A/N- Second to last chapter! Yay! This chapter is rather long so just keep that in mind. Have fun reading!

"Concentrate, the mist is strong here." Zoë warned as we got out of the car.

As I shut the passenger door, I looked around for Percy. "Percy?" I whispered, trying to look for him through the fog.

"Right here." His hand grazed my shoulder and I looked him over. He seemed fine. Not going full-blown titan.

"Are you doing okay?" I ask him.

"Fine, actually." He cocked his head. "I'm not feeling evil-ly. I can feel the mountain's pull but its more geographic than anything."

"Good." Zoë passed us, heading up the mountain. "That will be useful after we pass the garden."

Lee followed the lieutenant but before Percy and I could even move, lightning flashed, and Dr. Chase's Volkswagen erupted like a canary-yellow grenade. I instinctively transformed my bracelet into shield and raised it to protect Percy and me from flying shrapnel. I heard a sound like metal rain, and when I opened my eyes, we were surrounded by wreckage. Part of the VW's fender had impaled itself in the mountain. The smoking hood was spinning in circles. Pieces of yellow metal were strewn across the ground.

"One shall perish by a parent's hand," I muttered. My dad was paranoid about the great prophecy but I never thought he'd kill me to prevent me from turning sixteen. "Curse him. He would destroy me? Me?"

"Thalia, that couldn't have been Zeus's lightning bolt. No way." Percy shook his head.

"Whose, then?" I demanded. I started to shake, getting angrier.

"The mist." Lee answered. "Kronos or another titan manipulated the mist to seem like it was one of your dad's bolt."

"You better be right." I growled, lowering my shield and joining Zoë.

Once the boys caught up to us, Zoë stopped and pointed a dirt road. The grass around it was thicker. The sunset made a bloodred slash across the sea. The summit of the mountain seemed closer now, swirling with storm clouds and raw power. There was only one path to the top, directly in front of us. And it led through a lush meadow of shadows and flowers.

If it hadn't been for the enormous dragon, the garden would've been the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. The grass shimmered with silvery evening light, and the flowers were such brilliant colors they almost glowed in the dark. Stepping stones of polished black marble led around either side of a five-story-tall apple tree, every bough glittering with golden apples, a rich gold-much like Percy's eyes. As soon as I smelled their fragrance, I knew that one bite would be the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted.

"The apples of immortality," Lee said. "Hera's wedding gift from Zeus."

I wanted to step right up and pluck one, except for the dragon coiled around the tree.

Except, it wasn't quite a dragon. It had a serpent's body which was thick, glinting with coppery scales. He had more heads than I could count, as if a hundred deadly pythons had been fused together. He appeared to be asleep. The heads lay curled in a big spaghetti-like mound on the grass, all the eyes closed.

Then the shadows in front of us began to move. There was a beautiful, eerie, and echo-y singing, like voices from the bottom of a well.

Four figures shimmered into existence, four young women who looked very much like Zoë. They all wore white Greek chitons. Their skin was like caramel. Silky black hair tumbled loose around their shoulders. Four Zoë look-alikes.

"Sisters," Zoë said, voice flat.

"We do not see any sister," one of the girls said coldly. "We see three half-bloods and a Hunter. All of whom shall soon die."

"You've got it wrong." Percy shook his head. "Nobody is going to die."

The girls studied him. They had eyes like volcanic rock, glassy and completely black.

"Perseus Jackson," one of them said.

"Yes," mused another. "I do not see why he is a threat."

"Who said I was a threat?" He demanded.

The first Hesperid glanced behind her, toward the top of the mountain. "They fear thee. They are unhappy that this one has not yet killed thee."

She pointed at me.

"Tempting sometimes," I admitted. "But no, thanks. He's my friend."

"There are no friends here, daughter of Zeus," the girl said. "Only enemies. Go back."

"Not without Annabeth," Lee said.

"And Artemis," Zoë said. "We must approach the mountain."

"You know he will kill thee," the girl said. "You are no match for him."

"Artemis must be freed," Zoë insisted. "Let us pass."

The girl shook her head. "You have no rights here anymore. We have only to raise our voices and Ladon will wake."

"He will not hurt me," Zoë said.

"No? And what about thy so-called friends?"

Then Zoë did the last thing I expected. She shouted, "Ladon! Wake!"

The dragon stirred, glittering like a mountain of pennies. The Hesperides yelped and scattered. The lead girl said to Zoë, "Have you lost your mind?"

"You never had any courage, sister," The lieutenant retorted. "That is thy problem."

The dragon Ladon was writhing now, a hundred heads whipping around, tongues flickering and tasting the air. Zoë took a step forward, her arms raised.

"Zoë, don't," Percy warned, his extraordinary eyes in anguish. "You're not a Hesperid anymore. He'll kill you."

"Ladon is trained to protect the tree," Zoë said, ignoring him. "Skirt around the edges of the garden. Go up the mountain. As long as I am a bigger threat, he should ignore thee."

"Zoë, please." Percy begged. "Don't do this. We'll find another way."

"It is the only way," she said, voice breaking. "In one hour, it shall be the twenty-first. We must get Artemis back to Olympus and retrieve your friend. The four of us are no match for Ladon."

Ladon opened his mouths. The sound of a hundred heads hissing at once sent a shiver down my back, and that was before his breath hit me. The smell was like acid. It made my eyes burn, my skin crawl, and my hair stand on end.

I took Percy's hand and led him away, toward the left. Lee went right. Zoë walked straight toward the monster.

"It's me, my little dragon," Zoë cooed. "Zoë has come back."

Ladon shifted forward, then back. Some of the mouths closed. Some kept hissing. Dragon confusion. Meanwhile, the Hesperides shimmered and turned into shadows.

The voice of the eldest whispered, "Fool."

"I used to feed thee by hand," Zoë continued, speaking in a soothing voice as she stepped toward the golden tree. "Do you still like lamb's meat?"

The dragon's eyes glinted.

