CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

₊˚࿐࿔ 𖥧‧₊⚘ ❀༉. 𓏲｡

They landed at Crissy Field after nightfall. 

As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug. "Dad! You flew... you shot... oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!"

Her father blushed. "Well, not bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."

"But the celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"

"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you... left."

Annabeth looked down, embarrassed.

"I decided to try melting some down to make bullet casings," he continued. "Just a little experiment."

He said it like it was no big deal, but he had a gleam in his eye. Sylvie could understand all of a sudden why Athena, Goddess of Crafts and Wisdom, had taken a liking to him. He was an excellent mad scientist at heart.

"Dad..." Annabeth faltered.

"Annabeth, Sylvie, Percy," Thalia interrupted. Her voice was urgent. She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoë's side, binding the huntress's wounds.

Sylvie, Percy, and Annabeth ran over to help, but there wasn't much they could do. They had no ambrosia or nectar. No regular medicine would help. It was dark, but Sylvie could see that Zoë didn't look good. She was shivering, and the faint glow that usually hung around her was fading.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Sylvie desperately asked Artemis. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, Sylvie. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoë's side, but Zoë gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoë whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoë's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

But in that moment, Sylvie knew it wasn't just the poison that was killing her. It was her father's final blow. Zoë had known all along that the Oracle's prophecy was about her: she would die by a parent's hand. And yet she'd taken the quest anyway.

Sylvie couldn't take it. She scooted closer, leaning over Zoë.

"Zoë, you can't—"

"I am sorry about what thy sister did to thee, Sylvie," Zoë said.

Sylvie shook her head rapidly, eyes shutting tight because they were starting to sting. "I can't lose anyone else tonight. Not you."

Zoë smiled weakly. "I can finally admit I liked thy... cargo pants."

Sylvie laughed. Or maybe she sobbed. Either way, Zoë's parting words made Sylvie's first tears drip down onto her dying body. Sylvie tried saying more, but Zoë had already taken Thalia's hand.

"We could have been sisters," Zoë said. "I am sorry we argued."

"It's my fault," Thalia said, blinking hard. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, men—everything."

"Perhaps not all men," Zoë murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

A speechless Percy brought out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly. "You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like... like Hercules. I am honored that you carry this sword."

"Zoë—" he said.

"Stars," she whispered. "I can see the stars again, my lady."

A tear trickled down Artemis's cheek. "Yes, my brave one. They are beautiful tonight."

"Stars," Zoë repeated. Her eyes fixed on the night sky. And she did not move again.

Sylvie suddenly couldn't stop the tears. Thalia lowered her head. Annabeth gulped down a sob, and her father put his hands on her shoulders. Sylvie watched as Artemis cupped her hand above Zoë's mouth and spoke a few words in Ancient Greek. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled from Zoë's lips and was caught in the hand of the goddess. Zoë's body shimmered and disappeared.

Artemis stood, said a kind of blessing, breathed into her cupped hand and released the silver dust to the sky. It flew up, sparkling, and vanished.

For a moment Sylvie didn't see anything different. Then Annabeth gasped. Looking up in the sky, Sylvie saw that the stars were brighter now.

They made a pattern Sylvie had never noticed before—a gleaming constellation that looked a lot like a girl's figure—a girl with a bow, running across the sky.

"Let the world honor you, my Huntress," Artemis said. "Live forever in the stars."

That was Sylvie's breaking point.

A late night breeze passed through, carrying with it the scent of strawberries and the shredded remains of Sylvie's anguish. The fury was still there, and the feeling of a betrayal so grand it might never be bridged, but the exhaustion had begun to settle in.

Everything that had gone down—Bianca, Zoë, Eurydice, Eurydice, Eurydice—could not be ignored by Sylvie's brain any longer. The thoughts attacked her all at once when she saw the constellation of Zoë in the sky. She was sitting on the ground, tears running down her face, and she had never felt more humiliated.

Eurydice was right—Sylvie was weak. She was weak and pathetic and all she could do was furiously wipe at her eyes, not looking at anyone, trying to stop the waterfall from gaining any more momentum.

Suddenly she felt a tentative hand on her shoulder, causing Sylvie to flinch away madly—Eurydice used to touch her that soft—but the touch only stayed with a burning impression on Sylvie's skin. Despite the cold. Despite the layers of clothing.

