His Father's Glory

Chapter 16

We sat in silence for a while as we ate our meals. Times like these make me feel nostalgic. Sitting in a booth, eating burgers. I was working on the last of my fries when I noticed that Percy had barely touched his food.

"Are you okay, Percy?" I asked.

"Cleo," Percy started. "This is great and all but we should really get going. Annabeth is out there somewhere and I have to do something."

"I know you are worried about her and I could never imagine what you are going through right now," I said truthfully. "One of the reasons I brought you to this particular restaurant, is that we are in a time pocket."

"A what?"

"A time pocket," I explained. "A place where time doesn't move like it's supposed to. The Lotus Casino and the Labyrinth are time pockets. Those places make time go faster, but here, time moves slower. We've been here an hour but only a few seconds will have gone by in the outside world."

He was quiet for a moment as he let the information sink in.

"How come no one knows about this place?" Percy asked.

"It's frequented by monsters," I shrugged. "Demigods are bad for business."

"Then how do you know about it?" he challenged.

I smirked. "A magician never reveals his secrets."

"All right, fine," he mumbled. I chuckled slightly but sobered up as the reminder of our situation tickled the back of my mind.

"Percy, whenever you need a break from anything going on, just say the word and I can bring you here."

"Thank you, Cleo," he said truthfully.

"Would you like to head back?"

"We should."

I pulled out my wallet and laid four drachmae on the table to cover our tab and slid out of the booth. After saying goodbye to Melody, we walked out the door. I cracked my neck and looked at Percy.

"Close your eyes," I said. When he did, I took a hold of his shoulder and traveled back to camp after the necessary stop in Tartarus. "You can open them again."

We stood at the boundary of the camp, next to the Golden Fleece. Percy sighed as he walked to Peleus, the dragon guarding the Fleece, and scratched its head. Peleus looked up at Percy and nudged his hand.

"Good boy," Percy mumbled. He looked at me with a distraught look. "Everywhere I go, I see her. I have so many memories with her."

I put my hand on his shoulder to give him support. "We will find her. Don't ever doubt that."

"I just can't get it out of my head that this is what she was feeling when I was gone," he said with a gravelly voice.

"We'll figure it out, Percy," I reassured him.

We walked through camp to the cabins. The camp was bustling with the younger children not having a care in the world while the older campers had a sullen mood about them.  The bliss of childhood, I suppose.

"Percy!" someone called from behind us. We both turned to see Jason walking toward us. "Rachel is back!"

"Who's Rachel?" I asked. 

"She's our Oracle," Percy said. "She's the one who gives us prophecies."

"Are there any outstanding prophecies right now?" Percy shook his head.

"Maybe she has a new one then," I suggested.

Percy sighed. "I don't know whether to hope she does or hope she doesn't."

"Whatever happens, we'll figure it out." I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I will help however I can, Percy."

"Thank you, Cleo," he said with a forced smile. "Come on, let's not keep her waiting."

Percy started to walk with Jason but I lagged behind.

My heart clenched as the guilt began to eat at me. I pushed those feelings aside for now and followed Percy and Jason

We stopped at the Great Hall, a crowd swarming a frizzled mass of red hair.

"Rachel!" Percy called to her from over the sea of people.

The redhead turned to face him at the sound of her name.

"Percy!" She ran through the crowd and threw her arms around him in a bone-crushing hug. "I came as soon as I heard. We'll find her, I promise."

"Are there any prophecies?" Percy asked. Rachel pulled back and shook her head, unshed tears in her eyes.

"I've been having dreams but nothing concrete. I'm going to meditate, and hopefully find something."

"Why is this happening?" Percy whispered softly.

"I don't know," Rachel sighed and a single tear ran down her cheek.

I slowly walk away from the distraught friends. It isn't right that I witness their pain and console them when I could be the cause.

I find the Hades cabin empty and a perfect place to drown myself in angst and guilt.

Is this my fault? Would father have done this if I weren't here?

Hera said that something was coming. Have I brought danger with me?

It doesn't matter. I  could contemplate forever, but I know that whether or not I caused this, I will help fix it.

But first, I have to talk to Rachel.

I shadow traveled to the entrance to the Cave of the Oracle. I parted the smooth velvet curtains and stepped inside.

As soon as the curtains closed behind me, the cave started to glow an eerie green light.

"Cleo Castellan, I have been waiting for you."