Thanks to Cam Katarn for helping me by correcting my grammatical errors. The song I think would be suited for this chapter is this one:https/youtu.be/e4vD2S5vQMM. You can if you don't like it play another song or even read without a song. Hope you all like it.
The quester stepped through the portal made by the fury. It closed behind them. In front of them, white marble steps wound up the spine of a cloud, into the sky. It was a sight familiar to Grover and Annabeth. Maybe Percy would have been awestruck if he didn't feel like a huge bruise.
From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, its summit covered with snow. Clinging to the mountainside were dozens of multileveled palaces-a city of mansions-all with white-columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires.
Roads wound crazily up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gardens bloomed with olive trees and rose bushes. Percy could make out an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippodrome and a coliseum on the other.
It was an Ancient Greek city, except it wasn't in ruins. It was new, and clean, and colorful, the way Athens or other powerful city-states must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago.
This place shouldn't be there, Percy thought to himself.
The tip of a mountain hanging over New York City like a billion-ton asteroid? How could something like that be anchored above the Empire State Building, in plain sight of millions of people, and not get noticed? He realized the stupidity of his question when he remembered that not 30 minutes ago, the fight between him and Ares had destroyed a giant city and that the god had attacked him with a plasma-shaped sword hotter than the sun.
The trip of the questers through Olympus was like a daze. Nymph seeing them come close hid and ran. People on their way jumped out of it as if a flesh-eating monster was coming near them. Hawkers in the market that were selling their wares like an ambrosia-on-a-stick, a new shield, and a genuine glitter-weave replica of the Golden Fleece closed their shop when they saw them coming.
On Hephaestus-TV The nine muses were tuning their instruments for a concert in the park while a small crowd gathered-satyrs and naiads and a bunch of good-looking teenagers who might've been minor gods and goddesses. The crowd dispersed at the approach of the questers.
All of them were acting this way because they were scared Percy realized. He already knew that Gods were able to follow him or to know what he was doing on his quest like with Ares knowing about his encounter with Echidna. They were scared not of the questers but precisely of him, the 12-year-old that was able to make one of the twelve Olympians, the god of war Ares himself bleed without any help.
They climbed the main road, toward the big palace at the peak. It was a reverse copy of the palace in the Underworld Perrcy realized.
There, everything had been black and bronze. Here, everything glittered white and silver.
Hades must've built his palace to resemble this one. He wasn't welcomed in Olympus except on the winter solstice, so he'd built his own Olympus underground. He was bitter because he was shunned by his own family.
This realization still didn't extinguish Percy's hatred for the god. All had begun because of him. He was the one to send Alecto two times and the minotaur after him. He was the one that brought his mom that was innocent and had done nothing in the underworld. He was the reason Percy would never be able to tell her I love her or go to Montauk with her.
The fire deep inside of him that had bolstered and strengthened him was now back waiting for my signal to be unleashed. With it, Percy was able to fight against Ares, to make it bleed even if he wasn't taking it seriously. With it, could save his mom. He had the impression that he had just touched the tip of the iceberg in his fight with the war god.
Percy dislodged himself from the support of companions. "Thanks" he told them.
"You're not alone in this quest Percy. Even though, you're different, don't forget that you can count on us" Grover said. Annabeth on his left side nodded to agree.
Together, as one they entered the throne room.
Room wasn't really the right word. The place made Grand Central Station look like a broom closet. Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling, which was gilded with moving constellations.
Twelve thrones, built for beings the size of Hades, were arranged in an inverted U, just like the cabins at Camp Half-Blood. An enormous fire crackled in the central hearth pit. The thrones were all occupied except for one on the right at the end. Percy could feel the nervousness of Grover and Annabeth so he grabbed their hand. We walked into the middle of throne and the giant gods seating on them.
The gods were in giant human form, as Hades had been. Zeus, the Lord of the Gods, wore a dark blue pinstriped suit. He sat on a simple throne of solid platinum. He had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was proud and handsome and grim, his eyes rainy gray.
As Percy got nearer to him, the air crackled and smelled of ozone.
The god sitting next to him was his brother, without a doubt, but he was dressed very differently. He reminded the demigod of a beachcomber from Key West. He wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots all over it. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands scarred like an old-time fisherman's. His hair was black, like Percy's hair had been. His face had that same brooding look that had always gotten Percy branded a rebel. But his eyes, seagreen like the eyes of Percy , were surrounded by sun-crinkles that told that the god smiled a lot, too.
On the immediate right of Zeus was a woman that looked like a queen. From her emplacement, she must be Hera Percy thought. Hera was Percy had to admit, a supremely beautiful woman with silver hair braided over one shoulder. She wore a dress that shimmered with colors like peacock feathers. He understood why in the myths, She was even said to be the loveliest, fairest and most beautiful goddess in all creation before the birth of Aphrodite.
All the others beings looked as perfect. Their faces were too symmetrical, their skin perfect and emanating a radiant hue. Each of them gave the feeling of something inhuman. Their presence screamed worship, to bend the knees before them. Annabeth and Grover bent, he didn't.
They tried to make him bend the knee but they were unable to. Percy was tired of being pushed around by the gods and now after the fight with Ares, he knew he could now push back.
Percy wanted to talk to his dad. He wanted to ask him so many things. He wanted to rage against him. He wanted many things. He pushed those feelings down.
He removed the backpack from his back and took from it the lightning bolt. "Your lighting bolt" uncle he said to the god that had tried to kill him three times.
Percy threw the metal cylinder at the feet of the god. It began to spark as if activated by the presence of its rightful master. With a movement of the hand of Zeus, the lightning bolt flew into his hand.
The sky god spoke "So you were the thief all this time boy. I saw all the damage that you made to one of my cities". The smell of ozone in the air had become stronger. Arcs of lightning began to appear around the god." Tell me why I shouldn't erase you from existence"the god threatened.
Percy understood why all the other gods were present. It wasn't a hearing where he would be able to plead from his case. He was already guilty for the sky god. They were there to make sure that the sentence of Zeus will be executed. He could feel Annabeth and Grover shaking behind him.
He had went through the stupid quest of the bolt where he had to jump from a national building, wasn't able to save his mom and had to fight a god just to still be treated this way?
