Hey guy, I hope you enjoy this chapter- in which Percy tells off Zeus and Thalia steps up to defend her younger cousin and say her piece.
Percy swallowed hard, resisting the urge to cringe away under the stares of the gods as Artemis gave them a small nod and a faint smile. "Welcome heroes."
Then there was a familiar moo and Percy's gaze snapped to the centre of the room, the hearth-and a wide smile spread across her lips.
A sphere of water was hovering in the centre of the room, and inside of it was Bessie was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. He seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble. Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw them, he cried, "You made it!"
He started to run toward them, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.
"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia, who looked somewhat pale as she stared at her father, her grip on Percy's hand almost painful at this point.
Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.
Percy turned her head slightly and she let herself look at her father, who raised an eyebrow at her-and she could almost feel the mix of disapproving amusement rolling off him-after all he'd ordered her to stay at camp and she'd directly disobeyed those orders.
She gave him a sheepish grin that made him roll his eyes-and she felt some of the tension easing out of her shoulders.
Well at least he wasn't completely furious with her, that was something.
Then she was distracted by Grover reaching them- he pulled Thalia and Annabeth into tight hugs, making them let go of Percy's hands before he moved onto Percy, flinging his arms around her and hugging her almost painfully tightly. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"
"Can't do what?" Percy asked, voice confused-after all why would Grover thing she could convince the gods not to do anything?
"Heroes!" Artemis called, and Grover released Percy instantly turning to look as the goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn-haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked toward them, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.
"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told us. "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 mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happy with this plan, but nobody protested at least, and Percy felt a flood of relief-they'd known about the threat for a year and a half but Zeus had refused to listen before-at least now they were taking things seriously.
"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 Titans' cause. Lady Athena 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…" She turned to face the other immortals. "These half-bloods have done Olympus a great service. Would any here deny that?"
She looked around at the assembled gods, meeting their faces individually. Zeus in his dark pin-striped suit, his black beard neatly trimmed, and his eyes sparking with energy. Next to him sat a beautiful woman with silver hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered colors like peacock feathers. The Lady Hera.
On Zeus's right, was Percy's father. Next to him, a huge lump of a man with a leg in a steel brace, a misshapen head, and a wild brown beard, fire flickering through his whiskers. The Lord of the Forges, Hephaestus, Percy forced back the memories of what had happened with the faulty Talos and Nico-he was alive, he was alive and safe,
Hephaestus' creation had been terrifying but it hadn't killed her brother.
Hermes winked at them, a warm smile on his lips. He was wearing a business suit and checking messages on his caduceus mobile phone.
Apollo leaned back in his golden throne with his shades on. He had iPod headphones on, so for a moment Percy wasn't sure he was even listening, but he gave them a thumbs-up.
Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grape vine between his fingers.
Ares, well, he sat on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering at Percy while he sharpened a knife, he was clearly picturing using it to run her through.
And next to him was Hades, who gave Percy another nod.
On the ladies' side of the throne room, a dark-haired goddess in green robes sat next to Hera on a throne woven of apple-tree branches. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest.
Next to her sat a beautiful gray-eyed woman in an elegant white dress, and those eyes sent Percy straight back to the dam, and they were very disapproving when they flicked between Annabeth and Percy.
Then there was Aphrodite, who winked at them, eyes flicking between Percy and Annabeth, a knowing gleam in them. All the Olympians in one place. So much power in this room it was a miracle the whole palace didn't blow apart.
"I gotta say"—Apollo broke the silence—"these kids did okay." He cleared his throat and began to recite: "Heroes win laurels—"
"Um, yes, first class," Hermes interrupted, like he was anxious to avoid Apollo's poetry. "All in favor of not disintegrating them?"
A few hands started to rise, but Ares spoke before they could, "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's voice was a growl, "Your judgement on anything involving my daughter cannot be trusted given your history. "They are worthy heroes and you will not be blasting her to bits."
"Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well."
Thalia's face went red and Percy gave her a slight smile- it did feel good when a parent gave praise-and Thalia wasn't used to it.
The goddess 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's eyes blazed with sudden fury. "How can you say that! Percy and Tha-"
"Annabeth." Athena gave her a firm look, "Mind your tongue-"
"No! Percy and Thalia are heroes! You can't be suggesting killing them! I won't-"
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- though he found his own way around that and has two children alive now. 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." and Percy noticed both Grover and Thalia moving to grab Annabeth, who's expression was beyond fury- Percy was pretty sure if she was given the chance her girlfriend would try and murder her mother in that moment, she was glad that Grover clapped a hand over Annabeth's mouth to stop her from yelling some more.
"Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute. Who you callin'—"
He started to get up, but a grape vine grew around his waist like a seat belt and pulled him back down.
"Oh, please, Ares," Dionysus sighed. "Save the fighting for later." Ares cursed and ripped away the vine.
