( chapter thirty-three )

in which the gods vote

TWELVE ENORMOUS THRONES MADE A U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins back at Camp Half-Blood. The ceiling above glittered with constellations -- even the newest one, Zoë 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, and immediately Nia felt insanely uncomfortable. She had always hated being the center of attention. If you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once... Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic. 

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said. 

"Mooo!" 

That's when Nia noticed Naomi, Grover, and Bessie. 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. 

Naomi was standing awkwardly to the side while Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when the two of them saw Thalia, Annabeth, Percy, and Nia, Naomi's face split into a huge grin and Grover cried, "You made it!" 

The two started to run toward them, then remembered they were turning their backs on Zeus and looked for permission. 

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover or Naomi. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia.

Naomi and Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Naomi's beat-up yellow sneakers looked slightly out of place in the palace. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled. 

Nia looked over at her mother. Artemis nodded as if to say It's okay.

Nia tried to believe her.

Naomi and Grover gave them all big hugs. Grover had obviously filled her in on everything that happened on the quest because Naomi whispered to Nia, "Bianca wasn't your fault, you know."

Nia bit her lip. "I know."

Then Grover grasped Percy's arms. "Percy; Bessie, Naomi, 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, an auburn-haired woman, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. 

Nia's mother walked toward her daughter and her friends, silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion on her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis said. "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, Percy and Naomi's father: 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, wearing a business suit today, checking messages on his caduceus mobile phone. Nia's uncle -- as Apollo again -- leaned back in his golden throne with his shades on. He had iPod headphones on, so Nia wasn't sure he was even listening, but he gave her a thumbs-up. 

Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grapevine between his fingers. And Ares, well, he sat on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering 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'smother, Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled directly at Percy for some strange reason.

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

"I gotta say," Apollo broke the silence, "these kids did OK." 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. Nia honestly couldn't blame him. "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, Percy, and Naomi. "These three 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 or daughter to bits." 

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

Artemis gave Ares a cutting glare. "My daughter will not suffer because of your ego, Ares."

Nia blushed furiously and studied the floor.

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

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

Athena cut her daughter off with a calm but firm look. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath not to have more children. Only Hades kept his word, a fact that I find ironic. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder gods... such as Thalia, Percy, and Naomi... 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 grapevine 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 Nia and her friends 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 any of them punished, least of all my daughter," said Artemis. "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. It took Nia a second to realize what they were talking about. Then her heart turned to lead. Bessie. Nia wanted to speak up, but Percy beat her to it:

"Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?"

"Mooooooo!" Bessie protested.

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

"Dad," said Percy, "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!" Naomi agreed along with her brother. "Bessie hasn't even done anything yet!"

"Controlling the prophecies never works," Percy said. "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, Zoë 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. Nia furrowed her brows. Choosing a new lieutenant? Artemis knew that Nia had no intentions to join the Hunt. So who would she ask?

"I shall have a new lieutenant, if she will accept it," Artemis announced. "Thalia, daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"

Stunned silence filled the room. But to Nia, it felt right for Thalia to join the Hunt. Somehow, without her even realizing it, it had been obvious from day one. She smiled along with Annabeth, both of them squeezing Thalia's hands, then letting go.

"I will," Thalia said firmly.

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 Nia's mother and began to say the words that Bianca had said all that time ago: "I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men..."

NAOMI HUGGED THALIA SO TIGHTLY everyone was sure that the daughter of Zeus would collapse from low oxygen intake.

"Uh, Naomi?" Thalia eventually choked out. "I love you too... but I can't breathe."

"I don't care," Naomi's muffled voice rang out. "This might be the last time I see you for a while. I've gotta get my hug now while I still can."

Finally, Naomi released Thalia from the hug and wiped a tear from her cheek. Nia quickly gave Thalia a hug too. "Be careful, OK? And take care of yourself."

"I will, Ana," Thalia promised, "but only if you do the same."

Nia grinned. "Deal."

Then Thalia did something that surprised Nia. She went over to Percy, smiled, and, in front of the whole assembly, gave the son of Poseidon a big hug. 

To Nia's amusement, Percy blushed. (After all, Thalia had sworn off men. How could she be jealous?)

When Thalia pulled away, Percy gaped at her. "Um... Aren't you supposed to not do that anymore? Hug boys, I mean?" 

"I'm honoring a friend," she corrected him. "I must join the Hunt, Percy. I haven't known peace since... since Half-Blood Hill. I finally feel like I have a home. But you're a hero. You will be the one of the prophecy." 

"Great," Percy muttered. 

Thalia rolled her eyes slightly. "I'm proud to be your friend." 

She hugged Annabeth, who was trying hard not to cry. Then she even hugged Grover, who looked just about ready to pass out, like somebody had just given him an all-you-can-eat enchilada coupon. 

Looking around at them, Thalia laughed a little breathlessly, then said, "I'm gonna miss you all." And with that, she went to stand by Artemis's side.

"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said. 

"This boy and girl are still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is a temptation to great power. Even if we spare them both--" 

"No." Percy's voice rang out as he looked around at all the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. Our 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. This also clears the way for your sister to be the subject of the prophecy."

"Mother!" Annabeth said, exasperated. 

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

Poseidon stood. "I will not have a sea creature destroyed, if I can help it. And I can help it." 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 my children 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 -- and girl -- will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor." 

Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?" 

To Nia's surprise, a lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained. So did Ares and Athena. But everybody else... 

