Chapter 5.
Nico buys Happy Meals for the Dead.
At least I got a good night's sleep before the quest, right?
Wrong.
That night in my dreams I was in the state room of a Princess Andromeda.
The windows were open on a moonlit sea.
Cold wind rustled the velvet drapes.
Luke knelt on a Persian rug in front of the golden sarcophagus of Cronos.
In the moonlight Luke's blonde hair looks pure white.
He wore an ancient Greek chitin and a white hime-tion, a kind of cape that flowed down
to his shoulders.
The white clothes made him look timeless and a little unreal, like one of the minor gods
on Mount Olympus.
The last time I'd seen him he'd been broken and unconscious after a nasty fall from Mount
Tam.
Now he looked perfectly fine.
Almost too healthy.
Our spies report success, my lord.
He said.
Camp Halfblood is sending a quest as you predicted.
Our side of the bargain is almost complete.
Excellent.
The voice of Cronos didn't so much speak as pierce my mind like a dagger.
It was freezing with cruelty.
Once we have the means to navigate, I will lead the vanguard through myself.
Luke closed his eyes as if collecting his thoughts.
My lord, perhaps it is too soon.
Perhaps Creos or Hyperion should lead.
No.
The voice was quiet but absolutely firm.
I will lead.
One more heart should join our cause, and that will be sufficient.
At last I shall rise fully from Tartarus.
But before my lord, Luke's voice started shaking.
Tell me your sword, Duke Castellan.
A jolt went through me.
I realized I'd never heard Luke's last name before.
It had never even occurred to me.
Luke drew his sword.
Backbiter's double edge glowed wickedly.
Half steel, half celestial bronze.
I'd almost been killed several times by that sword.
It was an evil weapon.
Able to kill both mortals and monsters.
It was the only blade I really feared.
You pledged yourself to me, Cronos reminded him.
You took this sword as proof of your oath.
Yes, my lord.
It's just you wanted power.
I gave you that.
You are now beyond harm.
Soon you will rule the world of gods and mortals.
Do you not wish to avenge yourself, to see Olympus destroyed?
A shiver ran through Luke's body.
Yes.
The coffin glowed.
Golden light filling the room.
Then make ready the strike force.
As soon as the bargain is done, we shall move forward.
First camp half blood will reduce to ashes.
Since those bothersome heroes are eliminated, we will march to Olympus.
There's a knock on the state room doors.
The light of the coffin faded.
Luke rose.
He sheathed his sword, adjusted his white clothes, and took a deep breath.
Come in.
The doors opened.
Two draconae slithered in, snake women with double serpent trunks instead of legs.
Between them walked Kelly, the impussive cheerleader for my freshman orientation.
Hello, Luke.
Kelly smiled.
She was wearing a red dress and she looked awesome.
But I'd seen her real form.
I knew what she was hiding.
Miss matched legs, red eyes, fangs, and flaming hair.
What is it, demon?
Luke's voice was cold.
I told you not to disturb me.
Kelly pouted.
That's not very nice.
You look tense.
How about a nice shoulder massage?
Luke stepped back.
If you have something to report, say it.
Otherwise, leave.
I don't know why you're so happy these days.
You used to be fun to hang around.
As before I saw what you did to that boy in Seattle.
Oh, he meant nothing to me, Kelly said.
Just a snack, really.
You know my heart belongs to you, Luke.
Thanks, but no thanks.
Now report or get out.
Kelly shrugged.
Fine.
The advanced team is ready as you requested.
We can leave, she frowned.
What is it?
Luke asked.
A presence, Kelly said.
Your senses are getting dull, Luke.
We're being watched.
She scanned the state room.
Her eyes focused right on me.
Her face withered into a hag's.
She bared her fangs and lunged.
I woke with a start, my heart pounding.
I could have sworn the impusses fangs were an inch from my throat.
Tyson was snoring in the next bunk.
The sound calmed me down a little.
