Honesty is the Best Policy

Chapter 23

The Last Chapter

Author's notes: I don't own anything in Bold. Everything in Bold belongs to Rick Riordan.

If you see any mistakes, please let me know so I can fix them as soon as possible.

So since I have the day off I decided my birthday present would be to type these chapters for you guys and finish the first book. Then I'll begin on Book 2: The Sea of monsters.

The Title for book 2: when they read 'The Sea of Monsters' will be called Truth Builds Trust

Chapter 22: The Prophecy Comes True

Everyone had their full attention on Percy.

We were the first heroes to return alive to Half-Blood Hill since Luke, so of course everybody treated us as if we'd won some reality-TV contest. According to camp tradition, we wore laurel wreaths to a big feast prepared in our honor, then led a procession down to the bonfire, where we got to burn the burial shrouds our cabins had made for us in our absence.

Annabeth's shroud was so beautiful-gray silk with embroidered owls-I told her it seemed a shame not to bury her in it. She punched me and told me to shut up.

They all began to laugh.

Being the son of Poseidon, I didn't have any cabin mates, so the Ares cabin had volunteered to make my shroud. They'd taken an old bedsheet and painted smiley faces with X'ed-out eyes around the border, and the word LOSER painted really big in the middle.

"Such nice folks aren't they?" Leo said sarcastically. "No offense Frank as they are your Greek half-siblings." He was quick to add at the end of his statement.

"None taken." Frank told him.

It was fun to burn.

"I'll bet." Nico said.

As Apollo's cabin led the sing-along and passed out s'mores, I was surrounded by my old Hermes cabinmates, Annabeth's friends from Athena, and Grover's satyr buddies, who were admiring the brand- new searcher's license he'd received from the Council of Cloven Elders. The council had called Grover's performance on the quest "Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past."

They all grinned at the last sentence. They all were starting to grow fond of the satyr, like they had of Coach Hedge.

The only ones not in a party mood were Clarisse and her cabinmates, whose poisonous looks told me they'd never forgive me for disgracing their dad.

That was okay with me.

Even Dionysus's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen my 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... "

"Bet you were so disappointed about that." Piper said

"Yep, I so wanted to do the canoe race." Percy said mournfully.

It was quiet for a moment before they all began laughing hysterically.

I moved back into cabin three, but it didn't feel so lonely anymore. I had my friends to train with during the day. At night, I lay awake and listened to the sea, knowing my father was out there. Maybe he wasn't quite sure about me yet, maybe he hadn't even wanted me born, but he was watching. And so far, he was proud of what I'd done.

As for my mother, she had a chance at a new life. Her letter arrived a week after I got back to camp. She told me Gabe had left mysteriously-disappeared off the face of the planet, in fact. She'd reported him missing to the police, but she had a funny feeling they would never find him.

They all began cheering. Smelly Gabe was finally gone. He would never bother Percy or his mom again.

On a completely unrelated subject, she'd sold her first life-size concrete sculpture, entitled The Poker Player, to a collector, through an art gallery in Soho. She'd gotten so much money for it, she'd put a deposit down on a new apartment and made a payment on her first semester's tuition at NYU. The Soho gallery was clamoring for more of her work, which they called "a huge step forward in super-ugly neorealism. "

They all smiled. Happy that Gabe was out of their friend(and his moms) life for good.

But don't worry, my mom wrote. I'm done with sculpture. I've disposed of that box of tools you left me. It's time for me to turn to writing.

At the bottom, she wrote a P. S. : Percy, I've found a good private school here in the city. I've put a deposit down to hold you a spot, in case you want to enroll for seventh grade. You could live at home. But if you want to go year-round at Half-Blood Hill, I'll understand.

I folded the note carefully and set it on my bedside table. Every night before I went to sleep, I read it again, and I tried to decide how to answer her.

They all wondered what he would decide to do. Of course they could have just asked Percy or Annabeth but they would have just said. 'You'll find out later.' Or something along those lines.

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. They'd anchored a barge offshore and loaded it with rockets the size of Patriot missiles. According to Annabeth, who'd seen the show before, the blasts would be sequenced so tightly they'd look like frames of animation across the sky. The finale was supposed to be a couple of hundred-foot-tall Spartan warriors who would crackle to life above the ocean, fight a battle, then explode into a million colors.

"The fireworks are awesome." Jason said.

"Yeah, they really are." Piper agreed.

Leo nodded eagerly at the mention of the fireworks.

