last night. I just hope he had the guts to take it on.
Suddenly he walked in with Grover at his side. Percy stared at Mr. D and Chiron nervously.
“ Well, well,” said Dionysus without looking at him. “ Our little celebrity.”
He remained silent.
“ Come closer. And don’t expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle- Beard is your father.” Ha-ha. Barnacle- Beard.
A herd of lightning flashed across the sky. I had to hold on to one of the columns in the Big House to say still as thunder shook the ground.
“ Blah, blah, blah.” Said Mr. D, rolling his eyes. “ If I had it my way, I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We’d sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm.”
“ Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D.” Chiron explained.
“ Nonsense! The boy wouldn’t feel a thing.” He was partly right, if Percy was unconscious then he wouldn’t feel it. Hmmm, I think I should do an experiment on that… Oh sorry off topic, blame my ADHD.
“ Nevertheless,” He continued,” I’ve agreed to restrain myself. I’m thinking of turning you into a dolphin and sending you back to your father.”
“ Mr. D-” Chiron stared.
“ Oh, all right. There’s one more option. But it’s deadly foolishness.” As he said this, Dionysus rose from the table. “ I’m off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I’ll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Peruses Jackson, if you’re at all smart, you’ll see that’s a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do.”
He picked up a pinochle card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle. It was a pass to Mt. Olympus, most of the kids at camp had seem it before, but Percy tilted his head with a little curiosity.
Mr. D snapped his fingers and disappeared leaving only the smell of bitter grapes behind.
I glanced at Percy, who seemed to be relaxing his shoulders and taking a deep breath.
Chiron smiled at Percy, although he looked tired and worried. I didn’t blame him considering the circumstances
“ Sit Percy, please. And Grover.”
They sat.
Chiron lied his cards down and looked at Percy, once again.
“ Tell me Percy, what did you make of the hell hound?”
I listened intently at what he was going to say.
“ It scared me. If you hadn’t shot it, I’d be dead.”
I had to bite my tongue to keep from shouting, WHAT!? You’re a son of one of the Big Three! I don’t care if you haven’t had much training! Suck it up! But it’s not like I was absolutely positive was going be all, eh I’ve seem worse, now that would be weird.
“ You’ll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you’re done.” Chiron said in a warning voice.
“ Done…with what?”
Here it comes.
“ Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?”
He looked stunned. Grover was crossing his fingers. It’s not like he had a choice. Percy was going on this quest weather he liked it or not!
“ Um sir, you haven’t told me what it is yet.”
Chiron sighed and shook his head. “ That’s the hard part, the details.”
The weather continued to rage. Sea and sky seemed to be at battle.
“ Poseidon and Zeus,” He said suddenly. “ They’re fighting over something valuable…something that was stolen, aren’t they.”
Chiron and Grover looked at each other, and frankly I could understand their shock. I didn’t know Percy was that smart…
Chiron leaned forward in his wheel chair.” How did you know that?”
Percy’s cheeks grew red, as he lowered his head as if he was thinking, Darn it Percy why did you have to go and open your big mouth? Maybe if I keep quiet they’ll forget about it…
But of course, that would be way to stupid, even for Percy.
“ The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth…, “ For some reason when he said my name I blushed. Maybe it was because I didn’t want Chiron and Grover knowing I was a part of what he knew about the gods fighting, which didn’t really make a lot of sense.
“… She said something about a theft. And…I’ve also been having these dreams.”
“ I knew it,” Grover shouted.
“ Hush satyr,” Chiron ordered.
“ But it is his quest!” He protested practically glowing with anticipation. “ It must be!”
“ Only the Oracle can determine.” Chiron said stroking his beard.
“ Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt.
Percy laughed. And it wasn’t one of those laughs that happen when someone tells a joke, it was a nervous kind of laugh, as if he was asking, What does that have to do with me? I personally thought it was disrespectful, and I’m sure Chiron would agree with me. Right Chiron?
“ This is not something to be taken lightly.” Thank you Chiron. “ I’m not talking about some tinfoil- covered zigzag you’d see in a second-grade play. I’m talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives.”
