The meeting had been a complete waste of time. Nothing had changed. Nothing! It was like I hadn't done anything differently, either that or the world simply didn't care.
I had spent the entire forty minutes listening to them argue only for the exact same people to be chosen. It was even in the same order as I remember, almost like the fates were messing with me.
However, I put those thoughts aside as I lay in my bed. Allowing my muscles to relax in preparation for the fitful sleep that was to come. Closing my eyes I welcomed the dark abyss that Morpheus would grant me.
The world was dark, darker than I had ever seen it before. The only lights coming from the billions and trillions of stars littering the sky. There were so many more stars than I had ever seen, they alone acted like a moon. Their combined radiance lending the only light needed in this new world.
Surrounding me were large trees, a soft wind blowing through them. Flowers scattered the ground, some glowing while others merely reflected the light of the stars. A few feet in front of me was a small pool of water, one that I could tell was purer than nearly any I had ever felt. It acted like a mirror, catching every perfect detail of the world.
"Do you like it?" A soft voice spoke from behind me. Turning around revealed a beautiful woman, one that had to be a goddess. She had ivory skin with flowing locks of obsidian hair with little specks of white in it. The goddess wore a toga, with one shoulder holding it. She was holding the other side up with her hand, keeping it from slipping. "It is beautiful, is it not?"
"Yeah, but if you're here to threaten me please get it over with. Places to be and all that," I responded. I was slightly exhausted with new gods and goddesses trying to intimidate me.
"I have received many warnings about you. They tell me you are the most dangerous adversary in this war," She walked forward, closing the small gap that separated us until she stood directly in front of me. It was quite saddening to discover she was a head taller than me. "However, looking at you now I can't say that I see it. Perhaps it is something that is only shown in battle, or perhaps it is the uncertainty that makes you dangerous. The Fates gave you a choice and yet no one knows what that choice is or what you will choose, it makes you quite the wild card."
"Yes, well I know that I'll be beating Kronos myself, so you can rest assured that I know what my choice is and what I'll choose," The close proximity was a little distracting. My muscles were relaxing of their own accord, ignoring my intentions entirely. This newest goddess put my body at ease, lowering my defences with her peaceful aura. "Who are you? I mean you know me but I don't know you."
"Ha, my sister did say you were quite entertaining for a mortal and my nephew told me of your fortitude and lack of respect. If it had been my sister you would be long dead little hero, but I suppose so would all of you humans," She walked around me and sat on a bench that appeared beside the lake. "You mortals have never been a concern of mine before, it was never my place to dictate what you did or why you did it. No, that was Ouranos's job or at least he made it his, but now I have been dragged from my home to act as a repellent. It is insulting."
Her voice never raised in pitch or volume, it was monotone. I wouldn't have even known she was ranting if not for the very obvious scowl on her face. Her glittering black eyes narrowed as she spoke and a single fist clenched but otherwise, her tone gave nothing away.
"So why are you here? To repel me?" She turned toward me and laughed. It was not one out of amusement but one born of absurdity, as though the very idea was preposterous.
"You would not even require thought to hold back child. I know not what my Nieces have done for you that lends apprehension to your name but they will never hold a candle to me or my siblings. They can stitch their little portraits and they can even make you a god themselves but it will never be enough, not if it is me against you."
I noticed the horizons light up, a sunrise from all directions. The light surrounded us, moving inwards. The faint crackling of flames reached my ears before they disappeared, the goddesses hand waving through the air in a smooth motion.
"That is what I am tasked with repelling, although he is no more difficult than you would be. Now leave, save the huntress, I grow tired of the night with only stars," She tapped my forehead and all went dark.
A line of warmth sliced across my face before quickly cooling.
Opening my eyes revealed a large tongue preparing a second journey, one that would lead from one side of my face to the other. It was too late. My objection silenced as the offending appendage lapped far too close for comfort.
"Oh hey boss, you're finally awake," The owner of the tongue spoke mentally, his voice reaching me in a way that wasn't understood even by Annabeth who had merely waved it off as 'magic'.
Standing over me was a large ebony stallion with amber eyes. He was large for a horse, but only slightly with denser muscle than what would be healthy for the average pull horse. The most impressive detail, the one that set him apart were the large wings resting against his side. They were massive, each able to extend nearly twenty feet each, with feathers almost as strong as iron.
"Why did you lick me? You could've just knocked on the floor or something," I paused. "Wait...how'd you get in here?"
He turned around, looking a fresh hole in my back door before tapping his foot anxiously.
"Sorry boss," Unsurprisingly he didn't sound very sorry. "But you need to see this."
I yawned before pulling myself out of bed, following Blackjack out of the cabin. He explained how a few naiads got a hold of him, trying to find me when Blackjack offered to get me himself. The naiads said they found a small creature trapped in a net and needed me to go get him out, which I find stupid since they could just as easily have done it.
