𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐗𝐈𝐑, 𝐏𝐉

𝟎𝟎𝟕.𝟑

And then, side by side, they walked into the throne room.

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoe 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. Percy saw Apollo, sitting by his golden throne his eyes covered by shades same as Juliet's but it was pretty clear with his expression that he was staring at Juliet and he wasn't happy as if noticing he wasn't okay Juliet held up a thumbs up to her dad making his face soften.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Percy noticed Bessie and Grover.

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. Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when he saw them, he cried, "You made it!"

"Omg what is that?" Juliet mumbled as she lightly pointed at bessie, her eyes wide in confusion.

"Uh, long story." Percy answered awkwardly.

Grover started to run toward them, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, and looked for permission.

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia, Just as Apollo was probably staring at the hunched over Juliet.

Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

Percy looked nervously at his father, Poseidon.

He was dressed similar to the last time Percy had seen him: beach shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and sandals. He had a weathered, suntanned face with a dark beard and deep green eyes. Percy wasn't sure how he would feel about seeing him again, Unlike Juliet, Percy couldn't say that he had a really good relationship with his dad. But the corners of his eyes crinkled with smile lines. He nodded as if to say It's okay.

Grover gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs, tried to hug Juliet who wasn't able to hug. As soon as she lost Percy and Annabeth's support she fell nearly on top of Grover, "It's going down, I'm yelling timber."

Percy wondered how Juliet could come up with Kesha and Pitbull when she was nearly dead and in the presence of gods. He hauled her up again, embarrassedly as all the gods stared at her in mild confusion and amusement. Hermes and Apollo were grinning and Poseidon had a fond smile.

Then Grover grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" He 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 toward them, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in 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..."