“ Oh.” That’s right Percy feel the shame, feel the shame…
“ Zeus’s master bolt,” Chiron said getting mildly irritated now. “ The symbol of his power, from which all the other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titians, the bolt that sheered the top off Mt. Etna and hurtled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers.”
“ And it’s missing?”
“ Stolen.”
“ By who.”
“ By whom .” Chiron corrected. “ By you.”
His mouth fell wide open. I had the same reaction when Chiron had told me the story last night.
“ At least,” Chiron held up his hand. “ That’s what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: Mother Rhea always liked you best,’ Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters’, et cetera.” I was surprised they never argued about who smelled better. No disrespect intended.
“Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now, a god cannot usurp another gods symbol of power directly - that is forbidden by the most ancient divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it.”
“ But I didn’t-” Percy stuttered, his eyes still the size of watermelons.
“ Patience and listen ,child,” Chiron said calmly. “ Zeus has his reasons to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brothers lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn’t sure of is which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays. You could have easily snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief.”
“ But I’ve never been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!”
Idiot!
Me, Chiron, and Grover stared nervously at the sky. The clouds grew to form a lid over the camp.
“Er, Percy…?” Grover said timidly. “ We don’t use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky.”
“ Perhaps paranoid,” Chiron suggested shrugging his shoulders. “ The again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam….” He glanced at Percy half smiling. Then his expression hardened as he waited for his response.
“ Something about a golden net?” He said finally. “ Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods … they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn’t let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?”
“ Correct.” Chiron said proudly. “ And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon ever since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great accusation. The two have been arguing back and fourth for months, threatening war. And now, you’ve come along- the proverbial last straw.”
“ But I’m just a kid!” He protested.
“ Percy,” Grover put in, finally. “ if you were Zeus, and you already thought your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after World War ll, that he’s fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you… Wouldn’t that put a twist in your toga?”
“ But I didn’t do anything. Poseidon-my dad- he didn’t really have this master bolt stolen, did he.”
At this question, I wondered, did I really believe Poseidon stole the bolt, just because he was my mothers rival? Or did I have enough faith in Percy to trust his father? Despite all the things I said about how he was clumsy idiot who really wasn’t that useful, I thought Percy was a nice guy.
Chiron seemed to be thinking about it to. “ Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon’s style. But the Sea God is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That’s June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I hoped that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus’s temper, Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be a war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?”
“ Bad?” He guessed stupidly.
“ Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so bug it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight.”
“ Bad” Percy repeated.
“ And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus’s wrath.”
Then something crazy happened. It start to rain! And no I’m not crazy. The Volleyball players stared at the sky, to stunned to speak.
“ So I have to find the stupid bolt,” his voice was shaking.” And return it to Zeus.”
“ What better peace offering,” Chiron said brightening a little. “ than, to have a son of Poseidon return Zeus’s property?”
“ If Poseidon doesn’t have it, where is the thing?”
Chiron’s worried expression returned. “ I believe I know. Part of a prophecy I had years ago…” No he wasn’t talking about…. But what else could it be? “ … Well some of the lines make sense to me now. But before I can say more, you must officially take up the quest. You must seek the counsel of the Oracle.”
“ Why can’t you tell me where the bolt if beforehand?”
“ Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge.”
He swallowed. “ Good reason.”
“ You agree then?” I crossed my fingers nervously, as Percy looked at Grover, who was nodding encouragingly.
“ All right.” He answered “ It’s better than being turned into a dolphin.”
Grover had a huge grin on his face. I had to slap my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming, YEA!!!! THANK YOU PERCY JACKSON!!! If I wasn’t supposed to be unseen, I would have jumped up and kissed him!
“ Then it’s time you consulted the Oracle.” Chiron said with a faint smile on his lips. “ Go upstairs, Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you’re still sane, we will talk more.”
I had never been to seen the Oracle before. But from what I had heard, I don’t really think I wanted to find out.
He walked up the four flights of stairs, and pulled the cord. The large wooden door swung open and a cloud of dust raced out, as if it was glad to finally be free. He took a deep breath and walked in.
We waited for a few moments. Suddenly the door to the attic shut with a loud thump! “ Okay, Annabeth. You can come out now.”
“ Thank you, Chiron.” I said taking off my Yankees cap.
Chiron was staring at the sky, looking deep in thought.
