A rainbow nearly caused me to decapitate the goddess of victory.

In a roundabout way, it was completely my fault.

Things had gotten tenser since capturing Nike. Her nonstop screaming and shimmering visage did nothing for my pounding temples. Leo's eye twitched whenever he heard her voice, as if he were always mere seconds from throwing a wrench at her head. The others weren't much better off. The only way for her to keep quiet long enough for everyone to get some sleep was for me to impress her with my swordsmanship.

For someone who had a sock stuffed in her mouth, Nike communicated tips without shouting with shocking ease. Perks of being a goddess, I guess.

It helped that she was genuinely interested in the tiny arsenal I had dangling from my wrist. She'd given me some sound advice regarding disarming techniques, which she'd encouraged me to try against shadow minions I summoned.

A particularly feisty minion decided to give chase throughout the stables, moving the fight towards Nike. I could imagine the massive smile she wore behind the strip of duct tape. Her eyes gleamed like someone had given her a shot of pure epinephrine.

I parried a swing toward my thigh and got in close to attempt Nike's disarming technique. Of course, that was the moment a rainbow shimmered into existence. I managed to halt my downward swing in time to keep Nike's head attached to her body as the minion dissipated from my loss of concentration.

Nike said some naughty words in Ancient Greek – which I won't be repeating any time soon – but, you know, fair given her situation.

Epithymia clattered to the ground as I finally took in the person placing the Iris-message.

His face bore no trace of the horrors he'd experienced save a scar near his left temple. Gone were his breathing and feeding tubes as well as the bandages that had mummified his head.

His skin held a healthy tan and even bore a smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose. Without needing any instructions, he took a step back and gave a slow turn, revealing that all the wires and tubes had been removed. His hair had started to grow back, giving the appearance of a buzzcut. If not for the still healing bruises in the crook of his elbow and the back of his hand, no one would've been wiser to his previous state.

"Will?" I whispered, fingers ghosting the edges of the rainbow image.

I can say with utmost certainty that Will inherited his smile from his father. He gave me his million watt smile, eyes crinkling with delight.

"Hiya, Andy!"

I choked back a sob. "Hi, Will. I'm so happy you're okay."

He chuckled. "That makes two of us. How have things been since I saw you last?"

I lost track of the time talking to Will. Apparently, he'd woken up the day after I'd fallen into Tartarus and had been trying to get in touch ever since. It was sheer luck that he'd managed to catch me in a moment of downtime.

He told me about Camp Half-Blood's defenses and his accelerated recovery process. I gave him information about the weapons and mercenaries Octavian had recruited. He asked for updates on Nico and the rest of the crew, clearly hoping for something hopeful among the doom and gloom.

Then the conversation took a turn that I'd seen coming but was still unprepared for.

"Have you spoken to Dad lately?" Will asked.

I felt him scrutinizing every millimeter of my face. I once again found myself thanking Hermes and Dionysus for those joint acting lessons. They had paid off ten-fold. My face would've been a brighter red than one of Apollo's sacred cows, otherwise.

"Not since we passed through the pillars of Hercules," I said. I chewed on the inside of my cheek. "He was worried about you. I'd been planning on updating him of your progress, but…well, you know."

"I see." The note of suspicion had been hard to miss. Not that I blamed Will. The Apollo I've gotten to know and interact with was radically different from the way he acted around others, including his own demigodly children. "What about the issue you were having with the Oracle? Any progress there?"

"About that…"

Will leveled his gaze at me. He went so far as to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Okay, new question. Do I want to know what self-sacrificing play you've made now?"

"Probably not, no."

"Wonderful. Do me a favor and try not to die in the process, yeah?"

"Yes, sir!"

At this, Will's façade cracked, revealing a soft smile. "Gods of Olympus, I've missed you. Assuming we're all still alive next month, you and I are going on an adventure of our own choosing. No other gods, no monsters, just whatever activity we decide on a whim."

"Would you be opposed to bringing Nico along?"

I laughed as Will's ears burned red. Oh, this boy was so whipped.

"Y-Yeah," Will squeaked, shuffling in place. "Nico can come, too."

The edges of the Iris-message faltered.

"One last thing," I said. "We'll be stopping at Delos to speak to Apollo and Artemis. Is there a message you'd like me to pass along?"

Will nodded. "You tell my father that if he ever tries to lay a hand on you again, I won't hesitate to shoot him so full of arrows that the Hunters of Artemis would be jealous."

