¹Mσɳ Aɱσɳ Cαɾα | ᴘᴇʀᴄʏ ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ

13. The moon, the sea and the sky

♡ Asteria had to physically hold herself back from facepalming.

Percy's head kept going back and forth between Zoë and Atlas. No doubt noticing the similarities between them. The expression and the proud look in their eyes.

What kind of fucked-up family reunion was this?

Atlas was all the things Percy had originally disliked about Zoë, with none of the good he'd come to appreciate.

"Let Artemis go," Zoë demanded.

Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her, then? Be my guest."

Zoë opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis said, "No! Do not offer, Zoë! I forbid you."

Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.

"Hoo-hoo!" Atlas chuckled. "You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the centre of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility."

Percy looked at Annabeth. She was desperately trying to tell him something. She motioned her head towards Luke. But all he could do was stare at her. He hadn't noticed before, but something about her had changed. Her blonde hair was now streaked with grey.

"From holding the sky," Thalia muttered, as if she'd read his mind. "The weight should've killed her."

"Her will is strong," Asteria muttered. "She would have made a fine huntress."

"I don't understand," Percy said. "Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?"

Atlas laughed. "How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape." Atlas smiled. "Unless someone else takes it from you."

He approached them, studying Thalia and Percy. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."

"Fight us," Percy said. "And let's see."

"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."

His gaze shifted to Asteria. "Lady Callisto, still not dead?"

"General Atlas, still holding a grudge?"

Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred. "Join me and I will cut you a deal."

Asteria raised a brow. She clasps her hands in front of her. "A deal, you say?"

"I have information about a certain person from your past."

"Is that so?" Asteria hummed. "Who?"

"Cassius Caesar."

Percy tensed at the name, stepping forward slightly. "Asteria."

She held up her hand. Quiet.

"And what information do you bring me?"

"A descendant."

Asteria's eyes sparked. "He has no descendants."

Atlas smiles. "And how would you know?"

Asteria stepped forward and grinned. It wasn't one of the smiles Percy had found himself looking forward to, no.