Fuck that. From deep inside, the power that had made him able to stand against Ares erupted violently around him. He could see on the corner of his eyes wisp of blue and red flickering violently around me. One touched the ground and disintegrated it.
Olympus had begun to shake. Percy could feel around him the other gods uncertainty. Some were already posed to strike like a lady that looked like Annabeth but with raven hair and older and some like Mr D looked as if Christmas had came early.
The view of Percy on Zeus was blocked by a back. He realized a second after who it was. Even though he was now wearing an armour made with what seemed to be scales, it was undeniable his father.
"You dare Poseidon to go against me for an abomination? For a thief? For a wrongdoing?" Zeus screamed now looking as if he was the verge on losing his reason and pouncing on Percy like a wild animal.
" He may be a mistake" the sea god admitted softly. Steel entered his voice" But that mistake is still my child". The skin of Percy's father was flaking. He was taking his true form Percy realized. He was shedding his mortal disguise to show to the world his true self.
Before anything could happen, Hera interposed herself between the two brothers" We are a family and it seems that the both of you seem to have forgotten it. Zeus, give a chance to the bastard child" Percy could feel the love which was inexistent" of our brother to explain himself and if after that, you still want to end him, I'll support you. Don't forget who you Zeus Nomos". The god reacted as if he had been slapped.
The god sighed and rubbed his head as if he had a war goddess knocking inside his head.
"All right. Make your case child. Convince the council or don't, it'll spare me a headache."
"Address Lord Zeus, child of mine," Poseidon told Percy. "Tell him your story." He put his hand on my shoulder. He looked crazed now and less like the easygoing he first presented himself. Know that whatever will happen, I will stand with you."Percy should have been happy but he still could remember that even though the god was there now, he was still the same god that had abandoned Percy and his mom. He was the same god that could have protected them but didn't. He nodded his head.
Behind him, Annabeth and Grover were still kneeling and it pissed the shit out of him. He hadn't lived more than one year in the supernatural world and already knew that the gods were not worthy of worship. It made him want to scream.
He told Zeus everything, from them leaving camp until their arrival to Olympus after fighting Ares.
There was a long silence, broken only by the crackle of the hearth fire. I sense the boy tells the truth," Zeus muttered sounding disappointed. "But that Ares would do such a thing ... it is most unlike him."
"He is proud and impulsive," Poseidon said. "Just like his parents."
The goddess Hera looked horrified as if Percy was a hooligan that had stomped on her flowers from a rare breed and killed them. That wasn't his fault Ares was messed up in the head but even though Annabeth told him Gods didn't have DNA, he was sure that the fact that his parents were siblings was kinda the reason Ares was Ares.
The other gods looked pensive, well most of them. There was one of them that Percy had all this time tried to avoid from his eyes because each time, he looked at her, he met the face of his now-gone mother. She made him want to cry. She had her feet on the armrest of her throne her legs crossed typing on her phone as if apathetic to what was happening.
"Let's vote on the fate of the demigod from a broken oath" Zeus spoke his voice booming. Let's vote on if he should live". "I vote for yes for his death," the sky god said putting his hand in the air.
"I vote no," his father said.
"I vote yes," Said Hera.
A god that looked like Luke put his hand in the air" That's a child that didn't ask for any of those things to happen to him. I vote no".
"I vote for yes," Said Mr. D. The god looked alert" He feels and smells like one of those barbarians I met in India. He's more trouble than he is worth. Nothing personal kid". Well fuck you Mr D he thought. The God of madness must have heard him because he gave Percy the middle finger.
Two gods that looked identical except for their genders and hair colors. They had taken the shape of teenagers. One had blond hair that could easily be thought to be gold. It shimmered, and flames flickered from it like of if it was the sun. His sister had silver hair that had sections of it that were elaborately braided. They turned toward each other as if talking telepathically and raised both their hands" We vote for the life of the child" They said in unison. Honestly, thanks to them Percy thought but they were creepy the hell out of percy. They must be the Archer twins, children of Zeus and Leto, gods of the sun and the moon.
Another goddess raised her hand. She was the one almost identical to Annabeth even though it would be more accurate to say that it was the inverse. Annabeth raised her eyes towards her with hope. That hope was crushed by the words of the goddess" I vote for the death of the child. He's just twelve and look at what he did." From her other hand, an image materialized. It showed the city of Los Angeles, well what was the city of Los Angeles. It showed destruction, screams and corpses. Percy saw the corpse of a little girl that seemed to be five. She had a missing arm where had come a pool of blood. On her dead features, agony could still be seen etched. Percy forced himself to hold back the nausea and the vomit rising from him.
Maybe, the gods wanting him to be dead were right. He had been the cause of an innumerable amount of deaths. Wouldn't it be the moral thing for him to pay?
The hologram has changed things. Gods that looked neutral or indecisive didn't anymore. A god that looked what could Percy honestly called ugly and not the ugly that you would see when walking in the streets and crossing people but an ugly that was truly horrendous like if the dictionary definition of the word had taken shape. He made Percy shiver. He felt different from all the other gods around him. He felt weirdly more and at the same time less than the other gods. He lifted his hand in the air" I vote for the death of the child. He may not seem like it but he's assuredly one of the monstrous children of my Uncle Poseidon. He's like a faulty machine that could at any moment explode. You don't trust faulty machines". Beckendorf may have been the nicest person Percy knew but he surely didn't inherit from his dad.
A beautiful goddess with a crown of laurel and blonde hair that looked like wheat lifted her hand in the air. She talked in a motherly voice "I got a very important question for you child".
Percy listened attentively. He had expected the Goddess to ask if he respected the gods, why should he leave or even about his power. Instead, she asked him" Do you eat a lot of cereal child?"
'That was a joke right?'Percy thought. He turned toward his father that nodded as to say that the goddess was serious." Honestly, I don't really like them".
The demeanor of the goddess changed as if Percy spat on her face."I vote for the death of the Abomination. Brother, you don't need your lightning bolt. I will personally do it."
The Goddess looked murderous. Was she really serious? "Over cereals?" he couldn't stop himself to blurb out.
"Cereals are life" the goddess screamed like a fanatic. " Heathens like Hades and you that hate them should be erased from this reality".
