Titan's Curse: Winter Solstice Council

They landed at Crissy Field 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."

He said it like it was no big deal, but he had a gleam in his eye. Nico could understand all of a sudden why Athena, Goddess of Crafts and Wisdom, had taken a liking to him. He was an excellent mad scientist at heart.

"Dad..." Annabeth faltered.

Whatever Annabeth wanted to tell her father, Nico didn't hear because his attention was soon diverted to Zoe who had groaned when Artemis placed her down on the ground. Nico immediately rushed over to see if she was alright.

"My lady," Zoe muttered, her eyes fluttering open to see Artemis and the rest standing over her. "I am...alive?"

"Yes, of course, my brave one. Atlas strike on you was severe but not fatal enough to kill you." Artemis said as she placed her hands over Zoe's wounds, healing her as much as she could.

Zoe looked confused as if being alive was something she couldn't comprehend. "But...I do not understand. If it's not me, then who..."

"Shh, Zoe. Rest. We will discuss this later. But for now, we need to head towards Olympus." Artemis helped Zoe to stand up and put her back in the chariot. As she placed her down, Zoe whispered something into the goddess' ear and a look of anguish crossed over her face before disappearing and she gripped Zoe's hand tightly in reply. When she came back, she turned to address them all. "I must go to Olympus immediately. I will not be able take you but I will send help."

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 what seemed out of sheer will, she held the goddess's eyes. Nico wasn't sure what passed between them, but Artemis's gaze softened with sympathy. Then she turned to Percy and Nico.

"You both did well," she said. "For a man."

Nico didn't know whether he should be gracious about that or be indifferent to her words. He still blamed Artemis for persuading his sister to join the hunt which lead Bianca towards her untimely death. He only saved her from the Titan because he knew it was the right thing to do and also because, Bianca would have done the same thing if she had still been alive . But as though she were reading his mind, Artemis smiled sadly and in a surprising move, gripped his hands into her's.

"I apologise for the loss of your sister, Bianca, especially when she had just been newly recruited to my hunters. But from what I've heard from Zoe, she was a fine warrior who sacrificed her life in battle. She will always be remembered." Artemis said and although Nico wasn't reassured much, he just nodded in understanding and she let go of his hands.

Nico would probably never like the hunters of Artemis but he wasn't stupid enough to call them his enemies. If they just stayed out of his way, he would have no problems with them. In time, he might be able to let go of this grudge but not today.

Artemis mounted her chariot, which began to glow. They averted their eyes and with a flash of silver, the goddess, along with Zoe, 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.

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

"Blackjack!" Percy called.

The black Pegasus whinnied at him. Nico figured he was Blackjack.

"It was rough," Percy said. Nico scrunched his eyebrows and looked around, wondering who Percy was talking to.

The Pegasus whinnied again, this time with his other pegasi pals and Nico started to remember something about horses being created by Poseidon. So was Percy really conversing with a…

"Nah," Percy said aloud, confirming Nico's thoughts."These are my friends. We need to get to Olympus pretty fast."

The black pegasus― Blackjack― said something again and he bobbed his head towards Mr. Chase who was staring open-mouthed at the pegasi.

"Fascinating," he said. "Such maneuverability! How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the horse's body, I wonder?"

Blackjack cocked his head as if he were saying, Whaaaat?

"Why, if the British had had these pegasi in the cavalry charges on the Crimea," Mr. Chase said, "the charge of the light brigade―"

"Dad!" Annabeth interrupted.

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 pegasus Guido, 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. Nico looked back at him and wondered about Annabeth's issues with her dad. He couldn't remember how his parents were like himself

Thalia, Annabeth and Percy mounted their pegasi with Nico decided to ride behind Percy since the young demigod still hadn't learned how to ride a horse and a flying one at that. However, when Nico stepped close to Blackjack, the black pegasus whinnied widely at him and Nico took several steps back so as to not get trampled by its hooves.

"Blackjack, he's harmless. He won't turn you into a ghost or something." Percy reassured the pegasus as he patted its mane.

However, Nico's eyes gleamed at the suggestion of his powers. "Could I really do that?"

"Uh..." Percy looked uncertainly at Annabeth who shrugged in return.

