eighteen.
( the lightning thief.  )
❛ all good things must come to an end. ❜

"SIX HUNDREDTH FLOOR." No doubt did the two look like homeless misfits scheming and planning as they stood before the guard at the front desk. He was reading a huge book with a picture of a wizard on the front. She'd seen it before, it was one Michael Yew had been fond of back at camp. Henry porter or something along those lines.

The man only gave them a once over. "No such floor, kids." He stated simply, leisurely flicking to the next page of his book.

"We need an audience with Zeus." Colette persisted, twisting the bracelets on her wrist.

He gave them a vacant smile. "Sorry?" But his eyes, though hardened to prevent any knowledge from pouring out, swam with recognition of the name.

"You heard her." After another minute of having a staring contest with the man, Percy turned bitterly. "C'mon, let's find someone el--"

"No appointment, no audience, kids. Lord Zeus doesn't see anyone unannounced." The guard said suddenly, causing the duo to pause in their footsteps and march right back up to him. The older man was glancing at them condescendingly as he peered over the tip of the book.

Percy nodded insistently, "Oh, I think he'll make an exception." He slipped off his backpack and unzipped the top. Within the bag, crackles and fizzes of electricity surged as though a storm was brewing within the confinement of space. Heaps and splinters of light wandered tentatively over of the bag, lasting only seconds as they shot out in streaks. It was obvious that whatever was stored in the bag, Zeus' master bolt, was a vessel of raw, unimaginable power.

The guard looked inside at the metal cylinder, not getting what it was for a few seconds. Then his face went several shades paler. "That isn't..."

"Yes, it is," Percy promised, his face blank of amusement to stress across his point. "You want me take it out and—"

"No! No!" He scrambled out of his seat, fumbled around his desk for a key card, then handed it to them. "Insert this in the security slot. Make sure nobody else is in the elevator with you."

The two demigods glanced to each other in a silent discussion before shrugging and walking towards the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Colette slipped the key into the slot. The card disappeared and a new button appeared on the console, a red one that said 600. Colette pushed it with a hum, then leaned back to wait patiently whilst Muzak played. "Raindrops keep falling on my head...."

It was quiet, almost tense in the elevator for a moment, the only sound being the smooth beat of the music. "You didn't have to come here, you know. No offence, but it was kinda stupid of you. I could've done this alone." Colette glanced towards Percy as he spoke to her. They stood on opposite sides of the elevator, awaiting whatever what to come.

She let out a hum. "Is this you telling me you want to go back to being enemies?" She raised an eyebrow at him from where she leaned against the elevator wall, tapping her foot to the rhythm of the song.

"We were enemies?"

"Sure felt like it."

"Are we enemies now?"

Colette shrugged, "I haven't really thought about it. I mean, you're kinda annoying and you're not the brightest," Percy gave her an unamused look, "but I guess you're not totally the worst." She glanced to him absentmindedly.

"And of course, you're the most insufferable person i know, but you're good with animals so I guess that makes you okay, too." Commented the boy in the same tone she had used, almost tauntingly. "Not as bad as some of the girls I used to go to school with."

The two fell into silence for a minute and Colette suddenly straightened in remembrance. "Have you thought any more about the prophecy?"

He gave her a confound glance, "what'd you mean?"

"it told you that somebody would betray you--"

ding!

The doors slid open to reveal a place no less than paradise. They were stood over a narrow walkway where they could just about walk together. Below, Manhattan lingered in a misty hue but as she looked again, Colette's eyes narrowed upon the place she'd spent the lesser part of her days thinking about. 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 elegantly up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gardens bloomed with olive trees and rosebushes, each and every individual leave and flower glistening as though they'd been coated in a thin veil of glitter. She 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 modern, and refreshing, and vibrant, the way Athens must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago.

Their journey through Olympus was strange, like a fever dream that you could just about remember. Beautiful nymphs passed them with snickers and giggles, throwing grapes and fruit at their feet until Colette tightened her grip on her bow. Hawkers in the market offered to sell the two 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 them pass, and whispered to themselves.

The higher palace was a reverse of Hades' back in the underworld. There, everything had been black and bronze. In Olympus, everything glistened with accents of white and silver. Colette almost felt bad as she thought of Zeus' brother, banished from his family's home and forced away in a land of misery and eternal torture. To be banished from a place so wonderfully blissful seemed really unfair. It would make anybody bitter. Steps led up to a central courtyard. Past that, the throne room. It left Colette in awe as her feet dragged her through. 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, but the thrones were empty except for two at the end: the head throne on the right, and the one to its immediate left. She didn't have to be told who the two gods were that were sitting there, waiting for them to approach. As they walked closer, her limbs began to tingle with profound energy.

