CHAPTER FIVE
( an opportunity has risen )

NOTHING WAS NORMAL after that. In classic camp nature, Percy moved out of the Hermes cabin and into the abandoned Cabin Three. Annabeth still taught him Ancient Greek, and every day after the lessons she came to me with the same objective in mind; getting the planned quest. She spent the majority of our free time together trying to find a way to convince Chiron to let us go on the quest. This led me to involuntarily avoid Percy, but my mind was pretty much preoccupied with major things rather than to worry about waving in his direction. I couldn't help but grow bitter at this; it took me a whole week to be claimed by my own father and he just swoops in and gets claimed in a matter of days. Besides being a forbidden child of the Big Three, what was so special about him?

It was another ordinary day in camp, well, other than the obvious gloomy weather above us. The sky was painted in a murky gray and its clouds were darker than normal, filled with water, and a foggy blanket of rain was coming in our direction. I knew that camp didn't allow rain unless we wanted to, but the odd weather gave me a bad feeling.

I was too distracted in the sky to notice that my half-siblings had stopped their volleyball game, so I turned around due to the lack of noise and found them all staring up at the clouds. Will, who was still new to the way this world worked, seemed the most worried at the peculiar weather. Everyone else froze in their respective positions, even the satyrs on the opposite side of the net, leaving the old volleyball on the sand covered floor of the court.

"That's not good, right?" Michael stated the obvious.

"No, it isn't," Molly answered without taking her eyes away from the clouds.

"Come on, guys," Lee clapped his hands together. "Let's not let the weather distract us."

I heard footsteps due to the sound of the leaves crunching under the shoes, making my head turn toward the source of the sound. From my spot at the edge of the court, I saw one of the many Demeter kids in camp, Adeline, approach us with a sense of urgency behind their footsteps.

"Maia," Adeline said and used a finger to point behind their shoulder. "Chiron wants to see you."

A knot tightened in my stomach in anticipation. I wished he was calling me in for the reason I hoped, but I was also preparing myself for disappointment once again. I thanked Adeline and they walked the same direction they had arrived, leaving the volleyball court. I told Lee about this and he let me go with no argument or questions of any kind, probably noticing the stress written all over my face.

     I made my way to the Big House and played with my bracelets as a way to get rid of my nerves. When I reached the front porch, I saw Mr. D sat at the pinochle table in his tiger-striped Hawaiian shirt with his Diet Coke. Chiron sat across the table in his fake wheelchair. They were playing against invisible opponents – two sets of cards hovering in the air. Annabeth was there too, her invisibility cap in her hands. She seemed excited about something since I could see the glint behind her eyes.

     I cleared my throat to catch their attention. "You wanted to see me, Chiron?"

     "Ah, of course, my dear Maia," Chiron removed his attention from the cards. Mr. D huffed an annoyed breath but didn't even make the effort to address me. "I wanted to discuss something with you."

     This couldn't be good. I swallowed before speaking, "Yes?"

     "You and Annabeth have asked to be a part of a quest ever since you got here, if I remember correctly?"

     I nodded slowly and faced Annabeth, who was grinning from her spot. She seemed so close to cracking and telling the news herself.

"And it has come to my understanding that you wanted to help in this one, right?"

     "Oh, quit the dramatics!" Mr. D. slapped his cards into the table, his patience ran out. "You've been granted a quest, Maria! There, happy?"

     My feet froze in place and I'm pretty sure my jaw had hit the floor. I didn't even care about correcting him about my name. Chiron glared at Mr. D with an exasperated look.

     "You mean it?"

     "Maia, isn't this exciting? It's what we've always wanted!" Annabeth squealed.

     I wanted to jump up and down holding her hands so badly – I really did –  but now I wasn't so sure to celebrate. I've been waiting for this moment for a while, and now that it was happening, I didn't know how to react. My mind couldn't help but summon thoughts like 'what if you fail?' and 'if you fail, you'll never make your dad proud'.

     "Are you sure Percy is ready, Chiron?" I questioned first. "I mean, he's been here for, what, a week?"

     "There is no time to waste, my dear. And his presence on this quest is necessary."

I didn't say anything after that. Chiron mistook my silence for doubt. "Are you questioning your place on this quest, dear one?"

"No, absolutely not."

