Sinners (PJO/HoO)(Lukercy/Perluke)

I. Part Eight ~Δ

Percy Jackson / Omega Epsilon 's POV

It had been a few days since the hellhound incident. The campers were careful not to say anything straight to me, but I knew that they were talking about it; I caught several people staring at me and whispering behind their hands numerous times.

Chiron had moved me into the Poseidon cabin. While it was nice to have my own space for a while, I missed the comfort cabin eleven had ─ not to mention I rarely saw Luke now, the person I missed most of all.

I awoke one day to knocking on the door.

"Come in!" I called, sitting up.

Grover trotted inside, looking worried. "Mr. D wants to see you," he said.

I nodded, getting dressed in typical mortal clothes, and followed him to the Big House, where Dionysus and Chiron sat playing pinochle on the front porch.

"Well, well," Dionysus said without looking up. "Our little celebrity... Come closer. And don't expect me to kowtow to you, mortal, just because old Barnacle-Beard is your father."

Lightning flashed and thunder boomed in warning.

I sighed. "Dionysus, as much as I find your commentary amusing, may we move on? I would much rather just get my quest and go, as we are on a bit of a time crunch, and I know you have a meeting you need to be getting to," I said.

The god of wine eyed me warily, before standing and disappearing, off to Mount Olympus.

"Sit, Percy, please. And Grover," Chiron added, looking tired. He laid his cards on the table, a winning hand he hadn't gotten to use. "Tell me, Percy. What did you make of the hellhound?"

I stared at him blankly. "I didn't think anything of him, not really," I admitted. "I didn't have time to think. I just acted on my instincts to protect... everyone," I said, hesitating. I had wanted to say "someone I loved," but I had a feeling it would give away my position.

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

"With my quest, yeah, I understand," I muttered with a huff. "And yes, I will accept it."

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

***

I stood in front of the withered mummy, the one that held the spirit of the Oracle. I watched as she sat up on her stool, green mist pouring from her mouth, coiling over the floor in thick tendrils.

"I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask," the mummy hissed.

"What is my destiny?" I asked immediately, already having a feeling how this would go.

An image of Gabe Ugliano appeared from the swirling mist. Each of them began to talk, taking individual turns.

"You shall go west and face the god who has turned," the image of Gabe rasped.

His buddy on the right looked up and said in the same voice, "You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned."

The guy on the left threw in two poker chips, then said, "You shall find how easy the one who you call love will bend."

Finally, Eddie, our building super, said, "And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end."