As Annabeth and I were spreading a picnic blanket, Grover showed up to tell us good-bye. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt and sneakers, but in the last few weeks he'd started to look older, almost high-school age. His goatee had gotten thicker. He'd put on weight. His horns had grown at least an inch, so he now had to wear his rasta cap all the time to pass as human.

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

I tried to feel happy for him. After all, it wasn't every day a satyr got permission to go look for the great god Pan. But it was hard saying good-bye. I'd only known Grover a year, yet he was my oldest friend.

Grover gave Percy a smile. It was nice to know that Percy really cared and thought of him as his very best friend.

Annabeth gave him a hug. She told him to keep his fake feet on.

I asked him where he was going to search first.

"Kind of a secret, " he said, looking embarrassed. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan ... "

The demigods nodded understanding.

"We understand, " Annabeth said. "You got enough tin cans for the trip?"

"Yeah. "

"And you remembered your reed pipes?"

"Jeez, Annabeth, " he grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat. "

They all laughed at Grover's sentence.

But he didn't really sound annoyed.

He gripped his walking stick and slung a backpack over his shoulder. He looked like any hitchhiker you might see on an American highway-nothing like the little runty boy I used to defend from bullies at Yancy Academy.

"Runty?" Grover demanded, "Wow, thanks Percy." The young satyr rolled his eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that." Percy protested.

"I know, I just like messing with you."

"You're mean."

"You love me anyways."

"Unfortunately."

"Well, " he said, "wish me luck. "

He gave Annabeth another hug. He clapped me on the shoulder, then headed back through the dunes.

Fireworks exploded to life overhead: Hercules killing the Nemean lion, Artemis chasing the boar, George Washington (who, by the way, was a son of Athena) crossing the Delaware.

"He was?" Piper asked surprised.

"Yes." Annabeth replied.

"Hey, Grover, " I called.

He turned at the edge of the woods.

"Wherever you're going-I hope they make good enchiladas. "

They all laughed at Percy's sense of humor.

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

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

I tried to believe it. The fact that no searcher had ever come back in two thousand years ... Well, I decided not to think about that. Grover would be the first. He had to be.

July passed.

I spent my days devising new strategies for capture-the-flag and making alliances with the other cabins to keep the banner out of Ares's hands. I got to the top of the climbing wall for the first time without getting scorched by lava.

"Hooray!" Leo cheered.

They jumped at Leo's sudden yell.

"What the Hades Leo?!" Annabeth said. "What was that for?"

"Percy got to the top of the climbing wall without getting scorched by lava for the first time!" The son of Hephaestus said like it should be obvious. "It's a cause for celebration!"

They just shook their heads and laughed at the fire-users' antics.

From time to time, I'd walk past the Big House, glance up at the attic windows, and think about the Oracle. I tried to convince myself that its prophecy had come to completion.

You shall go west, and face the god who has turned.

Been there, done that-even though the traitor god had turned out to be Ares rather than Hades.

You shall find what was stolen, and see it safe returned.

Check. One master bolt delivered. One helm of darkness back on Hades's oily head.

Piper wrinkled her nose in disgust.

You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

This line still bothered me. Ares had pretended to be my friend, then betrayed me. That must be what the Oracle meant...

They all looked uneasily at each other. That line had come to pass hadn't it?

And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.

I had failed to save my mom, but only because I'd let her save herself, and I knew that was the right thing.

So why was I still uneasy?

The last night of the summer session came all too quickly.

"It always does." Hazel sighed.

Frank nodded in agreement.

The campers had one last meal together. We burned part of our dinner for the gods. At the bonfire, the senior counselors awarded the end-of-summer beads.

I got my own leather necklace, and when I saw the bead for my first summer, I was glad the firelight covered my blushing. The design was pitch black, with a 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!"

"Yea Percy!" Leo said cheering.

Percy got up and did a few mock bows before taking his place beside Annabeth and Grover once more.

They all snorted in laughter.

The entire camp got to their feet and cheered. Even Ares's cabin felt obliged to stand. Athena's cabin steered Annabeth to the front so she could share in the applause.

I'm not sure I'd ever felt as happy or sad as I did at that moment. I'd finally found a family, people who cared about me and thought I'd done something right. And in the morning, most of them would be leaving for the year.

"That's always a sad time." Nico spoke.

Reyna looked at Nico and saw the pain in his eyes. "Nico, what's wrong?" The female praetor placed a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

The other demigods and the satyrs looked at Nico worriedly.

"It's nothing." At their looks of disbelief he offered a small sad smile. "I'm fine, really."

