¹𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀. percy jackson

XVI.

ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｔａｎｓ　ｃｕｒｓｅ

AFTER WHAT FELT LIKE FOREVER they landed at Crissy Field once the sun completely set.

As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug.

Lucia drowned out their conversation to kneel at Zoe's side with Artemis and Thalia.

"Do you have any Nectar or Ambrosia?" She asked

Thalia shook her head in defeat. "We lost it when we abandoned the van but do you know how to bind a wound?"

"I-'ve seen my brother do it- but i- I dont-"

"Try."

Lucia immediately got to work. Using a torn-up piece of cloth she began binding the huntress's wound. Working only by memory, the result was far from perfect. Still, it was snug, not loose enough to be useless and not tight enough to cut blood flow. It was the best she could do at the moment. And still, it didn't feel like enough.

"Annabeth, Percy," Thalia interrupted them. Her voice was urgent.

Annabeth and he ran over to help, but there wasn't much anyone could do. They had no ambrosia or nectar. No regular medicine would help. It was dark, but anyone could see that Zoe didn't look good. She was shivering, and the faint moonlight glow that usually hung around her was fading.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Lucia asked weakly. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis looked troubled. "Life is a fragile thing, My niece. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoe whispered.

"With great honor," Artemis said softly. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoe's face relaxed. "Rest. At last."

Tears welled up in Lucias' eyes. She knew it was what Zoe wanted but it hurt to lose another person she cared for. It hurt so much.

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one."

At that moment, Lucia realized it wasn't only the poison that was killing her. It was her father's final blow. Zoe had known all along that the Oracle's prophecy was about her: she would die by a parent's hand. And yet she'd taken the quest anyway. She had chosen to save them, and Atlas's fury had broken her inside. Lucia blamed herself for not noticing. How could she be a child of Apollo and still be completely useless?

"You can not change fate, Lucia." Zoe spoke as if she read her mind "Your powers are impressive but this is beyond you."

"I knew... when ladon-" her voice broke "I knew you were lying to me."

"And still... It was never in your control." Zoe reassured "In all my years I have never met someone with a heart like thee's. Promise me it shall never change."

Lucia's tears fell faster, she gave Zoe the brightest smile she could muster "I promise"

Zoe saw Thalia and took her hand.

"I am sorry we argued," Zoe said. "We could have been sisters."

"It's my fault," Thalia said, blinking hard. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, men—everything."

"Perhaps not all men," Zoe murmured. She smiled weakly at Percy. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

He couldn't speak, but he brought out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly. "You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like... like Hercules. I am honored that you carry this sword."