The First Goddess Alexis - Heroes of Old and New

Chapter 16.

Hi, guys!!! Guess what? 

I have a surprise for you! But first you'll have to read the chapter before you get to see it (or read it?).

Anyway...

Here are the results for:

THE QUESTION THINGY

First one to answer: SlytherinPrideEver

THE (CORRECT) ANSWER: 8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune (though some count Pluto as the 9th planet).

Now on with the chapter!

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Flying for Percy was bad enough, he was a son of Poseidon. But flying straight up to Zeus's palace - with me trailing along - thunder and lightning swirling around it, was even worse.

We circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. I've never been to the Olympus here in New York, but I have been to the actual mountain. Quite an experience...

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from blood red to indigo. Apparently no one ever slept on Olympus. The twisting streets were full of demigods and nature spirits and minor godlings bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn't seem to exist here. I caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things I couldn't name. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes.

Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods. 

Our pegasi set us down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before I could even think to knock, the gates opened themselves.

The pegasi neighed us goodbye, and I didn't know why, but I had a sense of doom. For at least the others. I'd never seen all twelve of the new Olympians together, we don't exactly have 'family dinners' every Sunday or something. So it was quite weird. 

Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving the rest of us alone. For a minute we stood there regarding the palace, the way we'd stood together just a few days ago. 

"Alexis, don't forget your hood to cover yourself," Asteria reminded me from my side. 

"Oh, right," I sigh and raise it up, hiding my head and casting a bit of a shadow on my face.

Percy looked at me weirdly.

"Just not really used to the lights," I say and he shrugged.

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

~~~

It was boring. Extremely boring.

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placements 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 the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about five meters tall, and I'm telling you. It was quite weird. I mean, why grow so big?

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said from her seat.

"Moo!".

That's when I 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 of the sides and the 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 us, he cried, "You made it!".