Truthfully, the battle against the Alkyonides was anticlimatic.

The only memorable part would be when Drimo had somehow managed to make Lilith break one of her nails, and the daughter of Venus snarled fiercer than Alina Valdez, the actual lycanthrope. Her eyes flickered a shade of red, the same color as her clothes; something that she had started incorporating into her outfits since Alina told her that it was Leo's favorite color. All around them, from the ship and across Municipio Autónomo de San Juan; her power sank beneath the skin of Gaía and dwelled within the Netherworld as she pulled.

"There is an obsession with wanting to humble confident women," Lilith Nadia Star had growled, surrounded by the spirits of their loved ones. The Chase siblings' parents, and Rudolph's wife and children, Natalie Chase, Maria di Angelo, Esperanza Valdez, Samuel Valdez, Sr. and Julieta Valdez and Zhang Yiren. "More often than not l'm subject to someone wanting to break my spirit because they hate to see confidence exuded. You can't break me with rumors, lies, opinions, or your evil ways. You can't shame me or embarrass me about anything that l've been through."

She stepped forward, snatching the spear from Reyna's hand as she approached the giantess. Those from Camp Iūpiter stepped out of her way and wincing as they watched the blood trailed down her arm from where the nail had broken away from her nail bed. The acrylic nails that were crafted with a special mixture that held the ashes of her younger sister in them after the child had been murdered in a hate crime. Around them, more shades crawled from within the earth, and they all blinked at the sight of the entirety of the Verus family, all the while back to beginning with Ariadnê of Dardania though it did exclude those that had become deities. There were all of Reyna's ancestors; all of them from the moment that the conquistador travelled to Puerto Rico with Ponce de León.

"My light will always shine brighter than the sun. You can't teach it, you just gotta have it in you!"

She continued towards where Drimo was, not afraid, but clearly unnerved by Lilith's single-minded focus on her. Her usual brown eyes drowned out by the gleaming red hue; red like the blood that was still streaming down her arm.

"You are nothing, little mortal," the giantess said, and Lilith smiled brutal and terrifying yet said nothing. "You cannot kill me."

"I will."

And then she, and all the spirits whose numbers were so overwhelming that they covered the boat and the municipio and then some attacked as one.

On the other side of the world, Percy was being bullied by his sister, Kumopóleia, while Jason bartered for their freedom with sweet promises of bringing even more attention to the minor gods. A good thing truly. Leaneíras would be so disappointed to know that her siblings were being mistreated. Not that Kumopóleia was making things easier, especially since she just prematurely revealed that Percy had no other choice but to ascend if they lived. There was too much ichor within his blood now after Tártara and the things that befell him and Octavian when they were there. They stood on the brink of Kháos; unraveling their mortal forms, twas only the love that grew between them and the bond they shared with those above that Kháos stopped unspooling their mortal coils. Kháos had recognized the bond; recognize threads that she blessed and took hold of those threads to wind them back together. That was truly the reason that Annabeth and Eliza were getting their memories in their dreams. Though, honestly, even they could not know for sure until they had a moment to look over the four. The sea was to grant him Phórkus and Kētṓ old territory since the two betrayed the sea and its people.

And then just to make everything better, Polyvotis showed up.

And then Ōríōn showed up while Reyna was figuring out a way to trap him after the Hunters and Amazons had kidnapped her.

With quick thinking Jason was able to convince Kumopóleia to switch sides, and he made a note to think of horror shows to pitch with her as the main antagonist so that she can truly be feared.

Things had calmed in the end. Even Reyna and Lilith had a moment to talk though that may have been because Lilith had hidden herself in a room after her loss of control, refusing to leave not eating the food that Daniele left her and in a true show of bravery, refuse to emerge even when Pranjal; arguably the most frightening on the ship, had threaten to drag her out.

Reyna had been the one to speak with her, and though all of them on the ship, even the adults, winced as they argued and cursed and fought each other so viscous that there were dents in the walls… the two of them reached a better understanding. Lilith left out of her room and the group of them enjoyed a nice night outside as they regrouped and relaxed for a moment.

