Unlikely Heroes

Chapter 73: Contentment

I parked the car near the beach that Zoe led us too. It was just as one would expect from San Francisco. The weather was great, the long, and great red bridge spanning across the water. Even the city felt somehow inviting and diverse. I was looking around the city when I was driving to the beach, and I think Annabeth would have loved it here. It may only have been due to the Golden Gate Bridge. I am not sure where it is on her ranking list, but probably somewhere in the top thirty.

"The guy we're looking for is on this beach, but how will we know who it is?" I ask as I turn to Zoe. She shrugs a bit. "The smell. His smell is very prevalent, and it is awful," Zoe answers and exits the car. We all soon exit the car. Thalia, Grover, and Percy walked in front of the beach as I walk with Zoe behind them. Our search began.

Great. A smelly sea person. I wonder why every time we go to some spot or on a quest we either have to find someone awful, smelly, dangerous beyond reason person, or save our loved ones from something dangerous... oh... Atlas. I turn to Zoe, who looked as if she has aged ten years. She didn't, of course, but you can tell that she has been under a lot of mental stress.

"Zoe, the curse. You know what it is, don't you? Tell me, why you haven't told us yet?"

Zoe became tense as she felt my stern gaze on her. Slowly, she turns to looks at me. Zoe looks paler and slightly fearful of how I will react. I can tell she regrets not saying anything, perhaps she didn't want us to worry if she couldn't help it.

"Aileen... I-" she tries to say, but seems to falter. Not really knowing how to say it, but I feel she is fearful of my anger and wrath. I won't do anything to her. It is a topic she seems to hate to talk about. But after what Percy said, it was pretty clear to me. Zoe should know by now that she can trust us. At least, she should know she can trust me with anything.

"I am not as smart as Annabeth, but this is all about Atlas. He is your father, isn't he? Hercules tricked Atlas, and Percy said you led him to your father. Why haven't you said anything?"

"I- I was scared of the v-vengeful wrath of thee, L-Lady Aileen. The curse of Atlas is holding up the sky. I- I fear that Annabeth has been forced to hold it up before Lady Artemis came to take the burden from her. Don't hate me..." she explains softly.

"Do you like your father?"

Zoe frowns as she looks up at me with confusion. She shakes her head. "I never liked him, perhaps I respected him a bit for a time, but I never loved him. Why?"

"Good. I will make him pay. No one hurts Annabeth without receiving my wrath. He will have wished he never touched her," I say, anger bubbling to a boil inside of me.

This Titan may be beyond me to defeat, but I will make sure he feels pain before he takes the sky once more. He will suffer for eternity by holding it up. I will make sure he will never escape again. I take a deep breath and look at Zoe again.

"Still, why haven't you told us?"

"I did not want to worry the group by telling it. The prophecy probably referred to me. I will die and that is what I need to accept," she says before looking in a specific direction. I am not sure what lies there, but I guess that's where Atlas is.

"It is due to thee that I can die in peace, Aileen. I have no regrets anymore. Thank you for giving it to me."

"I thought you were looking forward to the future?" I ask softly, we were slowly putting more and more distance between ourselves and the rest. Our conversation kept only to ourselves. Zoe sighs shakily, a soft, saddened smile on her face.

"I can't escape fate, Aileen. Do not be sad. When I heard the prophecy, I knew I was the one who would be killed. I have lived a long and good life. At this moment, my past holds no sway over me anymore, I experienced a new type of friendship, and..." she swallowed a bit and took a deep breath before continuing.

"... and I can say that I would have loved someone. There is nothing more I could have asked for. I have accepted my fate, my dear fiend. Do not be sad for me, as I will die with fulfillment and contentment."

"That's selfish, Zoe..." I mutter as I look at the girl. Sadness fills me, I look at her. I have grown attached to the girl even through her change and before her change. Zoe was calm as she seems to be accepting her own death. I don't know how she could. Zoe nods with a soft smile on her face as she places a hand on my shoulder to give it a gentle squeeze.

"I know. Yet, here we are, Aileen. Fate has rung its bells for me. I wish it was different. It is unfortunate, I would have liked to know the person I will love. He must be crazy," she chuckles softly, before a deep sigh leaves her. "Do not dwell on it, Aileen. I will die on my own terms. This will not mean I will throw it away. I will still fight to see another day, but I will not fear death once it will embrace me."

"Okay..." I say softly. This does not make it easier for me, and probably it will be the same for the others. Still, this is for Zoe to decide. "But we will try to keep you alive too. We all have grown to like you, Zoe."

"That means more than thy could ever think, Aileen. I like to others as well. This- gods, that smell!" Zoe says as her nose crunches in disgust. A strong wind was blowing our way, but it soon disappeared when it goes away. I have a bad feeling. This smell contains more than I can see around us. Good, but also bad.

"That Old Man is close. Zoe, I entrust you to spearhead this part. I have something I need to figure out," I tell her as I look around with a critical eye. Zoe nods as she scans her environment as well.

"I will, Aileen. Be careful, we will get the answer as to what this monster is," she says confidently.

"Good..." I say before going in a different direction to see what is lurking in the shadows.