The Ever Twisting Wind: Of Monsters and Titans

by Engineer4Ever

Andromeda Potter has found a refuge for her anguished soul. But as challenges new and old arise, will she able to survive as her world continues to change all around her? Book 2.

12. Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter

The Ever Twisting Wind: Of Monsters and Titans

Chapter Twelve: The Vote is In!

Beta: ShadowofAxios

AN: Happy Holidays to all! Be merry!

---

"Lady Artemis, could we stop at Crissy Fields?" Annabeth asked as politely as she could in her exhausted state. "My father's plane is based there, I want to make sure he's okay."

Artemis agreed as she cracked the reins of her silver sleigh. "Yes, anywhere is fine. We need to land as soon as possible. I need to check on Zoë."

The goddess didn't say it but from her saddened tone, it was clear she meant to say her goodbyes to her lieutenant before she passed on. Andi's heart went out to her sister and her good humor at joking about the reindeer sleigh went out the window as she realized how callous she'd been to be making jokes when one of the goddess' closest friends was dying.

The others seemed to have got the memo as well as the chariot descended into a respectful silence, as the goddess steered them in the direction of wherever this Crissy Field was.

---

They landed at Crissy Field after nightfall and to Andi's pleasant surprise found that not only was Annabeth's dad waiting for them at the airfield but Silver, Quill and their flock too.

Or was it a herd?

As soon as they landed, Artemis had carried Zoë off to one corner and was tending to her. The others respecting the goddess' desire for privacy went off to find something else to occupy themselves. Annabeth and Percy had shuffled over to talk to Mr. Chase, Andi idly noted that Thalia was torn between following the goddess or Andi herself who accompanied by Wendy had decided to see how the flock was doing.

"Silver, Quill, and other finely feathered folk." Andi greeted with a smile as she approached them.

Ah, my lady. Twas truly a glorious fight. Silver squawked and puffed his feathers up.

You were pooping in fear the whole time! One of the other hippogriffs called out.

It was an aerial bombardment to dampen their morale!

Quill sniffed in agreement. A classic maneuver.

Wendy wrinkled her nose while Andi shook her head in amusement. "Thanks for coming, guys. You really bailed us out."

I wasn't minced into a side dish because of you, it was the least I could do to rally my brethren. Silver crooned as he rubbed his beak affectionately against her cheek.

Suck up.

Who said that?!

The flock/herd of hippogriffs broke out into a spat at that, Andi looking on in amusement.

"Err. Andi could I have a word?" Thalia asked hesitantly as she walked up.

Wendy, Silver, Quill and the other hippogriffs all shot the older demigod of Zeus a gimlet eye, even as Andi gruffly replied, "Yeah, whadya want?"

"Can we talk, alone?"

"No. Now spit it out." Andi told the older girl, she was exhausted from her trying day and so she was in no mood to cater to Thalia's whims.

Thalia bristled at that, but surprisingly didn't completely lose her cool. "Right. So I just wanted to say I thought you died and I took that harder than I thought I would."

The younger daughter of Zeus quirked a brow, urging Thalia to continue.

"And well… I was surprised. And relieved that you were gone. And guilty about feeling like that."

"But not sad? At all?" Wendy cut in, looking at Thalia in bewilderment.

"I dunno." Thalia said refusing to look either Andi or Wendy in the eye, which was as good as an admission. "I wasn't sure what I was feeling."

"And now you do?" Andi asked, some harshness in her tone.

"No, but I just thought that you'd like to know I didn't just rejoice when I thought you were dead." Thalia said defensively.

That's probably as good as I'm going to get from her. Andi thought scathingly. "Thanks for sharing, I guess."

"That's all you're going to say?" Thalia said sounding annoyed. "I tell you that I don't totally hate you and you brush me off?"

Andi's exhaustion was visible. "What do you want me to say, Thalia? That we should hug it out? We both know we're never going to get along. I appreciate you not totally hating me to the point of wanting me dead. I do. But what else is there? What's going to change from this little experience? Frankly, nothin'. I'm too tired to keep trying. So I gotta ask; why bother?"

Thalia seemed taken aback by Andi being so snappy with her, but as her initial surprise cleared she defaulted to what seemed to be her standard response towards her cabinmate: anger.

"Fine!" The electrokinetic hissed, as she promptly turned and stalked off towards the direction of Artemis and Zoë.

The witch shook her head, if Thalia had given her a valid argument, Andi might have entertained her. Sadly, as always, all Thalia knew how to do was run away.

"What's up with Thalia?" Percy asked as he, Annabeth and her dad walked up.

"Tried to bond sisterly, blew up in her face. Or I think that was what she was aiming for in her own weird way." Andi remarked, looking Percy up and down. He looked like shite. "So, glad you got the weight of the world off your shoulders?"

Percy looked dryly at her for the joke. In his jet black hair, there was now a streak of grey, much like Annabeth. It must have been from the strain of holding the sky.

"You're hilarious."

Andi just punched him in the arm.

"Ow!"

Andi hissed at him. "Are you nuts?! It could've killed you!"

Rubbing his sore arm, Percy replied. "It worked didn't it?"

"Barely."

While Andi and Percy were catching up, Annabeth's dad was examining the hippogriffs in fascination with his daughter and Wendy playing translator and offering explanations about them.

The hippogriffs seemed to preen over his gushing over their 'greatness'. Typical birdbrains.

How Andi loved them.

"You only like them because they're just like you." Percy sniped, clearly wanting to get something back for Andi's ribbing about his plan earlier. "You all just love the attention."

"How?"

"It was all over your face, Andi." The son of Poseidon explained. "I don't need to be a mind reader to know what you were thinking."

"Don't stare at it too long, Annabeth might get jealous." Andi quipped with a smirk, making Percy stammer. Since he wanted to play, the short girl was more than willing to oblige.

"Heroes!" Artemis called over to them suddenly. Her voice was urgent. She and Thalia were kneeling at Zoë's side, binding the huntress's wounds. She didn't look good. The immortal was shivering, and the faint glow that usually hung around her was fading.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Percy asked Artemis, as the group left the hippogriffs who were keeping a respectful distance behind to join the goddess at the dying immortal's side. "I mean… you're a goddess."

"We already tried on the mountain." Wendy added. "Not even the power of the Phoenix feather was enough."

Artemis looked troubled, but nodded unsurprised. "It would not have been. Life is a fragile thing, Percy. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do."

Nevertheless, the goddess tried to set her hand on Zoë's side, but the girl gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I… served thee well?" Zoë whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoë's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

"I can try to heal you, my brave one."

Zoë just shook her head, before turning to face Thalia and taking her hand.

"I am sorry we argued," Zoë said. "Lady Artemis is right, we could have been great sisters."

Andi withheld a snort. Zoë clearly didn't know what the term 'sisterhood' meant to Thalia. Maybe her coming death was making her delusional.

"It's my fault," Thalia said, blinking hard. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, men—everything."

"Perhaps not all men," Zoë murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

The son of Poseidon brought out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly. "You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like… like Herakles. I am honored that you carry this sword."

A shudder ran through her body.

"Zoë—" Percy said.

"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."

A tear trickled down Artemis' cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight."

"Stars," Zoë repeated. Her eyes fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.

Thalia lowered her head. Annabeth gulped down a sob, and her father put his hands on her shoulders. Andi felt sad over the old Hunter's death and put a hand on Percy's shoulder as he rubbed his eyes. They watched as Artemis cupped her hand above Zoë's mouth and spoke a few words in Ancient Greek. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled from Zoë's lips and was caught in the hand of the goddess. Zoë's body shimmered and disappeared.

Artemis stood, said a kind of blessing, breathed into her cupped hand and released the silver dust to the sky. It flew up, sparkling, and vanished.

For a moment they didn't see anything different. Then Annabeth gasped. Looking up in the sky, the stars were brighter now. They made a pattern that Andi had never seen in her astronomy classes—a gleaming constellation that looked a lot like a girl's figure—a girl with a bow, running across the sky.

"Let the world honor you, my Huntress," Artemis said. "Live forever in the stars."

It wasn't easy saying our good-byes. The thunder and lightning were still boiling over Mount Othrys in the north. Artemis was so upset she flickered with silver light. That made all the demigods nervous, because if she suddenly lost control and appeared in her fully divine form, they would disintegrate by just looking at her.

