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chapter v.
( the lightning thief )
❝ a war of the gods ❞

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      AFTER THE CAPTURE THE FLAG INCIDENT, Percy moved into cabin three. No one mentioned the hellhound attack, at least not around him. The camp was overrun by whispers of the encounter, everyone was terrified of it and Percy.

      Most campers stayed clear of him, even Clarisse. Annabeth and I still taught him Ancient Greek, but the child of Athena's whole demeanour changed around him. He was now a child of Poseidon, and her mother and his father absolutely hated each other.

      I became quite weary of him. I always made sure my senses were alert. I was afraid that a monster would come barging into camp or that he would be struck by lightning or engulfed underground.

      If Percy was to survive to the age of sixteen, then all hell would break loose.

      I still don't know how he would help me, and surprisingly, the idea of him being the son of the Sea God made it all more confusing.

      But that wasn't as confusing as my dream.

      I was standing on a beach. The wind made my hair blow drastically in my face, even when I tucked it behind my ear. A storm raged above me, spraying salty water along with raindrops against my arms and legs.

      A city stood behind me. The buildings were spread further apart than New York, and there were low hills in the distance and palm trees.

      What was even stranger was I saw a familiar black mass of messy hair standing in front of me. He watched two men about one hundred metres down the surf. Both reminded me of NFL players – muscular, with bears and long hair. They both wore Greek tunics, one trimmed with blue, the other green.

      "Percy?" I called, and he looked back, his eyes wide in surprise when he saw me.

      "Claire? What're you doing here?"

      I ran towards him with difficulty, as the strong wind seemed to push me back with extreme force.

     I finally reached him.

      "I don't know. How can we be having the same dream?" I said, out of breath.

      Percy shrugged and was about to say something when suddenly, lighting flashed across the sky, and the clouds rumbled and grew darker.

      Our gazes snapped back to the two men fighting. They grappled with each other, wrestled, headbutted, kicked, and punched ... anything you could imagine. Every time they made contact, thunder boomed, lightning flashed, the sky darkened and the wind grew.

      Percy glanced at me before starting to try and run to the two men, but the wind held him back no matter how hard he tried.

      Over the storm, I could just hear the blue-robed man yell to the other:

      "Give it back! Give it back!"

      I had to raise my hand to my eyes to stop them hurting from the wind. The waves got bigger, crashing into the beach.

       "Stop it!" Percy yelled at them. "Stop fighting!"

      I let out a small scream when the ground shook, and laughter echoed from somewhere under the earth. My blood ran cold. The voice was so evil, so deep and ancient, it made me shiver all over.

      "Come down, little heroes," the voice said, and I felt myself grab hold of Percy's arm. "Come down!"

      Another scream tore itself from my throat when the sand split beneath Percy and me, opening up a crevice so deep it seemed to lead down to the centre of the earth itself. Percy's feet slipped, and he dragged me down with him into the darkness.

      I woke up with a gasp. I heard a loud crash of thunder from outside.

      So I hadn't dreamt that.

      Jay was shaking me, and I looked to him, my blood still ice from the voice I heard. And only two thoughts filled my head.

      Who was that voice?

      Why did I have the exact same dream as Percy?

      "Claire." Jay said, bringing me back to reality. "Get up and head to the Big House. Chiron and Mr D are waiting for you."

      "What do they want?" I asked, frowning.

      Jay shrugged. "Grover said something about an opportunity for you and Annabeth ... or something."

      Suddenly a thought popped into my head, and a grin formed on my face. If it what I hoped it was ... I will be finally stepping outside.

      "Thank you, Jay." I said, the grin still on my face and I quickly got up and got dressed before stepping outside. I looked up at the large storm clouds that surrounded the whole camp, and I took a deep breath. Storms always passed us, even big ones, but this was huge.