"Anyway, Nico hasn't even trained his powers yet so don't worry. He will be with me; you trust me right?"

The horse whinnied in reply and seemed to shoot Nico a nervous look before it turned its head away. Percy gestured for him to get on up in front of him.

As they soared over the bay and flew towards the eastern hills, Nico wondered about the strange feelings stirring inside him ever since he accidentally stumbled on the quest. It was weird how his physical reactions contradicted with him sometimes. Was he getting sick? Warmth would suddenly spread throughout his face at odd moments and Nico noticed that it was always around Percy. The son of Hades scrunched his eyebrows at that. Was it the excitement then of always being around one's hero?

Soon San Francisco was only a glittering crescent behind them, with an occasional flicker of lightning in the north.

Thalia was so exhausted she fell asleep on Porkpie's back. Nico knew she had to be really tired to sleep in the air, despite her fear of heights, but she didn't have much to worry about. Her pegasus flew with ease, adjusting himself every once in awhile so Thalia stayed safely on his back.

Annabeth and Percy flew along side by side. They started up a conversation with each other and Nico felt as if he were intruding on something. Though, it was hard to hide himself since he was sitting right in front of Percy and he could hear every word they said.

"Your dad seems cool," Percy told her.

"I guess so," she said. "We've been arguing for so many years."

"Yeah, you said."

"You think I was lying about that?" It sounded like a challenge, but a pretty halfhearted one, like she was asking it of herself.

"I didn't say you were lying. It's just... he seems okay. Your stepmom, too. Maybe they've, uh, gotten cooler since you saw them last."

She hesitated. "They're still in San Francisco, Percy. I can't live so far from camp."

"So what are you going to do now?" Percy asked.

Nico tried to concentrate on the moving view below him rather than the current conversation. They flew over a town, an island of lights in the middle of the dark. It whisked by so fast they might've been in an airplane.

"I don't know," she admitted. "But thank you for rescuing me."

"Hey, no big deal. We're friends." Percy said. Some part of Nico was happy to hear that for some reason.

"You didn't believe I was dead?"

"Never."

She hesitated. "Neither is Luke, you know. I mean... he isn't dead."

Percy stared at her. "Annabeth, that fall was pretty bad. There's no way―"

"He isn't dead," she insisted. "I know it. The same way you knew about me."

Now, Nico wished he was somewhere else rather than here– which was saying something as he was sitting on the same ride as Percy.

The towns were zipping by faster now, islands of light thicker together, until the whole landscape below was a glittering carpet. Dawn was close. The eastern sky was turning gray. And up ahead, a huge white-and-yellow glow spread out before them―the lights of New York.

"You're the man, Blackjack," Percy told him. "Er, the horse, I mean."

"You don't believe me about Luke," Annabeth said, "but we'll see him again. He's in trouble, Percy. He's under Kronos's spell."

If Nico hadn't been looking down, he wouldn't have noticed Percy's grip tightening on Blackjack's mane. He could sense Percy's frustration and Nico hoped this wouldn't break into a fight.

"There it is." Thalia's voice suddenly cut through the tension and Nico hadn't been more grateful for the daughter of Zeus. She'd woken up and was now pointing toward Manhattan, which was quickly zooming into view. "It's started."

"What's started?" Percy asked.

Then Nico looked to where she was pointing. 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.

Nico's jaw dropped. Holy shit...

"The winter solstice," Thalia said. "The Council of the Gods."

Flying was bad enough for Nico as the horse didn't like one of his passengers above it, but flying straight up to Zeus's palace, with thunder and lightning swirling around it, was even worse.

They circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. This was the first time Nico would ever be in the palace of the Gods and his eyes couldn't help but widen at the amazing sight before him. He was almost shaking in his seat.

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from blood red to indigo. 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. Nico caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things Nico 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.

The pegasi set them down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before anyone could even begin to knock, the gates opened by themselves. Suddenly, Nico had this sense of doom as he stared up at the imposing structures before him. He'd never seen all the gods together before and although a part of him was ecstatic that he would finally get to meet the real gods of Olympus, he was wary that they would judge him for being a son of Hades. Hades wasn't an Olympian for a reason, if the legends were told to be true.