"I must go to Olympus immediately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you, you will need to make your own way there."

"No worries, Ar-Lady Artemis." Andi corrected herself at a nudge from Wendy. "We'll take the hippogriffs."

Artemis nodded approvingly both at the suggestion and to Andi at least at her in general too. "Yes, they should be able to handle the journey. Fly well my young heroes."

"You were truly stalwart, young maidens." She told Andi and Wendy, looking sad. "I wish you could join the hunt instead of going into Hecate's service, sister. Though perhaps the little Aura?"

"Um, thank you." Andi was frankly happy with whatever good thing she could get today.

Wendy shuffled her feet, shaking her head. "No thank you, Lady Artemis. I'm happy where I am."

"That's fair."

Turning away from Andi and Wendy, the goddess faced Annabeth and set her hand on her shoulder. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. You will do what is right."

Then she looked quizzically at Thalia, as if she weren't sure what to make of this particular daughter of Zeus. Thalia looked hesitant but forced herself to look into the goddess's eyes. It wasn't clear what passed between them, but Artemis's gaze softened with sympathy. Then she turned to Percy.

"You did well," she said. "For a man."

Percy looked ready to speak up, but stopped himself and looked stunned.

She mounted her chariot, which began to glow. They all averted their eyes just in time to avoid a flash of silver, that signalled the goddess' departure.

"Well," Dr. Chase sighed. "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."

Annabeth turned toward him. "Dad, I… I'm sorry that—"

"Shh." He hugged her. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."

His voice was a little shaky, but he gave Annabeth a brave smile. "You must go, right, my dear?"

Annabeth gave a nod. "I'm sorry, but it's important."

"I understand." He said with a smile before giving her one last awkward, well-meaning hug. "Annabeth. I know… I know San Francisco is a dangerous place for you. But please remember, you always have a home with us. We will keep you safe."

Annabeth didn't answer, but her eyes were red as she stepped back. Dr. Chase started to say more, then apparently thought better of it. He raised his hand in a sad farewell and trudged away across the dark field.

"Come on Annabeth, let's go." Andi called out as she mounted Silver while Wendy did the same with Quill. While Annabeth walked over, the youngest daughter of Zeus introduced Percy to Sketchy, his mount.

"Wait, why do I have to go on Sketchy?" Percy asked. "That's just...sketchy." He finished lamely.

The only thing I see that's sketchy is that rat's nest you call hair! Sketchy was very abrasive.

Percy held his hair in concern at that. He was able to understand them thanks to their equine halves.

Annabeth thankfully didn't raise a fuss over Beaker volunteering to be her ride. She was cool like that.

Nobody wished to give Thalia a ride, so Andi had to ask them very nicely and promised to get them a juicy feret for their troubles.

Eventually Dusty, one of the oldest and grumpiest hippogriffs, agreed to do so. Thalia looked about as thrilled by the whole thing as he was. That is, not at all.

With everyone's ride sorted out, they soared into the air. Soon San Francisco was only a glittering crescent behind them, with an occasional flicker of lightning in the north.

Thalia was so exhausted she almost immediately fell asleep on Dusty's back, despite her fear of heights. Not that she had anything to worry about. The hippogriffs were all excellent fliers, Dusty was no exception and he easily adjusted himself every once in awhile so Thalia stayed safely on his back.

He did complain about her snoring though.

Taking the opportunity of a long flight, the friends flew alongside each other and decided to play catch up.

"Your dad seems cool," Percy told Annabeth.

"I mean, who comes up with celestial bronze bullets?" Andi had to agree, that was wicked.

It was too dark to see her expression but she looked back, even though California was far behind them now.

"I guess so," she said. "We've been arguing for so many years."

"Yeah, so you've said."

"You think I was lying about that?" It sounded like a challenge, but a pretty half hearted one, like she was asking it of herself.

"I didn't say you were lying. It's just… he seems okay. Your stepmom, too. Maybe they've, uh, gotten cooler since you saw them last."

She hesitated. "They're still in San Francisco, Percy. I can't live so far from camp."

"So what are you going to do now?" Percy asked hesitantly.

They flew over a town, an island of lights in the middle of the dark. It whisked by so fast they might've been in an airplane.

"I don't know," she admitted, before hastily changing the subject. "But thank you guys for rescuing me."

"Hey, no big deal. We're friends."

"Soon as I heard, I came running for you." Andi said. She glanced at Annabeth sternly. "You owe me about a million hugs for saving ya."

"I did too." Wendy piped in while flying closer to them.

"Thank you, um… Wendy right?"

"Yes!"

"Well, again, thank you." Annabeth looked at Andi with a light laugh. "And sure, Andi, as long as you keep count."

"I'll make a hug counter."

"What about me?" Percy pouted. "How many hugs do I get?"

Annabeth's face burned red at this, illuminating the night sky. Percy's did the same after realizing what he said.

"Oh just kiss already!"

"Andi!" The total couple hissed at her.

I ship it! Silver declared, making Quill roll his eyes.

Please, you could ship just about anything.

Oh, I know.

"You guys didn't believe I was dead?"

"Never." "Nope."

She hesitated. "Neither is Luke, you know. I mean… he isn't dead."

Andi and Percy both stared at her. Was she cracking under the stress? How would she know? "Annabeth, that fall was pretty bad. There's no way—"

"He isn't dead," she insisted. "I know it. The same way you knew about me."

Andi grunted unhappily. There went her satisfied mood over the death of an enemy. Percy didn't look any better.

My Lady, we're almost there. Quill informed them, cutting into the tension the previous line of conversation had created.

Looking up ahead, a huge white-and-yellow glow spread out before them—the lights of New York.

"Thanks guys, the hippogriff express does it again." Andi patted Silver's head.

"None of you believe me about Luke," Annabeth said apparently still stuck on the unhappy topic, "but we'll see him again. He's in trouble, Percy. He's under Kronos's spell."

Andi let it go. She didn't want to talk about the traitor, it would just spoil the mood.

"There it is." Thalia said suddenly, having apparently woken up. She was pointing toward Manhattan, which was quickly zooming into view. "It's started."

"What's started?" Percy asked.

They all looked at where she was pointing. High above the Empire State Building, Olympus was its own island of light, a floating mountain ablaze with torches and braziers, white marble palaces gleaming in the early morning air.

"The winter solstice," Thalia said. "The Council of the Gods."

---

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at Camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoë the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.

There was even a seat made of obsidian placed next to Hermes. The Lord of the Underworld had visited on the one day he was allowed to do so, garbed in a dark Italian suit woven from the souls of the damned. But what grabbed Andi's attention was that he wasn't there alone.

Gasps and wide eyes came from the heroes as sitting on the floor, looking nervous as could be, next to Hades was Bianca. Her dark eyes brightened at seeing them and she gave the smallest of waves.

Thalia's jaw nearly dropped, Percy's shoulders slacked in relief, while Andi did her best to not run across the hall to hug her friend. It didn't stop the young daughter of Zeus from rubbing a few stray tears from her eyes though.

Mr D.'s disgusted snort at the display caught Andi's attention, causing her to take in the council as a whole.

All of the other seats were occupied, unlike the last time she'd been here. Each god and goddess was a roughly fifteen feet tall, all-powerful super-huge being. All together the Olympian council was very, very intimidating.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Andi noticed Grover, and some strange cow fish.

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. The odd sea bovine was swimming happily around, swishing its serpent tail and poking its head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. It 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 towards Percy, then seemed to remember 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 Andi and Thalia.

Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke, though Mr. D rolled his eyes. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. The strange sea creature splashed in its bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

Andi glanced at her father, remembering the last time they had met. She resolved to do her best to stay quiet and avoid eye contact unless she was addressed.

Grover gave Annabeth, Thalia, and Andi big hugs. Then he grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" Percy asked.

"Who the heck is Bessie?" Andi quirked a brow in confusion. Was it the sea cow? Seriously?

"Heroes," Artemis called.

The goddess slid down from her throne and became human sized, a young auburn-haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked toward them, a column of moonlight illuminating her with every step she made, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion on her face.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told the group of friends "They know that Mount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas' 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 my Lord Zeus' 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.

Their first ever meeting and it was going to be over what to do with them. Andi could just feel a cold sweat roll down her neck.

On Zeus' right, was Poseidon. Next to him, sat 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.

