Three more chapters. Thank you again for taking the time to read. Enjoy!

Chapter 19- The Gods Vote On Whether Or Not to Kill Me (Again)

We ended up by the duck pond, right where I'd first met Annabeth and Luke six months before. I didn't know if that made me feel better, or worse, so I put the thought from my mind and found my way to the edge of the park. We needed a cab.

In the seat next to me, Annabeth's leg bounced rapidly. I didn't blame her for being nervous; we were riding in a cab with Zeus's Master Bolt. But I figured it was more than that. She'd stood up to Hades, yeah, but she'd stood up to Luke, her oldest friend (and crush), first. That had to be tough.

We needed to talk but I didn't know what to say. Did she blame me? I blamed myself. I certainly hadn't done anything to talk Luke from the edge. No, I'd nearly jumped with him. I should have realized he was lying to me, manipulating me into getting this quest so he could bring the bolt to Kronos without being noticed. But I hadn't. I'd been the only one who had a chance to see just how angry he was and I hadn't. I felt like that made it my fault.

"I thought it was you."

Annabeth's voice was quiet, not quite pained, but unsure. It was odd to hear; Annabeth always seemed so sure of everything. Now her whole being had been torn out from beneath her.

"My mom, she warned me that I needed to pick my friends more carefully. I thought she meant you."

She probably had. Athena had disliked me from the moment she first saw me. But not even Athena could be right every time.

I struggled to find words, and decided not to sugarcoat it. Luke and I had kept secrets from Annabeth and look how that turned out. She deserved to know just who she was throwing her lot in with. "Kronos came me to too, Annabeth. In another life, I could have been the lightning thief."

Annabeth's gaze met mine. She held it for a moment, then shook her head, "No. You never would Percy. That's the difference between you and Luke. So long as his dad suffers, Luke doesn't care who else gets hurt along the way. I'm not sure you could sacrifice someone you cared about to save the whole world."

She said that almost like it was a bad thing, but I hoped it was true. When I thought about how close I'd been to joining Luke, joining Kronos, I wasn't so sure. But I didn't fight her about it. Instead, I said, "Luke might still come around. Don't give up on him yet, Annabeth."

Annabeth blinked in surprise, but then a smile flashed across her face, "I had no intention of it, Seaweed Brain."

The familiar insult let me breathe a sigh of relief. Despite everything, it looked like Annabeth and I would be okay. I was grateful for that. I couldn't stand the thought of losing my only other friend.

The cabbie had that song on again, the country one Annabeth liked about Jesus taking the wheel. I wondered if it maybe it could apply to Greek demigods as well. Luke was obsessed with fighting Fate, but I had the feeling that Luke's betray of the gods was the terrible Fate he'd been trying to avoid. His choices had set his path, just like my choices would set mine. There was little use worrying about the future. It's not like I had any way of controlling it.

That said… I might not have a future left to worry about. As we pulled up to the Empire State Building, I wondered how I could possibly explain this to Luke and not find myself with an E-ZPass right back to the Underworld.

We climbed out of the cab, and looked up. You couldn't see Olympus from the ground, but I remembered it well enough. It had been the longest and most painful month of my life, but it had only been a month.

"Here," Annabeth told me, offering the bolt to me. "If we're going to avoid war, it needs to come from you. A peace offering from the Son of Poseidon to the Lord of Olympus, a sign of your truce."

We'd been talking about the Peloponnesian Wars in class just before I'd left for the quest. Athens and Sparta kept making truces, swearing before the gods they'd never fight again. It never seemed to last. Still, I tried to push the pessimistic thoughts from my head, and accepted the lightning bolt. At least this way Zeus would be more likely to smite me than Annabeth.

The doorman was reading when we approached, and when he finally looked up, I could tell he wanted nothing to do with us. It felt like an appropriate welcome for Olympus. "We're heading to the 600th floor."

"There's no…"

I cut him off by waving the Master Bolt before him. His eyes went wide, and he quickly pulled out the keycard and handed it over. "Go, now, before someone sees!"

I grabbed the key, stuffing the bolt in my backpack. (Well, actually it was Luke's backpack, the one he'd been hiding the bolt and helm in our whole trip. But I didn't really want to think about that.) Then Annabeth and I pushed through the crowds and got right in the elevator. Once we put in the key for Olympus, we shot right up.

The music had somehow gotten worse over the last month. Maybe it reflected Zeus's mood or something. My ears were practically burning when we got to the top. I didn't expect Olympus to look any different though, not once we got to the top.

I was utterly wrong. The moment we stepped out of the elevator, I could feel the tension in the air. Minor gods and spirits went about their work, but no one stuck around to chat. There was no denying that the threat of war hung over the place. You could see it in the eyes of everyone we passed… up to the moment they dropped their gaze, at least.