Reyna had even explained to Lilith the words that Venus had once told her in a bid to make things less complicated between them, "A demigod will never heal your heart" and then explained about how her Father told her Mother that as long as one person from her bloodline lived then Roma would never fall… Lilith's face had done something complicated before she casually informed her blessing that: "It sounds to me that your trauma resounded within you in a way that manifested itself as you being aroace; aromantic asexual. Could it have occurred naturally? Yes. More often than not it does, but from the way that you chase after love and attraction with subpar people because honestly, look at me then look at Jason and Percy. You need better eyes, darling. But it seems that your fear of your father manifested in the idea of not allowing your bloodline to continue on through you, so you have shielded your heart and desires."

"You don't… you don't think I'm broken?"

"Whoever told you that can have an intimate meeting with my fist," Lilith declared while Pranjal and Fletch nodded beside her. "You are not broken. I wish that I would have known this sooner. I have a few siblings at New Roma that are also on the spectrum. Asexual. Demisexual. Aromantic. Aceflux. Autosexual. Graysexual. Lithosexual. You also seem to fall under LIthoromantic which someone who feels romantic attraction but does not want that attraction reciprocated or loses attraction when it is reciprocated. They may enjoy romantic relationships in theory but may stop feeling romantic attraction or enjoyment in a relationship. So, no. You're not broken, and secondly, look at our parents… we are born in their image. We wouldn't be here because theoretically, by that definition, they would be broken too."

Fletch patted the daughter of Bellōna's shoulder. "You are not broken, Reyna."

"Who called you that though seriously," Pranjal demanded. "Because I can have Octavian have them in litigation for the rest of their great-great grandchildren's lives."

"One sentence should not be that terrifying," Magnus stated.

"You should be glad that he didn't say Octavian and Skai," Fletch muttered. The other four shuddered while the greeks, adults, Frank and Alina looked confused. Mercurius smirked just a bit before he turned to make his way to Dêlos.

He supposed he should visit his siblings, and it might make Apóllōn breathe a bit easier to look him over personally.

And then he heard the most damning words he could hear: "I killed my own father."

Those around her immediately went quiet.

'Thank you for your confession, former praetor," Mercurius heard as he snuck off the mountain. The girl may never recover her standing within the legion if that was ever revealed to the people. "You've made my job much easier.'

It was undoubtedly depressing when he showed up, but his siblings let him in with ease. Their Mother had retreated to fix food for them, and Dáphnē and Kallistṓ and Huákinthos had shown up at some point. Apóllōn had laid him out against a slab as he began to actually sow Hērmês back together which must have been a depressing and unnerving sight when his own Mother alongside her sisters should up.

Even then, the days passed by quickly though the group carrying the Trojan Pallidum had been separated following the full extent of Nico di Angelo's power. Thankfully, Pḗgasos had been able to rescue Nico, Reyna, and Gleeson from where they had been stranded.

"Look alive," Ártemis murmured as the ARGO II neared them. "I wonder who they are going to send."

"Drew and Octavian," Apóllōn said immediately. "Utilizing their connections to me would make them believe that they have a better chance of enduring me to them."

"Have a chance," Hērmês repeated. "You do not plan to help."

"You know what it is that they want. They seek the cure. Father and Uncle would be most irritated if I helped them."

There was no other chance to speak more because just as he said, Octavian and Drew rode down to the island alongside Leo on the back of Arion. Apóllōn and Ártemis' forms shimmered as the children grew nearer; considering that it was two greeks to Octavian's one; though the boy did have Greece within his blood... they took on their preferred forms of a seventeen-year-old and a preteen. His sister sighed as she began to whittle a long piece of wood. "We should go on vacation after this. I'm sure there is somewhere to reside where we do not have to answer prayers."

"If we live," Apóllōn grumbled as he hunched over a ukulele.

"Don't shoot," came the voice of Leo as he headed to the stage, and Hērmês fought the urge to smile. A little gremlin of kháos. Leaneíras would adore him, especially all his explosives.

When they got to the front row, Ártemis muttered, 'There you are. We were beginning to wonder.'

'So you were expecting us, then,' Leo said. 'I can tell, because you're all so excited.'

Apóllōn plucked a tune that sounded like the funeral version of 'Camptown Races'. 'We were expecting to be found, bothered and tormented. We didn't know by whom. Can you not leave us to our misery?'