The gods were in giant human form, as Hades had been, but she could barely look at them without feeling a foreign pressure, as if her body were starting to sizzle and burn. Zeus, the Lord of the Gods, wore a dark blue pinstriped suit. He sat on a simple throne of solid platinum and he had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was downcast yet overspilling with pride, showcasing his obvious egotistical nature. He looked like a million men in one, like all the depictions of him had been sketched together to create one myth of a man; handsome yet noticeably aged. And for a moment, his eyes flickered towards the duo of young demigods—he was expecting them, of course he was.

The god sitting next to him was his brother, without a doubt, but he was dressed very differently. Just from a glance Colette could tell he was Percy's father. He reminded her of a dad on a beach day with his kids, ready to tan and watch the tide. 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, the same shade as Percy's. He had a natural charm to him though, something playful yet troublesome—no doubt the origin of where Percy's recklessness had come from. His eyes were vibrant with showers and tides of greens and turquoise hues that made his overall appearance seem more energetic, that and the evident smile lines indented onto the skin surrounding his eyes.

Without thinking, the daughter of Artemis leaned close to her companion and whispered through her teeth. "You look a lot like your dad."

Poseidon's 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.

Kneeling, Colette lowered her head in respect for Zeus. "Lord Zeus," she greeted, her tone rich with consideration before she turned to Percy's father. "Lord Poseidon." The sea god spared her a smile she hoped was kind, whilst his brother seemed to exhale at the sign of respect.

Unlike Colette, Percy approached the fisherman's throne and knelt at his feet. "Father." Instantly, Colette's head snapped over to him in surprise. She could feel the electric static emitting from the Lord of the sky, the coldness at Percy's disrespect. She internally shook her head at his actions, disregarding the urge to tell him off.

To their left, Zeus spoke. "Should you not address the master of this house first, boy?"

temperamental, Colette told herself.

"Peace, brother," Poseidon finally said. His voice seemed to resonate with Percy in a way that was almost comforting. Like a glimmer into his oldest memories. "The boy defers to his father. This is only right."

"You still claim him then?" Zeus inquired, menacingly. "You claim this child whom you sired against our sacred oath?" His tone was overwhelmingly disapproving, and Colette didn't dare to see his expression.

The god of the sea gave his brother a stern glance, "I have admitted my wrongdoing," Poseidon stated confidently. "Now I would hear him speak."

wrongdoing. Percy shook as the word, his jaw clenching as Colette gave him a look not to let the word offend him. She could feel the sting of the word—like that was just what he was. A wrongdoing, a burden to his father.

"I have spared him once already," Zeus glanced to Colette, "and his wretched friend." Zeus grumbled. "Daring to fly through my domain ... pah! I should have blasted the both of them out of the sky for his impudence."

"And risk destroying your own master bolt?" Poseidon asked calmly. "Let us hear them out, brother."

"Zeus grumbled some more. "I shall listen," he decided. "Then I shall make up my mind whether or not to cast this boy down from Olympus."

"Perseus," Poseidon called. "Look at me." He did, and he wasn't sure what he saw in his face. There was no clear sign of love or approval. Nothing to encourage him. It was like looking at the ocean: some days, you could tell what mood it was in. Most days, though, it was unreadable, mysterious. Familiar with Percy's turmoil, Colette felt bitterly, it was hard to find approval in an absent parent, especially when said parent wasn't really a parent at all as compared to a divine deity.

"Address Lord Zeus, boy," Poseidon urged his son strongly, lacking the fatherly tone that a father should have. "Tell him your story."

And so Percy told Zeus everything, just as it had happened. Of course, whenever he left something out that Colette knew annabeth was scold him for, she was quick to add in and spoke when spoken to. To her relief, the two would simmer their anger if Percy said something questionable that Colette was able to diffuse. He took out the metal cylinder, which began sparking in the Sky God's presence, and laid it at Zeus' feet.

There was a long silence, broken only by the crackle of the hearth fire.

Zeus opened his palm and within a millisecond, 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 their scalps rise. "I sense the boy and his friend tell the truth," Zeus muttered. "But that Ares would do such a thing ... it is most unlike him."