"Good." He lifted his head high. "If everything goes well and he accepts the quest, both of you will accompany him."

Annabeth found my gaze and she smiled so wide it was a rare sight to see. I couldn't help but smile back. Chiron's eyes trailed off into the fields surrounding the Big House. If I squinted my eyes, I could see two figures walking down the path in this direction. Chiron must've recognized who they were, since his face turned stoic and he grabbed his cards once again.

"That must be Percy and Grover," he said. She turned to Annabeth and I. "Stay here, but quietly, please."

Annabeth saw no problem with this and placed her Yankees cap over her head, the air shimmering before she was no longer there. I skimmed the the porch for a place to hide and after a few minutes I found the perfect spot. From this place, I could see the front porch perfectly, Mr. D giving his back to me from his spot on the table.

Percy and Grover approached the front porch a few minutes later, one looking more confused about the strange weather than the other. I feel like I shouldn't even have to specify who I'm talking about.

"Well, well," Mr D said without looking up. "Our little celebrity."

"Come closer," Mr D said. "And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father."

A streak of lightning flashed across the clouds. Thunder made all the windows in the house shake.

"Blah, blah, blah," he muttered.

Chiron feigned interest in his pinochle cards. Grover cowered by the railing, his hooves clopping back and forth.

"If I had my way," Mr. D kept talking, "I would cause your molecules to erupt in flames. We'd sweep up the ashes and be done with a lot of trouble. But Chiron seems to feel this would be against my mission at this cursed camp: to keep you little brats safe from harm."

"Spontaneous combustion is a form of harm, Mr D," Chiron added in.

"Nonsense," Mr. D shrugged. "Boy wouldn't feel a thing. Nevertheless, I've agreed to restrain myself. I'm thinking of turning you into a dolphin instead, sending you back to your father."

"Mr D – " Chiron warned.

"Oh, all right," he relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness."

Mr. D rose, and the invisible players' cards dropped to the table. "I'm off to Olympus for the emergency meeting. If the boy is still here when I get back, I'll turn him into an Atlantic bottlenose. Do you understand? And Perseus Jackson, if you're at all smart, you'll see that's a much more sensible choice than what Chiron feels you must do."

He picked up a playing card, twisted it, and it became a plastic rectangle. Some sort of security pass. He snapped his fingers and the air seemed to fold and bend around him. He became a holograph, then a wind, then he was gone, leaving only the smell of fresh-pressed grapes lingering behind.

Chiron smiled, but looked tired and strained. "Sit, Percy, please. And Grover."

Chiron laid his cards on the table. "Tell me, Percy," he said. "What did you make of the hellhound?"

"It scared me," he responded after a while. "If you hadn't shot it, I'd be dead."

"You'll meet worse, Percy. Far worse, before you're done."

"Done. . .with what?"

"Your quest, of course. Will you accept it?"

I could faintly hear Annabeth's breath hitch underneath her invisible cap. Grover was crossing his fingers from his own spot.

"Um, sir," Percy awkwardly said, "you haven't told me what it is yet."

Chiron grimaced. "Well, that's the hard part, the details."

Thunder rumbled across the valley. The storm clouds had now reached the edge of the beach. From my position, the sky and the sea were melting in together.

"Poseidon and Zeus," Percy said. "They're fighting over something valuable. . .something that was stolen, aren't they?"

Chiron and Grover exchanged looks. Chiron sat forward in his wheelchair. "How did you know that?"

"The weather since Christmas has been weird, like the sea and the sky are fighting. Then I talked to Annabeth, and she'd overheard something about a theft. And. . .I've also been having these dreams."

"I knew it," Grover said.

"Hush, satyr," Chiron ordered.

"But it is his quest!" Grover's eyes were bright with excitement. "It must be!"

"Only the Oracle can determine." Chiron stroked his beard. "Nevertheless, Percy, you are correct. Your father and Zeus are having their worst quarrel in centuries. They are fighting over something valuable that was stolen. To be precise: a lightning bolt."

Percy laughed nervously. "A what?"

"Do not take this lightly," Chiron warned. "I'm not talking about some tin foil covered zigzag you'd see in a second-grade play. I'm talking about a two-foot long cylinder of high-grade celestial bronze, capped on both ends with god-level explosives."

"Oh."

