by Rick Riordan
‘Silence!’ Reyna called. ‘Senators, we must act like Romans. Mars has given us this quest, and we have to believe it is possible. These three demigods must travel to Alaska. They must free Thanatos and return before the Feast of Fortuna. If they can retrieve the lost eagle in the process, so much the better. All we can do is advise them and make sure they have a plan.’
Reyna looked at Percy without much hope. ‘You do have a plan?’
Percy wanted to step forward bravely and say, No, I don’t!That was the truth, but looking around at all the nervous faces Percy knew he couldn’t say it.
‘First, I need to understand something.’ He turned towards Nico. ‘I thought Pluto was the god of the dead. Now I hear about this other guy, Thanatos, and the Doors of Death from that prophecy – the Prophecy of Seven. What does all that mean?’
Nico took a deep breath. ‘Okay. Pluto is the god of the Underworld, but the actual god of death, the one who’s responsible for making sure souls go to the afterlife and stay there – that’s Pluto’s lieutenant, Thanatos. He’s like … well, imagine Life and Death are two different countries. Everybody would like to be in Life, right? So there’s a guarded border to keep people from crossing back over without permission. But it’s a big border, with lots of holes in the fence. Pluto tries to seal up the breaches, but new ones keep popping up all the time. That’s why he depends on Thanatos, who’s like the border patrol, the police.’
‘Thanatos catches souls,’ Percy said, ‘and deports them back to the Underworld.’
‘Exactly,’ Nico said. ‘But now Thanatos has been captured, chained up.’
Frank raised his hand. ‘Uh … how do you chain Death?’
‘It’s been done before,’ Nico said. ‘In the old days, a guy named Sisyphus tricked Death and tied him up. Another time, Hercules wrestled him to the ground.’
‘And now a giant has captured him,’ Percy said. ‘So, if we could free Thanatos, then the dead would stay dead?’ He glanced at Gwen. ‘Um … no offence.’
‘It’s more complicated than that,’ Nico said.
Octavian rolled his eyes. ‘Why does that not surprise me?’
‘You mean the Doors of Death,’ Reyna said, ignoring Octavian. ‘They are mentioned in the Prophecy of Seven, which sent the first expedition to Alaska -’
Cato the ghost snorted. ‘We all know how that turned out! We Lares remember!’
The other ghosts grumbled in agreement.
Nico put his finger to his lips. Suddenly all the Lares went silent. Some looked alarmed, like their mouths had been glued together. Percy wished he had that power over certain living people … like Octavian, for instance.
‘Thanatos is only part of the solution,’ Nico explained. ‘The Doors of Death … well, that’s a concept even I don’t completely understand. There are many ways into the Underworld – the River Styx, the Door of Orpheus – plus smaller escape routes that open up from time to time. With Thanatos imprisoned, all those exits will be easier to use. Sometimes it might work to our advantage and let a friendly soul come back – like Gwen here. More often, it will benefit evil souls and monsters, the sneaky ones who are looking to escape. Now, the Doors of Death – those are the personal doors of Thanatos, his fast lane between Life and Death. Only Thanatos is supposed to know where they are, and the location shifts over the ages. If I understand correctly, the Doors of Death have been forced open. Gaia’s minions have seized control of them -’
‘Which means Gaia controls who can come back from the dead,’ Percy guessed.
Nico nodded. ‘She can pick and choose who to let out – the worst monsters, the most evil souls. If we rescue Thanatos, that means at least he can catch souls again and send them below. Monsters will die when we kill them, like they used to, and we’ll get a little breathing room. But unless we’re able to retake the Doors of Death, our enemies won’t stay down for long. They’ll have an easy way back to the world of the living.’
‘So we can catch them and deport them,’ Percy summed up, ‘but they’ll just keep coming back across.’
‘In a depressing nutshell, yes,’ Nico said.
Frank scratched his head. ‘But Thanatos knows where the doors are, right? If we free him, he can retake them.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Nico said. ‘Not alone. He’s no match for Gaia. That would take a massive quest … an army of the best demigods.’