"He is proud and impulsive," Poseidon sighed. "It runs in the family."

"Lord?" Colette cringed internally as they both snapped their necks towards her. Their eyes were a swirl of hurricanes and tsunami's combined, all forces of nature shoved into spheres that peered down at her like she was a scratch on a marble platter.

"Yes?" Their voices were intertwined and sharp.

She swallowed thickly, "on the beach, it was like somebody was talking to him in his head," she tried to explain, "telling him what to do. He wasn't acting alone. Someone else—something else— came up with the idea."

Quick to agree with her, Percy began to describe his dreams and the frightful feeling of being so close to Tartarus, the hypnotic voice inside that dared to tug them in. "In the dreams," Percy began, "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."

"You are accusing Hades, after all?" Zeus raised a challenging eyebrow.

For a second, Percy seemed almost taken aback, prompting Colette to respond quickly. "Not at all, Lord Zeus. Hades' presence was different to the one in the pit. He was angry, yes, but he had his reasons. This one, the one in Tartarus, was... different. It was darker and it's likely something much more sinister is brewing down there."

Poseidon and Zeus looked at each other. They had a quick, intense discussion in Ancient Greek. Colette was only able to listen to one word. Father. Poseidon made some kind of suggestion, but Zeus cut him off. Poseidon tried to argue, but only sighed in annoyance when Zeus held up his hand angrily. "We will speak of this no more," Zeus demanded. "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 Percy. His expression softened just a fraction of a degree. "You have done me a service, boy. Few heroes could have accomplished as much." Then he turned to Colette, "and you, child... your mother shall be notified of your aid to the situation." Zeus looked at her almost coldly. And she knew why. She was never meant to be born—never meant to have been sprung from the constellations above.

For a minute, she wondered what it would be like to have never been created. To live amongst her bed of stars for all eternity instead of forced to endure the pain of a half-blood's life. Maybe it would've been a happier life. And maybe it would be if she were to be demolished before she could join the hunters. Zeus made no effort to hide it, neither did the other divine beings they'd come across already; they all donned the look of distasteful pity. they thought she was a burden—a nuisance. the singular child of a virgin goddess. how ironic.

"I had help, Sir," Percy stressed, "Colette and Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena and Grover underwood, a satyr of pan--"

"To show you my thanks, I shall spare your life. 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."

"Um ... thank you, sir."

"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.

Sensing a much needed talk between the father and Son, Colette gave Percy a reassuring nod. "I'll wait for you outside." She promised before turning once again and bowing at Poseidon. The man nodded as a sign of thanks before allowing her to walk back to the entrance of the palace.

Once she left the palace, she sat down on one of the marble steps, releasing a sigh of relief. From where she sat, she could see over the eternal heaven of Olympus. There were mansions and stalls, creeks and theatres. It was a peaceful life, one reserved for only the untouchable and the fortunate as they bathed in gold and cheered to victory.

She wondered what would need to be done to be rewarded such riches. Of course, there were some divine mortals allowed passage into the mountain. Ariadne, wife of Dionysus, was one in particular. And there were those who were rewarded for their deeds with godhood, like Heracles and epione. It was a lavish life, pouring with opulence fit for only the greatest of souls.

It was a paradise and Colette was grateful to be in it's presence.

"What'cha lookin' at?"

Colette jumped about a foot in the air as a youthful voice spoke out from beside her. She squeaked as she scurried away from the masculine god beside her, who was grinning like exactly like Cheshire Cat. He was blond and tall with a handsome ruggedness to his appearance as he laid back against the steps in relaxation. He was undeniably godly, illuminating the steps he rested on as though his very fingertips were carved with the residue of sunlight. "Lord Apollo!" She gaped at the god.

"Oh, please." He brushed her off, "enough with the formalities. just call me uncle." He yawned, stretching his legs almost impatiently. It was hard to think of the laidback god as her uncle especially in his seventeen-year-old form, but she brought her lips together tightly and chose not to question it.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in surprise. She winced at the faint bluntness of her voice and prayed Apollo didn't feel offended by it. And to her luck, he didn't.

He was twisting something in his hands, covered by a pristine white handkerchief embroidered with silver detailing. "Well, i live here, so i think the real question, star, is what are you doing here? After ol' Hephaestus' trick on that love water ride thing, I thought you would've gone into hibernation or something." he snickered, watching as she shuddered at the memory.

