Mission Passed! Respect +
There was no choice.
They had to drug Thalia.
For an eighteen-year-old girl capable of defeating an Olympian god, her fear of heights turns her into a stubborn, tantrum girl. If it was in any other situation, Andy would laugh and make fun of her. But now they had no time for childish drama. The world was in danger.
When they got on the plane, where they got tickets thanks to Thalia's unlimited money credit card, Andy immediately told the stewardess to give her the strongest sleeping pill available.
The stewardess looked at her doubtfully, but when she saw how pale Thalia looked as she clutched the armrest and shivered slightly, she understood.
Thalia slept like a baby on a full stomach after twenty minutes. She even snored.
The hard part was waking her up, where Annabeth and Andy had to take turns slapping her on each cheek.
Thalia stepped off the plane with a deep frown on her face, her cheeks as red as a ripe apple.
"You didn't have to slap me, you know," she complained as they got into a cab headed for Manhattan, rubbing her cheeks. "And Annabeth, you did it even after I woke up!"
Annabeth shrugged.
"I needed to make sure. Besides, you didn't need to yell at the stewardess for trying to calm you down, either."
"You scared the passengers with your crazy bitch screams when the plane took off," Andy said.
"Who are you calling a crazy bitch?!" Thalia roared.
"Obviously you!"
The dispute raged for thirty minutes until the three demigoddesses were in the elevator, Thalia's fear of heights returning to her. She tried to concentrate on the background music of the elevator, for the first time she was grateful for how horrible it was because her annoyance overshadowed her fear a little.
They heard the characteristic "ding" that marked that they had arrived. The elevator doors opened. And her vertigo came back twice as strong as she gazed at the stone walkway in the middle of the void.
Below them was Manhattan, more than thirty thousand feet high. Ahead, marble steps snaked around a cloud toward the most magnificent view you could imagine.
High above the clouds rose Olympus in all its majesty. Palaces graced the mountainside, all made of cloud-white marble with golden terraces that gleamed in the sunlight. On the top of the mountain stood the largest palace that dwarfed all others.
"It's... it's beautiful," Andy murmured, staring wide-eyed at Olympus in all its splendor.
"Yeah, I had the same thought the first time I came here," Annabeth said, her tone contemplative. "But no matter how many times I see it, it's truly majestic."
"Let's go."
They were halfway up the stone walkway when they realized that their older friend was not with them. Thalia was still in the elevator without taking a step outside, while she was as still as a statue, as if she had looked directly at Medusa's face.
"Uh... Thalia..." Andy began.
"No" was Thalia's reply.
"We have to go," Annabeth hurried. "The gods are in midsummer meeting right now."
"Then go without me."
Andy and Annabeth looked at each other and came to an unspoken agreement. They both took one of Thalia's hands and gently pushed her away.
"We started this together, Thalia," Andy declared. "And we'll finish it together."
"Together..." Thalia whispered, as she had a glazed look in her eyes.
"Just don't look down," Annabeth advised. "Keep your head up and think nice and cute things."
"Cute and nice things... cute and nice things," Thalia repeated, as she walked slowly along the catwalk that hung in the void. "Kittens... a cold beer in summer... puppies... a cup of coffee hot on a rainy day... Billie Joe Armstrong..."
"That's right, Thalia, you're doing it right," motivated Andy. "Just a few more steps... And that's it! You did it!"
Thalia looked down at her feet and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that she was standing on a solid marble staircase.
"Okay... Let's go," she said, regaining her trademark confidence. "Let's break into the gathering of the Olympian gods and make a bit of a ruckus."
At the top of the mountain, the throne room rose in all its splendor.
Columns of incredible size rose to a vaulted ceiling, on which scrolled constellations shimmered in gold. There were twelve thrones arranged in an inverted U shape, like the cabins at Camp Half-Blood. There was a huge fire burning in the central brazier.
Over the course of her journey to retrieve the master bolt, Andy had faced a wide variety of monsters; the Furies, Medusa, Echidna, the Clazmonian Sow, metal spiders, Procrustes, Cerberus, skeleton soldiers, and a boar summoned by Ares the size of a rhinoceros, but comparing all of that to the situation before her eyes was like comparing a handful of sand with the Sahara desert.
The very twelve gods of Olympus.
They were all sitting on their respective thrones, waiting for her to come closer, while their eyes scrutinized her. She was able to recognize two of them. To Mr. D, who was sitting on his throne in a bored manner while he fiddled with a vine sprig that grew from his throne made of vines. And Ares, who sat on his throne of leather and metal as he held the side of him where he had been injured and glared with ill-concealed hatred in Thalia's direction.
"So you have finally arrived. Come closer," said the imposing voice of Zeus, god of the skies and king of Olympus.
Andy walked on shaky legs toward Zeus' plain platinum throne. The god of the skies wore a navy blue pinstripe suit. He had a neatly trimmed gray beard with black streaks, similar to a storm cloud. Oddly, he reminded her of Thalia's blue-dyed lock of hair, but that wasn't the only similarity. They both had the same proud and handsome face, along with the same electric blue eyes. No doubt she could see the resemblance between the father and the daughter.
Andy didn't need to be told who was the god sitting on a throne that was shaped like a fisherman's chair that was located to the right of the king of Olympus. What surprised her was the stark contrast he had with Zeus. Where the king of the gods had a regal and stern appearance, Poseidon looked like a rebellious and laid-back beach goer.
He was wearing horn sandals, khaki shorts, and a Bahamian T-shirt printed with coconuts and parrots. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands scarred like an old fisherman's. His black hair looked untamed, just like hers, along with her same sea green eyes.
