(′′′′′′′′ A Few Days Later ′′′′′′′′)
PERCY
I woke up , grateful that my sleep had not been disturbed by unpleasant dreams. While some of my dreams were prophetic, thanks to Apollo's blessing, they usually just showed me fragments of a possible future , according to Apollo and I had no desire to risk my peaceful nightly rest for that. There was also the matter of the dreams being somewhat terrifying. I flexed my right hand , fingers brushing the ring Father had given me as a gift. I knew I'd need it soon. Today was the day we were going to leave Camp Half Blood , and despite having stayed here for only a few weeks I realised I would miss the safety this place offered. I hoped I hadn't gotten sloppy during my time here... The monsters in the outside world definitely wouldn't consider my lack of practice while trying to kill me. I packed two sets of extra clothes into my questing bag, while checking that I already had enough Ambrosia, Nectar , water bottles and protein bars. "Only one half-blood returns withal, to Fate's prize the sky shall fall. "
The ominous words of the prophecy kept echoing in my mind , even though I tried to push them away. Apollo would be disappointed, he always advised me against overthinking prophecies. I suppose the reason for my nervousness was that this was in a way my first Quest, too. Earlier , it had just been some god asking me to do stuff. No Oracle-given prophecy there...
I spun my ring reflexively , turning it into a sword. It was fine. Perfectly balanced , with the grip made specially to fit my hand.
As I walked out of Cabin One, I wondered when I would return here and next see it. Outside the sky was gray, which surprised me. I hadn't heard of anything happening which would put my Father in a bad mood. I didn't see Luke or Thalia anywhere , so I decided to wait for them at Half Blood Hill. Argus was waiting for me there, beside a white "Delphi Strawberry Service" van. As I approached him, however , he shook his head and pointed towards the Big House. "Yeah , I know Chiron isn't here, but I have a quest today - we'll leave soon anyway." He kept on shaking his head while all his hundred eyes pointed towards the Big House. Frustrated , I groaned aloud and walked towards the Big House.
I could hear Thalia shouting something as I approached and wondered what had happened.
"Hey Chiron could you -" I stopped. Apollo and Dionysus were seated beside Chiron and they all looked grim. The wine guy didn't look like the mortal Mr D anymore.
Thalia and Luke were also there , grumbling about something. "Percy, you cannot leave now." Apollo began. "A Titan we had long presumed to be dealt with has escaped his prison and we don't know how." My stomach sunk. A Titan? They were the immortals who had ruled Earth in the Age before the Olympians. I didn't know much about them, but I knew they were all locked in Tartarus, an inescapable prison beneath the Underworld. "But they're in Tartarus - how could someone" Dionysus interrupted me , snickering "Not this one , no... He never went to Tartarus , too crafty for that. " He pointed at Luke and Thalia " They should know. Their mortal parents exist because of him. " Now I knew who it was. The Titan of Forethought. Thalia had caught on too. " Promethe-" Chiron silenced her. " Do not invoke his name. In the War, he had been an ally of the Olympians but since then, he has managed to trick them repeatedly. We were foolish to think he would never resurface. "
I mentally went through all the myths I knew about Prometheus. He was , arguably, the most famous Titan. Even the King of the Titans was lesser known than him. Even so, I could not recall anyone who would've helped him escape. Apollo had told me long ago that he had been recaptured after Herakles freed him because he had made plans to make an army to overthrow the gods.
" Who would want to free him? " I asked.
Apollo smiled ruefully, " Lots of people, actually. He's the best strategist anyone can find. Not to mention that as a Titan he also has power and magic to rival the gods. Anyway, Dad doesn't want you to have anything to do with this. Titans are dangerous. Me , Dionysus and Ares are going to track him down ourselves. " I was stunned. A search party of three Olympians ? Just how dangerous was this Titan? "Well, at least I'm out of this hellhole " , Dionysus muttered. Chiron glanced at him and shook his head softly. " Be careful, my lords. " he said, as the gods both vanished in a flash. Luke burst out " You can't just stop me from going on my Quest , Chiron ! I told you I needed to go on this Quest! " Thalia seemed to have calmed down a bit, but she still looked displeased. Chiron glanced at me and I tried to mediate. " Luke, I know you want to go on this Quest but a Titan on the loose is serious." Seeing him about to retort , Chiron added ," The mortal world is always dangerous for your kind, but with a Titan out there, it's doubly so. They may not interfere directly but they can kill you regardless. " Luke shook his head and I was surprised to see tears come out of his eyes. " I need one of those Apples.. it might be too late by the time this Titan is captured. " Thalia stood up and led him out, talking to him softly. " What did he mean? " I asked Chiron. " Luke's mother has an .. illness. It seems Luke hopes the Apples of Immortality will help her, but I have my doubts. The Fates rarely offer a second chance. "
I didn't tell him I was disappointed too. I had been looking forward to successfully finishing this Quest. I thought of praying to Apollo as left, then remembered he was out searching for Prometheus. I decided to spend the day training. I sparred with Luke once , but he didn't talk much. Later, while sparring , Thalia told me they were discussing sneaking out of Camp. " Argus always watches the Hill, Thalia.. and even if we could, it's too dangerous with a Titan out there and some unknown ally of his. " Thalia glared and sparks flew from her hand. I hastily switched my weapon to a spear as I fought off her attack. "I know it's dangerous, Percy! You know what? Being a demigod child out there for years was dangerous too! I survived then , with Luke's help. I can't abandon him now. If you want to stay here, go ahead . No need to risk yourself for us."
Her grip on her spear loosened and the weapon dropped from her hands.
Shoulders slumped , she walked away , as I uncertainly stared after her wondering what I did to offend her.