"Zeus's master bolt," Chiron began, getting worked up now. "The symbol of his power, from which all other lightning bolts are patterned. The first weapon made by the Cyclopes for the war against the Titans, the bolt that sheered the top off Mount Etna and hurled Kronos from his throne; the master bolt, which packs enough power to make mortal hydrogen bombs look like firecrackers."

"And it's missing?"

"Stolen."

"By who?"

"By whom," Chiron corrected. "By you."

I couldn't see from this angle but I was sure his mouth fell open.

"At least – " Chiron held up a hand – "that's what Zeus thinks. During the winter solstice, at the last council of the gods, Zeus and Poseidon had an argument. The usual nonsense: 'Mother Rhea always liked you best,' 'Air disasters are more spectacular than sea disasters,' et cetera. Afterwards, Zeus realized his master bolt was missing, taken from the throne room under his very nose. He immediately blamed Poseidon. Now a god cannot usurp another god's symbol of power directly – that is forbidden by the most ancient of divine laws. But Zeus believes your father convinced a human hero to take it."

"But I didn't – "

"Patience and listen, child," Chiron said. "Zeus has good reason to be suspicious. The forges of the Cyclopes are under the ocean, which gives Poseidon some influence over the makers of his brother's lightning. Zeus believes Poseidon has taken the master bolt, and is now secretly having the Cyclopes build an arsenal of illegal copies, which might be used to topple Zeus from his throne. The only thing Zeus wasn't sure about was which hero Poseidon used to steal the bolt. Now Poseidon has openly claimed you as his son. You were in New York over the winter holidays. You could easily have snuck into Olympus. Zeus believes he has found his thief."

"But I've never even been to Olympus! Zeus is crazy!"

Chiron and Grover glanced nervously at the sky right after the words left Percy's mouth. The clouds didn't seem to be parting around us. They were rolling straight over the valley, sealing us in like a closing coffin lid.

"Er, Percy. . .?" Grover nervously said. "We don't use the c-word to describe the Lord of the Sky."

"Perhaps paranoid," Chiron suggested. "Then again, Poseidon has tried to unseat Zeus before. I believe that was question thirty-eight on your final exam. . ."

He trailed off as he truly wanted Percy to remember that.

"Something about a golden net?" he finally guessed. "Poseidon and Hera and a few other gods. . .they, like, trapped Zeus and wouldn't let him out until he promised to be a better ruler, right?"

"Correct," Chiron seemed pleased that he remembered. "And Zeus has never trusted Poseidon since. Of course, Poseidon denies stealing the master bolt. He took great offense at the accusation. The two have been arguing back and forth for months, threatening war. And now, you've come along – the proverbial last straw."

"But I'm just a kid!"

"Percy," Grover cut in, "if you were Zeus, and you already thought your brother was plotting to overthrow you, then your brother suddenly admitted he had broken the sacred oath he took after World War II, that he's fathered a new mortal hero who might be used as a weapon against you... Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?"

"But I didn't do anything. Poseidon – my dad – he didn't really have this master bolt stolen, did he?"

Chiron sighed. "Most thinking observers would agree that thievery is not Poseidon's style. But the sea god is too proud to try convincing Zeus of that. Zeus has demanded that Poseidon return the bolt by the summer solstice. That's June twenty-first, ten days from now. Poseidon wants an apology for being called a thief by the same date. I hoped that diplomacy might prevail, that Hera or Demeter or Hestia would make the two brothers see sense. But your arrival has inflamed Zeus's temper. Now neither god will back down. Unless someone intervenes, unless the master bolt is found and returned to Zeus before the solstice, there will be war. And do you know what a full-fledged war would look like, Percy?"

"Bad?" Percy guessed.

"Imagine the world in chaos. Nature at war with itself. Olympians forced to choose sides between Zeus and Poseidon. Destruction. Carnage. Millions dead. Western civilization turned into a battleground so big it will make the Trojan War look like a water-balloon fight."

"Bad."

"And you, Percy Jackson, would be the first to feel Zeus's wrath."

It started to rain. My siblings stopped their game and stared up at the pouring sky in surprise. For the first time in a while, it was raining in Half-Blood Hill. And it was all Percy's fault.

"So I have to find the stupid bolt," Percy concluded. "And return it to Zeus."