'You know they can't, brother,' Ártemis chided, eyes tightening as they all watched Apóllōn mentally go through which mask that he would utilize against the children. As if Drew was not used to actual personality and Octavian was not of him and wore more masks than the one-eyed character from the anime that Lea liked. 'They require our help with their quest, even if the odds are hopeless.'

'You two are full of good cheer,' Leo said. 'Why are you hiding out here anyway? Shouldn't you be ... I dunno, fighting giants or something?'

'Dêlos is our birthplace,' said Ártemis as she stared Leo down. 'Here, we are unaffected by the Greek–Roman schism. Believe me, Leonidas Valdez, if I could, I would be with my Hunters, facing our old enemy Ōríōn." Her breath caught on his name, but Hērmês didn't think that the demigods noticed. "Unfortunately, if I stepped off this island, I would become incapacitated with pain. All I can do is watch helplessly while Ōríōn slaughters my followers. Many gave their lives to protect your friends and that accursed Athḗnē statue.'

Leo made a strangled sound as Octavian started to nod in agreement about said statue before stopping. 'You mean Reyna? Is she all right?'

'All right?' Apóllōn sobbed over his ukulele. 'None of us are alright, boy! Gaía is rising!'

"Your act is fooling no one," Ártemis stated, glaring at their brother. Apóllōn immediately stopped crying to huff as their sister rolled her eyes and turned back to the others. Drew who was hugging Huákinthos tightly while Octavian stared at the twins and Latona in reverence. "As for the others, yes, Leo Valdez, they are still alive. They are brave fighters, like you.'

"So why are you here," Hērmês piped up. "Surely you are not just here to listen to Apóllōn's bemoaning."

"Oh, be quiet you!" Apóllōn hissed. "Do not forget that you are due for another check up!"

Hērmês theoretically snapped his mouth shut and avoided the worried eyes of Drew as the best friend and surrogate sister of his blessing.

"Um, no," Leo said as Drew made her way over to him while Octavian still looked starstruck. "We, uh... we need your help. You know, shoot your arrows and everything."

"Unfortunately, child," Apóllōn drawled as his ukulele turned into a bow. "We cannot." He aimed at the sky and shot. The golden arrow sailed about two hundred feet, then disintegrated into smoke. 'To shoot our bows, we would have to step off Dêlos, then we would be incapacitated, or Ζεύς would strike me down."

"No, he would not," Lētṓ stated through gritted teeth, eyes flashing in motherly rage. Apóllōn and Ártemis immediately pat her arms soothingly.

"Hermes," Drew murmured, and he looked at her as she gazed at him with brown eyes filled with concern. He was a god! He did not need her concern, and yet, he still felt that if he were to cry, then she would immediately try to soothe him. Or cry herself then cry even more to her Mother for ruining her makeup.

"I am fine," he told the demigoddess. "Apóllōn is just a worrywart."

"Am not," Apóllōn stated before turning back to the others when Leo said: "Why would Zeus strike you down?"

"I may be hailed as his most favored son though that is debatable," the god of sunlight stated humbly. "But Father has not trusted me for millennia."

"Didn't you work with Hera to overthrow him," Leo asked. "I remember that from classes at Camp."

"Truly a misunderstanding," Apóllōn sniffed. "Athḗnē was the one to work with Poseidón and Hḗrē. It says it in the Iliad of how Akhilles; despicable man that he is, reminded his Mother was the one that helped Father when Hḗrē, Poseidón, and Athḗnē sought to bind him by freeing him from his shackles and summoning Briáreōs to assist him. The fact that she was a sworn maiden, and some mortal man may try to take advantage of her if she had become mortal was the reason that I accepted the punishment on her behalf. Much better than the temptation or her murdering them."

"You will find that our brother is most protective of our sisters," Hērmês smiled. Over the years, countless people had learned that it was better to face their sisters because if Apóllōn stepped in then one would still have to face their sisters and he'd just heal them until said sisters felt better. And then he'd beat them up just to make himself feel better. No one touched his sisters. No one. And to touch his brothers or any of his other siblings. Well... Apóllōn was favored for a reason. There was no stone left unturned in his quest to avenge his siblings' honor.

'And you killed some of Zeus's Cyclopes.' Drew pointed out with a teasing smile to her patron.

'I had a good reason for that! At any rate, now Ζεύς blames me for everything – Dodie's schemes, the fall of Delphoí–'

'Wait.' Octavian made a time-out sign, sharing a look with Drew. 'The fall of Delphi?'