Hermes winked at them. He was wearing a business suit today, checking messages on his caduceus mobile phone. Apollo leaned back in his golden throne with his shades on. He had iPod headphones on, making it hard to tell if he was listening, but he gave them a thumbs-up. Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grape vine between his fingers. Though he did send Andi a disappointed look, as if he'd rather she'd died. And Ares, well, he sat on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering at Andi and Percy while he sharpened a knife.

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. She could only be Annabeth's mother, Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who offered the heroes a smile.

That smile just amped up Andi's already tense nerves to eleven.

All the Olympians in one place. So much power in this room that it was a miracle the whole palace didn't blow up.

"I've 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 tentative hands went up—Demeter, Aphrodite.

"Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at the trio of Big Three children and Bianca. "These four 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 daughters," Zeus grumbled. "They've done well."

Thalia blushed. For a moment she seemed to want to look at the floor in embarrassment, but quickly shot a look to Andi and seemed to steel herself. Apparently, she was unwilling to look 'weak' in front of the younger daughter of Zeus.

For her part, Andi didn't spare Thalia more than a glance. She was too busy luxuriating in the happiness that had blossomed in her chest, and standing straighter as her father shifted his stern visage towards her. She'd hardly ever talked to her father, much less gotten a compliment, so this was a huge deal to her.

"You even think about it in terms of my children, and we'll see how well the losing soldiers answer to you, Ares." Hades' voice was quiet, but chilled the air and made it grow heavy. "I've just been reunited with my daughter. Do you think I would let you get away with trying something like this?"

She's Hades' daughter?! Andi's eyes widened along with the others. But that means that Nico's also his. So he broke the Oath-The Lotus!

Bianca and Nico, they were born before the Oath of the Big Three.

"I'm sure my daughter must be in tears over this, Hades." Demeter glared at her brother.

Hades groaned, running a hand down his face. "She knows and accepts them. Grudgingly."

"You lie!" The goddess of grain shouted, her eyes ablaze as she glared at her brother. The ears of corn in her hair looking ready to pop into popcorn.

"Brother, Sister, enough please." Hera tutted them as if they were children, smiling benevolently. "We can discuss Hades' ...unfaithfulness later."

"They were born before the Oath, Hera. Stay out of this." Hades warned the Queen of Heaven. He glanced at Zeus, daring him to comment.

"Enough." The god king said. "We have more important things to discuss."

"Agreed." Athena said, before the elder gods could get back to squabbling. "I am proud of my daughter as well. But there is a security risk here with the others."

Wow, talk about a Debby Downer. Andi grumbled inwardly. Though from the glance the goddess threw her way, she clearly read her mind. Oh, right, Andi had forgotten. She needed to control her thoughts when in the presence of the gods. Letting them hear your true thoughts didn't go over well.

Thankfully, the goddess seemed to decide to let Andi's rebellious thoughts slide. Andi couldn't help but be thankful for that.

"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. Though it seems even he has offspring that might fit, if not perfectly, the parameters of the Great Prophecy. These children: Thalia, Andromeda, Percy, Bianca and Nico… are dangerous. As thickheaded as he is, Ares has a point."

"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, a sinister smile on his face as he zeroed in on Andi. "I have no love for them. In fact, I'd dearly love to see at least one of them die a gruesome death. Athena, do you think it can be arranged?"

"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 will reward them."

"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"

A lot of nodding heads.

Percy looked flatfooted. "Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?"

"Mooooooo!" Bessie protested.

Andi tuned the conversation about the sea cow out. She was a little preoccupied with sweating cold sweat as Mr. D continued to glare at her. It was a very powerful reminder, considering his now godly form's size, that she had a very powerful enemy on the council.

Thankfully, Zeus seemed to notice and reined him in. "Dionysius, pay attention."

Andi breathed a sigh of relief, she was a hair's breadth from losing her cool and doing something. She didn't know what, but it would probably have been stupid and would have gotten her killed.

"Right, sorry." The wine god said insincerely, as he leaned back in his throne.

"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." The sky god continued apparently satisfied with rebuking his son, and returned his attention to his demigod daughters. "Do you think we can let that possibility remain? You, my daughter, will turn sixteen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."

"You have to trust them," Annabeth spoke up. "Sir, you have to trust them."

Zeus scowled. "Trust a hero?"

Andi felt a pang in her chest now, it was as if the very idea revolted the king of Olympus. But she could understand where he was coming from. Zeus was king, he was responsible for the security of Olympus and by extension the whole world. He didn't really have the luxury to trust anyone with that. Not even his own children. After all, didn't Ares prove two summers back how badly things could go on that front?

She just took a deep breath, keeping her face as stony as possible as she waited for the council's final judgment.

"Annabeth is right," Artemis said. "Which is why I must first make a reward. My faithful companion, Zoë Nightshade, has passed into the stars. I must have a new lieutenant. And I intend to choose one. But first, Father Zeus, I must speak to you privately."

Zeus beckoned Artemis forward. He leaned down and listened as she spoke in his ear.

Percy was shaken by this, whispering fiercely to a confused looking Annabeth. Andi did her best not to eavesdrop, despite how easy it could have been.

"I shall have a new lieutenant," she announced. "If she will accept it."

"No," Percy murmured.

"Thalia," Artemis said. "Daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"

Stunned silence filled the room. Andi was truly surprised. Maybe Zoë wasn't as delusional as I thought.

Annabeth smiled. She squeezed 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 but also strangely resigned. "My daughter, consider well—"

"Father," she said. "I will not turn sixteen tomorrow. I will never turn sixteen. I won't let this prophecy be mine. I stand with my sister Artemis. Kronos will never tempt me again."

The witch withheld a scowl. So she's your sister now? Double standards abound! Hypocritical bint.

Andi looked away, uncaring of Thalia's pledge of servitude towards the goddess. She just glanced towards Bianca, who was shaking her head at Thalia's decision. Personally, Andi was more concerned with trying to figure out how why Bianca wasn't glowing silver like her flashlight of an ex-cabinmate than watch Thalia make herself more of a hypocrite and sell her soul to a goddess where she once chided her for doing the same. A choking noise brought Andi's attention to see Thalia hugging Percy, saying how he'd be the prophesied one.

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

She hugged Annabeth, who was trying hard not to cry. Then she even hugged Grover, who looked ready to pass out, like somebody had just given him an all-you-can-eat enchilada coupon.

The two demigods of Zeus didn't even look at each other, their dislike clear to all in the room.

Frankly, Andi felt happy. She didn't have to listen to Thalia's garbage music and tone deaf voice anymore.

Then Thalia went to stand by Artemis' side.

"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said.

"The children are still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is a temptation of great power. Even if we spare them—"

"My Lords and Ladies," Andi said tentatively, calling on all the etiquette that Ida had drilled into her. "If I might speak in our defense?"

Mr. D looked irked to have been interrupted, but the other gods didn't seem to care. A few even shot the wine god teasing smirks at his plight.

Andi however looked at her dad, he was king after all, waiting for him to nod before continuing. "None of us would ever think of destroying Olympus. We like the world as it is too much. For myself in particular, I would never even dream of harming an innocent creature. The Ophips-Ophops-" A few snickers broke out at Andi's stumbling over the sea cow's name, but no one made a fuss of it.

"Ophiotaurus." Wendy, who had been respectfully silent so far, leaned into Andi's ear to whisper the name to her.

The young witch flushed, and murmured a thank you. "Yes, the Ophiotaurus is safe from me."

The gods seemed satisfied, if the nods she got from most of them was anything to go by.

Done with her own defense, she glanced at Percy, urging him to open his mouth and do his fair share.

"Same here." Percy confidently declared, looking around at all the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here in Olympus. But you have to protect him."

"And why should we trust either of you?" Rumbled Hephaestus.

"We're only fourteen," Percy said. "If this prophecy is about one of us, that's two more years."

"Two years for Kronos to deceive you," Athena said. "Much can change in two years, my young heroes."

"Mother!" Annabeth said, exasperated.

"It is only the truth, child. It is bad strategy to keep the animal alive. Or either of them."

"I cannot make any assurance that you'll trust, My Lords and Ladies." Andi admitted, even as it killed her to do so. "All of you will just have to trust us."

"At least she's smart enough to know that," Apollo observed. "And honest too. Best policy in my book. Hm, note to self, write another book on Me."