      Everyone around was going about their usual activities. My fellow siblings from the Apollo cabin were enjoying a game of volleyball with the satyrs, the Dionysius twins were walking through the strawberry fields, helping the plants grow ... but everyone seemed tense, each and every one of them kept an eye on the storm.

      I bit my lip, giving one last frown at the storm before making my way to the Big House.

      I reached the porch to see Chiron and Mr D playing pinochle with two other invisible players, their cards floating above the table. Mr D had his usual tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt and Diet Coke can at his side, while Chiron sat in his wheelchair. The centaur smiled when he saw me, his three thousand old eyes sparkling.

      "Claire," he greeted, "care to join us for pinochle?"

      "Against Mr D, sir? I won't stand a chance, sorry." I replied, and Mr D huffed, and I took that as he accepted the compliment. "But, why did you summon me?"

      Chiron placed his cards face-down on the table. "You've wanted a quest, Claire, and you have the chance."

      My eyes widened, and a grin slowly appeared on my face. "Really?! With who?!"

      "I believe he is coming now." Chiron nodded from behind me, and I looked back to see Percy and Grover make their way up the hill, and my spirits sunk slightly.

      "With him?" I looked back to Chiron. "You got to be kidding, Chiron. Percy's full of kelp, he won't last a day out there."

      The centaur's eyes sparkled with amusement. "That is why you and Annabeth will help him."

      I frowned. "Annabeth?" I glanced around, seeing no familiar curly blonde-haired child of Athena anywhere. "Where is she –?" I didn't need an answer, I felt a hand clasp around my wrist and pulled me out of sight to behind a pillar and I sighed in realisation. "Of course."

      I could almost imagine Annabeth grinning under her Yankee's Baseball Cap.

      Percy and Grover appeared on the front porch soon after.

      "Well, well," Mr D said without looking up from his cards. "Our little celebrity."

      Percy waited.

      "Come closer," Mr D said. "And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father."

      A net of lightning flashed across the clouds. Thunder shook the windows of the house, and I winced.

      "Blah, blah, blah." Dionysus waved a hand dismissively.

      Chiron seemed remotely interested in his cards, and Grover cowered by the railing.

       "If I had my way," the wine god continued, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm."

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

      "Nonsense," Mr D said. "Boy wouldn't feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father."

      "Mr D –" Chiron warned.

      "Oh, all right," Dionysus sighed. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness," he rose, and the invisible players' cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do."

      Dionysus picked up a playing card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle – a security pass. He then snapped his fingers, and the air seemed to fold and bend around him. He became a holograph, then a wind, and finally, he was gone, the only evidence that he was ever here was the slight scent of fresh-pressed grapes.

       Chiron looked to Percy. "Sit, Percy, please. And Grover."

       They obliged.

       Chiron laid his cards on the table, and I could see a winning hand he never got to use.

      "Tell me, Percy," He said. "What did you make of the hellhound?"

       I listened intently from where I hid.

      "It scared me," Percy said. "If Claire hadn't shot it, I'd be dead."

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

      Percy frowned. "Done ... with what?"

      "Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?"

      The Son of Poseidon glanced to Grover, who was crossing his fingers.

      "Um, sir," He said softly, "you haven't told me what it is yet."

      Chiron grimaced. "Well, that's the hard part, the details."

      I flinched when thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the end of the beach, and it seemed that the sea and sky were boiling together.

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

      I glanced at an invisible Annabeth as Chiron leant forward in his wheelchair. "How did you know that?" He asked.

      A blush crept up on Percy's face. "The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Claire and Annabeth, and they'd overheard something about theft. And ... I've also been having these dreams."

      "I knew it." Grover blurted out.

      "Hush, satyr." Chiron ordered.

      "But it is his quest!" The satyr's eyes were wide with excitement. "It must be!"

      "Only the Oracle can determine." Chiron stroked his beard. "Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt."

      Percy let out a nervous laugh. "A what?"

      "Do not take this lightly," Chiron told him. "I'm not talking about some tinfoil-covered zigzag you'd see in a second-grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot-long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."