Grover was sitting across from him chewing on a tin can, like he did when he was nervous.
I went over and sat next to him quietly.
“ You’ll find him.” I whispered in his furry ear. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“ You’ll find Pan.”
This time he glanced up. “ But what if I end up like all the others? What if I fail again?“
I sighed. Pan, god of the wild. That was who Grover had wanted to find all his life. He’d wanted to get out and explore the world as much as I did. Grover had told me the story a thousand times. Two thousand years ago, a sailor of the coast of Ephesos heard a mysterious voice crying out from the shore, ‘ Tell them that the great god Pan has died!’ When the people heard the news they believed it. But the satyrs stayed faithful. Ever sense then, generations of satyrs have set off to find their hero. But none have come back alive. Grover wanted to be the first. The only problem was, Grover didn’t have his searchers license. To get one, he had to prove responsible. And being that he was our guardian when Thalia was transformed into a pine, he was judged as not so responsible. But this was his second chance.
This quest would change so many lives. I hope Percy knew that.
Just then, the door of the attic slowly opened with a squeak. I quickly yanked on my cap as Percy, wide eyed and pale, came down the stairs and slumped himself on one of the chairs by the pinochle table. “ She said to retrieve what was stolen.”
Grover sat up in his chair, still chewing on the can. “ That’s great!”
“ What did the Oracle say exactly? “ Chiron asked. “ This is important.”
“ She… she said I would go west and face the god who has turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned.”
“ I knew it.” Grover said.
Chiron scrunched his eyebrows, clearly unsatisfied. “ Anything else?”
Percy hesitated, for a moment. Then without looking them in the eye he said, “ No. That’s about it.”
Chiron studied his face. I had a feeling I wasn’t the only one who thought he was lying. “ Very well, Percy. But know this: the Oracle’s words often have double meanings. Don’t dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass.”
I could tell that Chiron was trying to get Percy to tell us… what ever he was holding back.
“ Okay,” he said, trying to change the topic. “ So where do I go? Who’s this god of the west?”
“ Ah, think, Percy,” Chiron said. “ If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?”
“ Someone who wants to take over?” He guessed shrugging.
“ Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided, eons ago, who’s kingdom would grow powerful with the death of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him in an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken.”
He thought for a minute. “ Hades.” ding-ding-ding! We have a winner of the “Totally Obvious Questions” game!
Chiron nodded. “ The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility.”
A scrap of aluminum strayed out of Grover’s mouth.
“ Whoa, wait. Wh-what?” Poor, Grover. He and I, both were still afraid of the Underworld, because of the Thalia incident.
“ A Fury came after Percy,” Chiron reminded him. “ She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades.”
“ Yes, but- but Hades hates all heroes” Grover protested. “ Especially if he has found out Percy is the son of Poseidon….”
“ A hellhound got into the forest,” Chiron persisted. “ Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone within the camp. Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest.”
“ Great,” he muttered half to him-self. “ That’s two major gods who want to kill me.”
“ But a quest to… I mean, couldn’t the mast bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine’s very nice this time of year.”
“ Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt,” Chiron insisted. “ He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don’t pretend to understand the Lord or the Dead’s motives perfectly, or why he choose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain . Percy must go to the underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth.”
The room fell silent. Grover was so nervous, he was chewing on pinochle cards. Mr.D won’t be happy about that…
“ Look, if we know it’s Hades,” Percy finally said, “ why can’t we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads.”
“ Suspecting and knowing are not the same,” Chiron implied. “ Besides, even if the gods suspect Hades- and I imagine Poseidon does- they couldn’t retrieve the bolt themselves. Gods cannot cross each other’s territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as their bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero’s actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?”
I thought over that for a second. Was I strong enough to complete this quest? I almost laughed at myself. Oh course I was! I’m Annabeth Chase!
“ You’re saying I’m being used?” He continued.
“ I’m saying it’s no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. It’s a very risky gamble, but he’s in a desperate situation. He needs you.”
He needs you. I wish my mother needed me…
Percy looked close to tears. But they weren’t the kind of tears that you get when your favorite books character dies, or when you’re missing someone. They were the kind of tears you get when you find a long lost friend, or when you watch your parents laugh after a fight. The happy kind tears.
