Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoe the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn. All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall.

Lilith, instead of standing in front of the throne, was stood beside Artemis' throne as she had a quiet conversation with the goddess. They finally noticed the newcomers and stopped.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Bessie was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. He seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble.

Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw them, he cried, "You made it!"

He started to run toward Percy, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the skywas staring intently at Thalia. Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

"Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" Percy asked.

"Heroes," Artemis called.

The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn- haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked toward them, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told us. "They know that Mount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas's attempt for freedom, and the gathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."

There was some mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happy with this plan, but nobody protested. "At my Lord Zeus's command," Artemis said, "my brother Apollo and I shall hunt the most powerful monsters, seeking to strike them down before they can join the Titans' cause. Lady Athena shall personally check on the other Titans to make sure they do not escape their various prisons. Lord Poseidon has been given permission to unleash his full fury on the cruise ship Princess Andromeda and send it to the bottom of the sea. And as for you, my heroes..."

She turned to face the other immortals. "These half-bloods have done Olympus a great service. Would any here deny that?"

She looked around at the assembled gods, meeting their faces individually. Zeus in his dark pin-striped suit, his black beard neatly trimmed, and his eyes sparking with energy. Next to him sat a beautiful woman with silver hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered colors like peacock feathers. The Lady Hera.

On Zeus's right, Poseidon. Next to him, a huge lump of a man with a leg in a steel brace, a misshapen head, and a wild brown beard, fire flickering through his whiskers. The Lord of the Forges, Hephaestus.

Hermes winked at Percy. He was wearing a business suit today, checking messages on his caduceus mobile phone. Apollo leaned back in his golden throne with his shades on. He had iPod headphones on.

Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grape vine between his fingers. And Ares, well, he sat on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering at Percy while he sharpened a knife. On the ladies' side of the throne room, a dark-haired goddess in green robes sat next to Hera on a throne woven of apple-tree branches. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Next to her sat a beautiful gray-eyed woman in an elegant white dress. She could only be Annabeth's mother, Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled at Percy knowingly and made him blush.

All the Olympians in one place. So much power in this room it was a miracle the whole palace didn't blow apart.

"I gotta say"—Apollo broke the silence—"these kids did okay." He cleared his throat, and began to recite: "Heroes win laurels—"

"Um, yes, first class," Hermes interrupted, like he was anxious to avoid Apollo's poetry.

"All in favor of not disintegrating them?"

A few tentative hands went up—Demeter, Aphrodite. "Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and Percy, ignoring Lilith purposefully. "These two are dangerous. It'd be much safer, while we've got them here—"

"Ares," Poseidon interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits."

"Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She has done well."

They all then turned to Lilith, who was standing quietly beside Artemis' throne. Her eyes were bloodshot red, face pale, stare empty. Demeter, Aphrodite, Hermes, and the twins looked at her in concern. Poseidon stared at the girl with respect.

"Lilith has taken the burden of the sky to replace me, she has saved me and done me a great deal of help. She is to be respected and treated as such." Artemis demanded.

Most of the gods agreed, excluding both Athena and Zeus. Even Hera had a new found respect for the girl.

"She will be rewarded accordingly." Poseidon spoke up, before clearing his throat and turning back to the others.

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

"Mother!" Annabeth said. "How can you—"

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

"Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute. Who you callin'—"

He started to get up, but a grape vine grew around his waist like a seat belt and pulled him back down.

"Oh, please, Ares," Dionysus sighed. "Save the fighting for later."

Ares cursed and ripped away the vine. "You're one to talk, you old drunk. You seriously want to protect these brats?"

Dionysus gazed down at them wearily. "I have no love for them. Athena, do you truly think it safest to destroy them?"

"I do not pass judgment," Athena said. "I only point out the risk. What we do, the Council must decide."

"I will not have them punished," Artemis said. "I will have them rewarded. If we destroy heroes who do us a great favor, then we are no better than the Titans. If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it."

"Calm down, sis," Apollo said. "Jeez, you need to lighten up."

"Don't call me sis! I will reward them."

"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"

A lot of nodding heads.

"Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?"

"Mooooooo!" Bessie protested.

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

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

Poseidon shifted uncomfortably. "Percy, the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it, or—""You can't," he insisted. Percy looked at Zeus. He probably should have been afraid of him, but he stared him right in the eye.

"Controlling the prophecies never works. Isn't that true? Besides, Bess—the Ophiotaurus is innocent. Killing something like that is wrong. It's just as wrong as... as Kronos eating his children, just because of something they might do. It's wrong!"

