❝ To Olympus ❞

I was running through the streets of Los Angeles, I was blindly hoping to find my friends, but no luck. Minutes passed and suddenly I saw a flash of bright light somewhere to my left.

Must be some divine force messing with us, I strode towards the beach. From a distance, I saw Percy tossing something to a fury? Wait- was that...?

"Percy!" I yelled. "Did you just toss The helm of darkness to a fury?"

Three heads furiously turned, and with widened eyes they ran toward me.

"Aquila!" Annabeth yelled. "How — what?"

"Gods, are you okay?" Grover jumped.

"You're not dead, are you?" Percy blinked.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I shadow traveled, the voice..." and then I remembered that I never told them about my encounter with Krios, now's the time.

"There's some I need to tell you guys, that voice spoke to me in my dreams too, and I know whose voice is that."

"As of now, we know that too," Percy said.

"I see, anyway kr-"

"It's not wise to say his name in public, especially here," Annabeth warned. Ha! Now we had a you-know-who in this world.

"Alright, that voice told me to shadow travel," I panted.

"But, why?" Annabeth asked. "Why would he save you?"

"Titans help each other." Percy cooed.

"Shut up, he wants me to join them, he needs me alive," I explained.

"Would you join them?" Annabeth asked hesitantly.

My eyes widened. "Heck no!"

"Anyway, we should get going, we have to get back to New York," Percy said. "By tonight."

"That's impossible," Annabeth said, "unless we-"

"Fly," he agreed. She stared at him.

"Fly, like, in an airplane, which you were warned never to do lest Zeus strike you out of the sky, and carrying a weapon that has more destructive power than a nuclear bomb?" I challenged.