I didn't know how Kelly could sense me in a dream, but I'd heard more than I wanted
to know.
An army was ready.
Kronos would lead it personally.
All they needed was a way to navigate the labyrinth so they could invade and destroy Camp Halfblood
and Luke apparently thought that was going to happen very soon.
I was tempted to go wake up Annabeth and tell her, middle of the night or not.
Then I realized the room was lighter than it should have been.
A blue and green glow was coming from the saltwater fountain, brighter and more urgent
than the night before.
It was almost like the water was humming.
I got out of bed and approached.
No voice spoke out of the water this time, asking for a deposit.
I got the feeling the fountain was waiting for me to make the first move.
I probably should have gone back to bed.
Instead, I thought about what I'd seen last night.
The weird image of Nico at the banks of the river sticks.
You're trying to tell me something?
I said.
No response from the fountain.
Alright, I said.
Show me Nico DiAngelo.
I didn't even throw a coin in, but this time it didn't matter.
It was like some other force had controlled the water besides Iris the messenger goddess.
The water shimmered.
Nico appeared but he was no longer in the underworld.
He was standing in a graveyard under a starry sky.
Giant willow trees loomed all around him.
He was watching some grave diggers at work.
I heard shovels and saw dirt flying out of a hole.
Nico was dressed in a black cloak.
The night was foggy.
It was warm and humid and frogs were croaking.
A large Walmart bag sat next to Nico's feet.
Is it deep enough yet?
Nico asked.
He sounded irritated.
Nearly my lord.
It was the same ghost I'd seen Nico with before.
The faint shimmering image of a man.
But my lord, I tell you, this is unnecessary.
You already have me for advice.
I want a second opinion.
Nico snapped his fingers and the digging stopped.
Two figures climbed out of the hole.
They weren't people.
They were skeletons and ragged clothes.
You were dismissed, Nico said.
Thank you.
The skeletons collapsed into pile of bones.
You may as well think the shovels.
The ghost complained.
They have as much sense.
Nico ignored him.
He reached into his Walmart bag and pulled out a 12 pack of coke.
He popped open a can but instead of drinking it, he poured it into the grave.
Let the dead taste again, he murmured.
Let them rise and take this offering.
Let them remember.
He dropped the rest of the coke's into the grave and pulled out a white paper bag decorated
with cartoons.
I hadn't seen one in years, but I recognized it.
A McDonald's Happy Meal.
He turned it upside down and shook the fries and hamburger into the grave.
In my day we used animal blood.
The ghost mumbled.
It's perfectly good enough.
They can't taste the difference.
I will treat them with respect, Nico said.
At least let me keep the toy.
The ghost said.
Be quiet, Nico ordered.
He emptied another 12 pack of soda and three more Happy Meals into the grave, then began
chanting in ancient Greek.
I caught only some of the words, a lot about the dead and memories and returning from the
grave.
Real happy stuff.
The grave started to bubble.
Frothy brown liquid rose to the top like the whole thing was filling with soda.
The fog thickened.
The frog stopped croaking.
Dozens of figures began to appear among the gravestones.
Blueish, vaguely human shapes.
Nico had summoned the dead with coke and cheeseburgers.
There are too many.
Said the ghost nervously.
You don't know your powers.
I've got it under control.
Nico said though his voice sounded fragile.
He drew his sword, a short blade made of solid black metal.
I'd never seen anything like it.
It wasn't celestial bronze or steel.
Iron maybe?
The crowd of shades retreated at the sight of it.
One at a time, Nico commanded.
A single figure floated toward and knelt at the pool.
It made slurping sounds as it drank.
The ghostly hand scooped french fries out of the pool.
When it stood again, I could see it much more clearly.
A teenage guy in Greek armor.
He had curly hair and green eyes.
A clasp shaped like a seashell on his cloak.
Who are you?
Nico said.
Speak.
The young man frowned as if trying to remember.
Then he spoke in a voice like dry, crumpling paper.
