Artemis's PoV
I didn't know why we were here. Perhaps the heroes had returned. It had been three days since we'd seen or heard from them. It was strange—Poseidon had called the meeting. As I arrived, I noticed Aphrodite was already there, along with Apollo, Hades, Ares, and Hestia. It was an unusual group to be together.
As the other gods arrived, Zeus looked around, confused. "Why was this meeting called?" he asked, his brows furrowing.
Hades laughed, a sound filled with irony and bitterness, but Hestia shot him a warning look before he could continue.
Poseidon cleared his throat, his expression somber. "Our children, the members of the Seven, plus Nico and a son of Apollo, have left."
Gasps filled the room. My heart raced; I didn't like how upset this made me, It confused me on why I cared so much, just like on Delos. A little voice in my head told me I wanted to help the boy with his grief and finnaly truly befriend him and get to know him. It was obvious why, I wanted to see if he was as perfect as he portrayed himself, I wanted to prove he was not infallible. Keep telling yourself that, the voice purred causing me to frown.
"Where?" I asked sharply, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I don't know," Poseidon replied, his eyes filled with sorrow. "All Percy wrote to me was to not look for them. They're going to find Leo and then a new home."
Hephaestus gasped, his face lighting up with hope. "He's alive!" he asked, his excitement palpable.
Hades nodded in confirmation.
Zeus, still looking bewildered and hurt, asked, "Did all the children write to their parents?" The gods whose children had written to them—Hades, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo—nodded. Zeus looked crestfallen. What did he expect? He had threatened one son and then threatened the other when he asked for mercy for his brother.
"We need to find them," Zeus said, his voice breaking the heavy silence. "They can't just disappear like this."
"They can and they have," Hades replied, his tone cold. "Perhaps you should consider why they felt the need to leave."
Zeus's face hardened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he looked around the room, seeking support.
"Does anyone know where they might have gone?" Zeus asked, his tone desperate.
"We don't," Poseidon said, shaking his head. "And even if we did, I would respect my son's wishes. They deserve to find their own way."
"They are demigods," Ares interjected. "They can handle themselves."
"But they're still our children," Aphrodite added, her voice filled with concern. "We need to make sure they're safe."
Hestia stepped forward, her presence calming the tension in the room. "We must trust them. They have proven themselves time and time again. We can't keep treating them as pawns in our games."
The room fell silent, her words sinking in. We were gods, but even we could learn from our mistakes. I looked at Zeus, his expression a mix of anger, sorrow, and regret. For once, he seemed at a loss for words.
As we stood there, the weight of our children's absence pressing down on us, I realized how much we had taken them for granted. They had fought our battles, saved our world, and now they had chosen to leave. It was a wake-up call we desperately needed.
For now, all we could do was hope they found what they were looking for and trust in their strength and resilience. And perhaps, in time, we would learn to be the gods they deserved.
Chapter 4 ~ ReunionPercy's PoV
Three months had passed since we left Olympus. We were aboard the Argo II, sailing around the Mediterranean in search of Leo. The sea breeze was a comforting reminder of home, but the weight of our journey and the loss still hung heavily on our hearts.
Reyna, Frank, Hazel, Nico, Jason, Will, Piper, and I were gathered on the deck, scanning the horizon. The Argo II had been our refuge and our hope, and today, we hoped it would bring us the reunion we'd been waiting for.
"There!" Jason shouted, pointing to the sky. We all looked up to see a familiar sight—Festus, the bronze dragon, soaring towards us.
As Festus landed on the ship, Leo jumped down, a wide grin on his face. But his smile faltered when he saw our sad expressions. He wasn't alone—Calypso was with him, her eyes filled with concern.
"Hey, guys!" Leo called out, trying to keep his tone cheerful. "What's with the long faces?"
We quickly updated him on everything that had happened—the battles, the losses, and our plans to start anew. Leo's face grew solemn as he listened, understanding the weight of our words.
"I'm so sorry," Leo said, pulling Piper into a tight hug. "I wish I could've been there."
"It's okay, Leo," Piper replied, her voice soft. "We're just glad you're here now."
