Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

(A/N: This is what the characters would look like in The Titan's Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Last Olympian)

Tanner Buchanan as Theo Miller

Asher Angel as Percy Jackson

Kathryn Newton as Annabeth Chase

Caleb McLaughlin as Grover Underwood

Rudy Pankow as Luke Castellan

Isabela Merced as Thalia Grace

Dylan Schmid as Nico di Angelo

Jenna Ortega  as Bianca di Angelo

Dafne Keen as Zoe Nightshade

Kathrine Langford as Silena Beauregard

Chosen Jacobs as Charles Beckendorf

Carly Dutcher as Clarisse La Rue

Jeff Bridges as Zeus

Luke Evans as Poseidon

Tom Hiddelston as Hades

Adam "Edge" Copeland as Ares

Alexandra Daddario as Athena

Amber Heard as Hera
(A/N: Cuz who else could play a bitch other than the big bitch herself?)

Peter Dinklage as Hephaestus

Sam Claflin as Apollo

Ann e Hathaway as Artemis

Nathan Fillion as Hermes

Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus/Mr. D

Emma Waston as Hestia

Zoe Kravitz as Persophone

Brandon T. Jackson as Pan

Pierce Brosnan as Chiron

Sadie Sink as Rachel Elizabeth Dare

Tye Sheridan as Tyson

Ian McKellen as Tantalus

Ian Glen as Daedalus/Quintus

Sandra Bullock as Sally Jackson

Chapter Text

Look, being a half-blood is one of the worst things you can imagine.

If you seriously think that being a half-blood is one of the coolest things on Earth, trust me; it fucking ain't. Nothing's cool about being hunted down all your life or being forced into deadly fights against gods, monsters, or even Titans.

You want my advice? Close the app and turn off your phone or tablet right now. Or if you're using your computer for some reason, close the tab of whatever internet browser you're using. Believe whatever bullshit your mom or dad decides to tell you, and live a normal life. Because once you start reading this, there's no stopping what's coming...

You're still here? Alright, your funeral, I guess.

New York City
2006
Theo's POV

My name is Theodore Bartholomew Miller, but I prefer to be called Theo 'cause I don't like being called after the fat green sweater-wearing chipmunk from Alvin and the Chipmunks. I am 12 years old, but I don't know who either of my parents really are.

As far as I know, when I was 2 months old (give or take a week or two) I was dropped off at the front door of an orphanage in Brooklyn in a little bronze crib, with nothing but a necklace with a silver arrowhead attached to a bronze chain and a little piece of parchment that only had my name written: Theo.

A few weeks after that, a man named David Miller arrived at the orphanage, looking for a kid to adopt. See, his wife had died a few years before, and she was pregnant with their kid. David was so excited about being a father, but his hopes and dreams got crushed because a stupid motherfucker driving a semi-truck wasn't looking at the road. David survived the crash with 6 broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and a few cuts and bruises. But his wife and unborn child weren't so lucky. They both died in the ER.

Played by: Keanu Reeves

You can imagine how devastated David was when one of the doctors broke the news. It took him a while to get past it. Sometimes, I'm not even sure if he has fully moved on. Not that I blame him, of course.

Anyway, when David arrived at the orphanage, he saw me and got curious. Once the matron told me how I ended up there, he decided to adopt me. Best thing that ever happened to either of us.

For the next 11 and a half years, he raised me as his own kid, with more love and affection than I could ever ask for. He gave me his last name and his uncle's name, Bartholomew, who died fighting in World War 2.

As I was growing up, I ended up being a petrolhead. Give me a car, and I can tell you everything you need to know about it. Top speed, 0-60, horsepower, what kind of engine it has, you name it. You can thank Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond for that. All it took was one episode of Top Gear and I got hooked on cars and everything about them.

I was also interested in Greek mythology. I'm not an expert or anything, but I know a fair amount of things.

When I was about 5 years old, I was diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia. It's the worst combo, but it's certainly a pain in the ass when it comes to school. I can't sit still for more than a minute, and whenever I try to read something, the letters just keep floating off the page and end up getting blurry. Doesn't do my grades any favors, but I try to make the best of it. I'm not exactly a straight-A student, but they don't get any lower than C-minuses, which is good enough, given the circumstances.

Education aside, I only had one friend, and he's the closest thing I have to a brother. Eric Hayes. He's basically a school bully's best prey. He has a crutch on his left arm because of a medical condition that doesn't let him walk properly, and he's a Star Wars fanatic, which would put him in the nerd category, and we all know how nerds get treated by jocks and assholes. He's one tough son of a bitch, though.

Played by: Cameron Boyce

Right now, I was standing in front of my locker, emptying it now that the school day was finally over. He looked over to his left and saw Eric walking towards him.

Eric: Hey, man!

Theo: What's up?

We dapped each other up and pulled each other into a hug, then separated after a few seconds. We then start walking out of the school and toward the bus stop.

Eric: All good. You?

Theo: All good, man. You got any plans today?

Eric: (sucks in a breath) Sorry, man. I gotta go see my dad. It's his turn today.

Theo: Right. Okay.

We both got on the bus and sat down as it drove.

Eric: I am free tomorrow. Maybe we can hang out at your place?

Theo: (smiles) Yeah, sure.

Eric smiled back as he and I continued to chat.

Timeskip

After a while, the bus stopped near Theo's apartment building. Since Eric's place was at the next stop, I started getting up.

Theo: See you around, Eric.

Eric: Wait a minute.

I stopped as Eric opened his backpack and pulled out a shoebox.

Eric: I told my dad about you last time, and he pretty much liked you, so he told me to give you this.

He handed me the shoebox, and I opened it and saw a pair of grey Adidas running shoes.

Theo: (smiles) Thanks, man. Tell your old man I said thank you.

Eric gave me a pat on the shoulder.

Eric: Don't worry about it. See you around.

Theo: See ya.

I got off the bus and watched as it pulled away. Then I started walking to my apartment building.

Once I arrived, I got on the elevator and went up to the 3rd floor. I then got off and walked to mine and David's apartment, 6C.

I opened the door and went inside.

Theo: Hey, David.

I heard David's voice from the kitchen.

David: Hey, Theo. How was school today?

Theo: Same old. How was work?

David: Same old.

I saw David walk out of the kitchen, holding two plates of lasagna with a smile on his face, which caused me to smile as well

Theo: (smiles) You know I can't resist lasagna.

David: (smiles) That's why I made it. Come on, let's eat.

We both walk to the living room and eat our plates while watching TV.

Timeskip

After dinner, I told my dad I was gonna go to my room to get my homework done.

My room wasn't too big, but it ain't too small either. It had a lot of posters of cars, racing games like Need for Speed and Gran Turismo, as well as a few Formula One teams like Ferrari and drivers like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher.

I took out my iPod and earphones and placed them on my ear. Then I just pressed shuffle and the first song that came up was one of 2Pac's.

I sat down at my desk, took out my homework, and got to work. Or at least I tried to, because dyslexia is a bitch almost 99% of the time.

Timeskip

After I finally managed to get my homework done after 6 long hours, I decided to go to bed.

I barely slept for an hour before I heard banging at the front door. Then I heard the door open and David and Eric's voices.

Eric: Mr. Miller! Where's Theo?

David: In his room.

Wait, why did Eric sound scared? I didn't get my answer as my bedroom door was slammed open, and Eric was standing in the doorway. He still had his crutch, but he had a bronze sword slung on his back for some reason?

Eric: (sighs) Oh, thank the gods.

Theo: (gets up) Eric? What's going on?

Eric: I'll tell you as much as I can on the way.

Theo: (confused) On the way? Where are we going?

Eric: Just get dressed. And wear those sneakers I got you.

Theo: Why?

Eric: Just do it!

I didn't know why Eric was in such a hurry, or why he asked me to wear those shoes, but I just shook my head and started changing my clothes and putting on my new sneakers.

While I was getting dressed, I heard David and Eric talking.

David: It's time, isn't it?

I didn't hear Eric responding, but I heard David sigh.

David: Okay. I'll drive.

Eric: NONONONONO! You're staying right here. I'll take Theo myself.

David: Eric...

Eric: He'll be safe. Just trust me.

David stayed silent for a few seconds, then finally responded.

David: Okay. You better get him there safely, you understand?

Eric: Yeah. I'll make sure he's okay.

By the time I finished getting dressed, I got out of the room.

Theo: What are you guys talking about?

David: You'll find out soon enough, Theo. Just go with Eric, and you'll be fine.

I stammered, but Eric spoke up.

Eric: We gotta go, Theo! Time's ticking!

I just hugged David tightly, and he wrapped his arms around me.

David: Be safe, son.

Theo: I love you.

David: (sighs) I love you too.

We separated and then Eric and I got out of the apartment.

Once we left the apartment building, I saw an orange McLaren F1 parked in front.

Theo: Wow.

Eric: Yeah, she's a beaut. And you'll get to drive it.

Theo: Wait, what?

Eric just tossed me the key to the car, which I caught by pure instinct.

Theo: What do you mean, I'll get to drive it? I'm 12!

Eric: Remember the field trip to the go-kart track last year? You were driving around like you were fricking Micheal Schumacher. You got it.

He patted me on the back, then walked over to the passenger side.

Theo: Go-karts and supercars are two different things! How'd you even get that car anyway?

Eric: I told your granddad I needed something fast.

Wait, GRANDDAD?!

Eric: Just get in and drive.

I got over my shock and got in the driver's seat. I put the key into the ignition and turned it, spurring the 6.1L V12 engine to life.

The sound of the engine put a smile on my face before I put the car in gear and drove off to wherever Eric was taking me.

After a few minutes, we reached the highway. I just started asking questions.

Theo: Alright, start talking. Where are we going? What the hell is going on? Who is my grandfather?

Eric: 1) We're going to Camp Half-Blood.

Theo: A camp?

Eric: Yeah, a camp. One for people like you.

Theo: Like me?

Eric: Half-bloods. Half human, half god.

Is he out of his mind?

Eric: You know the myths about the Greek gods and stuff? Well, they're not myths, they're real, all of it. And not all of them are as cool as you might think.

Theo: You really expect me to believe that? As if all demigods are actually dyslexic.

Eric: Yes, they are, and they have ADHD. When you try to read something, the letters float off the page, right?

Theo: Yeah?

Eric: That's because your brain is hardwired to read ancient Greek, not English. As for the ADHD, that's your battle reflexes. You can't focus on a single thing because you see too much, not too little. That's one of the things that can keep you alive.

Theo: What the hell am I supposed to survive against? Monsters?

Eric: Exactly. All half-bloods give off a certain smell that attracts monsters. The more powerful your godly parent is, the stronger the smell.

I just shook my head in disbelief.

Eric: Your dad was a half-blood too.

Theo: My dad was a...You mean to tell me I'm related to two gods?

Eric: Yeah. Look, Once we reach...

He stops himself and starts sniffing the air. His face became as white as a sheet of paper as he looked out the window.

Eric: Theo, you might wanna go faster.

Theo: What? Why? I'm breaking the law as it is just for driving this thing, now you want me-

Eric: Yeah, 'cause we're gonna die if you don't. Now put your foot all the way down NOW!

Theo: Shit!

I pushed my foot on the gas pedal all the way down and started weaving through the traffic. While I was driving, I barely saw the outline of a three-horned horse the size of a grown elephant. AND IT WAS KEEPING UP!

Theo: The hell of that?!

Eric: It's an Odontotyrannos. Shit! Take the exit!

I turned right and took the exit to get off the highway. I kept driving until we reached a forest, and I was glancing at the side mirror.

Theo: Did we lose it?

Eric sniffed the air and glanced behind us.

Eric: Yeah, I think so.

I let out a sigh of relief, and so did Eric. Suddenly, a lightning bolt hit the rear right wheel, causing me to lose control of the McLaren. Then we started to roll. We ended up rolling at least 7 times before ending up upside down.

Thank god we were wearing seatbelts.

Eric: Dammit, Zeus! What the hell?!

We heard a thunderclap, and Theo groaned before looking at me.

Eric: You good?

Theo: Yeah. You?

Eric: Yeah.

We heard a roar in the distance.

Theo: Was that the...?

Eric: Yep. It's back.

He started unbuckling his belt.

Theo: Why are you taking your pants off?! What are you doing?!

Eric: My job!

He took off his pants, and...He had furry legs and hooves?!

Theo: Whoa! What are you, half-donkey?!

Eric: I'm half-goat!

He kicked the windshield, shattering it. He climbed out first, then drew his sword.

Eric: Watch the glass.

I picked up Eric's crutch and climbed out, but Eric took the crutch out of my hands and tossed it away.

Eric: I don't even need these. These are just for show. We gotta run! Follow me!

We both ran into the forest as fast as we could. Even though we were running fast enough to give Jesse Owens a run for his money, I could hear the monster catching up a bit too fast for my liking.

Theo: That thing's gonna be on top of us! We can't just outrun it!

Eric: We don't have to! We just gotta get to that pine tree!

I looked ahead and saw the pine tree that he was referring to. I don't know how that's supposed to help against an Odontotyrannos, but at this point, I'll take what I can get.

I looked behind me and saw the damn thing picking up the wrecked McLaren with its three horns and tossing it aside.

But that was the second worst mistake I ever made.

Before I knew it, I tripped over a root that was sticking out of the ground and fell to the ground. Eric looked back and saw me.

Eric: THEO!

He ran back and helped me up on my feet.

Eric: You alright?

I just nodded. Then we heard it stampeding towards us.

Eric: Theo, run.

Theo: WHAT?!

Eric: I'll hold it off for as long as I can. JUST RUN!

He pushed me back and lifted his bronze sword as I ran for the pine tree. I heard it and Eric fighting as I ran.

But I stopped a couple of feet away from the tree and turned around to see Eric rolling out of the way of the charging beast. He then looked back at me and softly smiled.

And that...is the number 1 worst mistake I ever made. Distracting Eric.

In the blink of an eye, the Odontotyrannos came back and stuck its three horns into Eric's chest and pinned him into a tree.

Theo: ERIC!

Eric's body fell limp and dropped his sword just before the Odontotyrannos flung his body off its horns.

Two feet. I was two feet away from the pine tree. Two feet away from safety...

But I didn't give a fuck.

That fucking thing just killed my best friend.

Ain't no way I'm letting that shit slide.

Theo: HEY, ASSHOLE!

The beast looked at me.

Theo: YOU WANT ME?! I'M RIGHT HERE! SO COME AND GET ME, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!

The Odontotyrannos charged at me, and I charged at it. I knew I needed Eric's sword to kill it, so I had to either slide under it or somehow jump over it.

Suddenly, I was lifted off the ground and flew over the Odontotyrannos.

Theo: WHOA, SHIT!

I ended up landing next to the sword. I looked down at my feet and saw that the sneakers had two pairs of white feathered wings, each one sticking out of both sides of each heel.

Theo: What?

Before I could process what just happened, I saw the Odontotryannos turn around and face me before roaring. I picked up the sword and got up just as the monster charged at me.

And here comes one of the stupidest things I've ever done in my entire life.

I ran to a nearby tree, jumped off it, and used my winged shoes to boost myself...And I landed on top of the Odontotyrannos.

I hung on to one of its horns as it jumped around, trying to get me off its back. The way it's moving, I couldn't get a good hit.

Suddenly, an arrow stuck itself onto its neck, and it roared in pain. I immediately put the sword over my back, took the arrow out, and stabbed the Odontotyrannos in one of its eyes with it.

It roared in pain again as I held my sword. It managed to fling me off its back, but not before I cut off one of its horns.

I handed harshly on the ground, then glanced at the arrow that I still held. I widened my eyes when I noticed something about it.

It had the same arrowhead as the one I had around my neck.

Before I could question it any further, I heard the Odontotyrannos roar. I looked at it and saw it turn its head towards me. I got up and backed myself into a tree, then I got an idea.

I raised the sword and decided to taunt it.

Theo: OVER HERE, YOU OVERGROWN PRICK! ANDALE!

It charged directly at me, and I stayed still. At the last possible second, I jumped out of the way just as its two remaining horns got stuck into the tree.

I immediately swung the sword and cut its head off. Its body fell limp just before turning into gold dust. The only thing left of it was the horn I cut off its head.

Once the adrenaline wore off, I suddenly felt extremely tired. I collapsed onto the ground and felt myself blacking out as my vision started getting blurry.

I heard a set of footsteps approaching me and then saw a girl standing over me. I couldn't see her face properly, but I could tell that she had dark brown hair and a silver circlet on her head.

She knelt down to me and checked my body for any injuries, then sighed in relief.

Girl: Ἀγαπῶ σε!

Even though she spoke in a different language, I somehow understood exactly what she said. She said, "Thank the gods."

Her head perked up when she heard another set of footsteps, along with a set of hooves, approaching me and her. She gave me one last glance before getting up and running away.

I ended up closing my eyes and heard two voices just before fully passing out. One was a girl about my age, and the other was a grown man.

Girl: He must be the one. He has to be.

Man: Patience, Annabeth.

Then I passed out.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, my head hurts like a bitch, and so does the rest of my body.

Was that a dream? Was I really driving a McLaren? Did I really see my best friend die in front of me? Who was that girl who checked on me before running away?

I slowly opened my eyes and saw that I was in a cabin of sorts, and I was lying on a soft bed. I groan as I slowly start to sit up, only for somebody to put their hands on my shoulders to stop me.

???: Hey, easy. Easy.

I looked at who was holding me back and saw that it was a dark-skinned kid wearing an orange T-shirt that said "Camp Half-Blood." I looked down at his legs and saw that he had goat legs...Just like Eric did.

So that means...that everything that I saw last night...actually happened.

Theo: (sighs) Oh, shit.

I lay back down and tried to hold back tears, but I couldn't.

Goat Boy: I'm...I'm sorry.

I looked up at the goat boy and saw that he had the same expression that I had.

Theo: Did...Did you know Eric? Eric Hayes?

The goat boy hesitated before responding.

Goat Boy: He, um...He was kind of a role model for a lot of satyrs like me.

Theo: Then I'm the one who should apologize. He died because of me.

Goat Boy: Don't say that. I don't blame you for what happened. And I'm sure he wouldn't blame you either.

But I do.

Grover: I'm Grover, by the way.

Theo: (sighs) Theo.

Grover picked up a cup of what looked like apple juice with a straw on it.

Grover: Here. Drink this.

I slowly grabbed the cup and drank the liquid from the straw. The second I did, I started feeling better, and I immediately tasted David's lasagna. I kept drinking until Grover snatched the cup from me.

Grover: Careful. You don't wanna drink too much of that.

I was too tired to argue. I looked beside me and saw a shoebox and Ethan's sword on the bedside table. I picked up the shoebox, opened it, and saw the Odontotyrannos horn I cut off, and the arrow I used to stab one of its eyes.

Theo: (sighs) Could I just get a minute?

Grover: Yeah, sure. I gotta go check on Percy anyway.

Wait, who the hell of Percy?

Grover got up and started walking away.

Theo: Wait.

He stopped and looked at me.

Theo: How long...have I been out?

Grover: (sighs) Five days.

I raised my eyebrows in surprise as Grover walked out of the cabin. I put the shoebox down before slowly getting up off the bed.

I reached under my shirt and pulled out the arrowhead necklace that hung around my neck, and I had a thought.

The arrow had the same arrowhead. That can't be a coincidence, can it?

Then I remembered that Eric told me that my dad was a half-blood, and my grandfather is a god. So by that logic, that meant that my mother is a goddess. But I still don't understand what the hell he was talking about.

Theo: Who are you, Mom?

I put the arrowhead back under my shirt and then looked at the sword. I walked over to it and picked it up. I noticed that it had Greek initials engraved on the rain guard.

εη

That meant E.H. in ancient Greek. Eric Hayes.

I gave the blades a few swings, and it felt...right in my hand. Like I was meant to hold it.

I was taken out of my head when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around and saw Grover come back, this time with another boy my age. He had dark hair and green eyes.

I'm guessing that's Percy.

Theo: What's up?

Grover: Chiron and Mr. D are waiting for us. And you should probably leave the sword here.

I looked down at the sword and sighed before putting it down on the bed.

Theo: Okay, let's go.

I started walking with Grover and Percy, and I ended up catching my breath once I saw where I was.

While we were walking, I felt Percy nudge my side, so I looked at him.

Percy: So you took down a monster of your own, huh?

Theo: I had a bit of help, but yeah. I don't know from who, though.

Percy just nods.

Percy: I'm Percy, by the way. Percy Jackson.

Theo: Theo Miller.

We walked towards the porch of a massive building, and we saw three people waiting on the porch. One was a blonde-haired girl mine and Percy's age, who had grey eyes and wore the same orange shirt Grover wore. The second was a middle-aged man who had a red nose, big water eyes, and black curly hair wearing a Hawaiian shirt. The last one is another middle-aged man, this one was in a wheelchair and had long brown hair, a scraggly beard, and a tweed jacket.

Grover said the man in the Hawaiian shirt is Mr. D, the camp director. 

Percy: Mr. Brunner!

The man, whom Percy called Mr. Brunner, looked at us.

Mr. Brunner: Ah, good Percy. (looks at Theo) Oh, and you have brought young Theo as well. That makes five for pinochle.

I raised my eyebrow. How does he know my name?

Mr. Brunner offered me and Percy a seat on either side of the man that I figured was Mr. D. He glanced at Percy, then at me.

Mr. D: Oh, I suppose I must say it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. There, Now, don't expect me to be glad to see you.

He looks unhappy. Who the hell pissed in his cup of coffee?

Percy: Uh...Thanks.

He scooted a bit further from Mr. D, and so did I when I caught a strong whiff of alcohol from his mouth. If that dude isn't an alcoholic, then I'm Dr. Dre.

Mr. Brunner: Annabeth.

The girl came forward and Mr. Brunner introduced us.

Mr. Brunner: This young lady nursed you two back to health. Annabeth, this is Percy and Theo.

I glanced at Annabeth, then back at Mr. Brunner.

Mr. Brunner: Now, my dear, why don't you check on Percy and Theo's bunk? We'll be putting them in cabin 11 for now.

Annabeth: Sure, Chiron.

I immediately turn my head towards Annabeth, then back at Mr. Brunner. Did she just call him Chiron? As in THE Chiron?

She looked at the minotaur horn in Percy's hand, then looked directly into Percy's eye.

Annabeth: You drool when you sleep. (looks at Theo) And you mumble.

She sprinted away, leaving me confused.

Theo: (mutters) Nice to meet you, too.

Percy: (to Mr. Brunner) You, uh, work here, Mr. Brunner?

Chiron: Not Mr. Brunner. I'm afraid it's a pseudonym. You may call me Chiron?

Theo: Wait, Chiron? As in, THE Chiron?

Chiron looked at me and smiled.

Chiron: The one and only.

I let out a chuckle as I leaned back in my chair. Chiron explained to Percy why he and Grover were in Yancy Academy. Apparently, they were there to keep an eye on Percy in case he was ready to get to Camp Half-Blood, and his late mother knew about it.

And apparently, Eric was sent to keep an eye on me as well. Somehow, my grandfather met him once and told him who he was and what his relation to me was. But Eric never told anyone who my grandfather was because he swore on the River Styx, which is basically the most serious oath you can make, and breaking said oath would mean certain death.

Then Mr. D interrupted.

Mr. D: Grover, are you playing or not?

Grover: Yes, sir!

He quickly sat down between me and Chiron. I don't think he should be said of a guy who looked like he came from a shitty Hollywood movie that didn't make it past post-production.

Mr. D: (to Theo) You know how to play pinochle?

Theo: I don't think so.

Mr. D: I don't think so, sir.

Theo: (smirks) You don't have to call me sir.

Mr. D scowled at me with a kind of purplish fire in his eyes, then turned his attention to Percy.

Mr. D: And you?

Percy: Uh, no, sir. I don't know how to play.

Mr. D: (sighs) Well, it is, along with gladiator fighting and Pac-Man, one of the greatest fighting games ever invented by humans. I expect all civilized young men to know the rules.

Theo: (mutters) Young men in 5000 BC, maybe.

Nobody heard me.

Chiron: I'm sure the boys can learn. 

Percy: Please. What is this place? What am I doing here? Mr. Brun- Chiron, why would you go to Yancy Academy just to teach me?

Mr D: (snorts) I asked the same question.

The camp director dealt the cards. Grover flinched every time one landed on his pile, while I kept bouncing my leg, and Chiron smiled at Percy.

Chiron: Percy. Did your mother tell you nothing?

Percy: She said...She told me she was afraid to send me here, even though my father had wanted her to. She said that once I was here, I probably couldn't leave. She wanted to keep me close to her.

I looked at Percy sympathetically from across the table. I remembered hearing David sigh when Eric said he was taking me here, so I knew he was reluctant to let me go. Percy looked at me, and we shared a look of understanding.

Unfortunately, Mr. D is an insensitive prick.

Mr. D: Typical. That's how they usually get killed. Young man, are you bidding or not?

Percy: What?

Mr. D impatiently explained how to bid in pinochle, so Percy did as Chiron looked at me.

Chiron: And you, young man?

Theo: Well, uh...Eric gave me a very brief rundown on the way here. He said my grandfather is a god, and so is my mother. Everything else, I didn't understand. I still don't understand what he did say. Then it happened, and uhh...

Mr. D scoffs and Chiron sighs as he gives a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

Chiron: I'm afraid there's too much to tell. I'm afraid our usual orientation film won't be sufficient.

Percy & Theo: Orientation film?

Chiron: No. Well, Percy, Theo, you know Grover is a satyr, as was Eric. (To Percy) You know that you killed the Minotaur, (turns to Theo) and you the Odontotyrannos. No small feats either, lads. What you may not know is that great forces are at work in your lives. Gods. The forces you call the Greek gods are very much alive.

Percy's eyes widened. Then Mr. D started yelling as he tallied up his points and celebrated like a lunatic

Mr. D: Oh, a royal marriage! Trick! Trick!

What the hell is he talking about?

Grover: (timidly) Mr. D. If you're not going to eat it, could I have your Diet Coke can?

Mr. D: Eh? Oh, alright.

Grover took the can then he BIT A HUGE CHUNK OUT OF IT AND STARTED CHEWING IT LIKE FRIES!!!

Percy: Wait. You're telling me there's such a thing as a God?

Chiron: Well, now. God, capital G, God. That's a different matter altogether. We shan't deal with the metaphysical.

Theo: You were just talking about gods, so...

Chiron: Ah, gods, plural, as in, great beings that control the forces of nature and human endeavors: the immortal gods of Olympus. That's a smaller matter.

Percy: Smaller?

Chiron: Yes, quite. The gods we discussed in Latin class, Percy.

Theo: What, like Hermes, Artemis, Hera. You mean those guys?

A thunderclap was heard, even though there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Mr. D: Boy, you need to remember to be more respectful of how you use those names.

Percy: But they're stories. They're myths, to explain lightning and the seasons and stuff. That's what people believed before there was science.

Mr. D: Science! And tell me, Perseus Jackson and Theodore Miller...

He flinched at Percy's full name for some reason.

Mr. D: What will people think of your "science" two thousand years from now? Hmm? They will call it primitive mumbo jumbo. That's what. Oh, I love mortals. They have absolutely no sense of perspective. They think they've come sooooo far. (turns to Chiron) And have they, Chiron? Look at these boys and tell me.

Grove continued to munch his can in silence. Percy and I looked at Mr. D. I was thinking, and I think Percy was as well. 

Chiron: (puts his hand on Percy's shoulder) Percy, you may choose to believe or not, but the fact is that immortal means immortal. Can you imagine for a moment, never dying? Never fading? Existing, just as you are, for all time?

Percy: You mean, whether believe in you or not.

Chiron: Exactly. If you were a god, how would you like being called a myth, an old story to explain lightning? What if I told you, Perseus Jackson, that someday people would call you a myth, just created to explain how little boys can get over losing their mothers?

Percy: I wouldn't like it. But I don't believe in gods.

Theo: Yeah, I'm a bit on the fence on that, too.

Mr. D: Oh, you'd better before one of them incinerates you.

Grover: P-Please, sir. He's just lost his mother, (gestures to Theo) and he's lost his friend. They're in shock.

Mr. D: A lucky thing, too. Bad enough I'm confined to this miserable job, working with boys who don't believe.

He waved his hand and a goblet appeared in his hand. The goblet then filled itself with red wine. That surprised me and Percy, but Chiron warned him.

Chiron: Mr. D, your restrictions.

Mr. D looked at the goblet and feigned surprise.

Mr. D: Dear me. (looks up at the sky) Old habits! Sorry!

More thunder.

Mr. D waved his hand, and the wineglass was replaced with a can of Diet Coke. He sighed, opened the can, and took a sip.

Mr. D: You know, the Christians have a guy who can do this trick in reverse. That's a god right there.

Theo: (chuckles) Who'd you piss off?

Mr. D: My father. Yes, he likes to punish me. The first time: prohibition. Ghastly! Absolutely horrid 10 years! The second time- well, she really was pretty, and I couldn't stay away- the second time, he sent me here. Half-Blood Hill. Summer camp for brats like you. "Be a better influence," he told me. "Work with youths rather than tearing them down." Ha! Absolutely unfair.

Percy: And...your father is...

Mr. D: (to Chiron) Di Immortales, Chiron. I thought you taught this boy the basics. (turns to Percy) My father is Zeus, of course.

And that's when it clicked.

Theo: You're Dionysus. The god of wine.

Mr. D: What is it you youths say, "Well, duh?" Did you think I was Aphrodite, perhaps?

Theo: You? A god?

Mr. D: Yes, child.

Theo: You're out here looking like an alcoholic bum, and you expect me to believe that?

Mr. D glared at me like he was ready to kill me.

Mr. D: Would you like to test me, child?

I just stared back at him. God or not, I'm not letting him of all people look like he's the shit.

After a few seconds, he turned back to his card game.

Mr. D: I believe I win.

Chiron: Not quite, Mr. D.

He set down a straight and tallied the points.

Chiron: The game goes to me.

Mr. D: (sighs) I'm tired. I believe I'll take a nap before the sing-along tonight. (turns to Grover) But first, Grover, we need to talk, again, about your less-than-perfect performance on this assignment as well as Earl's passing.

I almost lunged at Mr. D for saying Eric's name wrong so carelessly, but I stayed back.

Grover: Y-Yes, sir.

Mr. D: (turns to Theo and Percy) Cabin 11, Percy Jackson and Theodore Miller. And mind your manners.

He walked into the farmhouse with Grover following suit. The second Mr. D's back was turned, I flipped the bird at him, but then Chiron pushed my arm down.

Chiron: Behave yourself, please.

I just scoffed but didn't say anything.

Percy: Will Grover be okay?

Chiron: He's been...ah, grounded, I guess you would say. Eric's untimely death doesn't help matters. And he can't stand waiting another century before he's allowed to go back to Olympus.

Theo: Olympus? You mean Mount Olympus in Greece?

Chiron: Well now, there's Mount Olympus in Greece. And then there's the home of the gods, the convergence point of their powers, which did indeed used to be on Mount Olympus. It's still called Mount Olympus, out of respect to the old ways, but the palace moves, just as the gods do.

Percy: You mean the Greek gods are here? Like...in America?

Chiron: Well, certainly. The gods move with the heart of the West.

Percy & Theo: The what?

Chiron: Come now, Percy, Theo. What you call Western Civilization... is a living force, a collective consciousness that has burned bright for thousands of years. The gods are part of it, a fire started in Greece. The heart of the fire moved to Rome, and so did the gods... wherever the flame was brightest, the gods were there. They are now in your United States. Look at your symbol, the eagle of Zeus. Look at the statue of Prometheus in Rockefeller Center... like it or not—America is now the heart of the flame It is the great power of the West. And so Olympus is here.

After he finished explaining everything, I was overwhelmed by it all, and I could that Percy was the same.

Percy: Who are you, Chiron? Who...who am I?

Chiron: Who are you? Well, that's the question we all want answered, isn't it? But for now, we should get you two a bunk in cabin 11. There will be new friends to meet. And plenty of time for lessons tomorrow. Besides, there will be s'mores at the campfire tonight, and I simply adore chocolate.

Then Chiron did what a lot of people would call a miracle. He got up from the wheelchair.

From the waist up, he was human, from the waist down, however, he was a horse.

Now I've seen everything.

Chiron: What a relief. I'd been cooped up in there so long, my fetlocks had fallen asleep. Now, come, Percy Jackson and Theodore Miller. Let's meet the other campers.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

Greek gods are real, satyrs eat aluminum cans, and a Latin teacher is a centaur...Now I've seen everything.

Chiron, Percy, and I passed the volleyball pit. Several campers nudged each other. One pointed at the minotaur horn that Percy was holding and another pointed at me. Another one said, "That's them."

Most of the campers were older than me and Percy. Their satyr friends were bigger than Grover and Eric, all of them trotting around on orange "CAMP HALF-BLOOD" T-shirts, and no pants so their goat legs were out in the open for everyone to see.

I saw Percy look back at the farmhouse, then saw something.

Percy: What's up there?

Chiron looked at where Percy was pointing, which looked like the attic, and his smile faded.

Chiron: Just the attic.

Percy: Somebody lives there?

Chiron: No. Not a single living thing.

I looked back at the farmhouse and saw the attic curtain move. What the hell?

We walked through the strawberry fields, where campers were picking bushels of berries while a satyr played a tune on a reed pipe.

According to Chiron, the camp grew a nice crop for export to New York restaurants and Mount Olympus, which pays for their expenses.

As we watched the satyrs play their reed pipes, Pery asked Chiron...

Percy: Grover won't get in too much trouble, will he? I mean...he was a good protector. Really.

Chiron: (sighs) Grover has big dreams, Percy. Perhaps bigger than they are reasonable. To reach his goal, he must first demonstrate great courage by succeeding as a keeper, finding a new camper and bringing them safely to Camp Half-Blood.

Percy: But he did that!

Chiron: I might agree with you, but it is not my place to judge. Dionysus and the Council of Cloven Elders must decide. I'm afraid they might not see this assignment as a success, or even that of Eric's for that matter. After all, he lost his life bringing young Theo here, and Grover lost you in New York. Then there's the unfortunate...ah...fate of your mother. And the fact that you both were unconscious near the property line, the Council might question whether this shows any courage on Grover's part, or Eric's.

Theo: That's just wrong and you know it. Eric did protect me with his life. If that doesn't show any courage, I don't know what does. And I'm pretty sure Grover would've done the same with Percy.

Chiron: Like I've said, Theo. It is not my place to decide. The Council will make their choice soon enough.

I just shook my head in disbelief. Why would they punish Grover or Eric for something that wasn't in their control? It's not like either of them summoned the Minotaur or the Odontotyrannos, and it's like they decided to crash the cars they were in with lightning.

Somebody else summoned those monsters, and Zeus was being a child-hating bitch.

Percy: He'll get a second chance, won't he?

Chiron: (winces) I'm afraid that was Grover's second chance, Percy. The Council was not anxious to give him another, either, after what happened the first time, five years ago. Olympus knows I advised him to wait longer before trying again. He's still so small for his age...

Percy: How old is he?

Chiron: Oh, 28.

I'm sorry, WHAT?!

Percy: What?! And he's in 6th grade?

Chiron: Satyrs mature half as fast as humans, Percy. Grover has been the equivalent of a middle school student for the past 6 years. (looks at Theo) And Eric was 30 when he passed.

Percy: That kind of sucks. (looks at Theo) The aging, not the dying.

I just nodded.

Chiron: Quite. At any rate, Grover is a late bloomer, even by satyr standards, and not yet very accomplished at woodland magic. Alas, he was anxious to pursue his dream. Perhaps he will find some other career.

Percy: That's not fair. What happened the first time? Was it really so bad?

Chiron: (looks away) Let's move along, shall we?

It was probably really bad if he didn't wanna talk about it, but I won't push.

Theo: Chiron...If the gods and Olympus and all that are real...

Chiron: Yes, child?

Theo: By that logic, that'd mean that the Underworld is real too, right?

Chiron's expression darkened.

Chiron: Yes, child. There is a place where spirits go after death. But for now...until we know more...I would urge you two to put that out of your mind.

Theo: What do you mean, "until we know more?"

Chiron: Come, you two.

As we reached the forest, I realized just how big it was. It took up almost a quarter of the valley, with trees so tall and thick, and it looked completely untouched since the Native Americans. It felt so calm, quiet, and peaceful. And it made me feel right at home.

Chiron: The woods are stocked, if you care to try your luck. But go armed.

Theo: Armed?
Percy: Stocked with what?

Chiron: You'll see. Capture the Flag is Friday night. I'll assume you two will be needing to burrow a sword and shield.

Percy: Capture the what?

Chiron: Size 5 or maybe 6. You two are of similar size. Ah, we will visit the armory later.

The camp has an armory? That's awesome.

As we kept walking, we saw the archery range (which caught most of my attention), the canoeing, the stables (which Chiron didn't seem to like very much), the javelin range, the sing-along amphitheater, and the arena which Chiron said they held sword and spear fights.

Percy: Sword and spear fights?

Chiron: Cabin challenges and all that. Not that. Oh, yes, and there's the mess hall.

He pointed toward a large pavilion. Framed in white Grecian columns on a bill overlooking the sea. There were a dozen stone picnic tables. No roof or walls.

Theo: What do you do if it rains?

Chiron looked at me as if I was crazy.

Chiron: We still have to eat, don't we?

Finally, he showed us the cabins. There were 12 of them arranged in a U, with two at the base and five in a row on either side. And they were the most bizarre things I've ever seen.

Percy pointed at the two cabins at the base.

Percy: Zeus and Hera?

Chiron: You are quite correct.

Theo: They look empty.

Chiron: Several of the cabins are. That's true. No one ever stays in 1 or 2.

So each cabin represents a god. Got it. 12 cabins, 12 Olympian gods. I guess the vacant ones are just for show.

Theo: What about that one?

I pointed at a blue cabin on the left side. The attic window had a bow and arrow on it.

Chiron: That would be cabin 8. Artemis cabin. That's also empty.

Well, Artemis was a maiden goddess, so that checks out.

As we passed Number 5, I thought it looked ugly. It looked like it was splashed with buckets of red paint. It looked like a shoddy paint job and it was built for a zombie apocalypse.

I swear I could hear rock music from inside.

As for the campers inside the cabin, they all looked like jocks, both boys and girls. The loudest was a girl maybe a year or 2 older than me. She wore an XXXL "CAMP HALF-BLOOD" T-shirt under a camo jacket. She looked at me and Percy and had a sneer on her face that could rival Draco Malfoy's.

Yes, I've seen the movies. I couldn't read the books because of my dyslexia.

Theo: Um, Mr. Chiron. I don't mean to sound rude, but why haven't we seen any other centaurs at the camp?

Chiron: Please, Theo, no need to be so formal. Chiron is fine. And I'm not offended by your question. My kinsmen are wild and barbaric folk. You might encounter them in the wilderness, or at any major sporting events. But you won't see any here.

I just nodded slowly as Percy asked another question.

Percy: So, I know you're name is Chiron, and I guess must've known who you were, but I thought I should just ask. Are you the Chiron from the stories?

Chiron: The Chiron from the stories? Trainer of Hercules and all that? Yes, Percy, I am.

Percy: But shouldn't you be dead?

Chiron: I honestly don't know about "should be." The truth is, I can't be dead. You see, eons ago the gods granted my wish. I could continue the work I loved. I could be a teacher of heroes as long as humanity needed me. I gained much from that wish...and I gave up much. But I'm still here, so I can only assume I'm still needed.

Percy: Doesn't it ever get boring?

Chiron: No, no. Horribly depressing at times, but never boring.

Percy: Why would it be depressing?

Honestly, I could understand why. Imagine seeing everyone you care about grow old and die while you stay the same way you are forever. I would've lost my mind if it was me.

But spending 3,000 years as a teacher? Nah, couldn't be me.

Chiron, though, didn't answer Percy's question.

Chiron: Oh, look. Annabeth is waiting for us.

I looked ahead and saw Annabeth reading a book in front of the last cabin on the left, cabin 11. Out of all the cabins, this one was the most normal-looking one.

I looked up and saw a caduceus above the door, so I assumed that this cabin was dedicated to Hermes.

I looked back at Annabeth and saw her looking me and Percy over as if we were a puzzle. That's when I noticed her stormy grey eyes. They kinda ruined the stereotypical California girl look she had going on.

Chiron: Annabeth, I have masters' archery class at noon. Would you take Percy and Theo from here?

Annabeth: Yes, sir.

Chiron: (to Theo and Percy) Cabin eleven. Make yourselves at home.

We opened the door and almost immediately, I grimaced. The cabin was filled to the brim with cambers, and there were not enough beds for all of them, but there were a lot of sleeping bags on the floor. It looked like an evacuation center set up by the Red Cross after a natural disaster.

If each cabin represents a god, and the inhabitants of each cabin are the children of each god, then it would make sense. But there is no way in hell that all these guys are children of Hermes.

Chiron stayed outside because he couldn't fit through the door since it was too low. But the campers bowed to him respectfully when they saw him. I wasn't sure if I should bow as well or not.

Chiron: Well, then. Good luck, you two. I'll be seeing you at dinner.

He trotted away, and the campers stopped bowed, and instead stared at me and Percy as if they were sizing us up.

Annabeth: Well? Go on.

Percy, Annabeth, and I stepped inside. But Percy immediately tripped, and I caught him just before he fell on his face. A few campers snickered.

Annabeth: Percy Jackson, Theo Miller, welcome to cabin 11.

???: Regular or undetermined?

What does that mean?

Annabeth: Undetermined.

Everyone groaned, then a guy who was a little older than the rest stepped forward.

Guy: Now, now, campers. That's what we're here for. (turns to Percy and Theo) Welcome, Percy, Theo. You two can have that spot on the floor over there.

The guy was at least 19. He was tall and muscular, with short-cropped blonde hair and a friendly smile. He wore an orange tank top, cutoffs, sandals, and a leather necklace with five different colored beads. The only unsettling thing about him was the thick white scar that ran from just under his right eye all the way to his jaw, like an old knife slash.

Annabeth: This is Luke. He's your counselor for now.

She spoke in a slightly higher, and her throat seemed to tighten a bit as she spoke. I looked back at her and saw her blushing.

If I didn't know any better, I'd think she has a crush on him. I mean, I can't really blame her, he looked attractive. Hell, I'd have a crush on him if I wasn't straight.

Percy: For now?

Luke: You two are undetermined. They don't know what cabin to put you in, so you're here. Cabin 11 takes all the newcomers, all visitors. Naturally, we would. Hermes, our patron, is the god of travelers.

The space on the floor Luke pointed out to us was very small. I guess I'll just sleep outside, thank you very much, because this cannot be sanitary.

Percy: How long will we be here?

Luke: Good question. Until you're determined.

Theo: And how long does that usually take?

The campers all laughed at me.

Annabeth: (to Percy and Theo) Come on. I'll show you the volleyball court.

Percy: Chiron showed it to us already.

Annabeth: Come on.

She grabbed me and Percy by the wrists and pulled us out of the cabin.

Annabeth: Jackson, Miller, you have to do better than that.

Percy & Theo: What?

Annabeth: (rolls her eyes) I can't believe I thought either of you were the one.

Theo: (angrily) What the hell is your problem? All I know is, Percy killed a bull dude, and I killed a giant horse-

Annabeth: Don't talk like that! You know how many kids at this camp wish they'd had your chance?

Theo: What?! To fucking die?!

Annabeth: To fight a Minotaur or an Odontotyrannos! What do you think we train for?!

Theo: What?! You wanna see your best friend die in front of you too?! Be my guest!

Annabeth clenched her fists and charged straight at me, but Percy got in between us and stretched his arms out to separate us.

Percy: Hey! Hey! Easy! Easy!

Annabeth pushed Percy's arm away and huffed, while I let out a deep breath. I realized that what I said must've stung for her, based on her reaction, and I immediately felt bad.

Percy: (to Annabeth) Look, if the thing I fought really was the Minotaur, and Theo actually fought the Odontotyrannos, the same ones in the stories...

Annabeth: Yeah.

Percy: Then there's only one of each.

Annabeth: Yep.

Percy: But they died, like, a gajillion years ago, right? Theseus killed the Minotaur in the Labyrinth, and the Odontotyrannoses were hunted down into extinction. So...

Annabeth: Monsters don't die, Percy. They can be killed. But they don't die.

Percy: (sarcastically) Oh, thanks. That clears it up.

Annabeth: They don't have souls, like the three of us. You can dispel them for a while, maybe even for a whole lifetime if you're lucky.    But they are primal forces. Chiron calls them archetypes. Eventually, they reform.

Percy: You mean, if I killed one, accidentally, with a sword-

Annabeth: The Fur...I mean, your math teacher. That's right. She's still out there. You just made her very, very mad.

Percy: How did you know about Mrs. Dodds?

Annabeth: You talk in your sleep.

Theo: (sarcastically) Well, that's not creepy at all.

Annabeth scowled at me.

Percy: You almost called her something. A Fury? They're Hades' torturers, right?

Annabeth glanced at the ground nervously.

Annabeth: You shouldn't call them by name, even here. We call them the Kindly Ones, if we have to speak of them at all.

Theo: Is there anything we can say that doesn't tick things off the wrong way? Besides, why do we have to stay at cabin 11, anyway? There are, like, at least three empty cabins to choose from. Why do we have to sleep on the floor of the one cabin that's clearly over capacity?

Annabeth: You don't just choose a cabin, Theo. It depends on who your parents are. Or...your parent.

She looked at me, then at Percy, then back at me.

Theo: I'm adopted, so I have no idea. Eric did say my birth father was a half-blood, but that's about it. All I know is that I just showed up in front of an orphanage in Brooklyn in a bronze crib. All I had was a note that had my first name on it, and this.

I pulled out my arrowhead necklace, and Annabeth seemed to recognize it before looking up at me.

Annabeth: So you have no idea who your birth mother is?

Theo: No, I don't.

I put the necklace down and let it dangle around my neck as Annabeth turned to Percy.

Percy: My mom is Sally Jackson. She works at the candy store in Grand Central Station. At least, she used to.

Annabeth: I'm sorry about your mom, Percy, but that's not what I meant. I'm talking about your other parent. Your dad.

Percy: He's dead. I never knew him.

Annabeth: (sighs) Your father's not dead, Percy.

Percy: How can you say that? You know him?

Annabeth: No, of course not.

Percy: Then how can you say-

Theo: We're both half-bloods. Your dad's a god (turns to Annabeth) Right?

Annabeth nodded.

Percy: What makes you say that?

Theo: Eric explained it to me on the way here 5 days ago, before he died. You have ADHD and dyslexia, right?

Percy: Yeah?

Theo: When you try to read something, the letters float off the page, right?

Percy: Uh, yeah, but-

Theo: You can't sit still for any more than a minute at a time, hm?

Percy: Sure, but what does-

Annabeth: Put them together, it's almost a sure sign. For the dyslexia--Your mind is hardwired for ancient Greek. And the ADHD—you're impulsive, can't sit still in the classroom. That's your battlefield reflexes. In a real fight, they'd keep you alive. As for the attention problems, that's because you see too much, Percy, not too little. Your senses are better than a regular mortal's. Of course, the teachers want you medicated. Most of them are monsters. They don't want you seeing them for what they are.

Percy: You sound like...you went through the same thing.

Annabeth: Most kids here did. If you weren't like us, you wouldn't survived the Minotaur or the Odontotyrannos, much less the ambrosia and nectar.

Theo: Ambrosia and nectar?

Annabeth: The food and drink we were giving you to make you better. That stuff would've killed a normal kid. It would've turned your blood to fire and your bones to sand and you'd be dead. Face it. You're both half-bloods.

Theo: So that's why Grover said I didn't wanna drink too much.

Annabeth nodded in confirmation.

???: Well! A couple of newbies!

We looked over and the same big girl from the ugly red cabin sauntering towards us along with 3 other girls, all big, ugly, and mean-looking and wearing camo jackets, following her.

Annabeth: Clarisse, why don't you go polish your spear or something?

Clarisse: Sure, Miss Princess, so I can run you through with it Friday night.

Annabeth: Erre    es    korakas!

I understood that. She said, "Go to the cows!", which I guess is supposed to be a way of saying, "Fuck off!"

Annabeth: You don't stand a chance.

Clarisse: We'll pulverize you! (turns to Theo and Percy) Who're those little runts?