"Will!"

"He might be my father," he continued, "but you are my friend. I owe you my life. The least I can ask of him is to treat you with all the respect you deserve."

What was it with these Apollo children always trying to make me cry? First Cleo now Will. I was truly blessed to have friends as loyal as them.

I blinked hard, willing away any tears from my eyes. "I'll make sure to let him know."

"Good." Will's countenance brightened once more. "Stay safe out there! Hope to see you soon!"

"The same goes for you, kiddo. Take care of yourself."

We waved goodbye and the IM finished fading into fine mist.

Nike's encouragement of "LOVE IS A WEAKNESS!" did wonders to ruin an otherwise touching moment. I leveled a glare at the goddess of victory, unamused by her color commentary.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a ray of sunshine?" I asked.

Now it was the goddess' turn to glare at me.

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

I bent down to retrieve Epithymia. I figured it would be in everyone's best interest if I continued distracting Nike.

Imagine my surprise when I felt her presence against the threshold of my mind. Despite her outward displays of petulance and love of seemingly gratuitous violence, her presence was one of tranquility and boundless strength.

"You are on the right path," she said. "Guiding your friends to victory is the first step. The next step is up to you."

She retreated as quickly as she entered my mind.

Then her expression morphed into that which you would find in a mother trying to vicariously live through her child's sporting experience. I had enough time to clap my hands over my ears as she bellowed "YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT!"

Better than what? I wanted to ask, but I had my answer the second the boat lurched hard toward port.

It was time to deal with another goddess' temper tantrum.

The Argo II limped away from Kymopoleia's display of power.

Polybotes's head settled by our feet. I flicked my wrist and jettisoned the awful spoil of war into the nearest trench. He'd recover soon enough anyway, just in time to remain a thorn in our sides.

I'd sent Jason and Percy back without me. It had been ages since I'd physically seen the daughter of Poseidon, but we'd kept in touch ever since my brother thought the ruins of his first underwater palace would make an excellent training ground. Looking back at my lack of finesse, he'd had the right idea. No one would notice another broken slab of marble amid the ruins.

No one other than the goddess who called these ruins her home.

Their argument caused a storm that made Kym's attack look like child's play. Cyprus, Crete, and the dozens of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea almost met the fate of the mythical Atlantis. I'd witnessed the tectonic plate beneath our feet threaten to split in two. Sea creatures fled as far as they could, their screams of terror echoing in my skull.

A waterproof journal with its corresponding pen and the promise of getting her marriage annulled had been enough to appease the irate goddess, sparing tens of thousands of lives. The second part of Poseidon and Kym's agreement, which I hadn't been privy to, left fifteen-year-old me in the care of the goddess of storms for the week.

She'd made Ares's training feel merciful. She worked me to the bone, leaving me on the verge of passing out at any given moment and then demanded more.

Tough as she might have been, I couldn't argue with the results.

Despite not having visited in nearly five years, I had kept my promise of IM-ing her on the second day of every month.

Until now…

Kym did me the courtesy of shrinking to her typical height of six feet. She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned.

"You didn't call this month," she said, tone cold enough to freeze the Gulf Stream.

"I'm sorry." I dug the toe of my boot into the marble, stirring the sediment. "This month has been complete chaos. If it's any consolation, I fell into Tartarus on July first, so…" I trailed off with a shrug. The ball was in her court now.

Her bright eyes widened to the size of saucers. There wasn't much that could shock Kym, but I guess this was one of those times. Her glowing hair dimmed a tad.

"You what?!"

I told her the abridged story, continuously omitting details as I saw a look of pure rage settle on her face. Water bubbled around her clenched fists; she was so furious.

I cast a glance at the surface, breathing an internal sigh of relief when I couldn't see the Argo II. There was no need to abuse our already banged-up ship any more than necessary. I didn't think it would survive a second beating should Kym blow her lid.

Kym said something that would've left Delphin utterly scandalized. My face burned at the insults, and suddenly I was glad we were alone. Those words weren't meant for mortal ears.

She scanned the marble floor with laser focus. Her disc of polished green metal trembled on her back, the edges glowing with a faint green light. The palace's roof threatened to collapse further.

"Where did it go?" she asked like a woman possessed. "I'm going to mount it on my wall and use it as target practice!"

"Do you mean-?"

"I want his head!"

I've never summoned something out of the depths of the ocean faster than I did in that moment.