He looked at Chiron. “ You’ve known I was Poseidon’s son all along, haven’t you?”
“ I had my suspicions. As I said… I’ve spoken to the Oracle, too.”
I remembered the night when we found Percy. Just lying there almost unconscious. I remember Chiron saying Percy was something special. That was something I was starting to believe. Doesn’t mean I had to like it though.
“ So let me get this straight,” He said. “ I’m supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead.”
“ Check.” Chiron said.
“ Find the most powerful weapon in the universe.”
“ Check.”
“ And get it back Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days.”
“ That’s about right.”
Percy glanced over at Grover, who gulped down the last of the ace of hearts.
“ Did I mention Maine is very nice this time of year?” he asked, sinking a little lower in his chair.
“ You don’t have to go.” He told him. “ I can’t ask that of you.”
“ Oh…” He said shifting his hoofs. Come on Goat Boy make up your mind already.” No…. it’s just that satyrs and underground places… well….”
He sighed and stood up, brushing off the shredded cards and aluminum from his T-shirt. “ You saved my life, Percy. If… if you’re serious about you wanting me along, I won’t let you down.”
He smiled, and got the same teary look he had earlier.
“ All the way, G-man.” He turned to Chiron. “ So where do I go? The Oracle just said to go west.”
“ The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it’s in America.”
“ Where?”
Once I saw the surprised look on Chiron’s face, I realized, I didn’t know where it was either. “ I though that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles.”
“ Oh.” He said. “ Naturally. So we just get on a plane-”
“ No!” Grover cried. Okay, seriously. Did he pay any attention to everything we just said about Zeus and Poseidon having a huge fight, which could cause a second, and even worse, Trojan war.
“ Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your
life?”
He shook his slightly red head.
“ Percy, think.” Chiron said. “ You are the son of the Sea God. Your father’s bitterest rival is Zeus, lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus’s domain. You would never come down again alive.”
The sky erupted in lightning again and thunder sprayed across the sky.
“ Okay,” He said the not to look at the sky. “ So, I’ll travel overland.”
“ That’s right.” Chiron said. “ Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help.”
“ Gee,” He said grinning. “ Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?”
I walked behind Chiron’s chair, took off my cap, and shoved it in my pocket.
“ I’ve been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain.” don’t ask about the nick-name. It just seemed right for him. “ Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you’re going to save the world, I’m the best person to keep you from messing up.”
“ If you do say so yourself,” He said crossing his arms. “ I suppose you have a plan, Wise Girl?”
I felt my cheeks turning pink. “ Do you want my help or not?”
He actually seemed to be considering this.
“ A trio.” he finally said. “ That’ll work.”
“ Excellent,” Chiron said. “ This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own.”
Again, lightning flashed as rain poured over the hills into our camp.
“ No time to waste,” Chiron said, with a stern face.” I think you should all get packing.”
Finally, I was going on my quest.
Seven
He Makes The Decision
I couldn’t believe it. I had just been offered a quest! My dream had finally come true. I was going to leave Camp Half-Blood to save the world. I was so happy! But at the same time worried. What Chiron had told me was terrible. Although, I still accepted the quest.
I strolled down to my cabin, reviewing the instructions Chiron had given me to do the next morning. I had so much planning to do.
Once I reached my cabin, I sat at my desk which was crowded with papers. I stared at my drawing of a big white three story building with six columns in each story. Two statues of Eros, best known as ‘ Cupid’ ( stupid Romans)were at the top facing different directions.
Suddenly, I heard a scream at the front of the cabin. My siblings all turned their head to find Silena standing at the door with her dark hair pulled back in a pony tail, her brown eyes gleamed. She wore a pink tang top and jean skirt. I looked at her face again as a tear fell from her cheek.
“ Annabeth…” she whimpered
I sighed and walked up to her. “ Yes?”
“ I need to talk to you.”
Oh, boy. Silena was the kind of person that can’t stop talking.
I stared at her face, opening my eyes a little wider than usual.
She was giving me puppy-dog eyes. Now, let me ask you a question. Have you ever seen an Aphrodite child’s puppy dog face before? Well, let me tell you it’s hard to resist.
“ Fine.” I walked her to my bunk and we sat down.