Annabeth: Percy Jackson, Theo Miller, meet Clarisse. Daughter of Ares.

Ares? Like the god of war? Well, that explains a lot.

Percy: Like...the war god?

Clarisse: You got a problem with that?

Percy: No. It explains the bad smell.

I snorted, which Clarisse somehow didn't notice. But Annabeth elbowed me in the ribs to shut me up.

As for Clarisse, she growled at Percy.

Clarisse: We got an initiation ceremony for newbies, Prissy.

Percy: Percy.

Clarisse: Whatever. Come on, I'll show you. (turns to Theo) You too, Titi.

Theo: It's Theo.

Annabeth: Clarisse-

Clarisse: Stay out of it, wise girl.

Annabeth looked pained, but she did stay out of it. I knew I couldn't rely on anybody but myself in situations, but if I don't it'll make it even worse.

Percy handed Annabeth his Minotaur horn and got ready for a fight, while I did the same. Clarisse grabbed Percy before he got the chance to react, while one of the three girls reached for me. Luckily, I weaved out of the way, grabbed her arm, and threw her over my back and into the ground.

But I didn't notice the second one coming for me, and by the time I realized it, I was being held in a Full Nelson lock. Clarisse tossed Percy over to the third girl and walked up to me...

Then she punched me in the stomach. It felt like I got hit by a trunk, so I hunched over and groaned in pain. Then Clarisse saw my necklace dangling from my neck and snatched it.

Theo: HEY!

I tried to lunge at Clarisse, but the girl that held me must've had an iron grip, so I couldn't move as Clarisse put my necklace in her jacket pocket.

Percy and I were kicking and screaming as we were dragged into the girls' bathroom by the laughing Ares girls. It smelled like any other public toilet.

Clarisse: Like these guys are "Big Three" material. Yeah, right. Minotaur and Odontotyrannos probably fell over laughing, they were so stupid-looking.

Both Percy and I were put on our knees as our heads were being forced into the toilets...then before I could process what happened, I got drenched in toilet water and I heard Clarisse screaming.

I felt the grip on me disappear, so I lifted my head, turned around, and saw the aftermath.

Annabeth and I were wet, but the four Ares girls were gone. The only one in the bathroom who was dry was Percy, and he was standing in the only dry spot in the whole spot in the whole bathroom.

Somehow, he controlled the toilet water and drenched everything and everyone in the bathroom apart from himself.

I got up and walked towards Annabeth while still staring at Percy in disbelief.

Annabeth: How did you...?

Percy: I don't know.

We walked out of the bathroom and saw Clarisse and her friends sprawled in the mud, fucking drenched, as a bunch of other campers gathered around to gawk.

Clarisse looked at me and Percy with a look of pure rage.

Clarisse: You are dead, new boys! You are totally dead!

Percy: You wanna gargle in toilet water again, Clarisse? Close your mouth.

Clarisse had to be held back by her friends, who dragged her back to cabin 5 as she was flailing around trying to escape their grip. As she was being dragged away, I saw my necklace fall out of her pocket, so I immediately walked to it and picked it up before putting it back around my neck.

I turned around and saw Annabeth looking back and forth between me and Percy.

Percy: What? What are you thinking?

Annabeth: I'm thinking...that I want you both on my team for Capture the Flag.

She started walking away. I still wanted to apologize, so I followed her.

Theo: Annabeth, wait up!

She kept walking.

Theo: I just wanna talk, okay? Please, just listen for one second.

She stopped walking, sighed, and then turned around to face with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

Annabeth: Fine. What?

Theo: I wanna apologize for what I said earlier.

Annabeth's expression softened.

Theo: I figured that what I said must've stung based on how you reacted. Look, I don't know exactly what happened, but I'm not gonna ask. You don't have to tell me anything. I just...I don't want us to get off on the wrong foot, so...I'm sorry.

I put my hand out. Annabeth just looked at me, then at my hand, then back at me.

Finally, she sighed.

Annabeth: I know you didn't mean it. I know you're still trying to move past what happened to Eric, and I'm not gonna hold it against you.

I couldn't help but smile.

Theo: So we're good?

Annabeth: We're good.

She took my hand and shook it, softly smiling as well.

The rest of the day was a blur. Word of the bathroom incident spread like wildfire, Annabeth showed me and Percy a few more places like the metal shop (where kids were forging their own swords), and arts and crafts room, and the climbing wall, which consisted of two facing walls that shook violently, threw boulders, sprayed lava, and clashed together if you don't climb to the top fast enough.

Percy tried to apologize to Annabeth about the toilets, but she just said that he needed to talk to the Oracle, whatever that is.

Annabeth did tell us that her godly parent was Athena, which made me a bit more confident about our chance of winning Capture the Flag on Friday since Athena is the goddess of wisdom, craft, and warfare, which would make her and her children skilled strategists.

We also learned that half of the people in cabin 11 never get claimed by their godly parent, and I just know that at least half of that half are frustrated as all hell.

Annabeth did say that some campers only stay for the summer, while others stay all year round. She also said that some of them start attracting monsters after they become 11 years of age. Despite this, some half-bloods survive and become well-known people.

We also learned that there is a magical barrier surrounding the camp that keeps monsters and mortals out. They can only get in by either getting a half-blood's permission or if they were summoned from inside, which some campers do for either practice or practical jokes. Half-bloods can leave camp by getting permission from Chiron or Mr. D or by being granted a quest, but that hasn't happened for a long time.

Annabeth said that she had been here since she was seven, but didn't give us any details.

Percy did say that while Annabeth was nursing him back to health, she mentioned something about a "summer solstice," a term he recognized when he overheard Chiron and Grover talking about it in Yancy Academy. Annabeth said that all she knew was that something was wrong in Olympus, which some year-rounders went to.

Did I forget to mention that Olympus was above the Empire State Building?

Then we had dinner, found out that Luke's dad was Hermes, then we all went to bed. I did not want to sleep in that overcrowded cabin, so I used my winged shoes to fly up to a tree branch and lay there until I fell asleep.

Not a bad first day, if I do say so myself.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

The next few days, Percy and I settled into an almost normal routine. I mean "almost" because we were taught by satyrs, nymphs, and a centaur.

Each morning, Annabeth taught us ancient Greek (which for some reason, I felt like I already knew), and we talked about the gods and goddesses in the present tense.

The rest of the day we rotated through outdoor activities, trying to find something we were good at.

Chiron tried teaching us archery. Percy was so bad that he somehow managed to shoot an arrow backwards. How the hell does that even work?

I, on the other hand, felt like I was in my element. Every time I nooked an arrow into my bow, It felt like time slowed down and all of my senses got dialed up to 11. The first arrow I shot hit the very center of the bullseye, the second arrow split the first arrow in half, and the third arrow did the same with the second.

A lot of the campers who were there said that I'm a child of Apollo, but I shut that theory down quickly when I told them that my dad was a half-blood, and his dad was a god.

Foot racing? Percy was left in the wood nymphs' dust, while I managed to keep up. Apparently, they'd had centuries of practice running away from lovesick gods.

Wrestling? Percy got wiped the fuck out by Clarisse every time he got on the mat, while I managed to beat her a couple of times. When they're bigger, you gotta be quicker.

Javelin throwing? I was alright at it. We called it quits after Percy almost impaled a passing satyr.

The only thing that Percy seemed to be good at was canoeing, while I was just ass at it. But canoeing isn't really heroic, so it doesn't count.

Metalwork? Percy was not good at all, while I was just meh. I met a Hephaestus kid called Charles Beckondorf, who was basically the best forger besides Hephaestus himself, and a genuinely nice guy. I did give him an idea for a weapon based on what I saw in a video game trailer that came out last month plus an extra mod, and he said he'll get it done in a few days.

Percy and I were not as strong as the Ares kids, and we didn't have the gossipy flowery nature of Aphrodite. Luke told Percy that he might be a child of Hermes, a kind of jack-of-all-trades, master of none, which did not help Percy.

Luke said that Hermes may be my granddad, since I was good at a lot of things, which did sound plausible, but I wasn't so sure about that.

Despite this, Percy and I enjoyed camp. But as time went on, Percy started to get frustrated because he was not getting any signs as to who his father. Honestly, I don't blame him.

Then came Thursday afternoon, 8 days after I arrived, and Percy and I had our firsat sword-fighting lessons. Everybody from cabin 11 was gathered in the big circular arena where Luke would be our instructor.

Everyone apart from me and Percy had their own swords. Percy had burrowed a sword from the armory, while I decided to use Eric's sword. It just felt right to me.

We started with basic stabbing and slashing, using some straw-stuffed dummies in Greek armor. I was doing pretty good, and so was Percy. It's just that he couldn't find a sword that fits him.

We moved on to dueling in pairs. I wanted to have Percy as my partner so that I could help him out, but Luke announced that he would be his partner.

???: Good luck. Luke's the best swordsman in the last 300 years

Percy: Maybe he'll go easy on me.

The camper snorted, so I elbowed him in the ribs.

Theo: (to Percy) You're gonna do great, Percy.

Percy nodded, appreciating my encouragement, then stepped up to Luke.

Luke showed Percy thrusts and parries and shield blocks the hard way. With every swipe he got a little more battered and bruised.

By the time he called a break, Percy was soaked in sweat. Everyone rushed to the water cooler as Luke dumped water over his head, and Percy did the same.

Luke: Okay, everybody, circle up! If Percy doesn't mind, I want to give you a little demo.

The Hermes guys gather around, most of them suppressing smiles. I guess they wanted to see how Luke used Percy as a punching bag. I gave Percy a thumbs up, trying to reassure him.

Luke told everyone that he was gonna demonstrate a disarming technique: how to twist the enemy's blade with the flat of your own sword so that they had no choice but to drop their weapon.

Luke: This is difficult. I've had it used against me. No laughing at Percy, now. Most swordsmen have to work years to master this technique.

He demonstrated the move on Percy in slow motion. Sure enough, the blade fell out of Percy's hand.

Percy picked his sword back up as Luke spoke.

Luke: Now, in real-time. We keep sparring until one of us pulls it off. Ready, Percy?

Percy nodded, and Luke came after him. Somehow, Percy kept Luke from getting a shot at the hilt of his sword. Then Luke started to press Percy with more force.

Then Percy's sword hit the base of Luke's and he twisted, putting his whole weight into a downward thrust.

CLANG!

Luke's sword fell to the ground as the tip of Percy's was an inch from his undefended chest.

The other campers were silent. Me? I was smiling at Percy as he lowered his sword.

Percy: Um, sorry.

Luke: (grins) Sorry? By the gods, Percy, why are you sorry? Show me that again!

They went at each other again, but this time, Luke disarmed Percy.

???: Beginner's luck?

Luke: Maybe. But I wonder what Percy could do with a balanced sword?

He then looked at me.

Luke: Theo! Come on up here! Let's see what you got!

I just shrugged as I stepped up to Luke.

Luke: Ready?

Theo: Let's go.

He charged at me, and I immediately blocked his swing with my sword. It was even throughout the fight. Every time one of us gained an advantage, the other would make it even.

I was holding my own pretty well, but I knew it was only a matter of time before Luke would swing the fight back in his favor, so I had to end it fast.

Luke went for a downward swing, but I dodged it and grabbed his right arm which held the sword. I then kicked Luke in the head, and then in the chest while still holding his sword arm. This caused him to let go of his sword as he staggered back a few steps. By the time he recovered, my sword was an inch from his throat.

He looked me dead in the eye and grinned.

Luke: Nice one, Theo.

Timeskip

Friday came along quicker than I thought it would.

In the afternoon, Percy, Grover, and I sat together on the pier, watching naiads weaving baskets underwater.

Percy asked about Grover's career, and Grover said that Mr. D suspended judgment, saying that he hadn't failed or succeeded with Percy yet. But Grover was not happy, despite mine and Percy's efforts to cheer him up.

When Percy and I asked about the empty cabins, Grover answered. Artemis was a maiden goddess (obviously). Hera is Zeus' wife, so she wouldn't run around having affairs with mortals. Hades doesn't have a cabin, just like he doesn't have a throne in Olympus, and if he did, it wouldn't be pleasant.

As for Zeus and Poseidon, well...After World War 2, those two, as well as Hades, swore on the River Styx that they wouldn't have any half-blooded children. Children of the Big Three were apparently powerful and caused a lot of carnage.

But Zeus broke that oath and decided to have sex with a mortal woman and had a daughter named Thalia. Zeus got off easy, so his daughter was punished instead. When Hades found out about Thalia, he sent the worst monsters from Tartarus (the deepest, darkest part of the Underworld) after her.

A satyr was sent to escort Thalia, as well as two half-bloods she had befriended, to Camp Half-Blood. They had made all the way to the top of Half-Blood Hill when all three Kindly Ones showed up along with a horde of hellhounds. Thalia told the satyr to take the other two half-bloods to safety while she held off the monsters. She died, and Zeus took pity on her, so he turned her into the pine tree and her spirit still helps protect the borders of the valley.

I felt guilty after Grover finished the story. A girl my age sacrificed herself to save her friends. My victory over the Odontotyrannos doesn't even compare to that.

Then nighttime came around, and it was time for Capture the Flag.

Clarisse held a red banner on the other side of the pavilion.

Percy: (to Luke) Those are the flags?

Luke: Yeah.

Percy: Ares and Athena always lead the teams?

Luke: Not always, but pretty often.

Theo: What do you do if another cabin captures the flag? Repaint it?

Luke: (grins) You'll see. First we have to get one.

Theo: Whose side are we on?

Luke: We made a temporary alliance with Athena. Tonight, we get the flag from Ares. And you two are going to help.

The teams were announced. Athena made an alliance with Apollo and Hermes, while Ares allied themselves with all the other cabins.

Chiron: Heroes! You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed, and have no more than    two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!

He spread his hands, and the tables were suddenly covered with equipment: helmets, bronze swords, spears, oxhide shields coated in metal.

Percy: Whoa. We're really supposed to use these?

Luke: Unless you want to get skewered by your friends in cabin 5. Here—Chiron thought these would fit. You'll be on border patrol.

Percy's shield was the size of an NBA backboard, with a big caduceus in the middle. I had my Adidas shoes on and decided to go for the bow and arrow. As for the helmets, Mine and Percy's helmet had a blue horsehair plume on top of it, while Ares and their allies' helmets had a red plume.

Annabeth: Blue team! Forward!

We cheered and shook our swords and followed her down the path to the south woods. The red team yelled taunts at us as they headed off toward the north.

Percy and I caught up with Annabeth.

Percy: So what's the plan? Got any magic items you can loan me?

Annabeth's hand drifted towards her pocket.

Annabeth: Just watch Clarisse's spear. You don't want that thing touching you. Otherwise, don't worry. We'll take the banner from Ares. Has Luke given you your jobs?

Theo: Border patrol.

Annabeth: It's easy. Stand by the creek, keep the reds away. Leave the rest to me. Athena always has a plan.

She rushed away.

Percy: (mumbles) Okay. Glad you wanted me on your team.

I looked around and saw a tree branch that would work out as a good vantage point.

Theo: I'll cover you from up there, okay?

I didn't wait for an answer as I summoned the wings on my shoes and flew to the tree branch. When I landed, I looked down at Percy, who looked exasperated.

Percy: Oh, come on!

I just shrugged with a smirk on my face, and Percy shook his head before we waited for any action to come our way.

Far away, the conch horn blew. I heard whoops and yells in the woods, the clanking of metal, kids fighting. A blue-plumed ally from Apollo raced past    me and Percy like a deer, leaped through the creek, and disappeared into enemy territory.

Suddenly, I heard growling that sounded canine. I looked around to see where it was coming from, but it stopped before I could pinpoint it.

What the hell was that?

???: CREAM THE PUNKS!

Wait, was that Clarisse?

I looked at where the voice came from, and lo and behold, Clarisse and four other Ares warriors came out and charged through the stream...straight towards Percy.

Percy dodged the first kid's swing, but soon enough, he was surrounded. Clarisse thrust her spear at him, and he deflected it, but he jolted and fell back.

Wait, was Clarisse's spear electric?

Another Ares guy slammed Percy into the ground and they all just started laughing.

Clarisse: Give him a haircut. Grab his hair.

Percy got up and raised his sword, but Clarisse slammed it aside with her spear as sparks flew.

Okay, I had enough.

I took an arrow out of my quiver and nocked it before aiming it at Clarisse.

Clarisse: (sarcastically) Oh, wow. I'm scared of this guy. Really scared.

Percy: The flag is that way.

Ares Kid 1: Yeah. But  see,  we don't care about the flag. We care about a guy who made our cabin look stupid.

Percy: You do that without my help.

His mouth is gonna get him killed one of these days.

Two Ares kids came at him as he backed up to the creek. Clarisse struck her spear straight in Percy's ribs, but it hit his armored breastplate. Then one of the Ares kids slashed Percy's arm with his sword.

Percy: No maiming.

Ares Kid 2: Oops. Guess I lost my dessert privilege.

He pushed Percy into the creek and they laughed. I aimed the arrow at the guy who slashed Percy and released it. The arrow hit his hand, making him yelp in pain as he dropped the sword.

All the Ares looked around until they saw me with the bow in my hand.

Theo: That makes two of us, bitch!

Clarisse tried to throw her spear in my direction, but I quickly nocked an arrow and shot it into her forearm, making her drop her spear.

Percy got up and swung  the flat of his sword against the first guy's head and knocked his helmet clean    off. Percy hit him so hard I could see his eyes vibrating from where I was sitting as he crumpled    into the water.

Two others came at Percy. He slammed one in the face with his shield and used his sword to shear off the other guy's horsehair plume. Both of them backed up quick.

The fourth guy tried to come at Percy, but I shot an arrow straight into his arm. He yelped in pain and dropped the sword before backing up.

Clarrise picked her spear and charged at Percy, but I shot another arrow straight at her right ass cheek just as she thrust her spear. This threw her off as Percy caught the spear with shield and sword before snapping it like a twig.

Clarisse: AH! YOU IDIOTS! YOU CORPSE-BREATH WORMS!

Theo: FUCK YOU TOO, DUMBASS!

Clarisse growled in my direction before Percy smacked her between the eyes with his sword-butt and sent her stumbling backward out of the creek.

He then looked at me and raised his sword while nodding his head at me. I raised my bow and nodded back at him.

Then we heard yelling, elated screams, and we saw Luke racing toward the boundary line with the red team's banner lifted high. He was flanked by a couple of Hermes guys covering his retreat, and a few Apollos behind them, fighting off the Hephaestus kids. The Ares folks got up, and Clarisse muttered a dazed curse.

Clarisse: A trick! It was a trick!

The Ares kids staggered after Luke, but it was too late. Everybody converged on the creek as Luke ran across into friendly territory. Our side exploded into cheers. The red banner shimmered and turned to    silver. The boar and spear were replaced with a huge caduceus, the symbol of cabin eleven. Everybody on the blue team picked up Luke and started carrying him around on their shoulders. Chiron cantered out from the woods and blew the conch horn.

Game over. We won.

I flew down to the ground and celebrated along with the rest of the blue team. Percy and I made eye contact and pointed at each other while grinning.

???: Not bad, hero.

Percy and I heard Annabeth's voice. I looked to my left and Percy looked to his right, but she wasn't there.

Annabeth: Where the heck did you learn to fight like that?

The air shimmered, and she materialized, holding a Yankees baseball cap as if she'd just taken it off her head.

The second Percy saw her, he got angry.

Percy: (angrily) You set me up. You put me here    because you knew Clarisse would come after me, while you sent Luke around the flank. You had it all figured out.

Annabeth: (shrugs) I told you. Athena always, always has a plan.

Percy: A plan to get me pulverized! If it wasn't for Theo, I'd be dead!

I got in front of Percy and tried to calm him.

Theo: Okay, Percy, calm down. I'm sure she had her—

I stopped myself when I saw his arm. There was no blood. Where the cut was supposed to be, there was a long white scratch, and even that was fading.

Theo: How'd you do that?

Percy: It's a sword cut. You saw it happen.

Theo: You mean "was a sword cut." Look at it.

Percy stared at me as if I had just grown 2 more heads, then he looked at his arm and saw the cut fully disappear as if it had never been there.

Percy: I-I don't get it.

I was thinking about how that could happen. Then I remembered something. He started beating the Ares kids after he got in the water. I looked down at Percy's feet and saw that he was still standing in the creek.

Theo: Percy, get out of the water.

Percy: What? Why—

Theo: Just do it.

Percy stepped out of the creek and immediately started falling over, but Annabeth and I caught him. She and I looked at each other, and we both knew that we were thinking the same thing.

Annabeth: Oh, Styx. This is not good. I didn't    want...I assumed it would be Zeus...

Theo: Well, I'll be damned.

Then the canine growl I heard earlier came back, this time it sounded closer than before. A howl ripped through the forest.

The celebration died very quickly. Chiron shouted something in Ancient Greek, which I clearly understood as " Stand ready! My bow!"

There on the rock just above us was a hound the size of a rhino, with lava-red eyes and fangs like daggers.

It was looking straight at Percy.

Nobody moved except me and Annabeth.

Annabeth: PERCY, RUN!
Theo: GET OUTTA HERE!

We both tried to step in front of him, but the hound was too fast. It leaped over us and landed on Percy.

It was about to eat Percy, so I had to act fast.

Theo: APOLLO! RAIN FIRE!

I started firing as many arrows as fast as I could, and so did all of the Apollo campers who had their bows on them. The hound finally fell limp after a few dozen arrows were stuck onto it. Percy crawled from under the hound's corpse and got up, his armor completely destroyed and large cuts were all over his chest.

Theo: You alright?

Percy only nodded.

Annabeth: Di Immortales! That's a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don't...They're not supposed to...

Chiron: Someone summoned it. Someone inside the camp.

Luke came over, completely forgetting the banner in his hand.

Clarisse: It's all Percy and Theo's fault! They summoned it!

Chiron: Be quiet, child.

The hellhound's body melted into shadow, soaking into the ground until it disappeared.

Annabeth: (to Percy) You're wounded. Quick, Percy, get in the water.

Percy: I'm okay.

Theo: The hell you are. (turns to Chiron) Chiron, watch this.

Annabeth and I gently pushed Percy back into the creek, and immediately, the cuts on his chest fully healed. Some of the campers gasped in shock.

Percy: Look, I-I don't know why. I'm sorry...

We weren't looking at his wounds healing, because we were looking at something above his head.

A green trident hovered above Percy's head like a hologram.

It doesn't take much brainpower to know what that means.

Annabeth: Percy...Um...

She pointed above his head. Percy looked up and saw the symbol.

Theo: (mutters) Sometimes I hate being right.

???: What the Hades?

I looked over to one of the campers, Connor Stoll, and saw him pointing at something above my head. I looked up and saw another symbol floating above my head.

It was a silver ring, a bow and arrow in front of a crescent moon.

Wait a minute...Ain't no fucking way.

Annabeth: (to Percy) Your father. (turns to Theo) Your mother. This is really not good.

Chiron: It is determined.

All around me and Percy, campers started kneeling, even the Ares cabin

Percy: My father?

Chiron: Poseidon. Earthshaker, Stormbreaker, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God.

He then addressed me.

Chiron: Welcome, Theodore Miller, Son of Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

How the fuck in the name of all that is holy is that even possible?!

I mean, Artemis is supposed to be a maiden goddess, right? MAIDEN! GODDESS! Meaning that she never had sex with anybody, man, woman, or any other gender!

So how the fuck am I here then?

I mean, there's only 2 possible answers that I could think of:
a) My dad was a sperm donor, and Artemis decided to have a baby. I guess Olympian sperm donation isn't that far from the realm of possibility
or
b) She got "capital R, lowercase a, capital P, parentheses (e)"'d. But how the hell does someone manage to do that to a goddess? I don't wanna know.

I'll take option A, please.

At least I have all of cabin 8 to myself and I don't have to sleep on a tree branch anymore, so I guess there's a silver lining in all the madness.

But I felt bad for Percy.

Almost everyone started steering clear of him like the plague. Everybody in cabin 11 was too nervous to have sword-fighting lessons with him, so he had to take them one-on-one with Luke. Hell, even Annabeth kept scowling at him when he and I took Greek lessons with her.

At least the Apollo campers treat me more like one of their own. I mean, we're technically cousins, since Artemis and Apollo are siblings.

The next morning, I was in the archery range, practicing. I was on the 13th shot of the morning when I heard hooves behind me. I turned around and saw Grover and Percy there. Grover had a grim look on his face.

Theo: What's up?

Grover: Mr. D wants to see you and Percy.

Theo: Why?

Grover: Well, uh...I think it'd be better if he told you himself.

Nevertheless, I put back the bow and quiver then followed Grover and Percy.

After a bit of walking, we arrived at the Big House. Dionysus sat at the pinochle table 
in his tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt with his Diet Coke, just as he had on mine and Percy's first day. Chiron sat across the table in his fake wheelchair. They were playing against invisible opponents—two sets of cards hovering in the air.

Mr. D: Well, well. Our little celebrities. Come closer. And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father. (turns to Theo) And don't think you're in the clear just because your mother just happened to be Ms. Maideness.

A net of lightning flashed across the clouds. Thunder shook the windows of the house.

Mr. D: Blah, blah, blah.

Chiron feigned interest in his pinochle cards. Grover cowered by the railing, his hooves clopping back and forth.

Mr. D: If I had 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.

Chiron: Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr. D.

Mr. D: Nonsense. Boys wouldn't feel a thing. (turns to Percy & Theo) Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into dolphins instead, sending you back to your father and mother.

Chiron: Mr. D--

Mr. D: Oh, alright. There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness.

He got up, and the floating cards fell back on the table.

Mr. D: I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boys are still here when I get back, I'll turn them into Atlantic bottlenoses. Do you understand? (turns to Percy & Theo) And Perseus Jackson, Theodore Miller, if either of 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 card, turned it into some kind of security pass, then disappeared with a snap of his fingers.

Chiron: Sit, Percy, please. And Grover, Theo.

The three of us sat down.

Chiron: Tell me, Percy. What did you make of the hellhound?

Just the name of it made me shudder as the memory of it getting ready to munch my friend replayed in my head.

Percy: It scared me. If Theo and the Apollo campers hadn't shot it, I'd be dead. (turns to Theo) I never got to thank you for that.

Theo: You don't have to.

Percy smiled.

Chiron: You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done.

Percy: Done...with what?

Chiron: Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?

Percy and I glanced at Grover, who was fiddling with his fingers.

Percy: Um, sir, you haven't told me what it is yet.

Chiron: Well, that's the hard part, the details.

Thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the edge of the beach. As far as I could see, the sky and the sea were boiling together.

Percy: Poseidon and Zeus. They're fighting over something valuable...something that was stolen, aren't they?

Grover and Chiron looked at each other, then at Percy.

Chiron: How did you know that?

Percy: The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth, and she'd overheard something about a theft. And...I've also been having these dreams.

Grover: I knew it.

Chiron: Hush, satyr!

Grover: But it is his quest! It must be!

Chiron: Only the Oracle can determine. (turns to Percy) 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.

Theo: I'm sorry?

Chiron: Do not take this lightly. 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. Zeus's master bolt. The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers.

So basically Oppenheimer's worst nightmare, but about a hundred billion times worse. Got it.

Percy: And it's missing?

Chiron: Stolen.

Percy: By who?

Chiron: "By whom." By you two.

Wait a minute, what the fuck?

Chiron: At least, 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. 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 god's symbol of power directly—that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it. And said hero found an accomplice to aid him.

Theo: Hold up, we did not--

Chiron: Patience and listen, child. Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's 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 about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed Percy as his son.    He and you were in New York over the winter holidays. You could easily have snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief.

Percy: But I've never been to Olympus, and I only met Theo a few days ago! Zeus is crazy!

Chiron and Grover glanced nervously at the sky. The clouds didn't seem to be parting around us, as Grover had promised. They were rolling straight over our valley, sealing us in like a coffin lid.

Grover: Er, Percy? We don't use the C-word to describe the Lord of the Sky.

Theo: Then what word do we use? Lunatic?

Chiron: Perhaps paranoid. Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. (turns to Percy) I believe that was question 38 on your final exam...

How the hell were Percy and I accused of stealing Zeus' master bolt? We only knew that Olympus was in New York 2 days ago, and before that, we both thought that it was all a myth. So why did Zeus put the two of us on top of his suspect list?

Percy: Something about a golden net? 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?

Chiron: Correct. And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offense at the accusation. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening war. And now, you've come along—the proverbial last straw.

Theo: Wait, wait, wait. Time out. If Zeus thinks Poseidon stole his master bolt using Percy, why does he think I helped him?

Chiron: That...is a question whose answer should best be discovered by yourself.

...What the fuck does that even mean? Why not just give me a straight answer?

Percy: But we're just kids!

Grover: Percy, 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 II, 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?

Percy: But I didn't do anything. Poseidon—my dad—he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?

Chiron: (sighs) 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 war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy? Theo?

Theo: Really bad, I take it?

Chiron: 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 big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight.

Percy: Really bad.

Chiron: And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath. Followed very closely by Theo Miller.

It started to rain. Volleyball players stopped their game and stared in stunned silence at the sky.

So Zeus is punishing Half-Blood Hill because of me and Percy. Safe to say, we were both pissed.

Percy: So I have to find the stupid bolt and return it to Zeus.

Chiron: What better peace offering than to have the son of Poseidon and his accomplice return Zeus's property?

Theo: So if Poseidon doesn't have the master bolt, where is it?

Chiron: I believe I know. Part of a prophecy I had years ago...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.

Percy: Why can't you tell me where the bolt is beforehand?

Chiron: Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge.

Percy: (gulps) Good reason.

Chiron: You agree, then?

Percy looked at Grover, who nodded encouragingly, then at me, and I gave him a reassuring smile.

Percy: Alright. It's better than being turned into a dolphin.

Chiron: Then it's time you consulted the Oracle. Go upstairs, Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more.

Percy got up from his chair and went upstairs, leaving me with Grover and Chiron.

Theo: (to Chiron) You know who my grandfather is, don't you?

Chiron: I do.

I just nodded, knowing damn well that he won't tell me the answer.

Theo: Can you at least give me a hint?

Chiron glanced at my Adidas shoes, then back at me before shaking his head.

Oh, for fuck's sake. I guess I'll just figure it out by my damn self, then.

A few minutes later, Percy came back downstairs and sat down.

Chiron: Well?

Percy: She said I would retrieve what was stolen.

Grover: That's great!

Chiron: What did the Oracle say exactly? This is important.

Percy: She...she said I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned.

Grover: I knew it.

Chiron: Anything else?

Percy hesitated before answering.

Percy: No, that's about it.

I could tell he was lying, and so could Chiron by the looks of it.

Chiron: 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.

Percy: Okay. So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?

Chiron: Ah, think, Percy. If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?

I thought about it, and could only think of one god.

Theo: Hades. More dead people would help strengthen his empire, right?

Chiron: Precisely. The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility.

Grover spat out the piece of aluminum can that was in his mouth.

Grover: Whoa, wait. Wh-What?

Chiron: A Fury came after Percy. She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades.

Grover: Yes, but—but Hades hates all heroes. Especially if he has found out Percy is a son of Poseidon...

Chiron: A hellhound got into the forest. 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, and that he had asked Artemis to do the same with Theo. Hades would very much like to kill these young half-bloods before they can take on the quest.

Theo: So that's two major gods who want our heads on a silver plate. Great.

Grover: But a quest to...I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year.

Chiron: Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt. He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Dead's motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain. Percy and Theo must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth.

Percy seemed to think about it, then he looked at me, then back at Chiron.

Percy: Look, if we know it's Hades, why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads.

Chiron: Suspecting and knowing are not the same. Besides, even if the other 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 they're 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?

Percy: You're saying I'm being used.

Chiron: 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.

Percy: ...You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?

Chiron: I had my suspicions. As I said...I've spoken to the Oracle, too.

Percy: So let me get this straight. I'm supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead...

Chiron: Check.

Percy: Find the most powerful weapon in the universe...

Chiron: Check.

Percy: And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in 10 days.

Chiron: That's about right.

Percy and I looked at Grover, who gulped.

Grover: Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?

Percy: You don't have to go. I can't ask that of you.

Grover: Oh...No...it's just that satyrs and underground places...well...

He took a deep breath and stood up.

Grover: You saved my life,    Percy.    If...if you're serious about wanting me along,    I won't let you down.

Percy looked like he wanted to cry, while I smiled at Grover proudly.

Percy: All the way, G-man.

Theo: I'm game.

Percy, Chiron, and Grover looked at me.

Theo: What? You'll need all the help you can get.

Percy smiled, then turned to Chiron.

Percy: So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west.

Chiron: 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.

Percy: Where?

Chiron: (surprised) I thought it would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Under is in Los Angeles.

Percy: Oh. Naturally. So we just get on a plane--

Grover & Theo: NO!

Percy looked surprised at me and Grover.

Grover: Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane your whole life?

Percy didn't respond.

Theo: Dude, you are at the very top of Zeus' shit list, and you wanna fly up to his domain? Your dad and Zeus are bitter rivals, so what's gonna stop him from blasting you out of the sky?

Percy: Okay. So I'll travel overland.

Chiron: That's right. Three companions may accompany you. Grover and Theo are two. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help.

Percy: Gee, who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?

The air shimmered behind Chiron, and Annabeth became visible, stuffing her Yankees cap into her back pocket.

Annabeth: I've been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain. 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.

Percy: If you do say so yourself. I suppose you have a plan, wise girl?

Annabeth: Do you want my help or not?

Percy looked at her for a few seconds.

Percy: A quartet. That'll work.

Theo: Well, I always wanted to go to LA anyway. (turns to Annabeth and smirks) You'll fit right in.

Annabeth: Shut it, pinhead.

Right, I forgot to mention. Ever since Percy and I got claimed by Poseidon and Artemis, respectively, Annabeth decided to start calling him "seaweed brain" and me "pinhead." So I decided to call her "wise girl," and Percy joined in on it.

Chiron: Excellent. This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own.

Lightning flashed. Rain poured down on the meadows that were never supposed to have violent weather.

Chiron: No time to waste. I think you should all get packing.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

I didn't have much to pack anyway. I decided to leave the Odontyrannos horn and the arrow on my bedside table in cabin 8. I ended up packing an extra few sets of clothes and a toothbrush in a black backpack a camper named Selina Beauregard gave me.

It would've takes us a few hours to fly from New York to Los Angeles, but that's not an option. A train would be the next best thing, but it would take 2 to 3 days to take us to LA, and another 2 to 3 day to get back to New York. So, assuming we only get held up once or twice for no more than a few hours at a time, we should be able to retrieve the master bolt and bring it back to Olympus in about 7 days, max.

When it comes to money, I didn't have any. So I went to the camp store, and they lent me $100 and 20 golden drachmas, which are basically coins the size of Girl Scout cookies. The drachmas were for non-mortal transactions, according to Chiron.

He gave Annabeth, Percy, and me each a canteen of nectar and a Ziplock bag full of ambrosia squares, to be used only in emergencies, if we were seriously hurt. They were god food, so it was good for us in small amounts (an overdose would literally burn us up), but lethal to mortals.

As for weapons and equipment, I decided to take Eric's sword with me and put on my Adidas sneakers. A feature I discovered about the sword accidentally was that it can turn itself into a small bronze flashlight. All I had to do was press the button on the side and it shifts back into a sword.

I still needed to go to Beckendorf to get my--

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Theo: Who is it?

???: It's me.

Well, that'll make things easier.

I went to the front door and opened it, seeing Beckendorf and a girl with ginger hair dyed with a shock of bright green standing on the porch. Beckendork was holding a box, while the girl was holding something, but I couldn't see what it was because she was standing behind Beckendorf, who was much larger than her.

Theo: (smiles) Hey, Beck.

Beckendorf: (smiles) Hey, Theo. How are you holding up?

Theo: Nervous. I've only been here for a week, and I'm already going on a quest.

I chuckled nervously, which caused Beckendorf and the girl to chuckle as well.

Theo: (to the girl) And you are?

Kayla: I'm...I'm Kayla Knowles, from cabin 7.

Played by: Sophia Lillis

Theo: Apollo, right?

Kayla: (smiles) Right.

Beckendorf: Speaking of the quest. I figured these would help.

He gave me the box. I opened it and smiled once I saw what was inside.

Theo: You finished it?

Beckendorf: (smiles) Hell yeah. Just the way you wanted them.

He turned to Kayla and nudged her.

Kayla: Right, uh...Here. Lee Fletcher wanted me to give you this.

She handed me a silver bow, and a brown hip quiver full of arrows.

Theo: Wow. This is great.

Kayla: (smirks) Well, we couldn't not help our cousin out a bit.

Theo: (chuckles) Thanks, guys.

Beckendorf: Don't mention it. Good luck on your quest.

Kayla: See you around, cuz!

They turned around and left, and I smiled as I closed the door. Suddenly, the bow turned into a bracelet on my left wrist and the quiver turned into a fanny pack.

Oh, yeah. That'll do nicely.

Percy's POV

It didn't take me long to pack. I decided to leave the Minotaur horn in my cabin, which left me only an extra change of clothes and a toothbrush to stuff in a backpack Grover had found for me. After that, I got $100 and 20 golden drachmas from the camp store, as well as a canteen of nectar and a Ziplock bag full of ambrosia squares for emergencies.

Annabeth was bringing her Yankees cap, which she told me had been a 12th birthday present from her mom. She carried a book on famous classical architecture, written in Ancient Greek, to read when she got bored, and a long bronze knife, hidden in her shirt sleeve. I was sure the knife would get us busted the first time we went through a metal detector.

Grover wore his fake feet and his pants to pass as human. He wore a green rasta-style cap, because when it rained his curly hair flattened and you could just see the tips of his horns. His bright orange backpack was full of scrap metal and apples to snack on. In his pocket was a set of reed pipes his daddy goat had carved for him, even though he only knew two songs: Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12 and Hilary Duff's So Yesterday, both of which sounded pretty bad on reed pipes.

Theo wore a pair of jeans, his Adidas sneakers, his arrowhead necklace, a fanny pack strapped to his left hip, a silver bracelet on his left wrist, and a red jacket over his T-shirt. He had an iPod with a reflective back cover and earphones in his left hand and a bronze flashlight in his left hand as he stuffed them both in his pockets.

We waved goodbye to the other campers, took one last look at the strawberry fields, the ocean, and the Big House, and then hiked up Half-Blood Hill to the tall pine tree that used to be Thalia, daughter of Zeus.

Chiron was waiting for us in his wheelchair. Next to him stood the surfer dude I'd seen when I was recovering in the sick room. According to Grover, the guy was the camp's head of security. He supposedly had eyes all over his body so he could never be surprised. Today, though, he was wearing a chauffeur's uniform, so I could only see extra peepers on his hands, face, and neck.

Chiron: This is Argus. He will drive you into the city, and, er, well, keep an eye on things.

I heard footsteps behind us. I turned around and saw Luke running up the hill, carrying a pair of basketball shoes.

Luke: Hey! Glad I caught you.

Annabeth blushed, the way she always did when Luke was around. Theo noticed and shook his head in amusement.

Luke: Just wanted to say good luck. And I thought...um, maybe you could use these.

He handed me the sneakers, which looked pretty normal. They even smelled kind of normal.

Luke: Maia!

White bird's wings sprouted out of the heels, just like Theo's shoes. They ended up startling me so much, I dropped them. The shoes flapped around on the ground until the wings folded up and disappeared.

Grover: Awesome!

Luke: (smiles) Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from Dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days...

His expression turned sad.

I didn't know what to say. It was cool enough that Luke had come to say goodbye. I'd been afraid he might resent me for getting so much attention the last few days. But here he was giving me a magic gift...It made me blush almost as much as Annabeth.

Percy: Hey, man. Thanks.

Luke: Listen, Percy. A lot of hopes are riding on you. So just...kill some monsters for me, okay?

We shook hands, Luke patted Grover's head between his horns, gave a goodbye hug to Annabeth (who looked like she was about to pass out), then dapped up Theo.

Luke: Sorry I didn't have anything to give you.

Theo: It's fine. I already got my own pair.

Luke: (chuckles) Just watch your 6, okay?

Theo: You got it.

Luke flashed Theo a smile before leaving. Once he was out of sight, I turned to Annabeth.

Percy: You're hyperventilating.

Annabeth: Am not.

Percy: You let him capture the flag instead of you, didn't you?

Annabeth: Oh...why do I want to go anywhere with you, Percy?

Theo: Let's just move, okay?

Annabeth stomped down the other side of the hill, and Theo was close behind. A white SUV waited on the shoulder of the road, and Argus followed, jingling his car keys.

I picked up the flying shoes and had a sudden bad feeling.

Percy: (to Chiron) I won't be able to use these, will I?

Chiron: Luke meant well, Percy. But taking to the air...that would not be wise for you.

I nodded, disappointed, then I got an idea.

Percy: (to Grover) Hey, Grover. You want a magic item?

Grover: Me?!

Soon enough, we'd laced the sneakers over his fake feet, and the world's first flying goat boy was ready for launch.

Grover: Maia!

He got off the ground okay, but then fell over sideways so his backpack dragged through the grass. The winged shoes kept bucking up and down like tiny broncos, and he screamed as he flew sideways across the ground like a possessed lawnmower towards the van.

Chiron: Practice! You just need practice!

Grover: AAAAAAHHHHHH!

Theo started running after Grover, yelling some hints at him.

Theo: STOP FLAILING AROUND! SHIFT YOUR WEIGHT TO YOUR HIPS! USE YOUR CORE STRENGTH TO BALANCE YOURSELF!

Grover: I DON'T HAVE ANY CORE STRENGTH! AAAAAAHHHHHH!

Before I could follow them, Chiron caught my arm.

Chiron: I should have trained you better, Percy. If only I had more time. Hercules, Jason—they all got more training.

Percy: That's okay. I just wish—

I stopped myself because I was about to sound like a brat. I was wishing my dad had given me a cool magic item to help on the quest, something as good as Luke's or Theo's flying shoes, or Annabeth's invisible cap.

Chiron: What am I thinking? I can't let you get away without this.

He pulled a pen from his coat pocket and handed it to me. It was an ordinary disposable ballpoint, black ink, removable cap. Probably cost thirty cents.

Percy: Gee, thanks.

Chiron: Percy, that's a gift from your father. I've kept it for years, not knowing you were who I was waiting for. But the prophecy is clear to me now. You are the one.

I remembered the field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art when I'd vaporized Mrs. Dodds. Chiron had thrown me a pen that turned into a sword. Could this be...?

I took off the cap, and the pen grew longer and heavier in my hand. In half a second, I held a shimmering bronze sword with a double-edged blade, a leather-wrapped grip, and a flat hilt riveted with gold studs. It was the first weapon that actually felt balanced in my hand.

Chiron: The sword has a long and tragic history that we need not go into," Chiron told me. "Its name is Anaklusmos.

Percy: Riptide.

Chiron: Use it only for emergencies, and only against monsters. No hero should harm mortals unless absolutely necessary, of course, but this sword wouldn't harm them in any case.

Percy: What do you mean it wouldn't harm mortals? How could it not?

Chiron: The sword is celestial bronze. Forged by the Cyclopes, tempered in the heart of Mount Etna, cooled in the River Lethe. It's deadly to monsters, to any creature from the Underworld, provided they don't kill you first. But the blade will pass through mortals like an illusion. They simply are not important enough for the blade to kill. And I should warn you: as a demigod, you can be killed by either celestial or normal weapons. You are twice as vulnerable.

Percy: Good to know.

Chiron: Now recap the pen.

I touched the pen cap to the sword tip and instantly Riptide shrank to a ballpoint pen again. I tucked it in my pocket, a little nervous, because I was famous for losing pens at school.

Chiron: You can't.

Percy: Can't what?

Chiron: Lose the pen. It is enchanted. It will always reappear in your pocket. Try it.

I was wary, but I threw the pen as far as I could down the hill and watched it disappear in the grass.

Chiron: It may take a few moments. Now check your pocket.

Sure enough, the pen was there.

Percy: Okay, that's extremely cool. But what if a mortal sees me pulling out a sword?

Chiron: (smiles) Mist is a powerful thing, Percy.

Percy: Mist?

Chiron: Yes. Read The Iliad. It's full of references to the stuff. Whenever divine or monstrous elements mix with the mortal world, they generate Mist, which obscures the vision of humans. You will see things just as they are, being a half-blood, but humans will interpret things quite differently. Remarkable, really, the lengths to which humans will go to fit things into their version of reality.

For the first time, the quest felt real. I was actually leaving Half-Blood Hill. I was heading west with no adult supervision, no backup plan, not even a cell phone. (Chiron said cell phones were traceable by monsters; if we used one, it would be worse than sending up a flare.) I had no weapon stronger than a sword to fight off monsters and reach the Land of the Dead.

Percy: Chiron...When you say the gods are immortal...I mean, there was a time before them, right?

Chiron: Four ages before them, actually. The Time of the Titans was the Fourth Age, sometimes called the Golden Age, which is definitely a misnomer. This, the time of Western civilization and the rule of Zeus, is the Fifth Age.

Percy: So what is it like...before the gods?

Chiron: Even I am not old enough to remember that, child, but I know it was a time of darkness and savagery for mortals. Kronos, the lord of the Titans, called his reign the Golden Age because men lived innocent and free of all knowledge. But that was mere propaganda. The Titan king cared nothing for your kind except as appetizers or a source of cheap entertainment. It was only in the early reign of Lord Zeus, when Prometheus the good Titan brought fire to mankind, that your species began to progress, and even then Prometheus was branded a radical thinker. Zeus punished him severely, as you may recall. Of course, eventually the gods warmed to humans, and Western civilization was born.

Percy: But the gods can't die now, right? I mean, as long as Western civilization is alive, they're alive. So...even if I failed, nothing could happen so bad it would mess up everything, right?

Chiron: (smiles) No one knows how long the Age of the West will last, Percy. The gods are immortal, yes. But then, so were the Titans. They still exist, locked away in their various prisons, forced to endure endless pain and punishment, reduced in power, but still very much alive. May the Fates forbid that the gods should ever suffer such a doom, or that we should ever return to the darkness and chaos of the past. All we can do, child, is follow our destiny.

Percy: Our destiny...assuming we know what that is.

Chiron: Relax. Keep a clear head. And remember, you may be about to prevent the biggest war in human history.

Percy: (sarcastically) Relax. I'm very relax.

When I got to the bottom of the hill, I looked back. Under the pine tree that used to be Thalia, daughter of Zeus, Chiron was now standing in full horse-man form, holding his bow high in salute. Just your typical summer-camp send-off by your typical centaur.

Theo's POV

Argus drove us out of the countryside and into western Long Island. I was squished between Annabeth and Percy, and Grover was sat between Percy and the right window.

Percy: So far so good. 10 miles and not a single monster.

Theo: (groans) Oh, for the love of...

Annabeth: It's bad luck to talk that way, seaweed brain.

Percy: Remind me again--Why do you hate me so much?

Annabeth: I don't hate you.

Percy: Could've fooled me.

Annabeth: Look...We're just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals.

Percy: Why?

Annabeth: (sighs) How many reasons do you want? One time my mom caught Poseidon with his girlfriend in Athena's temple, which is hugely disrespectful. Another time, Athena and Poseidon competed to be the patron god for the city of Athens. Your dad created some stupid saltwater spring for his gift. My mom created the olive tree. The people saw that her gift was better, so they named the city after her.

Theo: Wow.

Percy: They must really like olives.

Annabeth: Oh, forget it.

Percy: Now, if she invented pizza—That I could understand.

I snorted.

Annabeth: I said, forget it!

Percy gave me a look that said, "Dude, she's crazy," and I chuckled.

Traffic slowed us down in Queens. By the time we got into Manhattan it was sunset and starting to rain.

Argus dropped us at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side. I saw Percy immediately walk to a mailbox that had a flyer. The flyer had a picture of Percy and text above it that said, "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BOY?"

Percy ripped it off the mailbox, and turned around, only for him to widen his eyes when he sees me. I just mimed zipping up my lips and breaking off the zip before throwing it away. Percy slumped his shoulders and nodded, thanking me.

Argus unloaded our bags, made sure we got our bus tickets, then drove away, the eye on the back of his hand opening to watch us as he pulled out of the parking lot.

Grover said that satyrs can sense emotions and had told Percy that his mother, Sally, had married his stepfather, Gabe, simply because he smelled so repulsively human, that it hid Percy's scent (or that of any demigod for that matter) from monsters.

