How Do You Say Gods- Last Olympian

3 The Explosions Keep on Coming

Apologies for not posting your chapter yesterday. Between Mother's Day and midterms my brain has been everywhere but where I want it most, but I hope you'll all happily take this better late than never.

PJOPJOPJOPJO

Thalia startled to her feet the fastest, but Percy wasn't far behind on pure reflex at the new voice.

They turned in unison, and Annabeth screamed.

It was a strangled, broken noise as her eyes landed on his dark hair and shocked face, blurring into the room fast enough Artemis was impressed as she tackled Percy back into his seat still making disjointed, painful-sounding noises.

Percy crashed into the seaweed beanbag with a mass of tangled blonde curls obscuring everything, and it was the best view in the world as finally, finally, it was her squeezing him tight enough to pop his head off. He'd surely have a bruise on his cheek from where her head had collided, but he also doubted that's why all the breath had escaped him.

They'd fallen flat out and rolled onto the floor when time slowed down and reality fluttered in as he leaned back in surprise, a cry of joy on his own lips, only for her to do so too and kiss him.

She was not gentle about it, he could still feel the desperation in her every movement as her lips melded to his. The intensity of it scared him as he tried to push her back, and she did so gasping and looking at him with just as much concern.

"Whoa there Annabeth," Thalia wanted nothing more than to run to Artemis and hug her in relief, but her sense of duty overruled as she swooped in and tried to help Annabeth up. "We need to catch you up-"

"Percy, what's wrong?" She asked, allowing the separation as she briefly hugged her, tight and meaning it in relief for her being okay, but never taking her eyes off him.

"We, um, that was, not how I remember, um, I was going to ask the same," Percy sat up the reddest color ever and talking through his fingers as he covered his lips.

The rest of the room rushed in fast enough she felt dizzy, as she spun around to see the others.

Nico, and for some reason Will, were also down here. All children of the Big Three in one place was never a good sign, she knew something was up!

Then there were two strangers, one of whom stood out for a horrible split second. His dark blond hair, the faint scar in the dim lighting. Luke- but no. He was her age, he looked nothing like her old hero more than the passing resemblance; but still her eyes averted away to someone with strange green hair and- "Magnus?!"

It would have made more sense to see her mom or dad chilling down here than her mortal cousin she hadn't seen in over ten years.

He gave her a cautious wave and an awkward smile as he said, "hey cuz?"

Annabeth was speechless. Thalia took the chance to turn to Artemis and try to ask hopefully, "my lady, I'm so glad you're here! Do you know what's going on, what the gods are planning?"

She gave her lieutenant a fond smile, but then, something was wrong.

There was a shimmering in the water around her, her face scrunched up like she was about to sneeze. Gods didn't do that unless they were about to reveal their true form.

Artemis looked at Jason, and she flickered.

Not by too much, but there was a sudden harshness in her features, her loose auburn hair was suddenly tied back in a severe bun, a power she didn't try to keep as dormant in her now yellow eyes settled on him. "Jason Grace, what are you doing in here young Praetor?"