Kymopoleia cackled in delight as she caught Polybotes's head as if she were an outfielder in a kickball match. She gripped it by his basilisk hair, unfazed by his eyes lifelessly rolling around or his tongue caught between his teeth.

Watching a goddess tie a giant's head to her belt of abalone shells was definitely an experience. I'm sure Aphrodite would have something to say about Kym's newest accessory. I don't think the heads of giants would be the newest fashion trend this fall.

"Had I known how he transgressed against you," Kym began, eyes aglow, "I would've smote him the second those demigods appeared. I can make peace with the thought of a bastard brother and the liberation of my husband so long as the giants keep their grubby hands off my only friend."

Wow, that was a lot to unpack. I'd need her to meet her Psyche as soon as this mess is over and done with. They'd get on like a house on fire.

"Does that mean you'll keep your promise and stop helping the Earth Mother?"

Kym gave a sharp nod. "I fulfilled my end of the bargain with the son of Jupiter. Should he uphold his end, I don't see a reason to turn coat ever again."

"I swear to you that I will help him in his endeavors. Plus, I'll give you the last say on the design of your action figure."

"As always, your diligence is appreciated."

"I don't suppose you could whip up another storm to throw any lingering sea monsters off our trail?"

Kym's pallid skin flushed gold. She wound and unwound a strand of hair around her index finger, suddenly sheepish.

"My storm acted as a beacon for Keto," she explained, gesturing to the still tumultuous seas. "Even if I were to summon a stronger storm, her children have locked onto the demigods' scent. If the rumors I've heard of your ship's flying capabilities are true, I suggest you take to the sky. You'll be safer there."

I plastered on a grateful smile, ignoring the way my heart sank. Without my chronokinesis, there was no way we'd have enough time or materials to repair the Argo II before making it to Athens. I'd just put my back into it and alleviate as much of the burden from Leo as I could.

"I appreciate the advice," I said. "Lay low until this war blows over. I wouldn't want the Earth Mother to retaliate against you."

Kymopoleia's delighted smirk turned my blood to ice. Despite being on friendly terms with her, I'd be lying if I said she didn't frighten me at times.

"I'd like to see her try and lift a finger against me. The only being who was a threat to me will decorate my foyer for millennia."

"And what a…lovely decoration it'll make."

Kym perked up. "I know, right?! Oh, I bet Triton will be soooooo jealous!"

I merely nodded. "Thanks again for your assistance. Let's make a plan to hang out under better circumstances, okay?"

"I expect to see sketches of my shrine the next time we meet face to face! It's only fair."

"Of course, Kym. Stay safe until then."

The goddess of violent sea storms vanished in a flurry of bubbles. I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head. I forgot how draining it was to deal with the whiplash of Kym's moods.

However, now was no time to rest. I pushed off the marble floor and began the swim to the Argo II.

Leo was on the verge of a meltdown.

I didn't blame the guy. Imagine burning the candle on both ends for the greater part of six months only for all your hard work to be thrashed to the point of destruction multiple times per week, if not per day, for the past seven weeks.

Steam literally poured from his ears as he took a mallet to an oar, knocking it into alignment.

I kept quiet as I hefted another oar into its proper place. Ever since our encounter with Kym, we'd suffered hourly attacks from all sorts of sea monsters. Things had gotten so bad that I'd tied myself to the bottom of the ship using Celestial bronze rope and acted as our last line of defense. Fighting underwater while dragged by my waist sucked and resulted in more bruises than I expected, but it was necessary to give Leo enough time to navigate us to safety.

The engine's groans transported me back to the Confederate ship in the Sea of Monsters, right before it exploded. The Argo II had better craftsmanship, I knew that, but it was hard to shake that uneasy feeling.

My hair remained plastered to the back of my neck in a mixture of drying salt water and forming sweat. Fifteen minutes ago, the Argo II had gotten stuck on a rock. Jason, Percy, and I ventured outside to push.

There hadn't been critical structural damage to the hull, but I winced at the sizable dent that I'd have to smoothen out.

However, two good things came out of encountering Kymopoleia: One, Jason had healed himself by signing up to create shrines for every Greek and Roman god and goddess. He'd returned to the ship in a slight daze as if realizing what a massive undertaking this would be. When things calmed down, I'd offer him the tips and tricks necessary to please some of the gods I'd encountered over the years.

Two, Kym had beheaded Polybotes, giving us some breathing room from the nearest giant. Of course, we were heading to Athens where the rest of the giants had gathered, so it was a moot point.

