II-03

1K 61 2
                                    

THEY WALKED TO THE BIG HOUSE. On the way it was like a military camp, the warm winter was long gone, leaving a cold residue behind. Nobody stopped to walk by, they couldn't, they had duties after all. Amani watched as Percy and Annabeth glanced around and he could tell there was a sense of loss and dread in their mind. Tyson, however, was different. None of it seemed to matter to the cyclops, Tyson, Amani wished he had his naivety. Fascination marveled in his eyes as they passed by.  A contrast to  everyone else.

When they got to the Big House, they found Chiron in his apartment, listening to his favorite 1960s lounge music while he packed his saddlebags. As soon as they saw him, Tyson froze. "Pony" he cried in total rapture. Chiron turned, looking offended. " I beg your pardon?"

Annabeth didn't waste a minute. She ran up and hugged him. "Chiron, what’s happening? You’re not … leaving?" Her voice was shaky. Chiron ruffled her hair and gave her a kindly smile. "Hello, child. And Percy, my goodness. You’ve grown over the year!" Amani watched the scene awkwardly. He was unphased as he got over it, but it was awkward seeing them like this.

"Clarisse said you were … you were…"

"Fired." Chiron’s eyes glinted as if he wanted to laugh at the unfortunate events. He saw the distraught in their eyes, "Ah, well, someone had to take the blame. Lord Zeus was most upset. The tree he’d created from the spirit of his daughter, poisoned! Mr D had to punish someone." He explained. "Besides himself, you mean," Percy growled.

"But this is crazy!" Annabeth cried. "Chiron, you couldn’t have had anything to do with poisoning Thalia’s tree!" She shouted. "Nevertheless," Chiron sighed, "some in Olympus do not trust me now, under the circumstances."

"What circumstances?" He asked.

Chiron’s face darkened. He stuffed a Latin–English dictionary into his saddlebag while the Frank Sinatra music oozed from his boom box. Tyson was still staring at Chiron in amazement. He whimpered like he wanted to pat Chiron’s flank but was afraid to come closer. "Pony?" Chiron sniffed. "My dear young Cyclops! I am a centaur."

"Chiron," Percy called. "What about the tree? What happened?" Chiron only shook his head sadly. Amani looked away when Percy turned to look at him, but he was the one who explained. "Some time before you guys arrived Thalia's tree was poisoned." He explained and Chiron added in, "The poison used on Thalia’s pine is something from the Underworld, Percy. Some venom even I have never seen. It must have come from a monster quite deep in the pits of Tartarus." He explained.

"Then we know who’s responsible. Kro–"

"Do not invoke the titan lord’s name, Percy. Especially not here, not now." He ordered. "But last summer he tried to cause a civil war in Olympus! This has to be his idea. He’d get Luke to do it, that traitor." Percy argued, his fists clenched.

"Perhaps," Chiron said. "But I fear I am being held responsible because I did not prevent it and I cannot cure it. The tree has only a few weeks of life left unless…"

"Unless what?" Anabeth asked. "No," Chiron said. "A foolish thought. The whole valley is feeling the shock of the poison. The magical borders are deteriorating. The camp itself is dying. Only one source of magic would be strong enough to reverse the poison, and it was lost centuries ago."

"What is it?" He asked. "We’ll go find it!" Chiron closed his saddlebag. He pressed the STOP button on his boom box. Then he turned and rested his hand on Percy's shoulder, looking him straight in the eyes. "Percy, you must promise me that you will not act rashly. I told your mother I did not want you to come here at all this summer. It’s much too dangerous. But now that you are here, stay here. Train hard. Learn to fight. But do not leave." He ordered. 

𝐃𝐄𝐉𝐀 𝐕𝐔 •  Percy Jackson.Where stories live. Discover now