୨⎯ GOOD GRACES ⎯ ୧ ☾P.J☽

39. Great Prophecy? Whats that?

"I KNOW YOU MENTIONED KRONOS WAS THE KING OF THE TITANS," Tyson spoke, "but who are the Titans again?"

"They ruled in the time before Olympus." Autumn informed, looking down at the card.

"Kronos was the father of Zeus." Percy continued, busy packing his bags.

"Was?"

"Kronos didn't trust his kids, so he ate them. Zeus got him to barf 'em back up, chopped his dad into pieces with his own scythe, So now, Kronos wants revenge."

"But he's in pieces." Tyson protested as Percy whipped out a map he was finding, walking towards Autumn.

"Where do you think Luke would be?" Percy asked, looking at the girl.

"What?" Autumn asked, snatching the map as she looked at it.

"We can get the drop on him, take him down, end the war tonight."

"Take him down?"

"He still doesn't know we're here. We have the advantage."

"What do you mean by take him down?" Autumn asked, standing up from the bed, the card tucked into the back pocket.

"Autumn, we're outnumbered on a boat filled with monsters. We have to strike while we can--"

"Boon."

Percy froze, as Autumn gazed up at him. He licked his lips, wiping the corner of his lips as if he was thinking, "Okay," he shrugged, turning his back towards Autumn as he walked towards the window and the curtains, "I see your point. Now this could be a problem."

"Giving in to revenge?" Autumn asked.

"No, the codeword thing. You could just say 'boon' to win any argument ever," Percy spoke, turning towards Autumn as he walked towards her, "even if you're wrong."

Autumn's eyes squinted, "I'm wrong?" Autumn scoffed, looking at the boy, "Look around, we are in a ship with monsters, even if we attack him now, it's no use, it's like watching a sheep defend itself against some wolves."

"Look, I'll tell you the same thing I told Hermes," Percy shook his head, his brows furrowing, "I don't think Luke can be saved."

"Did I ask?" Autumn shifted, crossing her arms, "Luke has a good reason to hate the gods. Kronos used that to manipulate him. I may not like Luke but I want him to get away from Kronos. For Annabeth's sake, I want him to get away from this ship."

Percy sighed, exhaling a breath he didn't even know he was holding, "So, capture, instead of kill," He suggested, "I can work with that. As long as we steer clear of "boon."" He said, picking up the map as he handed it to her.

"We need a new codeword." Autumn spoke.

"I like 'boon.'" Tyson spoke as the two looked at him.

"Thank you." Percy smiled. Autumn looked down at the map in her hands.

"Here. The Admiralty Suite. Luke's all about glory. He'd take the biggest room for himself." Autumn said, pointing towards the bottom edge of the cruise.

"There's still a lot of monsters," Tyson spoke, looking at the two, feeling a bit left out, "How do we get him off the ship without being seen?"

Percy looked up at him, "I got an idea." He nodded.

And here they were, Percy and the two others went towards the bottom half of the ship, Percy pushing a trolley. Tyson groaned.

"Monsters?" Autumn asked.

"Worse." Tyson sighed.

"What could be worse--" Percy cut himself off, holding his face in annoyance as if someone had just whispered in his ear.

"Percy?" Autumn asked, looking up at him.

"I'm fine," Percy reassured Autumn, a small smile approaching his face.

"What's the plan?" Autumn asked.

"Kick down the door. 'Hi, Luke.'"

"That's your plan?"

"Yeah, or maybe, 'Bye, Luke.'"

"Percy, you can't take him a fight."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Percy remarked sarcastically, they heard a ding from the elevator and noticed a trolley behind them, to which, they slid themselves inside of a room, where Alison was walking down the hallway, with two Laistrygonians or whatever their name were behind her, drenched in water.

She stormed towards the big room, knocking on the door, "Open up!" She called out.

The door opened, letting her walk in, and closed it behind her.

The three slowly got out of the small storage room, as Percy turned to Tyson, "Can you listen in?" He asked.

Tyson nodded, his eye closing as he exhaled softly, then began speaking in Alison's voice, "They boarded near the stern. They've a pet cyclops with them."

"That's not a pet," Tyson continued, this time in Luke's voice, "Poseidon claimed him. He's Percy's brother."

"Well, he's right outside the door." Alison continued, and the two pairs of eyes turned to Tyson.

The door opened, with Alison and few other camps, as Percy and Autumn got ready to fight. Alison took out her arrow and bow, pointing them towards Percy and Autumn as Laistrygonians pulled up behind them.

"They're not gonna fight," Luke spoke up, his hands in his pockets of his jeans as he walked out of his room behind them, dressed up as a middle aged libertarian, "They're smarter than that." Luke finished. Gently pushing Alison's arrow down.

Percy stared at him. Unexpectedly, they were invited into Luke's room, "Little over than Cabin Eleven? Huh?" Luke asked, leading the two in.

"Percy?" Tyson called out, As Autumn and Percy turned to see Tyson, held by the Laistrygonians.

"Relax. He'll be safe here." Luke reassured Percy.

"Tyson!" Percy called out as Tyson was being dragged away.

"They won't hurt you." Percy reassured Tyson, looking back at him.

Luke just placed his arms behind his back, loooing at the two, then looked towards Autumn, his little sister's 'best friend.'

"How'd you learn about this ship?" He asked, looking at Autumn.

"Your dad told me," Percy interrupted, looking at Luke, "Apparently, he still thinks there's hope for you.... I disagree."

"Well good," Luke shrugged, "Hermes should lose hope. His time is over."

"If Hermes knows where you are, then so does the rest of the Olympus. Surrender now, to us, and maybe Zeus spares your life."

"Zeus doesn't do Mercy. Look at how he spared his own daughter," Luke shrugged, his gaze averting to his side before he turned to look at Percy, "Besides, shouldn't Poseidon be the god I worry about?" He asked.

"Or, Poseidon hasn't shown up because he's already too busy fighting," Luke suggested, walking towards a statue, "The Great Awakening has already begun. The Titans are returning because Kronos is returning. Every half-blood that joins us makes him stronger. His essence will rise from Tartarus to gather here. Piece by piece."

"That's why you need the Golden Fleece. To speed up his healing." Autumn spoke, looking at the boy.

"We'll forge a new body for him."

"So, that's why you poisoned Thalia's tree. To force a quest for the Fleece. That's why you destroyed all that's left of your oldest friend."

"You didn't know her!" Luke snapped, looking at the brunette, "Thalia and I were on the run together for two years. Annabeth was with us for two months. She was just a kid. Thalia hated Zeus. If she knew about the Great Prophecy, if she knew she had a chance to tear down Olympus, she would've never given up her life. That tree is her curse. She'd be glad to see it fall."

"Did he say, 'Great Prophecy'?" Percy asked, breaking the silence as Autumn crossed her arms.