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chapter xvii.
( the lightning theif )
❝ family luke
( you promised ) ❞

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WE LEFT PERCY ON THE SIDEWALK OF CENTRAL MANHATTAN. The flight back to New York had been stressful. All of us would keep on glancing outside, just waiting for Zeus to strike us out of the sky. But we landed back home with no scratch and no problems. We then took a cab back to the Empire State building and Percy exited the taxi by passing Annabeth and I our necklaces and Grover his tin can which he took a massive bite in, before shutting the door and walking down the sidewalk.

It had been his idea to head to Olympus alone, he wouldn't give a proper reason, but I guessed it was that if he didn't come out of this alive, we were his chance to tell Chiron everything that had happened.

But he had come back all in one piece, with the Lightning Bolt safely back in Zeus's hands and no longer was the world on the brink of a catastrophe. Percy and I were no longer delinquents on the run, creating their own cult ( as described by the lovely Barbara Walters ), but the Mist had manipulated our journey into a sob story where we were but victims of Ares's, a crazy kidnapper. Percy soon became a public hero who stood up against the 'madman' with a gun show off and saved all of his friends along the way, who were safely in police custody.

The reporters told us the story, and we just nodded and cried into each other's shoulders, ( which wasn't exactly hard ).

"All I want," Percy said, choking back 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."

Percy got his mother back, and he also told me that his stepfather wouldn't be bothering them anytime soon.

We were the first half-bloods to return alive from a quest since Luke. When I returned back to the safety of cabin seven, all of my siblings joined together in giving me the largest hug I ever had. I snuggled right in their many shoulders, and I couldn't stop the tears that welled up in my eyes. I didn't understand why I was so emotional, but I think it was because for once, I felt like I made my cabin proud. That I proved to my father, but them most of all that I was a hero, that children of Apollo were something more.

Following camp tradition, we wore laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in our honour, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where we burned the burial shrouds our cabins made us in case we didn't come back.

The Apollo cabin made me a beautiful golden silk shroud, with the Apollo harp stitched perfectly in the middle that seemed to glow in the sun. Percy told me that it was a shame that he couldn't bury me in it and I put him in a headlock afterwards, telling him to shut up, but all he did was laugh.

Annabeth's was a lovely grey silk with embroidered owls. And since Percy was the only one in his cabin, another cabin offered to make his. Ares cabin had volunteered to create a shroud with an old white bedsheet with a painted smiley face with X's as the eyes.

But despite all the fun and games, I couldn't help but feel horrible. Like something bad was about to happen. It was like those times when you're walking alone down the street, and you know everything's fine yet the hairs of the back of your neck tingle, and you just have to look back, thinking as if someone was following you, someone bad, someone untrustworthy. For me, it was the shadow of forbearing of trouble that hung over my head like thick smoke. I was forgetting something. This whole quest had been a huge puzzle piece, and a few squares were still missing.

After being on a quest that focused on Percy's love for his mother, and his determination to save her, I suddenly realised the lack of that in my life.

Sure, I had Hannah and her boyfriend. But I hardly spend time with them in the school terms. I usually spent all of the year at Camp Half-Blood. I knew nothing else.

Some could argue that Chiron was a father figure to me. I knew him since I was seven. But I wanted a relationship with a parent like Percy had with his mother. I wanted to have a mother that would make me a special blue birthday cake or special blue cookies or hotcakes. But I didn't, and I was too scared to create such a relationship with Hannah in case I would hurt her.

But when I returned to the Apollo cabin at the end of that day after sword fighting with Percy ( in which I failed ), I had decided. All it took was an iris message that shimmered above my bed. When I answered, I felt a little emotional at the sight of Hannah appearing in their sitting room.

As soon as she saw me, her face scrunched up, and I knew she was angry. Her light brown hair was tied up in a ponytail, which gave me the idea that she had been cleaning. She wore her work clothes and there was a smudge on her rosy cheeks that looked suspiciously like icing.