Several gods murmured their agreement. Andi felt relief wash over her, she was worried that saying that would have gotten her into trouble. Thankfully, her honesty had won her the brownie points she'd thought it would.

Poseidon stood suddenly and declared his stance on the matter. "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 trident appeared in it: a twenty foot long bronze shaft with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the boy and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."

"You won't take it under the sea!" Zeus stood suddenly. "I won't have that kind of bargaining chip in your possession."

"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

Zeus's lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of ozone.

"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. 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."

"And I vouch for my daughter."

"I, of course, do the same for my children." Hades added fiercely, daring the other gods to challenge his right to do so despite him not being an Olympian.

Bianca looked towards Andi, who did her best to send her a positive smile.

Zeus sighed at Hades' display, before deciding to put the matter to a vote. "All in favor?"

Amazingly, a lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained. So did Ares and Athena. But everybody else…

"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes… I imagine we should honor them. Let-"

"Pardon my king," Hephaestus said suddenly, the gruff god leaning forward in his throne to join the conversation. "But there is one more matter to discuss."

"And that is?"

The god of the forge glanced at Andi and grunted. "Speak about what happened in Frisco."

Andi gulped as all the attention of the assembled gods turned to her. She did her best to remain calm as she began to recount her confrontation with GLaDOS, Chell and their killer robots.

"I, uh, yes! Of course!" Andi nodded as she cleared her throat, standing straight as a two by four. "As I was in the Junkyard of the Gods, there was a group pilfering through it."

"And they were?" Hermes looking mildly intrigued at thieves willing to rob the junk of the gods.

"A group of automations, much like the one that attacked camp last summer." That caught the gods' attention, many of them had lost children to that attack and were spoiling for clues on the ones responsible. "They were these really creepy bug things with pincers and stuff. They were being controlled by the AI GLaDOS."

Andi waited to see if the gods needed her to explain who that was, but they all seemed to just send glares to the crippled god of fire instead. So that meant they at least were briefed on who the computer woman was.

"She said something about owing me a debt for rescuing her, then attacked me and teleported me to their base."

"If she repaid the debt to you by saving you from the fight with the security Talos at the junkyard, how did it turn into a fight in Frisco?" The forge god asked sounding confused.

"Captured twice in one day, half-pint? How sad." Ares mocked her with a grin, ignoring his brother's question.

"Pickle jar." Apollo couched into his hand.

The god of war glared furiously at the sun god.

Andi chose to ignore the byplay between the gods, it was the smart thing to do. Instead she continued with her account.

"I might have freaked out at suddenly being teleported inside a foundry and overreacted by smashing one of her automatons." Andi explained. "She got pissed at that and attacked. It wasn't just those bug ones there either, there were chrome dinosaurs that breathed fire too. Those were a right pain-"

Wendy squeezed Andi's hand warningly and the witch realized she was getting too caught up in her retelling and was starting to slip in her manners. Taking a breathe to recenter herself she continued.

"They were pretty dangerous, but I managed to get pass them. Just as I was about to escape though, a demigod showed up with a bunch of talking tanks on wheeled legs that were equipped with a variety of lasers and stuff."

"Did you get the demigod's name?" Hephaestus asked eagerly, even putting away the contraption he'd been tinkering with for most of the council but which Andi noted he'd mostly ignored since they started talking about GLaDOS.

"Chell. Her name was Chell Johnson, Lord Hephaestus." Andi supplied even as she began to look at the god strangely, several other gods doing the same, confused by his strange interest.

Athena glared at Hephaestus. "She's one of yours, isn't she?"

The fire god just nodded, a proud smile on his face.

More than a few gods frowned at seeing that, but he ignored them and gestured for Andi to continue.

"I managed to escape the base but she, she managed to catch up with me after I fled into Frisco which was nearby. She had me surrounded and forced me to surrender. She blasted a whole skyscraper down with one shot, I had no choice." Andi looked at them, nervous. "She's willing to do anything just to get what she wants. First it was Camp, then it was all those innocent people. Chell's dangerous. Like, Luke dangerous."

She looked apologetically to Hermes - who looked an odd combination of sad and furious - for the comparison, but this woman was a threat.

"And what of this GLaDOS? Is she a threat of that scale too?" Artemis asked, as she seemed to weigh the dangers Chell and her mother represented in the grand scheme of things.

"I think so." Andi added uncertainly. She honestly couldn't say. She didn't exactly have much to go on when it came to the AI's direct threat. "Right now, all I know is that she, it, is growing stronger. She was just a single tablet computer when I first met her, now she had control of an entire foundry. I-I can't say what might be next. But if her daughter is anything to go by, then she'll kill without remorse."

"I warned that he liked the idea of Skynet way too much." Apollo swore as he looked towards Zeus pointedly. "I. Told. You." His index finger tapped his armrest at each word.

"You get the weirdest enemies." Percy cut in, before Annabeth could stop him.

Andi ignored Percy best she could. Not that she didn't completely agree with him.

The distraction seemed to upset the gods, the hypocrites, and they sent him a withering look that had Percy paling and gulping nervously.

"That might be the case Apollo, but I don't see why this is important." Zeus said in annoyance, apparently upset that they couldn't start the celebration yet. "It's just another rogue demigod and her bunch of pet monsters. Automations in this case."

"Father Zeus, I beg to differ." Athena said in a respectful tone, but still somehow sounding chiding. "These are the ones responsible for attacking Camp Half-Blood and killing so many of our children. With lasers."

Ares perked up at this. "Finally, laser warfare. Next it's aliens."

"Oh get over it, Athena." Mr. D said disinterestedly. "They might be dangerous, but no more so than any other bunch of monsters."

"Your disinterest in the Camp's safety does not help in this matter, Dionysus."

"Athena, do not try to make an issue where there is none." Hera cut in. "For now, at least, Dionysus is right. We have bigger threats to worry about than a group of machines."

The agreeing nods from all the elder gods settled things, the gods were going to set the issue aside for now.

Andi shifted uneasily at that, she didn't think it was a good idea even if she agreed that Kronos was the bigger threat.

"Is there anything else?" Zeus asked Andi, sensing her hesitation.

"Actually, yes, My Lord." Andi admitted, as she remembered one last thing she had to report. "During my escape from Mount Othrys' prison. I found something that I need to tell you about."

Ares snorted at the mention of her capture, and snidely asked, "And what is it?"

"Wendy, show them please."

The Aura nodded and pulled out the folded piece of tapestry they had found in Kronos' vault. Hisses and exclamations of shock resounded in the throne room.

"A tapestry of fate!" An outraged Artemis declared. "And one such as this? In the hands of the Titans?"

"And possibly one of many." Athena reasoned worriedly. "It might explain the unexpected influence they seem to be able to exert. They might be using these to enslave their owners."

Hephaestus was the most quiet out of the gods, his face was stony, but Andi could see it in his eyes. Excitement, like he knew just what the imagery was about.

"Husband." Hera said, looking grave as she addressed the king of Olympus. "If he holds more of these…"

She trailed off, her tone tinged with anger as she did her best to keep calm in the face of the insult to women everywhere that the tapestry's imagery portrayed.

"We will have the matter looked into." Zeus looked down at Andi and once again, he had a proud look in his eyes as he addressed her. "You've done well to bring this to our attention, daughter."

He snapped his fingers and the handkerchief sized tapestry rolled up in Wendy's hands and flew to his massive palm, resizing itself appropriately as it did.

"I will ensure the Fates gain this back and request they check if there are anymore missing." The sky lord stood from his throne. "This matter is closed. Now! We celebrate!"

---

Music for the party was provided by the Nine Muses. Andi through comparing notes with Wendy quickly realized that the melodies that reached the ears were whatever the listener desired. The gods could listen to classical music and the younger demigods heard hip-hop or whatever. It was an incredible bit of magic, but Andi wasn't surprised they could pull it off. They were goddesses of the arts after all.

Mr. D went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, which were complemented by golden fountains that overflowed with nectar and ambrosia, and platters of mortal snack food and golden goblets that filled with any drink you wanted crowded the banquet tables.

Andi spotted Mr. D walking around arm in arm with a beautiful woman —his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time she'd known him. Well, he was whenever he didn't spot Andi, at which point his smile turned into a frown and he glared daggers at her. It seemed those weren't just metaphorical either, as the first time he glared at her all the food and drinks suddenly started to taste like ash in her mouth.