Zeus seemed to consider this. His eyes drifted to his daughter Thalia. "And what of the risk? Kronos knows full well, if one of you were to sacrifice the beast's entrails, you would have the power to destroy us. Do you think we can let that possibility remain? You, my daughter, will turn sixteen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."

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

Zeus scowled. "Trust a hero?"

"Annabeth is right," Artemis said. "Which is why I must first make a reward. My faithful companion, Zoe Nightshade, has passed into the stars. I must have a new lieutenant. And I intend to choose one. But first, Father Zeus, I must speak to you privately."

Zeus beckoned Artemis forward. He leaned down and listened as she spoke in his ear.

"I shall have a new lieutenant," she announced. "If she will accept it."

"No," Percy murmured.

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

Stunned silence filled the room. Percy stared at Thalia, unable to believe what he was hearing. Annabeth smiled. She squeezed Thalia's hand and let it go, as if she'd been expecting this all along.

"I will," Thalia said firmly.

Lilith's heart clenched at the reminder of Zoe and Bianca. But she knew Zoe will be a great hunter. Zeus rose, his eyes full of concern. "My daughter, consider well—"

"Father," she said. "I will not turn sixteen tomorrow. I will never turn sixteen. I won't let this prophecy be mine. I stand with my sister Artemis. Kronos will never tempt me again." She knelt before the goddess and began the words of oath.

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

"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said.

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

"No." He looked around at all the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here in Olympus. But you have to protect him."

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

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

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

"Mother!" Annabeth said, exasperated.

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

"And what of Hades' spawn." Zeus turned to stare down at Lilith. Lilith was still distraught. She was exhausted. She hadn't noticed all eyes were on her until Apollo cleared his throat to het her attention.

"Huh?" She finally snapped out of her daze, glancing around the room.

"There may be a chance you are the child of the Prophecy." Zeus' cold voice rang through her ears. Lilith frowned.

"I'm only twelve." She said miserably. "That's four years for you to turn and join Kronos." Athena glared at the girl. "It is unwise to keep you or the boy alive."

"I don't want to join him." said the girl in a small voice. "I have my family with me, I won't turn my back on them. Apollo, Hermes, Artemis, Demeter have been nothing but lovely to me. Uncle Poseidon and Ares treats me with respect, I have no reason to turn my back on you." Lilith shook her head.

"That does not mean you won't certainly stay loyal." Zeus stared her down.

"Then take a chance." She frowned, "I know you don't like risking it, but a Prophecy is a prophecy. Whether you like it or not, it's going to happen. I think it rather be either me or Percy who hasn't given you a reason to not trust us." Lilith pointed out.

Artemis let out a nod of agreement.

"She's right, Dad." came Apollo's light voice. "My favorite girl won't betray her favorite cousin, right cupcake?" He winked.

"Who says you're the favorite? If anyone here is her favorite, that should be me." Hermes protested.

"Settle down, brothers." Artemis' annoyed tone sounded. "It is unimportant for us to discuss favorites. We have more pressing matters to attend." She glared at them, before a small smirk pulled on the corner of her lips. "But I'm most certainly her favorite."

The petty argument broke out among the family. Lilith blushed as they fought over her, until Zeus' voice boomed once more. "SILENCE!"

Everyone stopped the chattering at once. "While I do not trust you, nor the boy. You make a fair point." Zeus' smoothly voiced out.

"But Father-" Athena tried to protest, but she was silenced with a glare.

"But if we find out you betray us in any way," His eyes flashed dangerously, "-I will not hesitate to bring down the rage of the skies. I will show you why I am the king."

Lilith nodded lightly, she wasn't intimidated in the slightest. She had no plans to turn her back against the Olympians after all. "I'm sure that is a risk everyone knows when they think of betraying the gods."

"Very well." Zeus finally finished. "The traitor is still alive." He informed the council. "And so is the beast." He glanced at Bessie.

Lilith wasn't surprised by this revelation. She would've felt it if he died, like she did with Zoe. She knew his death would be as painful as Bianca's was to her.

"I will not have a sea creature destroyed, if I can help it. And I can help it." Poseidon spoke up,

He held out his hand, and a trident appeared in it: a twenty foot long bronze shaft with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the boy and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."

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

"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

Zeus's lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of ozone.

"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all our powers. The boy will not betray us. Nor with the girl. I vouch for this on my honor."

Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"

To their surprise, a lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained. So did Ares and Athena. However, Ares rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing at the daughter of Hades for a brief moment before nodding and raising his hand up.

"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes... I imagine we should honor them. Let the triumph celebration begin!"

There are parties, and then there are huge, major, blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties. If you ever get a choice, go for the Olympian. The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and the music was whatever you wanted it to be: the gods could listen to classical and the younger demigods heard hip-hop or whatever, and it was all the same sound track. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station. Just requests to crank it up.

Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with him arm in arm—his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time. Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever drink you wanted.

Grover trotted around with a full plate of tin cans and enchiladas, and his goblet was full of double-espresso latte, which he kept muttering over like an incantation: "Pan! Pan!"

Gods kept coming over to congratulate the heroes. Thankfully, they had reduced themselves to human size, so they didn't accidentally trample partygoers under their feet. Hermes started chatting with Percy, and he was so cheerful that Percy hated to tell him what had happened to his least- favorite son, Luke, but before he could even get up the courage, Hermes got a call on his caduceus and walked away.

Artemis abandoned her conversation with her brother and walked towards Lilith, who was staring ahead at the window, the stars in the sky shining brightly. "She won't be forgotten."

Lilith glanced at the goddess beside her and sent her a small smile. "I know."

Artemis studied the girl's soft expression for a moment, noticing her red eyes and vulnerable state. She then saw her hair, what was once blonde had turned a silvery white, completely.

"Lilith. I must express my gratitude once more for taking my place and bear the burden of the skies."

"It's okay. You don't need to thank me."

"When one has held the sky for more than an hour, they die. But not you, no, not you. Annabeth barely made it out alive when she held it herself for a few minutes. You are a powerful being, Lilith, but even the titan's curse has it's effects." Artemis reached out to grab a strand of Lilith's hair.

"If you haven't noticed, your hair has changed."

Lilith then furrow her eyebrows in confusion before reaching out to grab a strand of her long hair. Her mouth dropped in shock when she saw what once was her blonde hair was now a silvery white. It was glowing under the light, she could see it.

"You held onto the sky for quite some time. There may be some side effects to it. I am a goddess, that does not affect me. But you, I have no idea what or how it may affect you." Artemis hook her head sadly.

"Face the consequence of it's trace.." Lilith murmured, remembering the prophecy.

"The prophecy." Artemis nodded. "You will have to be more aware. The trace might be small, but it can grow."

"I'll take care of it." The girl let out a strained smile.

Artemis hesitated for a brief moment, how was she going to bring up the topic of Luke? It was sensitive to her. "As you must have noticed by now, Luke still lives."

"Yes." Lilith breathed out, "I know you must feel betrayed and angry..." Artemis started.

"I.." Lilith looked troubled, "I do feel that way, yes. But I'm also sad. Luke... He's a good person, I don't know why he's doing this, but he wasn't always like this."

"Yes." Artemis nodded understandingly, "Grief and anger can do many things to one. But it does not do well for us to dwell on it."

"I understand." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Good." Artemis extended a hand, "Shall we enjoy the party?"

---

Compared to Mount Olympus, Manhattan was quiet. Friday before Christmas, but it was early in the morning, and hardly anyone was on Fifth Avenue. Argus, the many-eyed security chief, picked up Annabeth, Grover, Percy and Lilith at the Empire State Building and ferried them back to camp through a light snowstorm. The Long Island Expressway was almost deserted.

As they trudged back up Half-Blood Hill to the pine tree where the Golden Fleeceglittered, Lilith was dreading to bring the news to Nico. She was going to hate him, she knew it.

Chiron greeted them at the Big House with hot chocolate and toasted cheese sandwiches. Grover went off with his satyr friends to spread the word about our strange encounter with the magic of Pan. Within an hour, the satyrs were all running around agitated, asking where the nearest espresso bar was.

Annabeth and Percy sat with Chiron and some of the other senior campers—Beckendorf, Silena Beauregard, and the Stoll brothers. Even Clarisse from the Ares cabin was there, back from her secretive scouting mission. She had a new scar on her chin, and her dirty blond hair had been cut short and ragged, like someone had attacked it with a pair of safety scissors. Lilith was fidgeting nervously from between the Stolls, eyes glancing away every few seconds.

"I got news," she mumbled uneasily. "Bad news."

"I'll fill you in later," Chiron said with forced cheerfulness. "The important thing is you have prevailed. And you saved Annabeth!"

Annabeth smiled at him gratefully,