After they jumped off their respective pegasi, Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving Thalia, Annabeth, Percy and Nico alone. For a minute they stood there regarding the palace. Nico thought about his life in Westover hall with his sister still alive, what seemed like a million years ago now.

And then, side by side, Nico and his friends walked into the throne room.

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. Nico noticed a girl sitting by it and he wondered what she was doing there. The ceiling above glittered with constellations―shining down on the room and giving it a glorious and majestic look.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall, and having all his once mythical action figures turning their eyes at Nico and his group, made the hairs at the back of his neck rise in awe and amazement.

I am actually standing in the same ground as the gods and goddesses of Olympus. Somebody pinch me.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Nico 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 them, 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 Thalia.

Grover trotted over while 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.

It was an intimidating silence and Nico tried distracting himself by looking up at Percy. The older demigod seemed to be nervously looking at someone though, and when Nico turned his head he saw what he guessed to be Percy's father, Poseidon.

He was dressed in...not what Nico was expecting from one of the Big Three gods to wear: beach shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and sandals. He had a weathered, suntanned face with a dark beard and deep green eyes like the sea. Nico immediately knew where Percy got his looks from.

Grover gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs and seemed to hesitate with Nico for a minute before he gave the boy a pat on the back. Then he grasped Percy's arms and shook him with excitement. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" Percy 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 them, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face and she seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told them. "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. By the entrance of the throne room, Nico could barely contain his excitement at seeing all the Olympians seated in one place. He recognized each one of them from his Mythomagic gameset.

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. On Zeus's right, Percy's father, 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 wearing a business suit, checking messages on his caduceus mobile phone. Apollo leaned back in his golden throne with his shades on. He had iPod headphones over his ears, so Nico wasn't sure he was even listening, but he gave them 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. Nico didn't know what Percy did to aggravate him so but he was going to have to ask for that story in a later date.

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 gray-eyed woman in an elegant white dress. She could only be Annabeth's mother, Athena. Nico remembered her from the elevator.

Then there was Aphrodite, who seemed to be mischievously smiling at Percy which brought a blush on the demigod's cheeks before her eyes darted to Nico. He immediately looked away, feeling flustered that the Goddess of Love had made eye contact with him.

With all of them in one room, there was so much power put in one place, 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―"

"Um, yes, first class," Hermes interrupted, like he was anxious to avoid Apollo's poetry. "All in favor of not disintegrating them?" A few tentative hands went up―Demeter, Aphrodite.

"Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and Percy. "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."

Nico tensed up when those dark eyes suddenly settled on him.

"And how about the other runt? Don't think we can't smell which parent he's from." Ares had this huge smirk on his face, looking as if he'd won something, "Might as well smite this one to save us all the trouble!"

With dawning horror, Nico realized the god was talking about him and he took a step back from those ruthless eyes.

"What! You can't do that to Nico! He saved Artemis' life too." Percy immediately came to his defense, standing in front of the smaller teen as he glared back at Ares.

"Sorry kid, but he's not allowed to live just as much as you are. Lucky for you that you have your papa here defending your puny ass." Ares sneered.

"Ares." Poseidon interjected with a steely tone.

The goddess Athena cleared her throat and sat forward. "I am proud of my daughter as well. But there is a security risk here with the other three."

"Mother!" Annabeth exclaimed, appalled. "How can you―"

Athena cut her off with a calm but firm look. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath not to have more children. Even Hades broke his word. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder gods... such as Thalia, Percy and Nico... are dangerous. As thickheaded as he is, Ares has a point."

"Right!" Ares said with a firm nod. "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 the group of demigods 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. "I will have them rewarded. 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 called out. "Jeez, you need to lighten up."

Artemis twisted on her chair to snap at him, "Don't call me sis! I will reward them."

"And I too, will not allow for my son to die."

Suddenly, dark mist began to flow and engulf the lower half of the room as another god emerged from the entrance, right behind the group of demigods. They scattered away from him, surprised by the god's sudden reappearance but only one demigod stood in place.

"H-Hades?" Nico stuttered out, his eyes wide and disbelieving. He didn't know what to think or what to feel. He'd never imagined to see his godly parent this soon.