"It's okay," the sound of Percy's voice whispered, soft but fierce.

But it wasn't okay, and Sylvie's crying wasn't slowing down, and she couldn't calm down. Percy was here, but Sylvie wasn't calming down. She still felt like she was free-falling—like the assurance of the ground had been ripped from under her—and there was no one there to catch her.

"Hey. Sylvie. Hey, look at me."

She didn't. She couldn't. Sylvie kept wiping at her eyes, blinking hard, but the tears wouldn't stop. "I can't..." Sylvie said, but she wasn't sure how to finish that. Can't stop. Can't do this. Can't do any of this.

"Hey."

Then Percy put his second hand on her shoulder, and he pulled Sylvie forward with a jolt that had Sylvie's head snapping up to meet his gaze.

Sylvie crumbled instantly.

She let out a gut-wrenching sob, throwing herself at him in a hug. Percy saw this coming and caught her easier than breathing and quicker than turning on a light.

"It's just me and you," he whispered. "Just me and you."

Sylvie's tears did not cease to fall, nor did they slow down. Instead, in the safety of Percy's arms, Sylvie fell apart completely. Her tears came faster, and they were no longer silent. Her sobs reverberated into Percy's chest, and his arms around her tightened, one of them moving upward to hold the back of Sylvie's head. Sylvie could feel Percy's chin on top of her head.

"Sylvie," Percy breathed, and Sylvie felt his breath as it tickled her hair. "Sylvie. Sylvie." Percy's voice was soft and heavy and wrecked and he was just saying Sylvie, just her name, but the way he was saying it made Sylvie want to bury herself in the word, in Percy's voice. "Sylvie. You're okay. You're okay. Sylvie."

Sylvie just wanted comfort and warmth and to be remembered and to belong somewhere and to have her eldest sister again.

"She's gone—she's—I don't know—"

"It's okay," Percy repeated. "Just breathe with me, and we can figure out the next step together."

That was all they did. They breathed. In, and out, and in again. Percy's hold and the sickly-sweet smell of rotting strawberry fields kept Sylvie rooted to the ground. To the universe.

In, and out, and in again.

╰━━━ ◦ ❀ ◦ ❀◦ ━━━╯

It wasn't easy saying their good-byes. The thunder and lightning were still boiling over Mount Tamalpais in the north. Artemis was so upset she flickered with silver light. This made Sylvie nervous, because if Artemis suddenly lost control and appeared in her fully divine form, they would disintegrate by looking at her.

"I must go to Olympus immediately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you, but I will send help."

The goddess set her hand on Sylvie's shoulder. "You are much stronger than even you give yourself credit for, Sylvie Duvall. I have always been right about you, in the best way possible."

"And Annabeth," Artemis nodded at her. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. You will do what is right."

Then she looked quizzically at Thalia, as if she weren't sure what to make of this younger daughter of Zeus. Thalia seemed reluctant to look up, but something made her, and she held the goddess's eyes. Sylvie wasn't sure what passed between them, but Artemis's gaze softened with sympathy. Then she turned to Percy.

"You did well," she said. "For a man."

She mounted her chariot, which began to glow. They averted our eyes. There was a flash of silver, and the goddess was gone.

"Well," Dr. Chase sighed. "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."

Annabeth turned toward him. "Dad, I... I'm sorry that—"

"Shh." He hugged her. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."

His voice was a little shaky, but he gave Annabeth a brave smile.

Then Sylvie heard the whoosh of large wings. Four pegasi descended through the fog: three white winged horses and one pure black one.

"Blackjack!" Percy called.

"What'd you just call me?" Sylvie asked incredulously.

Then the pure black pegasus whined, like he was beyond confused with what Sylvie had just said.

"Why would I—" Percy's face lightened as he realized something. "Oh. Oh, I see."

"What?" Sylvie asked, exhausted from the meltdown she just had.

"Applejack," Percy gestured to her, then to the pegasus, "meet Blackjack."

Both beings stared blankly at Percy.

"You're kidding," she accused.

"I'm not! That's really his name!" Percy defended, grateful for Sylvie's judgement, because it meant she wasn't crying. "And I didn't even name him—this is just a coincidence."

Sylvie's suspicious stare lingered on him, but she was too tired to argue. Plus, he'd just held her weeping figure for however long. The least Sylvie could do was believe him.