"No you're not." Reyna shook her head in disagreement.

"You're right I'm not." The others looked like they wanted ask what was wrong. But before they could Nico spoke again. "Can we just talk after the end of the book please?"

Reyna's gaze softened, "Of course, Nico." She turned to Percy and gestured for him to continue reading; which he did reluctantly.

The next morning, I found a form letter on my bedside table.

I knew Dionysus must've filled it out, because he stubbornly insisted on getting my name wrong:

Dear_ Peter Johnson_, If you intend to stay at Camp Half-Blood year-round, you must inform the Big House by noon today. If you do not announce your intentions, we will assume you have vacated your cabin or died a horrible death. Cleaning harpies will begin work at sundown. They will be authorized to eat any unregistered campers. All personal articles left behind will be incinerated in the lava pit. Have a nice day!

Mr. D (Dionysus)

Camp Director, Olympian Council #12

"How very lovely." Frank remarked.

Leo snorted in laughter.

That's another thing about ADHD. Deadlines just aren't real to me until I'm staring one in the face. Summer was over, and I still hadn't answered my mother, or the camp, about whether I'd be staying. Now I had only a few hours to decide.

The decision should have been easy. I mean, nine months of hero training or nine months of sitting in a classroom-duh.

But there was my mom to consider. For the first time, I had the chance to live with her for a whole year, without Gabe. I had a chance be at home and knock around the city in my free time. I remembered what Annabeth had said so long ago on our quest: The real world is where the monsters are. That's where you learn whether you're any good or not.

"It's true." Reyna said agreeing with the daughter of Athena.

Annabeth smiled at the female praetor.

Percy decided to continue reading.

I thought about the fate of Thalia, daughter of Zeus. I wondered how many monsters would attack me if I left Half-Blood Hill. If I stayed in one place for a whole school year, without Chiron or my friends around to help me, would my mother and I even survive until the next summer? That was assuming the spelling tests and five-paragraph essays didn't kill me. I decided I'd go down to the arena and do some sword practice. Maybe that would clear my head.

Jason nodded in understanding. He did the same thing whenever he needed to think.

The campgrounds were mostly deserted, shimmering in the August heat. All the campers were in their cabins pack-ing 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.

Don't think about leaving yet, I told myself. Just train.

They wondered when they'd find out what the son of Poseidon decided to do.

I got to the sword-fighters arena and found that Luke had had the same idea. His gym bag was plopped at the edge of the stage. He was working solo, whaling on battle dummies with a sword I'd never seen before. It must've been a regular steel blade, because he was slashing the dummies' heads right off, stabbing through their straw-stuffed guts. His orange counselor's shirt was dripping with sweat. His expression was so intense, his life might've really been in danger. I watched, fascinated, as he disemboweled the whole row of dummies, hacking off limbs and basically reducing them to a pile of straw and armor.

"Wow." Jason said. Frank nodded in agreement. He sounded like he was a really good swordsman.

They were only dummies, but I still couldn't help being awed by Luke's skill. The guy was an incredible fighter. It made me wonder, again, how he possibly could've failed at his quest.

The others briefly wondered that now that Percy mentioned it.

Finally, he saw me, and stopped mid-swing. "Percy. "

"Um, sorry," I said, embarrassed. "I just-"

"It's okay," he said, lowering his sword. "Just doing some last-minute practice."

"Those dummies won't be bothering anybody anymore."

Luke shrugged. "We build new ones every summer. "

"That must be a lot of work." Piper said.

Now that his sword wasn't swirling around, I could see something odd about it. The blade was two different types of metal-one edge bronze, the other steel.

Luke noticed me looking at it. "Oh, this? New toy. This is Backbiter. "

"Backbiter?"

Luke turned the blade in the light so it glinted wickedly. "One side is celestial bronze. The other is tempered steel. Works on mortals and immortals both."

"Who would want a weapon like that to harm mortals too?" Hazel looked horrified at the thought.

"You'll see."

I thought about what Chiron had told me when I started my quest-that a hero should never harm mortals unless absolutely necessary.

"I didn't know they could make weapons like that."

"They probably can't, " Luke agreed. "It's one of a kind."

"Not a good kind either." Nico remarked.

He gave me a tiny smile, then slid the sword into its scabbard. "Listen, I was going to come looking for you. What do you say we go down to the woods one last time, look for something to fight?"

I don't know why I hesitated. I should've felt relieved that Luke was being so friendly. Ever since I'd gotten back from the quest, he'd been acting a little distant. I was afraid he might resent me for all the attention I'd gotten.

