{1} 𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐒𝐄𝐘𝐄 | p.jackson

c h a p t e r - t h i r t y - t h r e e

( chapter thirty-three )

in which the gods vote

TWELVE ENORMOUS THRONES MADE A U around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins back at Camp Half-Blood. The ceiling above glittered with constellations -- even the newest one, Zoë 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, and immediately Nia felt insanely uncomfortable. She had always hated being the center of attention. If you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once... Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic. 

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said. 

"Mooo!" 

That's when Nia noticed Naomi, Grover, and Bessie. 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. 

Naomi was standing awkwardly to the side while Grover was kneeling at Zeus's throne, as if he'd just been giving a report, but when the two of them saw Thalia, Annabeth, Percy, and Nia, Naomi's face split into a huge grin and Grover cried, "You made it!" 

The two started to run toward them, then remembered they were turning their backs on Zeus and looked for permission. 

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover or Naomi. The lord of the sky was staring intently at Thalia.

Naomi and Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Naomi's beat-up yellow sneakers looked slightly out of place in the palace. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed on the marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled. 

Nia looked over at her mother. Artemis nodded as if to say It's okay.

Nia tried to believe her.

Naomi and Grover gave them all big hugs. Grover had obviously filled her in on everything that happened on the quest because Naomi whispered to Nia, "Bianca wasn't your fault, you know."

Nia bit her lip. "I know."

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

"Do what?" Percy asked. 

"Heroes," Artemis called. The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, an auburn-haired woman, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians.