The Titan's Curse [Book Three]

Council of The Gods.

     Reagan was staring up at the constellation that glittered in the sky, a young girl twinkling across the blackness. The stars were in the shape of a young girl, a bow strung across her back as she crept across the sky.

"Zoe Nightshade lives on," Reagan murmured absently.

Artemis gathered herself in her chariot quickly. "I must go to Olympus with haste," she began. "I can't take you, but I will send help." Her gaze dropped to Annabeth, and she smiled. "You are a bright woman. You will make the right choice." Then the goddess looked at Thalia and Reagan quizzically, unsure of what to make of them. "You fight well," Artemis said eventually and looked to Percy. "For a man."

     Percy opened his mouth to protest, but something stopped him. As a bright light grew into a blinding flash, they all averted their eyes automatically in anticipation for her transformation into her true form. Then she was gone.

Dr. Chase sighed, hands on his hips. "She sure is impressive, but I prefer Athena."

Annabeth looked over at him. "Dad, I'm sorry-"

Dr. Chase shushed her, his arms enwrapping around her tightly. "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."

     He gave Annabeth a brave smile, and Reagan watched them closely. She heard a flapping sound and looked up, four pegasi were rapidly descending to their location.

"Blackjack!" Percy yelled.

     Annabeth's dad's eyes widened in awe at the sight of the winged horses landing near them. He licked his lips and hurried over to the nearest Pegasus, a pure black one with matching wings, and began to examine him closely.

"Fascinating!" Dr. Chase said. "How does the wingspan compensate for the weight of the body, I wonder?"

The black Pegasus cocked its head in confusion, its wings expanding for a second.

"Why, if the British had these Pegasi in the Calvary charges on the Crimea-"

"Dad!"

He froze, slowly looking at her and blinking. "I'm sorry, my dear. I know you must go."

     Reagan climbed onto a Pegasus reluctantly, careful as she sat on the creature's back. She looked up, watching Annabeth and her dad hug briefly and awkwardly, unable to hide the feeling of envy that bubbled in the pit of her stomach. Though she wasn't sure why.

"Annabeth, I know it's dangerous for you here. But you'll always have a home here, if you want it."

Annabeth hugged him briefly, an awkward hug before she rushed onto another Pegasus that whinnied at the sudden weight.

"And Reagan?" Dr. Chase called.

As Thalia and Percy also climbed onto their Pegasi, Reagan turned to look at him curiously. "What is it?"

He smiled at her. "There's always a home for you here too, if you want." It was a silent invitation that their doors were always open to her. She'd definitely remember this.

Much like Annabeth, Reagan felt hot tears burn the back of her eyes. "T-Thanks, Dr. Chase. I'll remember that."

     He smiled once more then turned, walking off to leave. As the Pegasi took flight east, the lights of San Francisco died down until they were small twinkles flickering far behind them. Thalia, utterly exhausted from the past few days, fell asleep instantly on her Pegasus. Reagan and Annabeth flew side-by-side.

"Your whole family seems cool, including your dad," Reagan said, watching Annabeth's shadowed expression as the blonde looked back at California far off behind them now.

"We've just been fighting for so many years."

"That's what you said."

Annabeth's gaze dropped to her instantly, eyes narrowed. "You think I'm lying?" she challenged half-heartedly.

"No. But he just seems cool. So does your step-mom. Maybe they all just chilled out since the last time you guys saw each other," Reagan suggested calmly.

The blonde hesitated. "I still can't live there, Reagan. It's San Francisco."

     A lump formed in the latter's throat as memories at camp resurfaced. When Percy showed her the Hunter's of Artemis pamphlet. How angry she felt upon seeing it. Yet she decided to broach the subject anyways.

"Are you going to join the Hunters?"

     Reagan wanted to come off as casual and carefree as possible, but the lump caused her to almost choke. The words came out small, like a dry sob racking her body. She didn't want to lose Annabeth to the Hunters. The sudden fear gripped Reagan like a snake wrapping around her body tightly. She couldn't breathe, and it took every ounce of energy left in her being to inhale and exhale. It was like bricks were crushing her shoulders and chest.

Annabeth studied her for some time before responding, "I'm not sure," she admitted. "But I'm happy you rescued me."

"You saved me last year from Luke's ship. I couldn't just leave you."

"You never thought I was dead?" she asked.

"Nope."

"Neither is Luke."

This pulled Reagan from her thoughts. Staring down at a speckle of lights indicating a small town, she spoke with steel in her voice.

"That was a really far fall, Annabeth. I don't think even Luke could have survived that."

"He did," she insisted. "I know he isn't dead like you knew about me."

     Another cold lump formed in her stomach, and Reagan gritted her teeth to choke back the scoff forming. She couldn't give up on Annabeth, because deep down she had feelings for her. These feelings gave her hope, gave her motivation to go on every time she wanted to lay down and sleep when time wasn't on their side this whole time. What Annabeth said about him being alive unsettled Reagan in more ways then one. The lights grew in numbers until it seemed like they were flying over nothing but cities. Towns and cities whipped past them at top speed now, and eventually the lights of New York came to life. The eastern sky was turning an ink grey, and morning was going to begin soon.

"He deserved to die, Annabeth," Reagan said blatantly. "It wouldn't be fair that he gets to live, while Bianca and Zoe died," she argued hotly.

"You don't believe me," Annabeth said. "But we'll see him again. He's in trouble, Reagan. He's under Kronos' spell."

Reagan just glared forward, watching as New York grew in size.

"It's starting," Thalia said, voice tired from sleep. She pointed at the Empire State Building, and at the top was a world of its own. Torches and braziers lit up Olympus, a beacon of light amidst the grey morning light. "The Winter Solstice. The Council of the Gods."