Sea Princess

Chapter 25

I sighed as Artemis prepared to head up to Olympus. She was saying good-bye to everyone and saying a little to them after that. I was a little bit aways from the group trying to process what had happened on the mountain. I couldn't believe Luke was dead. I felt so numb. I heard footsteps as she made her way over to me. I was staring up into the sky at Zoe's constellation. She sighed and glanced down at me. I knew there was going to be little heart to heart moment with me since I was once a fellow Hunter. I swear sometimes she still wanted me to rejoin the hunt.

"You were being reckless." She commented to me. I nodded knowing I was going to get reprimanded by her sooner or later for going with Luke to try to help everyone out. I never said I had smart ideas sometimes, but they seemed logical at the time.

"I thought...I thought I could help him." I whispered as my voice broke. She stood there for a moment not saying anything before looking down at me.

"You helped him to a degree. He did not give up in love Cassi and never stopped fighting for you. I may not be Aphrodite, but I could see that he did love you. You taught him what love was and to never give up fighting for what you believed in. That's why he always fought for you. He was a strong-willed individual on the wrong path. Something that was decided long ago." She muttered as she put a hand on my shoulder. I glanced up at her confused. What did she mean it was decided long ago that he was on the path of evil? I thought it was right before Percy came to camp when that started to happen.

"My lady?" I asked confused. She shook her head at me.

"Do not worry child, but I must leave now to make it to Olympus in time. Goodbye." She murmured. I nodded and watched as she got back into her chariot before disappearing in a silver light. I sighed and walked over to where the crowd of people were. Percy looked at me as I wiped a stray tear away from my eye. That's when four Pegasus land right in front of us. I blinked confused.

"Blackjack." I smiled.

yo bosses! You guys managed to stay alive without me! He said. I shook my head, rolling my eyes as I did so.

"It was rough." Percy said. I chuckled and sighed.

I brought Guido, Porkpie, and Diamond with me. Blackjack said. I nodded as I walked over to Diamond. She was my Pegasus back at camp. She had a white diamond shaped spot right in the center of her head, thus how she got her name. She would only let me ride her.

Any of these goons you want us to stampede? Blackjack asked.

"Nah," Percy and I said together. I chuckled and Diamond nuzzled my face.

You okay Cassi? You seem upset. She murmured. I nodded and tucked my face into the side of her neck as I ran my hand up and down the side of her muzzle.

"Yeah, I'll tell you about it when we back to camp." I said. She whinnied and nodded.

"They're friends. We need to get to Olympus and fast." Percy said to them. I nodded and climbed onto the back of Diamond carefully. I steadied myself carefully as Dr. Chase, Annabeth's dad, who apparently saved us with a bi-plane and celestial bronze bullets after...after Luke fell. My hand shook slightly, and I clenched them together in an attempt to get them to stop. After an awkward and heavy heart filled goodbye Annabeth, Percy, Thalia, and I were on our way back to Olympus.

We were halfway home when Thalia fell asleep in midflight. I sighed and just looked down at the dark ground beneath us. I heard Percy and Annabeth talking about her dad before changing the subject to Luke. She didn't believe he was dead. I saw Percy glance over at me and I saw his shoulders slump. I knew for my sake he wanted Luke dead. He didn't want to have to worry about me being stupid and running into stupid, dangerous situations with him anymore. I stopped listening because I was going to play stupid. I swallowed as New York came into view.

"There is it. It's started." Thalia said. I glanced over to see her sitting up and pointing above the Empire State building where Olympus was stationed. This was going to be my first time in Olympus.

"What's started?" Percy asked.

"The winter solstice. The Council of the Gods." Thalia said. I nodded and sighed as we flew towards, what was going to be our impending death.