I didn't see her at dinner, and no one from Hermes cabin could tell me where Luke was either.
Instead of going back to my Cabin, I sat down near the forest and prayed to Artemis , asking her what to do. I felt her presence in the silver moon above me, but received no response. I lied down on the forest floor, tired.
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Even before I felt an arrow pass through my body but still leave me unharmed, I knew I was dreaming thanks to Apollo's trainings. Then I realised the arrow was golden , and glowing. It belonged to Apollo. Who was he firing at?
I couldn't see clearly through the dense fog surrounding me, but it was clear Apollo's arrow had done no damage whatsoever to his opponent.
Apollo drew another arrow and aimed , but before he could fire it a huge spear handle knocked him down. "Apollo!" I cried out in alarm but I knew he couldn't hear me. He didn't look badly hurt as he immediately got up again and drew his sword this time - but I knew he was at a disadvantageous position, he never liked fighting in close quarters. Then I saw who he was fighting. An eight foot tall guy in classical Greek armour who wielded a spear with the agility of a seamstress spinning a needle. I wondered briefly if this was Prometheus, but that didn't feel right. This guy was a warrior, not a strategist. His spear whirled around and knocked the sword from Apollo's hand. Caught by surprise, the sun god tried to change form but the other immortal held him in place, and called out "Subdue him." His voice was rough, as though he hadn't used it for a long time. "Ares and Dionysus will be here soon, Atlas. Even you cannot stand alone against the might of Olympus." Hearing the name of the General of the Titans, I shuddered. Wasn't Atlas supposed to be under the Sky? Instead of responding , Atlas backhanded Apollo and sent him sprawling down the hillside they were fighting on. I heard Apollo groan in pain as dracaena came out of the darkness and bound him in chains and I watched, unable to help. They dragged the god up the hillside and into a cave. Immediately I sensed this was a powerful and dangerous place, brimming with unrestrained power. I felt claustrophobic, even in the dream.
At the centre of the cave, there was an immense spire of some sort that comprised of air that felt solid, and huge chunks of rock and debris all churning together with sporadic flashes of lightning. It rose above the cave to the Sky itself, and was supported by a man in wearing a tuxedo, who was sweating heavily. He was smaller than Atlas in comparison but way taller than the average human.
"You will take my brother's place", Atlas said from behind me. Apollo tried to struggle but Atlas raised his hand and some invisible force pushed Apollo under the column of rock and air. "Prometheus, y-you we're neutral. Don't do-" Apollo tried to speak but it was clear holding up the pillar was sapping his strength a lot. Brushing off the tuxedo, the other Titan smiled sadly. " The merciful Zeus made me pay for my neutrality in the last war, Apollo. This time, the Olympians stand no chance." He waved his hand towards his face and the sweat dried off, and his hair braided itself into a ponytail. He looked almost handsome, but his face ruined the image. It was scarred horribly, with gashes running up to his eyes. I remembered something about an eagle sent by Lord Zeus as punishment. The dracaena stood guard beside the chained sun god as the two titans left the cave. I felt myself wake just as Apollo looked directly at me - "Be careful, Perce"he whispered, his eyes flashing golden. The dream faded before I could respond.
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I knew as soon as I woke up that something had changed in my surroundings. The camp was still dark and silent, and vague noises came from deep within the forest. Then I realised that I wasn't alone. The clearing I had fallen asleep in was bathed in moonlight and standing at the edge was Artemis. "Mother," I said, getting up and bowing stiffly to her. "Hello, Perseus. I apologise, I tried to visit you earlier but father would not allow me to ignore my duties." I supposed that made sense, but thinking of her duties reminded me of her brother, chained in a cave somewhere. She must've sensed my thoughts because she grimaced too. "I do not have my brother's foresight but I did feel his imprisonment. I assume you wish to free him?" "Of course!" I replied instantly, "but I don't even know where he is and I can't fight two Titans alone." "Follow your prophecy and go West, and you shall find him. You will not be alone, my son. We are forbidden from interfering in mortal affairs but the capture of a god will warrant Olympian retaliation." She took of a bracelet from her arm "For protection, and to call to me for help," Artemis said , tying it on my left hand. "Good luck, Perseus." I heard her voice as she faded away and dawn approached. Yet, something was different this morning. The sky lightened, but there was no sun.
Apollo is imprisoned , I thought in horror. There was no one to drive the sun chariot. The mortals would probably say it was a sudden solar eclipse but I knew better. Unless I freed the sun god, the mortal world would collapse within days due to the absence of the Sun. After taking my already packed back from my Cabin, I prepared to leave on my Quest. Knowing explanations would take too long, I left a note for Chiron outside the Big House and left the Camp's borders. I looked around for Argus and the Camp's van but suddenly a silver sports car appeared in front of me with a key in the door. "Thanks, mother." I told Artemis softly. Well, time to venture westwards, I guess, I thought to myself as I started the car.
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Author's notes : The phenomenal number of reads on this work is unprecedented. I almost got scared myself when I saw them. But, I kept you guys waiting long enough for another chapter so here it is.
I hope you enjoy. I'm not American, so locations might be slightly inaccurate but this is a work of fiction and I have no desire to change the geography of USA.
Also, for both my reference and yours, here's the entire prophecy :
Westward shall you venture forth, at sunset must you prove your worth.
Owl's deception and snow's bite shall pave the path to your final kismet.
falter in your fated pursuance, and doom the world for eons hence.
Gilded prize of the Earth is yours to claim, but uncharted is your final aim.
Only one half-blood returns withal, to Fate's prize the sky shall fall.
(Oracle of Delphi to Luke Castellan , in Twisting threads of an ever changing tapestry )
Chapter title from "Invisible - Otep"
Word count : 2345