Sophie could feel the cold draft on her feet. All she could see below her was darkness, tendrils of shadow reaching out trying to pull her down.

Her arm was strained from holding on, her fingers wanted to let go. But then she'd fall.

Her hair had fallen out of its bun and was now in her face making it hard to see the boy above her. Her shoe slipped off her foot falling into the dark chasm below.

"Sophie!" Percy cried, his face was strained as he held onto Sophie his sword plunged into the ground his other hand gripping onto that. Annabeth had her arms wrapped under his shoulders trying to pull him up while Grover held onto Annabeth.

The brave demigod thing to do would be to tell Percy to let go.

Sophie was not brave.

She scrambled her feet trying to push herself up but the walls were too slippery and she couldn't get a good hold. She let out a squeal as her hand slipped down "Help!"

Percy's grip around her tightened but it did nothing, Sophie continued to slip downwards getting closer and closer to the darkness. Until she couldn't hold on anymore.

Sophie fell out of Percy's grasp plummeting towards Tartarus.

"Sophie!" She heard Percy scream.

But there was nothing she could do about it.

A scream teared through her throat as she felt the darkness swallow her.

Not real, Sophie realized. Not real!

Dream.

Dream.

Dream.

Wake up!

Sophie blinked hard and opened her eyes. The scene had changed. No falling. No Percy. Just an endless black void.

She hated being in the black void. It was different to where she was before, it wasn't cold. But her mind was blank. No thoughts, just darkness. She couldn't move.

The following morning, Sophie woke up with a frown on her face. But Percy was moved into cabin three.

Percy began to feel like an outcast once again. People were scared to be around him, afraid they'd be collateral if there was another hellhound attack.

Their lessons together with Annabeth continued, but the girl seemed distracted most of the time. She'd scowl at Percy anytime he spoke and kept muttering to herself, "Quest...Poseidon?...Dirty rotten...Got to make a plan..."

Even Clarisse kept her distance. Percy would have much preferred getting into fights than being ignored.

Sophie was sitting on the floor of her cabin with Ethan playing a game of Uno when Percy stomped into the room a newspaper in hand.

Percy plopped down onto the floor in-front of Sophie dropping the newspaper in front of her.

"I can't read it." Percy said annoyed.

Sophie tilted her head "And what makes you think I can?"

Ethan moved next to her looking at the newspaper too.

Sophie sighed and uncrumpled the newspaper, her eyes widening slightly as she read the title. She turned around so Percy could read over her shoulder with her, and so she could relay the words to him quietly, so others in the cabin except Ethan wouldn't hear. It took her a few minutes but she was able to make out the paper.

"BOY AND MOTHER STILL MISSING AFTER FREAK CAR ACCIDENT : BY EILEEN SMYTHE
Sally Jackson and son Percy are still missing one week after their mi-mysterious dis-appear-ance. The family's badly burned '78 Camaro was discovered last Saturday on a north Long Island road with the roof ripped off and the front axle broken. The car had flipped and skidded for several hundred feet before exploding. Mother and son had gone for a weekend vacation to Montauk, but left hastily, under mys-terious cir-cum-stances. Small traces of blood were found in the car and near the scene of the wreck, but there were no other signs of the missing Jacksons. Residents in the rural area reported seeing nothing unusual around the time of the accident." Sophie contained her anger as she read the next part.

"Ms. Jackson's husband, Gabe Ugliano, claims that his stepson, Percy Jackson, is a troubled child who has been kicked out of num-erous boarding schools and has expressed violent tend-encies in the past. Police would not say whether son Percy is a suspect in his mother's disappearance, but they have not ruled out foul play. Below are recent pictures of Sally Jackson and Percy. Police urge anyone with information to call the following toll-free crime-stoppers hotline." Sophie finished giving Percy a sympathetic look.

Percy wadded up the paper and stuffed it under his leg.

"Where'd you get that?" Sophie asked.

"Some asshole put it in my cabin," Percy said bitterly.

"How is the cabin?" Sophie asked.

Percy laughed. "Great, everyone's avoiding me like a plague. All cause what? My dad's the god of fish?"

Sophie tilted her head "Your dad's the god of the sea... do you think you could make a tsunami?"

"Maybe." Percy shrugged.

"We should try it."

"Definitely."

"Where though?"

"The empire state building."

"Yeah, but then we kill everyone in new York, their gods they'll probably be fine."

"True."

"Oh you should get a trident!"

Percy rolled his eyes, but smiled despite himself.