"You saw that?" Her face was red and she groaned as she put her head in her hands. "Oh, that's so embarrassing." her voice was muffled.

Apollo let out a melodic chuckle, patting her on the back of the head. "Don't get too upset. Judging from the fact that your little friend over there isn't a woodland creature by now, i don't think Artemis is too angry."

He spared a glance over his shoulder, "Woah, short talk with your friend and his dad. Guess I better hurry this up." He cleared his throat, "listen.. don't be disheartened by Artemis lack of communication, Star. She cares for you, and she watches over you more often than you know." his tone suddenly grew serious, still traced with playfulness yet his tone sounded much more genuine and sincere. "There's more for you to do, Colette before you join my sister's hunt. More quests and trials—the life of a half-blood isn't one to be wished upon."

"How much longer do I have to wait?"

He smiled knowingly, "I cant tell you that, silly. Fate is it to be determined by those whom it affects. If I told you, it would affect the way you live now." He was glancing at something past her now as he spoke. "Don't spend your life waiting for another, you have eternity to do that. Live whilst you can, kiddo, before you end up trading wolf's skin for a meal for all eternity."

she went silent then, scowling in disappointment. she opened her mouth, willing herself to speak, but her tongue fell vacant of words and was interrupted with a gentle call. "Colette?" She turned over her shoulder to watch as Percy walked closer to her, almost saddened by whatever his father had said to him. When she turned back to Apollo, the god was gone.

As they walked back through the city of the gods, conversations stopped. The muses paused their concert. People and satyrs and naiads all turned toward the two demigods, their faces filled with respect and gratitude, and as the duo passed, they knelt, as if they were some kind of heroes. Fifteen minutes later, still in a trance, they were parting on the Manhattan streets—one to go and reunite with him mother and the other to reconcile with her cousins.

CAMP HALF-BLOOD was as lively as ever, with energetic campers and the familiar skies of sunny blue. Since the tense quest of Castellan, nobody had come back from a quest alive. Not until Percy Jackson, Colette Archer, Annabeth Chase, and Grover underwood walked over the hill into the comforting embrace of the camp. Colette wasn't able to make it even five steps inside the camp before her cousins were tearing down their door in an attempt to welcome back the daughter of Artemis. They were praising her and patting her back as though she were some hero of Olympus. The Apollo cabin radiated warmth, like personified hot water bottles that Colette could've held forever.

Lee and Will were submerged in the crowd of awestruck supporters and when their chance had come to see their cousin, she was practically knocked down with the force of their hug. They looked almost the same as the last time she had seen them, exhaling gleams of sunlight in a never-ending smile. Maybe the only difference was the small traces of subtle violet under Lee's eyes, like he hadn't been sleeping well. Now that she'd seen Apollo again, she noticed the subtle similarities between the god and his two sons. Not just brightness of their smiles and the crisp gold of their blonde hair, but the honeycomb taste of their melodic laughter and the aura of radiating sunlight that yearned to spill from their presence. They looked more alike than she could remember. Then Luke had appeared, and he looked... almost surprised. His hair was disheveled as always and the scar on his face looked strangely prominent. He hugged her tightly, like it was the last time he would ever do so. "I'm proud of you, kiddo." He had said, wrapping an around around the back of her head.

According to camp tradition, the trio of demigods donned laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in their honour, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where they got to burn the burial shrouds their cabins had made for them in their absence. Annabeth's shroud was extremely fitting—a smooth and glossy silk embroidered with owl accents—Percy had made a joke that it would be a shame not to bury her in it and she punched me and with a harmless 'shut up.'

Being the son of Poseidon, Percy didn't have any cabin mates, so the Ares cabin had volunteered to make him his shroud, obvious menacing smirks plastered on their faces. The Ares cabin had taken an old bedsheet and painted poorly drawn smiley faces with x'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word loser painted really big in the middle.

Colette laughed when she saw it.

Hers was designed by the Apollo cabin. It was a shade of silver so vibrantly pale that it appeared a hue darker than white, like drops of liquified moonlight spread across a canvas of fabric. It was ornamented with animal detailing along the edges and the very corners were large moons in a darker shade, all showcasing different moon cycles. It was velvety and smooth, falling through her fingers like teardrops of satin.

They were fun to burn, percy had declared.