"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!"

SO, YOU HAVE PARTIES, RIGHT? And then you have huge, major, blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties. If you ever get a choice in the matter, go for the Olympian ones. You won't be disappointed.

The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and Nia realized 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 soundtrack. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station.

Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with his arm in arm -- his wife, Ariadne. For the first time since Nia had known him, Dionysus looked happy.

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 Nia (thankfully they had reduced themselves to human size, so they didn't accidentally trample partygoers under their feet), but she managed to dodge them for the most part.  All Nia wanted right then was to find some food and Cherry Coke and relax for a bit. Parties tended to exhaust her a bit.

With her plate of food in hand, Nia wove through the crowds that were dancing in the palace courtyards looking for a place to sit. Finally, she managed to find a semi-secluded spot and sat to eat her food.

Suddenly, a woman's voice said, "Hello, Nia."

Nia jumped slightly and turned. There was Artemis, smiling down at her.

"Mom! Um... hi."

"I hope you realize that you've done well," Artemis said, sitting down next to her daughter on the bench. "You should be celebrating with your friends."

"Ah, no," Nia cringed slightly, focusing on her plate of food. "Parties are great and all, but they aren't really my forte."

Artemis chuckled slightly. "Mine either. The food is always excellent, though."

Nia nodded, desperately trying to think of something else to say. Who knew when she would see her mother again? "Thank you again, by the way. For the lunakinesis. It saved my life."

Artemis smiled. "You are quite welcome. It's a very useful skill to have. Comes in handy. I guessed that you would need something. I am glad that you now have the ability."

There was a small silence for a few more seconds until Nia suddenly blurted out to her mother: "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything you wish."

Nia took a deep breath. "Why would you have me with my mother?"

Artemis raised an eyebrow at Nia, prompting her to go on.

"I mean, you took an oath to never fall in love. And then you had a daughter. You had to suffer because you broke that oath. All for one mortal woman. How... How was it worth it?"

Artemis studied Nia for a bit, then turned her face towards the night sky. "Your mother... is the most wonderful mortal that I have ever known. Her intelligence and self-worth. Her sense of right and wrong. How she would do anything for the people she cares about. How she cares about everything on the Earth -- big or small. I... That's what drew me to her. You grow more like her every day. And I would do the same every time, no matter what punishment I would have to accept. I do not regret anything. Why do you ask?"

"It's just... hard sometimes," Nia finally managed to choke out after a few minutes of speechlessness. "Sometimes I feel like a mistake."

"No. You, my daughter, are not a mistake, nor have you ever been," Artemis said firmly, cupping Nia's cheek with one hand. "Promise me that you'll remember that."

Nia forced a smile and nodded. "OK, Mom. I promise."

"Good." Artemis relaxed and smirked slightly. "Now... I believe a friend of yours would like your time. I won't take up any more of it."

Looking behind her, Nia saw Percy standing awkwardly to the side.

"Stay on your toes, my daughter," Artemis said, rising from her spot on the bench. "We may not see each other for some time."

And just like that, Nia's mother was gone.

NIA SMILED OVER AT HER FRIEND. "Hey, Perce."

Percy smiled back at Nia as he sat down on the bench next to her, but it didn't quite meet his eyes. Nia's fingers ghosted the new streak of gray in his hair that matched Annabeth's -- their painful souvenirs from holding Atlas's burden.

"I think you taking the sky was brave, you know," she said, her heart pounding in her chest.

Percy shrugged. "Yeah, well. Did what I had to do. It worked out. How's your cut?"

Nia tilted her head as a sort of so, so. "Used my freaky moonlight thing; that's totally what the prophecy was talking about. I'll have the cut checked out at camp, but I'm sure it'll be fine."

The two lapsed into a bit of silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. More like a quiet understanding. 

"You know, I, uh... I took your advice," Nia told Percy. "About my mom. I'm gonna go see her."

"Really?" Percy raised his eyebrows. "What made you change your mind?"

Nia hesitated before responding. "Bianca. Zoë. This entire quest. I... I just miss my mother more than I thought I did. We both deserve the chance to see each other again -- preferably before I die."

Percy nodded before saying, "You... You want me to come with you? For moral support?"

Nia shook her head. "Thanks for the offer, but I've gotta go alone."

Suddenly, Nia saw Annabeth, Grover, and Naomi grinning over at her and Percy and she rolled her eyes. Nia bumped Percy with her shoulder and nodded over to their friends.

Percy snorted. "Our friends are weird."

"The weirdest." Nia looked over at Percy's furrowed brows. "What? What are you thinking about?"

The atmosphere between the two shifted a little. On the surface, everything was the same: music was still playing; people were still dancing in the streets. But Percy Jackson turned to Nia Kamaria and said, "I, uh, was thinking that we got interrupted at Westover Hall. And... I think I owe you a dance." 

Nia smiled slowly. "All right, Jackson. Fair warning though: if I go down, I'm taking you down with me. I suck ass at dancing."

Percy laughed slightly. "I think I can manage."

And with that, Percy took Nia's hand. The two of them stood, both a little nervous, but a little elated as well. The music changed slightly and to Nia, it sounded like a slow dance: a little sad, but maybe a little hopeful, too.

oh thank you, whatever is out there! my laptop is finally working again! 

i must seem like the worst person in the world — just bailing on you guys like that again! damn my old macbook!

another update is coming up right after this one!

talk ( very ) soon!

—icedcoffeemug