Calypso approached me, her eyes filled with empathy. She wrapped her arms around me in a gentle hug, causing Leo to scowl slightly. But his expression softened as he saw the tear fall from my face.
"You'll be alright, Percy," Leo said, his voice steady. "We're all here for you."
I smiled through the tears and pulled Leo into a hug. "Thanks, man. It's good to have you back."
I turned to introduce him to Estelle, who was cradled in my arms. "Leo, meet Estelle. Little sister."
Leo's eyes lit up with excitement. "Hey there, little one!" he said, his voice filled with wonder. "I've got so many ideas for toys for you. You're gonna love them!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "You're going to be the crazy cool uncle who spoils his niece, aren't you?"
"You bet I am," Leo said, grinning. "I've already got plans for a mini Festus just for her."
We all laughed, the tension and sorrow easing slightly with Leo's infectious enthusiasm. For the first time in months, I felt a glimmer of hope. We were together again, and with our family reunited, I knew we could face whatever came next.
Chapter 5 ~ A New HomePercy's PoV
Another month had passed, and our journey had finally led us to Mont Blanc. The nine demigods and one titan found themselves standing on the majestic peak, gazing at the vast expanse below. It felt right—this place could be our new home.
We decided to start simple. Landing the Argo II on top of the peak, we took advantage of our flying boat, but we knew it was only temporary. We needed something more permanent, something we could truly call home.
"Let's get to work," I said, feeling a surge of determination. I used my earth-shaker powers to clear the area, flattening out a large space that would serve as the foundation for our new abode. It was hard work, but with every tremor, I felt a sense of purpose.
Nico summoned an army of the undead to assist us, their skeletal forms moving tirelessly as they helped with the heavy lifting. Frank, in his dragon form, used his fiery breath to melt the stone, turning it into magma. Leo then took over, shaping the magma into sturdy walls, and I followed up by cooling it with water, solidifying the structure.
Hazel, with her control over precious metals, decorated the first building—a communal hall where we could all sleep and eat. The gold and silver she conjured glinted in the sunlight, adding a touch of beauty to our rugged new home.
Jason and Calypso called upon wind spirits to clear away debris and raise heavier objects. Frank, shifting into various powerful creatures, assisted them with the heavy lifting. Leo, with his expertise in construction, took charge of the building process, ensuring everything was done to perfection.
Reyna and Piper, our planners, guided the workforce, ensuring a cohesive build. They helped me take care of Estelle, who was fascinated by all the activity around her. Calypso, using her magic, worked with Hazel to form a strong mist barrier around our home, obscuring it from the outside world and even from the gods. It was a trick we had learned with the Argo II, giving us the privacy we desperately needed.
By the end of the day, we had our first building—a sturdy, beautiful hall that would serve as our communal space. We stood back, admiring our work, feeling a sense of accomplishment. This was just the beginning. In time, we would each build our own homes on the peak, but for now, this hall would be enough.
The first building was a marvel. Made of black fused stone with intricate gold and silver inlays, it was decorated with precious metals that shimmered in the light. Covering 20,000 square feet, the structure was mostly empty for now, save for a few things we had brought in from the Argo II. The only finished part was the main hall, where we had placed tables and beds. At its center lay a grand hearth, a quintessential element that no Greek home could be without.
The centerpiece of the hall was a marble fountain featuring statues of Tristan McLean, Sally Jackson, Paul Blowfis, and Annabeth. The fountain served as a poignant reminder of those we had lost and a tribute to their memories.
The building's columns and crystal windows added to its grandeur. By day, the structure shone with golden light, and by night, it gleamed silver. Its beauty rivaled the palaces of Olympus, though it was far less ostentatious.
As we settled into our new space, I felt a warmth in my heart. This was more than just a building; it was a symbol of our unity, and our resilience. We had lost so much, but here, on Mont Blanc, we had the chance to build something new, something beautiful.
"Welcome home, everyone," I said, holding Estelle close. She cooed in my arms, and I knew, deep down, that we had made the right choice. This was our sanctuary, our new beginning. This was Stormhold.