WOW, thanks for the great response to last chapter!
100th reviewer: Olympus97
Review Responses
Olympus97- Wow, thanks! When I first started the first edition of this story, I didn't include Percy in the Last. That was a mistake. Pure OC stories don't get much attention, but if you can mix a few OC's in with the canon, it works out well. (::) (;;) (because you were the 100 reviewer!)
kablamstar- The prophecy the Oracle gave Bianca was, 'One's fate shall be decided by a family hand.'
Willakarra- Hehe, I'm a troll.
Guest- I can sense your excitement in your review. :)
GreyWolf- I'm really sorry about your aunt.
So wait- Does it really matter?
Disclaimer: All rights to respective owners.
Nico's POV
He didn't know what had come over him when he had rushed the manticore trying to take Fern. He only knew that he had to stop the monster from getting her. What was he thinking? He didn't even know how to use the sword Jackson had lent him! But somehow he had managed to distract Thorn, stab him with the sword, all before the girls in silver, the hunters he thinks, shot Thorn. Then there was Thorn dragging him off the cliff.
The world was dark and black. Normally Nico liked the dark color, but he was beginning to loathe the fact he didn't know where he was. Finally when he came around, he found himself at the base of a dark hillside shrouded in fog. With nowhere else to go, he began to climb upwards, struggling over broken pieces of black marble. Finally he crested the hill, scrambling over section of a wall.
What he saw shocked him. Bianca stood, struggling with a swirling mass of rock. Sweat poured off her face and she was breathing heavily. That didn't make sense. His sister was with Fern and Jackson. Nico had seen those two fight, he was sure they could keep Bianca safe. Unless those people who came to the school or the girls in silver brought her here.
"Nico!" Bianca called weakly. "Help me! Please!"
He hesitated. Call him a bad sibling or whatever, but something was off. It didn't feel right. Then the darkness above Bianca began to crumble, like a cavern roof in an earthquake. Despite any precautions about the situation, Nico rushed forward as huge chunks of black rock began falling. Odd or not, she was his sister and he wasn't going to let her die.
A massive weight, the ceiling dropped on his hands. He held it somehow even though he didn't know where the strength was coming from. Pain flared in every muscle in his body.
Bianca rolled free, gasping. Her face began to change until a woman appeared with flaming hair and malicious eyes, just like Kelli at Westover. "Good, little demigod. You will have to do until the second package gets here."
She walked away on her mismatched bronze and animal legs while Nico struggled to hold the ceiling. He wanted to cry out, to yell after her, to call for help, but the pain was overwhelming. Imagine the worst pain you have ever felt: breaking a bone, dislocating a joint, tearing muscle tissue, or getting a giant bruise. Now think about all the bones in your body breaking and all your joints becoming dislocated. That's closer to the amount of pain Nico was feeling.
His sight blurred. He didn't know how long it had been or whether he was dead. Maybe it was his eyes playing tricks or something, but the fog around him slowly cleared.
From nearby, a deep male voice boomed. "How is our mortal guest?"
A guy with sandy blonde hair, at least Nico thought that's what the color was, but he couldn't be sure with his body so tired, emerged from the shadows. Walking towards him, the guy knelt beside Nico. "He's fading. We must hurry," The guy said.
The deep voice chuckled.. Then a meaty hand thrust someone forward into the light, a woman, her hands and feet bound in bronze chains. Her silvery dress was torn and tattered. Her face and arms were cut in several places, and she was bleeding gold, but then again, that could have been Nico's slightly delusional mind.
"You heard the boy," Said the man in the shadows. "Decide!"
"I will not take the sky from a boy," The woman spat, her eyes flashing with Nico. He slightly groaned. He wasn't sure how much longer he could stand that for. For the rest of the conversation, he zoned out, trying to stay conscious.
Three days later, or had it been four or a week, Nico got a visitor. The blonde guy returned with a squad of monsters flanking him. In between two snake ladies, a girl with long black hair was bound and gagged. One of the women prodded her with her spear shaft. The girl's eyes open, revealing two hazel orbs. When she saw Nico, her expression turned to one of concern and fear. She began struggling against her bonds, fighting to be freed.