That evening, at dinner, Sophie was really missing Percy. Ok sure, he was technically only a few yards away, but now that he was no longer sitting on the end of her cabin's bench, it was now her, who was practically falling off of it. You'd think with one person gone there'd be more room. Nope.

This big kid, Jack, who sat next to her, spared her no mercy. He spread his legs and had no sense of personal space. Food sprayed out his mouth when he spoke, and his elbows whacked Sophie's face when he laughed at something one of his dumb friends would say.

"Why can you sit over here but she can't?" Percy asked Grover, as he glanced over at Sophie, watching her struggle. The two boys were seated at cabin 3's picnic table, because apparently satrys could sit wherever they pleased. Grover shrugged in response to Percy's question.

"Excuse me? Do you mind moving over a little?" She asked him as she nudged his leg a little bit. In response Jack moved his legs wider taking up more space making Sophie sit on the very edge of the bench.

Sophie asked again this time louder, "Hey, can you move over a bit?"

Jack looked down at her his eyes narrowed an obnoxious smile on his face "Why? You're a girl, your not supposed to take up space."

Sophie couldn't stop the gasp that came out her mouth, she stared at him angrily "Do you know how sexist that it?"

Jack just smiled "No it's not, it's the truth." She rammed her leg into his angrily. As soon as she let up a little, Jack threw the left side of his body into her right side, full force, and she toppled off the bench and into the dirt.

"Hey!" Percy scrambled to stand up at his own table, having just saw the scene, he stared angrily at the boy as Grover turned around to see what his friend was seeing.

Sophie sat in the dirt listening to half of the cabin 11 boys laughing at her. She angrily blew her hair out of her face. Percy extended his hand to her and pulled her up. Sophie stared at the boy who had pushed her. His obnoxious laughter and finger pointing made her mad.

She picked up her glass of mango smoothie and dumped it on his head.

Sophie watched as the liquid ran down his face and sat in his hair leaving small chunks of Mango. The best part was when it ran down his back and under his shirt. She heard laughter from the other campers especially Percy who was now standing at her side grinning like a mad man.

Sophie gave him the middle finger before angrily walking towards the strawberry fields. She ignored the argument that was happening, Jack claiming he did nothing wrong while Percy defended her.

Eventually she couldn't hear it anymore, but she continued walking until she was at the lake and took a seat on the sand swirling her finger in the water.

She liked the lake at camp Half-blood, it reminded her of the lake at her grans where her uncle and her would play ice hockey over the winter, sometimes they'd go up and visit her gran at her farm.

Her gran was old and suffered from dementia, the only reason she still lived at the farm was because her friend lived in a farm house across the street, her gran was rather rich so she had plenty of employees to help out at the farm.

"Nana!" Sophie called walking into the kitchen followed by Spock one of the dogs (Her Nana had seven), he was the youngest one full of energy so Sophie normally played fetch in the field with him, Spock was still in training for herding the sheep. He never really listened.

Her Nana turned around from the counter where she just took a pie out the oven "Sophie dear." She smiled "I just made some more pie, could you get gorge."

Sophies smile fell off her face. Gorge was her grandpa, he died a year ago and because of Nana's dementia she always forgot, it hurt too much to tell her he died over and over again. Watching her crumble.

"He's at the shop," Sophie said sadly as another dog Woody, he was the oldest of the pack, now retired. He lived in the house.

"Oh yes," Nana smiled closing the oven and putting the pie on the windowsill for it too cool down. She went into the bread cupboard and grabbed a hot cross bun putting it on a plate and passing it too Sophie, "Here you go dear."

Sophie smiled accepting the plate and heading outside to eat it. She walked down to the lake and took a seat on the sand. Spock lay at her side as Sophie ripped a peace off the bun and fed it too him.

She watched the ducks swim around. Normally Swan, a mainly white border collie, would be here guarding them from foxes, but right now she seemed to be somewhere else. Sophie didn't really worry though, all the dogs were fine on their own.

She took her shoes off placing her feet in the water.

"Hey," Someone said sitting down next to her.

Sophie looked over her brown eyes meeting his beautiful sea green eyes.

She smiled at him, "Hey."

"Whatcha thinking about?" Percy asked flicking his hand in the water.

Sophie shrugged, looking out towards the sea.

"Connor said that Jack is a rude guy, especially to the Aphrodite girls." Percy said "Apparently you're the first girl he's picked on to actually fight back."

A small smile made its way onto her face "That's good."