"Claire Moore!" She hissed, and I was glad that none of my siblings were in the cabin at the moment. "During your journey across America – which I'm sure was very entertaining – when were you ever thinking of IM'ing me to check whether you were okay?!"

A sheepish grin grew on my face, "Uh ... about that ..."

So I told her everything, from beginning to end. Hannah listened intently, but I could see her ears were red, she was definitely not happy. But there was the relief in her blue eyes that told me that she was at least grateful I was still alive. When I mentioned Percy, her brows shot up.

"A son of Poseidon?" She said, surprised. "And he's meant to show you the purpose of your powers?" She snorted. "I'm sorry, Claire, but that sounds awfully cliche."

I couldn't help but grin and agree with her. And as I continued, I realised that this quest has taught me something. That I should relish what family I had. My siblings, but also the family I had across the state border. Because, before you know it, they could slip from your fingers. And if you have a life like mine, it was sadly something that could very well happen.

"Hey, Hannah," I said carefully. "Um ... I was just wondering – if it's okay, I mean – whether I could ... you know ... possibly, um, stay? For the school term?"

I saw her face brighten up, and a smile grew on her face. "Oh, yes, of course!" She seemed to not care about the danger that came alongside with me, and I guess I would have to let that slide too. "There's a great school here – I'll enrol you in now! It'll be so great to have you back!"

She kept on blabbering on, her face wide and excited. I felt a smile form on my face. Despite everything that could go wrong, I felt like this risk was the right thing to do.

When the call ended, I saw Lee enter the cabin with the rest of the children of Apollo. I found it quite coincidental that all of them came in just as I had finished my call. By the looks on their faces, I could tell they had been discussing something important.

"Hey," I greeted them. "Sorry I left early ... I just had someone I needed to talk to."

They all stopped at my bed, crowding at the foot. Lee stood in the middle, holding an aura of confidence and authority as he always did. Now that I had met our father, I could see that he looked a lot like him. Lee glanced at Michael and Jenna beside him before speaking, "Claire, we want you to be our cabin counsellor."

I blinked. "What?"

When they didn't say anything or laugh, I frowned, "Hang on, you're being serious?"

"Yeah," Lee nodded.

"Lee, no, you're cabin counsellor," I stood up, approaching my siblings. "You're the eldest, you've had the most experience."

Jay beside Jenna shook his head, "Claire, you've been here longer than any of us, you're the best archer Camp Half-blood has seen in centuries, and you've been on a quest, that's one more than any of us in here have been on."

I felt honoured -- I really did. There was a part of me that wanted to take that offer. To hold it and keep it and never let it go. But I felt guilty. Lee was cabin counsellor, and I could never imagine myself taking up that role. But ... there was that other part again. Wanting it ... reaching for it ... I quickly shook my head, "No. I can't take it, guys. Lee, it's you're job. I'm not taking that away from you."

Lee stepped forward and placed his hands on my shoulder. He looked down right into my eyes. They were kind and gentle. A warm brown. "Claire, if I didn't think you would be the best person to take my place, I would have never said it. We've already discussed it among ourselves. We want you to be cabin counsellor."

"But," I said more quietly. "I-I gotta leave for the school term," my excuse seemed pretty stupid, "who will take it up then?"

Lee shrugged, a smirk on his face, "Well, obviously I will."

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my throat. Lee soon joined in, as did everyone else in the cabin. I thought, smiling, perhaps that being cabin counsellor wouldn't be so bad. Annabeth is cabin six's, and Lee was ours ... maybe I could do it.

When the second of July went passed, I celebrated finally reaching the age of thirteen. While most normal people who lived normal lives without the shadow of death hanging over their shoulders enjoyed the day for being one year older. But for me, as a demigod with a continuous bounty on my head wherever I went, every birthday was like a bright neon sign saying: Good job, Claire! You survived another year without being brutally killed!

