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chapter fifty-three ☄︎. *. ⋆
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WE TOUCHED DOWN at Crissy Field just after nightfall.
Percy and Dr. Chase laid Zoë's body down in the grass. We all gave Artemis some space as she whispered a blessing to the fallen Hunter. A silvery wisp of smoke exhaled from Zoë's lips and was caught in the hands of Artemis. Zoë's body shimmered and disappeared.
Artemis stood and breathed into her cupped hand and released the silver smoke into the sky. It flew up, sparkling, and vanished.
For a moment I didn't notice anything different. Then Annabeth gasped. Looking up in the sky, I saw that the stars were brighter now. They made a pattern I had never seen before—a gleaming constellation that looked a lot like a girl's figure—a girl with a bow, running across the sky.
"Let the world honor you, my Huntress," Artemis said. "Live forever in the stars."
I swallowed a sob. Zoë was with the stars now. Bianca was, too. We'd lost both our Hunters over the course of one quest. And I felt like I was to blame for both of them.
It wasn't easy saying our goodbyes. The thunder and lightning were all still boiling over at Mount Tamalpais. Artemis was so upset she was flickering with silver light. This scared me, because if she suddenly lost control and appeared in her fully divine form, we'd all disintegrate on sight.
"I must go to Olympus immediately," Artemis said. "I will not be able to take you, but I will send help."
The goddess set her hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "You are brave beyond measure, my girl. You will do what is right."
She met my eyes, then looked down, almost thoughtfully. I wanted to know what she was thinking. She straightened her posture and looked up at the sky again, then back to me. "I am no fool, demigod," she said. "I knew you had no interest in joining my ranks. And that is okay. I offer you instead; my blessing."
My eyebrows shot up on my forehead. I looked to Annabeth, then to Thalia, sure one of them was about to accept, because there was no way Artemis had been offering her blessing to me. But both of them were giving me proud looks. Annabeth nodded her head.
I swallowed and turned back to the goddess. "I—um, I accept."
She gave me a pleased smile. "Then consider yourself blessed, Theodosia Grace Scott. And hope that this blessing keeps my brother from destroying you again."
I was too shellshocked to even begin to question how she knew my full name. I don't think I've even told you my middle name.
Then she looked quizzically at Thalia, as if she weren't sure what to make of this younger daughter of Zeus. Thalia seemed reluctant to look up, but something made her, and she held the goddess's eyes. I wasn't sure what passed between them, but Artemis's gaze softened with sympathy. Then she turned to Percy.