"Yeah," he said. "Pretty much exactly like that. Come on."

~~~~

"All I want," Percy said, choking back his tears, "is to see my loving stepfather again. Every time I saw him on TV, calling me a delinquent punk, I knew...somehow...we would be okay. And I know he'll want to reward each and every person in this beautiful city of Los Angeles with a free major appliance from his store. Here's the phone number."

The police and reporters were so moved that they passed around the hat and raised money for four tickets on the next plane to New York. I knew there was no choice but to fly. I hoped Zeus would cut me some slack, considering the circumstances. But it was still hard to force myself on board the flight.

When you have a fear of heights, it is even worse when some arrogant force wants to knock you off the sky.

Takeoff was a nightmare. Every spot of turbulence was scarier than a Greek monster. I didn't unclench my hands from the armrests until we touched down safely at La Guardia. The local press was waiting for us outside security, but we managed to evade them thanks to Annabeth, who lured them away in her invisible Yankees cap, shouting,

"They're over by the frozen yogurt! Come on!," then rejoined us at baggage claim.

We split up at the taxi stand. Percy told us to get back to Half-Blood Hill and let Chiron know what had happened.

"No way I'm letting you go alone with that extra explosive nuclear bomb!" I exclaimed.

"But-"

"Yes Percy, we can't let you go alone, you'll probably do something stupid." Annabeth agreed.

"I'll go with Percy," I announced. "You both go and inform Chiron."

They agreed, and Percy and I made our way to Manhattan. After having a short conversation with the guard, he let us go.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, Percy slipped the key into the slot. The card disappeared and a new button appeared on the console, a red one that said 600. He pressed it and waited, and waited. Music played.

"Do you think Zeus would kill us?" Percy asked.

"He most likely won't kill you, Poseidon would be there. No matter how your relationship is with your father, I'm sure he won't allow your death in front of his eyes,"

"And you?"

"I guess we'll have to find out," I said softly. "We prevented a war, he should reward us,"

Percy chuckled. "He probably won't,"

"Raindrops keep falling on my head...." Finally, ding. The doors slid open. I stepped out, I was standing on a narrow stone walkway in the middle of the air. Below me was Manhattan, from the height of an airplane. In front of me, white marble steps wound up the spine of a cloud, into the sky.

My eyes followed the stairway to its end, It was really there. From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, its summit covered with snow. Clinging to the mountainside were dozens of multileveled palaces city of mansions-all with white-columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires.

Roads wound insanely up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gardens bloomed with olive trees and rose bushes.

I could make out an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippodrome, and a coliseum on the other. It was an Ancient Greek city, except it wasn't in ruins.

It was new, and clean, and colorful, the way Athens must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago.

Our trip through Olympus was a daze. I passed some giggling wood nymphs who threw olives at us from their garden. Hawkers in the market offered to sell me ambrosia-on-a-stick, and a new shield, and a genuine glitter-weave replica of the Golden Fleece, as seen on Hephaestus-TV.

The nine muses were tuning their instruments for a concert in the park while a small crowd gathered-satyrs and naiads and a group of good-looking teenagers who might've been minor gods and goddesses.

Nobody seemed worried about an impending civil war. In fact, everybody seemed in a festive mood. Several of them turned to watch us pass and whispered to themselves.

We climbed the main road, toward the big palace at the peak. It was a reverse copy of the palace in the Underworld. There, everything had been black and bronze. Here, everything glittered white and silver.

Hades must've built his palace to resemble this one. He wasn't welcomed in Olympus except on the winter solstice, so he'd built his own Olympus underground.

Steps led up to a central courtyard. Past that, the throne room. Room really isn't the right word. The place was magnificent,

Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling, which was gilded with moving constellations. Twelve thrones, built for beings the size of Hades, were arranged in an inverted U, just like the cabins at Camp Half-Blood.

An enormous fire crackled in the central hearth pit. The thrones were empty except for two at the end: the head throne on the right, and the one to its immediate left.

I didn't have to be told who the two gods were that were sitting there, waiting for us to approach. We came toward them. The gods were in giant human form, Hades radiated boss energy, but these two, both looked like stupids waiting for something that would never arrive.

Zeus, the Lord of the Gods, wore a dark blue pinstriped suit. He sat on a simple throne of solid platinum. He had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was proud and handsome and grim, his eyes rainy gray.

As I got nearer to him, the air crackled and smelled of ozone. The god sitting next to him was his brother, without a doubt, but he was dressed very differently. He reminded me of a beachcomber from Key West. He wore leather sandals, shorts and tshirt with coconuts and parrots all over it. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands scarred like an old-time fisherman's.