Andy was able to compare the appearance of Poseidon, god of the seas, with two people. Herself, and the late Percy she had seen in the photo Thalia had in her wallet.
As she passed the bonfire burning in the middle of the throne room, Andy thought she saw a girl in the flames, who winked at her encouragingly. That simple gesture seemed to warm her heart, and her nerves receded a bit.
When they stood before Zeus's throne, the three demigoddesses dropped to one knee and lowered their heads in respect. That gesture seemed to please the King of Olympus, whose eyes softened for a second when he saw his daughter.
"Lift your heads," Zeus commanded.
They did, and Andy found herself on the receiving end of the sky god's hard gaze that sent a shiver down her spine.
"In any other situation, Andromeda Jackson, I would have struck you down the instant you dared to fly through my kingdom... but in consideration of the current situation, and in my brother's words of appeal along with the of my two daughters present here, I have decided to listen to you before making a final decision on your trial."
'Your two daughters?' Andy thought, 'His only Olympian daughters are... Athena and Artemis. Why would they speak up to defend me?'
"Andromeda," Poseidon said, causing Andy to feel a strange sense of longing fill her heart, as if she had heard him before. "Look at me."
Andy did so and looked at the unreadable expression of the god who happened to be her father. It was like looking at the calm ocean, deep and mysterious.
She didn't know what to think of her father. She never had a father figure in her life, she was happy only with her mother. Now that she was in front of her father, she didn't know what to say or think, it was like a blank slate. And she was glad for that. She was glad for the fact that her father, like her, did not know what to think about the other.
But Andy could see a fleeting gleam in his eyes, and she couldn't identify it. Pride? Love? Sadness? Disappointment? It was too fast to know.
She couldn't sit down to think about it when Poseidon's voice snapped her out of her musings.
"Speak to Lord Zeus, child," Poseidon commanded. "Tell him your story," then he turned to Annabeth and Thalia. "If there is anything you feel worth adding to her story, do so."
Annabeth and Thalia nodded, and Andy took a deep breath before beginning her long but short story.
The silence in the throne room was almost palpable. None of the twelve gods made a single sound. Some of them were in a contemplative state after hearing her story, others seemed bored to even be present, and others were looking at Zeus carefully, waiting for him to say something.
So it was.
"My master blot... Give it to me."
Andy reached into her backpack and pulled out several things; clothes, a bag of drachmas, an empty Oreo wrapper, a half-eaten pack of jellybeans that she put in her pocket for later, and then the metal cylinder that it began to spark in the presence of the sky god.
She left it at his feet as an offering and stepped away from him.
Zeus opened his palm and the master lightning bolt flew towards him. As he closed his fist on the weapon, it extended to its full length, like a javelin charged with electrical energy. Thunder in the heavens seemed to roar in approval, and Zeus nodded in satisfaction.
The King of the Gods looked at a god to the right.
He was wearing a simple golden Greek robe, and he was really handsome, tall, muscular, and tanned. His long golden hair was tied up in a bun and his eyes shone like the sun.
Apollo nodded as if he was confirming something.
"I see you speak the truth, child," Zeus said.
Then he looked at Ares, who was nervously avoiding his gaze. The air seemed to crackle with electricity, while the smell of ozone permeated the room.
"You have committed a very serious fault to your king, Ares," Zeus growled, causing the god of war to forcefully swallow.
"Lord Zeus," Annabeth's voice caught his attention.
"Anything to add? Daughter of Athena?"
"Ares did not act alone," she explained. "As Andy has explained, he was being tricked by a larger force. A force that prompted the demigod Ethan Nakamura to steal the master bolt and Lord Hades' helm of darkness. Ares was being used, as us, to unleash a war between the gods."
Zeus seemed to contemplate her words.
"Even with that said, it doesn't excuse his actions in favor of starting a war between the gods." He narrowed his eyes at Ares. "Retire, Ares. I will sentence a punishment for you later."
Face slightly pale, Ares shimmered at his throne before disappearing.
"Annabeth," a voice called.
She looked at the goddess who was sitting on the right side of the throne room. She was a very beautiful woman wearing an elegant white dress. Her long black hair cascaded down her back and her intense gray eyes looked cold, but it dimmed as she watched Annabeth.
"Mother..." Annabeth whispered.
"Are you sure of what you have related to this council?" Athena questioned. "It is a serious accusation that you make, my daughter."
Annabeth nodded confidently.
"Ethan seemed convinced of it. Together with the powers he wielded, being able to slow down time, they only prove that what we have witnessed is true."
There were murmurs among the gods as they argued rapidly and intensely in ancient Greek until Zeus slammed his recovered master bolt against the marble floor.
"It's enough. We will discuss this matter later" he sentenced. He looked at Andy and his hard gaze softened slightly. "You've done me a good service, child. Few heroes would have accomplished as much."
"I had help, Lord Zeus," Andy said. "Annabeth Chase and Thalia Grace. I'm sure without their help I wouldn't have succeeded in retrieving the master bolt. Especially retrieving the helm of darkness from Lord Hades."
"That's what I call a story worth telling!" exclaimed Apollo with joy and a big smile whose white teeth were almost reaping. "The young Thalia here present was able to defeat the barbarian Ares. A feat that very few have done. It deserves to be remembered in history. And I have the perfect way to do it."
He cleared his throat and began to recite.
¨Between sand and sea¨
¨A warrior faces war¨
¨Blue eyes prevail proud¨
Silence settled in the throne room. Andy didn't know how to react to the... Poetry? Which she had just heard.
"Hey... that haiku wasn't too bad," said the god sitting next to him. "I like it. Much better than your previous attempts."
