The Price of Elysium
Percy had a dream.
In it, Grover, distracted while adjusting the tail of his disguise, was caught by Polyphemus. The Cyclops appeared suddenly behind him and uncovered his trick.
Before Percy could see anything else, the dream cut off abruptly.
Percy woke up with a jolt.
He moved at once, determined to warn Annabeth and Clarisse that they needed to pick up the pace, because Grover seemed to be in danger. However, before reaching the command room, where Clarisse should have been sleeping, an uncontrollable rage nearly overtook him.
It was the kind of rage that pushes you to fight anyone in front of you.
Or to destroy everything.
A past rage.
A present rage.
Even a future rage.
A hunger for battle that almost took control of him.
And only one being could provoke that feeling in him so completely.
Percy approached the half-open hatch cautiously. From inside, he heard Clarisse’s voice. Through the narrow opening, he saw a holographic image of Ares. Wearing his black sunglasses, the god looked just as irritating and contemptible as the last time Percy had seen him.
“…do not give me excuses, girl,” Ares roared. Even the hologram flickered under the pressure of his power. Clarisse, standing before him, looked nervous and frightened.
“No, Father. I… I am trying. I still have not found him. That is all,” she said, clenching her fists.
“After all this time, you cannot find and kill a single brat. That is why it would have been better if one of my sons had handled this mission, and not you, a useless little girl,” Ares spat with open disgust. “I already told you what will happen if you fail, did I not? Do you think I am lying?”
Ares removed his sunglasses, revealing eyes filled with fire, as if they wanted to burn Clarisse alive through the hologram.
“No, sir. I… I can do it. I have to go where the Fleece is. I will find Jackson there,” Clarisse said quickly.
Ares watched her, licking his teeth behind his lips.
“I told you that saving the camp is the least important thing. It is nothing compared to the glory of becoming Olympus’ champion, and you keep thinking about that worthless goal. Fine. Fine,” he said irritably.
He paused for a moment, as if listening. Or thinking.
“Fine,” he repeated, turning his gaze back to Clarisse. “You can retrieve the Fleece first and leave the brat’s death for later. I will give you that chance. After you recover it, you will hand it over to someone who will finish the job,” he added.
“Who?” Clarisse asked, uncertainty slipping into her voice.
“That is none of your concern,” Ares replied coldly. “You do what I tell you. Otherwise, you are useless.”
The almost paternal tone he had tried to adopt vanished completely before the hologram disappeared.
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Clarisse was left alone, her expression empty. She clenched her fists so tightly that drops of blood fell from her own skin, pierced by her nails. Then she turned toward the door.
Percy hid immediately, making sure he was not seen.
His face was heavy with thought as he walked away in silence.
…
The ship continued forward without stopping. The zombie crew worked tirelessly to keep it moving, watching the surroundings in case any enemy approached.
Meanwhile, in the strategy room, Percy stood across from Clarisse. Both were staring down at a map spread across the table. Clarisse held a dagger in her hand, clearly ready to strike at the slightest mistake from Percy.
“This is stupid,” Percy said, his face serious.
“You are stupid,” Clarisse shot back, glaring at him.
At that moment, Annabeth climbed down through the entrance hatch.
“Annabeth, you tell her who is being stupid,” Percy said, as she looked at him with a confused expression.
“Why would I have to decide that? This is my—”
“Mission. Yes, I know, you say it all the time,” Percy interrupted, turning toward her. “I am trying to explain how to enter the Sea of Monsters, but she insists we have to face Scylla or Cla—”
“Charybdis,” Clarisse said, her tone mocking.
“I know how it is pronounced,” Percy replied.
Annabeth looked at both of them, watching them argue like cats and dogs, and spoke up.
“Clarisse is right.”
“Ha!” Clarisse scoffed, immediately trying to jab Percy with the dagger.
“Can you stop that?” Percy said, dodging with irritation and obvious exhaustion.
“Kill me,” Clarisse replied sarcastically.
Annabeth let out a sigh before continuing.
“To enter the Sea of Monsters, you have to choose. You either fight Scylla and her claws… or you cross the whirlpool of Charybdis,” she explained.
“But why do we not just go around Scylla and… whatever her name is?” Percy said, moving the small ship across the map to skirt around both monsters.
“The Sea of Monsters does not work like that. If you stray from the path, they will still appear in your path,” Annabeth replied immediately.
Clarisse looked at him with disdain as well.
“The Sea of Monsters does not work like that, Jackson,” she added.
“Then what is the plan?” Percy said, rolling his eyes at Clarisse.
“The artillery ammunition is reinforced with celestial bronze. It can hurt monsters. Scylla would be difficult; she is in a rocky, elevated area. But Charybdis… she could become my prey if I manage to hit her,” Clarisse said with a hint of pride.
“While we sail straight into a massive whirlpool that, if you miss, will crush us and eat us with its huge teeth,” Annabeth pointed out at once.
“Do you have a better idea?” Clarisse asked mockingly.
“Scylla,” Annabeth said. “She was the one Odysseus chose, and he made it through. Except for six of his crew.”
“Each one was taken by one of her six arms. That distracted her long enough for them to pass. We could do the same…”
“We cannot,” Clarisse said, interrupting her with a serious expression.
“Why not?” Percy asked, raising an eyebrow. “They are already dead. They would just go to the Underworld a little earlier,” he added.
Clarisse showed a guilty expression.
“I already told you. I promised them Elysium.”
“Wait… you were serious about that?” Percy asked, staring at her.
“I do not lie,” Clarisse replied, though it was clearly difficult for her to say it.
“You may not lie, but you cannot even decide that. Only the gods can,” Annabeth said immediately.
“Ares promised it. If they helped me with my mission, he would grant one request of mine,” Clarisse explained. “As Olympus’ champion,” she added quietly, looking at Percy.
“Yeah, but your mission is to kill me. And I do not think you are getting very close to doing that,” Percy said calmly.
“I know. Do you think I do not know? I am painfully aware of it, with you standing there talking nonstop,” Clarisse replied, clearly fed up. “But I might still have a chance,” she added, clinging to the last concession Ares had given her.
Percy watched her in silence for a moment.
“You are a daughter of Ares, and yet you cannot sacrifice anyone to keep moving forward,” Percy said. “Honestly… I am starting to like you,” he added.
Clarisse frowned at that.
“Alright. The captain has spoken, Annabeth. No sacrificing her men, and we face a giant sea monster. There is no other option,” Percy said with a faint smile.
That earned Annabeth a somewhat confused look.
“A promise is a promise. And have you not heard of Norse mythology? Those who fall in battle earn their place in Valhalla. Well, my master said it was Sovngarde, but I do not think that exists here,” Percy said. “Although I am not sure if warriors who are already dead can earn it,” he added.
Clarisse stared at the map in silence and clenched her teeth. She hesitated for only an instant before standing up firmly and accepting a decision whose price she did not yet understand.