Lee, Percy, and I were about halfway around the garden. Ahead, I could see a single rocky trail leading up to the black peak of the mountain. The storm swirled above it, spinning on the summit like it was the axis for the whole world.

We'd almost made it out of the meadow when something went wrong. I felt the dragon's mood shift. Maybe Zoë got too close. Maybe the dragon realized he was hungry. Whatever the reason, he lunged at Zoë.

Two thousand years of training kept her alive. She dodged one set of slashing fangs and tumbled under another, weaving through the dragon's heads as she ran in our direction, gagging from the monster's horrible breath.

Percy drew Riptide to help.

I squeezed his hand, desperate. "We can't."

"No!" Zoë panted. "Run!"

The dragon snapped at her side, and Zoë cried out. I uncovered Aegis, and the dragon hissed. In his moment of indecision, Zoë sprinted past us up the mountain, and we followed.

The dragon didn't try to pursue. He hissed and stomped the ground, but I guess he was well trained to guard that tree. He wasn't going to be lured off, even by the tasty prospect of eating some demigods.

We ran up the mountain as the Hesperides resumed their song in the shadows behind us. The music didn't sound so beautiful to me now—more like the sound track for a funeral.

At the top of mountain were ruins, blocks of black granite and marble as big as houses. Broken columns. Statues of bronze that looked as though they'd been half melted.

"The ruins of Mount Othrys." Percy whispered in awe.

"Yes," Zoë confirmed. "It was not here before. This is bad."

"What's Mount Othrys?" I asked.

"The mountain fortress of the Titans," Zoë said. "In the first war, Olympus and Othrys were the two rival capitals of the world. Othrys was—" She winced and held her side.

"You're hurt," I noticed. "Let me see."

"No! It is nothing. I was saying . . . in the first war, Othrys was blasted to pieces."

Percy's eyes flashed to Zoë's side but he said nothing. Held my hand tighter.

"But . . . how is it here?" Lee questioned.

I sucked in a sharp breath. "It moves in the same way that Olympus moves. It always exists on the edges of civilization. But the fact that it is here, on this mountain, is not good."

"This is Atlas's mountain," Zoë expanded on my statement. "Where he holds—" She froze. Her voice was ragged with despair. "Where he used to hold up the sky."

We had reached the summit. A few yards ahead of us, gray clouds swirled in a heavy vortex, making a funnel cloud that almost touched the mountaintop, but instead rested on the shoulders of a twelve-year-old girl with auburn hair and a tattered silver dress: Artemis, her legs bound to the rock with celestial bronze chains.

"My lady!" Zoë rushed forward, but Artemis said, "Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now."

Her voice was strained. She was drenched in sweat. I had never seen a goddess in pain before, but the weight of the sky was clearly too much for Artemis.

Zoë was crying. My heart shattered for her. She didn't deserve this. Her sisters had just shunned her and the only family she had was in pain. She ran forward despite Artemis's protests, and tugged at the chains.

A booming voice spoke behind us: "Ah, how touching."

We turned. A massive man with eyes so gray they resembled stones, was standing there in a brown silk suit. At his side were Luke and half a dozen dracaenae bearing a golden sarcophagus. I gulped. I had seen that sarcophagus in my dreams before-it held the remains of Kronos. Annabeth stood at Luke's side. She had her hands cuffed behind her back, a gag in her mouth, and Luke was holding the point of his sword to her throat.

"Luke," I snarled, nose flaring. "Let her go."

Luke's smile was weak and pale. "That is the General's decision, Thalia. But it's good to see you again."

The man with gray eyes chuckled. "So much for old friends. And you, Zoë. It's been a long time. How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you."

"Do not respond," Artemis groaned. "Do not challenge him."

"Wait a second," I said. "You're Atlas?"

The General glanced at me. "Yes, I am Atlas, the general of the Titans and terror of the gods. Congratulations. I will kill you presently, as soon as I deal with this wretched girl."

"You're not going to hurt Zoë," I raised my spear, jaw clenched. I let go of Percy's hand and stepped forward. "I won't let you."

The General sneered. "Step aside, daughter of Zeus. Today, my daughter will die along with the rest of you."

I gasped, seeing the family resemblance. Atlas had the same regal expression as Zoë, the same cold proud look in his eyes that Zoë sometimes got when she was mad, though on him it looked a thousand times more evil. He was all the things I'd originally disliked about Zoë, with none of the good I'd come to appreciate.

"Let Artemis go," Zoë demanded.

Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her, then? Be my guest."

Zoë opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis said, "No! Do not offer, Zoë! I forbid you."

Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.

"Hoo-hoo," Atlas chuckled. "You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the center of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility."

I looked at Annabeth. She was desperately trying to tell me something. She motioned her head toward Luke. But all I could do was stare at her. I hadn't noticed before, but something about her had changed. Her blond hair was now streaked with gray.

"From holding the sky," Percy muttered, as if he'd read my mind. "The weight should've killed her."

"I don't understand," Lee's breath was ragged, in pain at the sight of Annabeth. "Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?"

Atlas laughed. "How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape." Atlas smiled. "Unless someone else takes it from you."

He approached us, studying Percy and me. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."

"Fight us," I challenged. "And let's see."

"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."

I glared at my former friend, anger sweeping through me.

Atlas circled Percy, blocking me from him. Percy maintained eye contact with the titan, his eyes an intense, rich gold.

"Do you know how many people envy you, Jackson?" Atlas asked, facing the demigod.

Percy pulled his signature, jack-ass grin. "Many people, I know. I am just blessed with so much talent-my good looks, my wit, my unfailing ability to detect bullshit from a mile away-the list goes on."

Atlas chuckled. "You are the son of the titan Lord." He sounded awed, as if that was a great thing. "Your father is offering you so much power-it's astounding! All you have to do is join him and the world will bow at your feet. You two would be..." Atlas's eyes sparked and he looked like a mad man. "You two would be unstoppable."