The god had curly black hair, blue eyes, and a mischievous smile. He was dressed as a postman and had a winged helmet on his head. It wasn't hard to identify Hermes, Luke's father. They had the same mischievous smile as all the members of cabin eleven.
"What do you say? My haikus are always perfect!" Apollo exclaimed, looking at Thalia and giving her a flirtatious wink. "Perfect to honor a beautiful heroine."
"Er... thank you, Lord Apollo," Thalia replied.
Thalia wouldn't lie to herself, Apollo was incredibly handsome, more handsome than any mortal, demigod, and even god she had ever seen. But she recognized that there was a big difference between acknowledging the beauty and being attracted to it. Thalia recognized Apollo's beauty, but she wasn't attracted to it.
He wasn't her type. She liked dark-haired men better.
"Yes. Without a doubt, my daughter did a truly remarkable feat," Zeus said, a proud gleam in his eyes.
Against her will, Thalia blushed slightly as she looked away from him. Andy smiled and playfully bumped her elbow.
"And not only her, my daughter has also done very well," Poseidon said, smiling proudly at Andy.
This time, it was Andy's turn to blush and get elbowed by an amused Thalia. The roles had just been reversed.
"Very well. It's judgment time," Zeus announced, in a thunderous voice. He looked directly at Andy with his stunning blue eyes. "I don't trust you, Andromeda Jackson. I don't like what your arrival means for the future of Olympus. But I have to admit that your actions, along with those of my daughter and the daughter of Athena, have been for the sake of peace in our family. With that in mind, I have decided to spare your life. Is there anyone who opposes this decision?"
Surprisingly, no one said anything.
"It's unanimous. The council has spoken," Zeus declared. "You three may go."
The three demigoddesses bowed one last time before leaving the throne room. Andy felt the gaze of all the gods on her back as she walked and made an effort not to stumble.
Unfortunately, she failed.
She tripped over her own feet and fell face down on the marble floor. Apparently walking is not her specialty.
She heard a couple of chuckles behind her and felt her face burn in embarrassment.
Summoning what little dignity she had left, she left the throne room.
Andy was huddled, her arms hugging her legs near a large fountain outside the throne room, hiding her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Easy, Andy. Everything's fine," Annabeth comforted her as she patted her on the back.
"It's not fine!" she cried. "I tripped in front of the gods of Olympus! I can never forget that! I'll be the laughingstock of the entire camp if they find out!"
"Oh, rest assured they will," Thalia snorted. "Get over it."
Andy ignored her and went back to wallowing in her embarrassment.
"You left an impression on the gods," announced a new voice.
The three demigoddesses turned to see Poseidon approaching to them. He was still dressed like a beach goer, but he wielded a bronze trident whose tips gave off a greenish light.
"Father..." Andy said.
The sea god looked at his daughter with a hint of sadness.
"Hey, Annabeth," Thalia called. "How about we go to the market and see that replica of the Golden Fleece? I'm interested in using it as a living room rug in my apartment."
Without waiting for an answer, Thalia dragged Annabeth through the streets of Olympus, leaving Andy behind with her father.
"Andromeda..."
"You're a selfish, you know?"
Poseidon's eyes widened in surprise, and he blinked several times. Clearly not expecting that.
"What...?"
"You get mom pregnant, and then you leave her. For twelve years, you left us to our own devices... And now when you need my help, you call me and impose all this responsibility on me." Andy felt tears fall from the corner of her eyes, but she made no attempt to push them away.
Poseidon was silent for a long moment as he watched her.
"But... I guess that's my destiny," she said, resigned. "After all... I am the daughter of a god. And as far as I know, our life is not pretty."
She thought of the life she had had so far. She was an outcast and misunderstood throughout her life. She thought of Annabeth and Thalia, who left their homes at a young age to survive on the streets. She thought of Percy, her brother, who died at the top of Half-Blood Hill.
As if reading her thoughts, Poseidon went down in a sorrowful manner.
"I've made mistakes in the past with my other children... Mistakes that I would do anything to make right." He looked at her sadly. "I know I'm not the father you always wanted, nor the father you truly deserve. But even if you didn't see me, it doesn't mean I wasn't there. Your battle against the daughter of Ares... the pearls... I have always been watching you and watching over your well-being. Even in the most difficult moments, I always had the certainty that you could overcome any obstacle."
Andy wiped tears from her eyes.
"I... thanks for the vote of confidence, I guess," she said awkwardly, not knowing how to react to the compliment.
Poseidon smiled slightly, and Andy felt a warm feeling as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Things will be difficult for you from now on. The life of a hero is difficult and often tragic, but remember; you are not alone. I see you have formed valuable bonds with the daughters of Athena and Zeus. And although my relationship with the two of them is not the most cordial, I trust that you will not be influenced by your old father's prejudices."
He ruffled her hair a bit, causing Andy to chuckle slightly.
"Father... I... will I ever see you again?" Andy asked. "I know the gods are forbidden to interfere directly in their children's lives, but..."
"Zeus says we shouldn't interact too much with our children. He is a clear example of that, even if he wants more than anyone to be a constant in his daughter's life, but... that doesn't mean I have to follow his orders to the letter. The sea does not like to be contained. It's rebellious and indomitable." He winked knowingly. "Like us."
Andy shared a faint knowing smile.
"You know... if you weren't a god, I'd beat you up for abandoning mom."
"Ah... your mother. She is such a unique woman," Poseidon declared wistfully, "I do not regret the time we spent together, even though we did not meet on the best of terms. But she had a fire in her eyes that was so attractive to me... I can't help but love a woman with a strong character."
"I'll pass on the message when I see her," Andy said.
Poseidon smiled slightly at her.
"You must go, Andy. They are waiting for you."