"Yeah," Percy sighed happily as the two stared out to the horizon.

Sophie was asleep for about an hour when she was woken up again. She noticed three figures walking out the cabin, from what she could make out it was Luke, Ethan and Chris. She blinked her sleepy eyes and sat up.

"What are you doing?" She whispered loudly.

The three of them turned around to face her she noticed Luke's eyes widen.

Chris looked at her worriedly "Em, were-"

"Were playing a prank on someone." Luke said quietly shushing Chris.

Chris and Ethan nodded along smiling creepily. It was really suspicious.

"Can I help?" Sophie asked her mood perking up.

Ethan looked at her sympathetically while Chris spoke up "Sorry, it's a little fight we got into with someone. We don't want to get you to help."

Ouch.

Luke smiled nodding as he whispered "What he means is we don't want you to get into a fight with them as well. But we are playing another prank on the Ares cabin tomorrow if you want to help."

Sophie sighed "Okay." She ignored them flopping back down on her pillow.

Soon she fell asleep, but it wasn't a pleasant sleep. She fell straight into a night mare.

She was standing in front of a tall black wall, the sky was grey and cloudy and the floor was bear no grass, only Ash. The air made her lungs hurt and she kept coughing.

She noticed a crowd of people aimlessly walking through a small opening in it.

Sophie felt compelled to them so she started walking towards the huge black wall. It stretched as far as she could see, at least thirty meters high. There were several large black stalactites stretched all over the ground sharp enough to Pierce your heart before you even knew what happened.

That's when she noticed that the crowd of people were almost transparent. All of them faded and dull. She pushed through the crowd until she got to the opening in the large wall. There were too separate paths.

EZ death Lane, and, The Isles of the Blest.

She noticed that very few people went through the Isles of the blest, only one or two every few minutes. So naturally Sophie had to go that way.

She walked for a few minutes before she was in a large open room. Three judges sat behind a polished black podium. They looked like bank tellers, with a screen and keyboard in front of them, as well as a tube that could be used for sending souls to the various parts of the Underworld.

The first judge had an expression like he was permanently bored. The second judge, the one in the middle, wore a black hood and was hunched over. The third judge had a kindly face and wore a white toga. Each judge had a glowing green aura.

The left gate led to the Fields of Punishment, the middle gate led to the Fields of Asphodel, and the right gate led to Elysium. Beyond the Elysium gate was a place reserved for those who chose to be reborn three times and achieved Elysium three times: the Isles of the Blest.

The first judge looked down at her "Sophie Jones."

Sophie looked at them a bit freaked out "Yep, that's me."

The third judge looked down at her their smile freakily kind compared to their eyes expression. "Why are you here? You're not dead."

"I sure hope not." Sophie said feeling uncomfortable.

The second judge spoke, but because of his hood Sophie couldn't see his face. "Wake up."

"Hu?" Sophie said.

"Wake up."

The next morning, Percy arose from a bad dream of his own. Before he could think more on it, he heard a clopping sound at the door, a hoof knocking on the threshold.

"Come in?" he said.

Grover trotted inside, looking worried. "Mr. D wants to see you and Sophie."

"Why?"

"I'd better let him tell you."

Percy nervously got dressed. "Did you already tell Sophie?" he asked from the other side of the door.

"No," Grover said "I went through and she was still asleep, so I got you first."

"I was sleeping too!"

"yeah, but I like Sophie more."

Percy rolled his eyes a smile on his face as the two walked towards the Hermes cabin.

He found Sophie in her sleeping bag fast asleep her hair in her face her hockey bag wide open the continents spilling out onto the floor.

He knelt down and gently shook her until she woke up "Mr. D wants to see us," Percy told her.

Sophie rolled over looking up at him rubbing her eyes "Now?"

Percy nodded.

She groaned sitting up and pushing her hair out her face. She just sat there for a moment before turning to Percy "Perce?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you open my hockey bag?"

Percy looked at her puzzled "No I thought you did."

Sophie shook her head and picked up her skates and other gear placing it back in the bag. Percy watched as she ruffled through it practically shoving her head in it. She sat up looking around confused "Where's my hockey stick?"

Percy instantly looked towards Travis and Connor. The two just shrugged. Percy was about to suggest they look for it when an Apollo camper walked into the room. He was small, bright blue eyes and blond hair he looked around Nine.

He had something in his hands "Has anyone lost a hockey stick? I've asked every other cabin except Ares." That's when Percy noticed something, the hockey stick was snapped in half.