"Sounds great," Percy said sarcastically and strolled over to the sarcophagus, the dracaenae clutched the coffin tighter but allowed Percy to rest a hand on it. He knocked on it twice. "Hear that, pops? We should set a date for world domination; it'd be the perfect father-son bonding date. I'm available between the time of hell no and never gonna happen. Sound good?"

"You are a fool, Percy Jackson." Atlas snarled, infuriated. "But it is no matter. Luke here will soon take your place, it is only a matter of time."

My head snapped towards Luke. "Your body will be used to host Kronos'?"

"I won't have to if you join me." Luke said, his forehead clammy. He looked sick and weary. "Don't you remember all those times we talked? All those times we cursed the gods? Our fathers have done nothing for us. They have no right to rule the world!"

"Luke, I-I can't." My voice wavered.

"If you join me," His voice was softer now, "it can be like old times. The three of us together. Fighting for a better world. Please, Thalia, if you don't agree . . ."

His voice faltered. "It's my last chance. He will use my body if you don't agree. Please."

I didn't know what he meant, but the fear in his voice sounded real enough. I believed that Luke was in danger.

"Don't bring her into your mess, Luke." Percy snapped, voice cold. "She can't save you and I'm sure as hell not going to. You have no one to blame except yourself."

"You p-promised to help me-"

"Deal's off. I'm done." Percy shook his head. "I'll find another way to fix the whole impending evil thing. A way that doesn't involve you."

"Percy, don't." Luke's voice was urgent and he didn't seemed worried for himself, rather, he was worried for Percy. "You need my help."

The son of Kronos and Poseidon responded by drawing his sword.

"Well then." Luke waved his hand and a fire appeared. A bronze brazier, just like the one at camp. A sacrificial flame.

Behind Luke, the golden sarcophagus began to glow. As it did, I saw images in the mist all around us: black marble walls rising, the ruins becoming whole, a terrible and beautiful palace rising around us, made of fear and shadow.

"We will raise Mount Othrys right here," Luke promised, in a voice so strained it was hardly his. "Once more, it will be stronger and greater than Olympus. Look, Thalia. We are not weak."

He pointed toward the ocean, and my heart fell. Marching up the side of the mountain was an army. Dracaenae and Laestrygonians, monsters and half-bloods, hell hounds, harpies, and other things I couldn't even begin to name. Hundreds of monsters. And they were marching toward us. In a few minutes, they would be here.

"This is only a taste of what is to come," Luke said. "Soon we will be ready to storm Camp Half-Blood. And after that, Olympus itself. All we need is your help."

For a terrible moment, I hesitated. I wanted to believe him, desperately. But the person standing in front of me wasn't my friend. He was traitor. He hurt me and I wasn't going to let him hurt anyone else. Not anymore. I pointed my spear at him. "You aren't Luke. I don't know you anymore."

"Yes, you do, Thalia," he pleaded. "Please. Don't make me . . . Don't make him destroy you."

There was no time. If that army got to the top of the hill, we would be overwhelmed. I met Annabeth's eyes again. She nodded.

"Now!" I yelled.

Together, we charged.

I went straight for Luke. Frightened by my shield, the dragon-women bodyguards fled in a panic, dropping the golden coffin and leaving him alone. But despite his sickly appearance, Luke was still quick with his sword. He snarled like a wild animal and counterattacked. When his sword, Backbiter, met Aegis, a ball of lightning erupted between them, frying the air with yellow tendrils of power.

I slashed at his side, aiming to wound. He, however didn't share the same intent. He slashed widly, almost grazing my throat. Oh, now it was personal.

I round-house kicked him and wheeled around to help my friends.

Lee was getting Annabeth out of her chains.

Just as the army of monsters came over the hill, a Sopwith Camel swooped down out of the sky.

"Get away from my daughter!" Dr. Chase called down, and his machine guns burst to life, peppering the ground with bullet holes and startling the whole group of monsters into scattering.

"Dad?" yelled Annabeth in disbelief.

"Gung-ho!" The Sopwith Camel swooped down again. A few giants threw javelins, and one flew straight between the wings of the plane, but the machine guns blazed. I realized with amazement that somehow Dr. Chase must've gotten hold of celestial bronze to fashion his bullets. The first row of snake women wailed as the machine gun's volley blew them into sulfurous yellow powder.

"That's . . . my dad!" Annabeth said in amazement.

Meanwhile, Artemis had managed to get free and was now kicking Atlas butt but within an instant, something went wrong and Zoë cried out, clutching her side. Atlas pulled out a rusty knife from her as she crumbled to the ground. I started forward but something stopped me in my tracks.

Percy.

He was holding the sky. Unbridled anguish and torment contorted his face. Every bone in his body seemed to be bent in an odd fashion, the weight bearing down.

The Titan's curse must one withstand. I understood now.

I tore my eyes away as Luke shifted, getting back up. He launched another counterattack and I pressed him back with the aura of my shield. Even he was not immune to it. He retreated, wincing and growling in frustration.

"Yield!" I yelled. "You never could beat me, Luke."

He bared his teeth. "We'll see, old friend."

I took one quick glance back and released a breath. Atlas was back under the sky. Lee and Percy were nowhere in sight. Annabeth and Artemis had gone over to help Zoë.

I slashed at his chest, causing him to fall on his knees. His head fell forward as he tried to get up. He was almost standing to his full height as Lee darted behind him, in my line vision. Bow and arrow in hand, ready to back me up. I held a hand to stop him. This was my fight. A curtain of tears veiled my eyes and I realized what I had to do.

I had to kill Luke. I couldn't let him ruin my life or the ones I loved anymore. I had enough.

I backed up, pointing my spear at his chest. His head snapped up just as I pulled back my spear. This is for Annabeth. This is for Percy. I need to keep them safe.

"Thalia, don't!" He pleaded, fear evident.

My body was shaking. I closed my eyes.

"I'm so sorry."

Then I plunged my spear into his chest.

Screaming and chaos followed.

"Thalia!" Luke's voice was a faint cry but it was tormented nonetheless. I stilled-the voice wasn't Luke.

"What have you done?" Percy's voice was broken, choked up.

