Bella Jackson Daughter of Posideon

Returning the Bolt

The group appeared at the bottom of the Empire State building. 

"I thought we were trying to get to Olympus?!" Percy shouted 

"There!" Sally called and ran for the entrance into the building and saw a security guard guarding an elevator

"We need to get to the 600th floor." Sally said 

Percy realized that is where Chiron had told them

"No such thing, lady." The man said in a bored, "whatever", tone 

Bella pulled out a dagger and put it to his throat catching his attention. 

"I have spent the last month going through hell because the big guy upstairs has been calling me a thief plus having  to steal back an item that I never stole in the first place. I have had to save my mother from the literal Underworld while also slaying many a monster along the way. I am now extremely exhausted so my temper and patience have been sent straight to Hades. For the your safety I suggest you get us to the 600th floor." Bella said as calmly as possible worrying everyone 

Right then of course, it sounded like an explosion went off outside the door leading to the roof of the Empire state building. Bella gave Percy the bag with the lightning bolt in it. 

"Mom, stay inside. Percy, you need to get to Olympus. We'll hold the thief off. Go. Go now!" Bella said 

 Bella, Luke, and Clarisse ran outside. A boy using a pair of flying shoes began flying towards them with a few stymphalian birds. 

"Ethan?!" Luke called

"You traitor. You were offered a chance to be at his side. You know how the gods are. They will never change, but you put a girl before all of that?!" Ethan demanded 

"The Crooked One is tricking you, Ethan. We don't have to do this." Luke tried 

"He promised a new order, Luke. No more absent parents. No more demigods begging for something that they'll never have. No more mere tools of the gods. Luke, just think about it. You hate Hermes as much as I do. When Kronos came to you, you had to have seen it was the only way to even up things for the demigods." Ethan said as he pleaded with Luke 

"I hate Hermes that much is true, but a war of the gods is only going to kill more demigods, Ethan. Please realize this is huge mistake and come back home." Luke said 

"The Gods don't need to know about this, Ethan. The Gods already accused my brother and I so I doubt they care about clearing our names. He had his bolt and we can go back to camp with no worries." Bella said 

 "No! You act like they will ever change-" Ethan said hysterically 

"I know they won't change, Ethan, but you are acting like He will be any better. He is tricking you, Ethan. If he really wanted to help you then he would have done a lot differently than breaking your will first because that is what he did. He brainwashed you into going against your own morals to fit his agenda. The nightmares became slowly worse didn't they. Now you believe he is right, but you are willing to put your family's lives on the line for that belief. Ethan, He ate his own children, his own flesh and blood. Tell me what makes you think He won't do worse to you. What makes him any different than the Gods on Olympus?" Bella asked as Luke looked at the tennis match between the two as Bella tried to desperately talk some sense into the boy 

Ethan seemed to struggle for a minute before he went into a trance and ordered the birds to attack. Luke charged at Ethan while Clarisse and Bella took care of the Stymphian birds.  

Clarisse threw her spear and killed two birds at once. When each bird was killed they left plenty of bronze beaks and metallic feathers. Bella warned Clarisse to pick up the trophies because she had plans for them. They then watched Ethan and Luke fight. Luke was winning until Ethan got an energy boost from nowhere and sliced through the second pair of flight shoes Luke had before shoving his sword handle into his stomach.