"Really?" Annabeth asked. "You were worried about that?"

"Yeah." Percy replied before reading once again.

You think it's a good idea?" I asked. "I mean-"

"Aw, come on. " He rummaged in his gym bag and pulled out a six-pack of Cokes. "Drinks are on me. "

I stared at the Cokes, wondering where the heck he'd gotten them. There were no regular mortal sodas at the camp store. No way to smuggle them in unless you talked to a satyr, maybe.

"Seriously?" Frank raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously." Leo nodded.

Of course, the magic dinner goblets would fill with anything you want, but it just didn't taste the same as a real Coke, straight out of the can.

Sugar and caffeine. My willpower crumbled.

"Sure, " I decided. "Why not?"

We walked down to the woods and kicked around for some kind of monster to fight, but it was too hot. All the monsters with any sense must've been taking siestas in their nice cool caves.

"They might be." Coach Hedge said. "You never know."

Grover nodded in agreement. Then they all burst into laughter.

We found a shady spot by the creek where I'd broken Clarisse's spear during my first capture the flag game. We sat on a big rock, drank our Cokes, and watched the sunlight in the woods.

After a while Luke said, "You miss being on a quest?"

"With monsters attacking me every three feet? Are you kidding?"

They all raised eyebrows at the statement.

Luke raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I miss it, " I admitted. "You?"

A shadow passed over his face.

I was used to hearing from the girls how good-looking Luke was, but at the moment, he looked weary, and angry, and not at all handsome. His blond hair was gray in the sunlight. The scar on his face looked deeper than usual. I could imagine him as an old man.

"So... Percy." Jason said. "Do you usually check out guys?"

If Nico had been drinking something at that moment he would have for sure done a spit take. He knew what Jason was trying to do . He gave the son of Jupiter a panicked look, like no no no no no no no!

"What kind of question is that?" Percy asked.

"Just curious is all."

"Why do you have a crush on me or something?" The son of Poseidon joked.

"No, just wondering."

"Not usually no."

"Did you have a thing for Luke or something?" Jason asked,

"What? No! I'm just...observant."

"About if a guy is handsome or not." Leo quirked an eyebrow joining the conversation.

"Hey! I can appreciate a good looking guy can't I?" Percy sputtered. "You know what? Let's just keep reading."

Nico shot Jason a glare. He sent him a message loud and clear. 'Stop trying to help!'

And Jason returned one as if to say. 'No I'm helping you whether you like it or not."

Nico groaned internally and Percy began to read more.

"I've lived at Half-Blood Hill year-round since I was fourteen, "he told me. "Ever since Thalia ... Well, you know. I trained, and trained, and trained. I never got to be a normal teenager, out there in the real world. Then they threw me one quest, and when I came back, it was like, 'Okay, ride's over. Have a nice life.'"

He crumpled his Coke can and threw into the creek, which really shocked me. One of the first things you learn at Camp Half-Blood is: Don't litter. You'll hear from the nymphs and the naiads. They'll get even. You'll crawl into bed one night and find your sheets filled with centipedes and mud.

"That can't be pleasant." Frank pointed out.

"The heck with laurel wreaths," Luke said. "I'm not going to end up like those dusty trophies in the Big House attic. "

"You make it sound like you're leaving."

Luke gave me a twisted smile. "Oh, I'm leaving, all right, Percy. I brought you down here to say good- bye. "

He snapped his fingers. A small fire burned a hole in the ground at my feet. Out crawled something glistening black, about the size of my hand. A scorpion.

They all looked at each other panicked.

"Honestly guys, I'm right here. I'm fine." Percy complained. Though secretly he was happy that he had such good friends that they worried about something that had happened years ago.

The son of Poseidon kept reading.

I started to go for my pen.

"I wouldn't, " Luke cautioned. "Pit scorpions can jump up to fifteen feet. Its stinger can pierce right through your clothes. You'll be dead in sixty seconds."

"Luke, what-"

Then it hit me.

You will be betrayed by one who calls you a friend.

"You, " I said.

"And he finally figures it out." Reyna remarked.

"Hey, give me a break!" Percy complained, "I was twelve!"

"It was kind of obvious now that I think about it." Annabeth said. "How did we not figure it out before?"

He stood calmly and brushed off his jeans.

The scorpion paid him no attention. It kept its beady black eyes on me, clamping its pincers as it crawled onto my shoe.

