Luke Castellan

Luke Castellan is a recurring antagonist in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. He is a demigod (half human, half-god) son of Hermes. Luke is played by Jake Abel in the movie Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, a film adaptation of the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief.
Early life
Luke is a son of Hermes, a god and May Castellan, a female mortal who can see through the Mist. When he was about nine, Luke ran away from his mother's home in Connecticut, due to her unstable mental problems brought about by the curse of Hades, which was placed upon her for trying to become the new Oracle. This caused her eyes to glow green and rant, frightening Luke. Later on, he met Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus. They paired up as fighting partners and it is assumed that they started a romantic relationship, and eventually ran into Annabeth, a plucky seven year old. Luke liked her for her courage, and gave her his celestial bronze knife, telling her that it takes a clever warrior to use a knife, and that he had a feeling she was pretty clever. He promised that he would not fail her like her family had failed her. This was the moment that Luke later envisioned to tie him to his human life when he bathed in the River Styx.
They all wandered around, trying to survive and avoid monsters. When Thalia got injured by a monster and Luke and Annabeth wanted to rest, Luke took them to his mother's house to heal their wounds. There, Luke met Hermes, his father, for the first and only time. Luke was angry with his father, and demanded to know why Hermes had never showed up when Luke prayed to him. Hermes inadvertently revealed he knows Luke's fate, and when Luke eagerly asked about it, Hermes refused to tell him. Luke then tells his father that he could not possibly love him if he will not tell him, and leaves with Thalia and Annabeth angrily.
According to Thalia, Luke began to act like he had something to prove after that moment. They got into more skirmishes because of his recklessness, and then they ran into the Hunters. They asked Thalia to join, and she refused, saying she could not leave Luke. Zoë Nightshade, Artemis's lieutenant, hauntingly told her that Luke would let her down, and that caused Thalia to resent and dislike the Hunters.
Eventually the group ran into Grover. Together, the quartet began to travel to Camp Half-Blood but were chased by monsters sent by Hades. Upon reaching the Camp Half-Blood border, Thalia chose to sacrifice herself so that Luke, Grover and Annabeth could get into camp without being killed by the monsters on their trail. As Thalia was dying, Zeus took pity on her and turned her into a pine tree. From that point on, Luke lived at camp all year round, all the while slowly falling into darkness.
In The Lightning Thief, although Luke succeeded in his mission, his failure to defeat Ares cost him dearly. Kronos punished him with nightmares, and Luke swore never to fail the malevolent Titan again. This would also cause him to fear Kronos greatly for many of his later years.
Luke was told via dream that another camper would be coming to Camp Half-Blood, one who would unwittingly take the stolen weapons of the gods down to Tartarus, therefore ensuring that there would be a war. Luke remembers this and finds this camper in the form of a twelve-year old boy named Percy Jackson.
The Lightning Thief
Knowing that Percy was the boy that Kronos was talking about, Luke befriends the boy and is successful in earning his trust. He welcomes him into the Hermes cabin (where children who have not been claimed go), trains him in sword combat, and provide him moral support that Percy needs as a newcomer.
One night after a Capture the Flag game, he summons a hellhound to attack Percy in an attempt to make Chiron, the camp activities director, believe that the camp is not safe for Percy. Unaware of Luke's treachery, Chiron sends Percy, along with Annabeth and Grover, to find the Master Bolt in order to prevent a war. Because monsters of Hades were unusually active and because it was as yet unknown that the Helm of Darkness was also stolen, it was believed that Hades was the Lightning thief and the group set out to go to the Underworld. Before Percy goes on his quest, Luke gives him a pair of winged shoes as a gift. These shoes were actually cursed to drag him, along with the Master Bolt, down into Tartarus when he neared it during his journey into the Underworld. However, this failed when Percy gave the shoes to Grover because Percy cannot fly, because Zeus is the Lord of the Skies and does not like Percy. Grover managed to escape from the burden when the time came.
After Percy discovers that the Master Bolt was in a backpack that Ares had given him and he had won the Helm of Darkness in a duel with Ares (who was unknowingly being influenced by Kronos), Percy returns alive to Camp Half-Blood along with his two companions, thwarting Kronos' plan.