I am Theseus.
No way, I thought.
This couldn't be the Theseus.
He was just a kid.
I'd grown up hearing stories about him fighting the minotaur and stuff.
But I'd always pictured him as this huge buff guy.
The ghost I was looking at wasn't strong or tall.
And he wasn't any older than I was.
How can I retrieve my sister?
Nico asked.
Theseus's eyes were lifeless as glass.
Do not try.
It is madness.
Just tell me.
My stepfather died.
Theseus remembered.
He threw himself into the sea because he thought I was dead in the labyrinth.
I wanted to bring him back.
But I could not.
Nico's ghost hissed.
My lord, the soul exchange.
Ask him about that.
Theseus scald.
That voice.
I know that voice.
No you don't fool.
The ghost said.
Answer the lord's questions and nothing more.
I know you.
Theseus insisted as if struggling to recall.
I want to hear about my sister.
Nico said.
Will this question to the labyrinth help me win her back?
Theseus was looking for the ghost but apparently couldn't see him.
Slowly he turned his eyes back on Nico.
The labyrinth is treacherous.
There is only one thing that saw me through.
The love of a mortal girl.
The string was the only part of the answer.
It was the princess who guided me.
We don't need any of that.
The ghost said.
I will guide you my lord.
Ask him if it is true about an exchange of souls he will tell you.
A soul for a soul.
Nico asked.
Is it true?
I must say yes but the specter.
Just answer the questions, nave.
The ghost said.
Suddenly you're on the edges of the pool.
The other ghost became restless.
They stirred whispering in nervous tones.
I want to see my sister.
Nico demanded.
Where is she?
He is coming.
Thesis said fearfully.
He has sensed your summons.
He comes.
Who?
Nico demanded.
He comes to find the source of this power.
Thesis said.
You must release us.
The water in my fountain began to tremble, humming with power.
I realized the whole cabin was shaking.
The noise grew louder.
The image of Nico in the graveyard started to glow until it was painful to watch.
Stop!
I said out loud.
Stop it!
The fountain began to crack.
Tyson muttered in his sleep and turned over.
Purple light threw horrible ghostly shadows on the cabin walls as if the specters were escaping
right out of the fountain.
In desperation I uncapped riptide and slashed the fountain, cleaving it in two.
Salt water spilled everywhere and the great stone fawned, crashed to the floor in pieces.
Tyson snorted and muttered but he kept sleeping.
I sank to the ground shivering from what I'd seen.
Tyson found me there in the morning, still staring at the shattered remains of the saltwater
fountain.
Just after dawn the quest group met at Zeus' fist.
I packed my knapsack, thermos with nectar, baggy of ambrosia, bedoral, rope, clothes,
flashlights and lots of extra batteries.
I had riptide in my pocket.
The magic shield wristwatch Tyson made for me was on my wrist.
It was a clear morning.
The fog had burned off and the sky was blue.
Campers would be having their lessons today, flying pegasine and practicing archery and
scaling the lava wall.
Meanwhile, we'd be heading underground.
Juniper and Grover stood apart from the group.
Juniper had been crying again, but she was trying to keep it together for Grover's sake.
She kept fussing with his clothes, straightening his rasti cap and brushing goat for off his
shirt.
Since we had no idea what we would encounter, she was dressed as a human with the cap to
hide his horns and jeans, fake feet and sneakers to hide his goat legs.
Kyron Quintus and Mrs. O'Leary stood with the other campers who'd come to wish us well,
but there was too much activity for it to feel like a happy send-off.
A couple of tents had been set up by the rocks for guard duty.
Beck and Dorphin and Siblings were working on a line of defensive spikes and trenches.
Kyron had decided we needed to guard the labyrinth exit at all times, just in case.
Annabeth was doing one last check on her supply pack.
Well, Tyson and I came over, she frowned.
Percy, you look terrible.
He killed the water fountain last night.
Tyson confided.