The blonde guy ripped off her gag. "Would you like to join your friend under the sky?"
"Cut off my chains," Fern demanded.
One of the monsters sliced the chains keeping her hands together, cutting part of Fern's back while doing so. Blood formed at the cut, but still Fern struggled towards Nico. She had obviously been beaten and injured before she was brought here. Stretching her arms upward, Fern took part of the burden. As she took the place beside him, Nico thought she looked like a very determined angel, coming to save him.
"Fern?" Nico croaked, his mouth dry like a desert. "What... are ... you... doing... here?"
The girl shifted her hands slightly to get a better grip on the ceiling. "Bianca got a... quest. We were in Nevada when I was taken," She stops to take a long breath. "When I came around... I was here."
"But what... is this place? Who are you?" He asked.
She launched off on a crazy story about gods falling in love with mortals and how he was one of their children. Somehow, this made the pain of the sky a little more bearable.
He wasn't sure for how much longer they held the sky. It felt like centuries, but it was probably only a few days. Together, the two managed to hold the impossible burden, encouraging each other.
When they were about ready to collapse with extreme exhaustion, their saviors arrived.
Previously a top Mount Othrys,
Jackson looked around at the scene. Nico and Fern wouldn't last much longer under the sky. Artemis wouldn't be any help unconscious. The dracena and Luke would have to be restrained for long enough. Suddenly it clicked.
"We're all family, Atlas," Jackson drew his axe. "I challenge you."
Atlas gave a harsh, cruel laugh. He had the same regal expression as Zoe, he could see it now. They shared the cold proud look, though on him it looked a thousand times more evil. Atlas was all the things to originally be disliked about Zoe, with none of the good she had showed.
"Are you sure you want to do that little demigod?" Atlas sneered.
"Let Artemis go," Zoe demanded.
"No, I think I will keep her here, locked up in chains. Then when Lord Kronos rules again, all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, here in the center of our palace. It will teach them some humility," Atlas said cruelly.
"I don't understand," Thalia said. "Why can't Nico and Fern 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 Thalia. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge. But alas, an immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."
"Coward," Thalia spat. Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred.
"Daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."
"I wasn't wrong," Luke managed. He looked terribly weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful. "Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!"
He waved his hand, and next to her a pool of water appeared: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus. "Thalia, call the Ophiotaurus," Luke persisted. "And you will be more powerful than the gods."
"Luke…" Annabeth whispered. "What happened to you?"
"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!"
"The titans are no better," Annabeth said.
Luke got a look of rage. "The titans cared about me! Koios, my grandfather, helped my mother stay sane! It wasn't Hermes, it was him! Koios protected us through our travels, not our godly parents! Even here, Atlas and Perses took me in as their own son, blessing me! When have the Olympians done that?"
Jackson had to admit, Luke was right. The Olympians hadn't cared for their children, but they had created a camp where they could learn to protect themselves. It wasn't right, but it was all they had.
Thalia shook her head. "Free Artemis. Let her go."
"If you join me," Luke promised, "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 the other way if you don't agree. Please."
His life depended on Thalia's joining his cause. And Jackson was afraid Thalia might believe it, too.
"Do not, Thalia," Zoe warned. "We must fight them."
Luke waved his hand again, and a fire appeared. A bronze brazier, just like the one at camp. A sacrificial flame.
"Thalia," Annabeth said. "No."
Behind Luke, the golden sarcophagus began to glow. As it did, images appeared in the mist all around them: black marble walls rising, the ruins becoming whole, a terrible and beautiful palace rising, 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, from the beach where the Princess Andromeda was docked, was a great army, dracaenae and Laestrygonians, monsters, half-bloods, hell hounds, and harpies. They were all marching straight at them. 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, Thalia hesitated. She gazed at Luke, her eyes full of pain, as if the only thing she wanted in the world was to believe him. But Jackson interrupted her.
"I said," Jackson raised his voice, and throwing one of his knifes on the ground, though it would return to it's sheath soon. "I challenge you, Atlas. Or has your hearing gone bad from your head swelling over your ego?"