I don't know if was because they didn't know who we were, or because they did, but no one stopped us from walking right up to the throne room. Annabeth reached out, grabbing my hand. I wasn't sure if she was reassuring me or herself, but I appreciated it. I squeezed her hand tight and then let go, stepping over the threshold and into Zeus's realm.

I was surprised for a second that all the gods were there. Normally that only happened during the solstices. But then I realized there were some missing. Artemis and Demeter. Hera and Mr. D. None of them were anywhere to be seen. It was just the others, the ones with the most vested interest in our quest- Zeus, my dad, Athena, Ares, Apollo, Aphrodite, and Hermes- who sat upon their thrones. Apollo didn't even look like he wanted to be there, so I wondered why he was. Ares looked sad to see us, as if he'd been hoping for war. Athena and Zeus were glaring at me. Aphrodite and my father looked content. As for Hermes… well I couldn't quite bring myself to look at Luke's father.

I tried to stay focused on my task, but it was difficult with so many eyes upon me. So I just set my eyes upon Zeus and didn't look away. When I finally got to the base of his thrown, I bowed my head enough that he might not kill me, and then pulled the Master Bolt from my bag. "I believe this is yours."

Zeus glared at me, "Tell me, thief, why I shouldn't blast you to pieces."

I snapped my jaw shut to avoid telling Zeus off. I was fully aware of Annabeth besides me, and didn't want to get her in anymore trouble than I had to. So I did my best to keep my temper, "Because, Uncle, I'm not a thief. I found your bolt, yes, and I'm returning it before you start a war. But I didn't take it."

"Perseus," my father must have known I'd inherited his temper, because there was a careful warning in his tone. I looked up at him, our eyes meeting. Just like the first time I'd met him, I couldn't tell what he was thinking, but it was pretty obvious what he wanted me to do.

I set the bolt down at the edge of Zeus's throne. He quickly snatched it up, inspecting it for any damage, but he didn't smote me immediately. I took that as my cue to explain. The words seemed to tumble out, and once I started talking, I didn't stop. When I forgot something, Annabeth would chime in besides me. I told him about Kronos coming to Luke and me in our dreams, of Luke's anger and willingness to turn against the gods. She explained how we'd made it to LA, and all the random dangerous encounters we'd had along the way. Between us we told Zeus everything, which probably wasn't smart, but I was beginning to see the dangers of omission.

No, that's not true. We told Zeus almost everything. Somehow we both knew better than to mention too much about Bianca and Nico. I couldn't omit them completely, not with Aphrodite right there listening, but if they really were Hades's children.. Yes, Zeus would find out eventually, but Nico was ten. I'd protect him as long as I could. And either Aphrodite didn't know, or she didn't care, because she didn't comment on my omission.

(Though I did hear her mutter, "A shame he didn't have to kiss them.")

Finally I got the end of my story, and I stopped speaking. For a moment, no one said anything. Then, Zeus turned to Hermes and asked, "This son of yours, do you know where he is now?"

I was suddenly reminded of the fact that Zeus was Hermes's father, and wondered if maybe Hermes knew exactly how Luke felt. He was an immortal god, but Hermes seemed pale when he said, "No, Father. I don't. The Traveler's Blessing won't wear off for at least another week, and he could be a world away by then."

I would never say it aloud, but I wondered if Hermes had planned it that way. Luke was convinced his dad stunk, but I could see how much he cared. If only Luke could as well.

I think Zeus may have guessed Hermes's game, because he glared. But he turned away, dark gaze falling upon me. "Well then, it seems that the only question which remains is what we shall do to you. You call this thief 'friend'. You admit to having conspired with the enemy of the gods. You are aware, are you not, of why my brothers and I swore to have no more children?"

I nodded. Since Luke mentioned it, I hadn't been able to stop thinking about this supposed prophecy.

"Then tell me, Perseus Jackson. Why should I let you, who have already been tempted by Kronos, live to turn sixteen?"

Luke had been right. That didn't surprise me at all, but it still hurt. I'd almost died retrieving Zeus's stupid bolt. I'd fought the guy I called brother. And my reward? More death threats.

I looked to my father. He didn't jump to his feet in my defense like he had at the first time. It occurred to me that perhaps he didn't know what to think of me anymore than I knew what to think of him. We had the same eyes, after all. If I couldn't read his face, maybe he couldn't read mine.

Still, he did defend me, his voice cool and calm when he said, "Perseus has done nothing to warrant such a punishment, brother. He has overcome many obstacles and done you a tremendous service at great personal cost. That he has faced temptation and resisted it says far more about his character than had he never been tempted at all."

I'll admit it; my heart swelled with pride. Sure, my dad hadn't actually said "You did well", but that was just about as close as I'm pretty sure godly parents can get. I might have even smiled at the praise had I not still been worried about my impending execution.

