¹On This Spring Day.

018.

Grover gave Violet, Annabeth, and Thalia big hugs. Then he grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" the son of Poseidon 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 towards the half-bloods, her 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 told them. "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 ..."

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

Artemis looked around at the assembled gods, meeting their faces individually. Zeus in his dark pinstriped 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 with colors like peacock feathers. The Lady Hera.

On Zeus's right, a man who looked uncannily like Percy. The Lord of the Seas, Poseidon. ( Violet found it odd to see a god dressed up like a father on vacation—a tacky patterned button-up and tan beach shorts, but she kept quiet. ) Next to Percy's father, 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.

Next to Hephaestus was the most normal-looking god. He wore a business suit, checking messages on his caduceus cell phone. God of Thieves, Lord Hermes. Apollo leaned back on his golden throne with his shades on. He had iPod headphones on, so Violet wasn't sure he was even listening or paying attention, but with the way he glared at her, she knew he was. Dionysus looked bored, twirling a grapevine between his fingers. And Ares, well, he sat on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering at Percy while he sharpened a knife.

And on the very end of the gods' side sat a very plain black rolly chair. And on that plain chair sat a man, a man that radiated death. His eyes were the same color as the darkest of soil, such an intense color of black it made Violet shiver. The god's stare was empty, but somehow, scarily invasive, as if he could see straight into her soul. His black hair hung limply on his head, and his pale face was gaunt.

Lord Hades, Violet realized with a shiver, God of the Underworld. He had made it for the winter solstice, the only time he would ever be allowed on Olympus.

Swallowing heavily, Violet looked over to the goddess's side. Sat next to Hera was a dark-haired goddess in green robes who sat next on a throne woven of apple tree branches. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Next to her sat a goddess with stormy grey eyes, wearing an elegant white dress. From the eyes alone, Violet knew this was Annabeth's mother; Lady Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Battle. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled at Violet knowingly, making the daughter of Eros look away defiantly.