She turned to see Thalia and Annabeth waiting. Thalia had what looked like a gold rug rolled up under her arms.
With an awkward bow, Andy took five steps away from her father before he called her back.
"Andromeda," when Andy turned around, this time she could clearly identify a proud gleam in Poseidon's sea-green eyes, "You've done very well, Andromeda. No matter what decision you make from now on, I want you to know that I'm proud to be your father. You are a true Daughter of the God of the Sea."
Thalia and Annabeth were waiting for her with a smile. It was then that she could see that Annabeth was holding what looked like a New York Yankees baseball cap.
"How was your first talk with your father?" Thalia asked when she reached them.
"It was... kind of awkward," she confessed. "To tell the truth, I didn't know what to expect, but... it was okay. At least it didn't turn me into a starfish for calling him a selfish."
Annabeth opened her eyes, looking bewildered and a little scared.
"Did you call one of the Big Three selfish?"
Andy shrugged.
"He is."
"Ah, this kid fills me with pride," Thalia said, wiping away an imaginary tear. "But I don't know why you're surprised, Annabeth. I've called my old man worse things."
"Yeah, but you're a basket case," Annabeth said.
They shared a couple of laughs at Thalia's expense until Andy decided to ask.
"Hey Annabeth, what's that cap? Are you a New York Yankees fan?"
"Oh, this?" Annabeth looked at the cap happily. "It's a gift from my mother for successfully completing my first mission. You can call it the reward for proving myself."
Andy arched an eyebrow, confused.
"A simple cap? Didn't she have something better to give you?"
Annabeth frowned and put on the cap. Immediately, she disappeared. As if she wasn't there in the first place.
"What?!" Andy exclaimed in alarm, only to trip and fall to the floor. "Again?" she grumbled.
Andy heard laughter and looked up to see Annabeth materialize out of thin air as if by magic.
"Oh great. A cap that can make you invisible," Andy muttered, as she stood up.
"It's not just a cap anymore, is it?" Annabeth gloated.
"No, it's a cheap imitation of the invisibility cloak from Harry Potter."
"You better keep that cap away from Luke," Thalia warned. "I'm afraid of what he might do if he's able to turn invisible." She stretched her body until a couple of joints clicked. "It's finally over. It's all resolved. It feels good to have a completed mission. It's like that feeling after shitting something big."
Andy and Annabeth screwed up their faces in disgust.
"Thalia, that's disgusting!" Annabeth chided.
She just shrugged as if she didn't care.
As they walked through the streets of Olympus, everyone stopped to look at them. The gods, satyrs, naiads, and nymphs stepped aside to let them pass. They all looked at them with gratitude and respect as the chorus of applause filled the streets.
Andy looked a little shy at that and tried to shrug behind Thalia, who had no problem with the attention she was receiving, as she greets people passing by with a smile. Annabeth puffed out her chest proudly in an attempt to hide her embarrassment. Andy just hoped she didn't stumble like she had, since she could see her legs trembling as she walked.
They had to repeat the process of taking Thalia's hands when they walked on the catwalks that led to the elevator that was above the sky of Manhattan.
It was the second time that Thalia was glad to hear the horrible music from the elevator as she looked at the board that marked the numbers of the floors that were descending.
They wasted no time hailing a cab headed for Long Island. With Thalia's credit card, taking heart-stopping amounts from an ATM that proceeded to fill her backpack, things would have gotten pretty easy. Looks like she wouldn't need money for a long time.
Andy didn't miss the greedy gleam in Thalia's eyes when she looked at the card. She almost swore he heard her call it 'My precious'.
In the arena at Camp Half-Blood, half a dozen demigods were bent over trying to catch their breath. Their shields, swords, and spears were on the ground.
"Come on guys, I know you can do more than this," Luke was saying, as he had his Backbiter sword over his shoulder.
He looked like there was a light sheen of sweat on his face and he was panting slightly, but he still looked like he could go several more rounds.
"We've been doing this for two hours straight!" complained Nick, son of Ares.
"Last week it was an hour and a half, you're getting better!" Luke prompted. "But if you get complacent, you can never get better. And for us demigods, it means that the stronger we are, the longer we can stay alive."
He was a clear example of that. He was nineteen years old and the best swordsman in the camp. And he had achieved that after hours and hours of training. His body had begged him to stop, and his hands had bled from the number of times he had wielded the sword, but did he regret that? Not a damn second. Because he did not wield his sword for himself, but for others.
The sound of feet hitting the sand caught his attention and he saw his brother Travis walk into the sand.
"Luke!" he called, sweat pouring down his face.
"What's up, Travis?" he asked. "Did Demeter's cabin find out what you did to their plants?"
"Not... yet," he shook his head to shake those thoughts away and looked at Luke with a big smile, "It's them... they're back! They've done it!"
Luke's eyes widened in surprise, but a huge smile graced his face.
He sheathed his sword on his waist and wasted no time running to the top of Half-Blood Hill, where the tree of his friend and his faithful guardian was. Even in the distance, he could see three people being licked by Camp Half-Blood's huge resident hellhound. That only motivated him to run faster.
The campers began to crowd around the newcomers. Acclaiming on high their heroism and gratitude through whistles and applause. He advanced through the sea of demigods and was finally able to see them.
They looked tired. Their clothes were dirty and full of cuts. Their hair was disheveled and covered in dirt and soot, as were their faces, but that didn't stop them from smiling when they saw him.
"Hey, Luke!" Thalia called, a smile on her freckled face.
"We're back!" Annabeth exclaimed happily. "You won't believe the things that we..."
She was unable to speak further as Luke locked them both in tight hugs, surprising them.
"Thank the gods you're okay..." he said, trembling slightly. "I was worried."