"Besides, Percy is only twelve. For a mortal child such as himself, four years is quite some time. Let him return to Chiron's school, study the way of heroes and prove his loyalty. Only with time shall we know for certain if the prophecy even applies to him."

Zeus didn't look convinced. It was actually kind of scary. Not because he wanted to kill me. I guess I was getting used to that. No, what I found scary was that Zeus was so terrified of Kronos that he'd risk war with my father out of something I might do in three-and-a-half years. If I'd been uncertain before that Kronos was bad news, I knew it then.

"Apollo," Zeus snapped. The god didn't seem to hear him, so Zeus shouted louder, "Apollo."

The god had taken on the form of a teenager, and perfected the expressions of one as well. He looked utterly disinterested as he pulled out his earbuds and said, "Yes, Father?"

"Can you tell with certainty if this son of Poseidon is a child of prophecy?"

Apollo had been slouching in his throne, but promptly sat up. When his gaze fell upon me, I was instantly reminded of the raging mummy in the Big House's attic. I supposed it made sense; the Oracle got its power from Apollo. Still, it was creepier to see such a youthful and bright god looking so utterly hollow as well. At least it only lasted a moment. Then Apollo blinked, and waved his hand, "Well yes."

My heart dropped. I was dead. I was definitely dead.

"He just got back from a quest, didn't he? A rather nice prophecy, if I do say so myself. What do you think, were you the winner or the loser of that duel?"

My stomach turned to knots. I hadn't really thought about it, but I didn't know. Luke had disarmed me, so I guess that meant I'd lost. The Moirai's curse was mine. Except ultimately I'd ended up with the bolt, so did that make me the winner? Or was Annabeth the winner? Gods, I hoped not. I didn't think there was anything worse than a cursed fate, but if there was, I didn't want it falling to Annabeth because I'd been foolish.

"There are others as well, prophecies yet unspoken, yet ancient all the same. Even I can't quite pin them down."

Zeus had had quite enough of his son's rambling, and snapped, "You know which prophecy I mean. Is he the child of the eldest gods?"

Apollo started at me for a moment longer, then shrugged. "He could be, or he could not be. It hasn't been determined yet."

I breathed a sigh of relief. My father seized his opportunity, "You see, brother, his thread is yet unwoven. There is no need to be rash."

I held my breath. Besides me, Annabeth did as well. Then Zeus turned to the other gods gathered, "Let us take a vote then. Should Poseidon go unpunished for breaking his oath? Or shall we set this right now. Who shall join me in seeing justice done?"

Ares raised his hand immediately. No surprise there- I was pretty sure he'd one come in hopes of starting a war. Aphrodite's petite hand remained upon her lap. I suppose my death didn't fit into her plans for my tragic love-life. My father and Hermes also supported me, and I'm not quite sure which felt better. I'd failed Luke. Failed Hermes. He would have been within his right to call for my death, but he didn't. Neither did Apollo, though he'd put back in his earbuds so I'm not even sure he knew we were voting.

All eyes rested upon Athena. If she voted against me, the gods would be tied, and since Zeus was king, he'd probably say something like, 'well my vote counts twice so you die now'. If she voted for me, though, Zeus wouldn't have a leg to stand on. Athena, the patroness of Athens, home of democracy. It seemed only fitting that her choice should determine my fate, but I figured I was dead. She'd never liked me. She'd certainly never liked my father. It was the perfect opportunity to get revenge for all the times he'd humiliated her.

"I vote nay. There are times when the wise decision is not to fight. For sparing his life, Perseus Jackson will be in our debt. Only time shall determine whether he is the child of the prophecy, but it is better to wait than to start a war on a whim," mused Athena, her eyes settled upon Annabeth's face. Maybe it was the sight of her daughter's pleading face that had softened her heart, or maybe she just knew Annabeth had such much the same thing to Hades earlier. I didn't care. All I cared about was that I wasn't about to die.

YIPEEEEEEEE!

Then Athena turned her head to stare me down, and my excitement was tempered. "Do not mistake me, Son of Poseidon. Should there come a day when it is unwise to permit your continued existence, I will gladly strike you down. This is your second chance. There shall not be a third."

I gulped, but nodded. Honestly, that was kind of fair. Far fairer than I would have expected the gods to be. I wished Luke was there to see it, but of course by making the gods his enemy, Luke had guaranteed he would never again see their 'soft' side.

Zeus looked utterly infuriated to discover himself outvoted, but he didn't do anything unseemly. Instead he stood, Master Bolt clenched in his fist, and said, "I must purify this of its mortal taint. It is my sincerest wish that none of you will still be here when I return."

Let him leave. Shouted the logical self-preserving side of my brain. Keep your mouth shut for one second and just let him leave. "But what about Kronos? Shouldn't you do something?"

I could see the electricity flickering around Zeus's form, but he managed to keep his cool, "There is no need. His plan was foiled, and shall not be attempted again. His servant is powerless and on the run. It shall be another millennium before he attempts something of this scale, no doubt."