Looks like her throat would be a little dry tonight.

She still kept a goblet in hand though, she might not be able to enjoy the drinks but at least it gave her something to do. It wasn't like she could enjoy the party, as Mr. D had somehow cursed her to be unable to do that either. Where she should have been perked up and hyped up by the music and jubilant energy all around her, all she felt was bored.

Andi didn't care though, after the torturous quest she'd just gone through this was nothing.

Wendy looked concerned though and tugging on Andi's arm asked, "Andi, you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Andi replied with a wary smile. It didn't fully reassure her partner, but the Aura didn't ask anymore questions.

Looking around the crowd of revelers, her eyes finally settled on her Father. The lord of the sky was busy chatting with what Andi guessed from the way wind was spiraling all around their bodies must be the Four Winds. Andi walked over in their direction, hoping to have a word with her dad, but she had barely made a couple of steps before he turned in her direction and shook his head before turning back to his conversation.

He seemed almost apologetic as he did so, but that was probably just a product of Andi's imagination.

Typical, why did I even bother? She asked herself, feeling somewhat hollow. Add in the Party Bummer Curse and she was having a great time.

"Maybe we can go back to Camp soon?" Wendy offered encouragingly. "Of course, after being here for an appropriate time."

"Sure, don't want to give them a reason to smite me just yet." Andi quipped, stirring the contents of her goblet and watching it swirl around.

"Nonsense, you're one of the guests of honor. Plus, that'd be pretty stupid to do right in front of your father." A beautiful voice said, making Andi nearly jump.

And no, she most definitely did not squeak.

Turning around, the aerokinetic saw the beautiful visage of her mother again, draped in a flowing gown that looked rather tasteful.

"Hello, Lady Aphrodite." Andi said nervously, Wendy fidgeting on her sandaled feet right next to her.

Okay, just calm down, stop fidgeting like you're in Second Grade. Andi might not have liked all the etiquette lessons that Ida had forced her to go through, but she knew how important they were and was going to give it her best to put what she'd learned into practice.

The lady of doves glanced over at Dionysus and shook her head. "Don't mind him too much. He's a big old grump. Want me to mess with him and Adriane?"

"No! Please no!" Andi shook her head rapidly, she did not want Mr. D to have more reasons to gun for her!

The goddess of love just placed her hands on her hips. "Boo, that's boring. I love a good drama at a party."

"I'm sure you'll find something." Andi offered to the goddess nervously. As if that had provided the goddess some kind of inspiration, she locked those emerald green eyes of hers onto Andi's own blue ones as a mischievous smile spread across her face.

"Yes, I probably will." Aphrodite stroked her chin in thought. "Speaking of parties, how goes your plans for that cute little Ball you're going to? Have you picked a dress? Oh! I can't wait to see you in one."

"Yeah, Silena helped me pick one out." Andi replied nervously, the goddess' enthusiastic rant was throwing up a whole bunch of red flags. "I'm not looking forward to it though, I don't have a date."

"You have that friend of yours, don't you? That son of Apollo. Bill Solace?"

"It's Will." Andi corrected, though she was sure she didn't need to. "And he's unavailable. He went to see his mom for the winter holiday."

"Oh right. Will, William." The goddess dragged out the name, as if trying to memorise it. "Hm. So you say he's unavailable?"

"Yes." Andi repeated, growing more and more nervous as the Goddess of Love seemingly teased her about her crush.

Aphrodite tittered into her hand. "Why don't you try asking him anyways? You might be surprised."

Fear crept up Andi's spine at what the goddess could possibly be implying. "What are you going to do?"

Her words were stern and demanding, causing Wendy to tug on her sleeve and whisper urgently.

"Andi! Calm down." The Aura said with a shaky voice, looking terrified as she shot looks towards the love goddess.

Instead of smiting the demigod, the lady of doves cooed. "You are just adorable how you try and act all big and tough like your Father. Honestly, picture perfect moment. It makes me just want to pinch your little cheeks!"

Her anger was washed away as concern rushed in to replace it. "You mean the ones on my face, right?"

The reply she got was Aphrodite walking away, giggling the whole time.

The daughter of Zeus wanted to press the goddess for an answer, but Wendy nudging her and whispering to let it go and her own misgivings on what the answer might be held her back.

"Maybe it's best I don't know."

"You've got that right." Someone grunted from behind them. The voice didn't startle her. Not at all. Her feet had remained firmly planted on the ground, she did not yelp in surprise, and her heart did not feel like she'd just run a marathon.

Turning around, Andi came face to face with the smithing god, Hephaestus. The misshapen god squinted his eyes at her, looking at her up and down as if he was examining one of his mechanical contraptions.

"Hmm… I can see why she'd be interested in you." The god commented almost absently, before shaking his head in a disgusted manner. "Then again she'd be interested so long as it's got a warm body. Sometimes not even that."

"You're talking about Lady Aphrodite?" Andi asked cautiously. She knew that the two gods didn't get along, but she'd not imagined things were as bad as the scandalous description the god was making of his wife would suggest.

"Yes, my darling nymphomaniac of a wife." He snorted with contempt at the last word.

"Ah, okay. Just checking. Can I help you with something, sir?"

"Mm, let me see that bow of yours. It needs a tune up by more than mortal hands." He held out a large palm, making a 'Give me' motion.

Andi looked unsure, but caved since he was the one to make her weapon. She placed the keychain into his hand and he brought its bow form out. He hummed, eying it critically and he ran his free hand along the grooves that were lit with blue electricity. "Charge is still in there, good. Haven't even used a drop of it, shame."

"What?" The mortal looked confused by his statement.

"String needs to be redone, been a few millennia, so that's reasonable." He muttered to himself aloud, ignoring her completely as he fiddled with Skyline, pulling out a wind string from out of thin air and somehow fitting it into her weapon.

"Wow, thank you Lord Hephaestus." Andi said with a small amount of awe. That was really cool of him to do that.

"It's my creation, can't have it getting shabby. Besides, it wasn't for free." The Lord of the Forge told her as he passed her Skyline back.

In hindsight, Andi should've seen that coming.

"Do you need me to do a quest for you or something, Lord Hephaestus?" The mortal asked, trying to not show her weariness or her fatigue. She'd was completely knackered but she'd already foolishly allowed the god to finish tuning up Skyline so she was in his debt, if he demanded a quest she had no choice but to oblige.

"I'm not that greedy." The god gave a kindly smile, or at least he tried to. It came across more like a grimace. "All I want is for you to tell me how it held up against Chell and Caroline."

"Your daughter and lover." Andi said under her breath, the god nodding. She remembered what GLaDOS had told her, what Hephaestus had done to her. A small part of Andi wanted to ask him what really happened, because there was always two sides to a story. The larger, smarter, part told her to keep her curiosity to herself and roll with what he had to say. She didn't need Wendy squeezing her arm in warning to tell her that.

"Yes, them." The god said almost disinterestedly, as if he was asking this only as part of his assessment of Skyline's performance. There was a spark of something in his eyes though, a cross between excitement and outright madness that suggested otherwise. "How did the weapon do against them?"

"Pretty well, the blade cut right through most of their robots. My arrows pierced the machines pretty well too"

"Hm, so more in their infancy. Not good, but not bad. What about Caroline? Any small details you noted with her control over this foundry? Anything could be useful, for me." The lord of the forge paused, before hastily adding. "To, yes, to come up with some counters for her of course."

"From what I know-" A cough cut Andi off, making Hephaestus glare at the new arrival. Narrowed grey eyes cut into him dangerously in turn and the smith god grunted in annoyance but did nothing.

"Please pardon my interruption, but I would also like to know more about this new enemy." Athena said smoothly, gesturing for Andi to continue.

Andi's electric blue orbs shifted back and forth between the two Olympians. She felt like she was between a rock and a hard place, but on an extreme magnitude. After all, being between those two things would only kill you by squashing you. But being caught between two gods? That could lead to all kinds of terrible possibilities.

She knew better than to defy a goddess though, so she continued with her explanation.

"Right. Like I was saying, I'm not the most technologically savvy demigod around."

"Just tell us what you can." Athena offered with a kind smile, though it stood in contrast to the rest of her stern visage. "For example, how was the AI's control of her automatons? Was there any sign of lag?"

"It was like she was part of them, but wasn't." Andi said, feeling vexed by her wording.