"Well... Hi, Blackjack," said Sylvie. "I guess."

Sylvie would like to say Blackjack greeted her in return. Then the pegasus turned onto to Percy.

See, the thing was: Percy could communicate with all types of horses, since his father (Poseidon, if you've gone this long without noticing) was the creator of them. Sylvie wished she could tell you it wasn't as weird as it sounded, but watching Percy and Blackjack communicate, she knew that would be a lie.

"No, Blackjack," Percy's face burned. "It's not like that."

(Queue equine response.)

"It was rough," Percy admitted.

(Queue longer equine response.)

"Nah," Percy said. "These are my friends. We need to get to Olympus pretty fast."

(Queue normal-length equine response.)

"No, he's not," Percy assured, looking at Dr. Chase. The professor was staring openmouthed at the pegasi.

"Fascinating," he said. "Such maneuverability! How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the horse's body, I wonder?"

Blackjack cocked his head.

"Why, if the British had had these pegasi in the cavalry charges on the Crimea," Dr. Chase said, "the Charge of the Light Brigade—"

"Dad!" Annabeth interrupted.

Dr. Chase blinked. He looked at his daughter and managed a smile. "I'm sorry, my dear. I know you must go."

He gave her one last awkward, well-meaning hug. As she turned to climb aboard a pegasus, Dr. Chase called, "Annabeth. I know... I know San Francisco is a dangerous place for you. But please remember, you always have a home with us. We will keep you safe."

Annabeth didn't answer, but her eyes were red as she turned away. Dr. Chase started to say more, then apparently thought better of it. He raised his hand in a sad farewell and trudged away across the dark field.

Sylvie, Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia mounted their pegasi. Together they soared over the bay and flew toward the eastern hills. Soon San Francisco was only a glittering crescent behind them, with an occasional flicker of lightning in the north.

Sylvie was so exhausted she fell asleep on her pegasus immediately—That should go to show how tired she truly was, because any other moment, Sylvie would be too anxious at the thought of sleeping in the sky. Or the thought of receiving nightmares so horrible after what she'd endured.

Well, she didn't fall off her pegasus and she didn't have a nightmare. Sylvie liked to think it was the Fates' way of saying Sorry we traumatized you and broke your heart and shattered the view of the one person you looked up to in life!

Anyways, what Sylvie was trying to say: she woke up when they made it to New York.

"There it is," Thalia's voice was the first thing Sylvie heard. She was pointing toward Manhattan, which was quickly zooming into view. "It's started."

"What's started?" Sylvie asked.

Then she looked where Thalia was pointing. High above the Empire State Building, Olympus was its own island of light, a floating mountain ablaze with torches and braziers, white marble palaces gleaming in the early morning air.

"The winter solstice," Thalia said. "The Council of the Gods."

╰━━━ ◦ ❀ ◦ ❀◦ ━━━╯

BAILEY YAPS...

Okay so um this chapter is incredibly short and you know what i have to say for that

Absolutely nothing. Zoë is dead. Sylvie is getting her shit thrown through the fan. Have a happy day.

However the song I'm dedicating to this chapter is Call Your Mom by Noah Kahan pertaining to Persylv like "Don't let this darkness fool you all nights turned off can be turned on I'll drive I'll drive all night I'll call your mom. Oh, dear, don't be discouraged I've been exactly where you are."

Ok I got way too attached to Zoë writing this book like I didn't even love her this much until now and I might have shed a tear writing her death cus like. Dude. She literally got done wrong by everyone in her family. And a guy she really thought she could trust. And that's why she was so guarded. And the second Sylvie and them got her to finally put her guard down. She dies. Wow. Thanks Rick. Really nice of you Rick. I'm having a great time here Rick.

Is Percy being emotionally intelligent and properly comforting Sylvie in character for him?? No!!! Do I gaf??!?!?? NO!!!!!

Should I have found that scene adorable?? No!!! Do I gaf that I did find it adorable??!?!?? NO!!!!!

PERSYLV IS TOO CUTE!!

I'd say Persylv nation is so up rn but Sylvie is so So not up that it's painful. She has actually never been more low.

Thanks a lot you IDIOT... Thanks a lot Eurydice... Thanks A LOT Thanks to you my chargers not charging on me iPad because it's got used to your iPad instead of mine