“ So what’s going-”
“ Well, for starters, today when I went to get my pink and red armor I found out that Abigail already took it. And when I was at archery practice I accidentally chipped my nail…” I sighed and listened as she kept blabbing on and on about this new guy from the Hermes cabin and how much she wished her dad had gotten her a new “Coach” purse instead of a new “ Louis Vuitton” one, for her birthday.
Eventually, I got bored of listening to the Aphrodite girl and fell asleep.
The only dream that crossed my mind was the dark face of an evil being. It’s aura was horrible yet powerful.
I woke with a start and looked at the clock. It was six A.M. Chiron had told me to go to the Big House at five! I sprung out of bed and quickly got dressed. Then I ran to the Big House as fast as I could. Suddenly, I stopped and looked at the sky. It was unusually dark and a little stormy, the gods must have been angrier then I had anticipated. I stared at the campers who looked just as confused as I was. Once again Chiron opened the door for me. “ Annabeth, where were you? Percy is going to be here any second!”
“ Sorry, Chiron I overslept.”
“ Yes, yes. Now quickly, get into place.”
I put on my Yankees hat and stood by the table Mr. D was playing pinochle at. In case your wondering why we were doing all this, it’s not because it was a surprise birthday, or some sort of prank. It was because, Percy didn’t know he was about to be offered a dangerous quest. The same quest Chiron had offered me just last night. I just hope he had the guts to take it on.
Suddenly he walked in with Grover at his side. Percy stared at Mr. D and Chiron nervously.
“ Well, well,” said Dionysus without looking at him. “ Our little celebrity.”
He remained silent.
“ Come closer. And don’t expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle- Beard is your father.” Ha-ha. Barnacle- Beard.
A herd of lightning flashed across the sky. I had to hold on to one of the columns in the Big House to say still as thunder shook the ground.
“ Blah, blah, blah.” Said Mr. D, rolling his eyes. “ If I had it my way, I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We’d sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm.”
“ Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D.” Chiron explained.
“ Nonsense! The boy wouldn’t feel a thing.” He was partly right, if Percy was unconscious then he wouldn’t feel it. Hmmm, I think I should do an experiment on that… Oh sorry off topic, blame my ADHD.
“ Nevertheless,” He continued,” I’ve agreed to restrain myself. I’m thinking of turning you into a dolphin and sending you back to your father.”
“ Mr. D-” Chiron stared.
“ Oh, all right. There’s one more option. But it’s deadly foolishness.” As he said this, Dionysus rose from the table. “ I’m off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I’ll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Peruses Jackson, if you’re at all smart, you’ll see that’s a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do.”
He picked up a pinochle card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle. It was a pass to Mt. Olympus, most of the kids at camp had seem it before, but Percy tilted his head with a little curiosity.
Mr. D snapped his fingers and disappeared leaving only the smell of bitter grapes behind.
I glanced at Percy, who seemed to be relaxing his shoulders and taking a deep breath.
Chiron smiled at Percy, although he looked tired and worried. I didn’t blame him considering the circumstances
“ Sit Percy, please. And Grover.”
They sat.
Chiron lied his cards down and looked at Percy, once again.
“ Tell me Percy, what did you make of the hell hound?”
I listened intently at what he was going to say.
“ It scared me. If you hadn’t shot it, I’d be dead.”
I had to bite my tongue to keep from shouting, WHAT!? You’re a son of one of the Big Three! I don’t care if you haven’t had much training! Suck it up! But it’s not like I was absolutely positive was going be all, eh I’ve seem worse, now that would be weird.
“ You’ll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you’re done.” Chiron said in a warning voice.
“ Done…with what?”
Here it comes.
“ Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?”
He looked stunned. Grover was crossing his fingers. It’s not like he had a choice. Percy was going on this quest weather he liked it or not!
“ Um sir, you haven’t told me what it is yet.”
Chiron sighed and shook his head. “ That’s the hard part, the details.”
The weather continued to rage. Sea and sky seemed to be at battle.
“ Poseidon and Zeus,” He said suddenly. “ They’re fighting over something valuable…something that was stolen, aren’t they.”
Chiron and Grover looked at each other, and frankly I could understand their shock. I didn’t know Percy was that smart…
Chiron leaned forward in his wheel chair.” How did you know that?”