"Ha!" Atlas laughed. "A mere demigod-"
His sentence was cut off as Jackson charged him so fast, striking so fast, the titan could not follow. Atlas roared in pain as the axe slashed across his back. Jackson darted away, as a huge javelin appeared in Atlas's hands. His silk suit melted into full Greek battle armor. For a few seconds, the son of Thalassa looked around at the fight.
Annabeth and Thalia went straight for Luke. 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 Thalia's shield, a ball of lightning erupted between them, frying the air with yellow tendrils of power. Annabeth tried to cut Luke's side while he was distracted, but the son of Hermes had grown stronger. His brain was now up to Annabeth's level of thinking with Koios as his grandfather. His strikes were more powerful and destructive, yet he was quick. Luke knocked Annabeth away with the flat of his sword, but Thalia intervened, distracting him.
Bianca had charged the dracaenas, wielding her knife with expertise. Jackson's instincts screamed duck! and he crouched as the heavy javelin swung over his head. A dozen of Zoe's silver arrows found chinks in Atlas' armor. He yelled in pain as he ripped them out.
"Zoe!" Jackson yelled as he saw Bianca slowly becoming overwhelmed with fighting ten of the dracaenas at once. "Give Bianca back up!"
"But you will surely be killed!" Zoe yelled as Jackson slid at Atlas his axe whirling.
"Go!" Zoe leapt from her firing perch, notching an arrow and killing a dracena. As she landed, the huntress drew her hunting knifes, charging the monsters. Jackson resumed his concentration on the fight with Atlas. The titan of endurance swung his javelin at him, but he ducked under it, stabbing Atlas in the side. He yelled, kicking Jackson back faster than he could think. Percy's head slammed into a black wall. It wasn't Mist anymore. The palace was rising, brick by brick. It was becoming real. With his head spinning, he saw a dracena sneak up on Bianca. The daughter of Hades managed to twist away from the strike, avoiding the nearly fatal blow, but the monster still managed to stab her in the arm. Another serpent woman swung her trident, attempting to hit Zoe. The shaft of the weapon knocked Bianca backwards, under the feet of Nico and Fern.
"The sky," Bianca muttered as she got to her feet. Jackson struggled to his feet and charged the titan again. They exchanged blocks, strikes, parries, and kicks faster than anyone thought possible. "Give me the sky," Bianca said to Fern. "You're the only one who can help your brother."
Fern looked sadly down at Bianca as sweat poured off her. "It... will... kill... you," She managed with labored breaths.
"The only way," With that Bianca stood next to Nico, holding the sky too. Fern fell to the ground as Bianca's face contorted into a look of pain. Nico was fading too, slowly dropping to the ground as Bianca bore the weight of the sky alone. Fern lay, hardly moving on the ground.
Thalia and Luke went spear on sword, lightning still flashing around them, with Annabeth helping Thalia press Luke back. He retreated, wincing and growling in frustration.
"Yield!" Thalia yelled. "You never could beat us, Luke."
He bared his teeth. "Well see, my old friend."
Jackson sliced the shaft of Atlas' blade in half, but the titan only summoned another one. Using the spike of the broken one, he pinned Jackson to the wall before advancing on Fern, who lay weak and unprotected on the ground.
"Die, little hero," Atlas said. He raised his javelin to impale her.
The Void, Same time
The remaining last children sat in their father's office, intensely watching the large TV screen. During Imogene and Percy's whole time on earth, the siblings had closely watched them. The primordials watched the quest. Chaos too sat at his desk, his attention fixed on the scene on Mount Othrys. Then something happened that made the ancient god want to flash down there himself and kick some titan butt. Imogene, his little daughter, was about to be killed by the titan Atlas. She had fought so hard, been so brave. She had held the sky for so long and done so well.
"Come on, Imogene, you can do it," Holly rooted for her friend.
A tear fell silently from the corners of Chaos' eyes as the titan smiled victoriously. Gaia turned her face away, burying her sobbing eyes into Ouranos neck. Ouranos looked sadly at the screen.
"My baby girl," Gaia said. "I love you," Ouranos runs her back soothing, but tears leak from his blue eyes, like rain from the sky.
