SERENDIPITY ~ a. chase

xvii ~ Forever Among the Stars

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chapter seventeen ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
017. Forever Among the Stars

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ZOË HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE BEST OF THEM.

When they finally landed at Crissy Field it was far past nightfall. Annabeth had practically climbed over Cassie to meet her dad's open arms. Dr. Chase held his daughter in a tight hug.

"Dad! You flew... you shot... oh my gods! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen!" Annabeth rambled.

Her father's face went red. "Well, not bad for a middle-aged mortal, I suppose."

"But the celestial bronze bullets! How did you get those?"

"Ah, well. You did leave quite a few half-blood weapons in your room in Virginia, the last time you... left." Annabeth's eyes dropped to the ground, embarrassed. Cassie could tell Dr. Chase refrained from saying ran away.

"I decided to try melting some down to make bullet casings. Just a little experiment." He spoke nonchalantly, but there was a sparkle in his eyes. It made sense why Athena would like a guy like Dr. Chase. She was the Goddess of Crafts and Wisdom and he was a mad scientist deep down.

"Dad..." Annabeth trailed off.

"Annabeth, Cassie," Thalia urged them over to where she, Percy, and Artemis were knelt by Zoë side to wrap her wounds.

The girls joined them, but what else could
they do. They had no ambrosia or nectar. Normal medicine would do no good. Even though it was dark, Cassie could tell Zoë wasn't doing so hot. She was shivering and her usual glow was fading.

"Can't you heal her with magic?" Percy proposed. "I mean... you're a goddess."

Artemis seemed unsure. "Life is a fragile thing, Percy. If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."

She went to place a hand on Zoë's side but her wrist was caught by the huntress. The lieutenant spoke with her eyes and an understanding passed between the two.

"Have I... served thee well?" Zoë breathed out.

"With great honor," Artemis whispered, brushing the stray hairs out of the girl's face. "The finest of my attendants."

Zoë could finally relax. "Rest. At last."

"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one." But it wasn't only the poison eating away at Zoë's life. Her father's hit was wearing her away too. Zoë knew from the start that she would fulfill the last prophecy line. She would die by a parent's hand. Yet she had gone on the quest anyway. She decided to save them and Atlas's rage had broken her inside.

The huntress placed a hand on Cassie's knee. "You are brave Cassandra, something I can not say for many. You have the spirit of a true huntress and will make a fine hero. I am honored to have known you."

Cassie held back a shaky breath. "The honor was all mine Zoë. Thank you for everything." She held the huntress' hand for a moment before letting go. The daughter of Ares turned away, not wanting to ruin the moment with her crying.

Zoë's eyes shifted to Thalia, grabbing her hand. "I'm sorry we argued. We could have been sisters."

"It's my fault," Thalia blinked back her tears. "You were right about Luke, about heroes, men-everything."

"Perhaps not all men," Zoë muttered, sending a weak smile at the son of Poseidon. "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"

He made no verbal reply but took out Riptide, placing the pen in her palm. She held it satisfactorily. "You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson. You are nothing like... like Hercules. I am honored that you carry this sword."