Tempest

Epilogue

[acta deos nunquam mortalia fallunt / mortal actions never defeat the gods]

Tessa stuffed her hands in the pocket of her hoodie, staring down at the tide lapping over her feet. It was the last day of the summer session at camp, and Tessa had been back from the quest for nearly four weeks. However, it still haunted her in every action of every day, the face of her best friend filled with determination as he stayed behind.

The daughter of Poseidon raised her gaze to the horizon. The sky was tinged orange with sunset, and she should probably have spent the past two hours getting ready for the end of summer party in the arena, but instead, here she was.

Tessa exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair. She crossed to sit on one of the rocks nearby, hugging her legs to her chest as she did. Things just felt off, no matter how normal things had gotten for the rest of camp. For the whole camp, things were fine. For four campers within it, things were far from fine.

In the weeks since Tessa's awakening in the infirmary, lots of things happened. Celebrations for the victory of the quest lasted the week that Chiron promised, and Tessa, as well as Kaden, Reese, and Dale, were constantly being acknowledged for their work. Amelie, Flynn, Calum, and Nova were all congratulated as well for their efforts in the battle. Sophia, on the other hand, was put to trial.

Tessa shook her head at the memory. She'd never felt more hatred for two people than she had for Deimos and Matthew during their trials atop Olympus. She, the quest group, Chiron, Mr. D, and the senior councilors of each cabin were called to the 600th floor of the Empire State Building to watch and testify in the trials.

As Tessa had sat beside her friends, gripping Kaden's hand all the while, she couldn't suppress the urge to sprint up to the podium. She wanted to shove Nemesis and Athena and the Furies out of the way and give Matthew and Deimos a piece of her mind—but mostly her fist—for what they had done. Because of them, she'd lost a friend. Because of them, Mark was most likely dead.

Thankfully, Sophia had been pardoned, as Hypnos and Morpheus proved that she was subject to hypnosis by Matthew's hand. The wrongdoer himself, however, on the count of arson and treason to Olympus, was banished to the depths of the Underworld to serve in the Fields of Punishment. If he lived during his ten-year sentence, he'd be pardoned and brought back to the surface world. If he died, then he would continue to serve his fate for all eternity.

Deimos' punishment would be determined on a godlier scale, as he was immortal. Tessa didn't wait around to hear the verdict; she had stormed out of the throne room of the gods during the first free moment she could find.

Tessa shivered as she reminisced. The memory of how Matthew had stared at her and Kaden during the trials still sickened her. It seemed like he had something hanging over their heads, just waiting to reveal what it was to everyone.

When they had returned to camp, they had gathered to burn Mark's burial shroud. It was made of pure iridescent silk that formed rainbows in the light, and even when it burned, it still burned bright. A final tribute to the hero Tessa had always admired, always loved, always wished to see prosper in the future.

And just like that, he was gone like a rainbow after a thunderstorm. Something you always liked to see and hoped to witness after a dark moment. Only now, this rainbow wouldn't be returning.

Tessa took a ragged breath, wiping away her tears as they fall. She sniffed, staring back out to sea.

"How did I know to find you here?" A voice that Tessa had become used to hearing lately asked softly.