The demigods circled around Mount Olympus as Max took it all in.
In the early morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow multiple colors, from bloodred to indigo. No one ever slept on Olympus because the streets were filled with minor gods, demigods, and nature spirits that were riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn't exist, because Max caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sound of lyres and reed pipes.
Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods.
Troy set Max down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. The gates then opened by themselves.
Good luck, Max, Troy said.
"Thanks," Max said. "Hopefully I don't need it."
Yeah, said Troy. See you later.
And with that, the griffin and the pegasi flew off, leaving Thalia, Annabeth, Percy, and Max alone. And then, side by side, they walked into the throne room.
Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp, Max noticed. There was also a smaller throne that looked plain. The ceiling glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoe the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.
All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about 15 feet tall, and all of their eyes were on the demigods.
"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.
"Moo!"
A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. The Ophiotaurus was happily swimming around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. He was enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magical bubble. Grover was kneeling, giving a report to Zeus when he saw the demigods.
"You made it!" he cried, then he started to run towards them, but remembered that he was turning his back on Zeus. He looked for permission.
"Go on," Zeus said. He was staring intently at Thalia. They had the same black hair and electric blue eyes.
Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Grover's hooves echoed on the floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.
Max noticed his mother standing next to Ares in regular form. Enyo nodded at him.
Grover gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs. Then he grasped Percy and Max's arms. "You have to convince them! They can't do it!"
"Do what?" Percy asked.
"Heroes," Artemis called.
The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn-haired girl, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion on her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.
"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis said. "They know that Mount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas's attempt for freedom and the gathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."
There was some muffling and shuffling among the gods, but no one protested.
"At my Lord Zeus's command," Artemis said, "my brother Apollo and I shall hunt the most powerful monsters, seeking to strike them down before they can join the Titan's cause. Lady Athena and Lord Hades shall personally check on the other Titans to make sure they do not escape their various prisons. Lord Poseidon has been given permission to unleash his full fury on the cruise ship Princess Andromeda and send it to the bottom of the sea. And as for you, my heroes..."
Artemis turned to face the other immortals. "These half-bloods have done Olympus a great service. Would any here deny that?"
She met Zeus' face, who was in a dark pin-striped suit with his black beard neatly trimmed. Next to him sat a beautiful woman with black hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered colors like a peacock. Hera, the Queen of Olympus.
On Zeus' right was a man who looked like Percy. Poseidon, the god of the sea. Next to him, a huge man with a leg in a set brace with a wild brown beard, and fire flickering through his whiskers. Hephaestus, the lord of the forges.
A man who had Luke's features winked at Percy. Hermes was wearing a business suit, checking messages on his phone. Apollo leaned back in his throne with his shades on. He gave Max and Percy a thumbs up, even though he had iPod headphones on. Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grapevine between his fingers. Ares sat in a chrome and leather throne and glowered at Percy while he sharpened a knife. On the regular throne sat someone who looked like Bianca and Nico. Max didn't recognize him.
On the ladies' side of the room, a brown-haired goddess in green robes sat next to Hera. Demeter, Max surmised. Next to Demeter sat a gray-eyed goddess in an elegant white dress. Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled at Percy knowingly and made him blush. Enyo just raised her eyebrows.
"I gotta say, these kids did okay," Apollo said, breaking the silence. He cleared his throat and began to recite: "Heroes with laurels—"
"Um, yes, first-class," Hermes interrupted. "All in favor of not disintegrating them?"
The hands of Aphrodite and Demeter went up.
"Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and Percy. "These two are dangerous. It'd be much safer, while we've got them here—"
"Ares," Poseidon interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits."
"Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well."
Thalia blushed as she studied the floor. Maybe it was because Zeus barely talked to her, much less give her a compliment.
Athena cleared her throat and sat forward. "I am proud of my daughter as well. But there is a security risk here with the other two."
"Mother!" Annabeth said. "How can you—"
Athena cut her off with a calm but firm look. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath not to have more children. Only Hades kept his word, a fact that I find ironic. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder gods...such as Thalia and Percy...are dangerous. As thickheaded as he is, Ares has a point."
"Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute. Who you callin'—"
"Be quiet, Ares," Enyo said. She looked at Athena. "I'm not a goddess of wisdom, but controlling the prophecy almost never works. And if we are killing children who saved Artemis and your own daughter from Atlas, then we are no better than the Titans."
"I agree with Enyo," Artemis said. "If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it."