Apollō's bow turned back into a ukulele, plucking the cords as he was unable to face his legacy. 'When... when you and Perseus fell into the pit, I left the Heavens which alongside the schism began between Greek and Roman and the confusion that I felt from it..."

Huákinthos placed a comforting hand on his shoulder while Octavian recoiled from the memories and somehow looked touched that his forefather cared about him.

"Gaía took advantage! She raised my old enemy Púthōn, the great serpent, to repossess the Delphic Oracle. That horrible creature is now coiled in the ancient caverns, blocking the magic of prophecy. I am stuck here, so I can't even fight him.'

'Bummer,' Leo said.

'Bummer indeed!' Apollō sighed. 'Father was already angry with me for appointing that new girl, Rachel Dare, as my Oracle. He seems to think I hastened the war with Gaía by doing so, since Rachel issued the Prophecy of Seven as soon as I blessed her. But prophecy doesn't work that way, nor does it account for the fact that the Romans and even some of the greeks had known about for decades. Father just needed someone to blame. So of course he picked the handsomest, most talented, hopelessly awesome god.'

Dáphnē and Ártemis made a gagging gesture as Apóllōn pretended fainted like a victorian maiden.

'Oh, stop it, sister!' Apóllōn said. 'You're in trouble, too!'

'Only because I stayed in touch with my Hunters against Ζεύς's wishes,' Ártemis said. 'But I can always charm Father into forgiving me. He's never been able to stay mad at me. It's you I'm worried about.'

Of course, Father had never been good at denying any of his little princesses anything and Ártemis and Athḗnē had always been his favorites.

'I'm worried about me, too!' Apollō agreed. 'We have to do something. We can't kill George. Hmm. Perhaps we should kill the demigods.'

'Whoa there, Music Man.' Leo said, holding his hands out. 'We're on your side, remember? Why would you kill us?'

'It might make me feel better!' Apollō said. 'I have to do something though I would of course spare my champion and legacy!'

"Thanks," Drew and Octavian murmured from where they had quickly hidden behind Hērmês and Lētṓ.

'Or,' Leo said quickly, 'you could help us. See, we've got this plan ...' He told them how Hera had directed them to Delos, and how Nike had described the ingredients for the physician's cure. Things that they already knew.

'The physician's cure?' Apollō stood and smashed his ukulele on the stones. 'That's your plan?'

Leo raised his hands. 'Hey, um, usually I'm all for smashing ukuleles, but –'

'I cannot help you!' Apóllōn cried. 'If I told you the secret of the physician's cure, Ζεύς would never forgive me!'

'You're already in trouble,' Leo pointed out. 'How could it get worse?'

Apóllōn glared at him. 'If you knew what my father is capable of, mortal, you would not ask. It would be simpler if I just smote you all. That might please Ζεύς –'

'Brother ...' Ártemis said.

The twins locked eyes and had a silent argument. Apóllōn heaved a sigh and kicked his broken ukulele across the stage.

"Leo Valdez –' The goddess turned those cold silver eyes on him. 'Apóllōn will hear you out. See if you can strike a deal."

"Our brother always likes a good bargain.' Hērmês would know.

Apóllōn hummed, eyes looking at him yet not seeing them as he gazed upon the Tapestry.

"But..." Drew stated, voice small as she looked at her patron in confusion. "But one of is going to die."

Apóllōn sighed, blinking as he came back to himself before looking at her. "Yet you know not who, little bird. There are many things at play. Many choices to be had."

The deities around him nodded their heads. "Remember, little one," Huákinthos murmured. "There are three Fates. Not one."

"You're saying that even if we do get the cure," Octavian started with furrowed brows. "It may not be us."

Hērmês nodded his head, though he could not help the flash of rage that appeared in his eyes. "Khiónē had told you previously of what has been done when they threw away my Leaneíras. The suitors of Pēnelópeia have told you that your friends carrying the Trojan Pallidum are in danger."

"Even George has a role to play," Dīāna murmured.

"George?" Leo and Drew echoed.

"Dodie's real name," Octavian explained. "Dodie is a nickname."

"Ugh, and do not speak it," Apollō grimaced.

"What is his problem," Drew asked.

"He is... Svartsjuka," the son of Latona stated.