Percy did tell me about his mother and stepdad, who he appropriately called "Smelly Gabe," and I have never felt more tempted to punch Gabe's teeth so far down his throat, that he'd need to stick a toothbrush up his ass in order to brush them.

We got restless waiting for the bus and decided to play some Hacky Sack with one of Grover's apples. Annabeth was unbelievable. She could bounce the apple off her knee, her elbow, her shoulder, whatever. She might give Roberto Carlos a run for his money.

Percy wasn't bad, either. Whereas I decided to show of and balance the apple on my nape and flicked my head up to throw it in the air before balancing it on my chest.

The game ended early when Percy threw the apple a little too close to Grover's mouth. In one massive bite, the apple was gone—Core, stem, and all.

Grover blushed as he tried to apologize, but Annabeth, Percy, and I were too busy laughing our asses off.

Finally the bus came. As we stood in line to board, Grover started looking around, sniffing the air just like I've seen Eric do a bunch of times whenever he smelled guacamole.

Percy: What is it?

Grover: I don't know. Maybe it's nothing.

But I just know it wasn't nothing, so I kept looking over my shoulder.

As we were slowly boarding, I bumped into a guy who was in front of me. He turned around and started yelling at me in Spanish. But even though I don't speak it, I somehow understood him perfectly.

Man: ¡Mira a dónde vas, niño! (Watch where you're going, kid!)

Theo: Lo siento mucho, pero no hablo español. (I'm so sorry, but I don't speak Spanish.)

Wait, did I just speak Spanish? And I spoke it like a native as well?

I saw Grover, Annabeth, and Percy looking at surprised, while the man scowled at me.

Theo: Huh. Resulta que puedo hablar español. (Turns out I can speak Spanish.)

The man shakes his head and turns to the front again.

Man: (mutters) Maldito gringo. (Fucking gringo.)

Percy: (to Theo) I didn't know you speak Spanish.

Theo: Neither did I.

Percy and Grover gave me a confused look, while Annabeth looked like she was figuring something out in her head.

Before anyone asked any more questions, much to my relief, we finally got on the bus and found seats together in the back of the bus. We stowed our backpacks. Annabeth kept slapping her Yankees cap nervously against her thigh.

As the last passenger got on board, Annabeth clamped her hand on my knee.

Annabeth: Theo. Percy.

Percy and I looked at where she was looking and saw an old lady boarding the bus. She wore a crumpled velvet dress, lace gloves, and a shapeless orange-knit hat that shadowed her face, and she carried a big paisley purse. When she tilted her head up, her black eyes glittered, and Percy's face paled immediately.

Theo: (whispers) Is that...?

Percy: (whispers) Mrs. Dodds? Yep.

Theo: (whispers) Shit.

There's a fucking Fury on the bus. But wait, there's more.

Behind her came two more old ladies: one in a green hat, one in a purple hat. Otherwise, they looked exactly like Mrs. Dodds—same gnarled hands, paisley handbags, wrinkled velvet dresses.

THERE'S THREE FUCKING FURIES ON THE BUS!

They sat in the front row, right behind the driver. The two on the aisle crossed their legs over the walkway, making an X. It was casual enough, but it sent a clear message: nobody was leaving.

Then the bus pulled out of the station and moved through the streets of Manhattan.

Percy: (whispers) She didn't stay dead long. (turns to Annabeth) I thought you said they could be dispelled for a lifetime.

Annabeth: (whispers) I said if you're lucky. You're obviously not.

Theo: (whispers) Of course. Not even 2 hours and shit's already hit the fan.

Grover: (whispers) All three of them. Di Immortales!

Annabeth: (whispers) It's okay. The Furies. The three worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem. No problem. We'll just slip out the windows.

Grover: (whispers) They don't open.

Annabeth: (whispers) A back exit?

Theo: (whispers) There is no back exit.

It wouldn't have mattered anyway. By that time, we were on Ninth Avenue, heading for the Lincoln Tunnel.

Percy: (whispers) They won't attack us with witnesses around, will they?

Annabeth: (whispers) Mortals don't have good eyes. Their brains can only process what they see through the Mist.

Theo: (whispers) So they'll see three grandmas beating the crap out of four 12-year-olds. Got it.

Annabeth: (whispers) I don't know what they'll see exactly. But we can't count on mortals for help. Maybe an emergency exit on the roof...?

We hit the Lincoln Tunnel, and the bus went dark except for the running lights down the aisle. It was eerily quiet without the sound of the rain.

Then one of the Furies—Mrs. Dodds—got up and spoke up in a flat voice as if she had rehearsed it beforehand.

Mrs. Dodds: I need to use the restroom.

Fury 2: So do I.

Fury 3: So do I.

They all started coming down the aisle.

Annabeth: (whispers) I got it. Percy, take my hat.

Percy: (whispers) What?

Annabeth: (whispers) You and Theo are the ones they want. Turn invisible and go up the aisle. Let them pass you. Maybe you can get to the front and get away.

Percy: (whispers) Why me? Why not Theo?

Theo: (whispers) You've got a bigger target on your back than I do. I'm only an accomplice, remember?

Percy: (whispers) But you guys—

Annabeth: (whispers) There's an outside chance they might not notice us. You're a son of one of the Big Three. Your smell might be overpowering.

Percy: (whispers) I can't just leave you.

Grover: (whispers) Don't worry about us. Go!

Percy reluctantly put on the Yankees cap, and he disappeared.

The Furies stopped walking and Mrs. Dodds sniffed the air. I guess she didn't smell anything, since she and her sisters moved on.

They were getting dangerously close, so I slowly rolled up my sleeves, revealing what I had Beckendorf make for me before we left the camp. A pair of bronze bracers on my forearms. They both had a certain mechanism on the underside, and there was a digital watch on the top of the left bracer. The watch itself told the time and date, and it had 3 buttons (one on each side, and one on the bottom).

I then took out the flashlight and rested my thumb on the button. Then the Furies shifted. Their faces were still the same, but their bodies had shriveled into leathery brown hag bodies with bat's wings and hands and feet like gargoyle claws. Their handbags had turned into fiery whips.

They surrounded me, Annabeth, and Grover and hissed at us as the rest of the passengers were screaming and cowering in their seats.

Furies: Where is it? Where?

Wait, did they just say, "it?" Not "they," not "he?" "It?" Were they talking about the master bolt?

Annabeth: He's not here! He's gone!

The Furies raised their whips. Annabeth raised her bronze knife, I pressed the button and turned it into its sword form, while Grover grabbed a tin can from his snack bag and prepared to throw it.

Then suddenly the bus jerked to the right, and I ended up hitting my head in one of the windows, cracking it, and throwing everyone inside the bus either off balance or on the other side.

Then the bus started erratically turning left and right, often hitting the sides of the tunnel. Either the bus driver was smoking some weed and thought he was a Formula 1 driver warming up his tires during the formation lap or...

Fucking Percy Jackson.

While this was happening, the bus got out of the tunnel and barreled down one of the rural New Jersey roads. On the right, there was the Hudson River, and on the left, woods.

Then the bus lost its grip and did a full spin before crashing into a tree. The door flew open. The bus driver was the first one out, the passengers yelling as they stampeded after him.

The Furies regained their balance. They lashed their whips at Annabeth while she waved her knife and yelled in Ancient Greek, telling them to back off. Grover threw tin cans, and I immediately pressed the bottom button of the watch, making a circular bronze shield with an arrow engraved on it appear on my left forearm.

???: HEY!

The Furies turned around and saw Percy, completely visible, and bared their yellow fangs at him.

What the hell is he doing?

Mrs. Dodds stalked up the aisle as her two sisters hopped on top of the seats on either side of her and crawled toward Percy like huge nasty lizards.

Mrs. Dodds: Perseus Jackson. You have offended the gods. You shall die.

Percy: I liked you better as a math teacher.

Annabeth, Grover, and I moved up behind the Furies cautiously, looking for an opening.

Percy took the ballpoint pen out of my pocket and uncapped it. Riptide elongated into a shimmering double-edged sword.

The Furies hesitated. Mrs. Dodds had felt Riptide's blade before when Percy used it. She obviously didn't like seeing it again.

Mrs. Dodds: Submit now, and you will not suffer eternal torment.

Percy: Nice try.

Annabeth: PERCY, LOOK OUT!

Mrs. Dodds lashed her whip around Percy's sword hand while the Furies on the either side lunged at him. He somehow didn't drop the sword and instead struck the Fury on the left with its hilt, sending her toppling backward into a seat.

I immediately ran over to the Fury on the right, slid under her legs, and sliced her ACL (at least I think it was her ACL). She fell on her knees, then I sliced her neck, making her explode into dust.

The third Fury grabbed me from behind and slammed me back first into one of the windows on the side before wrapping her claws around my throat, making me drop my sword.

She got close to my face and snarled as I put my hands around her claws to try to pry them off, but her grip was too strong.

Theo: (straining) You really need a breath mint.

Fury 3: Theodore Miller. You shall know only pain and suffering in life and death.

I looked away and saw Annabeth on Mrs. Dodds' back, putting her in a wrestler's hold while Grover ripped her whip off her hands.

Grover: OW! OW! HOT! HOT!

Guess I'll have to use them now.

I let go of the Fury's claw, put both my fists in front of her eyes, and flicked my wrists up. The second I did, two 12-inch bronze blades came out of the underside of the bracers and stabbed the Fury in both her eyes.

She screamed in agony as she let go of my throat, allowing me to fall back to the ground. I coughed as I tried to control my breathing as the Fury covered her bleeding eyes in pain. Seeing that she was distracted, I jabbed my right hidden blade into the side of her throat, which caused her to explode into just.

I turned and saw Mrs. Dodds still trying to get Annabeth off her back...and she was about to.

Theo: ANNABETH, LET GO!

She looked at me as if I was crazy.

Theo: TRUST ME!

Annabeth let go of Mrs. Dodds, and I immediately rushed at her while she wasn't looking. She turned around to face me, only for me to jump and back her in the head with my shield, stunning her.

Grover used Mrs. Dodds' whip to tie her legs together, then Annabeth and I pushed her backwards into the aisle. Mrs. Dodds tried to get up, but she didn't have room to flap her bat wings, so she kept falling down.

Mrs. Dodds: Zeus will curse you! Hades will have your soul!

Percy: Braccas meas vescimini!

Really? "Eat my pants?" That the best you could do, Percy?

Thunder shook the bus. The hair rose on the back of my neck.

Annabeth: GET OUT! NOW!

I didn't need any more encouragement. I retracted my blades and shield, picked my sword up from the ground, and ran out the bus along with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. We rushed outside and found the other passengers wandering around in a daze, arguing with the driver, or running around in circles yelling, "We're going to die!"

Grover: Our bags! We left our—

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning struck the bus, making it explode as the passengers ran for cover. I can hear Mrs. Dodds' wails from inside, and I knew what that meant.

Theo: She's calling for reinforcements! We gotta run!

We plunged into the woods as the rain poured down, the bus in flames behind us, and nothing but darkness ahead.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

I'll just say it right now; the gods certainly know how to fuck you over.

I'm out living a normal life? HADES SENDS AN ODONTOTYRANNOS ON MY ASS!

I manage to get away from said Odontotyrannos? ZEUS BLOWS OUT MY TIRES!

I just took down 3 monstrous hags who were trying to kill my friends in a bus? ZEUS BLOWS UP THE DAMN BUS!

Which brings us to where we are now: Annabeth, Percy, Grover, and I walking through the woods of New Jersey, smelling like the Hudson, and let's not forget the fact that it's fucking PISSING RAIN!

Grover: Three Kindly Ones. All three at once.

Annabeth: Come on! The farther we get away, the better.

Percy: All our money was back there. Our food and clothes. Everything.

Annabeth: Well, maybe if you hadn't decided to jump into the fight—

Percy: What did you want me to do? Let you get killed?

Annabeth: You didn't need to protect me, Percy. I would've been fine.

Grover: Sliced like sandwich bread, but fine.

Annabeth: Shut up, goat boy.

Grover: Tin cans...A perfectly good bag of tin cans...

Theo: I'll buy you as many tin cans as you want when this is over, alright?

Grover nodded.

We sloshed across mushy ground, through nasty twisted trees that smelled like sour laundry.

Annabeth: (to Percy) Look, I...I appreciate your coming back for us, okay? That was really brave.

Percy: We're a team, right?

Annabeth: It's just that if you died . . . aside from the fact that it would really suck for you, it would mean the quest was over. This may be my only chance to see the real world.

Theo: Wait. You haven't left Camp Half-Blood since you were 7?

Annabeth: No. Only short field trips. My dad—

Percy: The history professor.

Annabeth: Yeah. It didn't work out for me living at home. I mean, Camp Half-Blood is my home. At camp, you train and train. And that's all cool and everything, but the real world is where the monsters are. That's where you learn whether you're any good or not.

I could've sworn I heard a hint of doubt in her voice.

Theo: I'd say you were pretty good.

Annabeth: You think so?

Theo: (smirks) I mean, how many people could say they rode on a Fury's back and lived to tell about it?

She chuckled, and I think I might've seen her blush as well.

Annabeth: You know, maybe I should tell you...Something funny back on the bus...

Whatever she wanted to say was interrupted by a shrill toot-toot-toot, like the sound of an owl being tortured.

Grover: Hey, my reed pipes still work! If I could just remember a 'find path' song, we could get out of these woods!

He puffed out a few notes, but the tune still sounded suspiciously like Hilary Duff. Percy ended up slamming headfirst into a tree while I trip on rock and fell on the ground.

Theo: Ow.

I got back up and wiped off some of the mud that was stuck on me as we kept walking.

After tripping and cursing and generally feeling miserable for another mile or so, I started to see light up ahead: the colors of a neon sign. I could smell food. Fried, greasy, excellent food. I realized I hadn't eaten anything unhealthy since I'd arrived at Half-Blood Hill, where we lived on grapes, bread, cheese, and extra-lean-cut nymph-prepared barbecue. This boy needed a double cheeseburger.

We kept walking until I saw a deserted two-lane road through the trees. On the other side was a closed-down gas station, a tattered billboard for a 1990s movie, and one open business, which was the source of the neon light and the good smell. It wasn't a fast-food restaurant like I'd hoped. It was one of those weird roadside curio shops that sell lawn flamingos and wooden Indians and cement grizzly bears and stuff like that. The main building was a long, low warehouse, surrounded by acres of statuary. The neon sign above the gate was impossible for me to read, because if there's anything worse for my dyslexia than regular English, it's red cursive neon English.

Of course, I couldn't read it. To me, it said: ATNYU MES GDERAN GOMEN MEPROUIM.

Theo: What does that say?

Percy shrugged.

Annabeth: I don't know.

Right, I saw her reading so many times that I forget that she's dyslexic too.

Grover: Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium.

Flanking the entrance, as advertised, were two cement garden gnomes, ugly bearded little runts, smiling and waving, as if they were about to get their picture taken.

We crossed the street, and I could smell hamburgers.

Grover: Hey...

Theo: The lights are on inside. Maybe it's still open.

Percy: (wistfully) Snack bar.

Annabeth: (wistfully) Snack bar.

Theo: (wistfully) Snack bar.

Grover: Are you guys crazy? This place is weird.

We ignored him.

The front lot was a forest of statues: cement animals, cement children, even a cement satyr playing the pipes, which gave Grover the creeps.

Grover: Bla-ha-ha! Looks like my Uncle Ferdinand!

We stopped at a warehouse door. I raised my hand to knock, but grabbed my wrist and stopped me.

Grover: Don't knock! I smell monsters.

Annabeth: Your nose is clogged up from the Furies. All I smell is burgers. Aren't you hungry?

Grover: Meat! I'm a vegetarian.

Percy: You eat cheese enchiladas and aluminum cans.

Grover: Those are vegetables. Come on. Let's leave. These statues are...looking at me.

Theo: I'm sure this place serves vegan food. Don't worry about it.

I was about to knock, but the door opened. Standing in front of us was a tall Middle Eastern woman—at least, I assumed she was Middle Eastern, because she wore a long black gown that covered everything but her hands, and her head was completely veiled. Her eyes glinted behind a curtain of black gauze, but that was about all I could make out. Her coffee-colored hands looked old, but well-manicured and elegant, so I imagined she was a grandmother who had once been a beautiful lady.

Her accent was sounded Middle Eastern as well.

Lady: Children, it is too late to be out all alone. Where are your parents?

Annabeth: They're...um...

Theo: We got lost.

Lady: Lost? But, my dears! Surely not!

Theo: We were on a school trip, and we got separated from our class. You cooking something in there?

Aunty Em: Oh, my dears. You must come in, poor children. I am Aunty Em. Go straight through to the back of the warehouse, please. There is a dining area.

We thanked her and went inside.

Annabeth: "School trip?"

Theo: First thing that came to mind. Besides, we're inside, aren't we?

Annabeth: (shakes her head and chuckles) Pinhead.

Theo: (smirks) Wiseass.

The warehouse was filled with more statues—people in all different poses, wearing all different outfits and with different expressions on their faces. I was thinking you'd have to have a pretty huge garden to fit even one of these statues, because they were all life-size. But mostly, I was thinking about food.

I might be an idiot for just walking into a strange lady's shop like that, but I was too hungry to care. Besides, Aunty Em's burgers smelled divine. The aroma was like laughing gas in the dentist's chair—it made everything else go away. I barely noticed Grover's nervous whimpers, or the way the statues' eyes seemed to follow me, or the fact that Aunty Em had locked the door behind us.

All I cared about was finding the dining area. And sure enough, there it was at the back of the warehouse, a fast-food counter with a grill, a soda fountain, a pretzel heater, and a nacho cheese dispenser. Everything you could want, plus a few steel picnic tables out front.

Percy: Awesome!

Theo: Sweet!

Grover: Um...we don't have any money, ma'am.

Aunty Em: No, no, children. No money. This is a special case, yes? It is my treat, for such nice hard-working students.

Annabeth: Thank you, ma'am.

Aunty Em stiffened, as if Annabeth had done something wrong, but then the old woman relaxed just as quickly, so I figured it must've been my imagination.

Aunty Em: Quite all right, Annabeth. You have such beautiful gray eyes, child.

Wait, how did she know Annabeth's name? We hadn't even introduced ourselves.

Our hostess disappeared behind the snack counter and started cooking. Before we knew it, she'd brought us plastic trays heaped with double cheeseburgers, vanilla shakes, and XXL servings of French fries.

Percy munched on his cheeseburger so fast, he almost choked.

Annabeth slurped her shake.

I was eating a crap ton of fries a handful at a time.

Grover picked at the fries, and eyed the tray's waxed paper liner as if he might go for that, but he still looked too nervous to eat.

Grover: What's that hissing sound?

I listened but didn't hear anything. I looked at Annabeth and Percy, but she shook their head as well.

Aunty Em: Hissing? Perhaps you hear the deep-fryer oil. You have keen ears, Grover.

Grover: I take vitamins. For my ears.

Aunty Em: That's admirable. But please, relax.

Aunty Em ate nothing. She hadn't taken off her headdress, even to cook, and now she sat forward and interlaced her fingers and watched us eat. It was a little unsettling, having someone stare at me when I couldn't see her face, but I was feeling satisfied after the burger, and a little sleepy, and I figured the least I could do was try to make small talk with our hostess.

Theo: So you sell gnomes for a living, yeah?

Aunty Em: Oh, yes. And animals. And people. Anything for the garden. Custom orders. Statuary is very popular, you know.

Percy: A lot of business on this road?

Aunty Em: Not so much, no. Since the highway was built . . . most cars, they do not go this way now. I must cherish every customer I get.

Suddenly, I had a feeling that somebody was watching me. I looked behind me and saw that it was just a statue of a young girl holding an Easter basket. The detail was incredible, much better than you see in most garden statues. But something was wrong with her face. It looked as if she were startled, or even terrified.

Aunty Em: Ah. You notice some of my creations do not turn out well. They are marred. They do not sell. The face is the hardest to get right. Always the face.

I nodded, but it still didn't sit right with me.

Percy: You make these statues yourself?

Aunty Em: Oh, yes. Once upon a time, I had two sisters to help me in the business, but they have passed on, and Aunty Em is alone. I have only my statues. This is why I make them, you see. They are my company.

Hold up. Wait a minute. Something ain't right.

Annabeth: Two sisters?

Aunty Em: It's a terrible story. Not one for children, really. You see, Annabeth, a bad woman was jealous of me, long ago, when I was young. I had a . . . a boyfriend, you know, and this bad woman was determined to break us apart. She caused a terrible accident. My sisters stayed by me. They shared my bad fortune as long as they could, but eventually they passed on. They faded away. I alone have survived, but at a price. Such a price.

I immediately tensed up when she said that. If this woman is who I think it is...

I nudged Percy, and he looked at me, and Annabeth and Grover did as well. I used my left hand to hide my mouth from Aunty Em.

Theo: (mouths) Red flag. Red flag.

Annabeth and Grover nodded in agreement, but Percy looked like he didn't give a fuck.

Annabeth: Percy? Maybe we should go. I mean, Mr. Riordan is probably worried sick.

Aunty Em: Such beautiful gray eyes. My, yes, it has been a long time since I've seen gray eyes like those.

He reached her hand as if to stroke Annabeth's cheek, but she stood up abruptly.

Annabeth: We really should go.

Grover: (gets up) Yes! Mr. Riordan is waiting! Right!

Theo: Thanks for the food and all, but we don't wanna overstay our welcome, so...

Aunty Em: Please, dears. I so rarely get to be with children. Before you go, won't you at least sit for a pose?

Annabeth: A pose?

Aunty Em: A photograph. I will use it to model a new statue set. Children are so popular, you see. Everyone loves children.

Annabeth: I don't think we can, ma'am.  (turns to Percy) Come on, Percy—

Percy: Sure we can. It's just a photo, Annabeth. What's the harm?

I didn't like where this was going, but I still let Aunty Em lead us back out the front door, into the garden of statues.

Aunty Em directed us to a park bench next to the stone satyr.

Aunty Em: Now, I'll just position you correctly. The young girl in the middle, I think, and two young gentlemen on either side, and the third can sit on the floor in front.

Percy: Not much light for a photo.

Aunty Em: Oh, enough. Enough for us to see each other, yes?

Grover: Where's your camera?

Aunty Em stepped back, as if to admire the shot.

Aunty Em: Now, the face is the most difficult. Can you smile for me please, everyone? A large smile?

Grover glanced at the statue behind us.

Grover: (mumbles) That sure does look like Uncle Ferdinand.

Aunty Em: Grover. Look this way please.

The gears were turning in my head. I remembered the statue of the little girl who looked terrified, but Aunty Em said that it was marred.

I couldn't help but notice that Aunty Em still doesn't have a camera in her hand.

Annabeth: Percy—

Aunty Em: I will just be a moment. You know, I can't see you very well in this cursed veil...

I remembered Aunty Em saying that she had two sisters before they "faded away." And I couldn't help but notice that she was more focused on Annabeth for some reason.

Annabeth: Percy, something's wrong.

Aunty Em reached up to unwrap the veil off her head. Then I remembered that Grover said that satyr statue looked like his Uncle Ferdinand.

Aunty Em: Wrong? Not at all, dear. I have such noble company tonight. What could be wrong?

And that's when I clocked it.

Aunty Em + Statues with Terrified faces + Statue That Looked Like Uncle Ferdinand + Two sisters + Focused on Annabeth = Aunty  M  =  FUCKING MEDUSA

Grover: That is Uncle Ferdinand!

Theo: Shit!

Annabeth: Look away from her!

She whipped her Yankees cap onto her head and vanished. Her invisible hands pushed Percy, Grover, and me both off the bench.

I immediately closed my eyes as I heard Grover scrambling off in one direction, Annabeth in another. But I didn't hear Percy move.

Then I heard a strange, rasping sound above me. Yep, that's the snakes Medusa has for hair.

Annabeth: NO! DON'T!

I got up and felt the bracelet change into the silver arrow in my left hand and the fanny pack turned into the quiver on my left hip. And I heard Grover rushing towards the hissing sound.

Grover: Run! Maia!

Medusa: (to Percy) Such a pity to destroy a handsome young face. Stay with me, Percy. All you have to do is look up.

I kept my eyes closed as I focused on Medusa's voice, trying to pinpoint her exact location.

Medusa: The Gray-Eyed One did this to me, Percy. Annabeth's mother, the cursed Athena, turned me from a beautiful woman into this.

I nocked an arrow into the bow, but then I remembered one vital detail...how the fuck am I supposed to fight something I can't even look at?

Annabeth: Don't listen to her! Run, Percy!

Medusa: SILENCE! (turns to Percy) You see why I must destroy the girl, Percy. She is my enemy's daughter. I shall crush her statue to dust. But you, dear Percy, you need not suffer.

For some reason, I remembered the time I watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with David. I remembered how according to the page Hermione ripped out before she got petrified, making direct eye contact with the Basilisk would be lethal. And the only reason that the cat and the Muggleborn students didn't die when they saw the Basilisk was because...they didn't make direct eye contact. They saw the Basilisk either through something transparent or...a reflection.

Thank you, J.K. Rowling, for inspiring my stroke of absolute genius!

I turned my back to Medusa's voice and hid behind a statue then took out my iPod and used the reflective back cover to see what was happening. Percy was lying down right in front of Medusa's feet.

Okay, I can see Medusa, and I'm not a statue yet. Now what?

Then I saw Grover flying towards Medusa with his eyes closed, and holding a tree branch the size of a baseball bat.

Grover: PERCY! DUCK!

He swung at Medusa, and just barely missed by a few inches.

Grover: DUCK! I'll GET HER!

He turned around and swung towards Medusa. This time, he hit her in the back of the head.

Medusa: AAARRGH! YOU MISERABLE SATYR! I'LL ADD YOU TO MY COLLECTION!

Grover: THAT WAS FOR UNCLE FERDINAND!

I saw Percy scramble behind a statue while Grover went for another pass, which connected to her head again.

I looked ahead, assessing my options, then looked at the statues in front of me, then at the ones to my left. Then I had another idea.

I aimed the arrow at the statue of a man and pulled the string.

Theo: Here goes.

I released the arrow, and it flew to the statue. Then it deflected off the statue's ear and changes direction. It hit the statue of a bear to my left and hit the raised paw. It changed direction again, this time flying straight at Medusa's general direction.

Medusa: AARRGGHH!

I lifted the iPod and looked at the reflection and saw the outcome of the shot. The arrow hit her right in the left shoulder.

Theo: (smiles and whispers) Bullseye!

She pulled the arrow out and looked at the direction it came from, which was the bear statue. Then the man's statue. Then the one I'm hiding behind.

Then Grover passed by and swung but missed completely.

Grover: Hey, guys! I think she's unconscious!

Medusa: ROOOAAAARR!

Grover: Maybe not!

He was coming in for another turn at bat, but this time he flew a little too low. Medusa grabbed the stick and pulled him off course. He tumbled through the air and crashed into the arms of a stone grizzly bear with a painful "Ummphh!"

Then she looked at the statue I'm hiding behind and started walking towards it.

Theo: (mutters) Shit.

???: HEY!

Medusa turned away, and I turned the iPod to see what she was looking at. Percy was advancing to her, holding his sword and a green glass ball. I just know that he didn't come up with that by himself. He's too dense. That had Annabeth written all over it.

Medusa: You wouldn't harm an old woman, Percy. I know you wouldn't.

Percy hesitated.

Grover: Percy, don't listen to her!

Medusa: (cackles) Too late.

She lunged at Percy...and he cut her head clean off. I could see the rest of her body disintegrate through the iPod's reflection.

Grover: Oh, yuck. Mega yuck.

I got up and walked towards Percy, holding the iPod high and using its reflective cover to see where I was going. I then saw Annabeth walking towards the decapitated head, holding her black veil while looking up at the sky.

Annabeth: Don't move.

She very carefully knelt and draped the monster's head in black cloth, then picked it up. It was still dripping green juice. I lowered the iPod and looked at her.

Theo: (to Annabeth) You okay?

Annabeth: Yeah. You?

Theo: I'm alright. (turns to Grover and Percy) You guys good?

Grover nodded, still lying on the grizzly statue he landed on.

Percy: Yeah. Why didn't...why didn't the head evaporate?

Annabeth: Once you sever it, it becomes a spoil of war. Same as your minotaur horn and Theo's Odontotyrannos horn. But don't unwrap the head. It can still petrify you.

Grover moaned as he climbed down from the grizzly statue. He had a big welt on his forehead. His green rasta cap hung from one of his little goat horns, and his fake feet had been knocked off his hooves. The magic sneakers were flying aimlessly around his head.

Percy: (to Grover) The Red Baron. Good job, man.

Grover: (grins) That really was not fun, though. Well, the hitting-her-with-a-stick part, that was fun. But crashing into a concrete bear? Not fun.

He snatched the shoes out of the air, Percy recapped his sword, and I reformed my bow and quiver back to a bracelet and fanny back. The four of us walked back into the warehouse.

Annabeth: (to Theo) I noticed your shot. How'd you pull it off without even seeing her?

I took the iPod out of my pocket and showed her the reflective cover with a smirk on my face.

Theo: (smirks) You're not the only one with bright ideas, Chase.

Annabeth: (rolls her eyes and smirks) Don't let it get to your head, Miller.

We found some old plastic grocery bags behind the snack counter and double-wrapped Medusa's head. We plopped it on the table where we'd eaten dinner and sat around it, too exhausted to speak. I was just glaring at Percy.

Percy: So we have Athena to thank for this monster?

Annabeth: Your dad, actually. Don't you remember? Medusa was Poseidon's girlfriend. They decided to meet in my mother's temple. That's why Athena turned her into a monster. Medusa and her two sisters who had helped her get into the temple, they became the three gorgons. That's why Medusa wanted to slice me up, but she wanted to preserve you as a nice statue. She's still sweet on your dad. You probably reminded her of him.

Percy: Oh, so now it's my fault we met Medusa.

Annabeth: (imitates Percy) "It's just a photo, Annabeth. What's the harm?"

Percy: (sighs) Forget it.

He looked at me and saw me glaring at him.

Percy: What?

Theo: Well...What the fuck did I say?! What did I say?! Red flag!

Percy: Oh, come on, man...

Theo: When I say "red flag," what does your brain hear? Chocolate?

Percy: I didn't know what you meant by that, that's all.

Theo: Oh, you are just the most dense motherf—

Grover: Hey! You guys are giving me a migraine, and satyrs don't even get migraines. What are we going to do with the head?

Percy stared at the head, as if figuring something out.

Theo: I say we burn it. At least, we won't have to worry about—

Percy: (gets up) I'll be back.

Annabeth: Percy, what're you—

He went to the back of the warehouse. Annabeth looked at me and Grover, and we just shrugged.

About a minute later, Percy came back to the picnic table, packed up Medusa's head, and began filling out a delivery slip.

Percy: (to Theo) You want me to write your name on it, too?

Theo: Sure.

Percy filled out the slip.

The Gods
Mount Olympus
600th Floor,
Empire State Building
New York, NY
With best wishes,
PERCY JACKSON
& THEO MILLER

Grover: They're not going to like that. They'll think you're impertinent.

Percy poured some golden drachmas in the pouch. As soon as he closed it, there was a sound like a cash register. The package floated off the table and disappeared with a pop!

Percy: I am impertinent.

He looked at Annabeth, daring her to say something about it. But she didn't.

Annabeth: Come on. We need a new plan.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

I was convinced that we were cursed by Tyche or something. I mean, all three Furies AND Medusa in the span of like, what, 2 hours? That kind of shit luck cannot be normal.

We camped out in the woods, a hundred yards from the main road, in a marshy clearing that local kids had obviously been using for parties. The ground was littered with flattened soda cans and fast-food wrappers. We'd taken some food and blankets from Aunty Em's, but we didn't dare light a fire to dry our damp clothes. The Furies and Medusa had provided enough excitement for one day. We didn't want to attract anything else.

We decided to sleep in shifts. Percy volunteered to take first watch.

Annabeth curled up on the blankets and was snoring as soon as her head hit the ground. Grover fluttered with his flying shoes to the lowest bough of a tree, put his back to the trunk, and stared at the night sky. I tried to sleep, but I couldn't. I just wasn't feeling tired enough to sleep.

Yeah, turns out I can stay awake for 7 days straight at a time without any repercussions. I slept 2 days ago, so I still have plenty of energy.

Anyway, I decided to stay awake and help Percy keep watch.

Percy: (to Grover) Go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you if there's trouble.

Grover nodded but still didn't close his eyes.

Grover: It makes me sad, guys.

Percy: What does? The fact that you signed up for this stupid quest?

Grover: (points at the garbage on the ground) No. This makes me sad. And the sky. You can't even see the stars. They've polluted the sky. This is a terrible time to be a satyr.

Percy: Oh, yeah. I guess you'd be an environmentalist.

Grover glared at Percy.

Grover: Only a human wouldn't be. Your species is clogging up the world so fast ... ah, never mind. It's useless to lecture a human. At the rate things are going, I'll never find Pan.

Percy: Pam? Like the cooking spray?

Theo: (sighs) Oh, for the love of...He meant Pan. P-A-N. As in the God of the wild.

Grover: Exactly! Thank you, Theo. What do you think I want a searcher's license for?

A strange breeze rustled through the clearing, temporarily overpowering the stink of trash and muck. It brought the smell of berries and wildflowers and clean rainwater, things that might've once been in these woods.

Percy: Tell me about the search.

Grover looked at Percy cautiously, as if he thought he'd make fun of him.

Grover: The God of Wild Places disappeared two thousand years ago. A sailor off the coast of Ephesos heard a mysterious voice crying out from the shore, 'Tell them that the great god Pan has died!' When humans heard the news, they believed it. They've been pillaging Pan's kingdom ever since. But for the satyrs, Pan was our lord and master. He protected us and the wild places of the earth. We refuse to believe that he died. In every generation, the bravest satyrs pledge their lives to finding Pan. They search the earth, exploring all the wildest places, hoping to find where he is hidden, and wake him from his sleep.

Percy: And you want to be a searcher.

Grover: It's my life's dream. My father was a searcher. And my Uncle Ferdinand ... the statue you saw back there—

Percy: Oh, right. Sorry.

Grover: (shakes his head) Uncle Ferdinand knew the risks. So did my dad. Eric would've been a searcher if he hadn't...

I lowered my head in shame.

Grover: But I'll succeed. I'll be the first searcher to return alive.

Theo: Wait, hang on. The first?

Grover: (takes out his reed pipes) No searcher has ever come back. Once they set out, they disappear. They're never seen alive again.

Percy: Not once in two thousand years?

Grover: No.

Theo: And your dad? You have no idea what happened to him?

Grover: None.

Theo: (amazed) And you still want to be a searcher? I mean, you really believe you'll be the one to find Pan?

Grover: I have to, Theo. Every searcher does. It's the only thing that keeps us from despair when we look at what humans have done to the world. I have to believe Pan can still be awakened.

I have to admit, Grover can be really determined when he wants to be.

Percy: How are we going to get into the Underworld? I mean, what chance do we have against a god?

Grover: I don't know. But back at Medusa's, when you were searching her office? Annabeth was telling me—

Percy: Oh, I forgot. Annabeth will have a plan all figured out.

Grover: Don't be so hard on her, Percy. She's had a tough life, but she's a good person. After all, she forgave me...

Percy: What do you mean? Forgave you for what?

Grover had suddenly gotten interested in playing some notes on his reed pipes.

Percy: Wait a minute...Your first keeper job was five years ago. Annabeth has been at camp five years. She wasn't...I mean, your first assignment that went wrong—

Grover: I can't talk about it. But as I was saying, back at Medusa's, Annabeth and I agreed there's something strange going on with this quest. Something isn't what it seems.

Percy: Well, duh. Theo and I are getting blamed for stealing a thunderbolt that Hades took.

Grover: That's not what I mean. The Fur—The Kindly Ones were sort of holding back. Like Mrs. Dodds at Yancy Academy ... why did she wait so long to try to kill you? Then on the bus, they just weren't as aggressive as they could've been.

Percy: They seemed plenty aggressive to me.

Grover: (shakes his head) They were screeching at us: "Where is it? Where?"

Percy: Asking about me.

Theo: No, I don't think so. They would've said "he" if they were.

Grover: That's what Annabeth and I are thinking. They seemed to be asking about an object, not a person.

Percy: That doesn't make sense.

Grover: I know. But if we've misunderstood something about this quest, and we only have nine days to find the master bolt...

He looked at me and Percy as if we had an answer, but we didn't.

Percy: I haven't been straight with you. I don't care about the master bolt. I agreed to go to the Underworld so I could bring back my mother.

Theo: Yeah, no shit.

Grover: You sure that's the only reason, though?

Percy: I'm not doing it to help my father. He doesn't care about me. I don't care about him.

Grover: Look, Percy, I'm not as smart as Annabeth. I'm not as brave as you. I'm not as versatile as Theo. But I'm pretty good at reading emotions. You're glad your dad is alive. You feel good that he's claimed you, and part of you wants to make him proud. That's why you mailed Medusa's head to Olympus. You wanted him to notice what you'd done. (turns to Theo) And I'm sure you want the same with your mom.

I didn't argue because I knew he was right.

Percy: Yeah? Well, maybe satyr emotions work differently than human emotions. Because you're wrong. I don't care what he thinks.

Grover didn't seem convinced.

Grover: Okay, Percy. Whatever.

Percy: Besides, I haven't done anything worth bragging about. We barely got out of New York and we're stuck here with no money and no way west.

Grover looked at the night sky as if thinking about that problem.

Grover: How about I take first watch, huh? You get some sleep.

He started playing Mozart before Percy could protest, and Percy fell asleep quickly. But I couldn't, so I stayed up.

Theo: I'll take the shift after Annabeth, okay?

Grover: Sure.

Timeskip

Two hours passed, and I still couldn't sleep. I saw Annabeth sitting on a log twirling her bronze knife in her hand while keeping watch, so I got up and walked over to her.

Theo: You want some company?

Annabeth stopped twirling her knife and looked at me.

Annabeth: Shouldn't you be sleeping?

Theo: I can't.

Annabeth: (sighs) Sure. I don't mind.

I sat down next to Annabeth and materialized my bow and quiver. I took out an arrow and absent-mindedly started twirling it around my fingers like a drumstick.

Annabeth: I've been trying to figure out who your grandfather is. And I think I got it.

I looked at Annabeth.

Theo: Yeah? Lay it on me.

Annabeth: It's Hermes.

I raised my eyebrows. She sounded so sure.

Theo: Okay. Expound.

Annabeth: Well, first of all: Your winged shoes.

Theo: So? Grover has a pair too.

Annabeth: Yeah, but he barely knows how to use them. Whereas you...You've been using them as if you had them on all your life.

I nodded but still wasn't convinced.

Annabeth: Then there's your versatility. How you're a jack-of-all-trades. A lot of Hermes campers are as well.

Theo: Even Luke?

Annabeth: (blushes) Y-Yeah, even Luke.

Theo: Okay.

Annabeth: Then there's the time when you spoke Spanish despite having not learned it.

I started realizing that she was making some very solid points.

Annabeth: And you said you drove a McLaren to camp, right?

Theo: Yeah, an F1. Top speed of 240 miles per hour, 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. I was driving well over 200 before we got hit by lightning.

Annabeth: Hermes is the god of speed and travel. It would explain how you managed to drive all the way to camp and how you know so much about cars.

I thought about what she said and...holy shit, she's actually right.

Theo: (chuckles) I guess you got it all figured out. Thanks.

Annabeth nodded in response.

Annabeth: I still don't know how Artemis is your mother, though.

Theo: Yeah, that makes two of us.

We both sat in silence for about a few minutes until I spoke up.

Theo: I'm guessing thievery is a Hermes thing?

Annabeth: Yeah. Why?

Theo: Nothing, it's just...Back in school, there was this rich kid two grades above me and Eric. He was always strutting around the halls, bragging about how his dad was this "hotshot millionaire"...

Annabeth: So basically Draco Malfoy?

Theo: Exactly. He...wait, you watch Harry Potter too?

Annabeth: I read the books.

Theo: (chuckles) Cool. Anyway, at some point, he decided to mess with me and Eric. He was talking smack about how my real parents don't love me, or how Eric's parents hated his guts. It went on for a while, and then I had enough.

Annabeth: What'd you do?

Theo: (smirks) Stole his wallet. Took a couple hundred bucks, then stashed the wallet under a dumpster at the back of the building. The sheer panic in his face when he noticed that his wallet was gone was priceless.

Annabeth: (chuckles) Did you get caught?

Theo: Nah.

I started laughing, and Annabeth did as well. After a few minutes, we calmed down and sat in silence.

Theo: You should get some sleep. I'll take watch.

Annabeth: (yawns) Yeah, I probably should. Goodnight, Theo.

Theo: Night, Annabeth.

She got up and walked to her pile of blankets before falling asleep immediately while I kept watch.

Percy's POV

In my dreams, I stood in a dark cavern before a gaping pit. Gray mist creatures churned all around me, whispering rags of smoke that I somehow knew were the spirits of the dead. They tugged at my clothes, trying to pull me back, but I felt compelled to walk forward to the very edge of the chasm.

Looking down made me dizzy.

The pit yawned so wide and was so completely black, I knew it must be bottomless. Yet I had a feeling that something was trying to rise from the abyss, something huge and evil.

And then a voice echoed far down in the darkness.

???: The little hero.  Too weak, too young, but perhaps you will do.

The voice felt ancient—cold and heavy. It wrapped around me like sheets of lead.

???: They have misled you, boy. Barter with me. I will give you what you want.

A shimmering image hovered over the void: my mother, frozen at the moment she'd dissolved in a shower of gold. Her face was distorted with pain, as if the Minotaur were still squeezing her neck. Her eyes looked directly at me, pleading: Go!

I tried to cry out, but my voice wouldn't work.

Cold laughter echoed from the chasm.

An invisible force pulled me forward. It would drag me into the pit unless I stood firm.

???: Help me rise, boy. Bring me the bolt. Strike a blow against the treacherous gods!

The spirits of the dead whispered around me, No! Wake!

The image of my mother began to fade. The thing in the pit tightened its unseen grip around me. I realized it wasn't interested in pulling me in. It was using me to pull itself out.

???: Good. Good.

Wake! the dead whispered. Wake!

Someone was shaking me. My eyes opened, and it was daylight.

Annabeth: Well, the zombie lives.

Theo: Wakey wakey, Sleeping Beauty.

I was trembling from the dream. I could still feel the grip of the chasm monster around my chest.

Percy: How long was I asleep?

Annabeth: Long enough for Theo to cook breakfast.

She tossed me a bag of nacho-flavored corn chips from Aunty Em's snack bar.

Annabeth: And Grover went exploring. Look, he found a friend.

My eyes had trouble focusing. Grover was sitting cross-legged on a blanket with something fuzzy in his lap, a dirty, unnaturally pink stuffed animal.

No. It wasn't a stuffed animal. It was a pink poodle.

The poodle yapped at me suspiciously.

Grover: (to the poodle) No, he's not.

Percy: Are you...talking to that thing?

The poodle growled.

Grover: This thing is our ticket west. Be nice to him.

Percy: You can't talk to animals?

Theo: Yeah, I found it weird too at first. Apparently, all satyrs can do that.

Grover: Percy, meet Gladiola. (turns to the poodle) Gladiola, Percy.

I stared at Annabeth and Theo, figuring she'd crack up at this practical joke they were playing on me, but they looked deadly serious.

Percy: I'm not saying hello to a pink poodle. Forget it.

Annabeth: Percy, I said hello to the poodle. Theo said hello to the poodle. You say hello to the poodle.

The poodle growled.

I said hello to the poodle.

Grover explained that he'd come across Gladiola in the woods, and they'd struck up a conversation. The poodle had run away from a rich local family, who'd posted a $200 reward for his return. Gladiola didn't really want to go back to his family, but he was willing to if it meant helping Grover.

Percy: How does Gladiola know about the reward?

Grover: He read the signs. Duh.

Percy: Of course. Silly me.

Theo: So the fucking dog can read, but I can't. (chuckles) You can't make this up.

Annabeth: So we turn in Gladiola, we get money, and we buy tickets to Los Angeles. Simple.

Theo: I don't know. The money would get us a good chunk across the country, but it won't be enough for LA. Could be enough to get us to Colorado.

Grover and I looked at him, confused as to how he would he know that. But Annabeth looked a bit upset, but nodded, as if she knew exactly how Theo knew.

Theo: (shrugs) Turns out my grandfather is Hermes. Make of that what you will.

Grover and I looked at each other and shrugged. I guess it makes sense.

But then I thought about my dream—the whispering voices of the dead, the thing in the chasm, and my mother's face, shimmering as it dissolved into gold. All that might be waiting for me in the West.

Percy: Not another bus.

Annabeth: No.

She pointed downhill, toward train tracks I hadn't been able to see last night in the dark.

Annabeth: There's an Amtrak station half a mile that way. According to Gladiola, the westbound train leaves at noon.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

We spent two days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain.

We weren't attacked once, but I didn't relax. I felt that we were traveling around in a display case, being watched from above and maybe from below, that something was waiting for the right opportunity.

I tried to keep a low profile because my name and picture were splattered over the front pages of several East Coast newspapers. The Trenton Register-News showed a photo taken by a tourist as I got off the Greyhound bus. I had a wild look in my eyes. My sword was a metallic blur in my hands. It might've been a baseball bat or a lacrosse stick.

The picture's caption read:

Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of his mother two weeks ago, is shown here fleeing from the bus where he accosted several elderly female passengers. The bus exploded on an east New Jersey roadside shortly after Jackson fled the scene. Based on eyewitness accounts, police believe the boy may be traveling with three teenage accomplices. His stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, has offered a cash reward for information leading to his capture.

Annabeth: Don't worry. Mortal police could never find us.

But she didn't sound so sure.

The rest of the day I spent alternately pacing the length of the train (because I had a really hard time sitting still) or looking out the windows.

Once, I spotted a family of centaurs galloping across a wheat field, bows at the ready, as they hunted lunch. The little boy centaur, who was the size of a second grader on a pony, caught my eye and waved. I looked around the passenger car, but nobody else had noticed. The adult riders all had their faces buried in laptop computers or magazines.

Another time, toward evening, I saw something huge moving through the woods. I could've sworn it was a lion, except that lions don't live wild in America, and this thing was the size of a Hummer. Its fur glinted gold in the evening light. Then it leaped through the trees and was gone.

Just like Theo said, our reward money for returning Gladiola the poodle had only been enough to purchase tickets as far as Denver. We couldn't get berths in the sleeper car, so we dozed in our seats. My neck got stiff. I tried not to drool in my sleep, since Annabeth and Theo were sitting right next to me.

Grover kept snoring and bleating and waking me up. Once, he shuffled around and his fake foot fell off. Theo and I had to stick it back on before any of the other passengers noticed.

Annabeth: So who wants your help?

Percy: What do you mean?

Annabeth: When you were asleep just now, you mumbled, "I won't help you." Who were you dreaming about?

I was reluctant to say anything. It was the second time I'd dreamed about the evil voice from the pit. But it bothered me so much I finally told her and Theo.

Annabeth: That doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs.

Percy: He offered my mother in trade. Who else could do that?

Theo: I guess that makes sense. If he meant, "help me rise from the Underworld," then maybe that would be it. But the question is, why would he want you to bring him the master bolt if he already has it?

I shook my head, wishing I knew the answer. I thought about what Grover had told me, that the Furies on the bus seemed to have been looking for something.

Where is it? Where?

Maybe Grover sensed my emotions. He snorted in his sleep, muttered something about vegetables, and turned his head. Annabeth readjusted his cap so that it covered his horns.

Annabeth: Percy, you can't barter with Hades. You know that, right? He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy. I don't care if his Kindly Ones weren't as aggressive this time—

Percy: This time? You mean you've run into them before?

Her hand crept up to her necklace. She fingered a glazed white bead painted with the image of a pine tree, one of her clay end-of-summer tokens.

Annabeth: Let's just say I've got no love for the Lord of the Dead. You can't be tempted to make a deal for your mom.

Percy: What would you do if it was your dad?

Annabeth: That's easy. I'd leave him to rot.

Theo: Whoa! You don't really mean that, do you?

Annabeth's gray eyes fixed on Theo's green ones. She wore the same expression she'd worn in the woods at camp, the moment she drew her sword against the hellhound.