The God of the Underworld was a tall and imposing man with albino skin and intense black eyes that glittered like frozen tar. His hair was shoulder-length black with bangs that covered most of his forehead and a beard sprouted from his jaw and chin. What probably caught most of Nico's attention were the black flowing robes that seemed to have evil souls threaded into the cloth.

The great being standing before Nico was probably one of the most fearsome and most powerful gods in Greek Mythology and he was also Nico's father. He was everything and nothing Nico imagined his father would be when he finally saw him and as the moment had finally arrived, he could do nothing but gape.

The god briefly glanced down at Nico, his expression indifferent, before he looked up to regard all of the Olympians.

Immediately, all the gods stood to attention, especially Zeus who rose from his chair and snapped, "Hades! You're late."

"My apologies, brother. You know how hectic the Underworld can be, what with mortals dying every second of the day." Hades drawled, not looking apologetic in the slightest. While his mind was still in an emotional turmoil, Nico belatedly noticed his father's voice was sort of oily.

"How convenient that you arrived on time then?" Zeus growled out.

Hades' dark eyes traveled around the row of gods before they landed on the god of seas. "I got a call that another one of my offsprings was about to get killed off today." Nico didn't miss the meaning behind his words.

Zeus glared at Poseidon who shrugged his shoulders.

Ares interrupted them, "Well, you only have yourself to blame for siring a child when you swore on a Pact!"

Hades hummed at the back of his throat, "Ahh, but you see, I'm also here to clear up some misunderstandings." Hades stepped forward with an air of confidence, leaving everyone in the throne room on guard.

"My children weren't born under the Pact. During the 1930s, I brought them to the Lotus Casino Hotel where they spent more than 70 years of their life unaging and safe from the eyes of your god king who had killed their mother beforehand. Zeus can rectify this."

All eyes turned to Zeus whose gaze was dark and stormy and trained on Hades. "...Yes, I remember."

Nico couldn't contain the gasp that left him. It was Zeus' who'd killed his mother all those years ago? Why he and Bianca had been forced to live in a timeless casino for the rest of their childhood? Suddenly any respect Nico had ever held for the god king was flushed out and replaced with anger and misery. He glared, his hands turning into tight fists at his sides as a boiling rage built inside him. It was only Percy's hand on his shoulder that stopped him from doing anything reckless like possibly shouting insults at Zeus.

"Which means only Hades kept his word, a fact I find ironic." Athena said.

"Please," Hades sneered, "Don't lumber me up with those two idiots who can't keep it in their pants."

The mentioned two idiots looked indignant but did not fight back their brother's words, perhaps knowing the truth in it and Nico was amazed. His father just defended him in front of the whole Olympian council.

"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that, yes?" A lot of heads nodded. It seemed Zeus was just eager to steer the topic away from his misdeeds.

Percy blanched beside him, "Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?"

"Mooooooo!" Bessie protested.

Poseidon frowned. "You have named the Ophiotaurus, Bessie?"

"Dad," Percy began with a beseeching expression, "he's just a sea creature. A really nice sea creature. You can't destroy him."

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

"You can't," The demigod insisted. Percy looked at Zeus, staring him right in the eye which Nico thought was a brave feat. "Controlling the prophecies never works. Isn't that true? Besides, Bess―the Ophiotaurus is innocent. Killing something like that is wrong. It's just as wrong as... as Kronos eating his children, just because of something they might do. It's wrong!"

Zeus seemed to consider this. His eyes drifted to his daughter, Thalia. "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."

"You have to trust them," Annabeth spoke up. "Sir, you have to trust them."

Zeus scowled. "Trust a hero?"

"Annabeth is right," Artemis said. "Which is why I must first make a reward. My faithful companion, Zoe Nightshade, is currently injured from the battle and I'm going to need a temporary lieutenant to replace her. And I intend to choose one. But first, Father Zeus, I must speak to you privately."

Zeus beckoned Artemis forward. He leaned down and listened as she spoke in his ear. Nico had a strange feeling he knew what was coming next.

While they talked, Nico took the time to stare at his father who had erected a chair for himself out of shadows of the room. He looked out of place but Hades didn't seem to care, crossing one leg over the other with a look of— smugness? arrogance?— on his face. On his other side, Nico could hear Percy and Annabeth muttering to each other in low voices and it sounded like Percy was worried about something.

Worried about Annabeth probably...