"I saw a lot out there in the world, Percy, " Luke said. "Didn't you feel it-the darkness gathering, the monsters growing stronger? Didn't you realize how useless it all is? All the heroics-being pawns of the gods. They should've been overthrown thousands of years ago, but they've hung on, thanks to us half- bloods."

Hazel shook her head sadly at Luke's point of view on things.

I couldn't believe this was happening.

"Neither could I when you told me." Annabeth admitted.

"Luke ... You're talking about our parents, " I said.

He laughed. "That's supposed to make me love them? Their precious 'Western civilization is a disease, Percy. It's killing the world. The only way to stop it is to burn it to the ground, start over with something more honest."

"You're as crazy as Ares."

"My sentiments exactly." Piper agreed with Past Percy.

His eyes flared. "Ares is a fool. He never realized the true master he was serving. If I had time, Percy, I could explain. But I'm afraid you won't live that long."

The scorpion crawled onto my pants leg.

There had to be a way out of this. I needed time to think.

"Kronos, " I said. "That's who you serve."

"No dip Sherlock." Leo replied.

The air got colder.

"You should be careful with names, " Luke warned.

"Kronos got you to steal the master bolt and the helm. He spoke to you in your dreams. "

Luke's eye twitched. "He spoke to you, too, Percy. You should've listened. "

"No, he shouldn't." Reyna disagreed.

The others nodded in assent with the daughter of Bellona's statement.

"He's brainwashing you, Luke."

"You're wrong. He showed me that my talents are being wasted. You know what my quest was two years ago, Percy? My father, Hermes, wanted me to steal a golden apple from the Garden of the Hesperides and return it to Olympus. After all the training I'd done, that was the best he could think up."

"That's not an easy quest, " I said. "Hercules did it.

"Dude did you have to mention Hercules?" Jason looked ticked.

"This was before I knew what he was really like." Percy responded.

"When do you find out?" Piper asked.

"In two years from this book."

"Exactly, " Luke said. "Where's the glory in repeating what others have done? All the gods know how to do is replay their past. My heart wasn't in it. The dragon in the garden gave me this"-he pointed angrily at his scar-"and when I came back, all I got was pity. I wanted to pull Olympus down stone by stone right then, but I bided my time.

I began to dream of Kronos. He convinced me to steal something worthwhile, something no hero had ever had the courage to take. When we went on that winter-solstice field trip, while the other campers were asleep, I snuck into the throne room and took Zeus's master bolt right from his chair. Hades's helm of darkness, too. You wouldn't believe how easy it was.

The Olympians are so arrogant; they never dreamed someone would dare steal from them. Their security is horrible. I was halfway across New Jersey before I heard the storms rumbling, and I knew they'd discovered my theft. "

No one spoke during this part. They all listened intently. Leo had even stopped tinkering and had his attention fully on the Son of Poseidon.

The scorpion was sitting on my knee now, staring at me with its glittering eyes. I tried to keep my voice level. "So why didn't you bring the items to Kronos?"

Luke's smile wavered. "I ... I got overconfident. Zeus sent out his sons and daughters to find the stolen bolt- Artemis, Apollo, my father, Hermes. But it was Ares who caught me. I could have beaten him, but I wasn't careful enough. He disarmed me, took the items of power, threatened to return them to Olympus and burn me alive.

"That would not be fun." Leo winced at the thought.

"But Leo, you can't burn. You're fireproof." Hazel pointed out.

"Yes, but I imagine it would be very painful."

Then Kronos's voice came to me and told me what to say. I put the idea in Ares's head about a great war between the gods. I said all he had to do was hide the items away for a while and watch the others fight. Ares got a wicked gleam in his eyes. I knew he was hooked. He let me go, and I returned to Olympus before anyone noticed my absence."

Luke drew his new sword. He ran his thumb down the flat of the blade, as if he were hypnotized by its beauty. "Afterward, the Lord of the Titans ... H-he punished me with nightmares. I swore not to fail again. Back at Camp Half-Blood, in my dreams, I was told that a second hero would arrive, one who could be tricked into taking the bolt and the helm the rest of the way-from Ares down to Tartarus."

"Me." Percy interrupted himself before reading more of the chapter.

"You summoned the hellhound, that night in the forest."

"We had to make Chiron think the camp wasn't safe for you, so he would start you on your quest. We had to confirm his fears that Hades was after you. And it worked."

"The flying shoes were cursed," I said. "They were supposed to drag me and the backpack into Tartarus."

"And they would have, if you'd been wearing them. But you gave them to the satyr, which wasn't part of the plan. Grover messes up everything he touches. He even confused the curse."

Grover looked extremely hurt at that sentence.

"Don't listen to him Grover." Annabeth said. "You're amazing."

"Yeah," Percy stopped reading to agree. "You're worth a lot more than anyone gives you credit for."

"Thanks guys." Grover said getting teary-eyed.

"They're right kid." Hedge said, scaring them all. He startled them since he had been quiet for so long.

Luke looked down at the scorpion, which was now sitting on my thigh. "You should have died in Tartarus, Percy. But don't worry, I'll leave you with my little friend to set things right."

"Thalia gave her life to save you," I said, gritting my teeth. "And this is how you repay her?"

"Don't speak of Thalia!" he shouted. "The gods let her die! That's one of the many things they will pay for."

Piper's love senses were tingling. "We're Luke and Thalia dating or something?"

Annabeth, Percy, and Grover looked surprised by her question.

"I don't know." Grover admitted. "If they were they never made it known to us - or at least to me." He looked to the blond daughter of Athena.

"They may have been." Annabeth said slowly. "But they may have just hid her relationship from us."

"That must be why she was so hurt after Luke's betrayal." Percy commented.

The other two nodded and Percy picked up the book to start reading again.

"You're being used, Luke. You and Ares both. Don't listen to Kronos."

"I've been used?" Luke's voice turned shrill. "Look at yourself. What has your dad ever done for you? Kronos will rise. You've only delayed his plans. He will cast the Olympians into Tartarus and drive humanity back to their caves. All except the strongest-the ones who serve him."

"Call off the bug, " I said. "If you're so strong, fight me yourself."

Annabeth shook her head at her boyfriends past actions.

Luke smiled. "Nice try, Percy. But I'm not Ares. You can't bait me. My lord is waiting, and he's got plenty of quests for me to undertake. "

"Luke-"

"Good-bye, Percy. There is a new Golden Age coming. You won't be part of it. "

He slashed his sword in an arc and disappeared in a ripple of darkness.

They all looked at each other in shock.

"Wow...um that was...interesting." Leo said slowly.

"That's an understatement." Nico snorted.

Percy went back to reading.

The scorpion lunged.

I swatted it away with my hand and uncapped my sword. The thing jumped at me and I cut it in half in midair.

I was about to congratulate myself until I looked down at my hand. My palm had a huge red welt, oozing and smoking with yellow guck. The thing had gotten me after all.

They all looked concerned now.

"You were okay, right cupcake?" Coach Hedge demanded,

"I was fine Coach. Don't worry." Percy assured him before reading again.

My ears pounded. My vision went foggy. The water, I thought. It healed me before.

I stumbled to the creek and submerged my hand, but nothing seemed to happen. The poison was too strong. My vision was getting dark. I could barely stand up.

Sixty seconds, Luke had told me.

I had to get back to camp. If I collapsed out here, my body would be dinner for a monster. Nobody would ever know what had happened.

"Not helping Percy." Hazel said looking very anxious.

"Sorry." He apologized. "It's not like I can control what thoughts of mine that the book tells us."

My legs felt like lead. My forehead was burning. I stumbled toward the camp, and the nymphs stirred from their trees.

"Help, " I croaked. "Please ... "

Two of them took my arms, pulling me along. I remember making it to the clearing, a counselor shouting for help, a centaur blowing a conch horn.

Then everything went black.

They all looked like they were on the verge of panicking so Percy quickly read on.

I woke with a drinking straw in my mouth. I was sipping something that tasted like liquid chocolate-chip cookies. Nectar.

I opened my eyes.

I was propped up in bed in the sickroom of the Big House, my right hand bandaged like a club. Argus stood guard in the corner. Annabeth sat next to me, holding my nectar glass and dabbing a washcloth on my forehead.

They all let out sighs of relief.

"Here we are again, " I said.

"You idiot, " Annabeth said, which is how I knew she was overjoyed to see me conscious. "You were green and turning gray when we found you. If it weren't for Chiron's healing ..."

"Now, now," Chiron's voice said. "Percy's constitution deserves some of the credit."

"Thank you Chiron." Percy said out loud before reading more.

He was sitting near the foot of my bed in human form, which was why I hadn't noticed him yet. His lower half was magically compacted into the wheelchair, his upper half dressed in a coat and tie. He smiled, but his face looked weary and pale, 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."

"How nice." Leo said sarcasm heavy in his voice.

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

Between sips of nectar, I told them the story.

The room was quiet for a long time.

Just like now on the Argo II as they listened intently to Percy reading.

