บท 87: Inquisition of the Bolt
{Unknown Place, June 2nd, 2006}
Luke Castellan POV
"Dammit, it wasn't in our plans to get found out this early. Now it's going to be tougher to start the war by giving the bolt and the helm to Percy when he went on his quest."
I watched as Kronos paced the room, his golden eyes glowing with frustration. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease - the Titan lord's anger was a force to be reckoned with.
"No need to worry," Kronos said, his voice dripping with confidence. "We'll just have to change our plans a little. What's important is finding out how he knew we were communicating. Aside from that, we need to have Ares return us the bolt and the helm."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "If they aren't stupid, they'll probably know we stole the bolt, giving them two possibilities. Thinking we either escaped with the bolt or we got found out by an Olympian that Zeus sent out to find it."
Kronos flashed me a sinister grin. "Exactly. I'm sure my offspring has already reached that conclusion. So get Ares here now, before he gets caught with the bolt in his garments."
I nodded and began to manipulate the Mist, forming a rainbow and tossing a golden drachma into it. "Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering."
It wasn't long before an image formed, revealing the god of war himself, Ares, sitting in a bar and nursing a drink.
"Oh thief, it's you. Why are you messaging me?"
"I got found out," I said, my voice tense. "Soon enough, you'll be called back to Olympus. If you still want your war, come here now and return the bolt to me."
Ares let out a barking laugh. "Ha, no shot, kid. I may want a war, but I ain't trusting you with the strongest weapon of Olympus."
Seeing Ares' defiance, I allowed Kronos to take control of my body. My eyes glowed with a golden light, and the Titan lord's voice echoed through the Mist.
"Listen here, you little warmongering god. You'll come to us now, give us the bolt and the helm, before this whole plan turns asunder and you along with it!"
The rainbow in the Mist trembled, the ground cracking at Kronos' voice. Even the bar in which Ares was drinking started to shake like an earthquake had hit it.
Ares tucked his neck in, as if he was scared his glasses would fall off, revealing his fiery eyes. Trembling, he slowly nodded and went outside the bar, the rainbow Mist then faltering and the message being cut.
A few minutes later, a biker motorcycle on which Ares sat, flaming tracks leaving the tires. He then handed me a brown backpack, a final mutter.
"When war starts, you'll be the first I kill."
He then rode away, leaving me and Kronos to contemplate our next move.
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{Olympus, June 2nd, 2006}
Ares POV
As I made my way to the throne room, a sense of unease crept up my spine. Something was off - the gods were rarely called together like this outside of the solstice meetings. When I arrived, the other Olympians were already assembled, their expressions ranging from concern to annoyance.
Zeus's brow was furrowed as he regarded me sternly. "Ares. You've been summoned here for a reason."
I squared my shoulders, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance, despite the growing knot of anxiety in my stomach. "What's this about, dad?"
Before Zeus could respond, Chiron and a demigod I hated, the one who had killed my sacred animals and the Amazons my sacred followers, Odysseus; stepped forward, their faces grave.
"Lord Zeus," Chiron began, his voice measured. "We have grave news. Kronos has returned."
The throne room erupted into chaos. Gasps and shouts filled the air as the gods reacted to this startling revelation. I felt a chill run down my spine, but I refused to show any outward sign of alarm.
Odysseus raised his hands, calling for silence. "We know this is hard to believe, but it's true. Kronos has found a way to communicate with one of our own - Luke Castellan."
I narrowed my eyes, recalling the young demigod, his resentment towards the gods barely concealed. 'That little thief was right,' I thought. 'Good thing I gave him the bolt and the helm."
Chiron nodded gravely. "And it gets worse. We think that a god has helped him, keeping the stolen bolt safe."
This time, the uproar from the gods was deafening. Zeus's fist slammed against the arm of his throne, the sound echoing like thunder.
"So you say one of them has the bolt?" My father asked while his eyes scanned each and every one of us.
"We believe so, King of the Gods. When you ordered the gods to find the bolt, we think that one of them did find it on Luke's person, so we find the god we find the bolt."
Zeus' electric blue eyes met my own, he squinted them as if he was seeing right through me, I felt like running away. To escape and find a war in the middle east I could settle in until this place calmed down, but I remained calm feeling my throat close slightly as if I was parched, isn't that a funny thought a parched god.
Zeus turned to address the assembled Olympians, his voice commanding. "Since one of you traitors has the bolt according to what the half-blood and centaur are saying I command you, to all swear on the River Styx that you do not possess the master bolt."
The gods murmured in protest, but one by one, they stepped forward and made the solemn oath. I steeled myself, knowing my turn was coming. When Zeus's eyes landed on me, I straightened my shoulders and met his gaze unflinchingly.
"Ares, god of war. Swear on the River Styx that you do not have the master bolt in your possession."
I took a deep breath, feeling the power of the oath seeping into my bones. "I, Ares, swear on the River Styx that I do not have the master bolt of Zeus."
As the last words left my lips, a rumble of thunder echoed through the throne room, sealing the oath. Zeus's expression remained impassive, but I could see a flicker of suspicion in his eyes.
Turning to Chiron and Odysseus, Zeus spoke, his voice laced with barely contained frustration. "No one here has the bolt. But I will give you until the summer solstice to find this Luke Castellan and retrieve my weapon. If you fail..." He paused, glaring at the two of them. "I will go to war with the only two gods who were not present - Hades and Poseidon."
Chiron and Odysseus exchanged a concerned glance, the weight of Zeus's ultimatum weighing heavily on them. I tried to suppress the surge of relief I felt, but a part of me couldn't help but wonder if I had truly escaped Kronos's machinations unscathed.
As the gods began to disperse, I lingered, my mind racing. I hadn't liked the fact that I had given the bolt and the helm to the thief, but now I sighed in relief in my mind.
"Sir-" Odysseus said trying to speak once more.
"Enough," my father's voice interrupted. "You have passed on your information and I have done as you asked. If you have anything left to say do it with actions not words, find me the bolt, NOW!!" his voice thundered.
I couldn't help but think how lucky I had been facing my father's wrath wasn't exactly an enjoyable time. I had already taken suspicion of myself, now it was only time for my war to start, kill the thief, gain the bolt and become King.
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