Percy could see the grip of his father tightening on his trident as if he was already expecting to fight to save Percy's life. Ten of the Dokatheon had voted on his right to live and it didn't look good. For now, the ones wanting him dead had two more votes than those wanting to stay alive and the ones that hadn't voted for now were the missing war god, Ares that wasn't there and the goddess of love, Aphrodite that seemed totally uninterested in the things unfolding around her. Ares even though he had respected his oath was a god and the fact that Percy made him bleed could be a reason for him to vote against him. Even though the god had talked of wanting to fight against Percy again, the moods of a god were always changing.
"Aphrodite" The voice of the youngest of the kronides boomed. "Ares and you are the only ones that didn't vote yet". The goddess lifted her eyes from a phone to finally pay attention.
The Goddess sighed, annoyed at being bothered" I was talking with Ares and he said that he votes for the life of the child". She turned her phone towards the other gods. Percy could see what the war god had written in big letters" The kid is fun. He wouldn't be anymore if he dies."
Only one of the Olympians hadn't voted yet and it was Aphrodite. Usually, Percy thought that he was pretty good at spotting the moods and guessing what others thought especially when he was in a situation of life and death but right now, from the goddess that looked identical to his mother, which reminded him of what he had held dear the most and that he couldn't save, he could glean nothing from her.
All eyes were on the goddess. Her vote would either put the final nail in Percy's coffin or be the thing that will give him a chance of survival by evening out the votes. " Look at me child," the goddess said. Percy did.
She looked at him, no she looked through him. Her cold and kaleidoscopic eyes that betrayed who she really was seemed to find and read what Made Percy him. Through her eyes, Percy could glimpse at the best and worst moments of his life. He could see the cakes of his mother. He could see smelly Gabe screaming and hurting his mom. He could see the times he had been unable to read and was laughed at because of his dyslexia. He could see his mom and him at Montauk.