For a birthday present, Jay gave me a box full of his father's bakery's chocolate chip cookies and a small cupcake with a single birthday candle sitting among the lemon icing. I shared the cookies with Annabeth, Percy, Grover and Jay and kept the cake to myself, but even then, Percy managed to steal some icing off with his finger. After finding out it was lemon flavour, he had spat it out onto the grass ( "Ew! Percy that's disgusting!" ).

The whole of cabin seven celebrated with a good ( yet embarrassing ) concert of 'Happy Birthday' with harps and lutes. Hannah and her boyfriend sent a card that sprung out confetti with a present of boiled candy. I didn't expect anything from my dad, Apollo. When I was little, I hoped for some attention on that special day and would cry when I recieved nothing. Now, I was used to having one always absent parent save that one day before the quest.

So I was surprised when I saw a glowing piece of paper sitting on the top of my pillowcase when I returned after the campfire. I knew immediately who it was from, and I was tempted to throw it away in the bin. I didn't care whether it would offend Apollo – I held no daughterly affection for him.

But I found myself opening it, and I frowned at the words written in cursive. No 'Happy Birthday' or 'Congratulations on surviving another year!'. There wasn't even a hello, but a strange reminder:

LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN
AND IT CAN BLIND YOU

If I said I just 'didn't understand' it would be an understatement. The phrase of words seemed utterly stupid. Something everyone knew without even thinking. It didn't seem to have a special encoded description that held the secret to my life that I needed to figure out. And if it was, it was an extremely hard, and horrible one. It made me want to throw it away even more, but I found myself tucking it away in my pillowcase, surprising myself.

The Fourth of July came next, and carrying on with tradition, the whole camp gathered around at the beach for a fireworks display by cabin nine. I was excited for this years. Each year, the Hephaestus kid's created a spectacular show. Never was it the boring red-white-and-blue explosions. It was always a story of ancient Greek heroic tales and quests. One time it was Jason of the Argonauts and the Argo. Another, Perseus and his quest to save Andromeda.

This year, they had anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of Patriot missiles. There had been rumours that the epic finale was to be a great battle of Spartans, sprinting across the starry sky.

Percy, Annabeth and I were spreading a picnic blanket when Grover showed up to say goodbye. He was dressed in his usual jeans, T-shirt and trainers. But in the last weeks, he had started to look older, almost high school age. His goat-tee had gotten thicker, he'd put on weight, and his horns had grown a few centimetres, so he had to wear his cap at all times to pass as human.

"I'm off," he said. "I just came to say ... well, you know."

To see one of my oldest and best friends to finally receive his searching licence and set off on a quest no satyr has ever survived made me choke up a sob. I refused to show the tears in my eyes so I quickly hugged Grover. I felt Annabeth take hold as well, wrapping her arms around the both of us. She told him to keep his fake feet on.

When we pulled away, Percy asked him where he was going to start his search.

Grover looked a little sheepish, "Kind of a secret," he said. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan ..."

"We understand," I said. Then I started fretting. "You got enough tin cans for the trip? Water? Drachmas? Cash?"

"Yeah."

"And you remembered your reed pipes?" Annabeth added.

"Jeez, guys," he grumbled. "You're like old mamma goats."

But he didn't really sound annoyed.

Grover gripped his walking stick and shifted the backpack on his back, taking hold of the strap on his shoulder. He looked like any other hitchhiker you might see on an American Highway – not the terrified, skinny little goat he looked at the start of the summer. "Well," he took a deep breath. "Wish me luck."

He gave Annabeth and I another quick hug, clapped Percy on the shoulder, then headed back through the dunes.

Above us, the sky exploded into bright colours: Heracles killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington ( a son of Athena ) crossing the Delaware.

"Hey Grover," Percy called, and the satyr looked back. "Wherever you're going – I hope they have good enchiladas."

Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him.

"We'll see him again," Annabeth said.

I wanted to believe her. I had to believe her. Grover will be the first satyr to return from the search for Pan. He had to be.