"What does whatever you just said mean," Leo asked.

"Svartsjuka means jealousy," Hērmês translated. "It means black sick. It's swedish."

"And the boy is one of my legacies," Apollō explained. "He has the gift of prophecy, but his jealousy clouds his sight. He believes that you, Octavius and the late Augustus and Annia, only received your positions within New Roma and Camp Iūpiter because of your bloodline. Now that it is has been revealed that your blessings are also of prestige as Eliza Thomas hails from the Kingdom of Illyria and she is the daughter of Aphrodítē who is the Mother of Roma, Perseus Jackson is the Son of Poseidón alongside being the Child of the Prophecy, Annabeth Chase is the Architect of Ólumpos ... he is burning with jealousy. If he were to bleed this very moment, he would bleed black as he has torn about his soul."

"His attempt to kill Gwendolyn, daughter of Venus, was a part of a plan to frame you for his crime."

"But..." Octavian furrowed his brow. "I mean, the boy is annoying, but this seems kind of left field? I mean I don't understand. He's a good prophet. He has no reason to be jealous?"

"Is it," Mercurius asked. "Has he not tried to undermine you over the years? Has he not done his best to threaten your relationship with Jason? Did he not try to turn New Roma against you and Perseus the few days that the boy was there? His jealousy has always been there, but now he longer hides it, and it is poisoning him."

"Emotion needs no reason," Drew told Octavian though her brows furrowed. "Though, jealousy left uncheck can be deadly."

Apóllōn nodded his head as he sighed. "That brings us back to the beginning. If we give you what you need for the cure, what good would it do for you to have it in Greece, but the person that may need it is in America or in another universe, far beyond the edges of the world?"

"The multiverse is real?" Leo asked.

"You know that the gods walk the earth. You were sired from one of the gods," Apóllōn's features were coated in judgement. "There are innumerable galaxies that exist, but the idea of the multiverse is not real?"

Leo winced.

"Either way," Hērmês cut in. "Who is to say that if you get the cure, that you would even need it?"

"Nike said..."

"Níkē informed you about the cure because you believe that you can stop someone from dying. We are telling you that fate does not work that way."

'Well, Leo Valdez?' Apollō folded his arms, eyes glowing with golden light. 'Let us bargain, then. What can you offer that would convince me to help you rather than kill you?'

'A bargain.' Leo swallowed thickly, hands fiddling with things that he was pulling out of his toolbelt while Octavian and Drew looked on in worry. It was obvious to the to of them that Apóllōn wanted Leo to make a bargain as the son of Leto already knew how skilled the two of them were when getting what they wanted. 'Yeah. Absolutely.'

'So the thing is,' Leo said as his hands twisted wire, 'Zeus is already P.O.'ed at you, right? If you help us defeat Gaia, you could make it up to him.'

Apóllōn wrinkled his nose though he rolled his eyes. 'I suppose that's possible. But it would be easier to smite you.'

'What kind of ballad would that make?' Leo's hands worked furiously, attaching levers, fastening the metal funnel to an old gear shaft. "You're the god of music, right? Would you listen to a song called 'Apollo Smites a Runty Little Demigod'? I wouldn't. But 'Apollo Defeats the Earth Mother and Saves the Freaking Universe' ... that sounds like a Billboard chart-topper!"

Apóllōn's lips twitched. "Unsurprisingly, little boy, I already listened to both songs from the First War with the giants, and from whenever a pesky little demigod tries my patience. So, be clearer. 'What do you want exactly? And what do I get out of it?'

'First thing I need: advice.' Leo strung some wires across the mouth of the funnel. 'I want to know if a plan of mine will work.'

Leo explained what he had in mind. Drew and Octavian scowled as they looked at him.

The gods raised their brows. It was a good plan. History had already proven that it worked also.

Apóllōn nodded thoughtfully. 'I will give you this advice for free. You might be able to defeat Gaía in the way you describe, similar to the way Ouranós was defeated aeons ago. However, any mortal close by would be utterly ..." Apollō's voice faltered, trailing off in horror as he was overcome with a vision.

"Brother," Mercurius called out. His Brother shook his head, giving he and the rest of the gods that same stubborn look that meant he foresaw something that he would not share lest Father ordered him to.

Turning back to the demigods, Apollō furrowed his brow. 'What is that you have made?'

