Through Annabeth's Mind: Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief (Annabeth's POV)

11) I Volunteer

Today Chiron was going to talk to Percy, and finally explain to him what was happening. I couldn't help but review my plan a thousand times. I had this feeling I had forgotten something and while having breakfast, it had finally clicked. I never told Chiron that I wanted the quest. I mean, accompany Percy on his quest. The one shot I had could be ruined. I was really stupid. What if someone else already volunteered? I rushed towards the big house and stumbled on to the porch of the Big House, "I VOLUNTEER!"

I looked around realizing that I had interrupted a pinochle game between Mr. D and Chiron. Chiron looked at me as if I was crazy, while Mr. D didn't even bother. Though I've got to admit, I did sound like I came straight out of The Hunger Games.

"You volunteer?" Mr. D asked after analyzing what I said.

"I mean I want to go with Percy, on his quest," I replied apprehensively.

Chiron chuckled softly, "I thought we had agreed to that yesterday".

"Oh," I replied, slightly ashamed.

"Well I'm glad you're here Annabeth, but Percy will arrive soon".

"No problem," I said, putting on my Yankees cap.

"I never liked your tricks Annie Bell," he condemned.

"It's Annabeth," I muttered.

I moved away so no one would bump into me and waited, looking over at the strawberry fields. Dionysus 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. Percy and Grover walked up to the front porch of the Big House.

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

Percy didn't reply, or even move.

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

A net of lightning flashed across the clouds. Thunder shook the windows of the house.

"Blah, blah, blah," Dionysus said.

Why was Chiron not saying anything, he couldn't actually be that interested in his pinochle cards. Grover cowered by the railing, his hooves clopping back and forth. I laid my hand on his shoulder to soothe him. At first he jumped, but then he seemed to realize I was there.

"If I had my way," Dionysus said, "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 put in. I nodded, but of course no one could see me.

"Nonsense," Dionysus said. "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," Dionysus relented. "There's one more option. But it's deadly foolishness."

I wanted to say otherwise, to tell him it was the only way, but then I remembered I was invisible.

Dionysus 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."