I don't own PJO
Chapter 16
Zoey's POV
I woke up in a white room with a bunch of beeping sounds coming from somewhere. I tried sitting up but fell back against the pillow. I was in a hospital. I groaned my body was sore and my head was throbbing. Suddenly I heard the door to my room open, "Zoey? Are you awake?" That voice, I knew that voice from somewhere back in my early child hood.
"Thalia?" I whispered hoarsely.
"Oh my gods you scared me so badly!" she said hugging me tightly. I looked at her closely, and noticed that she wasn't a little girl of eight anymore. I suddenly remembered how she had died. It had been a hellhound, she was protecting me.
"Oh Thalia I'm so sorry…" I said as a tear slipped down my cheek.
"Oh Zoey that doesn't matter any more you should know that! I would have done it any ways, weather you were four or fourteen. Now dry your tears I'm just glad I'm not eight any more. It feels good to be nineteen." She smiled at me and I returned it.
I laughed, "I'm glad I have a big sister again. At least until it's time for you to go back." My smile faded from my face.
"I forgot to tell you part of the deal was that we can stay depending on if you win the trial or not."
"Really?" I asked hopeful.
"Yep." I coughed, "Looks like its time for your medicine" I made a face and she laughed as she walked out the door.
I tried to sit up again but fell back to the pillow. I sighed and tried to remember what had happened before I blacked out. I had just finished talking and I was going back to my seat and then lots of pain and nothing. "I forgot to take my medicine." I whispered to myself.
"Did you say something?" asked my dad as he came into my room.
"Oh nothing, when is the trial supposed to continue?" I asked.
"As soon as you're ready, and well." He smiled down at me/
"I'm ready now!" I said trying to sit up again.
"Hold on there Zoey. Are you sure? I mean you can't even sit up, let alone stand."
"So, Athena and Aphrodite need a taste of their own medicine and I'm going to be the one to give it to them. Besides I have some evidence that I'm really eager to share with Uncle Zeus."
"We'll see ok?" he placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Alright." I said disappointed.
"Now get some rest, you can probably go back tomorrow depending on what the doctor says." He left and I felt my eyes start to close. I hadn't realized how tired I was.
Later on I began to hear voices talking quietly in my room. "Percy, what are we going to do? We can't just them leave even if they lose. They're our children and they need parents."
"Don't worry Zoey is a strong girl, and Zach can take care of himself as well. Besides, they'll be together now. They can both handle anything that's thrown at them. This trial more than proves it."
"I just can't bear to leave them again. They need a mother, a real one."
"I know Annabeth; they're both in a lot of pain right now. I was talking to Zach earlier, and he said she's been through more than he has. She lost everything, and now she's trying to get it back."
I couldn't stand it anymore. I coughed. They stopped talking, "Oh, Zoey. Did we wake you?" Annabeth asked me.
"Oh, no. I was just starting to wake up. When is the trial going to start back up again?" I asked sitting up. I could feel myself becoming stronger.
"As soon as you're ready, the doctor already said we could go back as long as there's someone to take care of you." My dad said then gave me a funny look when he thought I wasn't looking.
I ignored it and smiled at him. They helped me out of bed, and my dad helped me walk out the door and into the hallway. Austin stood up as soon as we came out of the room. I also saw Zach, Grandfather, and Thalia. Poseidon transported all of us back to the court room and my dad helped me to a bench with Zach and Austin. Then he went to join Thalia and Annabeth. As every one filed back into the court house I asked Austin to talk for me since I couldn't be up on stage.
"Normally I would Zoey, but you need to be the one to do this." At that moment Lord Zeus banged his mallet against the podium and we all turned our attention to him.
"Athena it is your turn to speak" he said.
She quickly moved up to the front. "How do you plead?" asked Zeus.
"I plead not guilty." She stated.
"Please explain."
"Why would I try to kill my own family? What would I gain from trying to kill the goddess Melody?" she started, "I wouldn't, and can't gain a thing from the girl. Aphrodite and I are complete innocent."
Austin stood up, "We have evidence against that."
"What are you doing?" I hissed, "Sit down."
"Liar!" Aphrodite yelled across the room at him.
"We have proof not only that Zoey is the next Song of a Half-blood, but that both goddess were planning on killing her!" both goddess's faces turned very red.
"Show us your proof." Athena challenged. Zach nodded to Lord Zeus and the lights began to dim. A screen appeared to where everyone could see it, and then a tap began to roll.
Athena and Aphrodite appeared on the screen. "Is she dead yet?" Aphrodite whined.
"No, and have patience. We may have to get our hands a little dirty one this one. The girl is crafty." Athena was speaking more to herself during the last part. Then she turned on Aphrodite, "Are you sure Melody has chosen that wench?"
"Positive. Have you ever heard that girl sing? Besides I began to notice Melody's presence around her more and more. The girl is completely clueless though." Aphrodite began filing her nails. "What are we going to do about that boy? I think he's one of Apollo or Hermes' sons. I don't remember exactly though."
"Doesn't one of your daughters like him?" Athena asked randomly.
"Well yeah, but honestly I don't know what she sees in the boy. He's absolutely disgusting. There are much better looking ones than him. I mean take Ares for instance. Now that is hot! He is absolutely,"
"Not now Aphrodite." Athena cut in. the other goddess slumped in her seat and pouted. "I have a plan, now here's all you have to do…" their voices became whispers and the clip ended.
"I should have dealt with you sooner." Athena said glaring at Zach.
"Well that's surprising." Every body turned to look at Ares. "What? I just said it was surprising. I never thought that little miss favorite would try anything to get on daddy's bad side." Athena glared at him.
"Well I would never try to kill my own family." Aphrodite said earning a death glare from Athena.
"Would to!" Austin shouted.
"Not helping." I whispered to him. He ignored me.
"Why is Zoey sitting here right now in pain? Why was she in the hospital yesterday? Why are Annabeth, Percy, and Thalia dead?" he yelled at both of them.
"I didn't have anything to do with it directly…" Aphrodite trailed off.
"Well…I… well" Athena was speechless for a while, but she finally gave in, "Those were just mistakes, attempts gone wrong on getting the girl. If it hadn't been for my granddaughter or her step-mother or that retched boy she would have been dead by now!" All were silent as she admitted to her crimes, "Yes we tried to kill Melody's successor because she didn't deserve it! The deal was that if Aphrodite helped me kill Zoey, we would make sure that Leah was the next one." Athena ratter on her sister, "And yes I committed treason against my family! But you Zoey will not live to see another day!" Athena lunged and pulled a dagger out of the folds of her dress.
Just as my life was about to be over, a figure fell in front of me, and Athena plunged the dagger into her heart. She rolled over and whispered into my ear, "Take my place among the gods. You are the next goddess of song. I give my power and all that comes with it to you, Zoey Marie Jackson."And with that she vanished into golden dust, Melody goddess of song was gone forever, and she left me to take her place.
One more!