The Goddess spoke" I see in you, child, sadness, Pain and anger. I can see it overflowing waiting for any occasion to burst into the world. You are a very dangerous threat child of Poseidon, more than what the other god could imagine. It would be the right thing to end your story here, a story full of negativity that could only bloom into a tragedy. It would be the wise thing to vote for your elimination".
"The vote is against the child of Poseidon. I think it's time to end his life to go take care of other important matters" Said Zeus. Lightning began to illuminate the face of all the gods of the councils.
"I already told you, Zeus" Poseidon pointed his trident towards Zeus. " I won't let you hurt my child".
The sky god began to laugh" You may be mighty brother but you alone can't go against all the council. Look around you. Some may have voted in favor of the life of your spawn but do you think that they would fight with you, go against their rightful king?". The gods that had voted in Percy's favour looked elsewhere.
"I don't need their help brother." His father began to shine gold. He heard Annabeth words too late" Don't look Percy, he's taking his true form. Seeing it means death for mortals". His father discarded his mortal guise. Percy saw.
H̷̢̨̨̛̛̛̗͖̬̳̯̣̜̙͈̰͔̣͙̥̘͉̑́̓̾̆̾̔̓̈́̏́͗̈̀̔̅̐̈́̈̽̍̅̾̆̈́͜͝͠ę̴̡̧̢̧̧̧̧̛̛̯̤͈̩̦̰̦̭̻̦̫̙̲̳̮͓̙͇̫̞̪͇̬͔͉͕̠͂̊̒͒̉͊͊̇̈́̔̇̅̆̏͐̾̆͒̆̽͘̕͝͝͠ ̵̙̣̺̀̔͗̇̀̂̿͊͊̈͊̎̓̈́̋́͑̍̌̔̕͘ẉ̶̛̛͎̼̫̙̬̦̯̬̺̦͎̿̔̍͐͊͑̊̃̏̉̏̀̀͑̀͗̎̉̽̑̃̔̈́̿̀̿͌̍̐̍̕͠ả̵̧̤̖̩̖̝̪̯̪̞͈͖̩͓̈́̅̊̈́͊̃̾͋̀̔̑̆̐͋͋̈́̕̕͠͝ş̸̡̡̧̨̲͈̺̬̫̮̤̣̣̲͖̠̱̰̟̳̺̭̭̯͇͓̲̪͆̏̎͐͊̀̀̇̉̀͜ͅͅ ̴̢̨̮͕̤̤͉̥̰̫̣̜͙̯̹̺͈͕͓͎̦̹̦͚̺̞̥̱̙͕̹̃͌̀̐̾̓̎̔̇̆͊̄̈́̆͗̇̑̑̔͘͘͜͜͝͠m̴̥͙͙̥̝̖̻͓̑͂͘̕̚ą̶͓̺̗̬̘̩͎̪̮̘̪̣̳̹̩̩̩̦͉̗͕̝̣̼͈̼͚̄̽̆̓̔̿̾̉̂̈́̇̓̆͛̄͛͋̎̏̀̇̐͌́͝͝͠ͅd̸̡̛̛͖̞̟̙̝͉̙̎͛͂̒̾̌̅̅̊͛̆̇͆̋́̈́͆̌̑̑̏́́͑̑̆̈́̚͝͠͠n̸̡̢̛͕̦͒́͌̍̋̂̉̑͛̈́̄̈́̃͆̆̈́͗́̎͂̔͐̌̈́͐͑͛̔̀̕͘͠͠ę̴̢̹͙̝͍̻̙̪͎̝͎̳̣̖̼̰̯̝͎̞͇̰̥͚̲̣̼͉̪͙̲̜́̔̿̉̑͑̄̂̈̀́̓̇́͜͝͝ş̶̨̡̤̹̗̗̳̙̠̤̯̳͍̻̪͖͍͗̔̀́̾͆̿͐̑̇͋̌̈́̔̈̅̏̕͜ͅs̶̱̞̰̭̙̲̠͌̆̄̉͋̀͛̓͆̌̍̄̏͗̍̾̀͂̓̔̍͆̕͘͝͝.̶̛̘͔̹͓̪̩̩̜̲̼̝̜̯͍͇̬̗͇̻͎̙̰̅̆̈́̑̈́͋̃̐̅̿̌̔̄ͅ ̵̧̡̨̡̢͚̩̤̞̹̰̜͔̜̠̲̪̙̣̝̪̠͔̯͉͙̟̮̗͎͚̍͂̅̒̍̍̍͊̕͜͝ͅH̷̨̯̗̟͙̝̹̤͇̣̻̙̜͍̥̬͕̝̖̦̣͉͓̘͖͎̜̬͍̙̰̫͂̍̎̑͒́͘̚ẹ̸̡̧̢̛̛̘̖͎̬̝̻̦͖̲͉̝̗̠͙̻͓̣̭̹͈͖̰͆̑̓͆̐̿̾̾̐͗̅̋̐̌̀̆͗̒̅̈́̐͌͒̑̓̆̽̈́͆̽̀͛̎̕ͅͅ ̸̡̢̢̙̗̩͕̝͈̟͙̬̯̥͓͓̬̠͍̺̣͉̣̜͍̗̤̟̪̺͉̰̖͈͋͌͌̽͂͐̄̄̊̾̀͐̅̃͛̏͗͠w̵̨̧̨̠̗̭̫̘̻͖̫͑̅̄̓̊̅̒͂̊̽̈́͗̓̀̈́̑̀͝a̴̧̖̻͖̮̩̮̗̖͈͍̓̔̇̔̐̋̽̿̆̊̒̔̊͊̒̔̌͒̏̊̌̂̆͂͘͘̚̚͝͝͠͝͠ͅs̴̛̛̈́͛͆̀̔̾͌̒̄͐́̓͗̏͌̒͒͗̎̐̅́̕̚͜͝ ̵̝̥̜̗͇̫̗̲̙͎̪̞̀̅̒̆̇̑͐͋͆̌̕͝ͅť̸̨̰͍͕̘̹͕̪̞̲̝̞̱̓̓͑̃̑͆̈͋̒̂̍̅̊͂̈̀͋̈́̊̍͒͑̈́̐͆̕͜h̴̢̧͖̪̜̩͍̝̠̣͈̳̽́̀̄̅̋͊̐̋̀̊̚͜e̸̻͛̅́̿̋̇̈͛͋͂̓ ̵̨̛̭͕̞̹̺͖̺̪̣̝̮̮̞̈́̓̑̑͜a̴̢̨̡̡̨̭͖̥͙̙̘̮̻̝̜̼͉̙̲̫̥̜̼̞͖͈͔̗̼̖̲͐̃̎̄̈́́̋̅̽̓̆̃͒̅̕͘͠͠͝ͅb̶̛̹͓̈̉͛̔̏̈́͑̊̍̈̽̒́̍̈́͆̀̃̏̌̅̏̓̽́̓̿̃͆̚͘̕͘͝͝ͅý̷̧̡̧̯̹̙̹͉̞̦̫̖͇̣̩̦̝͔̝̤̥̪̤̖̖̪̭͕͛͋̌̒́̒͒͆́ş̵̗͙̜̘̼͙̩͉̖̇͌̾̐̈̆̈́̀́͛̒̑s̷̡̨̧̢̛̛̛̱̲̱̠̤̥̖̻̣͙̥͙̘̱͚̪̪̘̟̰͍̅̌̈́͗̒̒͂̀͗͛͌̀̉̊̈́̓̈́̂̕͘̕͝ͅͅ.