As Apollo's cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores, Colette found herself squeezed between annabeth and Will alongside Percy, Annabeth's friends from cabin six and Grover and his 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, their faces enlarged with scowls directed solely on percy. It was obvious they wouldn't be forgiving him anytime soon for disgracing their father in such a way.

But Percy didn't seem to mind.

Even Mr. D's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen their enthusiastic spirits. "Yes, yes, so the little brat didn't get himself killed and now he'll have an even bigger head. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday...."

It felt good to back in cabin eight, under the silk covers in her favourite pyjamas. Although, sleep didn't come easy. Something felt off, forgotten yet not dispelled. The camp's excitement for the successful quest lingered longer than Colette would've thought. People who wouldn't have batted her an eye would walk past and pat her on the back. Older kids looked at her with something close to respect and the younger looked at her as though she were some famous movie star. It was nice whilst it lasted, filling her with childlike joy as she smiled to her small group of friends.

On the Fourth of July, the whole camp gathered at the beach for a fireworks display by cabin nine. Being Hephaestus's kids, they weren't going to settle for a few lame red-white-and-blue explosions. like they did every year, they anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of Patriot missiles. Normally, 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, then explode into a million colors.

Annabeth, Percy and Colette stood off to a small patch of unreserved grass, outspreading a picnic blanket when Grover approached. 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. He'd gained a little weight and suddenly looked healthier whilst horns had grown at least an inch, so he now had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human.

"I'm off," he adorned a bittersweet smile as he approached. "I just came to say ... well, you know." Colette felt happy for him in all honesty. They both had ambitions and he deserved to obtain his, but that didn't make parting any easier. He was her friend, even if they hadn't been the closest in the group. She ruffled his hair in goodbye, giving him a friendly smile as she moved.

"Kind of a secret," he donned a nervous smile, looking embarrassed after Percy asked where exactly he was going. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan--"

Annabeth gave him an understanding smile,  "We understand," she dismissed. She looked brighter, regaining her tan and energy that had been drained over the quest. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Yeah."

Colette raised her eyebrows at the boy when she noticed his lack of pipes. "And you remembered your reed pipes?"

"Jeez, you guys," he grumbled but he didn't really sound annoyed. "You're like two old mama goats."
He gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like any hitchhiker you might see on an American highway—nothing like the frail boy Percy used to know. "Well," he smiled giddily, "wish me luck."

He gave Annabeth another hug, giving Colette a side one due to the fact that she was still reluctant to even touch a boy let alone show affection. He clapped 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 (Percy had been shocked at the revelation that he was a son of Athena) crossing the Delaware.

"Hey, Grover," called out Percy and the satyr turned at the edge of the woods. "Wherever you're going--I hope they make good enchiladas." Grover grinned, and then he was gone, the trees closing around him.

It was a melancholy feeling to watch him go, but Grover had his own aspirations that he needed to fulfil. "We'll see him again, Percy," said Colette when he watched the forest sadly, "He'll be okay."

"I hope so." Percy smiled faintly, turning back to the fireworks.

July passed swiftly, in which Annabeth turned thirteen and Colette had forced Percy to help her bake a vanilla and strawberry cake for the blonde. On top, there was four stick figures made from frosting and they all adorned individual features: one with goat legs, one with a cap and curly blonde hair, one with a trident and one with antlers. It was safe to say the two were very proud of themselves as they presented it to Annabeth. The newly thirteen-year-old, although she'd seen better, appreciated the thought that went into it. After that, they spent their summer devising and scheming for ways to win at capture the flag. Percy had—generously, might he add—taught Colette how to master the art of canoeing without falling off the boat or accidentally setting it on fire. To which she had tried to teach him archery, but had she been told three inches to the left, there would've been an arrow in her arm. It ended soon enough she her slamming the quiver on his head angrily as she lost her patience with him. Whenever they walked past the big house, Percy would stare in thought at it, trying to decipher the prophecy that he believed had come to pass. He told her it was just probably Ares after the man pretended to be their friend at the diner. She didn't believe it but she kept it to herself.

The summer session ended quicker than Colette would've liked.

The campers had one last meal together and collectively burned part of their dinner for the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads. Percy was rewarded with his own leather necklace, and when he saw the bead for his first summer, Colette could've sworn his face burned a bright shade of pink. The design was pitch black, with a sea-green trident shimmering in the center. "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!" Everybody (even the ares cabin) cheered joyously. The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. The kids in the Athena's cabin steered Annabeth to the front so she could share in the applause and around six of the Apollo cabin stood up, two of which having their arms intwined with Colette's as they shovelled her up to the front.

