Heir of a Titan - Book 2 PJO

Chapter 51: Throne Room Tension

All the gods turned to look at the rest of us standing beside the still bent doors. I felt the nervousness that rippled through the four of us. Not everyone looked happy to see us. 

Athena called Annabeth forward. 

Annabeth squeezed Percy's arm, then walked forward and knelt at her mother's feet.

Athena smiled, though it still looked tight lipped and stern. 

"Do you still want the commentary? 

"Please. Only a few use ASL. She looks like she's been sucking on a lemon."

I felt Nico sniggering in my head. I caught his eye and we looked away. Raph gave me a questioning look, then he saw Nico desperately trying to hid his giggles. Then he understood we were talking. 

"Okay okay... Athena says: her daughter has exceeded all expectations. She have used her wits, strength, and courage to defend this city, and their seats of power. It has come to our attention that Olympus is trashed.

I noticed a few glares shoot in my direction. 

"Says The Titan lord - though she sounds like she would rather use your name..."

I suddenly heard the screams Kronos made me listen to in my head and I stumbled into Raph, who grabbed my arm. I also felt Nico gasp and shudder, He must have also sensed with pain in my head. I shook my head trying to rid my thoughts. Raph slid his hand down into mine and held my hand tights, his thumb rubbed the back of my hand. Nico kept going, but he was definitely more hesitant now. 

"- did much damage that will have to be repaired. Athena says they rebuild it by magic and make it just as it was. But the gods feel that the city could be improved. They will take this as an opportunity. And Annabeth will design these improvements."

Annabeth looked up, stunned. "My- my lady?" She signed.

Athena smiled wryly. 

"She asked if Annabeth was an architect, and studied the techniques of Daedalus. Said, who better to redesign Olympus and make it a monument that will last for another eon?"

"You mean . . . I can design whatever I want?" Annabeth asked, and signed. Though her hands were shaking really bad.

"As your heart desires.  Then added; make us a city for the ages."

"As long as you have plenty of statues of me," Apollo added with sign and a wink at me.

Aphrodite raised a dainty hand and I had a hard time not stepping forward and smacking her. Raph clamped my hand harder, and then wrapped his arm around my back, gripping my hip, like he was expecting me to lung. Which to be fare, I had considered. 

"Hey, and me!" Ares said, surprising me buy also using ASL. "Big statues with huge wicked swords and- "

Athena interrupted him and waved a hand to silence him. She said something else and Annabeth got to her feet and stumbled back to our group. 

"Way to go," Percy told her, grinning. 

I also smiled at her. "Awesome job!" I signed. 

For once she was at a loss for words. "I'll... I'll have to start planning . . . Drafting paper, and, um, pencils-" She signed, her mind already a thousand miles away. 

"Raphael Merino!" Ares bellowed, with his fluent sign. It still baffled me that Ares and a few of his minor god offspring children were fluent in sign language. Raph gave my hip a squeeze and then lifted his head and walked forward. He planted his feet apart, hands behind his back and his chin raised.