What?
She asked.
Before I could explain Kyron trotted over.
Well, it appears you are ready.
He tried to sound upbeat, but I could tell he was anxious.
I didn't want to freak him out anymore, but I thought about last night's dream.
And before I could change my mind, I said, Hey, uh, Kyron, can I ask you a favor while
I'm gone?
Of course, my boy.
Be right back, guys.
I nodded toward the woods.
Kyron raised an eyebrow, but he followed me out of earshot.
Last night, I said, I dreamed about Luke and Cronos.
I told him the details.
The news seemed to weigh on his shoulders.
I feared this.
Kyron said, Against my father, Cronos, we would stand no chance in a fight.
Kyron rarely called Cronos' father.
I mean, we all know it was true.
Everybody in the Greek world, God, monster, or titan, was related to one another somehow.
But it wasn't exactly something Kyron liked to brag about.
Oh, my dad is the all-powerful Titan lord who wants to destroy western civilization.
I want to be just like him when I grow up.
Do you know what he meant about a bargain?
I asked.
I'm not sure.
But I fear they seek to make a deal with dataless.
If the old inventor is truly alive, if he has not been driven insane by millennia in
the labyrinth, well, Cronos can find ways to twist anyone to his will.
Not anyone, I promised.
Kyron managed to smile.
No, perhaps not anyone, but Percy, you must beware.
I have worried for some time that Cronos may be looking for dataless for a different reason,
not just passage through the maze.
What else would he want?
Something Annabeth and I were discussing.
Do you remember what you told me about your first trip to the princess Andromeda?
The first time you saw the golden coffin?
I nodded.
Luke was talking about raising Cronos.
Little pieces of him appearing in the coffin every time someone knew joined his cause.
And what did Luke say they would do when Cronos had risen completely?
A chill went down my spine.
He said they would make Cronos a new body worthy of the forges of Hephaestus.
Indeed, Kyron said,
Dataless was the world's greatest inventor.
He created the labyrinth, but much more automatons, thinking machines.
What if Cronos wishes Dataless to make him a new form?
That was a real pleasant thought.
We've got to get to Dataless first, I said, and convince him not to.
Kyron stared off into the trees.
One other thing I do not understand.
This talk of a last soul joining their cause that does not bode well.
I kept my mouth shut, but I felt guilty.
I'd made the decision not to tell Kyron about Nico being a son of Hades.
The mention of souls though.
What if Cronos knew about Nico?
What if he managed to turn him evil?
It was almost enough to make me want to tell Kyron, but I didn't.
For one thing I wasn't sure Kyron could do anything about it.
I had to find Nico myself.
I had to explain things to him to make him listen.
I don't know, I said at last.
But something Juniper said, maybe you should hear.
I told him how the tree nymph had seen Quintus poking around the rocks.
Kyron's jaw tightened.
That does not surprise me.
It doesn't- you mean you knew?
Percy.
When Quintus showed up at camp offering his services, well, I would have to be a fool not
to be suspicious.
Then why did you let him in?
Because sometimes it is better to have someone you mistrust close to you, so that you can
keep an eye on him.
He may be just what he says a half blood in search of a home.
Certainly he has done nothing openly that would make me question his loyalty.
But believe me, I will keep an eye, and I've trudged over, probably curious why we're taking
so long.
Percy, you ready?
I nodded.
My hand slipped into my pocket where I kept the ice whistle Quintus had given me.
I looked over and saw Quintus watching me carefully.
He raised his hand and farewell.
Our spies report success, Lucid said.
The same day we decided to send a quest.
Lucid known about it.
Take care, Kyron told us.
And good hunting.
You too, I said.
We walked over to the rocks where Tyson and Grover were waiting.
I stared at the crack between the boulders, the entrance that was about to swallow us.
Well?
Grover said nervously.
Goodbye, sunshine.
Hello, rocks!
Tyson agreed.
And together the four of us descended into darkness.