His throne was a deep-sea fisherman's chair. It was the simple swiveling kind, with a black leather seat and a built-in holster for a fishing pole. Instead of a pole, the holster held a bronze trident, flickering with green light around the tips.

I got the feeling these Olympians would make great models for a fashion show rather than being gods and goddesses, like seriously. I've never seen my dad in something casual or untitan-like, maybe, it was just their personalities that reflect, still I wasn't not taking my words back. The Olympians would make great models.

The gods weren't moving or speaking, but there was tension in the air, as if they'd just finished an argument.

Percy approached the fisherman's throne and knelt at his feet. "Father."

I realized I was supposed to be doing that too, but not just like that.

"Lord Zeus." I bowed my head lightly as if I was just acknowledging them. "Lord Poseidon."

Zeus looked furious, I could read his thoughts 'How dare you not pay enough respect to the mighty blah blah blah Zeus?!'

Zeus spoke. "Should you not address the master of this house first, boy?"

"Peace, brother," Poseidon said. "The boy defers to his father. This is only right."

"You still claim him then?" Zeus asked, menacingly. "You claim this child whom you sired against our sacred oath?"

"I have admitted my wrongdoing," Poseidon said. "Now I would hear him speak."

Wrongdoing. I genuinely felt bad for Percy, Poseidon must realize that his wrongdoing practically saved the world and stopped a war.

"I have spared him once already," Zeus grumbled. "Daring to fly through my domain...pah! I should have blasted him out of the sky for his impudence."

"And risk destroying your own master bolt?" Poseidon asked calmly. "Let us hear him out, brother."

Zeus grumbled some more. "I shall listen," he decided. "Then I shall make up my mind whether or not to cast them down from Olympus."

Them...did he just threaten me? Bastard.

"Perseus," Poseidon said. "Look at me."

"Address Lord Zeus, boy," Poseidon told him."Tell him your story."

So he told Zeus everything, just as it had happened. He took out the metal cylinder, which began sparking in the Sky God's presence, and laid it at his feet.

There was a long silence, broken only by the crackle of the hearth fire.

Zeus opened his palm. The lightning bolt flew into it. As he closed his fist, the metallic points flared with electricity, until he was holding what looked more like the classic thunderbolt, a twenty-foot javelin of arcing.

"I sense the boy tells the truth," Zeus muttered. "But that Ares would do such a thing...it is most unlike him."

"He is proud and impulsive," Poseidon said. "It runs in the family."

"Lord?" Percy asked.

They both said, "Yes?"

"Ares didn't act alone. Someone else-something else-came up with the idea." He described his dreams.

"In the dreams," he said, "the voice told me to bring the bolt to the Underworld. Ares hinted that he'd been having dreams, too. I think he was being used, just as I was, to start a war."

"You are accusing Hades, after all?" Zeus asked.

"No," he said. "I mean, Lord Zeus, I've been in the presence of Hades. This feeling on the beach was different. It was the same thing I felt when I got close to that pit. That was the entrance to Tartarus, wasn't it? Something powerful and evil is stirring down there...something even older than the gods."

Poseidon and Zeus looked at each other. They had a quick, intense discussion in Ancient Greek. I only caught one word. Father.

Poseidon made some kind of suggestion, but Zeus cut him off. Poseidon tried to argue. Zeus held up his hand angrily.

"We will speak of this no more," Zeus said. "I must go personally to purify this thunderbolt in the waters of Lemnos, to remove the human taint from its metal."

He rose and looked at us His expression softened just a fraction of a degree. "You have done me a service, demi-gods. Few heroes could have accomplished as much."

"It's 'Demititan'," I corrected. "Hope you see the difference."

Percy sucked in his breath and Poseidon looked at me in amusement. For a nanosecond, I felt the electricity in the master bolt trying to turn me into ashes, but Zeus stopped. There was a silent tension in the Air.

"I had help, sir," Percy finally said. "Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase-"

"To show you my thanks, I shall spare your life. I do not trust you, Perseus Jackson and Aquila Scott. I do not like what your arrival means for the future of Olympus. But for the sake of peace in the family, I shall let you live."

"Um...thank you, sir."

"Do not presume to fly again. Do not let me find you here when I return. Otherwise, you shall taste this bolt. And it shall be your last sensation."

Thunder shook the palace. With a blinding flash of lightning, Zeus was gone.

We were alone in the throne room with Poseidon.

"Your uncle," Poseidon sighed, "has always had a flair for dramatic exits. I think he would've done well as the god of theater."

I realized he was speaking with Percy, I thought I could give them some private bonding time.

"Uh, Percy? I'll wait outsi-"

"No!" He said quickly.

An uncomfortable silence.

"Sir," He said, "what was in that pit?"

Poseidon regarded him. "Have you not guessed?"

"Kronos," Percy said. "The king of the Titans."

What? I stared at him.

Even in the throne room of Olympus, far away from Tartarus, the name Kronos darkened the room, made the hearth fire seem not quite so warm on my back.