Sophie clearly didn't notice that "Yeah, that's mine." She said getting up.

Will came over looking at her sympathetically and passed her the two broken pieces, Percy heard the small gasp that came out her mouth. Will patted her shoulder gently "I'm sorry I found it outside the cabin like this."

Sophie took it from him slowly. That's when Percy heard the snicker, he turned around too see Jack and a few of his friends laughing. His fists closed and he was about to walk forwards when Grover put a hand on his shoulder.

"Mr.D remember." He said.

"Right," Percy sighed.

Sophie had put the broken hockey stick back in her bag and was looking at it sadly. Percy placed a hand on her arm giving her a small smile and walking her out the cabin with Gorver.

"What does he need us for?" she asked.

"Well," said Percy, "I don't know about you but I figure this has something to do with the fact that it's like a crime against the gods that I'm even alive."

"Good theory."

They walked up to the front porch of the Big House. Dionysus sat at the pinochle table in his
tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt with his Diet Coke, just as he had on my first day. Chiron sat across the table in his fake wheelchair. They were playing against invisible opponents--two sets of cards hovering in the air.

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

"Blah, blah, blah," Dionysus said.

Sophie was kinda liking this guy.

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

"If I had my way," Dionysus said, "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 put in.

"Nonsense," Dionysus 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."

"I agree." Sophie whispered quietly to Percy.

Apparently Mr. D heard her too because he said "I like this one." Waving his can of coke at her.

"Mr. D—" Chiron warned.

"Oh, all right," Dionysus relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness." Dionysus 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 credit card? No. A security pass. He snapped his fingers. The air seemed to fold and bend around him. He became a hologram, then a wind, then he was gone, leaving only the smell of fresh-pressed grapes lingering behind.

Chiron smiled at them, but he looked tired and strained. "Sit, Percy, Maisie, please. And Grover." They did. Chiron laid his cards on the table, a winning hand he hadn't gotten to use.

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

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

"Done...with what?"

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

Percy glanced at Grover, who was crossing his fingers.

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

"Well that's the hard part. The details."

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

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

Chiron and Grover exchanged looks.

Chiron sat forward in his wheelchair. "How did you know that?"

Percy's face felt hot and he wished he hadn't opened his big mouth. "The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then, when we talked to Annabeth, and she'd overheard something about a theft. And...I've also been having these dreams."

"I knew it," Grover said.

"Hush, satyr," Chiron ordered.

"But it is his quest!" Grover's eyes were bright with excitement. "It must be!"

"Only the Oracle can determine." Chiron stroked his bristly 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."

Sophie and Percy both snorted. "A what?"

"Do not take this lightly children," Chiron warned. "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."

"Ah."

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

"And it's missing?" Percy said.

"Stolen," Chiron said.

"By who?" Sophie asked.

"By whom," Chiron corrected, He cleared his throat. "By you."

Percy's mouth fell open.

"At least"—Chiron held up a 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, etcetera. Afterward, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now, a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly—that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it."

"But I didn't—"

"Patience and listen, child," Chiron said. "Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed 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. Sophie's believed to be an accomplice."

"Accomplice." Sophie mumbled "I'd be the master mind of the operation."

"But we've never even been to Olympus!" Percy said. "Zeus is crazy!"

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

Sophie could think of a different c-word to use.

"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 them as if he actually expected them to remember question thirty-eight.

"Something about a golden net?" Percy 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?"

I see it didn't work, thought Sophie.

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

"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?"

"We don't wear togas," Sophie said, unhelpfully.

"But we didn't do anything," Percy said, exasperated. "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, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I hoped that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus's temper. Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?"

"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 civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight."

"And you two, would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath."

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

"So we have to find this stupid lightning bolt," Sophie said. "And return it to the Sky Lord."

"What better peace offering, than to have the son of Poseidon, and his accomplice," Chiron looked at Sophie. She scowled. "Return Zeus's property?" the Centaur finished.

"If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is the damn thing?" Percy said.

"I believe I know." Chiron'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."

"Why can't you tell us where the bolt is beforehand?"

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

"It's in the underworld isn't it?" Sophie grumbled. That's the most dangerous place she could think of from Greek mythology.

"You agree then?" Chiron said, ignoring her.

"All right," Percy said. "It's better than being turned into a dolphin."

Not so sure about that. Sophie thought.

"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."

"Shouldn't Sophie go with me?"

"I don't believe so," Chiron said.

"You don't believe so?"

