𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐈𝐋¹ || 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐘 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍

𝐋𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

✦ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐒 ✦

FLYING WAS BAD ENOUGH FOR A SON OF POSEIDON, but flying straight up to Zeus' palace, with thunder and lightning swirling around it, was even worse.

They circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. Percy had only been there once before, traveling by elevator up to the secret six-hundredth floor of the Empire State Building.

This time, if it were possible, Olympus amazed him even more.

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from blood red 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. Percy caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things he 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 they could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.

Good luck, boss, Blackjack said.

"Yeah." Percy didn't know why, but he had a sense of doom.

He had never seen all the gods together. He knew any one of them could blast him to dust, and a few of them would like to.

Hey, if ya don't come back, can I have your cabin for my stable?

Percy looked at the pegasus.

Just a thought, he said, Sorry.

Blackjack and his friends flew off, leaving Percy, Aurora, Annabeth, and Thalia alone.

For a minute they stood there regarding the palace, the way they'd stood together in front of Westover Hall, that seemed like a million years ago. 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, 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 five meters tall, and if you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once... Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic.

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said.

"Mooo!"

That's when the raven-haired boy noticed Bessie and Grover.