"I can't believe that Luke ..." Annabeth's voice faltered. Her expression turned angry and sad. "Yes. Yes, I can believe it. 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."

"Luke is out there right now," I said. "I have to go after him."

"Are you crazy?" Grover demanded. "You wanted to go after Luke after nearly dying!?"

"Yeah, Pretty much." Percy responded. And he turned back to the book.

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

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

"Percy, I know this is hard. But you must not rush out for vengeance. You aren't ready."

"He's right, you know." Reyna said gently.

"I know." The son of the sea god sighed.

I didn't like it, but part of me suspected Chiron was right. One look at my hand, and I knew I 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 Annabeth?"

"Yes, yes, and yes," Annabeth said with a sigh.

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?"

"Yes," the Athenian said once again.

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," I said.

The others agreed with Percy silently.

"We will not sit back, " Chiron promised. "But you must be careful. Kronos wants you to come unraveled. He wants your life disrupted, your thoughts clouded with fear and anger. Do not give him what he wants. Train patiently. Your time will come."

"Assuming I live that long."

Chiron put his hand on my 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 that he had a very definite opinion, and it was taking all his willpower not to advise me. "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."

"When do we get to find out if you stay or go home?" Piper asked.

"Soon." Percy told them.

I wanted to protest. I wanted to ask him more questions. But his expression told me there could be no more discussion; he had said as much as he could.

"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?" I asked.

Nobody answered.

Chiron rolled himself out of the room. I heard the wheels of his chair clunk carefully down the front steps, two at a time.

They all waited to see what would happen next.

Annabeth studied the ice in my drink.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Nothing." She set the glass on the table. "I ... Just took your advice about something. You ... Um ... Need anything?"

"What advice?" Jason asked.

"Yeah. Help me up. I want to go outside."

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

I slid my legs out of bed. Annabeth caught me before I could crumple to the floor. A wave of nausea rolled over me.

Annabeth said, "I told you ..."

"I'm fine," I insisted. I didn't want to lie in bed like an invalid while Luke was out there planning to destroy the Western world.

They nodded knowing exactly he felt.

I managed a step forward. Then another, still leaning heavily on Annabeth. Argus followed us outside, but he kept his distance.

By the time we reached the porch, my face was beaded with sweat. My stomach had twisted into knots. But I had managed to make it all the way to the railing.

It was dusk. The camp looked completely deserted. The cabins were dark and the volleyball pit silent. No canoes cut the surface of the lake. Beyond the woods and the strawberry fields, the Long Island Sound glittered in the last light of the sun.

"What are you going to do?" Annabeth asked me.

"I don't know. "

"How very informative of you Percy." Leo commented.

I told her I got the feeling Chiron wanted me to stay year-round, to put in more individual training time, but I wasn't sure that's what I wanted. I admitted I'd feel bad about leaving her alone, though, with only Clarisse for company...

Annabeth pursed her lips, then said quietly, "I'm going home for the year, Percy."

I stared at her. "You mean, to your dad's?"

She pointed toward the crest of Half-Blood Hill. Next to Thalia's pine tree, at the very edge of the camp's magical boundaries, a family stood silhouetted-two little children, a woman, and a tall man with blond hair. They seemed to be waiting. The man was holding a backpack that looked like the one Annabeth had gotten from Waterland in Denver.

"It was the very same backpack." Annabeth said.

"Really it was?" Percy said.

"Yep."

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

"That it did." Coach nodded approvingly at Annabeth. "Good job cupcake."

"Thanks Coach." She gave him a smile.

She pursed her lips. "You won't try anything stupid during the school year, will you? At least ... Not without sending me an Iris-message?"

I managed a smile. "I won't go looking for trouble. I usually don't have to. "

"When I get back next summer, " she said, "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?"

Coach eyed the two kids suspiciously as if they might try to sneak off any moment.

"Sounds like a plan worthy of Athena. "

She held out her hand. I shook it.

"Take care, Seaweed Brain, " Annabeth told me. "Keep your eyes open. "

"You too, Wise Girl. "

"Awe!" Piper said. "That's so sweet!"

"You're Aphrodite side is making a comeback Beauty Queen."

She shot him a quick glare and Leo just shot her impish grin.

I watched her walk up the hill and join her family. She gave her father an awkward hug and looked back at the valley one last time. She touched Thalia's pine tree, then allowed herself to be lead over the crest and into the mortal world.

For the first time at camp, I felt truly alone. I looked out at Long Island Sound and I remembered my father saying, The sea does not like to be restrained.