Thalia and Annabeth smiled as they hugged the boy they thought of as an older brother, their family.
Andy and Ms. O'Leary, who was beside her happily wagging her tail, watched the heartwarming scene.
Luke broke away from the hug and smiled at her with slightly reddened eyes.
"Welcome home."
They were back.
According to camp tradition, a festival was held in honor of demigoddesses who had not only successfully completed a quest, but also prevented a war between gods.
They were given laurel wreaths that they were to wear throughout the day. They went to the procession of the bonfire, where they were to burn the shrouds that their respective cabins had made in their absence.
Annabeth's shroud, made by Cabin Six, was gray silk embroidered with silver owls.
"It's a shame to be left with something so cute," Annabeth commented.
Her mother was a goddess of craftsmanship, and she could see the quality of the shroud because it had been made by her children.
"Yeah... it's a shame I don't have to bury you with it," Andy said.
Annabeth punched her in the shoulder for that.
"Shut your mouth, wobbly legs."
Since Andy and Thalia were the only daughters of Poseidon and Zeus, there was no one else in their cabin, so Hermes' cabin had become Andy's because she had lived in it for a week before it was claimed. And the Ares cabin had offered to make Thalia's shroud, Clarisse looked oddly excited about that.
Andy could see that her shroud was one of the old brown curtains from the cabin, where a green trident had been graffitied. And Thalia's shroud was an old sheet that had painted figures of an upright bar between two circles, eerily resembling a cock, and the word "COCKSUCKER" very large in the middle.
Andy thought that Thalia would start smashing heads and breaking bones after seeing her shroud, but she was surprised when she burst out laughing and applauded the act before tossing her shroud into the bonfire.
"Now if we can end the mission," said Andy. "It's all over. And it all happened exactly as the Oracle prophesied."
Annabeth nodded without taking her eyes off the bonfire.
"You will go west, where you will meet the god who has turned," Annabeth quoted. "We all thought that the god who turned was Hades, but instead it was Ares, who wanted a war between the gods."
"And I kneed him right in his ugly face," Thalia commented with a nod. "Gods, that felt SO good!"
"'You will find what was stolen, and see it safely returned,'" Andy quoted. "Done. An order to carry a master bolt for Zeus, and another for a helm of darkness for Hades."
"'The ghost of the tragic will guide you down the path of desolation,'" Thalia quoted, with a slightly sad look. "The ghost was Sammy. Tragic because of the fate she had to go to the Asphodels Fields, the path of desolation, after committing suicide."
Annabeth squeezed her hand to comfort her.
"If Hades was true to his word, she is in the Elysian Fields right now. She will finally be able to rest in peace."
Thalia nodded, looking happier for that fact.
"'And with immortal blood spilled, the true enemy will reveal,'" Andy said, sounding somber as she recalled their last encounter with Ethan Nakamura.
Annabeth and Thalia frowned at that.
"I think we'll have to tell Chiron of Ethan's whereabouts," Annabeth said. "When he went on his mission to prove himself and didn't come back, Chiron felt pretty down for several days. He will be glad to know that he is alive."
"And working for the gods' greatest enemy," Thalia put in. "But... there's nothing we can do about it, at least not now. So let's not fret about it."
Apparently her good humor had returned.
That was evidenced the night when the campers gathered around the campfire. As Andy ate cookie sandwiches with Annabeth roasting marshmallows, they both watched Thalia and Luke sharing a flask containing the speakeasy of Cabin Twelve as they sang at the top of their lungs to the music that led the Apollo cabin, a song called "21 Guns" by Thalia's favorite band, Green Day.
¨One, twenty one guns¨
¨Lay down your arms, give up the fight¨
¨One, twenty one guns¨
¨Throw up your arms into the sky¨
¨You and I¨
"They're drunk," Annabeth said sheepishly as she watched Luke trip over his own feet and Thalia burst out laughing at it.
But it was quite funny for Andy when Clarisse, backed by her entire cabin, confronted Thalia for defeating their father. The screams and claims did not wait, but Thalia did not seem to care when she simply took another drink from her flask.
Emboldened by Thalia's drunken state, Nick attempted to hit her, but failed when she simply stepped aside as she continued to drink.
What followed wasn't a fight, it was a one-sided humiliation by Thalia to Ares' cabin. In her drunken state, Thalia dodged and landed completely unpredictable blows until all cabin five, except for Clarisse who wisely stood by, lay defeated and dazed at her feet.
Thalia planted a foot on the bottom of one of them, and exclaimed loudly:
"Behold the majesty of the Lightning Princess, insects!"
She burst out laughing after proclaiming that... until she put a hand to her mouth and her cheeks puffed out comically. They all watched as the daughter of Zeus, the Princess of Lightning, the most powerful demigoddess in the camp, went over a bush and began to vomit uncontrollably, as if it were a leak in a pipe.
"Oh, Thalia..." Annabeth sighed, as she patted her face in embarrassment.
"Yeah, behold the majesty of the Lightning Princess," Andy sneered.
When the campfire was over, and Luke carried the drunken daughter of Zeus back to her cabin, Andy returned to cabin three, but unlike the day when she was claimed, she didn't feel alone.
During the day she trained with either Luke or Thalia, she also spent much of her free time outside of training alongside Annabeth as she taught her ancient Greek and ancient myths. Her explanation was that it was always important to have knowledge about the monsters out there and how to defeat them. Andy didn't dispute that. Annabeth's knowledge had saved her butt before for both her and Thalia.
So she listened intently... for about ten minutes, and then her mind wandered to... Oh, a bee! That bee fell on the hair of one of Aphrodite's daughters, was pointed out by one of her sisters, and then there was chaos at Aphrodite's table as they tried to scare the poor bee away.