‘Foes bear arms to the Doors of Death,’ Reyna said. ‘That’s the Prophecy of Seven …’ She looked at Percy, and for just a moment he could see how scared she was. She did a good job of hiding it, but Percy wondered if she’d had nightmares about Gaia, too – if she’d seen visions of what would happen when the camp was invaded by monsters that couldn’t be killed. ‘If this begins the ancient prophecy, we don’t have resources to send an army to these Doors of Death and protect the camp. I can’t imagine even sparing seven demigods -’
‘First things first.’ Percy tried to sound confident, though he could feel the level of panic rising in the room. ‘I don’t know who the seven are, or what that old prophecy means, exactly. But first we have to free Thanatos. Mars told us we only needed three people for the quest to Alaska. Let’s concentrate on succeeding with that and getting back before the Feast of Fortuna. Then we can worry about the Doors of Death.’
‘Yeah,’ Frank said in a small voice. ‘That’s probably enough for one week.’
‘So you do have a plan?’ Octavian asked sceptically.
Percy looked at his teammates. ‘We go to Alaska as fast as possible …’
‘And we improvise,’ Hazel said.
‘A lot,’ Frank added.
Reyna studied them. She looked like she was mentally writing her own obituary.
‘Very well,’ she said. ‘Nothing remains except for us to vote on what support we can give the quest – transportation, money, magic, weapons.’
‘Praetor, if I may,’ Octavian said.
‘Oh, great,’ Percy muttered. ‘Here it comes.’
‘The camp is in grave danger,’ Octavian said. ‘Two gods have warned us we will be attacked four days from now. We must not spread our resources too thin, especially by funding projects that have a slim chance of success.’
Octavian looked at the three of them with pity, as if to say, Poor little things. ‘Mars has clearly chosen the least likely candidates for this quest. Perhaps that is because he considers them the most expendable. Perhaps Mars is playing the long odds. Whatever the case, he wisely didn’t order a massive expedition, nor did he ask us to fund their adventure. I say we keep our resources here and defend the camp. This is where the battle will be lost or won. If these three succeed, wonderful! But they should do so by their own ingenuity.’
An uneasy murmur passed through the crowd. Frank jumped to his feet. Before he could start a fight, Percy said, ‘Fine! No problem. But at least give us transportation. Gaia is the earth goddess, right? Going overland, across the earth – I’m guessing we should avoid that. Plus, it’ll be too slow.’
Octavian laughed. ‘Would you like us to charter you an aeroplane?’
The idea made Percy nauseous. ‘No. Air travel … I have a feeling that would be bad, too. But a boat. Can you at least give us a boat?’
Hazel made a grunting sound. Percy glanced over. She shook her head and mouthed, Fine. I’m fine.
‘A boat!’ Octavian turned to the senators. ‘The son of Neptune wants a boat. Sea travel has never been the Roman way, but he isn’t much of a Roman!’
‘Octavian,’ Reyna said sternly, ‘a boat is little enough to ask. And providing no other aid seems very -’
‘Traditional!’ Octavian exclaimed. ‘It is very traditional. Let us see if these questers have the strength to survive without help, like true Romans!’
More muttering filled the chamber. The senators’ eyes moved back and forth between Octavian and Reyna, watching the test of wills.
Reyna straightened in her chair. ‘Very well,’ she said tightly. ‘We
’ll put it to a vote. Senators, the motion is as follows: the quest shall go to Alaska. The senate shall provide full access to the Roman navy docked at Alameda. No other aid will be forthcoming. The three adventurers will survive or fail on their own merits. All in favour?’
Every senator’s hand went up.
‘The motion is passed.’ Reyna turned to Frank. ‘Centurion, your party is excused. The senate has other matters to discuss. And, Octavian, if I may confer with you for a moment.’
Percy was incredibly glad to see the sunlight. In that dark hall, with all those eyes on him, he’d felt like the world was riding on his shoulders – and he was fairly sure he’d had that experience before.
He filled his lungs with fresh air.
Hazel picked up a large emerald from the path and slipped it in her pocket. ‘So … we’re pretty much toast?’
Frank nodded miserably. ‘If either of you wants to back out, I wouldn’t blame you.’
‘Are you kidding?’ Hazel said. ‘And pull sentry duty for the rest of the week?’
Frank managed a smile. He turned to Percy.