"What better peace offering," Chiron said, "than to have the son of Poseidon return Zeus's property?"

"If Poseidon doesn't have it, where is the thing?"

"I believe I know." Chiron's expression was grim. "Part of a prophecy I had years ago. . .Well, some of the lines make sense to me, now. But before I can say more, you must officially take up the quest. You must seek the counsel of the Oracle."

"Why can't you tell me where the bolt is beforehand?"

"Because if I did, you would be too afraid to accept the challenge."

"Good reason."

"You agree then?"

Grover nodded encouragingly when he met Percy's eye.

"All right," Percy decided. "It's better than being turned into a dolphin."

"Then it's time you consulted the Oracle," Chiron said. "Go upstairs, Percy Jackson, to the attic. When you come back down, assuming you're still sane, we will talk more."

Ah, yes. The Oracle. It contained the spirit of Delphi and the one who recited the prophecies of my father, Apollo. It was mostly known as a mummy that resided in the attic of the Big House, sat on a stool with the rest of old trophies and artifacts recovered from past quests. I've been told that it's dressed in a 70's-like style from head to toe. Since I've never been granted a quest of my own, I have never seen it with my own eyes.

After a while stuck in my own thoughts, Percy came back from the attic pale as a sheet. I expected no less, since I admit it would be quite creepy to have a mummy recite five twisted sentences that spoke of your future before returning back to normal. Despite that, he made it back to where Chiron and Grover were waiting for him.

"Well?" Chiron asked him.

Percy slumped into a chair at the pinochle table. "She said I would retrieve what was stolen."

Grover sat forward, chewing excitedly on the remains of a Diet Coke can. "That's great!"

"What did the Oracle say exactly?" Chiron pressed. "This is important."

"She. . .she said I would go west and face a god who had turned. I would retrieve what was stolen and see it safely returned."

"I knew it."

Chiron didn't look satisfied. "Anything else?"

"No," he said. "That's about it."

He studied his face. "Very well, Percy. But know this: the Oracle's words often have double meanings. Don't dwell on them too much. The truth is not always clear until events come to pass."

"Okay," Percy said, anxious to change topics. "So where do I go? Who's this god in the west?"

"Ah, think, Percy," Chiron said. "If Zeus and Poseidon weaken each other in a war, who stands to gain?"

"Somebody else who wants to take over?" the black haired boy guessed.

"Yes, quite. Someone who harbors a grudge, who has been unhappy with his lot since the world was divided eons ago, whose kingdom would grow powerful with the deaths of millions. Someone who hates his brothers for forcing him into an oath to have no more children, an oath that both of them have now broken."

"Hades."

Chiron nodded. "The Lord of the Dead is the only possibility."

A scrap of aluminum dribbled out of Grover's mouth. 'Whoa, wait. Wh- what?'

"A Fury came after Percy," Chiron reminded him. "She watched the young man until she was sure of his identity, then tried to kill him. Furies obey only one lord: Hades."

"Yes, but – but Hades hates all heroes," Grover protested. "Especially if he has found out Percy is a son of Poseidon. . ."

"A hellhound got into the forest," Chiron continued. "Those can only be summoned from the Fields of Punishment, and it had to be summoned by someone within the camp. Hades must have a spy here. He must suspect Poseidon will try to use Percy to clear his name. Hades would very much like to kill this young half-blood before he can take on the quest."

"Great," Percy muttered. "That's two major gods who want to kill me."

"But a quest to. . ." Grover swallowed. "I mean, couldn't the master bolt be in some place like Maine? Maine's very nice this time of year."

"Hades sent a minion to steal the master bolt," Chiron insisted. "He hid it in the Underworld, knowing full well that Zeus would blame Poseidon. I don't pretend to understand the Lord of the Dead's motives perfectly, or why he chose this time to start a war, but one thing is certain. Percy must go to the Underworld, find the master bolt, and reveal the truth."

Grover was trembling. He'd started eating pinochle cards like potato crisps. The poor guy needed to complete a quest with me so he could get his searcher's licence, whatever that was, but how could I ask him to do this quest, especially when the Oracle said I was destined to fail? This was suicide.

"Look, if we know it's Hades," he told Chiron, "why can't we just tell the other gods? Zeus or Poseidon could go down to the Underworld and bust some heads."