Those were normal days at Camp Half-Blood.
But what she was not prepared for, nor were any of the campers, was what happened a week after they arrived at camp after completing their mission.
Andy and Annabeth had walked through the camp towards the Big House to ask Chiron if Andy could send her mother a letter, since she was still unsure about talking to her via Iris Message. She didn't want to accidentally see a holographic image of her mother while she was in the bathroom. May the gods save her from that situation.
They were walking quietly, with Andy trying to convince Annabeth to give her father another chance to live together again. She knew of Annabeth's history with her mortal family, but Andy was adamant that she should extend an olive branch to them. Annabeth looked rather skeptical about that, but she nonetheless decided to consider it later.
When the Big House came into view, they could see Chiron talking to someone else. He was a tall, broad-built man, muscular, to be sure.
Andy's eyes widened in surprise, and she exclaimed in disbelief when she saw the familiar black leather trench coat.
"What the hell are he doing here?!" Was her vocal exclamation.
The man turned and gave her an annoyed and unpleasant look, as if he were looking at a pile of manure.
"Do you think I want to be in this pigsty?" Ares snapped. "I have no choice, brat."
"What do you mean you don't have a choice?" Annabeth asked, glaring at the god of war with distaste.
"Lord Zeus has given a sentence to Lord Ares here for his... past transgressions regarding the theft of the master bolt," Chiron reported wearily. "He has been given the task of being here at Camp Half-Blood and training the demigods for a time that Lord Zeus deemed fair."
Annabeth arched her eyebrow at that.
"And how long are we talking about?"
"Ten years."
"Ten...! You can't be serious, Chiron!" Andy protested, pointing at Ares. "This guy tried to kill us on more than one occasion! He tricked us and sent us to the underworld to be killed! He almost caused a war!"
"And that's why he'll have to do penance here at camp," Chiron replied. "Obviously, like Mr. D, he'll have his restrictions."
Ares grunted in annoyance at that and quoted:
"Don't kill any demigods. Don't curse. Don't maim. Don't physically or mentally torture. And also don't seduce anyone who is part of this camp. Bah! That old man sure knows how to ruin my fun."
"In short, Lord Ares is forbidden to harm anyone here in any way," Chiron said. "And he has an obligation to properly training the demigods."
"Train us?" The skepticism in Andy's voice was almost palpable. "He'll rather use us as punching bags!"
Ares turned to her and frowned.
"Listen, brat. I didn't ask for this. If it were up to me, I'd turn all of you cry brats into squirrels and run you over with my Harley. But dad's decision is irrefutable. I'll be in this dump for the next ten years, so get used to it. That is, if you can survive so long."
Ares entered the Big House and closed the door with a loud slam.
"Asshole," Andy spat.
"Easy, Andy," Annabeth soothed, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I like this as much as you do, but we don't have a say in this matter. If Zeus considered this a fitting punishment for what he did, then there is nothing we can do."
"Also, try to see the positive side of this," Chiron said.
"Which one?" Andy questioned. "Having a god who tried to kill me sleeping in the same camp as me?"
"No. Lord Ares is a truly remarkable warrior. Just thinks how much you can learn under his teaching."
"I don't want anything from him. I doubt he even knows how to teach how to hold a sword."
She turned and went to her cabin, grumbling.
Chiron sighed wearily.
"Don't worry, Chiron," Annabeth soothed. "I'll make sure she doesn't do anything stupid."
"Please, I'll order it for you. But I'm afraid of what will happen when everyone finds out. Cabin five will be glad to have their father teaching them, but it's Thalia I'm worried about."
"Yeah, me too. They didn't part on the best of terms. Ares even proclaimed himself her enemy."
"Let's just pray to the gods that things don't get out of control."
During lunchtime, things got out of control.
They had all gathered in the dining pavilion for a leisurely lunch on what they assumed would be another normal day at camp. They ordered their meals and made offerings to their parents at the bronze brazier in the middle of the pavilion.
When everyone was seated at their respective tables, Chiron stamped his hooves on the marble floor to get everyone's attention.
"Heroes, listen carefully," Chiron called, catching everyone's attention. "Given the events of the last few weeks, we were unable to properly hold an event that occurs at the camp twice a year. Now that things have settled down, I feel that we have postponed this event long enough. That is why today we will give the announcement of the demigod who has earned the chance to prove himself or herself to the gods."
The campers murmured excitedly at that, asking who would be chosen this year.
Andy looked up from her food, looking intrigued by it all.
Chiron took up his speech.
"Mr. D and I have taken each of you into consideration. Your performance in the various activities and at the time of training. And I am pleased to announce that the one who has earned the right this year is... Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares!"
Immediately, cabin five erupted in cheers, pounding their hands on the table and stamping their feet rhythmically on the floor. Andy couldn't help but smile at that fact and clap in congratulations along with all the other cabins. Her relationship with Clarisse had been strained at first, but now they got along quite well. Even to the point of training together from time to time.
At first, Clarisse looked shocked at the news of her being chosen, but she quickly recovered herself and smiled defiantly as she stepped forward.
"Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares, do you accept this challenge?" Chiron asked, who had a proud look on his face.
"I accept!" she roared. "What is my challenge?"
Chiron nodded, looking satisfied with her response.
"I think it would be best if someone else told you."
Clarisse arched her eyebrow, confused by Chiron's words. It was then that the murmur of everyone present caught her attention. She turned around, and her jaw nearly dropped to the floor when she saw her father walking towards her.
"Father..." she said, surprised.
Ares walked up to face her and studied her with his gaze. Clarisse stood tall with her head held high, she didn't want to show any signs of weakness in front of her father.