̷̢̨̦͇̤͕̯͈̝̠͓͇̺̤̞̹͛͐̒̍͛̾̿͆̃̉̄͋̀̊͜͜͜ ̴̡̢͇̣̼̮̙͕̻̫͇̦̬̤̩̟̰̱̹̭̤͉̦̐̓̇ͅͅH̵̺̹̩̝̙͓̗͈̟̖̹̹̲͑̈̒͊̔͜ͅé̵̡̛͈̦̖̰̹͎͚̦͈̰̙͈̖͍̫͓͓̳̣̣̟̃̂̆̓͂͌͗͗́͐͒͗̈́͂̀̃̋̏̔̕͜͝ͅͅ ̴̨̢̡̛̛̦͕̥̺̦̩̜̫̲̘̬̯͉͎͓͕̯̫͚̙̺̗̼͒̎̎̀̀̈́̀́͌̆̅̽̇̔̎͛̎͊̂͐͜͝͝l̵̛̛̛̩͗͋̉͑̍̒́͒̈́͋͛̒̀̀̓̂̀̈́̃̈͠͠o̵̧̮̪̣̩͓̳͚̤̜̘̣̪̔́̊̈́̈́̈́́̋̉͆́̈́̽̐͘̕͠ͅn̷̛̟̟̖̺͉͎̝̤͍̦̙͔̗̳͎̺̲͕̾̽̑̆̉̾͑͊̾̆̔̿͒͘͝͝ḡ̴̙̳͔̣̻̺̲̘͉̯̤̯͚͔̺̩̬͚̫̳̜͉̎̐̑̽͆e̴̢̨̛̛͕̹̰̩̼̙̟̥̣͓̼͕͍̺͇̗̰̼̟̯̓̈́̐̆̌̈́̐̊̂̑̑͗͒̓͂͌̈́̈͐͘̚̚ͅḑ̴̛̬͔̻͓̟͎͕͖̮̪̠͓̬̼̺̟͈͚̯͉̜̮̙̤̩̱̼̠̗̹͎͈͍̱͇̀̋̒̾͛̈̄ ̷̨̢̢̨̡̻͔͍̻̰͍͔̠͙̖̘̱̫͈̥̤̙͍͔̮̙̺̮̣̟̱̬͙̇̓̍̅̐̽͜͝ţ̴̛̛͖̬̭̩̼̼̲̟̙̼͉̜̻̫̲̩̪͉̥̯́̈́̆̐̈͐̀͋̽͂̂͌̍̈́͂̈́́͂͛͘͜͝͝͝ͅȍ̷̡̦͍̣̬̞̠͍̱͈̫̖̥̣͉̦̹̮͑̀̉̓̈́̿́̐̈̐̀̓̓́͆͂̽̿̈́̂̑̋̾͛̀̿̚͘̚͜͝͝ͅ ̵̡̡̧̘͔̫͈͉̹̭͙̙͔̺̓͌̇̊͂́̽̎̒͊̈́̋̌͆̚̕͝͠͝s̴̡̢̡̘̬͔̬̯͕͚̗͎͇̩͚̖̭̳̥͚̝͖̻̣͚̹̬̙̤͕̙͌̐͑̇͆̇̾͜͜͜͠ͅͅŵ̶̡̛̰̝̠̺͙̼̭͎̜͉̲̻̭̔̈̈̓͆̐̌͑̓̆̿̕̚͜͝á̷̛̪̣̰̝̳͎̠͎̗̗̻̝͈̦̠͉̪̜̔͑̇͋̃̓͋͗̏͛̏͛̄͑́̔̈́̈́͂͒̓̄̀́͊̋̀͑͠͝l̵̢̢̛̖͚̪̟̳̲͖̟̥̙̫̥͔̜̝̪͖̖͉̯̭͔̑̌̊͒́̇̿͆̒̇̓́̒͑̔̋̽͑͐̚͝͝͝͝͝ͅͅl̵̩̘͊͊͊̊̄͌͑͑͂̓͐̄́̅̄̔͗̿͗͌͆̅̍͐̔͊͋͐̓͠ǫ̷̖̗̦̰̜̝̼̼̆̇͊̊͌̎̇̌͑̇͜͝͝͝ͅw̴̻̠̝͍̱̯̰͍͍̻̟͕͛̓̈́̒̀̕ ̷̡̢̢͙͖̝͖͉͔̖̪̙͓͍̥̲̼̳̲̪̙͕̱̦̥͈̝͓̟̎̑̋̈́̊̔̉͌͊̉̋é̶̢̧̡̨̼͇̦̪̫̦̤̘̰̻̺̲̪̻͒v̵̻͓̳̻͚̺̘͓̾̋̑̉͛̾̒̀̇̽͂́͊̎͑͛̃́̃͗̀̐̇͗́̍̕̚͜͜͝͝͝͝͠͝͝ḙ̶̻̞̱̱̀̎̃͒̈̓͛̏̎̏̇̈́̄͛͒̄̃́͑̚ȓ̴̢̧̡̛̛̛̮͚̖̻̫̞̬̙̬͕̮͕̪̙͙̲̮̗͍͙̬̮̞̿͒͋̓̌̀͆̊͐͒̈́͂̈́̓͆͛̈́̉̓͆̂͌͐̋̓̈́̓͘̕͜͜͠͝y̶̨̧͚̝̠͓͂̿̎̀̈́͂́́̌ț̵͉̟̭̏̈̍̆͐̍̏͛́͆́̅̈́͗̑̽̾͑͘̕͝͝͝ẖ̶̨͈̼̬͉͚̩͉̹̹̗͔͎̹͓̞̭̜͈̬̟͓̹͖̫͙̞̀̾̎̀̓̓̌́̆̌̌̽̓͘ͅͅí̵̛̖̭̳̰͔̫͍͇̬͖̱̟͔͎͙͔͍͈̺̹̥͓͈̠̋̒͋͂̾̈́͆̀́̌̎͛͒͒͂́̎̓̄̈́̀̚͜n̵̮̓g̸̖͔̘͕̼̀̀̀́̇͊͛̂͋͘͝.̵̨̨̨̡̦̫̭͇͓̺̙̞͔̱̱͇̻̦͈̗̪̟̳͚̥̥͙͕̥̻̙͖̃͊̔̀̽̄͗̋͛̿̈́̋͂͐̐̇́̋̿̈́̄̎̎̀ͅ ̴̢̡̲̟̠̬̠̞͈͍͎̪̖̙̮̹̎̐͗͐͐̑̎̃̍̍̉̔̈́̈́͋̀̊̈́̕̚͠͝͝͠͝H̸̫͈͓̺͈̞̖͌̂̽͛̀̉̋͐̀̔̑̃̈́͑͌̄̂̀̾͂͘̚͘ȩ̷̢̧̧̘͈̞̹̰̜̱̼͕̲͈̹̮͓̞̘̦̭̹͕̻̩͖͍̱̟̦̭͔̦͚̔̆̔͒̐͛̆͒̔̏̾̌̓̓͌̌̄̐̀́̕͠ ̴̧̨̡̧̨̰̠̭͖͓̫͈̩̹̰͉͙̝̼̰͇͉̮̭̫̗͈͓̋̓́̓̊̆̆̆̇̋͗́́̂̏̂͒̅̓͒̆̎͝͝ḧ̸̡̧̛͎̤̱̤̳͈̜͉̞͔̯͕̳͖̳̭̣̱̳̬̩̯͎̗̩̮͔́̊͒̃͜͜ạ̶̡̨͙̠̖̞̙̘͙̲̯̰̠̘̩̘̦̀͜ͅţ̵̧̢̛̫̪̗̘͔̰̋͐́̅̋̍͐͌̽̀̉̏̃̈́͂̌̓̃̈̅̌͂̚͘͘͘͜͝͝͝͝ę̴̧̢̢̛̛͉͓̤̦̩̝͈̣̥̣̣̦͓̬̱͖̲̱͍͇͇̠̙͚̻͎̦̺̟͍̏̅̂̇̀̍̋̾̉̄͌̋̆̈́̓̊̀́̈́̏̕̚͜͝ͅd̸̳̠̭̩̍̅͌̉͌̿̃͠ ̴̛̛̛̖̟̯̓̈́͗͂̓̍̈̒̐͗̈́̓̋̎̓̒̀̏̃͆́̍͒́̉̄̉̍̕͘̕͝͠ͅt̵̨̺̟͖̜̬̳̺̻̬̳͎̥̙̤̫̭̥̞̤̦͖̩̫͇͗̊̄̈̐̈̾͂̓̀͐͌̿̽̅̀̉̋̈̎̈́̀̓̅̐́͐́̈́̋͘̚ͅḩ̷̧̛̦͍͉̼͇̱̤͖́̇̑̌́̽̉̀͌̉̓̕̕ĕ̸̢̡͔̖͓̠̳͈̺̪̫͍̜̥͔̱̘̞̪̫̬̲̠̼̰̖͓̺̭͓̌̏͐̂̊̃́͘̚͠ͅͅ ̵̡̧̢̛̛͉̪͈̝͚̰̠̤̺̤̜̤͉͔̳̮̭̙̞͗́́͂͐̅͑̿͌̔́̈́͗̽̌͂͑̈̍̍̆͌̈̾̐̇͘̚͜͝w̴̡̡̢̧̡̤̙̺̮͔̰͓͇̹̮͕̝̺̖͙̲̬̗̠͔̦̮͋̉͒̇̔̀͌̈́̀͋̌͂̚ͅǭ̷̥͈͔͖͉̣̬̭̳͓̝̘̖̱͎͉͓̲̯͈͈̬̞̣͓ͅr̶͚̦̱͙̥̩̱̹̥͈̖͍̜̤͈̺̞͇̖͍̪̦̰͕̠̰͕̊̓̎̈́̎̋̋̄̃̓͂͐̉͌͌̓͊̿͑̐͌̒̒̕̕͠͝͠l̸̛̛̜͖͔̟̱͕͂͗̿̓̆̃̌̽̄̎̄̅̾͗̄̊̿̈̕̕͘͠͠d̶̢̢̢̛̯̮͍̰͓̲͈̺͖͈̝͙̝͉̠̞͔͖̲̦̫̤̲̪͓̫̫͒͋̂͐̈́́͒̈́̓͆́́̋́̌̋̈́̅̾͑͆̀̀̽̈̌̈́͗̔́͘͘̕͝ ̵̨̛̱̼̜̗̔̓̇̀̈̈̑͌͂̈́͝ḁ̸̛̩͑͛̑͂͐̿̒̓̉̂́͐̃͆̐̋͐̾̈́̂̕͠͝͝͠͠͝n̵̢̡̨̧̢̨̛͈̣̤̖̪̭̥̹̫̠̹͓͚̻͍͖̟̙͎͖̝͕̞͌̄̀̓͌̀͌̈̐̓͋͗͜͝͠ͅͅd̴͍̖̱͍̼͔̪͌͛̃͐͒͊͘ ̷̨̨̡̝̗͕̫̬͙̙̦̝͚͖͉̤̯͕̔̈̃̒̿͌͆̂̆̐̂͋̑̆̕͝ͅt̶̢̧̧̢̺̥̗̤̜̬̼̬͈͇̫̤͖̣̫̜̭̩̹̃̆̌̉͘h̸̞̻̀̌̑͊̒̃̿̒͠e̸̢̧̞̥̯̥̫͆̽̌̔̀́̉̏̃̂̽̎̽̃̾̽̓͛̿̓̄̌͘͘̕͜ ̸̨̧̫̙̲̮͙̻͚̹̖͍̻̭͕̖̙͔̺̙̻̹͖͓͓͖̳̲̘̟͚̀̎̆̆̈́͌͆͂̈́́̃̿̌͐́̈́̈́̕ͅw̴͔̐̌̿̍͑̃́͒́̕o̸̡͕̥͗̓r̷͇̼̮̬̋͌̆͘ļ̴̡̛̻̰̰̼̘̠̠̱̹̘͎̭̫͇̳͓̣̼̪̘̟̥̗̳͙̤̳̓̔͛͒̾̇̓̑̍̐̌̋̃͐̍̀̎̍̑̀͒̆͝͝͠ͅd̷̛̳͎͉̯̰̮̥̗̘̣͓̪͙͉̜̆̀̎̈͗̂̇̌̇̔͋̽̈͝͝ ̴̨̡̢̧̧̝̩̖̪̻͕̟̜̜̜͉͕̜̤̝̤̬̙̜͈̀͋̓̉́̈́̌̈́̀͂͐̈́͒͜͜ͅh̵̡̢̢̛̛͖̠̳̦͚̞̼͍͓͔̟͓̭͕͎̳̖̆͑̈̄͑̎̓̉̂͐̍̉̉́̉͂̔̾̚å̷̢̛̮̮̮͎̫̤͙͊́͐̑̅̂͑͆́͋͂͗͂̎̿͛̂̓̅̿͆͐̆̊͘͘͜ṫ̶̛͇̠͍̰̭͎͚̹͕̰̭͈̗̘͇̲͙̣̣̟̺̬̌̈̉̉́͒͌̾̓̌̍̈́̊͌̈́̈́̂̀̇͐͗͘͠͠͠ę̷̛̛̟͖͇͚̳̙͙͚̼̭͈̝̱̙͚͍̺͚̱̞̗̬͔̱̦̀͆̍̇̉͛͗̃͒͛̋͋̆̎̒̆̆̌̂́̉͘̕ḑ̷̨̛̦͕̖̘͈͕̙͖̝͉̻̯̉͐͋̄̌͗͊́̐͊͛̈́̂̒̕ͅ ̷̨̢̧̨̢̛̱̱͚͚͖̼͇̘̩̗̰̪̩̺͇̼͕̬͎͋̔́̌̊̐̓̄͂́͂̋̽̃̚͘̚͝͝h̷̢̢̢̧̨̥͓͇̩̜͕̤̳͔̙͎̩̰͈̩̗̞̜͈̗̱͇͗͗̄̾̓̀̈́̌̕ͅͅi̶̧͔̻͔̲̪̦̦̻̹̼̪̤̰͓̘̻̰̫̞̱̭̟̩̊̏̉͐̆̕͝m̶̧̢̧͎̱̫̻̹͙͔̘̳̮̬͈̤̠̞̯͊̀̊.̸̨̡̡̛̛͔̭̞͚͚̪̹̗̬̬͍̱̜̰̓͛͑̈́̃̋͆̓́̄̀̃̑̽̑͌̌̃̃̈́̂͌̎̈́̀̕̕͘̕͘̚͠͝͝ ̷̡̨̡̨̫͚̫͖͚͓̹̙̦̤̤̹̖̞̺͉̗̥̜̾̀̚ͅH̷̡̧͚̼͚̲̩̗̣̤̼̪̘͕̙̦͇̦̙̹̜̖̲̏̈́̽͆̓͒̒̔̚ͅe̶̡̧̡̧̧̛̲̺̯̰̹͚̹̱̹̹͕̮̟̟̯̪̦͉̲͂̏͗̄̾̀̅͜ ̸̡̢̡̬̥̳͈̤̖̮̝̜̯͕̻̻̪̜̥͉̞͈̄́̔̍̓̈́͂̽̈́̇̍̈̃̈̆͜͝͝ͅͅw̴̧̡̛̥̟̩͔̞͇̩̻̺͎̰̞͚̟͕͍̖͍͎̞̹̥̙̬͒̌͑̈́̊̇͋̆̈́̇͛̅̇̇̕a̴̢̢̢̹̖͔̦̰̝̝̖̪͈͈̻̭̞̖̝͕̟̦͂̿̉ṡ̶̙̔̆̒͑̄̒͒̈͐́͋̔̚̚̚͠͝ ̵̤̺̰̺̅͊̉̆̅̈̒̈́́̍̀̔̄͛̀͌͗̈̃̅̃͋͊̐̂̅̍̒̈̑̚̚̚͘̕͠t̸̡̧̙̠̝͓̣̖̥̔̈́̔͑̑͌͛͂̈́̕͝͝h̵̡̧͈͙̗̜̫̠͂̈́̿́͜ę̸̡̡̢̛̣̪͇̱̺̞͔̺̱̺͎͕̟͇̲̘̱̞̬̣̲̖̑̀̉̈́̾͆̌̔͊̇̒͜͝͠ͅř̵̛̛̺̙̠̪̻̗̪͕̬͚̭͕͔͇̠̓̃͌̽͌̐̀͐̆̑͗̎̅̉̇̈̅͑́̕͝͠ḙ̸̛̍͊̊͗̈́̀̔̂̽͗̈́̈́͐̑͌͆̃̊͑͌̇͊̾̌̎͐͠͝͠͝ ̷̢̡̛̖̳̺̰̬̭̹̲͇͙͕͖̙̥͈͈̫̻̠̘̜͈̺̉͊̔̒̉́̽͂͐͗́͌͌̇͊̅̑̓͊̑́̾̏̄̀͑̑́̕̚͜͝͝s̸̡̧̧͈͉͓̝̼͉͎̙̝̣̲͖̝̥̳͚̠̘̏̽̂̌̑̊̄̌̇̄͒͆̐̅̃͑̈́͂̓̔͑͑̆͋͒̚̚̕̚̕͝͝ͅi̷̢̛̪͓̝͇̯̱̞̤̜͖̟͇͉̣̮̦̱̗͍̤̱̱̠̦̹̿̑̔̿̾̓̓̋̏̓̍̿̀̕͜͝ͅņ̸̧̡̛̱͈͖͙͓͓̰͚̭͎͍͕̦̞̃́̒́̊͊̎̅̈͊̎͒̉͗̑̅̈́̌̀͑̏̚̕̚͜͝c̸̨̧̧̡̹͈͚̩̝̼̘̠̼͙̺͇̹̟̞̲̠̣̥͈̦͙̘̯̠̫͈̱̈̈͛́͊̔͂̓͐̀͒̏̕͝ͅͅe̶̛̩̠͕̱̜̣̖̝͑̽̅̈͋͌͊̈̋͋̿̿́̓̏̾̆̅̏̔͗̈́͌̾̽̾̄̊̏̒͐͘͠͝͝ ̶̛̜͚̼̭̰̞̟͚̘͚̫͈͉͙̺̗̼̺̣̆͛̈̓̃́̓̌̍͗̓̀̍͐̈́̌̅̚͘͝ẗ̶͉̭̖̠͓̯̥̰͍̝̻̗̖̘̲̤̅̂͊̒̈́͑͗̄̍̓̇͛̒̈̏̃̀̍̚͠͠h̴̡̡̧̛͍̣̲̯̙̳̮̞͓̮̱̜̻͇̮̞̪͖̦͇̒̍͐͒͛͒̓̓̀̋͌͋̔̿̿͆̄̎͌͆̓̈́̓͘͝͝͝ͅͅe̸̢̖̰̤͛͂͆̇̇̇͛̒̋̈̈́̓̓̂̉͛̐̕ ̸̛͉̈̅͛͂b̸̨̖̗̪̙̟̰̳͇̙̯̀̀̄̒̾͗̽͆̂̒͒̇̀̃̓͊̊̿̾́̓͘̕e̸̡̛̛̛̜̯̳͎͎̣̜̮̪̦̙̾̌̿̆̀̓̏̊͊͛̐͐̇̍̈́́͛̕͠͠ͅg̴̛̛̞̤͉̹̦̘̰̞̼͕̿̆̄̓̈́͋̓̆͐̊̈́͐̏͗̀̐̓͑̋̋̕̕͝͝i̷̡̹̠̖̘͓̖̯͕̦͎̙̻̠̮͊͠ͅn̵̨̧͚̫͉͖̙̠̝̼̭̜͚͈̙͈̠͚͖̜̝̤̤̯̈̽̐̇̈͊̿́̕ͅń̸̨̖̞̹̣̣̥̞̣̘͕͚̯̣̯̩̼͙̯̯̗͚̙̩̦̟̥̽̀̔̅̿̀̒͒̿͜͝į̵̧̳̮͕͉̝̗̺̟͇̜̞̹̠͖͍̝̪̼͍͖͓̞̝̒̅̀̽̔̈́̎͐͑̑̑̓͆̀̏̅͝͝n̸̛̫̣̩̗̣͔̼̱̉̾̈̐̈̄͆̊̀̇͛́͂̈̂͋̒̋̌̈́̚͘̚͠g̷̢̡̧̛͇̟͍͍̣͎̦̰̺̲͔̰̻̙̹̙̟̘͉̤͔̊̈́̆͑̔̆͐̿̑̇ ̵̡̙̮̼̬̖̝̫̖̳̺̖̰̙̟̟̬̞̹͕̦̱͉̼̟͙̳̭͈̜̩̇̓͑̏̈́̐̅͆̉͘͜ã̵̡̻͇͉̎̆̐̃̓̈́̉̎͆͑̃̀̊̀̔̌̈́͑͆̑̈́̋̀̍̕͘͘̕̕͝n̴͕̩͓̪̘̩̠̰̜̱̳̰̯̩̆̽̌̄̆̂͌̈́̈́̽͗̈́̓͑͊̽́̃̚̚ͅḏ̷̛̛̠͔̻͉̺̘͓̹̬̖̠̳̲̹̤̞̭͔̦̼͙̖̬̤͕̗͙̀̍͊͐̅́̏̾̋̈́͂̀̾̆̌̿̔̿ ̵̼̮̯̞̜͉̰̽̽̓̽̾̈̍̃͐̌͒̕̕͝͠ͅb̶̨̨̧̨̨̯̫̹̰̼͎͍̼̫̘̗͖̼͓̞͇͖̻̞͖̟̝͔̩̥̯͖̲̜̐̾̀̆͊͋̅̉͒̓̈́̓͊̈́̓̍̑̈́̒̀͠͠͝͝ͅͅę̷̯̥̤̘̝͖͈̹̞͍̥̭̳̪͓̣͙̗͎̞̟̫͉̹͚͊͗͌́̉͌̒͒̆̀̏̏͂̉̾̆̍̀͒̂͂̑̒̈̌͊̌͘͝f̵̢̧̨̢̛̛̛̛̥͖̬̰̟̘̞͖̩͍̣̳̗̖̦̻͕͍̳̹̩̲̯̫̥͓͉͚̦͕̐̃͌͒́̒̈́́̄̀̐̆͗̄̈̃̉̌̃̓̎̽͊̇̇̕̚͜͠͠͝o̸̧̱̝̫͓͈̖̬̠̪̖̻̭̭̞̞̰̫̗̼̞͓͓̼̭̺̻̫̳͇͍̣̍͑̋̏́̂̀̕̚͝͝r̶̛̰͕̪̞̂͊͒̉̑̽͑̅͋̏̓̃͛̋͌̓̉͋́̈́̊̄̂̀͊̕̕̕̚͜͠ĕ̵̙̦͖̊̿̌̍͐̅̍̈̓͝ ̴̨̨̡̨̛͈͕̭̺̪̟̯͉̳̝̼̪̙͇̖̫̭̠̺͔͇͇̪͔̥̍̑͐̈̿̆̊̑́̈́̔̔̚͘̚͘͜͝͝ͅi̷̢̼̬̺̞͎͎̯̟̳̜̪̜̜̐̊ͅṭ̷̢̡̨̫̜̟͖̺̺̬̞̰̣͔̪͉̤̗̣͙͎̯̗͖̠̗̙̦͍̺͑͛͆̈́̿͗̅̔̋̊͛̃͘.̷̝̗̗͈̔͒̆ ̴̧̡̧̡̛͖͓̤͉͔̥̝̹̙̳̪͙͇̮͔̼̩͉͓̬̤̖̗͜ͅḨ̴̛̭͕̀̀͑͛̅̓́͋̈͂̂̿̓͘͝.