The next day was always one that Colette found the hardest. Many of the cabins would be leaving, going back to their mortal homes for nine months until summer rolled around once again. Most of the apollo cabin being included in that lot. They were packing up their stuff, saying their final goodbyes and giving their last hugs go the year. They could still send letters, she had to remind herself. Percy had shown her—she'd actually snatched it out of his hands when he wasn't looking—the form Mr. D had left for him. Obviously, the man was insistent on getting his name wrong and calling him, Peter Johnson, which annoyed him to no end. There was hesitation on his face; he'd found a home with people so alike to him, a place where he could train everyday and live away from danger. But back home, he could stay with his mother away from the grubby clutches of his, now missing, step-father Gabe.

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.

To her luck, there was a cure to sadness. Training.

Colette was stood in the archery fields, balancing her bow and raising it to be in line with the targets. Archery was an extremely useful skill to have, Lee had told her once. It was agile and efficient when shooting from a distance and if one had the right speed, it could be as swift and sharp up front as well. There were only a few other kids at the archery centre—a son of Demeter and a child of Hephaestus. They all stood lost in thought, not thinking to start conversation as they lived in their own heads.

When she glanced over her shoulder, Colette caught sight of the two boys drifting deep into the woods. Percy and luke. Having sensed her gazs, the older of the two looked over his shoulder and into the violet eyes of the girl he knew so well. He blinked at her, drawing his lips together tightly with a nod of his head. There was an emotion etched upon his face that Colette couldnt quite describe, something distant and almost... sorrowful ? Then, with percy in tow, he descended into the woods and reached out of her sight.

Luke had always held a responsible authority, a mind that worked as hard as he trained and a scheming gleam in his eyes. He was mature, always a step ahead pf everybody else at camp, even his own brothers and sisters. Colette had never been able to tell of it was just from being one of the older camp members or whether Luke had always radiated a sense of comforting maturity. For a second, she huffed in thought. It was strange that, considering how efficient and logical Luke could be, Luke would've given them shoes that couldn't be trusted. He was intelligent, dangerously so. Of course he should've known about how the shoes would react to certain things.

She thought back to the line of the prophecy. 'You shall be betrayed by one calls you a friend.' Had Ares ever actually been their friend though? He'd threatened them, treated them like a pack of hunting dogs rather than people. And like he said, Ares could never actually steal the bolt because Zeus would've been aware immediately. Somebody had to have done it. Somebody in the balance between mortality and immortality. Somebody at the winter solstice and for the hellhound that have attacked the camp, it had to be a camper.

She'd been at the winter solstice.

As had Annabeth.

and Clarisse.

and... luke.

She paused, lowering her bow. Luke was in the camp when the hellhound attacked, as he was at the winter solstice when the master bolt was stolen. He'd given them the shoes that tried to drag Grover into Tartarus. But Luke wouldn't do that because... well, he just wouldn't. He was the mentor, the brotherly figure who comforted you when you were upset. He was the protector who cared for his cabin with devotion and loyalty, he would never betray his brothers and sisters so abruptly. He wouldn't do that to Annabeth, or to Thalia's honour. He couldn't and he wouldn't. He was the loyal one—the shoulder to cry on. He was so busy so when did he ever have time to start a scheme to break down the gods from the inside out, crumbling them from the foundation of their beliefs.

she swallowed thickly, tasting the drip of nausea that flooded her senses. even if she was wrong, wasn't it better to be safe than sorry? The remaining two children at the archery centre gave her a strange look as she sprinted toward the forest, dropping her bow as her legs bounding towards the trees. They looked menacing now, like a barrier that boarded her away from the two.

There was a distance yelp of pain, a cry she'd learnt to be familiar with as dark hair came into view. The nymphs in the trees were parting as she stormed through, making a pathway directly towards the limping son of Poseidon who swayed as he tried to reach to edge of the forest.

"Help," his voice was pained and desperate, his gaze barely focusing on her, "please, C-Col." He was croaking out his words, barely forming them as he stumbled towards her.