Annabeth: My dad's resented me since the day I was born, Theo. He never wanted a baby. When he got me, he asked Athena to take me back and raise me on Olympus because he was too busy with his work. She wasn't happy about that. She told him heroes had to be raised by their mortal parent.

Theo: How? I guess you weren't born at a hospital...

Annabeth: I appeared on my father's doorstep, in a golden cradle, carried down from Olympus by Zephyr the West Wind. You'd think my dad would remember that as a miracle, right? Like, maybe he'd take some digital photos or something. But he always talked about my arrival as if it were the most inconvenient. thing that had ever happened to him. When I was five, he got married and totally forgot about Athena. He got a 'regular' mortal wife, and had two 'regular' mortal kids, and tried to pretend I didn't exist.

Theo gave her a look of sympathy, while I stared out the train window. The lights of a sleeping town were drifting by. I wanted to make Annabeth feel better, but I didn't know how.

Percy: My mom married a really awful guy. Grover said she did it to protect me, to hide me in the scent of a human family. Maybe that's what your dad was thinking.

Annabeth kept worrying at her necklace. She was pinching the gold college ring that hung with the beads. It occurred to me that the ring must be her father's. I wondered why she wore it if she hated him so much.

Annabeth: He doesn't care about me. His wife—my stepmom—treated me like a freak. She wouldn't let me play with her children. My dad went along with her. Whenever something dangerous happened—you know, something with monsters—they would both look at me resentfully, like, "How dare you put our family at risk." Finally, I took the hint. I wasn't wanted. I ran away.

Theo: How old were you when you ran?

Annabeth: The same age when I started camp. Seven.

Theo: You...You couldn't have made it all the way to Half-Blood Hill all by yourself.

Annabeth: Not alone, no. Athena watched over me, guided me toward help. I made a couple of unexpected friends who took care of me, for a short time, anyway.

I wanted to ask what happened, but Annabeth seemed lost in sad memories. So I listened to the sound of Grover snoring and gazed out the train windows as the dark fields of Ohio raced by.

St. Louis, Missouri
Theo's POV

Toward the end of our second day on the train, June 13, eight days before the summer solstice, we passed through some golden hills and over the Mississippi River into St. Louis.

Annabeth craned her neck to see the Gateway Arch, which looked to me like a huge shopping bag handle stuck on the city.

Annabeth: I want to do that.

Percy: What?

Annabeth: Build something like that. You ever see the Parthenon, Percy? Theo?

Percy: Only in pictures.
Theo: No.

Annabeth: Someday, I'm going to see it in person. I'm going to build the greatest monument to the gods, ever. Something that'll last a thousand years.

I couldn't help but smile a bit. During the short time I've known her, she can be very ambitious, and sometimes I can't help but admire it.

Percy, though, found it funny.

Percy: (laughs) You? An architect?

Annabeth: Yes, an architect. Athena expects her children to create things, not just tear them down, like a certain god of earthquakes I could mention.

Theo: (snorts) Nice.

Annabeth gave me a glare, then turned to Percy.

Annabeth: Sorry. That was mean.

Percy: Can't we work together a little? I mean, didn't Athena and Poseidon ever cooperate?

Theo: I mean...There's the chariot. Athena invented it, Poseidon made horses out of crescent waves. They had to work together to finish it.

Percy: Thank you. (turns to Annabeth) That means we can cooperate too, right?

We rode into the city, Annabeth watching as the Arch disappeared behind a hotel.

Annabeth: I suppose.

We pulled into the Amtrak station downtown. The intercom told us we'd have a three-hour layover before departing for Denver.

Grover stretched as he woke up.

Grover: Food.

Annabeth: Come on, goat boy. Sightseeing.

Grover: Sightseeing?

Annabeth: The Gateway Arch. This may be my only chance to ride to the top. Are you coming or not?

I wanted to go to the Gateway Arch for a while when I was younger, but David was just too busy for work to travel to another state.

Grover and Percy exchanged looks before coming to a decision.

Grover: (shrugs) As long as there's a snack bar with no monsters.

Theo: Here's hoping.

The Arch was about a mile from the train station. Late in the day the lines to get in weren't that long. We threaded our way through the underground museum, looking at covered wagons and other junk from the 1800s. Annabeth spewed out some facts about the Arch, which I found interesting, while Grover passed me and Percy some jellybeans.

Percy and I kept looking at the other people in line.

Percy: (to Grover) Smell anything?

Grover took his nose out of the jelly-bean bag long enough to sniff.

Grover: Underground. Underground air always smells like monsters. Probably doesn't mean anything.

I shook my head. This would be the perfect opportunity for a monster to attack when the only one who could smell them is currently handicapped.

Percy: Guys? You know the gods' symbols of power?

Annabeth: Yeah?

Percy: Well, Hade—

Grover: (clears his throat) We're in a public place...You mean, our friend downstairs?

Percy: Um, right. Our friend way downstairs. Doesn't he have a hat like Annabeth's?

Annabeth: You mean the Helm of Darkness. Yeah, that's his symbol of power. I saw it next to his seat during the winter solstice council meeting.

Theo: He was there? On Olympus?

Annabeth: It's the only time he's allowed there—the darkest day of the year. But his helm is a lot more powerful than my invisibility hat, if what I've heard is true...

Grover: It allows him to become darkness. He can melt into shadow or pass through walls. He can't be touched, or seen, or heard. And he can radiate fear so intense it can drive you insane or stop your heart. Why do you think all rational creatures fear the dark?

Percy: But then...how do we know he's not here right now, watching us?

Annabeth and Grover exchanged looks.

Grover: We don't.

Theo: Well, that's comforting. Are there any red jellybeans left?

We saw the tiny little elevator car we were going to ride to the top of the Arch. Percy looked like he was about to throw up.

We got shoehorned into the car with this big fat lady and her dog, a Chihuahua with a rhinestone collar. I figured maybe the dog was a seeing-eye Chihuahua, because none of the guards said a word about it. But I had a bad feeling about her for some reason.

We started going up, inside the Arch. Then the old lady talked to us.

Old Lady: No parents?

She had beady eyes; pointy, coffee-stained teeth; a floppy denim hat, and a denim dress that bulged so much, she looked like a blue-jean blimp.

Annabeth: They're below. Scared of heights.

Old Lady: Oh, the poor darlings.

The Chihuahua growled. The dog had beady eyes like its owner, intelligent and vicious.

Old Lady: (to the dog) Now, now, sonny. Behave.

Theo: Is that his name? Sonny?

Old Lady: (smiles) No.

Well, that clears it up. NOT.

At the top of the Arch, the observation deck reminded me of a tin can with carpeting. Rows of tiny

windows looked out over the city on one side and the river on the other. The view was good, but I couldn't shake this bad feeling I had ever since I got in the elevator.

Annabeth kept talking about structural supports, and how she would've made the windows bigger, and designed a see-through floor. She probably could've stayed up there for hours, but the park ranger announced that the observation deck would be closing in a few minutes.

I steered Grover, Percy, and Annabeth toward the exit, loaded them into the elevator, and I was about to get in myself when I realized there were already two other tourists inside. No room for me or Percy.

Park Ranger: Next car, sir.

Annabeth: We'll get out. We'll wait with you.

Theo: No, it's fine. We'll see you at the bottom.

Grover and Annabeth both looked nervous, but they let the elevator door slide shut. Their car disappeared down the ramp.

Now the only people left on the observation deck were me, a little boy with his parents, the park ranger, and the fat lady with her Chihuahua.

Theo: (to the old lady) Wassup?

I gave her an awkward smile. She smiled back, her forked tongue flickering between her teeth.

Hold up, forked tongue?

Before I could question it, her Chihuahua jumped down and started yapping at me and Percy.

Old Lady: (to the dog) Now, now, sonny. Does this look like a good time? We have all these nice people here.

The Chihuahua bared its teeth at us.

Old Lady: Well, son. If you insist.

Percy: Um, did you just call that Chihuahua your son?

Old Lady: Chimera, dear. Not a Chihuahua. It's an easy mistake to make.

She rolled up her denim sleeves, revealing that the skin of her arms was scaly and green. When she smiled, I saw that her teeth were fangs. The pupils of her eyes were sideways slits, like a reptile's.

The Chihuahua barked louder, and with each bark, it grew. First to the size of a Doberman, then to a lion. The bark became a roar.

Theo: Oh, shit.

The little boy screamed. His parents pulled him back toward the exit, straight into the park ranger, who stood, paralyzed, gaping at the monster.

The Chimera was now so tall its back rubbed against the roof. It had the head of a lion with a bloodcaked mane, the body and hooves of a giant goat, and a serpent for a tail, a ten-foot-long diamondback growing right out of its shaggy behind. The rhinestone dog collar still hung around its neck, and the plate-sized dog tag was now easy to read: CHIMERA—RABID, FIRE-BREATHING, POISONOUS— IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS—EXT. 954.

Percy and I were ten feet away from the Chimera's bloody maw, and I knew that as soon as either of us moved, the creature would lunge.

Echidna: Be honored, Percy Jackson and Theodore Miller. Lord Zeus rarely allows me to test a hero with one of my brood. For I am the Mother of Monsters, the terrible Echidna!

Sometimes, I hate being right.

Percy: Isn't that a kind of anteater?

She howled, her reptilian face turning brown and green with rage.

Echidna: I hate it when people say that! I hate Australia! Naming that ridiculous animal after me. For that, Percy Jackson, my son shall destroy you!

The Chimera charged, its lion teeth gnashing. Percy and I managed to leap aside and dodge the bite.

We ended up next to the family and the park ranger, who were all screaming now, trying to pry open the emergency exit doors.

Theo: (to Percy) YOU HAD TO OPEN YOUR BIG MOUTH, DIDN'T YOU?!

Percy: Give me smack about it later! We gotta help these people.

I looked at the park ranger and the family, then at the Chimera.

Theo: Fine.

I took out my flashlight and made it formed into the sword while Percy uncapped Riptide. We ran to the other side of the deck, and got the Chimera's attention.

Percy: HEY, CHIHUAHUA!

The Chimera turned faster than I would've thought possible. Before we could even react, Before I could swing my sword, it opened its mouth, emitting a stench like the world's largest barbecue pit, and shot a column of flame straight at me.

Theo: SHIT!

Percy and I jumped in separate directions to avoid the explosion. The carpet burst into flames; the heat was so intense, it nearly seared off my eyebrows.

Where we had been standing a moment before was a ragged hole in the side of the Arch, with melted metal steaming around the edges.

as the Chimera turned towards Percy, he slashed at its neck. But the blade sparked harmlessly off the dog collar. He tried to regain his balance, but its serpent tail whipped around and sank its fangs into Percy's calf.

Percy tried to jab Riptide into the Chimera's mouth, but the serpent tail wrapped around his ankles and pulled his off balance, and his blade flew out of my hand, spinning out of the hole in the Arch and down toward the Mississippi River.

I charged at the Chimera while it looked at Percy, sword in hand. But it saw me coming and used its serpent tail to smack me all the way to the other side of the deck.

I hit my head really hard on the floor, and everything went blurry. All the noises became muffled as if there was a water barrier.

I could barely see the Chimera standing above Percy, who backed up to the hole, and the Echidna next to it.

I could hear the Echidna speaking, but I couldn't hear what she was saying.

Then just as my vision cleared and my hearing became normal again, the Chimera launched another column of fire towards Percy just as he fell out of the hole.

Theo: PERCY!

The Echidna and the Chimera turned around and faced me. I felt my bow form in my left hand and my fanny pack turn into the quiver just as the Chimera started walking to me.

I took an arrow out of the quiver and nocked it to the arrow just as the Chimera stopped just nine feet in front of me. I pulled back the arrow, but I saw my right forearm and the arrow glowing a bright silver, like moonlight.

I didn't know what that is, but I couldn't wonder. The Chimera opened its mouth to fry me into a crisp. I didn't know what made me do it, but I yelled out a single word in Ancient Greek.

Theo: SELAS!

I released the glowing arrow, which got into the Chimera's mouth. A bunch of silver sparks appeared right where the arrow hit as a powerful concussive blast came that sent the Chimera flying back a dozen feet, then landing harshly on the ground.

I stared at my hand in disbelief. Where did that come from?

I looked back at the Chimera, which was getting up slowly, heavily disoriented. I took that as my chance to attack.

I put the bow on my back, took out my sword, then charged at it. The Chimera faced me, but I used my flying shoes to go over it. I saw its serpent tail raised, so I sliced it clean off.

The Chimera howled in pain and the Echidna screamed.

Echidna: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!

I ignored the Echidna as I flew over the Chimera again, this time landing on its head. I thrust my sword downward through the top of its skull and into its brain. The Chimera yelped before slowly falling limp.

Echidna: NO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

I pulled out my sword and got off the dead Chimera just as the Echidna lunged at me. I decapitated her right before she reached my throat.

The Chimera and Echidna's bodies turned to dust, only leaving its serpent tail and head.

I picked up the serpent tail, which was limp, before turning to the Echidna head.

Theo: Not so tough without a body now, are ya?!

I ran up and kicked the head out of the hole. I saw it fly off at least 40 yards before disappearing from my line of sight.

I looked at the emergency exit and saw that it was open. I guess the park ranger and the family got out okay.

Theo: (gasps) Percy.

I ran to the edge of the hole and looked down. I saw the river directly below the Arch.

There was no way Percy could've survived a 600-foot drop, even if he landed in the water. He might as well have landed on concrete. But I hope that being the son of Poseidon, he might survive.

I ended up using my flying shoes and flew out of the hole and slowly descended towards the earth below.

Theo: (mutters) Please be okay, Percy.

After a while, I landed in an alleyway a block away from the Arch, every emergency vehicle in St. Louis was surrounding the Arch. Police helicopters circled overhead.

I turned my sword back to the flashlight, my bow to the bracelet, my quiver to the fanny pack, then ran out of alleyway and toward the Arch.

I manage to get close the police perimeter to get close, then I heard a reporter talking about what happened, and Percy "going wild, setting off the explosion."

Great. Percy is a terrorist now.

???: THEO!

I turned to the right and saw Annabeth and Grover running towards me. Annabeth and Grover hugged me tightly, then we separated a few seconds later.

Annabeth: Thank the gods. Are you okay?

Theo: I...Yeah, I think so.

Grover: Where's Percy?

A lump formed in my throat. How was I supposed to tell them Percy was dead?

Grover then looked over my shoulder, and his eyes widened as he ran past me. Annabeth and I turned around and saw where Grover was going.

Percy was standing there, alive and well, without a scratch on him.

I sighed in relief as Annabeth and I ran after Grover to meet Percy.

Grover: Perrr-cy!

Percy turned around just as Grover tackled him into a bear hug (or a goat hug, I guess)

Grover: We thought you'd gone to Hades the hard way!

Annabeth: We can't leave you alone for five minutes! What happened?

Percy: I sorta fell.

Theo: FROM 600 FEET! YOU'RE LUCKY YOU MADE IT OUT ALIVE!

Then the crowd parted, and a couple of paramedics hustled out, rolling a woman on a stretcher. I recognized her immediately as the mother of the little boy who'd been on the observation deck.

She was talking about the Chimera and how Percy and I jumped out of the Arch. The paramedics didn't believe her. Then she pointed me and Percy out.

Annabeth: What's going on? Was she talking about the Chihuahua on the elevator?

Percy and I told them the whole story of the Chimera, Echidna, Percy's leap of faith, my glowing arm and arrow thing, how I killed the Chimera and Echidna, and the message some underwater lady gave Percy when he was in the river.

Grover: Whoa. We've got to get you to Santa Monica! You can't ignore a summons from your dad. (turns to Theo) And you gotta figure out how you did that thing, cause that could be useful.

Then we heard a news reporter, and we froze when they mentioned me and Percy, saying that we caused the explosion. We ducked around the news van and slipped into an alley.

Theo: We gotta get the fuck out of town first.

Somehow, we made it back to the Amtrak station without getting spotted. We got on board the train just before it pulled out for Denver. The train trundled west as darkness fell, police lights still pulsing against the St. Louis skyline behind us.

Chapter Text

Denver, Colorado
Theo's POV

The next afternoon, June 14, seven days before the solstice, our train rolled into Denver. We hadn't eaten since the night before in the dining car, somewhere in Kansas. We haven't even showered yet.

Annabeth: Let's try to contact Chiron. I want to tell him about your talk with the river spirit and your ability.

Theo: How are we supposed to do that? We can't use phones, remember?

Annabeth: I'm not talking about phones.

We wandered through downtown for about half an hour, though I wasn't sure what Annabeth was looking for. The air was dry and hot, which felt weird after the humidity of St. Louis. Everywhere we turned, the Rocky Mountains seemed to be staring at us, like a tidal wave about to crash into the city.

Finally, we found an empty do-it-yourself car wash. We veered toward the stall farthest from the street, keeping our eyes open for patrol cars. We were four adolescents hanging out at a car wash without a car; any cop worth his doughnuts would figure we were up to no good.

Grover took out a spray gun for some reason.

Percy: What exactly are we doing?

Grover: It's seventy-five cents. I've only got two quarters left. Annabeth?

Annabeth: Don't look at me. The dining car wiped me out.

Grover looked at me.

Theo: I got nothing. Sorry.

Percy fished out a quarter from his pocket and gave it to Grover.

Grover: Excellent. We could do it with a spray bottle, of course, but the connection isn't as good, and my arm gets tired of pumping.

Percy: What are you talking about?

Grover fed in the quarters and set the knob to FINE MIST.

Grover: I-M'ing

Percy: Instant messaging?

Annabeth: Iris-messaging. The rainbow goddess Iris carries messages for the gods. If you know how to ask, and she's not too busy, she'll do the same for half-bloods.

Theo: So your plan is to summon Iris...with a spray gun?

Grover pointed the nozzle in the air and water hissed out in a thick white mist.

Grover: Unless you know an easier way to make a rainbow.

Sure enough, late afternoon light filtered through the vapor and broke into colors, then Annabeth held her hand out to Percy.

Annabeth: Drachma, please.

Percy gave her a drachma, which she raised over her head.

Annabeth: O goddess, accept our offering.

She threw the drachma into the rainbow. It disappeared in a golden shimmer.

Annabeth: Half-Blood Hill.

At first, nothing happened. Then I was looking through the mist at strawberry fields, and the Long Island Sound in the distance. We seemed to be on the porch of the Big House. Standing with his back to us at the railing was a sandy-haired guy in shorts and an orange tank top. He was holding a bronze sword and seemed to be staring intently at something down in the meadow.

Percy & Theo: Luke!

He turned, eyes wide. I could swear he was standing three feet in front of me through a screen of mist, except I could only see the part of him that appeared in the rainbow.

Luke: (grins) Percy! Theo! Is that Annabeth, too? Thank the gods! Are you guys okay?

Annabeth started straightening her T-shirt and trying to comb the loose hair out of her face. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. She's trying way too hard for a guy who's at least 7 years older than her.

Annabeth: We're...uh...fine. We thought—Chiron—I mean—

Luke's smile faded.

Luke: He's down at the cabins. We're having some issues with the campers. Listen, is everything cool with you? Is Grover all right?

Grover: I'm right here.

He held the nozzle out to one side and stepped into Luke's line of vision.

Grover: What kind of issues?

Just then a big Lincoln Continental pulled into the car wash with its stereo turned to maximum volume. 2Pac's California Love was playing so loud from the subwoofer that the bass was shaking the pavement.

Luke: Chiron had to—what's that noise?

Theo: (shouts) 2Pac!

Annabeth: (shouts) I'll take care of it! (turns to Grover) Grover, come on!

Grover: (shouts) What? But—

Annabeth: (shouts) Give Percy the nozzle and come on!

Grover muttered something about girls being harder to understand than the Oracle at Delphi, then he handed Percy the spray gun and followed Annabeth.

I stood next to Percy as he readjusted the hose so that he could keep the rainbow going.

Luke: Chiron had to break up a fight. Things are pretty tense here, guys. Word leaked out about the Zeus–Poseidon standoff. We're still not sure how—probably the same scumbag who summoned the hellhound. Now the campers are starting to take sides. It's shaping up like the Trojan War all over again. Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo are backing Poseidon, more or less. Athena is backing Zeus.

Percy shuddered.

In the next stall, I heard Annabeth and some guy arguing with each other, then the music's volume decreased drastically.

Luke: So what's your status? Chiron will be sorry he missed you.

We told him everything, including Percy's dream and my ability. We didn't realize how long we've been talking for until the beeper went off on the spray machine, meaning only had one more minute before the water shut off.

Luke: I wish I could be there. We can't help much from here, I'm afraid, but listen...it had to be Hades who took the master bolt. He was there at Olympus at the winter solstice. I was chaperoning a field trip and we saw him.

Theo: But didn't Chiron say that the gods can't take each other's magic items directly?

Luke: That's true. Still . . . Hades has the helm of darkness. How could anybody else sneak into the throne room and steal the master bolt? You'd have to be invisible.

All three of us were silent until Luke realized what he had just said.

Luke: Oh, hey, I didn't mean Annabeth. She and I have known each other forever. She would never . . . I mean, she's like a little sister to me.

I don't think that's how she sees it.

In the stall next to us, the music stopped completely. A man screamed in terror, car doors slammed, and the Lincoln peeled out of the car wash. I snickered at the thought of a 12-year-old girl scaring a grown man with a bronze knife.

Luke: You'd better go see what that was. Listen, are you wearing the flying shoes? I'll feel better if I know they've done you some good.

Percy: Oh...uh, yeah! Yeah, they've come in handy.

I nodded, basically confirming Percy's flat-out lie.

Luke: (grins) Really? They fit and everything?

The water shut off. The mist started to evaporate.

Luke: Well, take care of yourself out there in Denver. And tell Grover it'll be better this time! Nobody will get turned into a pine tree if he just—

But the mist was gone, and Luke's image faded to nothing. It was just me and Percy alone in a wet, empty car wash stall.

Percy: Why would he want us to tell that to Grover?

I shrugged, not knowing for sure. But I did have a slight idea.

Annabeth and Grover came around the corner, laughing, but stopped when they saw our faces. Annabeth's smile faded.

Annabeth: What happened, Percy, Theo? What did Luke say?

Percy: Not much. Come on, let's find some dinner.

A few minutes later, we were sitting at a booth in a gleaming chrome diner. All around us, families were eating burgers and drinking malts and sodas. In a booth of our own, Grover and Percy were sitting on one side of the table, while Annabeth and I sat on the other.

Then the waitress arrived.

Waitress: Well?

Percy: We, uh, want to order dinner.

Waitress: You kids have money to pay for it?

Oh, shit. We didn't have any money. It was destroyed on the bus back in New York, and whatever we had left from Medusa's office we used in the car wash.

Just before any of us could say anything, a rumble shook the building. A custom Harley Davidson motorcycle had pulled up to the curb.

All conversation in the diner stopped. The motorcycle's headlight glared red. Its gas tank had flames painted on it, and a shotgun holster riveted to either side, complete with shotguns. The seat was leather—but leather that looked like . . . well, Caucasian human skin.

The guy on the bike would've made pro wrestlers run for their mothers. He was dressed in a red muscle shirt and black jeans and a black leather duster, with a hunting knife strapped to his thigh. He wore red wraparound shades, and he had the cruelest, most brutal face I'd ever seen— handsome, I guess, but wicked—with an oily black crew cut and cheeks that were scarred from many, many fights.

As he walked into the diner, a hot, dry wind blew through the place. All the people rose, as if they were hypnotized, but the biker waved his hand dismissively and they all sat down again. Everybody went back to their conversations.

The waitress blinked, then turned back to us.

Waitress: You kids have money to pay for it?

Biker: It's on me.

He slid into the booth, which was way to small for him, and crowded me and Annabeth against the window. I glanced at Annabeth, and felt heat rise to my cheeks.

Wait, what?

Biker: (to the waitress) Are you still here?

He pointed at her, and she stiffened. She turned as if she'd been spun around, then marched back toward the kitchen.

I couldn't see his eyes behind the red shades, but bad feelings started boiling in my stomach. Anger, resentment, bitterness. I wanted to hit a wall. I wanted to pick a fight with somebody. Who the fuck did this guy think he was?

The biker looked at Percy and grinned.

Biker: So you're old Seaweed's kid, huh? (turns to Theo) And you're Little Miss Maiden's?

Percy: What's it to you?

Annabeth: Percy, this is—

Biker: (raises his hand) S'okay. I don't mind a little attitude. Long as you remember who's the boss. You know who I am, little cousin?

I took a good look at his face and saw that he had the same vicious sneer as some of the kids at Camp Half-Blood. Specifically, the ones from cabin 5. And Percy came to the same conclusion.

Percy: You're Clarisse's dad. Ares, the god of war.

Ares grinned and took off his shades. Where his eyes should've been, there was only fire, empty sockets glowing with miniature nuclear explosions.

Ares: That's right, punk. I heard you broke Clarisse's spear. (turns to Theo) And you shot her in the ass.

Theo: (smirks) She had it coming.

Ares: Probably. That's cool. I don't fight my kids' fights, you know? What I'm here for—I heard you were in town. I got a little proposition for you.

The waitress came back with heaping trays of food— cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, and chocolate shakes.

Ares handed her a few golden drachmas, which she looked at nervously.

Waitress: But these aren't...

Ares pulled out a large knife and used it to clean his fingernails.

Ares: Problem, sweetheart?

The waitress swallowed, then left with the gold.

Percy: You can't do that. You can't just threaten people with a knife.

Ares: (laughs) Are you kidding? I love this country. Best place since Sparta. Don't you carry a weapon, punk? You should. Dangerous world out there. Which brings me to my proposition. I need you to do me a favor.

Percy: What favor could I do for a god?

Ares: Something a god doesn't have time to do himself. It's nothing much. I left my shield at an abandoned water park here in town. I was going on a little...date with my girlfriend. We were interrupted. I left my shield behind. I want you to fetch it for me.

Theo: If you're so macho, why not get it yourself?

The fire in his eye sockets glowed a little hotter as he looked at me.

Ares: Why don't I turn you into prairie dog and run you over with my Harley? Because I don't feel like it.

I rolled my eyes, and Ares scoffed as he turned his attention back to Percy.

Ares: A god is giving you an opportunity to prove yourself, Percy Jackson. Will you prove yourself a coward? Or maybe you only fight when there's a river to dive into, so your daddy can protect you.

Percy looked pissed off, and quite frankly, so was I. But I knew that it was just Ares' power causing it, so a fight wouldn't be worth starting.

Percy: We're not interested. We've already got a quest.

Ares: I know all about your quest, punk. When that item was first stolen, Zeus sent his best out looking for it: Apollo, Athena, Artemis, and me, naturally. If I couldn't sniff out a weapon that powerful...if I couldn't find it, you got no hope. Nevertheless, I'm trying to give you the benefit of the doubt. Your dad and I go way back. After all, I'm the one who told him my suspicions about old Corpse Breath.

Percy: You told him Hades stole the bolt?

Ares: Sure. Framing somebody to start a war. Oldest trick in the book. I recognized it immediately. In a way, you got me to thank for your little quest.

Percy: (sarcastically) Thanks.

Ares: Hey, I'm a generous guy. Just do my little job, and I'll help you on your way. I'll arrange a ride west for you and your friends.

Percy: We're doing fine on our own.

Ares: Yeah, right. No money. No wheels. No clue what you're up against. Help me out, and maybe I'll tell you something you need to know. Something about your mom.

Percy: My mom?

Ares: (grins) That got your attention. The water park is a mile west on Delancy. You can't miss it. Look for the Tunnel of Love ride.

Percy: What interrupted your date? Something scare you off?

Ares bared his teeth, but I'd seen his threatening look before on Clarisse. There was something false about it, almost like he was nervous.

Ares: You're lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other Olympians. They're not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. I'll meet you back here when you're done. Don't disappoint me.

Then literally, in the blink of an eye, Ares was gone.

Grover: Not good. Ares sought you out, Percy. This is not good.

I looked out the window and saw that the motorcycle had disappeared.

Theo: If Ares wants his shit back, he's gonna have to grow a pair and get it himself. Let's just go.

Percy: I agree. Forget Ares.

Annabeth: We can't. Look, I hate Ares as much as anybody, but you don't ignore the gods unless you want serious bad fortune. He wasn't kidding about turning you into a rodent.

Percy: (looks down at his cheeseburger) But why does he need us?

Annabeth: Maybe it's a problem that requires brains. Ares has strength. That's all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes.

Theo: But what does a water park have that could scare off THE god of war?

Annabeth and Grover glanced at each other nervously.

Annabeth: I'm afraid we'll have to find out.

Timeskip

The sun was sinking behind the mountains by the time we found the water park. Judging from the sign, it once had been called WATERLAND, but now some of the letters were smashed out, so it read WAT  R  A  D.

The main gate was padlocked and topped with barbed wire. Inside, huge dry waterslides and tubes and pipes curled everywhere, leading to empty pools. Old tickets and advertisements fluttered around the asphalt. With night coming on, the place looked sad and creepy.

Percy: If Ares brings his girlfriend here for a date, I'd hate to see what she looks like.

Annabeth: Percy, be more respectful.

Percy: Why? I thought you hated Ares.

Annabeth: He's still a god. And his girlfriend is very temperamental.

Grover: You don't want to insult her looks.

Percy: Who is she? Echidna?

Grover: (dreamily) No, Aphrodite.

Annabeth: Goddess of love.

Percy: I thought she was married to somebody. Hephaestus, right?

Theo: Yeah. And?

Percy: (realizes) Oh. So how do we get in?

Grover: Maia!

Grover's shoes sprouted wings. He flew over the fence, did an unintended somersault in midair, then stumbled to a landing on the opposite side. He dusted off his jeans, as if he'd planned the whole thing.

I rolled my eyes and had my shoes sprout their wings. I flew over the fence and landed gracefully on my feet on the other side.

I smirked at Grover, who rolled his eyes.

Theo: (to Annabeth and Percy) You guys coming or not?

Annabeth and Percy had to climb the fence the old-fashioned way, holding down the barbed wire for each other as they crawled over the top.

The shadows grew long as we walked through the park, checking out the attractions. There was Ankle Biter Island, Head Over Wedgie, and Dude, Where's My Swimsuit?

No monsters, no noises whatsoever.

We found a souvenir shop that had been left open. Merchandise still lined the shelves: snow globes, pencils, postcards, and racks of—

Annabeth: Clothes. Fresh clothes.

Percy: Yeah, but you can't just—

Annabeth: Watch me.

She snatched an entire row of stuff off the racks and disappeared into the changing room. A few minutes later she came out in Waterland flower-print shorts, a big red Waterland T-shirt, and commemorative Waterland surf shoes. A Waterland backpack was slung over her shoulder, obviously stuffed with more goodies.

Grover: (shrugged) What the heck.
Theo: Ah, screw it.

Soon, all four of us were decked out like walking advertisements for the defunct theme park.

We continued searching for the Tunnel of Love. The park was too quiet for my liking.

Percy: So Ares and Aphrodite, they have a thing going?

Annabeth: That's old gossip, Percy. Three-thousand-year-old gossip.

Percy: What about Aphrodite's husband?

Annabeth: Well, you know...Hephaestus. The blacksmith. He was crippled when he was a baby, thrown off Mount Olympus by Zeus. So he isn't exactly handsome. Clever with his hands, and all, but Aphrodite isn't into brains and talent, you know?

Theo: So she's into bikers?

Annabeth: Whatever.

Percy: Hephaestus knows?

Annabeth: Oh sure. He caught them together once. I mean, literally caught them, in a golden net, and invited all the gods to come and laugh at them. Hephaestus is always trying to embarrass them. That's why they meet in out-of-the-way places, like... (stops walking) Like that.

In front of us was an empty pool that would've been awesome for skateboarding. It was at least fifty yards across and shaped like a bowl. Around the rim, a dozen bronze statues of Cupid stood guard with wings spread and bows ready to fire. On the opposite side from us, a tunnel opened up, probably where the water flowed into when the pool was full. The sign above it read, THRILL RIDE O' LOVE: THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS' TUNNEL OF LOVE!

Grover: Guys, look.

Marooned at the bottom of the pool was a pink and-white two-seater boat with a canopy over the top and little hearts painted all over it. In the left seat, glinting in the fading light, was Ares's shield, a polished circle of bronze.

Theo: This is way too easy. What, we just...waltz in there and grab it?

Annabeth ran her fingers along the base of the nearest Cupid statue.

Annabeth: There's a Greek letter carved here. Eta. I wonder...

Percy: Grover, smell any monsters?

Grover: (sniffs) Nothing.

Percy: Nothing—like, in-the-Arch-and-you-didn't-smell-Echidna nothing, or really nothing?

Grover: I told you, that was underground.

Percy: Okay, I'm sorry.

I looked at the boat in the pool.

Theo: I'm going down there.

Grover: I'm coming with you.

Theo: No. You stay here. Just in case something goes wrong, I'll need you for backup. (turns to Percy) Same goes to you, Percy.

Grover puffed his chest a little.

Grover: Sure. But what could go wrong?

Theo: I don't know. Could be anything with our shitty luck. (turns to Annabeth) Annabeth, you're with—

Annabeth: (blushes) Are you kidding me?

Theo: What?

Annabeth: Me, go with you to the...the 'Thrill Ride of Love'? How embarrassing is that? What if somebody saw me?

I started blushing as well.

Theo: (blushes) Who, the rats?

Annabeth shook her head, still blushing.

Theo: (rolls his eyes) Fine. I'll do it myself.

I started going down the side of the pool. Then Annabeth followed me, muttering about how boys always messed things up.

We reached the boat. The shield was propped on one seat, and next to it was a lady's silk scarf. I tried to imagine Ares and Aphrodite here, a couple of gods meeting in a junked-out amusement-park ride. Why? Then I noticed something I hadn't seen from up top: mirrors all the way around the rim of the pool, facing this spot. We could see ourselves no matter which direction we looked. This must be why they came here. They sure loved their own company.

I picked up the scarf. It shimmered pink, and the perfume was indescribable—rose, or mountain laurel. Something good. I smiled, a little dreamy, and was about to rub the scarf against my cheek when Annabeth ripped it out of my hand and stuffed it in her pocket.

Annabeth: Oh, no you don't. Stay away from that love magic.

Theo: What?

Annabeth: Just get the shield, Pinhead, and let's get out of here.

I rolled my eyes and reached for the shield, and it was at this moment that I knew...I fucked up.

The moment I touched the shield, I knew we were in trouble. My hand broke through something that had been connecting it to the dashboard. A cobweb, I thought, but then I looked at a strand of it on my palm and saw it was some kind of metal filament, so fine it was almost invisible. A trip wire.

Annabeth: Wait.

Theo: A little bit late for that.

Annabeth: There's another Greek letter on the side of the boat, another Eta. This is a trap.

Noise erupted all around us, of a million gears grinding, as if the whole pool were turning into one giant machine.

Grover: Guys!

Up on the rim, the Cupid statues were drawing their bows into firing position. Before I could suggest taking cover, they shot, but not at us. They fired at each other, across the rim of the pool. Silky cables trailed from the arrows, arcing over the pool and anchoring where they landed to form a huge golden asterisk. Then smaller metallic threads started weaving together magically between the main strands, making a net.

Theo: Time to go.

Annabeth: You think?!

I grabbed the shield and we ran, but going up the slope of the pool was not as easy as going down.

Percy: Come on!

He and Grover were trying to hold open a section of the net for us, but wherever one of them touched it, the golden threads started to wrap around their hands.

The Cupids' heads popped open. Out came video cameras. Spotlights rose up all around the pool, blinding us with illumination, and a voice boomed from the loudspeaker.

Voice: Live to Olympus in one minute . . .59 seconds, 58...

Annabeth: Hephaestus! I'm so stupid! Eta is 'H.' He made this trap to catch his wife with Ares. Now we're going to be broadcast live to Olympus and look like absolute fools!

Theo: I guess we're both stupid, then! That letter is literally etched into my sword!

We'd almost made it to the rim when the row of mirrors opened like hatches and thousands of tiny metallic . . . things poured out.

Annabeth screamed.

It was an army of wind-up spiders: bronze-gear bodies, spindly legs, little pincer mouths, all scuttling toward us in a wave of clacking, whirring metal.

Annabeth: Spiders! Sp—sp—aaaah!

She fell backward in terror and almost got overwhelmed by the spider robots before I pulled her up and dragged her back toward the boat.

The things were coming out from all around the rim now, millions of them, flooding toward the center of the pool, completely surrounding us. I told myself they probably weren't programmed to kill, just corral us and bite us and make us look stupid. Then again, this was a trap meant for gods. And we weren't fucking gods.

Annabeth and I climbed into the boat. I started kicking away the spiders as they swarmed aboard. I yelled at Annabeth to help me, but she was too paralyzed to do much more than scream.

Voice: 30, 29...

The spiders started spitting out strands of metal thread, trying to tie us down. The strands were easy enough to break at first, but there were so many of them, and the spiders just kept coming. I kicked one away from Annabeth's leg.

Grover hovered above the pool in his flying sneakers, trying to pull the net loose, but it wouldn't budge.

Come on, Theo. Think. There's gotta be something.

The Tunnel of Love entrance was under the net. We could use it as an exit, except that it was blocked by a million robot spiders.

Voice: 15, 14...

Wait, the water. It's gotta come from somewhere.

Then I saw them: huge water pipes behind the mirrors, where the spiders had come from. And up above the net, next to one of the Cupids, a glass-windowed booth that must be the controller's station.

Theo: Percy! Grover! Get into that booth! Find the 'on' switch!

Grover: But—

Theo: Just do it!

The spiders were all over the prow of the boat now. Annabeth was screaming her head off. I had to get us out of there.

Grover and Percy were in the controller's booth now, slamming away at the buttons.

Voice: 5, 4...

Grover and Percy looked up at me hopelessly, raising their hands. They were letting me know that they'd pushed every button, but still nothing was happening.

Theo: Oh, for the love of...PERCY JACKSON, YOU'RE THE SON OF A WATER GOD! DO SOMETHING WITH IT!

Percy: What do you...Ohhh.

Percy closed his eyes.

Voice: 2, 1, 0!

Water exploded out of the pipes. It roared into the pool, sweeping away the spiders. I pulled Annabeth into the seat next to me and fastened her seat belt just as the tidal wave slammed into our boat, over the top, whisking the spiders away and dousing us completely, but not capsizing us. The boat turned, lifted in the flood, and spun in circles around the whirlpool.

I strapped myself into one of the seats, then strapped Annabeth to the other.

The water was full of short-circuiting spiders, some of them smashing against the pool's concrete wall with such force they burst.

Spotlights glared down at us. The Cupid-cams were rolling, live to Olympus.

We spun around one last time, the water level now almost high enough to shred us against the metal net. Then the boat's nose turned toward the tunnel and we rocketed through into the darkness.

Annabeth and I held tight, both of us screaming as the boat shot curls and hugged corners and took forty-five-degree plunges past pictures of Romeo and Juliet and a bunch of other Valentine's Day stuff. Then we were out of the tunnel, the night air whistling through our hair as the boat barreled straight toward the exit.

If the ride had been in working order, we would've sailed off a ramp between the golden Gates of Love and splashed down safely in the exit pool. But there was a problem. The Gates of Love were chained. Two boats that had been washed out of the tunnel before us were now piled against the barricade—one submerged, the other cracked in half.

Well, shit.

Theo: Unfasten your seatbelt!

Annabeth: Are you crazy?!

Theo: Do you wanna get smashed to pieces?!

I didn't wait for an answer as I strapped Ares's shield to my arm.

Theo: We're gonna have to jump.

My idea was simple and insane. As the boat struck, we would use its force like a springboard to jump the gate. It was risky, but I hope it works.

Annabeth seemed to understand. She gripped my hand as the gates got closer.

Theo: On my mark!

Annabeth: No!

Theo: What?! Why?!

Annabeth: Simple physics! Force times the trajectory angle—

Theo: Fine! On your mark!

She hesitated for a few seconds, and then.

Annabeth: NOW!

We jumped just as the boat made an impact.

CRACK!

She was right. If we'd jumped when I thought we should've, we would've crashed into the gates. She got us maximum lift.

Unfortunately, it was too much lift.

Our boat smashed into the pileup and we were thrown into the air, straight over the gates, over the pool, and down toward solid asphalt.

I immediately activated my flying shoes to try and stop us from falling. However, we were still falling, just slower.

I guess Annabeth must've shifted our center of mass.

We were headed straight for a photo booth, so I pulled Annabeth to my chest and twisted my body to shield her from the impact as much as I could.

Annabeth held onto my shirt tightly as we descended.

Theo: HANG ON!

We smashed into a photo-board. We broke it in half as we tumbled on the ground. I made sure I took most of the impact until we stopped tumbling.

Annabeth only got a couple of scratches, but I think I broke a rib. Or two. Or seven. But at least we're alive and we have Ares' fucking shield.

Annabeth lifted her head from my chest, and we looked into each other's eyes.

Theo: (groans) You okay?

Annabeth: I should be asking you that question.

Theo: It's nothing.

Annabeth got up to her feet, then reached her hand out to me. I grabbed her hand and she pulled me up.

Annabeth: Thank you.

Theo: (smiles softly) Don't mention it.

Then Grover and Percy ran to us, and they sighed in relief when they saw that we were okay.

I looked back at the Thrill Ride of Love. The water was subsiding. Our boat had been smashed to pieces against the gates. A hundred yards away, at the entrance pool, the Cupids were still filming. The statues had swiveled so that their cameras were trained straight on us, the spotlights in our faces.

Theo: In case I don't see ya...good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

I bowed down, ignoring the pain in my chest, as the Cupids turned back to their original positions. The lights shut off. The park went quiet and dark again, except for the gentle trickle of water into the Thrill Ride of Love's exit pool.

Our ratings better be good after this shitshow.

I looked Percy, who looked pissed off.

Percy:  We need to have a little talk with Ares.

Theo: Right. Before we do, though...Does anyone have any nectar and ambrosia? I think I might've broken a few ribs.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

After giving Theo some ambrosia for his ribs, we left the water park and went back to the diner. We saw the god of war waiting for us in the parking lot.

Ares: Well, well. You didn't get yourself killed.

Percy: You knew it was a trap.

Ares: (grins) Bet that crippled blacksmith was surprised when he netted a couple of stupid kids. (turns to Theo) You looked good on TV.

Theo unstraps the shield from his arm and shoves it into Ares' chest.

Theo: Here's your fucking frisbee, asshole.

Annabeth and Grover held their breaths.

Ares grabbed the shield and spun it in the air like pizza dough. It changed form, melting into a bulletproof vest. He slung it across his back.

Ares: See that truck over there?

He pointed to an eighteen-wheeler parked across the street from the diner.

Ares: That's your ride. Take you straight to L.A., with one stop in Vegas.

The eighteen-wheeler had a sign on the back, which I could read only because it was reverse-printed white on black, a good combination for dyslexia: KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS.

Percy: You're kidding.

Ares snapped his fingers. The back door of the truck unlatched.

Ares: Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here's a little something for doing the job.

He slung a blue nylon backpack off his handlebars and tossed it to me. Inside were fresh clothes for all of us, twenty bucks in cash, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of Double Stuf Oreos.

Percy: We don't want your lousy fu—

Grover: Thank you, Lord Ares. Thanks a lot.

I gritted my teeth. It was probably a deadly insult to refuse something from a god, but I didn't want anything that Ares had touched. Reluctantly, I slung the backpack over my shoulder. I knew my anger was being caused by the war god's presence, but I was still itching to punch him in the nose. He reminded me of every bully I'd ever faced: Nancy Bobofit, Clarisse, Smelly Gabe, sarcastic teachers— every jerk who'd called me stupid in school or laughed at me when I'd gotten expelled.

I looked back at the diner, which had only a couple of customers now. The waitress who'd served us dinner was watching nervously out the window like she was afraid Ares might hurt us. She dragged the fry cookout from the kitchen to see. She said something to him. He nodded, held up a little disposable camera and snapped a picture of us.

Great. We'll make the papers again tomorrow.

I imagined the headline: TWELVE-YEAR-OLD OUTLAW BEATS UP DEFENSELESS BIKER.

Theo: (to Ares) You forgetting something, prick?

Ares looked at Theo with a look that could kill, but Theo remained unfazed.

Theo: You promised Percy some information about his mother.

Ares snarled at Theo, then he looked at me.

Ares: You sure you can handle the news?

He kick-started his motorcycle.

Ares: She's not dead.

Percy: What do you mean?

Ares: I mean she was taken away from the Minotaur before she could die. She was turned into a shower of gold, right? That's metamorphosis. Not death. She's being kept.

Percy: Kept? Why?

Ares: You need to study war, punk. Hostages. You take somebody to control somebody else.

Percy: Nobody's controlling me.

Ares: (laughs) You sure about that? See you around, kid.

Theo: You sure talk a big game for a guy scared of Cupid statues.

Behind his sunglasses, fire glowed. I felt a hot wind in my hair.

Ares: We'll meet again, Percy Jackson, Theodore Miller. Next time you're in a fight, watch your back.

He revved his Harley, then roared off down Delancy Street. The second Ares left, Theo flipped his middle finger at him just before Annabeth lowered his arm.

Annabeth: Percy, Theo, that was not very smart.

Percy & Theo: Don't care.

Annabeth: You don't want a god as your enemy. Especially not that god.

Grover: Hey, guys, I hate to interrupt, but...

He pointed toward the diner. At the register, the last two customers were paying their check, two men in identical black coveralls, with a white logo on their backs that matched the one on the KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL truck.

Grover: If we're taking the zoo express, we need to hurry.

I didn't like it, but we had no better option. Besides, I'd seen enough of Denver.

We ran across the street and climbed in the back of the big rig, closing the doors behind us.

The first thing that hit me was the smell. It was like the world's biggest pan of kitty litter.

The trailer was dark inside until I uncapped Anaklusmos. The blade cast a faint bronze light over a very sad scene. Sitting in a row of filthy metal cages were three of the most pathetic zoo animals I'd ever beheld: a zebra, a male albino lion, and some weird antelope thing I didn't know the name for.

Someone had thrown the lion a sack of turnips, which he obviously didn't want to eat. The zebra and the antelope had each gotten a Styrofoam tray of hamburger meat. The zebra's mane was matted with chewing gum, like somebody had been spitting on it in their spare time. The antelope had a stupid silver birthday balloon tied to one of his horns that read OVER THE HILL!

Apparently, nobody had wanted to get close enough to the lion to mess with him, but the poor thing was pacing around on soiled blankets, in a space way too small for him, panting from the stuffy heat of the trailer. He had flies buzzing around his pink eyes and his ribs showed through his white fur.

Theo: What the fuck?!

Grover: This is kindness?! Humane zoo transport?!

He and Theo probably would've gone right back outside to beat up the truckers with his reed pipes and shield, and I would've helped them, but just then the truck's engine roared to life, the trailer started shaking, and we were forced to sit down or fall down.

We huddled in the corner on some mildewed feed sacks, trying to ignore the smell and the heat and the flies. Grover talked to the animals in a series of goat bleats, but they just stared at him sadly. Annabeth was in favor of breaking the cages and freeing them on the spot, while Theo wanted to throw the truckers out of the truck and steal it, but I pointed out that either option wouldn't do much good until the truck stopped moving. Besides, I had a feeling we might look a lot better to the lion than those turnips.

I found a water jug and refilled their bowls, while Theo used his sword to drag the mismatched food out of their cages. He gave the meat to the lion and the turnips to the zebra and the antelope.

Grover calmed the antelope down, while Annabeth used her knife to cut the balloon off his horn. She wanted to cut the gum out of the zebra's mane, too, but we decided that would be too risky with the truck bumping around. We told Grover to promise the animals we'd help them more in the morning, then we settled in for the night.

Theo's POV

Grover curled up on a turnip sack, while Percy laid on the other side of the trailer; Annabeth opened our bag of Double Stuf Oreos and nibbled on one halfheartedly; I tried to cheer myself up by concentrating on the fact that we were halfway to Los Angeles. Halfway to our destination. It was only June fourteenth. The solstice wasn't until the twenty-first. We were ahead of schedule.

Annabeth: Hey. I'm sorry for freaking out back at the water park, Theo.

Theo: It's fine.

Annabeth: It's just...(shudders) Spiders.

Theo: Because of Arachne, right? She got turned into a spider for challenging your mom to a weaving contest, if I remember.