Percy felt amber-coloured blood coming from his nose and his eyes. He had survived but he wished he didn't. He had learnt. It was etched in his mind. It was something that wasn't meant to be known and that was alive. Percy's mind had tried for his sanity to lock deep inside his mind what he saw. Percy had stared at the abyss and it had stared back. The Abyss had a name and called for Percy like a parent called his child. Its name was Po. Percy bit on his tongue. Blood flooded his mouth and distracted Percy from it.
Zeus hadn't waited longer. He had sent a lightning bolt. Percy could see it coming in slow motion. Even though the attack was still one meter away from the king of god, Percy could still feel the heat of the attack as if he had been thrown into the center of the sun.
He could see around him most gods summoning their powers or weapons. Percy used the fire deep inside him and commanded it to protect Annabeth and Grover. It grew in width and encapsulated inside of it the other questers.
"Stop" he heard and everything did. His father went back to human looking, the lightning attack had evaporated as if it had never existed and all of the other gods that it seemed were going to act were pushed back to their seats. Grover and Annabeth had opened their eyes back. They all turned toward the owner of the voice. It was Aphrodite. The Goddess had with one word calmed the situation. Percy could see fear and anger in the features of the other gods.
"Wouldn't be a bit rude if you didn't let me finish?" the goddess said in a sweet voice.
"You are right lady Aphrodite." Percy could see how it hurt Zeus to apologize and it made his heart dance with joy. The god of the sky looked as if he had swallowed a lemon. The god of the sky didn't seem like someone with the habit of apologizing.
"Like I was saying" the goddess began again" It seems that your life will end in tragedy but I think that you are someone that will try to fight against it. I can't wait to see your story unfold. She raised her voice" I vote for the life of Percy Jackson ".
It meant that the votes on both sides were equal, It meant that there was a tie and that things could still go either way.