July passed. I spent the days planning Capture the Flag strategies and making alliances with Annabeth and Percy, making sure that the banner was kept out of the Ares cabin's hands. I trained with my siblings and friends, climbed the lava wall, and Percy started to teach me to canoe, believing it was time that I started getting over my slight fear of the water. After a while, the water wasn't so scary, but I honestly sucked at canoeing. I seemed to tip the small, long boat every few seconds. In the end, the lessons would either end in me clinging to Percy for safety or ( by the end ) the both of us mucking about in the lake.

But the uneasy feeling still hadn't passed. There was something I was missing, something important. The puzzle of the quest still wasn't finished. Every now and then, when I was alone, I thought about the prophecy.

You shall go west and face the god who has turned. That one I knew was done and dusted. Instead of it being Hades, the turned god was Ares, controlled by the Titan Lord from Tartarus in his dreams.

You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned. That one was done too. The master bolt and the helm of darkness were both back where they were meant to be.

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you friend. That one could have been Ares too, I guess. He acted like he was our friend for half of the quest ...

And you shall fail to save what matters most in the end. That was Percy's mom, who he left in the underworld, who then saved herself.

But what was I missing?! There were obvious gaps, I knew that. We didn't know who the original thief was on the winter solstice. Who was the half-blood was that Ares had found and decided to side with under the influence of Father Time? Were they here, in Camp Half-blood? Right under our noses? Or were they a stray in New York City? Perhaps that was what I was so uneasy about, for someone was working the Titan's dirty needs, and I didn't know who.

*

THE LAST NIGHT of the summer holidays came all too quickly. My nerves danced in my stomach as the moon rose higher in the sky. Tomorrow, it would be the first time that I would have spent the school term with Hannah for ages, and I was terrified that it would end as bad as it did last time.

We all had one last meal together. We burned part of our food to the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counsellors awarded the end-of-summer beads. Percy got his first own leather necklace, and the bead given was enough to make him blush, even behind the firelight. I smiled slightly. The design was pitch black, with a sea-green trident shimmering in the centre.

"The choice was unanimous," Luke announced. "This bead commemorates the first son of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!"

The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Even the Ares's cabin felt obliged to stand and join in. The Apollo cabin pushed me to the front beside Percy, as did cabin six with Annabeth so we could share the applause. I couldn't help the grin that grew on my face. Annabeth was blushing hard underneath her blonde hair. This was our first ever quest, what she had wanted from the start, what I had wanted. The feeling that ran through my body was ecstatic, so much that I hugged my friends and laughed with them.

I still had one more day at camp before Hannah came to pick me up. Everyone was getting ready for final inspection, packing up and cleaning out bunks and bathrooms. Jay frowned when he saw me pull an overnight back onto the end of my bed.

"You're leaving for the winter?" he asked me, and I felt suddenly a little guilty about not telling him sooner.

"Yeah," I gave a small smile. "I've decided to try it again with Hannah ... hopefully, no horrible monster will attack us this time."

"Hey," Jay placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, "it'll be all right."

"I hope so." I took a deep breath and grabbed my necklace from my bedside table, slipping it on. "I'm gonna go and get some last minute training, you coming?"

He shook his head, "Nah, I still got some cleaning to do."

I sent a smile, "Okay, see you soon."

I went to leave the cabin, but Jay called me back. I turned around, "Yeah?"

He looked uncomfortable. He scratched his left wrist, and for the first time, I realised the red marks on his arms from nail scratches. "What do you think of Apollo – dad, I mean?"

I frowned, wondering where he was going with this conversation. "Not much. Why?"

"What about the other Olympians?"

"Jay, are you all right? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he replied quickly. "Just ... I don't know ... don't you think that they're bad? Not good?"

I was starting to feel really worried. He looked like he was going to be sick. "Of course I do," I finally said, unsure of what he was meaning. "But, Jay, it's not the Gods' job to be good people."