"A hivemind." Athena and Hephaestus said, nearly as one.

"No, more like every machine was her but not her at the same time." Andi clarified. "At least that was the kind of presence I felt from them. Every time I looked at one, it felt like I was looking at GLaDOS but at the same time, all of them were GLaDOS."

"Instances." Hephaestus said with pride. "She's using instances to control her drones."

"What's that?"

"It's basically clones of yourself, but which aren't fully separate beings while still sharing the same mind. It's how we gods can be at two places at the same time." Athena explained, even as she looked at her brother with suspicion.

"And Chell, what can you tell us about her?" The fire god asked, the pride still ringing in his voice.

Andi shrugged, she hadn't really fought the other demigod so she didn't know much at all. "Only that she likes to make and use crazy scifi weapons and robots."

"She always did like her scifi." He said wistfully.

Athena was scowling now, "Brother, you do remember that they're our enemy, correct?"

Hephaestus just nodded half-heartedly, earning him a dark glare from the goddess of wisdom before she turned away from him to continue her questioning. "What can you tell us about their motives?"

"The only thing I could gauge was their wish to destroy the gods. They really hate Olympus."

"I wonder why." The goddess of war drawled, levelling accusing eyes on Hephaestus.

The fire god apparently having had enough of the goddess' looks, limped away. Athena gazed at his retreating form, wariness in her eyes.

"Be on guard, young mortal. Hephaestus isn't telling us all he knows."

"Yeah, I hear you on that one." Andi agreed instantly. That look in the god's eye put her on edge.

What can I do about it though? The demigod of Zeus thought to herself. It's not like I'm going to strongarm him into giving me more info. Already nearly died too many times these past two days. Not looking forward to risking it again.

"You need not worry, Andromeda." Athena told her, breaking the girl from her thoughts. "I will investigate this matter."

This was the first time she met Athena, but she could already tell that she was a lot like Annabeth. Or Annabeth was a lot like her, she corrected herself. Strong, stern, confident, and wickedly smart. So it was an unhappy surprise to the demigod to see a worried crease on her face. "I am uneasy about this new enemy. Father is too quick to dismiss this. We are not fortified enough for a war on two fronts. Especially with one set of opponents as brazen as this AI and out of control demigod appear to be. We already have the Titans and that son of Hermes to deal with."

"Isn't Luke dead though?" Andi asked her hopefully. She saw his broken body, and despite Annabeth's firm belief it was hard to come back from that.

Athena flared her nostrils in annoyance. "No, like his father, young Castellan is tenacious. He still walks among the living. Sadly."

"Looks like Annabeth was right." Andi said sourly, looking grumpy over this news.

Athena eyebrows knitted together, as if the topic was annoying her further. "Yes. However, my daughter's horrendous interests aside, that is not what we are discussing. The Titans and their thralls are a known quantity. We can plan for them. In contrast, this new enemy is something entirely unknown."

"Yeah, one willing to outright kill mortals by the hundreds." Andi noted, as she recalled the massacre that Chell had happily ordered in San Francisco to force Andi to surrender.

"Which makes them no better than the Titans." Athena noted. "Which is worrisome."

Andi nodded, she didn't really get it. Weren't all their enemies equally bad?

Unaware or uncaring of Andi's confusion, Athena continued with a set of instructions, "I wish for you to inform me through Annabeth if you come across this GLaDOS or Chell again."

For a moment, they both stood there in silence as they pondered over this new threat. The only movement being Wendy shifting uneasily at the quiet.

"I support your friendship with my daughter." The goddess said suddenly. "Far more than I do her relationship with Poseidon's spawn at least."

"Thank you?" Andi accepted the war goddess' blessing with confusion.

The goddess just nodded magnanimously.

"I just wished to tell you that before I must leave. One last thing though, a word of warning. You must learn to better keep your fatal flaw and temper in check. It has already made you many dangerous enemies." At this Athena looked out at the party at someone on the other side of the room.

Andi followed her gaze and hung her head a little as she spotted Mr. D. "Yes, I'll, um, keep that in mind. Wait, what do you mean by many?"

"That, you must figure out on your own, little one." Athena quirked her lip and walked away, moving to talk to some other gods.

Andi sighed. Why can't gods just be more blunt when they give advice?

"Andi, can we sit down for a bit?" Wendy asked as her fidgeting got worse. "My legs feel like lead."

Feeling her own fatigue getting the better of her, Andi decided it was time to just take a sit. The godly meetings were really wearing her out.

She and Wendy had just sat down on a nice little bench overlooking a small garden to take a break when a jovial voice called to her.

"I tell ya, Athena can be as cryptic as a prophecy." The speaker said as his arm wrapped around Andi's shoulder.

The daughter of Zeus looked to her side to see Apollo beaming at her.

"Oh, hello Apollo." Andi said, giving him a tired wave, trying to push some pep into her voice to return his cheery greeting.

"You jump for all of them but not me?" He told her with a pout, but there was something in his eyes that seemed almost disapproving. It disappeared before she could be sure it was even there though.

"I could bounce in my seat if it helps?" Andi weakly offered, causing the the god to shake his head even as he smiled in amusement.

"Andi!" Wendy hissed warningly.

Andi was too tired to interpret what she was worried about.

"Nah, takes the fun out of it." The sun god told her as he pulled up a chair, leaning on it as he smirked at her. "Still, overall good work out there, kiddo. Pops looked happy if anything."

Andi glanced at Zeus, who was conversing with Hera in a series of harsh whispers.

"I don't know, I think he's just embarrassed by me. I didn't do all that much."

Apollo shoved her shoulder lightly. "You helped save a major goddess. Trust me, Arte's going to remember that. So am I. In fact, how about I hit you up sometime for an archery lesson as my most magnificent thank you. Target practice from the sun chariot as we fly over the world? Best fun there is! I can sneak you off sometime while you're stuck in that old castle."

"Sounds great. Thanks!" Andi beamed back at him, feeling more genuinely happy than she had been since this whole party started. She gave a small laugh and a tired smile. "I'm pretty popular tonight, huh?"

Apollo chuckled as well, nudging his head towards Wendy. "Do me a favor sweetheart and go fetch me a goblet, I'm thirsty."

The little Aura nodded and scurried off to get the sun god what he desired, but not before shooting Andi a warning look.

Apollo breathed in deeply, looking far more serious than she had ever seen him. "Look, while the offer's genuine, there's other things that we've gotta hash out. Serious stuff. I'm a generous god, so I'm going to give you some info."

"Not future stuff right?" The demigod asked cautiously.

"What? No, of course not. But good catch, some mortals think that's all that they're getting from me. Never once a good poem or shout-out in a song. So ungrateful. Anyway, you've gotta avoid the gods for a while, a lot of them have got a serious bone to pick with you."

Andi looked stunned and worriedly asked. "W-What did I do?"

Apollo grimaced. "It's not all about you, it's mainly Pops' fault."

"Oh no…"

"You see." He patted her shoulder in condolence. "Sending you that dog of his and Ida to look after you? And then working that deal with Hecate for your immortality? All that's left some, a lot actually, of the gods pissed off. You know how we aren't supposed to interfere so much?"

Shoulders slacking, Andi put the pieces together. "He's doing double standards."

"Bingo!" Apollo cheered, looking pleased at himself that she had figured that out. "And that's what Athena was trying to say by the by."

"B-But I didn't ask for that!" Andi said in a rushed panic, standing up to be face to face with the god and leaning into his face to look at him imploringly. "All I wanted him to do was act kind of like a dad."

Apollo's aura flared a bit even as he snorted, before he gently pushed her away and guided her back to her seat. "Have you met Zeus?"

"Twice…"

"Then you know his parenting style. It's obvious within the first minute." The sun god rolled his eyes at her, resting his cheek against his fist. His eyes narrowed, almost into a glare, he continued to explain Andi's situation. "And don't act as if his gifts were for nothing. You've gained a lot from them. Be more grateful. Honestly, I wish I could do as much for my kids."

"Great. When I want him to show me some affection and he does in his, Zeusish ways, it bites me in the butt. I just, what's the point of wanting anything anymore? Every time I do, it just bites me. And now other gods hate me! So any time I try and do something, they'll just try and make my day worse? Might as well just stay in bed." Andi griped bitterly, sinking into her seat with depression clear in her eyes.