Percy’s cheeks grew red, as he lowered his head as if he was thinking, Darn it Percy why did you have to go and open your big mouth? Maybe if I keep quiet they’ll forget about it…
But of course, that would be way to stupid, even for Percy.
“ The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth…, “ For some reason when he said my name I blushed. Maybe it was because I didn’t want Chiron and Grover knowing I was a part of what he knew about the gods fighting, which didn’t really make a lot of sense.
“… She said something about a theft. And…I’ve also been having these dreams.”
“ I knew it,” Grover shouted.
“ Hush satyr,” Chiron ordered.
“ But it is his quest!” He protested practically glowing with anticipation. “ It must be!”
“ Only the Oracle can determine.” Chiron said stroking his beard.
“ Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt.
Percy laughed. And it wasn’t one of those laughs that happen when someone tells a joke, it was a nervous kind of laugh, as if he was asking, What does that have to do with me? I personally thought it was disrespectful, and I’m sure Chiron would agree with me. Right Chiron?
“ This is not something to be taken lightly.” Thank you Chiron. “ I’m not talking about some tinfoil- covered zigzag you’d see in a second-grade play. I’m talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives.”
“ Oh.” That’s right Percy feel the shame, feel the shame…
“ Zeus’s master bolt,” Chiron said getting mildly irritated now. “ The symbol of his power, from which all the other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titians, the bolt that sheered the top off Mt. Etna and hurtled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers.”
“ And it’s missing?”
“ Stolen.”
“ By who.”
“ By whom .” Chiron corrected. “ By you.”
His mouth fell wide open. I had the same reaction when Chiron had told me the story last night.
“ At least,” Chiron held up his hand. “ That’s what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: Mother Rhea always liked you best,’ Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters’, et cetera.” I was surprised they never argued about who smelled better. No disrespect intended.
“Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now, a god cannot usurp another gods symbol of power directly - that is forbidden by the most ancient divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it.”
“ But I didn’t-” Percy stuttered, his eyes still the size of watermelons.
“ Patience and listen ,child,” Chiron said calmly. “ Zeus has his reasons to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brothers lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn’t sure of is which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays. You could have easily snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief.”
“ But I’ve never been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!”
Idiot!
Me, Chiron, and Grover stared nervously at the sky. The clouds grew to form a lid over the camp.
“Er, Percy…?” Grover said timidly. “ We don’t use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky.”
“ Perhaps paranoid,” Chiron suggested shrugging his shoulders. “ The again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam….” He glanced at Percy half smiling. Then his expression hardened as he waited for his response.
“ Something about a golden net?” He said finally. “ Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods … they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn’t let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?”
“ Correct.” Chiron said proudly. “ And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon ever since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great accusation. The two have been arguing back and fourth for months, threatening war. And now, you’ve come along- the proverbial last straw.”
“ But I’m just a kid!” He protested.
“ Percy,” Grover put in, finally. “ if you were Zeus, and you already thought your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after World War ll, that he’s fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you… Wouldn’t that put a twist in your toga?”
“ But I didn’t do anything. Poseidon-my dad- he didn’t really have this master bolt stolen, did he.”
At this question, I wondered, did I really believe Poseidon stole the bolt, just because he was my mothers rival? Or did I have enough faith in Percy to trust his father? Despite all the things I said about how he was clumsy idiot who really wasn’t that useful, I thought Percy was a nice guy.
Chiron seemed to be thinking about it to. “ Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon’s style. But the Sea God is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That’s June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I hoped that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus’s temper, Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be a war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?”
“ Bad?” He guessed stupidly.
“ Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so bug it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight.”
“ Bad” Percy repeated.
“ And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus’s wrath.”
Then something crazy happened. It start to rain! And no I’m not crazy. The Volleyball players stared at the sky, to stunned to speak.
“ So I have to find the stupid bolt,” his voice was shaking.” And return it to Zeus.”
“ What better peace offering,” Chiron said brightening a little. “ than, to have a son of Poseidon return Zeus’s property?”
“ If Poseidon doesn’t have it, where is the thing?”