In Leo's hand, there was layers of copper wires, like multiple sets of guitar strings, crisscrossed inside the funnel. Rows of striking pins were controlled by levers on the outside of the cone, which was fixed to a square metal base with a bunch of crank handles. The thing looked like a music box fused with an old- fashioned phonograph.

'Oh, this ... ? Um, well,' Leo said, 'this is quite simply the most amazing instrument ever!'

'How does it work?' asked the god. "And do be honest. I so hate it when people lie to me."

The boy turned the crank handles, and a few clear tones rang out – metallic yet warm. Leo manipulated the levers and gears. All of them were seized with a longing not to be allayed especially when Lētṓ began to sing, pulling Ártemis to her side so that they could dance even though the song was a wistful melody about homesickness and longing. Hermes felt something physically ache within because his home was with his Lea and she was not there. She was not with him.

When he was done, Drew and Octavian were fanning their faces, both pulling out handkerchiefs to dot at their eyes.

Apollō stared in awe at the instrument. 'I must have it. What is it called? What do you want for it?'

'This is the Valdezinator, of course!' He puffed out his chest. 'It works by, um, translating your feelings into music as you manipulate the gears. It's really meant for me, a child of Hephaestus, to use, though. I don't know if you could –'

'I am the god of music!' Apollō cried and all the other gods rolled their eyes at the amount of camp that he infused in his voice. 'I can certainly master the Valdezinator. I must! It is my duty!'

'So let's wheel and deal, Music Man,' Leo said. 'I give you this; you give me the physician's cure.'

'Oh ...' Apollō bit his godly lip. 'Well, I don't actually have the physician's cure.'

'I thought you were the god of medicine.'

"He is the god of healing," Huákinthos corrected gently. "Alongside many other things. Poetry, music, the Delphic Oracle –'

Apóllōn broke into a sob and covered his mouth with his fist. 'Sorry. I'm fine, I'm fine."

"Tis alright, dear," Huákinthos patted his arm gently. "As I was saying, I have many spheres of influence."

"Then, of course, I have the whole 'sun god' gig, which I inherited from Hḗlios though I am the god of sunlight. Not the sun itself. The point is, I'm rather like a general practitioner. For the physician's cure, you would need to see a specialist– the only one who has ever successfully cured death: my son Asklēpiós, the God of medicine, healing, rejuvenation and physicians.'

'That's a shame, Apollo. I was hoping we could make a deal.' Leo turned the levers on his Valdezinator, coaxing out an even sadder tune.

'Stop!' Apóllōn wailed. 'It's too beautiful! I'll give you directions to Asklēpiós. He's really very close!'

"Brother," Mercurius warned just to say that he tried to discourage this. There was no need for Father to punish him.

'How do we know he'll help us? We've only got two days until Gaia wakes.'

'He'll help!' Apóllōn promised. 'My son is very helpful. Just plead with him in my name. You'll find him at his old temple in Epídauros.'

'What's the catch?'

'Ah ... well, nothing. Except, of course, he's guarded.'

'Guarded by what?'

'I don't know!' Apóllōn spread his hands helplessly. 'I only know Ζεύς is keeping Asklēpiós under guard so he doesn't go running around the world resurrecting people. A bit redundant considering everything mortals are doing, but I suppose since the first time Asklēpiós raised the dead ... well, he caused quite an uproar. It's a long story. But I'm sure you can convince him to help.'

"This isn't sounding like much of a deal,' Leo said. 'What about the last ingredient – the curse of Delos. What is it?'

"He could just kill you instead," Dáphnē shrugged. "Kill you and take the instrument from your corpse."

Apóllōn eyed the Valdezinator greedily.

'I can give the last ingredient to you,' Apóllōn said. 'Then you'll have everything you need for Asklēpiós to brew the potion.'

Leo played another verse. 'I dunno. Trading this beautiful Valdezinator for some Delos curse –'

"Stop pushing your luck," Apóllōn warned. "And besides, tis not actually a curse."

Ártemis plucked a daisy from between the cracks of stones. 'This is the curse of Dêlos.'

Leo stared at it. 'A cursed daisy?'

