Chapter Text
All of a sudden, Luke pulled out his sword.
“Woah, what are you doing with that!?” I demanded.
“Relax, Scorpio boy, I’m using Backbiter to open a portal.” Luke said.
“Scorpio boy…?”
“Get it? Because you survived a scorpion last year? Eh? We’ll find a better nickname for you. Works for now, though.” Luke said.
“Uhm, interesting.” I said.
“Anyway, speaking of swords, I imagine you’ll be getting a new toy of your own very soon. Now that you’ve joined us. I don’t know, whatever Kronos wants.” Luke said.
“Huh?”
“Not my place to explain. Besides,” Luke made a few swiping motions with Backbiter, and a portal spawned. “We have to meet the boss. I imagine he’ll be waiting for us.”
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see. Don’t wanna talk about it here. If there’s even a slight chance of any eavesdroppers, our plans will be blasted apart. Can’t have that. Trust me, you’ll like where we’re going.”
“‘Trust me’ coming from the person who tried to kill me last year isn’t the most reassuring. On the other end there isn’t going to be, like, some huge lava pit or something, right?”
“Look, Percy, before we begin working together, I need to clear the air. Again, if we’re being technical. I didn’t like what I had to do last year. Hurting you. The scorpion. Ask anyone you’ll meet at base, I was pretty upset after that last year. I want to win back your trust. You can trust me, I swear it on the River Styx.”
“I-I want to trust you, I’m just gonna need time.” I said.
“No problem.” Luke said. “I’ll wait for you.”
I looked at the portal. I remembered how last year after the scorpion before I passed out, Luke spawned a similar one. I didn’t know if I could trust it for sure. I was skeptical-and I had the right to be.
Luke held out his hand. “I’m going in with you. If it’s harmful on the other end of that portal, then I’ll die, too. Okay?”
I hesitated for a moment and then I took his hand. It’s been a while since I’ve been with Luke. I have to say, I missed the guy. Before he tried to betray me, I thought he was one of my best friends.
We both slowly stepped through the portal. I’ve never been through a portal before. I’m not sure what I expected, but I have to say, it was very anticlimactic. It’s pretty much just a doorway. You step into it at one location, and step out at the other. I was expecting like in the movies-blues and purples and color kaleidoscopes.
But what the portal lacked, the destination made up for. We walked onto a dock-I couldn’t exactly tell where. The water was perfectly blue and beautiful, which I appreciated. Sitting on the water was a huge yacht. Any bigger and you could easily call it a cruise ship.
“This,” Luke said. “Is the Princess Andromeda. Magical ship. It’s faster than any mortal ship you’ve seen-which works very well to our advantage. We bought it from a company called Triumvirate Holdings a little while back. Great decision. It’s an amazing base. Just as long as you don’t get seasick, which you obviously don’t.”
I laughed. “It’s amazing.”
“Glad you think so.” Luke said. “Okay, now, let’s go on it.”
We ran up the ramp and onto the boat. It looked like a normal yacht, which I’ve only seen on TV shows and movies. It was cool.
“Follow me.” Luke said, running far into the ship. I bounded after him. Being a Hermes demigod, speed was his advantage. For me, it wasn’t, so I had a hard time following him. I probably got lost at least one time.
Then, he stopped running. We stopped at a huge room with golden doors. It looked super regal. No doubt this was where he was taking me. Where Kronos would be.
Two guards stood on either side of the door. They made eye contact with Luke, then glared at me.
“He’s with me.” Luke said.
“Really?” The guard on the left asked. “Isn’t this the demigod who declined you last year, Luke?”
“Uhm, hi.” I said. “Percy Jackson. So Luke asked me to join again. I agreed. Last year I was-naive. I believed they could be good parents. I wanted to convince myself it was a fluke. But they’ll never be good parents. They don’t deserve the power that they have. Which is why now I’m joining you.”
The two guards looked at each other, then at Luke. Luke smiled, and walked over to me, hanging an arm over my shoulders. “Yep, it’s true. Percy Jackson is joining our cause.” He looked at me. “Couldn’t be prouder.”
We walked into the room. It was huge. It had a golden vaulted ceiling and was clearly some sort of renovated dining room.
“So this is where Kronos will be?” I asked.
“Uhm-well, sort of. He’ll come to us here, we just need to stay and wait for him to show up. But since you're here, I have a feeling he’ll be showing himself right after.”
“After?”
“After you pledge yourself to Kronos. To our cause.” Luke explained. “It’s quick. Nothing way too fancy. I did it. Everyone here did it. And you will, too.”
“What do I have to do…?” I asked. “I don’t have to do anything like a blood sacrifice or some sh*t, right…?”
“Oh, of course not!” Luke said. “Nah. Just purely verbal. But it’s just as binding.”
“What do I have to say?”
“You just have to renounce the gods and pledge your service. That’s all. It’s not even a minute long thing.” He patted my back. “You’ll do great, don’t worry.”
“Should I-now?” I asked.
“Yep.”
I stumbled to my knees. I don’t know, it just felt like the right thing to do. I glanced back at Luke. He smiled reassuringly and gave me a thumbs up. I sighed. Was this really what I wanted to do?
It was only my second year as a demigod. Yeah, they haven’t been the best parents, but-
But what? They love you? They care for you?
No, they don’t. They treat their children horribly. I’ve met my father once. It’s been 13 years, and I’ve met him one time. That’s screwed up. Unfair. The way all of the gods treat their children. The way they rule.
I made my decision. And I intend to stand by it.
“The gods have made my life horrible. They constantly put me in immense danger to do their bidding. They are messed up. I would love to see them fall. My father could care less if I die. He should be the one to perish instead. I renounce the gods, and I intend to see them destroyed. I pledge myself to you, Kronos, and I will serve you well.” I said.
I felt like I just said a curse word in a kindergarten class. I felt like there would be gasps or I would be smited or both. But instead, the ground just rumbled.
“You did a great job, Percy. I’m so proud of you.” Luke said, kneeling next to me, patting my back again. He didn’t feel like an enemy anymore after today. More like a supportive big brother. A best friend.
All of a sudden, a familiar figure loomed in front of me. It wasn’t actually there in front of me-just like a ghost or an illusion. It was a figure that I’ve been made more than familiar with in my nightmares.
“Lord Kronos.” I said. My voice quavered.
I’m so used to being scared of him. Worried. Now I don’t have to be. At least, I don’t think I do.
“Perseus Jackson.” Kronos said. “Welcome to the cause. Thank you for your pledge and reconsidering your original decision.”
“Thank you for still letting me have the opportunity to be here.” I said.
“Why do you still seem scared of me, Percy?”
“I’m not.” I said.
“Alright.” He said. “I have to admit, after last summer Luke and I were worried that you would turn down our second offer. We were not very confident.”
“I’ve just gotten tired of the same old crap from the gods. They’re horrible.” I said.
“Exactly.” Kronos said. His wispy black form loomed around me. “I am glad that you can see it, though. I feared that you would be too oblivious to see. Which is why I tried so hard last year to convince you. You just weren’t seeing it.”
“I was stubborn.” I said. “I grew out of it.”
He laughed again, and his form shelled around me, in some sort of a hug. “I am glad to have you on our side, Percy Jackson.”
“We all are.” Luke added.
“You will be an asset to our team.” He said, before evaporating.
“That was Kronos.” I said. “That wasn’t a dream?”
“Yeah, that’s the boss.” Luke said. “Told you he’d be happy.”
That went a lot better than I thought.