Chiron’s worried expression returned. “ I believe I know. Part of a prophecy I had years ago…” No he wasn’t talking about…. But what else could it be? “ … Well some of the lines make sense to me now. But before I can say more, you must officially take up the quest. You must seek the counsel of the Oracle.”
“ Why can’t you tell me where the bolt if beforehand?”
“ Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge.”
He swallowed. “ Good reason.”
“ You agree then?” I crossed my fingers nervously, as Percy looked at Grover, who was nodding encouragingly.
“ All right.” He answered “ It’s better than being turned into a dolphin.”
Grover had a huge grin on his face. I had to slap my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming, YEA!!!! THANK YOU PERCY JACKSON!!! If I wasn’t supposed to be unseen, I would have jumped up and kissed him!
“ Then it’s time you consulted the Oracle.” Chiron said with a faint smile on his lips. “ Go upstairs, Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you’re still sane, we will talk more.”
I had never been to seen the Oracle before. But from what I had heard, I don’t really think I wanted to find out.
He walked up the four flights of stairs, and pulled the cord. The large wooden door swung open and a cloud of dust raced out, as if it was glad to finally be free. He took a deep breath and walked in.
We waited for a few moments. Suddenly the door to the attic shut with a loud thump! “ Okay, Annabeth. You can come out now.”
“ Thank you, Chiron.” I said taking off my Yankees cap.
Chiron was staring at the sky, looking deep in thought.
Grover was sitting across from him chewing on a tin can, like he did when he was nervous.
I went over and sat next to him quietly.
“ You’ll find him.” I whispered in his furry ear. He wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“ You’ll find Pan.”
This time he glanced up. “ But what if I end up like all the others? What if I fail again?“
I sighed. Pan, god of the wild. That was who Grover had wanted to find all his life. He’d wanted to get out and explore the world as much as I did. Grover had told me the story a thousand times. Two thousand years ago, a sailor of the coast of Ephesos heard a mysterious voice crying out from the shore, ‘ Tell them that the great god Pan has died!’ When the people heard the news they believed it. But the satyrs stayed faithful. Ever sense then, generations of satyrs have set off to find their hero. But none have come back alive. Grover wanted to be the first. The only problem was, Grover didn’t have his searchers license. To get one, he had to prove responsible. And being that he was our guardian when Thalia was transformed into a pine, he was judged as not so responsible. But this was his second chance.
This quest would change so many lives. I hope Percy knew that.
Just then, the door of the attic slowly opened with a squeak. I quickly yanked on my cap as Percy, wide eyed and pale, came down the stairs and slumped himself on one of the chairs by the pinochle table. “ She said to retrieve what was stolen.”
Grover sat up in his chair, still chewing on the can. “ That’s great!”
“ What did the Oracle say exactly? “ Chiron asked. “ This is important.”
“ She… she said I would go west and face the god who has turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned.”
“ I knew it.” Grover said.
Chiron scrunched his eyebrows, clearly unsatisfied. “ Anything else?”
Percy hesitated, for a moment. Then without looking them in the eye he said, “ No. That’s about it.”
Chiron studied his face. I had a feeling I wasn’t the only one who thought he was lying. “ Very well, Percy. But know this: the Oracle’s words often have double meanings. Don’t dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass.”
I could tell that Chiron was trying to get Percy to tell us… what ever he was holding back.
“ Okay,” he said, trying to change the topic. “ So where do I go? Who’s this god of the west?”
“ Ah, think, Percy,” Chiron said. “ If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?”
“ Someone who wants to take over?” He guessed shrugging.
“ Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided, eons ago, who’s kingdom would grow powerful with the death of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him in an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken.”
He thought for a minute. “ Hades.” ding-ding-ding! We have a winner of the “Totally Obvious Questions” game!
Chiron nodded. “ The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility.”
A scrap of aluminum strayed out of Grover’s mouth.
“ Whoa, wait. Wh-what?” Poor, Grover. He and I, both were still afraid of the Underworld, because of the Thalia incident.
“ A Fury came after Percy,” Chiron reminded him. “ She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades.”
“ Yes, but- but Hades hates all heroes” Grover protested. “ Especially if he has found out Percy is the son of Poseidon….”
“ A hellhound got into the forest,” Chiron persisted. “ Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone within the camp. Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest.”
