Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson

Chapter 19: The Most Important Delivery


Four hours later…

"Well, we're here." Christina said, gazing up at the Empire State Building. "Let's go."

"Are you sure you know how to get to Olympus?" Percy asked, concerned, as they walked into the lobby.

Christina nodded. "Chiron took us here for the winter solstice. I know what I am doing." She approached the desk, startling the receptionist there. "I need to get to the six hundredth floor."

"There is no six hundredth floor." The receptionist told her with a deadpan expression.

Christina grabbed the backpack from Percy, zipping it open, and showing the receptionist. "My brother and I are demigods and we need to get to Olympus. We have something Zeus really wants back, and I don't think he will be too happy with you if he learns you were stalling us here."

The receptionist's face turned pale before he practically shoved a keycard at Christina. "Then you need to hurry as well."

She nodded to him before setting out across the lobby towards the elevator, Percy following. She hit the button and the two of them piled inside, Christina inserting the card and pressing the button for the six hundredth floor.

"So, what do we do now?" Percy asked as the elevator shot them skywards.

Christina sighed, leaning up against the back wall. "Now, we go to Zeus and hope he doesn't smite us when we return the bolt. He shouldn't, hopefully."

"So, we're mainly in the clear now?" He asked.

She nodded. "Mainly. We got the bolt, that's the important thing."

Just then, the elevator dinged and the doors slid open, revealing the narrow, stone walkway floating in the middle of the air over Manhattan.

"Woah." Percy said, looking all around. "Is this Olympus."

Christina gestured for her brother, already halfway across the walkway. "Come on, we'll look later."

The two of them crossed over the walkway and began to climb the steps that wound up around the hill. Once they reached the top of the stairs, they set out on a mission towards the palace. Along the road, nymphs and minor gods glanced their way and began muttering to themselves, all keenly aware of who the two demigods were.

"Well, it's now or never." Percy commented, glancing at his sister when they reached the doors to Olympus' throne room, before pushing them open.

Inside, the twelve Olympians stopped their various conversations to look at the two demigods. Zeus stood up in his throne, throwing off Hera's arm, to glare at them.

"You dare come here after what you did!" Zeus thundered. "I should have you smited for this."

On his other side, Poseidon looked like he wanted to say something to his brother, but thought better of it.

Christina bowed, Percy following suit, and placed the backpack down in front of them, unzipping it to show its' contents.

"Lord Zeus, I bring you your Master Bolt, and the express promise that I, nor my brother, did not steal it. Ares did, along with Lord Hades' Helm of Darkness, in the hopes of starting another war. But I do not believe he acted alone, my lord. I believe he was working with a mystery being to start a cosmic war."

Zeus turned his fiery gaze on his son. "Is this true Ares? Did you steal both the Master Bolt and the Helm of Darkness in order to start another war. And don't try to lie to me, I will know."

Ares lowered his head in shame. "Yes, my lord. It is I who stole the Bolt and the Helm and shifted the blame to Poseidon."

"Leave the throne room." Zeus told him. "I will deal with you later. Now, the two of you." He said, turning back to the demigods. "Your services are greatly appreciated, but you may go now. Consider it an appreciation for returning my bolt."

Christina stepped forward, ignoring Percy's shocked look. "If I may my lord, there is something my brother and I would like to talk to you and our father about alone."

"I'll go." Athena said, standing up. "I didn't want to be in the presence of Poseidon's spawn much longer anyway."

One by one the other gods filed out of the throne room until it was only Zeus and Poseidon left in there.

"So," Zeus said, staring down at them. "What did you want to tell us?"

Christina glanced at her brother, not ready to admit the truth of the dreams to him. "I think I know who Ares was working for. Throughout the quest I had been getting dreams or visions. In the beginning they weren't clear, but as time went on, I was finally able to figure out who it was. It was Kronos and some servant, and I think he's close to returning."

"That's not possible." Zeus said, facing them. "I chopped him up myself. There's no way he is coming back. I am tired of hearing such nonsense."

With that, the lead god stood up and left the room, leaving the two demigods alone with their father.

"I am very proud of the two of you." Poseidon said, sitting foreword. "You managed to defeat Ares. Few demigods can say they've done that."

Percy crossed his arms, turning away. "What's it to you? We saved your reputation. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"Be quiet." Christina hissed, elbowing him in the side. "Thank you, father." She told him, turning back.

Poseidon smiled slightly. "And I did like the present you mailed Percy, it gave me a good laugh, and I think it will help you in the future. But, I'm going to let the two of you get going. I'm sure you want to go home after such a long quest."

Christina wanted to protest, that seeing her father was more important than going home, but she knew how to quit when she was ahead, so she grabbed Percy by the arm, and left the throne room. The entire walk back, the two of them were silent, still processing what had happened on Olympus. It was only when they got back to the lobby and returned the key card to the shocked receptionist that Percy finally spoke.

"Do you want to meet my mom?" He asked. "We're not far from the apartment."

Christina smiled softly. "I would love to."


Thirty minutes later…

Percy knocked on the door, stepping back from it moments before it opened to reveal Sally Jackson's frantic face.

"Percy!" She cried, pulling her son into a tight hug. "You're okay!" She pulled back, just to turn to Christina. "And you must be Christina. Come in, come in. I don't want you standing out there on the steps."

As she closed the door behind them, Percy looked around the apartment. "Where is Gabe?" He asked his mother.

"He's a work." She informed him. "Apparently you did quite a number with that interview you gave. His boss is furious, their phones have been ringing nonstop all morning."

Christina smiled slightly. Although Percy hadn't ever talked to her specifically about Gabe, she could guess easily what type of man he was.

"And speaking of your quest," Sally said, pulling a box off of the table. "This was sent to us this morning."

The two demigods glanced at the box, and Christina recognized the address as the one Percy had written on the Medusa head, with a large "Return to Sender" sticker on top of it.

"So that's what Poseidon meant when he said we would find a good use for it." She commented.

Sally looked at her in surprise. "You talked with Poseidon?"

"He said he was really proud of us." Percy told her. "I don't really believe it since he has never been present in our lives."

Sally turned to them. "I'm sure the two of you need to get back to Camp Half-Blood, they're probably wondering where you are. But I'll send you with a batch of cookies I just made. And Christina," she said, turning to the other demigod. "If you ever need anything, I am here for you. You are Percy's sister, which means I think of you a little bit like my own daughter."

"Thank you." Christina said, pulling her into a tight hug, before taking the tin of cookies and following Percy out of the door.

As they walked away from the apartment, she noticed Percy looking wistfully back in the direction they came from.

"Are you okay?" She asked her brother.

He nodded. "Yeah. She's alive now, what's a few more weeks of waiting?"


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