He stayed silent after that, and I left him alone in the cabin. The dread feeling returned, hovering over my head like my own personal storm cloud. Something about what he said made me feel nervous. What was he trying to say? What did he mean? What was so important about how I felt about the gods?

I reached the archery range and pulled my necklace off. I tossed the key in the air, watching it turn before landing back in my palm, instantly turning into Sun-bearer. I felt the weight of the quiver in my back. I pulled out an average arrow and notched it into my bow. I pulled the string back to my ear and let it loose. But it was half-hearted, the arrow embedded itself inches from the middle of the target.

I still couldn't figure out what I was missing. It was these moments I wished I had the magical brains every child of Athena had, that I could figure something out with the snap of my fingers. The last puzzle pieces were scattered, lost under the rug or the TV set, or couch. I had to look for them on my hands and knees.

Who was the thief in the first place? Who stole the bolt and the helmet of darkness at the winter solstice?

I readied another arrow at the string. Now that I come to think about it, I could easily narrow it down. It had to be a half-blood, no God could steal each other's sources of power. It couldn't have been Kronos himself, he is far away down in Tartarus, and thankfully, now, will stay that way. I pulled the string back. I could narrow it down even more to only the half-bloods that were at the winter solstice.

That brought a dreadful feeling in my body, seeping from my stomach to my heart. It was someone here. That would make sense. That same person would have let in the hellhound to attack Percy – that way, Chiron would think that he wasn't safe at camp and sent him off on the quest in the first place. To send the lightning bolt to Hades in the Underworld.

My arm started to shake from the pressure of the arrow. You shall be betrayed by the one who called you friend.

Of course, it wasn't Ares. It never was Ares. It was a friend, here at camp. Someone at the winter solstice. Someone who knew how to let a monster inside the camp borders. Someone who could steal, someone who hated the gods, someone who was an easy target for Kronos's manipulation ...

My arm fell. The arrow slowly slipped from my fingers and hit the ground, but I paid no attention.

They always say the first stage of grief was denial. The person not wanting to believe it, for the thought of it would make them break down, make them unable to cope. But deep down, they knew it was the truth. For it made so much sense that it made them angry. That was the next stage. They were so angry that this would happen, that this person would leave, would die, would do this horrible thing. After they promised so much. That was how I felt at this moment.

I didn't want to believe it. I knew Luke since I was six. He took me in, he promised the hope of family. Led me to safety, been like a brother to me this whole time. I look at him and see his eyes and think, Luke would never betray me like that. He would never betray Annabeth.

But then I would see the scar on his face, and I realised that after that quest, he was never the same. I realised that he would. He betrayed me. He broke that promise. He left me alone in the dark. He sent me to danger. And that made me angrier than I ever thought I could be.

I was so angry that I started running. I didn't run to Chiron, or Mr D or Annabeth. I ran towards cabin eleven. Pushing through the burning in my chest. And I wasn't sure whether it was from sprinting so hard or all of my emotions that seemed to mix into one.

I wanted to ask him why? Why did he do this?

When I reached the Hermes cabin I burst through the door, making all the many heads inside jump and look towards me.

"Where's Luke?" I asked them, trying to keep my tone calm. "Where is he?"

Travis Stoll stood up and walked towards me. I could tell he knew I was angry, his steps were slightly hesitant. "I saw him talking to Percy at the sword arena."

My blood ran cold. Luke wouldn't ... no, he would. It seemed I had to be double guessing his intentions from now on. I quickly spun on my heel and sprinted out of the cabin. I headed towards cabin three. I didn't know why, but it was like I still needed reassurance. That part of me still believed that I was wrong, wanted to believe ...

I banged my fist on Percy's door. "Percy?!" I called. "Percy, let me in!"

My heart was beating very fast. When no one answered, I tried looking through the window. My heart sped up even more when I saw no light. "Percy!" I tried again, tapping the glass. "Percy, are you in there?!"