Annabeth: (nods) Arachne's children have been taking revenge on the children of Athena ever since. If there's a spider within a mile of me, it'll find me. I hate the creepy little things. Anyway, I owe you.

Theo: You don't owe me anything. We're a team, remember?

Annabeth chuckled as she pulled apart an Oreo, handed me half.

Annabeth: In the Iris message...did Luke really say nothing?

Percy: Um...Luke said you and he go way back. He also said Grover wouldn't fail this time. Nobody would turn into a pine tree.

Grover: I should've told you the truth from the beginning. I thought if you knew what a failure I was, you wouldn't want me along.

Theo: You were the satyr who tried to rescue Thalia.

Despite the darkness that was only illuminated by Percy's sword, I could see Grover nodding glumly.

Theo: And the other two half-bloods that she befriended, the ones who managed to get to camp...(turns to Annabeth) That was you and Luke, wasn't it?

She put down her Oreo, uneaten.

Annabeth: Like you said, Theo, a seven-year-old half-blood wouldn't have made it very far alone. Athena guided me toward help. Thalia was twelve. Luke was fourteen. They'd both run away from home, like me. They were happy to take me with them. They were . . . amazing monster-fighters, even without training. We traveled north from Virginia without any real plans, fending off monsters for about two weeks before Grover found us.

Grover: I was supposed to escort Thalia to camp. Only Thalia. I had strict orders from Chiron: don't do anything that would slow down the rescue. We knew Hades was after her, see, but I couldn't just leave Luke and Annabeth by themselves. I thought . . . I thought I could lead all three of them to safety. It was my fault the Kindly Ones caught up with us. I froze. I got scared on the way back to camp and took some wrong turns. If I'd just been a little quicker...

Annabeth: Stop it. No one blames you. Thalia didn't blame you either.

Grover: She sacrificed herself to save us. Her death was my fault. The Council of Cloven Elders said so.

Percy: Because you wouldn't leave two other half-bloods behind? That's not fair.

Annabeth: Percy's right. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you, Grover. Neither would Luke. We don't care what the council says.

Grover: It's just my luck. I'm the lamest satyr ever, and I find the two most powerful half-bloods of the century, Thalia and Percy.

Annabeth: You're not lame. You've got more courage than any satyr I've ever met.

Grover: Not Eric.

Theo: You're right.

Annabeth gave me a look.

Theo: You're not Eric. And that's a good thing. It means you're your own person. Name one other who would dare go to the Underworld. I bet Percy is really glad you're here right now.

I picked up a pebble from the floor and threw it at Percy's head.

Percy: Yeah. It's not luck that you found Thalia and me, Grover. You've got the biggest heart of any satyr ever. You're a natural searcher. That's why you'll be the one who finds Pan.

I heard a deep, satisfied sigh. I waited for Grover to say something, but his breathing only got heavier. When the sound turned to snoring, I realized he'd fallen sleep.

Percy: How does he do that?

Annabeth: I don't know. But that was really a nice thing you guys told him.

Percy: I meant it.

Theo: Every word.

We rode in silence for a few miles, bumping around on the feed sacks. The zebra munched a turnip. The lion licked the last of the hamburger meat off his lips and looked at me hopefully.

I looked at Percy and saw that he had fallen asleep. I looked at Annabeth and saw that she rubbed her necklace like she was thinking deep, strategic thoughts.

Theo: That pine tree bead. That was from your first year, right?

Annabeth: Yeah. Every August, the counselors pick the most important event of the summer, and they paint it on that year's beads. I've got Thalia's pine tree, a Greek trireme on fire, a centaur in a prom dress—now that was a weird summer...

Theo: And the college ring...It's your dad's, isn't it?

Annabeth: That's none of your— (sighs) Yeah. Yeah, it is.

Theo: You don't have to tell me.

Annabeth: No...it's okay. My dad sent it to me folded up in a letter, two summers ago. The ring was, like, his main keepsake from Athena. He wouldn't have gotten through his doctoral program at Harvard without her...That's a long story. Anyway, he said he wanted me to have it. He apologized for being a jerk, said he loved me and missed me. He wanted me to come home and live with him.

Theo: That doesn't sound so bad.

Annabeth: Yeah, well . . . the problem was, I believed him. I tried to go home for that school year, but my stepmom was the same as ever. She didn't want her kids put in danger by living with a freak. Monsters attacked. We argued. Monsters attacked. We argued. I didn't even make it through winter break. I called Chiron and came right back to Camp Half-Blood.

Theo: You think you'll ever try living with your dad again?

Annabeth: Please. I'm not into self-inflicted pain.

Theo: You shouldn't give up. You should write him a letter or something.

Annabeth: Thanks for the advice, but my father's made his choice about who he wants to live with.

We passed another few miles of silence.

Theo: So if the gods fight, will things line up the way they did with the Trojan War? Athena versus Poseidon? If that's the case, what do you think Artemis would do? Who would she side with? I know she's close friends with both of them.

Annabeth rested her head on my shoulder.

Annabeth: don't know what my mom will do, or which side yours would be on. I just know I'll fight next to you.

Theo: Why?

Annabeth: Because you're my friend, Pinhead. Any other stupid questions?

Theo: (chuckles) Fair enough.

We both sat in silence. I took out my iPod and put one earphone in my left ear. I was about to put in the other, but then I looked at Annabeth.

Theo: You wanna listen to some music?

Annabeth looked at me, then nodded. I gave her the earphone, which she placed in her right ear, and I pressed play.

The first song that played was Michael Jackson's They Don't Care About Us.

(A/N: Play at 0:17)

Annabeth: (chuckles) Good choice.

Theo: (smirks) Yep. You could never do wrong with MJ.

Annabeth smiled and nodded in agreement as we listened to the song.

A few songs later, I heard Annabeth snoring softly. I looked at her and saw that she fell asleep on my shoulder. I smiled a bit before falling asleep shortly afterwards.

Timeskip
Las Vegas, Nevada

I woke up to a start when Annabeth shook my shoulder.

Annabeth: The truck stopped. They're checking on the animals. Hide.

I quickly got up and hid behind a crate, while Grover and Percy hid behind some feed sacks and Annabeth put on her Yankees cap and turned invisible.

The trailer doors creaked open. Sunlight and heat poured in.

Trucker 1: Man! I wish I hauled appliances. (to the lion) You hot, big boy?

He splashed the rest of the water bucket right in the lion's face. The lion roared in indignation.

Trucker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I clenched my fists, really trying not to jump out of cover and lunge at this prick.

The trucker threw the antelope a squashed-looking Happy Meal bag.

Trucker 1: (to the zebra) (smirks) How ya doin', Stripes? Least we'll be getting rid of you this stop. You like magic shows? You're gonna love this one. They're gonna saw you in half!

The zebra widened his eyes in fear.

There was a loud knock, knock, knock on the side of the trailer.

Trucker 1: What do you want, Eddie?!

Eddie: Maurice? What'd ya say?

Maurice: What are you banging for?

Knock, knock, knock.

Eddie: What banging?

Maurice rolled his eyes and went back outside, cursing at Eddie for being an idiot.

A second later, Annabeth appeared next to me. She must've done the banging to get Maurice out of the trailer.

Annabeth: This transport business can't be legal.

Theo: No shit.

Grover: The lion says these guys are animal smugglers!

Outside, Eddie and Maurice were still yelling at each other, but I knew they'd be coming inside to torment the animals again any minute. Percy grabbed Riptide and slashed the lock off the zebra's cage.

The zebra burst out. It turned to Percy and bowed. Grover held up his hands and said something to the zebra in goat talk, like a blessing.

Just as Maurice was poking his head back inside to check out the noise, the zebra leaped over him and into the street. There was yelling and screaming and cars honking. We rushed to the doors of the trailer in time to see the zebra galloping down a wide boulevard lined with hotels and casinos and neon signs. We'd just released a zebra in Las Vegas.

Maurice and Eddie ran after it, with a few policemen running after them, shouting about needing a permit.

Annabeth: Now would be a good time to leave.

Theo: Let's free the other guys first.

Percy cut the lock of the antelope's cage with his sword, while I activated my shield and bashed the lock of the lion's cage, freeing them.

Grover raised his hands and spoke the same goat-blessing he'd used for the zebra.

Percy: Good luck.

The antelope and the lion burst out of their cages and went off together into the streets. Some tourists screamed. Most just backed off and took pictures, probably thinking it was some kind of stunt by one of the casinos.

Theo: (to Grover) Will they be okay? With the desert and all—

Grover: Don't worry, I placed a satyr's sanctuary on them.

Theo: Meaning?

Grover: Meaning they'll reach the wild safely. They'll find water, food, shade, whatever they need until they find a safe place to live.

Percy: Why can't you place a blessing like that on us?

Grover: It only works on wild animals.

Annabeth: So it would only affect Percy and Theo.

Percy & Theo: Hey!

Annabeth: Kidding. Come on. Let's get out of this filthy truck.

We stumbled out into the desert afternoon. It was a hundred and ten degrees, easy, and we must've looked like deep-fried vagrants, but everybody was too interested in the wild animals to pay us much attention.

We passed the Monte Carlo and the MGM. We passed pyramids, a pirate ship, and the Statue of Liberty, which was a pretty small replica, but still made me homesick.

I wasn't sure what we were looking for. Maybe just a place to get out of the heat for a few minutes, find a sandwich and a glass of lemonade, make a new plan for getting west.

We must have taken a wrong turn, because we found ourselves at a dead end, standing in front of the Lotus Hotel and Casino. The entrance was a huge neon flower, the petals lighting up and blinking. No one was going in or out, but the glittering chrome doors were open, spilling out air-conditioning that smelled like flowers—lotus blossom, maybe. I'd never smelled one, so I wasn't sure.

Doorman: (smiles) Hey, kids. You look tired. You want to come in and sit down?

I'd learned to be suspicious, the last week or so. I figured anybody might be a monster or a god. You just couldn't tell. But this guy was normal. One look at him, and I could see. Besides, I was so relieved to hear somebody who sounded sympathetic that I nodded and said we'd love to come in. Inside, we took one look around, and we were amazed.

Grover: Woah.

The whole lobby was a giant game room. And I'm not talking about cheesy old Pac-Man games or slot machines. There was an indoor waterslide snaking around the glass elevator, which went straight up at least forty floors. There was a climbing wall on the side of one building, and an indoor bungee jumping bridge. There were virtual-reality suits with working laser guns. And hundreds of video games, each one the size of a widescreen TV. Basically, you name it, this place had it. There were a few other kids playing, but not that many. No waiting for any of the games. There were waitresses and snack bars all around, serving every kind of food you can imagine.

Then a bellhop walked up to us. He wore a white-and-yellow Hawaiian shirt with lotus designs, shorts, and flip-flops.

Bellhop: Welcome to the Lotus Casino. Here's your room key.

Percy: Um, but...

Bellhop: (laughs) No, no. The bill's taken care of. No extra charges, no tips. Just go on up to the top floor, room 4001. If you need anything, like extra bubbles for the hot tub, or skeet targets for the shooting range, or whatever, just call the front desk. Here are your LotusCash cards. They work in the restaurants and on all the games and rides.

He handed us each a green plastic credit card.

I knew there must be some mistake. Obviously, he thought we were some millionaire's kids.

Theo: How much is on these?

Bellhop: What do you mean?

Theo: When would it run out of money?

Bellhop: (laughs) Oh, you're making a joke. Hey, that's cool. Enjoy your stay.

We took the elevator upstairs and checked out our room. It was a suite with three separate bedrooms and a bar stocked with candy, sodas, and chips. A hotline to room service. Fluffy towels and water beds with feather pillows. A big-screen television with satellite and high-speed Internet. The balcony had its own hot tub, and sure enough, there was a skeet-shooting machine and a shotgun, so you could launch clay pigeons right out over the Las Vegas skyline and plug them with your gun. I didn't see how that could be legal, but I thought it was pretty cool. The view over the Strip and the desert was amazing, though I doubted we'd ever find time to look at the view with a room like this.

Annabeth: Oh, goodness. This place is...

Grover: Sweet. Absolutely sweet.

There were clothes in the closet, and they fit me. I frowned, thinking that this was a little strange.

Percy threw Ares's backpack in the trash can. Wouldn't need that anymore. When we left, I could just charge a new one at the hotel store.

I took a shower, which felt awesome after a week of grimy travel. I changed clothes, ate a bag of chips, drank three Cokes, and came out feeling better than I had in a long time.

I came out of the bedroom and found that Annabeth, Percy, and Grover had also showered and changed clothes. Grover was eating potato chips to his heart's content, Percy had come out at the same time as I did, while Annabeth cranked up the National Geographic Channel.

Percy: All those stations, and you turn on National Geographic. Are you insane?

Annabeth: It's interesting.

Theo: Is Discovery HD Theater on there?

Grover: I feel good. I love this place.

Without his even realizing it, the wings sprouted out of his shoes and lifted him a foot off the ground, then back down again.

Annabeth: So what now? Sleep?

Grover, Percy, and I looked at each other and grinned. We held up our green plastic LotusCash cards.

Percy: Playtime.

I couldn't remember the last time I had so much fun. I came from a relatively poor family. Our idea of a splurge was eating out at Burger King and renting a video. A five-star Vegas hotel? Forget it.

I bungee-jumped the lobby five or six times, did the waterslide, snowboarded the artificial ski slope, and played virtual-reality laser tag and FBI sharpshooter. I saw Grover a few times, going from game to game. He really liked the reverse hunter thing—where the deer go out and shoot the rednecks. I saw Annabeth playing trivia games and other brainiac stuff. They had this huge 3-D sim game where you build your own city, and you could actually see the holographic buildings rise on the display board. I didn't think much of it, but Annabeth loved it.

I walked around until I found a pinball machine. Next to it were two kids; a boy and a girl. They both had olive skin and silky dark hair. The girl looked around my age. And she looked pretty.

The boy was playing the pinball machine, but he couldn't get a good score.

Boy: Oh, man.

Theo: You want my advice, kid?

The boy and girl turned around and saw me.

Theo: Keep the paddles up. Once the ball is sitting against it, lower them, wait until it's on the edge, then flick it up. That should help.

The boy looked at me, as if he was thinking about it, then went for another turn on the pinball machine.

This time, he followed my advice and got the high score.

Boy: I did it!

He was so excited, that I couldn't help but smile a bit. The boy turned around and wrapped his arms around my waist.

Theo: Woah! Easy there, tiger.

He slowly let go and looked at me sheepishly.

Girl: Sorry about him. He can get a little excited at times.

Boy: Sorry.

Theo: No, it's fine. Don't worry about it. I'm Theo, by the way.

The girl smiled a bit.

Bianca: Bianca. This is my brother, Nico.

Nico: (waves) Hi.

Theo: Nice to meet you guys. Can I get you guys a soda? It's on me.

Bianca: (smiles) Sure.

Theo: Two sodas, coming up.

I went off towards the bar to get some sodas. Then I bumped into somebody.

It was Percy.

Percy: Theo, we gotta go. Now.

Theo: (confused) Why?

Percy: This place is bad news. I saw some people here that think we're in the fricking 1970s.

Theo: You're not making any sense, Percy. I just saw some kids around our age. I'm gonna get them some soda—

Percy punched me in the back of the head.

Theo: OW! WHAT THE HELL IS—

That's when I noticed that everything felt off about this place. The clothes. The bellhop. The 4000+ rooms. All of it.

Theo: Oh, no.

Percy: Yeah, no shit! We gotta find Annabeth and Grover!

Theo: Okay, uh...I think I know where to find Annabeth. You go get Grover, and we'll meet back in the lobby.

Percy: Got it.

He ran in one direction, while I ran in the other.

I eventually found Annabeth still playing that 3-D sim-building game.

Theo: Annabeth.

Annabeth looked at me.

Annabeth: Theo?

Theo: We're leaving. Right now.

Annabeth: Leave? What are you talking about? I've just got the towers—

Theo: This place is a fucking trap.

She didn't respond until I shook her again.

Theo: Hey!

Annabeth: What?

Theo: Underworld. Quest. Summer solstice. Ring any bells?

Annabeth: Oh, come on, Theo. Just a few more minutes.

Theo: There are people here who have been stuck here since the 70s. We check in, we never check out.

Annabeth: So? Can you imagine a better place?

Theo: Ah, screw this.

I grabbed her wrist and yanked her away from the game.

Annabeth: HEY!

She screamed and hit me, but nobody else even bothered looking at us. They were too busy. I made her look directly into my eyes.

Theo: Giant, hairy, deadly spiders all over your head.

She let out an unholy shriek and reached for the top of her head. Then her vision cleared.

Annabeth: Oh, my gods. How long have we—

Theo: I don't know, but we gotta go. Percy's getting Grover, and then they'll meet us in the lobby.

Annabeth and I ran towards the lobby. Once we got close to it, Percy and Grover joined us before the bellhop walked over to us.

Bellhop: Well, now, are you ready for your platinum cards?

Percy: We're leaving.

Bellhop: Such a shame. We just added an entire new floor full of games for platinum-card members.

He held out the cards. I was tempted to take one, but I knew that if I did, I'd never leave.

Grover reached for the card, but Annabeth yanked back his arm.

Annabeth: No thanks.

We walked toward the door, and as we did, the smell of the food and the sounds of the games seemed to get more and more inviting. I thought about our room upstairs. We could just stay the night, sleep in a real bed for once...

Then we burst through the doors of the Lotus Casino and ran down the sidewalk. It felt like afternoon, about the same time of day we'd gone into the casino, but something was wrong. The weather had completely changed. It was stormy, with heat lightning flashing out in the desert.

I looked over at Percy, and saw Ares' backpack slung over his shoulder, which confused me and Percy.

Theo: Didn't you throw that in the trash?

Percy: Yeah. That's...weird.

He walked over to a nearby newspaper stand, while I looked at my watch. The screen was glitching for some reason. I tapped it a few times, then it stopped.

I looked at the date, and my eyes widened.

Annabeth: What? What is it?

Theo: You want the good news or the bad news?

Grover: Good news.

Theo: The good news is, we're still in 2006.

Annabeth: And...And the bad news?

Theo: Uh...it's the twentieth of July.

Both Annabeth and Grover were shocked.

Annabeth: No way. There's no way. We've only been there for like, 3 hours.

Percy: He's right.

We looked at Percy, who had a newspaper in his hand.

Percy: Look at the date here.

He pointed out the date on the top.

July 20, 2006

We've been in the casino for 5 days.

We had less than 24 hours before the summer solstice.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

I was hoping that we'd have the master brought back to Olympus three days BEFORE the solstice. Now, we have less than 24 hours left AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE MASTER BOLT!

Annabeth loaded us into the back of a Vegas taxi as if we actually had money.

Annabeth: (to the driver) Los Angeles, please.

The driver chewed his cigar and eyed us up.

Driver: That's three hundred miles. For that, you gotta pay upfront.

Annabeth: You accept casino debit cards?

Driver: (shrugs) Some of 'em. Same as credit cards. I gotta swipe 'em through first.

Annabeth gave him her LotusCash card, which he looked at skeptically.

Annabeth: Swipe it.

He did.

His meter machine started rattling. The lights flashed. Finally an infinity symbol came up next to the dollar sign.

The cigar fell out of the driver's mouth. He looked back at us, his eyes wide.

Driver: Where to in Los Angeles...uh, Your Highness?

Annabeth sat up a little straighter. I could tell she liked the "Your Highness" thing.

Annabeth: The Santa Monica Pier. Get us there fast, and you can keep the change.

It was probably a good thing she said that. The cab's speedometer never dipped below 95 the whole way through the Mojave Desert.

On the road, we had plenty of time to talk. Percy told us about a dream he had back on the truck, which had the same voice he heard after Medusa, but this time talking to an invisible servant. The servant had called the monster in the pit something other than "my lord."

Annabeth: The Silent One? The Rich One? Both of those are nicknames for Hades.

Percy: Maybe...

Grover: That throne room sounds like Hades's. That's the way it's usually described.

Percy: Something's wrong. The throne room wasn't the main part of the dream. And that voice from the pit...I don't know. It just didn't feel like a god's voice.

Annabeth's eyes widened.

Theo: What?

Annabeth: Oh...nothing. I was just—No, it has to be Hades. Maybe he sent this thief, this invisible person, to get the master bolt, and something went wrong—

Theo: Like what?

Annabeth: I—I don't know. But if he stole Zeus's symbol of power from Olympus, and the gods were hunting him, I mean, a lot of things could go wrong. So this thief had to hide the bolt, or he lost it somehow. Anyway, he failed to bring it to Hades. That's what the voice said in your dream, right? The guy failed. That would explain what the Furies were searching for when they came after us on the bus. Maybe they thought we had retrieved the bolt.

She looked pale, which concerned me.

Percy: But if I'd already retrieved the bolt, why would I be traveling to the Underworld?

Grover: To threaten Hades. To bribe or blackmail him into getting your mom back.

Theo: (whistles) You got some pretty dark thoughts for a half-goat.

Grover: Why, thank you.

Percy: But the thing in the pit said it was waiting for two items. If the master bolt is one, what's the other?

Grover shook his head, clearly mystified.

Annabeth was looking at Percy as if she knew his next question.

Theo: You know what's in that pit, don't you?

Annabeth: Theo...let's not talk about it. Because if it isn't Hades...No. It has to be Hades.

Wasteland rolled by. We passed a sign that said CALIFORNIA STATE LINE, 12 MILES.

Annabeth: The answer is in the Underworld. You saw spirits of the dead, Percy. There's only one place that could be. We're doing the right thing.

She tried to boost our morale by suggesting clever strategies for getting into the Land of the Dead, but my heart wasn't in it. There were just too many unknown factors. It was like cramming for a test without knowing the subject. And believe me, I'd done that enough times.

Timeskip
Los Angeles, California

At sunset, the taxi dropped us at the beach in Santa Monica. It looked exactly the way L.A. beaches do in the movies, only it smelled worse. There were carnival rides lining the Pier, palm trees lining the sidewalks, homeless guys sleeping in the sand dunes, and surfer dudes waiting for the perfect wave.

Grover, Annabeth, and I walked down to the edge of the surf.

Annabeth: What now?

Percy started walking towards the water.

Annabeth: Percy, what are you doing?

Percy kept walking until the water reached his chest.

Theo: You do realize how polluted the water is, right? I mean, the amount of trash and toxic shit floating around—

Percy's head went under, leaving Annabeth, Grover, and I standing on the surf.

Theo: If he comes back with an extra leg, don't blame me.

I looked over at Annabeth, who looked worried.

Theo: Drachma for your thoughts?

Annabeth: U-Um...

Grover and I looked at her expectedly, but she just shook her head.

Annabeth: It's probably nothing. What about you?

Theo: Nothing.

After a few minutes, Percy came out of the water, somehow completely dry, and walked back to us. He told us about his conversation with a Neriad, apparently the same one he met in the Mississippi River, and he showed out the four white pearls she gave him.

Annabeth: No gift comes without a price.

Percy: They were free.

Annabeth: (shakes her head) No. "'There is no such thing as a free lunch.' That's an ancient Greek saying that translated pretty well into American. There will be a price. You wait.

And on that note, we turned around and walked away from the ocean.

With some spare change from Ares's backpack, we took the bus into West Hollywood. Percy showed the driver the Underworld address slip he'd taken from Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium, but he'd never heard of DOA Recording Studios.

Driver: You remind me of somebody I saw on TV. You a child actor or something?

Percy: Uh...I'm a stunt double...for a lot of child actors.

Driver: Oh! That explains it.

We thanked him and got off quickly at the next stop.

We wandered for miles on foot, looking for DOA. Nobody seemed to know where it was. It didn't appear in the phone book.

Percy froze in front of an appliance store window. Grover, Annabeth, and I looked at him and saw that he was looking at a television that was playing an interview with somebody. It was this bald, ugly, old-ass slacker that Percy seemed to recognize.

That's when I realized that this man was Smelly Gabe, Percy's stepdad. He looked even more of an asshole than I could ever imagine, and I have a pretty big imagination.

The reporter was interviewing him in an apartment, which I assume was Gabe's, in the middle of a poker game, and there was a young blond lady sitting next to him, patting his hand.

And he was fake crying as well.

Smelly Gabe: (on TV) Honest, Ms. Walters, if it wasn't for Sugar here, my grief counselor, I'd be a wreck. My stepson took everything I cared about. My wife...my Camaro...I—I'm sorry. I have trouble talking about it.

Barbara Walters: (on TV) (turns to the camera) There you have it, America. A man torn apart. An adolescent boy with serious issues. Let me show you, again, the last known photo of this troubled young fugitive, taken a week ago in Denver.

The screen cut to a grainy shot of me, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover standing outside the Colorado diner, talking to Ares.

Barbara Walters: (on TV) Who are the other children in this photo? Who is the man with them? Is Percy Jackson a delinquent, a terrorist, or perhaps the brainwashed victim of a frightening new cult? When we come back, we chat with a leading child psychologist. Stay tuned, America.

Grover and I had to drag Percy away before he could punch a hole in the appliance store window.

It got dark, and hungry-looking characters started coming out on the streets to play. Not only is LA big like New York, but it's also spread out, chaotic, and hard to move around. I didn't know how we were ever going to find the entrance to the Underworld by tomorrow, the summer solstice.

We walked past gangbangers, bums, and street hawkers, who looked at us like they were trying to figure out if we were worth the trouble of mugging.

As we hurried passed the entrance of an alley, a voice from the darkness was heard.

???: Hey, you!

Percy stopped, like the idiot he is, forcing us to stop as well.

Before I knew it, we were surrounded. A gang of kids had circled us. Six of them in all—white kids with expensive clothes and mean faces. They're basically like that one kid in every high school movie: rich brats playing at being bad boys, but they're all bark and no bite.

Percy reached for his pocket, but I stopped him.

Theo: (to the gang) It's your last chance to walk away.

The gang chuckled.

Leader: Are you kidding? It's 6 against 4

Theo: It's 2 against 4.

Leader: How do you figure?

Theo: Once I take out the leader, which I assume is you, we'll have to contend with one or two enthusiastic wingmen. Another one of the remaining bozos with try something sneaky, which I will see coming from a mile away. That last two...will always run.

Leader: You done this before?

I didn't answer. I looked back at Percy, Grover, and Annabeth, who looked concerned, then back at the leader.

Theo: It's getting late.

The leader stepped up.

Theo: Just remember...You wanted this.

The leader swung a right hook at me, but I ducked underneath it and elbowed him in the nose, sending him to the ground.

Two of the kids looked at each other as I picked the leader up by the collar of his shirt.

Theo: It's okay. You're okay. Get up.

The second the leader got up, I kicked him right in the crotch. He immediately fell down to the ground, holding his crotch.

I looked at the five remaining gangster-wannabes and saw two ready to attack, two who looked scared, and one with his hand hovering over one of his pockets.

Theo: Okay. Now we know who's who. Let's get this done.

One of the kids lunged at me with a right hook, but I blocked his arm and elbowed him in the face, knocking him down. Another one lunged at me, but Percy uncapped Riptide and hit him square in the jaw with the butt of the sword.

The third kid ran at me and Percy, but Grover kicked him in the shin, knocking him over just as I hit him with a right uppercut, knocking him out cold.

The kids I elbowed in the face earlier got up and tried to kick me in the ribs, but I caught his leg and turned to the two other kids, who seemed hesitant.

I punched the guy whose leg I held in the balls, but the two kids didn't move.

Theo: Really?

I kicked him in the balls then threw him onto the ground. Then the two kids ran for dear life.

I heard a click from behind me, then a battle cry from the last kid left standing. I turned around just to see Annabeth grab the leader by the arm and throw him over her shoulder and onto the ground before kicking him in the face, knocking him out.

All four of us panted as we looked at each other. Then we heard police sirens in the distance.

Percy: We should probably get out of here.

Theo: Yeah, time to go.

We all speedwalked away from the scene. We then saw a store that looked open, its windows glaring with neon. The sign above the door said something like CRSTUY'S WATRE BDE ALPACE.

Grover: Crusty's Water Bed Palace?

Annabeth: Let's stop there for a minute.

We walked through the doors and stood near some of the water beds.

Annabeth: (to Theo) Really, Pinhead?

Theo: Hey, we kicked their asses, didn't we, Wise Girl?

???: Kicked whose asses?

We all jumped and looked behind us.

Standing there was a guy who looked like a raptor in a leisure suit. He was at least seven feet tall, with absolutely no hair. He had gray, leathery skin, thick-lidded eyes, and a cold, reptilian smile. He moved toward us slowly, but I got the feeling he could move fast if he needed to.

His suit might've come from the Lotus Casino. It belonged back in the seventies, big-time. The shirt was silk paisley, unbuttoned halfway down his hairless chest. The lapels on his velvet jacket were as wide as landing strips. The silver chains around his neck—I couldn't even count them.

Crusty: I'm Crusty.

Yeah, I can tell.

Percy: Sorry to barge in. We were just, um, browsing.

Crusty: You mean hiding from those no-good kids who you manhandled. They hang around every night. I get a lot of people in here, thanks to them. Say, you want to look at a water bed?

I was about to say No, thanks when he put a huge paw on my shoulder and steered me deeper into the showroom. There was every kind of water bed you could imagine: different kinds of wood, different patterns of sheets; queen-size, king-size, emperor-of-the-universe-size.

Crusty: This is my most popular model.

Crusty spread his hands proudly over a bed covered with black satin sheets, with built-in Lava Lamps on the headboard. The mattress vibrated, so it looked like oil-flavored Jell-O.

Crusty: Million-hand massage. Go on, try it out. Shoot, take a nap. I don't care. No business today, anyway.

Percy: Um...I don't think—

Grover: Million-hand massage!

He jumped onto the bed.

Grover: Oh, you guys! This is cool.

Crusty: (strokes his chin) Hmm...Almost, almost.

Theo: Almost what?

Crusty: (to Annabeth) Do me a favor and try this one over here, honey. Might fit.

Annabeth: But what—

He patted her reassuringly on the shoulder and led her over to the Safari Deluxe model with teakwood lions carved into the frame and a leopard-patterned comforter. When Annabeth didn't want to lie down, Crusty pushed her.

Annabeth: Hey!

Crusty: (snaps his fingers) Ergo!

Ropes sprang from the sides of the bed, lashing around Annabeth, holding her to the mattress. Grover tried to get up, but ropes sprang from his black-satin bed, too, and lashed him down.

Theo: What the hell?!

I immediately rushed towards Annabeth, but Crusty grabbed me by the back of my shirt and threw me onto one of the empty water beds.

Crusty: (snaps his fingers) Ergo!

The same ropes that held Annabeth and Grover wrapped around me and held me down as well.

Percy's POV

Grover: N-not c-c-cool! N-not c-cool a-at all!

Crusty looked at me and Annabeth and grinned.

Crusty: Almost, darn it.

I tried to step away, but his hand shot out and clamped around the back of my neck.

Crusty: Whoa, kid. Don't worry. We'll find you one in a sec.

Percy: Let my friends go.

Crusty: Oh, sure I will. But I got to make them fit, first.

Percy: What do you mean?

Crusty: All the beds are exactly six feet, see? Your friends are too short. Got to make them fit.

Annabeth, Theo, and Grover kept struggling.

Crusty: (mutters) Can't stand imperfect measurements. (snaps his fingers) Ergo!

A new set of ropes leaped out from the top and bottom of the beds, wrapping around Grover, Annabeth, and Theo's ankles, then around their armpits. The ropes started tightening, pulling my friends from both ends.

Crusty: Don't worry. These are stretching jobs. Maybe three extra inches on their spines. They might even live. Now why don't we find a bed you like, huh?

Grover: PERCY!

My mind was racing. I knew I couldn't take on this giant water-bed salesman alone. He would snap my neck before I ever got my sword out.

Percy: Your real name's not Crusty, is it?

Crusty: Legally, it's Procrustes.

Percy: The Stretcher.

I remembered the story: the giant who'd tried to kill Theseus with excess hospitality on his way to Athens.

Crusty: Yeah. But who can pronounce Procrustes? Bad for business. Now 'Crusty,' anybody can say that.

Percy: You're right. It's got a good ring to it.

Crusty: You think so?

Percy: Oh, absolutely. And the workmanship on these beds? Fabulous!

He grinned hugely, but his fingers didn't loosen on my neck.

Crusty: I tell my customers that. Every time. Nobody bothers to look at the workmanship. How many built-in Lava Lamp headboards have you seen?

Percy: Not too many.

Crusty: That's right!

Annabeth: PERCY! WHAT ARE DOING?!

Theo: STOP SWEET-TALKING THIS UGLY PRICK!

Percy: (to Crusty) Ignore them. They're impossible.

Crusty: (laughs) All my customers are. Never six feet exactly. So inconsiderate. And then they complain about the fitting.

Percy: What do you do if they're longer than six feet?

Crusty: Oh, that happens all the time. It's a simple fix.

He let go of my neck, but before I could react, he reached behind a nearby sales desk and brought out a huge double-bladed brass axe.

Crusty: I just center the subject as best I can and lop off whatever hangs over on either end.

Percy: Ah. Sensible.

Crusty: I'm so glad to come across an intelligent customer!

The ropes were really stretching my friends now. Annabeth was turning pale. Theo looked like he was about to pass out. Grover made gurgling sounds, like a strangled goose.

Percy: So, Crusty...

I glanced at the sales tag on the Valentine-shaped Honeymoon Special and got an idea.

Percy: Does this one really have dynamic stabilizers to stop wave motion?

Crusty: Absolutely. Try it out.

Percy: Yeah, maybe I will. But would it work even for a big guy like you? No waves at all?

Crusty: Guaranteed.

Percy: No way.

Crusty: Way.

Percy: Show me.

He sat down eagerly on the bed and patted the mattress.

Crusty: No waves. See?

Percy: (snaps his fingers) Ergo!

Ropes lashed around Crusty and flattened him against the mattress.

Crusty: HEY!

Percy: Center him just right.

The ropes readjusted themselves at my command. Crusty's whole head stuck out the top. His feet stuck out the bottom.

Crusty: No! Wait! This is just a demo.

I uncapped Riptide.

Percy: A few simple adjustments...

I had no qualms about what I was about to do. If Crusty were human, I couldn't hurt him anyway. If he was a monster, he deserved to turn into dust for a while.

Crusty: You drive a hard bargain. I'll give you thirty percent off on selected floor models!

Percy: I think I'll start with the top.

I raised my sword.

Crusty: No money down! No interest for six months!

I swung the sword. Crusty stopped making offers.

I cut the ropes on the other beds. Annabeth, Theo, and Grover got to their feet, groaning and wincing and cursing me a lot. Theo just punched me in the back of the head. I guess I had that coming after I did that to him in Las Vegas.

Percy: (to Theo) You look taller.

Theo: Fuck you, Jackson.

I looked at the bulletin board behind Crusty's sales desk. There was an advertisement for Hermes Delivery Service, and another for the All-New Compendium of L.A. Area Monsters— "The only Monstrous Yellow Pages you'll ever need!" Under that, a bright orange flier for DOA Recording Studios, offering commissions for heroes' souls. "We are always looking for new talent!" DOA's address was right underneath with a map.

Percy: Come on.

Grover: Give us a minute. We were almost stretched to death!

Percy: Then you're ready for the Underworld. It's only a block from here.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

We stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS. Underneath, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICITORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING.

It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.

Percy: Okay. You remember the plan.

Grover: The plan. Yes, I love the plan.

Annabeth: What happens if the plan doesn't work?

Theo: Yeah, I'm not liking it either.

Percy: Don't think negative.

Theo: (sarcastically) Right, sure. We're literally walking straight to Hell, and I shouldn't think negative. Great fucking idea, Jackson.

I took the pearls out of my pocket, the three milky spheres the Nereid had given me in Santa Monica. They didn't seem like much of a backup in case something went wrong.

Theo put his hand on my shoulder.

Theo: Sorry, man. It's just...You're right, we'll make it. It'll be fine.

He nudged Grover and Annabeth.

Grover: Oh, right! We got this far. We'll find the master bolt and save your mom. No problem.

Annabeth: We'll be okay. We'll see this through.

I looked at them both and felt really grateful. Only a few minutes before, I'd almost gotten them stretched to death on deluxe water beds, and now they were trying to be brave for my sake, trying to make me feel better.

I slipped the pearls back in my pocket.

Percy: Let's whup some Underworld butt.

Theo: Amen to that.

We walked inside the DOA lobby.

Muzak played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, and every seat was taken. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or waiting for the elevator. Nobody moved, or talked, or did much of anything. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see them all just fine, but if I focused on any one of them in particular, they started looking...transparent. I could see right through their bodies.

The security guard's desk was a raised podium, so we had to look up at him.

He was tall and elegant, with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair shaved military style. He wore tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit that matched his hair. A black rose was pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag.

Percy: Your name is Chiron?

He leaned across the desk. I couldn't see anything in his glasses except my own reflection, but his smile was sweet and cold, like a python's, right before it eats you.

Then he spoke. He had a strange accent—British, maybe, but also as if he had learned English as a second language.

Guard: What a precious young lad. Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur?

Percy: N-no.

Guard: Sir.

Percy: Sir.

Charon: Can you read this, mate? It says C-HA-R-O-N. Say it with me: CARE-ON.

Percy: Charon.

Charon: Amazing! Now: Mr. Charon.

Percy: Mr. Charon.

Charon: Well done. I hate being confused with that old horse-man. And now, how may I help you little dead ones?

His question caught in my stomach like a fastball. I looked at Annabeth and Theo for support.

Annabeth: We want to go to the Underworld.

Charon: Well, that's refreshing.

Annabeth: It is?

Charon: Straightforward and honest. No screaming. No 'There must be a mistake, Mr. Charon.' How did you die, then?

I nudged Grover. But Theo spoke first.

Theo: Car accident.

Charon: All four of you?

Theo: Yeah. My dad was taking us on a road trip when a semi-truck hit us. He survived, thankfully, but, uh...we weren't so lucky.

That...was actually a very good lie. It can be a bit unnerving how convincing Theo can be whenever he does that. It must be the Hermes in him. I'm sure he could probably trick anyone, maybe even the gods themselves.

Well...maybe not Annabeth. She might be the only one who'd see right through his BS.

Charon: Hm...I don't suppose you have coins for passage. Normally, with adults, you see, I could charge your American Express, or add the ferry price to your last cable bill. But with children . . . alas, you never die prepared. Suppose you'll have to take a seat for a few centuries.

Percy: Oh, but we have coins.

I set four golden drachmas on the counter, part of the stash I'd found in Crusty's office desk.

Charon: Well, now...Real drachmas. Real golden drachmas. I haven't seen these in...

His fingers hovered greedily over the coins.

We were so close.

Then Charon looked at me. That cold stare behind his glasses seemed to bore a hole through my chest.

Charon: Here now. You couldn't read my name correctly. Are you dyslexic, lad?

Percy: No, I'm dead.

Charon leaned forward and took a sniff.

Charon: You're not dead. I should've known. You're a godling.

Percy: We have to get to the Underworld.

Charon made a growling sound deep in his throat.

Immediately, all the people in the waiting room got up and started pacing, agitated, lighting cigarettes, running hands through their hair, or checking their wristwatches.

Charon: Leave while you can. I'll just take these and forget I saw you.

He started to go for the coins, but I snatched them back.

Percy: No service, no tip.

Charon growled again—a deep, blood-chilling sound. The spirits of the dead started pounding on the elevator doors.

Percy: It's a shame, too. We had more to offer.

I held up the entire bag from Crusty's stash. I took out a fistful of drachmas and let the coins spill through my fingers.

Charon's growl changed into something more like a lion's purr.

Charon: Do you think I can be bought, godling? Eh...just out of curiosity, how much have you got there?

Percy: A lot. I bet Hades doesn't pay you well enough for such hard work.

Charon: Oh, you don't know the half of it. How would you like to babysit these spirits all day? Always 'Please don't let me be dead' or 'Please let me across for free.' I haven't had a pay raise in three thousand years. Do you imagine suits like this come cheap?

Percy: You deserve better. A little appreciation. Respect. Good pay.

With each word, I stacked another gold coin on the counter.

Charon glanced down at his silk Italian jacket, as if imagining himself in something even better.

Charon: I must say, lad, you're making some sense now. Just a little.

I stacked another few coins.

Percy: I could mention a pay raise while I'm talking to Hades.

Charon: (sighs) The boat's almost full, anyway. I might as well add you four and be off.

He stood, and scooped up our money.

Charon: Come along.

We pushed through the crowd of waiting spirits, who started grabbing at our clothes like the wind, their voices whispering things I couldn't make out. Charon shoved them out of the way.

Charon: (grumbles) Freeloaders.

Theo: (whispers to Percy) That was pretty smooth, Percy.

I smirked.

Charon escorted us into the elevator, which was already crowded with souls of the dead, each one holding a green boarding pass. Charon grabbed two spirits who were trying to get on with us and pushed them back into the lobby.

Charon: Right. Now, no one get any ideas while I'm gone. And if anyone moves the dial off my easy-listening station again, I'll make sure you're here for another thousand years. Understand?

He shut the doors. He put a key card into a slot in the elevator panel and we started to descend.

Annabeth: What happens to the spirits waiting in the lobby?

Charon: Nothing?

Annabeth: For how long?

Charon: Forever, or until I'm feeling generous.

Annabeth: Oh. That's...fair.

Charon: Whoever said death was fair, young miss? Wait until it's your turn. You'll die soon enough, where you're going.

Theo: We'll make it out alive.

Charon: Ha.

I got a sudden dizzy feeling. We weren't going down anymore, but forward. The air turned misty. Spirits around me started changing shape. Their modern clothes flickered, turning into gray hooded robes. The floor of the elevator began swaying.

I blinked hard. When I opened my eyes, Charon's creamy Italian suit had been replaced by a long black robe. His tortoiseshell glasses were gone. Where his eyes should've been were empty sockets— like Ares's eyes, except Charon's were totally dark, full of night and death and despair.

Charon: Well?

Percy: Nothing.

I thought he was grinning, but that wasn't it. The flesh of his face was becoming transparent, letting me see straight through to his skull.

The floor kept swaying.

Grover: I think I'm getting seasick.

When I blinked again, the elevator wasn't an elevator anymore. We were standing in a wooden barge. Charon was poling us across a dark, oily river, swirling with bones, dead fish, and other, stranger things—plastic dolls, crushed carnations, soggy diplomas with gilt edges.

Theo: Is that...?

Annabeth: The River Styx. It's so...

Charon: Polluted. For thousands of years, you humans have been throwing in everything as you come across—hopes, dreams, wishes that never came true. Irresponsible waste management, if you ask me.

Mist curled off the filthy water. Above us, almost lost in the gloom, was a ceiling of stalactites. Ahead, the far shore glimmered with greenish light, the color of poison.

Panic closed up my throat. What was I doing here? These people around me . . . they were dead.

I looked behind me and saw Annabeth holding Theo's hand. I understood how she felt. She wanted reassurance that somebody else was alive on this boat.

I found myself muttering a prayer, though I wasn't quite sure who I was praying to. Down here, only one god mattered, and he was the one I had come to confront.

Theo's POV

The shoreline of the Underworld came into view. Craggy rocks and black volcanic sand stretched inland about a hundred yards to the base of a high stone wall, which marched off in either direction as far as we could see. A sound came from somewhere nearby in the green gloom, echoing off the stones—the howl of a large animal.

Charon: (smiles) Old Three-Face is hungry. Bad luck for you, godlings.

The bottom of our boat slid onto the black sand. The dead began to disembark. A woman holding a little girl's hand. An old man and an old woman hobbling along arm in arm. A boy no older than I was, shuffling silently along in his gray robe.

Charon: I'd wish you luck, mate, but there isn't any down here. Mind you, don't forget to mention my pay raise.

He counted our golden coins into his pouch, then took up his pole. He warbled something that sounded like a Barry Manilow song as he ferried the empty barge back across the river.

We followed the spirits up a well-worn path.

I'm not sure what I was expecting—Pearly Gates, or a big black portcullis, or something. But the entrance to the Underworld looked like a cross between airport security and the Jersey Turnpike.

There were three separate entrances under one huge black archway that said YOU ARE NOW ENTERING EREBUS. Each entrance had a pass-through metal detector with security cameras mounted on top. Beyond this were tollbooths manned by black-robed ghouls like Charon.

The howling of the hungry animal was really loud now, but I couldn't see where it was coming from. The three-headed dog, Cerberus, who was supposed to guard Hades's door, was nowhere to be seen.

The dead queued up in the three lines, two marked ATTENDANT ON DUTY, and one marked EZ DEATH. The EZ DEATH line was moving right along. The other two were crawling.

Theo: (to Annabeth) What do you think?

Annabeth: The fast line must go straight to the Asphodel Fields. No contest. They don't want to risk judgment from the court because it might go against them.

Percy: There's a court for dead people?

Annabeth: Yeah. Three judges. They switch around who sits on the bench. King Minos, Thomas Jefferson, Shakespeare— people like that. Sometimes they look at a life and decide that person needs a special reward—the Fields of Elysium. Sometimes they decide on punishment. But most people, well, they just lived. Nothing special, good or bad. So they go to the Asphodel Fields.

Percy: And do what?

Grover: Imagine standing in a wheat field in Kansas. Forever.

Percy: Harsh.

Grover: Not as harsh as that. Look.

A couple of black-robbed ghouls had pulled aside one spirit and were frisking him at the security desk. The face of the dead man looked vaguely familiar.

Grover: He's that preacher who made the news, remember?

Percy & Theo: Oh yeah.

I remembered this guy. I saw him on TV a couple of times with David and Eric. He was this annoying televangelist from upstate New York who'd raised millions of dollars for orphanages and then got caught spending the money on stuff for his mansion, like gold-plated toilet seats, and an indoor putt-putt golf course. He'd died in a police chase when his "Lamborghini for the Lord" went off a cliff.

Honestly, I felt bad for the Lambo.

Theo: What are they doing to him?

Grover: Special punishment from Hades. The really bad people get his personal attention as soon as they arrive. The Fur—the Kindly Ones will set up an eternal torture for him.

The memory of the Furies made me shudder. Then I remembered...WE WERE AT THEIR HOME TURF!!!

Percy: But if he's a preacher, and he believes in a different hell...

Grover: (shrugs) Who says he's seeing this place the way we're seeing it? Humans see what they want to see. You're very stubborn—er, persistent, that way.

We got closer to the gates. The howling was so loud now it shook the ground at my feet, but I still couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

Then, about fifty feet in front of us, the green mist shimmered. Standing just where the path split into three lanes was an enormous shadowy monster.

I hadn't seen it before because it was half transparent, like the dead. Until it moved, it blended with whatever was behind it. Only its eyes and teeth looked solid. And it was staring straight at us.

Percy: It's a Rottweiler.

Yep. Cerberus is a giant three-headed Rottweiler. Basically Fluffy from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but a hundred times scarier.

The dead walked right up to him—no fear at all. The ATTENDANT ON DUTY lines parted on either side of him. The EZ DEATH spirits walked right between his front paws and under his belly, which they could do without even crouching.

Theo: I'm starting to see him better. Why am I starting to see him better?

Annabeth: I think...I'm afraid it's because we're getting closer to being dead.

Oh, shit.

The dog's middle head craned toward us. It sniffed the air and growled.

Percy: It can smell the living.

Grover: But that's okay. Because we have a plan.

Annabeth: A plan. Right.

We moved toward the monster.

The middle head snarled at us, then barked so loud my eyeballs rattled.

Theo: (to Grover) Can you understand it?

Grover: Oh yeah, I can understand it.

Theo: What's it saying?

Grover: I don't think humans have a four-letter word that translates, exactly.

Percy took out a big stick from his backpack and held it up.

Percy: Hey, Big Fella. I bet they don't play with you much.

The dog growled.

Percy: Good boy.

REALLY?! THAT'S YOUR PLAN, PERCY?!

He waved the stick. The dog's middle head followed the movement. The other two heads trained their eyes on him, completely ignoring the spirits. He had Cerberus's undivided attention. I wasn't sure that was a good thing.

Percy: Fetch!

I threw the stick into the gloom, a good solid throw. I heard it go ker-sploosh in the River Styx.

Cerberus glared at me, unimpressed. His eyes were baleful and cold.

Well...fuck.

Cerberus was now making a new kind of growl, deeper down in his three throats.

Grover: Um, Percy? Theo?

Theo: Yeah?

Grover: I just thought you'd wanna know.

Percy: Yeah?