Apollo just shrugged. "Maybe if you weren't so disrespectful to the gods, they could look past it."

"...I get it, my mouth is my enemy. What about Percy though? He's just as bad."

Apollo waved his hand in a seesaw motion, indicating his uncertainty. "While true, how to put this. Hmm… oh! We give him more slack because believe it not, Uncle P shows more restraint towards Percy. If barely. Plus, he has less of a track record of being a dick."

Andi nodded as an epiphany struck her. This just didn't just apply to the gods, but also others. Like the campers. They were probably upset with her over this to some degree too.

Thalia was a given, but Andi didn't really care about her opinion.

The god of the arts nodded. "Yep, that's why you've gotta be more careful on your next quest. Otherwise you'll get cursed by the other gods at every turn again."

"Again!?" She gaped at that. "Is that why my quest sucked so much?!"

Apollo nodded once more, making Andi groan in despair.

"Apollo! Get ovah heer!" A clearly drunk Hermes slurred out as he held up five goblets between his fingers and occasionally poured streams of alcohol, what else could they be, from them into his waiting mouth. "I need you, some chairs, and a turtle for this trick!"

"Carousel Catapult Turtle?! Yes!" Apollo whooped in glee, as he jumped up to join his godly brother in his merriment. He glanced back at Andi. "TTYL tiny sis! Be good! Hermes, I'll get Leonardo from my temple!"

Andi couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor turtle. Sadly, she was too shaken by the conversation to further her concern. It was official, this was the worst day of her life.

Gods hate her, people hate her…

Andi could have broken down over that and gotten all weepy but she was frankly stronger than that. So her life sucked right now, nothing had changed. Her life had always been tough. Besides, things were still a big improvement from her time at the Dursleys. She just needed to keep her chin up and bear with it. Maybe start thinking a bit more about how other people saw the things she had and did, so she didn't upset them unintentionally.

As she was contemplating this, Wendy came back with a golden goblet in hand looking around nervously.

"Andi, is Lord Apollo gone?"

Andi pointed to the dance floor.

Wendy looked and went white as a sheet. "That poor turtle…"

Andi nodded in agreement, the unlucky reptile was likely going to have nightmares from what Hermes and Apollo were making it do. That wasn't her problem though, so she looked away.

"Wendy, what took you so long?"

Turning away from the dance floor, the pale Aura gave a relieved sigh and replied. "Oh, I was just waiting for Lord Apollo to leave. He wanted some alone time with you, so I obliged. How did it go?"

"Oh. Yeah, we, we had a nice chat. Good times." Andi said, rubbing her eyes tiredly as she realized why Apollo had sent her partner away. She'd totally missed it when it happened.

Wendy frowned, "You don't sound like it was good at all."

"I have to agree with Wendy there," Annabeth said as she came over, a look of concern on her face. She took a seat next to Andi and asked. "You okay?"

Andi's eyes drifted left, eying her friend. "Kinda, just had a ton of stuff dropped on me is all. Still processing it."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Don't think you want me to yammer your ear off." Andi snorted.

Annabeth glared at her. "It's not yammering. Tell me."

The witch was hesitant, but Annabeth was one of, if not, her best friend. If she couldn't confide in her than who else could she talk to? So she eventually just told her everything that she had just learned. The daughter of Athena nodded here and there as she listened, but didn't seem surprised at anything that Andi told her.

"I figured as much." Annabeth replied when Andi asked her why that was.

"I'm glad one of us did."

"Andi, you really need to change a lot of minds. Godly ones. And that's not easy. You're going to be Hecate's immortal champion, you're going to be working with a lot of these gods some day. Forever. You've got some fences to mend."

The child of sky lord rested her head on Annabeth's shoulder, looking up at her. "I figured as much, just not the how."

"Your first problem is how you address some of the gods." Annabeth told her, gaining Andi's interest. "You talk to them like they're friends and family. Not gods. They don't like that, their egos demand reverence."

"I try to remind her all the time." Wendy told Annabeth with a sigh. "But half the time, she just doesn't listen."

"I can imagine." Annabeth informed the Aura with a sympathetic smile, before turning back to Andi. "You really need to stop doing that, Andi. Not unless the god explicitly gives you leave to speak to them informally. I know Ida gave you lessons about this. You have to remember those lessons."

Wendy nodded along in agreement.

"Look, Bethy, I get it-"

"No, you don't." Annabeth cut her off. "Just look at how you were talking to Apollo."

"Yeah, but he's my brother. My really cool and chill brother."

Annabeth just stared at her.

"...Aw bollox." Andi muttered and leaned her body away from Annabeth, her cranium hitting the column next to the bench. "Ow. Deserved that. Okay, I messed up."

"Again."

"Again." Andi dryly glared at Annabeth.

"Don't get angry at me."

"I'm not, I just don't need anymore 'I told you so's tonight. I'll start… fixing this. Somehow. After I get some damn rest." Andi sighed in frustration. "One more thing to add on my foot long list."

The blonde smirked at her. "Who doesn't have one of those?"

"Right?" Andi agreed as they shared a laugh.

Wendy just shook her head in warm amusement.

"Thanks Annabeth, for being my friend. Even though I'm such a screw up."

"You're not a screw up, you're learning. And I can respect that."

"She's right Andi. And I respect you too!"

Andi smiled and pulled the two other girls into a hug, "Thank you. Both of you. Thanks a bunch."

---

The campers were all getting ready to head back to Camp, when they realized that they didn't know whether Bianca would be heading back with them. After a bit of debate, it was decided that the daughter of Zeus would go check with her and if she was, to bring her over to the group so they could head back together. Percy was a little put out by this, apparently wanting to talk to Bianca about something. Andi didn't care though, she knew Bianca way longer than her cousin did so if anyone got the chance to catch up with her first, it was going to be her.

It took her a while of pushing pass reveling gods - the campers might be leaving, but the party was still in full swing - but Andi eventually spotted Bianca walking away from a heated conversation between Hades and Artemis in a dark corner.

She looked lost and intimidated by everything around her and Andi could sympathise, so she offered the other girl a comforting smile as she walked over to her.

"First time on Olympus huh? It's an interesting experience."

The newly dubbed daughter of Hades nodded to this, looking exhausted. "First the Underworld and now Olympus? It's mind blowing."

Andi patted her shoulder. "Felt that way too my first summer at Camp. Speaking of that, you, uh, coming back with us?"

Perhaps she sounded a tinge too hopeful, but the child of Zeus had high hopes for Bianca coming back with them. She didn't know what Hades' plans were, but since - last she heard, anyways - Nico was still at Camp, she thought her hopes were justified.

Her hopes were fulfilled when Bianca nodded. "Yeah, someone has to look after Nico. Gods know what trouble he's getting into without me around."

"Nah, he's with the Stolls. He's probably learning how to hustle when playing cards, at worst." Andi assured her.

Bianca went wide eyed at hearing this.

"Not helping Andi." Wendy chided, her arms crossed and frowning at Andi reprovingly.

The witch just nudged her. "I'm kidding, kidding."

Maybe. Nico's probably learning how to pick pockets by now, knowing those two.

"I hope you are." Bianca said sounding worried.

"Don't sweat it," Andi reassured. "Besides you can check to make sure soon, won't you?"

"True." Bianca acknowledged as they they continued to walk towards the rest of the campers.

They walked in companionable silence for a while, stopping occasionally to let a god saunter pass, before Bianca spoke up.

"Andi, thank you. You saved me."

The daughter of Zeus looked confused by this, so Bianca elaborated.

"I mean by telling me that I might be related to a death god. When I ran up to Talos to try and shut him down, everything was going wrong." The Italian shivered from the memory.

Talos? That's what took her out? Andi wanted to ask for clarification, but looking at her friend's reaction she thought better of it.

"I was scared, beyond anything else I was scared. So I prayed. Not to Artemis, but to a death god. I didn't think it would work, but I was scared enough to ty anything. Even gamble on you being right and one of them being my godly parent. First Hecate, than Thanatos, than Hades. I had just finished the prayer to my dad when the thing electrocuted me." Bianca shuddered, again shaken by the memory.

At least I know I can't go out like that. Andi grimmly thought, feeling terrible for her friend.

"After that all I knew was that it was dark, everything hurt and then I woke up. In the Underworld." Bianca said, sounding confused by her own explanation.

"Dead?"