"I do not pass judgment," Athena said. "I only point out the risk. What we do, the Council must decide."
"I will reward them," Artemis said.
"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"
There was a lot of nodding heads.
"Bessie?" Percy asked. "You want to destroy Bessie?"
Poseidon frowned. "You have named the Ophiotaurus Bessie?"
"Dad," Percy said, "he's just a sea creature. A really nice sea creature. You can't destroy him."
Poseidon shifted uncomfortably. "Percy, the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it, or—"
"You can't," Percy insisted. He looked at Zeus. "Didn't Enyo say controlling the prophecies never work, right? Besides, Bessie is innocent. Killing something like that is wrong. It's just as wrong as Kronos eating his children, just because of something they might do. It's wrong!"
Zeus considered this for a moment. His eyes drifted to Thalia. "And what of the risk? Kronos knows full well if one of you were to sacrifice the beast's entrails, you would have the power to destroy us. Do you think we can let that possibility remain? You, my daughter, will turn sixteen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."
"Sir, you have to trust Percy," Max said.
Zeus scowled. "Trust a hero?"
"Max is right," Artemis said, and Max realized that she called him by his name for the first time. "Which is why I first must make a reward. My faithful companion, Zoe Nightshade, has passed into the stars. Phoebe, her second-in-command, has also passed at the hands of Talos." Artemis glared at Ares. "I must have a new lieutenant. And I intend to choose one. But first, Father Zeus, I must speak to you privately."
"Annabeth," Percy said under his breath, "don't."
Annabeth frowned at him. "What?"
"Look, I need to tell you something," Percy said. "I couldn't stand it if...I don't want you to—"
"Percy?" Annabeth asked. "You look like you're going to be sick."
Percy opened his mouth to say more, but his tongue betrayed him.
Artemis finished speaking with Zeus.
"It's gonna be okay," Max whispered. Percy paled.
"I shall have a new lieutenant," Artemis said, "if she will accept it."
"No," Percy murmured.
"Thalia," Artemis said. "Daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"
Max and Percy looked at each other in shock. Annabeth smiled, squeezing Thalia's hand, and let it go as if she'd been expecting this all along
"I will," Thalia said firmly.
Zeus rose, his eyes full of concern. "My daughter, consider well—"
"Father," Thalia said, "I will not turn 16 tomorrow. I will never turn 16. I won't let this prophecy be mine. I stand with my sister Artemis. Kronos will never tempt me again."
She then knelt before Artemis and said, "I pledge myself to the Goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."
Thalia then came over to Percy and Max, smiled, and gave them a big hug.
"Aren't you supposed to not do that anymore?" Percy asked. "Hug boys, I mean?"
"I'm honoring friends," Thalia corrected. "I must join the Hunt, Percy. I haven't known peace since Half-Blood Hill. I finally feel like I have a home. But you two are heroes. Percy, you will be the one of the prophecy."
"Great," Percy muttered.
"Don't worry, Thalia," Max said. "I'll keep him in check."
Thalia hugged Annabeth, who was trying hard not to cry. Then she hugged Grover, who looked ready to pass out. Then she went to stand by Artemis's side.
"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said.
"This boy is still dangerous," Athena warned. "The beast is a great temptation to great power. Even if we spare the boy—"
"No." Percy looked around at all of the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here on Olympus. But you have to protect him."
"And why should we trust you?" Hephaestus rumbled.
"I'm only 14," Percy replied. "If this prophecy is about me, that's two more years."
"Two years for Kronos to deceive you," Athena said. "Much can change in two years, my young hero."
"Mother!" Annabeth said, exasperated.
"It is only the truth, child. It is a bad strategy to keep the animal alive. Or the boy."
"What do we do if we hypothetically kill the boy and the animal?" Enyo asked. "Wait for another hero to choose the wrong choice? We are better than the Titans, but we have our flaws. I can understand where Luke is coming from. How many of you have claimed all of your children? I have a child, and he does not have a cabin to stay in. I know that we are immortal, but not everything can last."
There was silence. The hearth fire crackled.
Poseidon stood up. "I agree with Enyo. I will not have a sea creature destroyed if I can help it. And I can help it."
He held out his hand, and a 20-foot trident appeared. The shaft was bronze and the three spear tips shimmered with a blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the boy and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."
Zeus stood suddenly. "You won't take it under the sea! I won't have that kind of bargaining chip in your possession."
"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.
Zeus's lightning bolt appeared in his hands, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of ozone.
"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium here for the creature. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all our powers. The boy will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor."
Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"
A lot of hands went up, more than Max expected. Ares, Athena, and Dionysus abstained.
"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes...I imagine we should honor them. Let the triumph celebration begin!"
-:-:-:-
"They sure know how to party," Max muttered.
The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and Max heard hip-hop. One of the gods was singing jazz lyrics, and Annabeth told him that the music was whatever you wanted it to be.
Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with him arm in arm—Ariadne, Max guessed. Dionysus looked happy for the first time.
Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever you wanted. Grover trotted around with a full plate of tin cans and enchiladas, and his goblet was full of double-espresso latte, which he kept muttering over like an incantation: "Pan! Pan!"
Gods kept coming over to congratulate Max and Percy. Hermes started chatting with Percy, and Max thinking about telling him about what happened to Luke, but he got a call on his caduceus and he walked away.
Apollo said that they could drive his sun chariot any time, and to come to him if they wanted any archery lessons.
"Thanks," Percy said, "But seriously, I'm no good at archery."
"Ah, nonsense," Apollo said. "Target practice from the chariot as we fly over the US? Best fun there is!"
Max and Percy decided to split up. Max went looking for his mom, but it turned out he didn't need to.
"Maximus," a woman's voice said behind Max.
He turned around to find his mother. "Hello, Mom."
"You did well," Enyo said.
"Thanks," Max said. "So you said you wanted to talk to me in private?"
"Yes," Enyo said. "Follow me."
Max followed Enyo to the elevator, where they went down to the lobby and Enyo sat down on a couch. She patted the space next to her and Max sat down. There was silence before Enyo spoke first.
"You did well for a half-blood who just recently found out about their heritage," Enyo said. "Almost as well as the son of Poseidon."
"Thank you, Mother," Max said. "So what does everyone do now?"
Enyo smiled at the "Mother" part. "Well, Artemis and her Hunters will take out monsters, as will I and the Amazons. Poseidon is still fighting against the older spirits of the ocean, who will protect Luke's ship, who is still alive, by the way."
"How is that possible?" Max wondered.
"Kronos and his magic," Enyo answered. "Luke hit the side of the cliff, and Kronos can work with that."
"And the Amazons?" Max asked. "Will they hate me?"
"Amazons are Hunters who are allowed to have relationships with men," Enyo reminded Max. "They won't like you at first, but they'll get used to you."
"Because I'd like that," Max muttered.
"It'll be fine," Enyo said. "Now, why was Aphrodite smiling at your group?"
Dammit. Max hoped she had forgotten about that.
"It was nothing," Max said.
"You hesitated," Enyo said. "Do I have to ask Aphrodite?"
"No!" Max said. "She talked to us before we went into Hephaestus's junkyard."
"About..."
"Percy's feelings about Annabeth," Max said. "And my former crush on Bianca."
"Your friend at Westover?"
"Yes," Max said. "Wait, how'd you know?"
"I'm a goddess." Max didn't know how that was an answer, but before he could ask, Enyo asked, "Do you still have feelings for Bianca?"
"I don't know. I thought I got over it, but it's like Aphrodite is messing with my feelings."
"That's because she is," Enyo said. "That woman loves drama. But you'll figure it out."
"I hope I do," Max said.
"Good," Enyo said. "You want to go back to the party?"
Max grinned. "You bet."
-:-:-:-
After Max and Enyo returned to the party, Max danced with her. He also talked with his grandmother Hera. Afterward, he went around looking for Percy. He found him talking to Athena. Percy's fists were balled.
"I hope the Council's decisions prove wise," Max heard Athena say. "But I will be watching, Percy Jackson. I do not approve of your friendship with my daughter. I do not think it is wise for either of you. And should you begin to waver in your loyalties..."
Athena stared at Percy with her cold gray eyes.
"Percy!" Annabeth said, running through the crowd. She stopped short when she saw who Percy was talking to. "Oh...Mom."
"I will leave you," Athena said. "For now."
She turned and strode through the crowds, which parted before her as if she was carrying Aegis.
"Was she giving you guys a hard time?" Annabeth asked.
"Only Percy," Max said. "I talked with my mom."
"Did it go well?" Percy asked.
"Yeah," Max said. He pointed at Percy's hair. "I also talked with Hera. That woman has a thing for perfect families. So, what do we do now?"
Percy looked around. "You haven't met Tyson yet."
"Who's Tyson?" Max asked.
"My brother," Percy said. He took out a couple of golden coins from his pocket. "Come on."