Apóllōn sighed in exasperation. 'That's just a nickname. When my mother, Lētṓ, was ready to give birth to Ártemis and I, Hḗrē was angry and jealous and in desperate need to have the birth of Árēs legitimized as she and Ζεύς were not wedded when she became with child. Árēs is only months younger than us after all and Mother is Father's sixth wife. To not bring shame upon herself, Hḗrē and Father eloped, but that would have meant that Mother's pregnancy was a threat to Hḗrē's sovereignty. I was after all prophesized to be more beloved than Árēs which is again debatable. Either way, she went around to every single landmass on earth. She made the nature spirits in each place promise to turn my mother away so she couldn't give birth anywhere.'

'Sounds like something Hera would do.'

'I know, right? Anyway, Hḗrē exacted promises from every land that was rooted on the earth – but not from Dêlos, because back then Dêlos was a floating island. And not only that, Dêlos was once the goddess Asteríē, sister of Mother Lētṓ and the mother of Hekátē who avoided Father's advances and Poseidón's advances by turning herself into an island. The nature spirits of Dêlos welcomed my mother. She gave birth to my sister and me, and the island was so happy to be our new sacred home it covered itself in these little yellow flowers. The flowers are a blessing, because we're awesome. But they also symbolize a curse, because once we were born Delos got rooted in place and wasn't able to drift around the sea any more. That's why yellow daisies are called the curse of Dêlos.'

'So I could have just picked a daisy myself and walked away.'

'Όχι, όχι! Not for the potion you have in mind," Apóllōn said. "The flower would have to be picked by either my sister, mother, or me. Not even our blessings can take hold of it. So what do you say, demigod? Directions to Asklēpiós and your last magical ingredient in exchange for that new musical instrument – do we have a deal?'

'You drive a hard bargain, Music Man.'

They made the trade.

'Excellent!' Apóllōn turned the levers of the Valdezinator, which made a sound like a car engine on a cold morning. 'Hmm ... perhaps it'll take some practice, but I'll get it! Now the sooner you leave, the better!'

The trio turned to leave before Apóllōn called back out to them. "And before I forget," his brother stated, making his way over to Octavian. He cradled the boy's face, brushing his thumb against the side of his head and brand hearing aids appeared in his ears. "There you go, my dear heart."

He looked towards Drew. "Do be careful. George has..." His voice trailed off, eyes flashing with his fury. Lētṓ sighed, brushing her hand over her son's hair.

"The boy has ordered some ... surprises for Camp Half-Blood. He's used most of the legion's treasure to purchase Kýklōpes-built onagers.'

Octavian cursed, and Apóllōn swatted him gently.

"Six of them will be rolling into Long Island tomorrow night. That's what the boy has been waiting for. At dawn on August first, he'll have enough firepower to completely destroy Camp Half-Blood without a single Roman casualty. He thinks that'll make him a hero.'

Octavian sighed, pressing his hands to his face. "Except he's also summoned so many monstrous 'allies' that the legion is completely surrounded by wild centaurs, tribes of dog-headed cynocephali, and who knows what else. As soon as the legion destroys Camp Half-Blood, the monsters will turn on Dodie and destroy the legion. Does he have a back up plan? Do any of his weapons account for the monsters also? Gosh, I could have planned a better invasion in my sleep."

"Please don't," Drew said.

'Not to mention, then Gaia rises,' Leo said. 'And bad stuff happens.' He furrowed his brow. 'All right ... this just makes my plan even more important. Once we get this physician's cure, I'm going to need your help. Both of you.'

Drew scowled as she looked at him though tears lined her eyes. "I thought you were just trying to put on a front for Lord Apóllōn. He told you that there was a chance the cure was not for one of us."

"But there is still a chance that it is," Leo insisted. "And I should do it. The prophecy—"

"Forget the prophecy," Octavian snapped. "I can't.. we can't... Leo..."

'It has to be this way,' Leo said. 'Nike confirmed it. Apollo confirmed it. The others would never accept it, but you guys ... you're Romans. That's why I wanted you to come to Delos with me. You get the whole sacrifice thing – doing your duty, jumping on your sword.'

Drew sniffled, blinking repeatedly to not mess up her makeup. 'I think you mean falling on your sword.'

'Whatever,' Leo said. 'You know this has to be the answer.'

'Leo ...' Octavian choked up.

"The two of you know what's at Delphi. I've seen the looks that you share. Drew, we've talked about the Great Prophecy already. You know this might be our only chance."