"No, alive. Which was what was so confusing." Bianca said with a shrug. "I knew I was alive, somehow, but I also knew I was in the Underworld. It was freaky. And there was my Father, Hades, looming over me looking all worried and monumentally pissed off. At the same time."

"So what did he do?"

"He told me that he had answered my prayer and teleported me to his side. But by then I had essentially flat lined, so he used the magical equivalent of defibrillation to save me." Bianca played with her braid, looking happy as a smile graced her lips. "I thanked him and asked why he did it. Then he told me, looking hurt, that he was my father."

Uncle Hades, looking hurt? Andi's mind boggled at the mere prospect and if Wendy's stunned look was anything to go by she wasn't the only one.

"I know right." Bianca said with a smile. "Who would've thought it? The Lord of the Underworld upset because his kid didn't recognize him. But he was. So I apologized. Then he told me that I had a choice."

Andi raised her brow in question.

"Either go back to Lady Artemis' service or go live at Camp. He said that I couldn't leave until I made up my mind. The Hunt was fun, but… Well, Father didn't seem to approve and then there was Nico. He told me how worried Nico was about me being in the Hunt. Plus, I kinda already died for it. So I choose the latter."

Her excitement at the prospect of having her friend as company at Camp getting the better of her, Andi hugged Bianca. "Welcome to Team Camp Half-Blood, girl! "

The daughter of Hades laughed at her friend's excitement. "Looking forward to it."

"So, what was all that talk with Lady Artemis about?" Andi asked, glancing back at the maiden goddess as she released Bianca from her hug.

"She was trying to get me to rejoin the Hunt." Bianca frowned. "I refused but she was getting pushy. She was respectful about it, but still pushy. Then my Father came in, getting angry at her. It was pretty intense."

"Don't worry." Andi promised with a dark grin. "She's got her hands full with Thalia. She should keep her busy for a good decade."

She sounded cold and dismissive at this, like it wasn't a worry at all.

"W-Well," Bianca replied uneasily, clearly unsettled by Andi's tone. "Okay. If you're sure."

"Yep!"

Another silence fell over them, this one unfortunately not as comfortable as Bianca kept shooting worried looks at Andi. It was clear she wanted to ask what was going on between her and Thalia, but a shake of Wendy's head seemed to stop her.

Before long, they regrouped with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover at the elevator down to the ground floor of the Empire State building.

"Hey Bianca." Percy greeted, looking relieved that she was alive.

Bianca nodded to him, smiling a little, as the whole group filed into the elevator.

As they finally got comfortable in the relatively cramped elevator, the son of Poseidon reached into his pocket and pulled out a small figurine. "Here, you uh, dropped this."

The daughter of Hades looked at it for a moment, her eyes wide before she suddenly burst into tears as she knocked it out of Percy's hand.

For a moment, everyone was stunned by the reaction. After getting over the shock, Andi reacted quickly and smacked Percy upside the head.

"What did you do?!" She hissed at her waterlogged cousin.

"Nothing! She really dropped that at the junkyard!" He told her in a low tone, a little wide eyed at the reaction. "She picked it up for Nico."

"And it got me killed." Bianca told Percy tearfully.

"Nice one, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth glared at him as she tried to help Andi comfort Bianca.

He turned to Grover for some help.

"You're on your own, man."

"Thanks G-Man, honest."

"It's what I do." The satyr told him with a pat on his head. Percy brushed the hand away, looking grumpy.

The elevator dinged, signalling that they had reached the lobby.

"Let's just head back to Camp, we can chide Percy on his stupidity once we get home." Andi told him with a glare.

"I concur." Wendy nodded sternly, yet adorably.

"I'll get us a taxi." Percy said, quickly shuffling out of the lobby to get away from the girls.

Grover glanced at the girls, giving a nervous bleat. "Percy! Wait up!"

"Amazing, they do learn." Annabeth quipped with a smirk of satisfaction.

---

The taxi ride back was pretty uneventful, the only thing of note was that their group was too large for a single taxi so they were forced to split themselves between two cabs. The guys took one and the girls all squeezed into another.

At their arrival at camp, things went just as uneventfully. Sure, there was a counsellor's meeting but Andi didn't care much about it. They talked about the Great Prophecy, that it was now either about Percy or herself or possibly, though unlikely, even the di Angelos; this then led into the fact that there were a pair of Hades children at camp now, which made some of the other councilors uneasy and left Chiron looking resigned; and lastly the possibility of her granddad attacking the Camp to strike at the gods. All of which was old news that Andi frankly didn't think they needed to discuss straight away.

By Olympus, the only thing that really caught her interest was the fact that Clarisse was coming back from some secret mission from Chiron. Idly she wondered what that was about, but it wasn't urgent and she trusted her friend to be able to handle herself. So even then, to her the whole thing was a bloody waste of her time. The only thing that kept her from very vocally letting them know that was her exhaustion and Wendy's restraining presence.

After the meeting Andi had planned to just head back to her Cabin to crash for the night, but the first thing she saw when she got to the Cabin changed her mind. There sitting in front of her the moment she stepped through the door was Thalia's stuff, at the sight of which a deep anger burned in her. This gave her the strength, despite her exhaustion, to dump everything, with Wendy's help, into a box and put it out of sight so she'd never need to see it again. She was pretty rough about it and ended up wrecking a few of the CDs, shattering the Telly remote, and ripping a few posters, not that she cared. After all the grief that Thalia gave her, Andi felt that the other girl deserved it.

Once that chore was done, the demigod stumbled into her wardrobe, and fell onto her bed with a groan. Wendy trailed after her but by this point, Andi was too tired to notice.

A bark got her drifting attention as a weight joined her on the bed.

Weakly, she patted Hunter on the head. "Good bo-"

The day finally proving too much for her, she failed to finish her sentence before the pull of Morpheus proved too great.

---

And done! Phew, that was a long one guys. Thanks to the team of Nameless and Axios as usual.

I know it's crazy long guys, but we had to get a lot in. Plus it was fun to expand the council meeting and celebration afterwards. Good time placement on this chapter huh? The next one might have been better, but oh well, its how it all lines up I guess. Merry X-Mas and all other holis guys!

Nameless: A lot happened this chapter, no? I particularly like the foreshadowing we did for some of the cool ideas with have in store for Chell and GLaDOS. Anyone want to try guessing what we have planned for on that front?

Oh and Bianca's alive… Ha! I fooled you all! Like hell I was gonna let her die after all the one scene dev I put into her. Or two scenes, yeah it was two. So haha! No emo Nico, Bianca gets her own spotlight, and Andi's got another buddy. Yay!

So Andi's got some issues with the gods, but that just makes the story have a redemption arc feel to it. And I honestly like that, makes her strive for something by the end of the story. Plus Apollo acts very chill so it's hard to not just get into a friendly conversation, though his ego makes it obvious that he wasn't all happy with Andi.

Nameless: Ah, yes, about that. We got several communications (reviews, PMs, etc.) that we were making things feel a lot like Worm. Let me tell you, I have never heard such a great compliment for our fic before. To be compared to that masterpiece is an amazing thing. So we thought since we're doing that already, we'd live up to it. Just kidding. We aren't going to that extent of grimdark. We did like the complimentary comparison though. That said, we will continue to at least be a pale shadow of it and push Andi into difficult situations to further her character development.

He's kidding, #LeaveAndiBe. Please? TT_TT

Nameless: Nope. She needs to go through tough situations to grow up.

And she is, I just mean not at Worm level, too often.

Nameless: I did say we'd back off. [pouts] Anyways, I'll be honest though and admit that a lot of the bad stuff was the result of us doing things to Andi, usually good things, that when we sat down to think about it would lead to bad consequences for her. Consequences that have come home to roost.

My bad!

Nameless: Just promise to think of the consequences a bit more when we introduce an idea. I hate being the bad guy and making Andi suffer because of those consequences. But you know me and the need to maintain a semblance of realism in the fic.

Hey, that was a long time ago when it was in its crack format, who thinks up consequences for crack fics? No one!

Nameless: Fair. Just no more crack ideas. Please. TT_TT

Just be glad I never brought up the penguin army concept, the nightmares to behold.

Nameless: Don't tell me, I don't want to know. [Averts his eyes]

Well our bickering aside, this was a fun chapter to write. So with that, smash that review button and leave us your comments! Don't flame and of course, peace off my peeps!