𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

chapter nineteen. ☄︎. *. ⋆

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IF YOU EVER WANT to know what it's like to be treated like a celebrity, go on a deadly quest that you have a slim chance of returning from, and then return from it. When we got back to camp, Percy and I were given the superstar treatment. According to camp tradition—a tradition I'd never gotten the chance to see in action, since Luke was the last quest a camper had gone on since I arrived at camp (and he obviously wasn't very successful)—we wore big laurel wreaths to a huge feast prepared in our honor, then led a procession down to the campfire where we burned shrouds our cabins had made for us in our absence.

     Mine was beautiful. Will had led our siblings in creating a golden shroud with glittering fabric that looked to be sewn from a sunset. There was a lyre at the top, the symbol of Apollo, and the entire shroud shimmered in the firelight. I was almost sad to burn it. It felt wasteful.

     My cabin led the sing-along by the campfire and passed out the s'mores. Before I could bust out my Broadway-worthy singing skills, I had to admire Grover's new Searcher's License that the Council of Cloven Elders had granted him, for his performance on our quest had been "Brave to the point of indigestion. Horns-and-whiskers above anything we have seen in the past."

     I was so proud of him, I almost tackled him into the fire pit with my hug. 

     Even Mr. D's welcome-home speech wasn't enough to dampen my spirits. "Yes, yes, so the little brats didn't get themselves killed and now they'll have even bigger heads. Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday..."

     Once again, camp felt lively and homey. I had almost a permanent smile on my face. My mornings, I spent sleeping in lazily. I devoted my afternoons to sparring with my friends and even a little bit of developing my Photokinesis skills—which, I'm proud to admit, were actually coming along nicely. Annabeth was mystified when I explained to her that even my father had no idea how I had received them; when I told Percy, he challenged me to a one-on-one battle (which I gladly declined—I figured I needed to build up my skills a little more before I could take him on); and Grover, before he left on his search for Pan, told me he was so proud, he felt like an old mama goat.

He left on the Fourth of July. Percy, Annabeth and I were sprawled across a picnic blanket on the top of Half-Blood Hill when he came to say goodbye.

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

I tried to feel happy for him, but I had grown close to him during our quest, so it was a little bittersweet. You know, it's not everyday that a satyr is granted permission to go on a worldwide hunt for the god of the wild. I was beyond excited for Grover.

"I wish you guys could come with me," he said sadly. "But, you know... humans and Pan..."

"We get it," Annabeth said at the same time that I said, "We will be there when you find Pan, Grover."

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover all looked at me, surprised. I was a little shocked, too. My tone was firm, like I knew what I was talking about. I had no clue why I was so sure, but it felt true, so I assumed it was.

"Anyway," Percy said, and he clapped Grover on the shoulder. "Congrats, G-man. Have fun, stay safe, and don't die."

Grover gave Annabeth and me another hug, then shook hands with Percy. We all waved as he hiked off into the distance. We had no idea where he was going, or if he would be successful, but a tugging in my gut told me he would eventually succeed. Sooner or later, I knew he'd find Pan.

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I returned, I found Luke. He was in the archery range, poking around like he wasn't supposed to be there. He jumped when I cleared my throat.

     "You look suspicious," I told him.

     "Thanks," he said, turning around to face me. "Congrats on your quest, Tiny. You're in the big leagues now."

     I stiffened at the nickname. "You're still stuck on that?"

     He gave me a smile, his scar splitting. "Always will be."

     I rolled my eyes. Luke had been calling me Tiny since I had first come to Camp Half-Blood. Honestly, I have no idea why. I've always been pretty tall. Maybe he's trying to be ironic. Anyway, I find it.. somewhat endearing. At least, I did when I was twelve and had a massive crush on him. Then Annabeth told me she liked him, so I backed off. I've been a little iffy of him—and the nickname—ever since.

     Luke used his right hand to sheathe his sword. "I hear you've taken up a hobby."

"Which one? Baking, or being able to bend light?"

"I meant the second one, but you'll have to divulge me on the first later."

I smiled. "Who knew I could make such a mean angel food cake?" He laughed, and I gave a half-hearted chuckle, then shrugged. "Yeah, I dunno, dude. Everybody's been asking me about it. I can—well, I can't do much with it right now, but I had Annabeth look into it. She said there's tons of things I could use light-bending for."

I pretended to ignore the way Luke tensed when I said Annabeth's name. "Like what?"

"It's.. complicated." I shrugged. "To put it plainly, if I practice enough, my dad thinks I can be.. like, really powerful."

"Powerful enough to take down a god, maybe?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "What do y—?"

Luke's face grew serious, and he came closer to me, his brow furrowed. The scar across his face was wrinkled. "You've fought a god now. Tell me, how was it? How did it feel when you beat him?"

"Um.. I—Perc—It w—" I stammered. The air was tense, and I only grew more on-edge every time Luke spoke. It was like someone else had entirely taken over his body.

"On your quest," Luke said, his voice low, "did you not feel it out there? The darkness gathering, the monsters growing stronger? Didn't you realize how useless it all is? All the heroes—pawns of the gods. They should've been overthrown thousands of years ago, but they've hung on, thanks to us half-bloods."

I shook my head, unable to process quickly enough what he was saying to me. "Wait, you're saying you want to—"

"—overthrow them. Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying."

"Those are our parents, Luke." I stumbled over my words, unable to believe anything Luke was telling me. "You want to take down our parents?"

"Being family is supposed to make me love them? Theo, don't you understand? They don't care for us. They use us as puppets and cast us aside when they're done. The only way to stop them is to burn them to the ground, start over with a more honest god."

I probably should have paid more attention to what he was telling me, but once he said my name, I froze. I couldn't help it. I finally realized whose voice it was that I had heard in my dream so many nights ago—the voice that had held me at sword-point and threatened my life if I didn't join his ranks. It was Luke.

     "You serve Kronos," I whispered. A chill ran down my back. "You.. Luke, what are you doing?"

     "I wish I had more time to explain," he told me, "but I've already taken down Percy, and I expect they'll be onto me soon. You could join me. You're powerful. We could use you. Imagine all the money and authority you could ever ask for. Just come with me, Tiny."

     "Don't call me that." I backed away slowly, reaching back for my dagger. "You're insane, Luke. Serving a Titan because you're mad at your father?"

     "I'm not insane!" he yelled. Both of us faltered as we heard a faint shouting coming from over the hill. Luke cursed. He held out a hand. "They're coming. It's now or never, Theo. Choose."

     "I choose never." I made a mad stab with my knife—he turned at the last second, but I grazed him on the shoulder, leaving a nice-sized gash.

     He shouted in stiff pain, clutching his shoulder. "You'll regret your choice, then. I'll make sure that when you die, it's by my hand!"

     Chiron and Will came over this hill just as Luke made an arc in the air with his sword and disappeared in a ripple of darkness.