"Six against six. How should we proceed? Should the demigod be killed or should he live? Zeus questioned.
The giant hearth inside the throne room which looked calm and peaceful erupted violently! From it, a little nine-year-old girl came out. with mousy brown hair and fire-red eyes. Percy notices that her eyes were filled with flames, but they were warm and cosy, unlike Ares' eyes which looked like nuclear explosions had gone in them. She wore a simple brown dress and a scarf over her head, which gave her the look of a pioneer child. Even with all of those facts, none of the gods even tried to object to her presence.
She walked toward them and put herself before Poseidon. She gave Percy a warm smile that seemed to say that everything would be okay. "It seems that the council wasn't able to reach a decision. Would it be alright for me to weigh in?" she said in a soft voice.
"Only gods with thrones can vote dear Aunt" Dionysus said. "I hope you didn't forget that". The mad god said sounding smug.
Her smile didn't leave her face" I may not have a throne child but don't forget that I am one of the reasons they exist in the first place. I may have renounced mine but don't think that it made me lesser. I did not need a throne to decide the decisions on Olympus because I am the state of Olympus incarnate. I am the goddess of family and that child whether it is accepted or not is a part of it. Would any of you dare to refuse me?"
No god spoke against the words of the goddess. Dionysus that had looked smug now looked like a decompressed balloon.
The voice of Zeus boomed" The vote to decide on the life of Percy Jackson shall be decided by the eldest of us. The council recognize Hestia. What is your choice honoured sister". The god seemed displeased as if he knew already the answer to his question and didn't like it.
"I vote for the life of the child. I vote for someone that suffered because of the world, that had lost his only true first family, his mother and yet who still believes in the concept of it, that sees other half-bloods as his family. I vote for the life of Percy jackson".
Hestia turned toward him and smiled and at that moment that would be forever engraved into his mind, her image seemed to be superposed with the image of a beautiful young girl with long black hair that had her hair in a braided style with a headdress and that wore a long light blue dress.