After still no answer, I started towards the training arena. My calves and chest were beginning to burn, but I ignored it. I pushed my legs harder. I hoped they were just training, not causing any harm ... but when I saw no one at the arena except for a slashed up practice dummy, my nerves worsened. I felt the need to cry. If they weren't here, where would they be? How could I save him?

The arena was deserted. Not one presence was near. Not one breath, not even the slightest wind. But there was a cloud of dread, a cloud of anxiety, and that was me.

I felt my knees wobble beneath me. Like they had just realised that I was terrified of Luke harming Percy too.

"Luke?!" I called. "Percy?! PERCY?!"

It felt useless. I finally collapsed on the ground, my hands sinking into the sand of the arena. I could feel the tears on my cheeks, turning the sand brown in small dots as they fell. I felt like going to sleep then and there, hoping that all of this was a dream. That I would wake up and Luke was who I always knew him to be.

Then a voice inside my head whispered, No, don't give up.

I listened. I pushed myself to my feet again, and I wiped away my tears. I looked in front of me towards the woods that surrounded the camp border, and a force inside of me made me walk towards it. The steps grew faster and faster until they were running, I spun my necklace once again and Sun-bearer grew heavy in my hand.

I entered the woods and followed my instincts. My legs led my body. Right, then left, then right again. Past trees and wood nymphs, who watched in interest. Like they knew as well as I that something bad was happening.

I could hear voices in the distance, and I followed them. For some reason, I could tell I was getting closer and closer. On each step, my heart seemed to be squeezed more and more. My stomach was alive with butterflies – and not the good kind – at the thought of seeing Luke. The voices suddenly stopped, and I pushed to go faster.

"Percy?!" I called again. "Percy?!"

I reached a clearing by the creek. I gasped at the sight of him. Luke was nowhere to be seen, but Percy sat slumped on the ground, and a scorpion crawling up his arm to his neck. With a yell, I rushed forward and with a wave of my hand, the scorpion went spiralling with a spark of bright light. It landed on the ground, sizzling before breaking into dust. Sun-bearer shrunk back into the necklace and I fell to my knees beside Percy.

"Percy," I shook him, "Percy, wake up!"

His eyelids fluttered, the green hazy. "Claire?" His voice was weak.

Percy slumped again, but I caught him and dragged him to his feet. He held no weight of his own, and I could feel my knees sway underneath me from all the strength of standing up and carrying him after running all that time before. "Percy?!" I shook him again, but when he didn't wake this time, I cried out, "Help! Somebody help! HELP! Percy!"

I tried to run with him at my side. But the colour from his skin was draining. I suddenly thought – the water, it had healed him before. I pulled us towards the creek, submerging his ankles. Come on, I thought, come on!

But the poison must have been too strong. His eyelids fluttered, but he hadn't woken. His skin was still as pale as death itself. I felt a sob coming from my throat. "No, no, no ... somebody help! Help, please! Help!"

I started dragging him back towards camp, but I would never have gotten there in time. I cried out for help, screaming his name in hope that he would wake up. And then I saw them. The nymphs started stirring from their trees, looking at me with horror. "Help," I sobbed. "Please..."

They took hold of either side of him, and through the trees came running was Jay. He saw what was happening and turned back around and ran back to camp, this time yelling for help. I felt useless as I watched Percy be taken. I was the daughter of Apollo, I was good at healing, and yet I knew nothing that could save him. Not the water, I had no ambrosia or nectar, and even when Chiron said it should come, the power of healing hadn't reached my abilities yet.

A conch horn blew in the distance, more campers came to help us, and the whole world around me became a haze of colours and tears.

*

I STAYED AT CAMP AS long as it took for Percy to open his eyes. Luckily, it had only been one day. Hannah was happy to stay as long as it needed as well, and she sat with me as I watched over him in the infirmary. Forcing as much nectar as I could down his throat and wiping the sweat from his brow.

