Chapter 8

Sapphire

It took exactly 10 minutes for Sapphire to 'borrow' Nico's aviators' jacket (since she hadn't brought a warm coat of her own), change into combat boots and buy an orange toque from the camp store. By the time she made it to Half-Blood Hill Grover was already waiting. He had changed into a puffy winter coat but his shaggy legs were still showing, apparently the Mist would be covering for him. Sapphire ran up to Thalia's tree, carrying 'her' coat and sticking the few leftover drachmas into the pocket of her jeans.

"Hey." She said as she stopped next to the nervous satyr.

"Hey." He replied chewing on a tin can he was carrying with him.

"Explain." She ordered.

"Maine is very nice this time of year." He muttered. "Unlike New York."

Sapphire could only assume that that had something to do with the weather and not the absence of major gods in Maine. She stayed quiet while she waited for Grover to continue. He didn't say anything until one of the camp's strawberry delivery vans pulled up.

"A few cabins will be unhappy if they hear this…" He walked to the van and opened the door.

"Ladies first."

Sapphire climbed into the back of the van and bucked up. Then she waited, again, for Grover to start talking. She wondered idly what could be so disastrous that the weather could be so utterly messed up. Finally, Grover took a deep breath and began to explain. By the time he was done Sapphire was ten seconds away from asking Argus to stop the van so she could throw up and Grover himself looked like he wanted to be sick. Here's the short version.

Three demigod girls had gone missing, a daughter of Boreas, a daughter of Apollo and a daughter of Demeter. They went missing one at a time and were each found by mortals the week after they went missing. Dead. To make it worst they couldn't be judged in the Underworld because they were missing, well, parts of themselves. For one, the daughter of Apollo was drained of blood. (Sapphire refused to think about the other two because if she did she was quite sure she'd vomit, moving van or not.) As a result, Boreas, Apollo and Demeter were extremely angry and, as it wasn't known for sure who murdered their daughters, they were taking their anger out on New York City, hence the bizarre weather. What freaked out Sapphire the most (or maybe the least-most, it was hard to tell at that point) was that each of the girls had been dating Jeremy Asher before they vanished. And were found. Dead.

It was a good thing that after Grover finished explaining the van pulled up to the Empire State Building. Sapphire could worry about the gods who could blast her to dust instead of the demigods that had been murdered.

Leaving Argus to guard the van and battling ice cold winds that were completely contrary to the blazing sun the two of them made their way towards the doors of the Empire State. The lobby was almost empty, probably thanks to the bizarre weather, so they faced minimal resistance as they made their way towards the desk of the security guard who, predictably, had his head buried in a book. Grover coughed and the guard looked up at them with tired eyes.

"May I help you?"

"We have to go up to the top floor." Grover told him, and then he leaned forward and said quietly, "The very top."

The guard looked a bit concerned. "Name and parentage, please."

"Grover Underwood, satyr and…" he trailed off as he realized he didn't know Sapphire's full name.

"Sapphire Banks." she supplied as she made a quick decision, "Daughter of Persephone."

She figured it would be very helpful if the guard was freaking out. He looked at her ring and jacket and raised an eyebrow. "Whatever you say kid." He handed Grover a key card. "Make sure no one's in the elevator with you." he reminded them.

"Thanks." Sapphire said, but he had already gone back to reading.

The elevator was empty when Sapphire and Grover climbed in. Grover inserted the key card and pressed the button for the 600th floor.

"Any advice?" Sapphire asked him, as 'Staying Alive' starting playing. Note: the song wasn't doing anything to help calm her down.

"Don't act like Percy." Grover suggested. "Bow a lot. Be respectful. Try not to get blasted to dust."

"Thanks." Sapphire muttered. "Oh look, it's our floor."

The doors of the elevator opened and Sapphire couldn't help gasping as she got her first look at Olympus. Spectacular was too tame a word to describe it. Grover had to literally pull her out of the elevator before the doors closed because she was too busy staring.

"Come on." he insisted, "It's not good to keep the gods waiting."

They made their way through the streets towards the throne room. A few nature spirits and minor gods greeted Grover enthusiastically. Sapphire, however, was greeted with silence. Since they weren't actively trying to get away from her Sapphire declared the silence an improvement over the reaction at camp.

Finally, they reached the door of the throne room.

"ENTER!" a voice boomed. Sapphire looked at Grover nervously.

"I'm guessing you can't come?" She whispered. Grover shook his head.

"Well, wish me luck."

The doors opened and Sapphire entered.