Percy gazed across the forum. Stay put, Annabeth had said in his dream. But if he stayed put this camp would be destroyed. He looked up at the hills, and imagined Gaia’s face smiling in the shadows and ridges. You can’t win, little demigod, she seemed to say. Serve me by staying, or serve me by going.
Percy made a silent vow: after the Feast of Fortuna, he would find Annabeth. But, for now, he had to act. He couldn’t let Gaia win.
‘I’m with you,’ he told Frank. ‘Besides, I want to check out the Roman navy.’
They were only halfway across the forum when someone called, ‘Jackson!’ Percy turned and saw Octavian jogging towards them.
‘What do you want?’ Percy asked.
Octavian smiled. ‘Already decided I’m your enemy? That’s a rash choice, Percy. I’m a loyal Roman.’
Frank snarled. ‘You backstabbing, slimy -’ Both Percy and Hazel had to restrain him.
‘Oh, dear,’ Octavian said. ‘Hardly the right behaviour for a new centurion. Jackson, I only followed you because Reyna charged me with a message. She wants you to report to the principia without your – ah – two lackeys, here. Reyna will meet you there after the senate adjourns. She’d like a private word with you before you leave on your quest.’
‘What about?’ Percy said.
‘I’m sure I don’t know.’ Octavian smiled wickedly. ‘The last person she had a private talk with was Jason Grace. And that was the last time I ever saw him. Good luck and goodbye, Percy Jackson.’
XV
Percy
PERCY WAS GLAD RIPTIDE HAD RETURNED to his pocket. Judging from Reyna’s expression, he thought he might need to defend himself.
She stormed into the principia with her purple cloak billowing, and her greyhounds at her feet. Percy was sitting in one of the praetor chairs that he’d pulled to the visitor’s side, which maybe wasn’t the proper thing to do. He started to get up.
‘Stay seated,’ Reyna growled. ‘You leave after lunch. We have a lot to discuss.’
She plunked down her dagger so hard the jelly-bean bowl rattled. Aurum and Argentum took their posts on her left and right and fixed their ruby eyes on Percy.
‘What’d I do wrong?’ Percy asked. ‘If it’s about the chair -’
‘It’s not you.’ Reyna scowled. ‘I hate senate meetings. When Octavian gets talking …’
Percy nodded. ‘You’re a warrior. Octavian is a talker. Put him in front of the senate, and suddenly he becomes the powerful one.’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘You’re smarter than you look.’
‘Gee, thanks. I hear Octavian might get elected praetor, assuming the camp survives that long.’
‘Which brings us to the subject of doomsday,’ Reyna said, ‘and how you might help prevent it. But before I place the fate of Camp Jupiter in your hands, we need to get a few things straight.’
She sat down and put a ring on the table – a band of silver etched with a sword-and-torch design, like Reyna’s tattoo. ‘Do you know what this is?’
‘The sign of your mom,’ Percy said. ‘The … uh, war goddess.’ He tried to remember the name but he didn’t want to get it wrong – something like bologna. Or salami?
‘Bellona, yes.’ Reyna scrutinized him carefully. ‘You don’t remember where you saw this ring before? You really don’t remember me or my sister, Hylla?’
Percy shook his head. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘It would’ve been four years ago.’
‘Just before you came to camp.’
Reyna frowned. ‘How did you – ?’
‘You’ve got four stripes on your tattoo. Four years.’
Reyna looked at her forearm. ‘Of course. It seems so long ago. I suppose you wouldn’t recall me even if you had your memory. I was just a little girl – one attendant among so many at the spa. But you spoke with my sister, just before you and that other one, Annabeth, destroyed our home.’
Percy tried to remember. He really did. For some reason, Annabeth and he had visited a spa and decided to destroy it. He couldn’t imagine why. Maybe they hadn’t liked the deep-tissue massage? Maybe they’d had bad manicures?
‘It’s a blank,’ he said. ‘Since your dogs aren’t attacking me, I hope you’ll believe me. I’m telling the truth.’
Aurum and Argentum snarled. Percy got the feeling they were thinking, Please lie. Please lie.
Reyna tapped the silver ring.
‘I believe you’re sincere,’ she said. ‘But not everyone at camp does. Octavian thinks you’re a spy. He thinks you were sent here by Gaia to find our weaknesses and distract us. He believes the old legends about the Greeks.’
