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Son of Hades (Percy Jackson) Chapter 239: Much To Lose
🕑 Added 2025-03-02 16:24:01 +0000 UTC[Third Person's PoV]
The next day…
To everyone’s surprise, Lucian stood by the entrance of the camp early in the morning, wearing a cloak draped over his body with the hood down. The sun was still rising over the horizon.
“Where are you going?” Annabeth asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“Just a short trip,” Lucian replied with a shrug. “I’ll be gone for about a week, though.”
“Can we come with you?” Nico asked hopefully.
Lucian ruffled his hair. “Sorry, buddy, not this time. The place I’m going doesn’t allow visitors.”
“Why won’t you say where you’re going?” Thalia questioned.
Lucian rolled his eyes. “I want to appear mysterious, obviously.”
“Of course,” Thalia deadpanned.
Lucian turned to Annabeth and ruffled her hair as well. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back in time for your birthday. I’ll even bring you a present.”
Annabeth pouted cutely at him. “You better.”
“So... can we just come and go from camp whenever we want?” Bianca wondered aloud.
Lucian winked at her. “That’s a privilege only us children of Hades possess. The rest of you are stuck here!”
Nico and Bianca grinned, pleased with their newfound knowledge of their special status.
Lucian then looked at the small wisp perched on Annabeth’s shoulder. “Take care of her, will you? Make sure she doesn’t overexert herself and gets plenty of rest. We’ll begin training when I return.”
“Yes, sir!” the wisp chirped, saluting in a high-pitched voice.
“I’ll see you guys in a week!” Lucian said before turning around. With a single powerful flap of the dark black wings that had sprouted from his back, he sent a gust of wind toward them. Then, staying low to avoid incurring Zeus’s wrath, he took off.
As Lucian flew, the wind rushed against his face. ‘Teleporting is fun and all, but nothing beats a journey…’
He soared over a vast green meadow, the grass swaying with the breeze. After half an hour of blissful flying Lucian spotted a dense forest up ahead, he adjusted his course and weaved effortlessly through the towering trees. Eventually, he reached his destination.
A crossroads.
Lucian landed, his wings retracting into his back. As he did, a wave of purple mist expelled from his cloak, spreading rapidly. The mist swallowed his surroundings, transforming everything into a haze of violet. The trees became mere shadows, and the sky darkened.
The only visible thing in the eerie landscape was the crossroads before him.
“Ooooh, Teacher!~” Lucian called out, cupping his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice. “Your most diligent and favorite student has arrived to learn the mystic arts!”
The only response was a long, exasperated sigh—followed by a grand house materializing at the crossroads.
The house was black, its form a shifting silhouette within the mist.
Lucian grinned and began skipping toward it, arms swinging, jumping with every step.
As he neared, the house became clearer, revealing a massive hound and a polecat guarding the entrance. Lucian crouched down and scratched their chins.
“Hey, my little empress and little witch!~ Have you been behaving? Not giving your master too much trouble, I hope?”
The hound growled playfully while the cat hissed just as the door swung open.
Lucian turned to see Hecate standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed. She wore a dark robe, her long black hair hanging loosely over her shoulders.
“What do you want, Lucian?” Hecate asked, her tone weary.
Lucian flashed a grin. “What? Can’t I visit my most favorite teacher in the whole wide world?”
Hecate stared at him, unimpressed.
“Come on~ You were impressed with my Suicidal Branding technique, weren’t you? I mean, you even named it yourself! Shouldn’t you be happy to see me?”
Hecate scoffed, though a small smile flickered across her cold features. She motioned for him to enter before leading the way.
Inside, she settled onto a pristine leather couch. A wine glass appeared in her hand, filling instantly with shimmering golden liquid. She took a slow sip before speaking.
“Speak, boy. Why have you sought me out? What do you wish to discuss?”
Lucian’s grin faded. He intertwined his fingers, leaned forward, and rested his arms on his thighs.