Poseidon gripped his trident. "In the First War, Percy, Zeus cut our father Kronos into a thousand pieces, just as Kronos had done to his own father, Ouranos. Zeus cast Kronos's remains into the darkest pit of Tartarus. The Titan army was scattered, their mountain fortress on Etna destroyed, their monstrous allies driven to the farthest corners of the earth. And yet Titans cannot die, any more than we gods can. Whatever is left of Kronos is still alive in some hideous way, still conscious in his eternal pain, still hungering for power."

"He's healing," he said. "He's coming back."

Poseidon shook his head. "From time to time, over the eons, Kronos has stirred. He enters men's nightmares and breathes evil thoughts. He wakens restless monsters from the depths. But to suggest he could rise from the pit is another thing."

"That was Kronos?" I whispered. Percy somehow heard that, and so did Poseidon.

"You said you knew..." Percy trailed off.

"The one who spoke in my dreams and the one who helped me escape Underworld was Krios." I stated.

"How do you know that for sure?" Percy asked.

"He said it himself."

There was a long silence.

"Perhaps, it was different for both of you," Poseidon said. "Your grandfathers spoke to you."

That's right, it might be that way, but...

"Kronos or Krios, both are not any less dangerous and powerful," Poseidon was silent for a long time.

"Lord Zeus has closed discussion on this matter. He will not allow talk of Kronos or Krios, You have completed your quest, children. That is all you need to do."

"But-" Percy stopped himself. "As...as you wish, Father." A faint smile played on his lips.

"Obedience does not come naturally to you, does it?"

"No . . .sir."

"I must take some blame for that, I suppose. The sea does not like to be restrained." He rose to his full height and took up his trident. Then he shimmered and became the size of a regular man, standing directly in front of Percy. "You must go, child."

Poseidon's eyes took on a little sadness. "When you return home, Percy, you must make an important choice. You will find a package waiting in your room."

"A package?"

"You will understand when you see it. No one can choose your path, Percy. You must decide." Percy nodded.

"Your mother is a queen among women," Poseidon said wistfully. "I had not met such a mortal woman in a thousand years. Still...I am sorry you were born, child. I have brought you a hero's fate, and a hero's fate is never happy. It is never anything but tragic."

Poseidon speaking of Percy's mother made me remember something;

Four years ago

"Dad?" I asked. Astraeus turned towards me.

"Yes?"

"Why can't I visit my mother?" I asked, almost a year had passed and I hadn't visited my family yet. Dad never talked anything about her. It was hard to ignore.

He opened his mouth and closed it again. "You don't like it in here?"

"No, that's not what I mean! I'd be happy to visit them, it's been too long,"

The titan of dusk sighed, his eyes became dull and filled with foreign emotion. He squatted down in front of me.

"Your mother is a little busy right now, we could go see her later, okay?" He took my small hands into his.

"She doesn't work, I doubt it. I miss Eric, can we go, please?" I pouted.

"I thought we had plans for today," Astraeus's eyes glinted.

"Plans?"

"Ice cream party, remember? Vega's taking you to New york,"

"She's said we're going on Friday, today's Tuesday." I blinked, or was it Friday? I had a calendar in my room but I don't always keep track of dates.

"No, today's Friday, where's Vega?"

I giggled, remembering what I did a few minutes ago. "She's busy,"

"Busy doing what?"

"Finding me," I grinned.

"Hide and Seek?" Dad laughed.

"No," I said. "then I guess we can visit Mother tomorrow."

"Uh, we'll see."

"How did you meet her?"

The question caught him by surprise, but he looked relieved the topic had changed.

"Why this question suddenly?"

"I'm curious!"

"It's no fairytale, we didn't meet at a ball or something."

"That's okay, tell me."

He sighed. "I don't think you will give up."

"Of course not! I won't leave you alone until you tell me."

He chuckled. "Aren't you a little too stubborn?"

I giggled. "How could I be your daughter if I wasn't stubborn?"

"Right, so where do I begin?"

"How did a Titan meet a mortal?"

"An exhibition, astronomical exhibition. That's where I first saw your mother, she was rolling her eyes at their ridiculous theories. I was amused and attracted, so I made an attempt to have a small chat. Let's just say the small chat turned out a lot different than I wanted it gone but I won't complain,"

"She had an undying love for the stars and I pretended to be an astronomical prodigy, which I am of course. She was impressed by my Irresistible charm and divinely handsome face."

​​​​​​I rolled my eyes playfully. "She has a bad taste in men,"

He placed his hand on his chest and gasped dramatically. "Harsh, we need to get your eyes checked later,"

​​​​"My eyes are in perfect condition,"

"Doesn't matter, back to topic. She stayed only for a while but that was more than enough time for me to change my perspective on the mortal world,"

"Wow,"

"Life without love is a life wasted." He stated.

"That's sweet."

"Indeed, I guess you can imagine the rest of the story," he said. "One thing we know is that sometimes the people who we love or the people who love us, make the difference, so choose carefully who you trust."

"That's off-topic," I said.

"In other words, no boys for you." He said.

"What? You just said love—"

"I fell in love when I was 8,054 years old."

"You can't expect me to live 8,000