“ Great,” he muttered half to him-self. “ That’s two major gods who want to kill me.”
“ But a quest to… I mean, couldn’t the mast bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine’s very nice this time of year.”
“ Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt,” Chiron insisted. “ He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don’t pretend to understand the Lord or the Dead’s motives perfectly, or why he choose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain . Percy must go to the underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth.”
The room fell silent. Grover was so nervous, he was chewing on pinochle cards. Mr.D won’t be happy about that…
“ Look, if we know it’s Hades,” Percy finally said, “ why can’t we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads.”
“ Suspecting and knowing are not the same,” Chiron implied. “ Besides, even if the gods suspect Hades- and I imagine Poseidon does- they couldn’t retrieve the bolt themselves. Gods cannot cross each other’s territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as their bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero’s actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?”
I thought over that for a second. Was I strong enough to complete this quest? I almost laughed at myself. Oh course I was! I’m Annabeth Chase!
“ You’re saying I’m being used?” He continued.
“ I’m saying it’s no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. It’s a very risky gamble, but he’s in a desperate situation. He needs you.”
He needs you. I wish my mother needed me…
Percy looked close to tears. But they weren’t the kind of tears that you get when your favorite books character dies, or when you’re missing someone. They were the kind of tears you get when you find a long lost friend, or when you watch your parents laugh after a fight. The happy kind tears.
He looked at Chiron. “ You’ve known I was Poseidon’s son all along, haven’t you?”
“ I had my suspicions. As I said… I’ve spoken to the Oracle, too.”
I remembered the night when we found Percy. Just lying there almost unconscious. I remember Chiron saying Percy was something special. That was something I was starting to believe. Doesn’t mean I had to like it though.
“ So let me get this straight,” He said. “ I’m supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead.”
“ Check.” Chiron said.
“ Find the most powerful weapon in the universe.”
“ Check.”
“ And get it back Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days.”
“ That’s about right.”
Percy glanced over at Grover, who gulped down the last of the ace of hearts.
“ Did I mention Maine is very nice this time of year?” he asked, sinking a little lower in his chair.
“ You don’t have to go.” He told him. “ I can’t ask that of you.”
“ Oh…” He said shifting his hoofs. Come on Goat Boy make up your mind already.” No…. it’s just that satyrs and underground places… well….”
He sighed and stood up, brushing off the shredded cards and aluminum from his T-shirt. “ You saved my life, Percy. If… if you’re serious about you wanting me along, I won’t let you down.”
He smiled, and got the same teary look he had earlier.
“ All the way, G-man.” He turned to Chiron. “ So where do I go? The Oracle just said to go west.”
“ The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it’s in America.”
“ Where?”
Once I saw the surprised look on Chiron’s face, I realized, I didn’t know where it was either. “ I though that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles.”
“ Oh.” He said. “ Naturally. So we just get on a plane-”
“ No!” Grover cried. Okay, seriously. Did he pay any attention to everything we just said about Zeus and Poseidon having a huge fight, which could cause a second, and even worse, Trojan war.
“ Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your
life?”
He shook his slightly red head.
“ Percy, think.” Chiron said. “ You are the son of the Sea God. Your father’s bitterest rival is Zeus, lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus’s domain. You would never come down again alive.”
The sky erupted in lightning again and thunder sprayed across the sky.
“ Okay,” He said the not to look at the sky. “ So, I’ll travel overland.”
“ That’s right.” Chiron said. “ Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help.”
“ Gee,” He said grinning. “ Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?”
I walked behind Chiron’s chair, took off my cap, and shoved it in my pocket.
“ I’ve been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain.” don’t ask about the nick-name. It just seemed right for him. “ Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you’re going to save the world, I’m the best person to keep you from messing up.”
“ If you do say so yourself,” He said crossing his arms. “ I suppose you have a plan, Wise Girl?”
I felt my cheeks turning pink. “ Do you want my help or not?”
He actually seemed to be considering this.
“ A trio.” he finally said. “ That’ll work.”
“ Excellent,” Chiron said. “ This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own.”
Again, lightning flashed as rain poured over the hills into our camp.
“ No time to waste,” Chiron said, with a stern face.” I think you should all get packing.”
Finally, I was going on my quest.