"I shall have a new lieutenant," she suddenly announced, catching Nico's attention once more. "If she will accept it."

"No," Percy murmured.

"Thalia," Artemis said. "Daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"

Stunned silence filled the room. Nico turned to see Thalia's reaction, grimacing at the thought of her joining the hunt. Annabeth smiled beside her. She squeezed Thalia's hand and let it go, as if she'd been expecting this all along.

"I will," Thalia said firmly.

Zeus rose, his eyes full of concern. "My daughter, consider well―"

"Father," she said. "I will not turn sixteen tomorrow. I will never turn sixteen. I won't let this prophecy be mine. I stand with my sister Artemis. Kronos will never tempt me again."

She knelt before the goddess and began reciting words Nico thought was probably the oath of being a huntress. He wondered if Bianca swore those same words and he scowled, trying to shake those unfavorable thoughts from his mind. As if sensing a gaze on him, Nico looked around until his eyes landed on Hades', his dark glare boring into the demigod and he shivered, looking away quickly. Did he know what Nico was thinking? No, that's impossible. Gods couldn't read minds. He shouldn't be scared of him; Hades was his father after all.

But he was also the god of the Underworld. Where Bianca now rested.

"I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men..."

Afterward, Thalia did something that surprised Nico and Percy. She came over to Percy, smiled, and in front of the whole assembly, gave him a big hug. Nico stared and felt that strange feeling from earlier coiling in his stomach. When she pulled away and gripped his shoulders, Percy looked flustered, "Um... aren't you supposed to not do that anymore? Hug boys, I mean?"

"I'm honoring a friend," she corrected. "I must join the Hunt, Percy. I haven't known peace since... since Half-Blood Hill. I finally feel like I have a home. But you're a hero. You will be the one of the prophecy."

"Great," Percy muttered. "I'm proud to be your friend."

She hugged Annabeth, who was trying hard not to cry. Then she even hugged Grover, who looked ready to pass out, like somebody had just given him an all-you-can-eat enchilada coupon. When she went over to Nico, he hadn't been able to make eye contact but the sudden warmth of her embrace enveloping him made the weird feeling in him disappear and Nico hugged her back briefly. It almost felt like he was hugging his sister, Bianca. Then Thalia went to stand by Artemis's side.

"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said.

"This boy is still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is a temptation to great power. Even if we spare the boy―"

"No." Percy's voice rang in the room as he looked around at all the gods. "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."

"And why should we trust you?" rumbled Hephaestus.

"I'm only fourteen," Percy said. "If this prophecy is about me, that's two more years."

"Two years for Kronos to deceive you," Athena said. "Much can change in two years, my young hero."

"Mother!" Annabeth said, exasperated.

"It is only the truth, child. It is bad strategy to keep the animal alive. Or the boy."

Poseidon stood in that moment. "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. Nico's eyes still sparkled from the glow as he released an awed sound, "I will vouch for the boy and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."

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

"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

Zeus's lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of ozone. Nico could practically feel the static racing up his spine and he held back a shocked gasp at seeing one of the most powerful weapons on earth. No wonder Zeus' card always held the highest attack power in the game.

"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. The boy will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor."

Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"

To Nico's pleasant surprise, a lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained. So did Ares, Hades and Athena. But everybody else... "We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes... I imagine we should honor them."

He paused, and glanced over at Hades who was still seated on his self-proclaimed throne. "Will you be joining us in the festivities, brother?" It looked almost painful for Zeus to utter the words out.

A smirk crossed the god's features, making him look more sinister than usual, "Don't mind if I do. Besides, I have…a son to talk with." Nico gulped when his friends glanced towards him. He clenched his fists at his sides, feeling his heart pounding against his chest.

This was his chance.

Zeus sighed, "Then let the triumph celebration begin!"

A/N: I have nothing to say in my defense other than the fact I got sucked into a new fandom and I'm drowning in it ^_^;; i'm very sorry for the looong hiatus but i'm not giving up on this story one bit. I still love Percy Jackson and Rick's new series might help fire up the steam inside me to get through all the books ahah

btw next chap is the last chap for Titan's Curse. If you're still up for reading more, watch out for Battle of the Labyrinth! thank you for your continuous support...i know i don't deserve it orz