Mount Othrys, Same time
"NO!" Zoe yelled and she leapt in front of Fern, shooting an arrow straight into her father's forehead where it stayed stuck like a unicorn's horn. Atlas bellowed before stabbing Zoe in the stomach with his javelin. Then he knocked her out of the way, sending her flying into the black rocks.
"Foolish daughter!" He yelled in rage. Artemis, whose chains had been cut by Annabeth at the beginning of the fight, began to stir. She slowly began to drag herself towards her lieutenant.
This seemed to shake Fern from her daze. Getting to her feet, she drew her staff and sword. Meanwhile, Jackson had loosened the javelin pinning him to the wall. Fern swung her staff at Atlas while slicing his arm. The titan tried to strike her with his javelin, but Fern's anger propelled her to fight like she never had before. Soon Jackson joined her and together they pushed the titan back towards the sky, slowly overpowering him. They could have killed him, but then they would never get off the mountain with no one to hold the sky.
"Get ready!" Fern yelled to Bianca. The girl muttered something incoherent in response, but she had understood. With a final whack of her staff and a swing of his axe, the two siblings kicked Atlas into Bianca, who had loosened her grip on the sky. Atlas slammed into her and Bianca rolled for all she was worth.
The weight of the sky dropped onto Atlas's back, almost smashing him flat until he managed to get to his knees, struggling to get out from under the crushing weight of the sky. But it was too late.
"Noooooo!" He bellowed so hard it shook the mountain. "Not again!"
Luke was backed to the corner of the cliff, but still he and Annabeth fought, next to the golden coffin of Kronos. Thalia had been cast aside and was still trying to get up. Annabeth had tears in her eyes. Luke had a bloody slash across his chest and his pale face glistened with sweat.
He lunged at Annabeth, but Thalia was there to intercept the strike with her shield. Luke's sword spun out of his hands and clattered to the rocks. Thalia put her spear point to his throat.
For a moment, there was silence.
"Well?" Luke asked. He tried to hide it, but fear was clear in his voice. Thalia trembled with fury.
Behind her, Annabeth came scrambling, recovering from the attack. Her face was bruised and streaked with dirt. "Don't kill him!"
"He's a traitor," Thalia said. "A traitor!"
"We'll bring Luke back," Annabeth pleaded. "To Olympus. He… he'll be useful."
"Is that what you want, Thalia?" Luke sneered. "To go back to Olympus in triumph? To please your dad?"
Thalia hesitated, and Luke made a desperate grab for her spear.
"No!" Annabeth shouted. But it was too late. Without thinking, Thalia kicked Luke away. He lost his balance, terror on his face, and then he fell.
"Luke!" Annabeth screamed.
Below the cliff's edge, the army from the Princess Andromeda had stopped in amazement. They were staring at Luke's broken form on the rocks.
One of the giants looked up and growled, "Kill them!"
Thalia and Annabeth were stiff with grief, tears streaming down their cheeks. Jackson and Fern pulled them back as a wave of javelins sailed over their heads, running to the rocks. A weakened Bianca pulled an unconscious Nico slowly.
"Zoe!" Jackson called, kneeling at her side. Fern grabbed one of their nearby backpacks, pulling out ambrosia and nectar for the injured demigods. Thalia helped a grief stricken Annabeth drink the nectar, while Fern dribbed more in Nico's mouth. Bianca ate a square, her shoulders slumped and tired.
Artemis looked at Zoe sadly, brushing the black hair away from Zoe's face. Jackson and the goddess knelt beside a breathing Zoe. But her life force was getting weaker.
Jackson's eyes widened when he saw the wound at Zoe's side. Ladon had injured her worse than he had feared. And the barbed hole in her stomach wasn't helping.
"The wound is poisoned," He said.
"Atlas poisoned her?" Artemis asked.
"No, she was attacked by Ladon," He replied.
"The stars," Zoe murmured. "I can see them again."
Artemis choked down a sob. Zoe was shivering, and the faint glow that usually hung around her was fading.
"Can't you heal her with magic?" Bianca asked Artemis. "I mean… you're a goddess."
Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."
She set her hand on Zoe's side, but nothing happened. Zoe's eyes closed, her breathing slowing. The sound of footsteps could be heard against the marble floor. One of the hesperides, the second youngest, rushed in.
