PERCY POV
I knelt at the bottom of Athena's throne. My head hung low, eyes trained to the ground, arms limp against my side. I could feel everyone focused on me, their bodies tense and rigid. Slowly, I raised my head up to meet the cold, harsh glare of Athena.
"Have you come to beg for mercy?" she spat angrily at me. I could feel her aura of power sending shivers down my spine.
"I came to apologize. I know I am not worthy of your forgiveness, but I have to do this." I could see sorrow and grief in her eyes. It's a look I know very well because I see it every time I look in the mirror.
"I failed Annabeth. I condemned her to hell. Not because I couldn't save her, it's because I didn't. I had a choice, to dive in after her and close the doors together. But I froze, I left her to die." My breathing became harsher. Every word I said was like a knife in my chest.
"I don't deserve to be a hero. A hero is someone people look up to, an admiral person who has done noble deeds. What hero am I? I couldn't even save the one I love most in this world." Tear started to prick my eyes. I dug my nails into my palm as I blinked them away.
"I broke your trust. You gave me the benefit of the doubt and I messed up." I felt myself tremble as I told Athena my wish. "Take your anger out on me. I know you have a vendetta against my father. I know it would bring you joy to see me dead. Do it. Kill me. A life for a life. Go ahead." I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for her to smite me down.
I didn't need to open my eyes to see their expressions. Shock, fear, confusion. I felt time stop and the world around me freeze. Everyone held their breath waiting for Athena to make a choice. The tension in the room was palpable. Anxiety rolled off me like waves in the ocean. No one dared to move a muscle. They couldn't believe what was in front of them. A boy waiting to die. After what felt like hours, Athena finally spoke.
"Jason Grace," Athena said in a deathly calm manner, snapping everyone out of their trance. Shocked, I opened my eyes and looked at Jason who tripped over his own feet before kneeling in front of Zeus - no, Jupiter. Their white chitons had turned into purple togas. I was about to protest when Minerva glared at me. The look so murderous, harsh, and fierce that the words got stuck in my throat.
"You made Rome proud. I see the apple does not fall far from the tree. You did good, brought honor to my name. For that, I shall reward you." Jupiter beamed down at Jason. Jason clearly didn't expect that because he began stuttering and fumbling over his words.
"I-I, w-w-we, um...Thank you." Jupiter looked annoyed, as if Jason was wasting his time.
"Your wish?" He raised an eyebrow at Jason. Jason was biting his lip and scuffing his toes against the marble floor. He looked nervous, as if he was afraid to ask. His turned his head and looked at our group, well mainly Piper and Leo, mostly Piper. After several moments, he finally made a decision. His straitened his posture and held his head high, looking every bit like the Praetor he was born to be.
"I want the mist separating the Romans and Greeks gone. After thousands of years, I want to set aside our differences and coexist as one people, demigods."
"It's not that easy." Jupiter told Jason as if he was talking to a child.
"I thought this war made it clear that in order to succeed, it takes both Rome and Greece. Do you honestly expect us to go back to our lives as if nothing happened? Each camp has something the other doesn't, they are parts of a whole. Isn't that why Percy and I got exchanged?" Jason spoke so passionately, I wanted to stand up and clap.
The gods all looked at each other. Some nodded, others shook their heads. Juno was the first to speak.
"I made the right decision, choosing you as my champion." Juno looked proud, happy even. "The decision is Lupa's and Chiron's. After all, they will be the ones to take care of everyone. The senate may be reluctant at first, but the Praetors will persuade them, right Jason and Reyna?" Juno made a point to stare at them both until she got an answer.
Reyna nodded furiously, not wanting to be on Juno's bad side. Jason chuckled nervously and fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "Actually, Frank's the new Praetor." The gods looked down to Frank who was blushing and smiling awkwardly. Jason quickly stood up, bowed, and returned to Piper's side.
"Frank Zhang," Mars shouted. Frank cautiously approached him and knelt.
"Who would have thought, you, Praetor. I'm impressed. It's about time that a child of Mars lead New Rome." Mars gave a shit eating grin to Jupiter who scowled in response.
"I know what you want." Mars snapped his fingers and a pouch appeared. It was made of a silver material and looked tiny in Mars's hand. Frank stared wide eyed at the pouch before freaking out. He started searching his pockets and patting down his coat only to be empty handed each time.
"How did you know?" Mars just rolled his eyes in response.
"I'm a god," He said a tone that basically meant 'duh'. He closed his fist around the pouch and started mumbling words. Fire engulfed his hand, burning the material. When he opened his hand, ash and splinters of wood rained down.
Frank started choking. His hands clawed at his throat as a strangled cry came out. His body started convulsing, unable to kneel, he collapsed to the ground twitching and spazzing. Everyone including me starting running to him. Nico and Jason checked his pulse while the rest of us inspected his body for damage. Hazel cradled his head in her arms, tears streaming down her face.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Hazel screamed. Her golden eyes glared at Mars.
"Relax. The pain will ease. I did not shorten his life span, I took away the thing that could." Right on cue, Frank stopped convulsing. His chest heaved up and down as he rested his head on Hazel's lap. He looked exhausted and pale, but he was alive.
"Hazel Levesque," Pluto beckoned. Hazel was reluctant to leave Frank. He gave her a curt nod and squeezed her hand. Slowly, she lifted his head and stood up. She quickly bowed and knelt in front of Pluto. She didn't give him a chance to speak before she made her request.
"I want the curse on my gems to be lifted." Hazel demanded.
"I turned a blind eye when Death was freed. You deserved another chance and I gave it to you. Use this gift wisely." Pluto raised his hands in the air and gems started to sprout from the ground. They floated into the air and formed a ring above us. Round and round they spun, creating a kaleidoscope of color. It was, dare I say, beautiful. The colors swirled around the thrones room, illuminating the white marble and statues. The faster the gems spun, the more of a blur it became. Suddenly, the halo of gems stopped. In a blink of an eye they all exploded into sparkles. Everyone was in awe as they saw the air shimmer and shine. No one knew the God of the Underworld could create something so...light.
"Reyna Avila RamÃrez-Arellano," said Mars. Reyna bowed to the gods and knelt in front of him. She looked skeptical seeing as how Mars wasn't her godly parent.
"Bellona is the Goddess of War and my twin sister, so I'm the next best thing," Mars grinned to himself, satisfied with his answer. Could he get anymore cocky?
AN: I'LL FINISH THIS LATER. I JUST WANTED TO UPDATE SO YOU GUYS WOULD KNOW I WAS ALIVE. ANYWHORE, PLEASE REVIEW.