LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE . . . pjo

XXXVIII.

MIA WOKE UP to see the pegasi circling over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. She'd never been to Olympus before, but it was everything she'd ever dreamed of.

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. Mia caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter flowers that were incredibly rare, or extinct. 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.

The pegasi set them down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. The gates opened by themselves.

Percy dismounted Blackjack, talking to the pegasus as he extended a hand for Mia to get down.

She hesitated, before taking his hand and jumping down from Blackjack, staring down at her pants and realizing how dirty she was from being in a cave for a long time.

Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving Percy, Thalia, Annabeth, and Mia alone. For a minute they stood there regarding the palace, the way they'd stood together in front of Westover Hall, what seemed like a million years ago.

Everything had changed since then. Maybe not for them, but for Mia, her whole world turned upside down.

Then she realized that they'd started walking, so she followed them reluctantly.

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, Zoë the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall, and Mia hated the feeling of their eyes on her. At one point of her life, she would've relished it. Now? She just felt dread.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when Mia noticed Grover.

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire, a cow-serpent thing was swimming happily around, swishing its serpent tail and poking its head out the sides and bottom of the sphere. It 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 them, 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. The sea creature splashed in its bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

Mia couldn't look at any of the gods. She just stared at Grover as he came closer, then he hugged her. She stiffened, but she played the part of the nice, affectionate best friend and hugged him back.

He then gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs, before grasping Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessie and I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" Percy asked.

"Heroes," Artemis called.

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