"Move! I have little time!" Artemis moved over and the girl knelt by Zoe's side.
"Who are you and what are you doing?" Thalia asked.
"I am Aegle, one of the Hesperides. And I am trying to save my sister," The girl replied, her eyes never leaving Zoe's wound.
"Why? I thought you hated her," Jackson said as Aegle checked Zoe's pulse.
"I did not, that was my sisters. Zoe was the middle sister, my favorite of all of them. When she left, it unsettled me. I knew she would not leave us for we were close. My sisters however became bitter and angry, refusing to believe that father had banished her. But what Zoe said today only confirmed that father had thrown her out. I convinced my sisters to help her," Aegle explained swiftly.
More footsteps could be heard on the floor. The three other sisters ran in, each holding an ornate hair pin. Jackson moved so that they could help their sister, but still stayed close to Zoe's head.
"Her pin," Erytheia commanded. Aegle snatched the pin that was Riptide out of Zoe's hair before blowing on it. Each sister blew on it before Arethusa pinned it back in Zoe's hair. The sisters worked frantically, mixing herbs, applying bandages, and using their magic to heal Zoe.
Soon, Aegle sat back on her heels and let out a long breath. "She will live."
"How..." Artemis was at a loss for words.
"We returned her immortal power to her. Well, not completely, but she will live. She is only sleeping now," Hesperia said.
"Though you will not be very soon. The monsters are approaching," Arethusa warned. "Leave now. They will not harm us."
Artemis raised her hunting horn to her lips. The sound was pure, echoing around the valley. Just then, the moonlight brightened, and a silver chariot appeared from the sky, drawn by the most beautiful deer silver reindeer. Jackson picked up a sleeping Zoe.
"Get in," Artemis said. She reached out and helped Bianca get Nico on board. Thalia and Annabeth climbed on.
"Wait," Aegle called to Jackson. He turned. "Take care of our sister... and tell her we still love her."
"I will," He replied before climbing into the chariot.
The army of Kronos had just crested the rise. A strange buzzing noise filled the air and 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.
"Go!" He called back, his voice growing fainter as the biplane swooped by.
Artemis snapped the reins onto the reindeer's' back. They climbed into the sky.
"A brave man," Artemis said with grudging approval. 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. Dr. Chase must've gotten hold of celestial bronze to fashion his bullets. The first row of snake women wailed as he unloaded his ammo on them.
Seeing them safely away, Dr. Chase turned his biplane and followed like an honor guard. It must have been one of the strangest sights ever, even for the Bay Area: a silver flying chariot pulled by deer, escorted by a Sopwith Camel. The army of Kronos roared in anger as they gathered on the summit of Mount Tamalpais, but the loudest sound was the voice of Atlas, bellowing curses against the gods as he struggled under the weight of the sky.
The chariot landed in Crissy field just after nightfall. As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug. "Dad! You flew… you shot… oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"
Her father blushed. "Well, not bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."
"But the celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"
"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you… left."
Annabeth looked down, embarrassed. "I decided to try melting some down to make bullet casings," He continued. "Just a little experiment."
"Dad…" Annabeth faltered.
"I must go to Olympus immediately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you."
The goddess set her hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. You will do what is right."
Then she looked quizzically at Thalia, as if she weren't sure what to make of this younger daughter of Zeus. Thalia seemed reluctant to look up, but something made her, and she held the goddess's eyes. Artemis' look softened with sympathy. She then turned to her chariot.
"Take care of Zoe," She called as she mounted her chariot, which began to glow. Averting their eyes, there was a flash of silver, and the goddess was gone.
"Well," Dr. Chase sighed. "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."
Annabeth turned toward him. "Dad, I… I'm sorry that—"
"Shh," He hugged her. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."
His voice was a little shaky, but he gave Annabeth a brave smile.
Well, this is great. Jackson thought. The goddess just ditched us. He could transport himself to New York, but Fern was too weak to help him with the others. Plus, Zoe's injuries might not go well with the travelling. Then a chorus of voices spoke in his mind.
Could we be of service? Jackson grinned and replied.
