2. Gone

Annabeth POV

I still don't believe it. I don't want to believe it. I can't believe it.

But there's no ignoring the fact that Percy's gone. He just disappeared. He just left me behind. I have the strangest feeling that he's done something irreversible, and that when I find him, if I find him, he won't be my Percy anymore.

I want to cry again, but I'm all cried out. Maybe he needed some space. Maybe he decided that he couldn't live at camp anymore.

Maybe he decided that he couldn't do any of it anymore. Maybe he just couldn't stand it. Maybe he brought it all to an end. It would have been simple. Just one simple thrust with Riptide and it could end.

No. That's not the Seaweed Brain I know. Percy may have been many things, but he wasn't a coward, and that would have been a coward's move.

No, he's either been captured (unlikely) or he decided he just couldn't do it anymore, living here with all of the reminders of them.

That's pretty cowardly, too. I'm just as hurt as he is! How could he leave me?

Then again, he was right next to Grover when he died. I was told after it happened. He's probably taking it harder than everyone else. They were the best of friends.

Is it fair of me to blame Percy for what he's done? No, probably not. He's experienced the worst of the worst. No one's gone through what he has. He has every right to a break. My only problem is that I was the one left behind. He's the love of my life, the one person I'm alive for. I thought he felt the same way.

Evidently not.

Well, maybe he still loved me. Maybe he made me promise to not intentionally get myself in trouble to keep me safe. Maybe he still cared.

I was pulled out of my reverie by the elevator doors opening with a small ding. I led my small group of campers out onto the walkway. Looking at Olympus, I caught my breath. I always did that. Just seeing all of my designs on Olympus made me feel amazing. I could almost forget about Percy.

Almost.

We marched through the city, through the gardens to the throne room. We passed Grover's laurel, marked by the small stone at its base. I wanted to stop, to talk to Grover again, even if he couldn't respond or even hear me, but I couldn't be late. The gods had called a conference with the leaders of the cabins at camp. What they wanted, I didn't know. Maybe they wanted to dump all their problems on us. I sincerely hoped not, but it seemed likely.

Maybe they were organizing yet another search party for Percy. Despite having nothing between his ears, Seaweed Brain had done the Olympians quite a few favors. Some of them would never rest until Percy was found. It made me proud to see how much Percy was respected. Then I would remember that he was gone. My pride would turn sour.

We entered the throne room. If it had been big when Percy first saw it, it was gargantuan now. Campers who hadn't been to Olympus since it was remodeled let their mouths fall to the floor in awe. The thrones of the Olympians were rather similar to their old ones, only more intricate and with even better defense mechanisms. The ceiling was the customary star-covered one, only there were clouds of dust up there now, and planets- the galaxy, alive on a painted ceiling. The walls were marble with golden designs, the floor was marble, and behind the gods hung a beautiful tapestry depicting their first victory over the Titans.

Unfazed by the throne room, I stepped forward and knelt at Zeus's feet. The other campers followed my lead, tugging down those who were too amazed to notice everyone going to their knees.

Zeus glared at us. That could be a sign of bad news, I thought nervously. Then again, he's always glaring, so it's probably nothing. Even as I thought those words, Zeus motioned for me to rise. I did so, hearing the scuffling sounds of about twenty-five campers doing so as well.

Zeus cleared his throat. "Demigods, we have gathered you here to offer you something. You were all invaluable to us in both the Titan War and the Giant War. As a reward, we would like to grant you all partial immortality. However, in this case, we think we will allow you to be able to change your size, age, and appearances as we gods do."

Gasps echoed through the crowd. I was in shock. Partial immortality? That's big. We would be immortal and eternally youthful unless killed in battle, like the Hunters. Only in this case, there were no vows. Add in the age and appearance factor... Wow. We would be able to live for a very, very, very long time.

I was unsure of whether or not we should accept. Percy… he would have used this gift to try and help others. He would have been selfless and loyal. That was Percy.

Should we follow his example? Who could we help, anyway? Was there anyone left, or had Percy already helped everyone he could?

"How unfair of you, Seaweed Brain," I muttered. "Make sure everyone is helped so we can't use our gift on others? How unfair."

I turned to the other campers. Some looked unsure, others excited, and others barely processing what was going on. These were the heroes of this age, the greatest heroes of all time. If we became partial immortals, we could help train those who came after us. We could be helpful. This was the right choice.

Clearing my throat, I stepped forward and said, "On behalf of the demigods assembled here, I accept your generous offer, Lord Zeus."