"Suspecting and knowing are not the same," Chiron said. "Besides, even if the other gods suspect Hades – and I imagine Poseidon does – they couldn't retrieve the bolt themselves. Gods cannot cross each other's territories except by invitation. That is another ancient rule. Heroes, on the other hand, have certain privileges. They can go anywhere, challenge anyone, as long as they're bold enough and strong enough to do it. No god can be held responsible for a hero's actions. Why do you think the gods always operate through humans?"

"You're saying I'm being used."

"I'm saying it's no accident Poseidon has claimed you now. It's a very risky gamble, but he's in a desperate situation. He needs you."

He looked at Chiron. "You've known I was Poseidon's son all along, haven't you?"

"I had my suspicions. As I said. . .I've spoken to the Oracle, too."

"So let me get this straight," Percy said. "I'm supposed to go to the Underworld and confront the Lord of the Dead."

"Check," Chiron marked.

"Find the most powerful weapon in the universe."

"Check."

"And get it back to Olympus before the summer solstice, in ten days."

"That's about right."

He looked at Grover, who gulped down the ace of hearts. "Did I mention that Maine is very nice this time of year?" he asked weakly.

"You don't have to go," he told him. "I can't ask that of you."

"Oh. . ." He shifted his hooves. "No... it's just that satyrs and underground places. . .well. . ."

He took a deep breath, then stood, brushing the shredded cards and aluminum bits off his T-shirt. "You saved my life, Percy. If... if you're serious about wanting me along, I won't let you down."

"All the way, G-man." he turned to Chiron. "So where do we go? The Oracle just said to go west."

I stared down at my shoes at his words trying to hide my disappointment. I didn't even need to see Annabeth to know that she was staring at the side of my head with a conflicted look. If Percy took Grover with him, that meant only one of us had a chance of taking the quest. And I knew who the reasonable choice might be.

"The entrance to the Underworld is always in the west. It moves from age to age, just like Olympus. Right now, of course, it's in America."

"Where?"

Chiron looked surprised. "I thought that would be obvious enough. The entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles."

My jaw tensed at the mention of Los Angeles.

"Oh," he said. "Naturally. So we just get on a plane –"

"No!" Grover shrieked. "Percy, what are you thinking? Have you ever been on a plane in your life?"

He shook his head, feeling embarrassed.

"Percy, think," Chiron said. "You are the son of the Sea God. Your father's bitterest rival is Zeus, Lord of the Sky. Your mother knew better than to trust you in an airplane. You would be in Zeus's domain. You would never come down again alive."

"Okay," he said, determined not to look at the storm. "So, I'll travel overland."

"That's right," Chiron affirmed. "Two companions may accompany you. Grover is one. The other has already volunteered, if you will accept her help."

"Gee," he said, feigning surprise. "Who else would be stupid enough to volunteer for a quest like this?"

The air shimmered behind Chiron. Annabeth became visible, stuffing her Yankees cap into her back pocket and I walked out of my hiding spot.

"I've been waiting a long time for a quest, Seaweed Brain," she said. "Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you're going to save the world, I'm the best person to keep you from messing up."

"If you do say so yourself," he said.

"I suppose you're coming too, Arrow Girl?"

"Someone has to make sure we don't die," I couldn't help but feel my face grow hot at the nickname. "But Arrow Girl? Really, Kelp Head?"

"That's all I came up with."

"A group of four," He turned around to face Chiron. "That'll work, right?"

He looked quite hesitant by the decision. I was ready to be the one to be dropped from the quest, and I felt Annabeth's hand slip onto mine for reassurance.

"I'm not sure," Chiron responded. "More than two companions would be considered bad luck against the ancient rules, and you are unlucky as it is already."

"I'll need all the help I can get, Chiron."

As much as I was thankful that he wanted me included in the quest, I couldn't help but find it odd. Why did he stand firm on his decision of bringing me along if he didn't know me that well? I tried not to overthink it and be grateful that he did, but the thought never quite left my mind.

"Excellent," Chiron accepted in the end. "This afternoon, we can take you as far as the bus terminal in Manhattan. After that, you are on your own."

Lightning flashed. Rain poured down on the meadows that were never supposed to have violent weather.

"No time to waste," Chiron said. "I think you should all get packing."