“So there parents who care about their children, even among them,” Percy said as he looked at the two objects now resting in his hands. One appeared to be a bottle of vitamins. The other was some kind of thermos decorated with drawings of Hercules. Percy let out a faint, mocking smile before slipping both items into his bag.

  “I don’t think Luke wants to be saved. Still, like my master always says, a quest is a quest. Especially when you get paid in advance,” he added, glancing at the inflatable boat on the shore and then at the cruise ship not far out at sea.

  …

  Annabeth walked toward Poseidon’s cabin with a somewhat heavy, almost nervous step. She hesitated several times before finally raising her hand and knocking on the door.

  Then she waited, as if gathering her courage.

  The door opened without much delay. Annabeth was ready to start speaking, but when she saw that the person standing there was not who she expected, she closed her mouth.

  It was Tyson who had opened the door. He smiled right away when he saw her.

  “Annabeth, hi,” he said enthusiastically.

  “Where’s Percy?” she asked seriously.

  “Mm… Percy’s not here. He left a little while ago. He was very upset. Even though he didn’t show it, he was very, very upset,” Tyson said. “He said he was prepared, but it still hurts when a friend betrays you. The master usually says we should never show our emotions, that we should use them in combat, and that will give us strength,” he added with complete conviction.

  “Where did he go?” Annabeth asked urgently.

  …

  Percy picked up the bag Hermes had prepared for him. Or rather, the bags, because for some reason there were three of them. That made Percy stare at them for a moment before grabbing them and tossing them into the boat.

  Just then, he heard the sound of branches being stepped on behind him. He turned around almost immediately.

  Standing there, with a serious and clearly irritated look, was Annabeth. She moved toward him quickly, while Percy turned to loosen the rope that kept the boat secured, preventing it from drifting away.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Annabeth asked in a truly serious tone.

  “I felt like going for a boat ride, can’t you tell?” Percy replied calmly, wearing a fake smile.

  “Don’t play dumb with me. I’m not going to lose another friend,” she said, stopping right in front of him and looking him straight in the eyes.

  Percy returned her gaze without looking away for even a second.

  “Chiron told you something, didn’t he?” he asked bluntly. “What did he tell you?”

  That made Annabeth’s gaze falter for an instant. She tried to look away.

  “I can’t tell you,” she replied.

  “Yeah. It’s always like that. Ever since the beginning, they’ve tried to hide all of this from me, to the point where I didn’t even know if I was losing my sanity. It wasn’t until my master arrived that I was finally able to open my eyes,” Percy said coldly, staring straight at Annabeth. “Do you know why I hate the Greek gods so much?”

  Annabeth didn’t answer.

  “Because they’re the worst thing that could possibly exist. They do things so disgusting that no mortal ever could, and they don’t even feel guilty about it. They have children just to leave them to die in the mortal world, maybe watching it all like some kind of reality show. Let’s see which god’s child survives the giant attack, or the Minotaur. And that’s why not a single demigod has ever reached adulthood,” Percy continued. “And Chiron is part of that,” he added.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  “N-no, Percy. He wants what’s best for you,” she said, unable to accept it.

  “Heh. Why would he want what’s best for me? You know what Tantalus says. And he’s right. I shouldn’t have come this year. Because I’m part of the camp’s enemy. I’m the follower of Miraak, the man who stood against Olympus, and the champion who will face Olympus’s champion in combat. Why would Chiron want my well-being if I’m most likely going to face one of you in a tournament?” Percy said in an icy tone.

  “W-what?” Annabeth said, as if she were hearing this for the first time. “What tournament?” she asked.

  “Looks like Chiron didn’t tell you everything,” Percy added with a faintly amused smile. “Though I thought your betrayal was because of that,” he finished, turning away to climb into the boat.

  “Wait, Percy. I didn’t betray you. Everything has changed. A lot has changed, but you have to trust me. And you can’t go on this quest,” Annabeth said, almost pleading.