The locking mechanism whirred into action, lifting the oar off my shoulder.

Leo finished with his oar a few seconds later, swearing in Spanish with all the rage of an engineer scorned. He scowled, taking in the remaining damage. There were three more oars in need of repair and one that needed to be replaced. Last I checked, our stabilizers and aerial capabilities were shot. The lights flickered if someone so much as sneezed. It was by sheer magic alone that the enchanted windows continued depicting their sceneries.

Of course, this had to happen after I sealed away my chronokinesis.

I stayed quiet as Leo tried to steady his breathing. No amount of offers to help would make him feel better.

"Andy, I need you to go," Leo said.

"Where to?"

"Away. Anywhere else but here. I just…I can't…"

I nodded. "I get it. Call me if you need me."

I turned on my heel and left. I didn't make it to the hallway before I heard Leo collapse to the ground, softly crying. I firmly shut the door behind me and headed for the emergency stairs.

The least I could do was begin uncrumpling our hull.

It took Leo and me three days to get the Argo II more or less back to working order.

I'd maybe slept a total of four hours in that time. Knowing Leo, he'd probably gotten less. That didn't prevent either of us from stopping until Percy and Annabeth returned with gelato in hand.

I massaged a cramp at the base of my palm before taking a seat on the deck. Annabeth handed me a cup filled with strawberry gelato. The rest of the crew sat in a circle on the deck. Ignoring the fact that we were on a warship with the end of the world in two days, this was the most normal I'd felt in ages. Had the landscape been covered in trees rather than sandy beaches, I could try to convince myself that we were at the Camp Half-Blood docks, waiting for the conch horn to signal dinner.

The day was hot and windy. The sea glittered with a chop, but Leo had fixed the stabilizers well enough that Hazel didn't look too seasick.

Curving off to our starboard side was the town of Mykonos – a collection of white stucco buildings with blue roofs, blue windows, and blue doors.

"We saw these pelicans walking around town," Percy reported. "Like, just going through shops, stopping at the bars."

Hazel frowned. "Monsters in disguise?"

"No," Annabeth said, laughing, "just regular old pelicans. They're the town's mascots or something. And there's a 'Little Italy' section of town. That's why the gelato is so good."

"Europe is messed up." Leo shook his head. "First we go to Rome for Spanish steps. Then we go to Greece for Italian ice cream."

Piper set down her ice cream cup. "So, the island of Delos is right across the harbor. Artemis and Apollo's home turf. Who's going?"

"Me," Leo said immediately.

Everyone stared at him, except for me. I kept my gaze fixated on my rapidly melting gelato.

"What?" Leo demanded. "I'm diplomatic and stuff. Frank, Hazel, and Andy volunteered to back me up."

"We did?" Frank lowered his half-eaten apple. "I mean…sure we did."

Hazel's gold eyes flashed in the sunlight. "Leo, did you have a dream about this or something?"

"Yes," Leo blurted. "Well…no. Not exactly. But…you got to trust me on this, guys. I need to talk to Apollo and Artemis. I've got an idea I need to bounce off them."

"And Andy's coming along, because…?" Annabeth asked. "I thought we were trying to keep with the three-person limit."

Before Leo or I could say something, Jason spoke up. "If Leo has an idea," he said, "we need to trust him."

The thought of facing Apollo again after the last way we left things made me want to crawl in a hole and never come out. Looking back on the situation made me feel disgusting. Luke died less than two months ago, and there I was, milliseconds away from kissing an Olympian.

Yes, Luke had told me that he expected me to move on, but six weeks was too soon, right? Until that moment, I'd never seen Apollo in that way. A mentor? Sure. One of my closest friends? Definitely. But a future boyfriend?

Suddenly, I was transported back to my unplanned dip in the River Styx. It had been the image of Apollo pulling me out of that cursed river, not Luke. Had I harbored feelings for the sun god even before I began dating Luke?

No, I told myself. No, it didn't seem likely. I'd told Eros as much when I saw him last, and he'd taken my words at face value. His love radar hadn't gone haywire. He didn't call me a liar to my face, something he had a propensity of doing if someone denied their true feelings in front of him.

I buried my face in my hands. What was I thinking?

The world could end in two days, and here I am worrying about feelings that I may or may not have for Apollo.

Get it together, Andy.

I tuned in long enough to hear Leo say, "I'm totally bringing you back some Apollo and Artemis bobbleheads!"