Grover: Cerberus? He's saying we've got ten seconds to pray to the god of our choice. After that...well...he's hungry.

Annabeth: Wait!

She started digging through her backpack.

Grover: Five seconds. Do we run now?

Theo: I don't think we can outrun it.

Percy: We're screwed.

Annabeth produced a red rubber ball the size of a grapefruit. It was labeled WATERLAND, DENVER, CO. Before I could stop her, she raised the ball and marched straight up to Cerberus.

Annabeth: See the ball?! You want the ball, Cerberus?! Sit!

Cerberus looked as stunned as we were.

All three of his heads cocked sideways. Six nostrils dilated.

Annabeth: Sit!

I was sure that at any moment she would become the world's largest dog treat.

But instead, Cerberus licked his three sets of lips, shifted on his haunches, and sat, immediately crushing a dozen spirits who'd been passing underneath him in the EZ DEATH line. The spirits made muffled hisses as they dissipated, like the air let out of tires.

Annabeth: Good boy!

She threw Cerberus the ball. He caught it in his middle mouth. It was barely big enough for him to chew, and the other heads started snapping at the middle, trying to get the new toy.

Annabeth: Drop it!

Cerberus's heads stopped fighting and looked at her. The ball was wedged between two of his teeth like a tiny piece of gum. He made a loud, scary whimper, then dropped the ball, now slimy and bitten nearly in half, at Annabeth's feet.

Annabeth: Good boy.

She picked up the ball, ignoring the monster spit all over it.

Annabeth: (to Theo, Percy, and Grover) Go now. EZ DEATH line—it's faster.

Theo: But—

Annabeth: Now!

Grover, Percy, and I inched forward warily.

Cerberus started to growl.

Annabeth: Stay! If you want the ball, stay!

Cerberus whimpered, but he stayed where he was.

Theo: What about you?

Annabeth: I know what I'm doing, Theo. At least, I'm pretty sure...

Percy, Grover, and I walked between the monster's legs.

Please don't sit. Please don't sit. PLEASE DON'T SIT!

We made it through. Cerberus wasn't any less scary-looking from the back.

Annabeth: Good dog!

She held up the tattered red ball, and probably came to the same conclusion I did—if she rewarded Cerberus, there'd be nothing left for another trick.

She threw the ball anyway. The monster's left mouth immediately snatched it up, only to be attacked by the middle head, while the right head moaned in protest.

While the monster was distracted, Annabeth walked briskly under its belly and joined us at the metal detector.

Theo: That was awesome.

Annabeth blushed a bit and had tears in her eyes.

Theo: How'd you learn to do that?

Annabeth: Obedience school. When I was little, at my dad's house, we had a Doberman...

Grover: Never mind that. Come on!

We were about to bolt through the EZ DEATH line when Cerberus moaned pitifully from all three mouths. Annabeth stopped.

She turned to face the dog, which had done a one-eighty to look at us. Cerberus panted expectantly, the tiny red ball in pieces in a puddle of drool at its feet.

Annabeth: Good boy.

The monster's heads turned sideways, as if worried about her.

Annabeth: I'll bring you another ball soon. Would you like that?

The monster whimpered. I didn't need to speak dog to know Cerberus was still waiting for the ball.

Annabeth: Good dog. I'll come visit you soon. I—I promise. (turns to Theo, Grover, & Percy) Let's go.

Grover and I pushed through the metal detector, which immediately screamed and set off flashing red lights.

???: Unauthorized possessions! Magic detected!

Cerberus started to bark.

We burst through the EZ DEATH gate, which started even more alarms blaring, and raced into the Underworld.

A few minutes later, we were hiding, out of breath, in the rotten trunk of an immense black tree as security ghouls scuttled past, yelling for backup from the Furies.

Grover: Well, Percy, what have we learned today?

Percy: That three-headed dogs prefer red rubber balls over sticks?

Grover: No. We've learned that your plans really, really bite!

Theo: Next time, we'll leave the planning to Annabeth.

We waited for the ghouls to pass. I pretended not to see Annabeth wipe a tear from her cheek as she listened to the mournful keening of Cerberus in the distance, longing for his new friend.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

Imagine the largest concert crowd you've ever seen, a football field packed with a million fans.

Now imagine a field a million times that big, packed with people, and imagine the electricity has gone out, and there is no noise, no light, no beach ball bouncing around over the crowd. Something tragic has happened backstage. Whispering masses of people are just milling around in the shadows, waiting for a concert that will never start.

If you can picture that, you have a pretty good idea what the Fields of Asphodel looked like. The black grass had been trampled by eons of dead feet. A warm, moist wind blew like the breath of a swamp. Black trees—Grover told me they were poplars—grew in clumps here and there.

The cavern ceiling was so high above us it might've been a bank of storm clouds, except for the stalactites, which glowed faint gray and looked wickedly pointed. I tried not to imagine they'd fall on us at any moment, but dotted around the fields were several that had fallen and impaled themselves in the black grass. I guess the dead didn't have to worry about little hazards like being speared by stalactites the size of booster rockets.

Annabeth, Theo, Grover, and I tried to blend into the crowd, keeping an eye out for security ghouls. I couldn't help looking for familiar faces among the spirits of Asphodel, but the dead are hard to look at. Their faces shimmer. They all look slightly angry or confused. They will come up to you and speak, but their voices sound like chatter, like bats twittering. Once they realize you can't understand them, they frown and move away.

The dead aren't scary. They're just sad.

We crept along, following the line of new arrivals that snaked from the main gates toward a black-tented pavilion with a banner that read:

JUDGMENTS FOR ELYSIUM AND ETERNAL DAMNATION
Welcome, Newly Deceased!

Out the back of the tent came two much smaller lines.

To the left, spirits flanked by security ghouls were marched down a rocky path toward the Fields of Punishment, which glowed and smoked in the distance, a vast, cracked wasteland with rivers of lava and minefields and miles of barbed wire separating the different torture areas. Even from far away, I could see people being chased by hellhounds, burned at the stake, forced to run naked through cactus patches or listen to opera music. I could just make out a tiny hill, with the ant-size figure of Sisyphus struggling to move his boulder to the top. And I saw worse tortures, too—things I don't want to describe.

The line coming from the right side of the judgment pavilion was much better. This one led down toward a small valley surrounded by walls—a gated community, which seemed to be the only happy part of the Underworld. Beyond the security gate were neighborhoods of beautiful houses from every time period in history, Roman villas and medieval castles and Victorian mansions. Silver and gold flowers bloomed on the lawns. The grass rippled in rainbow colors. I could hear laughter and smell barbecue cooking.

Elysium.

In the middle of that valley was a glittering blue lake, with three small islands like a vacation resort in the Bahamas. The Isles of the Blest, for people who had chosen to be reborn three times, and three times achieved Elysium. Immediately I knew that's where I wanted to go when I died.

Annabeth: That's what it's all about. That's the place for heroes.

But I thought of how few people there were in Elysium, how tiny it was compared to the Fields of Asphodel or even the Fields of Punishment. So few people did good in their lives. It was depressing.

We left the judgment pavilion and moved deeper into the Asphodel Fields. It got darker. The colors faded from our clothes. The crowds of chattering spirits began to thin.

After a few miles of walking, we began to hear a familiar screech in the distance. Looming on the horizon was a palace of glittering black obsidian. Above the parapets swirled three dark batlike creatures: the Furies. I got the feeling they were waiting for us.

Grover: I suppose it's too late to turn back.

Theo: We'll be fine.

Grover: Maybe we should search some of the other places first. Like, Elysium, for instance...

Annabeth: Come on, goat boy...

She grabbed Grover's arm, and he yelped. His sneakers sprouted wings and his legs shot forward, pulling him away from Annabeth. He landed flat on his back in the grass.

Annabeth: Grover, stop messing around.

Grover: But I didn't—

He yelped again. His shoes were flapping like crazy now. They levitated off the ground and started dragging him away from us.

Grover: Maia!

The magic word had no effect.

Grover: Maia, already! NINE-ONE-ONE! HELP!

Theo: Shit!

Before we knew it, we were running after Grover. He was picking up speed, skidding downhill like a bobsled.

Annabeth: UNTIE THE SHOES!

It was a smart idea, but I guess it's not so easy when your shoes are pulling you along feetfirst at full speed. Grover tried to sit up, but he couldn't get close to the laces.

We kept after him, trying to keep him in sight as he zipped between the legs of spirits who chattered at him in annoyance.

I was sure Grover was going to barrel straight through the gates of Hades's palace, but his shoes veered sharply to the right and dragged him in the opposite direction.

The slope got steeper. Grover picked up speed. Annabeth, Theo, and I had to sprint to keep up. The cavern walls narrowed on either side, and I realized we'd entered some kind of side tunnel. No black grass or trees now, just rock underfoot, and the dim light of the stalactites above.

Percy: GROVER, HOLD ON TO SOMETHING!

Grover: WHAT?!

He was grabbing at gravel, but there was nothing big enough to slow him down. The tunnel got darker and colder. The hairs on my arms bristled. It smelled evil down here. It made me think of things I shouldn't even know about—blood spilled on an ancient stone altar, the foul breath of a murderer.

Then I saw what was ahead of us, and I stopped dead in my tracks. The tunnel widened into a huge dark cavern, and in the middle was a chasm the size of a city block. Grover was sliding straight toward the edge.

I was broken out of my shock when Theo pulled me from the collar of my shirt.

Theo: COME ON!

Percy: But that's—

Theo: The place you described from your dream, I know! And Grover's headed straight for it!

He was right, of course. Grover's predicament got me moving again.

He was yelling, clawing at the ground, but the winged shoes kept dragging him toward the pit, and it didn't look like we could possibly get to him in time.

What gave him a chance to survive was his hooves.

The flying sneakers had always been a loose fit on him, and finally Grover hit a big rock and the left shoe came flying off. It sped into the darkness, down into the chasm. The right shoe kept tugging him along, but not as fast.

But we were still too far behind.

Theo's shoes immediately sprouted wings as he flew towards Grover. He dove and caught Grover's shirt with one hand and took out his flashlight with the other. He pressed the button on the side, turning it into the sword, and stabbed it into the ground.

They both came to an abrupt stop just two yards from the edge of the chasm.

Theo: (to Grover) KICK IT OFF! NOW!

Grover used his bare hoof to kick the other shoe off. After one kick, the shoe finally came off. It circled around Theo angrily and kicked his head in protest before flying off into the chasm to join its twin.

Theo pulled Grover away from the chasm as they both sat us just as Annabeth and I ran up to them.

Theo: (to Grover) You alright?

Grover: Y-Yeah. Thanks.

Grover was scratched up pretty bad. His hands were bleeding. His eyes had gone slit-pupiled, goat style, the way they did whenever he was terrified. Otherwise, he was fine.

Theo sighed in relief as we all collapsed, exhausted, on the obsidian gravel. My limbs felt like lead. Even my backpack seemed heavier, as if somebody had filled it with rocks.

Grover: I don't know how...I didn't...

Annabeth: Wait. Listen.

I heard something—a deep whisper in the darkness.

Annabeth: Percy, Theo, this place—

Percy: Shh.

The sound was getting louder, a muttering, evil voice from far, far below us. Coming from the pit.

Grover: W-What's that noise?

Annabeth: Tartarus. The entrance to Tartarus.

I uncapped Anaklusmos as Theo pulled his sword out of the ground.

my bronze sword expanded, gleaming in the darkness, and the evil voice seemed to falter, just for a moment, before resuming its chant.

I could almost make out words now, ancient, ancient words, older even than Greek. As if...

Percy: Magic.

Theo: We gotta go. Now.

Together, we dragged Grover to his hooves and started back up the tunnel. My legs wouldn't move fast enough. My backpack weighed me down. The voice got louder and angrier behind us, and we broke into a run.

Not a moment too soon.

A cold blast of wind pulled at our backs, as if the entire pit were inhaling. For a terrifying moment, I lost ground, my feet slipping in the gravel. If we'd been any closer to the edge, we would've been sucked in.

We kept struggling forward, and finally reached the top of the tunnel, where the cavern widened out into the Fields of Asphodel. The wind died. A wail of outrage echoed from deep in the tunnel. Something was not happy we'd gotten away.

Once we were in the relative safety of a black poplar grove, we collapsed.

Grover: What was that? One of Hades' pets?

Annabeth, Theo, and I looked at each other. I could tell she was nursing an idea, probably the same one she'd gotten during the taxi ride to L.A., but she was too scared to share it. That was enough to terrify me.

I capped my sword, put the pen back in my pocket.

Percy: Let's keep moving. (turns to Grover) Can you walk?

Grover: Yeah, sure. I never liked those shoes, anyway.

He tried to sound brave about it, but he was trembling as badly as Annabeth, Theo, and I were. Whatever was in that pit was nobody's pet. It was unspeakably old and powerful. Even Echidna hadn't given me that feeling. I was almost relieved to turn my back on that tunnel and head toward the palace of Hades.

Almost.

Grover: I guess this place doesn't like flying shoes or something.

Theo: No, it's not that. My shoes are fine. I meant to fly towards you.

The Furies circled the parapets, high in the gloom. The outer walls of the fortress glittered black, and the two-story-tall bronze gates stood wide open.

Up close, I saw that the engravings on the gates were scenes of death. Some were from modern times—an atomic bomb exploding over a city, a trench filled with gas mask– wearing soldiers, a line of African famine victims waiting with empty bowls—but all of them looked as if they'd been etched into the bronze thousands of years ago. I wondered if I was looking at prophecies that had come true.

Inside the courtyard was the strangest garden I'd ever seen. Multicolored mushrooms, poisonous shrubs, and weird luminous plants grew without sunlight. Precious jewels made up for the lack of flowers, piles of rubies as big as my fist, clumps of raw diamonds. Standing here and there like frozen party guests were Medusa's garden statues— petrified children, satyrs, and centaurs—all smiling grotesquely.

In the center of the garden was an orchard of pomegranate trees, their orange blooms neon bright in the dark.

Annabeth: The Gardens of Persephone. Keep walking.

I understood why she wanted to move on. The tart smell of those pomegranates was almost overwhelming. I had a sudden desire to eat them, but then I remembered the story of Persephone. One bite of Underworld food, and we would never be able to leave. I pulled Grover away to keep him from picking a big juicy one.

We walked up the steps of the palace, between black columns, through a black marble portico, and into the house of Hades. The entry hall had a polished bronze floor, which seemed to boil in the reflected torchlight. There was no ceiling, just the cavern roof, far above. I guess they never had to worry about rain down here.

Every side doorway was guarded by a skeleton in military gear. Some wore Greek armor, some British redcoat uniforms, some camouflage with tattered American flags on the shoulders. They carried spears or muskets or M-16s. None of them bothered us, but their hollow eye sockets followed us as we walked down the hall, toward the big set of doors at the opposite end.

Two U.S. Marine skeletons guarded the doors. They grinned down at us, rocket-propelled grenade launchers held across their chests.

Grover: You know, I bet Hades doesn't have trouble with door-to-door salesmen.

Theo: You think he still gets asked about his car's extended warranty?

Grover snorted at Theo's joke.

My backpack weighed a ton now. I couldn't figure out why. I wanted to open it, check to see if I had somehow picked up a stray bowling ball, but this wasn't the time.

Percy: Well, guys...I suppose we should...knock?

A hot wind blew down the corridor, and the doors swung open. The guards stepped aside.

Annabeth: I guess that means entrez-vous.

Theo's POV

The room inside looked just like in Percy's dream, except this time the throne of Hades was occupied.

He was the third god I'd met, but the first who really struck me as godlike. He was at least ten feet tall, for one thing, and dressed in black silk robes and a crown of braided gold. His skin was albino white, his hair shoulder-length and jet black. He wasn't bulked up like Ares, but he radiated power. He lounged on his throne of fused human bones, looking lithe, graceful, and dangerous as a panther.

I immediately felt like he should be giving the orders. He knew more than I did. He should be my master. Then I told myself to snap out of it.

Hades's aura was affecting me, just as Ares's had. The Lord of the Dead resembled pictures I'd seen of Adolf Hitler, or Napoleon, or the terrorist leaders who direct suicide bombers. Hades had the same intense eyes, the same kind of mesmerizing, evil charisma.

Hades: You are brave to come here, Son of Poseidon and Son of Artemis, after what you have done to me, very brave indeed. Or perhaps you are simply very foolish.

Numbness crept into my joints, tempting me to lie down and just take a little nap at Hades's feet. Curl up here and sleep forever.

Percy: Lord and Uncle, I come with two requests.

Hades raised an eyebrow. When he sat forward in his throne, shadowy faces appeared in the folds of his black robes, faces of torment, as if the garment were stitched of trapped souls from the Fields of Punishment, trying to get out. The ADHD part of me wondered, off-task, whether the rest of his clothes were made the same way.

Hades: Only two requests? Arrogant child. As if you have not already taken enough. Speak, then. It amuses me not to strike you dead yet.

Well, this is not going well at all.

I glanced at the empty, smaller throne next to Hades's. It was shaped like a black flower, gilded with gold. I wished Queen Persephone were here. I recalled something in the myths about how she could calm her husband's moods. But it was summer. Of course, Persephone would be above in the world of light with her mother, the goddess of agriculture, Demeter. Her visits, not the tilt of the planet, create the seasons.

Percy: Lord Hades. Look, sir, there can't be a war among the gods. It would be...bad.

Grover: Really bad.

Percy: Return Zeus's master bolt to me. Please, sir. Let me carry it to Olympus.

Hades's eyes grew dangerously bright.

Hades: You dare keep up this pretense, after what you have done?

Percy looked back at us confused. We were all just as confused as he was.

Theo: Uh...Lord Hades? What exactly did we do?

The throne room shook with a tremor so strong, they probably felt it upstairs in Los Angeles. Debris fell from the cavern ceiling. Doors burst open all along the walls, and skeletal warriors marched in, hundreds of them, from every time period and nation in Western civilization. They lined the perimeter of the room, blocking the exits.

Hades: Do you think I want war, godling?

Percy: You're the Lord of the Dead. A war would expand your kingdom, right?

Hades: A typical thing for my brothers to say! Do you think I need more subjects? Did you not see the sprawl of the Asphodel Fields?

Percy: Well...

Hades: Have you any idea how much my kingdom has swollen in this past century alone, how many subdivisions I've had to open? More security ghouls. Traffic problems at the judgment pavilion. Double overtime for the staff. I used to be a rich god, Percy Jackson. I control all the precious metals under the earth. But my expenses!

Percy: Charon wants a pay raise.

Bro, learn how to shut the fuck up!

Hades: Don't get me started on Charon! He's been impossible ever since he discovered Italian suits! Problems everywhere, and I've got to handle all of them personally. The commute time alone from the palace to the gates is enough to drive me insane! And the dead just keep arriving. No, godling. I need no help getting subjects! I did not ask for this war.

Percy: But you took Zeus's master bolt.

Hades: LIES!

More rumbling. Hades rose from his throne, towering to the height of a football goalpost.

Hades: Your father may fool Zeus, boy, but I am not so stupid. I see his plan.

Percy: His plan?

Hades: You were the thief on the winter solstice, and the Son of Artemis is your accomplice. Your father thought to keep you his little secret. He directed you into the throne room on Olympus. You took the master bolt and my helm. Had I not sent my Fury to discover you at Yancy Academy, Poseidon might have succeeded in hiding his scheme to start a war. But now you have been forced into the open. You will be exposed as Poseidon's thief, and I will have my helm back!

Annabeth: But...Lord Hades, your helm of darkness is missing, too?

Hades: Do not play innocent with me, girl. You and the satyr have been helping these heroes—coming here to threaten me in Poseidon's name, no doubt—to bring me an ultimatum. Does Poseidon think I can be blackmailed into supporting him?

Percy: No! Poseidon didn't—I didn't—

Hades: I have said nothing of the helm's disappearance because I had no illusions that anyone on Olympus would offer me the slightest justice, the slightest help. I can ill afford for word to get out that my most powerful weapon of fear is missing. So I searched for you myself, and when it was clear you were coming to me to deliver your threat, I did not try to stop you.

Theo: You didn't try to stop us? But—

Hades: Return my helm now, or I will stop death. That is my counterproposal. I will open the earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you, Percy Jackson and Theo Miller—your skeletons will lead my army out of Hades.

The skeletal soldiers all took one step forward, making their weapons ready.

At this point, I was a bit terrified. But Percy, in typical Percy Jackson fashion, decides to fan the flames.

Percy: You're as bad as Zeus. You think I stole from you? That's why you sent the Furies after me? The Odontotyrannos after Theo?

Hades: Of course.

Percy: And the other monsters?

Hades: had nothing to do with them. I wanted no quick death for you—I wanted you brought before me alive so you might face every torture in the Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my kingdom so easily?

Theo: EASILY?!

Hades: Return my property!

Percy: But I don't have your helm. I came for the master bolt.

Hades: Which you already possess! You came here with it, little fool, thinking you could you threaten me!

Percy: But I didn't!

Hades: Open your pack, then.

Percy slung it off his shoulder and unzipped it. Inside was a two-foot-long metal cylinder, spiked on both ends, humming with energy.

Theo: What the fuck?

Annabeth: Percy, how—

Percy: I-I don't know. I don't understand.

Hades: You heroes are always the same," Hades said. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus's master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now...my helm. Where is it?

I was trying to wrap my brain around this whole situation. There was no way we could've had that the whole time. We would've noticed a lot sooner.

But suddenly the world turned sideways. I realized I'd been played with. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades had been set at each other's throats by someone else. The master bolt had been in the backpack, and we'd gotten the backpack from...

Son of a bitch.

Theo: Lord Hades, wait! This is all a mistake!

Hades: A mistake?!

The skeletons aimed their weapons. From high above, there was a fluttering of leathery wings, and the three Furies swooped down to perch on the back of their master's throne. The one with Mrs. Dodds's face grinned at Percy eagerly and flicked her whip.

Hades: There is no mistake. I know why you have come—I know the real reason you

brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her.

Hades loosed a ball of gold fire from his palm. It exploded on the steps in front of me, and there was a middle-aged woman, frozen in a shower of gold. I didn't know who this is, but the look on Percy's face told me everything.

That was his mother.

Hades: Yes. I took her. I knew, Percy Jackson, that you would come to bargain with me eventually. Return my helm, and perhaps I will let her go. She is not dead, you know. Not yet. But if you displease me, that will change.

I didn't know what to do here. But...

Hades: Ah, the pearls. Yes, my brother and his little tricks. Bring them forth, Percy Jackson.

Percy took out the pearls from his pocket.

Hades: Only four. What a shame. You do realize each only protects a single person. Try to take your mother, then, little godling. And which of your friends will you leave behind to spend eternity with me? Go on. Choose. Or give me the backpack and accept my terms.

This was not good.

Theo: We were tricked. Set up.

Annabeth: Yes, but why? And the voice in the pit—

Percy: I don't know yet, but I intend to ask.

Hades: DECIDE, BOY!

Grover put his hand on Percy's shoulder.

Grover: Percy, you can't give him the bolt.

Percy: I know that.

Grover: Leave me here. Use the fourth pearl on your mom.

Percy: No!

Grover: I'm a satyr. We don't have souls like humans do. He can torture me until I die, but he won't get me forever. I'll just be reincarnated as a flower or something. It's the best way.

Annabeth: No.

She drew her bronze knife.

Annabeth: You three go on. Grover, you have to protect Percy. You have to get your searcher's license and start your quest for Pan. Get his mom out of here. I'll cover you. I plan to go down fighting.

Grover: No way, I'm staying.

Annabeth: Think again, goat boy.

Theo: No, screw that!

I took out my sword and activated my shield.

Theo: You guys get Mrs. Jackson out of here. I'll hold them off. Might was well leave this life the way I came in, kicking and screaming.

Annabeth: No, you're not!

Percy: STOP IT, ALL OF YOU!

We looked at Percy, who had a pained look on his face. He then nodded to himself.

Percy: I know what to do. Take these.

He gives me, Annabeth, and Grover three pearls and keeps the fourth to himself.

Theo: But, Percy—

Percy looked at his mother.

Percy: I'm sorry. I'll be back. I'll find a way.

Hades: Godling...?

Percy: I'll find your helm, Uncle, I'll return it. Remember about Charon's pay raise.

Hades: Do not defy me—

Percy: And it wouldn't hurt to play with Cerberus once in a while. He likes red rubber balls.

Hades: Percy Jackson, you will not—

Percy: NOW!

We smashed the pearls at our feet. For a scary moment, nothing happened.

Hades: DESTROY THEM!

The army of skeletons rushed forward, swords out, guns clicking to full automatic. The Furies lunged, their whips bursting into flame.

Just as the skeletons opened fire, the pearl fragments at my feet exploded with a burst of green light and a gust of fresh sea wind. I was encased in a milky white sphere, which was starting to float off the ground.

Annabeth, Grover, and I were right behind Percy. Spears and bullets sparked harmlessly off the pearl bubbles as we floated up. Hades yelled with such rage, the entire fortress shook and I knew it was not going to be a peaceful night in L.A.

Grover: LOOK UP! WE'RE GONNA CRASH!

Sure enough, we were racing right toward the stalactites, which I figured would pop our bubbles and skewer us.

Annabeth: HOW DO YOU CONTROL THESE THINGS?!

Theo: I DON'T THINK WE CAN!

We screamed as the bubbles slammed into the ceiling and...Darkness.

Were we dead.

No. I could still feel the racing sensation. We were going up, right through solid rock as easily as an air bubble in water.

For a few moments, I couldn't see anything outside the smooth walls of my sphere, then my pearl broke through on the ocean floor. The two other milky spheres, Annabeth and Grover, kept pace with me as we soared upward through the water. And—ker-blam!

We exploded on the surface, in the middle of the Santa Monica Bay, knocking a surfer off his board.

Percy grabbed Grover and swam to a life buoy, while I did the same with Annabeth. A curious shark was circling us, a great white about eleven feet long.

Percy: (to the shark) Beat it.

The shark swam away.

The surfer screamed something about bad mushrooms and paddled away from us as fast as he could.

I look at my watch to check the date. It said June 21. The day of the summer solstice. In the distance, Los Angeles was on fire, plumes of smoke rising from neighborhoods all over the city. There had been an earthquake, all right, and it was Hades's fault. He was probably sending an army of the dead after us right now.

A Coast Guard boat picked us up, but they were too busy to keep us for long, or to wonder how three kids in street clothes had gotten out into the middle of the bay. There was a disaster to mop up. Their radios were jammed with distress calls.

They dropped us off at the Santa Monica Pier with towels around our shoulders and water bottles that said I'M A JUNIOR COAST GUARD! and sped off to save more people.

We were all soaked, even Percy, for some reason. Percy gave Grover his shoes to hide his hooves.

After reaching dry land, we stumbled down the beach, watching the city burn against a beautiful sunrise. I felt as if I'd just come back from the dead—which I had.

Annabeth: I don't believe it. We went all that way—

Theo: This is bullshit.

Percy: It was a trick. A strategy worthy of Athena.

Annabeth: Hey!

Percy: You get it, don't you?

Annabeth: (sighs) Yeah. I get it.

Grover: Well, I don't! Would somebody—

Theo: I'm sorry about your mom, Percy.

Percy: The prophecy was right. You shall go west and face the god who has turned.' But it wasn't Hades. Hades didn't want war among the Big Three. Someone else pulled off the theft. Someone stole Zeus's master bolt, and Hades's helm, and framed me because I'm Poseidon's kid. Poseidon will get blamed by both sides. By sundown today, there will be a three-way war. And I'll have caused it.

Grover: But who would be that sneaky? Who would want war that bad?

Theo: The same son of a bitch who gave us that backpack.

There he was, waiting for us, in his black leather duster and his sunglasses, an aluminum baseball bat propped on his shoulder. His motorcycle rumbled beside him, its headlight turning the sand red.

Ares: Hey, kid. You were supposed to die.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

There he was, waiting for us, in his black leather duster and his sunglasses, an aluminum baseball bat propped on his shoulder. His motorcycle rumbled beside him, its headlight turning the sand red.

Ares: Hey, kid. You were supposed to die.

Percy: You tricked me. You stole the helm and the master bolt.

Ares: (grins) Well, now, I didn't steal them personally. Gods taking each other's symbols of power—that's a big no-no. But you're not the only hero in the world who can run errands.

Theo: Who'd you use? Clarisse? She was there at the winter solstice.

Ares: Doesn't matter. (turns to Percy) The point is, kid, you're impeding the war effort. See, you've got to die in the Underworld. Then Old Seaweed will be mad at Hades for killing you. Corpse Breath will have Zeus's master bolt, so Zeus'll be mad at him. And Hades is still looking for this...

From his pocket he took out a ski cap—the kind bank robbers wear—and placed it between the handlebars of his bike. Immediately, the cap transformed into an elaborate bronze war helmet.

Grover: The helm of darkness!

Ares: Exactly. Now where was I? Oh yeah, Hades will be mad at both Zeus and Poseidon, because he doesn't know who took this. Pretty soon, we got a nice little three-way slugfest going.

Annabeth: But they're your family!

Ares: (shrugs) Best kind of war. Always the bloodiest. Nothing like watching your relatives fight, I always say.

Percy: You gave me the backpack in Denver. The master bolt was in there the whole time.

Ares: Yes and no. I tinkered with the magic a bit, so the bolt would only return to the sheath once you reached the Underworld. You get close to Hades...Bingo, you got mail. If you died along the way—no loss. I still had the weapon.

Theo: Why send the master bolt to Hades, then? Why not just keep it for yourself?

Ares got a twitch in his jaw. For a moment, it was almost as if he were listening to another voice, deep inside his head.

Ares: Why didn't I...yeah...with that kind of firepower...

He held the trance for a couple of seconds as I exchanged nervous looks with Theo and Annabeth. Then Ares' face cleared.

Ares: I didn't want the trouble. Better to have you caught red-handed, holding the thing.

Theo: Bullshit. Sending the bolt to the Underworld wasn't even your idea, was it?

Ares: Of course, it was!

Smoke drifted up from his sunglasses, as if they were about to catch fire.

Theo: Nah, you're too stupid to come up with a plan like that! Someone else sent a hero to steal the two items. Then, when Zeus sent you to hunt him down, you caught the thief. But you didn't turn him over to Zeus. Something convinced you to let him go. You kept the items until another hero could come along and complete the delivery. That thing in the pit is ordering you around.

Ares: I am the god of war! I take orders from no one! I don't have dreams!

Percy: Who said anything about dreams?

Ares looked agitated, but he tried to cover it with a smirk.

Ares: Let's get back to the problem at hand, kid. You're alive. I can't have you taking that bolt to Olympus. You just might get those hard-headed idiots to listen to you. So I've got to kill you. Nothing personal.

He snapped his fingers. The sand exploded at his feet and out charged a wild boar, even larger and uglier than the one whose head hung above the door of cabin seven at Camp Half-Blood. The beast pawed the sand, glaring at me with beady eyes as it lowered its razor-sharp tusks and waited for the command to kill.

I stepped into the surf.

Percy: Fight me yourself, Ares!

He laughed, but I heard a little edge to his laughter...an uneasiness.

Ares: You've only got one talent, kid, running away. You ran from the Chimera. You ran from the Underworld. You don't have what it takes.

Percy: Scared?

Ares: In your adolescent dreams.

But his sunglasses were starting to melt from the heat of his eyes.

Ares: No direct involvement. Sorry, kid. You're not at my level.

Annabeth: PERCY, RUN!

The giant boar charged.

But I was done running from monsters. Or Hades, or Ares, or anybody.

As the boar rushed me, I uncapped my pen and sidestepped. Riptide appeared in my hands.

Theo: SELAS!

A glowing silver arrow flew past me and hit the ground underneath the boar. It created silver sparks and a powerful concussive blast that sent the boar flying over us and into the sea.

I glanced at Theo, who had his bow in his right hand, which was glowing silver, then I focused on the boar.

Percy: WAVE!

Immediately, a wave surged up from nowhere and engulfed the boar, wrapping around it like a blanket. The beast squealed once in terror. Then it was gone, swallowed by the sea.

Percy: (to Ares) Are you going to fight me now? Or are you going to hide behind another pet pig?

Ares: Watch it, kid. I could turn you into—

Theo: A cockroach. Or a tapeworm. Yeah, I'm sure. That'd save you from getting your godly ass kicked, wouldn't it?

Ares: Oh, man, you two are really asking to be smashed into a grease spot.

Percy: If we lose, turn me into anything you want. Take the bolt. If we win, the helm and the bolt are mine and you have to go away.

Ares sneered as he swung the baseball bat off his shoulder.

Ares: How would you like to get smashed: classic or modern?

I showed him my sword while Theo took out his sword and shield.

Ares: That's cool, dead boys. Classic it is.

The baseball bat changed into a huge, two-handed sword. The hilt was a large silver skull with a ruby in its mouth.

Theo's POV

Annabeth: Percy, Theo, don't do this...He's a god.

Theo: He's a pussy.

Annabeth: Well...Wear this, at least. For luck.

She took off her necklace, with her five years' worth of camp beads and the ring from her father, and tied it around my neck.

Annabeth: A show of friendship. Artemis and Athena.

Theo: (smiles) Thanks.

Grover: And take this.

He handed Percy a flattened tin can that he'd probably been saving in his pocket for a thousand miles.

Grover: The satyrs stand behind you.

Percy: Grover...I don't know what to say.

He patted Percy on the shoulder. He stuffed the tin can in his back pocket.

Ares: You all done saying goodbye?

Ares came toward me, his black leather duster trailing behind him, his sword glinting like fire in the sunrise.

Ares: I've been fighting for eternity, kid. My strength is unlimited and I cannot die. What have you got?

Theo: (smirks) A smaller ego.

Ares growled as Percy and I backed up into the water until it reached our ankles. I thought back to what Annabeth had said at the Denver diner, so long ago: Ares has strength. That's all he has. Even strength has to bow to wisdom sometimes.

Ares swung his sword at Percy, but somehow the water got him out of the way. It catapulted him over Ares as he swung at the god's back, which would've been slashed had Ares not blocked it with his sword hilt.

He then swung his sword at me, but I blocked it with my shield. I swung back, but he dodged my swing and pushed me back with his sword.

Ares: Not bad. Not bad.

He slashed at us again, forcing us onto dry land. Percy tried to sidestep to get back in the water, but Ares must've figured out what he was trying to do.

He outmaneuvered both of us, pressing so hard I had to put all my concentration on not getting sliced into pieces. I kept trying to find an opening, but I couldn't. His sword was much bigger than mine and Percy's.

I guess I have to get in close.

Ares managed to knock Percy's blade out of his hands and kicked him in the chest. He was sent back at least 20 feet before landing back on the sand.

Annabeth: PERCY! THEO! COPS!

I glanced to my left and saw a police cruiser parked just before the sand. I turned towards Ares and charged at him.

He swung at my neck, but I ducked under it and slashed his leg.

Ares: ARGH!

He kicked me in the chest, sending me back a few feet. I got on one knee when I saw Ares charging at me so fast, I barely had any time to react.

He slashed downwards at me, but I blocked it with my shield. But the problem it, the swing was so powerful, his sword carved into the shield.

He swung downwards again and again. I blocked every swing with by shield, which kept getting dented and bent after each swing.

After the umpteenth swing, my shield was mangled beyond belief. It was bent in half at a 90-degree angle and massive dents were all over it.

Ares kicked him in the chin, forcing me on my back, and was about to drive his sword into my chest. Right before he did, Percy came back at him, Riptide in hand, and swung. But again, Ares managed to deflect it.

His attention was diverted to Percy, while I lay on the ground, trying to recover from Ares' kick.

Ares: Admit it, kid. You got no hope. I'm just toying with you.

I saw a second cop car pulling up, siren wailing. Spectators, people who had been wandering the streets because of the earthquake, were starting to gather. Among the crowd, I thought I saw a few who were walking with the strange, trotting gait of disguised satyrs. There were shimmering forms of spirits, too, as if the dead had risen from Hades to watch the battle. I heard the flap of leathery wings circling somewhere above.

More sirens.

Percy stepped farther into the water, but Ares was fast. The tip of his blade ripped his sleeve and grazed his forearm.

Police Officer: Drop the guns! Set them on the ground. Now!

Guns?

I looked at Ares's weapon, and it seemed to be flickering; sometimes it looked like a shotgun, sometimes a two-handed sword. I didn't know what the humans were seeing in my hands.

Ares turned to glare at our spectators. There were five police cars now, and a line of officers crouching behind them, pistols trained on us.

Ares: This is a private matter! Be gone!

He swept his hand, and a wall of red flame rolled across the patrol cars. The police barely had time to dive for cover before their vehicles exploded. The crowd behind them scattered, screaming.

Alright, screw this.

I got on one knee and formed my bow and quiver. I took out an arrow and nocked just as my right forearm and arrow glowed silver.

I aimed the glowing arrow right at Ares, who was about to slash Percy.

Theo: SELAS!

The arrow flew and hit Ares right in the ass. The blast sent him flying over Percy and into the water.

I got up, took out my sword, and ran towards Percy just as Ares got up.

Ares: Really, Miller?!

Theo: Like father, like daughter, huh?!

Ares glared at me. Just then, I looked down and saw the water receding. I looked at Percy and saw that he had lowered his sword while looking focused.

Oh, I see what he's doing.

Ares raised his sword, then suddenly.

Percy: JUMP!

I jumped over Ares while Percy did the same. Just then, A six-foot wall of water smashed him full in the face, leaving him cursing and sputtering with a mouth full of seaweed.

Percy and I landed behind Ares with a splash. We both looked at each other and nodded.

Percy feinted towards Ares' feet, while I went for his chest. He turned in time to raise his sword, but this time he was disoriented, he didn't anticipate the trick. Percy changed direction, lunged to the side, and stabbed Riptide straight down into the water, sending the point through the god's heel. While I activated the hidden blade on my left bracer and stabbed it straight into his right shoulder.

The roar that followed made Hades's earthquake look like a minor event. The very sea was blasted back from Ares, leaving a wet circle of sand fifty feet wide.

Ichor, the golden blood of the gods, flowed from a gash in the war god's boot and duster. The expression on his face was beyond hatred. It was pain, shock, and complete disbelief that he'd been wounded.

He limped toward us, muttering ancient Greek curses. But something stopped him.

It was as if a cloud covered the sun, but worse. Light faded. Sound and color drained away. A cold, heavy presence passed over the beach, slowing time, dropping the temperature to freezing, and making me feel like life was hopeless, fighting was useless.

The darkness lifted.

Ares looked stunned.

Police cars were burning behind us. The crowd of spectators had fled. Annabeth and Grover stood on the beach, in shock, watching the water flood back around Ares's feet, his glowing golden ichor dissipating in the tide.

Ares lowered his sword.

Ares: You have made an enemy, godling. You have sealed your fate. Every time you raise your blade in battle, every time you hope for success, you will feel my curse. Beware, Perseus Jackson. Beware.

His body began to glow.

Annabeth: PERCY! THEO! DON'T WATCH!

I turned away as the god Ares revealed his true immortal form. I somehow knew that if I looked, I would disintegrate into ashes.

The light faded. I looked back. Ares was gone. The tide rolled out to reveal Hades's bronze helm of darkness. Percy picked it up and we walked toward our friends.

But before we got there, we heard the flapping of leathery wings. Three evil-looking grandmothers with lace hats and fiery whips drifted down from the sky and landed in front of us.

The middle Fury, the one who had been Mrs. Dodds, stepped forward. Her fangs were bared, but for once she didn't look threatening. She looked disappointed.

Mrs. Dodds: We saw the whole thing. So . . . it truly was not you?

Percy tossed her the helm of darkness, which she caught with a surprised look on her face.

Percy: Return that to Lord Hades. Tell him the truth. Tell him to call off the war.

She hesitated, then ran a forked tongue over her green, leathery lips.

Mrs. Dodds: Live well, Percy Jackson. Become a true hero. Because if you do not, if you ever come into my clutches again...

She cackled, savoring the idea. Then she and her sisters rose on their bats' wings, fluttered into the smoke-filled sky, and disappeared.

We joined Annabeth and Grover, both of whom looked stunned.

Grover: Percy...Theo...That was so incredibly...

Annabeth: Terrifying.

Grover: Cool!

I didn't feel terrified. I certainly didn't feel cool. I was tired and sore and completely drained of energy.

Theo: Did you guys feel...whatever that was?

They both nodded uneasily.

Grover: Must've been the Furies overhead.

I somehow knew that it wasn't the Furies. Something stopped Ares. Something much more powerful.

I looked at Annabeth, and an understanding passed between us. I knew now what was in that pit, what had spoken from the entrance of Tartarus.

Percy took his backpack back from Grover and looked inside. He looked pretty calm, so I knew that the master bolt was still in there.

Percy: We have to get back to New York. By tonight.

Annabeth: That's impossible, unless we—

Percy: Fly.

Theo: Wait. Just so we're clear. You want to fly in an airplane, which you were warned not to do because Zeus would blast you out of the sky, while carrying Oppenheimer's worst nightmare?

Percy: (shrugs) Basically, yeah.

I looked at Annabeth and Grover, hoping that they might have another idea, but I knew there wasn't any.

Theo: Fuck it. Let's go.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality. Chiron had told me that long ago. As usual, I didn't appreciate his wisdom until much later.

According to the L.A. news, the explosion at the Santa Monica beach had been caused when a crazy kidnapper fired a shotgun at a police car. He accidentally hit a gas main that had ruptured during the earthquake.

This crazy kidnapper (a.k.a. Ares) was the same man who had abducted me and three other adolescents in New York and brought us across the country on a ten-day odyssey of terror.

Poor little Percy Jackson wasn't an international criminal after all. He'd caused a commotion on that Greyhound bus in New Jersey trying to get away from his captor (and afterward, witnesses would even swear they had seen the leather-clad man on the bus—"Why didn't I remember him before?"). The crazy man had caused the explosion in the St. Louis Arch. After all, no kid could've done that. A concerned waitress in Denver had seen the man threatening his abductees outside her diner, gotten a friend to take a photo, and notified the police. Finally, brave Percy Jackson (I was beginning to like this kid) had stolen a gun from his captor in Los Angeles and battled him shotgun-to-rifle on the beach. Police had arrived just in time. But in the spectacular explosion, five police cars had been destroyed and the captor had fled. No fatalities had occurred. Percy Jackson and his three friends were safely in police custody.

The reporters fed us this whole story. We just nodded and acted tearful and exhausted (which wasn't hard), and played victimized kids for the cameras.

Percy: (fake crying) All I want," I said, choking back my tears, "is to see my loving stepfather again. Every time I saw him on TV, calling me a delinquent punk, I knew . . . somehow . . . we would be okay. And I know he'll want to reward each and every person in this beautiful city of Los Angeles with a free major appliance from his store. Here's the phone number.

The police and reporters were so moved that they passed around the hat and raised money for four tickets on the next plane to New York.

The second we got on the plane, Theo and I shared a fist bump.

I knew there was no choice but to fly. I hoped Zeus would cut me some slack, considering the circumstances. But it was still hard to force myself on board the flight.

Takeoff was a nightmare. Every spot of turbulence was scarier than a Greek monster. I didn't unclench my hands from the armrests until we touched down safely at La Guardia.

New York City

The local press was waiting for us outside security, but we managed to evade them thanks to Annabeth, who lured them away in her invisible Yankees cap, shouting that I was by the frozen yogurt, then rejoined us at baggage claim.

We split up at the taxi stand. I told Annabeth, Theo, and Grover to get back to Half-Blood Hill and let Chiron know what had happened. They protested, and it was hard to let them go after all we'd been through, but I knew I had to do this last part of the quest by myself. If things went wrong, if the gods didn't believe me...I wanted Annabeth, Theo, and Grover to survive to tell Chiron the truth.

But Theo insisted on coming with me. I just accepted, knowing that he won't leave me alone until I let him come.

We hopped in a taxi and headed into Manhattan.

Thirty minutes later, we walked into the lobby of the Empire State Building.

I must have looked like a homeless kid, with my tattered clothes and my scraped-up face. I hadn't slept in at least twenty-four hours.

We went up to the guard at the front desk.

Percy: Six hundredth floor.

He was reading a huge book with a picture of a wizard on the front. I wasn't much into fantasy, but the book must've been good because the guard took a while to look up.

Guard: No such floor, kiddo.

Percy: I need an audience with Zeus.

Guard: Sorry?

Percy: You heard me.

I was about to decide this guy was just a regular mortal, and I'd better run for it before he called the straitjacket patrol, but...

Guard: No appointment, no audience, kiddo. Lord Zeus doesn't see anyone unannounced.

Theo: (smirks) Trust me, buddy. I think he could make an exception.

I slipped off my backpack and unzipped the top.

The guard looked inside at the metal cylinder, not getting what it was for a few seconds. Then his face went pale.

Guard: That isn't...

Percy: Yes, it is. You want me to take it out and—

Guard: No! No!

He scrambled out of his seat, fumbled around his desk for a key card, then handed it to me.

Guard: Insert this in the security slot. Make sure nobody else is in the elevator with you.

I did as he told me. As soon as the elevator doors closed, I slipped the key into the slot. The card disappeared and a new button appeared on the console, a red one that said 600. I pressed it and waited and waited. Muzak played.

Finally, DING! The doors slid open.

Theo and I stepped out and almost had a heart attack.

Theo: Holy shit!

We were standing on a narrow stone walkway in the middle of the air. Below me was Manhattan, from the height of an airplane. In front of me, white marble steps wound up the spine of a cloud, into the sky. My eyes followed the stairway to its end, where my brain just could not accept what I saw. From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, its summit covered with snow. Clinging to the mountainside were dozens of multileveled palaces—a city of mansions—all with white columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires.

Roads wound crazily up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gardens bloomed with olive trees and rose bushes. I could make out an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippodrome, and a coliseum on the other. It was an Ancient Greek city, except it wasn't in ruins. It was new, clean, and colorful, the way Athens must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago.

This place can't be here, I told myself. The tip of a mountain hanging over New York City like a billion-ton asteroid? How could something like that be anchored above the Empire State Building, in plain sight of millions of people, and not get noticed? But here it was. And here I was.

Our trip through Olympus was a daze. We passed some giggling wood nymphs who threw olives at me from their garden. Hawkers in the market offered to sell me ambrosia-on-a-stick, and a new shield, and a genuine glitter-weave replica of the Golden Fleece, as seen on Hephaestus-TV. The nine muses were tuning their instruments for a concert in the park while a small crowd gathered—satyrs and naiads and a bunch of good-looking teenagers who might've been minor gods and goddesses. Nobody seemed worried about an impending civil war. In fact, everybody seemed in a festive mood. Several of them turned to watch me pass and whispered to themselves.

We climbed the main road, toward the big palace at the peak. It was a reverse copy of the palace in the Underworld.

There, everything had been black and bronze. Here, everything glittered white and silver.

I realized Hades must've built his palace to resemble this one. He wasn't welcomed in Olympus except on the winter solstice, so he'd built his own Olympus underground. Despite my bad experience with him, I felt a little sorry for the guy. To be banished from this place seemed really unfair. It would make anybody bitter.

Steps led up to a central courtyard. Past that, the throne room.

Room really isn't the right word. The place made Grand Central Station look like a broom closet. Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling, which was gilded with moving constellations.

Twelve thrones, built for beings the size of Hades, were arranged in an inverted U, just like the cabins at Camp Half-Blood. An enormous fire crackled in the central hearth pit. The thrones were empty except for two at the end: the head throne on the right, and the one to its immediate left. I didn't have to be told who the two gods were that were sitting there, waiting for me to approach. We came toward them, my legs trembling.

The gods were in giant human form, as Hades had been, but I could barely look at them without feeling a tingle, as if my body were starting to burn. Zeus, the Lord of the Gods, wore a dark blue pinstriped suit. He sat on a simple throne of solid platinum. He had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was proud and handsome and grim, his eyes rainy gray.

As we got nearer to him, the air crackled and smelled of ozone.

The god sitting next to him was his brother, without a doubt, but he was dressed very differently. He reminded me of a beachcomber from Key West. He wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots all over it. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands scarred like an old-time fisherman's. His hair was black, like mine. His face had that same brooding look that had always gotten me branded a rebel. But his eyes, sea-green like mine, were surrounded by sun crinkles that told me he smiled a lot, too.