  That made Percy stop, one leg already lifted to step into the boat. He turned his head to look at her.

  “No, Annabeth. You changed,” he said seriously.

  He turned back toward the boat, but suddenly frowned. He took a quick step toward Annabeth, raised his hand, and caught something in midair, right beside her head.

  It was a bolt, tipped with bronze.

  Percy lifted his gaze in the direction it had come from, his expression as cold as death itself.

  “Ah, sorry about that. I was aiming for the kid, but my aim isn’t exactly my strongest virtue,” a familiar voice said, emerging from between the trees and the forest mist.

  It was Tantalus.

  “I didn’t mean to interrupt such an intimate moment either. My finger just slipped,” he added with a cruel smile. “So feel free to keep saying your last words.”

  “Last?” Percy asked without changing his cold expression, his hand already resting at his waist, ready to draw his sword.

  “Before dying, obviously. You remember the law, don’t you? No one was allowed to leave, or they’d be devoured by the harpies. I just preferred to do it myself instead of leaving it to someone else,” Tantalus said as he loaded another bolt into the crossbow in his hand. “Now, if you two could kindly not move,” he added, raising the weapon and aiming at both of them.

  Without another word, he pulled the trigger.

  Another bolt shot forward, this time straight toward Percy’s face. Percy simply moved his hand and caught it right in front of his eyes. He immediately drew his sword, ready to fight, but before attacking, he turned for a split second and noticed the boat starting to drift away. He had untied the rope that held it to the shore, and if he fought Tantalus, no matter how strong he was, he would lose his only means of transport.

  “Tsk,” Percy clicked his tongue as he watched Tantalus load yet another bolt.

  He glanced at Annabeth and, unwilling to leave her there with that idiot, grabbed her by the waist and tossed her into the boat. Then he turned back and, with a clean swing of his sword, struck the bolt flying toward him, sending it straight back at Tantalus.

  The projectile pierced his leg.

  “Aaagh!” Tantalus screamed in pain. “You stupid brat!” he roared furiously as he loaded another bolt. “I’ll kill you right now, and I’ll show the gods that their own children, when they break the rules, have to pay too. Using their own system,” he added before raising the crossbow again.

  “Brat. You’re forgetting something.”

  The voice came out of nowhere, so heavy it seemed to freeze everything around them.

  Tantalus’s eyes went wide as he felt an invisible mountain crushing down on him. Air stopped reaching his lungs. A primal fear flooded his body, one that reminded him of the very day the gods had punished him in the past.

  No. This was worse.

  As if death itself were standing right behind him.

  Meanwhile, Percy, already inside the boat, spun around as he heard a scream from above. Something fell violently from the sky and crashed into the boat, sending seawater splashing inside and soaking all three of them.

  Percy lifted his aching head and then saw him.

  “Ouch. Hi, Percy,” Tyson said, rubbing his head.

  Percy stared at him with a deep frown, completely confused, before turning his gaze toward the shore. Standing there was the one who had sent Tyson.

  And that could only mean one thing.

  This quest would have to be done with him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be allowed to continue.

  The figure watching the scene was none other than Miraak.

  He stood behind Tantalus, arms crossed, looking at him with absolute indifference. As if he were staring at an insect, deciding whether or not to crush it.

  “You know the rules, brat. If you or your brother die, I’ll drag your asses back from the Underworld, and your punishment will be even worse than death,” Miraak said softly.

  Those words went straight into Percy’s body. He began to tremble as he nodded rapidly.

  “Yes, Master. Don’t worry, Master. I’ll handle it, Master,” Percy blurted out, like the perfect student. Or rather, like someone whose fear had turned him into a complete idiot.

  Miraak then turned his gaze toward Tantalus.

  He was still completely frozen in the same position, the crossbow still aimed at Percy’s boat.

  That was the last thing he ever saw.

  His body exploded into pieces, disintegrating like dry earth scattering across the ground.

  Miraak turned away without saying another word and walked off calmly, as if nothing at all had happened.