Annabeth Chase and the Titan's Curse

Chapter 21 - Percy and I have a mid-flight conversation

Thalia crashed. Well, not literally, but she did fall asleep as soon as the pegasi took off. Her pegasus, which Percy said was called Porkpie, had to readjust himself every so often so she didn't fall off.

I rode the one called Guido, though I had no idea why he was called that. I'd ridden pegasi before but never as high as we were now and I had to admit, it was pretty awesome.

It should have been cold as it was winter and I didn't have a jacket to keep me warm, but somehow I felt nice and comfy. The pegasi must somehow be able to create a bubble of warmth around them which made flying all the more better.

Percy rode by my side on Blackjack, looking at ease in the air which was strange. As a son of Poseidon, the sky was dangerous for him as his father was an enemy of Zeus, who could strike him down at any moment, but seeing as Poseidon was the father of the first Pegasus, which is a long and disturbing story, it was kind of a middle ground between them. As he flew, he looked almost at peace, the wind slicking back his dark hair and a calm expression on his face.

I couldn't help but stare at him. It hadn't been long since I last saw him, only a week I guessed, but it felt so much longer and seeing him now was blissful. I missed him when I was locked up in the Princess Andromeda but I didn't realise how much until now. And the fact that he came for me made me like him even more.

"Your dad seems cool," Percy said suddenly, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I looked back though California was way behind us. "I guess so. We've been arguing for so many years."

"Yeah, you said."

"You think I was lying about that?" I asked, not sure whether I was challenging him or questioning myself.

"I didn't say you were lying," Percy said, a faint smile on his face. "It's just . . . he seems okay. Your stepmom, too. Maybe they've, uh, got cooler since you see them last."

I wanted to laugh at how much I missed his awkwardness when he asked questions like that. But his words troubled me.

"They're still in San Francisco, Percy. I can't live so far from camp."

Percy hesitated, like he didn't like what he was going to say next. I braced myself.

"So what are you going to do now?"

I took a moment to think of my answer. A town passed under us so quickly all I could see was the mass of lights. Then we were flying over the fields of darkness again.

"I don't know," I said eventually, discovering that I really didn't know. Part of me wanted to go back to camp while the other part wanted to be with my father. I didn't know yet which was my right. "But thank you for rescuing me."

"Hey, no big deal," he said easily. "We're friends."

"You didn't believe I was dead?"

"Never."

He didn't even hesitate. But I did before I spoke next.

"Neither is Luke, you know. I mean . . . he isn't dead."

Percy stared at me. He must think that I was crazy. That something had happened to me during my imprisonment. "Annabeth, that fall was pretty bad. There's no way -"

"He isn't dead," I insisted. I didn't know how to convince him of it as strongly as I was. "I know it. The same way you knew about me."

Percy looked away, but before he could, I saw his face change. An expression I've never seen on it puzzled me. What was he thinking?

We fell into an awkward silence. I felt frustrated that he didn't believe me but I could tell that he didn't want to talk about it. And I didn't want to force him to. I'd only just got back to him. I didn't want to push him away so soon.

The towns flew past quicker now, mere blurs of light beneath us. The pegasi didn't seem to tire either, flying on and on even as dawn began to approach.

Up ahead, I could see that we were approaching a massive blot of light that began to spread out into a glowing carpet. New York.

"You're the man, Blackjack," Percy said, talking to his horse again. "Er, the horse, I mean."

"You don't believe me about Luke," I tried one last time, "but we'll see him again. He's in trouble, Percy. He's under Kronos's spell."

Percy didn't reply, an angry look on his face.

I probably would have kept arguing if Thalia hadn't suddenly sat up.

"There it is," she said, pointing towards Manhattan, which was rapidly approaching. "It's started."

"What's started?" Percy asked.

But I followed to where her finger was pointing and saw that high above the Empire State Building, Olympus was an island of light, a floating mountain gleaming in the early morning as it chased away the shadows of the night with all its torches and braziers.

"The winter solstice," Thalia said. "The Council of the Gods."

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Flying up to Olympus was pretty sketchy. Zeus's palace was shooting out sparks of lighting and was rumbling with thunder. I think I would have preferred going in by the front door but that would have taken longer and we didn't have the time.

We did a lap around midtown Manhattan, checking out Mount Olympus before we found a place to land. It was extraordinary, a true masterpiece of architecture.

The torches set up were all different colours so that there were at least 20 or more variations with their lights on marble columns. I don't know how to explain it beyond that, all of the palaces of the minor gods and goddess lit up so brilliantly they seemed to burn the eyes and made of different materials. Every single one was different and amazing to look at.

Gardens were in full bloom despite it being winter and released the beautiful scents of jasmine and rose and lavender. Music drifted up from windows, performed by instruments such as lyres and reed pipes.

Demigods and nature spirits and godlings roamed the streets or were carried by Cyclopes. It was a bustling area but beautiful all the same.

Our pegasi sat us down in the courtyard of Zeus's palace, the highest of them all, resting on the peak of the mountain. Silver gates barred our path but before we could knock, they swung open without a sound. We were expected and I wasn't sure I liked it.

"Yeah," said Percy then turned to look sharply at Blackjack.

I had no idea what they were talking about, but I've never seen a pegasus look so sheepish.

The pegasi flew away, heading back to camp as we stood in front of Zeus's palace. I was struck by de ja vu as we stood there, reminding me of how we had stood for a moment outside Westover Hall before we'd started this adventure. I don't know if the others felt it too but this time, I felt it was more ominous.

Without a word, the three of us stepped, side by side, into the throne room.