Agent Jackson

Chapter 7

It was a week after Percy became friends with Luke again when he was called to the Big House.

When he got there, he found Grover, Dionysus, and Chiron sitting on the wraparound porch. Percy stiffly approached them. He still didn't trust them after the lies.

He knew all about the quest. Hermes had been visiting him in his dreams and mentoring him. He had explained different monsters he might encounter, as well as details on the quest. He taught him what he could about fighting with the few weapons that Percy was unfamiliar with and how to incorporate his gymnastic skills into his fighting.

Percy had a chat with Dionysus and Chiron about the quest and acted confused, as he had been instructed to by Hermes. He couldn't reveal his hand just yet.

After he accepted the quest, he went up to see the oracle and received a prophecy.

You shall go west and face the god that has turned,

You shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned,

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

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

Percy hated that prophecy. It messed with his head, making him feel that everyone he knew was untrustworthy. He invited Grover and Luke to come along with him, and they both agreed. He would have rather had Clarisse than Grover, but Hermes said Grover needed the quest to not get fired, so Percy took pity on him.

Chiron thought it was Hades who had the bolt, but Percy wasn't so sure. Hermes had said that the two eldest gods were on fairly good terms and if Hades wanted to overthrow his youngest brother, he could do so easily. There would be no need for him to resort to petty theft.

So, when they left, Percy being newly armed with Riptide and Grover with a pair of winged shoes from Annabeth, he told them of his suspicions.

"What do you mean it wasn't Hades?" Grover asked with a furrowed brow.

Percy explained all of his reasons and the two hesitantly accepted that perhaps Percy was right. Perhaps he didn't steal the bolt.

"So, then, what's the plan?" Luke asked.

Percy shrugged. "We go west, I suppose."

So, they did. They boarded the bus and went west.

A few hours into their bus ride, three middle-aged ladies boarded the bus and sat across from Percy and his companions. "Perseus Jackson," the one in the middle said with narrowed eyes.

Percy bowed his head respectfully. "Lady Tisiphone. Lady Alecto. Lady Megaera. To what do we owe this pleasure?"

Tisiphone smiled sharply. "You are just as the rumors say, Perseus."

Percy's eyes narrowed. "What rumors?" he asked.

"The ones we hear from the dead, of course," Megaera said with an eerie smile. "Many in Punishment wish to see you dead." She spoke as if this was excellent news.

It was.

It meant that the people Percy did end up killing really deserved it.

Percy smirked. "They deserved what they got."

The furies nodded in agreement. "Lord Hades wishes to see you and your companions before the Summer Solstice," Alecto said. "He promises safe passage into his realm for you and your companions."

Percy smiled at them. "Thank you for delivering your message. If I may, would you be willing to deliver one to my friend?"

"We will do this," Megaera agreed.