Run

Chapter 15

Flying was bad enough for a son of Poseidon, but flying straight up to Zeus's palace,with thunder and lightning swirling around it, was even worse.

We circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around MountOlympus. I'd only been there once before, traveling by elevator up to the secret six hundredthfloor of the Empire State Building. This time, if it was possible, Olympus amazed me evenmore. 

In the early-morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glowtwenty 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 bustlingabout, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn't seem to exist here. Icaught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things Icouldn'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 whitehall of the gods.Our pegasi set us down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before Icould even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves. And then, side by side, we walked into the throne room.

Twelve enormous thrones made a U around a central hearth, just like the placement ofthe cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations—even the newest one, Zoethe 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 I'mtelling you, if you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on youat once... Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic. 

"Welcome, heroes," Artemis said. 

"Mooo!" 

 That's when I noticed Bessie and Grover.

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire. Bessiewas swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tail and poking his head out the sides andbottom of the sphere. He 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 us,he cried, "You made it!"

He started to run toward us, then remembered he was turning his back on Zeus, andlooked for permission.  

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really paying attention to Grover. The lord of the skywas staring intently at Thalia.

Grover trotted over. None of the gods spoke. Every clop of Grover's hooves echoed onthe marble floor. Bessie splashed in his bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled. 

I looked nervously over at my father Poseidon, wondering if he even knew who I was. He looked over at me and Percy, smiling at Percy. Then he looked at me, just kinda stared right into my soul. 

Grover gave Annabeth and Thalia big hugs. Then he grasped Percy's arms. "Percy, Bessieand I made it! But you have to convince them! They can't do it!" 

"Do what?" I asked.

"Heroes," Artemis called. 

The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young auburnhaired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked toward us, hersilver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face. She seemed to walk in a columnof moonlight. 

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told us. "They know thatMount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas's attempt for freedom, and thegathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."There was some mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happywith this plan, but nobody protested.