Chiron didn't elaborate so Percy just gave his friends an uneasy look and headed upstairs.

As soon as Percy was gone, Annabeth materialized out of thin air, holding her Yankees baseball cap.

"Are you going to come with us?" Sophie asked her.

"I'm hoping to," she said. "This is my chance at a quest."

"You can come if you want," Sophie said, thinking it be great to have someone as skilled as Annabeth with them.

"It's not really up to you," Annabeth said.

Sophie bit her lip and turned back to Grover.

But Percy was headed back down the stairs so the blond haired girl slapped her cap back on her head and disappeared.

"Well?" Chiron asked him as Percy slumped back into his chair next to Maisie.

"She said I would retrieve what was stolen."

Grover sat forward, chewing excitedly on the remains of a Diet Coke can. "That's great!"

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

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

"I knew it," Grover said.

Chiron didn't look satisfied. "Anything else?"

Percy was holding back the last line. A friend would betray him. What friend? He glanced at Grover and Sophie shortly. He refused to believe that the Oracle was speaking of them.

He also could not get over, "you will fail to save what matters most." So what? They were just supposed to take up this deadly quest knowing that they were destined to fail? He couldn't confess that.

"No," Percy said. "That's about it."

Chiron studied his face. "Very well, Percy. But know this: the Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass."

"Okay," he said, anxious to change topics. "So where do we 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?" Percy guessed.

"Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons 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 have now broken."

"Hades."

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

"A Fury came after Sophie and Percy," Chiron reminded him. "She watched them until she was sure of their identity, then tried to kill them. Furies obey only one lord: Hades."

Sophie was trying not to be upset about the fact she already said the underworld and Chiron ignored her.

"Yes, but—but Hades hates all heroes," Grover protested. "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 us."

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

"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt," Chiron insisted. "He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord 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. He'd started eating pinochle cards like potato chips. The poor guy needed to complete a quest with them so he could get his searcher's license, whatever that
was, but how could Percy ask him to do this quest, especially when the Oracle said he was destined to fail?

This was suicide.

"Look, if we know it's Hades," Percy told Chiron, "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."

That sounds a lot like being used, Sophie thought. But she saw the look of emotion of Percy's face after Chiron said that last part, and didn't want to burst his bubble.

Percy looked at Chiron. "You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"

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

Percy got the feeling there was a lot he wasn't telling him about his prophecy, but he decided not to worry about that right now.

"Do you have suspicions about my godly parent?" Sophie had to ask.

"It's best I don't say," said Chiron.

"Of course it is," Sophie muttered, annoyed.

"So let me get this straight," Percy said, throwing a curious glance at his friend who was making faces at open air. "I'm supposed 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."

"Epic," commented Sophie, only half sarcastic.

They looked looked at Grover, who gulped down the ace of hearts.

"Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?" he asked weakly.

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

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

He took a deep breath, then stood, brushing the shred-ded cards and aluminum bits off his T-shirt. "You guys saved my life. If...if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."

Percy had a look of gratefulness and relief. "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. "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."

"So we just get on a plane—" But Grover cut Percy off.

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

Percy shook his head.

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

Overhead, lightning crackled. Thunder boomed.

"I just thought it was because we were broke." Percy shrugged.

Sophie snickered.

"Okay," Percy said, determined not to look at the storm. "So, we'll travel overland."

"That's right," Chiron said. "It is common to acquire only 2 companions to bring with you. But since I suspect that you and Sophie's fates are intertwined—"

Percy didn't want to even ask what that meant.

"—Grover is one. And another has already volunteered, if you will accept her help."

"Don't be stupid Perce," Sophie warned him in a whisper. "Accept the girl's gracious offer to help."

Percy immediately knew who she was referring to. "Gee," he said, feigning surprise. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"

The air shimmered behind Chiron.

Annabeth became visible, stuffing her Yankees cap into her back pocket.

"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Percy," she said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you two are going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."

"You've got the job!" Sophie said, not wanting Percy to anger their new teammate any further.

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

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

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

Team Brason or team Japler? Im Personally team Brason 🧱

Also has anyone heard the new Epic album thunder bringer. Aghhh its soo good. I love scylla. ⛈

Also question, do you want me to get into more adult themes in this book? Like Drugs, Smoking, Alcohol, Periods, More.... Descriptive..... kiss scenes????? 🫢

Also thanks too Slay_Gueen123 , Sigmareads , Hoppers_bunny , i love ya'll thanks for all the comments.

Blake 🫡