His throne was a deep-sea fisherman's chair. It was the simple swiveling kind, with a black leather seat and a built-in holster for a fishing pole. Instead of a pole, the holster held a bronze trident, flickering with green light around the tips.

The gods weren't moving or speaking, but there was tension in the air as if they'd just finished an argument.

I saw two of them glance at Theo. A god and a goddess. The god had a gentle smile on his face once he saw Theo, while the goddess had a sad expression like she was reminded of a tragic memory.

I approached the fisherman's throne and knelt at his feet, while Theo approached the platinum throne and knelt at Zeus's feet.

Percy: Father.

I dared not look up. My heart was racing. I could feel the energy emanating from the two gods. If I said the wrong thing, I had no doubt they could blast me into dust.

Zeus: Should you not address the master of this house first, boy? At least the other one knows his manners.

I kept my head down and waited.

Poseidon: Peace, brother. The boy defers to his father. This is only right.

Zeus: You still claim him then? You claim this child whom you sired against our sacred oath?

Poseidon: I have admitted my wrongdoing. Now I would hear him speak.

Wrongdoing.

A lump welled up in my throat. Was that all I was? A wrongdoing? The result of a god's mistake?

Zeus: I have spared him and his friend once already. Daring to fly through my domain...pah! I should have blasted them out of the sky for his impudence.

Poseidon: And risk destroying your own master bolt? Let us hear them out, brother.

Zeus grumbled some more.

Zeus: I shall listen, then I shall make up my mind whether or not to cast these boys down from Olympus.

Poseidon: Perseus, look at me.

I did, and I wasn't sure what I saw in his face. There was no clear sign of love or approval. Nothing to encourage me. It was like looking at the ocean: some days, you could tell what mood it was in. Most days, though, it was unreadable, mysterious.

I got the feeling Poseidon really didn't know what to think of me. He didn't know whether he was happy to have me as a son or not. In a strange way, I was glad that Poseidon was so distant. If he'd tried to apologize or told me he loved me or even smiled, it would've felt fake. Like a human dad, making some lame excuse for not being around. I could live with that. After all, I wasn't sure about him yet, either.

Poseidon: Address Lord Zeus, boy. Tell him your story.

So Theo and I told Zeus everything, just as it had happened. I took out the metal cylinder, which began sparking in the Sky God's presence, and laid it at his feet.

There was a long silence, broken only by the crackle of the hearth fire.

Zeus opened his palm. The lightning bolt flew into it. As he closed his fist, the metallic points flared with electricity, until he was holding what looked more like the classic thunderbolt, a twenty-foot javelin of arcing, hissing energy that made the hairs on my scalp rise.

Zeus: I sense the boys tell the truth. But that Ares would do such a thing...it is most unlike him.

Poseidon: He is proud and impulsive. It runs in the family.

Theo: Lord?

Zeus & Poseidon: Yes?

Theo: Ares didn't act alone. Someone else—something else— came up with the idea.

I described my dreams, and the feeling I'd had on the beach, that momentary breath of evil that had seemed to stop the world and made Ares back off from killing me.

Percy: In the dreams, the voice told me to bring the bolt to the Underworld. Ares hinted that he'd been having dreams, too. I think he was being used, just as I was, to start a war.

Zeus: You are accusing Hades, after all?

Percy: No. I mean, Lord Zeus, I've been in the presence of Hades. This feeling on the beach was different. It was the same thing I felt when I got close to that pit. That was the entrance to Tartarus, wasn't it? Something powerful and evil is stirring down there...something even older than the gods.

Poseidon and Zeus looked at each other. They had a quick, intense discussion in Ancient Greek. I only caught one word. Father.

Poseidon made some kind of suggestion, but Zeus cut him off. Poseidon tried to argue. Zeus held up his hand angrily.

Zeus: We will speak of this no more. I must go personally to purify this thunderbolt in the waters of Lemnos, to remove the human taint from its metal.

He rose and looked at me and Theo. His expression softened just a fraction of a degree.

Zeus: You have both done me a service, boys. Few heroes could have accomplished as much.

Percy: We had help, sir. Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase—

Zeus: To show you my thanks, I shall spare your lives. I do not trust you, Perseus Jackson. I do not like what your arrival means for the future of Olympus. But for the sake of peace in the family, I shall let you live.

Percy: Um...thank you, sir.

Zeus: Do not presume to fly again. Do not let me find you here when I return. Otherwise, you shall taste this bolt. And it shall be your last sensation.

Thunder shook the palace. With a blinding flash of lightning, Zeus was gone.

It was only me and Theo with my father.

Poseidon looked at Theo. Theo nodded then looked at me.

Theo: I'll be right outside.

He bowed to Poseidon, then walked out of the throne room, leaving me with my father.

Theo's POV

After Zeus and the other gods (except Poseidon) left, I figured I should let Percy have a moment with his father.

I went to the central courtyard and sat on a bench. I leaned back and let out a breath. These past 10 days have been, without a doubt, the craziest days of my entire life.

And I had a feeling that it would only get crazier in the future.

???: Hey, kid.

I looked to my left and saw one of the gods I saw in the throne room walking up to me. He wore a black suit with a red tie and sunglasses.

God: Mind if I join you?

Theo: (nods) Sure.

The god sat down next to me.

God: Crazy quest, huh?

Theo: (chuckles) That's an understatement.

God: Yeah, I bet.

Suddenly, a cell phone rang in the god's jacket pocket.

God: (sighs) Excuse me.

He took out his phone, which glowed with a bluish light. He extended his antenna, and two green snakes began writhing around it.

Wait a minute...

God: (on the phone) Hello?

The snakes writhed up and down next to his ear.

God: Listen, I'm a bit busy over here. I'm gonna have to call you back. See you.

He pressed the antenna down and pocketed his pocket.

Theo: Hermes?

Hermes: (chuckles) Yeah. It's good to see you, Theo.

I couldn't help but smile. But then I got upset when I noticed something.

Theo: Where's my mother? I thought she might've at least come to see me.

Hermes: (sighs) Please don't be angry at her, but...She doesn't feel like she's ready to see you.

Theo: Why?

Hermes: It's...complicated.

I had that look on my face that basically said, "I'm not leaving until you spill."

Hermes: (sighs) Your dad used to have the same look on his face.

Theo: So I guess you know what it means, don't you?

Hermes nodded, then sighed.

Hermes: I can only tell you some things. There's a lot I can't say. I swore to Artemis on the Styx that I wouldn't.

I nodded in understanding.

Hermes: (sighs) Your mother was never one to fall in love. She had some relationships, but never romantic. Then she met your father, and...(chuckles) She was head over heels for him.

I smiled a bit.

Hermes: They both loved each other dearly. Then, somewhere along the line, they had you. Artemis couldn't be around as much. Ancient laws and all that. But your dad never held it against her, and he told you stories about her every night.

He smiled at the memory, then frowned.

Hermes: Two months after you were born, a man came. Someone very powerful. He wanted to face Artemis, and he figured that the best way to get to her...was through you and your father. Your father hid you and went out to confront the man, to protect you, but...

I understood what happened after that, so I nodded.

Hermes: Artemis was very heartbroken and angry when it happened. She called in all of her Hunters and attacked the man with the intent to kill him. But he survived and managed to get away.

Theo: Who was he?

Hermes: I can't tell you.

I sighed.

Hermes: After that, Artemis carried you away. She wanted to hide you away, at least until you were forgotten. She sought out Hecate for help.

Theo: What did Hecate do?

Hermes: She told your mother that there was a spell she could perform. A complicated one...One that would send you forward in time.

Theo: Wait, what?

Hermes: I know it sounds insane, but...She said that it was the best way to protect you. You were put in a bronze crib, left a note that was enchanted to be translated into whatever main language of that time period, and that necklace you're wearing...

I looked down at my silver arrowhead necklace.

Theo: And dropped me off in front of an orphanage in Brooklyn in 1993.

Hermes: Yeah.

I let out a shuddered breath as I processed what I just heard in my head.

Theo: I...I don't know what to say.

Hermes: You don't have to say anything.

I shook my head in utter disbelief.

Theo: What did Artemis do after that?

Hermes: She vowed to never fall in love again. As time went on, the world forgot about Artemis having a child, and they considered her a maiden goddess.

I just nodded. I mean, what the hell was I supposed to say after all that?!

Hermes: I'm sorry to dump all this on you...

Theo: No, no. It's...It's fine. It's just a lot to process.

Hermes nodded in understanding.

Theo: Doesn't really help that there's something else wracking my brain.

Hermes: What?

Theo: The pit in the Underworld. The voice that Percy heard...What was in there?

Hermes: I think you already know.

I remembered feeling the strong presence in the pit, the deep voice Percy described in his dreams, how Ares backed off so suddenly. There's only one being that could do those things...The only one that I could think of that would want the master bolt for himself.

Theo: Kronos.

Hermes nodded, confirming my suspicion.

Even here on Olympus, far away from Tartarus, the name Kronos made the winds feel cold.

Hermes: In the First War, Zeus cut his father Kronos into a thousand pieces, just as Kronos had done to his own father, Ouranos. Zeus cast Kronos's remains into the darkest pit of Tartarus. The Titan army was scattered, their mountain fortress on Etna destroyed, their monstrous allies driven to the farthest corners of the earth. And yet Titans cannot die, any more than we gods can. Whatever is left of Kronos is still alive in some hideous way, still conscious in his eternal pain, still hungering for power.

Theo: He's coming back. He's healing, even now.

Hermes: Maybe. But then again, Kronos has stirred before. He enters men's nightmares and breathes evil thoughts. He wakens restless monsters from the depths. But to think that he might get out of that pit...That's a whole different matter. The chances of that happening are very low.

Theo: But never zero.

Hermes didn't even try to deny it.

We sat in silence for a few seconds, then I saw Hermes glancing at my Adidas shoes with a smile.

Hermes: I see the shoes fit nice.

Theo: Yeah, they're perfect. Eric gave them to me, said that it was a gift his dad wanted to give me.

Hermes still smiled as I figured it out.

Theo: You gave it to him, didn't you? So that he'd give it to me?

Hermes: Yeah. Didn't see why I shouldn't spoil my grandson a bit.

He ruffled my hair as we both laughed.

Just then, we heard the throne room door opening. We looked over and saw Percy coming out.

Hermes: (to Theo) You should join your friend.

I just nodded before getting up and walking towards Percy.

Hermes: Theo.

I turned around and faced Theo.

Hermes: Your mother may not be here in person, but...She'd be very proud of you, just like I am. Just like your father would be.

Theo: (nods) Thank you, Grandfather.

Hermes: (chuckles) That'll take some getting used to.

Theo: (smirks) You'll get there. See you around.

I left the palace with Percy.

Timeskip

After our little trip to Olympus, Percy and I left the Empire State Building. Percy said that he'd go see his mom in Manhattan, so I said that I'd see David in Brooklyn.

About 30 minutes later, I was in front of my apartment. It felt strange coming back here after everything that has happened.

I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, David opened the door.

David: Theo?

I ran up to him and hugged him tightly, and I felt him wrap his arms around me.

Theo: I missed you.

David: I missed you too, kiddo.

We both separated and smiled at each other.

David: We have a lot to catch up on.

Theo: Yeah, we do.

We both went inside and sat on the living room couch. I told him everything that happened ever since I left, making sure I didn't miss a single detail.

Before I knew it, it was time to leave. I promised him that I'd come back home at the end of the summer.

We said our goodbyes before I left the apartment. I let out a deep breath before going for the elevator.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

We were the first heroes to return alive to Half-Blood Hill since Luke, so of course everybody treated us as if we'd won some reality-TV contest. According to camp tradition, we wore laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in our honor, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where we got to burn the burial shrouds our cabins had made for us in our absence.

Annabeth's shroud was so beautiful—gray silk with embroidered owls—I told her it seemed a shame not to bury her in it. She punched me and told me to shut up.

Seeing as I'm the son of Artemis, I didn't have any cabinmates. Luckily, the Apollo campers came through. Silver silk with crescent moons, bows, and arrows embroidered all over it.

Percy was on the same boat as me, having no cabinmates since he was the son of Poseidon. But unlike me, he wasn't so lucky. The Ares campers volunteered to make his shroud, and what did they do? They'd taken an old bedsheet and painted smiley faces with X'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word LOSER painted really big in the middle.

Percy burned it when no one was looking.

As Apollo's cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores, I was surrounded by my old Hermes cabinmates, Annabeth's friends from Athena, my cousins from Apollo, and Grover's satyr buddies, who were admiring the brand-new searcher's license he'd received from the Council of Cloven Elders. The council had called Grover's performance on the quest "Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past."

The only ones not in a party mood were Clarisse and her cabinmates, whose poisonous looks told me they'd never forgive me for disgracing their dad.

I told Percy, Grover, and Annabeth everything Hermes told me. I thought they were going to shut me out, but instead, they brought me into a group, saying that it wouldn't change who I am to them. That really made me smile.

Doesn't really help when I bring up the fact that I shot him in the ass just to rub some salt in the wound.

Even Dionysus's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen my spirits.

Mr. D: Yes, yes, so the little brats didn't get themselves killed and now they'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday...

I moved back to cabin 8. It didn't feel so lonely anymore. I had my friends to train with during the day. At night, I lay awake and stared at the moon and stars, knowing my mother was out there.

One day, Percy told me about a letter got from his mother. Apparently, she used Medusa's head to petrify Gabe and sell his stone ass to a collector, through an art gallery in Soho and got a lot of money for it.

Percy and I laughed about it for hours.

His mother also found a private school in New York and put a deposit in case he wanted to enroll for seventh grade.

A day later, I brought my left bracer to Beckendorf, hoping that he could fix the shield. He did that in an hour, and it came as good as new.

On the Fourth of July, the whole camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by cabin 9. Being Hephaestus's kids, they weren't going to settle for a few lame red-white-and-blue explosions. They'd anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of Patriot missiles. According to Annabeth, who'd seen the show before, the blasts would be sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames of animation across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a battle, and then explode into a million colors.

As Annabeth, Percy, and I were spreading a picnic blanket, Grover showed up to tell us goodbye. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt and sneakers, but in the last few weeks he'd started to look older, almost high-school age. His goatee had gotten thicker. He'd put on weight. His horns had grown at least an inch, so he now had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human.

Grover: I'm off. I just came to say...well, you know.

I tried to feel happy for him. After all, it wasn't every day a satyr got permission to go look for the great god Pan. But it was hard saying goodbye. I'd only known Grover for a few weeks, and I already consider him a good friend.

Annabeth gave him a hug. She told him to keep his fake feet on.

Percy asked him where he was going to search first.

Grover: Kind of a secret. I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan...

Theo: We get it. Don't worry about it.

Annabeth: You got enough tin cans for the trip?

Grover: Yeah.

Annabeth: And you remembered your reed pipes?

Grover: Geez, Annabeth. You're like an old mama goat.

But he didn't really sound annoyed.

He gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like any hitchhiker you might see on an American highway.

Theo: If Eric could see you know, he'd be real proud of me.

Grover: (smiles) I know. Well...Wish me luck.

He gave Annabeth another hug. He clapped me and Percy on the shoulder, then headed back through the dunes.

Fireworks exploded to life overhead: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who, by the way, was a son of Athena) crossing the Delaware.

Percy: Hey, Grover!

He turned at the edge of the woods.

Percy: Wherever you're going—I hope they make good enchiladas.

Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him.

Annabeth: We'll see him again.

I hope so. But the fact that no searcher had ever come back in two thousand years...well, I decided not to think about that.

Before I knew it, July passed.

I spent my days devising new strategies for Capture the Flag and making alliances with the other cabins to keep the banner out of Ares's hands. I got to the top of the climbing wall for the first time without getting scorched by lava.

But for some reason, I felt uneasy.

The last night of the summer session came all too quickly. The campers had one last meal together. We burned part of our dinner for the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads.

I got my own leather necklace, and when I saw the bead for my first summer, I was glad the firelight covered my blushing. The design was pitch black, with a silver arrow with feathered wings on both sides shimmering in the center.

Luke: The choice was unanimous. These beads commemorate the first Son of the Sea God and the first Son of Moon Goddess at this camp and the quest they undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!

The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Even Ares's cabin felt obliged to stand. Athena's cabin steered Annabeth to the front so she could share in the applause.

Timeskip

The next morning, I found a form letter on my bedside table. I knew Dionysus must've filled it out because he stubbornly insisted on getting my name wrong:

Dear Timothy Keller  ,

If you intend to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, you must inform the Big House by noon today. If you do not announce your intentions, we will assume you have vacated your cabin or died a horrible death. Cleaning harpies will begin work at sundown. They will be authorized to eat any unregistered campers. All personal articles left behind will be incinerated in the lava pit.

Have a nice day!

Mr. D (Dionysus)
Camp Director, Olympian Council #12

Really?! Fucking Timothy?! Out of all the names he could've used, he went for Timothy?!

That's another thing about ADHD. Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face. Summer was over, and I still hadn't answered David, or the camp, about whether I'd be staying. Now I had only a few hours to decide.

I remembered what Annabeth had said so long ago on our quest: The real world is where the monsters are. That's where you learn whether you're any good or not.

I thought about the fate of Thalia, daughter of Zeus. I wondered how many monsters would attack me if I left Half-Blood Hill. If I stayed in one place for a whole school year, without Chiron or my friends around to help me.

I did promise David that I'd come back home by the end of the summer, so it was an easy decision for me.

I decided to come home for the year. Any monster that tries to fuck with me, I'll deal with them then and there.

I decided to go to the archery range to pass the time.

The campgrounds were mostly deserted, shimmering in the August heat. All the campers were in their cabins packing up, or running around with brooms and mops, getting ready for final inspection. Argus was helping some of the Aphrodite kids haul their Gucci suitcases and makeup kits over the hill, where the camp's shuttle bus would be waiting to take them to the airport.

I just shook my head and kept walking.

I looked to my left and saw Luke and Percy walking into the forest.

For some reason, I remembered what Annabeth said when we were in the Santa Monica Pier: No gift comes without a price.

Gifts...

Yankees cap? Athena's gift to Annabeth.

Riptide? Poseidon's gift to Percy, which he got via Chiron.

My bracers? I had Beckendorf make them for me.

My bow and quiver? Kayla Knowles from the Apollo cabin gave them to me, and she said that Will Solace asked her to give them to me.

My flying shoes? Hermes' gift to me, which I got via Eric.

The other pair of flying shoes? The ones that almost dragged Grover to Tartarus? It was a gift from...Luke.

Those shoes were meant for Percy. If he had worn it, both he and the master bolt would've ended up in Kronos' hands...and Luke knew about it.

The same Luke that is alone with Percy in the woods.

SON OF A MOTHERFUCKING BITCH!!!

I immediately sprinted to the woods, hoping that I could get to Percy before Luke could hurt him.

Percy's POV

I wanted to go to the arena to practice my sword fighting, only to find Luke there with a new sword named Backbiter, which was made out of both tempered steel and celestial bronze, which I thought was weird since that could hurt both mortals and monsters.

Right now, I'm in the forest with Luke. We found a shady spot by the creek where I'd broken Clarisse's spear during my first Capture the Flag game. We sat on a big rock, drank our Cokes, and watched the sunlight in the woods.

Luke: You miss being on a quest?

Percy: With monsters attacking me every three feet? Are you kidding?

Luke raised an eyebrow.

Percy: Yeah, I miss it. You?

A shadow passed over his face.

I was used to hearing from the girls how good-looking Luke was, but at the moment, he looked weary, and angry, and not at all handsome. His blond hair was gray in the sunlight. The scar on his face looked deeper than usual. I could imagine him as an old man.

Luke: I've lived at Half-Blood Hill year-round since I was fourteen. Ever since Thalia...well, you know. I trained, and trained, and trained. I never got to be a normal teenager, out there in the real world. Then they threw me one quest, and when I came back, it was like, "Okay, ride's over. Have a nice life."

He crumpled his Coke can and threw it into the creek, which really shocked me. One of the first things you learn at Camp Half-Blood is: Don't litter. You'll hear from the nymphs and the naiads. They'll get even. You'll crawl into bed one night and find your sheets filled with centipedes and mud.

Luke: To hell with laurel wreaths. I'm not going to end up like those dusty trophies in the Big House attic.

Percy: You make it sound like you're leaving.

Luke gave me a twisted smile.

Luke: Oh, I'm leaving, all right, Percy. I brought you down here to say goodbye.

He snapped his fingers. A small fire burned a hole in the ground at my feet. Out crawled something glistening black, about the size of my hand. A scorpion.

I started to go for my pen.

Luke: I wouldn't. Pit scorpions can jump up to fifteen feet. Its stinger can pierce right through your clothes. You'll be dead in sixty seconds.

Percy: Luke, what—

Then it hit me.

You will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

Percy: You.

He stood calmly and brushed off his jeans.

The scorpion paid him no attention. It kept its beady black eyes on me, clamping its pincers as it crawled onto my shoe.

Luke: I saw a lot out there in the world, Percy. Didn't you feel it—the darkness gathering, the monsters growing stronger? Didn't you realize how useless it all is? All the heroics—being pawns of the gods. They should've been overthrown thousands of years ago, but they've hung on, thanks to us half-bloods.

Percy: Luke...you're talking about our parents.

Luke: (laughs) That's supposed to make me love them? Their precious 'Western civilization' is a disease, Percy. It's killing the world. The only way to stop it is to burn it to the ground, start over with something more honest.

Percy: You're as crazy as Ares.

His eyes flared.

Luke: Ares is a fool. He never realized the true master he was serving. If I had time, Percy, I could explain. But I'm afraid you won't live that long.

The scorpion crawled onto my pants leg.

There had to be a way out of this. I needed time to think.

Percy: Kronos. That's who you serve.

The air got colder.

Luke: You should be careful with names.

Percy: Kronos got you to steal the master bolt and the helm. He spoke to you in your dreams.

Luke: He spoke to you, too, Percy. You should've listened.

Percy: He's brainwashing you, Luke.

Luke: You're wrong. He showed me that my talents are being wasted. You know what my quest was two years ago, Percy? My father, Hermes, wanted me to steal a golden apple from the Garden of the Hesperides and return it to Olympus. After all the training I'd done, that was the best he could think up.

Percy: That's not an easy quest. Hercules did it.

Luke: Exactly. Where's the glory in repeating what others have done? All the gods know how to do is replay their past. My heart wasn't in it. The dragon in the garden gave me this.

He pointed angrily at his scar.

Luke: And when I came back, all I got was pity. I wanted to pull Olympus down stone by stone right then, but I bided my time. I began to dream of Kronos. He convinced me to steal something worthwhile, something no hero had ever had the courage to take. When we went on that winter solstice field trip, while the other campers were asleep, I snuck into the throne room and took Zeus's master bolt right from his chair. Hades's helm of darkness, too. You wouldn't believe how easy it was. The Olympians are so arrogant; they never dreamed someone would dare steal from them. Their security is horrible. I was halfway across New Jersey before I heard the storms rumbling, and I knew they'd discovered my theft.

The scorpion was sitting on my knee now, staring at me with its glittering eyes. I tried to keep my voice level.

Percy: So why didn't you bring the items to Kronos?

Luke: I . . . I got overconfident. Zeus sent out his sons and daughters to find the stolen bolt— Artemis, Apollo, my father, Hermes. But it was Ares who caught me. I could have beaten him, but I wasn't careful enough. He disarmed me, took the items of power, threatened to return them to Olympus, and burn me alive. Then Kronos's voice came to me and told me what to say. I put the idea in Ares's head about a great war between the gods. I said all he had to do was hide the items away for a while and watch the others fight. Ares got a wicked gleam in his eyes. I knew he was hooked. He let me go, and I returned to Olympus before anyone noticed my absence. Afterward, the Lord of the Titans . . . h-he punished me with nightmares. I swore not to fail again. Back at Camp Half-Blood, in my dreams, I was told that a second hero would arrive, one who could be tricked into taking the bolt and the helm the rest of the way—from Ares down to Tartarus.

Percy: You summoned the hellhound, that night in the forest.

Luke: We had to make Chiron think the camp wasn't safe for you, so he would start you on your quest. We had to confirm his fears that Hades was after you. And it worked.

Percy: The flying shoes were cursed. They were supposed to drag me and the backpack into Tartarus.

Luke: And they would have if you'd been wearing them. But you gave them to the satyr, which wasn't part of the plan. Grover messes up everything he touches. He even confused the curse.

Luke looked down at the scorpion, which was now sitting on my thigh.

Luke: You should have died in Tartarus, Percy. But don't worry, I'll leave you with my little friend to set things right.

Percy: Thalia gave her life to save you, and this is how you repay her?

Luke: DON'T SPEAK OF THALIA! The gods let her die! That's one of the many things they will pay for.

Percy: You're being used, Luke. You and Ares both. Don't listen to Kronos.

Luke: I've been used? Look at yourself. What has your dad ever done for you? Kronos will rise. You've only delayed his plans. He will cast the Olympians into Tartarus and drive humanity back to their caves. All except the strongest—the ones who serve him.

Percy: Call off the bug. If you're so strong, fight me yourself.

Luke: (smiles) Nice try, Percy. But I'm not Ares. You can't bait me. My lord is waiting, and he's got plenty of quests for me to—

???: GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HIM!!!

Before either of us could process whose voice it was, Luke was suddenly tackled to the ground by a flying human. Said human was his Camp Half-Blood shirt, blue jeans, and grey Adidas shoes with feathered wings on either side of their heels.

It was Theo.

Theo took out his sword and swung at Luke, but Luke blocked it before kicking him in the chest, sending him to the ground next to me.

The scorpion lunged at me while I was distracted. I swatted it away with my hand, then felt a pain there. I looked down at my hand and saw that my palm had a huge red welt, oozing and smoking with yellow guck. The thing had gotten me after all.

Luke: Goodbye, Percy, Theo. There is a new Golden Age coming. You won't be part of it.

I stumbled to the creek and submerged my hand, but nothing seemed to happen. The poison was too strong. My vision was getting dark. I could barely stand up.

Theo looked at me and his eyes widened in shock.

Theo: GET OUTTA HERE!

I saw Luke slash his sword in an arc and a ripple of darkness appeared in front of him. He was about to walk through it, but Theo got up quickly and tackled him through the ripple.

Theo's POV

This scar-faced motherfucker poisoned Percy, almost sent Grover to Tartarus, BETRAYED EVERYONE, and he thinks he can just walk away?!

NO, FUCK THAT!!!

Luke and I emerged from the ripple, which landed up somewhere else in the forest, just on the edge of the magical barrier.

We got up and readied our swords.

Luke: Give it up, Theo. You can't beat me.

Theo: Yeah. Probably.

We both charged at each other, and our swords clashed.

I could tell that Luke was fighting against his own sword, but he still had the upper hand. But I was still holding my own.

That was my plan. Hold Luke off for as long as I can until someone from camp shows up.

We fought for several minutes, and then I remembered the disarming technique that Luke showed us before the quest, so I thought I'd try it on him.

It didn't work. Not only that, but he also reversed it, disarming me.

Then he drove my own sword into my abdomen and pinned me into a tree.

Theo: ARGH!

Luke and I panted while I began to bleed out.

Luke: You know...I actually kinda liked you. Maybe in another life, we might've been friends.

I glared at him.

Luke: I'm sorry, Theo. I'm afraid you won't be able to see the new world I'm planning to make.

I took my last breath as Luke raised his sword, ready to deliver his final blow. Suddenly, a lightning bolt came down from the sky and impacted the ground beneath Luke's feet.

He was sent back to and tumbled down the hill until he was out of sight.

Why did that happen?

I used whatever strength I had left to look up, and that's when I noticed it.

It wasn't just any tree I was pinned to...It was Thalia's tree.

Theo: (chuckles) Thanks, Thalia. I owe you one.

The sound of hooves was the last thing I heard before I blacked out.

I woke up in pain.

I groaned as I opened my eyes. I was propped up in bed in the sick room of the Big House, my right hand bandaged like a club. Argus stood guard in the corner. Annabeth sat next to me, holding my hand.

Theo: Hey, Wise Girl.

Annabeth: Hey, Pinhead.

I looked down and saw my midsection wrapped in bandages. I looked to my left and saw Percy. I could tell he was unconscious since his chest was moving, and saw his hand covered in bandages.

Annabeth: How do you feel?

Theo: Like I got fucking stabbed.

???: At least your use of colorful language is still intact.

I looked and saw Chiron. He was sitting near the foot of my bed in human form, which was why I hadn't noticed him yet. His lower half was magically compacted into the wheelchair, his upper half dressed in a coat and tie. He smiled, but his face looked weary and pale.

Theo: (smirks) It's part of my charm, Chiron.

???: I can attest to that.

We all looked over and saw Percy awake. I sighed in relief, seeing him alive and well.

Chiron: (to Percy) How are you feeling?

Percy: Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved.

Chiron: Apt, considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened.

Between sips of nectar, Percy and I told them what happened.

The room was quiet for a long time.

Annabeth: I...I can't believe that Luke...

Her expression turned angry and sad.

Annabeth: Yes. Yes, I can believe it. May the gods curse him...He was never the same after his quest.

Chiron: This must be reported to Olympus. I will go at once.

Percy: Luke is out there right now. I have to go after him.

Chiron: (shakes his head) No, Percy. The gods—

Percy: Won't even talk about Kronos! Zeus declared the matter closed!

Chiron: Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready.

Percy glanced at his bandaged hand, then back at Chiron.

Percy: Chiron...your prophecy from the Oracle...it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Theo? Annabeth?

Chiron: Percy, it isn't my place—

Percy: You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?

Chiron: You will be a great hero, child. I will do my best to prepare you. But if I'm right about the path ahead of you...

Thunder boomed overhead, rattling the windows.

Chiron: ALRIGHT! FINE!

He sighed in frustration.

Chiron: The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.

Percy: We can't just sit back and do nothing!

Chiron: We will not sit back. But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unraveled. He wants your life disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come.

Percy: Assuming I live that long.

Chiron put his hand on Percy's ankle.

Chiron: You'll have to trust me, Percy. You will live. But first, you must decide your path for the coming year. I cannot tell you the right choice...But you must decide whether to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round or return to the mortal world for seventh grade and be a summer camper. Think on that. When I get back from Olympus, you must tell me your decision.

Percy stayed silent.

Chiron: I'll be back as soon as I can. Argus will watch over you. (turns to Annabeth) Oh, and, my dear...whenever you're ready, they're here.

Theo: Who's here?

Nobody answered.

Chiron rolled himself out of the room. I heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time.

Annabeth studied the ice in my drink.

Theo: What's wrong?

Annabeth: Nothing. I...just took your advice about something. You...um...need anything?

Theo: Yeah, Help me up.

Annabeth: I don't think that's a good idea, Theo.

Theo: Well, I sure as shit not staying here all day.

I slid my legs out of bed. Annabeth caught me before I could crumble to the floor. A wave of nausea rolled over me.

Annabeth: Told you...

Theo: I'm fine.

We looked at Percy, who was smirking.

Percy: Oh no, don't worry about me. I'll be fine.

We nodded.

I managed to take a step forward. Then another, still leaning heavily on Annabeth. Argus followed us outside, but he kept his distance.

We finally reached the porch.

It was dusk. The camp looked completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit was silent. No canoes cut the surface of the lake. Beyond the woods and the strawberry fields, the Long Island Sound glittered in the last light of the sun.

Annabeth: What are you gonna do?

Theo: I'm going home for the year. You?

Annabeth: (sighs) Same.

Theo: Really?

She pointed toward the crest of Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's pine tree, at the very edge of the camp's magical boundaries, a family stood silhouetted—two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair. I assumed this was her dad, stepmom, and stepsiblings.

They seemed to be waiting. The man was holding a backpack that looked like the one Annabeth had gotten from Waterland in Denver.

Annabeth: I wrote him a letter when we got back, just like you suggested. I told him...I was sorry. I'd come home for the school year if he still wanted me. He wrote back immediately. We decided...we'd give it another try.

Theo: That took a lot of guts.

Annabeth: Try not to get in trouble, okay? At least...not without sending me an Iris message?

Theo: I'll try.

Annabeth: When I get back next summer, we'll hunt down Luke. We'll ask for a quest, but if we don't get approval, we'll sneak off and do it anyway. Agreed?

Theo: Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena.

Annabeth wrapped her arms around me, carefully avoiding my bandaged midsection, while I did the same. Once we separated, she stood on her toes and kissed me on my left cheek.

I was a blushing mess while Annabeth smirked at me.

Annabeth: Take care of yourself, Pinhead.

Theo: You too, Wise Girl.

I watched her walk up the hill and join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree, then allowed herself to be led over the crest and into the mortal world.

I sighed as I looked at the sky.

Theo: I'll be alright, Mom. And whoever that Hunter is that you sent that day...Tell them I said thank you for saving my life.

I asked Argus to take me down to cabin 8, so I could pack my bags for home.

End of THE LIGHTNING THIEF arc
Next arc: THE SEA OF MONSTERS

Chapter Text

New York City
2007
Theo's POV

Now I know how Percy feels every time he has a weird dream.

One minute, I was lying in my bed. Next thing I know, I'm inside a log cabin in a forest overlooking a cliff.

The interior of the cabin was not much. All it had was a fireplace, a bed, a table, a kitchen, and a baby crib.

Suddenly, I heard a baby crying from the crib, then I heard footsteps from one of the rooms. Then a man walked in. He had brown hair and green eyes, just like I do.

Played by: Daniel Radcliffe

The man walked to the crib and picked up the baby. He started cradling it and shaking it slightly to soothe it.

Man: It's alright, Theodorus. Father's here.

Wait? Theodorus? Is the baby...me?

So that man is...my father?

Father: It's alright, little one. No one will hurt you.

Baby me stopped crying and started cooing.

Father: Are you hungry?

Baby me cooed happily, causing my father to chuckle.

Father: Alright. Come on, then.

My father carried me out of the room and sat me on a chair. He then walked over to the fireplace, which had a pot on it, and stirred the milk in it.

Father: (smiles) You know, you may have my eyes, but...You remind me so much of your mother. She is so...beautiful. In every sense of the word. I know that one day, you'll make her proud.

I couldn't help but smile. But then a man's voice was heard outside.

???: ALEXIOS!

My father's smile disappeared almost immediately. He got up and walked to the window, where he saw a man in full Greek armor standing there with a massive double-edged sword in his hand.

Alexios: Malaka! How did he...?

He looked over to baby me with a scared look on his face. He then picked me up and returned to the baby room before placing me in the crib.

Alexios: Stay here. Don't make a sound. I'll be back soon. I love you, little one.

He then walked out of the room, picked up a bronze sword, put on a chest plate, and walked out of the cabin to confront the man.

But the dream ended there.

I wake up and find myself sitting on the bus going home from school. I was sitting next to the window, watching as I rode along the streets of Brooklyn.

Then the bus stopped. I grabbed my backpack, got up, and thanked the bus driver before getting off.

I did tell David, my adoptive father, that I'd be running a bit late because I was going to practice some of my fighting skills before I left, so I don't have to worry.

I walked until I reached an abandoned warehouse. It was perfect. Secluded, away from prying eyes.

I rolled up my sleeves, revealing my bronze bracers, and then I took out my iPod and placed the earphones in my ear. I pressed shuffle and What I've Done by Linkin Park started playing.

I formed my bow and quiver and nocked an arrow. I aimed at one of the crates and tried to use my ability without having to yell out SELAS.

I can see my right forearm glowing a faint silver glow for a millisecond before fading completely.

Theo: (sighs) Dammit. Okay, one more time.

I tried again, but again, it didn't work. My arm glowed a bit brighter for a bit longer, though.

I lowered my bow and arrow and sighed in frustration. I've been trying to do this for months now, and I still can't get it done.

I shook my head before putting the arrow back in my quiver and turned the bow back to its silver bracelet form. I took out my flashlight from my pocket and pressed the button, forming it into a bronze sword that once belonged to my late best friend, Eric Hayes, who was also a satyr who was sent to protect me and get me to Camp Half-Blood before he died saving my life last year.

Then I pressed the bottom button of the watch, which formed the shield.

I twirled the sword before doing a few practice swings. Then I turned around and was met my Chiron's face, causing me to jump.

Theo: OH, SHIT!

It took me a few seconds to recover from that jump scare before I took out my earphones and gave him my full attention. It was then I realized that he was sending me an Iris message.

Theo: Sorry.

Chiron: It's alright. I did not mean to startle you. I assumed you were home with David, but he told me you were here. May I ask why?

Theo: I've been trying to use that ability of mine without having to yell out "selas," but nothing's working so far.

Chiron: Well, I'm sure you are more than capable of figuring it out.

Theo: I hope so. So, what's up?

Chiron: I would like to ask you a favor. I sense Annabeth is in trouble. I would like to request your help in retrieving her.

That got my attention.

Theo: Annabeth's in trouble? I thought things were going alright with her dad.

Chiron: Unfortunately, it would appear that is not the case.

I sighed. I had hoped that she would've patched things up with her dad after last year, but I guess that was wishful thinking.

Theo: Of course. If Annabeth's in trouble, someone's gotta help her. I just don't know where she'd be right now.

Chiron: I have an idea. But it'll be a lengthy journey. I have already informed David of the situation.

Theo: Thanks.

Chiron told me where I'd find Annabeth and the fastest way to get there. After we said our goodbyes, I left the warehouse, and I was on my way.

Matamoras, Pennsylvania
Annabeth's POV

Moving for days, if not a week, is not a good idea. And let me tell you, going from Virginia to Long Island, New York was not easy. I had to be somewhere in New York by now, right? I had lost track of the days because I had barely slept since I left home.

I tried to stay hidden, in the shadows, and whatever I could find to help me, but after a constant barrage of random monsters here and more random monsters there, I was exhausted, and I felt like I could barely walk another step.

Sliding down the wall of an alley, panting, I raked my grimy blonde hair out of my face, only hoping nothing found me. I had faced a wide array of monsters to this point, giant scorpions, telekhines, dracanae, and others who I was too tired to remember the names of.

My dagger clattered to the ground, while I tried to stretch out my arm. My whole body was in pain, and all I could do was catch my breath, Unfortunately, my brain was going all fuzzy due to the constant moving that I'd been doing. I've barely stopped to even get a thought in, and that was what might get me killed.

I didn't even hear the footsteps sneaking up on me in the alley, and I barely felt the hand wrap around my arm, lifting me into the air. It didn't take a long time for my instincts to kick in when I realized I was being held up in the air by a giant. I screamed and started flailing. I reached for my knife but realized it was on the ground.

Help was not likely to come, so all I could do was fight until the last ounce of strength left my body. I wasn't planning on dying at 13, but there wasn't much I could do. I scratched the giant's arm, and it groaned dumbly in pain.

It dropped me hard on the concrete ground, landing on my back and knocking most of the air out of my lungs. This time I heard the lumbering footsteps. Two pairs of them. There was a giant on either side of me.

I scrambled back to my dagger and held it up in front of me, hoping I could maybe intimidate the giants into running away. It didn't work. They just stared at the blade in confusion for a moment, before one of them grabbed me by the wrist, twisting the blade out of my hand. It clattered loudly to the ground again, and I felt my body leave the ground.

Most of my nerves were exhausted, and all I could feel was what would my friends' reaction be to hearing I was found dead in an alley, or just not found at all.

Giant 1: Maybe we can stew her.

The other giant smacked him in the back of the head.

Giant 2: No, you idiot, we don't have enough time. One of the other demigods is probably nearby. We should just skin her and eat her here.

I had to come up with something, at least buy enough time for someone to show up.

Annabeth: NO!

Giant 2: No, what?

Annabeth: I mean...I mean you can't just eat me. You'll get...sick. Yeah. You'll get sick.

Giant 1: How would we get sick? We've eaten worse than god-spawn before.

Annabeth: Well, I've got things you've never heard of. Stuff that'll even make the gods sick.

The giants looked at each other quizzically.

Giant 2: How do we know you're not lying to us?

Annabeth: Well, why would I lie about being infected?

From one of the buildings across the street. I saw something bronze glinting in the sunlight. The light flashed in a sequence, and I knew that was Morse code.

Keep them talking. So I did

Annabeth: I've got tons of parasites, all crawling around. It'll hurt you, real bad. And it doesn't go away. You'll have them forever, It's kind of ludicrous.

Giant 1: (gasps) I don't want parasites.

Giant 2: Neither do I, dunce, and we won't get any. The girl is stalling for time.

Oh, no.

It reached for me, but suddenly, a hooded figure appeared from above and landed on top of the giant. A 12-inch bronze blade came out from the figure's sleeve as they jabbed it into the giant's throat, turning it into a pile of gold dust.

Wait. There's only one person I know who has that kind of blade.

Giant 1: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

The figure turned around and used their bronze sword to cut the other giant's hamstring, forcing it to sit on one knee. Then with one swing, the giant was decapitated before its body turned into gold dust.

The figure turned around to face me before removing their hood, revealing a very familiar face.

Theo: You okay?

He reached his hand to me. I immediately grabbed it, allowing him to pull me up. I immediately wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly, very relieved to see him again.

Theo: Woah! Okay. Easy there, Annabeth.

I felt him wrap his arms around me.

Annabeth: I'm glad to see you, Theo.

Theo: Me too.

We both separated and gazed into each other's eyes. Theo was the first to break the gaze, as he looked away and removed his backpack while I stood there, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

Theo opened his backpack and rummaged through it.

Theo: Come on, where is it?

Annabeth: Uh...how'd you know where I was?

Theo: Chiron sent me an Iris message and told me. After that, I just had to follow the monsters and hope they lead me to you.

After a few seconds, he took out a glass tube full of nectar.

Theo: Here. Drink this.

He handed me the vial and I drank it. Almost immediately, I felt better.

Theo: Better?

I nodded, then he smiled.

Theo: Good.

I heard my stomach rumbling, and I guess Theo heard it too since he chuckled and took out an ambrosia square from his backpack and gave it to me.

I snatched it from him and wolfed it down in two bites.

Theo: Woah! Slow down! I still have plenty more.

I looked at him with an unamused look and stuck my hand out for another one. Theo chuckled as he gave me another square, which again, I wolfed down in two bites as he inspected me.

Theo: You look like shit.

Annabeth: You would too if you ran all the way from Virginia with monsters on your back.

Theo: Point takes. Speaking of which, what happened there? I thought you patched things up with your family.

Annabeth: (scoffs) I was a fool for even thinking that was even possible.

Theo sighed and shook his head. I could tell he wanted to ask but thought better of it.

Annabeth: Pretty much a repeat of what happened before. They treated me like a ticking time bomb. Didn't want anything to do with me.

Theo: I'm sorry to hear that.

Annabeth: Don't be. At least now I won't have to worry about wasting my time trying that again in the future.

Theo just nodded.

Annabeth: Where's Percy?

Theo: Uh...Still in New York. I haven't talked to him since winter. You, though—

I ran out of the alley and walked to a roadmap nearby and oriented myself as Theo ran close behind.

Theo: What's going on with you?

Annabeth: Percy's in danger.

Theo: He's a child of the Big Three. He's always in danger, what's new? Even if he is, are you gonna walk all the way to New York?

I nodded.

Theo: (sighs) You sure you don't want to go to camp first?

Annabeth: If we wait, he could get killed.

Theo: (sighs) Sometimes, I hate it when you're right. Look, how about this? How about we stay back, keep an eye on him, and if nothing happens, we go straight to Camp Half-Blood? Sound good?

I thought it over. It's not the worst idea he could come up with. I let out a breath and nodded.

Theo: Alright. Let's go.

Chapter Text

New York City
Percy's POV

So I had a pretty weird morning today.

I had a dream where Grover, my satyr best friend, was running out of a wedding boutique while being chased by something. Then my mom said that I wouldn't be going to Camp Half-Blood yet because Chiron said it might be safe for me to go there yet. Why? I have no idea. Not to mention the pair of shadows I saw in my bedroom window.

My last day of school started normal. Or as normal as it ever gets at Meriwether College Prep.

See, it's this "progressive" school in downtown Manhattan, which means we sit on beanbag chairs instead of at desks, and we don't get grades, and the teachers wear jeans and rock concert T-shirts to work.

That's all cool with me. I mean, I'm ADHD and dyslexic, like most half-bloods, so I'd never done that great in regular schools even before they kicked me out. The only bad thing about Meriwether was that the teachers always looked on the bright side of things, and the kids weren't always...well, bright.

Take my first class today: English. The whole middle school had read this book called Lord of the Flies, where all these kids get marooned on an island and go psycho. So, for our final exam, our teachers sent us into the break yard to spend an hour with no adult supervision to see what would happen. What happened was a massive wedgie contest between the seventh and eighth graders, two pebble fights, and a full-tackle basketball game. The school bully, Matt Sloan, led most of those activities.

Sloan wasn't big or strong, but he acted like he was. He had eyes like a pit bull, and shaggy black hair, and he always dressed in expensive but sloppy clothes, like he wanted everybody to see how little he cared about his family's money. One of his front teeth was chipped from the time he'd taken his daddy's Porsche for a joyride and run into a PLEASE SLOW DOWN FOR CHILDREN sign.

Anyway, Sloan was giving everybody wedgies until he made the mistake of trying it on my friend Tyson.

Tyson was the only homeless kid at Meriwether College Prep. As near as my mom and I could figure, he'd been abandoned by his parents when he was very young, probably because he was so...different. He was six-foot-three and built like the Abominable Snowman, but he cried a lot and was scared of just about everything, including his own reflection. His face was kind of misshapen and brutal-looking. I couldn't tell you what color his eyes were, because I could never make myself look higher than his crooked teeth. His voice was deep, but he talked funny, like a much younger kid-I guess because he'd never gone to school before coming to Meriwether. He wore tattered jeans, grimy size-twenty sneakers, and a plaid flannel shirt with holes in it. He smelled like a New York City alleyway, because that's where he lived, in a cardboard refrigerator box off 72nd Street.

Meriwether Prep had adopted him as a community service project so all the students could feel good about themselves. Unfortunately, most of them couldn't stand Tyson. Once they discovered he was a big softie, despite his massive strength and his scary looks, they made themselves feel good by picking on him. I was pretty much his only friend, which meant he was my only friend.

My mom had complained to the school a million times that they weren't doing enough to help him. She'd called social services, but nothing ever seemed to happen. The social workers claimed Tyson didn't exist. They swore up and down that they'd visited the alley we described and couldn't find him, though how you miss a giant kid living in a refrigerator box, I don't know.

Anyway, Matt Sloan snuck up behind him and tried to give him a wedgie, and Tyson panicked. He swatted Sloan away a little too hard. Sloan flew fifteen feet and got tangled in the little kids' tire swing.

Sloan: You freak! Why don't you go back to your cardboard box!

Tyson started sobbing. He sat down on the jungle gym so hard he bent the bar, and buried his head in his hands.

Percy: Take it back, Sloan!

Sloan just sneered at me.

Sloan: Why do you even bother, Jackson? You might have friends if you weren't always sticking up for that freak.

I balled my fists. I hoped my face wasn't as red as it felt.

Percy: He's not a freak. He's just...

I tried to think of the right thing to say, but Sloan wasn't listening. He and his big ugly friends were too busy laughing. I wondered if it was my imagination, or if Sloan had more goons hanging around him than usual. I was used to seeing him with two or three, but today he had like, half a dozen more, and I was pretty sure I'd never seen them before.

Sloan: Just wait until PE, Jackson. You are so dead.

When first period ended, our English teacher, Mr. de Milo, came outside to inspect the carnage. He pronounced that we'd understood Lord of the Flies perfectly. We all passed his course, and we should never, never grow up to be violent people. Matt Sloan nodded earnestly, then gave me a chip-toothed grin.

I had to promise to buy Tyson an extra peanut butter sandwich at lunch to get him to stop sobbing.

Tyson: I...I am a freak?

Percy: No. Matt Sloan is the freak.

Tyson: (sniffles) You are a good friend. Miss you next year if...if I can't...

His voice trembled. I realized he didn't know if he'd be invited back next year for the community service project. I wondered if the headmaster had even bothered talking to him about it.

Percy: Don't worry, big guy. Everything's going to be fine.

Tyson gave me such a grateful look I felt like a big liar. How could I promise a kid like him that anything would be fine?

Our next exam was science. Mrs. Tesla told us that we had to mix chemicals until we succeeded in making something explode, Tyson was my lab partner. His hands were way too big for the tiny vials we were supposed to use. He accidentally knocked a tray of chemicals off the counter and made an orange mushroom cloud in the trash can.