"You're one to talk, you old drunk. You seriously want to protect these brats?"
Dionysus gazed down at them wearily. "I have no love for them. Athena, do you truly think it safest to destroy them?"
"I do not pass judgment," Athena said. "I only point out the risk. What we do, the Council must decide."
"I will not have them punished," Artemis said. "I will have them rewarded. If we destroy heroes who do us a great favor, then we are no better than the Titans. If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it."
"Calm down, sis," Apollo said. "Jeez, you need to lighten up."
"Don't call me sis! I would have them rewarded- though I feel I know what their answers to my offer will be-"
"I already answered." Percy gave a faint smile, "My mind hasn't changed."
"I-" Thalia blinked, "You're offering the chance to join the hunt? I- I can't say I haven't considered it but..." she shook her head, "I think I've just found a home again I don't want to give that up Lady Artemis
"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"
There were a lot of heads nodding at that, and Percy felt Grover stiffen next to her and she realized suddenly what Grover had told her she had to stop and she was surging forward.
"You want to kill Bessie?" she demanded, a frantic look on her face, "You want to destroy him?"
Poseidon blinked, "You named the Ophitaurus Bessie?" he raised an eyebrow and Percy glared fiercely.
"You can't kill him! You can't it's not fair! He's done nothing wrong he's innocent!"
"Percy-" Poseidon's expression was uncomfortable, "My daughter, I know you're kind hearted but the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it, or—"
"You can't." Percy was moving more then, positioning herself between her father and Zeus and the floating ball of water that contained Bessie, and she glared at the two gods. "I won't let you." she heard Annabeth and Thalia's frightened gasps but she didn't care, she didn't care that Zeus already hated her for existing all she cared about was the right thing.
"Girl-" Zeus' voice was a growl and he started to stand, looking incredibly angry but Percy cut him off before he managed to rise to his feet.
"You sit there and you judge everyone! You try to control everything but that doesn't work! You try to control them but that just makes them happen! If you kill Bessie just because of a prophecy-" Percy shook her head, "He's innocent! He's innocent and he came to me! He chose me to protect him!" she was near tears, "He's innocent. Killing something like that is wrong. It's just as wrong as… as Kronos eating his children, just because of something they might do. It's wrong!"
"Percy-" Poseidon's voice was stricken, "My child-"
"If you do this I'll never forgive you! Never! Why is it always about power? For once let it be about what's right! Please you're supposed to be all about justice Lord Zeus, how is this justice?"
Zeus seemed to consider this, faltering slightly. 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."
Annabeth opened her mouth to speak-but Thalia was moving forward first. "You'd be right to fear it from me father." her voice shook, "I was tempted-I was." she glanced at Percy as she joined her in front of Bessie. "If the prophecy was about me you'd be right to be worried. But it isn't-"
"What?" Zeus' eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about-"
"I met Grandma Rhea. She spoke to me privately, only briefly but she spoke to me." Thalia tilted her head up proudly-but Percy could see her hands shaking as he reached out and grabbed Percy's. "I was tempted by the power and that terrified me. But Grandma Rhea told me something. The prophecy doesn't say that it's the next child of the eldest gods to reach sixteen. It says A half blood of the eldest gods-" and Percy watched Thalia with wide eyes.
"Thalia-"
"Yes I turn sixteen tomorrow. But... even that's kind of questionable, I mean I should be turning eighteen not sixteen but I was a tree for years. But even if my ageing wasn't all screwed up I don't think it would be me-even if I was naturally turning sixteen tomorrow it wouldn't be me." her eyes were shining slightly, "Because I am not the right person for this prophecy father, I can feel it in my bones it was never supposed to be me." she turned her head to look at Percy, who's breath caught in her throat, "It's always been Percy. Always father-she's the one who's the most strongly connected with everything that's happened, she's the one who's fate seems to be tied with Kronos' rise-she has been from the start. And she's the one who's going to have the strength to stand against him and make the right choice when the time comes I know it. And it will be an honor to stand by her side and fight with her when the time comes and she saves Olympus. Because when Alabaster tried to tempt her into summoning the Ophitaurus and killing it-when she found out about that power... she wasn't even tempted. I... I want power that's my fatal flaw, but Percy, Percy isn't like that. Percy is a protector-she wouldn't even consider hurting someone for power-all she wants it to protect people. Which is why she's perfect because Kronos can't sway that-he can sway people who want power but he can't give Percy any offers she'd take because she's smart enough to know that he's going to hurt the people she loves."
Percy felt as if she'd been punched in the stomach. Thalia sounded so certain, and there was a stunned silence that filled the room for several moments, and Percy felt a heavy weight settling on her shoulders.
She remembered Luke's prophecy just six months earlier and suddenly she fully understood one of the lines.
When she'd refused Artemis' offer to join the hunters she'd chosen her fate.
Thalia was right.
Alabaster was right.
She was the child of prophecy.