"W-What do you mean?" I hear the body crumble to the ground. I open my eyes and the world stops spinning.

Luke was nowhere in sight. I look at my weapon, tainted with crimson then at the body.

Lee.

My chest is constricted and I can't breathe.

And another through a friend's hand.

My hand. I'm gulping for air.

"No, Thalia, don't. It's not your fault. He thought Luke was going to attack you again so he lunged for him just as you..." Percy trailed off, pulling me towards him.

"No." I whisper, fighting him as I watch Lee's glassy eyes. "No."

I hear another tormented cry.

Annabeth's, I recognize and my heart skips a beat.

Then it stops. I dare look over and find her in mid-run, mouth open. Frozen in time.

I try to look at Percy but I can't, my body won't move but eyes can. Percy steps in my line of vision, eyes burning bright. He bends over Lee's crumpled body and pulls out my spear, running it through the grass to wipe the blood off.

His expression is blank as he takes my hand and closes it around my spear.

No.

I watch in horror as he uncaps Riptide and places it in Lee's chest-where I had stabbed him.

Tears are pouring out of my eyes now and I want to scream and tell him to stop but I can't. He turns around again and slides his hands around my waist.

I'm pleading with my eyes but he won't look into them. My heart is shattering as he lifts me and sets me to where he was previously standing.

No.

His hands fall back to his sides and he places himself in my previous spot.

No.

Time resumes.

The moment Annabeth's heart broke open, I felt it in my chest.

Her eyes were wide as she knelt down, holding Lee's lifeless body. She kept saying the same word over and over again.

No.

Tears streamed down her face as she raised her hands, like she wanted to fend off reality, hold it back. Then she doubled over, folding her arms around her midsection.

She stared at Riptide and I shattered.

"Percy, why?" Her voice was hoarse.

"It was an accident." Percy's voice was flat, disembodied.

Throwing back her head, she screamed, and that sound was full of sorrow and heartbreak.

It started as a low tremble under my feet and then increased. Her body began trembling violently and I wanted to tell her the truth, but my throat had closed.

I heard the Sopwith land and Dr. Chase ran over to his daughter.

He dropped to her side, folding his arms around her and gathering her close. Her entire body shook as he sat back, pulling her into his lap, thrusting a hand into her hair, pressing her face against his chest. It did nothing to muffle the powerful sobs racking her entire body.

"I'm here, Annabeth." He said in a soothing voice. "You'll be okay. I'm here."

There was no sign that she heard him, her chest rising and falling sharply, her pulse pounding way too fast. She curled into herself, her cries ragged and broken-sounding, tearing me up.

Percy moved towards them but Dr. Chase's cold voice sliced through the air, "I think you done more than enough damage here, Percy. I'll take her home."

The son of Kronos and Poseidon gazed at his best friend sadly before nodding. He turned to me and took my hand, wrenching my gaze away from the heart broken daughter of Athena.

"What did you just do?" My voice shook.

"I couldn't let you blame yourself for Lee's death." He answered, avoiding my gaze.

"You can't do that."

"It's done." He looked at me, jaw set. "I told you: I don't differentiate from good and evil. Sometimes, I have to do the evil act for the right intention. And for you, I'd do it a million times over."

"You've lost a valuable friendship with a good maiden for her." Artemis' voice carried through the wind. "I hope she was worth it."

"She is." Percy didn't miss a beat. He climbed over some rocks and helped me over.

I gasped at the sight.

The goddess looked up, her face almost as grief-stricken as Annabeth's. Zoë lay in the goddess's arms. She was breathing. Her eyes were open. But still . . .

"The wound is poisoned," Artemis explained.

"Atlas poisoned her?" I asked.

"No," the goddess said. "Not Atlas."

She showed us the wound in Zoë's side. I'd almost forgotten her scrape with Ladon the dragon. The bite was much worse than Zoë had let on. I could barely look at the wound. She had charged into battle against her father with a horrible cut already sapping her strength.

"The stars," Zoë murmured. "I cannot see them."

"Come. We must get Zoë away from this place." The goddess nodded to a silver chariot that was ascending, a beautiful deer at the head. "Get in."

We landed at Crissy Field after nightfall. We wrapped Zoë in a blanket, the three of us by her side.

Zoë was shivering, and the faint glow that usually hovered around her was fading.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" I asked Artemis. "I mean . . . you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, Thalia. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoë's side, but Zoë gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I . . . served thee well?" Zoë whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoë's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

But in that moment, I knew it wasn't just the poison that was killing her. It was her father's final blow. Zoë had known all along that the Oracle's prophecy was about her: she would die by a parent's hand. And yet she'd taken the quest anyway.

Zoë grasped my hand.

"I am sorry we argued," Zoë said. "We could have been sisters."

"It's my fault," A stray tear fell onto my cheek. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, men—everything."

"Perhaps not all men," Zoë murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy. "And what am I going to do with you, Percy Jackson?"

"Get better and kick my ass, I hope." Percy held her hand, trying to smile.

"Though I'd love to, I'm sure thy ass will be sufficiently kicked in the future by others." Zoë raised a shaky a hand and rested it on Percy's cheek. "Thank you for showing me that there are good men out there, Percy. You are nothing like...like Hercules. I wish the best for thee, you truly deserve it."

"Permission to rest, my Lord?" She smiled.

"Permission granted, Zoë."

She lowered her hand and a shudder ran through her body.

"Zoë—" I said.

"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."

A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight."

"Stars." Zoë repeated. Her eyes fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.

Percy lowered his head. I watched as Artemis cupped her hand above Zoë's mouth and spoke a few words in Ancient Greek. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled from Zoë's lips and was caught in the hand of the goddess. Zoë's body shimmered and disappeared.

Artemis stood, said a kind of blessing, breathed into her cupped hand and released the silver dust to the sky. It flew up, sparkling, and vanished.

For a moment I didn't see anything different. Then Percy gasped. Looking up in the sky, I saw that the stars were brighter now. They made a pattern I had never noticed before—a gleaming constellation that looked a lot like a girl's figure—a girl with a bow, running across the sky.