The god of war nodded slightly at that.
"It's your time to show what you're capable of, Clarisse. You'd better not let me down."
"I won't, father!"
"I hope so. Your task will be simple, but not everyone can accomplish it. You must locate the Hydra of Lerna and bring back its heads as proof of your victory. One head for each Olympian. That makes twelve in all."
Clarisse's eyes widened in surprise. The murmurs among the campers were clearly audible.
"The heads of the Hydra of Lerna? That will not be an easy task."
"And she must bring twelve of them!"
"Well, the Hydra's heads grow back if its wound isn't cauterized, so it won't be short of heads."
"That's considering if it doesn't kill her first."
Clarisse swallowed audibly at her task. She knew very well that it would not be easy, but she would not back down. She would prove her worth to the gods, the demigods, and especially her father.
"You have until the end of the summer to complete your task," Ares reported. "You won't back down, will you?"
The tone of warning was clear in his voice. He wouldn't accept her taking a step back.
"I won't, sir!" Clarisse shouted. "I will complete this task!"
Ares nodded in agreement and went to sit at the table next to Mr. D, although he didn't look too pleased about it. That action caused a raise of eyebrows from the campers and slight murmurs.
Chiron cleared his throat for attention.
"With that matter concluded, there is one more announcement I must make. By order of Lord Zeus, as of today, Lord Ares will be our new weapons trainer. I hope everyone is respectful to him."
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
The exclamations took five seconds to be present. Reception to the news that Ares would be their new master was mixed. Those in cabin five looked happy and excited. It would be a dream come true for them if their father taught them personally. The other cabins were skeptical at the idea of being instructed by the god of war. He wasn't known for being very patient.
But none of them were more vocal than the daughter of Zeus.
"What?!" Thalia roared, rising from her table, "There's no way that bastard is our teacher now!"
"Thalia, have more respect for Lord Ares!" Chiron chided, "This decision was made by Lord Zeus. He will serve penance in the camp for the next ten years for the transgressions he has committed."
"Ten years?! This has to be a fucking joke! I won't accept this shit after all he's put us through!"
Ares scoffed at that.
"Then go talk to daddy Zeus, maybe he'll pay attention to his sweet little princess. As if I wanted to be a babysitter for a bunch of brats like you."
Thalia gave him a pointed look.
"Shut the fuck up, you piece of shit. Unless you want me to kick your filthy ass again."
Ares leaned back in his seat and glared at her.
"Be careful with your words, brat," she growled. The flames burned brightly behind his sunglasses. "You were lucky that time, but I won't let it happen a second time. Someone as weak as you who leaves others behind to save herself has no right to play tough."
Thalia growled like an animal as electricity surged from her body.
She was about to launch herself to attack Ares if it wasn't for the interruption of Andy, Annabeth and Luke who held her tightly while she exclaimed to let her go.
Andy sighed internally.
The rest of the summer did not look very promising.
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Special #9
A promise fulfilled.
Black sand.
Withered trees.
The whisper of ghosts and their translucent image.
That was all she could see.
She had made them for so long that she had already forgotten. The hours and days that passed were impossible to follow in this desolate and gloomy place to which she had been condemned.
'How much more?'
Her feet slid idly across the black sand. As translucent as the ghosts that plagued the Asphodels Fields.
'How much longer will I have to walk?'
She didn't know.
And that was her torment.
Know nothing and remember everything.
Remember who she was. The things that she did. The things she didn't do. The things she could have done if she hadn't made such a drastic decision. She did it thinking of ending her suffering, but she had only extended it for another eleven years.
She concluded that the punishment she received was horrible. She was doomed to remember the bad things she had done. But, above all, she remembered the good things that she had lived, and that she later realized that she would not live them again.
It were so painful. Remember the time when she was happy while she was in misery.
A sob escaped her throat at that fact.
She missed them.
So much it hurt.
The photo she had received was like a temporary relief from the pain, but then that pain had only come back with even more intensity. So much so that she felt a tightness in her chest and a strong lump in her throat. So much so that she looked for a dark corner under a stone, so she could cry for hours until she was tired.
She wondered how she could feel pain if she was a ghost. She didn't even have a physical form, and she needed all of her concentration to be able to grasp anything.
But even all that didn't stop her from feeling a sharp pang in her chest.
'I miss them...' was her nagging thought.
It had only been a few hours since she last saw them again, those people who were so close to her, but she felt like it was weeks ago. She felt so happy that she couldn't help but play a prank on them, like she had so many times in the past.
And that was good. She would hold on to this new memory in the years she had left before she forgot everything, and she became a ghost of the Asphodels Fields.
A nameless ghost.
She left the cave where she was with the aim of walking, she had discovered a long time ago that this was better than sitting idle.
Her feet slipped through the sand, and she unconsciously found herself going to the place where she had met her friends.
When she reached the clearing, she found it curious that it was empty. If there was one thing she knew about the Asphodels Fields, it was that it was never empty. There were always ghosts plaguing the place.
She walked further into the clearing, noticing another strange thing. The earth seemed to be dragged by something, as if it were pushed by an invisible force.
'Wind?' she thought perplexed, 'That is impossible. There is no wind in this place'
But there was. The wind grew stronger and stronger, kicking up dirt and dust all over the place. She had to raise her arms over her face in an attempt to see what was going on, but all she saw was sand being blown away by a strong gale... and a dark figure in the dust.
She tried to identify it, but the wind was too strong, blowing the sand to the point where she couldn't see what was in front of her.
Then the wind stopped.
She slowly opened her eyes, and was surprised at the sight she had before her eyes.
She no longer looked at the dark dead forest, the black sand and the translucent ghosts that had been her only company for years. Instead of her, she saw something completely different that left her stunned.