He felt towards her, practically dropping his whole weight onto her as she jolted him up. She grabbed at his arms, hoisting him up as he lost consciousness. "Shit! Jackie, h-hold on, i got you." She hauled him back with her as he fell limp. Never had she been so grateful for all times Annie and Lee had made her train to be stronger. "Help! Chiron!" Her voice was raw as she screamed from the maze of the forest, pulling him through the clearing with one of his arms thrown over her shoulder and her other hand in his waist. Some of the campers glanced over in concern, some running toward the big house to no doubt get Chiron given her screaming of, "Get Chiron now!"

"Colette, is that you?" Lee was running towards her as she collapsed with Percy. "Oh, my gods." Gaped the older boy, grabbing at the Apollo camper next to him. "Get Chiron and Will! Get a stretcher!"

And with that, Percy jackson had cheated death again.

WHEN PERCY OPENED his eyes, his gaze focused groggily on the brunette next to him and for a minute he was flooded with deja vu. There was a straw in his mouth with a substance close to liquified chocolate chip cookies—nectar. Colette was sat beside him, so similarly to she had last time. Annabeth was beside her, holding a wet cloth to Percy's head, which pounded with a dull ache as he twitched uncomfortably. "I don't know if it's just me," he began tiredly, "but I'm getting a real sense of deja vu."

"You idiot," Annabeth flicked him, which is how he knew she was overjoyed to see him conscious. "You were green and turning gray when Colette found you—"

the mentioned brunette glanced over, "which was not a pretty sight, by the way."

"Now, now," Chiron's voice scolded softly from the end of the bed. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit." He was sitting near the foot of the boy's bed in human form, which was why Percy 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, the way it did when he'd been up all night grading Latin papers. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

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

The man smiled at his wit, his eyes crinkling as he did so. "considering that was pit scorpion venom. Now you must tell me, if you can, exactly what happened."

Between sips of nectar, Percy explained the story. He told it so effortlessly, like he wasn't carving a hole in the world of those close to Luke. When he looked at her, Colette looked just about as nauseous as she felt. She and Annabeth sat together—one's expression plagued with sadness and one plagued with resentment. "I can't believe that Luke ..." Annabeth's voice faltered, her saddened expression filling with anger. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it." She spat, "May the gods curse him.... He was never the same after his quest."

"This must be reported to Olympus," Chiron murmured. "I will go at once."

Percy's expression was angered and he went to sit up, "Luke is out there right now," he stressed, gesturing outwardly with his hand. "I have to go after him."

Chiron shook his head. "No, Percy. The gods—"

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

Chiron looked pained for a minute, dampening his lips again before he spoke softly, "Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready."

"Look at your hand, Jackson." His eyes flickered the brunette. She was scowling, chewing on her lip in anger. "Don't be stupid, you go out with a hand like that and you're dead in seconds."

Percy didn't like it, but part of him suspected Chiron was right. One look at his hand, and he knew he wasn't going to be sword fighting any time soon. "Chiron ... your prophecy from the Oracle ... it was about Kronos, wasn't it? Was I in it? And Colette and Annabeth?"

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 sad. "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 just sit back and do nothing," Percy was growing increasingly frustrated.

"I hate to say but I agree with him," Percy raised his eyebrows at Colette as she leaned forward. "Luke's not a bad person, he wouldn't have done this unprovoked or impulsively." She was frowning predominantly. "We can't leave him out there to run back like a lapdog! W-we need to--"

"We will not sit back," Chiron promised, laying a fatherly hand over her own. She was shaking, Percy noticed and her chest was rising and falling too quickly to be calm. "But we 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 continued to look at the man stubbornly, "Assuming I live that long."

Chiron put his other hand on Percy's 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...." Percy got the feeling that he had a very definite opinion, and it was taking all his willpower not to advise him. "But you must decide whether to stay at CampHalf-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."

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

"Who's here?" Percy inquired in confusion, but nobody responded. Annabeth glanced to Colette almost guilty but the brunette only looked back at her reassuringly. Chiron rolled himself out of the room. They heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time.

Whilst Annabeth studied the ice in Percy's drink, Colette let out a sigh. "You'll Iris message me if you miss me, right?"

"Of course I will." Promised the blonde. She glanced up at the brunette, chewing her lip thoughtfully. "You're not angry at me for doing this, are you?"

"What's she angry about?" Percy snapped his head between them like an audience at a movie premiere, engrossed in whatever what happening on screen.

"No, Annie, not at all." Colette dismissed her with a hand, "why would you even think that?"