In order to prevent Percy from interfering again, Luke takes Percy in the woods to 'look for something to fight'. While talking with Luke, Percy begins to slowly see Luke's dark side; Luke's words are bitter and he mentions his sword, Backbiter, which is able to kill both monsters and mortals. Luke then summons a pit scorpion to poison Percy. Luke tells Percy of his bitterness and desire for revenge, as well as his allegiance with Kronos, saying that there will be a new "Golden Age" that Percy will not be a part of, before teleporting away. The assassination attempt on Percy fails when the scorpion is killed and the wood nymphs bring him back to camp for healing.
Luke's betrayal was a surprise to many campers and counselors, especially to Annabeth, who reacted with great sadness at the loss of another childhood friend. Annabeth, however, admitted that Luke had been acting oddly ever since his failed quest and eventually admitted to herself that her dear friend was indeed a traitor.
The Sea of Monsters
After his defection, Luke took control of a monster cruise ship called the Princess Andromeda, which serves as his base of operations. In order to render Camp Half-Blood defenseless and eliminate a major ally of the Olympians, he poisons Thalia's tree with the help of a spy in the camp's ranks, planning to later 'allow' Percy and Annabeth to take the Golden Fleece and heal Thalia's tree, so Thalia will be purged from it. He also frames Chiron for the poisoning, causing him to be fired from the camp and be replaced by Tantalus.
At first, Clarisse was sent to find the Golden Fleece and save Grover from the cyclops Polyphemus but was interjected by Percy Jackson, along with a group of allies consisting of Annabeth Chase and Percy's half-brother Tyson.
Hermes, Luke's father, persuaded Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson to go on this quest, and told them to go onto the Princess Andromeda, hoping that Percy would meet up with Luke and convince him to stop his assault on the gods. Percy and his allies landed aboard the Princess Andromeda, not knowing of its true nature, and were captured.
During this time, Luke told the two of his plans to use the Golden Fleece to complete Kronos' resurrection and attempts to recruit Percy and Annabeth to his cause (not willing to recruit Tyson as he reminds him of the cyclops that captured him and Thalia years ago). The two refuse, Luke ordering his bodyguards to feed the trio to a Drakon. Percy and the gang escape through a lifeboat propelled by wind canister given to him by Hermes.
Luke later intercepts Percy and his friends when they are looking for a boat that they can use to get back to camp. When he is interrogating Percy for the Fleece in front of a pool (his army of monsters watching), Percy uses the pool to send an Iris message, tricking Luke into revealing the fact that Chiron was framed for the poisoning, resulting in Chiron being rehired (using the fact that he was in a panic due to Percy giving the Fleece to Clarisse). Enraged, he ordered Percy and his friends to be killed. Percy convinces Luke to duel him, a moment both had been waiting for a long time. Luke easily defeats Percy even when the latter's power is augmented by the water, but is prevented from killing the latter when he's knocked into the pool by a boxing glove glued to an arrow. The arrow was shot by Chiron and his family of centaurs who had just then arrived and proceeded to save them. When Percy escapes, Luke's spite and hatred for the son of Poseidon only increases.
Thalia is resurrected at last. It is possible and very likely that Luke's allegiance to Kronos was affected after this. He obviously wanted Thalia to be resurrected, shown when he says to Percy that he was going to give him the Fleece after he was done using it to resurrect Kronos.
The Titan's Curse
After Thalia's resurrection, Kronos' second in command, Atlas, devised a plan to capture the Ophiotaurus, which would grant the power to destroy Olympus to whomever killed it and burned it's entrails. He remembers the Prophecy and chooses Thalia to be its killer.
Luke Castellan is assigned to aid Atlas with this. However, Thalia and Luke were childhood friends and were romanitically linked in the past, bringing Luke hesitation to carry this mission out. Knowing this, Kronos tells Luke that if he does not succeed in this mission, he would be chosen to be Kronos' host and therefore suffer a fate worse than death.
Luke carries the sky in a plan to trick Annabeth into holding it after she was captured, which succeeds. He and Atlas later use this to their advantage by forcing a captive Artemis to hold the sky in her place, and Luke is happy that Annabeth survives. Atlas orders the death of Annabeth, but Luke convinces Atlas to keep Annabeth alive until Winter Solstice.
Luke is later seen with Atlas when he summons Skeleton Warriors to hunt down Percy Jackson.