Drew burst into tears, grabbing him and hugging him. "Oh, Leo, you don't have to take this on by yourself."

"My whole life has been leading up to this," Leo told her. "From Gaia to foster care to meeting on that skywalk and now... You understand, right, Octavian? Nico mentioned it before. One of his past sisters that knew my Grandfather."

Octavian sniffled, crying as he wrapped himself around them. "I hate this plan so much."

'I despise it,' Drew said.

'Think how I feel,' Leo said. 'But you know it's our best shot.'

Neither of them argued, and the gods turned away.

'Let's get back to the ship,' he said. 'We have a healer god to find. Also, what's an onager?'

As the children left, Apóllōn sighed, sagging into himself. "I cannot... I cannot see. I know not if this really is their best shot, but I do know... the cure will not actually be needed."

"Why did you...?"

"The cure is for George, but why waste it upon him when he will die shortly after for his actions will kill his blessing from kháos?"

And they had no answer to that.

WORD COUR: 6157

COMMENTS FROM THE AUTHOR:

1) There are seven chapters left which includes the epilogue. Then I get post a few extras. We're almost to the end.

1A) It's really just the small stuff that's left. Like meeting Asklēpiós, Ōríōn vs Reyna and Athḗnē, King Kékrops because the battle with giants and Gaía have already been written though admittedly, I keep going in and changing things around.

2) Lilith has the power of resurrection. She can revive the dead, but ONLY if it's true love on both parts and only for four days and yes, that does include familial love.

3) I'm lowkey going to be sad when I close out the tabs that I have opened for references for this specific fic.

4) 'Percy, do you know this ... individual?'

Percy shook his head. 'Doesn't look like my mom, so I'm gonna guess we're related on the godly side. You a daughter of Poseidon, Miss ... uh ... ?'

4A) Percy, what other kids does Sally have at this point of time? She's hiding secret kids like... Livia, perhaps?

4B) The fact that Liv, Ari, and Lea were created because I like the twin trope and I really forgot about this line so that means... Livia could have been canon lmfaoooo.

5) Livia in MLNW: as long as she was alive, then the Verus family curse no longer existed.

5A) Reyna in canon: the legacy of Rome would never fail as long as one of her bloodline remained, fighting to defend their homeland.

5B) Livia and Reyna in pressured series: frenemies woohoo!

5C) Speaking of MLNW, I've been doing some writing in its doc. The Tartara scenes are actually coming along. Its different from canon. Just a bit more dangerous, but not much. The hard part is trying to find scenes where the characters can talk moreso, Tav and Percy, then Tav and Beth, and especially Tav and Jace. Proud of how its coming along though and because the scenes go by so quick, I am able to write into the BoO arc which is good. The chapters are also being split in half so that they aren't so long as the prev chapters

6) 'A fine offer.' Bryce turned his javelin, letting the tip hover a few inches from Reyna's eyes. 'You really don't know what Octavian has planned, do you? He's been busy pulling in favours, spending the legion's money.'

Reyna clenched her fists. Octavian has no right –'

'He has the right of power,' Bryce said. 'You forfeited your authority when you ran off to the ancient lands. On August first, your Greek friends at Camp Half-Blood will find out what a powerful enemy Octavian is. I've seen the designs for his machines ... Even I'm impressed.'

6A) A promagistrate (Latin: pro magistratu) was a person who was granted the power via prorogation to act in place of an ordinary magistrate in the field. This was normally pro consule or pro praetore, that is, in place of a consul or praetor, respectively. This was an expedient development, starting in 327 BC and becoming regular by 241 BC, that was meant to allow consuls and praetors to continue their activities in the field without disruption.

6B) Again, what Octavian did in HoO was entirely legal. Reyna, betrayed the legion, to go to ancient lands & until a new praetor was chosen, he was able to act in her place especially considering that he had more experience than her in the legion.

6C) Also, it doesn't make sense that Bryce gets punished for breaking his oath to Roma and he dies, but Reyna keeps her title as praetor. She allied herself with their natural enemies and abandon her post to go to the Ancient Lands where travel was forbidden and betrayed them when she let Annabeth go and raised her sword against them when Mike and the others were coming to take her in. She's supposed to be dead. Not become a Hunter of Ártemis.