Annabeth frowned, "it's been you and me for so long, I don't want you to feel alone here." She fussed before turning to Percy, "I ... just took your advice about something. I'm going home for the year, Percy."

Percy gave her a startled glance, "You mean, to your dad's?"

She nodded and pointed out of the nearest window. 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. They seemed to be waiting. The man was holding a backpack that looked like the one Annabeth had gotten from Waterland in Denver. "I wrote him a letter when we got back," Annabeth explained. "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 a lot of guts." She glanced again to the brunette. And mustering the proudest, most supportive look she could provide she glanced to Annabeth, "I'm really proud of you, Annie."

Annabeth pursed her lips. "When I get back next summer," she swallowed painfully, "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?"

"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena."

With one last smile, Annabeth reached out to engulf her best friend in a hug. "I'll see you soon, Collie." Annabeth's hugs were slender and quick, yet comforting with a sisterly warmth. When they pulled back, Annabeth looked to Percy, "see you, percy." He waved a goodbye.

Then, it was just Colette and percy.

"Bambi?"

"Yeah, starfish."

Percy lolled his head to the side lazily, "Help me up. I want to go outside."

She gave him a sour look. "And would you like me to fetch you apples of gold too, your highness?"

"Well, if your offering."

He snickered as she punched his shoulder. "Just cause Annie's out of sight doesn't mean she won't absolutely kill me next summer if she comes back to hear that you snapped both your legs trying to get me to help you walk down some steps." She gave him a shrug.

"She won't know."

"She will. She's like spiderman, you know?" She leant on the end of the bed, "spider-senses, Annie-senses. It's an Athena thing or something." She shrugged, "bottom line, if you wanna get out of bed, Jackie, that's on you."

"Oh, I see." Nodded Percy, "silly me. I always knew annabeth reminded me of somebody." His lips were upturned before he let out a dramatic sigh, "well, if you're not gonna help me I might as well do it myself." As confident as ever, Percy pushed himself off of the bed into a standing position.

And fell over.

The sound of Colette's laughter was something familiar. Not because it was a sound he had heard often or had heard from somebody else, but because it was the sound of nature. It held the breeze of the wind rushing through the leaves and the birds singing to their heart's content. He could hear the bristle of the spring water as it dived down waterfalls and the sway of the grass.

"I'd say I told you so, but you falling kinda did it for me." She grinned, leaning against the doorframe.

After a small bickering match between the two, Colette helped the boy haul himself outside and onto the porch. His skin was under-toned in a sickly green that spread through his features with a malnourished hue. They didn't make it past the railing, but that was okay with them. Pushing herself to sit on it, Colette kicked her feet absentmindedly as Percy stood beside her.

"Have you decided what you're gonna do yet?" She glanced to him. It almost hurt looking at camp—it was so empty now. Over half of the campers were only summertime ones, and they got to spend the rest of their days with their mortal guardian. This would be her first summer without Annabeth's assistance or Luke's remarks.

He was staring over at the camp. At the lonely lake void of any canoes and the empty volley-ball pitch. Many of the cabin lights were turned off—mainly the Aphrodite, the Athena and Iris cabins. Dusk had settled over the camp, giving it a feel of contagious coolness. "I don't know," he confessed and glanced up to her, "what about you?"

"What'd you mean?"

Percy shrugged, "will you be okay here? Without Annabeth?" There was almost a fracture of concern that Colette could detect in his voice.

"I'll be okay." She told him quietly, "I cant spend my life depending on Annabeth." Her voice seemed even quieter and she swallowed thickly, "or Luke... I think it'll be good for me to have some time to myself. My mother values independence. I guess I should too."

"You don't have to be just like your mother though."

She gave him a knowing look, her violet eyes swelled with an adventurousness that seemed to read him like a book. "I don't need your concern, Perce. And by the way, don't feel obligated to stay here if you don't want to. Don't let anybody bully you into it anyway." She glanced down to him, "your mother's probably waiting for you."

She pushed herself off the railing onto the grass below, bending her knees as she did so. She turned back to him from where she walked, "don't get into too much trouble if you go, Starfish." She was shadowed by the evening sky, but Percy could make out the glow of violet anywhere.

"No promises, Bambi."

And from across the field, inside cabin eight. A pristinely folded letter rested upon her bed, addressed with the neatest of handwriting.

TO COLETTE ARCHER
HALF-BLOOD HILL
MONTAUK, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
SENT FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

END OF ACT I.
the  lightning  thief.