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Still Sapphire's POV

Contrary to Annabeth's predictions, the entire Olympian council was seated in the throne room. Even Hestia was present, tending to the fire.

Sapphire gulped. She was so dead.

"Sapphire Banks." said the god siting directly in front of her. She looked up, saw his piercing blue eyes, and immediately bowed.

"Lord Zeus." she all but squeaked.

"No need to be afraid dear." Hestia said clearly from her place at the hearth.

"We're all family here." Hera told her while she herself glared at her husband.

Sapphire was pretty sure that most families didn't have meetings to decide whether or not to have a member of their family blasted to dust.

"Yes." Zeus coughed. "Sapphire Banks, please state the names of your parents for the council.

She bowed again. "Which parents, lord Zeus?"

"Godly parents." Zeus replied. Sapphire gulped.

"Hades and Persephone, my lords and ladies." A murmuring came from the assembled gods and Sapphire suddenly felt as if she had walked in during the middle of a conversation.

"See, she admits it." Athena said, her harsh grey eyes studying Sapphire intently.

Aphrodite squealed. "How wonderful!"

Artemis seemed to be congratulating Demeter. Dionysus was sipping from his can of coke and glaring. Hephaestus seemed to be having an argument with Apollo and Hermes. Ares was muttering to himself and Zeus, Poseidon and Hera were having a very animated conversation. In the middle of all of this Hestia caught Sapphire's eye and nodded reassuringly.

"SILANCE!" Zeus shouted at last. All of the talk died down.

"Do you have anything to say Sapphire Banks?" he asked.

Sapphire took a deep breath. "I have no clue how I ended up with two godly parents. Please just cast your votes and get it over with." she winched as she realized that what she said had verged into Percy territory. However, the gods didn't seem to be too annoyed.

"Fine." Zeus decided. "Who votes for Sapphire Banks to live?"

Hera and Artemis raised their hands immediately. They were followed shortly after by Demeter and Aphrodite.

"Old Corpse Breath doesn't deserve to lose another kid." Dionysus muttered and he raised his hand.

"We can wait." Athena decided and her hand went up.

Hephaestus seemed to agree with both Dionysus and Athena as he raised his hand. Poseidon also voted for Sapphire to live.

Sapphire let out a breath she hadn't know she had been holding. A majority, even though they weren't done voting yet. She would live, for now.

Ares muttered something that sounded like "Don't disappoint me kid." as he lifted his hand.

"I don't think she'll be trouble." Apollo decided has he voted yes to letting her live. Hermes elbowed him. "You just think she's cute." he chided as he raised his hand. Apollo and Sapphire both blushed.

Zeus looked at the raised hands around him. "Majority rules." he grumbled. Then he stood abruptly. "We will have a thirty minute break before we discuss our next issue." he decided, and then he vanished in a flash of lighting that left spots darting across Sapphire's vision.

The other gods began to exit the throne room in a less blinding manner then Zeus. Athena was the first to stop and talk to Sapphire.

"Do not give us reason to re-think this decision." she told her. Sapphire just nodded as Poseidon joined them. Athena seemed to be only slightly miffed by his presence.

"Lord Poseidon." she bowed her head.

"None of that." he ordered. "I am not my brother." He looked around then said, "Is my son alright?"

Sapphire blinked. "Percy? He's…well I think he's better. I wouldn't really know since I wasn't here for…" she trailed off.

"But you've read of him." Athena insisted. Sapphire nodded. "And my daughter?" Sapphire nodded again. "Is she well?"

"Annabeth seems fine. Busy, but fine." Athena nodded and without another word walked out. Poseidon gave Sapphire a kind smile and then he also left.

Apollo and Artemis also decided to talk to her.

"You are brave." Artemis decided as they walked over. "You could be a huntress." she handed Sapphire a sliver pamphlet. Sapphire looked down at the paper and she had to admit to being tempted. She remembered Leo and how Nico had already lost a sister to the hunters. She forced herself to put the pamphlet in her pocket.

"I'll think about it." she promised. Apollo also handed her a piece of paper.

"Call me." He winked and Artemis slapped him.

"Gods have cell phones?" Sapphire asked as she put the paper into her pocket beside Artemis' pamphlet.

"Why wouldn't we?" the twins nodded their goodbyes and left the throne room.

A hand landed on Sapphire's shoulder and she spun around, her one day of training taking affect.

Demeter looked at her stone-faced.

"We need to talk."

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A/N: Yay! Sapphire didn't die! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you're having a good 2014 so far.

-Cynder2013