After Mrs. Tesla evacuated the lab and called the hazardous waste removal squad, she praised Tyson and me for being natural chemists. We were the first ones who'd ever aced her exam in under thirty seconds.

I was glad the morning went fast because it kept me from thinking too much about my problems. I couldn't stand the idea that something might be wrong at camp. Even worse, I couldn't shake the memory of my bad dream. I had a terrible feeling that Grover was in danger.

In social studies, while we were drawing latitude/longitude maps, I opened my notebook and stared at the photo inside-my friends Grover Underwood, Theo Miller, and Annabeth Chase standing next to each other in front of the Poseidon cabin back in Camp Half-Blood. In front of us was Theo's shield, which was mangled after our fight with the god of war Ares last year.

From left to right, there was Grover, me, Theo, and Annabeth. We wore our orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirts, while Grover was the only one not wearing any pants, showing off his goat legs.

Grover had his arm around my neck, Theo had his left arm around Annabeth while using his right hand to make bunny ears on my head, and Annabeth had her arms crossed. All four of us were smiling.

Theo e-mailed me the picture last year, and we kept in touch for a bit until we stopped about 6 months ago. I hope he doesn't think I'm trying to avoid him.

It was weird to know that Theo is technically 3000 years old, but as far as I know, he still ages normally. He's basically Steve Rogers after his 70-year slumber.

I wish Theo was here. Maybe even Annabeth, too. They'd make some sense of my dream. I'd never admit it to either of them, but they are a lot smarter than me.

I was about to close my notebook when Matt Sloan reached over and ripped the photo out of the rings.

Percy: HEY!

Sloan checked out the picture and his eyes got wide.

Sloan: These your buddies, Jackson? Who's the girl? She looks—

Percy: Give it back!

Sloan handed the photo to his ugly buddies, who snickered and started ripping it up to make spit wads. They were new kids who must've been visiting, because they were all wearing those stupid HI! MY NAME IS: tags from the admissions office. They must've had a weird sense of humor, too, because they'd all filled in strange names like: MARROW SUCKER, SKULL EATER, and JOE BOB. No human beings had names like that.

Sloan: These guys are moving here next year. I bet they can pay the tuition, too, unlike your retard friend.

Percy: He's not retarded!

I had to try really, really hard not to punch Sloan in the face. I know if Theo were here, Sloan would be on the ground with his nose bleeding.

Sloan: You're such a loser, Jackson. Good thing I'm gonna put you out of your misery next period.

His huge buddies chewed up my photo. I wanted to pulverize them, but I was under strict orders from Chiron never to take my anger out on regular mortals, no matter how obnoxious they were. I had to save my fighting for monsters.

If only Sloan knew who I was...

The bell rang.

As Tyson and I were leaving class, a girl's voice whispered...

???: (whispers) Percy!

I looked around the locker area, but nobody was paying me any attention. Like any girl at Meriwether would ever be caught dead calling my name.

Before I had time to consider whether or not I'd been imagining things, a crowd of kids rushed for the gym, carrying Tyson and me along with them. It was time for PE. Our coach had promised us a free-for-all dodgeball game, and Matt Sloan had promised to kill me.

The gym uniform at Meriwether is sky-blue shorts and tie-dyed T-shirts. Fortunately, we did most of our athletic stuff inside, so we didn't have to jog through Tribeca looking like a bunch of boot-camp hippie children.

I changed as quickly as I could in the locker room because I didn't want to deal with Sloan. I was about to leave when Tyson called.

Tyson: Percy?

He hadn't changed yet. He was standing by the weight room door, clutching his gym clothes.

Tyson: Will you...uh...

Percy: Oh. Yeah. Yeah, sure, man.

Tyson ducked inside the weight room. I stood guard outside the door while he changed. I felt kind of awkward doing this, but he asked me to most days. I think it's because he's completely hairy and he's got weird scars on his back that I've never had the courage to ask him about.

Anyway, I'd learned the hard way that if people teased Tyson while he was dressing out, he'd get upset and start ripping the doors off lockers.

When we got into the gym, Coach Nunley was sitting at his little desk reading Sports Illustrated. Nunley was about a million years old, with bifocals, no teeth, and a greasy wave of gray hair. He reminded me of the Oracle at Camp Half-Blood-which was a shriveled-up mummy-except Coach Nunley moved a lot less and he never billowed green smoke. Well, at least not that I'd observed.

Sloan: Coach, can I be captain?

Coach Nunley: Eh?

Coach Nunley looked up from his magazine.

Coach Nunley: Yeah. Mm-Hm.

Sloan grinned and took charge of the picking. He made me the other team's captain, but it didn't matter who I picked, because all the jocks and the popular kids moved over to Sloan's side. So did the big group of visitors.

On my side, I had Tyson, Corey Bailer the computer geek, Raj Mandali, the calculus whiz, and a half dozen other kids who always got harassed by Sloan and his gang. Normally I would've been okay with just Tyson-he was worth half a team all by himself-but the visitors on Sloan's team were almost as tall and strong-looking as Tyson, and there were six of them.

Basically, I'm screwed.

Matt Sloan spilled a cage full of balls in the middle of the gym.

Tyson: Scared. Smell funny.

Percy: What smells funny?

Tyson pointed at Sloan's new friends.

Tyson: Them. Smell funny.

The visitors were cracking their knuckles, eyeing us like it was slaughter time. I couldn't help wondering where they were from. Someplace where they fed kids raw meat and beat them with sticks.

Sloan blew the coach's whistle, and the game began. Sloan's team ran for the center line. On my side, Raj Mandali yelled something in Urdu, probably "I have to go potty!" and ran for the exit. Corey Bailer tried to crawl behind the wall mat and hide. The rest of my team did their best to cower in fear and not look like targets.

Percy: Tyson! Let's g-

A ball slammed into my gut. I sat down hard in the middle of the gym floor. The other team exploded in laughter.

My eyesight was fuzzy. I felt like I'd just gotten the Heimlich maneuver from a gorilla. I couldn't believe anybody could throw that hard.

Tyson: PERCY, DUCK!

I rolled as another dodgeball whistled past my ear at the speed of sound.

WHOOM!

It hit the wall mat, and Corey Bailer yelped.

Percy: HEY! You could kill somebody!

The visitor named Joe Bob grinned at me evilly. Somehow, he looked a lot bigger now...even taller than Tyson. His biceps bulged beneath his T-shirt.

Joe Bob: I hope so, Perseus Jackson! I hope so!

The way he said my name sent a chill down my back. Nobody called me Perseus except those who knew my true identity. Friends...and enemies.

What had Tyson said? They smell funny.

Monsters.

All around Matt Sloan, the visitors were growing in size. They were no longer kids. They were eight-foot-tall giants with wild eyes, pointy teeth, and hairy arms tattooed with snakes and hula women, and Valentine's hearts.

Matt Sloan dropped his ball.

Sloan: Whoa! You're not from Detroit! Who...

The other kids on his team started screaming and backing toward the exit, but the giant named Marrow Sucker threw a ball with deadly accuracy. It streaked past Raj Mandali just as he was about to leave and hit the door, slamming it shut like magic. Raj and some of the other kids banged on it desperately but it wouldn't budge.

Percy: Let them go!

The one called Joe Bob growled at me. He had a tattoo on his biceps that said: JB luvs Babycakes.

Joe Bob: And lose our tasty morsels? No, Son of the Sea God. We Laistrygonians aren't just playing for your death. We want lunch!

He waved his hand and a new batch of dodgeballs appeared on the center line-but these balls weren't made of red rubber. They were bronze, the size of cannon balls, perforated like wiffle balls with fire bubbling out the holes. They must've been searing hot, but the giants picked them up with their bare hands.

Percy: COACH!

Nunley looked up sleepily, but if he saw anything abnormal about the dodgeball game, he didn't let on. That's the problem with mortals. A magical force called the Mist obscures the true appearance of monsters and gods from their vision, so mortals tend to see only what they can understand. Maybe the coach saw a few eighth graders pounding the younger kids like usual. Maybe the other kids saw Matt Sloan's thugs getting ready to toss Molotov cocktails around. (It wouldn't have been the first time.) At any rate, I was pretty sure nobody else realized we were dealing with genuine man-eating bloodthirsty monsters.

Coach Nunley: Yeah, mm-hm. Play nice.

And he went back to his magazine.

The giant named Skull Eater threw his ball. I dove aside as the fiery bronze comet sailed past my shoulder.

Percy: COREY!

Tyson pulled him out from behind the exercise mat just as the ball exploded against it, blasting the mat to smoking shreds.

Percy: Run! The other exit!

They ran for the locker room, but with another wave of Joe Bob's hand, that door also slammed shut.

Joe Bob: No one leaves unless you're out! And you're not out until we eat you!

He launched his own fireball. My teammates scattered as it blasted a crater in the gym floor.

I reached for Riptide, which I always kept in my pocket, but then I realized I was wearing gym shorts. I had no pockets. Riptide was tucked in my jeans inside my gym locker. And the locker room door was sealed. I was completely defenseless.

Another fireball came streaking toward me. Tyson pushed me out of the way, but the explosion still blew me head over heels. I found myself sprawled on the gym floor, dazed from smoke, my tie-dyed T-shirt peppered with sizzling holes. Just across the center line, two hungry giants were glaring down at me.

Laistrygonians: Flesh! Hero flesh for lunch!

They both took aim.

Tyson: Percy needs help!

He jumped in front of me just as they threw their balls.

Percy: TYSON!

But it was too late.

Both balls slammed into him...but no...he'd caught them. Somehow Tyson, who was so clumsy he knocked over lab equipment and broke playground structures on a regular basis, had caught two fiery metal balls speeding toward him at a zillion miles an hour.

He sent them hurtling back toward their surprised owners.

Laistrygonians: BAAAAAAD!

The bronze spheres exploded against their chests.

The giants disintegrated in twin columns of flame--a sure sign they were monsters, all right. Monsters don't die. They just dissipate into smoke and dust, which saves heroes a lot of trouble cleaning up after a fight.

Joe Bob: MY BROTHERS!

He flexed his muscles and his Babycakes tattoo rippled.

Joe Bob: YOU WILL PAY FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION!

Percy: TYSON, LOOK OUT!

Another comet hurtled toward us. Tyson just had time to swat it aside. It flew straight over Coach Nunley's head and landed in the bleachers with a huge KA-BOOM!

Kids were running around screaming, trying to avoid the sizzling craters on the floor. Others were banging on the door, calling for help. Sloan himself stood petrified in the middle of the court, watching in disbelief as balls of death flew around him.

Coach Nunley still wasn't seeing anything. He tapped his hearing aid like the explosions were giving him interference, but he kept his eyes on his magazine.

Surely the whole school could hear the noise. The headmaster, the police, somebody would come help us.

Joe Bob: Victory will be ours! We will feast on your bones!

I wanted to tell him he was taking the dodgeball game way too seriously, but before I could, he hefted another ball. The other three giants followed his lead.

It was probably a good idea not to say anything. Theo always told me that my big mouth might get me killed one day, and so far, he was right. I just got lucky multiple times.

I knew we were dead. Tyson couldn't deflect all those balls at once. His hands had to be seriously burned from blocking the first volley. Without my sword...

I had a crazy idea.

I ran toward the locker room.

Percy: Move! Away from the door!

Explosions behind me. Tyson had batted two of the balls back toward their owners and blasted them to ashes.

That left two giants still standing.

A third ball hurtled straight at me. I forced myself to wait--one Mississippi, two Mississippi--then dove aside as the fiery sphere demolished the locker room door.

Now, I figured that the built-up gas in most boys' locker rooms was enough to cause an explosion, so I wasn't surprised when the flaming dodgeball ignited a huge WHOOOOOOOM!

The wall blew apart. Locker doors, socks, athletic supporters, and other various nasty personal belongings rained all over the gym.

I turned just in time to see Tyson punch Skull Eater in the face. The giant crumpled. But the last giant, Joe Bob, had wisely held on to his own ball, waiting for an opportunity. He threw just as Tyson was turning to face him.

Percy: NO!

The ball caught Tyson square in the chest. He slid the length of the court and slammed into the back wall, which cracked and partially crumbled on top of him, making a hole right onto Church Street. I didn't see how Tyson could still be alive, but he only looked dazed. The bronze ball was smoking at his feet. Tyson tried to pick it up, but he fell back, stunned, into a pile of cinder blocks.

Joe Bob: Well! I'm the last one standing! I'll have enough meat to bring Babycakes a doggie bag!

He picked up another ball and aimed it at Tyson.

Percy: Stop! It's me you want!

Joe Bob: (grins) You wish to die first, young hero?

I had to do something. Riptide had to be around here somewhere.

Then I spotted my jeans in a smoking heap of clothes right by the giant's feet. If I could only get there...I knew it was hopeless, but I charged.

Joe Bob: (laughs) My lunch approaches.

He raised his arm to throw. I braced myself to die.

???: SELAS!

A glowing silver arrow flew from the smoke and hit Joe Bob square in the chest. The blast sent him to the other side of the gym.

Wait...There's only one person I know who could do that.

Joe Bob groaned as he struggled to get up, only for a bronze knife to fly from the smoke and hit him in the head. Almost immediately, burst into a cloud of green flame, which I figured was going to make Babycakes pretty upset.

Standing in the smoke were my friends, Theo and Annabeth. Theo's face was a bit sweaty as he held his silver bow in his left hand, and I saw his right forearm glowing a bright silver before dimming completely. He had a backpack slung over his shoulder and he wore a red jacket over his white shirt.

Annabeth's face was grimy and scratched. She had a ragged backpack slung over her shoulder, her baseball cap tucked in her pocket, and a wild look in her storm-grey eyes, like she'd just been chased a thousand miles by ghosts.

Matt Sloan, who'd been standing there dumbfounded the whole time, finally came to his senses. He blinked at Annabeth and Theo as if he dimly recognized them from my notebook picture.

Sloan: Those are...They—

Theo walked up to him and punched him square in the nose, knocking him out.

Theo: Don't fuck with my friends, asshole.

He walked away from Sloan's unconscious body and towards where Joe Bob had disintegrated, then he picked up the bronze knife. He then flipped it to hold it by the blade before handing it back to Annabeth, who sheathed it in its holster around her waist.

The gym was in flames. Kids were still running around screaming. I heard sirens wailing and a garbled voice over the intercom. Through the glass windows of the exit doors, I could see the headmaster, Mr. Bonsai, wrestling with the lock, a crowd of teachers piling up behind him.

Percy: Annabeth...Theo...How did you...how long have you...

Annabeth: Pretty much all morning. I've been trying to find a good time to talk to you, but you were never alone.

Percy: The shadows I saw this morning—that was—Oh my gods, you were looking in my bedroom window?

Theo: I tried to talk her out of it, but she's too stubborn for her own good.

Annabeth smacked Theo in the chest.

Theo: Ow!

Annabeth: There's no time to explain! I just didn't want to—

???: THERE!

The doors burst open, and the adults came pouring in.

Annabeth: Meet us outside. And him.

She pointed to Tyson, who was still sitting dazed against the wall. Annabeth gave him a look of distaste that I didn't quite understand.

Annabeth: You'd better bring him.

Theo had a look of confusion as he looked at Tyson, then his eyes widened a couple of seconds later.

Percy: What?

Annabeth: No time! Hurry!

She put on her Yankees baseball cap, which was a magic gift from her mom, and instantly vanished. Theo turned his bow into a silver bracelet and his quiver into a fanny pack before running out of the hole in the wall.

That left me standing alone in the middle of the burning gymnasium when the headmaster came charging in with half the faculty and a couple of police officers.

Mr. Bonsai: Percy Jackson? What...How...

Over by the broken wall, Tyson groaned and stood up from the pile of cinder blocks.

Tyson: Head hurts.

Matt Sloan was coming around, too. He focused on me with a look of terror.

Sloan: Percy did it, Mr. Bonsai! He set the whole building on fire. Coach Nunley will tell you! He saw it all!

Coach Nunley had been dutifully reading his magazine, but just my luck-he chose that moment to look up when Sloan said his name.

Coach Nunley: Eh? Yeah. Mm-hmm.

The other adults turned toward me. I knew they would never believe me, even if I could tell them the truth.

Percy: (to Tyson) Come on!

I grabbed Riptide out of my ruined jeans, grabbed Tyson, and jumped through the gaping hole in the side of the building.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

Annabeth and I waited for Percy in an alley on Church Street. She was pacing back and forth while I was leaning against the wall.

It didn't take long for Percy and...the other guy...to show up. Annabeth pulled them off the sidewalk just as a firetruck passed, most likely heading for Meriweather Prep.

Annabeth: (to Percy) Where'd you find him?

Percy: He's my friend.

Annabeth: Is he homeless?

Percy: What does that have to do with anything? He can hear you, you know. Why don't you ask him?

Annabeth: (surprised) He can talk?

"Guy": I talk. You are pretty.

Annabeth: Ah! Gross!

She stepped away from him, which caught me by surprise. I know his kind isn't exactly a friendly bunch, but he looks like a sweetheart. I don't think he'd hurt a fly.

Percy: Tyson...Your hands aren't even burned.

I looked at Tyson's hands, and sure enough, there were no burns at all. I guess it makes sense.

Annabeth: Of course not. I'm surprised the Laistrygonians had the guts to attack you with him around.

Tyson seemed fascinated by Annabeth's blond hair. He tried to touch it, but she smacked his hand away.

Percy: Annabeth, what are you talking about? Laistry-what?

Theo: The monsters in the gym. Basically, cannibals who live in the far north. Which makes it weird seeing them in New York of all places.

Percy: Laistry- I can't even say that. What would you call them in English?

Annabeth: Canadians. Now come on, we have to get out of here.

Percy: The police'll be after me.

Annabeth: That's the least of our problems. Have you been having the dreams?

Percy: The dreams...about Grover?

Theo: What? What about Grover?

Percy told us about his dream, which really concerned me. What was Grover running from?

Percy: Why? What were you dreaming about?

Theo: My dad. When I was a baby 3000 years ago. That's it.

We both looked at Annabeth, whose eyes looked stormy, like her mind was racing a million miles an hour.

Annabeth: Camp. Big trouble at camp.

Percy: My mom was saying the same thing! But what kind of trouble?

Annabeth: I don't know exactly. Something's wrong. We have to get there right away. Monsters have been chasing me all the way from Virginia, trying to stop me. Theo showed up and helped me out of a rough spot. Have you had a lot of attacks?

Percy: (shakes his head) None all year...until today.

Theo: None? But how...

I looked at Tyson.

Theo: Ah. That explains it.

Percy: What is that supposed to mean?

Tyson raised his hand like he was still in class.

Tyson: Canadians in the gym called Percy something...Son of the Sea God?

Annabeth, Percy, and I exchanged looks.

Theo: (to Percy) All you, Percy.

Percy: (turns to Tyson) Big guy, you ever hear those old stories about the Greek gods? Like Zeus, Poseidon, Artemis, Athena—

Tyson: Yes?

Percy: Well...those gods are still alive. They kind of follow Western Civilization around, living in the strongest countries, so like now they're in the U.S. And sometimes they have kids with mortals. Kids called half-bloods.

Tyson: Yes?

He said that as if he was still waiting for Percy to get to the point.

Percy: Uh, well, Annabeth, Theo, and I are half-bloods. We're like...heroes-in-training. And whenever monsters pick up our scent, they attack us. That's what those giants were in the gym. Monsters.

Tyson: Yes.

He didn't seem surprised or confused by what Percy was telling him.

Percy: (confused) So...you believe me?

Tyson: (nods) But you are...Son of the Sea God?

Percy: Yeah. My dad is Poseidon.

Tyson frowned. Now he looked confused.

Tyson: But then...

A siren wailed. A police car raced past our alley.

Theo: We have to go. (sighs) We'll have to hail a cab.

Annabeth and I looked at each other and nodded.

Percy: A cab all the way to camp? Just how much money—

Annabeth: Just trust us.

Percy: What about Tyson? We can't just leave him. He'll be in trouble, too.

Annabeth looked grim.

Annabeth: Yeah. We definitely need to take him. Now come on.

Okay, there's definitely something going on with Annabeth, because that's just too much, even for her.

Timeskip

Annabeth: Here.

Annabeth stopped us on the corner of Thomas and Trimble.

Annabeth: (to Theo) Do you still have any?

I shook my head. She sighed as she fished around in her backpack.

Annabeth: I hope I have one left.

Percy: What are you looking for?

All around us, sirens wailed.

Annabeth: Found one. Thank the gods.

Annabeth pulled out a gold coin that I recognized as a drachma, the currency of Mount Olympus. It had Zeus's likeness stamped on one side and the Empire State Building on the other.

Percy: Annabeth, New York taxi drivers won't take that.

Theo: Trust me, this one will.

Annabeth: Stêthi, Ô hárma diabolês!

As usual, the moment she spoke in the language of Olympus, I understood it. She'd said: Stop, Chariot of Damnation!

She threw her coin into the street, but instead of clattering on the asphalt, the drachma sank right through and disappeared.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then, just where the coin had fallen, the asphalt darkened. It melted into a rectangular pool about the size of a parking space-bubbling red liquid like blood. Then a car erupted from the ooze.

It was a taxi, all right, but unlike every other taxi in New York, it wasn't yellow. It was smoky gray. I mean it looked like it was woven out of smoke, like you could walk right through it. There were words printed on the door—something like GYAR SSIRES—but my dyslexia made it hard for me to decipher what it said.

Despite this, I sighed, knowing what that was. It was how I managed to get from New York to Pennsylvania and back with Annabeth.

The passenger window rolled down, and an old woman stuck her head out. She had a mop of grizzled hair covering her eyes, and she spoke in a weird mumbling way like she'd just had a shot of Novocain.

Grey Sister 1: Passage? Passage?

Annabeth: Four to Camp Half-Blood.

She opened the cab's back door and waved at us to get in like this was all completely normal.

Grey Sister 1: Ach! We don't take his kind!

She pointed a bony finger at Tyson.

Theo: I'll pay you extra when we get there. Bleed me dry, why don't ya?

Grey Sister 1: Done!

I got in the cab, then Percy and Tyson followed. Tyson squeezed in the middle. Annabeth crawled in last.

The interior was also smoky gray, but it felt solid enough. The seat was cracked and lumpy-no different than most taxis. There was no Plexiglas screen separating us from the three old ladies crammed in the front seat, each with stringy hair covering her eyes, bony hands, and a charcoal-colored sackcloth dress.

Grey Sister 2: Long Island! Out-of-metro fare bonus! Ha!

She floored the accelerator, and my head slammed against the backrest. A prerecorded voice came over the speaker.

Ganymede: Hi, this is Ganymede, cupbearer to Zeus, and when I'm out buying wine for the Lord of the Skies, I always buckle up!

There was a large black chain instead of a seat belt. Yeah...no. Fuck that.

The cab sped around the corner of West Broadway.

Grey Sister 3: Look out! Go left!

Grey Sister 2: Well, if you'd give me the eye, Tempest, I could see that!

The driver swerved to avoid an oncoming delivery truck, ran over the curb with a jaw-rattling thump, and flew into the next block.

Grey Sister 1: Wasp! Give me the girl's coin! I want to bite it.

Wasp: You bit it last time, Anger! It's my turn!

Anger: Is not!

Tempest: Red light!

Anger: Brake!

Instead, Wasp floored the accelerator and rode up on the curb, screeching around another corner, and knocking over a newspaper box. She left my stomach somewhere back on Broome Street.

Percy: Excuse me. But...can you see?

Wasp: No!
Tempest: No!
Anger: Of course!

Percy: (turns to Annabeth) They're blind?

Annabeth: Not completely. They have an eye.

Percy: One eye?

Annabeth: Yeah.

Percy: Each?

Theo: Nope. Total.

Tyson groaned and grabbed the seat.

Tyson: Not feeling good.

Percy: Oh, man. Hang in there, big guy. Anybody got a garbage bag or something?

The three gray ladies were too busy squabbling to pay any attention. Annabeth and I were hanging on for dear life, and Percy gave us a why-did-you-do-this-to-me look.

Annabeth: Hey, Gray Sisters Taxi is the fastest way to camp.

Percy: Then why didn't you take it from Virginia?

Annabeth: That's outside their service area. They only serve Greater New York and surrounding communities.

Theo: Oh, no, they do go outside New York. They just BLEED YOU DRY WHEN YOU DO!

Anger: We've had famous people in this cab! Jason! You remember him?

Wasp: Don't remind me! And we didn't have a cab back then, you old bat. That was three thousand years ago!

Anger: Give me the tooth!

Anger tried to grab at Wasp's mouth, but Wasp swatted her hand away.

Wasp: Only if Tempest gives me the eye!

Tempest: No! You had it yesterday!

Wasp: But I'm driving, you old hag!

Tempest: Excuses! Turn! That was your turn!

Wasp swerved hard onto Delancey Street, squishing me between Tyson and the door. She hit the gas and we shot up the Williamsburg Bridge at seventy miles an hour.

The three sisters were fighting for real now, slapping each other as Anger tried to grab at Wasp's face and Wasp tried to grab at Tempest's. With their hair flying and their mouths open, screaming at each other. None of the sisters had any teeth except for Wasp, who had one mossy yellow incisor. Instead of eyes, they just had closed, sunken eyelids, except for Anger, who had one bloodshot green eye that stared at everything hungrily, as if it couldn't get enough of anything it saw.

Finally, Anger, who had the advantage of sight, managed to yank the tooth out of her sister Wasp's mouth. This made Wasp so mad she swerved toward the edge of the Williamsburg Bridge.

Wasp: Ivit back! Ivit back!

Tyson groaned and clutched his stomach.

Percy: Uh, if anybody's interested, we're going to die!

Annabeth: Don't worry. The Gray Sisters know what they're doing. They're really very wise.

Theo: Wise, my ass!

We were skimming along the edge of a bridge a hundred and thirty feet above the East River.

Anger: (grins) Yes, wise! We know things!

Wasp: Every street in Manhattan! The capital of Nepal!

Tempest: The location you seek!

Immediately her sisters pummeled her from either side.

Wasp & Anger: Be quiet! Be quiet! He didn't even ask yet!

Percy: What? What location? I'm not seeking any—

Tempest: Nothing! You're right, boy. It's nothing!

Percy: Tell me.

Wasp, Tempest, & Anger: NO!

Tempest: The last time we told, it was horrible!

Anger: Eye tossed in a lake!

Wasp: Years to get it back! And speaking of that—give it back!

Anger: No!

Wasp: Eye! Gimme!

She whacked her sister Anger on the back. There was a sickening pop and something flew out of Anger's face. Anger fumbled for it, trying to catch it, but she only managed to bat it with the back of her hand. The slimy green orb sailed over her shoulder, into the backseat, and straight into my lap.

Theo: WHAT THE FUCK?!

I jumped so hard, that my head hit the ceiling and the eyeball rolled away.

Wasp, Tempest, & Anger: I CAN'T SEE!

Wasp: GIVE ME THE EYE!

Annabeth: GIVE HER THE EYE!

Theo: I DON'T HAVE IT!

Annabeth: THERE! BY PERCY'S FOOT! DON'T STEP ON IT! GET IT!

Percy: I'M NOT PICKING THAT UP!

The taxi slammed against the guardrail and skidded along with a horrible grinding noise. The whole car shuddered, billowing gray smoke as if it were about to dissolve from the strain.

Tyson: Going to be sick!

Percy: ANNABETH, LET TYSON USE YOUR BACKPACK!

Annabeth: ARE YOU CRAZY?! GET THE EYE!

Wasp yanked the wheel, and the taxi swerved away from the rail. We hurtled down the bridge toward Brooklyn, going faster than any human taxi. The Gray Sisters screeched and pummeled each other and cried out for their eye.

Percy ripped off a chunk of his tie-dye T-shirt, which was already falling apart from all the burn marks, and used it to pick the eyeball off the floor.

Anger: Nice, boy! Give it back!

Percy: Not until you explain. What were you talking about, the location I seek?

Tempest: No time! Accelerating!

I looked out the window. Sure enough, trees and cars and whole neighborhoods were now zipping by in a gray blur. We were already out of Brooklyn, heading through the middle of Long Island.

Theo: Motherfucker, are you out of your damn mind?!

Annabeth: Percy, they can't find our destination without the eye! We'll just keep accelerating until we break into a million pieces!

Percy: First, they have to tell me, or I'll open the window and throw the eye into oncoming traffic!

Anger, Wasp, & Tempest: NO! TOO DANGEROUS!

Percy: I'm rolling down the window!

Anger, Wasp, & Tempest: WAIT! 30, 31, 75, 12!

They belted it out like a quarterback calling a play.

Percy: What do you mean? That makes no sense!

Anger: 30, 31, 75, 12! That's all we can tell you! Now give us the eye! Almost to camp!

We were off the highway now, zipping through the countryside of northern Long Island. I could see Half-Blood Hill ahead of us, with its giant pine tree at the crest-Thalia's tree, which contained the life force of a fallen hero.

Theo: PERCY, GIVE HER THE FUCKING EYE!

Percy finally threw the eye onto Anger's lap.

I decided not to argue. I threw the eye into Wasp's lap. The old lady snatched it up, pushed it into her eye socket like somebody putting in a contact lens, and blinked.

Wasp: Whoa!

She slammed on the brakes. The taxi spun four or five times in a cloud of smoke and squealed to a halt in the middle of the farm road at the base of Half-Blood Hill.

Tyson: (belches) Better now.

Percy: (to the Grey Sisters) Alright, now tell me what those numbers mean.

Annabeth: No time! We have to go now!

She opened her door and we climbed out quickly.

I did know why she was in such a hurry, but when I looked up at Half-Blood Hill, I understood.

At the crest of the hill was a group of campers. And they were under attack.

Chapter Text

Theo's POV

Why is it that every time I go to Camp Half-Blood, something happens?

Last time, I had to fight an Odontotyrannos. This time, it's two bronze bulls the size of elephants. Oh, did I mention the fact that they can BREATHE FIRE?!?!

As soon as we exited the taxi, the Gray Sisters peeled out, heading back to New York, where life was safer. They didn't even wait for their extra three-drachma payment. They just left us on the side of the road, Annabeth with nothing but her backpack and knife, Tyson and Percy still in their burned-up tie-dyed gym clothes, and me with my bracers, sword, bow, quiver, and flying Adidas shoes.

We all looked at the battle raging on the hill.

Annabeth: Oh, man.

Theo: What the hell?

Percy: This is not good.

Tyson: Cows!

What worried me most wasn't the bulls themselves. Or the ten heroes in full battle armor who were getting their bronze-plated asses whooped. What worried me was that the bulls were ranging all over the hill, even around the back side of the pine tree. That shouldn't have been possible. The camp's magic boundaries didn't allow monsters to cross past Thalia's tree. But the metal bulls were doing it anyway.

???: BORDER PATROL, TO ME!

Wait, border patrol? Since when did Camp Half-Blood have border patrol?

Annabeth: It's Clarisse. Come on, we have to help her.

Normally, I wouldn't help Clarisse. She's the biggest bully in the camp, and she hates both me and Percy for beating her father Ares' ass last year. She probably hates me more because I shot him and her in the ass.

Still, she was in trouble. Her fellow warriors were scattering, running in panic as the bulls charged. The grass was burning in huge swathes around the pine tree. One hero screamed and waved his arms as he ran in circles, the horsehair plume on his helmet blazing like a fiery Mohawk. Clarisse's own armor was charred. She was fighting with a broken spear shaft, the other end embedded uselessly in the metal joint of one bull's shoulder.

I turned my flashlight into the sword and pressed the bottom button of the watch to activate the shield, while Percy uncapped his ballpoint pen to form Riptide in his hand.

Percy: (to Tyson) Tyson, stay here. I don't want you taking any more chances.

Annabeth: No. We need him.

Percy: He's mortal. He got lucky with the dodge balls, but he can't—

Annabeth: Percy, do you know what those are up there? The Colchis bulls, made by Hephaestus himself. We can't fight them without Medea's Sunscreen SPF 50,000. We'll get burned to a crisp.

Percy: Medea's what?

Annabeth rummaged through her backpack and cursed.

Annabeth: had a jar of tropical coconut scent sitting on my nightstand at home. Why didn't I bring it?

Percy: I... (turns to Theo) Theo, back me up here.

Theo: I hate to say it, but she's right.

Percy looked at me in disbelief.

Percy: Look, I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not going to let Tyson get fried.

Annabeth: Percy—

Percy: (to Tyson) Tyson, stay back. I'm going in.

Tyson tried to protest, but Percy ran off.

Theo: (sighs) Dammit, Jackson.

I ran after him towards Clarisse, who was yelling at her patrol, trying to get them into phalanx formation. It was a good idea. The few who were listening lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, locking their shields to form an ox-hide-and-bronze wall, their spears bristling over the top like porcupine quills.

Unfortunately, Clarisse could only muster six campers. The other four were still running around with their helmets on fire. Annabeth ran toward them, trying to help. She taunted one of the bulls into chasing her, then turned invisible, completely confusing the monster. The other bull charged Clarisse's line.

I was halfway up the hill—not close enough to help. Clarisse hadn't even seen me or Percy yet.

The bull moved deadly fast for something so big. Its metal hide gleamed in the sun. It had fist-sized rubies for eyes, and horns of polished silver. When it opened its hinged mouth, a column of white-hot flame blasted out.

Clarisse: HOLD THE LINE!

Whatever else you could say about Clarisse, she was brave. She was a big girl with cruel eyes like her father's. She looked like she was born to wear Greek battle armor, but I didn't see how even she could stand against that bull's charge.

Unfortunately, at that moment, the other bull lost interest in finding Annabeth. It turned, wheeling around behind Clarisse on her unprotected side.

Percy: CLARISSE, BEHIND YOU!

Clarisse was startled when she heard Percy's voice, which did not help. Bull Number One crashed into her shield, and the phalanx broke. Clarisse went flying backward and landed in a smoldering patch of grass. The bull charged past her, but not before blasting the other heroes with its fiery breath. Their shields melted right off their arms. They dropped their weapons and ran as Bull Number Two closed in on Clarisse for the kill.

Percy lunged forward and grabbed Clarisse by the straps of her armor. He dragged her out of the way just as Bull Number Two freight-trained past. I gave it a good swipe with my sword and cut a huge gash in its flank, but the monster just creaked and groaned and kept on going.

It hadn't touched me, but I could feel the heat of its metal skin. I genuinely thought that it had the power of the sun. That's how hot it was.

Clarisse: LET ME GO! PERCY, CURSE YOU!

Percy dropped her in a heap next to the pine tree and turned to face the bulls. We were on the inside slope of the hill now, the valley of Camp Half-Blood directly below us-the cabins, the training facilities, the Big House—all of it at risk if these bulls got past us.

Annabeth shouted orders to the other heroes, telling them to spread out and keep the bulls distracted.

Bull Number One ran a wide arc, making its way back toward me. As it passed the middle of the hill, where the invisible boundary line should've kept it out, it slowed down a little, as if it were struggling against a strong wind; but then it broke through and kept coming. Bull Number Two turned to face me, fire sputtering from the gash I'd cut in its side. I couldn't tell if it felt any pain, but its ruby eyes seemed to glare at me like I'd just made things personal.

I can't fight two bulls at once. So, I had to do something stupid.

I ran towards Bull Number Two and used my flying shoes to jump onto its back. I held onto its horns and steered it towards Bull Number One, and they collided. Unfortunately, I got flung off and landed harshly on the ground.

I got up just to see Bull Number One go for Percy and Bull Number Two standing in front of me. It opened its mouth and breathed a column of fire at me.

I was too slow to avoid it, so I raised my shield to block it. Good news, it worked. Bad news, I could feel my left arm burning up.

I sidestepped out of the way and lunged at the bull. I flew up and onto its back. I almost slipped off, but I managed to sit on its bovine. I sliced one of its horns off, but again, the bull flung me off its back.

I landed feet first onto the ground just as the bull turned to face me again.

Theo: Oh, shit.

Suddenly, a short bronze blade pierced its left eye.

???: LEAVE HIM ALONE!

The bull turned around wildly to face Annabeth. It sprayed fire in her direction, but she managed to dive out of the way.

With the bull distracted, I turned my sword back into a flashlight and took out my bow. I nocked an arrow and aimed for the bull's right eye as my right forearm and arrow glowed silver.

Theo: SELAS!

I released the arrow, and it hit its mark. The bull flew into a tree and collapsed.

Theo: HA! I GOT IT!

But the bull got and turned wildly in my direction. It couldn't see me, but it could still hear me.

Theo: OH, COME ON!

Annabeth ran at the bull, but it heard her footsteps. It turned in her direction and opened its mouth.

Theo: NO!

I sprinted towards her. I stopped right in front of her and raised my shield as the bull started spraying fire. I blocked the fire, but I knew I had to act fast before the shield melted off.

Annabeth: HOLD ON! I HAVE AN IDEA!

Theo: I'M ALL EARS!

Annabeth: JUST KEEP IT BUSY!

She backed up a few steps and put her cap on, turning invisible, while I stood still, still blocking the bull's fire attack.

I don't know how long I can hold this for, but whatever Annabeth's planning, she needs to act fast.

Luckily, she did.

The fire stopped. I lowered my shield and saw that the bull had a dislocated jaw as it turned away from me, shaking its head wildly.

Annabeth: THEO, DO IT NOW!

I lunged at the bull and drove my sword into the side of its neck. The bull roared as I pulled out my sword and swung downwards, slicing a good chunk of its hide off, exposing its mechanical parts. I took out the hidden blade on my right bracer and drove it into the parts. Sparks flew as the bull sputtered before falling limp.

I panted as I took out the hidden blade and retracted it back into my bracer. I retracted my shield and reformed my sword into a flashlight as Annabeth took off her cap, shimmering into view.

Theo: Nice work.

Annabeth: Thanks.

I put my fist out. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow before bumping my fist with her own.

Theo: How did the bulls manage to get through?

Annabeth: I don't know. They shouldn't be able to.

Just then, Percy got thrown and landed next to us. He tried to stand up, but his left leg buckled.

Shit, I forgot. There's still one more bull to deal with.

Annabeth: TYSON, HELP HIM!

Somewhere near, toward the crest of the hill, Tyson wailed.

Tyson: Can't—get—through!

Annabeth: I, Annabeth Chase, give you permission to enter camp!

Thunder shook the hillside. Suddenly Tyson barreled toward Percy.

Tyson: Percy needs help!

He dove between Percy and the bull just as it unleashed a nuclear firestorm.

Percy: TYSON!

The blast swirled around him like a red tornado. I could only see the black silhouette of his body.

But when the fire died, Tyson was still standing there, completely unharmed. Not even his grungy clothes were scorched. The bull must've been surprised, because before it could unleash a second blast, Tyson balled his fists and slammed them into the bull's face.

Tyson: BAD COW!

His fists made a crater where the bronze bull's snout used to be. Two small columns of flame shot out of its ears. Tyson hit it again, and the bronze crumpled under his hands like aluminum foil. The bull's face now looked like a sock puppet pulled inside out.

Tyson: DOWN!

The bull staggered and fell on its back. Its legs moved feebly in the air, steam coming out of its ruined head in odd places.

Annabeth and I ran to check on Percy. Annabeth gave Percy a canteen full of nectar, which he drank from. Instantly, he started to look better.

Percy: The other bull?

I pointed at the one Annabeth and I destroyed earlier.

Clarisse pulled off her helmet and marched toward us. A strand of her stringy brown hair was smoldering, but she didn't seem to notice.

Clarisse: YOU RUIN EVERYTHING! I HAD IT UNDER CONTROL!

Annabeth: Good to see you too, Clarisse.

Clarisse: AARRGH! Don't ever, EVER try saving me again!

Theo: Would you rather get turned into a crisp instead?! You're fucking welcome, La Rue!

Clarisse snarled at me, but Annabeth interfered.

Annabeth: Clarisse, you've got wounded campers.

That sobered her up. Even Clarisse cared about the soldiers under her command.

Clarisse: I'll be back.

She trudged off to assess the damage.

Percy: (to Tyson) You didn't die.

Tyson looked down like he was embarrassed.

Tyson: I am sorry. Came to help. Disobeyed you.

Annabeth: My fault. had no choice. I had to let Tyson cross the boundary line to save you. Otherwise, you would've died.

Percy: Let him cross the boundary line? But—

Theo: Percy, even I saw it.

He looked at me extremely confused.

Theo: Look at the guy. And I mean really look at him. Ignore the Mist.

Percy looked at Tyson. He forced himself to focus on his big lumpy nose, then a little higher at his eyes.

No, not eyes. One eye. One large, calf-brown eye, right in the middle of his forehead, with thick lashes and big tears trickling down his cheeks on either side.

Percy: Tyson. Y-You're a—

Annabeth: Cyclops. A baby, by the looks of him. Probably why he couldn't get past the boundary line as easily as the bulls. Tyson's one of the homeless orphans.

Percy: One of the what?

Annabeth: They're in almost all the big cities. They're...mistakes, Percy. Children of nature spirits and gods...Well, one god in particular, usually...and they don't always come out right. No one wants them. They get tossed aside. They grow up wild on the streets. I don't know how this one found you, but he obviously likes you. We should take him to Chiron, let him decide what to do.

Percy: But the fire. How—

Theo: Cyclopses are immune to fire. They have to be. They work the forges of the gods. That's what Annabeth is trying to say.

Percy looked shocked. Can't really blame him.

Clarisse came back over and wiped the soot off her forehead.

Clarisse: Jackson, Miller, if either of you can stand, get up. We need to carry the wounded back to the Big House, let Tantalus know what's happened.

Percy & Theo: Tantalus?

Annabeth: The activities director.

Percy: Chiron is the activities director. And where's Argus? He's head of security. He should be here.

Clarisse: Argus got fired. You three have been gone too long. Things are changing.

Theo: That can't be right. Chiron trained kids to be heroes for 3,000 years. What the hell even happened?

Clarisse: That happened.

She pointed at Thalia's tree.

Every camper knew the story behind the tree. Six years ago, Grover, Annabeth, and two other demigods named Thalia and Luke had come to Camp Half-Blood chased by an army of monsters. When they got cornered on top of this hill, Thalia, a daughter of Zeus, had made her last stand here to give her friends time to reach safety. As she was dying, her father, Zeus, took pity on her and changed her into a pine tree. Her spirit had reinforced the magic borders of the camp, protecting it from monsters. The pine had been here ever since, strong and healthy.

But now, its needles were yellow. A huge pile of dead ones littered the base of the tree. In the center of the trunk, three feet from the ground, was a puncture mark the size of a bullet hole, oozing green sap.

Theo: Holy shit.

A sliver of ice ran through my chest. Now I understood why the camp was in danger. The magical borders were failing because Thalia's tree was dying.

Someone had poisoned it.

Chapter Text

Percy's POV

Ever come home and found your room messed up? Like some helpful person (hi, Mom) has tried to "clean" it, and suddenly you can't find anything? And even if nothing is missing, you get that creepy feeling like somebody's been looking through your private stuff and dusting everything with lemon furniture polish?

That's kind of the way I felt seeing Camp Half-Blood again.

On the surface, things didn't look all that different. The Big House was still there with its blue gabled roof and its wraparound porch. The strawberry fields still baked in the sun. The same white-columned Greek buildings were scattered around the valley--the amphitheater, the combat arena, the dining pavilion overlooking Long Island Sound. And nestled between the woods and the creek were the same cabins--a crazy assortment of twelve buildings, each representing a different Olympian god.

But there was an air of danger now. You could tell something was wrong. Instead of playing volleyball in the sandpit, counselors, and satyrs were stockpiling weapons in the tool shed. Dryads armed with bows and arrows talked nervously at the edge of the woods. The forest looked sickly, the grass in the meadow was pale yellow, and the fire marks on Half-Blood Hill stood out like ugly scars.

Somebody had messed with my favorite place in the world, and I was not...well, a happy camper.

As we made our way to the Big House, I recognized a lot of kids from last summer. Nobody stopped to talk. Nobody said, "Welcome back." Some did double takes when they saw Tyson, but most just walked grimly past and carried on with their duties-running messages, toting swords to sharpen on the grinding wheels. The camp felt like a military school. And believe me, I know. I've been kicked out of a couple.

None of that mattered to Tyson. He was absolutely fascinated by everything he saw.

Tyson: Whasthat!

Percy: The stables for pegasi. The winged horses.

Tyson: Whasthat!

Theo: Uhh...That would be the toilets.

Tyson: Whasthat!

Percy: The cabins for the campers. If they don't know who your Olympian parent is, they put you in the Hermes cabin—that brown one over there--until you're determined. Then, once they know, they put you in your dad or mom's group.

He looked at me in awe.

Tyson: You...have a cabin?

Percy: Number 3.

I pointed to a low gray building made of sea stone.

Tyson: You live with friends in the cabin?

Percy: No. No, just me. Theo's the same. He's in cabin 8 over there.

I point at the silver cabin, which was dedicated to Theo's mother, Artemis.

I didn't feel like explaining. The embarrassing truth: I was the only one who stayed in that cabin because I wasn't supposed to be alive. The "Big Three" gods—Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades—had made a pact after World War II not to have any more children with mortals. We were more powerful than regular half-bloods. We were too unpredictable. When we got mad, we tended to cause problems...like World War II, for instance. The "Big Three" pact had only been broken twice--once when Zeus sired Thalia, and once when Poseidon sired me. Neither of us should've been born.

Thalia had gotten herself turned into a pine tree when she was twelve. Me...well, I was doing my best not to follow her example. I had nightmares about what Poseidon might turn me into if I were ever on the verge of death—plankton, maybe. Or a floating patch of kelp.

When we got to the Big House, we found Chiron in his apartment, listening to his favorite 1960s lounge music while he packed his saddlebags. I guess I should mention--Chiron is a centaur. From the waist up he looks like a regular middle-aged guy with curly brown hair and a scraggly beard. From the waist down, he's a white stallion. He can pass for a human by compacting his lower half into a magic wheelchair. In fact, he'd passed himself off as my Latin teacher during my sixth-grade year. But most of the time, if the ceilings are high enough, he prefers hanging out in full centaur form.

As soon as we saw him, Tyson froze.

Tyson: Pony!

Chiron: I beg your pardon?

Annabeth ran up and hugged him.

Annabeth: Chiron...what's happening? You're not...leaving?

Her voice was shaky. Chiron was like a second father to her.

Chiron ruffled her hair and gave her a kindly smile.

Chiron: Hello, child. (turns to Percy) And Percy, my goodness. You've grown over the year! (turns to Theo) It is good to see you again, Theo.

Theo gave him a nod with a strained smile. I could tell he didn't like the fact that Chiron was leaving.

Percy: Clarisse said you were...you were...

Chiron: Fired. Ah, well, someone had to take the blame. Lord Zeus was most upset. The tree he'd created from the spirit of his daughter, poisoned! Mr. D had to punish someone.

Theo: (angrily) Other than himself, you mean.

I didn't blame Theo for being angry. Just the thought of the camp director, Mr. D, made me angry.

Annabeth: But this is crazy! Chiron, you couldn't have had anything to do with poisoning Thalia's tree!

Chiron: Nevertheless, some in Olympus do not trust me now, under the circumstances.

Percy: What circumstances?

Chiron's face darkened. He stuffed a Latin-English dictionary into his saddlebag while the Frank Sinatra music oozed from his boom box.

Tyson was still staring at Chiron in amazement. He whimpered like he wanted to pat Chiron's flank but was afraid to come closer.

Tyson: Pony?

Chiron: My dear young Cyclops! I am a centaur.

Percy: Chiron...what about the tree? What happened?

Chiron: (shakes his head) The poison used on Thalia's pine is something from the Underworld, Percy. Some venom even I have never seen. It must have come from a monster quite deep in the pits of Tartarus.

Percy: Then we know who's responsible. Kro—

Chiron: Do not invoke the titan lord's name, Percy. Especially not here, not now.

Theo: But he tried to start a civil war in Olympus last year! He was the only one who'd stand to gain from that! I bet he had Luke so this for him, the prick!

Chiron: Perhaps. But I fear I am being held responsible because I did not prevent it and I cannot cure it. The tree has only a few weeks of life left unless...

Annabeth: Unless what?

Chiron: No. A foolish thought. The whole valley is feeling the shock of the poison. The magical borders are deteriorating. The camp itself is dying. Only one source of magic would be strong enough to reverse the poison, and it was lost centuries ago.