"Fine let's go," I climbed on Blackjacks back before he blasted off. Every flap of his wings sent a powerful gust into the ground, pushing all the dust in the vicinity away.
I knew what creature we were going to help and I could hardly contain my excitement. If I could prevent it from being a threat then I could change the prophecy immediately, saving both Zoe and Bianca.
As soon as we were stopped I jumped off, rocketing through the warm waters of the Long Island Sound. I quickly reached the bottom, where a small group of aquatic life had gathered. Their voices blended together as they all screamed for attention, all in a panic over the danger a single one of their family was in.
My eyes landed on the struggling bull as my father had later told me in my own time. It was mooing pitifully, each twist only serving to tangle it more. My hands quickly went to work untangling the net from Bessie.
As I worked I began praying, asking my father to look after the innocent creature. Only a moment later did a cool blast of water come in. I sighed in relief, believing my father had come to protect Bessie but instead as the water washed over the bull a much less desired effect occurred.
The small monster was ripped to shreds, its body quickly turning into nothing before turning into golden dust carried away by my fathers current. It was too quick to stop, ending within a second yet it had seemed so slow.
My eyes widened. This wasn't meant to happen. The Ophiotaurus was meant to be saved, protected like the innocent it was and yet my own father had just killed it. He had killed it as passionately as a glacier sinks a ship.
Then as the cold current passed, a new warm one caressed me. Filling my strangely numb muscles with energy, encouraging me to move on and so I did. Yet my ascent to the surface did little to calm the raging storm in my mind.
The waters helped launch me high into the air, blackjack quickly scooping me up.
"How'd it go boss?" The energetic Pegasus asked. Taking a deep breath I responded.
"It was a success," And we rode in silence.
The sun was still down when Blackjack and I descended upon the camp. The harpies returning to their hovels for the soon to come day. As we approached I spotted Nico slinking through the shadows, stalking his sister like prey which was surprising considering the fact that Zoe was also there.
I had Blackjack set me down behind the same column he had before or was it now? Doesn't matter because I am too busy to think about that.
Sneaking up on Nico was even easier than sneaking up on the children of Hypnos. Almost like Nico didn't care if he was spotted, which he might not, considering he was so young.
The two hunters spoke in hushed tones, most likely repeating things they had once said before in my presence and so I didn't bother listening. Instead, I prepared myself to talk to Nico.
After a few moments, the girls left and Nico stood to follow only to be stopped by my hand on his shoulder.
He quickly turned around, his dark eyes showing more white than usual. It almost made me laugh at how shocked he looked but this wasn't the time.
"Please don't tell anyone," He whispered, his eyes darting around in search of anyone who may be listening.
"Don't worry, I won't," I told him. "But that means you can't tell anyone I'm leaving."
He shook his head quickly before his eyes widened again. His mouth opened and so I put my palm over it, stopping him from talking.
"I'll protect your sister, but you have to stay here ok?" I asked.
"Yeah, thanks Percy," He said before hugging me. This time I allowed a small smile before pulling him off and sending him on his way. As soon as he was out of sight my smile dropped.
This was the second time I made this promise and I intended to keep it. Even if I had to die to do so, it would be worth it to know that Nico got his sister again. So with that thought on my mind, I made my way to Blackjack and explained my plan, which he immediately agreed to on the promise of doughnuts.
It wasn't long after that I found myself trailing behind a small white van full of some of the most dangerous teenagers on the planet. Then I felt the sun hit my back, its morning rays invigorating me. So when I landed on the Chrysler building I was ready for the vines that wrapped around Blackjack.
"Ah, so the sea-brat thinks he can just leave camp does he?" Dionysus sneered.
I turned to face him and was unimpressed as usual. Unlike the other gods who seemed to become a stronger, better version of themselves, Dionysus appeared normal. His powers weak compared to the few gods I had already met this time around.
"Maybe I should take you before my father and see what he thinks, or maybe I could turn you into a bottlenose dolphin and send you to your dad."
"Why don't you just let me go? That's one less camper to deal with," I responded.
Then he started laughing, a full bellow yet it was very obvious that he thought I was stupid. The vines reacted as well, constricting over Blackjack just the slightest bit more before a single vine wrapped around me and hoisted me in front of the god. His purple eyes blazed with mad power, swirling like wine in a glass and yet glowing with more light than any other god I had seen.
"I told you that you were being consumed by your own mind. That I wouldn't deal with it back then but now is the time I dealt with it. If you want to go on that quest and save the little girls that's fine but you will not endanger them with your unstable mind," He growled. A hand rose and his index finger jabbed my forehead. Then all went dark and I felt peace once more.