Will:
Hearing comes before sight, when I finally regain consciousness.
"I can't believe it's over." Someone says. "And we're not dead!"
"No shit we're not dead, but a lot of others are."
"You have a point, but their deaths weren't for nothing. And we have a new oracle! Did you hear? It's that Rachel Dare girl." That was Hope's voice, definitely. I recognize the giddy excitement that drags on each syllable.
"Yeah, I heard. That's good. But we have to pack up and head back to camp before the mortals wake up and see what fucked up their city so bad. Ready to move, Violet?"
The next person to speak causes my heart to skip a beat. "Yeah, I guess. How are we transporting the wounded?"
"Godly help, I believe. They owe us." The voice is Snapdragon's.
"That'll make it easier." Violet's words are melancholy, embedded with worry. I realize it's probably a good time to open my eyes.
When things finally come into focus, I'm staring up at Violet's bloodstained chin.
"Hey, he's awake!" Hope says, and Violet looks down hopefully. I blink a few times and she grins.
"Thank the gods. Were starting to think we'd lost you there." She says, heaving a sigh of relief. "Quick, do you remember who you are?"
"William Brandon Solace."
"Where were you born?"
"Lafayette, Louisiana."
"Do you know who I am?"
"Of course, you're Scarlet Johansson."
"What?!"
"Kidding, Violet."
She scowls in mock irritation. "I knew that." Her face then lights up with a grin.
"Thank you." She says softly, and it sounds odd for Violet to say something so polite. "You saved my life."
" You would've done the same for me." I say, and the odd moment of naked emotion is over. She helps me to gently sit up, with some effort.
"How long was I out?" I ask.
"Somewhere around four hours." Violet replies. "With Apollo's warning...well I was starting to worry."
"Yeah, we got seriously lucky." Hope says, for once serious. "We can't screw around with that shit."
I massage temple, feeling a headache coming on. With Violet's support, I get shakily to my feet, nearly collapsing a second later. As Violet narrowly catches me and Snapdragon rushes to our aid, I see a carefully masked wince of pain flash across Violet's features.
"What's wrong?" I ask immediately.
"Just a little sore." She gives me a pained smile. And that's all she'll say. I trust her usually when it comes to her own health. And it was a bullet wound, after all. Those a tricky.
"So, we won?" I say as they help me to settle into a couch in the hotel suite.
Violet's face lights up. "Yeah, we did. Percy and Annabeth negotiated terms with the gods, and the remainder of Kronos' army has been destroyed or captured. We're about to go back to camp, actually."
"And Luke?" I ask.
"Died a hero's death." Violet says quietly. "Redeemed himself, you could say."
"What was the final death count?" I ask tentatively.
"About forty. A lot less than the original estimates for a victory." Snapdragon says.
"Wow." I say. "Wow. I mean, everything's gonna be ok now."
"I know." Violet says, and takes a seat, leaning into me. "I know."
Author's Note: This isn't the end, not quite yet. At most, there'll be two more chapters of follow up. Also, does anyone else think it's incredibly weird that the main character of the movie In Time (played by Justin Timberlake) is named Will Solace? I mean, that can't be a coincidence. Not like its a common name or anything. I wonder if Rick Riordan knows.
