The Last Olympian

business got started. It was never a box. It was a pithos , a storage jar. I suppose Pandora’s pithos doesn’t have the same ring to it, but never mind that. Yes, she did open this jar, which contained most of the demons that now haunt mankind— fear, death, hunger, sickness.”
    “Don’t forget me,” the empousa purred.
    “Indeed,” Prometheus conceded. “The first empousa was also trapped in this jar, released by Pandora. But what I find curious about the story—Pandora always gets the blame. She is punished for being curious. The gods would have you believe that this is the lesson: mankind should not explore. They should not ask questions. They should do what they are told. In truth, Percy, this jar was a trap designed by Zeus and the other gods. It was revenge on me and my entire family—my poor simple brother Epimetheus and his wife Pandora. The gods knew she would open the jar. They were willing to punish the entire race of humanity along with us.”
    I thought about my dream of Hades and Maria di Angelo. Zeus had destroyed an entire hotel to eliminate two demigod children—just to save his own skin, because he was scared of a prophecy. He’d killed an innocent woman and probably hadn’t lost any sleep over it. Hades was no better. He wasn’t powerful enough to take his revenge on Zeus, so he cursed the Oracle, dooming a young girl to a horrible fate. And Hermes . . . why had he abandoned Luke? Why hadn’t he at least warned Luke, or tried to raise him better so he wouldn’t turn evil?
    Maybe Prometheus was toying with my mind.
    But what if he’s right? part of me wondered. How are the gods any better than the Titans?
    Prometheus tapped the lid of Pandora’s jar. “Only one spirit remained inside when Pandora opened it.”
    “Hope,” I said.
    Prometheus looked pleased. “Very good, Percy. Elpis, the Spirit of Hope, would not abandon humanity. Hope does not leave without being given permission. She can only be released by a child of man.”
    The Titan slid the jar across the table.
    “I give you this as a reminder of what the gods are like,” he said. “Keep Elpis, if you wish. But if you decide that you have seen enough destruction, enough futile suffering, then open the jar. Let Elpis go. Give up Hope, and I will know that you are surrendering. I promise Kronos will be lenient. He will spare the survivors.”
    I stared at the jar and got a very bad feeling. I figured Pandora had been completely ADHD, like me. I could never leave things alone. I didn’t like temptation. What if this was my choice? Maybe the prophecy all came down to my keeping this jar closed or opening it.
    “I don’t want the thing,” I growled.
    “Too late,” Prometheus said. “The gift is given. It cannot be taken back.”
    He stood. The empousa came forward and slipped her arm through his.
    “Morrain!” Prometheus called to the blue giant. “We are leaving. Get your flag.”
    “Uh-oh,” the giant said.
    “We will see you soon, Percy Jackson,” Prometheus promised. “One way or another.”
    Ethan Nakamura gave me one last hateful look. Then the truce party turned and strolled up the lane through Central Park, like it was just a regular sunny Sunday afternoon.

FOURTEEN

PIGS FLY
    Back at the Plaza, Thalia pulled me aside. “What did Prometheus show you?”
    Reluctantly, I told her about the vision of May Castellan’s house. Thalia rubbed her thigh like she was remembering the old wound.
    “That was a bad night,” she admitted. “Annabeth was so little I don’t think she really understood what she saw. She just knew Luke was upset.”
    I looked out the hotel windows at Central Park. Small fires were still burning in the north, but otherwise the city seemed unnaturally peaceful. “Do you know what happened to May Castellan? I mean—”
    “I know what you mean,” Thalia said. “I never saw her have an, um, episode, but Luke told me about the glowing eyes, the strange things she would say. He made me promise never to tell. What caused it, I have no idea. If Luke knew, he never told me.”
    “Hermes knew,” I said. “Something caused May to see parts of Luke’s future, and Hermes understood what would happen—how Luke would turn into Kronos.”
    Thalia frowned. “You can’t be sure of that. Remember Prometheus was manipulating what you saw, Percy, showing you what happened in the worst possible light. Hermes did love Luke. I could tell just by looking at his face. And Hermes was there