¹𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒 ! - percy jackson

-016

"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 teased, earning a glare from her. "Jeez, you need to lighten up. I agree with you, anyways."

"Don't call me sis!" Artemis snapped at him before turning to the rest of the Olympians, "I will reward them."

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

A symphony of nodding heads rippled through the divine gathering, a reluctant consensus emerging among the gods.

The realization struck Stella with an unwelcome pang as she connected the dots—Bessie. She widened her eyes at the thought of the innocent, cute animal being killed.

Percy voiced out, "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," Percy insisted, turning to Zeus. "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 drifting 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 seventeen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."

Stella spoke up. "Sir, you have to trust them."

Zeus scowled, the embodiment of skepticism. "Trust a hero?"

"Stella 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 inclined his head, summoning Artemis closer. Their conversation, veiled in secrecy, unfolded in hushed tones as the Lord of the Sky leaned down to lend an ear.

"Stella," Percy said under his breath. "Don't."

She frowned at him, puzzled. "What?"

"Look, I need to tell you something," He confessed, his words stumbling out in a rush.  "I couldn't stand it if...I don't want you to—"

"Percy?" Stella interrupted, worried about his anxious rambling. "You look like you're going to be sick."

He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. And then Artemis turned.

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

A quiet protest slipped from Percy's lips, a murmur unheard amid the tension that gripped the room.

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

A stunned hush enveloped the room. Percy's gaze fixated on Thalia, disbelief etched on his features. Stella, however, smiled knowingly, as if she had glimpsed the threads of fate weaving this very moment. Annabeth, too, seemed to anticipate the outcome, her hand briefly squeezing Thalia's before letting go.