We left soon after Hazel finished the last of her gelato.

Frank turned into a giant eagle to fly to Delos, Leo and Hazel hitched a ride with Arion, and I mist-traveled to the island that had served as my training ground many a time.

We rendezvoused on the beach.

We found the island deserted, the seas too choppy for tourist boats. The windswept hills were barren except for rocks, grass, and wildflowers – and, of course, a bunch of crumbling temples. The forested area of Delos had been hidden from mortal eyes, enchanted so only those with permission from Artemis and Apollo could enter. This was one of the few times I'd seen the island from the tourist side of things.

We walked down an avenue lined with white stone lions, the faces weathered almost featureless.

"It's eerie," Hazel said.

"You sense any ghosts?" Frank asked.

She shook her head. "The lack of ghosts is eerie. Back in ancient times, Delos was sacred ground. No mortal was allowed to be born here or die here. There are literally no mortal spirits on this whole island."

"Cool with me," Leo said. "Does that mean nobody's allowed to kill us here?"

"I didn't say that." Hazel stopped at the summit of a low hill. "Look. Down there."

Below us, the hillside had been carved into an amphitheater. Scrubby plants sprouted between the rows of stone benches, so it looked like a concert for thorn bushes. Down at the bottom, sitting on a block of stone in the middle of the stage, Apollo hunched over a ukulele, plucking out a mournful tune.

Apollo looked about twenty, with curly blond hair and a perfect tan. He wore tattered jeans, a black T-shirt, and a white linen jacket with glittering rhinestone lapels like he was trying for an Elvis/Ramones/Beach Boys hybrid look.

It was a far cry from how he'd looked last time I'd seen him.

I winced at the melancholy melody Apollo strummed. A quick glance at my friends' faces let me know they'd been affected, too. They watched him, entranced by the emotions evoked by his music.

Sitting in the front row was Artemis in her thirteen-year-old form, wearing black leggings and a silver tunic, her dark auburn hair pulled back in a ponytail. She was whittling on a long piece of wood – making a bow.

"Those are the gods?" Frank asked. "They don't look like twins."

"Gods can take whatever form they wish," I said, turning my gaze away from the twins. "Most people, if given the option, wouldn't want to look anything like their sibling."

Frank hummed in agreement. "So, what's the plan?"

"Don't shoot!" yelled Leo. He raised his arms and headed down to the stage.

The three of us trailed behind him.

Neither god looked surprised to see the demigods, though my presence caught their attention. I felt their eyes linger on me for a half-second longer.

I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole.

Wait, no, I take that back. This war is against Gaea, meaning she could literally do that if she so wished.

Gods of Olympus, I needed to get a grip.

The world swayed, and I took a seat on the nearest bench. Any conversation going on between the twins and my friends sounded like pure static. My pulse roared in my ears at an alarmingly rapid pace. My shoulders and abdomen ached. I pressed my hands against the phantom injuries, expecting them to return slick with ichor.

Logically, I knew I was having a panic attack, but that did nothing to reassure me as I tried to catch my breath.

The thought of Gaea getting her grubby fingers on me and pawning me off to her horrendous husband, or worse yet, Python…

"Don't touch me!" I cried, cringing away from the hand on my thigh.

At least I had enough wits about me to not attack anyone on the island. No one here meant me any harm.

"Andromeda, breathe in," Artemis commanded in that no-nonsense way of hers.

I forced myself to inhale deeply until Artemis instructed me to exhale.

We repeated this until my vision came back into focus.

My nails bit into the flesh of my palm. Weak. How could I be of help to people if something as simple as an everyday expression could send me into a crippling spiral?

Artemis rose. "Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang, Andromeda Collins, come with me. There are things you should know about the Twelfth Legion. As for you, Leo Valdez –" The goddess turned her cold silver eyes on Leo. "Apollo will hear you out. See if you can strike a deal. My brother always likes a good bargain."

Artemis rested her hand against the small of my back as we walked up the steps of the amphitheater and crested the hill. Normally, she wasn't one to coddle or enjoy human touch, so I must've looked worse than I felt.

"I know what you're going to tell them," I said once we'd gotten far enough away from the amphitheater. "About the Twelfth Legion. I'm not needed for this conversation."

"Andy, I don't think it's in your best interest-" Artemis began.

"I'll wait for you at our usual spot. Come find me when you're done."

I left the three of them in stunned silence and made my way toward the forest.