She was at the entrance to what was the most beautiful neighborhood she had ever seen in her life. All the houses were beautiful and unique, made with different architectural designs from different eras. The streets were made of white stones, along with the walls of the houses. She could see gardens filled with the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen, full of colors like the rainbow.
There were people walking the same streets, but they weren't the ghosts she used to see. They were real people in flesh and blood. All of them wore Greek chi tons with a color as white as the purest cloud and leather sandals on their feet.
They looked happy. They all smiled as they chatted and walked, some of them holding hands.
She took a tentative step forward, and it was then that she became aware of her body, it was fully visible.
She widened her eyes in surprise as she saw herself dressed in the same white robe that seemed tailor-made for her eleven-year-old body. She could see that her hair was clean and neatly braided over her shoulder. She looked down at her exposed arms and was shocked by what she saw.
There were no marks.
She felt the skin on her arms to see if it wasn't some kind of illusion, but it was true. Her skin was smooth and soft to the touch, without any sign of blemishes. Hastily, she inspected the skin of her torso under her robe and tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
The scars were gone.
Breaking out of her stupor and wiping away the tears that had fallen down her cheeks, she decided to head into her beautiful neighborhood.
As she walked, she realized how majestic the whole place was. The air was fresh and pure, smelling of flowers and... barbecue. Her stomach growled in hunger... Hunger! She hadn't felt hungry for years!
The rumble of her stomach drew the attention of the people around her. She thought they would look at her with pity and grief. She looked away in embarrassment, but was surprised when instead of people looking at her sadly, they smiled kindly at her as many of them offered their food. Apples, sandwiches, cookies, bottles of orange juice, the people around her shared with her the food they carried in their hands or in a small picnic basket they carried with them.
She couldn't help the tears that ran down her face again as she ate. How long had it been since a stranger had been so nice to her?
She walked around the neighborhood with no particular goal. The people she saw were friendly to her, smiled at her and said hello. Even a kind lady offered her a flower to put in her hair, but she didn't know anyone.
She thought that she would go on like this for quite some time, wandering around that beautiful place forever, but a voice behind her snapped her out of her reverie.
"Samantha?"
She stood static in her place like a statue.
It couldn't be possible. In her entire life, only one person had ever called her by her real name and not by her nickname that she was once known. She thought that she would never hear that voice again, but when she died she had a small hope that maybe she could see him again. Seeing his smile once more as he stroked her head lovingly as he had done so many times in the past.
Slowly, she turned around, afraid it wasn't true, and hoping it was.
Across the street, a man was staring at her, completely stunned. He dressed in the same way as the others, in white robes and leather sandals. He had the same brown hair as hers, neatly combed to one side. The same amber eyes regarded her with wonder and sadness. Sadness because he knew what it meant to her to be there.
"Really... it's you..." the man muttered.
Tears streamed down her young face again, but this time it wasn't sadness or pain, but happiness. Before she knew it, she was running towards the man who had called out to her. Her short feet moved quickly to get closer to the person who at one point meant everything to her.
"Daddy!"
She cried out loudly, crying out loud for her father over and over again as she cried and ran to the man who was waiting for her with open arms.
Father and daughter found themselves in a strong embrace while crying, the girl being the more vocal of the two. She clung to him as if she was afraid it was an illusion, but it was real. The warmth of his embrace, the way he ran his hands up and down her back in an attempt to comfort her, and the slight tremors that made it clear he was crying too.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," he apologized in a low voice. "I'm sorry I left you alone."
She didn't respond, just snuggled deeper into her father's embrace as she cried.
"It's okay, Samantha, it's okay. You don't have to suffer anymore. I'm here with you, and I'll never leave you. We'll be back together like before. You'll never be alone again."
He pulled away from her slightly to look into her eyes. The same pair of eyes they both shared.
"You... Do you promise?" she asked, her voice choked with tears.
Her father smiled gently as he wiped away the tears that fell down her face.
"I promise. From now on, we will always be together."
She smiled, a happy smile. A smile she hadn't had for years.
She hugged her father once more.
The last thought of the girl before walking next to him was:
'Thank you, Thalia. You kept your promise. I will wait until the day we meet all of us once again. Grover, Luke, Annabeth, you and... Percy.'
She took her father's hand, and the two of them walked further into the Elysian Fields. Happy to be together again and, this time, forever.
...
..
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And done! That's all for now, my beloved readers!
With this chapter, I end "The Lightning Thief" I hope you liked it. There is one special left that I plan to upload for the next chapter before moving on to the Sea of Monsters.
Surely they weren't expecting Ares, hehe.
To tell you the truth, I always found it strange and unfair that Zeus didn't punish Ares for what he did, I think he deserved it after he almost caused a war between gods for not returning the lightning. So, in my story, I gave him a punishment that I think is fair.
Also, I think of all the PJO fanfics I've read, there has never been one where Ares is punished for being in camp. It will certainly be interesting to write what the life of the demigods will be like, life at Camp Half-Blood, with a bloodthirsty god living in it.
That is all. I hope you liked it.
With this chapter, I surpass the count of more than 200,000 words! I'm so happy. Pat on the back for me.
I know many of you are anxious for Percy to show up again. And I agree with you, the story is not the same without Percy in it. I only ask that you have a little more patience. Percy WILL be back in a couple of chapters, and when he does, I know you'll all like it. I like to build tension because we all know that Percy will show up, but the question is... How will he come back?
I'll leave you thinking about it. And if you have an idea or theory of how he will do it, leave it to me in the reviews, along with your opinion of how you liked the chapter and the closing of Sammy's character, I hope you liked it.
And with nothing more to say... Until next time, handsome!