“A few things, actually. We have a lot to talk about—the upcoming war, the dangers ahead, regrets you might come to have, how I can help, and...” His ruby-red eyes gleamed. “A way to advance my magic. Specifically, how to harness my legacy and turn my darkness and shadow magic... into light magic.”
Hecate narrowed her eyes. “What regrets do you speak of?”
Lucian held her gaze. “You might not have them now, but you will down the line.”
“Explain.” Hecate closed her eyes, taking another sip of her drink.
Lucian inhaled deeply before speaking. “Compared to most gods, you’re one of the most well-informed. While others might try to deny it, you know for certain—my grandfather has begun to move. He’s planning something.”
Hecate’s expression darkened, her discomfort evident.
As someone who had witnessed the First Titanomachy firsthand—the brutal war between gods and titans—Hecate knew the full extent of Kronos’s power. She had seen it with her own eyes.
Lucian’s gaze burned crimson as he continued.
“You know firsthand how enticing my grandfather’s words can be. Anyone who hears him... can’t help but be drawn in. He knows exactly what to say to make people listen. He knows what weaknesses to exploit.”
Hecate looked at Lucian with cold, piercing eyes, her divine presence pressing down on his mortal form like a crushing weight. “If I were you, Lucian, I would watch what I say very carefully. Surely, you aren’t insinuating that I am weak and easily manipulated?”
Lucian bit his lip until it bled, suppressing the pain as he endured her overwhelming pressure. His expression remained fierce as he gritted out, “Weak? No. Easy to manipulate? Perhaps. Which is why he will try to win you over—if he hasn’t already.”
Hecate studied him for a moment before withdrawing her power, much to Lucian’s relief. She leaned back, her voice measured and sharp. “If you suspected that your grandfather had already approached me, why would you come here? You, above all, know that you are his greatest obstacle in all of this. What’s stopping me from betraying our master-student relationship and handing you over to him? It might just put me in a favorable position… giving me exactly what I desire.”
Lucian smirked, a knowing look in his eyes that irritated Hecate for some reason. “Call it intuition, but you wouldn’t do that. You, my lovely Titaness, are too kind. That’s why you were one of the first Titans to switch sides in the last war… In other words, you care too much. You love me too much to betray your precious disciple.”
Hecate clicked her tongue in annoyance and turned away, taking a long sip from her glass. A faint flush colored her pale cheeks.
Lucian’s expression grew serious, shifting the atmosphere once more. “It’s without a doubt that my grandfather will try to bring you to his side first. No matter how sweet his promises sound, you have to remember—out of everyone, you stand to lose the most.”
Hecate frowned but remained silent.
“Your children will likely make up the majority of his forces, meaning they’ll be on the front lines, bearing the full force of the gods’ counterattack. To him, they are nothing more than numbers—human shields, disposable assets.”
Lucian ran a hand through his dark hair, his voice unwavering. “I know better than anyone that their deaths would devastate you. That’s why I’m here—to prevent that from happening.”
Hecate sighed heavily, her gaze softening as she looked at him. “Lucy,” she said, her tone unusually intimate. “As much as I appreciate what you’re trying to do, you have to understand… One doesn’t simply refuse your grandfather when he makes an offer. And as much as it pains me to admit, I do not control the lives of my children. We are forbidden from interfering. They must choose their own paths.”
Lucian clenched his fists as he saw the helplessness in her gaze.
“I’m sorry, Lucian… Even though I am a goddess, my hands are tied in this matter. It’s not something I can simply involve myself in.”
Lucian’s frown deepened slightly before he forced a reassuring smile. “Then don’t worry about it—I’ll do everything I can to minimize your losses.”
Hecate set her glass down, leaned forward, and gently ran her fingers through Lucian’s hair. She looked at him with warmth and care.
“You may not realize it yet, but you already have…”
She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
“Thank you.”
Comments
Bryan Vargas
Uh no... Since I haven't really finished reading all the books... I haven't even finished the first one of the Kane Chronicles
Orion Chung
So MC is going to visit Kane siblings in other words get involved with Egyptian gods and magician
Nazarickk
Thanks for the chapter