His final appearance in The Titan's Curse is when Percy Jackson, Thalia and Zoë Nightshade, arrive at the regrowing fortress of the Titans, where Artemis and Annabeth are held captive. Refusing to have to kill Thalia, Luke attempts to sway her into joining their side. Thalia refuses and the two engage in a duel. Their ferocity and power demonstrated is incredible, but Thalia ultimately wins the duel, disarming and injuring Luke and cornering him against the edge of a cliff (she claims that she was always able to beat Luke in a duel). Luke continues to goad Thalia ("Isn't that what you want? To go back to your dad in triumph?"), but Annabeth begs her to spare him. As Thalia and Annabeth argue over his fate, Luke attempts to use the opportunity to try and disarm Thalia, but she kicks him off the cliff, something that causes her much guilt and grief.
Although his body is seen by both an approaching army of monsters and Percy, it is later revealed that Luke survived the fall. It is unknown how he survived the fall, although it may have been by Kronos's magic.
After her battle with Luke, Thalia pledges herself to Artemis (though she had previously scorned the offer), in order to stop the prophecy from coming true through her. She was only a few hours before becoming 16.
Poseidon later notes that the only way a non-Titan may take Atlas's burden is through their own free will and if they are a hero with great strength, a true heart, and great courage. Percy points out that Luke was able to take on the Titan's curse and Poseidon remarks that Luke is an interesting case before being distracted.
The Battle of the Labyrinth
Not long after the battle atop Mount Tamalpais, Luke approaches Annabeth under a flag of truce. He begs her to run away with him, as the thought of becoming Kronos' vessel apparently becomes too much for him. Annabeth is suspicious, however, and refuses, despite her determination to save Luke. Annabeth later regrets her decision, something that becomes very clear when Hermes confronts her and blames her for Luke's fate. Luke himself is also hurt by the experience, as implied by Kronos when he states that Luke learned not to trust his friends the hard way.
After the meeting with Annabeth, Luke continues to serve Kronos and prepare to become his vessel. His demeanor becomes marginally softer as he occasionally displays a moral compass that was previously unseen. This is most obvious when Luke becomes furious with Kelli for killing a boy in Seattle and when he indicates that he disapproves of Kampê's release, as she is too chaotic. He makes an attempt to talk with Annabeth again at Antaeus' arena, but this fails when she and her companions escape.
He is also seen in many of Percy's dreams.
When Luke is last seen, he is possessed by Kronos and attacks Percy Jackson, only stopped by the combined efforts of Rachel Elizabeth Dare and Nico di Angelo. He is not present at the Battle of the Labyrinth.
The Last Olympian
For the largest part of the war, Luke is completely controlled by Kronos, with a few waverings in the Titan's control. In this time, Percy learns that when Kronos achieves full power inside of Luke's body, he will burn through Luke's body and attain his true immortal form, which would mean the end of all life.
Kronos made his way to the throne room of the gods with Ethan Nakamura, destroying the city of Mount Olympus as he did so. Meanwhile Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia follow closely after. Thalia's legs are trapped under falling debris and the others continue on. Kronos battles them in the throne room when they arrive, but Annabeth is able to catch Luke's attention, reawakening him. But only partially.
Ethan Nakamura betrays Kronos and attacks him, unsuccessfully of course, as his sword shattered against Luke's invulnerable body. Several shards lashed back at Ethan and impaled him, and he staggered to the ground. Kronos, now having another internal struggle with Luke, opens a fissure in the floor beneath Ethan, and he tumbled to his death. Kronos continued to battle the trio, getting closer to his ultimate transformation to his original self.
Annabeth managed to coax Luke back to his own mind. Luke let Percy knock Backbiter into the hearth, leaving Luke defenseless. A beaten Annabeth gives Percy her knife, as they both realized that Luke was the true victim of the prophecy. Percy gave the knife to Luke who stabbed himself in his Achilles heel (weak spot), which is located under his left arm.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover look away as there was an explosion, and Kronos' fading screams. Luke is left lying on the floor, dying. Annabeth says that he would go to Elysium and Luke replies "Think … rebirth. Try for three times. Isles of the Blest". Annabeth replies that he "always pushed himself too hard". Then, Luke asks Annabeth if she loved him. Annabeth replies that she loved him like a brother. Luke then pleads to Percy to not let this happen again. With that, Luke dies just before the gods arrived after defeating Typhon. In the end he is taken away by the Fates, blessed by Hermes, and remembered and honored as a hero by not only Percy, Annabeth and Grover, but by all.
