The Last Olympian

we go now?
    “Luke, I care very much,” Hermes said slowly, “but gods must not interfere directly in mortal affairs. It is one of our Ancient Laws. Especially when your destiny . . .” His voice trailed off. He stared at the candles as if remembering something unpleasant.
    “What?” Luke asked. “What about my destiny?”
    “You should not have come back,” Hermes muttered. “It only upsets you both. However, I see now that you are getting too old to be on the run without help. I’ll speak with Chiron at Camp Half-Blood and ask him to send a satyr to collect you.”
    “We’re doing fine without your help,” Luke growled. “Now, what were you saying about my destiny?”
    The wings on Hermes’s Reeboks fluttered restlessly. He studied his son like he was trying to memorize his face, and suddenly a cold feeling washed through me. I realized Hermes knew what May Castellan’s mutterings meant. I wasn’t sure how, but looking at his face I was absolutely certain. Hermes understood what would happen to Luke someday, how he would turn evil.
    “My son,” he said, “I’m the god of travelers, the god of roads. If I know anything, I know that you must walk your own path, even though it tears my heart.”
    “You don’t love me.”
    “I promise I . . . I do love you. Go to camp. I will see that you get a quest soon. Perhaps you can defeat the Hydra, or steal the apples of Hesperides. You will get a chance to be a great hero before . . .”
    “Before what?” Luke’s voice was trembling now. “What did my mom see that made her like this? What’s going to happen to me? If you love me, tell me.”
    Hermes’s expression tightened. “I cannot.”
    “Then you don’t care!” Luke yelled.
    In the kitchen, the talking died abruptly.
    “Luke?” May Castellan called. “Is that you? Is my boy all right?”
    Luke turned to hide his face, but I could see the tears in his eyes. “I’m fine. I have a new family. I don’t need either of you.”
    “I’m your father,” Hermes insisted.
    “A father is supposed to be around. I’ve never even met you. Thalia, Annabeth, come on! We’re leaving!”
    “My boy, don’t go!” May Castellan called after him. “I have your lunch ready!”
    Luke stormed out the door, Thalia and Annabeth scrambling after him. May Castellan tried to follow, but Hermes held her back.
    As the screen door slammed, May collapsed in Hermes’s arms and began to shake. Her eyes opened—glowing green—and she clutched desperately at Hermes’s shoulders.
    “ My son ,” she hissed in a dry voice. “ Danger. Terrible fate! ”
    “I know, my love,” Hermes said sadly. “Believe me, I know.”
    The image faded. Prometheus pulled his hand away from my forehead.
    “Percy?” Thalia asked. “What . . . what was that?”
    I realized I was clammy with sweat.
    Prometheus nodded sympathetically. “Appalling, isn’t it? The gods know what is to come, and yet they do nothing, even for their children. How long did it take for them to tell you your prophecy, Percy Jackson? Don’t you think your father knows what will happen to you?”
    I was too stunned to answer.
    “Perrrcy,” Grover warned, “he’s playing with your mind. Trying to make you angry.”
    Grover could read emotions, so he probably knew Prometheus was succeeding.
    “Do you really blame your friend Luke?” the Titan asked me. “And what about you, Percy? Will you be controlled by your fate? Kronos offers you a much better deal.”
    I clenched my fists. As much as I hated what Prometheus had shown me, I hated Kronos a lot more. “I’ll give you a deal. Tell Kronos to call off his attack, leave Luke Castellan’s body, and return to the pits of Tartarus. Then maybe I won’t have to destroy him.”
    The empousa snarled. Her hair erupted in fresh flames, but Prometheus just sighed.
    “If you change your mind,” he said, “I have a gift for you.”
    A Greek vase appeared on the table. It was about three feet high and a foot wide, glazed with black-and-white geometric designs. The ceramic lid was fastened with a leather harness.
    Grover whimpered when he saw it.
    Thalia gasped. “That’s not—”
    “Yes,” Prometheus said. “You recognize it.”
    Looking at the jar, I felt a strange sense of fear, but I had no idea why.
    “This belonged to my sister-in-law,” Prometheus explained. “Pandora.”
    A lump formed in my throat. “As in Pandora’s box?”
    Prometheus shook his head. “I don’t know how this box