I had just become good friends with him, I didn't want to lose that.

Annabeth and Chiron joined me, watching the boy anxiously for him to wake up. I hadn't told them about Luke ... I couldn't bring myself to even say his name. The thought of who he was, and who he was now, made tears come to my eyes, and I couldn't help but think: could I have prevented this? I wondered if I had ever talked about it ... that I could have persuaded him otherwise ... would this have ever happened at all?

When his eyes fluttered open, they were filled with their colour once more, and I thought of that as a good sign. He caught my eye, watching me dab his forehead again. A small crooked grin grew on his face, but it looked strained.

"Here we are again," he said.

I felt relieved to see him joke. To see him awake and alive, it seemed that at least something was going right. But I would never let him see that. "You're an idiot," I instead told him. "You were turning grey when I found you. If it weren't for me and Chiron's healing ...'

"Now, now," Chiron said from where he sat in his wheelchair. "Percy's constitution deserves some credit." He gave Percy a tired smile.

"How are you feeling?" Annabeth asked, her knees jotting up and down, bouncing her hands that sat in her lap.

"Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved."

"Apt," said Chiron, "considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened."

Percy told the story. Each word made me feel worse like I was being buried in a pit of sorrow and utter realisation, and I didn't like it. Because everything Percy said about Luke, I wasn't surprised by it, and that was what scared me. It was like deep down, I knew he was different, capable of things like this ever since he came back from that quest, and I just ignored it.

Once he finished, the room was quiet for a long time.

"I can't believe that Luke ..." Annabeth looked torn between sadness and anger. "Yes. Yes. I can believe it. May the gods curse him ... he was never the same after his quest."

Hannah, who sat off to the side, looked very troubled. Her fingers were linked together under her chin, she stared at Percy with a frowned expression. I could tell her brain was going haywire. "Chiron," she said, and the centaur turned to her. "You understand this must be reported to Olympus?"

Chiron nodded, "Yes, I will go at once."

Percy shook his head, "Luke is out there right now," he said. "I have to go after him."

"No, Percy. The gods—"

"Won't even talk about Kronos," he snapped. "Zeus declared the matter closed!"

"Percy," Chiron's voice was gentle, but stern, "I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready."

Percy looked angry, but he didn't talk back. Instead, he leaned back, glancing at his sword hand were the scorpion had bitten him with an inch of sadness and dread. "Chiron ... you're prophecy from the Oracle ... it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Claire? And Annabeth?"

I shared a glance with Annabeth. I didn't say anything, not wanting Percy to know that we know about the Great Prophecy. Even we weren't meant to know. But if he was the hero ... this wasn't going to end well.

Chiron glanced nervously at the ceiling. "Percy, it isn't my place—"

"You've been ordered not to talk to me about it, haven't you?"

His eyes were sympathetic, but said. "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.

"All right!" Chiron shouted. "Fine!" He sighed in frustration. "The gods have their reasons, Percy. Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing."

"We can't sit back and do nothing," Percy argued.

"We will not sit back," Chiron promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unravelled. 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."

"Assuming I live that long."

Chiron put his hand on his ankle. "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 ..." I got the feeling he wanted Percy to stay at camp, though, and it was taking all of his willpower not to advise it. "... 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 looked like he wanted to ask more, but stayed quiet.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Chiron said. "Argus will watch over you." He then glanced at Annabeth. "Oh, and, my dear ... whenever your ready, they're here."

Percy frowned, "Who's here?" He asked.

I shared a glance with Annabeth and gave her an encouraging smile. She was to return home with her father for the school term, to give it all another try. And I hoped it worked out for her. She returned the smile.

Chiron rolled himself out of the room. I heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time. Hannah sighed and stood up. She turned to Percy. "Get better, you have a lot of trouble coming up for you." She placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'll be waiting outside, Claire." She glanced at Annabeth. "Annabeth's father's knowledge on history is very interesting."