Death
Luke died in The Last Olympian. He killed himself with Annabeth's knife by stabbing his left arm, where his mortality was still kept intact after his bath in the River Styx, therefore fulfilling part of the prophecy. It was revealed that he, Annabeth and Thalia had made a promise long ago while they were traveling to Camp Half-blood that he would always stay with Annabeth and Thalia because they were "family." It is shown throughout the series that he never wanted to harm Annabeth, only Percy. Near the end of the last book he asked Annabeth if she ever loved him; she responded "Only as a brother," as he had expected. As he died, he asked Percy to make sure all the demigods are claimed to avoid this happening again. Although he is seen as a villain throughout the series, in the end he is treated like a hero. He is also the hero mentioned by the prophecy of the Oracle in The Last Olympian.
Physical description
Luke is an athletic, handsome, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and has a sneaky look like all Hermes demigod children, but good-looking features. Many girls are attracted to him, even an Empousa named Kelli and Grover's girlfriend, a tree-nymph named Juniper. The only thing not attractive on Luke is a deep pale scar that runs from the bottom of his eye down to his chin by fighting a dragon.
Although he is generally very attractive, his appearance has varied over the books. In the first two books, The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters he looks as always did in Camp Half-Blood, but come The Titan's Curse, he begins to look sickly and aged. His usually tanned skin becomes ghostly pale, and his hair is also white (supposedly with gray streaks), especially under the moonlight. He also begins to wear Greek clothing, such as the chiton and the toga (used as an over-the-shoulder cape). However, in The Battle of the Labyrinth, Luke's healthy appearance returns as he gets closer to getting taken over by Kronos.This is possibly because he bathed in the River Styx. He wore a white chiton, which made him look timeless. Percy thought he looked too healthy, because his skin had a unnatural glow to it. Just like the rest of Hermes kids, he has a sharp noses, upturned eyebrows and a mischievous smiles.
Power/Abilities
* Luke has ADHD like other half-bloods, which allows him a heightened awareness in combat.
* As with all other half-bloods, Luke is dyslexic because his brain has been "hard-wired" to read Ancient Greek.
* Luke is said to be an amazing fighter and swordsman, "The best swordsman in three hundred years", as mentioned by a Hermes camper in The Lightning Thief, although Thalia, his old friend, can always beat him in battle (her weapon of choice is a spear, so it is likely that she is exempt from the swordsman part).
* Being a child of Hermes, Luke has abilities that involve traveling and theft. He has displayed such powers thrice. In The Lightning Thief, he slashes Backbiter in an arc and disappears through the ripple he created. In The Titan's Curse, he conjures up a pool of water and a sacrificial fire by waving his hand. In The Sea of Monsters, he waved his hand and three chairs scooted into the room on board The Princess Andromeda, a cruise ship.
* Strong spirit, as evidenced by his ability to host Kronos in his body without completely losing his identity.<ref name="LastOlympian"/>
Weapons/Magical Items
*Backbiter — a blade with one side of celestial bronze melded with tempered steel. The celestial bronze allows for the wounding of immortals and monsters, while the steel injures mortal. Backbiter is a foot longer than Anaklusmos, Percy's sword. Percy sensed a tragedy in the making of Backbiter. In the fourth book, it is revealed that the metal used for Backbiter came from Kronos's scythe. It is reforged into its original form for its master's rising.<ref name="Labyrinth"/>
* A pair of magical sneakers that can sprout wings when the owner says, "Maia", the name of Luke's paternal grandmother. The sneakers were given to him by his father Hermes and bear a close resemblance to Hermes's own winged shoes. In The Lightning Thief, Luke cursed them into pulling the wearer of shoes into the pits of Tartarus; however, since Grover put them on instead of Percy it confused the curse. The shoes are now gone, for they slipped off of Grover and fell into Tartarus.<ref name=LightningThief/>
* Kronos's Scythe — when Kronos is brought back to life in Luke's form, the telekhines gave him Kronos's scythe, which is reforged out of Backbiter. No amount of celestial bronze can beat it.<ref name="LastOlympian"/>

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