Then Zeus disappeared from the hall.

Apollo and Ares left immediately, one looking relieved, the other, disappointed. I was torn between approaching Hermes and apologizing for not saving Luke, and going to my father. I probably would have gone towards Hermes- at least I knew what to say to him- but when I looked, the god had disappeared. Athena had already pulled Annabeth aside and was speaking to her quietly. My friend didn't look particularly upset, so I figured it was a good conversation. I had no excuse not to fall in at my father's side.

He'd shrunk down to normal size, and in his flip-flops and Hawaiian shirt, you could almost believe he was a normal, chill kind of guy. But there was a tenseness between us that you couldn't deny, a certain distance. It wasn't even all him. After everything that had happened, I wasn't all that inclined towards reaching out to him.

Ultimately, he ended up reaching out to me, quite literally, as he set a hand upon my shoulder, "I'll walk you to the elevator."

He kept his heavy hand upon my shoulder the whole way out of the throne room, but didn't say anything else. Finally I broke the silence with the question I needed an answer to, for better or for worse. "The cyclopes. They're your children, right? Did you send them after me?"

"No," he didn't even hesitate, and I knew it was true. I breathed a major sigh of relief. Okay. Good. If my dad had tried to kill me… I don't know if I could have dealt with that. But anything else, anything else we might be able to forgive. After seeing what holding grudges had done to Luke, I was looking for anyway possible to keep my own anger from getting so bad.

A few more seconds of silence as we walked down the palace steps. Then he asked, "Did you believe I had?"

I shrugged, and my dad removed his hand from my shoulder. It was literally a weight off my shoulders, but it didn't necessarily feel any better. "Not really, I guess. Luke said you had. And there were times when I couldn't help but think… I mean, if I didn't exist, you'd be a lot better off, wouldn't you? So if you had, I guess I would have gotten why. It would have been majorly uncool…but I would have gotten it. I'm glad though, that you didn't."

My dad stopped walking momentarily. When I turned to face him, I realized that, for the first time, I could clearly make out the mix of regret and sorrow upon his face. "My son, if you only know one thing, know this- I shall never hurt you. I cannot always protect you. Zeus has forbidden it, and the Fates so not smile upon gods who interfere in the affairs of their children. But if it is within my power to spare you pain, I will every time. I do care about you, Percy. Deeply."

I believed him. Even if it was allowed, I doubted he would have been very good at showing his affection. The sea wasn't very good at restraint, at control. You swum too far from shore and you'd never return. Nevertheless, the sea was home to millions of creatures. It was good to its own, and for better or for worse, I was a son of the sea.

"I know."

My answer wasn't much, but it was enough for him. He started walking once more, though after a moment he asked, "This son of Hermes. He was a friend of yours?"

I was wholly tempted to kick the dirt, but the streets of Olympus were cobblestone, and utterly unsuitable to dirt kicking. That forced me to be vaguely mature about it, though I kept my gaze down, "Yeah, we were close."

My dad nodded his head. I wondered if he was going to offer me some sage advice about what you did when your best friend started working for your evil grandfather. Maybe he was going to tell me about my (ancient and dead) brother, Theseus, whose best friend Pirithous had gotten them both trapped in the Underworld because Pirithous wanted to steal Persephone. But I guess he really was my father, because all he said was, "You were right to fight him. Do not doubt that either. You shall have other friends, and other enemies."

We were very nearly to the elevator at this point. I could see Annabeth coming towards me, smiling brightly, Yankee cap in her hand. Apparently she'd proven herself wise to Athena. I was glad, really.

"Well, I must return to Atlantis," my dad sighed. I didn't know if he was sad to part so soon, or relieved. It wasn't like we were having a very sustained conversation. (Though it had certainly given me plenty to think about, and lifted my spirits.)

"It may be some time before we can speak again, but if I can manage it, I will send you a message before then. This is only the beginning of your quest, Percy. From here on out, things shall only get more difficult. But before you go, I shall offer you some good news. Hades did indeed return your mother home. As for your step-father, he may soon find his fortunes reversed, but I shall let your mother fill you in on the details." I could see a smile on the corner of his lips, so I figured it would be good. "Now you must return to school, for there is much to learn, and one is never young for long enough."

Wow. Maybe Poseidon did have the 'dad' thing down pat. I was impressed. All he needed was a dad joke and the deal would be cinched.

Annabeth stood a little ways back, but I wasn't quite sure how to say goodbye. It wasn't the leaving which was hard (okay, that was a little hard) but I really just didn't know what to say. So I settled on something simple, "I guess I'll see you when I see you then."

My dad opened his mouth, then shut it. Finally he nodded and backed away. Together, Annabeth and I climbed in the elevator and began our journey back to school. Our quest was over.