Annabeth went a little red out of embarrassment and Hannah walked out, giving me a wave before she left.

"What's wrong?" Percy asked her.

Annabeth shifted in her seat, "Nothing ... I just ... took your advice on something." When he frowned, she sighed. "I'm going home for the school term, Percy."

"You mean, to you're dads?" he said, and she nodded.

"I wrote him a letter when we got back," she said. "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."

"That took guts," Percy told her, impressed.

"I should probably head out and talk to him before I cower away from it," Annabeth fiddled with her Yankee cap before slowly standing up. I could tell she was scared, but I knew that she was brave, and if anyone can get through it, she can. Annabeth gave Percy a worried look. "Look after yourself in the year, all right? Don't do anything stupid ... unless not with sending me an iris message first? And when I get back, we'll hunt down Luke. If we don't get a quest, we'll sneak out."

Percy managed a smile. "Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena."

Annabeth grinned, she held out her hand and he shook it.

"Take care," she told him. "Keep your eyes open."

Percy gave a two-handed solute with his good hand. "Aye, aye, captain."

Annabeth smiled, before she turned to me. She gave me a tight hug, and I held on. I wish I could stay here in my best friend's arm. I wish I could sit with her and cry about Luke, but I stayed strong and wished her good luck and she exited the infirmary, giving one last glance over her shoulder before leaving.

I finally turned to Percy, but he was already watching me. "You already knew about Luke, didn't you?"

I wish he didn't ask, but I didn't hold it against him. I looked at my fingers, picking at the dirt underneath the nails. "I guessed it yesterday, that's why I found you. I went looking for Luke. I ... I wanted to ask him why. But I also wanted to stab him."

He nodded, before looking to the door. "Can you help me up? I want to go outside."

"Percy, that isn't a good idea."

He didn't listen, but instead slid his legs off the bed. I caught him before he could fall, he turned pale for a second. "I told you ..." I said to him.

"I'm fine," Percy replied. He managed to take a step forward. Then another, still leaning on me. Argus followed us outside but kept a distance. By the time we reached the port, Percy's forehead was beaded with sweat. He gripped the railing.

It was dusk. The camp looked completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit was silent. There were no canoes in the lake, no one picking the strawberry fields. The only person that stood there was Hannah, waving to Annabeth and her family that were disappearing in the distance.

"What are you going to do?" I asked Percy finally, he shrugged.

"I don't know."

He told me how he had the feeling Chiron wanted him to stay all year round. He told me he wouldn't like it, but felt bad leaving me behind with only Clarisse for company. I felt a laugh rise up in my throat for the first time that day.

"That's sweet," I teased him, he flushed. "But I'm heading home with Hannah." I pointed to where she stood, waiting.

Percy tilted his head, "You're going to give it another try?"

I nodded. "Hopefully this time no monster will attack us. She said there's a good school in Litchfield I can go to. But she said while you were asleep that she can send me to a boarding school in New York if that will make me feel safer, being closer to camp so if in an emergency I can get their quicker."

"And will you?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. I want to spend time with her, you know? I feel like this quest has taught me that I need to cherish what family I have."

Percy sent me a smile. "Well, be careful."

"You too," I told him. "Don't do anything you would do, Percy. Stay safe."

He laughed, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Iris message me, okay?" I continued. "And just like Annabeth said, we will find Luke, and he will regret ever betraying us, I promise you. We're a team."

Percy nodded and shook my hand. "See you next time, Sunshine."

"You too, Seaweed Brain."

I gave him one last smile, before walking down the porch steps to join Hannah. While everyone acted happy, there was a shadow of dread over this camp. Everything was changing, and it may never be the same.

END OF PART ONE

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a/n: gosh this chapter was long. But guess what, PART ONE IS FINISHED!!!!! There will be a small break before part two is published, so I can focus on some of my other books such as Crossroads and Ephemeral. But I am really excited, I personally really like the Sea of Monsters so *squeals*!!