"Let the world honor you, my Huntress," Artemis said. "Live forever in the stars."

In the north, thunder and lightning were still boiling over Mount Tamalpais. Artemis was so upset she flickered with silver light. This made me nervous, because if she suddenly lost control and appeared in her fully divine form, we would disintegrate by looking at her.

"I must go to Olympus immediately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you, but I will send help."

The goddess set her hand on my shoulder. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. Take courage, the road ahead of you is dangerous."

She turned to Percy, staring at him quizzically. "Your passion for her is going to burn the world down one day."

The corner of his lips tipped up. "Smore's for everyone, then."

I could've sworn Artemis smiled but I wasn't sure because I averted my eyes as she mounted her chariot and disappeared in a flash of silver.

Then I heard the whoosh of large wings. Two pegasi descended through the fog: one white winged horses and one pure black one.

Percy smiled at the black one and I could tell he was communicating with them. He chuckled once then turned to me.

"They're our ride to Olympus," he explained and the pegasi began to trot away. "They're taking a water break but we should be on the way to New York in ten minutes."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I didn't know where I was going but my feet led me away from the field. Percy walked beside me.

I could barely breathe. "Percy—" I took in a shuttered breath. "I am so sorry about everything. I didn't want anyone to get hurt."

"Lee didn't get hurt. He died, Thalia."

A lump formed in my throat as I turned to him. His eyes glittered. "I… If I could go back, I'd change everything."

Percy shook his head as his gaze dropped to his open hands. He curled them into fists. "It's too late now." Helplessness cracked his voice. "I could've prevented this."

He shook his head. "I shouldn't have pushed you that day in the car-telling you that you may have to kill Luke. I would've done it in a heartbeat but I never wanted you to make that choice. I was angry that you were defending him. I didn't mean it."

Tears built in my eyes. How could I still cry or think it would make any of this better? "I just wanted him to stop hurting me. To stop hurting you."

He lifted his eyes, and they pierced straight through me.

"You should've never been worried about me getting hurt." He ran both hands through his hair. "You know I can take care of myself. You know I can handle my own."

"I know," I said. "You're always fighting Luke and the entire world. I can't eliminate all your enemies but I wanted to get rid of one. I didn't want you at risk. You mean too much to me."

His head swung toward me, eyes suddenly sharp. "And what does that mean, exactly?"

"I…" I shook my head. "It doesn't matter now."

"The hell it doesn't!" he said. "You almost got both of us killed, and none of this is over. Who knows how much time any of us have before Luke shows up again? He's still out there and he's going to come back in full force."

I said nothing.

Percy swore. "I need to know, Thalia because I just ruined one of the few relationships I had. Do I mean something to you?"

Heated blood crept across my face. Why was he making me do this? How I felt didn't matter now. "Percy…"

"Answer me!"

"Fine!" I threw my hands up in the air. "Yes, you mean something to me. What you did for me on Thanksgiving and the Christmas tree—that made me…" My voice cracked. "That made me happy. You made me happy. And I still care about you. Okay? You mean something to me—something I can't really even put into words because everything seems too lame in comparison. I've always wanted you, even when I hated you. I want you even though you drive me freaking insane. And I know I screwed everything up. Not just for you and me, but for Annabeth."

My breath caught on a sob. The words rushed from me, one after another. "And I never felt this way with anyone else. Like I'm falling every time I'm around you, like I can't catch my breath, and I feel alive—not just standing around and letting my life walk past me. There's been nothing like that with anyone else. I don't think there ever will be anyone else." Tears pricked my eyes as I stepped back. My chest was swelling so fast it hurt. "But none of this matters, because I know you really hate me now. I understand that. I just wish I could go back and change everything! I—"

Percy was suddenly in front of me, clasping my cheeks in his warm hands. "I never hated you."

I blinked back the wetness gathering in my eyes. "But—"

"I don't hate you now, Thalia." He stared intently into my eyes. "I'm mad at you—at myself. I'm so angry, I can taste it. I want to find Luke and rearrange parts of his body. But do you know what I've been thinking about all day? The one single thought I couldn't escape, no matter how pissed off I am at you?"

"No." I whispered.

"That I'm lucky, because the person I can't get out of my head, the person who means more to me than I can stand, is still alive. She's still there. And that's you."

A tear trailed down my cheek. Hope spread through me so fast it left me dizzy and breathless. The feeling was like taking a step off the edge of a cliff without seeing how far the fall would be. Dangerous. Exhilarating. "What…what does that mean?"

"I really don't know." His thumb chased after a tear on my cheek as he smiled slightly. "I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring, what a year from now is going to be like. Hell, we may end up killing each other over something stupid next week. It's a possibility. But all I do know is what I feel for you isn't going anywhere."

Hearing that only made me cry harder. He bent his head, kissing the tears away until he caught each of them with his breath. Then his lips found mine and the room fell away. The whole world disappeared for those precious moments. I wanted to throw myself into the kiss, but I couldn't. I pulled away, dragging in air.

"How can you still want me?" I said.

Percy pressed his forehead against mine. "Oh, I still want to strangle you. But I'm insane. You're crazy. Maybe that's why. We just make crazy together."

"That makes no sense."

"It kind of does, to me at least." He kissed me again. "It might have to do with the fact you finally admitted you're deeply and irrevocably in love with me."

I let out a weak, shaky laugh. "I so did not admit that."

"Not in so many words, but we both know it's true. And I'm okay with it."

"You are?" I closed my eyes, breathing in what felt like the first real breath in months. Maybe years. "It's the same for you?"

His answer was to kiss me…and to kiss me again. When he finally lifted his head, I was in his arms. I had no recollection of moving. That was how good his kisses were. I had to wait until my heart slowed down. "This doesn't change anything I've done. All of this is still my fault."

"It's not all your fault. It's all of ours. And we're in this together. We'll face whatever is waiting for us together."

My heart did a wild dance at those words. "Us?"

"If there is anything, there is us."

We circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. I'd never been to Olympus before and it floored me.

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from blood red to indigo. Apparently no one ever slept on Olympus. The twisting streets were full of demigods and nature spirits and minor godlings bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn't seem to exist here. I caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things I couldn't name. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes.

Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods.

Our pegasi set us down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before I could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.

I felt a sense of impending anxiety. My dad was in there. My dad who I'd never met before but preserved my life when I needed him the most. The other gods were in there as well. I'd never seen all the gods together. I knew any one of them could blast me to dust and my birthday was tomorrow so I'm sure many of them were polishing their weapons now.

The pegasi flew off, leaving Percy and me alone. For a minute we stood there regarding the palace, the way we'd stood together in front of Westover Hall, what seemed like a million years ago.

And then, side by side, we walked into the throne room.

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoë the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall, and I'm telling you, if you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once . . . Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when I noticed Bessie and Grover.

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Bessie was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. He seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble. Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw us, he cried, "You made it!"

He started to run toward Percy, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at me and I stared back. I looked exactly like him-electric blue eyes and dark hair. I felt a sense of familiarity wash over me and though for years I'd felt that meeting my dad would be strange, I felt comfortable. I finally had a face to put to a name I had heard so much about.

Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

I looked around and my eyes landed on Poseidon, Percy's dad. He sported beach shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and sandals. He had a weathered, suntanned face with a dark beard and deep green eyes. Percy looked exactly like him, minus the gold eyes and beard, of course.

Grover gave Percy and me big hugs. Then he grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" I asked.

"Heroes," Artemis called.

The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn-haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked toward us, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told us. "They know that Mount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas's attempt for freedom, and the gathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."

There was some mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happy with this plan, but nobody protested.

"At my Lord Zeus's command," Artemis said, "my brother Apollo and I shall hunt the most powerful monsters, seeking to strike them down before they can join the Titans' cause. Lady Athena shall personally check on the other Titans to make sure they do not escape their various prisons. Lord Poseidon has been given permission to unleash his full fury on the cruise ship Princess Andromeda and send it to the bottom of the sea. And as for you, my heroes . . ."

She turned to face the other immortals. "These half-bloods have done Olympus a great service. Would any here deny that?"

She looked around at the assembled gods, meeting their faces individually. Zeus in his dark pin-striped suit, his black beard neatly trimmed, and his eyes sparking with energy. Next to him sat a beautiful woman with silver hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered colors like peacock feathers. The Lady Hera. I shuddered. I knew to avoid her at all costs.

On Zeus's right, Poseidon. Next to him, a huge lump of a man with a leg in a steel brace, a misshapen head, and a wild brown beard, fire flickering through his whiskers. The Lord of the Forges, Hephaestus.

Hermes was checking messages on his caduceus mobile phone. Apollo leaned back in his golden throne with his shades on. He had headphones in, so I wasn't sure he was even listening, but he gave me a thumbs-up. Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grape vine between his fingers. And Ares, well, he sat on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering at Percy while he sharpened a knife.

On the ladies' side of the throne room, a dark-haired goddess in green robes sat next to Hera on a throne woven of apple-tree branches. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Next to her sat a beautiful gray-eyed woman in an elegant white dress. She could only be Annabeth's mother, Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled at me knowingly and wagged a finger between Percy and me, making a heart symbol. I blushed.

All the Olympians in one place. So much power in this room it was a miracle the whole palace didn't blow apart.

"I gotta say"—Apollo broke the silence—"these kids did okay." He cleared his throat and began to recite: "Heroes win laurels—"

Ares looked at us. "These two are dangerous. It'd be much safer, while we've got them here—"

"Ares," Poseidon interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits."

"Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well."

I blushed again.

The goddess Athena cleared her throat and sat forward. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath not to have more children. Only Hades kept his word, a fact that I find ironic. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder gods . . . such as Thalia and Percy . . . are dangerous. As thickheaded as he is, Ares has a point."

"Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute. Who you callin'—"

He started to get up, but a grape vine grew around his waist like a seat belt and pulled him back down.

"Oh, please, Ares," Dionysus sighed. "Save the fighting for later."

Ares cursed and ripped away the vine. "You're one to talk, you old drunk. You seriously want to protect these brats?"

Dionysus gazed down at us wearily. "I have no love for them. Athena, do you truly think it safest to destroy them?"

"I do not pass judgment," Athena said. "I only point out the risk. What we do, the Council must decide."

"I will not have them punished," Artemis said. "If we destroy heroes who do us a great favor, then we are no better than the Titans. If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it."

"Calm down, sis," Apollo said. "Jeez, you need to lighten up."

"Don't call me sis!"

"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"

A lot of nodding heads.

Percy held his hand up. "Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?"

"Mooooooo!" Bessie protested.

His father frowned. "You have named the Ophiotaurus Bessie?"

"Dad," He said, "he's just a sea creature. You can't destroy him."

Poseidon shifted uncomfortably. "Percy, the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it, or—"

"You can't," He insisted. He looked at my father in the eye-a bold move even for Percy. "Controlling the prophecies never works. Isn't that true? Besides, Bess— the Ophiotaurus is innocent. It's wrong."

My father seemed to consider this. His eyes drifted to me. "And what of the risk? Kronos knows full well, if one of you were to sacrifice the beast's entrails, you would have the power to destroy us. Do you think we can let that possibility remain? You, my daughter, will turn sixteen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."

"She will make the right the decision. Just trust her." Percy sounded so sure of himself, I had to take a step back to understand that he was referring to me. "Trust her like I do. I trust her with my life."

Aphrodite squealed and leaned over to Demeter, whispering. "Did you hear him? He said he trusts her with his life-isn't that cute?"

"As a button." Demeter manifested some cereal and took a hearty bite.

"Trust a hero?" My father repeated.

"The girl is already loyal, she has proven so on the quest to retrieve Artemis. She will turn sixteen tomorrow and save Olympus." The goddess of wisdom turned her gaze to the son of Kronos and Poseidon. "He, however, concerns me."

