¹𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐀. percy jackson

XVII.

ｔｈｅ　ｔｉｔａｎｓ　ｃｕｒｓｅ

LUCIA NEVER GOT NERVOUS FLYING, but flying straight up to Zeus's palace, with thunder and lightning swirling around it, was no calm flight.

They circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. Lucia was in complete awe when she caught sight of it.

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 here. Lucia 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 anyone could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.

Lucia prepared herself mentally for what was to come. Barely a month ago she didn't even believe in any god and now she was about to see all the greek gods together.

Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving Thalia, Annabeth, Percy, and Lucia alone. For a minute they stood there regarding the palace.

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, Zoe the Huntress, made her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall.

Let's just say, a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turning their eyes on you at once was incredibly nerve-wracking.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Lucia 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 us, 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.

Grover gave Annabeth Thalia and Lucia big hugs. Then he grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie, and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" He asked.

"Heroes," Artemis called.

The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburn-haired girl, perfectly at ease amid the giant Olympians. She walked toward them, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion on her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.