VIDEO GAMES! (p. jackson) (#1)

- fourteen

THEY CIRCLED OVER MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. Rose only been there once before, traveling by elevator up to the secret six hundredth floor of the Empire State Building.

This time, if it was possible, Olympus amazed her even more.

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from bloodred 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 there. Rose caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things she 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.

Their pegasi set them down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before Rose could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.

Rose was filled with a sense of doom, knowing that the gods could kill her and her friends with a snap of their fingers.

Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving the four of them alone. For a minute they stood there regarding the palace, the way they'd stood together in front of Westover Hall, what seemed like a million years ago.

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, Zoë the Hunter, 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. Suddenly, facing monsters felt like a picnic.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Rose 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!"

He 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.

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.

Rose looked nervously at her mother, Aphrodite. Her features blurred and shifted for a few seconds. Then, she had dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders, and sparkling green eyes.

Rose wasn't sure how Aphrodite would feel about seeing her, but the corners of her eyes crinkled with smile lines. She winked at Rose.

"Your mom looks just like you," Percy said. "It's kinda weird. I thought the gods didn't have dna."

Rose stared at him, wondering if he had really just said what she think he did.

"What?" Percy asked, dark brows furrowed.

"Nothing," Rose said. God, Silena was gonna lose her mind when she heard about that.

Grover gave Annabeth, Rose, and Thalia big hugs. Rose winced as he squeezed her broken rib. She did her best to keep pressure off of her ankle.