"Oh, Athena, let it go." Poseidon sounded exasperated. "Whatever your quarrel is it is with me-leave my son out of it."

"But he is not only your son-he is Kronos' as well." Athena pointed out.

Percy rolled his eyes and nudged me, a small smile on his face. "Here we go again."

I couldn't smile back. I couldn't breathe. They were going to kill Percy.

My father rose a hand to silence the bickering and his gaze floated over to me. I pleaded with my eyes, hoping he'd understand.

He looked at me sadly-as if to say that he had no choice-then shifted his attention to the boy beside me.

"It is true that most of us in here are offspring of the titan Lord, Kronos. But there is one difference between us and you, Perseus: we were not made with the intention to destroy." My father looked around the throne room, his voice booming. "He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature."

"I concur," Athena agreed. "Thalia has returned and so we have the child of the prophecy. We have no use to stay on friendly terms with him any longer. We should execute him regardless-just in case something happens to Thalia between now and tomorrow. All in favor of executing Percy Jackson?"

"No!" Aphrodite wailed. "Perlia is my OTP, we can't break them up. I forbid it. All against executing Percy?"

"You really have gotten rash over the years, Athena." Poseidon commented, raising his hand. "I must say, it's not a flattering look."

The goddess threw a distateful look at the sea god.

Mr. D raised his hand and Percy looked shocked. "Mr. D? You want to keep me alive?"

"Not at all, Perry. I just enjoy making Athena mad."

"Off with his head!" Ares growled.

"No!" Someone yelled. Everyone's head snapped toward me and I realized that I had said. Oops.

I took a step forward, unsure of what I was going to say. All I knew was that I had to save Percy. He had already sacrificed so much for me already and if I managed to pull this off, it wouldn't even begin to cover the amount of debt I owed him.

My brain kicked into high gear and I looked around the room, my eyes landing on Bessie. I knew what I had to do-pull a Percy and talk out of my ass.

"As Athena just pointed out-I am the determining factor of whether Olympus will fall to the titans. I can sacrifice the Ophiotaurus and use it against the gods. If you all decide to execute Percy, I will interpret it as an act of war and will use the Ophiotaurus to destroy you. Think wisely and do not take this lightly-this is a threat and I am not someone you want to make an enemy of."

When I finished my sentence, I looked at my dad; expecting him to blast me to pieces. He looked fiercely proud and conflicted at the same time.

"Two children of the Big Three against us, plus a prophecy on their side." Apollo took his earbuds out and looked at the other gods. "No bueno. We shouldn't kill him."

"That's what I've been saying..." Poseidon leaned back in his throne, worry fading away from his features.

"She has a point, Father." Athena's eyes pierced mine before she turned to my dad. "It would not be wise to kill him."

"Very well, daughter." My dad's eyes sparked. "The council has decided to spare you, Percy Jackson."

"Oh wow, lucky me." Percy murmured sarcastically.

My dad raised an eyebrow and I returned to stand next to Percy.

"Shut up, Percy. I just saved your life-don't ruin it." I said through clenched teeth.

"You did, didn't you?" His eyes were a rich gold and he was staring at me like I just brought him back to life.

"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis announced.

"Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here in Olympus. But you have to protect him." Percy was begging them.

His father stood. "I will not have a sea creature destroyed, if I can help it. And I can help it."

He held out his hand, and a trident appeared in it: a twenty foot long bronze shaft with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the safety of the Ophiotaurus."

"You won't take it under the sea!" My father stood suddenly. "I won't have that kind of bargaining chip in your possession."

"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

My dad's lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of ozone.

"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all our powers. I vouch for this on my honor."

My dad thought about this. "All in favor?"

To my surprise, a lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained. So did Ares and Athena. But everybody else...

"We have a majority," The lord of the skies decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes...I imagine we should honor them. Let the triumph celebration begin!"

There are parties, and then there are huge, major, blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties. If you ever get a choice, go for the Olympian.

The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and I realized the music was whatever you wanted it to be: the gods could listen to classical and the younger demigods heard hip-hop or whatever, and it was all the same sound track. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station. Just requests to crank it up. Needless to say, I heard all of Green Day's album.

Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with him arm in arm—his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time. Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever drink you wanted. Grover trotted around with a full plate of tin cans and enchiladas, and his goblet was full of double-espresso latte, which he kept muttering over like an incantation: "Pan! Pan!"

Gods kept coming over to congratulate me. Thankfully, they had reduced themselves to human size, so they didn't accidentally trample partygoers under their feet.

Apollo told me I could drive his sun chariot any time and I shook my head furiously.

"Thanks," I told him. "But seriously, I think I'm good after that last stunt."

"Ah, nonsense," he said. "Just need a wee bit of training!"

I made some excuses and wove through the crowds that were dancing in the palace courtyards. I was looking for Percy. I had lost him in the crowd and I last saw him dancing with Aphrodite.

Then a man's voice behind me said, "I hope you realize the risk you took for him today."

I turned around to face my father, bracing myself for criticism. "I know."

"It was brave and foolish," he continued then a small smile graced his features. "It reminds of something I'd do. Nonetheless, I am glad to see you revived, Thalia. You will do great things, I'm sure. I'm just not sure if your infatuation the sea spawn is one of those great things."

I blushed. "Is it that obvious?"

"Daughter, you just threatened to annihilate centuries-old immortals for him. It's so obvious it stinks."

Way to be blunt, Dad. "Well, I'm with him. For better or for worse."

He looked at me dead in the eye, all the previous humor erased. "It will likely be for worse."

"I knew that the day I met him." I looked at him, voice steady. "And I'm ready for the worse, as long as he is by my side."

"Just like your father-stubborn." He mussed my hair. "We're already in that teenage angst stage, Thalia. Good luck in your endeavors, my daughter."

"Thank you, dad." I smoothed out my hair and watched as he walked away.

I was about to keep searching the crowd when another voice spoke. "You've had quite the day today, Thalia."

I found myself face-to-face with a gray-eyed woman who looked so much like Annabeth I almost called her that.

"Athena." I tried not to sound resentful, especially after the way she went rambo on executing Percy, but I guess I didn't hide it very well.

She smiled dryly. "Do not judge me too harshly, half-blood. Wise counsel is not always popular, but I spoke the truth. He is dangerous."

"You don't know him." I said boldly, wondering where the hell all this courage was the past week.

"Perhaps. But neither do you," She had a mysterious glint in her eyes and for a second there, I believed her. "I concede the point. His fatal flaw is passion and you happen to be the object of his affection and therefore, the one he is the most passionate for. You've seen what he's done for you today-my daughter is heartbroken."

I looked down, ashamed. "Lady Athena, I-

Athena looked almost sorry for me. "That issue will be resolved in due time-it will take a while knowing my child. Percy is smart-he knows Annabeth will replay the scene and the evidence he has planted seems to incriminate himself. Even if you tell her the truth, she won't believe you-accident or not, Percy isn't below killing. And he has a deadly accurate aim."

"I just need to explain to her that I was aiming for Luke-"

"And she'll believe that you intended to kill one of your best friends-former or otherwise? You three were on the run together; you shared everything with Luke. She won't believe you and she'll think that you're trying to remove the blame from Percy." The goddess smiled sadly. "The only person who can change her mind is Percy and I doubt she'll speak to him anytime soon. Regardless, he won't allow her to hate you. He won't ever say a word because of his overwhelming passion."

I wanted to argue, but I found I couldn't. Athena was pretty darn smart.

"Just watch out for yourself, Thalia." Athena turned on her heels and was face-to-face with the devil himself.

"Percy Jackson." She said, voice steady.

"Lady Athena." His voice was smooth. The goddess brushed past him and strode through the crowds, which parted before her as if she were carrying Aegis.

"Was she giving you a hard time?" He asked me.

"No," I replied. "It's . . . fine."

I reached over and touched the new streak of gray in his hair— a painful souvenir from holding Atlas's burden.

"What you did out there for me..." Percy's voice was a whisper and he looked at me in awe. "That was amazing."

"It pales in comparison to what you've done for me." I said. "Percy, I'm going to tell Annabeth the truth and I need you to back me up. Don't try to cover up for me-this isn't your burden to bear."

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Sweetheart." He shrugged nonchantly. "Any more requests?"

"Yeah, stop being a dick."

He grinned, slipping his arms around my waist and guiding my head to his shoulder. "You're asking for the impossible today, Sweetheart. Just because you high-key threatened some immortals today doesn't mean you're ready to go all balls to the wall. You have to earn the title of bad ass."

"Shut up and dance with me." I smiled and placed my arms on his shoulders.

Percy was silent and although I didn't know what song was playing for him, mine was a slow, moving ballad about two lovers. We were still dancing as the guest started to leave and I let my head linger in the crook of his neck just a little longer. I wanted us to stay like this. Forever.

"What are you thinking of?" He asked me.

"The future. Us." I admitted, my tone bleak. "Shit's going to hit the fan when I turn sixteen tomorrow. I just want this to last a while longer."

"It will." Percy told me. "I'm taking you on a date tomorrow."

I pulled away to face him. "No way. Where?"

"Just a little a concert and dinner, nothing special."

"I don't know any band that's in town..." I trailed off, trying to think if there were any.

Percy's grin was blinding. "Try bands."

My eyes widened and I placed my hands on his chest, smiling and jumping like a demented seal. "How the edge stole Christmas?!"

"We're about to find how they stole the beloved holiday." He confirmed. He pulled two tickets from his pocket. "VIP backstage passes too, courtesy of Lord Apollo. It was a thank you for helping you not crash his chariot and all."

I flushed, remembering that little mishap on our way to back to camp from Westover Hall. "Percy, I don't know what to say."

"Just promise me one thing," he put the tickets away and clasped my hands, peering into my soul. "Just promise we're going to have a good time-I want to you leave all this half-blood stuff at camp and enjoy our date. Can you do that for me?"

I smiled. "You're asking for the impossible, Percy Jackson." I looked at our intertwined hands, wondering how the hell this even happened. "But I think I can make an exception for you."

"That's all I'm asking for."

"Tomorrow sounds perfect..." My voice breaks. "If it wasn't my doomsday birthday."

Percy squared his shoulders, his jaw set. "You won't have to worry about that either. I'll take care of it."

A/N-Okay, Percy, whatever you say. So alot of stuff happened in this chapter-Zoë is dead, which we all expected. Lee is dead, so he's the one who was killed by a friend's (Thalia) hand. So Annabeth's going to be a little off the rails in the next book, hence expect some OOC-ness. Luke ran off into the sunset. The winter solstice meeting was interesting, Thalia getting ballsy. I borrowed some lines from the book btw, disclaimer's on my profile. It turns out Luke was the one IM-ing Percy at the beginning of this fic and Thalia will eventually put the pieces together and question that. Perlia is officially a couple, which will be confirmed in the next (and final) chapter. I'm not trying to blindside y'all anymore. Apart from the new love interest which is purely to provide drama not intending to break them up. Also Percy's fatal flaw is passion-I found it more fitting than loyalty, but the same gist. It won't turn into obsession tho (It's not that kind of party) I'm not about that life.

Like for example, if Thals was like yo, I'm not into you anymore. Percy would be sad but respects her wishes because he loves her and wants her to be happy despite the cost. He's not going to stalk her. Anywho, next chapter will include a concert/dinner date and I didn't forget about the bet by Christmas thing-that'll be in there. There will be a counselor meeting about the prophecy (You know at beginning of the Last Olympian, Percy reads the prophecy) same thing here but Thalia will be reading it. I know that in canon, Percy makes the decision to save Olympus the morning of his sixteenth birthday but the prophecy is going to be tweaked for my purposes. Also Sally may come back at the end of the chapter so watch out for that, just in case I'm feeling generous. Almost sixteen years in hell is pretty excessive. I'm sorry for the long A/N, I just like to ramble.