      "Oh."

      I rolled my eyes.

      "Zeus's master bolt," Chiron said, he was starting to get worked up now. "The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclops for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheared the top of Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."

      "And it's missing?"

     "Stolen."

     "By who?"

      "By whom," Chiron corrected. "By you."

      Percy's mouth fell open, and I frowned in interest.

      "At least" – the centaur held up his hand – "that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: "Mother Rhea always liked you best," "Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters," et cetera. Afterwards, Zeus realised 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."

      "But I didn't –"

     "Patience and listen, child," Chiron interrupted. "Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclops 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 Cyclops 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 you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays. You could easily have snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief."

      "But I've never even been to Olympus!" Percy retorted. "Zeus is crazy!"

      I nervously glanced up at the storm clouds that still haven't passed, instead they were rolling straight over the valley, sealing the camp in like a coffin lid.

      "Er, Percy ..." Grover whispered to his friend. "We don't use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky."

      "Perhaps paranoid." Chiron suggested. "Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam ..." He looked at Percy expectantly.

      Percy curled his lip and knitted his brows together in thought. "Something about a golden net?" He guessed. "Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods ... they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?"

      "Correct," Chiron said. "And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon ever since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offence 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."

      "But I'm just a kid!"

      "Percy," Grover cut in, "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?"

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

      Chiron sighed. "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, then 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 bold 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?"

      "Bad?" He guessed.

      "Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilisation turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water balloon fight."

      "Bad," Percy repeated, and I resisted the urge to say, "no kidding."

      "And you, Percy Jackson," Chiron continued, "would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath."

       Suddenly, it started to rain, breaking the tense feeling. My siblings and the satyrs stopped their volleyball game to stare up at the sky in stunned silence.

      "So I have to find the stupid bolt," Percy said, and I didn't know whether he was getting angry with either himself or the God of the Sky. "And return it to Zeus."

      "What better peace offering," Chiron said, "than to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus's property?"

      "If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is the thing?"

      To be honest, I was wondering the same thing.

      "I believe I know." The Centaur's expression was grim. "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 shifted in his spot. "Why can't you tell me where the bolt is beforehand?"

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

      I could see Percy's throat tighten as he swallowed. "Good reason."

      "You agree then?"

      Annabeth's grip tightened on my wrist, I crossed my fingers. Percy glanced to Grover, who nodded encouragingly.

      "All right," the son of Poseidon. "It's better than being turned into a dolphin."

      I let out a grin, I was going to finally go on a quest.

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

      Percy came back down after a few minutes. Out of the four of us, Grover was the most nervous. He sat on the porch railing, chewing through a diet coke can like no tomorrow.

      When Percy finally appeared back on the porch, Chiron looked to him expectantly.

      "Well?" The centaur asked, and Percy slumped down into one of the porch chairs, his face as white as a ghost.

      "She said I would retrieve what was stolen." He said softly.

      Grover sat forward. "That's great!"

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

      Percy took a shaky breath. "She ... she said I would go west and face the god who has turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."

      "I knew it!" Grover grinned.

      "Anything else?" Chiron asked, and if it was possible, Percy's face went even paler.

      "No," he said shakily. "That's about it."

       I knew he was lying, I could see it written all over his face, but I didn't say anything, neither did Chiron.

      "Very well, Percy," The centaur said, "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 have come to pass."

      "Okay," Percy said slowly, anxious to change the subject. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"

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

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

      "Yes, quite. Someone who harbours a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was decided aeons ago, whose kingdom would grow powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them now broken."

      Subconsciously, my thoughts went back to my dreams, and Goosebumps grew on my arms when I remembered the voice. Could it have been Hades?

      "Hades." Percy curled his lip.

      Chiron nodded. "The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."

      A scrap of aluminium fell from Grover's mouth. "Woah, wait. Wh-what?"

