Forgotten memories

Party

Uproar came following my mother's statement. The only ones that didn't move or speak were Zeus, Apollo and my mother. The other gods were talking in each other's mouths. I heard Ares say something but was interrupted by Demiter and this continued until Zeus slammed his fist into the Chair.

A silence filled the room. Everyone sat back down in their thrones as Zeus began to speak.

"I have known the existence of this child for a long time. Artemis and I have had an agreement. This child is a tool for this council."

"You cannot be serious!" Hera was speaking. "He is a bastard"

I felt a little insulted, but she was not wrong. Bastard was well placed.

"If that logic is right, then I'm a bastard too!" Apollo said. "Look, he is worthy. He will be useful to all of us. My oracle sees it!"

"A child of Artemis..." Athena was thinking heavily. "Now that's why I was involved with 'Your' child, Apollo?" She was a little smug. "He is powerful. Way too powerful, he poses a grater risk, even grater then Perseus Jackson."

"Mother!" Christine said, she was silenced by the goddess.

"He is the first-born demigod to one of us 12 since Eurymedon. He is essentially as powerful as one of the big three. Maybe even more. It would be foolish to keep him alive."

"Enough" Zeus voice boomed out in the rom. "I have chosen the boy. He is one of my champions."

Poseidon frowned. "I thought we weren't allowed to pick champions anymore." Zues looked at him warningly, he lifted up his hands in defeat.

"The boy has been through a lot, but he will not be destroyed." He said and looked at me "You got anything to say, boy?"

I looked up at him and shook my head. "No, Lord Zeus."

"Then we have nothing else to discuss. I imagine we should honor the hearos. Let the triumph celebration begin!"

There are parties, and then there are huge, major, blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties. If you ever get a choice, go for the Olympian.

The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and I realized the music was whatever you wanted it to be: the gods could listen to classical, and the younger demigods heard hip-hop or whatever, and it was all the same soundtrack. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station. Just requests to crank it up.

Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with him arm in arm—his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time. Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever drink you wanted. Grover trotted around with a full plate of tin cans and enchiladas, and his goblet was full of double-espresso latte, which he kept muttering over like an incantation: "Pan! Pan!"

Gods kept coming over to speak to me. Thankfully, they had reduced themselves to human size, so they didn't accidentally trample partygoers under their feet. My grandmother came up to me, and I felt a blush creep up, but I died it down.

"Now now! I never thought Artemis would buckle, but she did! And to my son too!" She gave me a big hug, which was a bit weird. All the other divine beings around us looked at me in envy. "You be a good boy now, remember our talk" she said and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Everyone around me gasped and then she walked away.

I made some excuses and wove through the crowds that were dancing in the palace courtyards. I was looking for Annabeth or Percy. Last I saw Annabeth, she'd been dancing with some minor godling. I found Percy, but he was in a deep conversation with his father, Poseidon. I looked for Annabeth and I found her looking at me. Well not really.

"Athena." I tried not to sound resentful, after the way she'd written me off in the council, but I guess I didn't hide it very well. She smiled dryly.

"Do not judge me too harshly, half-blood. Wise counsel is not always popular, but I spoke the truth. You are dangerous."

"You never take risks?"

She nodded. "I concede the point. You may perhaps be useful. And yet... your fatal flaw may destroy us as well as yourself."

My heart crept into my throat. I didn't really know what mine was.

Athena looked almost sorry for me. "You are on a path of redemption, not because you have done wrong, but because the gods have." She paused, disapproving. "In each case, your loved ones have been killed in the name of the gods. Your fatal flaw is redemption for others, Orion. You do not know when it is time to cut your losses. To redeem yourself for others burden, you would sacrifice the world. That is very, very dangerous." She said, I looked at her with a slight sadness in my face. She had hit the nail on the head. "The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation," she said. "Evil is easy to fight. Lack of wisdom... that is very hard indeed."

"I will be watching, Orion. I do not approve of your friendship with my daughter. I do not think it wise for either of you. And should you begin to waver in your loyalties..."

She fixed me with her cold gray stare, and I realized what a terrible enemy Athena would make, ten times worse than Ares or Dionysus. Athena would never give up. She would never do something rash or stupid just because she hated you, and if she made a plan to destroy you, it would not fail.

"Orion!" Annabeth said, running through the crowd. She stopped short when she saw who I was talking to. "Oh... Mom."

"I will leave you," Athena said. "For now."

She turned and strode through the crowds, which parted before her as if she were carrying Aegis.

"Was she giving you a hard time?" Annabeth asked.

"No," I said. "It's... fine."

She studied me with concern. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I do not approve of your friendship with my daughter. I knew she was not speaking about Annabeth.

"So," Annabeth said. "What will you do now?" she looked at me and I shrugged.

"I guess I'll be in camp. I have nowhere else to go," I stated, contemplating my situation. A sense of uncertainty hung in the air as I considered the need for some training and an explanation to Chiron. Before I could delve further into my thoughts, I noticed Annabeth gazing in a different direction. Following her line of sight, I saw Percy.

"He's a good guy," I commented, redirecting her attention. This seemed to snap her out of her trance.

"What? No! I..." she started, flustered, but I raised my hands in a placating manner.

"He went on this quest for you. Not because Artemis needed saving, he did it for you," I pointed out, looking at her with a soft expression. Her blush deepened slightly.

"You don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled shyly. Her response carried more embarrassment than anger.

"I'm the grandson of the Goddess of Love. I think I know what I'm talking about," I teased, and her blush intensified. In playful retaliation, she hit me on the shoulder, and with a small smile, she walked away. Her destination? Percy.

As she approached him, a mix of emotions played on Percy's face, from relief to a hint of uncertainty. I observed the scene, them talking and then go dance. I got a feeling things will be all right.