I made my decision.

I wondered, if Poseidon were watching, would he approve of my choice?

"I'll be back next summer, " I promised him. "I'll survive until then. After all, I am your son. " I asked Argus to take me down to cabin three, so I could pack my bags for home.

"The End." Percy said.

"Wow." Grover said. "That was a good book."

"Agreed." Reyna said.

"So should we start the next book?" Jason asked.

"Sure." Coach said.

"Can we take a break first before we start the next book?" Leo asked Quickly.

"Yeah." Piper said. "I think that would be okay. What do you think guys?" She turned to the rest of their friends.

"That's fine." Hazel said.

"Yep." Frank agreed.

Nico nodded in agreement.

They all went to eat, drink and take restroom breaks before they began to read the next book.

Frank was eating with Hazel when Leo approached them looking nervous.

"Hey Leo what's up?" Hazel asked.

"Hey uh Hazel. I was uh...wondering if I could talk to Frank for a minute."

"Sure." Frank said looking a little confused.

Hazel gave her boyfriend a quick kiss on the cheek and then she went to find her brother to try to talk to him again.

"What did you want to talk about?" He asked once Hazel was out of sight.

"I... I just wanted to apologize."

Frank looked at Leo like he had sprouted another head. "Apologize for what?"

"My comment earlier today when you were reading and you did a perfect goat bleet." Leo said. "it was out of line and I'm sorry."

"It's okay Leo."

"No it's not. It was terrible of me to do that."

"Honestly, I forgive you Leo." Frank assured the son of Hephaestus.

"They stood in awkward silence for a moment for a while before Leo spoke again. "I'm also sorry about you know hitting on Hazel you know before when we first started the quest and everything. I wanted to let you know that I don't feel that way towards her anymore. I'm happy for both of you."

"I know, you like Calypso now don't you?"

Leo's reaction must have looked comical because Frank laughed at his expression. "How-how did you-"

"Hazel told me." He said simply.

"Does everyone know that I went to Calypso's Island?" He said exasperatedly.

"Pretty much." Frank responded. "Except Coach, Reyna and Nico... well actually I don't know if Nico knows or not. Hazel might have told him." The Chinese-Canadian shrugged.

"Great, just fantastic." Leo groaned. He sat down on an empty seat. Frank took a seat next to the Hispanic boy.

"Is everything okay with you Leo?" He asked carefully.

"Fine," He said automatically.

"You're not fine Leo." Frank frowned. "You've been moping around for ages."

"I just miss Calypso you know." Leo admitted.

Frank studied his expression. He knew Leo missed Calypso, but t that wasn't the cause of his moping. At least not all it. There was something else going on with the Latino boy and Frank intended to find out what it was.

While Leo and Frank were having their conversation. Percy was trying to find the son of Hades to talk to him.

Hazel walked into the room. "Hey have you seen Nico?"

"No, I was actually looking for him myself." Hazel admitted. "I'm really worried about him."

"Me too." Percy told her. A moment of silence passed before Percy spoke again. "Does..." he hesitated. "Does Nico hate me?"

"What?" She was taken by surprise by Percy's question.

"Does Nico hate me?" he repeated.

"Why do you think that?" she asked after a moment.

"He always avoids me and he was acting cold before he left with Reyna, and Coach Hedge."

"Nico's just no really good with people, Percy." the daughter of Pluto tried to explain.

"But I've known him for almost 4 years!" Percy protested.

"Did you really know him though?" Hazel asked. "Do you know what his favorite color is? What he likes to do in his free time? Who he considers his best friend?"

Percy felt ashamed that he couldn't answer those questions. 'What kind of friend was he?' "Do you know where he might be?"

Hazel thought for a moment before answering. "I'd try Reyna and see is she knows. She and Nico seem a lot closer than before." Hazel then turned to leave, but she paused at the doorway. "Hey Percy?"

"Yeah?"

"If you find him and talk to him...could you let him know that I'm looking for him?"

"Sure." the son of Poseidon nodded before leaving on his quest to find Nico Di Angelo.

Author's notes: So I've finally finished The Lightning Thief! Whoo hoo! :D So next up will be the Sea of Monsters since (as someone pointed out in the reviews) It will make their reactions more believable and legit.

The next book will be posted as a new fanfiction titled 'Truth Builds Trust'. So be sure to look for it or you can just check my account and scroll down to the bottom of the page (warning: I have a very long profile) or you can search for it (which might be easier).

It'll be up tonight hopefully. If not it'll be up this weekend definitely. :D