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

      "Yes, but – but Hades hates all heroes." Grover's voice was almost squeaky, and I knew why. Satyrs weren't the best underground. "Especially if he has found out Percy is a son of Poseidon ..."

      "A hellhound got into the forest," Chiron continued. "Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone within the camp. Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest."

       "Great," Percy muttered. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."

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

      I had to bite my lip to stop myself for chuckling.

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

      Grover was trembling, and he started to eat the pinochle cards like potato chips.

      After a moments pause, Percy came back from his thoughts and said to Chiron, "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."

      "Suspecting and knowing are not the same," Chiron said. "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?"

      "You're saying I'm being used."

      "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."

      Through Percy's sea-green eyes, I could see a tumble of emotion. He looked to Chiron and said softly but defiantly. "You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"

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

      I wondered whether he was referring to the Great Prophecy, but I didn't have to guts to ask.

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

      "Check," Chiron said.

      "Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."

      "Check."

      "And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."

      "That's about right."

      Percy glanced back at Grover again, who had gulped down the ace of hearts. "Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?" The satyr said weakly.

      "You don't have to go," Percy told him. "I can't ask that of you."

      A sudden spark of admiration filled inside me for a moment at his words.

      "Oh ..." Grover shifted his hooves. "No ... it's just that satyrs and underground places ... well ..."

       He then took a deep breath and stood up, brushing the shredded cards and aluminium bits off his Camp Half-Blood T-shirt. He had a brave look on his face. "You saved my life, Percy. If ... if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."

      A grateful smile made its way onto Percy's face. "All the way, G-man." He turned to Chiron. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west."

      "The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America."

      "Where?"

      Chiron looked surprised, and I tilted my head at Percy. If he could just think. West, the most western part of America: California. "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."

      "Oh," Percy said, and I could track a small sense of sarcasm in his voice. "Naturally. So we just get on a plane –"

      "No!" Grover almost shrieked. "Percy, what are you thinking?! Have you ever been on a plane in your life?"

      Percy shook his head, looking slightly
embarrassed.

      "Percy, think." Chiron said. "You are the son of the Sea God. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an aeroplane. You would be in Zeus's domain. You would never come down again alive."

      I almost jumped when the sound of lightning and thunder cracked overhead.

      "Okay," Percy said. "So, I'll travel overland."

      "That's right." Chiron said. "Usually, on quests, we allow two companions to accompany you. Any more would risk exposure to monsters. However, I was advised that another camper will have to aid you. So you will have three. Grover is one. The other two have already volunteered, if you will accept their help."

      "Gee," Percy said, and I scowled at his feigned surprise. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"

      I took the cue to step out of my hiding place while Annabeth shimmered into view at my side, stuffing her Yankees cap into her back pocket.

      "Who are you calling stupid, Beach Boy?" I said, crossing my arms. "Do I have to mention the one with kelp in his brain?"

      Annabeth gave me a look to keep my mouth shut, and so I did. "Claire and I have been waiting a long time for a quest, Jackson." She said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, we're the best people to keep you from messing up."

      I nodded. "Exactly. You may have water on your side, but you're still new to the world of gods and monsters, you need our help."

      "If you say so yourself," Percy said. "I suppose you helped with the plan, Sunshine?"

      I could feel my face turn red and my body heat up. "Do you want our help or not?"

      "A trio, plus one," Percy nodded. "That'll work."

      I frowned. "Plus one?! I'll tell you who's plus one –" I was about to have a go at him, but Chiron's words cut me off.

       "Excellent," He gave me a look to tell me to behave and to keep my temper down, so I huffed and crossed my arms. I admit, I was acting childish, but Percy annoyed me so much. "This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own."

       Lightning flashed, and heavy rained poured down on Camp Half-blood, some people who had taken cover under porches and inside cabins, still stared at the rain through windows and posts in amazement and slight fear.

      "No time to waste," Chiron said. "I think you should all get packing."