‘Old legends?’
Reyna’s hand rested halfway between her dagger and the jelly beans. Percy had a feeling that if she made a sudden move she wouldn’t be grabbing for the candy.
‘Some believe Greek demigods still exist,’ she said, ‘heroes who follow the older forms of the gods. There are legends of battles between Roman and Greek heroes in relatively modern times – the American Civil War, for instance. I have no proof of this and, if our Lares know anything, they refuse to say. But Octavian believes the Greeks are still around, plotting our downfall, working with the forces of Gaia. He thinks you are one of them.’
‘Is that what you believe?’
‘I believe you came from somewhere,’ she said. ‘You’re important, and dangerous. Two gods have taken a special interest in you since you arrived, so I can’t believe you’d work against Olympus … or Rome.’ She shrugged. ‘Of course, I could be wrong. Perhaps the gods sent you here to test my judgement. But I think … I think you were sent here to make up for the loss of Jason.’
Jason … Percy couldn’t go very far in this camp without hearing that name.
‘The way you talk about him …’ Percy said. ‘Were you two a couple?’
Reyna’s eyes bored into him – like the eyes of a hungry wolf. Percy had seen enough hungry wolves to know.
‘We might have been,’ Reyna said, ‘given time. Praetors work closely together. It’s common for them to become romantically involved. But Jason was only praetor for a few months before he disappeared. Ever since then, Octavian has been pestering me, agitating for new elections. I’ve resisted. I need a partner in power – but I’d prefer someone like Jason. A warrior, not a schemer.’
She waited. Percy realized she was sending him a silent invitation.
His throat went dry. ‘Oh … you mean … oh.’
‘I believe the gods sent you to help me,’ Reyna said. ‘I don’t understand where you come from, any more than I understood it four years ago. But I think your arrival is some sort of repayment. You destroyed my home once. Now you’ve been sent to save my home. I don’t hold a grudge against you for the past, Percy. My sister hates you still, it’s true, but Fate brought me here to Camp Jupiter. I’ve done well. All I ask is that you work with me for the fut
ure. I intend to save this camp.’
The metal dogs glared at him, their mouths frozen in snarl mode. Percy found Reyna’s eyes a lot harder to meet.
‘Look, I’ll help,’ he promised. ‘But I’m new here. You’ve got a lot of good people who know this camp better than I do. If we succeed on this quest, Hazel and Frank will be heroes. You could ask one of them -’
‘Please,’ Reyna said. ‘No one will follow a child of Pluto. There’s something about that girl … rumours about where she came from … No, she won’t do. As for Frank Zhang, he has a good heart, but he’s hopelessly naive and inexperienced. Besides, if the others found out about his family history at this camp -’
‘Family history?’
‘The point is, Percy, you are the real power on this quest. You are a seasoned veteran. I’ve seen what you can do. A son of Neptune wouldn’t be my first choice, but if you return successfully from this mission the legion might be saved. The praetorship will be yours for the taking. Together, you and I could expand the power of Rome. We could raise an army and find the Doors of Death, crush Gaia’s forces once and for all. You would find me a very helpful … friend.’
She said that word like it could have several meanings, and he could pick which one.
Percy’s feet started tapping on the floor, anxious to run. ‘Reyna … I’m honoured, and all. Seriously. But I’ve got a girlfriend. And I don’t want power, or a praetorship.’
Percy was afraid he’d make her mad. Instead she just raised her eyebrows.
‘A man who turns down power?’ she said. ‘That’s not very Roman of you. Just think about it. In four days, I have to make a choice. If we are to fight off an invasion, we must have two strong praetors. I’d prefer you, but if you fail on your quest, or don’t come back, or refuse my offer … Well, I’ll work with Octavian. I mean to save this camp, Percy Jackson. Things are worse than you realize.’
Percy remembered what Frank said about the monster attacks getting more frequent. ‘How bad?’
Reyna’s nails dug into the table. ‘Even the senate doesn’t know the whole truth. I’ve asked Octavian not to share his auguries, or we’d have mass panic. He’s seen a great army marching south, more than we can possibly defeat. They’re led by a giant -’