Twelve large shapes burst out of the trees. Since he had seen the hybrid saber tooth cats in the afternoon, they had grown several feet, now the size of horses. Thalia drew her spear while Dr. Chase stepped protectively in front of Annabeth.
"Relax guys, these, umm, guys are here to help us," Jackson reassured his friends. Fern smiled before walking over to one and climbing on its back. The tiger turned its head, sniffing her. Nico stumbled over to a tiger who knelt for easy climb on. Bianca soon followed. Jackson carefully lay a sleeping Zoe on another's back before climbing on himself.
"Bye dad," Annabeth said.
Dr. Chase blinked. He looked at his daughter and managed a smile. "I'm sorry, my dear, I know you must go."
He gave her one last awkward, well-meaning hug. As she turned to climb aboard the tiger, Dr. Chase called, "Annabeth. I know… I know San Francisco is a dangerous place for you. But please remember, you always have a home with us. We will keep you safe."
Annabeth didn't answer, but her eyes were red as she turned away. Dr. Chase started to say more, then apparently thought better of it. He raised his hand in a sad farewell and trudged away across the dark field. Thalia and Annabeth mounted their rides.
Everyone ready? His tiger asked in Jackson's mind. The son of Chaos looked around before nodding.
The tigers bounded off into the darkness, the unused six forming a protective circle around them.
"How will we get to New York before dawn at this pace?" Annabeth asked.
"These are magical creatures. They have a way of bending time so that they go faster. Like centaurs," Fern explained.
Annabeth nodded in understanding before turning to talk with Thalia. The di Angelo twins were already fast asleep, exhausted from holding the sky. Their rides adjusted their gaits so that they wouldn't fall off.
"Thanks," Fern said to him.
"What for?" Jackson asked.
"I don't know, rescuing me," She looked so fragile especially with that grey streak in her black hair from holding the sky.
"You're my sister. I wasn't going to let you rot. Plus," He added. "None of our family would let us live it down."
Fern cracked a smile. "You're right."
Jackson smiled too before his face darkened. "Why didn't Artemis take the sky from you?"
His sister looked grim. "They would keep Artemis alive as a bargaining chip. But if they had no use for Nico and I..." Her voice cracked.
"Fern..." He started.
"I'm going to get some sleep now," She slumped forward, but Jackson knew she wasn't asleep.
For a while, he watched the darkness flicker by. Soon, Zoe stirred, trying to sit up. She succeeded in almost falling over the back of the giant cat into the blurring ground below.
"Careful," Jackson warned her.
She spun around to look at him. "Where am I? The last thing I remember was..." Her voice trailed off.
"Get comfortable. It's quite a story," Jackson stated.
Zoe backwards straddled the cat, leaning against the giant head, so she was facing him. "You remember the battle with Atlas right?"
"I remember being thrown into the rocks. And there were stars, so many stars," Zoe said.
"Well," Jackson began and he proceeded to tell her the whole story. By the end, Zoe was blinking back tears.
"They gave up part of their immortality for me?" She asked.
"Yes. Aegle told me to tell you that they still loved you."
Zoe looked ready to cry, but Thalia's voice interrupted her. "We're here."
Jackson looked up. High above the Empire State Building, Olympus was its own island of light, a floating mountain ablaze with torches and braziers, white marble palaces gleaming in the early morning air.
"The winter solstice," Annabeth said. "The Council of the Gods."
The tigers let them off in an alley one block away from the empire state building. They left with promises to see Jackson and Fern soon. The group headed into the empire state building where Thalia bullied the guy at the desk into giving them the key. The expression on his face as Thalia shocked his hair burnt was priceless. Soon, they were in the elevator, heading to the 600th floor, Mount Olympus.
In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from bloodred 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. The scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things mixed in with the smell of fresh baked food. 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.
"Ready?" Fern asked once they stood outside the silver doors. The doors swung open, revealing the throne room. Together, they walked into the council of the gods.
I hoped you liked the chapter. Next chapter is the council of the gods and a talk with good old Hades.
Remember to Review!
Thanks!
P.S. I changed a few things in chapter two. It would be helpful it you read that again up to the part where the Last children are born.
~Snow Wolfe6631~