Percy Jackson: dark waters

Prologue

Piper's POV

So... I was visiting Camp Half-Blood during my winter break. I couldn't stand being in camp Jupiter after me and Jason broke up. We tried to make it work, but even the best relationship can't survive if built on lies. Ugh. I hate Hera for that. Why couldn't it be as perfect as with Annabeth and Percy. I mean, I get that they are supposed to be my mother's favorite couple, but I am her daughter. Don't I deserve a happy ending too? Anyway. I just couldn't stay in CJ after the break-up. It was pretty messy.

Like usually, during winter break there was this trip to Olympus where younger demigods could see the place. This year, Chiron asked Annabeth to give the tour this time. She would never miss an opportunity to brag how she is "the Architect of Olympus". Why must everything be so perfect about this two. I tagged along having nothing better to do. Percy also wanted to go, but his mother made him go shopping with her.

After we got out of the elevator, the sight amazed me. Only now I realized, that maybe Annabeth's bragging was not without reason. The whole place was unbelievable. When I was younger, I traveled the world with my father and saw most beautiful things in the world, but they were all nothing when compared to Olympus. Marble and gold. Obsidian and silver. Sculptures so detailed I could see the finger prints. I was supposed to be support for Annabeth while she was giving the tour to younger campers, but I ended walking around just as amazed as them. But the most incredible thing was yet before us: the throne room.

All 14 of them (hades and Hestia got their own together with the place in council) were just... I lack words to describe them. Just like cabins in CHB, they corresponded with Gods domain. For example Demeter's throne was surrounded with small field of crops. My mother's throne looked like A dove embracing the person sitting in it.

Only Gods present in the room were Hermes, My mother and Hera. We were walking past each thrones when it all happened. Everything sprinted downhill so fast I can't even remember. We were just standing there listening to Annabeth as she describes each throne. I think she made some snarky remark when talking about Hera and her throne. Something about a cage, or maybe just her being tied to it. Whatever it was, it pissed Hera. She started arguing with Annabeth, who instead of backing out started to only get deeper and deeper into the argument. Finally, we heard a loud snap and bright light blinded us for a moment. When I regained my sight, in place where Annabeth was standing just second ago there was only a pile of dust.

The whole Olympus went silent. And I mean silent. You could cut the silence with a knife. I could see fear in eyes of Hermes, rage and pain in eyes of Aphrodite (the kind of one feels when favorite character in TV series dies) and a feeling I can't name in eyes of Hera. She looked like she was proud, but at the same time dreaded. Finally, after what felt like few minutes but probably was just three seconds Hermes managed to whisper "We are all dead!"